Summer teen conferences have been an essential part of many of our church calendars for years. These summer events have been life changing for hundreds of young lives.

Most teens have the opportunity to go to four or five conferences throughout their high school years. It can be challenging to produce an exciting and spiritually dynamic event for those who have been numerous times. For the Mountains West teen event (called discipleship Training Camp) we have decided to implement a four year rotation, covering different topics and a different atmosphere each time.

Our rotation of topics begins with Christian Identity. This is the foundation for developing a healthy adult Christian life. Year two is about understanding gender, God’s plan for male, female, marriage and morality. This past summer was our year two topic, and for the first time DTC was split into separate programs for boys and for girls, at different camps.

Next year will cover evidences for our faith, looking at reasons to believe in God, to believe the Bible is God’s Word, and reasons to understand that Jesus really is the world’s Savior and Lord. This event will be held all together on a community college campus – a more academic environment.

Finally, year four will cover Jesus’ great commission and the venue and activities will orient around evangelism and making disciples.

So far the fruit of this plan has been very positive, giving us both a freshness and a sense of direction as we make disciples of the teens God has given us.

That’s a task that, no doubt, will be impossible without the Lord’s help. But by His grace, we’ve been making strides in various ways. One of those ways has been sending teams of friends to new areas to labor together in the gospel and “start from scratch” a local church body that will help people become emotionally, spiritually and relationally healthy followers of Jesus Christ.

It’s this mission that led a team of four of us – three from Raleigh and one from Oak Ridge Community Church in Maryland – here to Wilmington just six months ago to start Pneuma Christian Life. We want to see this city won over with the gospel, starting with the campus of UNC-Wilmington.

This campus, filled with some of our next generation leaders, is in desperate need of Christ. Drunkenness and sexual promiscuity are rampant and, in some cases, openly advertised and promoted. Many here struggle with depression and even suicidal thoughts. People here are broken in many ways. But God is moving, and He’s healing people, starting with their souls.

We rejoice that in our first six months we’ve seen over 20 salvations, baptized two new believers, and prayed for over 1,000 students and faculty. God has already added two more committed laborers to our team. The Lord is good and faithful, and we are excited to see how He will continue to restore hearts and build His church!

I am so thankful for God’s grace. Through a number of divine appointments, including attending a great new year’s conference, God called me to a new adventure with Him. Less than two weeks into 2015, I got an email from Tom Short saying that they were still looking for one intern to travel on his spring semester team. I felt the Spirit prompt me to reply. At first, I resisted. “You mean you want me to give up my great job, my new relationships, and even this new ministry I’m leading in?” The answer was, “This is the great adventure I have called you to.” I couldn’t resist. Only two weeks later I was in Ohio preparing for a 3 month trip to over 20 college campuses to preach the gospel.

Traveling with Tom was life-changing. I had been starved to see the power of God in action. Romans 1:16 says that the gospel is the power of God to everyone who believes. Seeing God at work changing someone’s life who previously was either skeptical or oblivious was incredible. I thought, “Why can’t this be the case all the time? Students back home are hungry for the power of God too!” This led me to enter full-time ministry to help reach college students in Columbia, SC. The transition has been challenging at times, but life beholding the gospel at work is an adventure and is NEVER boring!

Picture: Rob, right, and a friend at UNC-Charlotte

Haiti). Matthew was raised in church, where he served as drummer with the worship team and was active in youth group. There were blessings and trials to being raised by white parents. When the family moved from a suburban area to an urban area, Matthew faced some culture shock. “A lot of my tendencies were ‘white and dorky,’ ” said Matthew. “But I eventually viewed growing up with white parents as an opportunity, to see myself as a bridge between whites and blacks, by being more dimensional.”

In 2011 Matthew’s birth brother found him on Facebook. Matthew found out about his Haitian family—brothers, sisters, his parents, and relatives in Canada. “I discovered my lineage goes beyond Minnesota. I have another family,“ said Matthew. “I started dreaming about how to intertwine the two.” In 2014, Matthew went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. That trip gave him a deeper desire to see what God had for him in Haiti.

This summer, Matthew was offered an Act Six scholarship to Bethel University. “They take leaders and pump them back into the community, to see them make a difference in their worlds,” said Matthew. The AS scholarship could be a vehicle for him to go to Haiti, accompanied by his adoptive dad and church friends, with dreams of impacting lives, possibly, eventually church planting, and even pastoring, making a difference and fulfilling the requirements of the Act Six vision. Pray for this young man, that he would see his dreams come to fruition.

Dear Sisters,

This month is our shortest Pastors Wives Newsletter ever... but perhaps our most profound.

Last year, Virginia Biang passed from this life to be with her Savior. Her life was marked by a deep devotion to her Lord and to her family. 

Please enjoy this short but simple statement from Virginia to one of her closest friends, about what was most important to her. May we all follow her example.

In His love,

Sandy Hopler

Three Most Important Decisions

I have been awake a lot at night and have been meditating on the three most important decisions I have made in my life.

The first is when I accepted Christ, the second is when I gave my life to reaching the world with a body of believers and the third is when I married Chris.

Because of these I have some of the best friends imaginable (including you), and wonderful children. We have always been amply provided for, enjoyed many homes as well as some wonderful trips.

I have been blessed by God!

Virginia Biang (January 11, 1951 - November 1, 2015)

Grace Campus & Community Church. West Lafayette, Indiana

Dear Sisters,

We all have our different strengths and weaknesses. I know this month's writer well and I would say she is sharing with us one of her greatest strengths. Kelly consistently spends time talking with the Lord and seeking to hear from Him by reading His Word.

What a great idea to begin the year with a day devoted to our Savior. I am inspired to follow Kelly's example in 2016. I recently heard and wrote down the phrase, "...a future that exceeds your expectations." Kelly shared Micah 7:7 in that spirit of faith--"But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord..."

As our hope is fixed on Jesus Christ and on enjoying His presence, our future can only get more glorious!

In His love,

Sandy Hopler

Speak Lord! -  A Day With the Lord

By Kelly Lewis, Grace Point Community Church, Lewis Center, Ohio

As I write this, it is the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We have had a few days of wonderful celebration with family. We even got our house decorated for Christmas, and I know the time will fly over the next few weeks with little time to slow down and reflect. But early in the new year, I am looking forward to a tradition that renews and inspires me: my annual day with the Lord.

From the time when our children were young, my husband Terry has made it a priority to make sure I get away all day to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the one to come. It is a special and valued part of my prayer life. In years past, I would go away somewhere quiet, far removed from responsibilities and distractions. Now that our kids are grown, I prefer to build a fire in the fireplace and sit under a blanket in a comfy chair. I usually fast for the day, mainly just to strip everything else away and focus on being filled with God's presence.

I begin the time by doing my best to still my busy mind and prepare my spirit to hear from God. Often I need to write out a to-do list of all the things that might distract me. It honestly takes me a while to slow down and I need to ask God to help me focus on Him alone. A verse that comes to mind is Micah 7:7, But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. I then start by reading over my journal from the previous year. I revisit all the celebrations and joys and take time to thank God for them once again as I remember. I reflect on verses that God used to challenge me and help me grow. I recall the struggles and trials and see God's goodness and all the ways He sustained me through them. I spend time praying and reflecting on all I read. I believe that trusting God with the unknowns of the future is much easier when we remember His faithfulness and how He has worked in our circumstances in the past. I do not want to be like the Israelites: They forgot what He had done--the great wonders He had shown them. Psalm 78:11 (NLT)

Next I pull out my guitar and play through my favorite worship songs. I make them my prayer as I think about the truths of who God is. It is an intimate time of expressing my love to Jesus. Psalm 13:7 (NLT) says, I will sing to the Lord because He is good to me.

I then feel ready to come to God with my requests and seeking direction for my life. One by one, I will write the names of my husband, kids, and loved ones and I pray about what is on my heart for them. I then wait quietly to see if God will give me thoughts on how I can help or encourage them. I also will reflect through the roles, ministries, and responsibilities I have. I ponder how God wants me to excel and grow in each area, or if there are things He wants me to let go or move on from. It gives me such peace to lay my life before Him knowing that He cares about all the things that matter to me. I love Psalm 37:23 which says, The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

So there you have it. This is an area that has meant so much to me and in which God has helped me to be consistent. There are so many other aspects of prayer that are weaknesses for me. I say I will pray for someone and I don't follow through; I am sporadic in praying for our missionaries or government leaders. I am looking forward to hearing from some of you in the months to come about how I can practically develop these aspects of prayer in my life.

Soon we are all going to turn the page to a new calendar year and hit the ground running. I am looking to my day with the Lord to renew me and equip me to face whatever comes. Happy Almost New Year!

Dear Sisters,

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." -A.W. Tozer

How do you view God? Is He your kind loving Father, or a taskmaster who is waiting to smack you on your knuckles at the first mistake? Our writer this month saw God as disapproving and punishing until she saw His love acted out and demonstrated in a special way. She then began focusing on, and meditating on the truth in God's Word about the true character of the God of love.

Let's imitate Barbara and allow our minds and emotions to be influenced by Scripture and the Holy Spirit, that we may truly know and enjoy the love of our Heavenly Father. How else can we spread that saving mercy and love to our hurting and needy world?

With you in thanking Him for His love and blessings,

Sandy Hopler

Speak Lord! -  God Does Heart Surgery

By Barbara Wilson, Grace Community Church of Cary, Cary, North Carolina

When I became a Christian, one of the first things God began working on me was to change my view of Him. Growing up with an earthly father who seemed to find all that was wrong with something rather than what was right, skewed my view of my Heavenly Father. Rather than seeing Him as a God of love and mercy, I imagined His disapproval every time I had a bad thought, or sinned with my words or actions. If the circumstances of a day went my way, I believed God was pleased with me. But if things didn't turn out so well, then something I did that day was wrong and God was lowering the boom on me so I would straighten up and fly right. Because I lived under imagined disapproval from God, I also lived under imagined disapproval from people. This caused me to care so much about what people thought of me, that I would make decisions and order my day so that I wouldn't offend anyone, or so I thought.

I am so thankful for my husband and other spiritual leaders in my life who began to contradict me and speak the truth about who God is and how He views me. My hard shell of pride took a while to crack.

How could the God of the universe, who created everything, who established the Law, the 10 Commandments, etc. not discipline me when I sinned? That made no sense!

My warped view of God was "confirmed" when we started having children. As they grew up and disobeyed us, I didn't exercise mercy. Their disobedience deserved discipline, just like mine did, right? I even found myself disapproving of their behavior just like my father did. Then one day, one of our sons disobeyed--again. Berk took him into the bathroom to receive his punishment, but instead of administering the rod, Berk put the rod into our son's hand and told him to spank his daddy. Of course our son was confused, but then Berk explained to him that that is what God does for us. We deserve the discipline, but Jesus' death on the cross took that punishment from us and put it onto Him. I had known that since salvation, but that simple demonstration finally fractured that shell that needed to be broken.

God put it on my heart to start reading the Bible looking for characteristics of God. I started with the Psalms and came away with verses like Psalm 65:5, "By awesome deeds You answer us in righteousness, o God of our salvation." And Psalm 34:5, "They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed." Over time, as I have claimed these verses and prayed for God to make them real in my life, I have experienced His "heart surgery." I can't say there was a particular day that I accepted His mercy at face value, but as He massaged these promises into my heart, I came to have confidence that as His child, He is not lowering the boom at all, but only drawing me to Him in His love.

One of the latest verses I have memorized and have on my desk at work is Isaiah 50:7, which says, "Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do His will. And I know that I will not be put to shame."

Is there is anything in your life where your thinking does not match up with the character of God? I encourage you to not waste any time, but bring it before our Heavenly Father who knows just how to do "heart surgery." Just like we want our own children to know our love and faithfulness, our Lord wants the same for us.

May you join with me in setting your face like stone.

Sisters,

We all live busy lives. But in our hectic schedules, there is one activity that is most important. Jesus told Martha that her sister was doing the one "necessary" thing, which is to "listen to the Lord's word" (Luke 10:38-42).

This month's writer, Peggy Dunn, tells how this matter of "listening to the Lord" has been foundational to her walk with Christ. I think you will enjoy her story of faith.

May God grant you grace this month to do the one necessary thing--listening to the Lord's word.

In His love,

Sandy Hopler

Speak Lord! -  Listen to the Lord

by Peggy Dunn, Orlando, Florida

"O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me. Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child rests against his mother, my soul is like a weaned child within me. O Israel [Peggy], hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever." Psalm 131

January 1974, I was only a few days old in the Lord and a kind fellow believer from the early OSU church planting team, took me aside and strongly encouraged me to memorize this Psalm. She had correctly sensed that I was overwhelmed with trying to become familiar with all the new spiritual information, life as a freshman at Ohio State, and with having to shoulder the constant adverse, unhappy reactions to my accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I had no previous familiarity with the Bible and I barely knew about Jesus.

Memorizing the Psalm was one of the first steps I took. Obeying it became part of my new path to learning how to prepare my heart (soul) in order to 'Listen' to the Lord. It was and is easy for me to get distracted by my busy thought life. Following these instructions from King David then and over the past forty years has helped me to train my mind to "...compose and quiet my soul;" in order to Listen to and keep my 'eyes on Jesus' (Hebrews 12:2), and to keep placing my 'hope in the Lord'. I am forever grateful for the wise advice about memorizing this and other verses and sections of scripture. God's word has been a powerful influence in my life on a daily basis.

It took me a while to get started reading the word, but because I had daily intense opposition surrounding the changes in my faith from day one, I was desperate for God to be deeply personal with me through His word. He was. Remember, I never really read much of the Bible and had almost no knowledge of anything in it. It took me several years to get a regular rhythm reading and memorizing. The combination of clearing out the many "great matters or things too difficult for me", and then "composing and quieting my soul" before the Lord, freed me up to place my complete hope and trust in Him and what He had to say to me each day. I admit getting this time with an undistracted mind and heart is a battle. The battle to Listen to the Lord is one I fight for every day. I have my Bible, pen and notebook, but it takes extra effort to have a soft heart. Being willing to Listen and do whatever the Lord shows me is my biggest challenge, especially if it means sacrificing, suffering loss, or change of some sort.

My ability to Listen with a soft heart no matter what God says or asks seems to depend on my view of Him at that very moment. Do I feel safe? Has He been answering prayer the way I wanted? Have I been seeing miracles or results to my Christian efforts? Is He too busy for me? I certainly cannot depend on my circumstances to help me have a healthy honest view of the Lord 24/7. I have been camping on Jude 1:20-21, "But you beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life." It occurred to me that I need to put some very serious intentional effort into making sure I am doing whatever I need to do to build up my "most holy faith" in order to keep myself loving God! It is my responsibility. Not that Joe (my wonderful husband) does a bad job; he does a great job. Not that my church and friends do not help, because they certainly do. But...it is my job to do whatever I need to do to build my own holy faith and to keep myself loving God 24/7. As I have asked the Lord "like a weaned child" how He wanted me personally to grow in my most holy faith and in my love and appreciation of Him, He has led me through areas where I was settling for less.

In the last year He has been leading me to put some effort into memorizing new areas of scripture, to work on my presentation of the gospel using a form of the 'Bridge Diagram', to go out on campus to do initiative evangelism, to grow in my love for the lost, to start using something called the SOAP method when I have my devotion, to reduce time watching TV in the evenings, to work hard to have accountability partners (in addition to sweet Joe), to end my ten year volunteer job at the high school in order to be freed up to help Joe, to be more aggressive at taking time to pray each day, and lately to address areas of fear that have crept in as I age and experience changes in hormones. (Chuckle.) I am sure there is more, but I know He will direct me. All our journeys are different. What he shows you may be different than what He shows another.

It is easy for me to get distracted, neglectful, or apathetic with certain areas of my daily life. God has certainly shed his loving light on my journey. Change is not necessarily a comfortable word. My prayer is that we take care of our "...most holy faith, keeping ourselves in the love of God", and secure a soft and Listening heart towards Him, His word, His people, and His will for us--that we intentionally take steps to help our soul to be like a weaned child resting against its mother and "...hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever."

Sisters,

When I was a new Christian, I was given a little booklet entitled, My Heart, Christ's Home, by Robert Boyd Munger. The intent of the story is to allow Jesus Christ, now indwelling you, to "tour your home," your heart's affections and habits, and to allow Him to clear up the abode of your heart so He alone can rule supreme.

This month our writer, Su, reminds us of the need to have Jesus so very comfortable in our hearts, His home, that we can enjoy His presence at all times and in all circumstances. She says, "What would enable Him to feel that He is completely free to take off His holy shoes, walk around comfortably into every part of my being, and live out His daily life in me?"

As a Christ-follower, I really want the Lord to be able to live out His life in me, daily!

I pray you find encouragement and comfort in Su's thoughts, to renew your commitment to relinquish anything holding you back from enjoying Christ's presence and guidance today.

In His love,

Sandy Hopler

Speak Lord! - Abiding in Christ

by Su Keator, Missionary 

I believe one of our biggest challenges as pastor's wives, because of our multifaceted lives and ministries, is maintaining relational closeness with the Lord.

Today is a perfect example. Mike and I attended a dear couple's baptism in Nepalgunj. It was incredibly hot. We left home about 11:30am. Not long into the journey, we had drained our bottle of purified water and then were afraid to drink the village water. So we had no water to drink. Sweat was soaking my face, and my arms were slick with perspiration. We walked almost two miles to get to the couple's house, then to the stream, and then back to their house, and then back to the bus. Two precious little girls attached themselves to me and wanted to hold my hands and sometimes my arms the whole way! My hands were sweating. Salty water was dripping from my forehead into my eyes. The path was rocky and therefore tricky to navigate with sandals. As I tried to talk to these little girls, not knowing their language, I remember thinking something like this, "How am I supposed to walk close to the Lord in this miserable situation?" We arrived home after 3pm.

Our relationship with the Lord is so vital because everything else flows from this. We are reminded in John 15:5 that "...apart from Me you can do nothing"....nothing, that is, of eternal consequence. And in Revelation 2:4 the church in Ephesus was exhorted "...you have left your first love! Remember therefore from where you have fallen." In a book called My All For Him, authored by a German nun, she refers to "first love" as "bridal love." I was especially intrigued and blessed by her thought that when Jesus calls us to radical discipleship, He does not say this as a teacher, nor even as the Lord demanding obedience. Rather, He says these words to us as a Bridegroom!

1 Corinthians 2:11-12 and 16 helps us understand the potential of this closeness. "For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God... we have the mind of Christ." I have noticed in this last year how Mike will say something that at that very moment I also am thinking, even almost the same words. It is like our minds are connected. But imagine having the mind of Jesus inside you with the potential of sizing up every situation with His very thoughts. Or having His heart of compassion, His attitudes, His love, or sense of humor flowing through you. Francis Frangipane in his book Holiness, Truth, and the Presence of God describes this closeness in this way, "...the holiness we are seeking is not a legislative or legalistic set of rules; it is Christ's very own quality of life. The Holy Spirit works in us not merely a new desire to love, but He imparts to us Christ's very own love. We develop more than just a general faith in Jesus; we actually begin to believe like Jesus, with his quality of faith. It is God in us that makes us holy."

Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3, especially verse 17, has in part been translated, "that Christ would make Himself at home in your hearts...." I love this picture! Jesus feeling right at home inside of me! What would enable Him to feel that He is completely free to take off His holy shoes, walk around comfortably into every part of my being, and live out His daily life in me?

I have become aware that sometimes I don't listen very well to the Lord. I am not aware He is even telling me to do something until the opportunity has passed. Then I will think back and sure enough remember that little voice or prompting I simply ignored because I had a different agenda. Then I feel so badly and wonder how I can be so insensitive (deaf).

Yesterday, on the spur of the moment, a pastor asked Mike to visit his home and meet the 6 orphaned boys they have committed to raising. Run Global has helped with their support and my husband was eager to visit their home. He was about to leave when I received a phone call to come and join him. Frankly, I didn't want to go. I was tired, needed a shower, etc. But (knowing I needed to be submissive) I went. My body was engaged, but my heart was on reserve. I went through the motions, made conversation, smiled, asked questions, but deep inside my heart was resisting still. How did this affect my relationship with Mike? I didn't want to sit by him in their home! Well I woke up this morning and was scheduled to teach in a church with one of our ministry partners. I felt pretty well, but something in my spirit was off. I knew the Lord just wasn't quite "with me." My translator and I had a long drive to the meeting place. What did I do? I repented on the way! I actually had to backtrack in my mind and figure out what was wrong. Confessing that I had only obeyed outwardly and not from my heart was such an important step for me. I kept processing things until I had peace. I was close to Jesus again and the morning was great!

Colossians 3:15 is a great verse on how to stay close to the Lord. It says, "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts..." "Rule" in the margin has the meaning of act as an umpire. The scenario looks something like this: I am going through my day and become aware that I have lost some degree of peace in my heart. Just as an umpire blows his whistle in a sports event, and everything stops, so I, too, in that moment need to stop and take inventory of my heart. What has just happened that had caused my peace to leave? This need only take a moment. The faster we stop after the "foul" (sin) the quicker we discern the problem! Then repenting restores the closeness with the Lord.

A Heart Without Idols was a challenging chapter in the above book. Frangipane says, "...deep repentance is a vigilant, contrite attitude that refuses to allow sin or self to become an idol in our hearts. We have to demolish them completely. We cannot secretly harbor the slightest intention of ever using that idol again. It must be destroyed!"

In closing, in Isaiah 57:15, God is looking for a home in our hearts. I love these verses! "For thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, 'I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit, in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"

As I looked at those verses one morning, I noticed the contrasts. High/Low, Holy/Contrite! God was not looking for perfect people to live in. God was saying He wanted to live with imperfect people who were willing to repent. My sins and weaknesses didn't exempt me from a close relationship with Him. I just needed to develop the habit of repentance. A person is "lowly" if they are humble. A humble person is a "dependent" person. Not proud, but prayerful. Thus my simple reminder was to be repentant and dependent!

Today I started the workbook by Beth Moore called A Woman's Heart God's Dwelling Place. So looking forward to this study...perfect timing!!!!

The scope of these events cannot be measured simply by quoting statistics (five thousand people killed and more than a million displaced from their homes). Darkness and hopelessness has pervaded much of the country.

Thankfully, our victorious God is in the business of redemption and of taking what the devil means for harm and turning it into good. In stark contrast to the images of darkness, I am also joyfully picking out beautiful images of Ukrainian believers bringing the light and love of Jesus to the hurting and needy people of their country:

David and Mindy Henson, staff members with GC-Europe, along with members of Spring of Hope Church, have been very involved in serving refugees, providing food, medicine and clothing. Among other acts of service, they have helped in a local burn hospital and made ponchos for soldiers.

Bogdan Semilitko and members of City on a Hill Church regularly travel to wartorn areas of Eastern Ukraine to provide food for the many people who have no resources. One local church that they have partnered with has grown from ten to sixty because people say they have seen the love of Christ in action.

Almaz Church adopted one army battalion to serve, regularly visiting and building friendships, and providing sleeping bags, clothing, and boots. There are countless stories of how the hope and love of Christ is being shared. We want to thank you who have prayed and given generously to help bring lasting change to the lives of the people of Ukraine.

Pictured Above - The adopted army battalion served by Almaz Church.

In short, we want to provide basic primary care medicine to people in great need. We believe that this is a very cost effective way to change the health status of the people we serve and allow them to better provide for themselves, their amilies, and their future.

Total Health currently has three clinics running full time in three Central American countries. These clinics handle approximately 25,000 patient visits annually. Our model of care is very simple: low cost, low tech, high yield.

We can service a patient for under $5.00 per visit including all of the medicines and care that the patient will need. This
model of care has been so successful that we are committed to expanding it, and we are currently evaluating new sites for
additional clinics.

When we talk about providing “Total Health” to people we are also talking about much more than just medications. Safe and sanitary homes, nutrition for children, prenatal care to prevent birth defects, etc., can have incredible impacts on the lives of people in need. So over time, we have developed programs to help in these areas.

Spiritual health is also critical to the well being of the poor. By partnering with local GCLA churches in the areas we serve, we
are able to care for the spiritual needs giving not only support now, but a hope for the future and opportunity to know and grow in Christ. In the end, it is the spiritual health of a person that is most important.

Pictured Above - Pastor and Doctor Jay Martin in action on a mission trip.

 Dear Sisters,

We all have days when the events make no sense to us. "Why is this happening?" we ask. "Is there any reason for these trials I am going through?"

This month's writer Joan Stockdale reminds us that our God is sovereignly working in our lives. Because He is Lord over the affairs of men, we can trust that events are being ordered out according to His lovingkindness.

May God grant you His multiplied peace this month as you keep your eye focused on our reigning King, Jesus Christ.

In His love,

Sandy Hopler

Speak Lord! - Our Sovereign God

By Joan Stockdale, New Song Community Church, Reynoldsburg, Ohio

Jack and I just returned from traipsing around the mountains of West Virginia looking for grave stones. His roots on his dad's side come from those wild and wonderful hills (which explains a lot about my man!). My roots are much more hidden as my dad was adopted and I have no idea of his heritage. As we sorted through the papers in the genealogy library in Lewis County and we stood before those weathered tombstones in a long forgotten cemetery, I thought about how one choice by any one of our ancestors could have changed the sequence of events that eventually brought Jack and me together. Yet even though they all had a free will and made good and bad choices, God was working His plan.

I marvel at the sovereignty of God. Here are a few examples from our lives:

• Jack's great grandfather was once a 17 year old musician on a pier in Germany asked by a steam ship captain to entertain his passengers on a transatlantic crossing, something that had never been done before.
• Jack's Bohemian great great grandfather sent his sons to America to avoid the draft while their sister stayed behind, her descendants growing up behind the Iron Curtain. Jack remembers seeing letters on his grandmother's dining room table with portions cut out, censored by the Communist government.
• A kind hearted Marine offered to take my weary father's place as point man while on patrol in Chinese controlled Korea. That man took the bullet that would have killed my father. I was born 4 years later. 
• His struggling parents couldn't afford tuition for their seven kids at the parochial high school so Jack had to attend the public school where our paths crossed on the stage of Up the Down Staircase.

One of my favorite verses is Habakkuk 3:19: The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and enables me to tread upon the heights.

That verse makes sense of my past and gives me great peace for my future. God has skillfully woven the tapestry of my life thus far and He will continue to weave until I see His face. Those magnificently designed deer feet allow a doe to tread on the heights where an enemy cannot reach her. And sisters, we have such feet! However, they "enable us to walk", not "demand that we walk," upon the heights. The choice for how we view those heights is ours: suffering while running from our enemies or by faith drawing closer to the home of our Beloved.

Just before we went on our vacation we went to a Voice of the Martyrs Conference. (If there is one anywhere near you, I strongly encourage you to go.) This was my third conference and I went with a great heaviness of heart in light of recent world events.  But after the first speaker spoke his first few words, I could have gone home filled with joy and hope.

Brother John from Syria, said, "This is not a story of suffering, it's a story of faith."

My whole perspective changed. Later I read Hebrews 11. We read it as a chronicle of great men and women of faith. But what if we would focus instead on their story of suffering?

Abel...murdered
Noah... solely righteous in his generation, rejected and mocked for 100 years while building the ark
Abraham...wandering, waiting, promises unfulfilled during his lifetime
Sarah...25 years of waiting and wondering
Isaac... dysfunctional family
Jacob...years of labor for Rachel, deception, dysfunction, mourning the loss of Joseph
Joseph... sold by his own brothers, false accusations, forgotten
Moses...taken from his parents, 40 years alone in the desert, 40 years leading rebellious Israel
Rahab... human trafficked?
Gideon... oppressed by the Midianites, persecuted by his peers when he destroyed the altar to Baal
Barak... oppressed by the Canaanites
Samson... oppressed by the Philistines
Jephthah...rejected by his family, oppressed by the Ammonites
David... Saul, Philistines, Absalom
Samuel... Saul, Israel demanded a king, Samuel's own sons
Men and women...mocked, scourged, chained, imprisoned, stoned, sawn in two, tempted, put to death, clothed in sheepskins or goatskins, destitute, afflicted, ill treated...

I saw, for possibly the first time, how all these men and women had suffered greatly. The writer of Hebrews could have pointed all that out, but instead he shared their story, not as a story of suffering but rather as a story of faith.

Looking at what many would describe as gathering clouds of suffering and persecution for Christians in America, I realize that Habakkuk 3 and Hebrews 11 have a common thread. God has always been and will always be sovereign. Think of all the prophesies concerning the Messiah, beginning in the Garden, that the Lord God brought to pass. Those men and women of faith in Hebrews 11 believed Him to be a God who would continue to fulfill His promises. Verse 11 says, "By faith even Sarah herself received the ability to conceive because she considered Him faithful who had promised."

