Writings from the Global Office

Writings from the Global Office

Delight in Treasure

As a child, I remember desperately searching for hidden or lost treasure. In my mind, the treasure resembled beautiful, shiny jewels of various colors nestled within some old rickety treasure box buried somewhere in the dirt. Maybe this treasure would be found alongside a riverbed or in the sand of the beach. In the mind of this child, I always believed I would find a treasure somewhere.

As I grew up I loved listening to fables shared by my parents and grandparents. These stories came alive for me and my siblings as we clung to every word believing these stories of hidden treasures were real. All in fun, hidden clues were planted in my mind, leading me to the expectation of an overflowing surprise of dazzling, sparkling wonders of joy. Oh, how I longed to find treasure. These clues would lead me on endless paths, hunting for such things that never truly existed. But, in my mind these jewels were real - a treasure I painted in a mental picture of exquisite beauty that would last for a lifetime.

When we humbly bow before God, He gives us real treasures. He also allows us to carry His own treasures, which are very dear to Him. Examples of these treasures are His glory, His power, His Holy Spirit, and His message throughout His Word that we can carry to a lost and dying world. He freely gives His treasures while knowing that we could easily make mistakes, take all the credit, or completely miss the mark with these gems. God knows how imperfect and selfish we can be, but still He entrusts us with His treasures because He loves us.

God surrounds us with desirable treasure, leading us on paths of grace and mercy and providing all the supernatural help we can ever need to find it. He leads us on the pathway to eternal treasure that comes by allowing us to join Him in His Kingdom work. What an honor He bestows to those who seek Him and follow Him in obedience to His Word!

What a reward He gives us for having the faith and courage to step up and work beside Him. He makes our heart His home if we allow Him inside to live with us.

God will reveal His jewels of wisdom and love to you through refining moments just as He has done for me. I have learned this many times over and prayed for His treasure of wisdom, which He speaks of in James 1:5.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

(James 1:5 NIV)

I have found my greatest delight is in mining my treasure of Godly wisdom. In the creative process of spiritual truths, I have learned I can encourage, strengthen, and nourish others while inspiring my audience to search for their own delights of His treasure. I have learned through God’s Word which is an overflowing treasure chest of abundant jewels just waiting to be gazed upon when opened by us.

I shudder to think of the treasure I would have missed out on if I had never searched, prayed and asked for His Godly wisdom He so generously gives; if I had not opened God’s own treasure chest given to me: the Bible.

By humbling myself to God, He poured out His treasure on me generously without finding fault, just as He said He would do. Delight yourself in God’s treasure today. He will give you the desires of your heart.

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart.

(Psalm 37:4 NKJV)

Taken from the book “Fuel for Life” Abundant Living through Daily Coaching by Kimberly Ann Hobbs.

Kimberly Hobbs

Founder and Executive Director, Women World Leaders kimberly@womenworldleaders.com

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Biblical Profiles

Aquila and Priscilla: Journeying for the Lord

The first sixteen years of my marriage, my husband and I moved our young family from city to city as my husband built his career and we followed God’s lead. It was a time of constant new beginnings and all that came with those new beginnings: thrill and stress, loneliness and family bonding. At that time, I got a bracelet with “God charms” as a physical reminder that God was in control. One of the charms was a sailboat, reminding me that I would go wherever God would take me.

If Priscilla had had a God bracelet, she too would have had a sailboat as a charm!

We meet Aquila and Priscilla for the first time in Acts 18, but their story begins long before that. Aquila was a native of Pontus, a region of northern Asia Minor; but he and his wife Priscilla had lived in Rome until they had to move. The Roman emperor, Claudius, had, in a show of racism, forced all the Jews out of Rome in A.D. 49, so the couple relocated to Corinth where they supported themselves by working in the tentmaking industry – probably not knowing the adventure that God had for them!

Paul met Priscilla and Aquila when he came to Ephesus on his 2nd Missionary Journey. There he found a warm welcome at both the home and the business of this godly couple. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall as the three of them worked together as missionaries and as tentmakers and lived together as roommates! Imagine the conversations as they shared stories of God’s faithfulness and saw many become followers of Jesus Christ!

It wasn’t all a time of pleasure, however, as opposition to the gospel of Jesus Christ grew. Scripture tells us that many Jews opposed Paul and became abusive toward him – and I’m sure this affected Priscilla and Aquila as well. They were a godly couple caught in the middle. In Acts 18:9-10 (NIV) it is recorded that the Lord spoke to Paul, “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” The Bible, however, does not record that Priscilla and Aquilla got this blessing and assurance. It must have been a scary time!

