Ministry Mindset with Mrs. Janelle Durham

Ministry is the spiritual work or service of any Christian. To minister to someone is to attend and serve; to perform service in any office, sacred or secular.

We are all in the ministry! 

Join Crystal as she chats with Mrs. Janelle Durham about her local church, Calvary Baptist Church in Perry, Oklahoma. 

Next week, we will kick off our study of I and II Thessalonians. Here's the link to the study guide if you'd like one to accompany your study. 

Available Bible Studies and Bible Study Guides (affiliate links):

• It's Time.
• Arise, Go.
• Pullin' Weeds, Plantin' Seeds
• There's a Fly in my Tea!
• Study Your Bible With Me Series

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:02

Hi there, welcome to Wisdom for Wednesday, your midweek pods for truth, encouragement, and practical faith. I'm your host, Crystal Ratcliffe, author, speaker, and fellow traveler on this journey of growing in God's Word. Each week we'll dive into scripture together and have the opportunity to be encouraged in the truth that never changes. If you're able, grab your Bible, a cup of coffee, and let's seek God's wisdom together. Hi there and welcome back to the Wisdom for Wednesday podcast. Today I have a special guest for the Ministry Mindset series, Mrs. Janelle Durham. And you may remember an episode a couple weeks ago I did of a session at a ladies' conference where the theme was Be Still and Know That I Am God. Mrs. Janelle, she is the pastor's wife there at Calvary Baptist Church. And she is with us today. We did our interview a while back. I decided that it would be wonderful to have her give you a little bit more about the conference because I know in my session I mentioned her session a couple times. So we just took a couple minutes at the very end of this episode, so stay tuned, to talk a little bit more about the conference because it was just such a sweet time in the Lord. So enjoy the interview with Mrs. Janelle Durham and then hang on till the end to hear a little bit more about that conference. And let's get started. I'm so glad that you're with us, Miss Janelle. And I would just like to start by having you tell the listeners a little bit about yourself.

SPEAKER_00 1:37

Well, I am Janelle Durham. My husband is Pastor Shem Durham. He pastors Calvary Baptist Church in Perry, Oklahoma. So I'm a wife, I'm a mom of three adult children, all boys. And now I'm enjoying the season of grandparenthood. I am a Gigi to the most adorable little boy. Yes, that's so fun. Uh no, he just turned one. So we're enjoying that. And we're getting ready to um enjoy another little grandbaby's doing, um, she's do our daughter-in-law's due in April, so it works out.

SPEAKER_01 2:08

Okay, okay. So you had all boys, and so far you just have a grandson. Right. Right. That's awesome. I love it. Okay, so you said you were there in Perry, Oklahoma. How long have you all been there? We have been there nine years.

SPEAKER_00 2:25

It'll be 10 um in August.

SPEAKER_01 2:27

Okay. And how did you end up in Oklahoma? Because you're not from Oklahoma, we can tell that.

SPEAKER_00 2:35

Um, I don't think this podcast is long enough to really share what the Lord did. I mean, all I can say is it's it's God. Of course, we're from um South Carolina. My husband pastored there for 15 years in the upstate of South Carolina, and um just just real keeping it really short. Um, God told him he was done in May of 2016. Um, sometimes my days and years get all messed up. But um, and he began praying. He's like, Lord, favor, favor me with um you speak, you talking to my talking to my wife, you know, speak to her, speak to her heart, let her know what's getting ready to take place. And and so it was probably a month later, I was in my devotion time and I was doing a study in the life of Paul, and it was when Paul was getting ready to take his missionary journey, and the people were gathered around, it was an emotional time, but the title of that devotion was a good goodbye. And I journal, I'm a journaler, I journal my prayers, and I was praying and I was journaling, and it was like the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, There's gonna be a good goodbye in this place with these people. And I was kind of taken back because I mean, in ministry, there's been times where you've wanted to leave, right? You wanted to move far away. But at that moment, I was just like, I'm content, Lord. Like, I'm I know this is where you have us. Like, Lord, just just confirm your confirm if this is what you're saying to me. And an hour later, my husband called. He was by vocation by vocational at the time, and he called from work and he's like, honey, I need you to pray. And I'm like, okay. He said a church in Oklahoma has contacted me to be their pastor. And I was like, this is real. And I knew that God was getting ready to move us. I didn't know where at the time, I didn't know what it was gonna look like. Um, but that I'm thankful that God did that for me personally. Because you know what, Crystal, I can't blame my husband for moving me a thousand miles away, right? From all that we've known in family. I mean all of our families back in this, you know, back east. And and so I'm thankful God did that personally for me in my heart and continued to lead me through his word, showing me what the steps of what he was getting ready to do. And it's just it was just amazing. And I don't have all the time to share it, but yeah, it it was definitely God that moved us.

