Note to self: take dog treats next time! I met a dozen dogs of all shapes and sizes. I also met the pastor of a local church on her way to deliver meals, and the owner of a local bar enjoying a beer on her front porch. I met women in high heels and women in slippers (not a few who were still wearing pajamas :).

Without exception, the women who were home invited me inside to visit (maybe the hundred-degree heat had something to do with it). One of my neighbors told me, “I’m new around here, I don’t hardly know anyone.” When I asked her how long she’d lived here, she said, “15 years!” That’s a long time to be lonely, isn’t it?

As we shared names of neighbors we might know in common, one woman learned that someone who’s been on her church’s prayer list lives right in her backyard – literally! She can see the other woman’s house from her kitchen sink.

It’s easy to prayerfully fold our hands about our neighbor’s needs.

It’s much harder to carefully hold their hands when they need us.

I met a woman who just moved here as her husband started a new job with insane hours, who is in between her twin daughters’ weddings which are only 28 days apart. “You need some girlfriends!” I told her. I hope she’ll meet some at The Rosewood Cafe.

One of my neighbors told me about myself! “There’s a lady down the street who does a Bible study,” she helpfully explained. When she described my house to a tee, I assured her it was me. “Oh, no, honey – this isn’t you,” she insisted. I think I finally convinced her we were one and the same.

The back patio has replaced the front porch.

You see a lot when you go to someone’s front door. You’d be surprised how many people leave their Christmas lights up year round (one house even had a Christmas tree in the living room!). Some homes were meticulous, not a leaf out of place. Others had cobwebs over the door because families enter through the attached garage.

At the last minute I grabbed a Planning Guide to help me remember who I talked to. They may never remember me, but I will not forget the women I met, the homes I entered and the prayers I whispered along the way.

Read More Blogs…

Jitters

Invitations in hand, it’s time to knock on my neighbor’s doors and invite them to my Open House for The Rosewood Cafe. I can think of a hundred reasons why I should put this off another day. I have a stack of bills to pay. We’re out of dog food, I need to go to the store. I’m tired. I’ve got the jitters, really. I don’t know what I’ll find or how I’ll be received. This is physically hard, mentally hard, emotionally hard. But hey, it’s nothing like… Read More

Making Invitations

Craft supplies and candy are taking over the family room as we put together invitations for the Open House I’m hosting for my neighbors for my Neighborhood Cafe, which is called the Rosewood Cafe since we live on Rosewood Drive. Here’s a peek at the process, complete with pictures… Read More

And the winner is…

The winner of our giveaway of Lysa TerKeurst’s “Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl” book, workbook and DVD is Tracey Fawcett White! Thanks for your comments, it’s so helpful when choosing a study to hear from people who have “been there, done that.” If you’re considering a Neighborhood Cafe, please don’t get hung up on which Bible study to do. Take things one step at a time, and the first step is… Read More

Women’s Ministry That Works

I recently invested in a new health and wellness plan that my friends had been raving over. I did pretty well the first couple of weeks, but when it became apparent I wasn’t going to drop a dress size before an upcoming dinner date, I let up a little. Then a lot. I won’t tell how much I spent or how much weight I lost, but… Read More

I always manage to pick the worst weather! The highs are in the 90’s this week with high humidity; in January, I delivered invitations in 14″ of snow. And I always wait until the very last possible minute: my Cafe starts a week from Friday, so I’m already past the 2-week notice I like to allow.

I can think of a hundred reasons why

I should put this off another day.

I have a stack of bills to pay. We’re out of dog food, I need to go to the store. I’m tired.

I’ve got the jitters, really. I don’t know what I’ll find or how I’ll be received. This is physically hard, mentally hard, emotionally hard. But hey, it’s nothing like being imprisoned, flogged, stoned or shipwrecked (2 Cor. 11:23-27)!

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the years I’ve been doing this, it’s that my delay is disobedience, and disobedience brings discipline. Ouch!

I’ve also learned that the reward of meeting my neighbors far outweighs my fear.

Right this very minute, on my very own street, there might be a women who is at the end of her rope, reaching for Jesus. I’ve prayed for God to use me to show His lovingkindness to someone who needs to feel cared for today.

It’s time to stop typing and start talking! Buh-bye!

We began in the community of Linstead in Severna Park and have expanded to encompass other Severna Park neighborhoods and beyond. Women from all churches – or no church! – are welcome in this safe and comfortable gathering of friends where we grow spiritually, learn about Jesus’ love and informally discuss women’s concerns from a Biblical perspective.

We believe this can be accomplished through authentic fellowship and caring for one another and by communicating God’s grace, the Gospel, in our homes and neighborhoods. Here you will meet women caring for women through the study of God’s Word.

Even if you’re unable to attend our ongoing Bible studies on Wednesday mornings, we hope you can come to an Open House on Wednesday, September 22 from 9:15 – 11:00 am. Please join us for coffee and conversation, and get to know our neighbors! We would love to become friends,

Love,

Nancy, Betty Anne, Nan,

Christy Jo & Rhonda

Strawberry Bon Bons!

This red and white candy looks good with the invitations. I bought it in bulk from Giant Eagle for around $3 a pound. You can read lots of ideas and suggestions about turning your Invitation into a gift by clicking here.