Sisters, this is where our victory lies. Hebrews 10:23 says, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."

Sarah and Abraham and David and Jephthah all considered Him faithful who had promised. By the grace of God, so will we!

The writer of Hebrews goes on to say in verses 24, 25, "And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as we see the day drawing near."

Then in Hebrews 12:1 we read, "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

The One who authored our faith is also perfecting it. Let's fix our eyes on Him and walk on those sure feet all the way to the finish line where He is waiting with open arms.

Utah is basically an unreached people group. The state has approximately 2-3% evangelical Christians. Frankly, there is a
huge need for more Gospel-preaching, Bible-believing churches all over this great state. The fall of 2013, we (the pastors) decided God wanted us to step out in faith and raise up new pastors and plant another church. God was clearly working in five men’s lives, so we asked them to join the existing four pastors to lead these locations.

In the spring of 2014, Billy Johnson, Bryan Edwards and I, invited people from all of our locations, to be part of this church plant on the west side of the Salt Lake City Valley. The majority of the church plant team came from the Salt Lake Church location, with other key families joining us, too. We started with a team of about 50 adults and their kids. We spent the summer of 2014 praying and doing outreach around the west side of the Salt Lake City Valley. We had some struggles finding a good location to meet in. Eventually, God led us to share a building with a great church in Taylorsville.

We have been “officially” opened since December and it has been really encouraging. There has been a steady stream of unsaved people and visitors each week to our church. As 2015 has gone on, some of the visitors are starting to knit in. We would appreciate prayers for fruitful outreach this summer, salvations, growth, and a permanent home for our church plant!

Pictured Above - Recognizing new elders at The Rock

There were questions we were considering, too. Could we think about church in a way that would better emphasize ministry during the week with neighbors, coworkers, and others? Could we rethink the service to better promote community?

This yielded a plan to start a second Summitview location in west Greeley on Easter 2014, giving us the benefit of
shared ministries between the locations and the opportunities that a church plant environment presents.

Simplicity has been one of our goals in everything from our bands to our children’s programs. We hope people in
the church will focus less during the week on things like band practice and Sunday School lessons and more on relationships inside and outside the church.

During our gatherings, we sit around tables and have shorter messages followed by a discussion and time to pray
together. The same group sits around each table every week and also meets during the week. Periodically we change these groups up so that people get to know each other over time. Admittedly, this can be a hard environment for a visitor that walks in the door to step into, but is a great environment for those we bring to church personally, which is our focus. This format has been the best received part of what we’ve done.

We have seen much spiritual growth, but not much numerical growth in our first year. As we move forward, we’re making some adjustments to get back on the course we feel God gave us at the start, and we hope to see growth in every area in the months ahead!

 Dear Sisters,

Everyone is tempted to give up in life. We are tempted to give up on our exercise program. We are tempted to give up on getting out of debt. And we are tempted to give up on relationships, even our relationship with God.

This month's writer, Laura Blanco, encourages us to persevere in prayer, even during the darkest hours. God loves to answer the prayers of the one who keeps on trusting Him despite seemingly negative circumstances. I think you will enjoy reading Laura's story.

May you experience His presence in a powerful, intimate way, as you persevere in prayer!

In His love,

Sandy Hopler

Speak Lord! -  God is Our Refuge and Strength

By Laura Blanco, Miami, Florida

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Be still and know that I am God.  Psalms 46:1-3,10-11  

I was driving with my youngest daughter to a class when it happened--the call I've secretly feared getting for years about my husband. "Hi honey. Yeah, it's me. I am in the hospital. I fell off a roof, and the ambulance just brought me here." Wait, what? You're in the hospital, and you fell off a roof--how are you talking to me? I couldn't get past that phrase in my mind. I knew it was a good thing that he was able to talk, but he says he fell off a roof. That means about 10-12 feet high! "How are you?" my voice quivering, and trying to hold back the tears. "I don't know yet," said Rudy. "Everything hurts, but don't worry honey, just come to the hospital, o.k.?"

At that moment I could just think of my poor husband lying in a hospital bed all broken up. As I got off the phone, I said to my daughter, "Honey, dad fell off a roof, but he's going to be o.k., because God protected him." Still in shock, and with tears in our eyes we pulled over to the side of the street and my daughter and I gave thanks to our Lord.

"The Lord works in mysterious ways," is a saying I grew up hearing. Well, now I was actually living it. This accident was the beginning of a different course the Lord had planned out for us, and it would unfold right before our eyes!

I am a pastor's wife and a mom of six so I am used to praying. I can say that I've spent most of my Christian life praying, but this past year I feel as if I unlocked a mystery about how our prayer life pleases God. For the longest time I prayed over our children, my husband, our church, family and friends, and I continue to do that. But now I feel as if I my life is a continual act of prayer and persistent prayer, meaning never stopping!

What I learned is that in order to have faith, we cannot stop asking. To have faith, by definition, is to pray and keep praying and to not lose heart in prayer. Faith prays until the answer comes. 1 Peter 1:7 speaks about how precious our faith is to God, more precious than gold which is perishable. If we persist in prayer when we go through life's trials, it shows God our faith, and it brings Him glory and praise! I had never really seen prayer in this light before. Paul also urged us to "pursue faith" in 1 Timothy 6:11 and 2 Timothy 2:22. It is a battle, because Satan tries to discourage us from being persistent. Satan wants us to give up once we don't see a quick response.

The journey that followed was not easy for our lives. My husband did break his pelvic bone, and his wrist in the fall. He also had many bruises all over his ribs. But thank God he did not hit his head. His foot slipped off the ladder, and he fell 10 feet onto the ground, and when he fell he bounced onto the grass. The doctor was in awe that he had not broken more bones, and that he was alive to tell us the story! He recovered slowly at home with pain medications, and therapy, and a lot of prayers from many dear friends and family.

At the same time that this happened we also had to close down our little church that Rudy had been pastoring, and our family was ministering to for about three years. This too was very hard for us. It was very tempting to get discouraged and just throw our hands up in the air, and wonder why God wasn't answering our prayers! I wanted to "do" something to make things better for my husband, to help him come out of this dark tunnel.

Then I remembered this book I read that spoke about these verses on prayer, and how the "secret" was to pray relentlessly. Pray continually, without ceasing, it says in the Word, and this is what I did. Ladies, when we get opposition to prayer, it is when we really need to continue! Satan uses three things to keep us away from prayer: distraction, temptation, and discouragement. When we are in the middle of the trial, we can easily give way to discouragement, because we get tired and anxious for our problems to be solved. Hope deferred makes the heart sick it says in Proverbs 13:12. This is so true but this is the exact time we need to persevere in asking, thanking, and worshiping our Lord through our prayers to Him.

As we worship in praise and thanksgiving, we are walking close to Him and we are blessed by His presence in our lives. We can easily receive His grace and peace in the midst of our turmoil if we are in constant communion with Him!

So I want to encourage all of you to resolve in your hearts to make prayer a 24/7, 365- days-a-year reality in your lives. I am still working on this. I get distracted at times and lose heart. But I remember He has confirmed to me that He loves unceasing prayer, and this is the best possible thing I can do to help my husband in his ministry.

It's been almost a year now, and we are still recovering. But I can truly say that God has answered our prayers in more ways than one. He has met our spiritual, physical, and emotional needs as well. He has guided us to a church family who genuinely loves God. They have reached out to our family, and helped us in our healing process. We are so very thankful for everything God is doing in our lives. He truly cares, and does answer our unceasing prayers.

Many blessings and love in Christ,

Laura Blanco

That was Colony Four. Right next door was Colony Five, with a police station at its entrance. When our team did outreach there, the police kicked us out, accusing us of trying to convert people (which is illegal in India). After a couple tries, we gave up.

Fortunately, God didn’t. The next year I returned and someone brought up Colony Five in a prayer meeting—“God, we don’t know how to reach them, but please somehow send your gospel there.” The next day my friends and I went out to share Bible stories in a wealthier part of town. We started talking with some older ladies, and a young man stopped to listen. The ladies lost interest, but he was mesmerized. He kept asking questions until I offered to send some team members to his house to share more.

“Where do you live?” I asked. “I’m on my way to work,” he replied, “but I live in Colony Five.”

The same kept happening the rest of my time in that city. I passed out Bibles on a street corner, and a man stopped to take a box back to his home, Colony Five. I taught kids at the vegetable market and a young couple from Colony Five stopped to listen. I shared the gospel at an apartment complex and a man from Colony Five invited us over for chai.

No matter where I went or whom I talked with, it ended with Colony Five, our lost colony. We gave up, but God never did. When we couldn’t go to them, He sent them to us.

The highlight of corporate prayer in our church is the Wednesday night service. We make a constant effort to include all 4 types of prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication (A.C.T.S.) in every service. We pray by themes like our “prodigals,” for our children and students (i.e. at the start of the academic year), our families, our nation, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, etc. We also make a special emphasis to constantly pray for the sick. We experience many favorable answers as a result of corporate prayer and fasting.

Also during a typical week, and in pursuit of the “culture,” we have:

• Over 20 prayer conference calls.

• A women’s prayer group meeting once a week to pray for all the prayer cards that are completed during services. The group commits to praying for 30 days for each prayer card.

• A group of “servers” dedicated to praying every Sunday in the “prayer room” in the lobby of the sanctuary; before, during, and after each service.

• We fast as a church for an extended period at the beginning of every year. We also encourage the saints to fast one day a week.

• Every Monday night we send teams to visit and pray for the guests that come to our Sunday services.

• We’ve posted a 24/7 emergency prayer line on our website. This website also has a prayer request feature that receives petitions on a daily basis.

We consider ourselves learners when it comes to prayer–we feel we have a long way to go. We are climbing the mountain on prayer toward the summit of a “prayer culture.”

 Dear Sisters,

When we pursue a life of prayer, it is natural to focus on our requests rather than God Himself. At times we can be frustrated when our prayers are not answered. But then God does something wonderful. He reveals Himself in ways we did not expect.

This month's writer, Mary Young, shares how God showed Himself to her during her time of prayer. I think you will be encouraged by her story.

May the Lord Jesus Christ reveal Himself to you in new ways as you devote yourself to prayer.

Love in Christ,

Sandy Hopler

Speak Lord! -  Finding God in Prayer

By Mary Young, The Rock Church, Draper, Utah

When I had agreed to write for this month's newsletter, I had thought to myself "Sure, I can put some thoughts together." So, I committed to doing it, and then the insecurities came. I told Bill that I felt insecure about writing because you're all heroes to me and what could I possibly share with you all that you don't already know? As I've read the newsletters each month, I've been struck by how much wisdom, humility, and love for the Lord you all have. It has all been very encouraging.

My husband smiled at me and reminded me that I don't need to share new things with you. I just need to remind you of Truth and what the Lord is teaching me and then He can use it in your life. As Neva Whitney shared in her entry, "Listen to the Lord speak to you this year, ladies. Then write and tell us what He says, or how God encouraged and instructed and comforted and counseled you."

Once I re-read that, I smiled and thought, "Oh, I can do that." So, ladies, here is a little of how God has been teaching me and encouraging me. The Reader's Digest version: He is faithful and good, and I need to let Him be God in my life.

If you don't know me very well, I'll be honest and share a few things with you. I like to be in control of what's going on in my life. I like to get things done early, or I consider them late. I don't like change. I like it when things go just the way I think they should go. I like it when people do what they're supposed to do and their silly or wrong choices don't complicate my life. I don't really like to follow as much as I can like to lead. I like it when all is as I think it should be. "Life according to Mary."

Given the way that I am wired, I can tend to struggle, at times, with the way the Lord works in my life. He doesn't consistently do what I want. He moves on a different schedule. He brings constant change and new people and situations. He wants me to yield to His good plans. And I want to do that. But I can struggle with some of the details of the plan.

This past year has been one of a lot of change. Last fall was my first year of not homeschooling any of my boys. Lots of emotions with that for sure. Bittersweet. Our church finally finished construction of our new building and I went on staff--working for the church for 10 hours a week, then 15, and then 30, in order to help keep up with the demands of our growing ministry. I loved it, but there was an adjustment to that schedule that I had to figure out. I started seeing the beauty of cereal or waffles for dinner. I finally had to accept the gluten free lifestyle change that I had been fighting against for so many months. My two oldest boys entered pretty serious relationships with some wonderful girls but that was a new dimension for sure. My third child was getting established in high school and got his license and my youngest was transitioning to high school and figuring out life. I turned 50 in February and felt like I was daily juggling the balls of life and dropping them. Every time I turned around, I felt like there was something to do. I felt "stretched" a lot, and knew I needed something to change.

I've taken our sweet dog on walks for a long time, but during this past year, those walks became more and more important to me. I realized it was because they were my time to pray, to talk, to cast my burdens, to listen and to be still with the Lord. I realized they weren't an option for me--they were a necessity.

I was a little surprised that, even with much prayer, the situations that were making me so desperate, didn't really change. Weren't they supposed to get "easier"? I was in prayer about it, so wasn't that supposed to help? I struggled. Then it finally came to me. He didn't plan on removing my struggles. He wanted me to be in the situations to stay dependent on Him. A simple truth I'd known about the Lord all of my Christian life, but somehow it was now new for me.

I realized that during my prayer walks, I had too much of a tendency to primarily ask the Lord to simply help me. I realized that seeking the Lord's help is good--but I needed to seek His will, not mine. I finally heard the Lord say to me, "Mary, you can't do this on your own. You have no ability to control this situation or this person. You cannot do this in your own strength. You cannot make this situation turn out the way you want it to. You cannot operate in your own strength. You cannot control the future. But I can. I can do everything in your life that needs to be done. I can work all of this out for good. I can give you peace and strength and insight. I can enable you. But you must let Me do the work and you walk behind Me, not in front."

What a wonderful and necessary conversation to have with the Lord. He knew what I needed to hear and gently brought me along to see it. I now feel His peace more and more in my daily life and my "controlling" mindset is starting to change. A lot of the same situations are still going on in my life, but my heart and mind responses are changing. I'm becoming more flexible with change and more trusting with the unknown. I am more fully realizing that my children belong to the Lord and He will lead and guide them in a way I can't be a part of. People will continue to make choices that affect me, but again, that is God's deal--not mine.

One of my heroes, Elisabeth Elliot died this past week. I was reading a wonderful article about her and as it concluded, the author wrote, "Fans would sometimes ask Elliot, "What is it you're really trying to say?" She'd answer, "What I'm really trying to say is, let God be God." When I read that I smiled and realized that her words, in a nutshell, were what He was trying to say to me...He is so faithful and so good. A favorite verse of mine during this past year seemed to dovetail with what Elisabeth Elliot said: 2 Chronicles 20:15 "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's." Everything I felt like I was "fighting" belonged to God. And He would fight for me and with me. That brought such encouragement to my heart. 

The developments of the last 150 years however, have left Europe in a fog of secularism and atheism without a moral compass. Ed Slonchka of Global Reach Network shares a startling statistic about Europeans: “The percentage of non- Christians who know a Christian: 14%. This means that 86% of all non-believers do not even personally know a believer from whom they can receive good news.” The immigration of Muslims into this vacuum presents a golden opportunity for thegospel. Yes, some of them are being radicalized, but most are just wanting acceptance and to enjoy life in the West.

In order to better equip people to effectively engage Muslims, Great Commission Europe is planning to organize a “Ministry to Muslims” learning community in Cologne, Germany. This will be facilitated by Sarwar Aziz (a former Muslim, now an elder in the church in Cologne), and Paul Meiburger (a pastor in Torino, Italy, where there is one of the highest population densities of Muslims in Europe).

When the majority of Muslims arrive in Europe, they are generally very open to new ideas. It is a key time to reach them for Christ. Sadly, too many Christians maintain a distance out of fear, forfeiting golden opportunities to befriend, serve, and share the love of Christ. We are praying this weekend will be a big step forward, that those who come learn how to effectively share the gospel with Muslims around them, and that more Muslims in Europe will become followers of Jesus.

Pictured above: Paul Meiburger with Arab friends in Italy

International Students: Their number has grown to 890,000 and half of them are from the least evangelized countries of the world. Most are eager to make American friends and you could be the first Christian they have ever met. They are the future leaders of their countries and by ministering to them you are reaching their country with the gospel. God is very strategic!

Immigrants: There are 40 million firstgeneration immigrants living in the U.S. Many immigrants come to the U.S. due to severe stress or violence in their home countries. They need to learn the language, how to file forms with the government, how to drive and shop, and they need friends! As you take the gospel to them, they are able to reach their own cultures. This must be our priority if their nations are to be reached with the gospel.

Are you interested in cross-cultural ministry? Do you sense that God might want you to do ministry overseas someday? The best way to prepare is to learn from, pray for, serve, love and evangelize the people groups God has brought to your city. Bridge Builders encourages and informs people interested in cross-cultural ministry. Doug Brown, Ching Yu, Guang Song, Kenny Young, Robbie McAlister, and others will be sharing their stories and passing on what they have learned, May 22-24 in Omaha, NE.

Learn more at www.ism.candlewoodchurch.org.

Jim Wiebelhaus pastors at Candlewood Church in Nebraska.

Dear Sisters,

Our world is a troubled place. The daily news, and even events in our lives or the lives of those we love, can tempt us to get upset or disheartened. We may find ourselves wondering, "We are praying, but where is God's power against the evil?"

I found this month's letter about prayer to be a very timely one. Our writer Thelma Clark reminds us that the power in the battle for the hearts and minds of people cannot come from our strength, but from relying on our God. Generations of her family have seen victory in spiritual battles through prayer. God uses praying women!

Each of us can be that "one person" that makes the difference through faithful prayer. Let's continue to believe that God can indeed answer us with "awesome deeds," and His surprising grace!

In His love,

Sandy Hopler

Speak Lord! -  Our Surprising God

By Thelma Clark, Firehouse Church, Denver, Colorado

In each stage of my life the challenges have been different, so my prayer life has looked different in each one. I remember a friend saying to me when we both had several children at home, "I would just like to clean house by myself sometime." I knew her heart for her children, but I also understood her feeling that she would just like some time to think--without the constant voices and needs around her. Recently in a whole different season of life, I've begun to see how well those years of "no time to think" are serving me now when it comes to prayer.

Someone said, "Motherhood is a gift to us--God's perfect method to change us into selfless, giving women--living all of our moments for others." If we want to be good or godly mothers, that's exactly what our lives look like for many years--24/7. Even those women I know without children have usually been propelled by their "mother's hearts" into lives of service and living for others. Now that my children are grown, it has been an adjustment for me to be "alone" so much more of the time, feeling less fruitful than when someone was with me at all times, whether I was cooking, driving, cleaning, sitting, walking, etc. However--I'm discovering that now when my mind is free more of the day, it is so neat to channel the mother's heart and the habits that He developed through those years into now caring for others by talking to my "ever-present Companion"--praying for them.

God has been proving His Word true: "The prayer (not many prayers) of a righteous man (one man, not a big meeting) is powerful and effective (James 5:16)." (Fact: IT is powerful; IT is effective.) Often I feel helpless to do anything about the big, hard things people are facing, or the heart that needs to change, or the country that needs to turn back to God. But do I believe that a prayer is more effective, more powerful than "doing" something? I'd like to share some examples that motivate me to pray and that show we have a God who acts on behalf of His children.

When I was 19 and part of a campus evangelistic team, our leader told us of an older woman that he would always visit when he went home--because she faithfully prayed for us. Today I wonder how differently the results of the Great Commission Churches movement would look had she not regularly asked God to bring much fruit from our efforts.

My grandmother was widowed prematurely on a homestead, with six young children to raise. She came to Christ soon afterward, along with her oldest daughter Clara, through a young schoolteacher whom they boarded. A few years ago I learned that my grandmother prayed the rest of her life that her "circle would not be broken" (in heaven)--the prayer that my aunt Clara then continued to pray until her death. The outcome is yet to be seen, but many in the family know the Lord. Even though Grandma's oldest son held out till age 80, he called my Dad with the news of his best birthday gift--his salvation. I wonder how differently my life and our family's lives might have been without the faithful prayers of these godly women.

My cousin loved the Lord, but she had a son who lived wickedly for many years-- resulting in a life sentence. Many painful years passed--but one day, according to him, he fought and wrestled with God till he finally surrendered and received God's amazing grace and forgiveness. He was dramatically transformed, living the rest of his life for God's glory and to impact other prisoners. In his own words: "My mother and grandmother and aunt prayed for me for many years...never underestimate the power of the prayers of godly women, for I am convinced this is what sustained me and eventually led to my genuine salvation."

A few years ago I was inspired by Jan Gordon's example of praying for a few unbelievers every day--adding to my prayer list co-workers, friends, and neighbors of my adult children, many of whom I didn't know or had briefly met. Sometimes it seemed pretty routine, but how exciting now to realize some of the amazing ways God has worked in these lives. At least three of those couples have come to Christ, and other opportunities are unfolding.

One of the most inspiring and faith-building things that happened came this past year through one of the hardest trials we've ever gone through--after years of praying. Yet of all the things we had asked God for, of all the solutions we had thought of, of all the people we thought He might use--nothing seemed to happen. "BUT GOD" brought about His own answer! True to His Word, He did something we would never have dreamed of or have been able to imagine. Ephesians 3:20 is now a favorite promise: "He is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine." He is not limited by the things I think of to ask. He loves to do more than we can even dream up. Now I often pray: "Just surprise me. You are good at being God. Thank You, that of all the answers I could imagine, Your answer can be so much more--immeasurably so." 

How freeing to know it's not about me or what I'm praying (even the prompting to pray, and health to pray are gifts from Him)--it's about to Whom we pray...God! The Almighty! He can do anything. He knows perfectly just when and how to do whatever is needed. He perfectly loves, wanting each one's best. And because the Holy Spirit is present everywhere and is powerful, He can speak, convict, encourage, empower, transform--all by Himself, without me. Then God gets the glory!

Ladies, I'm thankful to be praying alongside all of you...may He show Himself strong on our behalf.

P.S. After initially writing this, I finished reading Anne Graham Lotz's book I Saw the Lord, in which she ended by challenging us to be the "one" person praying--so God can bring about powerful, effective results. She shared that most revivals have begun with one person burdened to pray. The First Great Awakening began with Jonathan Edwards reading an article on prayer and beginning to pray. The Second Great Awakening began with a single pastor beginning to pray because of the moral decline. Thirty years of prayer in South Africa preceded the outpouring of God's Spirit there in 1860. Revival broke out in Wales after a coal miner agonized in prayer over the state of the church. Two older, blind, arthritic women's prayers and the longing of one church brought about the revival of Hebrides (William MacDonald's birth country). All these revivals brought about through the earnest prayers of individuals, changed many countries and therefore millions of people's lives.

MTM leverages the power of the mustache to assist families adopting internationally, domestically, or through the foster care system. All money raised go into a fund to help multiple families each year. Within the first week, MTM met the month-long goal of raising $25,000. In one month MTM provided $76,131.

Over 200 men participated by growing mustaches, and they passed out business cards and engaged in conversations throughout the month to ask family, friends, and coworkers to financially sponsor their mustaches. Many of the participants and a majority of the financial donors came from outside Walnut Creek, which allowed the gospel and the joy of adoption to spread.

The Ekwalls were one family helped through MTM. After hosting two children from Columbia in 2013, Will and Lori Ekwall knew they wanted to bring Jose (13) and Maria (11) home to stay and join their family, including their three children: Isabel, Eleanor, and Kendall. The Ekwalls hosted Jose and Maria through Kid Save, an agency that provides summer and
weekend foster care programs.

“We went into the program mainly as an advocate family, trying to find a forever family for the kids,” said Lori. “Once Jose
and Maria were here, we knew they were really great kids who needed a home.” The Ekwalls began the adoption process
in September 2013 and last July their family traveled to Columbia to bring Jose and Maria home to Iowa. “We are very
thankful for people’s prayers for us, to know people are behind us,” said Lori.

“It’s so good to be done with the process and have our new family home for good.” Visit mustachesthatmatter.com for more
information regarding the campaign.

I’ve read the life of William Wilberforce, an incredible man by any measure. He was a father of 6, a politician, philanthropist, who wrote books, gave impassioned speeches, suffered terribly from a stomach ailment, and in his spare
time – he ended slavery in Europe. His life and work plagued my conscience with this one thought: “Are we not capable of doing more?” The Salvage Project is the answer to that question in my own life. My primary focus is young people who are incarcerated, especially young men. This group was raised in a culture of broken promises. Many of these men are fatherless, betrayed by those who should have helped them most. Never before in the history of America has a group of
young people faced such tremendous lies, temptations, distractions and dangers as they do in the 21st century. We will
pay a heavy price for abandoning them. We already are. I want to go where few others will go – right into the belly of the
beast – and use my music and message to help repurpose and restore lives through the ageless message of the gospel.

After spending 7 years as a music volunteer at the V.A. and 3 years doing volunteer concerts at local prisons in Minnesota, God opened the door for me to transition this work into a ministry. I now team with GCC churches around the country to put on concerts in prisons in their communities or for their local youth. Since last fall The Salvage Project has traveled to 7 states and brought the gospel to over 1,000 hurting people.

Read more at www.thesalvageproject.org

 Dear Sisters,

The letters we have been sharing about prayer have been motivating in my own life. We are certainly in a challenging time in our culture and our country. It's more apparent than ever that we are indeed in a spiritual battle. Moses had Aaron and Hur to hold up his hands so that he could continue to pray in a time of war (Exodus 17:12). Sharing together the strength we are receiving from God to continue to trust Him and to pray and believe His many promises is so important.

Because of that need, I am so grateful for our writer Mary Knox's "heart-story" this month. She has been learning more of the essential quiet, listening side to her prayer life with God.

Let's continue to "hold up holy hands" in prayer, and to help each other to keep on seeking and listening to the Lord. And as we pray and see God answer those prayers, we can join in Mary's hope that "People will stand in awe, startled and stunned by Your signs and wonders" (Psalm 65:5, Passion Bible).

In His grace,

Sandy Hopler

Speak Lord! -  The Prayer of Awe and Intimacy

By Mary Knox, Evergreen Community Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota

The theme for this year's Pastors Wives Newsletter, following the example of the GCC pastors, is "Speak Lord...for Your servant is listening," 1 Samuel 3:10. The previous Pastors Wives articles this year by Dawn Bovenmeyer, Neva Whitney, and Jan Gordon were excellent, illuminating articles on prayer. All three could be published in Christianity Today, in my opinion! Mine is just a story, a heart-pouring, if you will.

I would say "Prayer" has been the theme of my life these past eight years. It is the area God has been working in me the most, doing a deep, excavating work. God has used different books to teach me more about prayer. Since February, my husband Brent and I have been concurrently reading Tim Keller's book, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God. Keller talks of "upward" prayer, which he describes as the 'prayer of awe.' Then there is 'inward' prayer, which he describes as 'the prayer of intimacy.' Finally, there is 'outward' prayer--supplication and intercession. God is presently doing His excavating in me in the upward and inward prayer. 

I have experienced the blessing recently of being a 'prayer partner' and scribe for friends seeking Theophostic prayer healing. Last week, the prayer 'facilitator' explained that Theophostic prayer is sometimes described as "listening prayer." I liked that. So often prayer is us talking away to God. In Theophostic prayer, you are supposed to sit in silence and let God say or reveal to you what He wants to say or reveal. 

Today in my quiet time I was very burdened about a member of our family. As I started to focus my heart and thoughts I decided to read Psalm 65, which my husband read to me yesterday. [We are both reading psalms from the Passion Bible, a new version being published, book-by-book.] Verse one says, "O God in Zion, to You even silence is praise." And of course, I wondered, "How can silence be praise?" 

I reflected how I have poured out so many words of prayer for this family member. I wrote in my journal, "I plead for him; I beg for him; I cry for him; I prostrate myself before You for him." Then I remembered Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Yet not My will, but Your will be done," Matthew 26:39.

And my prayer changed, "God, what is Your will for him? Are you presently performing Your will for him, and I am just not seeing it?" I saw that I needed, once again, to "Let God be God" and do things in His way, in His time--His perfect, 'right time.' Hands off--let God be God--prayer. The Holy Spirit then led me to Job 40:1-5. "Then the Lord said to Job, 'Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God's critic, but do you have the answers?' Then Job replied to the Lord, 'I am nothing-how could I ever find the answers? I will put my hand over my mouth in silence. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.'" 

