DAY #4:  Delight in the Lord. (Time alone with God)

Spend thirty minutes today with God. Just you and God.  

Reflect. Pray. Listen. Praise. Ask. Seek.  Adore.

- Set aside an uninterrupted half hour. If you have small children, begin at  nap time. If you work, dedicate half hour of your lunch time in a solitary place. Find a solitary place, turn off your cell phone and don’t answer the telephone or doorbell. Set a timer for thirty minutes, and ignore the clocks until it rings.

- Make this half hour of solitary time with God fit your lifestyle – it might be spent on a solitary walk, on the porch swing, or in a quiet room of your home.  Solitary time for you might have to be early morning or late night. Just find a full half hour for time alone with Him.

 - No books. No people. Just you and God, Jesus spent solitary time with God.  Follow His example. Talk to God about your life, your future, your family, your concerns and joys. And listen carefully as God speaks to you.

I guarantee this will be the best half hour you’ve invested all week!

“Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.” Hebrews 4:16

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Find more ideas for deacon wives at Deacon Magazine(LifeWay) and Deacon wives—Fresh Ideas to Encourage Your Husband and the Church (B&H Publishing).

NEXT MONTH:  “31 Days to a Better Women’s Ministry”

Our Indiana Baptist ladies retreat is this weekend, and 800+ ladies will be coming to Indianapolis for a wonderful, inspiring weekend. It’s always a big highlight of the year. Will you pray for safe travel as they travel across our state? Snow is predicted!  

My breakout class:  The topic for my breakout class this year is “Terrycloth Christianity.” It’s a class for Christian leaders about Jesus’ style of leadership: servant leadership.  It begins with a fun “towel” fashion show. 

Ministers’ Wives Breakfast: One highlight of the retreat is a breakfast especially designed for pastor wives in our state. I’m delighted that we have one hundred pastors wives registered for our Ministers Wives Breakfast this Saturday! Pray for these important leaders who will attend–that God will use the event to encourage them, help them find new friendships, and inspire them.  I’ll get to recognize ten church planters’ wives, too.  Can’t wait! 

Each day this month, I’m blogging one simple idea to help you be a better deacon wife–ministry ideas, marital ideas, family ideas. Hope you enjoy them!

I’m at Highland Lakes Baptist Encampment today, leading an enjoyable time for spouses of the Indiana Baptist Convention Executive Board members. Pray for these important leaders. Here’s “Day Two” –

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Day #2 – Order personal business cards.

What?   Not a “business” card, actually, but a personal card that’s the size of a business card. 

What?  On your card, simply have the printer put your name and information you would share with someone you meet for ministry, such as an email address or phone number.  If you desire, you can add an attractive graphic or a favorite Scripture.  Some deacon wives I know print a short version of God’s plan of salvation on the back of the card.

Expense? This is a very inexpensive ministry tool.  Shop around and you may find a local business or internet printer who will print a box of 1000 business cards for $10-20. A thousand will last a long time.

Why? Here’s how you’ll use those cards.

- Try to give someone a card every day. When you’re watching for opportunities to invite people to your church or to minister to church members, you’ll find these little cards are valuable tools.

- Leave a card when you make an outreach visit, in-reach visit, hospital visit, homebound visit, new baby visit, bereavement call, etc.

- Give your card to a guest you meet at church. “Just call me if you have any questions about our church…or if you’d like to meet for coffee one day this week.”

- Give your card to a church member or guest who asks for prayer.  Jot a Scripture reference for encouragement on the back.

- Give your card to a person you meet who may be seeking a church home. For example, if you meet a woman in the grocery store line who mentions she’s just moved to town, invite her to your church, write down the time for worship and Bible study on the back of your card, and arrange to meet her at the front door.

- When you leave a ministry casserole for bereavement or illness. 

- Use them as gift cards for showers or parties.

Oh, we’re just getting started…you’ll be amazed at the ways you’ll use a personal business card for ministry purposes.  Order them today. Keep cards with you at all times, and be alert for ways you can use this simple tool to multiply ministry opportunities. 

