I S S U E N O 1 5 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 J E S U S + C O M M U N I T Y DearSisters Cultivate
24
When It Seems Like The Harvest Doesn't Happen Olivia Warner
Cultivating a Heart of Hospitality By Olivia Warner
CONTENTS 3
By
By
The challenge of Loving Our Bodies By Kim Gomez
5
19
Cultivating Faith By Casey Wayne
13
27
35 Friendships By
39 Dear
By
Letter From Melissa
Tending the Right Now By Michele Wilbert
30
DEAR SISTERS D E A R S I S T E R S | 2 Photoby:Disruptivo
The Merciful Gardener Nina Burnet Melissa Heerebout Sisters Resource List
3 Soul Essentials for Cultivating a Faith Filled Life Celia Miller
42
Sisters, I hope you enjoy this issue! We are talking about what it means to live this cultivated life!
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.
Two of my favourite verses are Jeremiah 17:7 8
When I allow the Holy Spirit to be at work cultivating my soul, my roots will continue to move deeper and deeper in Him When that happens, fruit in every season will grow. What’s the fruit? Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness and self control. It’s us living a transformed life by the power of the Holy Spirit
Melissa
Cultivate
Enjoy! Founder of Dear Sisters
These verses have me asking, “How do I cultivate a life that produces good fruit each season?” I want to be a woman that can face the heat and drought and still be found with my roots planted firmly and my life a reflection of the transformational power of Jesus. To be that woman means I need to cultivate and build into my relationship with Jesus. I need to allow Him to prune away sin and other things in my life that would hinder my growth Jesus needs to be allowed to till up the soil of my soul and prepare it so that I can step into those things that He has called me to do.
D E A R S I S T E R S A L E T T E R F R O M M E L I S S A Photoby:PerStojnic
Writer: Kimberly Gomez
Founder: Melissa Heerebout
Photography Source: Unsplash
Writer: Celia Miller
Writer: Olivia Warner
EDITORIAL OFFICES 20639 123rd Ave Maple Ridge, BC V2X 4B1 melissa@dearsisters.org 604 833 3812 D E A R S I S T E R S | 4
Our Contributors. DearSisters
Jesus + Community
Writer: Casey Wayne
Writer: Nina Burnet
Writer: Michele Wilbert
Editor: Judy Daykin
Cover Photo: Joseph Ngabo
Potting soil is the best for herbs because it’s light, fluffy, and nutrient dense, allowing water to sink down deep into their roots.
It’s near the end of May, and my dream of a little backyard herb garden is finally coming to fruition After weeks of researching the hardiest herbs to withstand a hot southern Indiana summer, I gaze in adoration at my rosemary, thyme, oregano, cilantro, and French tarragon.
Herbs need a certain type of soil to grow strong
I run my hands through the fresh soil, my gardening gloves feeling slightly rough against my skin. But even through their thick material, I can tell that the soil is damp and ready to receive new growth.
D E A R S I S T E R S | 5
photo by markus spiske
By Celia Miller
3 SOUL ESSENTIALS FOR CULTIVATING A FAITH-FILLED LIFE
Their aromas waft toward me as I brush the hair out of my eyes with the back of my garden gloved, dirt covered hand and look back down at the soil. In all the research that I conducted on herbs, one thing rang true for them all.
D E A R S I S T E R S | 6
So, let’s take a look at our own souls and name the three essentials it needs to help us cultivate a healthy, faith filled life.
Because the quality of our lives flows right out of the state of our souls, look at the soul and you know what kind of life you’re living.
3 SOUL ESSENTIALS FOR CULTIVATING A FAITH FILLED LIFE
3 Soul Essentials for Cultivating a Faith Filled Life
For herbs, the basic essentials for healthy growing include rich soil, ample sunlight, and adequate water
I reach for the first herb to plop into my little herb box, soil laid and ready to receive fresh roots. As I push the soil down, making room for rosemary, I ponder how similar our souls are to a garden.
Photoby:AnnieSpratt
Just as my herb garden needs the correct type of soil, nutrients, and tending to flourish, our souls need certain things to cultivate a healthy, faith filled life.
The herbs will suffocate and die if the roots can’t expand and dig deeper. And good soil, absorbent and rich with nutrients, is essential for cultivating a healthy environment for herbs to flourish and thrive
Christ is the soil our souls need, providing rich, dense nutrients to thrive and live an abundant life. Being rooted in a relationship with Jesus and in His holy hands is the only firm foundation we can find our true selves in.
D E A R S I S T E R S | 7
Photoby:JonathanKemper
1.Rich Soil: A Firm Foundation
Our soul has roots, just like herbs do. And what we root our souls into greatly determines the quality of our lives.
Colossians 2:6-7 gives us a clear answer that the foundation for our souls isn’t necessarily a “what” but a “Who”.
