Come Get "FOCUS"ed!

I've been enjoying the Tuesday night Women's “Focus” studies that Mina Oglesby has been leading this month. Mina has turned our focus toward women in the Bible from whose lives we can draw strength and encouragement for our own. In the busyness of our schedules, it’s challenging to pull away even for the short 50 minute sessions to meditate on Scripture, but the time spent with the dear women of our church has been well worth it! I’m thankful for Mina's funny, yet rich perspective on some “obscure” women whose lives are mentioned in the Bible.

The first night we discovered the hospitality of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4. She had embraced the ministry of Elisha, even to the extent of building a room for him in which to stay during his travels. I was challenged to seek ways that I could emulate this kind of generosity. Further study revealed that the Shunammite woman had also experienced much grief in her life. Yet, in the midst of disappointment she had lived out her faith in God. I was reminded that God does not promise to eliminate sorrow from our lives (John 16:33), rather He says He will never leave us-that He’ll be with us to comfort and guide us (Genesis 28:15, Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5-6).

Last Tuesday, Mina began by taking us to some funerals. In Numbers 20:1 we learn that Miriam dies. There is no suggestion that the Israelites mourned her death as they did Moses’ and Aaron’s deaths. She seems to go off the grid after her bout with leprosy in Numbers 12. We can’t speculate, but it is interesting that this woman who’d been known for her bravery, quick thinking, and leadership abilities even as a young girl is not mentioned again until her very basic obituary in Numbers 20:1. While Miriam’s leprosy had been cured, we are left to wonder if the leprosy of her soul is what led to an absence of recorded ministry later in life. There have been times in my life that I struggled with bitterness. Even recalling those circumstances to memory threatens to overwhelm me with the hurt, embarrassment, frustration, and anger I felt in those moments. So I can completely understand if she did, in fact, withdraw from any future ministry. I’d like to think that she grew from that experience and that we simply have no record of the impact she had on those around her. What I take away from reading her story is that life is full of challenges and opportunities to grow. I’m thankful for His Spirit who lives in me and is helping me to transform by the renewal of my mind (Romans 12:1-2)!

I’m looking forward to one final “focus” tonight at 7:00p! If you’ve been unable to come, join us tonight! You won’t regret it!

~Rebecca Phillips

My Hope for 2015

I always love starting a new year--The possibilities it presents, the "newness" of it. Being an eternal optimist, I always look for a better year than the one before. For several years now, I have longed for a cessation of the constancy of heart-wrenching trials. I want to just rest and praise my Lord. This is probably a foolish longing this side of heaven. The trials continue, my faith is tested constantly, and the victory is nowhere in sight. So, what do you look forward to if you give up hope in your dreams? If - your life as it is today- is as good as it gets? Well what do you do with that?

The answer lies in the book of Job. Job…the one to whom we dare compare ourselves, secretly, way down deep in our hearts. Job…the one for whom we cheer, condemn, and eventually imitate. Job…the one who beautifully accepted tragedies few of us will ever endure; and then massively wiped out when further tested.

I live the Job cycle, going from "The Lord gives and takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord forever," to long chapters (in the book and in my life) of contemplation. These are the times I would never verbalize but constantly try to understand –“Why, God?” Much of our walk is tied up too frequently in trying to understand the ways of The One whose ways are higher than ours (Isa. 55:9). We are not alone in this. Besides Job being mainly about this quest, we see this in many of the saints of old. Was that not the question of: Mary & Martha regarding Lazarus, Paul regarding the thorn in his flesh, Jacob regarding life, Jonah regarding God's heart, Elijah regarding his expected outcome of his ministry efforts, etc.? We could go on and on. Eventually, we will all be stumped by God’s dealings with us.

So, how did Job deal with this? He lamented his confusion about the ways of God. Many of us get stuck there. We carry on with an outward show of faith, but inside we are not in agreement with God- the question of “Why?” is ever present between us and our Maker. This results in "self-efforts" regarding our trials; we pray less and work more. We look for different ways out of our mess- sometimes so utterly disillusioned with God that we are unable to take our burden to Him anymore. In Abram’s life this resulted in Ishmael. In ours, it results in a pseudo walk with God- we are not in step with God unless we are depending on Him for everything.

So, we have the problem: the why question. We have the result: self- effort and distance in our walk. So where is the triumphant end?