As opposition grew, after Paul had been in Corinth for about 18 months, all three of them left the city. Priscilla and Aquilla hopped on their proverbial sailboat, and traveled to Ephesus, where God led them to establish their new home and minister to the people there. They used their home for evangelism and were mighty vessels for the gospel, even teaching Apollos, a very gifted preacher and apologist in the early church, of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul later wrote from Ephesus this sentiment to the Corinthians: “Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.” (1 Corinthians 16:19, NIV)

By A.D. 57, we know that this missionary couple had followed God’s call back to Rome after the death of Claudius. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, sent well wishes to his good friends: “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.” (Romans 16:3-4, NIV)

The final mention we have of Aquila and Priscilla in the Bible is from A.D. 66 or 67, when we find out that God had led them back to Ephesus. In Paul’s 2nd letter to Timothy (who was in Ephesus), he requests that Timothy “greet Priscilla and Aquila.” (2 Timothy 4:19, NIV)

While we don’t know many of the specifics of Aquila and Priscilla’s life, we do see an overwhelming degree of loyalty that they exhibited to each other, to their brothers and sisters in Christ, and to God Himself. As I think back on the places I have been and the people that God has placed in my life as I have traveled on my “sailboat,” I pray that I have been a force for good and a godly example to many. What about you? Are you willing to go where God calls you, trusting that the adventure is one you just can’t miss? Despite the danger, the discomfort, and the uncertainty, I don’t think that Aquila and Priscilla would have wanted to miss the journey!

Julie Jenkins

Teaching and Curriculum Leader

julie@womenworldleaders.com

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Jesus at the Center of Our Lives

When God Writes Your Story

He’s a good storyteller - He keeps us eager to turn the next page. Life with God is filled with the unexpected. Sometimes He gives us a future vision. And takes us on a winding journey, a path we could have never fathomed on our own. Sometimes He only gives us the next clue. And little by little His intended destination is finally revealed to us.

We cannot completely understand God’s ways, but they are always better than our own.

'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’

(Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV)

As we surrender our future chapters to Him,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

(Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)

He redeems the past chapters of our story to glorify Himself.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

(Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)

And no matter the circumstance, He will use it for good.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

(Romans 8:28 NIV)

Do you trust the next chapter of your life? Do you know the author of your story? Do you have a personal relationship with God? Are you obeying God’s direction for your life?

God loves us and has a special story for our life, but sin has separated us from God resulting in our pursuit of living a life God never intended for us. The Good News is Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins to reconcile our relationship with God. If we repent and believe this, if we turn from our self-directed life and towards God, we can experience God’s plan for our lives and eternal life in Heaven just as Jesus was resurrected.

Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.’

(John 14:5-7 NIV)

A new life, from self-centered to Christ-centered. A sinner saved by grace through faith, transformed into a saint indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

We’re not promised an easy or comfortable life free from suffering---but if we allow Christ to be the Lord of our life, we’re promised that our final chapter will be marked by an inheritance in Heaven with our King. And there is no ending more perfect than this.

The story we try to write for ourselves could never compare.Give God the pen.

Lauren Dean

Business and Missions Director

lauren@womenworldleaders.com

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Encountering God: Passion Prayers, Poems, & Promises

Following Forgiveness

Forgiveness moves us forward. A trail of fearless faith following God. Forgiveness means being free from the muck and mire of your sin.

And releasing those you who you are holding captive; bound to your own wrath-filled law.

Forgiveness is extending what is clearly not ours to give.As the gift of the ultimate forgiveness without retaliation or cost.It comes from wavelengths of infinite surrender to God.His forgiveness indwells us, enabling us to freely extend His mercy arms.

Forgiveness births the Lord’s fortitude within us, forging through the adversary of sin.

Forgiveness leads us forward into the freedom, enabling freedom to grow wildly in the courts of His presence.

Never forsaking His love, extending grace in unfathomable rivalries of pain.Surrenders and releases, allow the heavy chains to fall off.The foe of unforgiveness desires to steal, kill and destroy.While the sin of a hardened heart keeps us bound to the barriers of the past.

Fly free, child of God into the forest of forgiveness, walking through the darkness into mountains of His radical love.

Great leaps and bounds of faith and trust placed in the risen one, to provide for you during your forging into freedom lands of forgiveness.

On the mountaintops, in the riches of His glory, you will be able to experience God in intimacy.

Past illusions of God’s presence will become an ultimate reality of knowing the depths, treasures, and rivers of His all-encompassing love.

Carrie Christopher

Ministry Development Leader

carrie@womenworldleaders.com

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