 —
“…make the most of every opportunity.” Colossians 4:5 NLT

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For more ideas for deacon wives, see Deacon Wives (B&H Publishing), my newest book. 

IN MARCH, this blog will feature “31 days to a better women’s ministry.”

Here’s this month’s Fresh Ideas article:

Fresh Ideas for Winter Outreach

Sharing the Savior in the Snow

By Diana Davis

 “He directs the snow to fall on the earth…” Job 37:6

Whether you’re in Houston or Indianapolis, your church may have an occasional opportunity for sharing Jesus in the snow. A few fresh ideas:

We’re Open! Invest in a professional, brightly-colored sign or banner to display outdoors on questionable weather Sundays: “Let it snow! Join us for worship today at 11.”

Biggest Snowman in Kokomo! Build a gigantic snowman on the church lawn during the next big snow. Make a huge black hat, and gather accessories, buckets, snow shovels and ladders. A tree limb arm will hold a big sign: “God loves you snow much! Join us for worship Sunday at 11!” When the white seems right, send an email and phone tree message to invite church members to help. Some may bring trash bags of extra snow, if needed. You’ll enjoy fun Christian fellowship, and it may make the local paper’s front page!

Snow Fam. Build a snowfamily or a row of snowpeople on the church lawn—snowmen, snowgrandpas snowgirls, snowpets and so on. Each snow creature holds a sign inviting passersby to Sunday worship.

Snow Shoveling Party. During extended extreme weather, ask members to join deacons to shovel sidewalks for elderly church members and neighbors. Provide thermoses of hot cocoa for shovelers.   

Snow Soup. For snow parties, everyone brings cans of vegetables to add to huge, steaming soup pots.

Phones and  Escorts. Assign church members to call homebound church members during weather crises to assure their safety. Walk elderly folks to their car on slippery Sundays.

Coat Exchange. It’s like a cookie exchange, but warmer. Ask members to donate outgrown coats, place them on big coat racks, and invite everyone to help themselves. 

Hot Cocoa and Warm Teaching. Advertise a winter Bible study to feature a hot chocolate bar with all the trimmings. 

Mitten Tree. To collect warm socks and mittens for a local benevolence project, roll donated gloves and socks and hang like ornament balls on a tree.

Winter Sports. Take advantage of local opportunities for church-family winter fun, such as snow skiing, snowball wars, ice skating or sledding. Enjoy indoor sports during dreary weather months. Don’t have a gym? Rent a local facility for basketball, bowling, curling or volleyball tournaments. 

 Cancellation Policy. Make a plan for extreme weather cancellations. For example, one church cancels worship only for major power outages or if the governor mandates road closure. Post an announcement on the church’s answering machine and website within two hours of worship.

 God created the summer and the winter.  Praise Him in every season!

 ©Diana Davis is author of Fresh Ideas and Deacon Wives (B&H Publishing). See www.keeponshining.com

This photo shows what I  found on my dashboard. Here’s the story…

If your church is planning a Christmas brunch or luncheon, here’s a great idea to pamper your guests and share Jesus’ love, too.

I attended the annual Christmas luncheon at Northside Baptist in Indianapolis on Saturday. Your church may already do some version of this event, but members of the church volunteer to host a table for the event. They decorate their table with their Christmas dishes or beautiful paper dishes, centerpiece, favors, etc.  They also recruit their own table server (often her husband or friend) and invite guests to fill the table.  The beauty of this plan is that the luncheon becomes a wonderful outreach event. The music, decor and speaker all led culminated with an explanation of the real meaning of Christmas and God’s plan of salvation.

Here’s the unique idea they added to the  already wonderful event.  Men in the church volunteered to valet guests’ cars. The church driveway was blocked so each car that entered was channeled to the door, so they couldn’t park their own car.  The men had it organized perfectly, with envelopes for each set of keys and a system for finding the cars easily to retrieve them.  Everyone was delighted, of course.