God led me into silent, listening prayer. When that was done, God led me into upward prayer, "the prayer of awe." Psalm 65:5 reads "You answer our prayers with amazing wonders and awe-inspiring displays of power. You are the righteous God who helps us like a Father. Everyone everywhere looks to You...What jaw-dropping, astounding power is Yours...People will stand in awe, startled and stunned by Your signs and wonders." Praying the Scriptures is a well-touted method of prayer. Psalm 65 is the group of scriptures I prayed/praised God with this morning. "O God, answer [my prayer] with amazing wonders and awe-inspiring displays of power. I want to see Your jaw-dropping, astounding power in [this loved one]. I want to stand in awe, startled and stunned by Your signs and wonders that You can work in [this loved one]."

I was part crying, part paralyzed in my throat--just kind of groaning, just kind of crying in my heart. But I experienced the care of "the God who helps us like a Father." At the end of that portion of prayer, I worshiped with the song, "Here's My Heart," by David Crowder, from the Passion album, Let the Future Begin. At the close, I was experiencing God's peace and rest--the peace and rest you experience when you let go. It truly was a prayer time of awe. 

It really is a miracle how God leads us in our prayer. Prayer is not always our list of who to intercede for and what to supplicate for. Sometimes it's for silence and reflection, and sometimes for crying and groaning. It's a blessing to discover more dimensions and depth to prayer than we've known in the past or have been familiar with. It's been a blessing to discover the 'prayer of awe' and 'prayer of intimacy.'

I was challenged to think beyond our local church with a vision for reaching the world, to commit whatever I could to help fulfill the Great Commission. I told God to “count me in.” I must admit, I didn’t understand what that meant or even what the possibilities could be.

In my career I was given a good promotion one year later and I was able to be actively involved in business based ministry and was growing spiritually. Then… my banking career came to a screeching halt due to mergers and acquisitions. So, I did what any sound minded Spirit-filled man would do: I started two new businesses and I was making one-third of the income that I had previously. But, I still had an aching to be involved in missions.

Between the banking and starting the businesses, my wife and I went on a short-term mission trip to Romania serving as a business consultant. Through that experience, God gripped my heart for the world. God continued to allow us to be involved in missions even when we didn’t have the personal resources to make it happen. Over the past 27 years, God has allowed us to be involved in missions in Romania, Moldova, Germany, Sweden, Ukraine and the Philippines.

God put a desire in me to be involved in missions. There is no way that I could have orchestrated the mission’s ministry that He has given us. You never know how God will take a small commitment and turn it into a lifetime journey.

I knew I would miss being involved with my four kids and wondered how it would affect my marriage. I also considered my involvement at church, wanting to determine what ministries it was time to move on from. I didn’t quite feel on firm footing. I knew I had to be rooted in God’s Word.

The first passage that spoke to me was Ecclesiastes 3:2: there is a time to plant and a time to uproot. I spent a large portion of my life planting into my kids. I also developed skills as a worship leader and Bible study leader. Uprooting can be disruptive, yet God declares there is a time for it. It must be part of His best, and I want to embrace it without fear. I can struggle with this, and realized I tend to get my self-esteem from ministry rather than my position as a beloved child of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:6 says there is a time to hold onto and a time to let go. Instead of having firm roots trusting God’s plan I find I can be more like ivy, clinging to what I love, be it a relationship, ministry, or possession. I want to obey God’s Word, loosening my grasp and holding tightly to Him through changes.

I determined to apply Ecclesiastes 5:26: He does not often consider the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the joys of his heart. I don’t want to be anxious about the future, but living in and appreciating today.

After one year of empty nesting, my husband I are exploring date nights, hobbies, and have more time to minister together. I am learning to slow down and listen to the Lord more. The encouragement from God’s Word enables me to obey another verse: She smiles at the days to come, Proverbs 31:25.

 Dear Sisters,

I recently took a class on CPR. I am not sure I could save anyone's life with my skill level. But I do know how our spiritual lives can be saved. Jan Gordon tells us how in this month's newsletter. 

Jan likens our times in God's Word and prayer to CPR for our souls. She is intentional in "Connecting, Praying, and Reading" the Word. She urges us to allow the Lord to breathe His life into us throughout our day.

May we all follow Jan's wonderful example. Then we can truly experience Jesus Christ's life in us, and share His life with the world.

In His love,

Sandy Hopler

Speak Lord! -  Ordering My Prayer

By Jan Gordon, Cypress Church of Gainesville, Gainesville, Florida

Am I ordering my prayer effectively today to accomplish what is on God's heart? "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." James 5:16 "...in the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch." Psalm 5:3

In the fall, during my weekly pursuit of studying a chapter of Luke, I was struck with the relationship of the Holy Spirit and the men and women of God. The common phrase, "being filled with the Spirit" (Luke 1:35, 41, 67) and the results that followed sparked a desire in me to capture this power daily. As I pondered how to allow the Spirit the freedom to work His effect in me throughout the day, I realized I needed to recognize His presence, say "hello", give Him opportunity to speak to me and alert me of my need for Him. I concluded the need to CONNECT with the Spirit.

Elizabeth, Zacharias, and Mary appear very "readied" in their relationship with God, ready to hear when God spoke. A communication system with God appeared to be in place. I believe that they heard because they ordered their life in a way that prepared them to hear and be filled with the Spirit (Luke 1:6, 30, 64). With their example in mind I wanted to PRAY!

As I mentioned, every day I read the Bible and my hope is that at the end of the day I have applied it to my day, shared it with someone, and really lived it out. Last fall I was aware that this was not happening every day. I concluded that I either hadn't really connected and received an encouragement from the Lord, or I hadn't taken the time and effort to get it on my heart. For me, this connection involves writing down what I read and having it available to reread what encouraged me. I wrote down the word READ, or reread, what I had written.

Looking down at my journal the letters CPR jumped out at me! Yes, I need CPR! Connect, Pray, and Read! I need Jesus to breathe the breath of life into me throughout the day! I need His life flowing through me. 2 Corinthians 3:6 says, "The Spirit gives life." Ephesians 3:16 says, "to be strengthened with power through His Holy Spirit in the inner man."

To make this practical in my life, I chose to have the Spirit do CPR on me at 6:45 a.m., 12 p.m., 5 p.m., and 10 p.m. This gave me a practical framework to work with and a freedom and encouragement to pursue Him at those times. "Evening and morning and noon, I will complain and murmur and He will hear my voice." Psalm 55:17 My hope is that my life will be readied with a communication system with God in place.

Part of my connection with the Lord takes place in the mornings when my husband and I get up before 6 a.m. to be able to walk a couple of miles and pray together. This time includes specifically praying for what we have assigned to that day, i.e. Monday: school and work, Tuesday: immediate and extended family, Wednesday: Prayer Alliance, Thursday: government officials and current events, Friday: the persecuted church and overseas missionaries, Saturday: neighbors and friends, Sunday: the worship service and church plants. This prayer time is purposed and is a great time to be on the same page with my husband and connect with the Spirit.

P.S. I am providing links to PDF documents of some of my favorite prayer sheets:

• Power of a Praying Wife
• Biblical Prayers for Children
• Praying for the Lost & Weekly Prayers

In the spring of 2014, I accompanied my husband Tom on his trip to Europe. It was a whirlwind of activity.

Within a period of 18 days, we ministered in 8 different cities—Salzburg and Graz (Austria), Regensberg and Munich (Germany), Turin and Milan (Italy), Toulouse (France), and at a campground outside Amsterdam (the Netherlands). We were also able to fit in a memorable one-day tour of Normandy, France.

What always strikes me when I’m traveling with Tom and as I listen to his preaching, is the universal need for the message of the gospel. It’s exciting to witness the power of God at work, changing lives all over the world.

In addition, I marvel at the greatness of the family of God—not only in its scope, but also in the kinship that can be experienced. Regardless of cultural, racial, economic, and age differences, I have felt instant bonds of genuine love that can only be described as true family. People I have met on these trips have become friends whom I will treasure forever.

Finally, while Tom ministers in a very public way, I have had the great privilege of ministering one-on-one to women who have made the sacrifice of moving to a foreign land. They face unique challenges, and they miss what we often take for granted—ease of getting around, communicating effectively without any language barriers, and having peer relationships. The missionary wives also bear the burdens that their husbands carry for their churches. In many places we visited, I kept hearing the plea: “Pray for more workers in the harvest!” They are truly thankful for the encouragement, the prayers, and the financial help we can give, but they especially appreciate the physical presence of people coming alongside, working in the harvest.

I was truly blessed to have been with these faithful women. God gave us some very special times of sincere conversations and heartfelt fellowship.

I echo what David said in Psalm 16…“The godly people of the land are my true heroes! I take (great) pleasure in them!”

The experience of serving the Lord isn’t fully complete without having the blessing of planting a church.

We have experienced the most amazing and the most challenging times in our lives as we have undertaken the church plant and establishment in Mexico with our Great Commission Church. This only seems predictable, as the enemy of God does not want good churches to advance in what he considers his territories. These churches become a threat to his interests.

After experiencing God’s grace, challenges, and lessons for eight years, we see a solid, healthy church that is growing and we see expansion to other locations in the vast Mexican territory. God has given us a church in Monterrey, but also Bible studies in other state capitals such as Querétaro and Oaxaca. In addition, we have already started a mission in Chicontepec, Veracruz, a small city embedded in the mountain chains of the country’s midwest.

As far as Great Commission Latin America (GCLA) is concerned, we have been working in the planning and preparation of our “10:5 Project” that we’ll launch in early 2015. This is a bold vision to plant and establish 10 new churches in the next 5 years. We pray that 2 of these 5 new churches will be planted in countries where we currently don’t have a presence. This involves the training and equipping of around 200 leaders.

We know we will have new big challenges as we embark on this adventure. We count on your prayers and encouragement. The Great Commission is taking place in distinct places around the world. Let us not give up, no matter how hard personal or family circumstances get. We are confident the Lord can come back at any time; let us be found doing the work that He has commanded us to do!

Dear Sisters,

We all have a longing to feel connected with someone else. Think of a special date with your husband when you both took the time to focus, communicate, and especially to listen to each other thoroughly.  

Neva Whitney and her husband Rick had that kind of time together recently. This month she shares with us how we can compare such an experience to our "prayer dates" with the Lord Jesus. Am I listening to Him? Am I waiting long enough in prayer to be sure that He is listening to me?

May the Lord encourage you to wait on the Lord, the One who waits on high to be gracious to us.

In Him,

Sandy Hopler

Speak Lord! - Prayer Dates

By Neva Whitney, Vintage Faith Church, Stillwater, Oklahoma

Olive Garden is one of my favorites. I love pasta and any kind of tomato sauce. Recently my husband and I went there to eat. We had spent that afternoon cleaning our barn, using pitchforks, shovels and wheelbarrows. We had been working hard physically and were both hungry. We had a good meal and a good time talking. He talked; I listened. Then I talked and Rick listened.       

It was one of those conversations where neither one interrupted. Neither of us let our mind wander as the other was talking. I didn't let my smart phone distract me, which pleased Rick. We looked into each other's eyes. We waited on the other to finish their thoughts. We asked questions.

I came away from that date feeling very satisfied. Yes it was good pasta, but also I felt encouraged because of the quality of our communication.

Have you ever had a similar kind of date with God? Where you pray and talk to Him? Then listen to Him? And talk some more and listen some more?

Do you regularly take time to do this with your Lord and Savior? But then, even more importantly, do you also take the time to 'be still' and really listen and let your Savior speak to you? Do you come away satisfied from these kinds of conversations with Jesus?

You need to. We need to.

On Prayer:

I am excited that our GCC Pastors Wives Newsletter is focusing on prayer throughout this year. Prayer is so important for keeping a healthy soul. And if you are a pastor's wife you need a healthy soul, girls. Prayer with God is more important than conversation with another human being. Don't get me wrong, talking with a good friend is wonderful, but...

But prayer is more critical for me to maintain my heart and sanity.

As women--wives, moms, and grandmas--we deal with a lot. We try to help and encourage a lot of people--both in our family and in our churches. It seems like this is our biggest job every day.

Whether it's a new baby, a teething toddler, raising young children, home schooling your tribe, outsmarting a teen that is unruly, learning to release older children to college, dealing with the normal and sometimes not so normal aches and pains of getting older, and/or dealing with an aging parent that is feeling lonely or confused. All issues that we might routinely face.

As pastors wives we tend to quite naturally get involved in all kinds of messy situations. This is because we are in the people business and people can be quite messy. Starting with that person in our mirror. It obviously goes with the territory. So we must pray.

This is above my pay grade!

Sometimes even as an older woman with mucho life experience I have been involved in counseling situations where I have walked away from that cup of coffee with someone and thought, "This is above my pay grade! I am not equipped to handle this!"

Then the Lord says, "Yes, Neva, you are. I have made you able. But what you need to do, girl, is pray about it and I will help you."

We need to be strong and faithful in our personal prayer lives. So that we can be the kind of woman that God wants us to be. And speak for Him. And be the kind of woman our husband needs us to be.

Have I prayed enough?

"When He had finished praying, Jesus left with His disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and He and His disciples went into it." -John 18:1

The thing that struck me in this verse is that Jesus had finished praying. He was done. How can I tell when I am done, praying? What does it mean to be done? Do you tend to think like this, where you are a little anxious that you haven't prayed enough? Feel like you should have prayed more? Not sure you are solid enough in your prayer life?

I would encourage you to stop chewing on these kinds of questions and just simply pray. So, pray when you are anxious. And when you are done being anxious, pray a little more and ask God to move His Kingdom ahead, in and through your life and words. To move within all the people that we touch.

I think God wants us to be accomplished in our prayers, thorough, specific, and detailed. He wants us to roll all of our life pressures onto Him. And be done with it--to finish these daily prayers.

Be quiet and let God speak.

Remember that prayer is a two-way conversation. Like in the story I opened up with, between my husband and me at the restaurant, prayer with God should have some of those same characteristics. We speak. He listens. He speaks. We listen. We don't let our mind wander. We are not interrupted. We're not in a hurry to finish our prayer, so that we can check out our social media. We give God our best attention.    

I think there is a greater chance God will answer someone who slows down and gives Him the necessary time. That's why I need to pray for a while, not just "eat and run." Kind of like that nice time I had with my husband at the restaurant.

Do you routinely quiet yourself before the Lord and let Him speak? Do you believe that He will speak? Sometimes He wants to whisper. Sometimes it's a louder word. But He is in the speaking business, gals, and often it is by impressing a particular verse to our heart.

As we position ourselves before Him, He wants to talk with us and counsel us with His eye upon us.

Here's one more scripture, gals.

"When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, He left, and Abraham returned home."-Genesis 18:33

Oftentimes, when I am alone with God, He speaks to me. And He finishes up what He has on His mind. He's done. I know it. He knows it. And I get on with my day.

He comforts me if I am upset. He counsels me. He gives me ideas of how to work through, or handle situations. He reproves me--for my attitude or any sin in my life.  

He's a good friend. He lets me pour out my heart to Him routinely. He is a good listener, like Rick was that day. He doesn't interrupt. He listens. He waits till I am done talking and then He takes His turn to speak to me, and He wants me to listen to Him.

Listen to the Lord speak to you this year, ladies. Then write and tell us what He says, or how God encouraged and instructed and comforted and counseled you.

Much love, Neva Whitney

My wife Grace and I started praying about planting a church at Oklahoma State University several years ago and this past May God had us move from Denver, CO to Stillwater, OK with our four children.

Throughout the spring and summer Grant and Elisa Shaffer and their son Link, Rick and Neva Whitney, Amy Olson, Bre Gallagher, Tara Werner, Kayla Lindsey, Andrew Harris, and Alfredo Ponce quit jobs, sold houses, and moved to Stillwater to help us start Vintage Faith Church - Stillwater.

God has blessed by giving everyone jobs or allowing us to work remotely with the jobs we had before. He also has given six of our men and women jobs on campus.

Over the last several months we have been spending a lot of time together praying and seeking God for what He might have for us in this town. Oklahoma State University is one of the largest agricultural schools in the country. We have enjoyed getting out on campus and handing out personal testimony tracts, gospel tracts, and other literature. We have talked to a lot of students and in the process God has blessed us with fruitful relationships that have enable us to start an official student organization started on campus.

Our prayer as a team is that God would add to our numbers those who are being saved and give us influential men and women who want to change this campus, this city, and this world for Him. Please join us in these prayers.

By faith and trusting God, our plan is to start 10 churches in 10 cities in 10 years.

This past February, Paul Letvin was raised up as an elder. We also had a small core of young people who wanted to plant a church in Fargo, North Dakota. After much counsel, planning and prayer we launched Submerge Church in September. With the launch, we operated a summer program in Fargo for ten weeks.

It was at Sunday evening services in local parks that we first met an Iranian student attending North Dakota State University. Paul explains:

I met with an Iranian student who had been hanging around with our group ever since he heard the music at one of our park services this summer. When I asked about his thoughts on our group and about his religious beliefs, he said “I didn’t really have any spiritual beliefs before coming here, although my mother is Muslim and my father claims no religion. After coming here in January, I soon became sad and missed my home and wanted to leave. But then I met your group and saw how they interacted with each other, and I wanted to be a part of that. I have been so joyful since being with your group, and now I have just wanted someone to tell me how to be a Christian.” What an answer to prayer! I prayed with him right there to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior.

We are ever confident in accordance with the measure of faith God has given us to continue building our Fargo church and also praying, planning and preparing for the next church plant. Job 8:7 promises “Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.” In this we believe we are faithfully fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” Psalm 126:3.

Dear Sisters,

As wives of pastors, we begin a new year with fresh challenges. I am so thankful for the encouragement we give to each other to persevere in faith through the various challenges we face. Whether we connect with the wife of a pastor in our local church or across the miles through these newsletters, we really do need each other to draw closer to the Lord Jesus.

For this newsletter in 2015, we are adopting the Pastors Conference theme of "Speak, Lord."  We aspire to follow the examples of our husbands as they focus on prayer and hearing from God.

This month Dawn Bovenmyer writes about her prayer journey and how she dealt with (seemingly) unanswered prayer. Here are some related questions about prayer from the Plains Region's pastors and wives time that John and I recently attended:

1. How do you handle unanswered prayers?
2. What are areas that you have given up praying about? And why?
3. Are there prayers you feel God is never going to answer?
4. Is there an area where His answer is not what you want?
5. How do you wait on God during times when your prayers seem to be unanswered?

May we all grow in faith as we draw nearer to God in a fresh way in 2015!

In Christ,

Sandy Hopler

Speak, Lord! - What is Prayer All About?

By Dawn Bovenmyer, Stonebrook Community Church, Ames, Iowa

Prayer...What a gift it is from our Father in Heaven! As the old hymn says, "What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer..." Imagine, having the captive audience of our great King of heaven and earth, whose ear is always open whenever we turn to Him! Why do we NOT pray more?

I think one reason I can let prayer slide in my life is that I serve a God who is "unseen." When I turn to Him, I can't see Him, hear an audible voice, read His reactions, or get instant feedback. It is often easier to turn to my husband or friend as my "listening ear" rather than to my Advocate in heaven.

I find that the more I study God in the Bible-who He is and how He responds to people, His great power and wisdom, His tender love, His passion to defend the powerless, to help the weak and minister to the hurting, to save the lost-all these fuel and anchor my prayers.

When I read about the absolutely amazing things that God has done for people in the past, whether "big things" like parting the Red Sea for the Israelite's last minute escape, or "small things" like orchestrating the timing of Rebekah fetching water at the well as Abraham's servant prayed for a wife for Isaac (Genesis 24:15), these answers stimulate me to pray! We see the truth found in Hebrews 11:6 borne out, "...Anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."

So, what if I believe and am seeking God and yet He seemingly does NOT answer my prayers? If I am earnestly seeking Him, where is my reward? I have some prayers that I have prayed for years that have not been answered to MY satisfaction. What's the deal? Is God being selective, answering some of my prayers but putting the others on hold or in the discard bin? Or perhaps the problem is on my end with an unbelieving heart?

I wish that I had an easy answer for that one! I wouldn't have had so much wrestling with God over the years if I did! And maybe that is one answer in itself. When God hasn't answered my prayers immediately or within a nice, neat time-table, it has caused me to do at least two things. One, I have had to learn to trust Him and wait, and two, I have had to learn to look more deeply into my heart and be honest and open with Him about my feelings, doubts, frustrations, and hurts.

Waiting and trusting have become synonymous for me. Learning to wait when I want something sooooo badly; wait when others around me are seeing their prayers answered (sometimes in very similar areas); wait and wait and wait, believing that God sees, hears, AND IS WORKING-that is learning to trust my heavenly Father...trust that He loves me and has the absolute best in mind for me and for those I am praying for.

One verse that God has encouraged me with is Luke 18:1, "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." You can look this up and read the parable; I won't go into that here. The point is, Jesus knew that some prayers wouldn't be answered immediately or even "soon," and He urged His disciples to not give up, but rather to persist in prayer. Why should they not give up? Because there is hope-hope that our loving and just God will answer.

Will I persevere in my prayers, or give up in discouragement and hurt? My persistent prayers show my heavenly Father that I believe He is working. By continuing to pray, my Daddy will know that His little girl trusts that He loves her, hears her, and cares about her heart and her desires even though circumstances may perhaps communicate a different message.

Sometimes His answer may be different than what I would want. After all, I am not God and I often don't have all the facts and full scope of a situation. His wisdom may dictate a different plan than mine. Even then, I am afforded a wonderful opportunity to pour out my heart to Him (Psalm 62:8) and let Him minister to me with His comfort and peace, and to watch His plans unfold in a way I never could have orchestrated or imagined.

And isn't that what prayer is all about? Getting to know God's heart and opening up my heart to Him? Sharing hurts, struggles, longings, joys, and sorrows with the One who loves and cares about me so deeply. That is relationship! "What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry EVERYTHING to God in prayer!"

Surely I couldn’t go an entire week without slipping up and showing people how unchristian I really was. I had become accustomed to a social pecking order, a striving to impress that seemed necessary if one was to survive high school. But none of that seemed to be present in this community. It was easy to see the closeness this group of people shared with one another and with Jesus Christ. They prayed together for hours on end, sang passionately to the Lord, and shared deep things of the heart. There were no signs of the judgment and gossip to which I’d become so accustomed.

Throughout my time in Myrtle Beach I began to feel a real part of this group. Although their fellowship was precious, they shared it freely. I was invited into a community founded not on social status, outward appearance, or long-held associations but on a devotion to Jesus Christ and His Great Commission. Of course, I was hooked! Jesus pulled me into an intimate relationship with Himself, and He gave me something that had not been part of my understanding—a mission. The Spirit of God formed in me a deep conviction to share Jesus Christ with others and invite them into a family that had so changed my life. By His grace God has used me these last 15 years and it’s my prayer and striving that many more would be welcomed into His kingdom.

My husband, Dan, and I have been married and serving the Lord for almost twenty years. The last twelve years we have been in Wisconsin.

Before that we served God in Japan for a total of eight and a half years. Although we were married in America, we met and began serving together in Japan. My life is happy and filled with so many blessings but we have had some difficult choices.

It was hard for me to leave Japan, to be a missionary in America and to start a church. I didn’t know exactly what we were being called to, other than that my husband Dan told me: it would be very hard and that there were no promises that things would work out. We took several months to pray and talk to wise Christians. It was hard to leave our ministry, family, friends, my language, culture, and also Dan had a very good job. Like Abraham and Sarah, I didn’t know what we were being called to other than what Dan had told me.

I remember how we were busy up to the last day in Japan, not only packing years worth of possessions and memories, but Dan was preaching and I was translating. Our last moments in our empty apartment, we gathered on the tatami floor and prayed and remembered all the places where we had ministered with people and prayed with them to be saved. Lots of tears were coming down not because we were worried, but with gratitude that God had used us to bless so many people.

We went forward without certain plans just trusting that if we made ourselves available, He would use us in America too.

That was twelve years ago. God has been faithful and blessed us to plant the Foundation Bible Church. Not long after, we found Great Commission Churches. We are so glad to have found this family! Everything went well!

Dear Sisters,

This week we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He who was from eternity entered into time and space to live the most perfect and intentional life mankind has ever seen. Jesus came to live for God...and He came to die for the world.

This month's writer Debi Ogle is following in the steps of the Savior. She and her husband Steve are preparing for a move overseas where they will be part of the Great Commission Europe ministry to proclaim the gospel in Milan, Italy. Her example and her words will inspire you to focus on Christ and His mission this holiday season.

May the Lord Jesus Christ fill your hearts this week, and may we all join with Him to live wholeheartedly for God's eternal kingdom.

Merry Christmas,

Sandy Hopler

Living the Word - Living with Intentionality

By Debi Ogle, Great Commission Europe Missionary

Time....This morning (before the early bird flew) we were landing at DFW airport. My bird's eye view was amazing, the twinkle lights of a city starting to wake up. What amazed me was the string of hundreds of cars on the roadways. It looked like ants marching to a picnic, ready to do their job of taking their fair share of what life was offering for the day. "In the time of Herod the king of Judea...." (Luke 1:5-7)

Time, all mine....I thought I knew what time was in my early 20's. Time was on my side, no one to share it with, no responsibilities except getting myself to work. Then marriage and children! Time was less mine to enjoy, but I took the challenge well. Steve, my husband, and I started raising our family. Now I admit raising toddlers seemed to be a never-ending job, but finally we got to see first grade come and go for both our little angelic daughters. What joy. I am always thankful to the Lord for our little family. "Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him...." (Luke 1:11-14)

Time, not of my choosing....In my late 30's and into my 40's time changed. I struggled to find time to spend with Jesus. I fought hard to stay close but like a line of ants, distractions and obstacles had me stopped in my tracks or found me turning back to what I already knew. I was not growing. I was wading in a shallowness of "those important" items that now were not so important. Have you been there? Are you there now? Turn them over to a Holy God. God got a hold of me in my late 40's and shook my bite-sized world apart. "The angel went to her and said...." (Luke 1:28-33)

Time, gets better with age....I am now (almost) 61 years old. Did you know that time actually has wings? It really does fly. Looking out the window of the airplane this morning it all came back to me. Each car represented a little world consumed with time. As I looked at these cars, the bigger picture posed the question, "How will they spend their time?" We say we prioritize, but do we really? And if we are, what is of most importance? If I could go back in time, I would change my list of "things to do." I would not let distractions, no matter how important they seemed or well intended, take away from my time with God. "So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee...." (Luke 2:4-6) 

Time, as we see it now....is best spent living intentionally. I wish we had known this when we were busy raising children and serving in churches across the south. Steve and I have just completed four weeks of MTI (Missionary Training Institute). We are steps closer to our departure date as Great Commission Europe missionaries to Milan, Italy. Time gave us a different calling in 2012. Each step of the way over these past two years has given us continued assurance of this calling. "And there were shepherds living out in the field...." (Luke 2:8-16) 

Time, it's Christmas 2014....We are homeless, and depending on the generosity of others, but we see God's hand each step of the way. I know that this Christmas is going to be the best one yet. Why? Because time is not pulling us in so many places. No tree to fuss with, no presents to wrap, no outside lights, or redecorating wreaths for the windows. Just time to breathe, reflect, enjoy family, laugh and adore the tiny babe who's purpose was to give us time....an eternal relationship with a loving God. And the time starts now! "But Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19)

Take time....to ponder what an intentional life really looks like for your family. Do not let the hours pass you by.

Joy,

Debi Ogle, Great Commission Europe Missionary

I invite you to pray for Steve and I as we start a new ministry in Milan, Italy.

debi.ogle@gcm.web

Send me your email and we would be happy to add you to our monthly newsletter.

What is causing this migration? Lack of opportunities, lack of safety, lack of clean water, lack of government and church involvement.

But these children will return to our countries to find themselves in a worse situation. GCLA is prayerfully considering how can we get involved.

We will find relatives and ways to provide opportunities for that family. We will build beds and classrooms, transport kids to their place of origin, feed, clean, provide clothes and shoes for those children. Will you walk with us? Please write to carlos.gomez@ igcla.com or visit us at www.gcla.com.

Dear Sisters,

During this Thanksgiving season I have taken some thought to my own state of "thankfulness." Have I acknowledged the goodness and faithfulness of God in my life in all situations, despite my sins or lack of faithfulness? God's Word tells us that "It is good to be thankful to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night..." Psalm 92:1-2.

This month's writer was faithful to hide God's Word in her heart as a young, single Christian. She read, memorized, and meditated on the Bible and also shared those words with others in need.

Even when Louise found herself in seasons when her daily Bible times were inconsistent, she is so thankful that the Lord has always been faithful to guide, strengthen, and comfort her. He has blessed her by bringing to her that stored-up treasure of His words in times of need.