SPEAKER_01 4:59

Yeah, I love how the Lord does that. And even if you have to look back after something has taken place and you can just see how he was preparing you all along for coming, and I just love that about him. Um, so was it culture shock to come to the Midwest compared to it?

SPEAKER_00 5:18

It was it was culture shock, yes. I kind of feel in some little way of what missionaries um, you know, experience when they move away from everything that they've known for so long. And we we pretty much we just kind of had it's almost like we had to start ministry over, if that makes sense, because we're in a new place, we didn't know anybody. So yeah, it was definitely a culture shock.

SPEAKER_01 5:41

Yeah. And so how would you say ministry is different in Oklahoma than it was in the South?

SPEAKER_00 5:49

Um, really, it's not any different. I mean, our ministry is still, you know, we still focus on wanting to reach the lost and wanting to be a light for the Lord. So that doesn't it that hasn't changed, of course. Um, but when we first moved to Oklahoma, it was different because we didn't know anybody. Like we, you know, it was just our church, and we were still getting to know our church family and and ways to minister to them. And and so it was, it was kind of it's not now it's is really no difference um if ministry-wise from South Carolina to Oklahoma. Just that first few months of moving to Oklahoma was was diff difficult. Um, we like I said, we didn't know any sister churches really that we could fellowship with. That was difficult because we had our core group of people, you know, and churches and camp meetings that we would attend in South Carolina. So that ministry-wise, as far as friendships and and churches that we could fellowship with, we we didn't know anybody. So that was very difficult.

SPEAKER_01 6:48

Yeah. Yeah. I know when I have got to travel to the South, which I've done a lot now, um, it's kind of amazing to me how many Baptist churches are there. Now they're all different, I know, all different kinds of Baptist churches, but to me, that was that is one difference I can see when I travel that way, is that like here in my town, we have, I think we have, you know, like a First Baptist, a Southern Baptist, and then an independent Baptist, but that's about it, where you go into some of these towns in the South, and there are several Baptist churches, even in a smaller community than mine. And so that's always something that I'm like, oh, this is like different in that way.

SPEAKER_00 7:33

Right, right. The distance, you know, between the churches here in Oklahoma. I mean, it's it's that it just amazes me because we come, like you said, we're we come our we had a sister church that we fellowship with that was less than a mile from our church. Oh, yeah. So that's just how that's just how it was. So it is different in that aspect.

SPEAKER_01 7:51

Okay, so tell me some of your favorite things about your church.

SPEAKER_00 7:56

Some of my favorite things about our church is um just the sweet spirit and the spirit of, you know, we're a family. And that's so important because there's a lot of people, that's all they have is their church family. That's the only family they have. And for us, even though we have family, you know, we're a thousand miles away from ours. Yeah. So our church family is our family. So that I I just love that about them. Um, I love their heart for missions. That's that has been instilled in that church before we came. And I'm thankful for that. For the they have a heart for people in the community. And um that has really been probably the past year has really been um exciting to see is them um just a heart for the community. My husband is the CEO of a food for for a food pantry in Perry. And so him being involved in that, some of the people have helped um distribute food and things for people. So that has been a blessing to see them because we get so comfortable in just our little, you know, our little church and the people there. And God wants us to spread out and be a light and just be his hands and feet in the community. And so being able to see that has been such a blessing, um, you know, in our church. And I just love that. Of course, they love the Lord. Um, that's always a blessing. They love their pastor, they they honor him and they honor his leadership, and I'm so thankful for that.

SPEAKER_01 9:20

Yeah. So, as the pastor's wife, what are some ways you are involved in the ministries of the church?

