Whitesburg Baptist Women's Ministry

07/06/2022

Join us for our Summer Brunch on July 16. You’ll enjoy good food, good conversation around the table, intergenerational community, plus a personal word from our pastor’s wife, Vicki Craft, and learn about our upcoming mentoring program. So please join us for our Summer Brunch!
• Saturday, July 16, 9:30–11:30am at the South Campus.
• Price is $7 through Sunday, and $10 thereafter.
• Free childcare (with limitations)
Click here for info or to register for brunch or childcare:
https://onrealm.org/WhitesburgBaptist/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=Y2JlOGM3ZmUtNTBhYS00OGNlLWIxMzUtYWU4YjAxNjU5YTQ4

05/23/2022

Summer time is a good time to pour into someone and have someone pour into you. So join us for our summer equip group, Growing Together, to learn Biblical instruction on mentoring and practical ways to spiritually nurture women and also to be spiritually nurtured yourself through the book Spiritual Mothering. Click here to register for class and get the link to purchase your book: https://www.whitesburgbaptist.org/women

04/11/2022

Ladies, whether you’re new to Whitesburg or have been here a while, we all need connection with other women. So join us for brunch and good conversation at your table, and hear from some of our own women—Brenda McDaniel, Jean Graham and Pamela Barnes.
• Saturday, April 23, 9:30–11:30am at the South Campus.
• $7 through Easter Sunday; thereafter $10.
• Free childcare (for children of single moms or whose dad will be out of town; registration required).

Click here for info or to register for brunch or childcare:
https://www.whitesburgbaptist.org/event/5845319-2022-04-23-ladies-spring-brunch/

12/30/2021

For those who are reading through the Bible on your own, let me share what I posted in our Bible reading group … Post #2 for today: Thank you so much for taking my challenge back in January to read the entire Bible! Kudos to you for completing it! It’s a big accomplishment, especially if it’s your first time.

I’ve loved studying with you. Every week God has been faithful to teach us His truth. God’s Word is living, active, powerful. And we need it every day!

So what’s next? First, if you haven’t yet finished reading the Bible, please continue. Complete the goal, which was to read the entire Bible, not within a specific time frame. Continue on. And please let me know when you finish—even if it’s next December! 😊

If you have finished, will you read through the Bible again? Believe me, you’ll learn more each time you read it (Whitesburg will offer another reading plan for 2022). Or will you do an in-depth study of a particular topic or book of the Bible?

Whatever you do, stay in God’s Word, be alert and prepared for this spiritual battle which is going on all around us. May God continue to bless you as you read and study His Word! Happy 2022!

12/30/2021

For those who are reading through the Bible on your own, let me share what I posted in our Bible reading group … Post #1 for today: We’ve read the entire Bible! Great job! I’m so happy for you! What? You haven’t yet finished? No worries. Hang in there. Remember the goal was to read through the entire Bible. So keep reading. And please let me know when you finish—even if it’s next December! 😊

This week’s reading begins with 1 John. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re truly a Christian, 1 John will answer that. I speak from experience. 😉

But hey, Revelation! A lot is happening in this final book in the Bible—warnings, judgements, rewards, final destinations. Although we may not comprehend it all, we do realize we’re in a major spiritual battle and things will get worse before they get better. Satan is out to destroy Christians, their testimony, and all work of God. It may seem that he’s winning, but remember the end hasn’t yet come. In the end God will be powerfully victorious forever. “The Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”

The most important question is are you “with Him, … the called and chosen and faithful,” is your name written in the book of life from chapter 20? If you’re unsure, read 1 John and reread my post on December 9.

Revelation boldly encourages believers to be faithful to God every day until the end, to fear, glorify and worship Him. It says the one who stays awake and heeds the words of this prophecy will be blessed. So as we conclude reading the most powerful, life-changing book ever written, The Holy Bible, God’s Word, let’s stay awake spiritually and trust, worship and obey our Lord. He is the King! And He is coming quickly! Amen!