When my car was returned after the luncheon, I found a card on the dashboard.  It was business card sized, and read,

It was a pleasure to see you today!  While parking your car, for you and your family I pray:  “Lord, may you, the God of hope, fill this one and her family with all joy as they trust in you, so they may overflow with hope   by the power of the Holy Spirit.     Romans 15:13.  In Jesus’ name I pray.”    

Now this is a big job, but what a blessing to the recipients! The gift of valeting ladies’ car is sweet, but that blessing card made it a true ministry in His name.  Write your own blessing cards, and show Jesus’ love for a special occasion.

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By the way, check out my article in today’s Baptist Press!

(a previously published article by Diana Davis of fresh ideas for your church Thanksgiving celebrations.)

It all began with some comments about turkey. Our church’s annual turkey dinner had grown stale. As one young couple stated, “There’s a limit to how many turkey dinners one can eat in a week!”  It was time to begin a new Thanksgiving tradition.

After dinner, lights were dimmed and the pastor led a meaningful candlelight Lord’s Supper, and we celebrated God’s greatest blessing. He directed the deacons or staff members to administer the elements to those at their table. This simple, solemn ceremony became an anticipated, well-attended tradition. And it was turkey-free. 

Looking for more fresh ideas for Thanksgiving?

A “Pie Squad Party” is a Thanksgiving celebration/ministry event. Partygoers load into cars to joyfully deliver gorgeous homemade pies to every church member who is homebound or living in a nursing home. Each member of the group signs a greeting card to leave with the pie, and after spending a few minutes to encourage and pray for the homebound friends, team members gather back at the church to enjoy the town’s biggest homemade cobbler.

“A Wall of Thanks” is a visual expression of thanks. At the beginning of November, use white paper to cover a focal wall in the church foyer. Invite church members of all ages to use markers or paints to artfully express thanks to God all month long.

“Seeking Thanksgiving” is a mystery van trip where vehicles packed with church members follow a map to several prearranged locations to discover and celebrate God’s blessings. Recruit church members with large vehicles to drive, and ask them to enhance its exterior with Thanksgiving decor and a “Seeking Thanksgiving” sign.

Carefully select Christians in your church who have been uniquely blessed or protected by God this year, and ask them to host a mystery stop, where carloads of church members will make a brief visit to celebrate God’s blessings. Your pastor may have ideas of very thankful members. Some examples:

• a couple with a new baby
• a homebound senior adult rocking on her porch
• a brand new Christian at his home
• a college student in her dorm
• a hospitalized member who can receive guests
• a recent immigrant

Each thankful person awaits the visitors, holding a large picket-type sign that reads “I’m thankful!”  Groups take a photo with them, encourage and pray with them, then return to the church for refreshments and fellowship.

After all, there’s more than just turkey to a great Thanksgiving season.

I’ll add another article of ideas later this week!

More ideas:                          

Enjoyed a wonderful retreat with Hope Community Church last weekend. Here’s an idea they used that was amazingly enjoyable:

“Speed Friending”

Set up a long row of tables and ask all the ladies to be seated along the sides.

A leader will pose a question, and ladies will respond by discussing their answer with the person seated across from them.  They begin their chat by stating their name.  Questions can be designed to help them know one another better, and should be simple to answer, stimulating conversation.  After a short time, time is called and all the ladies on one side of the table move one seat to the right before the next question is givenn.

Questions might be about where they grew up, their siblings, their hobbies, etc.   You might ask about their most embarrasing moment, their favorite family tradition, their favorite room of the house. Alternative: questions could address the retreat topic in some way. 

Keep the activity moving, and get ready for a great time!

Sharing Jesus with Spiderman

by Diana Davis 

A three-foot-tall Spiderman and his parents are driving past your church, looking for a safe, fun Halloween alternative. Need fresh ideas for a community outreach event?

Free Family Foto. Create a beautiful lighted outdoor photo site on your church lawn with pumpkins, mums, hay bales and autumn leaves. Advertise well. Enlist amateur photographers to quickly pose and photograph families who stop by. On Sunday, display photos in the church foyer for pick-up, or mail them to families as a postcard with a personal note on the back.

