A Special Treat From the Father

One evening, the loving Father gathered some of his children together & said, “I have a special treat for you tonight!”

Magically, he took them to Nepal and showed them a young Mom. From a Hindu background, and having borne 3 daughters but no sons, she found her identity not from her Nepali culture but from being a daughter of her Father. Confident & purposefully she strides through her days, training other young Nepali ladies about the incredible freedom of being in the family!

Then they were transported to Egypt. They saw secret gatherings of thousands of Muslims who’d had visions and dreams of Jesus Christ and were now also in the family.

Then to China where a woman falsely accused and under house arrest, began seeing her captors as her children that she loved dearly. She experienced her Father in that room with her each day of that house arrest, infusing her spirit with hope, with love, yes even with joy. And when she and her husband were finally freed, government officials in their homeland, with tears in their eyes, recognized the miracle they had witnessed.

Then they landed in Uganda, East Africa, and saw Christian women befriending the wives of soldiers, sharing meals, learning their hearts’ cries.

And on to Jordan, where Christians reached out in love to the thousands and thousands of refugees who had fled incredible violence and destruction in their homeland. They saw hundreds come into the family! Shortly afterwards they moved to new homes around the world taking the wonderful news of this family with them! And the Christians in Jordan realized that they, in helping these refugees, were themselves totally revived in their love for the Father.

The Father transported his children east to the Philippines. His daughters there operate a mandatory parental-training program for the thousands of slum dwellers of Manila, sharing practical knowledge and the news about the family they can join. Many of them have, and now know hope and freedom as children of the Father.

At the end of this evening, the Father said to his children, “Well, what do you think? I’ve given you this special treat tonight so that you may know that I am still really active all over the world. And so that you may have confidence that I am also working in Canada. Let my love and power strengthen you as you go through each day. I’m doing infinitely more that you can imagine!”

(This special treat from the Father was the Celebration of Nations that took place during the Women Together International Leadership Forum, “CALLED: It’s Time for More: Equipping Women for Purpose, Passion, & Influence”. October 2018)

In our early ministry years, I twisted an easy and light yoke into something cumbersome and weighty. I believed I had to excel at every single thing because my faulty logic dictated that everything depended on me. That was a lie. No one excels at everything, not any bible-time or modern-day person, not Moses, not Joshua, not you or me. There is great freedom in knowing that while we carry responsibility, it is ultimately not up to us.

In Exodus 17:8-13, Moses commands Joshua to lead Israel in the battle against the Amalek people. Joshua is an assistant to Moses and will eventually succeed him. Joshua is the soldier wielding the sword, but Moses promises to stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in his hand. Moses and Joshua knew and respected their specific roles in God’s plan.

We engage in a battle every time we open the church doors or speak God’s truth to a friend, and we have different roles in planting the seeds of faith. Some of us plant, others water, but it is always God that gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6-9).

On the day of the battle, Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. We don’t know why Moses invited the other men to accompany him; we only know he did. As Joshua and his men fought the Amalek army, Moses stood with the staff of God in his hand as promised. When he held up his hand, Israel prevailed. When he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. Then, Moses got tired.

Ministry is exhausting. E-X-H-A-U-S-T-I-N-G. It is spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically taxing. There were times I feared I couldn’t continue, not because I lacked desire for God or because of hardship, but because I was spent— entirely and utterly fatigued.

But Moses’ hand grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun” Ex 17:12.

Moses was not strong enough. Moses needed help. Likewise, we must resist pride and welcome friends into our struggles. Joshua could not win without Moses uplifting his hands. Moses could not uphold his arms or even stand upright without Aaron and Hur. Some plant, others water, but God gives the growth.

God may use us in many God-glorifying, Christ-exalting, Holy Spirit empowered ways, but the victory belongs to the Lord. It is not up to you. It’s not even about you just like this passage in Exodus is not really about Moses or Joshua. It’s about God, and God is building his church. God is bringing the victory.
“And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword,” Ex 17:13.