Invitations-In-Progress

We put 5-6 pieces of candy in these clear cello bags from Hobby Lobby. They were $1.99 for 48 bags and I had a 25% coupon. I trimmed an inch off the top using scalloped scissors because they were a little too tall.

Rosewood Cafe Personalized Invitation

I used the “Cafe” invitation style, which I personalized with my contact info so I didn’t have to write them all out. You can print your own “Cafe” style invitations here, or purchase pre-printed invitations in the Cafe Kit.There are three different styles to choose from and you can get them with fill-in-the-blank lines or personalized, like mine.

The Finished Product

Curling ribbon is used to tie the bags of candy onto the invitation ($1.99 for 100 yards – plenty!). We punched a hole in each invitation and left long loops on the bow so the invitation can be hung on a doorknob if no one is home.

This is the fun part – now comes the hard part: actually passing them out! Click here to read what I might encounter as I knock on my neighbors’ doors. I’ll let you know how it goes!

Loving you and your neighbors (and mine!),

Amy

If you’re considering a Neighborhood Cafe, please don’t get hung up on which Bible study to do. Take things one step at a time, and the first step is just to get to know your neighbors. Be friendly, make friends. Host an Open House just to love on them.

As you get to know the women around you, ask the Holy Spirit to give you discernment into their needs.

What woman doesn’t want to feel loved? Who doesn’t need more patience? Who isn’t seeking fulfillment? There are inspiring and inspired Bible studies galore to choose from that are relevant to all women.

Check our our lists of recommendations here and here. Ask your church to recommend a study. Take a field trip to your local Christian bookstore to see what’s available. Most stores will place special orders for you and have a liberal return policy (ask before your purchase). Check out online Christian bookstores like Christian Book and Lifeway.

Select two or three different topics with varying teaching methods such as DVD’s, books or workbooks. Look at different levels of homework, which range from an hour a day to a few minutes a week.

Then ask your neighbors if any of these look interesting, and leave the decision to them.

by Amy Lively

This article was originally published in the August 18, 2010 “Tip of the Week” newsletter from womensministry.net, a publication of Jennifer Rothschild Ministries.

I recently invested in a new health and wellness plan that my friends had been raving over. I did pretty well the first couple of weeks, but when it became apparent I wasn’t going to drop a dress size before an upcoming dinner date, I let up a little. Then a lot.

I won’t tell how much I spent or how much weight I lost, but the price per pound was comparable to caviar! There are no paid sponsorships in my future: I am the poster child for what not to do!

Sometimes I treat God like an As-Seen-On-TV gadget. I get excited at church or emotional during a song, and I listen to my friends talk about their faith. But when God and I get home, and it’s just the two of us together, He doesn’t work like they said—and His user manual is thousands of pages long!

On those days when I’m not gushing goodness, my godly girlfriends hold me accountable. Titus 2:7-8 identifies a successful ministry to women as one that sets an example of good deeds (not misdeeds like mine) using solid biblical teaching modeled in authentic relationships and wholesome conversation. Consistency is key. Unlike my on-again, off-again attempts, an effective women’s ministry acts with integrity every day so no one can find anything bad to say about our leaders, members, church or our Savior.

Titus 2 is a defining chapter for women’s ministry and ends with a reminder that God’s grace enables us to say “No” to our own appetites and live self-controlled and godly lives. When we strive for short-term goals (like reaching a certain dress size or number of members), the only thing we lose is the big picture. Breakthrough will happen in the lives of the women we serve when our teaching, friendships and conversations consistently focus on “the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)

ICEBREAKER: Ask women to bring an item they bought off an infomercial or because of a friend’s recommendation. Give them time to share a bit about the product and why they bought it. Have them answer, “Does it work? Was it what you expected?  Would you recommend it?”

You might even have a white elephant gift exchange for the craziest gadget!

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I don’t know about you, but I love to sing! Especially songs that make me smile. I know when I’m feeling down in the dumps, if I start singing a praise song to the Lord, I am lifted out of the mire and muck. Ok, maybe not literally, but at least my spirit is singing and my attitude seems more joyful, even if my circumstances haven’t changed. I have noticed, though, that if I keep singing, even the circumstances seem to change.

I love this verse from Psalm 126:5-6:

“Those who sow in tears, will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”

Remember, when your “Cup of Joy” is filled to overflowing, you will not only experience more joy in your own life, but bring joy to someone else you know who needs it, too!

Love,

Joni

I hope your week is going good as you are spending time with the Lord and in His Word!!  Isn’t the bible study wonderful?  I’m enjoying the study of the fruit and especially Chapter 2’s study on LOVE this week!  Remember even today, as you fill your cup with Him, you will overflow to others as you go about your day!  I’m praying for each of you and can’t wait to see you next Monday!  Remember we are meeting at 6 pm for dinner before the study.

I will leave you with this quote by Augustine:

“Love has hands to help others.

It has feet to hasten to the poor and needy.

It has eyes to see misery and want.

It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrow of men.

This is what love looks like.”

O Lord, fill us with your love that we may truly love others, even those that are the hardest to love.  I pray that your love would truly flow out of us to all that we come into contact with that you would be glorified!  Bless each woman with your wonderful presence this week as she lives your love out in her daily life!!

I’m anxious to hear how God’s love was lived out by you this week!!

Love,

Joni