A month after surgery I was able to resume driving. So my youngest and I headed out to start the day's errands. He was in his car seat with his binky being very quiet. Now, this has only happened once in my life and it rattled me. I heard while driving "You are to start a woman's Bible study." Now let me tell you I was rattled because it was as if someone was in the car saying it to me. I looked in my rearview mirror and saw my big brown-eyed little one sucking on his binky very seriously and I thought "Well I guess it wasn't him!" So in my "sassy" way, I asked, "Well, what am I supposed to call it?" Instantly I heard "Praying Wives and Mothers." Now I know that may sound crazy and trust me it kind of was, and yet I knew that I knew I heard it. I immediately called my friend and told her she had to come because after all, she was my friend. I also invited two other women that I knew, but not real well to come over on Wednesday night.

 

So here it was 7:00 pm two days later and people were knocking at the door. I had NO idea what we were going to do or even talk about. I was not one to be in a small group or Bible study, so this really threw me. My friend that night convinced me to read aloud something that I had jotted down the previous summer as I was weeding my flower beds one day. Thankfully she suggested that, because trust me when I tell you I was not prepared and totally clueless---blind faith for sure. So I read it and we were able to draw out some nuggets of truth from it and it was a good night. As we ended that night there came the questions of where were we going to meet the following Wednesday? Well, again blind faith coming in strong, and I said "Yes."

 

From that night God radically swept through and changed my life from top to bottom. He started giving me things to write down which would be used for our weekly lesson, and if you knew me personally you would know that was NOT me!! So God giving me things to write down was a crazy thing...just ask my husband! 

 

We continued that women's group in my home for two years. We met in our spare room which was an office.... we had no chairs to sit in, but couch pillows work great up against the wall!! We had snacks each week and over time very raw and honest conversations about where we were at in our personal and spiritual lives. Some who came did not personally know Jesus but were seeking, and I can tell you today they all know Jesus and it's been amazing to witness. During those two years, we talked about everything....and I mean everything.

 

After two years I felt God was asking me to end that group, continue to write, and be sharpened in other areas and so I did. God faithfully brought me so much in the years that followed until today. Growing up there was a lot of dysfunction, uncertainties, moving, abuse which resulted in a lot of faulty thinking and behaviors. God gently though has brought me through many storms, has changed my perspective about others and myself through His lens. He has taught me that while we all go through hard, and troubling times He never leaves and He truly will turn those ashes into beauty if we allow Him to. He also put my husband and me on the same page spiritually. God was right the night I prayed that prayer.....it did affect my marriage. It was hard at first, but God has been faithful to us both.

 

Fast forward to now. God has made it clear that now is the time to share this ministry with everyone. So what does that mean?  Thankfully the days of pillows up against the wall in my home office are gone and we have a quaint, cozy ministry office. It's an older home that was revamped for a business but looks like a house. The story behind God providing us a ministry building is something that only He could do and we are so grateful. We now have this amazing setting where women can walk in having someone meet them offering encouragement, prayer, and a cup of coffee!! 

 

A place where women can come to no matter where they are at in their lives including spiritually. There are many women who will not go to church or a church's Bible study but will come to a small group in a home and feel safe there.  It’s a smaller environment but for many is just what they need to start with.

 

For those of you who cannot come to where we are physically, that is why we have this site. We will post weekly devotions we are reading over and would love to hear from you. We are devoted to praying for one another whether we know each other or not because that is what we should do. God showed me early on that He wanted this to be available to everyone---globally. To have a place where women can learn their value and worth through Jesus Christ, and be a part of something much bigger than themselves, which is why we have this site.

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Personally, I have come to see God as my healer, provider, security, and redeemer. I can now fully accept I am forgiven, bought with a price and so dearly loved by Him. I pray you as well can come to that full understanding also. I am a regular person--nothing fancy. I didn't finish college, do not have any titles behind my name. I love to fish, football, going to garage sales, hanging out with my kids, friends, hubby, and love Jesus. There is nothing extraordinary about me. I always say God took an ordinary woman and allowed her to be a part of something He designed and I'm so ever thankful for Him.

 

Life has not always been easy for me. Growing up with no father, abuse, uncertainties, insecurities really did a number on me and I reacted in bold and rebellious patterns for many years. Thankfully God never gave up on me, because I gave Him plenty of reasons to be ashamed of me, and yet He isn’t. Oh, how thankful I am!!

 

I would love to hear from you. Perhaps you will start a Praying Wives and Mothers group in your home as well. We have a small book called "Help I'm a Leader" to equip you in starting your own as you encourage other women to be all that God has called them to be.

 

Thank you for visiting our site! I hope to hear from you!

Gina Burns