“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” (NLT)
Photoby:NeslihanGunaydin
3 SOUL ESSENTIALS FOR CULTIVATING A FAITH-FILLED LIFE CONTINUED
Herbs can’t grow without the correct type of soil, just like we can’t grow without a firm foundation beneath our feet. Our souls need a place to call home, a place where it can rest, feel safe, and be refreshed.
King David in the desert of Judah said it best when he cried out to God in Psalm 63:1,
D E A R S I S T E R S | 8
3 SOUL ESSENTIALS FOR CULTIVATING A FAITH FILLED LIFE CONTINUED
2. Ample Sunlight: A Consistent Prayer Life
3. Adequate Amount of Water: The Word of God Gardens get thirsty, and our souls are their own kind of sacred garden buried deep within. And souls get thirsty, too.
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” (NIV)
Jesus desires to walk in relationship with us, and a huge part of our relationship with Jesus is engaging in prayer. Jesus Himself modelled this behaviour in the New Testament and was constantly seen taking time away to be and talk with His Heavenly Father.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, we see that prayer is an invitation to commune closely with the Lord that we are to pursue constantly as believers, “...be unceasing and persistent in prayer;” (AMP) A consistent prayer life is a constant communion with God, giving light to our souls that spill out into our lives Our souls ache for our Creator’s voice and His loving, gentle presence. When we enter into prayer, we allow the light of God to penetrate our souls.
While a firm foundation in Christ acts as the good soil for souls, a consistent prayer life brings light to our souls and to our lives. Herbs need ample sunlight to grow, and we need the light of constant communication with our Creator to grow our faith roots.
“But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.” (Luke 5:16, NLT)
Photo By Umit Bulut
“All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Scripture is God breathed and absolutely relevant and applicable to what we face in our lives today. It is good, faithful, and oh, so true, and it’s what we should be constantly watering our souls with
3 SOUL ESSENTIALS FOR CULTIVATING A FAITH-FILLED LIFE CONTINUED
Our souls find refreshment in the divine Word of the Holy One and help to grow our faith roots down deeper into sacred soil.
Our souls are constantly thirsty for more of God because we were designed to crave only what God can give And there is no better way to meet with God and wrap ourselves in His truth than to run to His Word.
The Word of God is where we go to find God, His promises, His heart, and even what He says is true about ourselves
2 Timothy 3:16 17 in the Amplified Version gives a detailed description of just how thoroughly quenching the Word of God is for our souls,
An Invitation to Go Deeper
D E A R S I S T E R S | 9
Photoby: AaronBurden
A firm foundation, consistent prayer life, and the Word of God are three soul essentials we need to cultivate a faithfilled life.
Photo by katie drazdauskaitee
Is our soul thirsty for more time spent in the Word? Do we need to return to our foundation and recenter ourselves in our relationship with God? Is our soul longing for a closer communion that can grow from a consistent prayer life?
It's time to tend to our souls and take inventory of what we need more of. The first step in receiving what our souls need is naming the current state of our souls.
It's time to tend to our souls and take inventory of what we need more of.
3 SOUL ESSENTIALS FOR CULTIVATING A FAITH FILLED LIFE CONTINUED
So now that we know what our souls need to thrive, it’s time to put what we’ve learned into practice and respond to Jesus’s invitation to go deeper and live rooted.
D E A R S I S T E R S | 1 0
How we live and the type of impact we leave on the world around us heavily depends on the state of our souls. If our souls are healthy, our lives are healthy, and our heavenly Father is glorified.
Jesus longs to go deeper and walk closer in relationship with us, and His will is for us to live abundant, faith filled lives for His glory, as stated in John 15:8, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples ” (NIV)
CeliaMiller Follow Celia at https://celiaamiller com @celiaamiller
D E A R S I S T E R S | 1 1
My herbs land softly in the damp soil, and I can hear their desire to be rooted and their thirst for growth. My soul echoes that same desire, that same thirst, and I come to the conclusion that as long as my soul is turned toward and tended to by God, I’ll bear His abundant fruit.
Photo by valentina ivanova
Celia resides in Greenwood, Indiana, with her husband, Max, and two furbabies, Henry and Hattie. She’s an avid pursuer of good storytelling and loves to spend her free time getting lost in a good book or movie. Celia is a writer and blogger who aims to help you cultivate an intimate relationship with the Lord by giving you the tools to slow down, seek still moments, and behold God’s presence with you in the everyday. She’s the author of a Bible study titled, You Are Beloved: a 21 day study on how to root your identity in the love of God, which is available now exclusively on Amazon If you would like to connect with her, check out her blog at https://celiaamiller.com or go say hello on Instagram at @celiaamiller.
