Monday, August 10, 2009

Beach Blanket Bible Celebration





Friday afternoon, our Women's Ministry team gathered to create a beachy area in our very "beige" Fellowship Hall! 50% off summer decorations at Party City helped! Within an hour, every corner was filled with seashells, flip flops, palm trees, beach chairs, shell lamps, paintings, umbrellas (some of these still had the beach sand on them!!), etc.!! Oh, and plastic pink coconuts (Target) in the bathrooms! We were ready. Then, the aroma of southern BBQ filled the air! Oh, my goodness! Y'all, it was delicious!! We added a slew of sides and desserts--pound cake, lemon tarts, brownies, cookies, and the list goes on! We prayed this celebration through and through.

Back in May, we chose 4 different Christian books. Each had a follow-up Bible study in the back. Our plans were to have 4 groups of women discussing the book that they had chosen over the summer after this meal and fellowship.
Do you recall the scripture that I posted last Friday when I had computer issues? I'll refresh your memory! "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21 We had prayed and planned and were hoping for 50 something women. Friday nights, at the end of the summer, are just difficult! We learned some valuable lessons! Many folks are still on vacation. Others were following the Lord's purpose and were needed elsewhere. The numbers were a little less than we had hoped for, but God was there!
One woman caught me at church yesterday and apologized for not being able to come. She had run by the hospital right before the celebration to visit a friend who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. When she needed to leave, the friend begged her to stay. Can you imagine a close friend simply needing your presence to comfort her ? What could she do? She did what Jesus would have done. She stayed and visited with her friend and just loved her. That was God's purpose for her on Friday. Stories like these were shared with my team and myself yesterday. Although we had planned a huge meal and Bible Study, His purpose prevailed. His ways are so much higher than ours.
It was so sweet when a close friend asked me if I was disappointed with the turnout. No way! Every woman there had a divine appointment with God! We had smaller groups in each class, and all of the ladies took part in the discussions. Had the groups been larger, that may not have happened. Each woman there was loved on and made to feel special...because she is!! And, each lady there could go back for seconds and thirds of the delicious baked beans!!

Sweet Blessings!

12 comments:

Empty Nest Full Life said...

God's plans are always best. The disappointment would be in Him not being in it. I know every woman there was blessed, and sounds like wonderful Bible study and fellowship. Looking forward to hearing from you soon, now I am back to some cleaning too. Jackie

Sharon Sloan said...

Numbers Shmumbers! He was there!

It looks so beachy!

And you have those great earrings on again! whooeeee! :)

Hugs,
Sharon

Kathleen said...

Can you imagine if 100+ had shown up instead?

Yep, it's always best to go with God's flow. Whether it's visible or not, it always garners praise for Him.

Glad you had such fun.

Kathleen

Danielle said...

Girl, you are so beautiful!

If it's one thing I'm learning about Women's Ministry... it's that numbers don't matter so much when you have the #1 person in attendance! It looks like you guys had a great time!

I'm almost jealous. We haven't had a WM event in MONTHS!! We need to get on the ball.

Kelly said...

What a wonderful attitude you have! I would have stewed with my hurt feelings that nobody liked me for a while. Then (hopefully) someone would have TOLD me what you figured out on your own and I would have perked up a little, and finally in a few days would have realized you were right. You are a smart cookie! :-)

Keep doing His work!

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

I'm all about seconds and thirds when appropriate! I know those who attended had a great time. Thank you for seeing things through and not growing weary in your good doing. God is reaping a harvest via your heart this very day.

We can't always see it, but we can be sure that as we are faithful, he is faithful to grow his good seed.

Lots of love and peace to you this week~elaine

Train Up a Child -- Encouragement for Moms said...

Hey, Susan!

I finally found your blog through Lee's! WOOHOO!

Isn't it great when God makes His presence known. I just love it.

Keep in touch. Enjoyed meeting you at She Speaks. What a hoot!

Kristy

KelliGirl said...

I just love reading and seeing pictures about your creative and godly doings. I admire what you're doing with the women's ministry at your church. The event looks like it was a fun and festive event.

You just have to trust that the people that God needed to be there, He got there.

Blessings and hugs,
Kelli

Anonymous said...

Blessed times!

Denise said...

What an awesome idea. I know the 5years I spent in women's ministry was challenging at times but so worth it. The best advice someone ever gave me was to not worry about numbers but to really concentrate on who was at our events and how we could encourage them. I know that you will be blessed for all your hard work.

Denise

Beth Herring said...

THat is a verse that I keep in my kitchen to look at daily.

I am always blessed when I come here.

Yolanda said...

I loved all these pictures!!!