SPEAKER_00 9:28

Um, I am, of course, I sing the choir, I sing specials, I teach the teen girls' Sunday school class, which has been different in a good way. I love it. And um, it's it's yeah, I just enjoy that. Um, of course, lead the women's ministries. I'm the church secretary, so a lot of a lot of hats. Yeah, sounds like it. So that that is what the Lord has allowed us to do there.

SPEAKER_01 9:56

Okay, and specifically, you mentioned the ladies' ministries. So tell me more about that, the things that you do with your ladies or some of the things that you all do together.

SPEAKER_00 10:05

Okay. We've um we have Bible studies every second Monday of the month. We actually just started back um this this this month in January. We took a little break on that, but we start we started back this month, and we do that every month, the second Monday of every month. And we get together and um just fellowship, talk, eat a little bit, and then we uh and then we dig into the word. And um I'm thankful for that. Just a closer, you know, smaller setting, closer, closer time together, and it's just a sweet time. Then we have time of prayer, they share prayer requests, and that's always so sweet. Then, of course, we just started our um ladies' conference. Our first one was last year, so we um the Lord um allowed us to do that, so we're doing that now as well, and our next one is in a couple months, but um, and we've taken trips to Branson and things like that as women. We'll get together sometimes around Christmas, sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. Bible Christmas fellowship, um, little things here and there, but yes, that's what we do as far as ladies' ministries.

SPEAKER_01 11:10

Yeah, I actually we met because of your Bible study. You went through one of the books, and that's been a few years ago. Yes, it has. So, and then we've just stayed friends ever since, and I just love that. But um, okay, so the ladies' ministries, how are they structured and organized? And then one thing that I'm really interested in is how do you get new ladies to get involved with you? Because I think sometimes we get comfortable with who we're used to having help us. So, how do you encourage new ladies to get involved in those things?

SPEAKER_00 11:46

So, like with our ladies' Bible studies, they're a little bit more um laid back. I have ladies sign up to bring finger foods, and so they'll bring food finger foods to share. And so when our Bible study gets started, we like have a time of fellowship, we eat, and then we get into the Bible study after that. Um, of course, the ladies' conference is structured a little bit more, you know, you have to be with the biggest thing. Um I I struggled with delegating. That is one thing that the Lord has helped me with, especially with our ladies' conference last year. I knew that I had to, I had to. And so being at the church for eight years, then I saw where I could, I I knew my ladies. I knew who had a talent where. And so being able to see that and watch them where they flourish, um, like I would say, okay, I know you're I know you have a gift for organizing. I need you to be in charge of registering people. You know, and so and they were so willing and just and just knowing, just watching and seeing. And there's gonna be some that, you know, they're and just encouraging them. You know, everybody has a talent, and just get in and just find a place. There's always some somewhere to serve, there's always somewhere that you can just plug in and get involved and encouraging them, loving on them, you know, just you know, that's that's what I I can say is encouraging. I've never thankfully really had a problem with that as far as having to help someone that's been reluctant and getting involved. Um, but there is there has been times where you I've had to kind of prod somebody along, especially with our teen girls to be involved in the ladies' conference. Yes, you know, but um just encouraging them. And um, yeah, everybody has everybody everybody just plugs in and just does what needs to be done, and I'm thankful for that. And I noticed that with the ladies before we even became pastor. Um, my husband became pastor of the church, is they just just watched them, they just did what needed to be done, and I'm thankful for that.

SPEAKER_01 13:53

And I actually got to come to your first ladies' conference last year, and I enjoyed it so much. I'm looking forward to it again. Yes, we are it is a very sweet spirit, and I just appreciated that. So, the opportunity to come and visit with the ladies, and it's been good. Um, okay, so next question: Do you have any tips or tricks that you could share that would be a help to a ladies who are stepping into the role of pastor's wife or leading a ministry at the church? Maybe something you wish you had known long ago.

