Ladies,
Are you ready to do some stirring? No, I'm not going to share recipes this month. ::grin::

Paul encourages Timothy in 2 Timothy by saying, "Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands." (2 Tim 1:6, NKJV)
 
Paul is telling a young leader to "keep stirring" the gift that God had entrusted to him.  God divinely places within each of us unique spiritual gifts of His choosing. These are not for our personal comfort. We are called, in love, to serve the Body of Christ with our gifts.  
 
I was the little girl that sat at the window and cried as she watched others play, too shy to force my way into the group. I've struggled with confidence. BUT GOD...gave me the spiritual gift of teaching and leadership (pastoring/shepherding). Early in my life I was content to learn, and far too intimidated to step in front of a crowd to share.  I've had Pastors and Women's Ministry Directors who literally FORCED me behind the podium....and I learned. I learned that God doesn't give gifts so we can sit satisfied and comfy, alone at the window. I learned that my confidence was never meant to be in self, but in God. I can trust in GOD CONFIDENCE.
 
God has graced my life with mentors and prayer supporters who pray me through most speaking engagements. I've learned God is dependable. When He calls, He equips. I wouldn't be honest if I didn't admit there are still times I simply want to crawl away when I think of standing in front of a crowd. This keeps me fully aware of WHO is working through me and the glory goes completely to Him.
 
I had a very hard time stepping into any sort of leadership position; yet others kept encouraging me to lead. I am VERY aware of my shortcomings. I see many who seem pulled-together, stylish, outgoing, slender, creative, eloquent...in my eyes better qualified for leadership than I. In the past this kept me from volunteering for leadership positions. I've always been invited to lead and never took the risk of applying.
 
God dealt with me strongly last spring/summer. The lesson I learned is profound. It's not about ME, my shortcomings, and my list of those I perceive to be better fits for leadership than I. It's about GOD using HIS tool in the way He chooses. I surrendered. It was a struggle. I told God I had learned my confidence was in Him and I was no longer going to limit how He chose to use me. I KNEW that He required me to be willing to apply for leadership, rather than always waiting to be invited.  I applied to be the region's Administrative Coordinator (I could stay behind the computer). I sensed God's laughter, when I was invited to serve as the President of Asia Region (there's a bit of irony).

In October, at a Pacific Region conference, I, once and for all, agreed with God. It's about HIS plan and not my insecurity, or my list of who could do a better job. I even bought a turquoise butterfly necklace to be a tangible reminder of the work God did in my heart that weekend.   I was reminded of all the voices through the years that encouraged me to "kindle the gift that was in me."  It is my heart's cry that God would ignite those gifts into a bright flame as I serve you, our PWOC ladies in Asia, for your benefit and for His glory. 
 
Why do I bare my soul to strangers?

First, maybe the lessons I've learned will help someone else who is struggling with the same issues with which I have struggled.

Second, it's Selection Time in PWOC.  It's the time of year when we invite ladies to step into servant leadership in our chapels. I know many of you will be tempted to make a snap choice not to serve. You may not even breathe a prayer about the matter. I suspect when some of you hear about selection you, like the old me, feel, "So many are more qualified." Will you please seek God and ask Him if He desires to minister to the women at your installation or on Asia Region Board through YOUR involvement on a PWOC Executive Board?  It's not about YOU; it's about GOD using HIS TOOL in the way HE pleases. 

I pray my story helps one or two realize that we are perfectly safe putting our confidence in Him.   I have been praying the gifts God has deposited in our midst would be fanned into a bright flame across our region. I am convinced that God places the gifts needed for each body within its midst.
 
I ask each of you to pray for God to clearly entice each lady into leadership who is to serve in our local and regional boards.

If you think you're "all that and a bag of chips", I lovingly remind you, "It's not about YOU; it's about HIM." If you struggle with feeling that you don't "measure up", I lovingly remind you, "It's not about YOU; it's about HIM and HIS glory." Often God gets the most glory when we KNOW we are in the midst of a God-size task, something much bigger than "we" could pull off.

