(This is the beginning of something new we will be doing going forward. My wife, Pastor Elaine Kiefer is a very accomplished speaker and teacher. She has been my partner in ministry for nearly 49 years. She pastored our churches with me and , as we began to travel the world she has been a powerful voice around the world for the cause of Christ. Soon we will have a new section to our sight called the Woman’s Corner. As time goes on it will contain many things designed to minister to woman. For now, I know you will enjoy her blog no matter what your gender! Bill)
I have been encouraged by some to write what God has given me, and in prayer I felt that writing here on our blog would be a good place to start. So, this will be a “women’s corner” where I will share from a woman’s perspective.
I believe that women are called to make a difference in their world. We are called to be faithful where we are. Faithful means to be trusted, reliable, and dependable. When we do the little things that matter, but that go unnoticed, and do what needs to be done without looking for recognition, we will have an impact on those around us, and we can affect our world.
Women have always had the strength to do what is needed, which is why the devil has fought so hard to oppress women and keep them down. In Genesis 3:15 he was told that woman would play a major role in bringing about his defeat, so from the beginning there has been “enmity between the devil and woman”. They were not considered as important, but God raised up many who changed the course of history as they did what needed to be done. Some of them are mentioned, but there are others whose names we don’t even know. I think of Miriam, Rahab, Ruth, Deborah, the Shunamite woman, and Queen Esther to name a few. Some of them were not even Jewish, but God used them for His purpose.
When Jesus came, He elevated women to a place of respect. He had women who supported His ministry, who travelled with Him, and women that He ministered to. One such woman is found in John chapter 4. She was a Samaritan, a hated enemy of the Jews, and a woman who was probably shunned in her village. Jesus talked with her, told her that He knew who she was, and revealed to her that He was the Messiah. I don’t know of many other scriptures where Jesus told people that He was the Messiah, but He told this woman, and she returned to her village and brought many out to meet Jesus. Talk about affecting your world! Many believed in Jesus because of the testimony of this woman, and we don’t even know her name.
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, I have been reading several books about the American Revolution. One series is called Defiant Ones by Heather Blanton. This is a series of 8 books, each about a woman who manifested courage and strength in a difficult time. Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her husband John and encouraged him to “remember the ladies”. Prudence Wright led a group of women to intercept a British courier. When they met him at a bridge, he said, “I will not be stopped by a gaggle of silly women”, but they were women with guns and pitchforks. They obtained important information which helped the militia. Another woman was Penelope Barker, who rallied women in her town to sign their own declaration to boycott British tea and goods. It has been called “the Edenton Tea Party” after the Boston Tea Party. When she confronted a British soldier trying to steal her horse, she stood up against him with a sword in her hand and he relented. He said, “The Sons of Liberty could take a lesson in courage from you madame.” Over the course of history, women have acted as spies, led armies, worked and fought for freedom and justice, and have been a voice for those who have no voice.
Not all of us will be called to such dramatic feats as these, but we have an enemy to stand up to, and we can refuse to let him take our families, our nation, or our things. God calls us to be faithful in our everyday lives and to influence the world we live in today. Proverbs 31 is a picture of a woman who makes a difference in her world and in the lives of those around her. She is called virtuous, which means: a force, power, and strong. It is the same word translated might in Zechariah 4:6 which says, “not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord of Hosts”. This woman is an encourager. She cares for her household, preparing them for the future. She ministers to the needy. She speaks with wisdom and kindness. She does a lot, but she is not praised for what she does. She is praised for who she is and because she fears the Lord.
How can you make a difference in your world? Where has God called you today? Do you work? Are you a stay-at-home wife and mom? Do you think you have nothing to offer? Look in front of you. Who can you be a blessing to today? A kind word or a smile can change someone’s day. Pray for those around you. Look for opportunities to share the gospel in word and deed. Be a light in your world. Be someone who pokes holes in the darkness so the light can shine through.
Make a difference in your world today.
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