Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Simply Divine

I hope all of you girls have been enjoying your summer. I really have been enjoying mine! Just in the last week, I met a new friend from France that taught me to make crepes (yum!), met some new friends at swimming lessons, met a new neighbor, went to a baseball game, went to a birthday party and then had a wonderful weekend at church! Summer vacation is such a great time for celebrations and for hanging out with friends and family, and it still feels a bit like vacation even after you get out of school and you’re working just the same as you do all year long!

I want to encourage you to make the most of your summer doing one of the things that women do best – loving others through simple acts of kindness. Several of my friends and I took meals to a friend who had a new baby last week and it reminded me that even something as simple as a meal can be a means of showing the love of Jesus and his church in a big way. I remember how it felt to receive such a meal when I was a new mom in a new city, and it was no small thing to me, I guarantee you!

There are so many simple things we can do that glorify God by loving others – and they don’t require a small group or a planning meeting – just a heart sensitive to God’s promptings. So during this time, when Janes is taking a break from Bible studies and conferences, let’s look for opportunities to reflect God’s love in the simple things. Here are a few examples:

  • Send a note, text or email to a friend who needs encouragement or to thank someone who is a blessing in your life.
  • Include someone new in an outing with old friends.
  • Take a meal or something sweet to a neighbor or friend or to the break room at work.
  • Pick up an extra Starbucks for an associate on the way to work.
  • Take advantage of opportunities to meet new people at work, church or school and go the extra mile to make them feel welcome.
  • Have someone over to your home for a meal or just for coffee and get to know them better.
  • Offer to babysit a friend’s children so they can have a night out to rest and be refreshed.

That’s enough to get you started! Colossians 3.12,14 says, “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (emphasis mine).

Loving others is the most noticeable way we are identified with Jesus in this world. Don’t underestimate its importance to the Father or its impact upon others. In short, it is “simply divine!”

Blessings to you!

Daphne


Tuesday, June 2, 2009

There Is a Season...

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven..." Ecc. 3.1


Summer is finally here! I always love the change of seasons and have been looking forward to summer for several weeks, anxious for my children to be home from school and looking forward to the fun of summer and the break from our school routine. We'll be spending lots of time at the beach and at the pool, we'll be grilling out all the time, and I'm so looking forward to our family vacation! Not to mention the fact that I won't be making one sack lunch for almost three months - wahoo! Of course when August rolls around, I'll be ready for it all to start over again and looking forward to the fall!


Well, as DeeDee has already let you know, this summer is also the change of seasons for Janes. I could not possibly be more excited about serving as the new leader of Janes, and I could not have asked for better preparation than to have followed DeeDee's wise and loving leadership for the last two years. From the very beginning she and I have been "kindred spirits" in the Lord and in our passion for you - the precious and amazing women of Bay Area Fellowship. I hope you have each had a chance to thank DeeDee for all that she has done to bring Janes to a place of tremendous "fruit-bearing" for the Kingdom of God! If you haven't had a chance yet, be sure to jot her a note or send her an email at bafjanes@yahoo.com. Don't miss this opportunity to express your thanks for how God has used her in your life and let her know! Everything that Janes has become is a direct reflection of the woman that DeeDee is - the glory of God is beautifully on display in her life in every way! I give praise to the Lord for you, my sweet sister-friend!


I am so thankful for the way that DeeDee welcomed me to Bay Area when we first arrived and saw my unique passion and put me to work right away doing what God has gifted me to do. We want that same thing for each and every one of you. EXPO 09 is just around the corner, girls, and we want each one of you to take advantage of this next opportunity to jump in to Janes with both feet. If you're not sure what you want to do, or how you're uniquely gifted, that's okay. Sometimes it takes time to figure it all out, but contact us anyway if you just want to be more involved and we can help direct you! You can reach me at seejanelead@yahoo.com if you have any questions, and as always, be sure to visit bafjanes.blogspot.com to get more information about all of our ministries.


And last but certainly not least, please be in prayer for me and for our whole team as we prayerfully spend the summer listening to what God has planned for Janes in 2009-2010! I can hardly wait to see what God has in store for us in this next season!
Looking forward!

Daphne Fine
Bay Area Fellowship JANES
seejanelead@yahoo.com