How do you make it through the end of winter?

Source: B. Duron

It seems like this winter has been especially long.  It seems like everyone is ready for spring. How do you make it to the end of a season?  How do you make it to the finish?  Is the best way to make it to the end to look past that end and into the next season?

God has really challenged me in this area of my life.  I want to enjoy the whole season.  I want to enjoy all of the college life.  I want to enjoy all of the baby season.  I want to enjoy all of the kids in high school life.  And even though I know that there will be a new season, I want to enjoy where I am right now.

I just love the book of James and it's practicality and straightforwardness.

"And let steadfastness have it's full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:4

May we be women who remain steadfast in every season that we are in.

-Beth

Upcoming events in detail

Source: In Medias Rest blog

Hello Ladies~

Tomorrow night (5/7) is the baby shower for Zeke Perrine. Starts at 7pm, contact Kelly with questions: kellym76@gmail.com

This Thursday the 9th is quilting day at church. Starts at 10:00, contact Vivian with questions: rvolson62@gmail.com

Next Thursday (16th) WOW lunch at Chili's in Meridian. Starts at 11:30am, contact Elaine with reservations: shermee@outlook.com

June 6th is BBQ at Robie Creek with the Butner's. More info to come. contact Bess with questions: bbutner@q.com

Vacation Bible School is June 24-28. contact Priscilla priscilla.robinson1@gmail.com or Judy jschimanski@cableone.net

We love to get together!

"We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  

Ephesians 2:10

Here are a few pictures from the last time 

we were together as a group of women at church. 

(Autumn 2012 event)

(Thanks, Phyllis for the photos!)

 Please come to the "Winter Safari" 

on Friday, February 1st at 6:30pm.  

Becky Ward will be our special speaker that night.  

Not only will we be encouraged by God's Word 

and the fellowship around the tables, 

but we'll also be finding out how and where 

we can serve at MFBC during this upcoming year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

photo: mytabletlife.com

What do you have to be thankful for?

Retreat Recap

 (*** Did you know that the word "recap" is short for recapitulation?  I didn't until I sat down to write the title for this post.  Anyway - this is Serena Mouser writing a recapitulation of Ladies' Retreat 2012. ***)

There are so many reasons why I am thankful that I got to go to our Ladies' Retreat at Camp Pinewood last week.  I was just one of over a hundred women who attended and I am sure that we were all blessed in a variety of ways.  Here's my list of TOP TEN reasons why I am glad that I went:

1.  The THEME.

We studied the Book of Ruth during our three sessions.  Our theme was "Refuge in the Shadow of His Wings."  It is so easy to get caught up in the circumstances of everyday life and try to manage things in our own strenght.  We neglect to rest, trust and depend on our Kinsman Redeemer.  It was so refreshing to study what that title means.  (Jesus is our blood relative, with both the resources and the desire to pay the price of our redemption ~ just as Boaz was for Ruth.)

2.  The SPEAKER.

Louise Carey has a wonderful way of communicating Biblical truth with simplicity, sincerity and conviction.  Her personal experiences as a missionary wife in Guatemala add so many good illustrations to her messages.  We were a spellbound audience.

3.  The SINGING.

There is nothing like one guitar and 100+ female voices singing praise to God.  It was such a blessing to see the Eisenman girls (Dana, Maggie, Avery, and Jessica) leading our worship times together.

4.  The LOCATION.

McCall in the fall...enough said.  Even the drive up and back was pure bliss.  The weather and the colors were beautiful!

5.  The  FOOD.

Three delicious meals that I didn't have to prepare or clean up after.  Priceless.

6.  The PLASTIC COVERED BUNK MATTRESSES!

OK, so maybe not the mattresses that squeak loudly every time you take a breath.  But, it was fun to share a musty room with my mom, my sister, and two of my very close friends.

7.  The FELLOWSHIP.

The dining hall was packed and very loud at meal times.  It was fun to catch up with many ladies from other churches in our area.  Some women at the retreat have known me since I was a baby at the church in Notus...others were junior campers in my cabin when I was a counselor at Camp Maranatha.  It's always a blessing to be with my sisters in Christ!

8.  The LAUGHTER.

From Vera's crazy socks and our little prank varmint, to the late night talks with friends, there was a lot of laughter shared and many memories made. 

9.  The TEARS.

I am sure that it comes as no surprise that there were plenty of those as well.  I was prepared with plenty of Kleenex for the burning tears of conviction and the tears of pure joy.

10.  The ENCOURAGEMENT.

It's funny how a 24-hour retreat can give you the right motivation to keep pressing on.  Circumstances in the valley hadn't changed one bit when I got home, but my perspective of them had.  