THE END to the trial is not the FIX of the TRIAL, or the ANSWER to why the trials in the first place. THE END to the trial is surrender to the truth that we will not understand God, and frankly that is not our calling in the first place. The END is the END of the question... Job’s "answer" from God was not an answer at all. It was a proclamation of God's vast greatness. The message being: God is so infinitely awesome, mighty, and omniscient that we, as mere mortals, could never comprehend the reasons behind His works. In essence, God said to Job, "Son, you can't "get" me, and it is the height of arrogance that you would try." The tone of reprimand is clearly evident throughout God's response. Who are we to question God? If He takes all we have in this life, is He not still worthy of our praise? God is God and we are not. We must be still and know that God is God (Psalm 46:10).

We can surrender to God by accepting He is good no matter what our life looks like, that He may or may not change our circumstances, and that that is irrelevant. We must humble our hearts, and give up our pursuit and perceived right to understanding in exchange for trust. Trust in a God who is love and who can ultimately only do what is the best for us because of His very nature.

This is the heart we need to have, which then leads to the next result. Because, Job had humbled his heart, his faith took on a deeper dimension evidenced by: "I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; (Job. 42:5).” Deeper faith is never about understanding God, but about understanding that He is too great to understand. This "maturing" in Job’s faith immediately brings about an outward work. He then prays for his friends. Notice his focus has completely left his trial and has changed to his being used of God for others.

This message has been put on my heart repeatedly by God throughout the last couple of years; however, the culmination to the message came to me Sunday when Pastor Winget brought to us nearly the same truth. God spoke to my heart this way:

Sarah, will you give up your desire for security in exchange for trust, and will you give up your complaining in exchange for thankfulness?

This is what I want for 2015...

“But this is the one to whom I will look: 

he who is humble and contrite in spirit 

and trembles at my word.” 

Isaiah 66:2

Sarah Beasley

Hustle and Bustle

THerefore being jUStified by faiTh,

we have peace with God through our Lord JEsus Christ:

Romans 5:1 

Do you ever create your own hustle and bustle? Maybe you've added busyness to your Christmas season. Perhaps your desire to get one more gift for everyone has hurled you into a whirlwind of frenzy and you're not sure how to break free. Maybe now it will feel more like Christmas?

It's funny...well, not really...that we do this in our relationship with Christ too. We add activities, checklists, and requirements that keep our heads spinning. While designed to draw us to Him, they've only driven us into a furor of religious activity that has yet to calm our anxious hearts. 

Paul tells us in Romans that our peace with God is possible not through a strategic plan of action, but rather through our faith in His Son. Our peace doesn't come through a list of accomplishments, but instead through something that was accomplished by our Savior. 

So while you're tying that final ribbon in place, rest in the peace that passes all understanding, the peace that comes from knowing Christ, the peace that eliminates all hustle and bustle.

~Rebecca Phillips

Stand and See

Stuck between a rock and hard place. 

Caught between the devil and the deep, blue sea.

Sound familiar? Some situations in life just seem made for Hollywood: full of drama and danger.

In our Sunday School class, we've been studying about the crossing of the Red Sea. Those folks camped by the sea were just in a panic. It seems remarkable how quickly they forgot about all the wonders they had seen in Egypt. They were sure that God had forsaken them, and here's the amazing thing: They were ready to return to Egypt.  They were so hungry for security and escape from danger that they were willing to return to slavery, to back-breaking labor and oppression.

Then Moses stood before them and said, "Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today" (Exodus 14:13).  We all know what happened next. God caused a strong east wind to blow all night long. In the morning, thousands of people, along with their flocks and herds, walked across the Red Sea bed into the promises that God had for them.

What a miracle they would have missed if they had fled back to imagined comfort and safety!  It is so tempting to want everything to just be calm and normal, to enjoy a dependable routine.  I'm as much a creature of habit as anyone, I guess.  I love a schedule and knowing what's coming next. But if we never get into those hard places, we will never see God's amazing deliverance.

I hope the coming weeks are full of joy and peace for you. But if they aren't, try the advice of Moses: Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. Then be sure to share with the rest of us so we can rejoice with you in God's deliverance.

--Sherry Poff

Contagious Thanks

"Dear Jesus,

Thank you for my mommy and daddy. Thank you for my baby. Thank you for my toys. Thank you for my food. Thank you for my Bible. Thank you for firetrucks.

Amen."

A sweet three-year-old in my Sunday school class was full of thanks yesterday when it was his turn to pray. I couldn't help but think that he had learned how to talk to Jesus and to be thankful from his parents. 