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CALLED International Leadership Forum will wrap up on Saturday, Oct. 27
with an inspiring session led by Judy Rushfeldt on the topic of The Leader’s Destiny. We interviewed Judy to find out more about her own leadership journey, the leadership struggles she sees in other women, and why she’s excited about CALLED.

Judy, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your ministry?

Judy: I’m an author, speaker, and publisher of a women’s outreach e-magazine LifetoolsforWomen.com. Although I teach and preach at my local church, my ministry over the past 25 years has focused on women. My passion is to equip women to step out of their comfort zones and cultivate the courage, character, and faith necessary to fulfill their potential in Christ.

When did you first sense a call to leadership? What prompted you to respond to that call?

Judy: It wasn’t any one event or moment in time; in fact, I had no desire, plan, or vision to become a leader. After my career in magazine journalism, I went to Bible college, after which I was asked to teach Bible studies and lead a women’s ministry. Then I started receiving invitations for speaking engagements at women’s events and churches – all of which were way out of my comfort zone. As God opened more opportunities, and I continued to step into them, a passion emerged to see women to become whole in Christ and fulfill their divine potential. And to my surprise, I grew to love leadership.

What do you think is the number one struggle women face in leadership today?

Judy: I think the number one struggle for all women is silencing the inner critic that tells us all the reasons why we don’t measure up – that we’re not good enough, gifted enough, smart enough – to pursue the dreams God has placed in our heart. If we focus on those inner lies, they will rob us of our faith, confidence, and courage, ultimately immobilizing us from becoming all that God created us to be. We need to remember that our calling comes from God. Our ability is in Him, and whatever He has called us to do, He will empower us to do.

Tell us a bit about your talk.

Judy: My talk is entitled, The Leader’s Destiny: It’s time for More. Purpose is not a destination; it’s a path. God wants us to be open to dream new dreams and step into places of greater vision, effectiveness, and influence. I will be sharing about how to press through the obstacles that hold us back, embrace change, and move forward on the pathway of purpose.

What excites you about CALLED? What are you hoping to take away from the conference?

Judy: I’m excited to spend time with women who love God and desire to fulfill their leadership call.

I would love to walk away from the conference with new friendships with other leaders, a deeper revelation of our Father’s faithfulness, and greater passion and determination to step into more and follow God wherever He leads. And I want every woman who attends to walk away feeling more equipped and empowered to fulfill her God-inspired dreams.

What would you like to say to women who are still “on the fence” about attending CALLED?

Judy: If you are longing for more – more vision, more faith, and more empowerment to step into places of greater effectiveness and influence in your calling, you don’t want to miss CALLED. You’ll be encouraged and equipped for the MORE that God has for you!

This week we’re interviewing Friday afternoon’s keynote speaker at CALLED: Melissa Sharpe. Melissa is a writer, podcaster, and speaker. She will be sharing about how adversity can advance our calling.

Melissa, what can you tell us about yourself and your ministry?

Melissa: I am a wife and mother to two young daughters. They both look like my husband but act like me, so I often feel like I’m parenting myself. I’m also a writer. Writing can sometimes feel a bit isolating, but I’ve surrounded myself with a village of like-minded, in-the-trenches souls who help me to gain great insights. They are the best part of my ministry! I write from real-life experiences and share my most raw truths through various creative outlets in ministry in North America.

How did your leadership journey begin?

Melissa: I first sensed a call to leadership in my early twenties. It was a dawning of sorts in my soul. I didn’t know what that leadership role would look like (because leadership comes in many different forms), but it was plain and clear that God would use my specific gifts. I believe that God doesn’t hide His will for us. He gifts us specifically and uniquely from the onset of breath. Responding to the call is the hurdle. I responded to the call upon my life by simply surrendering because I failed at anything else I did outside of my gifting.

From your experience, what’s the number one struggle women face in leadership today?

Melissa: I believe the greatest struggle women face in leadership is fighting the beast of their own self-esteem. We exist in a world that attempts to drive home the ideal of being self-confident. I don’t believe as women in leadership we can be self-confident—we need to be God-confident , trusting He will accomplish all He set out to do within and around us.