12/24/2021

For those who are reading through the Bible on your own, let me share what I posted in our Bible reading group … Have you noticed that God’s Word is as applicable today as it was for the early Christians? Back then (and still today) Satan slipped people into the church to distract believers from God’s truth—through unbelief, neglect of public worship, weakness in prayer, or neglecting scripture. The Christians then (and now) were warned and encouraged to guard and teach the faith, to accurately handle God’s Word. They/we are encouraged to remember that Christ is our great high priest; we can confidently draw near to Him to receive mercy and grace to help in time of need. Also, that He is the anchor of our soul—which is so encouraging in these uncertain days. Plus, He has given us everything we need for life and godliness. When Satan tries to distract you from God’s truth, let’s heed the ancient warning and believe God’s Word which is inspired, trustworthy, living, active, useful to teach, correct and train you in righteous; then be faithful to worship with other believers, pray, and study God’s Word. Yes!

12/19/2021

For those who are reading through the Bible on your own, let me share what I posted in our Bible reading group … These small books of the New Testament were written to teach the early Christians (and us) how to live out the Christian life. Consider these powerful snippets. Be humble like Jesus. Live through Jesus’ righteousness, not your own goodness. Rejoice always. Don’t worry about anything; pray about everything. Don’t grumble or complain. Be thankful. Have honorable relationships between husband, wife, children, employer. Let God’s peace guard your heart and mind. Think on whatever is true, honorable, right, pure. Be content. Trust God. Know God deeply. Pray for believers to know God deeply. Pray for unbelievers to be delivered from darkness and transferred to God. Put on God’s armor to fight the spiritual battle around us. Thank God. Praise God. These power-packed books contain so many truths to live out and pray for ourselves and others. Remember that God will complete the good work He started in His children; it’s a life-long process. So keep growing! He’s not finished with you yet.

12/09/2021

For those who are reading through the Bible on your own, let me share what I posted in our Bible reading group—

This may be the longest, yet most important, post of our chronological Bible reading. Because it’s about your relationship with God. So please hang in there with me! Earlier this year we read about the OT sacrifices for sin and the prophecies that Jesus eventually would be that perfect sacrifice. Recently we read in John 12:27 that Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth was to be that perfect sacrifice and take the punishment for our sin. And that’s exactly what He did: Jesus willingly left Heaven to be born on earth as a baby, which we celebrate at Christmas; at age 33 He sacrificially died for our sins and then was raised back to life.

Remember the powerful verse John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” God loved us and did His part to make a way for us to be with Him and give us eternal life; in this week’s passages Romans tells us our part—to make an individual decision to believe in Him, accept Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins, and commit ourselves to Him.

Romans 3:23 says all of us have sinned, which means we’re imperfect and unfit to be in the presence of a holy God. 5:8 explains that God expressed His love for us by having Jesus Christ die for our sins (as that perfect sacrifice), even when we were sinning and didn’t care. That’s amazing love! 6:23 tells us we “earn” death because we sin, but God offers the gift of eternal life because of what Jesus did for us by being the sacrifice for us sins. Do you believe this? If so, 10:9-10 tells us our part—we must genuinely believe God raised Jesus from the dead and then confess Him as Lord of our life. That means we commit to Him, follow Him, love Him, obey Him. Let me ask, have you accepted Jesus’ sacrifice to cover your sins, do you believe God raised Jesus from the dead, have you confessed Him as Lord of your life?

You know, the reason we read the Bible isn’t simply for information or to check off our bucket list. It is to encounter Jesus and experience a changed life—for today and for eternity. If you’ve never done that but genuinely want to, you can pray something like this: “Dear Jesus, I admit I’ve sinned. I need and want Your forgiveness. I believe You died on the cross for me, taking the punishment for my sin because You loved me so much. I accept your gift of forgiveness and eternal life. I commit myself to You as Savior and Lord of my life. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me. From now on, help me live for You, with You in control. In Your precious name, Amen.”