Let's imitate her example in drawing on God's presence and His Word throughout our lives, trusting Him continually to be our Source. Then we can join others in declaring that our God is, indeed, full of lovingkindness and faithfulness!

Gratefully,

Sandy Hopler

Living the Word - Living the Word with God's Faithfulness as Our Source

By Louise Martin, Linworth Road Church, Columbus, Ohio

"Your Word I have treasured in my heart..." Proverbs 119:11

First, a confession: I struggle with having a daily Bible reading time.

It wasn't always this way. As a young Christian, I planned my schedule around my "quiet times." If I didn't have class until 11 am, then I studied my Bible from 8:30 am- 10:30 am. I regularly was able to have long times alone with just me and God and the Word. As a teaching assistant at Ohio State, I held weekly office hours, which nobody ever came to! I always made sure I had my Bible with me for those quiet hours.

Once, during those years, an elder's wife shared with a group of us that she struggled to read her Bible daily. How scandalous, I thought. Then I married, and had kids. My husband became a pastor, and my life became so busy. I shouldn't have judged so quickly.

One day, as a young mom in a sleep-deprived state, I tried to open my Bible for just a minute, but soon had two toddlers squabbling on the floor behind me. In a fit of frustration, I threw my Bible across the room!

During my homeschooling years, my Bible time was usually my kids' Bible lesson. Hey, it worked!

Now I'm an empty nester, and I have a job that sometimes requires me to be at work before dawn, and gone until well past dinner. It is hard for me on these days to stop and open my Bible before I leave the house, or to find the energy to do more than collapse on the couch when I get home.

Then there are days when I work from home and can make my own schedule. I could easily choose to set apart time for God's Word, but the laundry, and the bills, and an avalanche of other little things draw me away.

Through the years, I have made many attempts to be more disciplined in this area. I have tried reading my Bible as the first thing I do in the morning, or the last thing I do at night. I have made promises to "have my first cup of coffee with Jesus," or "get just five minutes." I made a list of online Bibles I can access when I have a few free minutes at work. I have asked my friends for prayer and accountability in this area.

Yet through all my shortcomings, God has been good and gracious to me. He has not blessed me more on days I read my Bible than on days I did not. He has caused His Word to come to me in dark places, during sad times, and on days plagued with fear. And He has caused His Word to come to mind during celebrations and times of joy. Of course He has! His Word is living and active! (Hebrews 4:12).

When I am asked to change my plans or put them on hold, in order to promote the plans of someone else, I try not to grumble, but instead give preference to one another in honor (Romans 12:10).

When I was awakened in the middle of the night by a call from the hospital telling me that my child had been in a serious car accident, I did not fear! (Isaiah 41:10). My husband was out of town, but my God was not. I experienced peace (yes--it passed my understanding! Philippians 4:7) as I made the lonely drive to the hospital.

Last year, when I sat beside my father's bed as he breathed his last few breaths, I clung to God's words--He was near to the broken hearted (Psalm 34:18).

When catastrophic events like 9/11 rock our lives, or problems that seem unconquerable threaten the life of our family or our church, I repeat to myself that "God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).

There are also verses I hold secretly, close to my heart--dreams I have for precious people in my life.

Many times, over many years, the words of God have bubbled up to me at exactly the right moment. I have been told by several people, sometimes years after the fact, that the words I said to them really helped them. Most times I cannot even remember these conversations. What happened? I'm not senile already, am I? All I can think of is that I passed along God's Word to them, and He used it to minister to their lives.

We live God's Word when we let Him use it to give us perseverance, consolation, and hope. We live God's Word when we pass it on to others for their strength and encouragement.

Don't be like me! Find a way to get a regular time in the Word.

But do be like me, and let God's Word instruct you, comfort you, and use you in the lives of people.

God opened a door of opportunity several years ago, and now teams of Americans go regularly with a   vision of seeing hundreds, even thousands of these precious lives come to know Jesus Christ as Savior. We visit the huge university in Santo Domingo, the capital, with over 150,000 students, many of whom are willing to talk to us about the living God and His Bible.

A small church has been planted near the university, and students are being trained with a Great Commission vision. We hope to see La Vid church train believers to have a vision for their country, and eventually the whole Caribbean. We welcome churches to send teams regularly to join us in seeing this happen. God wants to do more than we can even imagine.

Dear Sisters,

Have you ever felt that the calling of pastor's wife was a burden too hard to bear? Perhaps you have taken personally any slights or criticisms that were aimed at your husband and his leadership. You might be disappointed in people, or that the church has not grown. Whatever the reason, you understand the great cost of dedicating your life and marriage to serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our writer this month, Lana, has also experienced those burdens. She shares with us the joy and strength she has received in her marriage and ministry through simply "Living God's Word." Lana urges us to allow the Bible, not our circumstances, to have the "final authority" over our emotions and actions. We don't have the power over the results of our service for Christ, but as we walk in obedience to His Word, we can look to Him as our ultimate goal and hope: 

"Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:13

In His love,

Sandy Hopler

Living the Word - Make the Decision to Live the Word

By Lana Benton, The Rock Community Church, Garfield Heights, Ohio

Recently, my husband (Rayfield) and Dave, elders of The Rock church community, shared with our local assembly the vision (what they believe God is calling us to). After sharing the vision with us, we were than all encouraged to participate in a church wide campaign of "Transformation" (metamorphoo - complete change). You see, they realize that without experiencing spiritual transformation we cannot and never will experience what God is calling us to do. Transformation is simply the decision to Live God's Word in every area of your life. 

No matter what God is speaking to you personally or to your local assembly, it will never be achieved without making a decision to live out God's Word. At some point and time we must decide that God's Word will be the final decision maker in our lives and this is what we will act out. As pastors' wives, we must make this decision sooner than later.

As a young believer, the Lord used several sisters in my life to disciple me. One of those sisters was Glenda (who went on to be a missionary in Africa). Glenda's words often come back to me. There are two things she shared with me. First, don't be a Jonah: you don't have the option to do your own thing-to have things your way and then you'll obey. Obey. Second, always go back to the basics (what does God Word say about a situation). 

My husband and I have been married 29 years. For 29 years, whether it has been bi-vocational or full time, we have been involved in ministry. As a wife, I have always striven to support my husband as he walks in obedience to God's will and works to fulfill the plan that God has for his life. Being involved in ministry has not always been easy for me. In fact, in full time ministry, I have experienced more rejection than acceptance. There are times I have felt successful in not allowing the rejection to get to me and at times I have felt weary in trying to continue to move forward in the midst of misunderstanding and rejection. What has always kept me moving forward in forgiveness, peace, hope and joy has been the decision to Live God's Word.

Often without thought, I realize I live each moment believing I have rights. If I work hard I deserve respect. If I'm nice, I deserve kindness displayed to me. If I mind my own business, I expect people to give me my privacy ... no drama. When these rights are touched, violated, my world is rocked out of balanced. I'm hurt and need time to bounce back. Living God's Word becomes difficult because the focus is on my hurt, discomfort and injustice done onto me. I struggle to move forward. In making the decision to Live the Word we will see these moments decrease and find ourselves victoriously living as overcomers rather than as victims to our situations. As pastors' wives we need to decide that despite the situations in our lives we will continually Live God's Word. Amazingly God has chosen to redeem us and allow us to live out His Word, all for His Glory. 

If you are in a season where you are struggling to Live God's Word, you struggle to allow His Word to have final authority over your thoughts, emotions, and situation. Your flesh just wants to hold on to the memory or to the hurts. I encourage you to find a sister. A sister who has learned to listen...to be slow to speak and quick to hear; a sister who will pray for you. A sister who knows when to be gentle and when to challenge. As pastors' wives we need to allow someone in. God brought such a friend to me, Dawn Uitvlugt. Dawn came into my life when my husband and I were in our first season of full time ministry. My husband had been called to be a pastor in a changing community. The church wanted to reflect the community. My husband, children and I were minorities within a predominantly Dutch culture. What a difficult five-year journey, but it was made lighter as Dawn and two other Dutch sisters came alongside me. They loved me and accepted me. These sisters prayed me through a very difficult season. I walked away from that season a little bruised but not destroyed with anger and bitterness. In addition, God used sisters from the very culture that hurt me to be a part of my healing. Dawn and I are friends to this day. We live in different states but we still pray together weekly and as often as we can we visit with one another. 

I am not sure where you are at this moment in your life. I am not sure of the situations you have faced or will soon face. This I do know--that we must daily decide to live God's Word. It isn't always easy but it is possible. I pray for all of us, that we decide to Live the Word... in season and out (when things are great and when things aren't so great). Please take a moment to read and reflect upon the following scriptures:

Philippians 2:6-8: "who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Hebrews 12:1-3: "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Galatians 6:9 "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."  

“My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard...” Romans 15:20
In Pakistan I was able to preach the gospel to 1200 people in 9 locations where 185 people trusted Christ for salvation, among them 50-60 Muslims. We also trained 310 in discipleship multiplication. Believers in Pakistan are persecuted. We are providing safe houses for Muslims who accept Christ and need support and discipleship to survive and become reproducing disciples.

Last year in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India I trained 15 leaders who work in 20 unreached districts. They supervise 116 trainers representing 1100 house churches.

In Bangladesh, 85 Muslim background believers who attended our training plan to send missionary pairs to 20 unreached districts. We trained 20 leaders to reach Muslims. Pray for courage and faith—despite the fact that their co-worker in the gospel was martyred a month after attending training.

For seven years we have engaged Taiwanese college English majors in an evangelistic mission in Taichung, Taiwan, in an American Life Camp. We share Christ with our students through celebrating Christmas and Easter.

At the end of the camp, all of our students were interested in getting to know Jesus. One student, Catherine, shared that she was grateful to learn about Christ and wants Christ in her heart. We gave them Bibles, set up a Facebook group, and connected them to a missionary, Marc, and a Great Commission church for follow up.

With less than 2% evangelical Christianity, over seventeen million people are unreached in Taiwan.

There are many open doors for the gospel:

• Study abroad—learn Chinese language and culture
• Gap year English teacher
• 2 Week STM—evangelism
• Infusion: Summer 2015 Leader Training
• Strengthening disciples in the church

Doug Brown can be reached at doug@e3leadershipgroup.net, dougbrown54.blogspot.com

Romy has started three house churches, leads many home Bible studies and is training leaders as part of the Great Commission Churches of the Philippines. All 15 churches are small, with 20-50 members, and most are quite poor. They are very thankful for the Microloan Ministry which was started two years ago and has helped 75 church members begin home businesses (see kingdommicroloans.com for more stories).

Mike Bergen - mikerbergen@gmail.com

The training focused first of all in becoming closely knit with God, to be intentional in reaching as many as possible with the gospel and to train as many as possible with a vision of seeing 3 or 4 generations of disciples.

Being fully aware that the T4T concept is something that worked in China in a given moment, the GCLA leadership worked at adapting the process to the realities of our culture and our historical approach to ministry. As a result, and based on our previous discipleship system The Spiral, we now have what we’ve called Multiply Multipliers, MM.

The GCLA leadership continues to interact on how to implement MM. There was a follow-up pastor’s retreat this past February to discuss its application in the local churches.

GCLA has created a website named Multiplica Multiplicadores (multiplica.igcla.com) that explains the process and offers free resources, in both Spanish and English, to anyone interested in multiplying disciples as a life style.

As we seek to reach this needy world with the gospel, we embrace Paul’s words: “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth” 1 Corinthians 4:7.

The 2013 GCLA Leadership Conference had T4T’s Ying Kai as a special guest. During the training both Nelson Guerra, GCLA’s Director, and Mr. Kai cast afresh God’s vision to reach the nations, by training disciples who would in turn also become trainers.

Pictured above - Ying Kai at the 2013 GCLA Leadership Conference

In 2012 I was part of an exploratory trip traveling throughout Romania, seeking God’s will on the possibility of ministering in this European country. We made some unbelievable contacts and in 2013 we raised $15,000 and took 30 people on a short term mission trip to help build a community center for the Gypsy people of San Paul, near Cluj, Romania. We  established ministry called Casa Sperantei (The House of Hope – see casasperantei.com) to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the people of Romania in this needy part of the world. This summer we are once again sponsoring a short-term trip to San Paul.

Amazingly, there are three families from The Rock that are working hard to position themselves to permanently move to Romania this year, and our mission trip would help establish them in that community. These families include Jim McFall, Brian & Diana Mathison and Andrew and Cara Henry (with daughters Lillian and Avery). These dear saints have all experienced a deep burden for the people of Romania and are very excited to begin ministering there full time.

Please pray that God gives grace, wisdom and the necessary resources that will allow all three families to make this life changing transition in 2014. Thank you!

The Rock is a church that is committed to share the Gospel not only in Utah, but around the world.

Pictured above - Outreach in a Romanian village.

Dear Sisters,

This year, the theme of this newsletter has been "Living the Word." The topic from this month's writer, Dawn Bovenmyer, is therefore a perfect fit, as Dawn shares habits that have helped her treasure God's Word.

As you read about the habits Dawn developed over a lifetime of following Jesus Christ, you will be blessed and challenged. May we all freshly devote ourselves to valuing God's Word and spending that precious time with Him each day, so that we can say, like the Psalmist:

"The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces." 

Psalm 119:72

In Him,

Sandy Hopler

Living the Word - Habits in Treasuring God's Word

By Dawn Bovenmyer, Stonebrook Community Church, Ames, Iowa

Whenever I have an opportunity to write about the Word of God and its impact on my life, I jump at the chance. The Bible has had such an influence on me, steering my perspective and choices through the years. Today, I want to narrow this subject down to one word that has made all the difference for me in the area of Scripture study and reading: habit.

Here's a good definition of habit: a recurrent pattern of behavior acquired through frequent repetition. As I look back, I see patterns of behavior developed through repetition, which relate to treasuring God's Word in my heart. These have truly transformed my thinking and my life. I'm a practical gal, so for the remainder of this article I'd like to share a few of these habits with you.

Early on in my "baby" days of being a Christian, I bumped into some old high school friends whose lives had radically changed since graduating. They pointed to Jesus as the reason and soon began inviting me to Bible studies. The first study I attended was on the book of Revelation. As we read verses concerning end time prophecy, I was fascinated and hooked! I began not only routinely attending these studies; I also began reading the Bible at home.

This was a pattern that was firmly established a few months later when I went back to college. There I joined up with a Great Commission student group whose foundational habit was reading and studying the Bible together and individually. Daily quiet times were stressed, and so I dutifully opened my Bible each morning (despite the protests and scoffs of my unbelieving room-mate!). This habit of daily quiet times has never gone by the wayside. Through all the years and changes: marriage, children and all the demands that go with them--reading the Bible daily and letting it sink into my heart and mind has truly transformed my life.

Another habit that was established after the birth of our third child was that of "getting away" and spending longer, more leisurely, undistracted time in the Word. Perhaps it was because my daily quiet times were often interrupted by crying babies needing to be nursed, or early rising kids, or simply because my days were crammed with tending to little ones--needless to say, my dear husband suggested that I get a couple of hours regularly out of the house to spend with God. (Dave supplied the babysitting.)

Often just sitting in my parked car in a quiet parking lot, I would open up God's Word and let it wash my mind and soothe my soul. I carried this habit with me when we moved to Ames, Iowa, and happily rediscovered an unlocked church with its small chapel that was a perfect meeting place for God and me. This habit continues to this day, with Monday afternoon being my time to get away and spend longer times savoring the Word.

A third habit that I picked up along the way was one inspired by my friend Thelma Clark. Thelma shared of writing her daily quiet time verse on index cards folded in half (fit nicely in the palm of your hand). She would take these on walks and meditate and pray over them. What a great idea! I implemented this into my daily quiet times, picking a verse that "spoke" to me and recording it on my card. I have tweaked how I use my cards. Sometimes they go with me on walks, but always they end up coming along on my Monday afternoon times, where I pray through each week's cards, asking God to teach me and help me apply these truths to my life. This habit has turned my prayer times into a banquet.

A fourth habit I recently acquired (thanks to a teaching by Tom Short) is called SOAP journaling (Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer). I take my daily verse, journal briefly about what it speaks to me and how to apply it, and add a brief prayer at the end relating to these thoughts. I additionally send my verse and thoughts to two friends each weekday, receiving their verse thoughts in return. It is a great way to encourage and be encouraged.

A final habit that is honestly just getting freshly established in my routine is that of memorizing God's word. This is a habit that has been "hit-and-miss" with me over the years. Lately I realized that my big problem was lack of habit. I needed a daily time to work on my verses. So God gave me an idea. Each Monday afternoon during my extended time with the Lord, I work on a passage of Scripture that I want to memorize for the week. Then for the following seven days I memorize and review my verses at the same time each day: at lunchtime (since I often eat lunch alone now) and bedtime (a nice thing to go to sleep thinking about). I find that this has stimulated me to review verses at other times as well since I now have them in my mind--at stoplights, sitting in waiting rooms, or riding my bike. I will add that I have a friend who is VERY faithful at memorizing. She and I are presently working on the same chapter of Scripture.

So there you have it. I know that I am probably not sharing anything new with most of you, and that you have developed your own "habits" in regards to Bible reading. On the other hand, perhaps you have gleaned some new ideas as well. Whatever the case, may we all be freshly encouraged to develop and maintain good habits as we treasure God's Word, and taste the blessing!  

 Dear Sisters,

The theme of this year's Faithwalkers Conference is "Heroes." We will hear teachings from God's Word about ordinary men and women who trusted in our extraordinary God. When we hear their stories, our faith is stirred and strengthened.

In this newsletter Barbara Wilson tells of how heroes in the Old Testament inspired her to be a woman of bold faith in the 21st century. May we all walk in that same spirit of boldness!

In Christ,

Sandy Hopler

Living the Word - Examples of Boldness

By Barbara Wilson, Grace Community Church, Cary, North Carolina

I love reading the stories in the Old Testament. I vividly remember the Sunday School classes when I was a young girl where these stories came alive in understandable words and pictures. As I am now reading through Daniel, I realize how many of these fantastic stories came from this one book: the four men maintaining their health while eating vegetables and water; Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the future kingdoms that only Daniel can interpret; the three men in the fiery furnace; Nebuchadnezzar's ego humbled as he lived as an animal for seven years; the mysterious handwriting on the wall proclaiming Belshazzar's demise; and (who can forget?) Daniel in the lion's den.

One characteristic that weaves its way through all of these stories is Daniel and his three friends' absolute commitment and worship of the Lord Most High in a land of sin and debauchery. These men seemed to have no fear when it came to making a decision to follow the ways of the world or follow their God. And guess what? They followed their God every time, and the entire nation was changed. Nebuchadnezzar changed from a prideful, pompous, arrogant ruler to one who praised and glorified the King of heaven. Darius, upon seeing Daniel still alive after a night with the lions, decreed that everyone throughout his kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.

Daniel served in the court of at least four heathen kings. Yet throughout the years he maintained a steadfast devotion to God that showed in his everyday life. Daniel lived out a life of faith among men who could have had him killed in an instant. Ordinary people in the kingdom feared for their lives because they knew the king's word was absolute, and if he were displeased with anyone he would kill them on the spot.

Do you ever feel like you're in Babylon? Do you tremble in fear about being bold for Jesus? Are you steadfast to God's Word no matter who you are around? So many around us live lives devoted to themselves and their pleasure. They don't seem to want to know about the God of heaven. What if we say something and they laugh at us? What if we lose a friendship over proclaiming our faith? What about our children? They could get laughed at in school for standing up for Jesus.

Daniel 6:23 says this of Daniel after he spent the night with hungry lions: "Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God." We serve a God who is in the business of protecting His children and honoring those who honor Him. We may not bring change to an entire nation by living out our undivided devotion to Jesus, but we can bring change to our neighbor or the new visitor to church.

Berk and I just traveled to Indianapolis for a convention. I had the opportunity to sit beside three different women on the flights. What a great place it was to proclaim my faith to a captive audience. The first woman listened intently to the gospel as I shared my story and life with her. She left with my testimony tract, very eager to pursue God more. The second woman was returning from a Christian conference. She was the mother of two young children and we had a wonderful conversation. I encouraged her to remain steadfast in raising her children for Jesus. The third woman didn't want to talk about anything spiritual. But I was so thankful that God gave me courage to proclaim my faith to each woman. I planted the spiritual seeds and prayed for each of them. So now it is in the Lord's hands.

Ladies, I encourage you to have your testimony ready to share in words and in a tract. Every time you leave your home, pray for-and open your eyes to-opportunities that God gives you to proclaim your faith in the one true God. I was so encouraged by Neva Whitney's boldness to hand out her testimony tract after seeing the movie God is Not Dead. It will be exciting to see who is in heaven because of her one act of boldness.

Who will be in heaven because of your boldness?

"Every day is full of choices, some are great and some are small. Each one shows just where your heart is, who you're loving most of all."

We were not a group of amazing and dynamic church planting people. We were simply a bunch of people who wanted to follow God’s leading, and we offered whatever talents and resources we had as loaves and fishes. We spent a lot of energy just doing normal church life. We also tried to aggressively reach out, often with the help of visiting mission teams. It was a lot of work and prayer, and for many years there was not much visible fruit to show for it. Yet all along, we were encouraged by seeing God at work in individual lives and situations. There was always a salvation, a changed life, or an answered prayer that helped us remember that God had not forgotten us.

We kept sowing seeds, but were starting to wonder if any of them were going to sprout. Then, one day a military family came to church. Not long after that, another came, and another after them. Within a matter of months we realized that God was moving and we started thinking about starting a second ministry near Fort Bliss on the other side of the mountain that divides El Paso. In March of 2013, we kicked off our new church and are now ministering there to a growing group of young soldiers and families. Both churches are now healthy and growing!

It has been such a thrill for our team to follow Christ to El Paso, to wait upon His timing and blessing, and then to finally see Him multiply our loaves and fishes into the lives of so many other people.

The Rio Church meets in two locations in El Paso, Texas.

Immigrants live on the fringes of society— relatively poor and unable to advocate for themselves. Simple things for me are incredibly difficult for an immigrant. Whether filling out a I-130 change-of- status form in English (a new language for them) or the challenging citizenship test, I can show them God’s mercy by helping.

This is one reason I took a 40-hour Immigration Law class enabling me to apply for accreditation with the Board of Immigration Affairs. My hope is to become a paralegal. Evergreen hopes to serve immigrants by developing an Immigration Clinic, offering low-cost legal services.

Immigration reform is one of the toughest policy issues our country faces. I went to Congress last November, with 600 business leaders, law enforcement officials, and pastors, to advocate for solutions honoring the rule of law (Romans 13) and welcoming the stranger (Matthew 25). I went to express the need to make changes to the law while considering mercy, compassion, and the dignity of all people, including immigrants.

God directs the places people live and their circumstances – for one purpose: that people reach out and find Him (Acts 17).  Immigrants present amazing opportunities for sharing the gospel and providing practical help. The Great Commission is great because it is allinclusive! It is time to reach out with mercy!

Jeff Groen pastors at Evergreen Church in Bloomington, MN.

Pictured above - Jeff and Carl Nelson, the president of Transform MN (a network of Evangelical Churches in MN), visiting Congress.

 Dear Sisters,

In ways both practical and spiritual, our writer this month tells of the blessings she has received by obeying Proverbs 11:25: "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." Though at times she was in great need of encouragement, Shari obeyed God's Word by seeking to meet the needs of others-then experienced her own soul's refreshment from God Himself.

The NASB version says, "...and he who waters will himself be watered." I love that! To give someone a drink and then to get a drink in return speaks to me of Spirit filled, life-giving community. Weary and thirsty Jesus is our example, as he offers to give the Samaritan woman at the well "living water" (John 4:7-14).

I pray we can all grow in our faith in the Lord as our Refresher, trusting Him as we seek to bring His love and truth to our thirsty, needy world.

In His grace,

Sandy Hopler

Living the Word - Refreshing Others

By Shari Damaso, New Life Community Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."  Proverbs 11:25

I consider this one of my life verses. When I first heard it, I was struck by how strongly it goes against the world's teachings. Messages like "Look out for #1" and "Take care of your own needs first" never sat right with me. But this verse just made sense so I decided to put it into practice, focusing on being generous with my time and energy.

When my children were toddlers and preschoolers, they often wanted my attention when I was trying to cook dinner.  One day my son carried a book to me and I decided to put his need for my time and attention above my need to get dinner on the table.  I sat down on the floor, drew him into my lap, and read the book to him. Afterward he happily toddled away to play alone while I finished cooking.  God reinforced this verse in my life that day.  The 2 or 3 minutes I spent "refreshing" my son resulted in the undistracted time that I needed to prepare dinner.  When my husband arrived home, I was more refreshed than frazzled, which was much nicer than the days when I forgot this verse and tried to put off my son's needs until a more convenient time.

A few years later I struggled through a bout of depression. During this time there were days that meeting my family's physical needs was my only motivation to get out of bed. I was tempted to believe that isolation from my responsibilities would "refresh" me.  But when I took baby steps on a bad day to "refresh" my family with a load of laundry or a hot meal (even if it was frozen pizza or spaghetti), I experienced an inner refreshment much greater than anything my isolation had produced. I realized that taking my focus off myself and putting it on meeting others' needs led to my needs being met as well. God's Word was once again proven true as I chose to live it out.

I experience the same thing when I use my spiritual gifts. When I take the tests, I often score high in serving and encouragement. And I find that when I put these gifts into action, I am energized. I can spend hours preparing for an event or teaching to bless others, and I am refreshed.  I can come home after a 2-plus hour counseling session with a struggling woman and I am refreshed.  When I live out the Word - using the gifts God has given me - to refresh others, I am refreshed as well.

It can be hard to refresh others. I firmly believe it is important to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and that wounds from a friend can be trusted (Proverbs 27:6).  So there are times when I know God wants me to address something difficult with a brother or sister. Sometimes they do not receive this well and it does not appear that anyone was refreshed by the experience. But more often, when the words are given and received in humility and we work through the difficulty together, God's truth refreshes them and frees them from hurtful or sinful patterns.  And their refreshment refreshes me. To the world, this seems illogical. But in God's economy living out this formula works.

Does God expect us to refresh others by saying yes to every demand or request that is made of us? Absolutely not! Jesus is our example. He refreshed and healed many people, but even He withdrew from the crowds, sometimes to be alone with God and other times to focus on His disciples. As much as I would love to spend more hours counseling (and refreshing) women, I recognize that God has called me to refresh my husband and children first. There are days (and for some, seasons), where the bulk of our resources are spent refreshing those in our own homes. But in those times, God often provides "divine appointments" that allow us to connect with and share refreshment with others. He still provides moments for us to make a call, write a note or e-mail, or pray for others.  And I love those precious moments at Faithwalkers and other conferences and retreats where we have opportunities to refresh each other!

During the worst days of my depression, I begged God to meet all my needs (Philippians 4:19), including my need to refresh others. I realized my need for His help when my children shared they were often hungry between meals but didn't want to "bother" me to ask for a snack. In faith, I gave them permission to ask for anything they needed at any time and told them God had promised to provide me with all that I needed to meet their needs. As I asked Him daily to enable me to refresh them, He provided what I needed during that challenging season. He refreshed me by proving His faithfulness.

I know there are times when I forget this verse and focus on refreshing myself.  And sometimes I fail to listen to God's still small voice and I miss opportunities to refresh others who are hurting.  But God graciously provides more opportunities for me to live out His word and experience His blessing and refreshment.

My daughter Jill played on her high school’s freshman volleyball team. The following summer our family made plans to lead a summer-long project in Tampa, Florida for the college students in our church. Jill talked through our plans with her coach who was quick to point out that any student who did not stay in town for her camp had little to no chance of making a team in the fall. Jill decided to go with our family and let her coach know she would work on an alternate volleyball training regimen. That fall Jill tried out and made the JV team.

My daughter Kelly played on the high school’s varsity volleyball team her sophomore year under a different coach. Many teammates were consumed with the sport, and there were factors about this atmosphere that caused Kelly to feel out of place and defeated. When the summer came the coach told Kelly that she would have to play summer club ball to be successful. Though she loved volleyball, Kelly decided to go with our family on a summer project to St. Petersburg, Florida, convinced God was directing her focus elsewhere. As a result she has had more time for outreach at school, starting disciple groups and being more involved with family and church.

When I think of these stories it reminds me of the verse 3 John 4, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”

Yet despite the fact that numerous students reject the gospel, there are those seeking. Most don’t know what they are seeking, but they know they’re lost. They built their foundations on that which will not last, and those foundations are crumbling.

I have been traveling with campus evangelist Tom Short for two school semesters. The longer I am traveling with Mr. Short, the more I see the need of a revival in this nation. The college campuses of America are perhaps the darkest places in this country and Mr. Short has been bringing the light of Christ into them for over thirty years.

