It looks like our bleak winter days maybe over soon. I love this time of year, with the sunshine and the cooler but nicely warmer temperatures. All around us signs of new life are pushing up from the ground-flower buds opening up. Isn't God wonderful with the way He has planned the seasons for us? No matter how dark, cold or lonely winter maybe in your life-we always have the promise that if we hang on Spring will show up just when we least expect it. It's one of the suddenly's of God's timing that brings us into seasons of new life and the hope of change. So may you find that the frozen ground of the heart is beginning to thaw with the warmth of the "spring season" that is about to be upon us as God graces our days with sunshine and beautiful flowers--all gifts that He so graciously provides us as signs that there is always new life and hope in Him.
Just remember, if you are going through a winter season--spring is right around the corner. Don't give up!

I found this excerpt online today, and thought it really ministered to me. Then I felt like it would help some of you as well.. you might want to pick up the book at the bookstore as well.


10-Minute Time Outs for Busy Women
by Grace Fox
HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
Copyright © 2005 by Grace Fox Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon 97402All rights reserved.ISBN-13: 978-0-7369-1554-0I1554-0 SBN-10: 0-7369-

Hamster Lessons
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you,plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11

Upward Gaze
Father, I praise You for having a purpose for my life. In Your wisdom and sovereignty You planned my days, long before my birth. Your thoughts toward me are precious (Psalm 139:16-17). I trust You to show me Your purpose and enable me to pursue it. Amen.
***


Rattle, rattle, rattle, rattle. The noise interrupted my sleep for the third consecutive night. I opened my eyes and caught the alarm clock’s red digits staring at me through the darkness. It was 2:30 A.M.—an hour when a house and its occupants should be silent or snoring. Should be. But down the hall, down two flights of stairs, and across the family room, a furry resident—our pet hamster—had decided to wake up and work out. Again.
Worried that the hamster would grow bored sitting in its cage, our kids had purchased and installed a plastic treadmill several days earlier. The creature loved it. Each night, long after our family had fallen asleep, it climbed aboard the yellow wheel and set it spinning round and round and round. Each morning, we found the critter fast asleep in the corner of its cage, exhausted after its nocturnal fitness session.
Have you ever felt like the hamster? I have. And believe me, my exhaustion isn’t a result of working out at the gym. One could only wish! Nope, my life sometimes resembles the hamster on its treadmill: Work, work, work, collapse. Work, work, work, collapse.
I’m not the only female who occasionally feels this way. While traveling on a plane recently, I sat beside a woman in her mid-thirties. She’d buried her nose in a book whose cover showed a cartoon woman in high heels frantically trying to juggle several grocery bags while a crying toddler pulled at her skirt. I chuckled at the scene and asked, “Is that a good book?”
The woman looked up and nodded. “My sister bought it for me. She thinks I need it.” She rolled her eyes and grinned. “I can’t imagine why. After all, I only have three kids under 12. I volunteer in their schools. I serve on five committees. I work full-time outside my home. I’m planning to start nurse’s training in a few months. And—” She drew a deep breath before her grand finale. “I own a 100-pound dysfunctional Rottweiler.”
“Is that all?” I said. She looked at me in disbelief, but when she realized that I was joking, she grinned again.
“Yep. That’s all I can handle. Well, sometimes I feel like it’s more than I can handle. I’m busier than I want to be, but I don’t know how to stop.”
Too often our lives resemble that of my family’s furry friend. We race from meeting to meeting. We run from one obligation to the next. We wish the day held more hours so we could accomplish everything on our to-do list. Sometimes our activities are necessary, like caring for our children or our elderly parents, or working to put food on the table. Sometimes, however, our activities make us appear busy when we’re actually racing nowhere and accomplishing nothing. So what’s a woman to do?
In his book The Purpose-Driven Life, author Rick Warren suggests that we ask ourselves, Does this activity help me fulfill one of God’s purposes for my life? If the answer is yes, we should embrace it with gusto. If the answer is no, we should release it—without guilt. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? In truth, determining God’s purposes may take some serious soul-searching and a conscientious commitment to pursue them no matter what. We may have to thin our existing obligations or learn to say no, but the effort brings rewards.
According to Warren, streamlining our activities to pursue God’s purposes simplifies and focuses our lives. “It concentrates our effort and energy on what’s important,” he writes. “You become effective by being selective.” When we eliminate everything except that which matters most, we become productive rather than simply busy. The difference is huge.
God never intended our lives to mimic the hamster on the treadmill. He wants us to enjoy abundant, fruitful life. Let’s begin today!

