Last night Les and I went to see Les Miserables, actually drove to Fort Worth to see it in a theater instead of waiting until its out on DVD like we usually do. I Love The Story of Les Miz! I have seen the musical twice at the Bass Hall. Considering the cost,of shows at the Bass and my budget, that is a REALLY big deal! We were very excited about the movie COMINT out and could NOT believe it did not come to Stephenville. Shame, Cinema Six...bad, bad...
Anyway, we took the time to go see it; soooo worth it. The first time I saw it on stage, I stood and wept at the end, uncontrollably, I was so moved by the story of redemption, forgiveness, grace vs law, love, relationships. All of these are brought out even stronger in the movie because You can get the emotions of the characters; you see their faces, hear the agony in their songs. Also, you can understand every word they say. Every scene makes complete sense, you are never wondering what happened. Hugh Jackman is great, and Anne Hathaway really amazing. I forgot she was acting, her portrayal of a hopeless single mother was so real. When the movie was over, we just sat watching the credits. I was barely able to breathe, and could not stop crying. It wasn't just totally saaaad, it was just so moving.
When we were leaving, we made a rest room stop. The Ladies room was full of crying women standing in line. The conversations went something like this...
Did you just come out of Les Miserables?
Yes, wasn't it amazing.
I can't stop crying.
Have you see it before?
Is it this good on stage?
I've never seen it before, I can't stop crying.
I didn't think she (pointing to her friend) was going to make it.
What an amazing story.
Oh, Fantine.
I love the ending.
It was so good.
I KNOW.
Yes, the Bass Hall production was wonderful, but I understood everything better in the movie.
I didn't know what the story was. It was so sad.
Les was waiting when I walked out. I just said, "I love women."
There were no conversations in the men's room.
Women are always ready to share.
Our purpose is to encourage women to pursue a growing, passionate relationship with Jesus Christ through support, fellowship and discipleship. We strive to provide many opportunities to help women grow in relationship with Christ; to live the abundant life that Jesus promised, a life of joy and freedom, and to have relationships that are healthy and fulfilling.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
The Unknown God
Acts 17:22-28
22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for
"'In him we live and move and have our being';
When I have read this portion from the book of Acts, I have always thought that the people of Athens were very religious, that they had altars and temples to every god they knew about, and they had an altar set up to cover any god that they did not know, just in case they left someone out. But, today I read something that made their action clear and profound.
The ancient Greeks believed in many gods, thousands in fact, a god for every need, every situation. The gods of Rome and Greece were more like superheros, beings with very human characteristics, but with power to do a lot of damage. But, according to a Greek philosopher, Porphyry of Tyre, who lived AD 234–c. 305, they also believed that there was one god above all others. He wrote, "The first God is incorporeal, immovable, and invisible...neither is vocal language nor internal speech adapted to the highest God." They believed that this God over all other gods was a formless spirit being, distant, invisible, unknowable, a god who did not show himself or reveal himself to humans, who was concerned with humans, and not moved by their plight.
When Paul showed up in Athens, he would have known this. He was explaining to the people that this God who they believed was above all the other gods, was in fact real. He was the creator of everything, Master of all in heaven and earth. But, He is not distant and unknowable, hidden and unapproachable, unconcerned and uncaring. He wants to be known. His hope is that his creatures will seek Him, and, if they do, they will find Him.
It is wonderful to me to see that Paul introduced these people, not to a God they had not heard of before, but to The God they believed was there, but was too hidden, too distant for them to ever know. What hope this would have brought them.
We serve and love the Great God, who has revealed Himself to us.
John 1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Christmas Morning
It is early on Christmas morning. We have few plans for the day. We celebrate Christmas with our children and grandchildren the Sunday before Christmas, to make schedules easier. So, today will be simple. We will join Emily and Doug for breakfast, mostly to enjoy the fun and excitement of the children showing off their new toys. The rest of the day will be spent packing. That's ok, it will be good to get that done. And, we had a great time on Sunday, enjoying a meal together, giving gifts to the grandchildren (it's always the cheapest, simplest, last minute item that ends up being the favorite toy), and having a gift exchange game with the adults.