SPEAKER_00 14:31

Yes, yes. The first thing that comes to my mind is having a prayer life, um, having a walk with the Lord, having communion with him is so vital. And not just being a pastor's wife, just in life in general. And that is one thing. When we start, we my husband um became pastor in 2001. We were married in 2000. And so I for three or four years, I did not have a walk with the Lord. I did not have a prayer life. I didn't know that it was something that you needed to have. You know, I thought prayer was praying over a meal, you know, that that I didn't know that I didn't understand that there was something deeper until a big, a big trial came into our life, one of the darkest trials we ever faced. And the Lord spoke to my heart and said, You don't, you don't even talk to me. Like you don't even commune with me. So having a walk with the Lord, I believe, is vital for anyone, any, any lady that's getting ready to um, you know, it's gonna be a pastor's wife or lead in a in an event or, you know, whatever the Lord, you must have a prayer life. And I encourage that that is my that is a passion of mine because I know personally the just the difference of not having one to having one and and what that looks like. And it looks different for everybody, but I encourage them to have a walk with the Lord and be you, don't compare yourself to anybody else. And that is one thing I wish I would have learned is um to be me and not ex not not to allow people to hold you to a certain standard and expectation. You know, I didn't even know what a pastor's wife looked like. I I mean, I I had them, but I didn't have anybody to to mentor me in that um area of my life. So I really had to allow the Lord to do work in my heart and my life as well and be mo moldable. Allow God to mold you into what He wants you to be. And I would have never thought that I would be sitting here today, you know, and doing this interview on ministry. I would have, you know, 20 plus years ago, I would have laughed and thought, there is no way because I'm an introvert at heart. Like I don't think that's hard to believe. I don't want to do these things, but God be moldable. God molds you and and makes you what he wants you to be. And and I'm I'm so thankful. And so that's the encouragement I would give to to pastors' wives that are, you know, new in ministry, so to speak, or um want to have a ladies' event, have a prayer life, talk with the Lord, you know, commune with him every day.

SPEAKER_01 17:13

Yeah, there's a lot of wisdom in what you said there. I know the prayer life, but also not comparing yourself to others, I think is key. When you're when you God has given you a ministry, he wants you to do it, he wants you to be you. Well, but you, right? Yeah. Right. I just I think there's a lot of wisdom in what you said. Um now let's move on to maybe what what are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as a pastor's wife? Obviously, that you can share, but what helps you overcome them? And is there some way that if a church member is listening, they could what advice would you give them to encourage their pastor's wife?

SPEAKER_00 17:55

Let me preface this by saying that the blessings far away, the challenges, of course. And um, but there are challenges. And I think for me, um, it would be not taking things personal. People are people, we all are people, we all say things, do things that may you may not think that you know it hurts somebody. So not taking things personal, and that sometimes that's difficult, especially if if it's toward my husband or toward my children or family. Um, and what helps me with that, and I've learned this, still learning, is immediately when something and you're kind of taken back like that that hurts, is immediately give it to the Lord. Release it and give it to the Lord. Because if you don't, it's gonna breed bitterness and resentment, and you know how what happens with that. So um I've learned that the past you know, years of ministry is people will say things, people will do things, and don't take it personal. Give it to the Lord, um, you know, release that to him. Um, and I think one of the biggest ways to encourage your pastor's wife is of course pray for her, but let her know. Send her cards, send her a text, call her, just you know, just checking on you, you know, just letting you know I'm praying for you and just being there. I have right now looking at a little, a little, it's a little picture. I don't know what you would call it, it's a little piece of decor, and it says, I'm praying for you. And a lady in our church, I was going through some hard things, and the lady in my church just put that little gift bag, gave it to me at church, and that has been such an encouragement to my heart. I see it every day because it sits on my desk. It just lets me know that there are. Don't don't believe the lies of the enemy, that nobody cares, nobody's praying for you, your church isn't. There's someone that's praying for you. So just letting her know that. Um, even just little mementos, little gifts. It doesn't have to be expensive. Yeah. Just letting her know that you care, that you love her, praying for her.

SPEAKER_01 19:58

Yeah. Um, so you mentioned the blessings far outweigh the challenges. So, what would you say are the biggest blessings of being a pastor's wife?

