Focus Friday

Has there been an instance in your life where you have sustained spiritual wounds due to sexual experiences or situations?  Pray that God will show you a pathway to take for healing of that place (example: talk to a trusted believing friend, seek counseling, join a Life’s Healing Choices group).

Think On It Thursday

It has been days since I saw them together, yet my mind has wandered back to them dozens of times.  It was within a glance that I saw them there, one wearing dainty white gloves, and the other a special and beautiful pin on the lapel of her coat.  They crossed their low heels at the ankles and giggled like young girls as they sat close with their arms looped through one another’s.  The genuine joy on their faces belied their ages which I imagine to have been somewhere in the neighborhood between seventy and eighty. The two ladies (which is exactly what they were) were on an outing to Target together and had stopped in customer service near the exit to rest on a bench before heading home.  They were in no hurry and seemed to be simply enjoying the other’s company as they chatted and laughed. 

Driving home, my mind wandered to the two women.  How long had they been friends? How did their friendship begin?  Did they have husbands? Were their husbands still alive? Did they live in their own home or did they live in an assisted living residence somewhere nearby? I wondered what kept them close. Common life stage? Mutual friends? Geography? A long shared history?   Thinking about those two women on the drive home reminded me how thankful I am to be a woman as well as how grateful I am for all of the amazing women God has put into my life...especially recently.

The Mother’s Together community of women has truly touched my heart over this past year.  I remember my first Wednesday morning last September.  I barely arrived on time and felt a huge sense of relief when I finally located my table among the crowd.  While I recognized a few faces around the room, I still was not sure about myself or my place in this giant group of professional moms.  I felt like everyone knew what they were doing with their children except me.  I felt like everyone looked cute and put together except me.  I felt like everyone had something interesting they were doing to inspire their kids except me.  However, as I opened my heart to God and got past myself and my own pile of motherhood induced insecurities, I realized that this amazing gathering of women was not only welcoming but also authentic in their own struggles and accepting and loving toward me with mine.   

I have found comfort, friendship, humor, inspiration, challenge, support and fun alongside these dear faces I see each Wednesday morning.  I look forward to the smiles, the hugs and the sense of community where I not only feel I have something to contribute, but that I am continually blessed by as well.  I adore how God works like that; just when you think you have to figure things out yourself and go it alone, he sends some friends into your life to help out and encourage you along the way.  I love the idea that no matter our life stage, (even when we ourselves are older, and hopefully lively old ladies), He will still be filling that need in our hearts for genuine community by sending us girlfriends to walk alongside us on the journey to hold our hands and our hearts....and who knows, maybe even make a Target run or two. 

                                 - Sarah Leimer

Wisdom Wednesday

Marriage and Intimacy
By: Deb Dambacher

Today we will hear from Deb Dambacher again and this time she will help us look a little more into the Biblical perspective on intimacy and marriage verses what culture's perspective is on this topic.

Click here to view the power point presentation.

Discussion Questions:

1. What in your view of marriage and intimacy has been influenced by the culture? By religion?
2. What does God say about marriage and intimacy that is different than your viewpoint?
3. What one belief about marriage can you focus on changing to be more in align with God’s viewpoint?
4. What action can you take that will help you live out God’s viewpoint in the area identified in Question 3?

Whose Day Tuesday

Whose Day Highlight: Alia T.
Family Stats: married to Chris, daughter Lucy, 2
Spiritual Gifts: Mercy
Spiritual Pathways: Relational & Serving
Passions: Reading
Secret Shames: Watching anything on Bravo
Books that you love: Redeeming Love, Mark of the Lion series, Outlander series
Can't Live Without: Peanut Butter M&Ms and exercising (to counteract the previous)
Favorite Room: Basement family room
Favorite Tradition: anything Christmas and Chick-Fil-A Fridays and new family picture from Lucy's birthday framed every year

Memorize-It Monday

For as a young man marries his virgin bride, so your Maker marries you, and as a bridegroom is happy in his bride, so your God is happy with you.  Isaiah 62:5

Focus Friday

It's Serve Week!  On Wednesday, we learned of the needs of those who live on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation from Moses and made pillow cases for the children of Covenant Children's Homes, India.  Find a way to be of service this weekend.  Some ideas:

1. Sign up to volunteer in the children's ministry for the upcoming Easter services

2. Contact Anita M. about the remaining needs for our pillow project (sewing, drawstrings, etc.)

Thanks for all you do to serve!