Yesterday, Christmas Eve, was a hard day for me. This was the first Christmas after losing my Dad, and my Mom has declined drastically since last Christmas. A few other situations were also on my heart, which altogether made me sad. We ran a few errands during the day, really didn't have enough to keep occupied, then arrived at my sister's house just as she and her son were taking my mother into the house. Mother was having a good day. She enjoyed being surrounded by her family. She "walked" around in her wheelchair and hugged every one, smiling, visiting.
The most difficult part of the evening for me was our traditional singing of Christmas Carols. We tried to remember when we started this, but all we could come up with was that close to 50 years ago, my parents went to a party where they sang songs, and they copied the song sheet that was used (I can't figure out how they made copies then), and we have been singing every Christmas Eve since then. My Dad lead the singing for many years, until he passed the responsibility on to one of his grandsons. Although Jon officially lead, Dad continued to start every song. As soon as we ended one, before we could catch our breath, he would start the next one, and he sang them fast, even Silent Night. Daddy enjoyed this so much. He loved being with his family, and being in the living room together singing the traditional songs of Christmas was the best. So, doing this without him was hard. I sat by my mother, who sang out with so much enthusiasm. She tries so hard to do things and she has a great attitude. It was sweet to hear her sing those songs she loves so much, but also so sad. I tried hard not to cry because I knew that would be upsetting. As I told my sister at the end of the night, it was a good night, hard to get through, but worth it.
This morning, I woke up at 5:00 to the sound of thunder. I had to get up to see if it was actually raining, and it was. It was raining hard, and still is. Two hours of steady rain is such a gift. We need it so badly. Last night, the weather forecast showed possible rain or snow in the afternoon, but not in Stephenville, which was too far south. I prayed again for rain, asked God to please send it our way.
When I got up this morning, and stood on the porch watching the rain, my heart felt that this was a promise, that God is going to come through in some new ways, a reminder that He is here, that He can and will do the unexpected, unpredicted, unexplainable.
Yesterday, Christmas Eve, was a hard day for me. This was the first Christmas after losing my Dad, and my Mom has declined drastically since last Christmas. A few other situations were also on my heart, which altogether made me sad. We ran a few errands during the day, really didn't have enough to keep occupied, then arrived at my sister's house just as she and her son were taking my mother into the house. Mother was having a good day. She enjoyed being surrounded by her family. She "walked" around in her wheelchair and hugged every one, smiling, visiting.
The most difficult part of the evening for me was our traditional singing of Christmas Carols. We tried to remember when we started this, but all we could come up with was that close to 50 years ago, my parents went to a party where they sang songs, and they copied the song sheet that was used (I can't figure out how they made copies then), and we have been singing every Christmas Eve since then. My Dad lead the singing for many years, until he passed the responsibility on to one of his grandsons. Although Jon officially lead, Dad continued to start every song. As soon as we ended one, before we could catch our breath, he would start the next one, and he sang them fast, even Silent Night. Daddy enjoyed this so much. He loved being with his family, and being in the living room together singing the traditional songs of Christmas was the best. So, doing this without him was hard. I sat by my mother, who sang out with so much enthusiasm. She tries so hard to do things and she has a great attitude. It was sweet to hear her sing those songs she loves so much, but also so sad. I tried hard not to cry because I knew that would be upsetting. As I told my sister at the end of the night, it was a good night, hard to get through, but worth it.
This morning, I woke up at 5:00 to the sound of thunder. I had to get up to see if it was actually raining, and it was. It was raining hard, and still is. Two hours of steady rain is such a gift. We need it so badly. Last night, the weather forecast showed possible rain or snow in the afternoon, but not in Stephenville, which was too far south. I prayed again for rain, asked God to please send it our way.
When I got up this morning, and stood on the porch watching the rain, my heart felt that this was a promise, that God is going to come through in some new ways, a reminder that He is here, that He can and will do the unexpected, unpredicted, unexplainable.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Celebrate!