I didn't take my camera along on the retreat, so I believe that Karen Scott gets the credit for these.

Our Speaker:  Louise Carey

a.k.a. "Naomi"

Our groups was so large that we had to meet in the sanctuary of the McCall Baptist Church rather than the chapel at camp.

The brisk walks between camp and the church were good times to talk.

Becky Ward, missionary wife to the Democratic Republic of Congo, was also able to attend the retreat.  She was so happy to be there and was also able to give a quick report on her ministries.

Friends from far and near came to enjoy the weekend.

The talented Eisenman girls.

These ladies did a fantastic job of organizing the whole event:

THANK YOU!

The hours of prayer and hard work really payed off.

30 day challenge...to show love to our husbands

photo source: Beth

I love my husband!  I'm sure that you love your husband too!  I always am encouraged when I intentionally show him love.  I hope it really does encourage him as well.  I haven't really talked to him about it.  I just do it...like it's a secret mission or something.  I do know this:  when I'm intentionally showing my husband love and respect our communication is way better and we get along way better.  Boy do I love the results!  Also, I'm not so concerned about him showing me love, because it becomes less about me and more about him.

Here are two websites that give different 30 day challenges that help me intentionally show love to my husband.  I hope that they encourage you as well.

The first one I saw is on the website www.tipjunkie.com . 

The tutorial (with a place to print it is from www.imom.com )

photo source: www.tipjunkie.com  

 To print it either in color or in black and white go to:  

 http://imom.com/tools/build-relationships/30-day-marriage-challenge/ 

photo source: Kelly

The second site that I found has many challenges, but I particularly liked the 30-  & 31- day challenges.  It is on the website Revive our Hearts.  It has a 30 day husband encouragement challenge and a 31 day praying for your huband challenge.  I really liked the prayer challenge as it always lists a passage of scripture within each day.  

Here is a sample from days 1 & 2: 

31 Days of Praying for Your Husband

• March 12, 2007

by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

“She does him good . . .” (Proverbs 31:12a)

Bless your husband by praying for him! The Apostle Paul instructed all Christians to pray for one another (Ephesians 6:18). This includes wives’ responsibility and privilege to pray for their husbands. Earnest prayer for your husband is good for him, for you and the spiritual health of your home (Proverbs 31:11-12).

Satan desires to destroy your husband, especially his character and his leadership in your relationship. Trust God through prayer as you daily surrender your husband and marriage to the Lord’s wise, loving care.

Day 1 Pray that your husband will grow spiritually and consider his accountability before the Lord. Pray that he will guard his heart by developing spiritual disciplines—Bible reading and study, prayer, meditation, scripture memorization, etc. (2 Peter 3:18; Prov. 4:23)

Day 2 Pray that your husband’s relationship with God and His Word will bear fruit in his life. Pray that he will be a man of wisdom and understanding, fearing the Lord. (Prov. 3:7, 9:10; Ps. 112:1)                                             (source: Revive our Hearts website)  

Go to marriage topics and challenges for the challenges that are printable.

Titus 2:3-5

New International Version (NIV)

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. 

Who We Are in Christ

At Ladies Night out on August 21st we were reminded about who we are in Christ.  Here is a recap of the verses that were reminders that we can anchor our thought life in when the storms of life get crazy.

How do I know who I am?  In Christ…     (all NIV references)

I am Accepted by God

*I am a child of God.  John 1:12

¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God —

*I am a friend of Jesus.  John 15:15

¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

*I have been justified; I have peace with God.  Romans 5:1

5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we^[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

*I am adopted as God’s child.  Ephesians 1:5

⁵ he^[a] predestined us for adoption to sonship^[b] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

*I have direct access to God through His Spirit.  Ephesians 2:18

¹⁸ For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

*I belong to the kingdom of God; I have been redeemed from the kingdom of darkness.  Colossians 1:13-14

¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

*I am loved.  Ephesians 3:17-18

¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

*I am chosen.  1 Peter 2:9

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

*I am forgiven.  1 John 1:9

⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

*I am cared for.  Isaiah 40:11

¹¹ He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

*I am of value to God.  Matthew 10:29-31

²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.^{[a] 30} And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

I have security in God.

*I am free from the condemning charges against me.  Romans 8:31-34

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died —more than that, who was raised to life —is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

*I cannot be separated from the love of God.  Romans 8:35

³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

*I am assured that God will finish the work He started in me.  Philippians 1:6

⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I have a role in God’s work

*I can bear much fruit as I spend time with God.  John 15:5

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

*I am reconciled to God, and I have a ministry of reconciliation.   2 Corinthians 5:17-18

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

*I am God’s workmanship, created to do good works. Ephesians 2:10

¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

*I am comforted so that I can comfort.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.