Encourager-in-Chief

Encourager-in-Chief

Encourage one another and build one another up.  1 Thessalonians 5:11

I have a title, albeit over-used and under-appreciated: I am ‘Mum.’ Being British allows me the letter ‘u,’ and nothing could be more accurate. My life is not about ‘me’ but about ‘u’- my family - to whom I am called to encourage and equip.   

Don’t stop reading now! I am not only addressing mothers, for there is a universal title that all women have been given: ‘Glorifier.’ We have all been created to do the same job - Glorify God!

But how can a woman who feels as if she has no extraordinary gifts or circumstances bring God glory?

Simply love Jesus and live each day for Him!

We all have people watching us, younger in the faith or years; their eyes are on us. Our behavior can determine whether they will honor or profane God’s word.

No pressure! There is power in the God-given capacity we have. In Titus, Paul affirmed that women need women, and that our love-filled lives would speak more than words. However, we must know Jesus, ground ourselves in Him, move beyond the disappointments, define ourselves as a servant, and relinquish control.

Before I continue, I wish to give credit where it is due. Susan Hunt and her book “Spiritual Mothering,” along with two years of mentoring at Broken Chains International with Allison Williams, had a profound impact on my awareness of the responsibility I hold as a Christian woman. Many thoughts shared in this post have become mine; but only after God introduced me to some incredible women.

Susan Hunt says, “Many women today are overwhelmed with the complexity of Life.  They are floundering because they have no focal point. When their expectations are not realized, their emotional equilibrium erupts. When career, marriage, or children do not give them the security or significance they anticipated, their confidence evaporates. They are influenced by the unrealistic images of life and womanhood portrayed in the media. Their purpose in life is shaped by their desire to attain the personal happiness they are told they deserve. So, they are not only disappointed by unrealized expectations, they are defeated.”

I can bring God glory by ministering to those who feel defeated, for I have been there. I can be willing to take a phone call, to listen, to stop, and be present. Women long to be nurtured; 100 years ago, women did ALL of life together, but now we live in a world where Skype and Facebook are the closest some get to a support system. When they are encouraged, they rejoice and flourish; it pumps spiritual adrenaline into their souls. “Gracious words are like honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body” (Prov. 16:24).

Why are we not willing to minister?

Resentment, the product of a self-centered approach to life. The very fact that God has entered into a relationship with us should radically change the way we relate to others. We resent interruptions, and our own age, threatened by those who look, act, and seem younger/older. Instead, we should embrace each new life stage, helping to usher others into the same stage with grace.

Insecurity, lack of feeling safe; some retreat into a cave after experiencing pain while pushing to conquer the mountains they faced alone. We don’t want to risk getting involved in the lives of others because failure is real. Rejection, criticism, and guilt devastate. The Lord provides safety, and we must strive to do the same. For He will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. (Ps. 27:5). Maybe you have been allowed to conquer that mountain so that you can show others it can be done.

The combination of spiritual maturity and life experience qualifies you to nurture, encourage, and equip. Don’t be fooled, it is not the same as pampering and indulging; we are not trying to be someone else’s god. Aim for a humble approach - not one that is passive or full of a syrupy sweetness, but one of rugged obedience.

Obedience brings our life under the authority of God’s Word; in it, we are able to offer verbal affirmation expressing kindness. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32) If you are seeking to grow and apply the Word, then you are qualified. You don’t have to be a theological expert or have reached ‘super sainthood.’

Connect with other women; exercise spiritual stewardship over each new day that God gives you.

Check out our website for more information on ways to connect through the Women’s Ministry.

Many blessings,

CJ Crenshaw

Interested in becoming a Women’s Ministry blog contributor? 

Contact Jenn Dennard ( ) for details.

Interested in joining the Women’s Ministry team? Visit our Teams page to discover our various committees and which one might be the best fit for you.

In need of prayer or a fellow woman in Christ to chat with? The Women’s Ministry team would love to be there for you. Email Kim Edde ( ) to connect with one of our team members.

Stay up to date with Women’s Ministry events here, and missions opportunities here.

Connect with Women's Ministry via Facebook and/or Instagram @bhbc_women

Joy Comes in the Morning

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

I often have trouble sleeping. Like many women, I lay in the dark and all my thoughts begin rushing to my mind. What is my schedule tomorrow? What time is my son’s baseball game? Did I sign that permission slip for the field trip? Did my husband set his alarm? Did I close the garage? I wonder what will happen on tomorrow’s episode of This is Us….

Can you see where I’m going here? I think as women we tend to constantly plan and be on top of what is going on with our family, our careers, our friends and the world in general. And often those thoughts become very weighty. I remember distinctly lying in bed as tears fell when I realized in my mama heart that something was not quite right with my youngest son. He was about three years old and just didn’t seem to be developing as he should. In the darkness, in the night, I knew, and I cried.  

A diagnosis for you, your spouse or one of your family members can be weighty. For me, in darkness, at night, those heavy feelings become as heavy as an elephant. Tears begin to flow. Even scripture says “weeping may come in the night …” (Psalm 30:5). One commentator I read said, “Our wearied nerve and brain seem unable to bear up under pressure. Our pulse throbs and fevered, restless body refuses to help in the work of endurance.” As I lay there, my soul is weary and dark. But oh, there is hope!

Our God does not leave us. David continued to write in that verse I mentioned earlier, “but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). YES! Joy. After the struggle. After the sleepless nights, there is joy. The morning after the struggle and the heavy elephant sitting on me, light shines. The sun comes up and sheds light on a new day.

Maybe those financial struggles that keep you awake at night are still there in the morning, but there is always hope in Jesus. Maybe that child who is causing heartbreak is still a prodigal, but you can approach the throne of the Savior with joy on his behalf. Maybe that dream of marriage and family is dying after being single for so long, but God is longing to bring joy in the sunrise. The light of a new day and the hope of what is to come is never farther than a whispered prayer. He hears our cries. He sees our tears. He gives us joy.

Just this past Sunday, Pastor Mike mentioned this in the book of Lamentations. He spoke of the prophet Jeremiah being so weary because of all that had happened to him as he watched his world crumbling around him. But in Lamentations 3, starting in verse 21, he writes, “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:21-23, emphasis mine).

And joy can lead to laughter. In Ecclesiastes 3:2-4, we are reminded there is a time for everything: “A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.”

Yes, we can cry. Yes, we are to weep, to experience that brokenness; but we are also to harvest, to heal, to dance and to laugh. I love to laugh to most of all of those. It is my absolute favorite thing to do - laugh until my sides hurt. Laughter is truly the best medicine.

No, my problems have not gone away. My son has a diagnosis that he will live with for the rest of his life. And this may cause struggle in his life and ours. More tears will fall in the night. But my son is the epitome of joy! His smile in infectious. He spreads love to everyone he meets. And his laughter is contagious. And my joy always comes in the morning.

When was the last time you turned those tears to joy and laughter? Take some time and bask in the joy the Father wants to pour down on you. Join the Women’s Ministry for a free night of laughter on April 25^th at C3: Comedy, Cake and Coffee with Kerri Pomarolli. We all need a good laugh!

Kim Reed

Interested in becoming a Women’s Ministry blog contributor? 

Contact Jenn Dennard ( ) for details.

Interested in joining the Women’s Ministry team? Visit our Teams page to discover our various committees and which one might be the best fit for you.

In need of prayer or a fellow woman in Christ to chat with? The Women’s Ministry team would love to be there for you. Email Kim Edde ( ) to connect with one of our team members.

Stay up to date with Women’s Ministry events here, and missions opportunities here.

Connect with Women's Ministry via Facebook and/or Instagram @bhbc_women