MATTHEW 6:20-21
00102 3
D E A R S I S T E R S | 1 2
N o w , t h i s I s a y , h e w h o s o w s s p a r i n g l y w i l l a l s o r e a p s p a r i n g l y , a n d h e w h o s o w s b o u n t i f u l l y w i l l a l s o r e a p b o u n t i f u l l y
2 CORINTHIANS 9:6
“ B u t s t o r e u p f o r y o u r s e l v e s t r e a s u r e s i n h e a v e n , w h e r e n e i t h e r m o t h n o r r u s t d e s t r o y s , a n d w h e r e t h i e v e s d o n o t b r e a k i n o r s t e a l ; f o r w h e r e y o u r t r e a s u r e i s , t h e r e y o u r h e a r t w i l l b e a l s o . ”
V E R S E S T O H O L D O N T O
PROVERBS 4:23
“ W a t c h o v e r y o u r h e a r t w i t h a l l d i l i g e n c e , f o r f r o m i t f l o w t h e s p r i n g s o f l i f e . ”
If you're anything like me, maybe you've fallen into the trap of thinking that hospitality is some picture perfect event done by the put together people. You know, the outgoing ones with the big house, the coffee table clear from last week's mail, and the calm, obedient children And then you look at yourself and think, "I just can't do that," and you write off hospitality as something you can't practice. Certainly not right now, anyway.
What do you think of when you hear the phrase "practice hospitality"? Do you picture a door open wide to a spacious home with warm food spread across the table and a smiling face to greet you? Or do you imagine a group of friends curled up on big, comfy couches, trading stories and laughter with a host who keeps the conversation and snacks flowing effortlessly?
By Olivia Warner
CULTIVATING A HEART OF HOSPITALITY
D E A R S I S T E R S | 1 3
There are a myriad of reasons we come up with. Maybe your apartment feels cramped, or your roommate is uncomfortable with guests. Perhaps a busy work schedule or small children underfoot make it challenging to share a meal Maybe your quiet personality doesn't match the bubbly energy you think is needed to facilitate groups. Or perhaps a tight budget has held you back because there's just not money to spare for hosting.
If you're looking at your life and seeing all the things that can't measure up to your image of hospitality, I want to offer you a word of hope and challenge. It's time to release the pressure of perfectionism and start cultivating a new perspective Hospitality is about your heart not the state or size of your home.
Photo by joel muniz
CULTIVATING A HEART OF HOSPITALITY CONTINUED...
Did you catch anything significant in there? Not only is hospitality a direct command from God, but it's one we should do without grumbling. When we choose not to practice hospitality, we choose to disobey God. And when we bemoan a too small apartment or busy schedule compared to someone else's "ideal life," we're complaining about the very resources and responsibilities He has entrusted us
CULTIVATING A HEART OF HOSPITALITY
D e a r S i s t e r s | 1 7
D E A R S I S T E R S | 1 5
How's that for double conviction? Gulp But the point of all of this is not for us now to be burdened by shame and guilt. Instead, it's a chance to walk in freedom, understanding how God has equipped us to show hospitality wherever we are at. As we embrace this mindset, we free ourselves from the pressure to perform and find that we can walk in obedience and joy while cultivating a habit of hospitality. That passage in 1 Peter tells us that God's grace has been gifted to us in various forms so that we can be faithful stewards.
CONTINUED...
In 1 Peter 4, we're encouraged to live according to God's ways in every area of our lives. He tells us to love each other deeply (v. 8), and then goes on to speak specifically about hospitality.
"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 4:9-11a, NIV)
For others, involving your family in hosting will demonstrate to the world the importance of a home built with Jesus at the center.
For some, a small apartment or roommates will encourage you to get out and explore new places, inviting others along to experience life with you. For others, more space at home means you could have a group over for Bible study or a potluck. All of these are blessings, and these are how God's grace and gifts manifest through us to be a light for one another
Photo by priscilla du preez
So let's be faithful stewards and get out there to be hospitable to one another!
For some, your loud, vibrant energy will welcome people in and keep them entertained. For others, your quiet gentleness will be the listening ear to tend to an aching heart.
Try out some of the ideas below if you're looking to cultivate a heart of hospitality in your corner of the world, and don't be afraid to tweak them to be realistic for you
This means we will each have different abilities and tools we can use for hospitality. It also means your unique gifts are needed to serve the body of Christ and have been given to you by God for that very purpose!
For some, the flexibility of singleness will allow you room for creativity and fun in connecting during evenings and weekends.
D E A R S I S T E R S | 1 6
Tight on space at home? Pack some sandwiches or easy to go foods and ask a couple of people to join you for a picnic at a local park or outdoor meeting area.
Invite a new guest or someone you don't know from church for a coffee and get to know you time. Bonus points if you treat them to their drink.
CULTIVATING A HEART OF HOSPITALITY CONTINUED... D E A R S I S T E R S | 1 7
Photo by daniel j schwarz
Whatever it looks like for you right now, I pray you are inspired to get creative and intentional to start practicing hospitality more in your everyday.