Our attitude of thanks is contagious, but even more so our verbalization of it. I often feel grateful for gifts, acts of kindness, encouraging words, and "stuff." My intentions to thank people are huge...but my follow-through is lacking. If a child is going to mimic me, I want it to be my thankfulness that is emulated.

So, here are just a few things that I am thankful for this morning:

• friends who pray for me
• parents who love me
• grandparents who are still working hard at age 90
• sisters who include me in their lives from great distances
• brothers-in-law who love God and love my sisters and nieces and nephews immensely
• a church family who consistently affirms and encourages me
• "Lighthouse kids" who keep me laughing...and dancing...or both at the same time
• My Bible and the many resources available to help me learn and understand more
• And, of course, firetrucks...what an important role they play in our community

Finally, I'm thankful for the opportunity to learn and grow from my sweet, young Sunday school class. While it's a role I didn't expect to be filling, it's been a pure joy to be around these precious children every Sunday morning! Their thankfulness is contagious!

Happy Thanksgiving!

~Rebecca Phillips

Pull the Trigger!

Have you heard the news? Scientists have determined that "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls is the number one catchiest song. Don't fret if you don't know it. They aren't saying it's especially wonderful--just hard to get out of your head. We've all had days when a song or line of poetry--well, maybe not all of us on the poetry, but a song for sure!--just keeps looping in the brain.  What possible good can come of that?  How about using it as a trigger to pray?

There are songs that I associate with certain people or places: "Above All" reminds me of Togo.  "Blessed be the Name" makes me think of Rebecca Phillips. On Sunday morning when we sang "Grace Alone," I'll bet I wasn't the only one to think of Carol Kilpatrick. I've tried to train myself to pray for these people--or for those who miss them--when I get that musical reminder.  

This strategy can work with more than songs.  A few years ago, we had a mini women's conference, and I got this tip from our own Laura Welsh.  She said that whenever she sees a squirrel, she prays for Vesma Sandberg. She gave us other examples of prayer triggers: using a crock pot we got for a gift can remind us to pray for the giver; hanging up towels in the bathroom can nudge me to pray for the one who used the towel.  It was a practical suggestion that I have learned to use myself. Whenever I pass a stand of pampas grass on my way to school, I often pray for Andy Pappas because I remember Carol writing about the beautiful tassels on the grass in her yard. No doubt, there are similar sights and sounds in your day that bring to mind those in our midst who need prayer.

James tells us that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man" is effective and powerful (5:16). That goes for us women as well. The reminder on Sunday to pray for the persecuted church was sobering, but it's encouraging to know that prayer is something that can never be taken away from us.

On more than one occasion, I've asked Pastor Euler to pray for something and seen him bow his head right there and talk to God about my request. We all need prayer, and we need each other. Let's be sure we don't just say, "I'll pray for you," but actually do it!

What prayer triggers work for you? Share in the comments.

--Sherry Poff

Summertime in My Heart

“To everything there is a season…”

…except, of course, for flip-flops. I’m pretty sure even Solomon would have agreed. I mean, didn’t he wear sandals year-round?

It’s so hard to say goodbye to summer…some years harder than others. It’s not that I don’t love other seasons. I love the Fall colors, crisp air, pumpkins, and crunchy leaves. I even love a good Winter snow…if I don’t have to drive in it or shovel it.

But, I miss the sun shining in the mornings urging me to start the day with a smile.

So how do I get through the darker days? I remind myself that I have been given the Son…eternal, bright, and glorious.

Every day the enemy tempts me to forget that I am a completely new creation. He lies about my identity, my worth, and my purpose. He wants to keep me in the dark about the power that I now possess in Christ.

My flesh is used to old habits and sin patterns that confuse and conflict with my spirit. I often place myself back in the chains that have already been broken, and I behave as though I believe the lies of the enemy.

So, I must surround myself with truth. Every day, I review what Christ did for me and in me. I read parts of Hebrews and Romans to refresh my memory about my new life, status, and position. I rehearse 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 to dispel any notion that I’m still part sinner rather than fully saint.

Truth melts the cold that threatens to defeat and discourage, and just like the unknown hymn writer says:

               It is summertime in my heart.

               It is summertime in my heart.

               Since Jesus saved me, new life He gave me.

               Even in wintertime it’s summer in my heart.

So, I may be packing up most of the flip-flops (keepin’ a few out just in case), and replacing them with boots, but nothing can replace the summertime that Christ has brought to my heart!

~Rebecca Phillips