When I first started this adventure last autumn, I had hardly enough evangelistic experience to be considered an amateur. Just a couple weeks in I faced such an onslaught of questions that my faith was shaking straight down to the foundations. The students put different questions and doubts into my mind. I didn’t know how to respond to any of them.

Yet the truth prevailed. In 1 Peter 3:15, we are told to be ready to reason and defend our faith. Through conversations with Mr. Short and my own personal inquiries, I have found answers to those questions. Now I hope to share my discoveries with those who have a shaky or even broken foundation. The truth of Christ can repair or even replace their foundations entirely.

“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” 1 Corinthians 3:11.

 Dear Sisters,

"The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances."  -Elisabeth Elliot

Change is coming whether we desire it or not! The question is: How does change affect us? Do we approach change as a fun adventure, or as the fearful unknown? This month's writer, Kelly Lewis, tells about how God's Word has helped her deal with some recent changes in her life.

Seasons of change are God-appointed opportunities for "hands-off living". They are (sometimes painful) reminders for us to take our hands off of that "wheel" and to remember that God is the One in control.

When you go through transitions, may God speak to you through His Word as He did with Kelly. And may we always remember that our circumstances are uniquely and lovingly fashioned by Him to make us more like His Son, Jesus Christ.

In Christ's love, 

Sandy Hopler

Living the Word -  A Time For Smiling

By Kelly Lewis, Grace Point Community Church, Lewis Center, Ohio

No matter what your age or season of life, most of us will find ourselves facing some sort of transition in the coming year. It could be marriage, motherhood, sending kids to school, returning to the work place, moving, becoming a grandparent, etc. This past fall I faced two milestones. I turned 50 and also sent our youngest daughter off to college and became an empty nester. We also put our other daughter on a plane to return to her teaching job in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

It was definitely a time of change and not knowing what to expect. I knew I would miss being involved at my daughter's high school and having our home filled with her friends. I wondered how it would affect my marriage. I was also taking a good look at the ministries I was involved in at church and wanted to make sure I was willing to pass on some of my roles to younger leaders. I didn't quite feel like I was on firm footing, yet I knew I had to be rooted in God's Word.

As I sought the wisdom I needed in the Word, the first passage that spoke to me was in Ecclesiastes 3. Verse 2 said that there is a time to plant and a time to uproot. I have spent a large portion of my life planting spiritual development, life skills, and character into my kids. I have also planted and invested time into developing my skills as a bass guitar player, worship leader, and Bible study leader. Uprooting can be disruptive and painful, yet God declares that there is a time for it. Thus, it must be part of His best for me, and I want to embrace it without fear. I don't want to be possessive of any of the roles at church that I love, but want to be willing to move aside and help make the next generation successful. I can struggle with this, and have realized that I tend to get my self-esteem from my ministry rather than my position as a beloved child of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:6 also says there is a time to hold onto and a time to let go. This is a tricky one! I find that instead of having roots firmly planted in trusting God's plan for me that I am more like ivy. I tend to cling to what I love and wrap myself around it too tightly. This can apply to anything that I love, be it a relationship, ministry, or possession. I want to obey God's Word by loosening my grasp and holding tightly to Him instead through all the changes.

Building on this, I determined to apply Ecclesiastes 5:26 which reads, He does not often consider the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the joys of his heart. I don't want to be anxious about what might be ahead in the future, but want to live in the moment and appreciate the joys and callings of today.  

I have recently wrapped up my first year of empty nesting and have discovered some unexpected surprises along the way. My husband Terry and I are exploring fun date nights and hobbies together and have had more time to do ministry together as a couple. I find that I am less driven to constantly be doing something and am learning to slow down and listen to the Lord more. And God has given me spiritual children to invest my life into. The wisdom and encouragement I have received from God's Word will hopefully enable me to obey one last verse: "She smiles at the days to come,"  Proverbs 31:25.

 Dear Sisters,

The first followers of Jesus Christ were known for their bold preaching and for "being with Jesus":        

"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus" Acts 4:13.

This month's letter is about growing in courage in sharing the gospel. Our writer tells us of hearing God's voice, and obeying Him, by being bold in her faith in several difficult situations. Neva began growing in courage by joining her pastor husband in being "available to the Lord." She found her trust in the Lord and His leading increasing with each step of obedience.

May we take heart from this sister's example, listening to the Lord's voice, so that we might also develop boldness in sharing our faith.

In Christ's love, 

Sandy Hopler

- Living the Word - Hopefully Bold and Kind of Fearless

By Neva Whitney, Vintage Faith Church, Stillwater, Oklahoma

This verse from 2 Corinthians 4:13 emboldens me: "But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, 'I believed in God, so I spoke.'"  

Surprisingly, as I have gotten older, I have found myself becoming bolder and more fearless in the Gospel. Imagine that.    

Maybe it's because I'm leaving. Maybe it's because we are in the process of selling our lovely home here at Kansas State University outside of Manhattan, Kansas. We are moving to Stillwater, Oklahoma, this summer and trusting God to be a help with a wonderful team who are starting a church at Oklahoma State University.

Maybe I'm a little more courageous because of some habits I have worked on. Over the last few years, it's become routine for Rick and me to go out on campus and hand out tracts. It's a simple way to be available to the Lord. God always seems to bless our efforts and gives us good conversations with not only students, but also many staff.

But beyond this simple habit, the Lord has also emboldened me at other times - to be courageous and to speak up for Him.

A Listening Mom

Rick had an idea about a booth on central campus, called, "K-State Moms. We will Listen." He thought it might be a draw for students, especially young women. I knew that I was one of the 'K-State Moms' he was thinking of. To man it. Or to woman it.

I found two friends who would sit with me at the table, under our pop-up. But the morning that we were going to be out on campus, in front of the Union, on the Plaza, both gals called to cancel! Things had come up and they genuinely were unable to go.

Our truck was already loaded, with everything we would need, and my husband (who was excited to see this idea of K-State Moms carried out), was ready to roll. Probably more excited than I. But when Rick heard about the phone calls he said, "You don't need to do this alone. We can just go out and pass out more tracts."

I wondered about manning the booth 'alone.' But then God nudged me. I decided to just do it. And God really blessed.

There is a quote by Margaret Atwood that I have often shared. Here's how it goes: "There are some women who seem to be born without fear. God appears to protect such women, maybe out of astonishment."  

After we got our table and canopy set up on campus, Rick disappeared. Actually he just walked down the sidewalk a short distance to pass out tracts and 'keep an eye on things'.

I was amazed at how quickly I became a part of the K-State campus that morning. I relaxed and enjoyed the cup of coffee Rick brought me. Then I began reading. I wasn't too surprised when, in the next few minutes a co-ed walked up. And over the course of three hours, many different girls stopped by to talk with this 'K-State Mom'.

Many were new to campus and needed directions to different campus buildings. Others had heard about our Vintage Faith Students and asked when and where the group met. Others just wanted some of the literature. A young man asked if I would meet with his girlfriend because she had questions. And the students and conversations just kept coming. Over and over. I was able to talk about God and love on these students. I was able to share about Jesus and hand out lots of Gospel literature.

Several times throughout the morning I thought, "I may have agreed to do this - just to bless my husband - but now I am doing this to bless you, Lord."

A Matinee and God's Whisper

Just a few weeks ago God gave me another wonderful opportunity to be bold in the Gospel. Rick was out of town and I needed to leave our home on a Sunday afternoon, as our realtor had two house showings scheduled, back-to-back.

My good friend Diane, whose husband was deployed to Kuwait, and I decided to go see a movie. She picked God's Not Dead which turned out to be a good flick.

However, near the beginning of the movie God clearly spoke to me, "I want you to pass out your testimony tract." I knew I had over three dozen in my purse, but I felt hesitant. I told the Lord, "Maybe."

I watched a bit more of the movie and He prompted me again. "When this is over, you should hand out your personal testimony tract."

I could tell that the Lord wasn't going to leave me alone, so I said to Him, "Okay, Lord, I will. But could I please finish the movie?"

As soon as the credits began rolling, I jumped up and stood at the bottom of the stairs. As people were leaving, I passed out my tract as fast as I could. Diane, my soul sister, came and stood right beside me and said, "Look at you."

I really had no choice. I had to obey that still Voice.

As I have thought about what to share with you ladies this month, I wanted to challenge you as Great Commission Pastors wives. May we continue to always be fearless in the Gospel. To lead out. To be an example to others. May we be very careful to hear His 'still, small Voice' and obey it.

I guess the question for all of us is, "How often do I actually hear His Voice?"

I want to hear it even more.

May we again and again surprise our God (and our husbands, and our children, and our church family) as we step out in faith and ask God to step in and step up and use us in sowing His Gospel. Let's see if we can astonish God.

"But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, "I believed in God, so I spoke." or "But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore we also speak," 2 Corinthians 4:13.

"Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you a voice will say, 'This is the way you should go,'" Isaiah 30:21.

Since committing our lives to Jesus Christ in 1977 we have had hearts to serve the Kingdom of God through the local church. In December 2012 God gave us a new vision and passion for serving as full time missionaries in Milan, Italy. While I (Steve) pastored at Grace Point, a GCC church in Columbus, Ohio, we joined a group from Ball State University on our first mission trip to Italy. When we returned we were surprised that God had placed within our hearts a passion for ministry to college students at the University of Milan, Biccoca. He opened our eyes to the spiritual need and lack of hope in so many of the students’ lives.

Like many without Christ, they continue to try to fill the God-sized hole in their hearts with temporary things. They need to experience the love, joy, peace, and grace that only God can give.

God is calling us to impact these students as we join the mission team already in place. We will connect with students through English clubs, discipleship, Bible study and simply living Christ in their presence. As of this writing, I am setting up a weekly Bible study with one of the students in Milan through Skype. (Got to love technology.)

Debi and I cannot wait to join the team and be involved with these students. What a blessing to go where the need to experience the love of God is so great, and be used by God to help change the lives of students from all over the world, who in turn will change the lives of many others. There is no doubt that God chose and appointed us to this ministry, one which will only be accomplished through His grace and power.

Ken Young pastored GCC churches in the US for 25 years but now works with RUN Global, reaching the unreached in South Asia.

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14

Pakistan lies at the heart of the unevangelized world. The knowledge that 1.7 billion Muslims in the world are without Christ prompted me to go to predominantly Muslim countries and reach out with the gospel. In both 2012 and 2013, I traveled to Pakistan and partnered with Pakistani pastors training groups in disciple making and teaching believers to reach their neighbors. Less than half of Pakistanis can read, so we distributed audio bibles (Mega Voices).

Omar was so hungry for God’s Word that he listened to his Bible throughout each day, alone or with others. His delight in the Word motivated him to learn to read. Now he owns two books about theology and the Bible and wants to become a
pastor. What a story of the power of God’s Word!

In Pakistan, it is dangerous for a Muslim who becomes a Christian. Several Muslim background believers told of beatings
and threats to their lives at discipleship training events. Many participants repented of their fear of reaching out to Muslims and determined to reach the 96% of Pakistanis who are Muslim.

After considering the dilemma of how to disciple Muslim converts, we plan to start safe houses. These will provide refuge for persecuted Christians who must hide from families, extremists or government authorities angry because they have turned to Christ or are sharing Him with others. While in a safe house, they will receive pastoral care, discipleship and support until they can return home or relocate to another area to continue their ministry.

For over 30 years, I have been publicly presenting the claims of Christ, answering the questions of seekers and the objections of skeptics on campuses throughout the US. Now I and my son, Tim, have created a series of large banners that catch the attention of students on the 30+ campuses I will visit this year. Although skeptics and atheists like to distract from the presentations, my message expressed both verbally and through the banners is simple: God is real, the Bible is true and Jesus Christ is the only way back to God.

The campuses of America have long been a focal point of spiritual conflict. Great Commission Churches traces its early roots to reaching college campuses. Many of us fondly remember our college days as a time when Jesus really formed our lives. But for many, college was a  time when their faith was undermined and even destroyed. Christians often feel very intimidated and alone when on the college campus. My bold public presentations are not only designed to reach the lost, but to encourage, inspire, embolden and educate a new generation of Christ-followers.

Recently a Christian professor at Miami Dade College told me that not once in his 35 years on campus had he ever seen a strong, clear and appealing presentation of the Christian faith like he saw that day. He did, however, lament that every week for years he had seen the GLBT group aggressively promoting itself. Let’s keep college ministries in our prayers and get
behind them in any way we can. To see the banners or for more information on me and my ministry, visit www.TomthePreacher.com.

Three years ago Keegan and Amy Rice, Daryn Williams and Bekah Maier sat down with John Hopler, Robbie and Berk to discuss moving to begin a church plant at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte. Each of these saints had attended LINC. The leaders agreed that they had truly caught the vision and understood what it took, with the Holy Spirit’s help, to reach out to strangers and unbelievers and see them come to know and grow in the Lord.

In 2013, Keegan, Amy, Bekah and David and Renee Johnson moved to Charlotte. As they shared the gospel at UNCC, people began to accept Christ and be baptized. These new believers began to share their faith with their friends. As these disciples made disciples, Niner Christian Life began. This January, three more saints, including Daryn, moved to join the original group. Faithful to share the gospel on campus and disciple those they meet, each of these men and women have begun a new group with other believers and unbelievers where they are effectively building spiritual truths into them. Niner
Christian Life’s vision is to make disciples who make disciples. Because of Jesus Christ they are developing a network of learning communities that exalt Christ and empower people to be spiritually, emotionally and relationally mature in Christ so they serve their community and the nations.

 Dear Sisters,

As pastors wives we all understand that we really need the Lord's grace. It is certainly true that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). 

This month's writer, Mary Knox, experienced some burdens as she and her husband Brent were reaching out in the gospel. Brent reminded Mary of their need to cast those burdens of daily care for others onto the Lord. The greater the need, the greater the need for prayer.

As we have opportunities to sow the gospel, let's pray more to the Lord of the harvest. Then we can trust that God will use our sowing to bring the fruit of new, changed lives, and to send out workers into His abundant harvest (Luke 10:2).

In Christ, 

Sandy Hopler

Just Sow It -  Just Sowing It With More Prayer

By Mary Knox, Evergreen Community Church, Bloomington, Minnesota

My husband Brent recently came home from a long week of pastors' meetings, with many burdens about people and church concerns. When I asked what was going to be done about these, he answered, "More prayer. Longer prayer, deeper prayer, serious prayer." More prayer. It developed into our inside joke. Whenever anything burdensome came up, and I'd ask, "What's to be done?"--we'd say in unison with a grin, "More prayer."

Recently we went on a trip with some unbelievers we have known for a long time. We decided to view this as a "mission trip," to share more of our faith with this couple. We've had little time over the years to deeply and personally engage with both of them about Christ. The wife and I had talked about spiritual matters years ago. And I sent her The Purpose Driven Life. But that was about it. I was looking forward to engaging again. 

Brent got to converse about faith matters with the wife, but I never got to engage spiritually with either person. I lamented, "Oh God, we are such failures at sharing our faith!" However, during our last night together, God gave us a wide, open door to share our faith. We got to go into the full gospel, and we discovered their beliefs. Ultimately, they couldn't accept that Jesus was God and that there was just one way to God. Our evening ended with them holding fast to their own beliefs. We concluded that we just need to pray for them. More prayer. 

The couple left to go home before we did. We still had four days left to relax. Truthfully, I wanted to go home. I couldn't do much, for I had broken my wrist right before our trip. I didn't want to tether my poor husband to taking care of me, so I told him to go snorkel and enjoy his time, and I'd read and sunbathe beside the ocean. Then the Lord planted the thought, 'Why not continue to make this a mission trip?' Long story short, He opened the door for me to share the gospel with a darling 21 year-old from French Quebec, a 'hippie' musician girl. There were so many similarities between us, I felt like I was sharing with my younger unsaved self. It was a total God thing, and so fun and relaxed. She was very open to conversing, but at the end, she told me very sweetly, that she was not interested in exploring Jesus as The Way...she wanted to explore God through other world religions. (I did too, at that age. Look at how THAT turned out.) I resolved that I was going to pray faithfully for her and her boyfriend to get saved. 

 Through those two experiences, God reinforced a few spiritual truths for me.

1. God is good, He is powerful, and He answers prayer. Both times that He opened the door for us to share the gospel, I had a 'pinch me/ take off your sandals, you're on holy ground' moment. I thought, "God, you are so good. You opened this door. I can't believe this is happening. Thank you so much."

2. Just sow the gospel. God's mission for us, to 'just sow it' was accomplished. We don't have to take a person from start to finish. All we have to do is sow the gospel. Besides sharing with these two couples, we had numerous opportunities to hand out our personal faith stories: to cab drivers, luggage handlers, waiters, and maids. Once again, God comforted me with Campus Crusade's Bill Bright's words: "Successful evangelism is sharing in the power of the Holy Spirit, and leaving the results to God." These unsaved people are God's responsibility. We are not going to be held responsible if they are not in heaven.

3. Our job now is to pray. More Prayer. More prayer. More prayer. 1 Samuel 12:23 says, "Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you..." I personally am committed to praying for these couples. I'm asking that He sends others into their lives to speak truth, and model Christlikeness to them.

The year I moved to Ames, IA, to join the GCC church, the Lord led me to read the book, Mimosa, by Amy Carmichael. This wonderful quote from the book has spoken to me for almost 40 years: "Fear not at all. Where your hands cannot reach and your love cannot help, His hands can reach and His love can help. So why are you afraid... And it was said that miles of space and solid walls and locked doors are nothing, to love. Nothing at all." 

"Just Sow It" and prayer. They are a wonderful God-combo. "The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." James 5:16b, NLT

The Rock Community Church, about two hours north of us, loves its community but is strapped for resources. In an economically depressed and racially divided section of Cleveland, each summer they host three camps for children in their community. When registration opens the phones start ringing, parents anxiously press to get their kids in, and they always reach capacity.

Our life group volunteered to run one week of summer camp. We served according to our individual gifts and personalities: Joan and Angie, natural planners, organized the curriculum; Dan the engineer, created a water bottle launcher that was perfect on hot summer afternoons; Brian the science teacher wowed the kids with small explosions, smoke, and fog; Bob the manchild led sports and games and had as much fun as the kids. Our daughters and granddaughters led singing and skits while our boys joined in activities with the campers. Kitchen volunteers held us together with good food and coffee.

Days started with devotionals and breakfast together. Campers arrived around 9:30 and the days were full of activity until late in the afternoon. After camp, we ate dinner together and shared fun activities. We spent our nights with members of The Rock, most of whom live within a few blocks of the church.

We grew closer together in many ways as we sweated during outdoor sports, grew in love and patience dealing with difficult children from broken homes, and labored together for the work of the Lord. Driving home, we felt exhausted, but also had a rare sense of spiritual accomplishment that will never be forgotten.

I grew up in Kansas and moved to Colorado where I got married and raised a family. Blessed with good health, I supported my special needs children as they took root and made their way in life. When my mother died in 1989 I realized that I was at the end of my youth, fast approaching retirement. What did living really count for?

The answer came when I was directed to a group of believers who were learning about and establishing personal relationships with Jesus. That was over 20 years ago. Today I know “whose” I am, where I’m going, what’s important in this life and how the end will play out for me. I can state unequivocally that LOVE has been the ministry in every case. Jesus and His gift of redemption to us through the cross, His resurrection and promise of heaven... these are the true LOVE gifts of God to His children. It has served me well in the sunset of my life. I’ve had the opportunity to “serve” others as a mother, grandmother, teacher, student and friend.

Today I work with an international group of Colorado State University students that meet for Sunday breakfast at Summitview Community Church. Our time includes a Bible study, read faithfully in English, Chinese and Vietnamese! Over 40 students and graduates gather to learn and share the LOVE and encouragement of Jesus Christ. I sit in this circle and realize I’m witnessing the very work of our Lord in the midst of all peoples on earth.

 Dear Sisters,

This month, our writer Thelma shares her story of finding true confidence and affirmation by coming to know God's love for her. Her efforts to find approval first through pleasing others remind me of a passage of Scripture, Jeremiah 17:5-8. It speaks of the curse of depending on people to meet our needs, "...whose heart turns away from the Lord... he will be like a bush in the desert" (v.5,6), and the alternate blessing of trusting in the Lord, "Blessed is the man whose heart trusts in the Lord, and whose trust is the Lord" (v.7).

Thelma found the blessing of a saving relationship with Jesus Christ as a young woman, and has developed that trust in God and in His Word faithfully throughout her life. She was a godly influence in my life when I was a new believer, and I have always been blessed by her reliance on the Scriptures to guide her. Let's follow her example of trusting in the Lord, and sharing with others that they too can trust Him to love and guide throughout life.

 In His love,

Sandy Hopler

Just Sow It -  A Need Fulfilled

By Thelma Clark, The Firehouse Church, Denver, Colorado

As a little girl growing up on a farm and ranch in eastern Colorado, I enjoyed the love and approval I received from my family and teachers. But as I got older, it seemed that in order to be well liked by my friends I would need to be 'best' at something: a sport, looks, grades, etc. I assumed the 'most popular' kids had an inner confidence of being esteemed and valued by our peers that I might never have.

So my senior year I didn't expect to be a candidate for Homecoming queen...and I was very surprised at the half time of the football game when I was crowned queen! At that exciting moment I was actually wondering if the doubts I had about myself would finally be replaced with a lasting confidence.

I didn't have to wonder long. In the days that followed, school and life continued in much the same way as they had before; nothing seemed very different. I felt let down, deeply impacted with the reality that honor and esteem from people are very momentary and short-lived.

Soon after, I met some people who seemed to have a real joy and purpose in life. They truly enjoyed relationships with one another rather than striving to gain one another's approval. They also seemed to know God much differently than I did. They spoke as if He were real and personal-like a best friend.

As a child I had learned about God and His love for me. But I had never understood the reality of His creating me so that He could love me, and how His love could affect my 'here and now' as I lived in relationship with Him every day.

As this began, I discovered that God had already declared my true value when He placed on me the highest price tag possible: His Son's life (dying in my place, for my sin). Jesus Christ did that for me, so I could receive the free gift of eternal life with Him, rather than have to exist apart from Him forever, in hell. The fact that He intimately knows me yet unconditionally loves me, began replacing my need for approval with a concern for others. The changes He started making in me were not through a list of "do's and don'ts", but from the inside out.

It was exciting and freeing to learn that God had a purpose for me that would bring joy and fulfillment. I finally wanted to let Him take the lead into His 'adventure' for me, little knowing how much it would change my priorities, alter what I lived for, and satisfy me as He affected every area of my life.

I never dreamed I would face the challenges that have come in relationships, finances, and with huge disappointments in life. I do know that my marriage and every other relationship would not be what they are today without the effects that His Word, His presence, and other Christians have had on me. Raising a family of nine children took on eternal purpose and value. I can now see how that undertaking was not just for the children's sakes, but for mine as He used the joys, the pains, the work and the stretching times to change me.

His Word is amazing! It has given the encouragement and strength I've daily needed-providing perspective, comfort, and even peace when it shouldn't have been possible. He has enriched our family with many meaningful relationships from the hours we've used our home and time for others. I'm able to maintain hope through earth's trying circumstances and sorrows because they're put into proper perspective when I remember that my 'happily ever after' won't be in this world-but in the never-ending, joyful kingdom of God.

I would like nothing more than for you also to discover how true Jesus' words are: "I have come that they might have life in all its fullness" (John 10:10), and "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

If you have questions or would like more of an explanation on how to have a personal relationship with Jesus, I would love to talk with you, or you can visit the website www.peacewithgod.jesus.net.

“…I will send those who survive to be messengers to the nations…to all the lands beyond the sea that have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. There they will declare My glory to the nations.”

In Nepal I often meet kids who try their English on me: “What’s your name?” they ask. I answer, “Michael.” They can’t get it, until I say, “like Michael Jackson.” Immediately they laugh, because they know Michael Jackson – he’s famous here. But when I ask, “Have you heard of Jesus?” they don’t have a clue. They’ve never heard of Him! How is this possible? What did Michael Jackson ever do for them, compared to what Jesus did for them? Yet he’s famous, but Jesus is not. Not yet!

Look at what God has promised: “…I’ll send the survivors of judgment all over the world: Spain and Africa, Turkey and Greece, and the far-off islands that have never heard of Me, who know nothing of what I’ve done nor who I am. I’ll send them out as missionaries to preach My glory among the nations.” Isaiah 66:19 MSG

Notice who God promises to send missionaries to: Those who…

 “have never heard of Me”

 “know nothing of what I’ve done”

 “know nothing of who I am”

This is why we are targeting India and Nepal – two of the least reached nations. Every week our Indian team and their disciples reach over 3000 lost people with the gospel. In 2013 our number of training for trainers groups grew from 150 to over 600 groups. In Nepal, we are building the same kind of team, to multiply the same kind of training groups. We need your help! Please pray, please send, please come on a short or long term mission. Help us make Jesus famous!

For many years Riverbend Church has had various missions initiatives. Two years ago the Lord led us to increase our cross-cultural footprint as part of our annual Acts 1:8 plan. We asked what we could do to increase our vision for the world, and decided to focus a whole weekend on nothing but our cross-cultural missions work.

We had a seminar on world religions to understand the challenges of ministering among other peoples both in our own country and around the world. We invited our multi-cultural congregation to bring a favorite international dish and enjoyed a truly cross-cultural meal together. Missionaries we support came and shared about ministry in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and even international ministry in our own country. This was especially educational for our families who are trying to help their children catch a world vision from a young age.

We closed out our weekend with our faith promise Sunday. This included a visionary message and taking up faith promise commitments: people prayed and committed to an amount above and beyond their tithe that they believed God for over the next year that they gave to the church’s cross-cultural missions vision.

It was really exciting to hear testimonies throughout the year how God provided in amazing ways so people could fulfill their faith commitments. In our first year we almost doubled our missions giving. We praise God for that!

By doing a missions weekend, we feel God is helping us take greater steps toward making Christ’s last command our first concern.

Dear Sisters,

This month, I am sharing my own testimony of how people sowed the gospel of Jesus Christ with me. I hope you enjoy it!

In Christ's love,

Sandy Hopler

Just Sow It - God's Gift

By Sandy Hopler, Great Commission Churches, Columbus, Ohio

At one time in my life, I did not have forgiveness or peace with God. Then there was a day, a point in time, when I received that forgiveness--a day when I asked Jesus Christ to be Lord of my life.

I was raised in a Catholic home in Cleveland, Ohio and went to church every morning during my eight years of Catholic school. I am so thankful for so many things about my family and my religious upbringing. I learned to value absolute truth and I had a basic belief in God and the Bible. I developed a desire to do things right. However, I began to trust in myself alone. I felt that if anything was going to get done right, I had to do it myself. I gradually developed a proud, self-confident attitude.

In high school, I had an outgoing personality. I liked to be noticed. It was important to me to be popular and to be admired by others. I was very involved in activities and clubs. I was a class officer and the lead in school plays. But inside I was so afraid of failure and of displeasing God.

I followed my sister's path of nursing school and went to college at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. While at college, my plan for "right living" didn't work so well. I was mixing with wilder girls than the friends in my hometown. I found myself breaking my own rules and what I perceived to be God's rules. My partying ways convinced me that I was no longer on the right path to God. I lost my peace and confidence. My anxiety grew as I worried about what would happen to me when I died. The church's rules and rituals for earning forgiveness didn't help me now. By my sophomore year, my friends saw a change in my attitude. Despite my success in being accepted into Ohio State's nursing program, I was struggling with guilt and depression.

In the summer of 1975 I got a job working at a doctor's office in Columbus. I made a last-minute decision to move into a boarding house with some girls I did not know. The girls in this house "just happened" to be Christians, who said that they knew they had eternal life. I thought, "How presumptuous of them! You have to be perfect and stop sinning to know that you are going to heaven." But these girls said they were born again, that they had a relationship with Jesus, and that God guided them. They included me in their everyday lives and treated me as if I was also a Christian.

These people weren't "perfect." Yet they seemed to enjoy a close, confident friendship with God. I lived with these girls and could see they were a bit sloppy and late at times. They had arguments between themselves occasionally. But they had a peace I did not have.

One of those summer Sundays, I went to church as usual. While sitting and waiting for the Mass to start, I admitted to myself that I no longer believed God needed me to follow all these rules in order for me to make it into His heaven. Wasn't He bigger than all that? I walked out of church just as the service was beginning. Something different would happen in my life. I just knew it.