You are a plenary speaker at the CALLED International Leadership Forum this October. Tell us a bit about your talk.

Melissa: During the Called Leadership Forum I will be speaking on the topic of challenge during the process of the leader’s journey. Every leader walks a journey fraught with adversity—my own included. The timing is perfect as well for I have just come out of a season of great challenge!

What excites you about CALLED? What are you hoping to take away from the conference?

Melissa: I am most excited about providing a sacred space for women to share their story. I believe every soul has a story and every soul deeply desires a safe place to tell their story. The truth is that we learn the most from the stories of others—the Scriptures are just that: story after story meant to encourage, challenge, and help us discover God on a deeper level. I know I will take away the precious stories of others who trusted us enough to share them.

A number of our readers are still “on the fence” about attending CALLED. What would you like to say to them?

Melissa: I would say that indifference can be just as great a spirit-crusher as fear. You will never regret the choice to push into God by opening yourself up to Him.

Last week we began our interview series with the keynote speakers of CALLED…It’s Time for More. We started the series with a delightful conversation with Margaret Gibb, Founder and Director of Women Together.
This week we continue our series with Heidi McLaughlin, an international speaker and the author of several books and Bible studies. Heidi will be leading the morning session on Friday, October 26 on the topic of The Leader’s Preparation.

This week we continue our series with Heidi McLaughlin, an international speaker and the author of several books and Bible studies. Heidi will be leading the morning session on Friday, October 26 on the topic of The Leader’s Preparation.

Heidi, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your ministry?

Heidi: Over 21 years ago I established my ministry HEART CONNECTIONS – Connecting Women to God and to Each Other. Twice I have been widowed, so I know the pain of struggling through adversity alone. We need each other! The thrust of my ministry is to help women fall in love with God and allow that love to infiltrate every room in their life. Those “heart connections” are the cords that unleash the beauty and fulfillment of God’s power.

When did you first sense a call to leadership? What prompted you to respond to that call?

Heidi: At the age of 32 when I became a Christ follower, I was asked to teach a Bible study to divorced women. Soon broken women were flocking to me asking for wisdom until I felt overwhelmed with inadequacy. As I lamented on this dilemma, a wise woman told me, “Heidi, those women are coming to you because God knows you can handle it.” I took those words to heart and I’ve been leading, teaching, mentoring, and speaking since.

What do you think is the number one struggle women face in leadership today?

Heidi: Leaders struggle with the same issues as all other women, but even more so because they have a greater sense of responsibility. Their plates are full and their souls are empty. There are too many demands and distractions in their lives, and they’re trying to do it all in hopes of feeling valued as a leader. Many leaders become “lone rangers” and don’t take time to nurture their relationship with God, and many feel it’s frivolous to carve out time for friendships. Finding balance that satisfies the soul and fulfills their call is the ongoing battle for the modern-day leader.

You will be leading the Friday morning session at the CALLED International Leadership Forum this October. Tell us a bit about your talk.

Heidi: My talk is called, “The Leader’s Preparation.” I will be sharing about God-sized assignments and how they require God-sized character produced through daily spiritual formation. Together, we will walk through the four elements of audacious, God-sized leadership. We will talk about the importance of solitude, sacred rest, and relationships. We’ll also take time to share the joys and sorrows of leadership in dynamic discussion groups.

What excites you about CALLED? What are you hoping to take away from the conference?

Heidi: I’m excited to be in the same room as other leaders who are on a journey to develop their leadership skills and call on their life. I fully believe the first-ever International Leadership conference in Canada will open doors for greater understanding of what it means to be a leader in this fast-paced global generation. I want to take away more passion for glorifying God, build more God-honouring relationships, and re-align God’s leadership call on my life.

What would you like to say to women who are still “on the fence” about attending CALLED?

Heidi: This is your golden moment to connect with exceptional leaders, teachers, and mentors across Canada and internationally. More importantly, you will learn what it takes to be a spiritual leader in this fast-paced, diverse, and controversial world. Be ready for spiritual encouragement and grounding.>

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