Christmas is a special time, most of us agree with that. There are a lot of different views about why it is special, how it is special. If you watch TV, you might think that we celebrate the fact that we have money, there is much we can buy, and we should buy a lot. Or, some think that we celebrate family, or even that we celebrate peace, love, and harmony. Some people do not believe that we are to celebrate Christmas at all, because it is not in the Bible, and we do not know when the actual birth date of Jesus is.
True, the Bible does not give the date of Jesus birth, and does not tell us we are to celebrate it by giving gifts and decorating our homes in lights. But, the story of the birth of Jesus sure shows a lot of celebrating.
Just look at these verses that are from events surrounding the birth of Jesus.
Luke 1:13-14
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
Luke 1:30-33
30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
Luke 1:41-42,44
41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry,"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
Luke 1:46-48
46 And Mary said,
"My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
Luke 1:67-69
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
Luke 2:8-14
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
Luke 2:20
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Luke 2:27-32
27 And he (Simeon) came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."
Luke 2:38
38 And coming up at that very hour she (Anna) began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Matt 2:1-3,11-12
2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
So, as you go about our busyness this week, shopping, cooking, preparing, attending special programs, remember this truly is a time to celebrate. And, as you become frustrated by the commercialism, the indulgent spending of our society, the abuse of this season, still, remember that it truly is a time to celebrate.
We have reason to celebrate.
Don't stress about gifts, don't get sucked into overspending, don't be distracted by the advertising...but DO CELEBRATE! Jesus has come! That is reason to celebrate.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
The Women of Christmas
It so interests me that God used women in VERY significant ways to introduce the Savior of the world. As a woman who is a Christian, who is passionate and zealous for Christ, I have struggled to walk in balance. I love the Lord, have a hunger for the Word, and a studious mind. But, in the church, I have often been treated with condecsension. I have been silent as men tell jokes that demean and trivialize the female mentality, and heard sermon after sermon by men which undermine female roles in the Bible.
(Not at Cottonwood, but a lot of other places in the past)
But, then, as I read the account of the birth of Jesus as told by Luke, the account which is most often read during the celebration of Christmas, I see the role of women as significant and meaningful.
The book opens with a priest named Zechariah.
And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. Luke 1:5-7
Elizabeth is the first woman of the Christmas story. She was old, and barren. No curse was greater for a woman in the ancient world than to be barren. She was also righteous. She walked blamelessly in all the commandments and statues of the Lord. She knew the law, and obeyed it.
As Zechariah was serving, an angel appeared to him and told him that his wife would be having a baby, a son whose name would be John, a special son who would be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in the womb, and would be greatly used by God to prepare the hearts of the people for the coming of the Lord. Although Zechariah had doubts about God's ability to do this, Elizabeth conceived.
At this point, the narrative immediately goes to Mary. The angel Gabriel appears and exclaims that she is favored by God, and that she will conceive a baby by the Holy Spirit, and that baby will be the son of The Most High, the Messiah. The angel assured Mary that God was able to do this, even though she was a virgin, then he told her that her relative Elizabeth was pregnant, and Mary went to see her
As soon as Elizabeth, she knew.
"And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry,"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." Luke 1:41-45
That must have been extremely encouraging to Mary, to have confirmation of the word that God had given her.
This is the biggest news in the history of the world! And there are two people who know it, both of them are women. I am not speaking anything against men. But, I believe that maybe God was making a point here. He is showing us that things are changing in dramatic ways.
During this time in Israel, as well as the other nations, women were considered second class citizens in every way. In a trial, the testimony of a woman was not admisable evidence. Women could not own property. Most women were not educated and could not support themselves. Women were the property of men. I'm not making this up. This is well documented in the world of this time. If Mary and Elizabeth went out and told the people that Mary would give birth to the Messiah in 9 months, no one would have believed them. God could have revealed the truth to Mary's father, or to her almost husband Joseph first, and that would have been more expected, but He didn't. An angel did eventually tell Joseph, to confirm that what Mary had told him was true.
The fact that God revealed to two women that the Messiah was coming would be astounding to the people of that day.
Consider this; Mary was under the rule of her father until she married, when she would be ruled by her husband. If her husband died, she would have to go back to live with her father, unless she had a son who could take care of her. Mary could not own property. She had very few rights. YET, she could carry in her womb the tiny fetus that was God. She had the ability to nourish that baby, to protect Him, to provide for Him in every way. That is an amazing fact.