Inward Glimpse
Dear Father, thank You for having a purpose for my life. Help me know and pursue it so I might spend my days engaged in meaningful activity rather than fruitless busyness. Amen.
What do you believe God’s purposes are for your life?
What changes must you make to pursue those purposes?

Outward Glance

Heavenly Father, thank You for teaching ________ Your ways. Please help her live wisely, making the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:15-16). Help her press on to embrace the purpose for which Christ Jesus took hold of her (Philippians 3:12). I ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.


One More Peek

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you (Isaiah 26:3).
Excerpted from 10-Minute Time Outs for Busy Women by Grace Fox. Copyright © 2005 by Harvest House Publishers. Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Here's a few more photos that were just to cute to leave out.. see how happy those chicks got when the door prizes were passed out! I'm not sure if Jayne was happy about her prize or not though? Just a little bit puzzled about that one--maybe it's because I told her it smelled like Cozumel?

WE had a fantastic Chick Night last Sunday evening. What a fun time of refreshing. Cheryle Lopez shared her testimony with all the chicks, and what a testimony it is! I must say if you weren't there you missed out on a wonderful time of worship, word, and fellowship. Kyla, Pam, Stacie and Hannah did a wonderful job leading us into God's presence through worship. Cheryle had us laughing so hard, we didn't know what a sense of humor she has--yet through the smiles she challenged us to believe God for miracles, to stay faithful and obedient and to be loving to those who have hurt us.

As always at Life Church, the food was fantastic. I think we could have fed the whole neighborhood with just the leftovers. The door prizes weren't too shabby either, and afterglow was fun. It's a huge relief to be able to all get together and be real about our struggles and our triumphs. That's what it's all about.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I thought I'd let you see how much fun we had! Check it out!

Puts things right into perspective, doesn't it?
That is something to really think about, I know I will today!

I just found a wonderful article on Christianity today about 8 ways to support your pastor. Whether you know it or not, at times we could all use a little "shout out" to encourage us. I think you'd feel it was worth a read. I'd love to get a randy discussion about this article started here, so post all the comments you want!!

Oh, instead of the link, I'll just post it here! Some of you might be like me and not want to click through?

8 Ways to Encourage Your Pastor
Simple acts that feed a shepherd.
by Victor Parachin


Sometimes pastors are the loneliest people in the church. Often their hours are long, the pay minimal, the criticism considerable and constant. Feelings of disappointment, discouragement, and defeat may begin to plague the best of them.

Paul's admonition to "serve one another in love" (Gal. 5:13 ) should encourage us to remember our shepherds. Here are eight ways to make their lives better.

1. Cut the criticism
Presbyterian minister Fred Rogers, creator and host of television's "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood," recently gave an address describing the time he was a student at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and attended a different church each Sunday in order to hear a variety of preachers.

One Sunday he was treated to "the most poorly crafted sermon (he) had ever heard." But when he turned to the friend who had accompanied him, he found her in tears.

"It was exactly what I needed to hear," she told Rogers.

"That's when I realized," he told his audience, "that the space between someone doing the best he or she can and someone in need is holy ground. The Holy Spirit had transformed that feeble sermon for her—and as it turned out, for me too."

Unlike most workers who are evaluated once or twice a year, clergy are often critiqued weekly after each worship service. It's not unusual to hear people say "the music was poor," "the hymn selection was awful," or "the sermon was boring." We would do well to remember that most spiritual leaders work hard to make worship a unique celebration each week.

2. Pray regularly
Ask God to shower your pastor with an abundance of love, hope, joy, faith, peace, power, wisdom, and courage. Pray for your spiritual leader's maturity and growth in the faith. As you pray keep in mind this wisdom from German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: "If you treat a person as he is, he will stay as he is; but if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be, he will become what he ought to be and could be."

3. Express appreciation in writing
A spoken compliment is always welcome, but a written one can be read over and over again for years. So, when you hear or see something you like from your minister, write an appreciative note.

4. Use your skills to bless
Are you proficient with computers? Help your pastor master the church's new computer. Are you a mechanic? Offer to service the car free of charge or at a reduced fee.