Ask the new woman at work, church, or school to grab lunch with you. This could happen in the office kitchen, your home, or out at a local restaurant
Plan a game night as a lowkey way to share some laughs and positivity with others. This is an excellent option if you're looking for free/low budget ideas
Cook and deliver a meal to a friend you know is sick, struggling, or in need of encouragement. If you know they'd appreciate the company, ask if you can join them!
Olivia Warner Follow Olivia at @on ascent
Organize a potluck with your small group or other families where everyone pitches in a dish or snack to share.
D E A R S I S T E R S | 1 8
BUILDA Home I T H ATTHE JESUS CENTRE
W
We knew we were enjoying the last fruits of summer and savoured each bite.
Photo by markus spiske
We put our tomato plants in early this year. We staked them as they grew tall and set up a drip system, so they had water each day. The cool spring and late start to a hot summer made these tomatoes thrive As the adage in the south goes for growing corn, "knee high by the fourth of July," we were shoulder height and growing steady by June. The instant we hit triple digits in July, we soon had stewed tomatoes dripping from the vines. We salvaged the last remaining tomatoes and made delicious salsa
Our western culture teaches us to look ahead, set goals, and plan to achieve that next thing As Christians, we look forward with hope to the future. Then how do we live right now if we are always looking toward what is next?
How do we teach our children contentment if we always teach them to look beyond right now?
D E A R S I S T E R S | 1 9
By Michele Wilbert
TENDING THE RIGHT NOW
How do I model working hard towards a goal while being content with what has been accomplished right now?
Growing tomatoes teaches me to tend to the right now. It teaches me to care for what is in front of me in order to enjoy what will be provided tomorrow. When I tend these plants with what is needed today, I can enjoy the fruit of that labour when tomorrow's today arrives.
As parents, we want more for our kids than we had We desire to give them experiences and things we may not have had It's natural to love our children and want to express our love for them (Matt 7:11)
TENDING THE RIGHT NOW...
Cultivate Contentment
I know what is true in my own life: when I show gratitude, it naturally gives way to a content heart When I express my thankfulness for what I have in my life and the Creator of it all, I am more grateful now for what I do have in my life rather than for what I don't have
D E A R S I S T E R S | 2 0
How do we balance that and not raise entitled children?
Photo by markus spiskee
As a mother, I am not confident I have this figured out. This seems to be a daily struggle for me. How do I model working hard towards a goal while being content with what has been accomplished right now? There is always another good thing to achieve, from sports teams to grades or activities at school. There is always some "thing" to reach for just out of our grasp today to reach for tomorrow. We hear them called "reach goals" because they are just that, a goal that we need to reach towards to achieve.
TENDING THE RIGHT NOW... D E A R S I S T E R S | 2 1
Do we slow down long enough to acknowledge our mistakes without moving on quickly to mask our failures? Or do we do the opposite and sit with the shame and guilt of mistakes for too long? How do you extend grace to those who have disappointed us and extend grace to ourselves for mistakes? We can model this to our kids when we face this in our own lives. Our children watch our responses to life's daily situations, like being cut off in the pickup line at your kid's school. Let your kids hear you apologize to your spouse and to them Let them see the outflow of your relationship with Jesus in how you respond.
Cultivate Generosity
Find simple ways to include the practice of honouring the Lord for his provision. An evening prayer before bed recalling what you are grateful for that day, a morning prayer driving to school, or a journal list your family keeps.
Finding unique ways to teach the lesson to our kids that giving produces a content heart may look different in every family. Provide consistent opportunities for your children to give sacrificially of their own money, time, and talent. Are there changes you can make in your lifestyle to produce kids who want to be generous? Add simple family practices that take them out of the comfort of their own home and neighbourhood so they can experience how God can use their small offering Let the Holy Spirit do the work in their lives to shape their hearts so they experience a God who can't be out given.
Cultivate Grace
By cultivating contentment, generosity, and grace in our lives, we tend to the "right now" God has given us, so we are like Jesus tomorrow.
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon
In what ways are you tending right now? What is one simple practice you can incorporate into your life to cultivate contentment, generosity, and grace?
Tending the right now and being stewards of the gifts he has given us today provides us with opportunities to be used again for His kingdom.
Living with a content heart helps to break a pattern of always wanting more. By extending grace to others and ourselves, we learn that true freedom in Christ comes from fully understanding what Jesus did on the cross and His forgiveness towards us.
Father, thank you that you have entrusted us with "right now " Please help us to be faithful stewards of all you have given us so we can be your hands and feet. In Jesus' Name, Amen
Michele Wilbert
Michele Wilbert is a writer, speaker, entrepreneur, and Bible teacher who lives in California with her husband and son She is passionate about equipping women to lead right where they are no matter what stage of life. She speaks about how we can engage culture with our faith and use our gifts in our spheres of influence She writes small group curriculum, devotions, leadership development and is co author of Unshakable Peace in an Unsteady World She is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and finds joy teaching others to study God’s Word.
