My Word of the Year for 2022…

For the last several years I have chosen a word of the year rather than set a lot of New Year Resolutions. 

I like to set goals but find that my long term goals, too often shift to unimportant somewhere around February. Maybe I didn’t set SMART goals or maybe they didn’t line up with God’s plan for my life. 

Either way, having a “word of the year” has benefited me much more than resolutions that I couldn’t even remember come December. 

Last Year…

Last year my word-of-the-year was “cultivate”. I wrote that word in my planner and looked at it almost every day. It was incredible how many times I heard the word cultivate in 2021! It would be in messages at church, in books I was reading, in random Facebook posts, in texts from friends, and even showed up in my dreams. “Fruitful” was definitely the word God chose for me for the year. 

I thought about it often and prayed that I could cultivate the programs and places of ministry the Lord had placed in front of me. The phrase “sowing into fertile soil” took on a whole new meaning as I chose where to give. I did not despise small beginnings but tended to the opportunities that the Lord brought before me. I reaped in places I did not sow. (I actually saw plants grow that I did not plant) I “broke ground” on some new places and cultivated those places in faith, trusting the Lord to grow them into what He wanted them to be. Sometimes, I felt like what I was doing was ridiculous and made no sense. But then another message or word from a minister would confirm where I was and encouraged me to keep going. 

This Year…

Every year I pray for the word the Lord would choose for me. This year I got my word earlier than usual. I began thinking about it at the beginning of December and immediately two words came to mind. They were similar in meaning but I wrote them both down. I knew the Lord would confirm which word was to be for 2022. Several days passed and I was texting with some friends. One friend shared a specific scripture that confirmed one of the words. 

My word for 2022 would be FRUITFUL! 

It is the perfect word to follow “cultivate”. After all, you don’t normally see the fruit of what you have planted until after you have cultivated the crop. I am expecting 2022 to be full of fruit. Not just reaping a harvest from the work of previous years but also to see the Fruit of the Spirit in my own life. I want this coming year to be full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.   

Like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:3

Join us in the “Start Your Day Right” Challenge to kick your year off to a great start!

The post Have you picked Your Word of the Year for 2022? appeared first on Shining With Sparkle.

• We are officially “empty-nesters”
• We love being “Bapaw” & “Gigi”
• I am still working full-time
• I am refocusing on my website & will be making some updates soon!

Then, I was able to have peace about some decisions I needed to make!

I am excited to share more as things progress. Stay tuned for some behind the scenes info!

For now, get entered for the Fall Giveaway and make sure you are following me on Facebook!

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So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.  ~Ephesians 4:11-12 (NIV)

Spiritual gifts are special abilities given to believers for ministry and service.

One of life’s greatest challenges is that of discovering and learning how to use the spiritual gifts given to each of us.

There are various tools available to help us identify our gifts. However, personal Bible Study and prayer is the best way to discern what has been given to us and how God would have us use them “best” for His glory.

I recently took this Spiritual Gifts Assessment provided by LifeWay. I answered some questions and was able to see my top gifts. This assessment lists 16 gifts from administration to hospitality, and teaching to wisdom. It provides a good picture of the gifts used to serve others and could be used to help you find your place in the church body. This tool also provides a description of each gift and how it can be used in the local church.

This type of assessment can aid in helping you see your self in a new light. However, you should continue to pray and study to find what the Lord would have you to do.If you have a desire to use these gifts within the church, take some time to talk to your pastor or leadership. Share your desire and your gifts with them and find where you fit. There may be a need that you don’t know about but that your pastor has been praying for someone to step up and fill. Sometimes it looks different than what we would normally think so don’t dismiss an opportunity too quickly. If your pastor suggests something that doesn’t connect with you right away, pray about it and see what God says.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  ~ 1 Corinthians 12:4-5 (NIV)

My Gifts

Here are my top gifts from the assessment I took:

1. Faith
2. Exhortation
3. Giving
4. Administration
5. Leadership and Serve/Helps (tied for fifth place)

Those of you who know me can concur that these are accurate!