One pastor I know recalls: "I was pastoring my first church—a small congregation with limited resources. While there, I developed a series of dental problems and could not afford treatment. What a joy it was when a dentist in the church offered to treat me for free. Correcting my dental problem involved nearly a dozen visits. He treated me carefully and cheerfully each time. I have thought of that dentist many times since then and the memories of his kindness continue to bless my life."

5. Squelch gossip
If you hear a negative comment, respond with a positive one. If misinformation is being spread, correct it with the accurate information. Or, if people are gossiping, just walk away. Remember the Bible soundly condemns gossip and careless speech. James 1:26 says, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." And Psalm 34:13 reads, "Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies."

6. Offer to meet a need
Some people make their spiritual leaders defensive and angry by saying, "You need to … " That approach is seldom welcome and almost always counterproductive. If you see a need, approach your spiritual leader by saying, "I'd like to help by … " If you see an area that can be improved, take responsibility for working on it.

Be an active participant in your church. Get involved by teaching a class, leading a workshop, singing in the choir, feeding the hungry. Ask your spiritual leader where and how you can employ your gifts.

7. Be openly responsive
Nothing so animates and excites a spiritual leader as seeing people respond to the preaching and teaching. Imagine the surprise and delight of a pastor in Virginia Beach, Virginia, who, when greeting a visitor to his church, found she came because of the kindness of a church member who was her neighbor.

"I'm recently divorced, a single parent and new to this community," she told the pastor. "To keep up with rent and provide for my three children, I must work two jobs. That leaves me very little time for yard work. I was relieved when the weeds didn't overrun my yard as I had feared they might. However, when I made an unscheduled trip home in the middle of my workday, I discovered the reason why the weeds had not taken over my yard.

"My 86-year-old neighbor—a member of your church—was on his hands and knees pulling my weeds. I barely knew this man and he was embarrassed to be caught in this anonymous act of kindness. He explained that he heard you preach a sermon on the importance of living a life of compassion and kindness and decided to put that sermon into practice by weeding my lawn."

One pastor's heart filled with joy when a group of women in Washington, D.C., responded to a sermon preached from the words of Jesus—"Do not judge, or you too will be judged" (Matt. 7:1). After hearing the sermon, the women decided to give a baby shower for the young woman who provided childcare while they met for Bible study. She was unmarried, close to going on welfare, and without support from her family or the father-to-be. The young woman was moved to tears by the surprise baby shower.

Later, the women explained to the pastor, "Your sermon taught us that it's possible to reach out to someone in need—in this case, an unwed mother—without judging or condoning the situation."

8. Throw away the measuring stick
Don't expect that your present spiritual leaders will do things the same way their predecessors did. Lay aside personal agendas and preferences. Instead, focus on how your leader is being used by God to do effective ministry now. By serving your shepherds, you will ensure that they will not only be encouraged but will feel appreciated and continue to minister with enthusiasm and energy.

A friend is someone who stays with you in the bad weather of life, guards you when you are off your guard, restrains your impetuosity, delights in your wholeness, forgives your failures, does not forsake you when others let you down.
The friendship of Jesus enables us to see others as he saw the apostles: flawed by good children of the Father.
—Brennan Manning
A Christian Reader original article.

Copyright © 1999 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today's Christian magazine.
Click here for reprint information.
September/October 1999, Vol. 37, No. 5, Page 35


Now, don't get to worrying that we are bummed out are anything,I just was looking for a devotion on encouragement and came across this article. It really ministered to me about keeping the encouragement level up for Joel.

Anyone have any ideas how we can encourage those who are serving as leaders around us?

Come on-- I know you want to post your opinion!


Love ya'll!!!

A

I wanted to say a huge "Congratulations! Ya'll are the bomb!" to our youth ministry Fusion team. For those of you who weren't at our Fusion service you missed a wonderful time of worship and a very challenging word about the harvest. I strongly encourage you to get the cd of Beck's message, it was stirring and convicting. I am so proud of Beck, Jodi, Andre, Robin, Matt, and Ian for all the hard work and investing they are doing in the lives of our teens, and Brad did an awesome job too!

Last night was a huge win for Life Church, and the tees we gave away were great as well.

We have a great weekend lined up for everyone, don't forget it's LifeChick Sunday evening so be sure and be there. We are asking all the ladies to bring a dish and we'll share supper after we hear a special testimony that will encourage and refresh you. Also, they'll be some super give aways! Remember, you get 2 tickets for each guest you bring--so you'd better get busy calling your girlfriends.


Have a great week! I love each and everyone of you!