A Community-Wide Costume Parade can be staged in your church parking lot, with an emcee, spotlights, Christian music and free hot chocolate. Prepare a gift and church invitation for onlookers. Chalk the parade route, designate a staging area for the children, and decorate a golf cart for your parade marshal, the Pastor!

A “Trunk or Treat” Event can attract hundreds to your church parking lot. Joyful, costumed church members circle their cars in the parking lot, open their decorated trunks, and pass out candies, tracts and invitations to church. Oakhills Baptist themes its event each year. 

Fall Festival. Some churches plan a free festival, with carnival games, tractor rides, box mazes, pumpkin carving or cupcake walks. Others rent bouncy games, feature a Christian band or do a Noah’s Ark party.

Hallway Parade. Ask children from your church to meet at a local nursing home for a pre-arranged costume parade down the halls. Distribute large-print tracts and pre-approved treats for residents.

Reverse Trick-or-Treating. Teens or families deliver homemade cookies to neighbors, along with a packet of information about your church.

Make a goal that each guest for any event will receive two verbal invitations to church along with a tract (such as atsTracts.org) and a printed invitation to worship.    

Leave the Light On. If church members stay at home that evening, challenge them to give out big candy bars or treats along with a tract and church invitation.   

Paul challenged Christians to “make the most of every opportunity.”  There’s a little guy in a Spiderman costume in your town who needs Jesus. 

Fresh Ideas

I Know a Missionary

by Diana Davis

[Note: This article is written to encourage Southern Baptist churchesto make personal connections with missionaries; other churches will find usable suggestions, too.]

 You are part of the world’s largest missions-sending agency. Your Southern Baptist Church voluntarily contributes through the Cooperative Program and special mission offerings (Annie Armstrong and Lottie Moon) to support your Southern Baptist missionaries—5,629 international (IMB) missionaries and over 5,500 North American (NAMB) missionaries.  What a privilege!

But…do you know some Southern Baptist missionaries? Oh, you can’t know all eleven thousand, (and many serve in areas where security is an issue) but your church can personally encourage a few. Need ideas to make personal connections with missionaries?