SPEAKER_00 20:07

The biggest blessing for me is to be able to serve the Lord with my husband. I say, you know, we're on a journey with Jesus, and to be in the center of God's will is is the sweetest, the sweetest thing. And to be able to serve the Lord together, um, you know, just being obedient to the call is is is just a blessing, and being able to see God work in the lives of his people, to see to see those women that you've been you're investing in, whether it's through mentorship or just one-on-one, being able to see growth in them, spiritual growth in your church. Um, you know, I work with the teen girls, so to see them grow in the Lord and you know, it's just that that to me just is a blessing. Of course, being able to lead someone to the Lord, and that's just not a pastor's wife, that's with anybody, but you know, um, just a lot of blessings. But being able to serve the Lord, my husband, alongside of him for Jesus is is the greatest blessing.

SPEAKER_01 21:08

Yeah, yeah. I can I can agree with that at this point in my life with us being empty nesters as well, and then the opportunities we've been given now to serve on staff at the church, I would say that is a big blessing to my heart as well. Yeah. Um, okay, so you've been in ministry a long time. Now, obviously your children are grown, but if you could give any advice for how you balanced ministry and family time and taking care of your home and all of those things, what would you what would you say to give someone advice about those things?

SPEAKER_00 21:45

Um we went from zero to three overnight as far as so it shook our world. Um, what I thought was balanced, it was I it just was, you know. Um, we we adopted our children. So um, that's what I mean by that. But I think one of the things that someone said, and I don't know who who said this, pinned this, but they said, you know, you can't do all the things and do them well. Something is going to lack, something's going to someone, you know. Um, so when I think about balance, I just think about just spending time in the areas that mean the most to you. Um, it's not having it all together. You know, there's gonna be times where you're gonna be stressed. There's gonna be times where they there may be chaos, but balance isn't having it all together. Um, but I believe balance is operating out of a heart of contentment. Um, and I've learned this because as you know, seasons change in our lives. Every season is different in every woman's, in every single woman's life. When your children are smaller, you know, they um they require more of your attention.

unknown 22:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:56

And as they grow, you're able to, you know, you're able maybe to do a little bit more in the church or whatever. But I've learned this when we moved to Oklahoma, just this season, and I and I was struggling in my life in some areas, and uh and a wise woman who I who is a mentor in my life, she said, Janelle, she said, God knows what season you're in. You just you just keep staying faithful, you keep just doing what you know to do, you just spend time in the areas that that that mean the most to you. God knows the season you're in. And I sometimes we get discouraged because this season wasn't like that one, you know, or whatever, but um, you know, it's just it's seasons and just realizing, I believe, first of all, the most vital thing of keeping balance is prioritize your time with God. And I kind of already talked about that, is put God first, you know. Um, I thought about Susannah Wesley. She her testimony was she had a bunch of kids, right? I don't know really how many, but a lot. But she made time, right? She balanced her time, she made time with the Lord, and she she got in her little rocking chair with her Bible, threw her apron over her head, and her kids knew that hey, when mama's in her chair and her apron's over her head, don't unless it's an emergency, you know. Um, and I think that's vital of keeping balance because if that's not right, then everything else is gonna be off and uh enjoy the season you're in and realize it's a season and everyone's season's different.

SPEAKER_01 24:25

Yeah. Okay, I just have a couple more questions. So uh take a minute and just imagine that you're talking to a listener who they attend church, but they really are just kind of reluctant to get involved in their church for whatever reason. Maybe they're just shy or they're busy or they're just comfortable attending. What would you say to them to encourage them to go beyond that?

SPEAKER_00 24:49

Well, I would just let them know how important it is to get plugged in in your local church and serve. And um I've heard I've heard the illustration and of being, and I think maybe y'all talked about it um with the podcast uh prior, but I love, I love because I played sports in high school. So I know I know the difference between being a spectator, sitting on the bench at times when I was hurt, and being a participator, and just getting in there. There's something about getting in your local church and serving and just encourage them to do so. Everyone has a talent and just and just do it. Um, and sometimes I I I have difficulty in, you know, just I don't want to be a bother to someone. Like I don't want to bug them, but yet I do. Like, so I have to I have to ask the Lord to help me with that and just encourage them. There's always something um that they can um can can do and benefit from. And like I said, there's some there's there's something great about being being in there. You're able to see God do things. That's why I encourage our ladies with the ladies' conference to get in, do you're gonna see God do things that you would have never seen God do if you hadn't been participating and involved and in it, yeah, you know, meeting needs and just working in in great ways. And so um, yeah, that's what I would I would do. I just encourage them just to get in there. Just don't believe the lies of the enemy, um, you know, that you're too busy or you're too shy. I've been there, done that. You know, just get in and do it.