After Mary gave birth, she and Joseph took Jesus to the temple for the required offerings. A man named Simeon was there, waiting, God had told him that he would see the Messiah before he died. He knew that Jesus was the one, and blessed him. Then, a woman named Anna came.
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-38
First, Anna was a prophetess. There are only 4 prophetesses named before this, and the word is used so casually, without much explanation. Anna was married 7 years when her husband died. From that time she lived in the temple area, worshiping, fasting, and praying all the time. God revealed to her the reality of who Jesus was, just as he had Simeon. She gave thanks to God, and then she began to spread word. Anna is the first evangelist. She went to those she knew who were also waiting for the Messiah to come.
Jesus came as the Savior of the world. He came to save us from our sins, to restore us to be in relationship with God. He came so that we would be restored to the place of representing God on earth and bringing Him glory.
Jesus also came to sit things right. One of the aspects of the work that Jesus came to do was to bring women out of the bondage of servitude and show that God created women to be image bearers of God, nothing less; gifted, intelligent, able, faithful.
The women surrounding the birth of Jesus reveal that God loves and honors women just as he does men.
(Not at Cottonwood, but a lot of other places in the past)
But, then, as I read the account of the birth of Jesus as told by Luke, the account which is most often read during the celebration of Christmas, I see the role of women as significant and meaningful.
The book opens with a priest named Zechariah.
And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. Luke 1:5-7
Elizabeth is the first woman of the Christmas story. She was old, and barren. No curse was greater for a woman in the ancient world than to be barren. She was also righteous. She walked blamelessly in all the commandments and statues of the Lord. She knew the law, and obeyed it.
As Zechariah was serving, an angel appeared to him and told him that his wife would be having a baby, a son whose name would be John, a special son who would be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in the womb, and would be greatly used by God to prepare the hearts of the people for the coming of the Lord. Although Zechariah had doubts about God's ability to do this, Elizabeth conceived.
At this point, the narrative immediately goes to Mary. The angel Gabriel appears and exclaims that she is favored by God, and that she will conceive a baby by the Holy Spirit, and that baby will be the son of The Most High, the Messiah. The angel assured Mary that God was able to do this, even though she was a virgin, then he told her that her relative Elizabeth was pregnant, and Mary went to see her
As soon as Elizabeth, she knew.
"And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry,"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." Luke 1:41-45
That must have been extremely encouraging to Mary, to have confirmation of the word that God had given her.
This is the biggest news in the history of the world! And there are two people who know it, both of them are women. I am not speaking anything against men. But, I believe that maybe God was making a point here. He is showing us that things are changing in dramatic ways.
During this time in Israel, as well as the other nations, women were considered second class citizens in every way. In a trial, the testimony of a woman was not admisable evidence. Women could not own property. Most women were not educated and could not support themselves. Women were the property of men. I'm not making this up. This is well documented in the world of this time. If Mary and Elizabeth went out and told the people that Mary would give birth to the Messiah in 9 months, no one would have believed them. God could have revealed the truth to Mary's father, or to her almost husband Joseph first, and that would have been more expected, but He didn't. An angel did eventually tell Joseph, to confirm that what Mary had told him was true.
The fact that God revealed to two women that the Messiah was coming would be astounding to the people of that day.
Consider this; Mary was under the rule of her father until she married, when she would be ruled by her husband. If her husband died, she would have to go back to live with her father, unless she had a son who could take care of her. Mary could not own property. She had very few rights. YET, she could carry in her womb the tiny fetus that was God. She had the ability to nourish that baby, to protect Him, to provide for Him in every way. That is an amazing fact.
After Mary gave birth, she and Joseph took Jesus to the temple for the required offerings. A man named Simeon was there, waiting, God had told him that he would see the Messiah before he died. He knew that Jesus was the one, and blessed him. Then, a woman named Anna came.
