"I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith." - 2 Timothy 4:7
I am so happy that our new "Iron-Spirited Women's Fellowship Group" began in March of this year! At first, the idea for a fellowship group seemed to come from a personal desire and need to connect with like-minded women of faith. However, it became obvious that the idea of stepping into an up front spiritual leadership role again was a call and urging on my heart by God.
How about you? Do you have an idea or sense that God is calling and/or urging you to step up and assume a spiritual leadership role somehow? How do we know, when it is God calling and urging us, and not just from a personal desire or need alone? How can we be sure God is calling and equipping us for leadership for a time and a season?
As I was testing my discernment and prayed about this new ministry for women who have or desire to have a "marathon mindset of faith," God brought two women to me who helped confirm that the idea for this ministry/fellowship was a call on my heart by the Holy Spirit.
The first woman was my niece Andrea, who knows me very well and always speaks truth in love to me. The second was Kathe Wunnenberg, an author, founding director of www.hopelifters.com and a new "sister in Christ," who is the one who told me I was an "iron-spirited woman with a marathon mindset of faith to finish well."
I trust both of these women of faith and they helped me confirm (two witnesses) that this new ministry role is God's call on my heart. I share their insights, wisdom and encouragement with you now, perhaps their words are meant for you, as well . . .
October 27, 2021
“…since your spiritual gifts are from God, then there should be no ego involved. If it is a gift that puts you “up front” then that is by God's design, not your manipulating the spot light.
Your gifts are your responsibility to cultivate, while trusting where they take you (again, that may mean they put you "in charge" or you become "the face" of something). As long as your heart remains focused on serving God and others, I think if you are put up front then that is probably what God made you for, at least for a time and a season.
More on the idea of gifts being a responsibility to nurture for the purpose of serving God and others--what God gives you isn't of your own doing. In fact, it is completely out of your control. Don't hide those gifts that put you up front. God needs leaders.
You expressed that you are often uncomfortable in the spot light, but others seem to always be moving you towards that place of leadership.
The image that keeps coming to my mind is that you should not "hide your light under a bushel." It seems to m, if God has lit a fire and passion in you to fellowship and mentor other women of faith, it would be a shame to keep it hidden; the act of hiding it is more about you than letting it shine, drawing attention to yourself and to the LORD." - Andrea
March 6, 2022
"Dear Angie and fellow “iron-spirited women,”
I’m writing to you from Arizona and am so excited that you are gathering today. God has a special purpose and plan for your group and for you, personally.
Regardless of where you are in your life or journey with Jesus, I believe God wants all of us to finish well! What does that mean? Because I’m a sports mom of male college athletes working out has been a part of our son’s lives for years. Although I don’t work out with the intention and rigor they do, they inspire me.
One day when they asked when I was going to start working out, I blurted out,
‘’I’m an iron woman in the spirit with a marathon mindset.” My sons shook their heads and gave me ‘that look’, wondering what I meant.
I could envision myself spiritually ripped and running with God’s armor on in the marathon of life. I could see others running beside me and hear our chants, as we crossed the finish line together: “We finished the good fight, we finished the race, we kept the faith!” Add crowd cheers, confetti and lots of balloons. But, the best part of what I envisioned was being greeted by God Himself, face to face, feeling His embrace and hearing His words, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
I want to fight the good fight. I want to finish the race. I want to keep the faith!
I want to finish well and encourage those before me, beside me and behind me to finish well too. Are you fighting the good fight, keeping the faith, accompanied by other 'iron-spirited' women?" - Kathe
I am so happy that our new "Iron-Spirited Women's Fellowship Group" began in March of this year! At first, the idea for a fellowship group seemed to come from a personal desire and need to connect with like-minded women of faith. However, it became obvious that the idea of stepping into an up front spiritual leadership role again was a call and urging on my heart by God.
How about you? Do you have an idea or sense that God is calling and/or urging you to step up and assume a spiritual leadership role somehow? How do we know, when it is God calling and urging us, and not just from a personal desire or need alone? How can we be sure God is calling and equipping us for leadership for a time and a season?
As I was testing my discernment and prayed about this new ministry for women who have or desire to have a "marathon mindset of faith," God brought two women to me who helped confirm that the idea for this ministry/fellowship was a call on my heart by the Holy Spirit.
The first woman was my niece Andrea, who knows me very well and always speaks truth in love to me. The second was Kathe Wunnenberg, an author, founding director of www.hopelifters.com and a new "sister in Christ," who is the one who told me I was an "iron-spirited woman with a marathon mindset of faith to finish well."
I trust both of these women of faith and they helped me confirm (two witnesses) that this new ministry role is God's call on my heart. I share their insights, wisdom and encouragement with you now, perhaps their words are meant for you, as well . . .
October 27, 2021
“…since your spiritual gifts are from God, then there should be no ego involved. If it is a gift that puts you “up front” then that is by God's design, not your manipulating the spot light.
Your gifts are your responsibility to cultivate, while trusting where they take you (again, that may mean they put you "in charge" or you become "the face" of something). As long as your heart remains focused on serving God and others, I think if you are put up front then that is probably what God made you for, at least for a time and a season.
More on the idea of gifts being a responsibility to nurture for the purpose of serving God and others--what God gives you isn't of your own doing. In fact, it is completely out of your control. Don't hide those gifts that put you up front. God needs leaders.
You expressed that you are often uncomfortable in the spot light, but others seem to always be moving you towards that place of leadership.
The image that keeps coming to my mind is that you should not "hide your light under a bushel." It seems to m, if God has lit a fire and passion in you to fellowship and mentor other women of faith, it would be a shame to keep it hidden; the act of hiding it is more about you than letting it shine, drawing attention to yourself and to the LORD." - Andrea
March 6, 2022
"Dear Angie and fellow “iron-spirited women,”
I’m writing to you from Arizona and am so excited that you are gathering today. God has a special purpose and plan for your group and for you, personally.
Regardless of where you are in your life or journey with Jesus, I believe God wants all of us to finish well! What does that mean? Because I’m a sports mom of male college athletes working out has been a part of our son’s lives for years. Although I don’t work out with the intention and rigor they do, they inspire me.
One day when they asked when I was going to start working out, I blurted out,
‘’I’m an iron woman in the spirit with a marathon mindset.” My sons shook their heads and gave me ‘that look’, wondering what I meant.
I could envision myself spiritually ripped and running with God’s armor on in the marathon of life. I could see others running beside me and hear our chants, as we crossed the finish line together: “We finished the good fight, we finished the race, we kept the faith!” Add crowd cheers, confetti and lots of balloons. But, the best part of what I envisioned was being greeted by God Himself, face to face, feeling His embrace and hearing His words, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
I want to fight the good fight. I want to finish the race. I want to keep the faith!
I want to finish well and encourage those before me, beside me and behind me to finish well too. Are you fighting the good fight, keeping the faith, accompanied by other 'iron-spirited' women?" - Kathe
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