As always, if you want to chat, if I can answer questions for you about leadership in PWOC, feel free to email me.
 
Delighted to serve Asia Region,
De'Etta
Asia Region President, 2009-2011

Email De'Etta

De’Etta Goecker, Asia Region President email De'Etta I’m a 46 year old homeschooling Mom of 9 children ranging in age from 4-24 years old. I mention this first as I consider marriage and partnering together with God to raise young men and women who will love Him wholeheartedly my highest call and ministry. I’m married to a wonderful Air Force chaplain. Together we’ve enjoyed 25 3/4 years of grand adventure as God has grown our family and ministry. I love to read. I love to blog. I love to mentor. I love to teach others how to study the Bible. I love to disciple women, most often through Protestant Women of the Chapel during this season in my life. My goal in life is to passionately love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I endeavor through teaching and mentoring relationships to lead others to an extravagant, lavish, passionate, whole-hearted, love of their life. It is my goal to truly love others. Pssst: I have a secret ambition to write the next best-selling mystery series. It will feature a quiverful, homeschooling, Air Force Chaplain’s spouse. In her spare time our heroine will solve cases with the help of her children, homeschool support group, and PWOC sisters.

Tracy Morey, Asia Region Vice President/Conference Cooridnator email Tracy I am a graduate of Valley Forge Christian College. I've been married for 26 years to my husband Dan, (for 23 of those years we have served the Lord in the Military.) I have a daughter, Melody who is six, and a cat named Komeko. We have been in Japan for one year and have two left. PWOC is an awesome ministry that has impacted and intertwined with my life in many ways for the past 10 years. I hope to facilitate the growth of women in the New Asia Region in their relationships with Jesus and with each other by planning an awesome conference in 2011! Please join me and the rest of the Asia Region board in prayer and preparation as we lay a foundation in the new Asia Region! "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Cor. 2:9

Lauren Dillard, Administrative Coordinator email Lauren It has been my passion for many years to keep the Body of Christ connected to each other. In the last 14 years, that passion has been used over and over in the Chapel and PWOC setting. PWOC is the one thing I look for first when receiving those PCS orders, even before Dunkin Doughnuts. Having 4 kids and a busy husband, with a few deployments to deal with, God has brought me to many a sister to lean on. I've had the privilege of serving with Godly women at each Installation we've been sent to. We've learned together, cried together , fellowshipped together, and laughed together while loving Christ together. 1Corinthians 12 and 13 is so encouraging the way Paul paints the picture of the whole Body of Christ being important. Not one member is unimportant and the culmination of this is how we love each other. As the Administrative Coordinator for the Asia Region, I hope to do this same kind of thing with the Asia Board. Keeping them connected to you and working to maintain all the lines of communication between the board members will be my job, but completing it with joy will be my passion. Only a few years ago I had no idea how to use power point. God, in His creative ways, exposed me to so many opportunities to learn data processing, spreadsheets, and a host of web and internet applications and tools. I hope to use all of those skills to aid you in the Asia Region as we grow in our love for God and each other. May His many blessings and mercies be showered upon us.

Rachelle Whitfield, Regional Training Coordinator email Rachelle Ohayou (おはよう) or Hello from the island of Okinawa, Japan. I am an ARMY wife.  My husband, Chris went through an early midlife crisis a little over three years ago and joined the Army.  One hot Missouri evening he came home and said I’m thinking about joining the Army.  I thought, hummmm must have been a really bad day at work so the loving supportive wife that I am said, “Great idea you should check into it honey.”  Who knew the Army took 35 year old men. Well, after many late night discussions he left for basic training that September.    We arrived in Okinawa, Japan in August of 2009 with our 15 year old son, Xavier, and our doggie, Pokey.  We left our 21 year old son, Chris Jr., in Missouri.  My life long passion has been interior design.  I love spending time with women in their homes making them beautiful but what I learned was spending all the money in the bank on amazing art work for the walls or designer lamps on the table could not fix the brokenness in a women’s spirit or marriage.  Proverbs 24:3-4 says, “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.”   During a season of life God placed me in an amazing environment that I was able to minister to broken wives and mothers sharing wisdom and knowledge of His amazing love and desire for each of them often right in their homes while choosing paint colors.  In August 2009, my husband and I entered a new season and God has placed me among the most amazing Christian women at PWOC.  I have no idea what God has planned for me the next 3 ½ years here in Japan but I am looking forward to seeing every living room He places me in although the kitchen is my favorite room of the house so I am looking forward to those too.

