A Fruitful Summer

Are you having a fruitful summer? The relaxed schedules and longer days of summer usher in with them the tastes and smells of wonderful fruits like juicy watermelons, fresh cantaloupes, and (my personal favorite) lush red strawberries.  Our family snacks on fruit more during the summer months than any other time of the year.

But the summertime can be a dry, fruitless time for many women, especially those with elementary aged children at home. Quiet times are cut short or forfeited all together as we focus on scheduling family outings, planning vacations, or juggling childcare along with the usual work schedules. However, it is possible to remain connected with our Lord if we make it a priority.

Jesus said,

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. –John 15:4-5, 11

Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing of spiritual value. So, let me share a few tips I’ve discovered over the years as I’ve sought to remain connected to the life-sustaining Vine, Jesus Christ.

1.       Set an alarm during the summer, even if you don’t have a pressing commitment. By getting up early, you can take care of household needs early and have a few quiet moments to yourself. If you don’t  work, you can always crawl back into bed for an afternoon nap, later, but make yourself get up and stay in some sort of routine.

2.       Find a devotional to help jump-start your prayer time. Many women take a break from Bible study during the summer, but a good devotional can keep you in God’s Word and help provide topics to fuel richer, more focused pray times. Might I suggest, the Hugs BibleReflections for Women.  It is filled with inspiring true stories from women just like you and me. Each chapter also includes a few application questions to help you organize your thoughts and spend a little time in God’s Word.

3.       Play Contemporary Christian or Worship Music while cooking or cleaning. Turn off the television for a while and turn on some Christian music. The lyrics will help you feel more connected with the Lord and quieted in your soul.  It’s a great way to help you children remain connected to our Vine as well.

Summer doesn’t have to be a fruitless time in your spiritual walk.  Jesus said He wanted us to remain attached to Him "so our joy may be complete." Be intentional. Remain attached to the True Vine this summer. Your frustrations will be fewer, your joy greater, and your children will reap the benefits of having extra time with a mother who is overflowing with spiritual fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control—as  they munch on the fresh melons and lush berries so prevalent during the long hot days of summer.

Red-Faced and Remembering

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.
--Psalm 127:3

Mothers of preschoolers, remember to laugh.

I had a mother and her preschooler in my office this week. In the middle of our conversation her son abruptly announced that he needed to use the potty. The mother directed her son to the restroom just outside my door, and we continued our relatively serious discussion. After a few minutes, the boy returned to my office and enthusiastically declared, "The plunger sticks to the wall!"

Stunned, the mother and I looked at one another for a moment without saying a word. As her child's statement sunk in, I held my breath, attempting to stifle my laugh. The red-faced mother looked at me sheepishly, and I couldn't maintain my composure another second. I burst into laughter.

My own son recently turned [twenty-two]. (It's amazing how quickly Big Wheels are exchanged for automobiles, and nursery rhymes are swapped for rock music.) I spent his entire birthday reflecting on precious memories of similarly embarrassing, but equally hilarious moments.

When he was three, my husband and I invited over friends who had a daughter the same age. While the adults conversed in the living room, my adventurous son and the agreeable girl emptied a jumbo-sized jar of petroleum jelly on their heads "to make shiny hair."

Another time, our little entrepreneur gathered acorns from the oak tree in our front yard and sold them door-to-door for three cents each. Remarkably, our lighthearted neighbors bought every acorn his pudgy little hands could carry.

Yes, I know the sheepish look of that young mother all too well. I know, firsthand, that mothering preschoolers can be frustrating at times. But how I wish I'd known then how much I would treasure the memories of my son's antics now. Perhaps I would have found more relish in the hugs, more delight in the kisses . . . and more laughter in the greasy hair.

Adapted from my story as it originally appeared in Chicken Soup for the Mother of Preschooler's Soul sponsored by Mother's of Preschoolers (MOPS).1

Click HERE to order a copy.



1. Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Maria Nickless and Elisa Morgan, Chicken Soup for the Mother's of Preschooler's Soul: Stories to Refresh the Soul and Rekindle the Spirit of Moms of Little Ones, [Deerfield Beach, FL, Health Communications, Inc., 2006], 107.

A Needy Servant and an Empty Tomb

“I’m weary Lord. I’m desperate for your presence, for your peace, for your insight and your power!” Those were my words to my Lord this morning as I groggily sipped a cup of stronger-than-usual coffee. Between writing deadlines, blog posts and social media exchanges, my creativity has been waning. The daily stress of getting my husband’s new business up and running has taken the edge off just about anything else I’ve been working on. My daughter’s senior activities (and keeping track of them all!) would challenge even the most organized of mothers (which I am not). It’s been an exhausting spring. There have been times I’ve secretly wanted to take a hammer to my phone that is smart enough to dominate my time with emails, Facebook & Twitter notifications, text messages, and those silly apps designed to make my life easier.  I waved the white flag this morning. I’m weary and I need Jesus.