TENDING THE RIGHT NOW... D E A R S I S T E R S | 2 2
Follow Michele at: michelewilbert com @michelelwilbert
We become people who trust God for today, knowing He is the Lord of tomorrow.
Look at what God says in His word about contentment, generosity, and grace: Ps. 37:3 4; Hab. 3:17 19; Matt. 5:6; John 4:13 15; 2 Corin. 12:9 10; Eph. 1:6 7, 2:8 9;Phil. 4:11 12, and Tim. 6:6 10.
Our children watch our responses to life's daily situations... Let them see the outflow of your relationship with Jesus in how you respond.
D e a r S i s t e r s | 2 3
Michele Wilber
D E A R S I S T E R S | 2 4
Ask yourself - What if I start to BELIEVE what God says about my body and what if I start to IGNORE what the world says I “should” look like? What if I consider my body a gift?
By Kimberly Gomez
Loving our own bodies may sometimes be challenging, even for the most confident among us But it’s a challenge worth accepting and a goal worth working towards “Love others in the same way you love yourself.” (Mark 12:31)
Photo by Taylor Smith
It's healthy to love yourself.
THE CHALLENGE OF LOVING OUR BODIES
Pick up your copy of this excellent journal!
I ENJOY “So God created man (& woman) in His own image ” Genesis 1:26-27
I LOVE
KimGomez FourSquareMentoring com Kim@FourSquareMentoring com @KimGomezz
When it comes to our bodies, we often focus on the perceived “flaws” instead of seeing our own personal beauty.
I TAKE GOOD CARE OF “For we are God’s masterpiece.” Ephesians 2:10
LET’S FLIP THAT SCRIPT! How would you respond to these prompts?
1. I’m thankful my body allows me to…
5. What’s one thing I can do every day to love and support my body…
Canadian Link American Link
4. What do I need to feel strong, nourished and energized…
Dear Sister, You are altogether beautiful, my darling, there is no flaw in you. Song of Songs 4:7
Photo by brooke cagle
I AM THANKFUL FOR “You are not your own, you were bought at a price.” 1 Corinthians 6:19 20
I PROTECT “The Spirit of God makes His permanent home in you.” 1 Corinthians 3:16
I APPRECIATE “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
3 I love my body because
Four Square Mentoring is a framework for ongoing and deep conversations, building relationships and strengthening women through connection, wisdom and guidance
“I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14
D E A R S I S T E R S | 2 5
2. I feel really comfortable in my own skin when…
This article is from Four Square mentoring's 9 week spiritual fruit journal and is used with permission
This powerful 9 week journal provides a foundation for those conversations You will explore your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well being in light of scriptures based on the Fruit of the Spirit Are you ready for an increase in your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control?
A GIFT THAT:
“For we are God’s Emasterpiece.” phesians 2:10
BY CASEY WAYNE
As a new mom, I felt restless. Time seemed to be moving backwards, and the daily cycle of activity turned monotonous fast. I felt stuck and unsure how to move forward The time and care I had for my children were important. While I recognized the significance of my role as a mother, I craved something for myself This feeling drove me to discover a new hobby easily done in the random moments between feedings and diaper changes. Gardening became my new focus A hobby I hoped would help me feel productive as I watched it grow. It seemed simple enough.
Cultivating Faith
"Consistent effort throughout the process is required to achieve the desired result. "
D E A R S I S T E R S | 2 7
Photo by nadine redlich
Our sanctification process is the same. To cultivate a life for Christ requires continuous, intentional efforts. Even through storms or uncomfortable heat We must be willing to allow the Spirit to create an environment that generates growth in us.
The deeper I got into my research, the more I realized how simple and yet complex gardening can be. It takes time, intention, and lots of planning, preparation, and dedication to create the best environment for each individual type of plant to be as successful as possible. Consistent effort throughout the process is required to achieve the desired result.
Photoby:AaronBurden
Cultivating Faith Continued...
CaseyWayne www caseywayne org @caseylwayne Email:
like
2. CONSISTENCY
There is always more room for God to teach us something new so that we may be faithful stewards of the life He has given us casey@peaceoffaith
As God pours into our hearts, we must be willing to soak up all the nutrients He provides to flourish in the life He has for us. Our spiritual growth is dependent on our willingness to actively pursue it. As we seek a deeper relationship with our heavenly Father, our desire to be moulded to the likeness of Christ should stir our hearts for Spirit led change It requires us to open our hearts to the cultivation process so we can have deep roots in God’s Word, creating a life that produces fruit for God’s glory.
3. BE TEACHABLE
D E A R S I S T E R S | 2 8
1. AVAILABILITY
God, in His kindness, will continue to help us learn, grow and share our stories for His glory
Make yourself available to hear God speak to you. Take time to be still, read God’s Word and lift prayers to the Almighty
Push yourself to create space for the Spirit to guide you daily Make time in your schedule to have that time with the Lord and stick to it!
