Knowledge Seekers

 

Getting Unstuck . . . Healing  

Our speaker today is Michelle Pemberton, Children's Ministry Pastor. Click HERE for a copy of her handout. 

What is healing?  What does healing involve?  Well according to an online dictionary it means the following:

1. To restore to health or soundness; cure 
2. To set right; repair
3. To restore (a person) to spiritual wholeness

Do you need healing?  You may be thinking, "I'm not sick.  Sure I have some minor ailments but nothing I need "healed"."  Well I don't know about you but I get stuck and need healing from losing my patience so quickly with my husband or kids over little things.  I need healing from my perfectionism.  I need healing from my obsession to accomplish and be productive.  I need healing from my need to have control.

What would you say to Jesus if he asked you whether you wanted to be healed of your own illnesses, physical or otherwise? Do you want to be rid of your addictions and other sins?  Do you believe Jesus can actually heal you?

In our study today of John 5 and 6, we see a man that Jesus healed.  Although Jesus healed this man physically, Jesus was also after healing this man spiritually. 
 

Jesus takes the initiative, as he did with the woman of Samaria, and approaches a man lying by this pool who had been ill for thirty-eight years.  The NIV translates the general term astheneia ("weakness," "disease") as invalid, due to the present context, but a later reference to healing "the whole man" may suggest a more general illness (7:23).  The man is there with no one to help him. . . this man has no hope of getting healed anyway because he cannot get to the pool. In other words, this is a situation of utter hopelessness and futility. But while the man cannot get to the pool, Jesus can get to him. The man is met by the one who is the stable, constant source not just of healing but of life itself, indeed, of eternal life . . . God finds each of us as helpless as this man. The good news is that he desires to grant each of us life, not necessarily mere healing in this life, but eternal life beginning now.  (from Biblegateway.com commentary - click HERE to read the entire write up)

 

Isaiah Says God's Word Will Not Return Void

          In John Chapter 6, Jesus had been teaching and healing and a large crowd had begun to follow Him.   Verse 5 says “Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”  He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do”. Verse 9, says “there is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?  Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.  Jesus then took the loaves and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated.  So also the fish, as much as they wanted.”  After Jesus had fed the five thousand, with the boy’s five loaves of bread and but two fish, and “everyone had eaten their fill”, there were twelve baskets left over.  (more than enough)

          Time and time again we see this principle played out in our lives.  We offer what we have and God makes the increase.  When I was 23 and my little brother was only 10, on this particular day in his public school classroom, they had a substitute teacher who randomly (yet not random at all) gave the young class the word of God.  She told them the bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17; if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.  Such big words for such small children.  She also told them, that if they asked……God would make them a new creature.  My little brother pondered these words and believed.  He asked God to make him a new creature.  And God did!  

          At the young age of 10, my little brother became a brand new creature  and we all watched in awe, as his life changed before us.  He was already sweet, caring and trustworthy.  You could always count on him to do the right thing, but he, as all of us, had a sinful heart that needed a savior.  That day, he met the Savior and got a new heart.  He started telling others about Jesus.  God’s word was continuing to move and work in the lives of those around him.  Little children were telling their parents they needed Jesus.  God took the offering of this substitute teacher and began feeding many.   

          My parents were good people, but they didn’t know Jesus like this.  They wanted what he had.   So, they asked God to make them a new creature.  Then, there were 2 more.  God was making things “new”.  My dad was a cop and began telling his coworkers about Jesus.  Policemen were becoming new.  My mother prayed fervently for her other 4 children.  She began giving that Word to the rest of us.  We rejected it for many months.  I was happy with my life and wasn’t looking for a change. But faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.  She continued to give us scripture……..my faith was born…….I became new.  In the span of 1 year this family of 7 found Jesus because someone brought a small offering.  That family of 7 is now a family of over 40, telling others of the one who makes all things new.  

           The teacher?  We don’t know her.  She was just there for a day.   But we love her, and we thank God for her because she changed our lives forever.  We wonder if she’s in heaven now.  We wonder if she can see the ripple of souls coming to Jesus because of her small offering.

- Debbie Walker

FUNList - A Reward System for the Family

You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance. ~Franklin P. Jones

A few months ago, I learned that my patience for whining had run out. I could only think of two remedies for this; scream or motivate my children to do the things that needed to be done, without whining – or at least with less whining. Since my throat was sore from a sinus infection, I chose the latter (just kidding). I decided to create a reward system to get the behavior I wanted and to give them something they wanted. A win-win situation. Most of the items on our FUNList create quality time for us as a family, which is a wonderful added bonus.