• Faith – I thank God He has given me a strong faith to get through all that life has thrown at me and my family.
• Exhortation – I seek opportunities to speak to groups and encourage those around me!
• Giving – my joy in giving has grown so much in the last several years.
• Administration – My “career” is in administration and I love what I do!
• Leadership & Service – I am thrilled that these two tied for the same place. We can not be a good leader until we are first able to serve others.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  ~ 1 Corinthians 12:4-5 (NIV) These “gifts” or combination of gifts, are unique for each person. They are not dependent upon genetic codes and are intended to serve others. They describe the service of the believer.

Most important is an individuals faithfulness to use the gifts bestowed upon them unselfishly and for edification of the church. Are you using your gifts to serve others?

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms…1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

Your Gifts

How are you using your gifts to serve the Lord and the people around you?  I would be interested in hearing what unique ways you have found to use your gifts! Comment below or contact me through email or social media. I would love to hear from YOU!

Check out the Spiritual Gifts Assessment provided by LifeWay and let me know if the results resonate with you!

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We set goals, make resolutions, and plan out what we want our year to look like. Have you ever looked back at your year and thought, “Wow, that didn’t work out like I planned?”

Proverbs 16:9 says, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

There is nothing wrong with planning

There is nothing wrong with planning to do better or setting goals for your life, but I just wonder – how many of your plans include the Lord. Did you ask Him if your plans line up with His? Do you want what He has for you this year?

I want 2019 to include everything the Lord has for me. I want to be in the very center of His will. I am expecting great things in this year! I am asking for guidance, looking for opportunities, and expecting divine appointments.

2018 was a rough year.

It seems like every time I tried to schedule out my week or month it went down the drain. I have shared a little with you about my struggles in 2018… We had more deaths of friends and family in 2018 than we have the entire time we have been married (23 years). We faced financial struggles and health issues. I even took about three months and backed off from posting anything on my website. I focused on having my coffee with Jesus, spending more time in prayer, and I started a new devotion. I needed to be filled back up before I could give anything else. I gave myself permission to not “do all the things”. I had to step back and allow myself time to rest and prioritize what was really important in my life.

For 2019, I want to make sure my plans line up with what the Lord has planned for me. I am being careful of what I say “Yes” to. I have heard so much about Lysa TerKeust’s book , “The Best Yes” but I have not read it yet. This is one thing I am adding to my list for this year.

At the beginning of this year I read a post by Jessica on faithfulpursuit.com and I ran across her Spirit Lead Goal Setting Workbook. I have been using this to help me set my goals for this year.

I am a planner – I like to plan – I enjoy planning…

I just want to make sure my planning does not get in the way of what the Lord has for me.

This Goal Setting Workbook is helping me prioritize and narrow down what I need to be focusing on. This along with actually using my planner will help me stay focused!

What do you do to stay focused? Are you a planner or goal-setter?

Leave a comment and share what works for you!

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Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. ~ Colossians 3:23

Our pastor recently told a story about the Sunday School class he attended when he was a young boy. He attended a small church and many times he was the only student in class. The teacher, even thou only one, would still prepare and go to all the work of teaching the whole lesson. Our pastor was making a point, even though she was teaching only one at that moment – her actions would impact so many people! Every time he leads someone new to Christ, she gets another jewel in her crown. 
It might have seemed like a “small” work but eventually the impact would be huge. 

Have you been there?

This made me think of the times I had taught Sunday School or lead our Women’s Ministry. There were days when my kids were the only ones in my Sunday School class. And there were many times I would go to extravagant details for our Women’s Ministry only to have three or four show up. It was hard to not get discouraged. I would start wondering; why aren’t people coming, what am I doing wrong, maybe they don’t like me. The enemy can get in and cause all kinds of crazy thoughts. 

The important thing to remember is, the ones who did show up – they need to hear what you have prepared. They came expecting you to teach them or lead them and they WANT to hear what you have to say. Even if there is only one…

I remember attending a small group event several years ago. I was going through some stuff and I really needed some encouragement. When I got to the group there were only four or five people present. It was obvious that the leader was discouraged. She announced we would just have a time of prayer and then we could be dismissed. I understood, and I didn’t blame the leader, but I left there that day missing something. I came expecting the Lord to encourage me through this group and I left disappointed. 

Teach the Class and Lead the Group, Even if there is Only ONE

So, the next time you teach Sunday School or lead a class and you don’t have as many as you expected. Teach your heart out! Give that one person everything that you prepared for the group. Pour into that person and reach out to them on a more personal level if you can. THEY showed up and should not be punished because no one else did. God knew who was going to be there as you prepared the lesson. What you have is for that ONE.