SPEAKER_01 26:21

Yes, and the rewards comfort zone, just the blessings of being a part and the rewards of being involved. I say rewards, but I mean really the way that you will be blessed is just right beyond, I think, what you can imagine until you get in there and experience what a church family is really like. Um okay, and then the final thing, and I've been asking everyone this because this is part of my ministry mindset series. So, what does that mean to you, ministry mindset? And how do you think we could all do better to see our involvement in our local church or even our daily walk as an opportunity for ministry?

SPEAKER_00 27:02

I think about this question a lot and ask myself, why do I do what I do? Why do I do what I do? Is it because, well, no one else will do it? Is it because, well, that's what I'm supposed to do? Um, is it because I want to be seen doing it? Why do I do what I do? And that thought process has really helped me. Um, because if we're just doing it because nobody else does, or we're doing it because that's what we're supposed to do, and those things may be right, you know, but that attitude can lead to discouragement and can lead to frustration, can lead to burnout. So because my that focus is on me and my focus is on other people, you know, people aren't doing what they're supposed to do. I thought about Mary and Martha and that account in the Bible. So is Christ at the center of all that I do, even in those mundane daily tasks, you know, is he at the center? And is he my motivation? Is he the reason behind why I do what I do? Um, because of my love for him. Sometimes we just need to re-reorient our hearts, you know, and we need to just see that every moment that we have, every moment as an opportunity to minister and to serve, wherever that is, because I believe that ministry is some believe that ministry is is a separate part of life. But I believe that ministry mindset is woven into every aspect of our life, every interaction um that we have and our responsibility. And when Christ is our focus, then what I do and why I do it is because of and because of my love for him, he will he will allow us to make an impact on others for an eternal purpose. And that is that is my that is my desire is to be more ministry mindset. And that helped me, that question really helped me really dig in more um of being ministry mindset because even even Christ had that mindset. He said in Matthew 20 and in Mark um chapter 10, he said, even as the Son of Man came to be not to be ministered unto, but to minister. And so just he's our he's our greatest example and just being the hands of feet of Jesus.

SPEAKER_01 29:23

Yeah, that's good. Thank you so much. I really appreciate you taking the time to do this. I know you're you're getting ready for your big conference. So I appreciate you taking the time to be with us. And um, I really enjoyed what you shared with us. There's a lot of wisdom there, and I hope that it can be a blessing to the listeners.

SPEAKER_00 29:42

Amen. Yes, ma'am. My heart. That's my heart's desire too. Thank you for the opportunity.

SPEAKER_01 29:48

I want to thank you again, Miss Janelle, for the opportunity to be at your conference. It was such a blessing to my heart. I know the conference did not like the way you had it planned, even so far as me speaking, everything did not go as planned. But the Lord showed up anyway, didn't he?

SPEAKER_00 30:10

Yes, he did. Oh my goodness. Um, yeah, I the Lord just changed my, you know, when it was my time to to speak and share, I knew as I was getting ready to get into the the gist of the lesson that the Lord was speaking to my heart. I don't know, I know you've experienced it when you start when you're speaking, the Lord's speaking to you too, you know. And so I was feeling that as I was getting ready to get into the lesson, and and then I looked down at the time and I have five minutes and I'm like, Lord, I have no idea what you're and literally, I mean, from the start, I had no idea what the Lord was doing. And and you know, we prayed, our ladies got together every Tuesday night and prayed, and we prayed, Lord, we don't want to put you in a box, like you know, that's not how you want to work. And so I was really um, I didn't want to put God in a box like Lord, you only have five minutes to work here. Like, you know, you've got to give to me when I need to get to these women in five minutes, you know. And and uh so the Lord just took over and literally, I I mean, I don't know what what the Lord did through all that. I just trust that what needed to be said was said that he said through me, through the word, however, and um yeah, that was definitely not planned, it was not in the schedule. Um, but I believe that it's what the Lord wanted. And you know, I just pray that that's that he did the work and not me. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:41

Yeah. I know for me, just the um what you brought out about to be still and that being surrendered stillness. You want to talk a little bit about that? Surrender.