Within days I met a group of people who, like the girls in the boarding house, said they were born again. They also claimed to have peace with God. On a Sunday afternoon, I was invited to their church, called Solid Rock. I mustered up the courage to go to the meeting place alone. Walking around the block of the building, I began to go back home. But that sense that something different needed to happen in my life with God persisted. So, I went in.

Friendly people met me and seemed to really care about me and about each other. I heard songs from Scripture sung joyously and a sermon was preached right from verses in the Bible. People were not phony but genuine and real. I really enjoyed the service and sensed that God was there.

During the meeting, I turned around in my seat and was shocked to see a friend named Cheryl whom I knew from Catholic grade school. Cheryl and her new husband were part of this church. She shared with me how Christ had freely given her new life and that she was now "saved."

As the meeting ended that evening, I was full of questions. I remember telling one person, "I don't know what you all have, but whatever it is, I WANT it!" I asked Jim, one of the men I had met, how I could "join this church."

Instead of telling me more of what I needed to do, Jim told me what Jesus had already done for me. He simply shared that God loved me so much He sent Jesus to die for me.

"Can God forgive me?" I asked. I was beginning to feel hope! "God loves you," said Jim. He read from his Bible, Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." God did not want my own works or efforts. (They weren't doing me any good anyway!) He wanted to give me forgiveness. Jesus Christ had already offered His life for me. Now He was offering to me eternal life as a gift for me to receive. God simply wanted me to trust Him and believe in Him.

Trust Someone else? That had always been the hardest thing for me to do. But now I knew that simply believing in Jesus was the way to please God and to have a relationship with Him.

On the steps outside of my boarding house, I confessed out loud in prayer with Jim that I had been proud before God. I could never be good enough to get to heaven. I knew now that I needed Jesus Christ to forgive me through His sacrifice on the cross and to give me the gift of eternal life. I asked Him to now take control of my life.

I said goodbye to Jim that evening and went quietly into the boarding house. My room was upstairs and I gleefully bounded up those steps. I believed! I was forgiven! That night I knew for sure that I had received the gift of eternal life--and I have never doubted it since.

If you have relied on other people or religious rules or yourself in life, realize that Jesus Christ wants you to put your trust in Him. No one is righteous enough to live in God's presence. But because of Christ's righteousness and because of His death on the cross for you and me, we can receive the gift of eternal life. He alone is trustworthy--He will never let you down or fail!

The Holy Spirit is stirring hearts at Grace Community Church in Universal City, TX. Even before our “Just Sow It” encouragement, we have been praying and watching for the movement of the Holy Spirit so we can join in. And God has been doing a lot.

Believing every Christ-follower should be able to tell their story in a brief, genuine way, we have been training and practicing following the Spirit as He leads us to engage the people who come into our lives every day. Then, we trust Him to take that conversation wherever He will.

Since January 2013, 103 people have made a profession of faith in Christ and over half have obeyed the Lord in baptism. They have come to Christ in a variety of ways: through vacation Bible school, small groups, friends in our circles of influence, family members, and at our weekend message, worship gathering, and subsequent invitation. There is only one way to God, but there are many ways to Christ.

We have no fool-proof plan or program. We have simply been moved to ask God to make us alert and WILLING to obey the Holy Spirit when He prompts us to act. Our actions do speak very loudly, but when the Holy Spirit first came upon the disciples as recorded in the book of Acts, they SPOKE. People need to hear what God is doing today, and they need to hear how they can find forgiveness and a new life through Christ.

Our prayer is that we act and speak to those the Lord brings into our lives on a daily basis, in a way that will say “God is real and alive and can meet you today.” Please pray that with us.

In the beginning all we knew to do was to pray and fast. We sought God for next steps that would move us as a Kingdom outpost to demonstrate Kingdom values and become a multiracial congregation. This is defined as a church where no one racial group makes up more than 80% of the congregation. This was a God-sized goal, but worth it for the glory of Jesus. We asked God to change our hearts and congregation, to tear down strongholds of racial division, and to unite us with people who sensed the heart of God for a racially united Church.

Other steps included learning from authors and pioneers on this topic. We casted vision and preached about it; held honest, sometimes very challenging, discussions; branched out into different musical styles; and celebrated diversity within our local body of Christ wherever we could find it.

The journey has been long and hard and it is far from over, but God has transformed our Kingdom outpost into a Christ-centered, ethnically diverse congregation of African-Americans, Latinos, Filipinos, and Caucasians. He has led us to what we feel is an even greater fulfillment of the Great Commission. Jesus has received even more glory as we, a diverse group of people, unite as one under His name.

The Rock Community Church is in an urban area of greater Cleveland, Ohio.

Dear Sisters,

Family is important to all of us.  We all want to have strong marriages and loving children.  But we also recognize that Jesus Christ is far better than any family.

This month's writer, Dotty Vanderhorst, shares with us the testimony tract that she gives to people she meets.  As a young woman who had discovered the man of her dreams, Dotty took a stand for Christ and "just sowed the gospel" with her future husband.... and God brought him to saving faith in Christ.  Dotty made Jesus Christ first in her life-and God fulfilled her desires for a strong family.

This month, as we honor our husbands and as we care for family members, let us remember to make Christ first in all things and to sow the gospel with people we meet.  Only then will we experience the love and peace that only God can give.

In Christ's love,

Sandy Hopler

Just Sow It - Putting Jesus First

By Dotty Vanderhorst, Cornerstone Community Church, Overland Park, Kansas

Hello, my name is Dotty. Family is very important to me. As a child I wanted to have the perfect family-just my dad, my mom, my two brothers and me. But my dreams were shattered when one afternoon my parents got us kids together and told us Dad needed to move out. As much as I prayed to avoid it, divorce followed. That was the major sorrow of my life.

At the age of nine, I spent my first week at a Bible camp in Pennsylvania, my home state. There I heard that merely knowing about Jesus was not enough. Jesus was asking to come into my heart in a personal way as my Savior and Lord. As Savior He would give me eternal life, having paid the penalty for my sins that would have sent me to hell. As Lord, He wanted my trust, my obedience, and my loyalty. I gladly took the step of making Jesus my Savior. I wasn't as sure I wanted Him to run my life!

Many years and many adventures later, I found myself at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. There I met a young man named John with whom I fell in love. And he loved me too. Marriage seemed obvious-we would have the chance to create the perfect family I had always wanted. But one obstacle loomed in our way. John didn't believe in Jesus, not even God. He was a moral person, an intelligent person, but God had no place in his life. The Bible told me I was not to marry an unbeliever, one with no relationship with Christ. So what was I to do?

What followed was a hard year. I told John of my first loyalty to Christ, to a Lord who had led me faithfully through many life experiences. (I was 22 by then.) I knew this Person was real and worthy of devotion. Would John be willing to meet Him also?

It seemed an easy solution to me. But spiritual allegiances are not as easy to change as I had thought. Not only were there many questions John wanted answered, but he also had a resistance to giving control of his life to anyone else, even if that someone proved to be God. There is a force opposed to God, called Satan in the Bible, and he doesn't easily surrender unbelievers to God's kingdom. The prospect of lifelong separation from John-no marriage, no shared life, no children-and then his permanent separation from me in hell was what made that year so painful.

But Christ is an active and powerful Lord. As I obeyed Him more fully than I ever had, He worked on John's behalf. Many Christians befriended him, he went to a lecture on evolution versus creation, he began to read a Bible, and he researched Biblical prophecy. Slowly the Lord won his attention and his heart, until he could no longer say he didn't believe. Would he commit his whole life to Christ? In January of 1976, John did.

So what about my "perfect family"? Did it happen? Over our first sixteen years of marriage John and I had eight children, five sons and three daughters. We are a happy family, but far from perfect. Perfection is God's alone. All our good things come from His kindness to us. Now, 36 years since our wedding, our oldest four are married, and we look forward to our twelfth grandchild's birth. The younger four are very much part of our life. We have our sorrows and disappointments, but find that God is big enough to carry us along in them. Our goal in life now is to enlarge God's family. How about you? Do you belong to His family yet?

Whether or not your family life is happy, God wants you to know He loves you, and wants you in His family, as a child of God. But you must be born into His family. Here is how:

1. Understand God's love for you. He is your Creator and wishes to be glorified by your life!  His love includes plans for your future: "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).
2. Admit that you have not followed God and honored Him in everything. To run your own life is sin against God.  Tell God you are sorry for your sin and will turn away from it with His help: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" and "the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 3:23 and 6:23).
3. Believe that Jesus Christ came to give His life as a sin payment on your behalf. God's forgiveness of your sins and acceptance of you are based on Christ's death in your place. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). "Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said" (1 Corinthians 15:3).
4. Receive the gift offered by God-forgiveness of your sins and eternal life in His presence. Simply ask Christ to come into your heart. His Holy Spirit will come to dwell within you. "But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).
5. Thank your Father for His great gift of a new life. Rejoice! For "Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13). Get a Bible and start reading about your new Savior in the Gospel of John. 

Over the next decade God reoriented my values. I went off to college that fall, and God got my attention in a big way. He shook out my hypocrisy, self-centered attitudes, and extremely flirtatious behavior. I also was able to help lead small groups, house churches, and saw many friends come to salvation.

During college I was asked to speak at a women’s event for the first time. Before I spoke I felt incredibly nauseous, not because I was nervous, but because I felt the Holy Spirit almost shaking me to get up there and say what He laid on my heart. I have been blessed to be able to speak all across the country to single women at conferences and retreats. I wrote the booklet With A Whole Heart, and have been encouraged to see the way that collection of stories has inspired women to live more fully devoted to Christ.

God proved Himself faithful to the promise He whispered to me all those years ago. In 2011, I married my best friend, Cody. Our first born son is Keeper, and we are expecting our 2^nd baby this spring. We serve in Manhattan, KS where Cody is a Campus Staffer at K-State.

At first, a recovery group didn’t seem like a big need. After all, isn’t that what we do on Sunday mornings? The gospel being proclaimed and taught should be enough, right? But soon after, God began a work that opened up a different avenue of authentic healing called Celebrate Recovery (CR), a 12-step biblically based recovery program. CR reaches people where they are with their battles and is unapologetic in claiming the loving power of Jesus Christ through a recovery process.

The recovery process has two aspects – Support and Steps. The support group meets for two hours every week, one hour with worship, a bible based lesson or personal testimony, and the second hour breaking into gender-specific groups and discussion. The Step Study is a more intensive discipleship program rooted in the Bible.

Since 2011, the program has grown from a few leaders praying about the ministry to having a multi-campus presence with two weekly support meetings and step studies at both campuses. CR also reaches out to communities. Nationwide, CR has seen 85% of he people who go through the program stay with a local church and nearly half serve.

We have seen Celebrate Recovery permeate our community groups, Sunday services, and have heard this ministry’s impact in baptism testimonies. At River Ridge Church, we exist to reach spiritual seekers with the gospel of Jesus Christ and grow believers in both their love of God and love of people. Celebrate Recovery is an integral part of people experiencing the freedom that comes through Jesus Christ. For more information about Celebrate Recovery,  visit www.celebraterecovery.com

Andy Tuel is a campus pastor at River Ridge Church in West Virginia. River Ridge Church is a multi-campus church located in Charleston and Teays Valley.

Pictured above: Patrick and Shelley Coleman, founders of CR at River Ridge Church

Dear Sisters,

In this newsletter over the past year we have been privileged to read God stories from the lives of our fellow pastors' wives.  Through these monthly reminders, my faith has been personally stirred to "just sow" the gospel of Christ with people in my community.  Diane Yousling's story of "adoption" of love, I know, will also encourage you to sow the gospel of Jesus Christ.

God's grace and blessings to you this Christmas season!

In Christ's love,

Sandy Hopler

Just Sow It - Adopted into the Family

By Diane Yousling, Prairie Ridge Community Church, Aurora, Colorado

With tears rolling down the sides of my cheeks, I laid on the examining table in the doctor's office, clenching my husband's hand. Our doctor once again informed us he could not find our baby's heartbeat.

I was 34 years old when I got married to the man of my dreams. He was perfect for me: he was the engineer, and I was the happy-go-lucky one. We had fantastic friends, a great church and a wonderful marriage. Both Jay and I wanted children from the day we got married. We both loved thinking about becoming parents. But I couldn't get pregnant. We did all the difficult infertility doctor visits and treatments, but to no avail.

We took a break on trying extra treatments to get pregnant. About six months later, with no medications or extra treatment I got pregnant! I was beside myself with excitement. When the doctor's office heard of my positive pregnancy results they all came out to the front room and applauded. Jay and I were "beyond the moon."  But just because I was pregnant didn't mean I would soon have a child of my own to hold in my arms. Six miscarriages later, my doctor advised us we might want to consider adoption.

Years before someone shared with me how I could be adopted into a spiritual family. I had my own physical family: a dad and mom, a sister and two brothers. I was lovingly desired and brought into my family. But what did it mean to be adopted into a spiritual family? It was explained to me that it begins with the fact that Jesus died on the cross for all my sins. Jesus was blameless and I was a sinner, separated from Him. The Bible says, "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). I earned only death for my sins. Jesus was sinless when He died on the cross, and was the only One who could pay for my sins. He voluntarily died for me. The Bible verse John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, He gave His only son, for whoever believes Him will not perish but will have eternal life."

Just as when my husband gives me a gift, and I have to accept that gift to possess it, I needed to accept the free gift God offered me. That gift is eternal life in His Son, Jesus Christ. I asked Jesus to come into my life-I received the gift He offered. All I did was accept what was freely given-I did nothing to earn it. Now I know without a doubt I am going to heaven when I die. Not because of anything I did, but because of what Jesus did for me. Jesus adopted me into His family!

Just as Jesus adopted me into His spiritual family, my husband and I did decided to adopt a child into our physical family. After nine years of marriage and no children, we got a phone call about a five-day-old baby boy who needed a mom and dad. Our social worker explained he had a cleft lip and cleft palate. We didn't care he wasn't perfect physically. We could hardly wait! Jay and I wanted to adopt this precious little boy. We said "yes" to our social worker and invited this little guy into our home. Four years later we were able to adopt another treasure of a little boy into our family.

We are very thankful for these two souls that God allowed us to invite into our family. Just as we invited Joseph and John to be a part of our family, with flaws and all, Jesus wants you to be a part of His family. He is inviting you to have eternal life with Him. All you need to do is acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life with Him. He will accept you and adopt you into His family.

If you want more information about Jesus or our adoption process, please feel free to contact me.

Dear Sisters,

As we seek to "Just Sow" the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is so important to simply remember and enjoy our salvation. In Psalms 51:12-13, David wrote, "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You."

This month's writer is a great example of this. She so enthusiastically recalls the love that she experienced when God saved her. And this joy now overflows in the ministry that she has with young people in her community.  

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let's continually praise God for the love we received when He saved us. Our joyful and thankful spirits can then attract others to receive the wonderful grace of God through His Son Jesus Christ.

In Christ's love,

Sandy

Just Sow It -  How God Changed My Life

By Laura Blanco, New Life Church, Miami, Florida

I was brought up in a Catholic church and went to church every Sunday.  I attended Saturday religion classes; I taught Sunday School; I sang in the choir; and I served with the youth.  Although I was always in church and "near to God," I felt very empty.  I was lonely, even though I had friends and family. I would go to church and kneel down and look straight into the cross in the middle of the church and feel sad and alone.

My college years didn't get any better. I went away to the University of Florida in Gainesville where I thought I would find happiness. I got involved in church there also, and in a couple of sororities, always looking to find my place-to feel loved and happy. But not even being on a large campus with a lot of people did I feel whole.  Rudy and I were engaged to be married and he had moved up to study there.  But I felt that not even my relationship with him was filling my cup. 

Then to top things off my fiancé's parents, who had been separated from him for fifteen years, were released from Cuba, and came to America to be reunited with their families. Rudy decided to move to Miami to help his parents and to get to know them again, since he was only eight years old when they were separated. Though I was very excited for the reunion of Rudy's family, it also meant I was to be away from him and lonely again. I was miserable and so depressed because I had put my hope in my boyfriend filling my emptiness.

I thought my life would come to an end when Rudy left, so I went to see a campus counselor. Little did I know that God was going to use this counselor to help me think about my spiritual condition! I don't even remember this counselor's name, except that he spoke to my innermost needs. He asked me a series of questions that made me realize how far away from God I really was. I didn't feel I could trust God to take care of me because I had never put my trust in Him. I knew who God was, but I didn't have a relationship with Him.  I was hesitant to trust Him with my lonely heart. Then, all of a sudden the counselor did something I wasn't expecting.  In order to demonstrate how overly dependent I was on Rudy and others, he reached out and grabbed my arm and held on to it.  I thought, "Why on earth did he do that?"  I reacted by pulling my arm back.  He then explained that by holding on to my arm that way, he was helping me understand how people felt when you try to hang on to them.  They react by pulling back! 

This demonstration was such an eye opener to my soul. I had never noticed that my neediness was actually driving people away from me.  I was holding on to my boyfriend so he could meet my needs, not noticing how annoying and selfish I was. I started reading a book the counselor recommended to me.  The book was called, "The Power of Praise."  As I began to read this book, I suddenly felt so much peace.  The book explained our need to give thanks in whatever situation we find ourselves. Every situation is a God-ordained event that He has planned for our good. For example, if we are driving to work in the morning, and we happen to get all the red lights, instead of getting frustrated and impatient, we should give praise to God.  He may be using the red lights to keep us out of an accident! 

In the middle of the book the writer shared the gospel so clearly. God's grace now made sense to me. I read about how Jesus died for us and gave His life as atonement for our sins.  He had everything planned out for us, to give us an abundant life.  All we had to do was receive His gift of eternal life. I remember there was a spot to fill in your name and I signed it, with tears in my eyes and with a heart of praise! 

Everything changed after that night. I called my boyfriend and spoke for an hour about all that had happened to me.  I told him how happy I was that he had made the decision of leaving to spend time with his family. He was shocked with my positive mood and all I was telling him about God-that He actually met my needs, and now I could put my trust in Him.  What a difference the gospel had made in my life-and it lasted! As each day went by I remember wanting to read more about my God, the One who was with me and was my true friend and companion. I didn't feel lonely anymore!

That moment was a turning point in my life.  It took me realizing my need for a Savior in my life in order for me to find true happiness. Ephesians 2:8-9 was the verse I read the first time I opened the Bible. "God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it (NLT)."

I now lead a girls' Bible club in our church, and I am passing on to these young teens the truths that God used with me.  We study God's word and do fun special events. My message to these girls is to always encourage their relationship with our loving Father. I tell them about how He found me and poured His grace in my life, and gave me true happiness. Teens tend to think they are alone and to be scared of the future. But when they understand the love and care the gospel of Christ has to offer to them, it changes their lives. It changed mine! 

Praise be to God!

Torino, Italy is like a modern-day Antioch - an urban melting pot of internationals. “Il Rifugio” (the Refuge), the Great

Torino is the second largest occult center in the world with an estimated 5% involvement. While Italy is culturally
Catholic, atheism and agnosticism prevail in the hearts and minds of many, and there are less than 1% evangelical
believers in northern Italy.

Il Rifugio - Torino is in a transition period as we attempt to pass on more leadership responsibility to young European leaders. Andrea is one leading Italian who came to know Jesus after an English Club sponsored by a short-term mission team from America. At that time, his brother was slipping deeper into the occult. After much prayer, he too experienced a radical life transformation, embracing Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Several new leaders are currently emerging as well.

Il Rifugio is located near the University of Torino, where we do weekly spiritual interest surveys. Most of the students
are open to discussing their thoughts, yet still cling to their unbelief. Small groups form a large part of our ministry strategy, and recently a small group in Korean was initiated (most Koreans in Torino do not speak Italian). “Into the Wilderness” is another ministry focus, with participants from all over Europe experiencing various Alpine mountain adventures centered on thematic Biblical principles. Next year we will also host our first full European Leadership Training (Euro LT) which will unite selected developing leaders from Europe and America in intensive learning communities. There will be many practical ministry outreaches, including some in focus countries for our joint United for Europe 2014 expansion effort.

Editor’s Note: Doug Brown has pastored GCC churches in the U.S. for over 30 years. Recently, Doug decided to make Asia his primary ministry focus. Here is a report of what the Lord is doing in Asian churches affiliated with GCC.

“... for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” The Apostle Paul - 1 Corinthians 16:9

For two years Nonchan, a Japanese woman as an unbeliever, had been reading, studying, underlining and highlighting a Bible she purchased. Our missionary team (David and Danielle Cervenka and Rebecca Evans) shared the Gospel with her. This “thirsty woman” became a follower of Christ this past December. Since then, she has led three other Japanese to the Lord!

We held our third annual Leader Summit in Taichung, Taiwan this past February with GCC pastors and our Asian partners. It was a rich time of fellowship, worship, prayer, gospel sharing in the community, good food and amazing God stories. Countries that were represented were: Hong Kong, Taiwan, a Creative Access Country, Japan, Philippines and the U.S.

David and Pam Loveland, missionaries to Taiwan for nine years, and their team planted a Great Commission church in February. They are reaching out to an area that has little to no church presence. This fall, two from the U.S. are joining the Taiwan mission team for a one year internship.

Also in the fall a team of five from Ft. Collins will travel to a creative access country to study abroad at two universities. Their purpose is to learn language and culture and when they return they will be able to engage more effectively in international student ministry on U.S. campuses.

Dear Sisters,

What a blessing it has been to focus this year on the salvation stories of pastors' wives. We marvel at the miracle of the new birth through the working of the Spirit of God on the human heart. These are testimonies of God's grace shown through the gospel-seeds sown by Christians into needy, broken lives.

This month, our writer tells of her amazement at the grace shown to her by loving Christians when she was invited to attend church with a friend. Her feelings of being imperfect and different were replaced by the surprising love and acceptance she received. We can all make that kind of difference in a person's life.

In Him,

Sandy

Just Sow It - Surprised by Love

By Annie Whitney, Candlewood Church, Omaha, Nebraska

Different little girl   

More often than not, people grow up with at least one area of insecurity in life. My area happened to be just plain insecurity of life in general. I grew up in a loving home with a wonderful family, but always felt different and out of place. A whole host of events fed this lie: being made fun of because I was Asian, being teased for my sense of style (because we were poor when I was little), being told that I'd look pretty if I just had a few things changed on my face and other delightful things a kid should hear/feel growing up.

As you can guess, I had incredibly low self-esteem, felt unloved, and was always worried about what people thought of me. It consumed me and literally made me sick to my stomach. I remember going to church with my parents to find out about God's love but instead, I felt so judged by the other girls. So, I decided that church wasn't for me. If this was how God's people acted, then obviously God wasn't as nice and loving as everyone claimed He was.

Finding my identity

I quickly learned how to mask my insecurities by trying to fit in. I was influenced off and on by the wrong crowd, but thankfully drugs, sex, and alcohol never appealed to me because I saw the effect that they had on those that I loved. As I was trying to find my identity in outside influences, my good friend invited me to her church. I went, not expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised by the sincere picture of love that was shown to me. They genuinely welcomed me and I began to find out who God really was by experiencing a tangible love through others.

He was legit!

God loved me right where I was and I didn't need to be perfect for Him. He knew me and still wanted me. However, I was separated from Him by this thing called sin, and the penalty of sin was hell.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

I didn't think that I was that bad of a person because I've never committed a big sin like killing someone, but the Bible says,

"Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life." 1 John 3:15

Then I realized that God's standards are not the same as ours. He holds all of our sin on an even scale and we're helpless without His son Jesus, whom He sent to die for OUR sins. Not only to clear the slate of our most inner secretive sin, but for the sin I'll have tomorrow. He forgives us, He loves us, and He wants to help us.

My turn to respond

I was personally introduced to Jesus and I realized for the first time that it was I who needed to take that step of faith. I needed to apologize to God for my sins, believe in Him fully, and try to live for Him daily.

"If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

God promises that if we have a genuine relationship with Jesus, we will have eternal life, meaning we'd know 100% that we're going to heaven! It might sound crazy to you, but that's why it's called faith.

Living it out

After I let Jesus into my life, I realized that I didn't have to be crippled by my past and my sin. He helped me remove the fear, doubt, and insecurities that were holding me back and find the confidence that I so desired.

It's been so freeing because we live in a world that is constantly telling us that we have to be prettier, dress better, and have the coolest new thing. I'm so glad that I'm done with those games! I've also been blessed with a church that is truly a family and doesn't judge each other, but rather cares more about Jesus and others. We are focused on serving our communities, building strong families, and telling others about this incredible, surprising truth that Jesus loves them and accepts them. I'm still working on things in my life every day, but now I have a true example and His name is Jesus Christ.

Thank you so much for reading my story, if you want to know the truth about this crazy awesome Jesus, please visit: www.viewthestory.com.

Walnut Creek Church located in Des Moines, Iowa consists of a number of congregations throughout the Greater Des Moines area. Walnut Creek/Shalom is one of those congregations and is largely Hispanic. Shalom meets each Sunday at 12:30 pm with around 45 people normally in attendance.

In 2011, a young man from a church called Iglesia Shalom started attending the Downtown congregation as well. God transformed his life while attending there. Later when Iglesia Shalom found itself in need of a building in which to meet, he asked Walnut Creek Church if they could meet there and his request was granted.

After a few months, Iglesia Shalom leaders approached the Walnut Creek leadership and said they wanted to be a part of WCC. After prayer and counsel, Iglesia Shalom was welcomed as a congregation of WCC.

Now after two years, Walnut Creek/ Shalom is an active congregation of the church where lives are being touched each week. The service is in Spanish with the exception of the message which is interpreted in Spanish. Recently Walnut Creek Church has begun a new ministry teaching ESL (English As A Second Language), which is helpful for some Shalom members. Additionally, the ESL class provides an opportunity for members of Shalom to reach out to other Hispanics in attendance each week.

All of the Walnut Creek Church has been enriched by the faith and friendship of the Walnut Creek/Shalom congregation.
In addition, Walnut Creek/Shalom has been an unexpected blessing as an important component to our goal of filling the greater Des Moines area with the teaching of Jesus Christ.

I am confident of this; We can reach the world for Christ through God’s power and the cooperation of every Spirit filled believer. 

In a process called T4T (Training for Trainers) we are reminded that every disciple is in essence a trainer for Jesus.  Every person is therefore to “Go, and make more trainers of all the nations, baptizing them and training them to obey Jesus.”  If every person is to do this, then the way in which we go about it, must be simple!  The tools and strategies we use need to be simplified to just basics.  A person getting started in any sport is taught the fundamentals.  These basics get everybody, naturally athletic or not, in the game.  While our culture can naturally influence knowledge based discipleship, we need to go back to the scriptures and push obedience based discipleship.  It is not enough to know the basics, but we should be actually using them.

I have always had a heart for the Great Commission and a passion for God’s Glory to be multiplied throughout the earth.  With every speaking engagement I would enthusiastically verbalize this passion and encouraged others to obey it.  Despite the compelling speeches very little was getting accomplished.  I soon realized that I was never giving practical tools to actually accomplish the very thing I kept insisting we do.  It was in this ‘kairos’ moment that I learned of T4T and how God’s glory was being multiplied all around the world through simple approaches.  I eagerly sought to be trained and soon discovered the great necessity there is to train others in these basic tools. 

Subtle changes were made in our ministry in Columbia, SC.  Language such as accountability, reproducible, pattern, discipleship, generational growth, all became a part of our DNA.  The simple thought of going to those far from God versus strategizing ways to invite them to us began to take action.  We have been able to see groups spring up in apartment complexes, bars and college campuses as a result of our efforts.  Those that are open to Jesus by far out number the laborers we have in our small house church network.  This has compelled me to be training more and more people outside our network.  One particular young man really received these tools and immediately obeyed.  As a result he started four group bible studies within a few weeks with his co-workers.  All of which are far from God!

Our heavenly Father wants His Word to go out.  He desires that it would fall on every tongue, every tribe and every nation.  We really can reach the world for Jesus through God’s power and the cooperation of every Spirit filled believer.     

Dear Sisters,

We know from Hebrews 2:14-15 why Jesus Christ came-- "...that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives."

God used sad events in our writer Kelley's life to reveal her need to escape that fear of death, and to show her the way of escape. He sent people to help her understand Jesus didn't just point to the right way to eternal life, but that He is the way. And now Kelley is an example in pointing others to Jesus.

The following is Kelley's story, as written in her testimony tract.   Please consider making your own testimony tract that you can hand out to others.  This is one way we can join our Lord in His mission to bring life and hope to those around us as we share the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

In Christ's love,

Sandy

Just Sow It - Do You Know?

By Kelley Faler, Linworth Road Church, Columbus, Ohio

In the hospital room, my step-grandmother struggled with cancer and reached out to my father desperately crying, "I don't want to die!" Leaving the hospital, my heart ached with sadness.

