Before we continue our discussion of the woman at the well, you may want to go back to last week’s blog entry and reread the passage from John chapter four. With those Scriptures now fresh on our hearts, let’s continue our discussion of this interesting, life-changing encounter.

The first very important thing we can glean from this passage is the truth that Jesus knows where we are and exactly what is going on in our lives. 

We might think that God does not care about the details of our daily existence, but this story says that Jesus knew exactly where to find this woman. He knew when she would show up at the well. Most of the women in town went to the well after the sun was starting to go down because it was cooler. They would gather at the well and visit, discuss issues, probably gossip, and fill each other in with news of the day. The well was a gathering place for the women, and certainly a place of refreshing.

But here in this specific incident, this Samaritan woman comes all b...

Have you hungered for answers to your life and didn't know where to turn?

Have you ever been at the end of your rope wondering if anyone cares?

Have you felt trapped, ashamed, confused, or burdened and just didn't know how to be set free?

In so many ways the story of the woman at the well gives us insight into just these kinds of real life questions that all of us have had at one time or another.  For the next four weeks, let’s examine the Scriptures and talk about this woman found in John chapter four who is seeking answers for her life. She is going through her daily routine, yet within her is an empty place that nothing in her world has been able to fill.

We read in this passage that Jesus has stopped by this woman’s city to rest and recover from a long journey. Tired and dehydrated, He calls on her to bring him a drink from the well. This vicinity was no ordinary location, as men like Isaac had lived there many years before. In this very area Isaac had prospered a hundredfold. ...

Today I conclude the four weeks of blog entries from the Charisma magazine article “Overcoming the Obstacles to Women in Ministry.” If you have not read the previous three entries, I hope you will go back and do that before you read these concluding thoughts.  My prayer is that as I transparently share my own experiences, I can be an encouragement to you to continue to press on in your own God-given assignments, despite the obstacles you have faced.   Mothers of Nations, I send many blessings to each of you!

# 7 The big accusation word: control. None of us wants to be labeled as controlling or as a Jezebel. In the secular world, control is simply the leadership required to run a company, mange a household or keep things in order. But when applied to the work of God’s kingdom, the devil makes accusations of control. He tempts people to distrust leaders, especially when that leader is female. This hinders the development of God’s work.

How did I overcome this accusation? I evaluated...

Today we continue with part three of the Charisma magazine article “Overcoming the Obstacles to Women in Ministry." I will be sharing obstacles # 5 and # 6. If you have not looked at the last two week’s of blog entries, I would encourage you to go back to the March 21 and March 28 entries for background before you move on with today’s offering.  

# 5 The challenge of a unique lifestyle. The lifestyle God had specifically called me to was the fifth hurdle I had to conquer. The Lord had called me to full-time ministry, but not my husband. Bill was a businessman who loved his secular job, and I loved the kingdom’s work. The two of us did not struggle with this, but we heard and felt the opinions of others. Some said if God called the wife, He would certainly call the husband alongside. Others warned having different callings would divide our marriage. We were told God’s order was for Bill to be the head of the ministry, and I was out of order in leading. No one questions a male pastor...

Today we continue with the article I wrote for Charisma magazine titled “Overcoming the Obstacles to Women in Ministry.”  Last week I shared two obstacles with you:  The issue of submission and the idea that “women can be deceived.”  If you did not read last week’s blog entry, I encourage you to do that first before continuing on with today’s entry of obstacles # 3 and # 4 that I have faced as a woman minister and a Mother of Nations.

# 3 The fear of man. One day in the early 1970’s the Lord instructed me to call a citywide revival prayer meeting. This had never been done in my city, and I had no previous experience from which to draw. Innocently I phoned local ministry leaders to come to my home to pray on a Friday night. They came, but one man in the group immediately challenged my right to direct the meeting. Since God never said I had to be in charge, I was not threatened. But when he suggested that only the men lead each night, I was quite disheartened.

Suddenly I found mysel...

Today’s blog entry and the three that follow all come from an article I was asked to write for Charisma Magazine. The magazine wanted me to speak candidly as a female senior pastor about the intimidating barriers that I have faced in ministry and how I have conquered them to continue to impact my sphere of influence for the Gospel. Now, many years later, it is interesting to ponder if things have changed regarding the ministry world for women. Undoubtedly there are still forces that try to hinder the forward progress of today’s Christian women. Mothers of Nations, be strong and courageous and continue to press into God because we have a world to turn upside down for His glory!

And now let’s start the article as it was published in Charisma!

Everyone who answers God’s call to ministry will have obstacles to overcome, regardless of their gender. However, being a female in ministry does pose unique challenges. Looking back over my own ministry experiences, I realize there have been n...

Today we will conclude this five week discussion of the topic “radical worshippers.”  It has been refreshing for me to share with you a few of my firsthand experiences as a “radical worshipper.”  God is faithful to teach us and equip us to fulfill the callings that He has placed upon our lives. I pray through the things we have shared, you are motivated to explore more of what it means to be a “radical worshipper” in your own life.

Let’s now finish our topic with a final quality of the “radical worshipper.”

The Radical  Worshipper is a PASSIONATE Worshipper.

A final similarity I found in the dictionary definitions of the word RADICAL refers to the qualities of being “spirited, original, and marked by verve.”  Verve relates to energy, vitality, life, vim and vigor.

In John 4 we read the account of the encounter of Jesus with the woman at the well. In these two verses following, I think Jesus addresses the quality of PASSION very specifically.

John 4:23-24 (NKJV) --  “But the hour i...

Today we will continue our discussion of the theme of “radical worshippers” by looking at another quality that appears to be characteristic of such believers.

The Radical Worshipper is a CONFRONTIVE Worshipper.

The dictionary definitions I found when I was looking up the word RADICAL often included “confrontive” types of phrases such as these.

• showing a willingness to take risks or to offend people
• fearless, especially in challenging assumptions or conventions
• contemptuous of law, religion, or decorum

My goodness! What does this have to do with our worship lifestyle? Actually, it has A LOT to do with it! Many times we have to confront our flesh, our soul realm, or even the devil to press through to experiencing the Presence of the Lord. Until we learn to even be confrontive in our worship journey, we will miss precious, powerful, significant times of release, refreshment, and liberating freedom in God’s Presence.

For example, in confronting our flesh we learn that we each mu...

For the past two weeks we have been looking at the theme "radical worshippers." Let’s continue our deep dive into this topic by looking at two more characteristics of those who worship with boldness.

Bold worshippers are Pure.

Psalm 24:3-4, 6a (NKJV) -- Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully….This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face. Selah

Those who boldly enter the Lord’s Presence have learned to address their sin and shortcomings with immediate repentance. Mothers of Nations, sin separates us from God and it disrupts our communication with Him.

Isaiah 59:2 (NKJV) -- But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.

Therefore as radical bold worshippers, we must transparently open our lives to the Holy Spirit at all times, letting Hi...

Last week we started a discussion on the topic of “radical worshippers.” Specifically we addressed the idea that “radical worshippers” are characterized as bold worshippers. I would suggest you read through last week’s entry before moving on with today’s continued discussion.

As I studied the aspect of boldness in worship, the Holy Spirit shared with me several qualities of those who know how to daringly enter His Presence in worship. I would like to share these with you over the next few weeks.  

Bold worshippers are Purpose-Filled.

Bold worshippers know they are on this earth to make a difference. They have a sense of destiny. Esther 4:14 speaks to this concept when we read,  “…and who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.”

Mothers of Nations, God has placed us here on earth to be “breakers” – bold worshippers who know how to break open the heavens with worship over our cities and nations. As the heavens break open, the glory of the Lord will be rev...