There is debate on whether rewards should be given to kids to do things that should be done – however, as adults, we tend to think in terms of a reward system ourselves. People go to work and, even if they enjoy their work, expect to be paid. We volunteer because we get the reward of feeling good when we do something needed, useful, or helpful. However, since young children have not developed this internal reward system for a lot of things we need them to do, they need motivation.

As children grow, different strategies and parenting techniques work – and fail to work. The key to finding out how to motivate kids is to find out what is important to them. Most kids enjoy quality time with parents, outings, gifts, etc.  Then of course there’s the balance of what they want, what you want, what you can afford to do, and what you have time to do.

First, I had to decide what was most important to me for my kids to do, specifically. If the desired behavior outcome is not specific, it typically will not work for you or your kids. There are about 50 things I would really like to see happen during the day, but I knew I had to choose only a few and they had to be doable so my kids would not give up trying to meet my expectations and end up feeling defeated. It’s important that they are able to achieve success so they can get the reward and understand what they are working for. Also, if they are not successful, then I still do not have the behavior I am looking for and it’s back to the drawing board.

As I mentioned, for my kids, WHINING is a huge issue right now. With that in mind, I chose the 4 behaviors below.

1) Morning and Night Time Routines (done without WHINING) – They each have a routine list to follow.  They know what the morning and night time routines consist of and are able to do them. If they do it, but whine, then no checkmark. I give one warning.

2) Homework (done without WHINING) - They did their homework before with a considerable amount of whining included. So, adding it to the list decreased the whining to a sigh – which was a nice change.

3) Eat Healthy (done without WHINING) - Of course, I am in charge of what they eat, but I was tired of them whining about the food I served, so added this to the list.

4) Exercise (done without WHINING) - This is important in our family because my 5-year-old son is hyperactive and needs to get out and run and my 8-year-old daughter wants to exercise, but would rather watch TV, so she needs a little nudge. Even though I was already making them go outside with me and ride bikes, play tag, etc. (I know, torture, right?), they would both whine about it, so I added it to the list.

Here’s how our reward system works – After 5 days (does not have to consecutive) with all 4 boxes checked – 1 box for each behavior), my child will get to choose an item off of the FUNList. I created a sections for inexpensive, middle, and pricier. I usually verbally give them 3 choices off of the FUNList, depending on what we can do that week, and then add things to the list such as “pumpkin patch” when I want to do that anyway and then make the other 2 choices much less appealing.  You have to be tricky sometimes, you know?

The number of behaviors on the list and the types of behaviors would change with age, though anymore than 5 may be too many for any age to keep up with and remember. For a 3-year-old, maybe 1 or 2 items would be all they could handle. Find out what you care about most and try incorporating that behavior - be specific. Also, the “after 5 days” system works for me because my children are older and can grasp more abstract ideas. If you have younger children or children who need more immediate rewards, you will want to change that time frame to work for them and you. Maybe your 3-year-old needs a doable reward every day.

Kids’ behaviors will change and what is most important to you will change. When that happens, change the reward system or scrap it entirely - creativity in changing parenting techniques is a must for success and peace.

Here are the items on our FUNList –some of them sound crazy because our children helped us make the list. This approach assisted my husband and me in getting the children to buy-in to the reward system.

- Tara Godard

John 4 - The Truth Will Set You Free, The Woman at the Well

 

Today during our table study and discussion time we are focusing on the interaction between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well from John 4.  What can we learn from how Jesus approached and talked to this woman?  What can we learn from her reactions?

Well here is the situation they were in . . .

The shortest route between Jerusalem in the south and Galilee in the north required walking through Samaria.  For Jews in Jesus' day, this region was definitely on the "wrong side of the tracks."  Samaritans were despised by Jews and did their best to return the compliment.  Jesus seemed to go out of his way to challenge these traditional animosities.  He showed up at the well of Sychar just as a woman arrived.  

Here is what happened . . .

Remarkable.  Jesus didn't reveal the secret to King Herod.  He didn't request an audience of the Sanhedrin and tell them the news.  It wasn't within the colonades of a Roman court that he announced his identity. 

No, it was in the shade of a well in a rejected land to an ostracized woman.  His eyes must have danced as he whispered the secret.

"I am the Messiah."