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One Day Women’s Retreat

Where Women Bask in God’s Presence

REGISTER NOW

Description:

SeaSide Escape is a relaxing beach-themed one-day retreat the Faithbridge United Methodist Congregation will be hosting for women of all ages and all denominations. It will include worship, meaningful messages and testimonies from female clergy and female Christian authors, a time for laughter, and a time for quiet reflection. Spanish translation services and materials will be available.

Speaker Lineup:

Holly Cinocca
Jacklin Drake
Rev. Lisa Miller
Rev. P.J. Stewart

Saturday – September 15, 2018
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Check-in begins at 8:30 AM
Location: Faithbridge UMC – Heavener, OK

A lite breakfast bar will be served from
8:30 am – 9:00 am during registration.

Download Printable flyer here

I am super excited to be apart of this Women’s Retreat!
It is going to be a day filled with great words, fellowship, and fun.
I am so honored to have been invited to speak along with three other ladies.

This event will be held in Heavener, OK on September 15, 2018.
If you are interested in attending you can register HERE.

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Pastors are busy people and can get called out at a moment’s notice. When an emergency happens, they don’t always have time to check in with the staff to let them know they are going to be running late. It is very difficult for them to let you know where they are every second of every day. Even more, if you have more than one pastor…well good luck!

I know some of you have considered putting tracking devices on your pastors but that could be considered an invasion of privacy! But seriously, some churches use their cell phones to track if their staff is in the building. There are apps available that will log you in and out depending on your current location. Seems like that is a little too much for me…but I’m sure it works well for large ministries.

Tracking with Apps

There are other apps you can use to keep track of your staff. This app, Simple In/Out, was recommended to me recently. This handy app will also keep track of hours worked.

Simple In/Out TimeClock can replace your punch clock, time cards, and calculator with a modern approach that saves you time and includes all the benefits of Simple In/Out. Utilizing our app TimeClock and a device in a common area, your users can check in and out with a simple scan of their employee badge.

You can use this app on your phone or desktop and it will even display a board of employee status at your front desk on a television monitor. There is a minimal fee for its use, but they do offer a free trial period. If you are considering using time clock software this could be a good solution.

Tracking with Magnet Board

If you are less of a tech person and more of a paper person you might enjoy this magnetic Quartet Matrix In/Out Board on Amazon.

(This is an affiliate link which means I may make a small commission if you make a purchase. You will never pay more for products purchased.)

I have seen this method work well for many churches. You simply write in the names of all of your staff (paid or volunteer). When that person comes in they move the magnet to “In”. If they leave the building they move it to “Out” and have space to write what time they will be back and/or notes. If you have a receptionist she/he could help track this. The board can be posted at the front desk or a general location that all can see. If you have a lot of “foot traffic” coming through your church, you may not want this visible for everyone to see. It could become a safety issue. For example, if you are the only one in the office you may not want them to know that.

What do you use at your church or office? I would be interested in knowing what works well for you! Leave me a comment below.

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When you don’t know what to do… just do the next thing!

Have you ever been in a place that you just didn’t know what to do? Your stress level was off the charts and anxiety was kicking in?

I remember before we moved into our new house, I would daydream of what it was going to be like. I would imagine my day; from waking up, getting the kids off to school, cooking supper, to what our evening routine would look like. This move was a huge step for us and it was going to make everything perfect! …Boy was I wrong!

Our life was a little stressful at that time and I had this concept in my head that once we moved we were going to live “happily ever after”.  We had been looking for a house for several years and we finally found the one. It was beautiful, in a fantastic location, big yard and even had a pool. The Lord was truly blessing us with a new home. Many pieces had to fit into the puzzle to make this happen and we were so excited to actually be moving. However, my concept, of how smooth everything was going to run, was a fairy tale.

I won’t go into all the details, but things happened. So many things that we wondered if we had missed God’s direction. Had we made the wrong decision? We came to many crossroads of not knowing what to do next. Have you been there? My anxiety got so bad that I ended up in the doctor’s office having a minor melt down. I felt broken, hopeless, lost, and mad. This was not the way it was supposed to be!

But God’s ways are not our ways, and His timing is not our timing. I learned so much during this season in my life. My faith grew and my relationship with the Lord got stronger. He taught me to trust Him with the Big things and the Little things. He showed me how to “just do the next thing”.

