Home |    The EXW Study |    Church Jobs |    Free Newsletter |    Worship Music |    Forums    
Experiencing Worship
 
EXW >  Women in Worship
Search:

   
Related Links
 


Planning Weekend Experiences

The Run

Microphones in Worship

The Complete Worship Service

Change the Focus

Awesome

Hiring Help

Saturday Night Live?

What's Your Reason?

Our Passion and Pursuit

Following Christ
Women in Worship
by Darlene Thorne
Worship Leader, EXW Contributor
May 16, 2008






Many times when we women hear from God, we don’t always believe what He said is true. He calls us to ministry in worship and we hide. And why do we hide? Because for so many years, like the pulpit ministry, it has been viewed as a role that men dominate. In the Bible Acts 10:34 says, “Then Peter opened his mouth and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:” Whatever God has given you to do, be obedient for He knows what you are able to accomplish for the kingdom.

You cannot deny what gifts God has placed in you from the beginning. It is not up to you to determine what course your life will take. As you live a surrendered life, your responsibility is to do what you have been called to.

We sometimes call on others to cheer us on and tell us to get out there and do it. The “cheerleaders” usually are our closest friends that will exhort us to good works. Yet even they at times are not clear as to what God has told us and may not understand our indecisiveness. It is not always for man to understand the plight of another. But one thing is clear, God does not make mistakes and He does not go back on His word. When He has spoken and you know it is a rhema word from God, no one can stop it—except maybe you.

What keeps us from walking in our calling? I can name three.

1. Fear – When we hear within our spirit what God is saying to do, we freeze! We say that it’s our late night snack talking or we are just having a bad dream. The last thing we want to do is acknowledge that it truly is God speaking. If we could only learn to relax and realize that it is God that works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure, life would be so much easier! God has not given us a spirit of fear and if we say we love God, then that perfect love will diffuse the fear.

2. People – How do people keep us from walking in our calling? We may feel unworthy because of the past life we lived. We will wonder how God can use us with all that emotional baggage we’ve carried. Our friends know from whence we came! Even some people we feel are so “great” in ministry; we cringe when we think that God is calling us to do the same. It all a big lie! God would not have called you if you were not able. We already know we are not worthy. On our best days our righteousness is like filthy rags, so we need to depend on God.

3. Me, Myself, I, - You know the nouns that describes yourself! We are our worst critics and we stop ourselves from carrying out the plan of God for our lives. Stop waiting for some great thing to happen before we walk in our calling. We are too grown up in Christ to still be putting out fleeces.

Know this, when God calls you, He is just beginning a work in you. When you say yes, that’s when the process begins. It is just like getting an offer for a job. Nothing happens, no training, no benefits and no paycheck until you say yes!! God is waiting for you to say yes. He then changes your heart, soul, mind and spirit. Remember all we do is an act of our will. He woos us by gently speaking in that still small voice that calls us to His side to sup with Him.

Where He leads me I will follow, where He leads me I will follow, Where He leads me I will follow, I’ll go with him, with him all the way!


 
 Printable Version
 Email this Page to a Friend  Add Your Opinion


Latest Discussion:
  • out of tune vocals & leadership issues
  • Who's leading?
  • Hi I am New to the Worship forum
  • my CD is out
  • my new worship CD is out
  • More Stories:
  • Unity in Worship
  • Worship: Not Where, But How
  • Riding the Lightning
  • Lay It Aside
  • A Life of Praise
  • What Little Children!?
  • Why Your Church Should Be Producing Videos


  • User Opinions:

    Total: 7 Opinions  -   Displaying: 3 of 7Read More...