The most important phrase in the chapter is one easily overlooked.  "Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.  Could this be the Christ?""

Don't miss the drama of the moment.  Look at her eyes, wide with amazement.  Listen to her as she struggles for words.  "Y-y-y-you a-a-a-are the M-m-m-messiah!"  And watch as she scrambles to her feet, takes one last look at this grinning Nazarene, turns and runs right into the burly chest of Peter.  She almost falls, regains her balance, and hotfoots it toward her hometown.

Did you notice what she forgot?  She forgot her water jar.  She left behind the jug that had caused the sag in her shoulders.  She left behind the burden she brought.

Suddenly the shame of the tattered romances disappeared.  Suddenly the insignificance of her life was swallowed by the significance of the moment.  "God is here!  God has come!  God cares . . . for me!"

That is why she forgot her water jar.  That is why she ran to the city.  That is why she grabbed the first person she saw and announced her discovery.  "I just talked to a man who knows everything I ever did . . . and he loves me anyway!"

The disciples offered Jesus some food.  He refused it - he was too excited!  He had just done what he does best.  He had taken a life that was drifting and given it direction. 

He was exuberant!

"Look!" he announced to the disciples, pointing at the woman who was running to the village.  "Vast fields of human souls are ripening all around us, and are ready now for the reaping." (From Six Hours One Friday by Max Lucado)

1. How did Jesus demonstrate his love for this woman?
2. How did the woman react to her encounter with Jesus?
3. In what ways can you identify with the woman in this story?
4. What does this story reveal about God's attitude toward sinful people?
5. When have you felt God's concern and love for you?
6. What keeps you from showing God's love to others?
7. How does the woman's response to Jesus inspire you?

When we least expect him in our lives, Jesus shows up.  Sometimes when we are actively trying to avoid anything that would remind us that our lives are not as they should be, we find Jesus waiting in the very place we have run to hide.  Jesus never forces himself on us, but he does have an uncanny way of interrupting our thoughts and actions with truthful questions and challenging ideas.  Think about the times Jesus has showed up in your life, as a way of starting a life-changing episode with you.

For more Bible passages on God's mercy and love for sinners, see Exodus 34:6; Deut 4:31; Luke 1:50; 19:1-10; John 3:16; 8:3-11; Eph 2:1-6

(All of this is from The Gospel of John by Max Lucado)

Being a Disciple

What does it mean to be a disciple?  We have established the Biblical mandate to make disciples and explored what a disciple is.  Essentially, we are to accept the teachings of Christ and assist in spreading those teachings to others because God entrusted us with this mission.  So, now we have our mission, how do we make it happen?

In order to spread the teachings of Christ to others we have to enter into relationship with them.  Heartland’s Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG), the thing around which we as a community are called to rally, is “To Advance a Discipling Movement in Our City by Inviting Everyone Into a Life-Changing Relationship Over the Next Five Years.”  The Strategic Plan and the BHAG are unpacked in greater detail here.  Let’s highlight a few things.  Heartland’s expression of this mission is through a discipling movement where one person disciples another, and that one disciples another, and that one disciples another, etc. reaching beyond our group, beyond our church community, into our city and beyond.

The word inviting is used very intentionally.  We are not trying to sell our specific brand of theology.  We are not pushing people to do or believe things they are not ready for.  We are extending an invitation, which requires that we are willing to have someone come along side us in our faith walk.  This leads us to the phrase “life-changing relationship.”  There is that relationship word again.  The Apostle Paul tells us how the Apostles did relationship, saying “...Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” (1 Thessalonians 2:8).

This relationship is not so much about a mentor and mentee, but two people (or a group of people) come alongside one another and intentionally and consistently practice four things: 

• Abiding...in Jesus as our lead discipler
• Grounding...ourselves in the Bible as the main text
• Shaping...our lives together through prayer
• Committing...to an accountable relationship

Author Greg Ogden writes that, “This intimate, highly invested experience brings together three ingredients that the Holy Spirit will use to form Christ in you: vulnerability, truth and accountability.” (Discipleship Essentials: A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ)

Ogden goes on to say that in order to form a true discipling relationship you have to be vulnerable with one another.  You have to “open your life in a self-revealing way to other believers, giving permission for the Spirit to work in you.”  The truth necessary in this relationship is revealed in God’s word, the Bible.  Accountability is huge.  Ogden explains that “accountability involves entering into a mutual covenant with others in which you are giving each other authority to hold one another to your commitments.”  