4. DO NOT STOP
Pray for God to reveal areas where your heart needs to grow or change. Then be willing to humble yourself as you allow the Holy Spirit to help you make those changes.
org
Casey Wayne is a wife and mother of two She enjoys time with her family doing simple things movie nights and cooking together As a devotional writer, Casey strives to share her story with relatable honesty, showing how God is faithful throughout the big and small moments of life She has a heart for encouraging the faith walk of other moms, and praying they gain a deeper connection with our heavenly Father Her family lives in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia Connect with Casey at caseywayne org You can also find her on Instagram or Facebook @caseylwayne
God, in His kindness, will continue to help us learn, grow and share our stories for His glory. CaseyWayne
PHOTO BY ELIJAH M HENDERSON
T H E M E R C I F U L G A R D E N E R
Photo by: Lawrence Aritao
In 2020 my husband and I started a new garden. We had lots of spare time (as most people did), and we were newly married. So we planted. And weeded. And watered. And things grew!
D E A R S I S T E R S | 3 0
BY NINA BURNET
The following spring, I was pregnant with our first baby. We didn’t have time or energy to pour into our garden, and it looked it. Weeds grew high, and only the stubborn rhubarb grew among them.
This year we tried to grow again. We bought a bunch of seedlings (at least we cut ourselves some slack and didn’t start from seed) and we planted them. We had cleared about half of the garden to plant, but the weeds from the other side and the hidden roots grew into sprouts very quickly I had told myself “Oh well, whatever will grow, will grow.” But not much came up besides that stubborn rhubarb (and now kale), and every time I look at the garden, I feel bad for the rest of those poor plants.
Man, I wish my garden could weed itself, but we all know it is not possible So why do we try to weed ourselves? God tells us to remain in the vine, receive life from him, and to abide. We have the ability to make choices, and we are responsible for our own life. But sometimes, we find ourselves powerless to remove certain things. Sometimes we do our best to pull out the weeds in our hearts but they just persist. And sometimes, there are often remnants of the roots or disease where sin once grew
Photo by: Sandi Clarke
D E A R S I S T E R S | 3 2
In my case, I had a remnant of shame in my heart that I couldn’t weed out myself. Over the years, I began to believe that God wanted to root out the sin in my life, but He left shame and discouragement as a punishment.
And then He showed up.
But then the gardener of my soul saw me struggling to grow amid those torturing vines of shame. And he had mercy on me.
I remember much about that moment. I was sitting at the back of a chapel room in Bible college, and everyone else was standing in front of me, praising God. It had been a hard morning for me, and I bowed my head in my desperation and asked for Jesus to help me
Photo by: cristina gottardi
(I don’t talk to too many people about my visions. But I’m telling you now, so don’t get all freaked out on me.)
In my mind’s eye, Jesus appeared sitting in front of me, in the midst of my shame and sadness I had an immediate gut reaction ‘to try to tidy my heart of the shame so He wouldn’t have to see or feel it. How could He be here, in this place? He reached out and stopped me. God said, “child, you know you can’t wipe away your shame. You have tried it so many times before.” In the vision, we were in a deep well. And as Jesus took a cloth from me, He wiped the grime of shame off the walls and sat down with me. The well was now clean and cool.
NinaBurnet Follow Nina at @ninaburnet
I pray today that you would trust Jesus with the overgrown garden of your heart. Or perhaps the dark well in your soul. I pray that you would take your hands off the garden shears or dirty cloth and will allow him to cut off anything that is stopping you from living and growing fully. Believe that Jesus knows you more than you know yourself and looks upon you with grace and love in His eyes.
Jesus, you are the gardener of our souls. Thank you for loving us and for grafting us to your vine of life. We are so thankful that you chose us before the beginning of time and that you know us completely. What an amazing God you are You are always better than we remember Please come in this moment and prune our hearts I pray specifically, Lord that you would mercifully cut off the shame that may be strangling the heart of the one reading this. I pray they would hold onto hope that You have not forgotten them in their struggle. Holy Spirit, please come and fill them with hope, peace, and your everlasting love.
Photo by: Annie Spratt
Nina lives on a blueberry farm in beautiful BC with her husband, 1 year old daughter, and her crazy dog She is a vocalist with a BA in music ministry who enjoys the fine art of Karaoke She spends most of her days recruiting for her family’s company and her nights relaxing at home
D E A R S I S T E R S | 3 3
I felt a change in my soul that day. That inward place had been cleansed by Jesus. I still struggle with shame from time to time (I am a mom now, and that has added a whole other level help me Jesus!), but I do not have that deep pit of it in my spirit. It has been washed clean. Thank you, Jesus!
The enemy of our souls constantly lies to us about who God is. He tells us that God is trying to take good things away when He prunes us That He is not happy with us, so we need to try better. Or that He wants to push us to do hard things when we don’t have the strength.. the list goes on. Satan is terrified that you will get to know God better. Because if you do, you will see that He really does LOVE you. And you will come to believe that He is as good as He says he is and that you can trust Him.