Romans 10:13 says whoever will call upon the Lord in this way will be saved. That’s a promise. So if you’ve done that, you’re part of God’s family! Welcome! If you’ve done it recently, I’d love to hear from you! Also below are some helpful links for further info. Thanks for hanging in there with me, because this truly is the most important decision of your life!

Sample prayers of salvation
https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/the-sinners-prayer-4-examples.html

First Steps in the Christian Life
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/first-steps-in-the-christian-life/

What is the Christian life supposed to be like?
https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-life.html

10 Guidelines for Christian Living - The Billy Graham Library
https://billygrahamlibrary.org/10-guidelines-for-christian-living/

What is the sinner's prayer?The sinner's prayer is a Christian term for a prayer that is said when someone wants to repent of their sin, ask God for forgiveness, and state belief in the life, death, and saving resurrection of Jesus Christ. Romans...

12/03/2021

For those who are reading through the Bible on your own, let me share what I posted in our Bible reading group … Paul states many powerful truths to the Christians in the city of Corinth that also apply to us today. Think on these from 1 Corinthians: Learn from the Israelites in the wilderness (10:1-14). Do everything to honor God (10:31). Know and use your spiritual gifts in the church (ch12). Love is the supreme motivator (ch13). God is not a God of confusion but of peace (14:33). Jesus died and lived again (15:1-8). Be steadfast doing the Lord’s work (15:58). Be on the alert spiritually (16:13). And these from 2 Corinthians: When a person turns to the Lord, the veil (lack of understanding) is taken away (3:16). If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature, all things become new (5:17). Jesus, who never sinned, became sin so that we might become righteous before God (5:21). Sorrow that brings repentance is the will of God (7:9-10). We must destroy every lofty, prideful act or thought that is against God (10:3-5). Test yourself to see if you are in the faith; examine yourself (13:5). Jesus’ grace, God’s love, and the Holy Spirit’s fellowship be with you all (13:14). Amen and amen!

11/24/2021

For those who are reading through the Bible on your own, let me share what I posted in our Bible reading group … Have you ever wanted to pray for someone, or for yourself, but really didn’t know what to pray? Most likely, all of us have. In this week’s passages Paul gives great examples of prayers and concepts that can be prayed for anyone. For example, using 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 pray to love one another and be holy before God, from 4:3 pray to abstain from sexual immorality. From 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 pray for God’s word to spread, the Lord to strengthen and protect from the evil one, to obey God. Using 1 Corinthians 8:1 pray to love and edify, from 8:9-13 pray for willingness to give up my rights if they hinder someone else’s spiritual life. Praying scripture in this way will bring God's Word to life for you and will transform your prayers and Bible study. It helps you see beyond simply reading the Bible to recognizing principles and truths as powerful prayer guides for yourself, your family, friends, nation, even your enemies. When you pray scripture, you can be certain you’re praying according to God’s will.

11/19/2021

For those who are reading through the Bible on your own, let me share what I posted in our Bible reading group … These passages are packed! Saul miraculously encountered Jesus and became His dynamic witness and teacher. Salvation became available to Gentiles (non-Jews—which is most of us), which was shocking to Jews. Due to persecution, Christians moved away from Jerusalem into other cities which accomplished God’s good work of spreading the gospel to those cities. Let’s hone in on persecution, troubles, or trials since the early Christians dealt with them, and we do also. The book of James tells us that trials have a purpose—to test or prove our faith, to prove whether we’ll trust and obey God, or not. Just like the early Christians, when we pass the test of faith, we develop endurance and deeper trust in God. If we don’t know what to do in the trial, ask God for wisdom without doubting. Resist the devil when he tries to persuade us not to believe or obey God. Draw near to God by studying His Word and trusting His character. Realize that God’s purpose in troubles or trials is for spiritual growth—for our faith and trust in Him to be strengthened, mature, complete, lacking nothing.