Clinging to Jesus

Six months ago we bought a home with nine rose bushes. All out in the front yard where every pair of eyes in the neighborhood can enjoy their fragrant blooms. I counted six different colors last fall and I could smell them through open living room windows.  A neighbor graciously clued me in to the fact that the previous owners spent long hours refining each plant.  Two words sprang to my mind…no pressure.  Of course, I took to the web and started researching “how to grow beautiful roses”.  With Google in my corner we could master greatness, or at least manage to not kill the plants.  After what seemed like hours of web research and several phone calls to my garden experienced grandmother I purchased pruning shears, trimmers, and heavy duty gloves because the one consistent piece of advice Grandma and Google kept offering was that I must prune my plants.  I don’t mow grass.  I don’t cut bangs.  I’ve never pruned a plant, let alone nine rose bushes.  That was last fall and the prickly plants still have not been pruned.  Not because I’m not equipped.  Not due to lack of beautiful weather (what winter?).  Not because I haven’t had time (hours are adding up that I’ve analyzed how to cut the silly things).   It’s simply because I am a cling-o-maniac. 
 I tend to hold onto things too tightly.  Right now, as new growth springs forth I have beautiful, thriving green bushes with height and foliage galore.  I’m clinging to the fact that they’re still alive and growing.  If I was striving for beautiful greenery then I’m probably doing pretty well, but I’m not.  This summer I want color.  I saw what these plants were capable of and I want that and more.  A cling-o-maniac, like me, doesn’t stop or start with roses, unfortunately. The fear of losing what we have can be utterly paralyzing! Usually they’re things our world holds in high esteem, often the highest esteem; a comfortable home, predictable schedule, well stocked retirement fund, good health, successful career, thriving children, and a loving marriage. I could list hundreds of great reasons why each of those is a wonderful thing to want and have.  However, if I am striving and placing my hope in ideals, things, or people then disappointment, fear and I are going to be well acquainted.  Anxiety over trying to cling to the things we think will bring us ultimate happiness and fulfillment, but in the end leave us thirsty for more is what this world offers.  Jesus hits this issue head on with a woman at the well:

"Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” John 4: 13-15

Matthew, Chapter 6: 19-21, Jesus talks to his disciples about this very idea of placing our hearts in temporary things:  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Jesus, I want my heart to be fully yours.  Amongst the thorns and blooms of life be my courage and strength to cut away anything that keeps me from clinging to You.  Reveal your grace story through me so my children and my children’s children will know of Your unfailing love. 
Jena Meyerpeter

Whose Day Tuesday

Whose Day Highlight: Joy S.
Family Stats: Married to Kenneth, Damien (13), Stephen (7)
Spiritual Gifts: Hospitality, Helps, Mercy
Spiritual Pathways: Relational, Serving, Intellectual
Passions: Helping others, raising and loving my children, loving and showing compassion to those in need
Pet Peeves: Repetitive sounds
Books that you love: Made to Crave
Can't Live Without: The Lord
Favorite Room: Kitchen: this is where I can serve my family and friends their favorite foods and drinks, and they come around a table to eat and catch up.
Favorite Tradition: Putting up the family Christmas tree on Thanksgiving night

Memorize-It Monday

10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
11...If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
~1 Peter 4:11

Whose Day Tuesday

Whose Day Highlight: Liz I.
Family Stats: husband John, married 8 years; son Will, 20 months
Spiritual Gifts: Encouragement, Healing, Administration
Spiritual Pathways: Intellectual
Passions: Small group ministries
Pet Peeves: People who don't do what they say
Books that you love: The Tightwad Gazzette
Favorite Tradition: Reading as a family

Whose Day Tuesday

Whose Day Highlight: Jessica K.
Family Stats: Husband Ray, Children Jacob (3) and Abigail (2)
Spiritual Pathways: Serving
Passions: Being a mom: I always wanted to be a mom and I live each day for my kids. I also love being creative, plannign and getting to know people. I love to travel.
Pet Peeves: Being late and disorganized.
Books that you love: These days my reading consists more of magazines because they're easy to start and stop reading
Can't Live Without: My family, God, Peachwave, 2 cups of coffee in the morning
Favorite Room: The kitchen, Jake and Abigail love to help cook and eating dinner together every night is the best part of the day
Favorite Tradition: Reading stories with our kids every night before bed, eating dinner together

Memorize-It Monday

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.  ~1 Corinthians 15:58

Focus Friday

Take the advice of Beth Moore, and find a time to talk openly with your husband about intimacy.  What are his needs, and are they being fulfilled? What are your needs and desires? Keep in mind her statement: sexual intimacy is a way in which we minister to our husbands. Decide to make this a priority in your life.