• Establish a connection with a missionary who came from your church or your state.  Contact the missions department of your State Convention office for names of missionaries from your state. For North American Missionary, apply online or call 800-634-2462.  For international missionaries call 800-999-3113 ext 7826.
• Connect with an IMB missionary in a country where members of your church travel for business or pleasure. Call 800-866-7826 or www.imb.org. One of the best ways to connect with an IMB missionary is to attend a Summit.
• Connect with a NAMB missionary near your church, such as a church planter, collegiate minister, denominational leader, chaplain, etc. To make a connection, contact your state convention office or apply online or email missionaryencourager@namb.net or call 800-634-2462.
• Consider buying and furnishing a house for furloughing IMB missionaries. Our church’s mission house was booked years ahead and each occupant became a “face of missions” for our church.  Register your church’s mission house with WMU and minister to a missionary.
• Plan short-term mission trips to assist an IMB or NAMB missionary.
  • For international trips, contact your regional missional church strategist or 800-999-3113 ext 7826.
  • For mission trips in North America, see NAMB missions opportunities site or call your state convention office.   Check out Family Mission Trips, Baptist Builders projects, Campers on Mission, Disaster Relief, New Orleans Operation Noah Rebuild,  Appalachian or Mississippi River Ministries, or browse The Bridge for hundreds of mission trip opportunities across America. 
  • Your state convention or association may also plan mission trips, both national and international. 
• Help students or adults in your church go as a short-term, summer or career missionary. What greater connection could your church have?!
  • For info: North American Missions, click on Sojourners, summer missionary, semester missionary, innovator missionary,  US/C2 missionary,  Mission on Short Term missionary,   Missions Service Corps missionary,  apprentice, associate or a career NAMB  missionary.
  • For international missions opportunities— for 2-3 year missions such as ISC, Journeyman (young singles), or Masters (age 50+), many different missions projects and plans for youth, college and seminary students , volunteer missions assignments, or career  missionary. Email your IMB mobilization specialist or call 800) 999-3113 ext. 7826.
• If your church adopts an unreached people group, a regional missionary will assist you. Encourage that missionary. This is an amazing opportunity for any size church!! Please contact your IMB regional missional church strategist  for info, and order the free DVD titled “Touch YourWorld, Reach the Nations” at 800-999-3113 extension 7819 or email imb@imb.org . 
• Invite furloughing missionaries to speak at your church and get to know them.
  • Contact your regional mobilization church strategist for IMB missionaries or call 800- 999-3113 X7826.
  • For NAMB missionaries, call (770) 410-6000 or make an online request.
• Study SBC websites for great connection resources. www.sbc.net, www.imb.org, www.namb.net, www.wmu.com.
  • Order free monthly missions fliers for church bulletins.
  • Display SBC missions magazines – examples:
    • IMB’s “To the Ends of the Earth” (free) and “Kids On Mission” (free)
    •  NAMB’s OnMission Magazine
    • WMU’s Missions Mosaic
• Use missions videos and video clips often. You’ll be in awe of the quality video resources available to you:
• SBC’s free downloadable videos
•  NAMB’s  missions videos and video clips and podcasts (all downloadable free)
• IMB videos and videoclips (inexpensive; many free)
• Plan a Missions FilmFest and invite viewers to write a featured missionary
• There are dozens of other free or  inexpensive booklets , posters, maps , prayer calendars, missionary spotlights and more.
• Show church members how to subscribe to free e-newsletters about our missionaries: 
• IMB has over a dozen excellent topical e-newsletters and many of our missionaries have websites or regular email newsletters for updates.
• NAMB’s OnMission e-magazine is informative and inspirational and there are a dozen topical e-newsletters, too.
• Study the websites for lots more ways to connect with our missionaries. 
  • There’s a Last Frontier Clock, email subscriptions, and lots more. You can receive a daily list by email of all those IMB or NAMB missionaries with a birthday that day, and pray for them by name. Education and personal participation in SBC’s missions will excite and enliven your local church!

As your church connects with missionaries, spotlight them. Pray faithfully for them. Stay in contact. If appropriate where they serve, send personalized care packages and birthday cards. Read their e-updates and respond with a note. Do a Skype video-interview. Email an occasional Scripture, encouraging word or prayer. Discover specific tangible ways you can help. Display their photo and a small flag with a plaque stating “These are some of the 11,126 missionaries supported by our church.”

Your tithes and offerings already support them monetarily. Will you “put a face on missions” and personally encourage an SBC missionary? 

Bonus: SET A RECORD GOAL FOR YOUR CHURCH’S LOTTIE MOON OFFERING this year. A few ideas:

• Relate your goal number to the number of IMB missionaries – 5,239. For example, challenge the church to give a total of $1 for each missionary – goal of $5,239; or $10 per missionary—goal of $52,390.   
• See more ideas for setting goals here.  

©Diana Davis is Indiana Baptist executive director’s wife and author of several books. www.keeponshining.com

What do a dog collar, rickrack and a license plate have in common?

They’re all materials that can be used to enhance a wheelchair!

If you’re involved in ministry with the elderly, you’re going to love this book I found.  It’s called Walk and Roll (by Lynn Lancaster Gorges 2009).

You’ll find all kinds of creative sewing projects design to enhance life for those with special mobility needs.  As Gorges states, “none of these items will ever cure cancer or prevent a stroke, but the items can make a cold and sterile piece of equipment more personal and functional–and certainly more attractive.”

The projects are perfect  for a nursing home ministry group, homebound ministry, senior adult ministry, or for anyone you love who uses a:

• wheelchair
• scooter
• walker
• or cane.

There’s instructions for making simple bags and pockets for wheelchairs–and each one is designed to reflect the person’s personality and interests.  Attractive coverups make a wheelchair, walker or scooter look like furniture. She has an entire chapter of different ways to hang bags, and another on embellishments.

If you love ministering to those with mobility challenges, you’re going to find usable, delightful ideas here.  You can look at it on Amazon.com (click here).

Keep on shining!