To sum it up, two or more people immerse themselves in the Word and meet together regularly to ask one another, “What’s God telling you and what are you going to do about it?”  

Which relationship(s) in your life can you become more intentional about, moving from friends or acquaintances to fellow disciples?

Using Your Photos: Cards and Gifts

Alert! Alert! There are sixty-seven days until Christmas! There is a lot to think about surrounding the holidays and it’s right about this time of year when I start “thinking” about getting my list organized. I am NOT one of those early shoppers, even though I REALLY want to be! Try as I might….
Wherever you are in your planning, I hope you find some ideas below. This information is a continuation of my presentation from the October 3rd Practical Skills Sharing Day.
 
Tips for Christmas cards on a budget:

• Swap with a friend to get your family photo.
• Don’t forget to shop your closet for outfits.
• Print your family photo as a 4x6 and write on the back with a metallic sharpie. Send it as a postcard ($.32 each). People mainly like the photo anyway!
• Hand out as many cards as you can vs. mailing them.
• For a more professional/economical look go to http://www.simplytoimpress.com for single-sided cardstock cards. Save 20% site-wide till Oct. 22nd! http://www.photocardcafe.com/index.php is another site.

Professional-quality card resources:
 
http://www.peartreegreetings.com
http://www.tinyprints.com
http://www.inababycarriage.com   
http://www.minted.com
https://pinholepress.com

Gift Ideas:
 
Accordion albums $15.99  http://www.mpix.com/products/funstuff/accordionmini
Photo calendars (one sheet) $2.39 http://www.mpix.com/products/calendars/photocalendars
Canvas Gallery Wraps starting from $34.99 http://www.costcophotocenter.com/gifts/gift_landing.aspx?q=1iyjY7s5fI,qODxXVC1sosaPAIa79Ermqa,TAGJ1DrJk-
Holiday photo ornaments $10 http://www.mpix.com/products/funstuff/ornaments
Iphone cases (sales right now! $29.71) https://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts/custom-iphone-cases

There are lots of DIY photo gift ideas if you just Google it or look on Pinterest.com. Check out these cute Polaroid photo magnets from http://www.ambrosiagirl.com/blog/tiny-polaroid-magnets/

 

If you go to any of the above websites you will get lost in the vast amount of products and ideas. What I’ve given you is just a start. The most important thing is to DO SOMETHING with your images. (I keep telling myself this too!) Start small. Baby steps!
Denise Williams

John 3

 

Today we have Frann Wohlers coming to share with us her depth of experience and Biblical knowledge as we dive into John 3 together and learn more about Christ's ultimate purpose on earth to offer salvation to people . . . to give us spiritual life, to be made alive in Christ.

Click these links for: 

• Today's Handout

• Discussion Questions

In John 3:1-13 we get to observe a conversation between Jesus and "a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews (v1)" who was curious about Jesus.  The Pharisees were leaders who were highly zealous for ritual and religious purity according to both the Mosaic law and their own traditions.  "A ruler of the Jews" refers to Nicodemus's membership in the Sanhedrin, the main ruling body of the Jews in Palestine; a kind of supreme court.  So Nicodemus was one important dude among the Jewish rulers.

They no doubt had a spirited discussion under the protection of night so as no one would know about Nicodemus's growing curiosity about Jesus.  Jesus gently confronted Nicodemus with his need to be born again and further demonstrated His identity as God's messenger.  In v3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" and then in v5 Jesus repeats this statement and clarifies " . . . unless one is born of water and Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."  This is imagery referring to our need to be cleansed and purified before entering God's kingdom.

The point of this is that God's Kingdom is open to anyone and everyone.  The spirit (often referred to as the 'wind' in both Hebrew and Greek) is on the move and no one can control it or keep up with it.  However, its effects can be seen.  With Jesus, comes a new way of knowing that only comes from heaven.  Jesus is the ladder which joins the two dimensions of God's world, the heavenly and the earthly.  When we see or imagine Jesus hanging on the cross or "lifted up" as referenced here in John, we see the result of the all the sin and bad stuff in which we and our world are all stuck.  AND we are seeing what God has done about it.  We are seeing what God's own love looks like.  When Jesus died on the cross, that was the full and dramatic display of God's own love.  (Source: John for Everyone, Part One by N.T. Wright)

Further Insights and Cross Reference:

• Later in the Gospel of John we get glimpses of the impact this encounter with Jesus had on Nicodemus.  Read John 7:50-52 and 19:38-42.  What facts from Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus lead you to believe that he was open to the truth about Jesus?
• Read Ezekial 36:16-36.  How does this message of the Old Testament passage compare with what Jesus said to Nicodemus about the need for regeneration (that is, interanl, spiritual transformation)?
• Read Numbers 21:5-9/ Why did John make mention of this Old Testament event?  How does it compare to Christ death on the cross?
• Describe events that led to your being "born again"?  What people, situations, and tools did God use?
• For further study, see: Prov 30:4, Isaiah 11:1-16, Isaiah 61:1, Isaiah 62:4-5, Jeremiah 2:2, Dan 12:2, Matt 5:44-45, 1 Cor 4:7, 1 John 5:20

 (Source:  John by John MacArthur)

   

Recipe Binder

Sometimes I find that I am uninspired in the kitchen simply because my recipes are scattered.  It takes far too much effort to hunt down a recipe in an over-stuffed drawer of half-scribbled papers, coffee-stained index cards and torn magazine pages.  I've tried different systems for recipes--a lackluster computer program, an index card box too narrow to rifle through--and decided that I like the binder system best, where recipes are neatly organized in page protectors sorted by tabs, always at the ready.  My old binder, which had no tabs, began falling apart.  And so I put to work making a beautiful new, organized binder to keep in my kitchen. 

 I found the binder itself at Target, and loved the red firecracker motif--it reminds me of the classic Better Homes & Gardens cookbook my mom used growing up.  I searched through two office supply stores, as well as Amazon.com, for the perfect tabbed dividers, but never found ones that I loved.  So I took a trip to Archivers and got coordinating 12x12 papers.  11 in all.

 Archivers has a crafting area within the store, so I used one of their scalloped hole punches on off-white card stock to create the tab ends.  I cut them in half for the front (labeled in pen by category: appetizers, brunch, etc.), and attached full scalloped circles to the backside to reinforce the tabbed dividers.  I staggered them on the 12x12 papers so that five labels would show at a time (see above).  Then I drew a line with a ruler, and cut around them so that they protruded and were easy to grasp.  I cut the hole-punch side until they were the width I wanted, then laminated the dividers at Mardel; all 11 of them cost around $2 total to laminate at 25 cents a foot. 

 The categories I used were: appetizers, brunch, soups, salads&sides, crock&freeze, poultry, meat&fish, pasta&casseroles, desserts, holidays, miscellaneous

 I filled it up with printed pages, index cards, even sentimental scribbles.  Notice the "Apples of Gold" recipe below? (I had to give it a plug ;o)

 And at least ten of these recipes came straight from the Heartland Moms blog.  These ladies know how to cook a mean brunch!

 I notice now that I'm more excited about cooking and meal planning because of this little beauty.  And because it contains so much love and so many memories (good food feeds the soul), I was inspired to make duplicate binders for my mother-in-law and my daughter, Lorelei.

If you would like to print the recipes I've collected as our family's tried-and-true favorites, e-mail wendyleia@yahoo.com.

Knowledge Seekers

 
Today our focus is on studying John 1:35-2:25 with our table groups and getting a first hand look at Jesus' first miracle.  Can you believe he chose to perform it a wedding, a celebration, and lavish party.  Jesus had already chosen some of his disciples but they didn't really know him.  They are meandering around not knowing where they are going.  Then it's as if Jesus says, "We are going to a wedding" to satisfy their curiosity.

How could a wedding fit with his purposes on earth?  Why did Jesus go to the wedding?  The answer?  It's found in the second verse of John 2.  "Jesus and his followers were also invited to the wedding.". . .

This is significant for many reasons.  Common people were able to enjoy being with Jesus.  It is noteworthy that the Almighty didn't act high and mighty.  The Holy One wasn't holier-than-thou . . . Jesus was a likeable fellow.  And his disciples should be the same.  This doesn't mean they were out of control involved in debauchery, drunkenness, and adultery or compromising, course or obscene.  They simply were taking time and enjoying the freedom to laugh at a good joke, enliven a dull party, and appreciate a fun evening . . .

Weddings in Jesus' day were extended community events.  They often lasted a week or more.  Hospitality ruled the day, and families were under significant social pressure to provide lavishly for their guests.  The problem that arose because the wine ran out created a major crisis.  Mary tried to help and enlisted her son's assistance in finding a solution.  Even she probably didn't expect the results that followed. 