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-38
First, Anna was a prophetess. There are only 4 prophetesses named before this, and the word is used so casually, without much explanation. Anna was married 7 years when her husband died. From that time she lived in the temple area, worshiping, fasting, and praying all the time. God revealed to her the reality of who Jesus was, just as he had Simeon. She gave thanks to God, and then she began to spread word. Anna is the first evangelist. She went to those she knew who were also waiting for the Messiah to come.
Jesus came as the Savior of the world. He came to save us from our sins, to restore us to be in relationship with God. He came so that we would be restored to the place of representing God on earth and bringing Him glory.
Jesus also came to sit things right. One of the aspects of the work that Jesus came to do was to bring women out of the bondage of servitude and show that God created women to be image bearers of God, nothing less; gifted, intelligent, able, faithful.
The women surrounding the birth of Jesus reveal that God loves and honors women just as he does men.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
COTTONWOOD LADIES RETREAT- Shame OFF You!
MARCH 1-2, 2013; at the MCM Elegante Hotel, Abilene
Do you feel like your best just isn’t good enough?
If you persistently feel you don't measure up, you are feeling shame— that vague, undefined heaviness that presses on your spirit, dampens your gratitude, and diminishes your joy.
God convicts of sin, but He never shames us. With conviction, God gives power and encouragement, but guilt and shame rob us of power and motivation; strip away our joy and peace.
What are signs of shame?
I am bothered by every small criticism.
I always question my abilities.
I have a hard time saying no or facing any kind of conflict.
I feel like I have to be perfect.
I always question my abilities.
I have a hard time saying no or facing any kind of conflict.
I feel like I have to be perfect.
I can’t celebrate my gifts and accept God’s blessings without apology.
Shame is a powerful thing. It can weigh on your heart and mind, diminish your sense of self-worth, and impact the way you live in the world, the way you come before God, and the way you relate to other people.
Don’t let the enemy’s accusations or your own negative self talk strip you of the power that God promises.
Cheri is a gifted speaker and writer, best known for her practical and passionate application of God’s Word. Her messages of grace, faith and freedom inspire others to wholeheartedly trust God and pursue His purpose for their lives. Spunky and insightful, Cheri brings vibrancy to everything she does. Cheri serves the local church alongside her husband Randy, who is the Campus Pastor of Gateway Church Frisco in Frisco, Texas.
She and Randy have two children, Drew and Lindsay.
Come prepared to have a great time, make new friends, connect with wonderful Christian women, participate in exciting, uplifting worship, and most of all, hear from God.
Invite your friends and family to be a part of this weekend of fellowship and teaching in a warm, accepting environment.
Bring your Bible and everything you usually need for a weekend. Dress for comfort.
Reduced rate for registration with payment by February 1.
Registration by Feb. 1 after Feb 1
4 people in a room $60 $75
3 people in a room $70 $85
2 people in a room $80 $95
1 person alone $125 $140
Scholarships are available for women who attend Cottonwood.
Payment plans are also available.
Price includes breakfast and lunch on Saturday, and late night snacks on Friday, as well as the room and retreat expenses.
There are many good restaurants near the hotel for supper on Friday.
For our special Friday Night Fun time, after the first session, we will play our own version of “Let’s Make a Deal” so bring a silly costume, make a “pick me” sign, and be prepared for dealing.
.We can check in early Friday afternoon. The hotel has an indoor pool and hot tub you can use Friday afternoon.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
"Nothing in Common..."
I got my first Christmas cards this week, two are from very special young women. I have had a lot of very special friends in my life. I have especially loved having friends that are not exactly my age. That makes my life rich and full. I have VERY close friends who could be my mother. They are not like mothers to me, they are simply really good friends, with whom I share a special bond.
I have other close friends who are young enough to be my daughters. I am blessed by those friendships. This week, I got cards from two young women who were sweet blessings to me a few years ago.
I was asked to be a mentor to Danielle. At the time, I was pleased to be a part of her life, but I knew that she was well grounded in her faith and she has a very godly mother, so I was not sure why I was needed. The solution was that we met as friends, we worked on some Bible studies together, we talked about her school and my children, about our mutual faith and passion for God, and eventually about her boyfriend who became her husband. After she married, she moved away. Now, she is a wonderful wife and mother to two adorable little girls.
