Two weeks ago, I was given the opportunity (as long as I had my passport!) to remind women in the remote community of Pelican Narrows, Saskatchewan, that they are Women of Worth (W.O.W.!) through a Women’s Conference. We thought, at tops, the number of women who would attend would number around 30. But, we were blown away when the Facebook sign-up began to number over 100. We scrambled, looking for more gifts, more quilts, more cups, more food, more…yes! In the end, we had 128 women of all different ages from Pelican and 5 “nearby”–within a 5-hour drive–communities, and God provided all our needs.
The women enjoyed the conference immensely, and were greatly encouraged in knowing that their Creator God loved them so very much. In addition, they received gifts. We had gathered quilts, bags, scarves, and door prizes to bless them with. I received a gift, too. The gift I received was not tangible, however, but it was the ability to see God’s Word in action. As the body of Christ served together, I was reminded over and over the words from 1st Corinthians 12:
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them.5 There are different ways of serving, but the same Lord is served. 6 There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to all for their particular service. 7 The Spirit’s presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all.
You see, this conference was the work of four different groups coming together to share God’s love. There was a team from Minnesota (with stragglers from Nebraska and Canada), two local missionaries, a group of 11 young people from Soul Edge United Kingdom, and many local Christian women from the community. (Let’s not forget the men from Minneapolis, Soul Edge, Pennsylvania and Canada who helped prepare and serve meals.) We met for the first time the night before the conference. You can imagine the differences represented here, and wonder like I did how God would work all of this together. But He did…in amazing ways!
Every person involved in the conference had different gifts, but without each one, the results would have been a little (or a lot) less than what God desired. So it is, 1st Corinthians reads, with the body of Christ:
12 Christ is like a single body, which has many parts; it is still one body, even though it is made up of different parts. 13 In the same way, all of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free, have been baptized into the one body by the same Spirit, and we have all been given the one Spirit to drink…18 As it is, however, God put every different part in the body just as he wanted it to be.19 There would not be a body if it were all only one part! 20 As it is, there are many parts but one body… 25 And so there is no division in the body, but all its different parts have the same concern for one another. 26 If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it; if one part is praised, all the other parts share its happiness.
In the end, all of the women were blessed: conference-goers, speakers, teachers, pray-ers, those who gave testimonies, did skits, presented workshops, sang, prepared meals, tied scarves, registered…served. All was done with great joy in the Lord, wanting to encourage each other through Jesus’ love by using the gifts He had given them.
God has given you a gift, too. I pray that you are using it to bring Him glory and to encourage others. As you do, you will find in return that God has a gift for you that is far more than what you ever expected or imagined.
God bless your week! Remember, you are God’s Woman of Worth!
~ Jeanne
Beautiful Savior, Beautiful Women 