I received the tragic news that my uncle, just 41 years old, died in a sudden plane crash near his lakeside cabin. One month earlier, my Dad and I had flown with him there for a quiet weekend. Now he was gone.

When the telephone rang to inform me that the kind, elderly man whom I worked with for many years at the movie theater died, I sat in my room alone and cried.

These circumstances, over the years, greatly affected my life. In high school, I began to fear dying. Once again, several others - classmates and family - died during this time. I questioned what would happen to me after death. Would I be nonexistent? Would life be over? I could not imagine no more family, friends, or good times. No more of anything. Just nothing.

This haunted and confused me through my teenage years. So I began to ask, "Is there a heaven? Is there life after death? What happens after you die?" I wanted to know the truth.

I don't know about you, but during my childhood, I always considered myself a "Christian" because I believed in God and tried to be a good person.

During my freshman year in college, though, my time and thoughts were busy spent studying, attending parties, and experiencing college life. Those haunting fears were pushed aside. Then the following summer, my roommate was killed in an accident. There it was again...death. The unknown. My unanswered questions returned.

WHAT IF YOU DIED TONIGHT?

Shortly after, God brought someone into my life who knew what the Bible said about life after death and what it meant to be a Christian. This friend asked me one evening, "Kelley, if you were to die tonight, would you go to heaven?" "Yes, I guess so," I hesitantly responded. I believed in God and was brought up going to church. I considered myself basically a good person. I didn't steal, murder, or make a practice of lying. Yet, deep down, I knew I had done things that were wrong. There were times I did not honor my parents or I would quarrel and argue with others. At times, I selfishly pursued my own interests. Occasionally, I would exaggerate and lie. So, honestly, I could not be sure.

As we talked, I began to understand that I could not earn my way to heaven. I could never be good enough to meet God's standard. The Bible says, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We have all broken God's commandments. Growing up, I knew Jesus Christ had died on the cross for sin, but I had never personally put my faith and trust in Him.

I NEEDED TO RECEIVE HIM

That night, I realized if I were to go to heaven, I needed to have my sins forgiven. I needed to ask Christ to be the leader of my life and my Savior. The Bible says, "Yet to all who receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).

Being a Christian, I discovered, is having a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. "For Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18).  Christianity is not a religion consisting of a church's rules or man's opinions or philosophies. But it is a living, active, personal relationship like you would have with your best friend. For Jesus Christ loved me so much that He took the punishment for my sins so that I would not have to experience judgment and hell. Because of His death and resurrection Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

That night, with tears, I earnestly prayed and told God I was sorry for all the wrong things I had done. And by faith, I asked Christ to forgive me and be the leader of my life.

MY LIFE HAS CHANGED

Ever since then, my life has definitely been different. I no longer have the haunting fears and questions. For I believe God's promises in the Bible: "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13).  What assurance that is! What comfort and security it is to know that God is personally involved with me and nothing happens by chance or by accident!

As I read the Bible and pray, God has shown me how to live a life pleasing to Him. Yes, there are times I still sin by saying or doing the wrong thing. Nor are my thoughts and attitude always what they should be. But as I look to Jesus Christ's forgiveness, I am learning daily how to be the person He wants me to be with His guidance and help. The Scriptures teach, "As you therefore, have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him" (Colossians 2:6).  Not only has He given me peace, but a life with new purpose and special meaning.

What about you? Do you know where you will live forever? We all have to face death. Are you prepared to meet God? Does Christ live in your heart? Do you have the peace and assurance I was searching for? Would you like to know God personally? You can. You can have new purpose and meaning, as well as the assurance of where you will spend eternity. I hope you will make the same decision I did.

"And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free" (John 8:32).

 Dear Sisters,

Jesus came to save "that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). No matter our backgrounds, we all are in need of a Savior. How wonderful and loving of God, to bring His grace and kindness to us in the person of Jesus Christ, when we are least deserving.

As our writer this month tells us her story, we see how God faithfully and kindly orchestrates our lives to show us our "lost-ness" and need for Him. He fills in that which is "missing" with the presence of Christ. As Neva found for herself, He will never leave us alone. May His Spirit's presence within, give us the needed confidence to share this amazing gospel message with others.

In Him,

Sandy 

Just Sow It -  It Felt Like "Something" Was Missing

By Neva Whitney, Vintage Faith Church of Manhattan, Kansas

My childhood was simple and safe because my parents were strict. If a dance or a basketball game was done at 9 p.m., I had to be home right afterwards. My folks wouldn't let me date in high school. Can you believe that?     

I wanted something, and I was convinced that 'something' was more freedom. As a young girl I wanted a boyfriend, more action, more fun. I decided that the perfect life would be when I was completely in charge.

When I went off to college, that is exactly what happened. My folks helped me carry my things into my dorm room and left. As the door closed, I was finally free.

And I had a ball! I made lots of friends. I ran around. Partied! And dated - a lot. I did go to classes and studied some. 

But then at times, with all my new freedoms, I still felt something missing. 

Around my junior year, my friends were finding their "special guy." So I decided to stop playing the field and pick one myself. The boy I chose looked smitten and I thought, "Why not?" We were together almost 24/7.We would meet between classes and spent our evenings studying and fooling around. He lived off campus, so I fed him food from my dorm cafeteria. With a sack lunch, he followed me everywhere.

Finally - the perfect life - or so I thought.

Still there would be moments when I would feel a little haunted. "Is this all there is?" Even when I was getting ready to go out on a date - I felt that there had to be more. 

The Bible says, "God has set eternity in man's heart." God has made us for an eternal purpose. The void I felt was real and having a steady boyfriend didn't seem to fill it.

About that time, my guy began pressuring me to move in with him. Even though I thought I loved him, I knew that sleeping together was wrong. Still the pressure continued. And I teased him back and put pressure on him myself. Then I would wonder about my morals. What was right? What was wrong? I felt guilty, because I was. No one had to tell me that I was sinning. I knew that.

One night we took a study break and walked across the street to a dorm where Christians were holding a meeting - right there in the courtyard. There were guitars and music and then someone spoke. We had seen posters all over campus - "Why Jesus?" 

I heard how God wanted to come into my life. Be my Friend and Guide and be a part of my life. And at the end of the night, the speaker shared this verse, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if anyone hears My voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me."

He said that Jesus is the One, standing outside, wanting to step into my life. 

When the preacher finished, he invited any interested student to stick around and talk. He finished by asking, "Do you want to ask Christ into your life  - tonight?" 

My boyfriend and I got up and started to leave - very conflicted. My heart was racing and my mind was challenged. I needed to figure out this "Jesus thing." I did not realize that my boyfriend was also wrestling with God and wondering about his salvation. 

We stopped at the door. And turned around and walked back across the room to talk to those Christians and ask our questions.

That decision, that night - to turn and accept Christ as my personal Savior - that decision totally changed everything. My boyfriend prayed that same night. Everything now was different. Jesus began to teach us together. We decided to get married. I need to tell you that God richly blessed me. For over 40 years He has led me. 

Today I don't have that sense that "something is missing" in my life. God lives in my heart. He moved in that day many years ago and He has never left me. He walks with me through all the thrills and sorrows and challenges of life. 

He wants to walk with you.

If you would like to hear more, please contact me. I love to help people connect to God.

Through the years, God has given us grace each day, showing us who he is, his design for the church, and his heart for the family, preparing us for Wilson long before he was born. We had become a part of the GCC church at Clemson, SC in 1983 and those precious friends served Wilson literally every day for over a year. Now our GCC church in Woodstock, GA continues to serve and support Wilson.

God has spoken through this broken young man to show us a picture of our utter dependence on God and his unfathomable, unconditional acceptance of us. Wilson sits in his wheelchair, soiling a diaper, laughing at the same squeaky toy he has laughed at for 22 years, yet he touches our hearts and inspires us no different than if he had been valedictorian and captain of football and debate. It isn’t performance – it’s the unconditional love of our father for his child.

As of this year, all of our “Great Commission babies” are now high school graduates and Wilson is starting the next chapter of his life. Wilson’s work is the same as it is for all of us – enjoy the Lord in the moment and be available as he impacts the world around us for Christ. And that’s a pretty exciting job description, isn’t it?

I have maintained an optometry practice since 1983 and also served – along with Jean and our seven children – in Cottonwood Community Church. We presently have two gifted and capable full-time pastors in Bob Bartlett and Patrick Schultz, and are training more faithful men.

Several passages from Scripture have motivated me over the years. One is from Lamentations 3:27 – It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth. Jean and I embraced the notion that it was good for us to work HARD. Also, from Ecclesiastes 9:10 - Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might. If we were to do our very best, we couldn’t spread ourselves thin and do EVERYTHING, but would endeavor to ‘win’ in the few and most important callings (marriage/family, church, career).

My ambition has been to capitalize on opportunities to share the gospel, plant a seed, or invite a new person to church. My practice has been the means of providing for my family, but it has also been a ‘field’.

Most importantly, Jean has been the perfect ‘helpmate’. She’s embraced the calling of God for our lives, she’s encouraged me in all that I’ve undertaken and she’s modeled contentment. We are now enjoying our new phase of marriage and family as our children get married and provide us with grandchildren!

 Dear Sisters,

This month's newsletter is from Mary Young from The Rock in Salt Lake City, Utah. The two elements of Mary's testimony that most impress me are her faith and love: faith, because she believes that God will do the work of saving if she just "opens her mouth;" and love, because Mary cares enough about people to share the message of Christ that brought her eternal life.  

Let's imitate Mary's faith and love in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with our family and friends. As we continue to "just sow it" we also will have story after story of the faithfulness of our God.

In Him,

Sandy Hopler

Just Sow It - "Simply Sow" and God's Faithfulness

By Mary Young, The Rock, Salt Lake City, Utah

The theme for The Rock churches here in Utah this year is "Simply Sow" the gospel. As we have focused on sowing, it has reminded me that my own salvation story was the result of others simply sowing the good news with my brother and sister in the mid 1980's. It has been so encouraging to look back at the way God has worked in my life. I'd like to share my story with you as a testimony to God's faithfulness.

I grew up in a very religious home and I always thought I was a Christian because I went to church and did a lot of "good" things. My family attended a local Lutheran church very faithfully but it wasn't until I was a junior in college that I heard the gospel for the first time.

In my sophomore year, my brother got saved while attending Iowa State University, in Ames, Iowa, after hearing the gospel from a good brother named Charlie Meyer (now a GCC pastor in Minnesota).  My brother was a bit wild, so when he called to tell me he was born again, I figured he "needed" it, unlike me.  About two months later my sister Martha, who also went to ISU, called me and said my brother had talked to her about Jesus and now she had become a Christian. This was starting to hit closer to home. Martha was a lot like me (identical twin, in fact) so if she needed "salvation," what did that say about me?

For the next year, God took me on a path of self-discovery, and in March of my junior year all the puzzle pieces came together.  My brother and sister both shared with me the good news about Jesus and I got saved. They simply "sowed" what had been shared with them. I remember that night so clearly and even though I didn't understand everything, I knew that by repenting of my sins and asking Jesus into my heart my life would change. I now had hope and the assurance that I was not going to hell. For some reason, the idea of going to hell affected me the most. When my brother communicated with me that salvation guarantees eternal life with Jesus in heaven, I knew it was for me.

I went back for my senior year at Luther College fired up for Jesus. I told everyone I knew about Him whether they wanted to hear about it or not. I "sowed" whenever and wherever I could. It was amazing to me that all I had to do was to let my friends know what Jesus had done for me and it made them want it. People are looking for more than this world has to offer.

During my senior year I went to a Great Commission conference with some girl friends I was discipling for Christ, and met a friend of my brother named Bill Young. I thought he was a nice enough guy, but I had no time for anyone other than Jesus. I had a single focus. Jesus was the hope that I had been looking for and I was so thrilled to have that relationship with Him.

After graduation, I moved to Ames, Iowa and joined the church so that I could be in fellowship with the people who had been "sowing" into my life. Eventually I moved into the home of Pastor John Meyer and his wife Carol. During this time, I got to know God better and I was discipling other women. I may not have known a lot but what I had I shared, wanting others to get saved.

Later on, I went back to graduate school and moved into the freshman dorms to reach out for Jesus. I ended up in a Bible study in which Bill Young was the group leader, and that's where we got to know each other. By the time that year was up, Bill asked me to marry him, and John and Carol Meyer had invited us to move to Fort Collins to help them re-plant the Great Commission church there. We agreed and moved just one week after we got married. After a few years in Fort Collins, we took a team seven miles south and planted a church in Loveland, Colorado. Ten years after moving to Colorado we left to start a church in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Bill and I have been busy "sowing" the gospel and discipling men and women for more than 24 years together. And, although there have been difficulties - like leaving friends and family - I can't help but think that I've been a part of changing eternity. I'm sowing the gospel with others just like my brother and sister did with me. I thank God for the gospel, because it has the power to change lives - including mine!

If my siblings had not shared about Jesus with me, my life wouldn't be what it is today. And if I had failed to share the gospel with others, many lives would also be different. Thinking about that, and how God has a plan every time we open our mouths with his good news, motivates me to continue "sowing." We serve a very faithful God!

 Dear Sisters,

As we continue in the Just Sow It series of testimonies, I am struck freshly with the great need our world has for the gospel. When I read Jacki's story, in the form of her testimony tract, I felt so sad for the hurts she experienced before she knew the Lord. Jesus was filled with compassion for the multitudes that were like "sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36, Mark 6:34). He saw Jacki's hurts, and used a believer to sow into her heart by sending her a gospel tract.

I pray we can all grow in hearts of understanding and compassion for the searching, the lost, and the least among us. Then we can make use of opportunities to "just sow" the wonderful redeeming news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Christ,

Sandy Hopler

- Just Sow It - 

Abused Partier to Forgiven Believer

By Jacki Berglund, Harvest Community Church, Warren, Minnesota

As a little girl I would often cry because I would think of dying and I was so afraid of going to hell. I did not grow up in a Christian home.  If the words 'God' or 'Jesus' were spoken in my home at all, it was as a cuss word. I was sexually abused from the time I was 4 until I was 11 and it really messed me up. The men who were abusing me were alcoholics. Alcoholism was and still is a very big problem in my family. By the time I was 14, I was drinking alcohol and getting drunk. I was big into the party scene. I was promiscuous, and was looking for love in all the wrong places. My teenage years could be summed up as: drinking, partying, cussing, boyfriends and sports. I believed in God, but had very little interest in Him or going into a church. I did get confirmed in 9th grade, but didn't learn much about God or the Bible, only where the next party would be. 

When I turned 20 my live-in boyfriend asked me to marry him. After being married for several miserable months we were divorced. I went to school to be a medical assistant and graduated after completing the intense one-year program. I worked as a nurse in a local clinic and lived with my sister and her husband. My life was still focused on weekend parties, drinking, guys, and working out at the gym. I began to have what I considered to be "demonic attacks" and I remember being scared to death! These experiences were so scary that I decided to tell my sister about what was happening to me.  She responded by telling her 'religious' friend at work what was going on with me. Her friend sent home a little booklet for me to read called:  "Do You Know for Certain?"

I remember reading through it that very night. The part I remember really well was a picture of a person on one side of a great chasm and a pure and holy God on the other. I knew it was me- that I was separated from God. A verse that got my attention was John 1:12, "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God."

I had heard about and believed in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but I knew I had never 'received' Him. So sitting on my bed that night I prayed and asked God to forgive me my sins and I received Jesus as my Savior. God has helped me forgive those that hurt me. He has rocked my world and helped me realize abusing alcohol will not help me. I am forever grateful! I am not afraid to die anymore because the answer and love I was looking for now lives in my heart.

 Dear Sisters,

Many of you are mothers. Some of you have children still in the home. Others of you are empty nesters. Regardless of your present season in life, God has used (and will continue to use) your words to bring the saving message of Jesus Christ to your children. 

In this article, Beth Sebek, daughter of Mardean Martindale, tells of how God used her mother's words to bring her to Jesus Christ. It is a delightful story. And it is a story that will encourage you to just sow the word with your children. For this truth is sure, as God said in Isaiah 55:11: 

"So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."

God's grace to you,

Sandy Hopler

- Just Sow It - 

Get Personal With Our Lord

By Beth Sebek, Oak Ridge Community Church, Woodbine, Maryland

When I was five going on six years old, my mom had a lady visiting our home. She told me to go lay down for a nap while they were going to visit. I thought I was too old for a nap and I remember being very upset. I went to my room, but refused to lie on the bed and instead sat on the ground next to the doorway nursing my "injustice".  As I sat there listening to them talk in the kitchen, I heard my mom sharing the gospel. As she shared about sin separating us from God, I became convicted that my attitude of anger and rebellion was sin. As she explained how Jesus had provided a way to heal the separation from God that sin caused, I was overwhelmed with conviction in my young heart. I desperately wanted to have that relationship with God through Jesus she was talking about. 

I remember coming out of my room crying and asking Mom if I could pray to ask Jesus in my heart too. I don't remember if the lady accepted Jesus, but my heart was forever changed. Though my eternity was changed in that moment of humbly confessing my sin and asking Jesus to be the Lord of my life, it has been a lifetime of growing in relationship with Him and all that means. As I got older, I remember thinking, "Could something as important as my eternity really have been settled at that young age?" So, there were a number of times that I decided to ask Jesus again, just to 'make sure.'

When I was 13, I went through a time where after listening to radio programs of people's dramatic testimonies that I felt I was missing that desperate love for Jesus rescuing me from those things. I remember going to Dad and telling him that I wanted to 'go out and sin so much and then come back to God, so I could feel that intensity of love and gratitude.' He patiently listened and then shared about scars and how that it wasn't worth that even though God heals them, and how the enemy likes to use those places and memories to get at us to hurt us. So, after hearing all he shared, I was convinced. 

It was in high school, that God really lit a fire in my heart to serve Him. It was during this time that Dad stepped out in faith to help start Great Commission Churches. He moved our family across town and started a home church in our home. There were a great many sacrifices and changes to our family from this step of faith, so I was watching what would happen but also excited. He was uniting with other men across the country with a vision of starting many churches and see the gospel spread. During that time, many college students that were involved visited our home and had a positive impact on my life. I loved seeing them living the Christian walk and taking steps of faith and just wanting to obey Jesus like I read in the New Testament. This was huge to me and my faith. This gave me people just ahead of me in life to look up to spiritually. They sowed into my life in many ways for which I'm so grateful.

I am grateful for parents who loved Jesus and lived their love for Him in our home and not just at church. I am grateful for my dad modeling faith and my mom showing compassionate love!

I am grateful that it is never too early to ask Jesus to save you, and it's never too late! But no matter how much my parents did, I still had to 'own' my faith in God and love relationship with Him.

This morning I was sitting at the keyboard piano as I do many mornings to sing to the Lord and worship Him. He gives songs that I sing back to Him and often He leads into prayer and intercession during this time. It is a cherished time. As I was singing, the Lord overwhelmed me with His love and gratitude for all He has done. After a time of praying for others He brought to mind, I asked the Lord what was on His heart. I realized I had not done this in a while and had been bringing my requests and concerns to Him, but not asking about His heart. I was overwhelmed with a sense of His weeping. I asked why, and He brought to mind the people dying in Iran from the earthquake, from the Boston tragedy and so much more in this world, where people are suddenly in eternity and so many without Him forever to suffer in hell. His heart is for people to know Him and not be eternally separated from Him and the Father. My heart broke and I wept and wept as I realized how I had become used to hearing tragedies and almost numb to being moved for Him. He gave such a clear picture of the agony of this forever separation. I heard these words, "Who will go, Who will speak, Who will tell?"

Oh that the works of our hands and lives are fruitful for Him! Oh that we stay tender to His heart for people to come to a saving knowledge of Him! Help us Lord, to go and tell, wherever we are, to be bold for You in every way you show. To go when You say go, to speak when You say speak! Help us Lord!

Deut. 31:6- "So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you." (NLT)

Romans 10:9- "But if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

After 10 years of meeting in different public schools, God opened up a building in Clarksville, MD, where we have a more “permanent” presence in that community. Members of our church are spread out in five different counties. We encourage them to team up with those who are close geographically. As we’ve been more intentional with this strategy, several groups of couples and singles have started meeting and “doing life” together in their local communities.

Another routine I (Steve) have started is meeting with the men, on Sunday mornings, who are leading these small groups. Frannie spends that time every Sunday co-leading a women’s time.

One precious time for us is going to the Faithwalkers Conference with our children and grandchildren. We are grateful for this conference as it reminds us of why we are here and allows our children to hear the messages that we heard when we were their age.

We will celebrate our 40th anniversary this year, and we can honestly say that God has richly blessed us. We are thankful
for the impact that having unity with other Great Commission saints has had on our lives.

I was a single mother of three young children. Linworth stepped up to the plate and loved, counseled and equipped us to serve our Lord Jesus Christ.

Over the years, we were able to serve the homeless community, teach Sunday school, and start an outreach in our home for the youth at my children’s school. I am amazed that at such a young age, the kids were able to reach out to their campus and change lives for Christ. Many of the current young leaders at Linworth were affected by those Wednesday nights at “The Homan Fun House” (later called the Exchange). My two sons are currently serving as leaders at Linworth’s daughter church, Awaken in Columbus, Ohio.

Two other opportunities developed. First, was Divorce Care which I helped to lead. Another ministry that was birthed from Divorce Care was the Single Mom’s Ministry. Giving hope to the hopeless is what we are called to do, and through the love of Jesus Christ we can all be “Jesus with skin” to people.

We are so blessed that, through Linworth, we have been shown an unfathomable kind of love, equipping us to do things that we can only do through Christ’s strength.

 Dear Sisters,

Perhaps you may be able to identify with Dawn. In high school, she was a self-described "good kid." It was through a church youth group that she responded to the gospel message an event speaker had sown in her heart. She says, "...I realized I had never personally thanked Jesus for dying for my sins."

Whether her story is similar to yours or you had a completely different path to salvation, at some point you came to give thanks for the grace of God in your life. May we all continue to be filled with thanks and praise for our salvation, and go on to share the source of our joy with others.

In Christ's grace,

Sandy

- Just Sow It - Try Writing Your Story as a Tract!

by Dawn Bovenmyer, Stonebrook Community Church, Ames, Iowa

Dear Pastors' Wives, 

I have desired to write up my testimony in tract form for years (almost forty!), but never got around to it. Somehow I thought it would take more time and effort than I had available at the moment. Inspired by Mary Knox and her success with publishing her story, I decided this was the year to go for it. I was amazed at how quickly my testimony fell together, and how easy it was to take it to a printer and get it done up. 

I find that I still struggle sometimes with wanting to hand out my tract...figuring the waitress or clerk or "whoever" probably isn't interested. But I haven't had anyone turn me down, and have actually seen some start reading it before I am out the door. Everyone loves a story, and when I simply tell them, "This is my story of how I've come to know God better," most people smile and nod and take my tract. This is an EASY, cheap, and personal way to get out the gospel. I pray that my little story will plant seeds and even lead some to Jesus. If you have any questions about how to go about putting your story in tract form, ask Mary Knox! She's the expert! To God be the glory for all of our stories!!

Here is my story...

"We all need to go on the pill." My girlfriend was adamant as our small circle of college friends huddled together in my dorm room. My roommate had just discovered that she was pregnant, and in 1972 that was bad news for a young unmarried college woman who had already undergone one abortion in her high school years (shocking in those days!).

Although I wasn't sexually active, I definitely pur­sued boys, and had found myself in compromised situations at keggers and parties that freshman year of college. A lot of my values and standards had slipped since leaving home. I had arrived at the university fairly sheltered, never having even tasted a beer. But now I was far from these roots and my girlfriend's advice seemed not so far fetched. What should I choose? Before I tell you, let me share another story.

I grew up in a small Iowa farm community, in a stable family where home, church, and patriotism were strong. I was a "good kid," and my reputation as such followed me into high school. I wasn't considered a "partier" or a "fast girl." Honor student and musician better described me. I had perfect attendance in my Sunday school class, sang in the church choir, and dutifully participated in Luther League- our high school youth group.

It was in fact Luther League that led me to an event that would forever impact my life. Our group was invited to attend a gathering of church teens in a neighboring town. Upon arriving, I was pleasantly surprised to survey a young, attractive couple up front, tuning guitars and smiling warmly. Guitars in church in 1970 was cutting edge. My attention caught, I listened intently to this university couple who were so joyfully confident. Whatever it was they had, I wanted it! In between songs, they shared how they had come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. God so loved this world, they stated. And this "world" consisted of individuals (like me) who had fallen short of God's perfect standards. That's where Jesus came in. As God's son, He entered this world as a baby, grew up living a perfect life, and died on the cross as the perfect payment for not just the "world's", but for my sin. Jesus rose from the dead three days later and lives forever in heaven, offering the free gift of salvation to any who chose to respond. I had heard much of this before, but I realized that I had never personally thanked Jesus for dying for my sins, and had never received His offer of eternal life. Along with many others that night, I bowed my head and asked Jesus to come into my life, and be my Lord and my Savior. As I did, I was flooded with peace and joy.

Life continued on for me much as it had, other than I found myself desiring to pick up the Bible and read it occasionally-a new thing for me. Graduating from high school, leaving home, and attending the university presented a whole new world of temptations and opportunities. I chased after what everyone else around me seemed to believe brought happiness and fulfillment-boyfriends, parties, and yes, even good grades. My roommate's pregnancy and complications from her ensuing abortion, only convinced me more that going on the pill was not the solution. I wasn't satisfied and I needed to find some real answers.

That summer, as I was home from school, I connected with some "born again Christians" in my town whose lives had been radically changed. Attending their Bible studies, I began to see the relavancy of God's Word to my life. I realized that although I had earlier asked Jesus to be my Savior, I had since tried to navigate life on my own, apart from God's help. I decided to wholeheartedly follow Jesus and his ways, a decision I have never regretted. He has been there beside me, through all of life's ups and downs, lovingly helping and guiding, filling that void that only He can fill, and yes,satisfying me deeply.

If you would like to have a detailed explanation on how to have a personal relationship with Jesus, then visit this website: www.peacewithgod.jesus.net.

 Dear Sisters,

When she experienced a heart-breaking loss, our writer this month found herself with a new openness to seeking God and His answers for her life questions. She is now so very thankful that the Christians who surrounded her life "sowed abundantly" and shared the reason for the hope within them.

Hearing others' faith stories I am impressed by God's perfect timing. We can all marvel at the way the Lord sent someone or some situation to draw us to Him. I pray we can be that person, that Gospel-sower, who can bring a hurting person to Christ.

In Him,

Sandy

- Just Sow It - 

Do You Know How to Have Eternal Life?

By Patty Osborn, Elkhorn, Nebraska

Three weeks after Christmas, during my first year in college, I received a phone call. My dad always called on Sunday, but instead my brother spoke on the other end. He said, "Patty, come home right away, Dad's dead." Taking the train home was a nightmare. As I cried the future terrified me. I never thought of this happening to me, and I was filled with grief. A very real part of me had died and was buried with him in the grave. 

Since my dad was relatively young and very involved in the community, the funeral was well attended. Someone said, "George was a good man, surely now he's in heaven." Others discussed how peaceful he looked, but this did not comfort me. I knew he would not wake up.

For the first time, I desperately wanted answers to life. I realized, when face to face with death, that I had no answers but only questions. 

About a year later, I met some people whose lives showed they had answers. Two sisters, Jan and Bev, impressed me in particular. They lived in the same house I did (with 27 other girls), so I could closely watch their lives. Plus, their dad also died the year before, but they did not respond to the situation with despair. Although they missed their dad, they said they knew their father was in heaven with God. By their lives, I recognized that they did not "hope" this; rather, they were confident.

Naturally, I wanted to know how someone could have that confidence. I had no idea what qualified a person to enter heaven. They stated that the Bible was the reason they believed a person could be sure of eternal life. As I read the Bible for myself and talked to them and others, I discovered many stunning ideas. 

Although many would say I was a "good" person, I realized I was not at all good by God's moral standard - I had to be perfect!!! In God's book, the "little" things I did counted as sins too such as losing my temper, swearing, and gossiping, among others. I felt I was "better" than most people I knew, and I did not see self-righteousness and pride as detestable. As I was separated from my dad through his death, I recognized that I was separated from God by my sin. Because the penalty for sin is death, or separation from God forever, nothing I did could make up for my sins.

I understood that Jesus Christ suffered when he took the punishment that I deserved and died on the cross. His resurrection from the dead proved that my penalty was paid in full. His death made it possible for me to have forgiveness of sins and a life in heaven with Him forever. My part was to turn (repent) from my sin and from trusting in myself to trusting in Him. 