SPEAKER_00 31:54

Yeah, I um you know, be still, and I started studying that year several years ago. Um, and the Lord brought it back to my heart for this um conference is be still means cease striving, stop stop fighting, be in, you know, stop trying to be in control of things that you know you have no reason to be in control of because there's a lot of things we can't we can't control, right? And so um being surrendered to the Lord is just yielding, yielding to him in every area of our life. And sometimes that's hard because as women, we want, we want to, we still want to hold on control, whether it's you know, with our you know, our children, our adult children, or just life, marriage, I mean, just women issues, you know, we still want to hold on to control. And um, God says, you know, I be still, stop fighting it. Let me, let me have it, let me be in control. And so, you know, surrendered stillness is just something the Lord's still working in my heart because we still, you know, I still struggle with allowing God to take over things in our life. And but when we do, there's so much beauty in it. And because he is now in control and we've yielded to him. And and I actually have, you know, the rock um that we did, I put on mine, you know, Rafa, which I don't know if I'm saying that right, but the Hebrew word would be still see striving. Yeah, it's just a reminder, you know, stop stop fighting, you know, let God be in control.

SPEAKER_01 33:29

Yeah, yeah. I actually have that written down on my notes from your session, stop fighting for control. Yes. Because that is hard sometimes. We like to see how things, I guess I'm I consider myself like a planner, and so I like to have everything planned out, and with the Lord, that's not the case.

SPEAKER_00 33:49

Right.

SPEAKER_01 33:49

You just have to step out in faith and let him work. And so I appreciated that so much. And even Miss Lydia's song, um, I don't know the title, but it I think it was Stand Still and See. Do you remember she was singing that? That God is working mightily. If we will stop and be still and let him work, then we can see him work, kind of like we even discussed with Hezekiah and Jerusalem, seeing him work and fight the battle for them. So I appreciated all of that. That was so good. I know I enjoyed my time there. Um, I always do. The ladies there, your ladies just are little worker bees, but they have such a sweet spirit about it, and I just love visiting with them and catching up with them.

SPEAKER_00 34:44

Yes, it was a very sweet time, and we were so thankful that you came to be part of it and this time to speak, and that was such a blessing to our hearts and and your sensitivity to the spirit too. I know sometimes that can be hard coming in and not really, you know, um, but just being sensitive and obedient to Lord, we we appreciate that so so much. And um, I've had ladies even still contacting me um just how how the sessions helped them, and I'm just so grateful to the Lord for all he did. Yes, and it's still doing, still doing days after.

SPEAKER_01 35:23

Yes, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, because that's why we do those things. We just want to see the Lord work, and so yeah, yes, I really appreciated it. That concludes my interview with Miss Janelle. I'm so thankful for the people that the Lord has brought into my life through the writing, the speaking, the different things. She is just a dear friend in the Lord, and I'm so thankful for her. I hope that you were able to glean from the things that she talked about regarding ministry and even from the conference and thinking about that surrendered stillness. Go study it for yourself. It was certainly a blessing to me because we have some things in our life right now where I just need to practice that. And so I appreciated her session at the conference. It spoke to my heart, and I'm just thankful. I'm thankful that the Lord still works on us when we allow him to, and we have an open heart and an open mind to his word. And speaking of his word, I want to remind you that beginning next week, my my lessons, my episodes will come from my study of first and second Thessalonians. And I've invited you to study along with me if you would like to do that. There is a study guide available if you want that. The link will be in the show notes. Otherwise, just keep in mind, it's kind of like I have done it in the past. It's not going to be an in-depth study of the book of First and Second Thessalonians, but it's going to be more about taking maybe from each chapter how the Lord has spoken to me. So keep that in mind. But I do encourage you to study along with me and invite you to study along with me. I would love that. And as always, if the podcast is a blessing to you, please share it with a friend, leave a review that just helps other women to find the podcast. And of course, that is the goal that it could just be a help to those that listen. And I thank you for all of your support, and we'll see you back here next week.