The Judas Test

Ladies, I just read the following devotional found in TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2 by Os Hillman. I know as women ministers, the topic of this writing will touch you deeply. Allow the Lord to minister to you today.

"If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God" (Psalm 55:12-14).

Os Hillman writes.....

Betrayal is one of the most difficult tests that we will ever face because it involves being wounded by someone we trust. It's hard not to become bitter when a friend or family member wounds us. It takes a lot of Christ-like grace to forgive a traitor.

You have probably faced the Judas Test yourself. Everyday you and I work in a marketplace that is rife with betrayal, deception, duplicity, and treachery. Perhaps you have been betrayed by your boss or a coworker. Or perhaps somebody betrayed a confidence or stabbed you in the back. It may have even been someone you've gone to church with or prayed with - someone you trusted as a brother or sister in Christ.

The Judas kiss stings worse than a slap across the face. Almost every leader I know has experienced that sting at one time or another. Yet God is watching to see how we respond to the Judas Test. If we pass the test, He can then take us to the next level, the next test. If we fail, we'll probably have to repeat the test until we learn to forgive.

The Judas Test is God's graduate level course in faith, designed to reveal the truth about ourselves: Are we willing to trust Him enough to forgive the Judases in our lives? The book of Hebrews warns, "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many" (Psalm 12:15). When we refuse to forgive we risk infecting others with a "bitter root" of resentment.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN WRONGFULLY ACCUSED?

I Peter 2: 23 says, "When they hurled insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him Who judges justly." I don't know about you, but I have heard from many ministers lately who have been wrongfully accused. Everything in them wants to defend their reputation, trying to do something to justify their attitude or actions. None of them wants others to hear or believe the wrongful accusations.

Can you imagine what it was like for Jesus, who was continually slandered, accused of wrong doing and blasphemy? All the religious leaders throught they knew what Jesus should or shouldn't do. Jesus could have put them in their place, called fire down from heaven, or destroyed them in some way. He could have retaliated, repeated their faults, or responded in a negative way. But, the Bible says, "He entrusted Himself to Him Who judges justly."

That is God's Word to us today. Let's release all the hurtful accusations and entrust ourselves to Him! Let's place our total faith in the One Who can redeem us and clear our names. When wrongfully accused, let's ask God to give us grace to respond by staying aligned in Him.

Lord, we put our reputation in Your trust and care. We choose to experience Your Presence and anointing in greater measure than ever before. We entrust ourselves to You Who judges justly!

WELCOME TO OUR NEW WIMN BLOG!

Dear Ministry Friends,

Time seems to fly by, doesn’t it? It seems like only yesterday we were starting the W.I.M.N. organization, and now almost eleven years have passed. As we continue to seek the Lord’s direction regarding our vision, God is continually guiding to new and exciting endeavors each step of the way. One such development is our new web site BLOG. Yes, we have taken that giant leap of faith into cyberspace! We truly believe this will be an excellent way to keep in touch with all our ministry friends around the world. Please take time to contact us and let us know what the Lord is doing in you and your ministry!

Blogging Blessings!
Apostle Sharon Predovich

WIMN Outreach in Thailand and Philippines

WIMN was able to minister to many ladies in both Bangkok, Thailand and Lucena City, Philippines in October 2007. Apostle Sharon Predovich and Rev. Nola Beintema spent two weeks in the Far East doing several meetings tailored just for women and women leaders. Thailand is just in the infancy stage of developing women ministers, as the spiritual climate there is still very hard. On the other hand, the Philippines' spiritual atmosphere was very open to ministry to women. During an all-day seminar for women leaders, the anointing of the Lord was extremely strong. At one point the Lord sovereignly manifested Himself as the God of Favor. The ladies were beside themselves in the glory of the Lord!

The Philippines' WIMN national leader Apostle Jane Ramboyong is doing a fabulous job networking women leaders in her nation, and especially in her region. Please enjoy the photos below!

Dr. Sharon Predovich ministered to women leaders in a Burmese Church in
Bangkok, Thailand. Her messages were translated from English to Thai to
Burmese at each meeting!

Dr. Sharon Predovich taught on "Women Champions" in an empty room
of a large mall in Lucena City. The anointing was so strong that shoppers
stood near the hallway door to see what was going on!

Dr. Sharon Predovich makes an altar call for women who feel a
"call to the nations" during a special women leaders' meeting
in Lucena City, Philippines.

Pastoral Leaders of Lucena City pose with WIMN Leaders -
left to right: Pastor Lucy Parco of Philippine Good News Church,
Rev. Nola Beintema of Resurrection Life Church in Minnesota,
Apostle Sharon Predovich Founder of WIMN International and
Senior Co-Pastor of Resurrection Life Ministries, Eden Prairie, Minnesota,
Apostle Jane Ramboyong of Philippine Good News Ministries,
and Rev. Joan Ty of Victory Christian Fellowship in Lucena City.

Pastor Lucy Parco and Nola Beintema share a big hug. Lucy and
her husband Andy pastor the home church of Philippine Good News
International Ministries in Lucena City.

Nola Beintema shared her testimony of her first mission trip ever
to the Philippines in 1989. She told of the supernatural events of that
particular mission outreach and her "call to the nations"
as a result of participating in that mission trip.

Check out the huge poster on the wall announcing
the event! Thank the Lord for Glamour Shots photo studios!

Group shot of some of the 220 ladies that attended the
"Fulfilling Your Destiny" Seminar in Lucena City, Philippines
in October 2007.

WIMN - United Kingdom is Launched!

In November of 2006 WIMN was launched in the United Kingdom! Thirty-five women pastors, ministers, and marketplace leaders met - and most importantly, GOD SHOWED UP! Apostle Sharon's message "Women on the Front Line" was followed by a time of strong prophetic words for all who attended. As they say in England, the ministry was "spot on" and everyone who attended was blessed, refreshed, and redirected.

Apostle Sharon Predovich,
Rev. Sharon Pennant (WIMN Director in England)
and Rev. Nola Beintema take time to smile for the camera.
WIMN is very excited to be working with Sharon Pennant
and her U.K. team!

Apostle Sharon Predovich ministered on a late night
Christian Radio Program on the BBC,
doing the sign-off prayer over the air waves at midnight.

Sharon Pennant of Birmingham, England, shared the vision of WIMN - UK
with those who attended the one day WIMN LAUNCH Seminar.

Apostle Sharon ministered on "The Favor of the Lord"
to a group of 45 ladies one evening at a meeting at Top Barn Farm,
out in the English countryside.

Sharon Pennant from Birmingham and Pastor Sharon McPherson
from London, who led praise and worship at the event,
join hearts in prayer at the WIMN - UK Launch.