Blog
What by design Means to Me
In my skewed thinking, however, I put most of my energy first into ministry and expected my closest loved ones to understand and be satisfied with my “leftovers.” As tension mounted, I absurdly prayed that the Holy Spirit would reduce the amount of “need” my loved ones had for me in order to match the amount of “free time” I had available for them. Never underestimate the evil of over commitment!
Designed in Generations
It is so important to have women of all generations together. Our society often tells us the opposite. The young are characterized as flighty, lazy, and entitled. The old are characterized as out of touch or too authority-focused. These stereotypes are roadblocks to what our communities could be.
Every Day, by design
I was scrolling through Facebook but I wasn’t really seeing the screen. My mind was fully occupied by a problem for which there seemed to be no solution. I was busy envisioning various scenarios and playing out conversations in my head when something caught my eye. It was a quote from one of by design’s recent blog posts.
Kinship of Understanding
No man is an island, but it’s possible that in ministry we might feel like we’re isolated on one sometimes. The New England reality we all know is that our churches and ministries are typically not very large. The role that you are serving in most likely has some element of solitariness to it. Especially in the particular responsibilities you carry. Especially in leadership.
Designed to be Human
Women in leadership in ministry and beyond tend to be at a crossroads of expectations. They are often expected to be both meek and strong, in charge but not bossy, compassionate but not too emotional, in control but not heavy-handed, etc. This can create pressure to be perfect, to put on a facade, or to be “on” all the time. This becomes exhausting.
Zoom Lemonade
Online workshops always sounded like a good idea. It made sense for by design to share the training and resources that had previously only been available to women in New England, and we loved the idea of being able to expand our ministry around the world. But oh boy, it sure felt like a daunting task. With our staff already working crazy hours and our resources stretched to the limit, it just didn’t feel possible. So we put it off. For years. And then the pandemic hit.
Pandemic Pasta and a Tale of Forgiveness
“The shop is closed temporarily” read the sign. Immediately I suspected a case of the virus. Was I being judgmental?
Learning by design
When I first heard about by design ministries I wasn’t sure who they were or what they were all about. I just knew that I had a friendship with a woman named Kristi Stoughton who is on staff and I had a desire to hear about what she poured so much of her heart and time into.
What Does "by design" Do?
I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve been asked that question. I’ve been on staff here for almost six years and still, answering that question always stumps me.
It’s easy to just spout our mission statement:
“by design ministries is dedicated to the equipping and development of women for ministry that will advance the kingdom of God, with a special emphasis on the needs related to New England.”
It’s true, and it sounds good, but what does it really mean? More importantly, what does it mean for YOU?
A Good Father Takes the Time to Teach Us (Even What We Don’t Want to Learn)
When I was 16 and got my license, my stepdad made sure that before I was allowed to drive on my own, I had to learn how to change a flat tire and check and fill the oil. I first watched as he demonstrated both to me and then I had to do them each on my own while he watched. I found this all a bit annoying at the time and felt like he was just putting a damper on my excitement. I just wanted …
6 Tips to Help You Learn to Love God’s Word
I spent many of my early years as a Christian being inconsistent in the discipline of reading and studying the Bible, and I so wish I could go back in time and change this. I grew up in the church. I knew all the stories, but it grieves me that I didn’t understand the crucial point: that His Word is my very life.Over the last several years, I’ve learned to love the Word, and that love has radically changed my life. I used to think…
When God Says "No"
“I think your daughter was nearly trafficked,” the social worker said. “The police got to her in time.”
My stomach dropped to my toes in pure terror. The child we had raised from a toddler and adopted had become an out-of-control teen. We committed her to a mental hospital, but she made false allegations against us and refused to come home. I had been praying for years that she would feel loved, would tell the truth, and would choose to obey. The prayers were endless.
Now she was…
Are You Praying It Safe?
Let’s face it, life is NOT safe. From risking your heart in loving someone to stepping out to try something new, anything really worth doing is NOT safe. And let’s face it, life would be boring if it was safe. Yet often I find…
Keep Christ in Us This Christmas
I love everything about this time of year – the lights, family dinners, and parties full of great food, laughter and silly presents. But this year, much like Easter and Thanksgiving, Christmas feels somehow threatened by the looming presence of COVID-19. In my superficial attempt to bring a bit of joy to our home, I broke my rule…
Is He My Stronghold?
Recently I heard a sermon about prayer, and they stopped on Psalm 27 … and it has been playing on repeat in my mind for almost two weeks now, both challenging and inspiring me. I would love for you to take 56.62 seconds (yes, I timed it) and read through it … I’ll wait …
A Child Shall Lead Them
Looking back over the first nine months of 2020, most of us would agree that these are unprecedented days. We are susceptible to fear, confusion, anger or helplessness. But we can also be surprised by blessings of inspiration and gratitude.
During these times of
Ministry Spotlight - House of Hope
My name is Phyllis Phelps, and I am the director of House of Hope NH. I would like to tell you about House of Hope NH and what the Lord has done in our 2%-churched area.
In 2015, my husband and I began seeing a rise in overdoses resulting in deaths. So we began seeking the Lord as to how He would use us to reach those struggling with addiction, and their children.
REST: Replenishing the Spirit
Feeling depleted, stressed, and exhausted should not be our norm. And yet, if you are like many women today, it seems to have become just that. Sure, there will be seasons that demand that we live beyond capacity, but I believe there is, and I have personally experienced, supernatural grace for those times.
God, however,
Gentleness in Stressful Times
It’s been a tough time, even for the healthiest of us. We are learning to live in a new reality, a new way of looking at ourselves and others. Some are coping well, some not so well. We tend to disagree about how this time is being handled by our leaders, our friends, our families.
Gentleness in a time of crisis is vitally important. When we