RenÉe R.  Beyea, Prayer  Coordinator email RenEe Renée Beyea graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity, concentrating in Spirituality and Spiritual Direction, and received the Lloyd John Ogilvie Preaching Award for excellence in homiletics and preaching. She enjoys serving as full-time wife and ministry partner to Chaplain (Captain) Richard S. Beyea III, United States Air Force, and mother to Ricky IV, and as part-time teacher and speaker. Her teaching specialties include Scripture, prayer, spiritual disciplines and Christian living. Renée grew up reading books and riding horses in the golden hills of Santa Ynez Valley, California and continues to find refreshment in journaling prayer, study, exercise and cross-stitch. The Beyeas currently reside in Misawa, Japan.

Juliet Davidson, Assistant Conference  Coordinator email Juliet Juliet has been a servant of God’s grace for over 30 years now. She credits His most amazing gifts to her as her husband Michael and their wonderful children ranging from ages 18-22. She finds the change of season to “empty nester’s” quite bitter sweet. The challenges that went with raising her kids through the different stages of growth and development have shaped her character and “seasoned “her wisdom. As a military spouses who has seen over 4 deployments (not to include months of separation for training throughout the years). She believes that PWOC can fulfill the role as a “constant” connection to women throughout the military who wish to serve the Lord wherever God “plants” them. Constant prayer and love from “sisters” gets you through the tough deployments, changes in duty stations and long distances from your loved ones. “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him” 1 John 4: 16 As I start this amazing journey with my sister’s on the Asian Regional Board. I pray that God will use the talents and gifts he has blessed us with to do awesome things to grow and strengthen the region.

CH (COL) Arthur C. Pace, Asia Region Chaplain Advisor email CH Pace

It's Good To Be Queen?
by Lauren Dillard

You know there’s an old saying………I know you know it…….. "If mamma ain’t happy, then ain’t nobody happy!” It seems to be true.  When I hurt, it inevitably seems to trickle down to everyone in the family. 

Recently, I got my feelings hurt by a critique someone made about a project I was working on.  It just seemed to cut down deep and I began to weep on the inside.  Soon, I became quietly bitter in my heart and I felt a need to vent…………………..and out came the venom that had built up in my heart to my family.  It’s not the first time it’s happened either.  It comes in forms of silent treatment, quick ill-tempered remarks, arguments that seem to consume the day, etc., etc.  James  has a powerful argument for this of course in chapter 3: 6-12.  It says, “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.  For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.   But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.   With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.   Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.   Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?   Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.” 

I can see what kind of damage my tongue does sometimes.  For example, it turns away my husband’s smile;  it strikes bitterness to the hearts of my teenagers; and it can push my closest friends away!!  It is a privilege to speak words of life, words of His life, and so often I speak words of death…….or at least pain.  

James continues in the next verses to give the reasons why we speak so poorly at times.   He goes says, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.   But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.   This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.   For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”  Our desires can be so powerful and we can in turn use our tongues like a whip to lop everyone's head off. 

But James does give us  hope!  He tells us how to speak, where it should come from, and what it will yield when used rightly.  He says, "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”  

Those who make peace?  I want peace in my house……  I want peace in my marriage……  I want peace in my relationships……  Then, my speech must come from above.  It must come from Jesus.  He must be King of my heart, instead of me being the evil Queen of Hearts as in Alice in Wonderland. 

So, is it really good to be queen?  Not in the Dillard household.  I need to yield to the King.  I’ll start with one prayer at a time because He will be there in my secret places as I struggle!!

Asia Region President	Asia Region Administrative Coordinator
Asia Region VP/Conference Coordinator	Asia Region Chaplain Advisor