What CAN I do?

When so many things seem out of control it is hard to stay grounded. It feels like everything is spinning around you and can be overwhelming. It was in those times I would stop and think, “What CAN I do?”. A lot of times the answer to that question… was laundry.

There weren’t many things I had any control over, but I always had laundry to do (we have a family of five – four are girls). I know it sounds silly, but laundry got me through the days that I didn’t know what to do. It gave me something to focus on. I would put the clothes in the washer then find something to clean until they were done. Then switch them to the dryer and find something else to do. Once they were dry I would sort, fold, and put away. I would pray for our family and our situation as a folded each person’s clothes. By then it was time to pick the kids up from school and I had made it another day.

When you are going through a difficult season in life, find that one thing you can focus on. It may be cleaning, or yard work, or a project at your job. Or maybe there is something at your church you can focus on. Visit with your pastor and leaders and let them know you are willing to help. You might have a calling to help teach Sunday School, Children’s Church, or even sing with the Worship Team. Whatever it is you find to do…do it with all your heart.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…

Ecclesiastes 9:10

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Have you ever felt like you had angels watching over you or you were miraculously protected from something?

There have been several things that have happened in my life but one of the first things I remember was when I was about 17. I was driving home from a school event after dark, and I hit a deer on the highway. It hit hard, crushed my radiator, and water was gushing out. I knew I could not drive the truck home. This was in the days before cell phones, so I took off walking. My plan was to walk to the closest house and call home. I prayed for protection as I began to walk along the dark highway.

At a crossroads

When I came to an intersection, I stood there for a minute. I was trying to decide whether to turn down this dirt road to a house I could see in the distance or continue down the highway. I noticed a cross that was nailed to a fence post and it held my attention as I prayed which way I should go. About that time a car pulled into the intersection to turn around. It was my sister! I ran to the car and knocked on the window. (scared my poor niece to death) She hadn’t seen me but had seen my truck beside the road and was going back to check on me. I was so relieved and thankful! It was perfect timing!

Trusting in God’s protection

If I had not lingered at the cross those few minutes, I would have been on down the road and would have not been there when my sister pulled into that intersection. I felt surrounded by protection, even though I was scared. I was watching my surroundings and my answer pulled right in front of me.

When you are at a crossroads and wondering which way to go, don’t move to hastily. Spend some time at the cross. Take your focus off the problem for a few minutes and focus on the Problem Solver. Your answer and direction will come, when you least expect it. It will be there at just the right time. Just keep trusting Him.

For He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11

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Do you ever struggle with planning events on your Church Calendar?

I know…we are halfway thru the year already! But it’s never too late to get organized!

Here are a few tips I have found helpful when planning out a church calendar:

First, use a yearly calendar. Don’t try to go month to month, you will miss something. Either get a paper planner, wall calendar, or use an online tool such as Google Calendar. I personally like to use a paper planner such as this one. I like this version with monthly and weekly views. (plus its pretty and durable) Then I put everything on my Google Calendar so I can access it from anywhere. Once I have everything down on paper, I can update my online version easily.

Next, mark all major holidays. Depending on the type of calendar you are using, this may already be added for you.

You will also want to add any local annual events such as Founders Day, Festivals, Free Fairs, Christmas Parade, etc. Any events that the community participates in. Your church may want to participate in these events in some way. This is a good time to reach out to your community and interact with other leaders and organizations.

Now, you can add any annual church events. This would be something like your Annual Chili Cook-off, Mother’s Day Brunch, or Annual Church Picnic. Go ahead and include anything that you “might” do. This will help you plan around those events just in case.

Next, pencil in recurring meetings such as business meetings, staff meetings, monthly Men’s Breakfast, Women’s Ministry events, anything that happens every month. Use a pencil because we know these can change according to what else is going on in people’s lives.

Make sure you include your vacation and days-off as soon as you know them. It is important to take time off so you do not get burnt out!

And last but certainly not least, be flexible. Things will change! Something will come up, programs will be added, and dates will have to be shifted. Always have white-out or an eraser handy!

Download Here

Start today and use this easy checklist to help you get on track!

If you found this article helpful, checkout this post “3 Tools Every Church Should be Using”

Planner Options under $10 – Click on the picture to see details

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