A Kingdom Woman: Framed by Hope

This week the story of Cinderella and the “bent” woman in Luke 13:11 is illustrated by world renown preacher, Dr. Tony Evans used in his book, Kingdom Woman, Embracing Your Purpose, Power, and Possibilities.  A Woman of Hope is emphasized in the second session of a group book study I am facilitating developed by Dr. Evans and his daughter, Chrystal Evans Hurst.  

Common thread running between the two stories is that each woman in her unique situation was stuck, locked into situations that seemed impossible to break free from. In Cinderella’s case forever searching for her prince from a distorted position of identity. The “bent” woman in Luke 13:11 as well, envisioned the world from a distorted position because of a “bent” perspective. Each of their stories reveals how easily it is to live like slaves in hostage situations and become hopelessly trapped. Perhaps this describes you in some way. Maybe you have desired a better future for yourself and your family. Or it may be that you met your Prince but he was really a frog. Remember the woman at the well, she too thought the well which she was drawing from would satisfy her thirst. 

Are you able to identity with either woman? As Pastor Evan recounts, too many women have given up on God. We have kept a running log of the years passing by and it seems as if our prayers will not be answered, and we have decided it’s too late. Point taken is that we miss out on God’s plans for us because we have stopped looking and hoping that things will change.

Furthermore, Cinderella and the bent woman in Luke 13:11, give us glimpses into how one can live lives of bondage, emotional bondage, spiritual bondage, or even physical bondage. Without a proper perspective of who we are, as seen with the physical position of the bent woman suffering for 18 years. She was only able to view herself and the world from the ground up.

Many women today view their selves and the world from a distorted position.

All hope is not lost, Jesus knows right where you are, and He knows how long you’ve been there. A key aspect of your life as a kingdom woman is tied to how you view and respond to Jesus.

Jesus, your Prince and Redeemer has found you. So, don’t give up. Stay hopeful.

Blessings,

Minister Sylvia Joyner

Becoming a Kingdom Woman: Part One, Your Essential Value

Hello…

Take a hundred-dollar bill.  Walk on it. Crumple it. Sneeze on it. Spit on it. Tear it in two...it never loses its value and neither do you! This is one of the illustrations world renown preacher, Dr. Tony Evans uses in his book, Kingdom Woman, Embracing Your Purpose, Power, and Possibilities.  A woman's essential value was the point emphasized in the first session of a group book study I am facilitating developed by Dr. Evans and his daughter, Chrystal Evans Hurst.

A kingdom woman as defined by Pastor Evans and his daughter, is a woman who positions herself and operates according to the rule of God over every area of her life. Her thoughts, actions, speech are governed by the value system God has ordered and not by the world’s standard. A kingdom woman understands that God’s way of doing things undergirds how she prioritizes her home and family, organizes her life, decision making, chooses investments, and develops skills all stem from her advancement in God’s Kingdom. Illustrated as our modern-day example is the Proverbs 31 woman.

These prioritized values dictate the course of action subsequently taken. Choices is where your mental weathering will lead you. The choices we make form our character. The Proverbs 31 woman chooses to be a woman of value. Her worth is the value she uses to navigate through life with.

The question is what makes or shapes her into a woman of value?  Shaping the Kingdom Woman’s value system is the Proverbs 31 woman. Not by any means is she the model of perfect woman, pointed out is that she understands the seasons of change in her life and prioritizes those events accordingly. Too many times we (woman) fear the changes in our lives and fail to recognize those times as spiritual opportunities by which growth can be utilized and God can be glorified.

You too can be a woman of value. It begins with a good healthy dose of “fear the Lord” a woman who fears the Lord will receive the praise that is due her. Her reverence determines her actions, thoughts, words, and priorities. So, you see its not what we do that gives us our value, it is who we fear.

God Bless, join us this week as we continue with the hope that shapes a Kingdom Woman’s life.

Blessings,

Sylvia Joyner

Expect The Unexpected!

The Bible records that Jesus appears to His disciples after His resurrection in John 20:19-31. The Disciples were, John tells us, locked in their room "for fear of the Jews." Respectively we understand their initial fears of the Jewish leaders and subsequent joy when they laid eyes on Jesus. John accounts for us their waning emotions and differing responses, both believing and disbelieving.

When was the last time you expected something unexpected? An old friend came by to visit...a gift of money...a promotion on your job...Jesus showed up...and the list goes on. Change is painful. We too are not immune from the same responses the disciples encountered. What happens to us is about us. Even so when change happens, Jesus still reminds us as He did the disciples, "Fear not."

But the greater question is how do we respond when change happens to us? Even when the command given from Jesus is "fear not". Is your response still fear, doubt, disbelief to these changes? What would it take for you to not fear change when it presents itself?

The disciples as you recall had just experienced the death. burial and resurrection of their Savior, Jesus the Christ. Can we blame them for being afraid for believing that the same thing would happen to them as well? What can we learn from their responses when Jesus shows up? How will you respond to the presence of Christ in your life? Yes, change is painful!

Remembering this, Jesus appears to the disciples not just to appear but that they would believe. Believe that He is a risen Savior!

Can we say this about all unexpected changes in our lives? That when these changes appear, they also come that we may believe? Believe that Jesus presence in our lives needs a response. Yes, change is painful, but a necessary part of helping us respond to the presence of God in our lives.

When will you see Jesus?