Y O U C A N T R U S T H I M
Photo by: brooke Cagle
BELIEVE THAT JESUS KNOWS YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW YOURSELF AND LOOKS UPON YOU WITH GRACE AND LOVE IN HIS EYES. Nina Burnett E A R S I S T E R S | 3 4
D
D E A R S I S T E R S | 2
Photo by zach camp
By Melissa Heerebout
It’s a pretty significant year. Twenty years ago, I said I do. Over these last weeks, I’ve been pondering these last 20 years. It’s been a wild ride, and we have said yes to so many different adventures. As I remembered all of the houses we’ve lived in, I realized that we’ve lived in 16 different places since we’ve been married. Those 16 different places happened to be in seven different cities across three provinces and one state.
D E A R S I S T E R S | 3 5
So even as a 40 year old woman, I’m trying to learn how to cultivate new friendships. Because I firmly believe we aren’t meant to do this journey alone.
FRIENDSHIPS
Because we’ve moved so much, my husband Tim has become my most consistent friend. And because we’ve moved so much, I’ve had to learn how to make new friends. As kids, it seems so much easier to build new friendships, and as adults, they can feel a bit awkward.
I need women experienced in business to come alongside of me. I need older women to help me navigate this season of my life. And I need younger women to be my mentors to help me navigate the ever-changing world
Photo by chris ainsworth
Friendships Continued...
We need each other.
This might seem ridiculously basic, but it’s essential. Take time to invest in your friendships Pick up the phone and give someone a call, shoot them a text message, give them a DM, whatever you need to do just take a moment to connect.
During healthy times, during the times that maybe just feel mundane, invest! So that you can have those friends when you hit those crises. I’ve had seasons where I’ve been great at this and seasons where I have been lousy at this.
I need other moms to bounce ideas off
I need sisters to help me laugh and remind me that it’s OK to cry.
I love that my husband is such a good friend, and I still need to do life alongside other women as well.
So here is one of the most important lessons I’ve learned about cultivating friendships.
CONNECT
D E A R S I S T E R S | 3 6
Friendships Continued...
Here’s your invite, dear sisters; pick up the phone and send a text message. Pick the phone and ask how you can serve at your church. Take the time to connect and see how your friendships grow!
Photo by becca tapert
@DearSisters Mag www dearsisters org Dear
Or perhaps you’re like me, and you’ve moved into a new city and you are looking for ways to connect.
Now, maybe you are in a position where you feel like your friendship list is pretty short. Covid has done a real number on our friendships. Personally, I neglected several friendships over that season, and some didn’t bounce back. Possibly you’ve lost some of those friendships over these last 18 months
Melissa Heerebout Sisters' Founder
D E A R S I S T E R S | 3 7
Whatever the reason you are looking for new friendships, one of the best ways to find them is to serve. Jump into your local church and serve. A shared experience with somebody creates this bond and the opportunity to build off of that As a pastor at a local church, we need people to serve, and the fantastic thing about serving is that it doesn’t just benefit the church or the leadership it benefits you as well. Being on mission together and serving is one of the best ways that you can start to build new friendships and new connections.
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
1 Thessalonians 5:11 D E A R S I S T E R S | 3 8
Dear Sisters Resource List
Photo by asal lotfi
Here's What We are Reading
D E A R S I S T E R S | 4 0
Rich Villodas
From Amazon "In Find Your People, bestselling author Jennie Allen draws on fascinating insights from science and history, timeless biblical truth, and vulnerable stories from her own life to help you. You were created to play, engage, adventure, and explore with others. In Find Your People, you’ll discover exactly how to dive into the deep end and experience the full wonder of community. Because while the ache of loneliness is real, it doesn’t have to be your reality."
The Deeply Formed Life
CanadianLink AmericanLink
Jennie Allen CanadianLink AmericanLink
Most believers live in the state of “being a Christian” without ever being deeply formed by Christ. Our pace is too frenetic to be in union with God, and we don’t know how to quiet our hearts and minds to be present. Our emotions are unhealthy and compartmentalized. We feel unable to love well or live differently from the rest of the world to live as people of the good news.
S O M E O F O U R F A V O U R I T E R E A D S T O H E L P Y O U L I V E A C U L T I V A T E D L I F E !
Find Your People
D E A R S I S T E R S | 4 1
Rebekah Lyons
From Amazon, "Rebekah found new freedom in discovering that yes in her own life as she and her husband made a cross country move and adopted a child with Down syndrome Along the way, she realized that when we say yes in even the small, ordinary moments of life, we experience renewed spiritual vitality for every aspect of God's calling. In A Surrendered Yes, Rebekah draws on biblical truths and her personal story to inspire you."