Well, as I was preparing to write this post (yes, another to-do on my lengthy task list), I was reminded that Easter is all about our need for Jesus; the empty tomb is a reminder of His availability. Jesus is alive! He is actively available to comfort us with His manifest presence, to calm us with His reassuring peace, to encourage us with spiritual insights, and to clothe us with His dynamic power. In fact, that’s exactly what He did in the days following His resurrection.

He Comforted Mary with His Presence

The disciples went back to their homes, but Mary, desperate to find her Lord, stood outside the tomb crying, asking anyone she could find what had been done with the body of her beloved Jesus.  In her moment of desperation, the risen Jesus appeared.  When she recognized him, Mary clung to Jesus’ comforting presence. He is alive! He is available to comfort us every day with His manifest presence. We simply need to seek Him. (John 20:10-17)

He Calmed His Disciples with His Peace

A day or two later, Jesus’ disciples were fearful of the Jews and locked themselves into one of their homes.  The events of Jesus’ crucifixion left them feeling vulnerable and frightened. They lacked peace. But the risen Messiah suddenly appeared and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you!” (John 20:21). To doubting Thomas he said, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe” (John 20:27). Jesus understands our fears and our doubts. He knows the situations that concern us. He conquered death and the grave. He is alive! Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”(John 14:27). We don’t need to be afraid. We simply need to trust Him.

He Encouraged His Disciples with Insight

Later, Jesus said, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds... He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:37,44-45).

Jesus encouraged His disciples by giving them insight into His Word. He is alive! He inspires us, speaks to us, and encourages us through His holy, living and active Word (Hebrews 4:12). We simply need to read it.

He Clothed His Disciples with Power

Then Jesus told His disciples:

You are witnesses . . . I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high”(Luke 24:48-49).

At Pentecost, Jesus disciples were clothed with the power of the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus said. And those of us who celebrate Easter as resurrection day –who believe Jesus is the Son of God who came to earth, died on a cross, and rose again on the third day—are also clothed in God’s dynamic power through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He is alive! He is active and involved. He empowers us to be His witnesses: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). We have His power. We simply need to tap into it.

So as you dress up in your Sunday best this Easter, celebrate the empty tomb. It is a reminder that our Jesus is actively available to comfort, to calm, to encourage, and to empower. The tomb couldn’t contain Him. Our Savior lives! Because of Him we are forgiven, we have continual access to our Lord, and we can live forever with Him one day in Heaven. He is alive! We simply need to believe.
              

Embracing Your Season

Cool winds of change are blowing at the Ferguson home as we leave 2011 behind and look forward to 2012. Our lives are filled with a flurry of activity while the entire family pitches in to help get Mark's new business off and running by February 1st. He is opening a frozen custard shop, appropriately named, Fergy's Frozen Custard. The shop will be his second family run business in addition to his "day job" so needless to say, the entire family pitches in.

The ministry just moved our offices into the back of the custard shop building, so I can be closer to home and (since I do the bookkeeping for his companies), more accessible to his growing staff.

In addition, our son is completing his last semester of college this December and is looking forward to managing Mark's companies full-time, beginning in January. And as if that isn't enough change, the Ferguson nest will soon be empty when our daughter graduates from high school in May and heads off to college in the fall.

I must admit, I have mixed emotions about the many changes taking place in my life all at once. But I'm reminded that our lives are comprised of seasons. Change is not only normal, it is God ordained.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us,

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:  a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. (NIV)

Whether your current season involves heart rending grief or glorious celebrations, give yourself permission to fully embrace your circumstances. When it is time to laugh, I hope you will laugh until you cry. When it's time to embrace, do so with warmth and sincerity. When it is time to speak, may your words be filled with truth and love. When it is time to build, work as one working for the Lord. And when it is time to weep, let the tears unashamedly flow.

I pray you live 2012 to the fullest, embracing each new day and all it offers as you walk closely with the One who ordains seasons for every activity under the heavens.

And... If you are ever in the Cypress, Texas area, stop by for some frozen custard and swing by the ministry office to say hello. Whatever the season, when you arrive, it will be time to embrace.

 

 

 

 

 

Live as You Want to be Remembered

Ever wonder what people will say about you at your funeral?


In preparation for a new writing project, I spent the past month studying the life of Moses. The final chapter of his story includes an amazing epitaph, honoring the reluctant, yet powerfully effective leader for the people of Israel.

Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt - to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. (Deuteronomy 34:10-12 NIV)

Moses was known for His intimate relationship with God and for the mighty works God accomplished through his life. Moses made numerous, costly mistakes in his role as Israel's leader. However, God was ultimately glorified through Moses' humble obedience and authentic leadership.

I can think of no better way to be remembered than as a woman who walked so closely with her Lord that others were able to recognize God's loving kindness and mighty power through the way she lived her life. I'm asking God to show me the changes that I need to make in order to make that epitaph a reality.

What about you? What do you want your epitaph to say? What changes do you need to make in order for that to become a reality? Ask God to give you the strength and courage to make those changes and live each day as you want to be remembered.



Mindy Ferguson

Copyright © 2011 Fruitful Word Ministries, Inc.

Removing the Mask of Perfection

At a Bible study this week, my church Women’s Ministry leadership team discussed the importance of being transparent with those to whom we minister. In “Keeping Your Heart for Ministry”, Michael Miller says,

Exposing your weaknesses and failings takes courage and involves risk. When I have hidden my heart from others in the past, I have done so because I was afraid I would be misunderstood or hurt. But a minister with a true heart for the kingdom lives in transparency.

Are you living in transparency? Do you admit when you make a mistake? Are you honest about your disappointments and your fears? Or do you wear a mask of perfection?

If we want others to experience the depth of God’s grace and catch a glimpse of His goodness, mercy and unfailing love, we have to be willing to share the struggles we are facing and the lessons we are learning in our own walk with Christ. Rather than dispensing advice and pretending to have it all together, we need to share how God is working in the midst of our difficulties. You need to be willing to share such intimate things as the way God is sustaining you as you await the return of a prodigal son, or how you are finding peace during a season of loss.

When we try to hide our weaknesses and flaws and give the impression of perfection, aren’t we really attempting to elevate ourselves into the position of Christ, rather than magnifying the transforming work of Christ in our hearts? Let’s remove the masks of perfection. Transparency is risky, but an honest walk with Christ breeds hope, and authenticity, and unity, and transformation.


Mindy Ferguson
Copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved

Sitting and Receiving

How’s your quiet time going? An intimidating question, isn’t it?


Early this spring, I have to admit, mine wasn’t going well at all. Between juggling the needs of my children, Women’s Ministry, my husband’s business, and caring for my mother as she battled a serious illness, I often skipped my quiet time all together. Some mornings, I quickly read through a Proverb, but I felt like I had just gone through the motions with no real connection to God.

After about a month of arrow prayers as I rushed from one task to the next, I broke down in tears before the Lord. I missed my connection with Him. I was exhausted and weary and in desperate need of unstructured time with God. I finally put my to-do list aside and I just opened His Word and started slowly reading. I longed to connect with God and sense His presence. I was hungry for His Word and thirsty for His Spirit. As I read, I came across the story of Jesus feeding five thousand (John 6) and I noticed something unique about John’s description of the event.

After Andrew (Peter’s brother) pointed out that there was a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, Jesus said,

“Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish (John 6:10-11).

Jesus told the people to sit down. About five thousand sat down on that grassy mountainside, waiting with anticipation to receive what Jesus had for them. And Jesus distributed to those who were seated. As I read and re-read the words, “to those who were seated,” it occurred to me that some of the people on that mountainside chose not to sit down. If you are familiar with the amazing event, you know those five loaves of bread and two fish miraculously fed everyone who was seated with twelve baskets of leftovers to spare.

I asked God why some of the people on that mountainside would choose not to sit down and receive the sustenance that Jesus was offering them. I felt God’s tender conviction wash over me. I realized that I had been just like those men who chose to remain standing or decided they weren’t hungry. I was just like some of them who, perhaps, chose to return to their homes to prepare for the Passover Feast that was quickly approaching. I had been so busy serving and meeting needs, I hadn’t taken time to sit and receive the spiritual food Jesus had for me that would have sustained me and strengthened me and ministered to my weary soul.

Let me ask you again. How’s your quiet time going?


Are you taking time to sit and receive all that Jesus has for you? Believe me, I understand life can get busy. I recongize the demands of your schedule can make setting aside time with our Lord seem difficult. But like me, you cannot effectively minister to others if you do not take the time to sit and receive what Jesus alone can give you. He has more than enough to sustain you with baskets full to spare.

Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35).

I’d love to read your comments. And if you haven’t been sitting and receiving for awhile, I’d welcome the opportunity to pray for you. I’ve been there, my friend.

Mindy Ferguson
Copyright 2010, All Rights Reserved.