Good Friday

Please join us at the Good Friday service this evening at Heartland. Bring your kids from 5-7 for an age-appropriate, family-friendly interactive walk through the stations of the cross. Bring an empty water bottle, or pick one up at the church, to make an I-Spy shaker filled with trinkets from each station. For a more contemplative time for adults, visit between 7-9.

Think On It Thursday

THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD

Two thousand years before the incarnation of Jesus Christ on the earth, God used the Jewish people as a prophetic timepiece pointing straight to their Messiah Who was to come.  As God delivered the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt, He told them in Exodus 12 to take a 1- year old lamb without blemish and keep the lamb at their homes for 4 days.  Then on the 4^th day at twilight, they were to kill the lamb and take the blood of the unblemished lamb and apply it to their doorposts.  Then when God sent the angel of death over Egypt that evening, wherever the blood of the unblemished lamb was applied, the people were saved.

What a beautiful prophetic foreshadowing of the perfect, unblemished Lamb of God

Who would come 2000 years later—Jesus Christ our Savior and Messiah.  Through His shed blood , all who believe on Him are saved.

As we approach the time of the death and resurrection of our Lord, take time to meditate on the beauty, truth and perfection of the word of God.  Read and meditate on the entire chapter of Isaiah 53.  Worship the One who, like a lamb led to slaughter did not open his mouth.  He did not utter a sound and gave His life willingly for you and for me.  What a magnificent Savior.  We worship you, Jesus!

~Frann Wohlers

Today

Today we will not be having our seder but will watch an Easter video instead. Frann, who was going to lead the seder, is in Rhode Island with her ailing father.  Please pray for Frann's family.


Also, many of you have been praying for the Nagel family since Matt had two strokes on Sunday.  Thank you for your outpouring of love to them.  Matt went to be with Jesus last night.  If you would like to donate gift cards for food or gas for his wife, Molly, please send them to Angela Horton: 10218 Linden, Overland Park, KS  66207.


Here is the link to Matt's CaringBridge website: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kcmattnagel


Thank you all for being the Body of Christ--I've never seen so much love surrounding a family.


-Wendy

Whose Day Tuesday

Whose Day Highlight: Joy M.
Family Stats: Married to Brian for 10 years, son Austin born in 2010
Spiritual Gifts: Administration, Giving
Spiritual Pathways: Creation, Contemplative
Passions: Overseas missions, adoption, my family, Jesus
Pet Peeves: Papers not stapled together neatly--I have to re-staple them
Secret Shames: I am addicted to ice cream
Books that you love: All Jane Austen's books
Favorite Room: Dining room
Favorite Tradition: My husband and I like to watch our wedding video every year on our anniversary

Memorize-It Monday

Isaiah 53:5 - But he was pierced for our transgressions, 
   he was crushed for our iniquities; 
the punishment that brought us peace was on him, 
   and by his wounds we are healed.
John 1:29 - The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Luke 3:4-6 - As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

   “A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
   make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
   every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
   the rough ways smooth.
And all people will see God’s salvation.’”

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