Jessica came into my life in a more casual way. She and Les played on the same softball team! I know, that was crazy. Les was asked to play on the Baptist Student ministry team. He was somewhat older than everyone else, but he was an excellent pitcher and a good hitter. Running the bases was not his strong suit. Anyway, I digress. I instantly loved Jessica's fun loving personality and her zeal for Christ. We became fast friends. Later, she worked for the church with the youth ministry, and we enjoyed being co-laborers in ministry. She also married, and eventually moved away. I loved seeing her with her husband and precious son and daughter.
I don't understand people who feel that their friends have to be just like them...same age range, same stage in life, same interests. I remember talking and laughing with my much younger friends, and later remembering that we might have little in common outwardly, but God knit our hearts in a special way. Thanks, girls, for the Christmas cards and sharing your lives with me.
I have other close friends who are young enough to be my daughters. I am blessed by those friendships. This week, I got cards from two young women who were sweet blessings to me a few years ago.
I was asked to be a mentor to Danielle. At the time, I was pleased to be a part of her life, but I knew that she was well grounded in her faith and she has a very godly mother, so I was not sure why I was needed. The solution was that we met as friends, we worked on some Bible studies together, we talked about her school and my children, about our mutual faith and passion for God, and eventually about her boyfriend who became her husband. After she married, she moved away. Now, she is a wonderful wife and mother to two adorable little girls.
Jessica came into my life in a more casual way. She and Les played on the same softball team! I know, that was crazy. Les was asked to play on the Baptist Student ministry team. He was somewhat older than everyone else, but he was an excellent pitcher and a good hitter. Running the bases was not his strong suit. Anyway, I digress. I instantly loved Jessica's fun loving personality and her zeal for Christ. We became fast friends. Later, she worked for the church with the youth ministry, and we enjoyed being co-laborers in ministry. She also married, and eventually moved away. I loved seeing her with her husband and precious son and daughter.
I don't understand people who feel that their friends have to be just like them...same age range, same stage in life, same interests. I remember talking and laughing with my much younger friends, and later remembering that we might have little in common outwardly, but God knit our hearts in a special way. Thanks, girls, for the Christmas cards and sharing your lives with me.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Christmas Night of Worship
Our women's group used to have a Christmas party every year, with a crazy "Chinese" Christmas gift exchange. We had a ball, crazy fun! But, a few years ago, we decided to have a more meaningful event that would focus on the birth of Jesus, a night of worship. In the past, we have had an artist who painted while we sang Christmas songs, dancers who danced to the songs, as well as women who sang or played instruments, and some who read Scripture or other writings about the birth of Jesus.
This year, we seemed to not have any of the painters, dancers, singers, or players of instruments available! We planned an evening of worship, gathered last night, and it was beautiful. We began at 4, with a few who came early to cook and decorate.
As women entered, they were greeted by these two helpers, (Verna and Sable) who gave each one a paper with a song on it, which indicated at which table she was to sit.
We got our food and sat at the assigned tables for fellowship and to answer questions that were also handed out at the door.
After our fellowship time, we began our program with a wonderful instrumental medley of Christmas songs brought to us by the musicians of Gateway church ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J9lB-TBpNc)
Jeannine Hambrick had put together an inspiring compilation of scripture and readings, brought by a number of different women.
We were deeply moved by Josh Groban singing O Holy Night, accompanied by a video montage from the movie The Nativity. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zh-yR0pbmU
After Josh's song, we sang traditional carols by candlelight.
The evening was so sweet, a simple expression of worship and celebration of our Saviors birth.
This year, we seemed to not have any of the painters, dancers, singers, or players of instruments available! We planned an evening of worship, gathered last night, and it was beautiful. We began at 4, with a few who came early to cook and decorate.
As women entered, they were greeted by these two helpers, (Verna and Sable) who gave each one a paper with a song on it, which indicated at which table she was to sit.
Jeannine Hambrick had put together an inspiring compilation of scripture and readings, brought by a number of different women.
We were deeply moved by Josh Groban singing O Holy Night, accompanied by a video montage from the movie The Nativity. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zh-yR0pbmU
After Josh's song, we sang traditional carols by candlelight.
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