Enjoy!!! 

(From The Gospel of John study book by Max Lucado)

Cultivating a Personal Prayer Life

Here’s a simple yet loaded question for you…how’s your prayer life? Many of us have really good intentions in spending quiet time with God, but when it doesn’t happen the dreaded “G” word –guilt- invades our hearts making it difficult for us to feel the freedom God intends us to have in coming to Him. Maybe you journal prayers, but have noticed your entries are a bit less frequent than they used to be, or maybe that morning time you hoped to carve out just isn’t fitting into the reality of your schedule. Perhaps for you it’s not a lack of time but a lack of depth in your prayers?  You’re tired of asking for the same things over and over, and you think just maybe God is holding the phone away from his ear while you repeat your requests. Again.  Are you new to the whole “talking to the Creator of the universe” process and not sure where to even begin that conversation?

I know I’ve been all of the above one or multiple times during my faith journey.  However, I also know time spent in the presence of God is a privilege with effects more powerful than anything I can conceive.  It’s in prayer where my pride and self-will bend to humility and my stubborn self-righteousness is called out to trust in God’s righteousness. It’s in talking with God where my deepest, child-like beliefs are voiced and reinforced into a stronger faith.  

Knowing those truths, how do I bring my heart back into communion with God?  How do I desire being in His presence so much that every to-do list, errand, or email returns to its rightful place in my priority list where time spent with my Savior is first and foremost? Go back to His word.  It’s alive and active (Hebrews 4:12).  It’s a weapon that can demolish those strongholds including any obstacle keeping you from spending time with God in prayer (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)  

Recently, I’ve been learning how to pray Scripture back to God. Author and speaker Beth Moore calls it, “speaking His language”.  God’s thoughts are not our own and our ways are not like His (Isaiah 55:8), so turning Bible verses into prayers is one way to restate God’s truths and get to know the mind and heart of a God who’s love draws you nearer to Him more than any amount of guilt ever will.  Here’s one example of what praying Scripture can look like.  There’s no right or wrong here, just choose a Scripture that speaks to your heart and talk to God about it. 

God, you say you satisfy the desires of every living thing and are loving towards me.  Me who’s a sinner, me who’s a doubter, me who isn’t always loving towards You. You are loving towards me because you made me. Show me how to desire You above all else.  You say you’re near to me when I call on You.  Do I believe that with my whole heart, God?  I admit that sometimes I don’t feel worthy of your presence. Remind me that it’s not about me, but about Jesus’ holy worth (Psalm 145: 16-21).  Help me start my day with your word on my mind and in my heart so your unfailing love will be what I trust in today.  Show me the way I should treat my children during trying moments and every way I should turn all day long.  I lift up my very soul to you, my Savior and Abba. (Psalm 142:8) Amen.

Jesus loves you and desires to spend time with you.  He’s jealous for your whole heart, so trust Him with your highest affections and know that He is the only one who is “able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.” (Jude 24)

Helping Hands

My Mom visited recently and brought a bunch of foam shapes. One package was of hands, so I decided to make a wall called Helping Hands. The idea is to encourage my 4 yr old son, Robert, to think about ways to help people who need it. 

So I gave him some examples of how we have helped people recently by making meals, driving friend's kids to school, and bringing baskets of food to a friend who is on bed rest while pregnant with twins. On each hand, I write the person's initial of which family member did the helping, and then I write the names of who we helped. He got really excited when we taped some up for him and some up for me.

Kyran Wilson

Practical Skills Sharing Day

Everyone is in for an extra special treat today.  None of us are wonder women and can do it all, right?  Within Mothers Together we have a wealth of knowledge and experience and it's all about getting to know one another, accepting who we are - strengths and weaknesses and all - and allowing others' strengths to compliment our weaknesses.  We need each other!  Well we have four talented women coming to strut their stuff to help us gain more insights on economical Fall based ideas for hospitality, decorating, meal planning and photography.  These women are sharing not only their passions, but some practical tips and hands on demonstrations.  Rumor has it some of you may even "win" something . . . Should be a great day!

Click HERE for an overview presentation and read on for more information about each topic.

Practicing Hospitality by Lori R 

Romans 12:13 says “Practice hospitality.” There was a day and age when hospitality was a regular part of life. But, in our generation we’ve mastered the art of outsourcing hospitality. That’s what hotels and restaurants are for, right? In Biblical times, hospitality was motivated by the nature of God. As people traveled from place to place, they expected to find a home within the people of God.