A Surrender Yes
Garden City
CanadianLink AmericanLink
From Amazon, "In Garden City, John Mark Comer gives a surprisingly counter cultural take on the typical "spiritual" answer the church gives in response to questions about purpose and calling Comer explores Scripture to discover God's original intent for how we're meant to spend our time, reshaping how you view and engage in your work, rest, and life."
Aundi Kolber CanadianLink AmericanLink
Try Softer
John Mark Comer CanadianLink AmericanLink
From Amazon "Aundi Kolber believes that we don’t have to white knuckle our way through life In her debut book, Try Softer, she’ll show us how God specifically designed our bodies and minds to work together to process our stories and work through obstacles Through the latest psychology, practical clinical exercises, and her own personal story, Aundi equips and empowers us to connect us to our truest self and truly live This is the “try softer” life "
We make it sound relatively easy, but if you’ve spent any length of time serving in church or ministering to others, you’ve probably dealt with quite a bit of discouragement and resistance Maybe like me, you’ve sometimes looked at the “harvest” of your efforts and thought that, quite frankly, the results were meagre and the fields seemed rather dead. What do we do with that disappointment?
How many of you have heard this verse shared in church?
WhenItSeemsLikeTheHarvest Doesn'tHappen
Olivia Warner
D E A R S I S T E R S | 4 2
Photoby: PriscillaDuPreez
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.” (Luke 10:2)
I bet if you’ve been a Christian for more than a few years, you’ve heard this used as an encouragement to go out and do God’s work, sharing the gospel and serving others. Maybe you’ve even joined in the second part of the verse, praying in earnest for God to witness in d hopefully vest is there respond. s get to it!
As I’ve wrestled through this mindset, I’ve come to the realization that I misunderstand what my role is and what God’s is in all this I get caught up in my own pride and ideas, thinking I know how everything should go. And when it doesn’t go according to my plan, I’m frustrated
To realign our thinking on this, notice Luke 10:2 again. We are told to pray to “the Lord of the harvest” (emphasis added). God’s name here implies that He is the one in charge of the outcome, not us. The Lord of the harvest determines the results of our labour; nowhere in here does He ask for anything from us but to be sent out.
God, You asked me to do this, why doesn’t it seem to be working? You say You want labourers in the fields, but nothing is happening. I’m trying my best, but is all this really worth it?
Those are the thoughts we all have but would rather not admit. It certainly doesn’t sound spiritual to be complaining and blaming God Deep down, though, it’s how we feel, and we’ve prayed and served, planned and volunteered, and it doesn’t seem to make a difference.
Photoby:raychanz
If I’m doing an honest evaluation, I have to admit that I’ve often pointed the finger at God.
D E A R S I S T E R S | 4 3
Photo by: jonathan borbay
When It Seems Like The Harvest Doesn't Happen
Photo by: Kelly Sikkema
The labourers are to go out into the world and cultivate, spreading seeds of the gospel through faithful obedience to the Lord. It does not mean that we control what happens, how many people are saved or show up to church each week.
D E A R S I S T E R S | 4 4
For more of Olivia's work follow:
@on acent
We are responsible for the effort and intention we put into it, but we can’t be responsible for what the Lord is doing in the lives of others and how they choose to act.
D E A R S I S T E R 1 2
Olivia Warner
When It Seems Like The Harvest Doesn't Happen
on us to make everything happen. That’s God’s job, and we should leave it in His capable hands while focusing on the role He’s given us to play.
It may be hard to let go, but it’s also freeing when we realize that the pressure isn’t
This starts by grounding ourselves in who God is. We have to be convinced of His sovereignty and power and surrender to Him in faith When we confidently declare He is the Lord of the harvest, we embrace a spirit of humility that allows us to redirect our grumbling to trust in His plan.
"He is the one in charge of the outcome, not us." OliviaWarner
D E A R S I S T E R S | 4 6
If you are interested in supporting the Dear Sisters Magazine, we have a Patreon account setup. To find more information, you can scan the QR code or head to https://www patreon com/dearsisters
Did you love This Issue Of Dear Sisters?
Photo by: joseph ngabo
WritingPrompts forUpcoming Issues Mar Connect Link Fasten Bridge Join Secure-Attach-AnchorFetter Tether Yoke Affix Moor Bond Prayer Would you like to submit an article to Dears Sisters? Here is what we are chatting about in the coming months! Submit articles for consideration to melissa@dearsisters.org. Nov Lead Motivate Guide Affect Spur Spark Exceed Trailblaze Model Traverse Hearten Embolden Influence Jan Loved Adored Beloved Cherished Devotion Respect Hope Friendship Adoration Delight Affection Kindness Feb Gratitude Oct Gratefulness Honour Grace Thanksgiving Appreciativeness Praise Blessings Esteem Appeal Worship Devotion Supplication Service Connection Relationship Introspection Hope Dec Expect Believe Await Trust Contemplate Promise Confidence Anticipate Cherish
DEAR SISTERS J e s u s + C o m m u n i t y