    Let's think for ourselves
    In reading this article I ask myself 2 questions....1- If the writer truly believes there is no difference between men and women...why does she write to women only???2- Why is there no scripture to back up her position??The one scripture...more

    Submitted by: Anna
    Location: Kentucky



    Awesome, Praise God
    This is awesome. It has helped me out alot to go ahead and do what God has placed in my spirit to do. Alot of encouragment and I PRAISE GOD for my sister -in- law emailing this to me. Because I already now what to do it's just I was being fearful and...more

    Submitted by: Tonya Parks
    Location: Louisville,Ky



    Following Christ
    Wow!! Well written article. As a woman in worship ministry, a ministry that has been dominated by the male gender, I too sometimes feel inadequate and question the directives of God. But today, I thank Darlene for sharing and the insight I received...more

    Submitted by: Alicia
    Location: St. Maarten, N.A.



     Add Your Opinion  See All 7 Opinions >>


    Gold Star Listing Music Minister in Japan for mostly American Military Congregation
    Location: other
    Church of the Nazarene

    Music Director
    Location: NY
    Presbyterian - PCUSA

    Assistant Pastor
    Location: MO
    Non-Denominational

    Minister of Music Ministries
    Location: GA
    United Methodist

    Gold Star Listing Senior Pastor
    Location: NC
    Baptist - SBC

    Gold Star Listing Worship Leader
    Location: OR
    Other

    Praise Team Director
    Location: MO
    Presbyterian - PCUSA

    Worship/Music Leader
    Location: OH
    Other

    Campus Pastor
    Location: CA
    Presbyterian - PCUSA

    Pastor
    Location: CA
    Non-Denominational





    More From ExperiencingWorship.com:

    Worship Articles
  • Unity in Worship
  • A Life of Praise
  • Slingshot Group
  • Behind the Praise
  • There Is Hope
  • Worship – Healing for the Nations
  • The Joy of Praise
  • Sound & Video
  • Riding the Lightning
  • The Console Switch
  • Hearing Test
  • How Loud is your Church?
  • Can You Hear It?
  • Tips and Tricks
  • Invest in People
  • Women in Worship
  • Lay It Aside
  • Center Full Living
  • Let’s Just Praise the Lord
  • Getting Rid of the Clutter
  • Consistency Please!
  • Step By Step
  • Following Christ
  • Book Reviews
  • The Practice of Praise
  • Living Worship
  • Extravagant Worship
  • The Unquenchable Worshipper
  • The Ragamuffin Gospel
  • The Dynamics of Corporate Worship
  • The Complete Worship Service
  • Music Reviews
  • Everyone Overcome
  • Shane and Shane - Pages
  • Sanctus Real's - We Need Each Other
  • See the Morning
  • A Greater Song
  • East of the River
  • First Ever Soul Survivor
  • Devotionals
  • Worship: Not Where, But How
  • Oxymoron
  • Encouraged to Praise
  • Sing What You Mean
  • A Sweet Sacrifice
  • Worship - A Verb
  • Shout for Joy?

  • Experiencing Worship, The Study
    Used by churches all over the world to help teach worship, the Experiencing Worship study can help your worship team too. Your team will learn why we worship and gain a better understanding of how to worship. One user said..."Your 5 week study course has made a tremendous impact on my life in the study of worship... I would like to express my thanks for a well written study course that leads into a higher realm of praise and worship."

    Order the study today!

    The Paul Langford Project
    This is the debut album by EXW friend Paul Langford. Paul is a Chicago based singer, arranger, keyboardist, producer and conductor. Paul has a career that spans 14 years. Paul's work includes arranging for groups like GLAD, Voices of Liberty, VoiceTrek, The Chicago based "Caroling Party" and Day of Discovery Singers. His arranging has appeared on recordings side by side with greats like Gene Puerling and David Maddux, and he has sung with Don Shelton, Bonnie Herman and Bob Bowker, among others.

    Order the Project today!




    Advertise | Contact Us Chistian Jobs | Church Jobs | PDA Blast! | Gadgets | Blackberry | about EXW
     EXW | Worship Studies | Music | Drama Copyright © 2001-2007 by C. M. Press, LLC.