Throughout the scriptures we see examples of people opening their homes, sharing meals together and welcoming fellow travelers with a place to stay.  They didn’t have the cultural expectations we have today of having to have a clean home, a gourmet meal prepared and well behaved kids before inviting others into our homes and lives.
 
The good news is that hospitality is NOT social entertaining.  Social entertaining is for the host and it’s stressful, expensive and exhausting. But when you’re practicing hospitality it is for the guest and it’s simple and rewarding.  Simple and gracious hospitality is creating an environment that’s warm and welcoming for the intent of connecting deeply with others.  You don’t have to have the spiritual gift of hospitality to practice hospitality.

Click HERE for complete write up . . . 

Fun Fall Table Decorating by Christine Y 

Decorating.  It's fun.  It's simple.  It doesn't cost much . . . well for some people maybe.  Christine is here to help cross our barriers and make a fall table setting something nearly anyone can accomplish with a little time, creativity (or good copy cat skills) and effort.  Determine your goal, pull together some inspiring ideas, figure out your budget, involve the family , pull it all together . . . voila!!  And then pray over your table and for your expected guests and last but not least . . . HAVE FUN!  

Click HERE for an outline of Christine's approach.

Meal Planning "Win back your dinner hour" by Kristin V

 Freedom and Joy – Learn to control your finances, so they don’t control you or your marriage!  And a great place to start is with meals and groceries.  Click on the links below to learn more about Kristin's experiences and tips and tricks to winning back her dinner hour!!!

1. Meal Planning Tips and Tricks Overview
2. Grocery List Template
3. Consumables List
4. Fix n' Freeze Cooking Group How To

Fix n' Freeze.  Invest in your 5 pm!

Capturing the Memories by Denise W

Join Denise as she shares with us practical tips for photography on the following topics:

• Photo tips - taking better photos, what to wear, getting the shot
• Storage and archiving
• Holiday card ideas
• Photo gift ideas

Pinterest - the place for nearly everything even includes suggestions for family pictures.  Imagine that!

Click here for a write-up of Denise's resources.

What is a Disciple?

What is a Disciple? First, we may want to ask ourselves why it is important to know what a disciple is.  In the Bible, it is recorded that Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NIV  

So, we have established the most important reason to find out more about what a disciple is - Jesus told us to make them!  I don’t know about you, but when I set out to make something, whether it be a meal for my family, a craft project with my kids, or homemade cleaning supplies to satisfy my inner “greenie,” I don’t jump in without first finding out a little about what it is I want to make.

Jesus says to make disciples by baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (which Heartland does in spectacular fashion at our annual baptism service at Kill Creek Park - hope you were there to join us a few weeks ago) and teaching them to obey what he has taught us through the Bible.

My daddy taught me that the first place you should go when you don’t know what something means is the dictionary.  In my techie world that has translated into the nifty Merriam-Webster Dictionary app on my iPad (although I haven’t let my daughter in on the fact that it is available digitally - she still has to go to the beloved book with the red cover).  Merriam-Webster defines:

Disciple: (noun) 1. one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another: as one of the twelve in the inner circle of Christ’s followers according to the Gospel accounts. Merriam-Webster Dictionary

So, we are to accept the teachings of Christ and assist in spreading those teachings to others as his inner circle did.  Looks like what Jesus told us to do, doesn’t it.  But, what does this look like in us?

According to Greg Ogden in his book Discipleship Essentials: A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ, “a disciple is one who responds in faith and obedience to the gracious call to follow Jesus Christ.”  He goes on to say that, “being a disciple is a lifelong process of dying to self while allowing Jesus Christ to come alive in us.” 

There is a more local reason to figure out what this whole disciple thing is about.  At Heartland we have a strategic plan.  Part of that strategic plan involves one Big Hairy Audacious Goal (which we tend to just call the BHAG): “To Advance a Discipling Movement in Our City by Inviting Everyone Into a Life-Changing Relationship Over the Next Five Years.” 

Since our leadership has narrowed down what our focus as a community is to be over the next five years to one goal (not to mention calling it out as big and hairy) we should probably take notice and find out how we can get involved.

We have just completed a four week journey on Sundays called Life Changing exploring this further.  If you weren’t able to make it to the services or you want a refresher on what it is all about, check out the podcasts on Heartland’s website.

How would it look for you to “respond in faith and obedience to the gracious call to follow Jesus Christ?”