At that time, Jan shared a verse with me from the Bible. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me." (Rev. 3:20) She said that He was knocking at the door and I needed to open it to let Him in. 

Later that evening, I thought about it in bed. I realized Jesus had risen from the dead based on history, and though people tried to disprove it, they could not. Furthermore, I told God I had not done a good job of leading my life, and I wanted Him to come into my life to take over.   I had prayed many "prayers" in my life up to that time, but it seemed like the first time I had ever actually connected. I put my confidence in Christ alone for forgiveness, for the hope of heaven, and for a way to live on earth. Instead of a gap, I had a friendship with God. I grasped the answer I was looking for, which was God Himself.

Since that night, almost forty years ago now, I have realized that a relationship with God is a growing concept and is similar to any human relationship. Today, God is the most important Being in my life. I know Him in a very personal way. He has been my loving, heavenly Father all this time. Married to a pastor for over thirty years, we have seven wonderful children who love the Lord, one son-in-law, and one granddaughter. I have enjoyed serving with my husband in churches in Florida and Nebraska.

a. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

b. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

c. 1 John 5:11-13 "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." 

If you would like to know more about having a relationship with God, you can visit our church website at Candlewoodchurch.org. Most importantly, you can receive God in your life, if you honestly turn from trusting in other things and put your faith in Jesus Christ alone as your Savior and Lord today. It is not important to know me, but if you fail to meet Jesus, you will never be in God's heaven. You can meet Him TODAY! Do it now!

Dear Sisters,

Long ago the hymn writer Katherine Hankey described the Good News of the gospel as the "old, old story" that she shared in song:

I love to tell the story,
it did so much for me;
and that is just the reason
I tell it now to thee.

I love to tell the story,
'twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.

Everyone in the world likes a good story! But this gospel story is "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). And as a movement of churches we have the opportunity with the gospel to "just sow it" with the people in our lives.

Enjoy Kristin's account of how she came to hear of, believe in, and partake of the wonderful, life-changing love and life of Jesus Christ because a co-worker named Michael shared with her. Like the hymn writer she now loves to tell "of Jesus and His love." I pray we will be like Michael--that we "just sow the gospel" so that others can know Jesus and share in His eternal life.

In His love,

Sandy Hopler

Just Sow It - Kristin's Faith Story

By Kristin Hagen, Liveoak Bible Church, Austin, Texas

I'd like to tell you my story about why I love Jesus.

Growing up, I was always a good student and hung out with the "good kids." But even from my kindergarten days, the one thing that was even more important to me than grades, was finding a boyfriend. There was continual conflict and strife in my family. Even though I thought, as children do, that this must be typical of most homes, I knew I was missing something. An emptiness was begging to be filled as I searched for a loving relationship that would satisfy me. Consequently, I had a myriad of different boyfriends and one in high school I desperately wanted to marry. When we broke up my first year in college, I thought my world was ending.

I was working at a restaurant where there were several Christian employees. When the manager had hired me, he warned me that they'd try to convert me so I was on my guard and tried to avoid them. I met their immediate attempts to talk to me about God with rude coldness. In spite of that, they remained unwavering in their friendly kindness; although they did cool it on the "God stuff" for a while. 

Eventually I became friends with especially three of them and one day, at work, Michael asked me what would happen to me if I got killed in a car wreck on my way home. I burst into tears and ran out of the restaurant. It was a Friday and that whole weekend I felt like God was calling me, drawing me to Himself. I had grown up going to church. We would always watch Billy Graham on TV and every time I would secretly pray to receive Christ. I'd wake up the next morning not feeling any different and think, "I guess it didn't work." But that weekend, I finally understood that God actually wanted to have a loving relationship with me. I wanted this too, but knew I wasn't worthy of having a relationship with Him because I had not been following or believing Him. I had been living only for myself and ignoring God.

I felt stuck in this miserable dilemma until I understood why Jesus had to die - His death and resurrection provided the way for me to be able to have a relationship with God. Jesus paid for my sins so that in God's eyes, I could be good enough - because of Jesus - to have a relationship with Him. So all alone in my apartment I prayed - actually, I sang - giving my life and my heart to God. I received His forgiveness, along with a new heart and new life in Him.

I tried to call Michael all weekend but couldn't reach him. (Later, I found out that he had been praying and fasting for me all weekend!) So I called one of the Christian girls I worked with and told her what had happened to me. I got baptized that night by Michael and joined their church!

Ever since that time, God, Himself, has fulfilled my longing for a loving relationship (more than any human could). He's also blessed me with amazing lifelong friends and a marvelous husband (Michael's roommate!), wonderful children and a more exciting and satisfying life than I could have ever imagined. I know He is with me because there have also been difficult times along the way and He has carried me through my sorrow and pain. I know He is real because when I read the Bible it's like He is speaking intimately and personally just to me. And I know that the promise of what's to come when I die - which used to frighten me - will be the very best part.

I love sharing my story because I want others to know that only God can love us the way we need to be loved - the way we were made to be loved!

In 1984, we moved with several others to plant a church in Iowa City, Iowa. We loved the excitement of a new church plant and learned a lot. After several years, God used financial pressures and a very unfavorable home schooling climate to motivate us to look for a GCC church in another city. We had to keep our home schooling “undercover” because the state of Iowa was putting people in jail for home schooling if you were not a state accredited teacher. I see now that this was all in His plan, even though it broke our hearts to leave Iowa City. Our move to Columbia, MO was a great relief since Missouri had a very favorable home school law. In Columbia, we linked in with Valley View Community Church serving in music and small groups.

As a young man, I had hoped to be an elder someday. (I now see that there was a very good reason that I was not recognized as an elder at 23, 33 or even 43 – I wasn’t one!) When Herschel Martindale moved to Columbia, I expressed my desire to do the work of an elder. He mentored me and I was recognized as an elder when I was 53. Recently God has led us to move to the St. Louis area and help lead LifeSpring Community Church. Shepherding God’s people is the best “job” I have ever had.

Dear Sisters,

Great Commission Churches is beginning a year of highlighting the importance of each believer sharing the gospel, and then trusting the results to God. The theme is called "Just Sow It" as we focus on ways to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ in our communities and throughout the world.

We thought it would be encouraging the next number of months for wives to share their personal stories of someone "just sowing" His gospel in their lives, leading to their salvations. I pray our faith is stimulated through these stories, to go ahead and sow the wonderful, marvelous story of God and His salvation with others.

In Him,

Sandy Hopler

Just Sow It - Story #1

By Barbara Wilson, Cary, North Carolina

Often I think my testimony is typical because I grew up in a "Christian" home like so many other people.  But what so many people think is that if they go to church every Sunday, it is a Christian home, which is where my testimony starts.  My parents took us to church every Sunday and we read the Bible as a family every day. I knew all about God, but we never learned that we could really know God.

Thankfully I sowed my wild oats in high school. He steered me to Clemson University, away from the Alabama schools that all my friends went to. As I first walked onto campus, I said to myself, "When I graduate, everyone is going to know who I am."  So, I proceeded to get involved in as many activities and clubs as I could.  I joined a sorority, which opened up lots of opportunities for parties and fun.  The middle of my sophomore year, my sorority sisters voted me President of the sorority, and then nominated me to represent them in the Miss Clemson pageant.  Miss Clemson was the overall, well-rounded girl representing Clemson:  good grades, activities, community minded, etc.  I had never been in a pageant before so I was obviously shocked when I won and was crowned Miss Clemson. Well, I had already reached my goal and I wasn't even halfway finished with college: everyone knew who I was. 

However, my choices came with a price. Because I was so involved in activities, I spent a lot of time in meetings and social planning so I ended up studying late into the night. This left me exhausted constantly. I realized my "friends" wanted to be my friends so they could hang out with Miss Clemson. All of this left me feeling empty and lonely inside--a feeling quite the opposite of what I thought I should be feeling.

When I went home for Thanksgiving the middle of my junior year, I was in depression and didn't like my life. I talked with an older friend who seemed to have it all together. She said she was a Christian but there was something different about her. I was a Christian, too, or so I thought. She shared her struggles in her life and how she had turned to Jesus for forgiveness and salvation. She repented of her sin and asked Jesus to come into her life and make her the woman He wanted her to be. Wow, that really sounded great: someone else working on me instead of me. So, I prayed right there and asked Jesus to come into my life and change me. He did, and my life since then has been one of exciting challenges and triumphs. He has given me an amazing husband and children and a goal to live for--to know Him better every day. I continually go back to Phil. 3:7,8; "I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ."

As a follow up to my testimony:  A year later I was talking with the wife of the Campus Crusade for Christ director at Clemson. She shared that all the girls in Campus Crusade were praying for a Christian to win the Miss Clemson pageant and were so disappointed when I won. God has a wonderful sense of timing and humor. Their prayers were answered but not in the way any of us thought they would be!

Dear Sisters,

Jesus was born to bring "peace on earth and good will toward men" (Luke 2:14). When you consider the mix of busyness, stresses on finances, expectations and relationships, holiday times contain enough potential to disturb anyone's peace and good will! Here is Jan Gordon's article about dealing with relational conflicts and God's desire to sanctify us. I pray God uses this letter to help bring peace to your most important relationships this Christmas season.

Rejoicing with you because of His birth,

Sandy Hopler

Relationship Cleansing

by Jan Gordon, Gator Christian Life, Gainesville, Florida

A while back I experienced a relational conflict that persisted about one year. What made it last so long was the complexity in my mind of how to solve it. I could not pinpoint the main problem.  I just knew that I was responding negatively internally toward this person. I felt stripped bare before the Lord and I questioned my ability to love. I felt very alone.  At one point, I brought in an arbitrator to help us sift through the interactions that had taken place. This was very helpful and was the beginning of a still somewhat long journey the Lord was taking me on to help sanctify me in areas of sin and maturity.  He is patient and faithful to give us what is necessary to dig out the dirt.

With unresolved conflict, there is stress.  I believe this "stress" or pressure is the Spirit in us revealing to us that we need to do business with this conflict.  Whether it is an internal conflict of my flesh and spirit, or an external conflict involving another person, life in relationship with the Lord and others means a life committed to resolving these tensions.

We must be convinced that God is always at work using specific trials to bring up areas of sin or weakness that God wishes to sanctify in us. There are areas in my life that may not be uncovered except in trials. The heat and pressure bring these sin areas or weakness to the surface. It is painful. Being one who would rather avoid conflict and keep peace at all costs, heat and pressure is necessary so that I don't miss opportunities to be sanctified or be a part of another's sanctification.

Because I was having a hard time pinpointing the root problem I found myself discussing the issue with other people in hopes of understanding the true issue.  The difficulty with this interaction is that I may "accidentally" slander the other person.  A verse I recently claimed for this area is Proverbs 19:13 "The contentions of a wife are a constant dripping." To be a non-contentious woman, to me means to be faith-filled, doing business with relationship issues that are for me and God to work through.  In other words, I should not use my husband or anyone else as a sounding board unless they are part of the solution. But when he is used "ongoing" as a sounding board, I can become this "constant dripping"...a contentious woman.

An option I used to help resolve this conflict was the use of an arbitrator.  She helped my friend and me pinpoint the real issues and roots, of the conflict. The person that I asked to arbitrate was a woman whom we both trusted and whom we felt would be able to help us discern the problem.  We each were able to share our point of view and what we "felt."  The arbitrator was there to clarify and help us hear one another, and even point out sin that may be evident.

Another tool used to help me in my relationship struggle was a Resentment Worksheet.  This tool helps me work through resentments I may have toward people, institutions, schedules, anything!  I may not even realize all the resentments I have built up, i.e. resenting how much time my children require to train, or resenting cars that go too slowly on my way to my destination, or resenting the wrinkled clothing I need to wear as I am in a hurry, etc. I can resent the way something makes me feel, or how it robs me of my so-called "rights," or how it affects my self-esteem. Taking a quick inventory of the resentments and working them through can help me take the needed actions, usually asking forgiveness, giving forgiveness and expressing gratitude. Click here to view the worksheet.

We must be committed to seeing our relationships brought to complete restoration.  This commitment may cost us and take much effort.  We must understand God's commitment to sanctifying us and utilize every opportunity for His work to be done in our lives and the lives of others. "If we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship with one another" 1 John 1:7.

Dear Sisters,

As a college student and a brand-new believer in Christ, I was struggling with many decisions in my life. Everything felt new, and I wanted the direction of my life to now reflect God's wisdom and leading.

I decided to seek some counsel from a trusted elder of my church. I explained my indecision and desire to really know God's will for my life. In hindsight, I realize I wanted someone to confidently lay out a plan--to tell me what to do. Well, he did "tell me what to do" but not in the way I expected. He smiled, opened the Bible for me and had me read 1 Thessalonians 5:18: "...in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." He explained that I was obeying God by giving thanks in every circumstance, and by trusting that God would lead me and bless me.

And this is our November letter's topic: God's desire for us to give thanks. He wants us to recognize His mighty love, faithfulness, and deeds on our behalf. Let's obey by pouring out our hearts in thanksgiving, and then see God lead us and bless us in His perfect will for our daily lives.

Blessings,

Sandy Hopler

The Call to Thanksgiving

By Judi Bowen, Evergreen Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota

As I was growing up as the third born child in a family of seven children with both an older brother and sister before me, I naturally found myself coming back to two questions, "What can I learn from them (my brother and sister)? Is it possible to avoid the pain that they experience?" This was one of the benefits of growing up in the shadow of older siblings. I didn't have to be the first in anything, especially pain.

Last summer as I was reading through the Psalms the same two questions came to mind in Psalm 106, "What can I learn from them (the Israelites)? Is it possible to avoid the pain that they experience(d)?"

Psalm 106 is a basic summary of the thoughts and behavior of the Israelite forefathers, which led to the painful consequences of not seeing God's plan fulfilled in their lifetime:

...they gave no thought to Your miracles; they did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea (vs.7); ...they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel (vs. 13); In the desert they gave in to their craving... (vs. 14); In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron... (vs. 16); They exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull, which eats grass (vs.20); They forgot the God who saved them, Who had done great things in Egypt (vs. 21); Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise (vs. 24); They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the Lord (vs. 25); They worshipped their idols, which became a snare to them (vs. 36); Many times He delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin (vs. 43).

In this passage I saw a pattern of their lives crumbling, which started out with a few small steps that had a recurrent theme...a lack of thanksgiving. So as I continued to read over the Psalms last summer, I began to look for verses on giving thanks.

For His presence - "We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks, for Your Name is near; men tell of Your wonderful deeds." (Ps. 75:1)

For what He has done - "Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done." (Ps. 105:1)

For His goodness - "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." (This one is repeated in several psalms.) (Ps. 106:1)

For His strength and protection - "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song." (Ps. 28:7)

For the honor due His name (worship) - "Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song." (Ps. 95:2)

For the honor due His name (prayer) - "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name." (Ps. 100:4)

As I have focused on giving thanks in my life over the last several months I have found my trust in Him has grown, my rest in Him is found, and I am spared the pain that my own way brings.

In closing, I'd like to share with you a passage that I came across last year that shows a people who learned to give thanks. This comes from The Great Declaration of Praise and Thanksgiving offered years ago by William Bradford for the providential deliverance of the Pilgrims:  

"May not and ought not the children of these fathers rightly say: 'Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and He heard their voice, and looked on their adversity, etc.' Let them therefore praise the Lord, because He is good, and His mercies endure forever. Yea, let them which have been redeemed of the Lord, show how He hath delivered them from the hand of the oppressor. When they wandered in the desert wilderness out of the way, and found no city to dwell in, both hungry, and thirsty, their soul was overwhelmed in them. Let them confess before the Lord His loving kindness, and His wonderful works before the sons of men."

Dear Sisters,

Evergreen Community Church in Minneapolis, with urging from Pastor Mark Darling, has taken on the "Just Sow It!" campaign. My husband John explains "The campaign urges Christians to simply share the message of Christ and leave the results to God." Sowing the seed of the gospel, whatever results we happen to see or not see, will ultimately yield fruit for eternity!

Our writer this month shares her story of the challenge she faced to go ahead and "Just Sow It!" And she has reaped a harvest of blessings by doing so.

May we all take the Great Commission to heart, growing in love and boldness to bring the message of Jesus Christ to our world.

In His grace,

Sandy Hopler

Just Sow It

by Mary Knox, Evergreen Bloomington , Minneapolis, Minnesota 

About three years ago at Faithwalkers-Midwest, Jessica Whitney [daughter of Neva and Rick] shared about her personal goal of sharing the gospel with someone every day for a year. I somehow missed that session. But I heard about it. And it challenged me. However, my reaction to it was, "There's no way I could ever do that." 

Fast forward three years, and Evergreen-The Rock's Mark Darling suggested that our summer mini-Faithwalkers event, called Unite, be focused on the theme of JUST SOW IT. Sow gospel seed. We sow it, God grows it. You can listen to these messages online at the Evergreen website.http://www.evergreenchurchmedia.com/bloomington. Brent, my husband, wanted to compile resources to aid our saints in the Just Sow It campaign. His goal was to get the saints to write personal faith stories [tracts], to produce YouTube videos of themselves sharing their faith, to learn to share the gospel using tracts, how to go thru Begin in Christ Bible studies, etc. See these resources at Evergreen's website, under resources at Just Sow It. http://www.evergreenchurch.com/justsowit.

Brent asked me to be one of the "guinea pigs" for the process. He asked Rock pastor Ryan Stahl and me to write our personal faith stories [PFS], and discover how hard or easy it was; to publish it [printing it at Office Max]; and start handing it out. I accepted Mission Possible by God's Grace. I procrastinated a long time; I prayed a long time. But once I finally wrote it, it came together pretty fast, and I printed it, and handed out my first PFS to the Office Max guy, Jim. 

I came out of Office Max strutting in the joy and confidence only the Holy Spirit can give. I was pumped. "That was so easy, even a caveman can do it," I thought! The next morning the Holy Spirit inspired me to set a goal of trying to share my PFS once a day, for 365 days. Though I didn't feel like I could practically get out to share the gospel every day for a year, the thought of handing out my PFS, or sending it by email, or on Facebook, sounded very doable and exciting to me. I started handing it out daily. I gave it to the Culligan man and Comcast guy that came to our house. I've given it to waitresses, hair-stylists, theatre-ticket sellers, doctors, dentists, neighbors and relatives. It's been so easy and fun. When I offer it to them, they take it, look at my picture, look back at me, and smile and say, "I'll read it! Thanks!" 

I have missed some days. But since July 4th, I've handed out 71 PFS's. That's more gospel seed that I've sown in three months, than I've sown in many years. I share this, not to boast about sowing gospel seed. In 2007, as I was going through the cancer treatment to cure my Hepatitis C disease, I told the Lord, "If I ever get better and get off this bed, I want to be more evangelistic. I want to be more faithful in sharing my faith." And because of Just Sow It, and handing out my PFS, God has given me the answer to my prayer. He's making me more evangelistic. I feel like I'm back in the game again. Every morning I draw a little square at the top of my Daytimer scheduler, and write, "Who, Lord? Who do you want me to share my story with today?" It's thrilling! 

I don't think I'm an anomaly. I think writing our personal tracts and handing them out to our 'circle of influence' is something all of us can do. Some of us have young kids at home, or grandkids we're taking care of, or we've got health problems, or we're homebound. But whatever our lot in life, handing out our faith stories is a very doable, and easy way, to "just sow it" and "let God grow it."   As a church promotion for Just Sow It, we have little JSI bookmarks to write down names of people we want to pray for, to get saved. At the bottom of the card, it has the verses in Ecclesiates11:4-6 LB: "If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done. Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which will grow. Perhaps it all will!"

Dear Sisters,

Autumn is such a season of change. For our own family, most of us are in transition into new housing. My husband and I are moving to the other side of town to live nearer to our church and grown children, after being in this house more than 24 years. One son, newly married, is still busy settling into a home, while another son is planning his wedding; others are in temporary housing situations until we can move in together soon.

We are finding that at times, change can be very uncomfortable and unsettling! It's easy to feel dissatisfied with these circumstances--to wish we were already settled and into a new routine. That is why I find so much strength and comfort in our writer's words, on the topic of contentment. According to Beth Sebek, "Abiding, drawing close to the source of all our strength, hope, joy and contentment, is the safest place to be."

If my source of stability is my circumstances, I am surely on shaky ground! Even when the apostle Paul was at his weakest, he was content to be able to have Christ's power alone as his source: "Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Are you struggling with being content with something in your life? May we all draw near to Christ and allow Him to be the source of our contentment this day. He truly is enough.

In His grace,

Sandy

The Struggle of Contentment

by Beth Sebek, Oak Ridge Community Church, Maryland

In every stage of our lives, we have a daily learning of contentment. It is so easy, no matter what the stage, to wish to change our circumstance. It is just human nature. If we aren't married, we want to be. If we don't have kids, we want to have kids. If we have kids, whatever stage they are in, we tend to feel overwhelmed and wish it to be different.

Have you ever noticed that it is easy to think, "I'd rather have their challenge instead of mine?" Or, "If only this was or wasn't a certain way?" How do we have a grateful heart and contentment in today and our unique circumstances?

I've been enjoying thinking about Hebrews 12:1 (NIV), "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

The phrase, "race marked out for us" has been something to meditate on. Each of us has a race or journey uniquely "marked out for us." Each journey has it owns joys and challenges. We can trust our Father, who filters all through HIS loving hands, what our portion is.

God has been teaching me to think, "If God has allowed this place, then He will give the grace as well." What HE allows, HE provides for, if we walk closely with Him and receive.

Hebrews 12: 2 says, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Wow, can you see Him sitting down at the right hand of the throne of God? "It is finished." HE has triumphed! You are his joy!)

In every situation, ''looking to," seeing Jesus in the circumstance, and drawing close to our Savior, is the answer. He will provide. Are you tired?" Draw close to Jesus. Are you afraid, confused, or overwhelmed? You are not alone....draw close to Jesus.

He will pour upon you His grace, His rest, His compassion, and His strength as needed.

Recently I helped with my daughter Angela, having her delightful baby, Emily Lynn Caswell. This is their third. It brought back many memories of when our six were young and life was so consuming to get through a day. Busy, active children take much of our strength and "being quiet with the Lord" is a hope, but often we can hardly think straight when we get it.

There were some scares and challenges with the baby and I found myself reminded of these things. "What God allows, He provides for."...draw close...

We can trust Him to walk us through each day. Just stay close in today and "abide." Do not fear tomorrow, for He is there too. (All is well with Emily J but if it were not, it would be the same. Come what may, just "abide.")

John 15:4,5 (NASB) says "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing."

Boy is this true! Being connected allows the sap from the SOURCE to flow. Abiding, drawing close to the source of all our strength, hope, joy, and contentment, is the safest place to be. We "fix our eyes," stay connected and abide; He WILL provide and overflow! Contentment is found being close with our "Surpassing and Overcoming" God in every stage of our journeys.

Today, my sons' voices are deep, my daughters have their own families and our paths marked out for us take different turns; but abiding in Jesus remains the source of joy and contentment. His river of 'overwhelming grace' pours upon us whether we shake or rejoice in our days... when we draw close.

"I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word, I put my hope. My soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning." (Psalm 130:5,6)

"But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me." (Psalm 131:2)

Little Hands

Little hands so needy,

Hands held out, reaching up.

Seeking love's touch,

Melt your heart, filling your cup...

Wiping faces, reading stories,

Smiles look up, hearts are molding.

Ever so trusting,

An awesome task unfolding...

Caring for the young,

As they grow and change,

We give all of us,

For someday they'll do the same...

They're worth every minute,

Though tired we may grow.

Every memory stored,

Each progress rejoiced to know...

All that we give,

Goes into all that they are.

Give them precious deeds,

Rewarding them to grow far...

Give them your love for JESUS,

Showing them the way,

So they can know His love,

Walk in His peace to stay...

Someday they'll grow tall,

The voice will soon be deep.

We'll marvel at the speed of time,

New memories we will reap...

Enjoy this journey we take,

Holding one another's hands.

We can do this with God's strength,

Leaving our footprints in their sands...

©ElizabethSebek

 Dear Sisters,

We have heard the maxim, "Begin with the end in mind." Our writer this month reminds us that when we all eventually come to our "end," our hope is that our lives would have brought glory to God. As pastors' wives involved in advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ, our ultimate goal is to be pleasing to Him. And how do we please God? Through faith, we become more and more like His Son.

As believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we have wonderful promises in God's Word that we indeed are being transformed to show the character of Christ to the world. These promises are more precious at times when we feel we have somehow fallen short or flat-out failed in an area of Christ-like character. We are assured in 2 Peter 1:2: "...seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."

Sisters, in light of God's promises, let's press on together toward the goal of our calling to be like Jesus Christ.

With you,

Sandy

Character

by Kathy Williams, Grace Community Church, Universal City, Texas

As a pastor's wife, we are called, expected, and challenged to have the character qualities of Christ. When we think about our character qualities we need to look at God's character, because we are called to be a reflection of Him. God's character qualities are: all-powerful, all knowing, all present, sovereign, holy, truthful, righteous, just, loving, merciful, faithful and never changing - 100 percent of the time.

Some of these we cannot imitate because these are the qualities that will always separate God from us - His being all-powerful, all knowing, and all present, for example. But in some of them we are called to be like Him because we are made in His image. These are His moral qualities such as righteousness and love. Scripture calls us to be like Him. WOW! We have a huge task if we are to have all the same moral qualities as God. It is even more difficult for a pastor's wife since we are "not allowed" to feel and (heaven forbid) show feelings of anger, frustration and discouragement.

The Word calls us to strain forward for the prize of the upward calling that is in Christ. Scripture continues to talk about the battle that surrounds us as a battle with powers and principalities, not against "flesh and blood."  The Scripture tells us "we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength." Phil. 4:13. Well, in Christ we can do all things, even though we feel that the world has just sat on top of us. Our brain understands this Scripture and our heart knows that we really are His and being His we do have those qualities in Him. These are the qualities that are continuously being perfected in us, as we remain faithful and focused on Him.

Especially as a pastor's wife it is important to remember how God is working His character in us. God is all-powerful, because He calls us to a life of humility (I'm still working this one out!). God is righteous-He calls us to be forgiving. God is just-He calls us to be fair (still working this one out as well!). God is love-He calls us to love our enemies (definitely working on this one!). God is merciful-He calls us to be generous with mercy (each day is a new day to practice it). God is faithful-He calls us to be committed to Him. God calls us to be transformed in Christ; to change from the inside out into a new creation. We are called, expected, viewed to live at a higher standard because we are a "pastor's wife." Tall order!

This can become a difficult task/journey that we are called to. We are still human, still being perfected and we continue to be flawed. We work, strive, push forward to do the best that we can yet we are human. God looks at our effort and smiles saying, "Yes you are my child and I am proud of you." God looks at us and sees Christ. God has chosen us as pastors' wives knowing that we are fully capable of the task/challenges and created us for the purpose of being a support and a warrioress (yes, that is a word).

We need to look at those in the Bible as our example of how we must live, especially since we are placed in the role of a pastor's wife. Though there are many women in the Bible who possess character qualities of Christ, I want to focus on one impressive person (yes, a male), John the Baptist. John from his mother's womb knew his purpose in life and remained focused on that purpose. God purposed John for one moment. I can't say that I knew my life purpose while in the womb, though John seemed to have an understanding of his purpose/mission. As John grew up, his character developed. As a pastor's wife, when we have a better understanding of our purpose/mission, our character shapes into more of the person whom God intended us to become. We take on more of the character qualities of Christ for the sole purpose of fully serving the One who gave us everything.   John was humble, though he knew he was to make straight the path for the One to come. We, as hard as it is, also need to be humble even in the most difficult situations. As a pastor's wife, I can say that I have failed many times in this area. Thankfully, God has provided many "learning opportunities" (I'm a slow learner) in order to develop my very stubborn character. John remained holy even though those around were not holy. John was righteous and truthful and not afraid of stating what God commanded. John was willing to baptize anyone who came to him. John was filled with love, which attracted others to him. John was faithfully devoted to his mission, knowing that there was a greater good yet to come. John did not change his belief regardless what others thought, felt or said. John was completely devoted to his calling from God.

How do you think John felt baptizing day after day, month after month, enthusiastically committed to his assigned purpose, when he finally saw the One who was the fulfillment of his mission, the Christ? Everything that John worked for was now present standing right in front of him! It must have been the moment of moments when John saw the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus. There stood God in the flesh. John shouted, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Can you imagine being a part of the crowd just then? John told all who were there "this is the One, a man who surpasses me. I did not know Him but I came baptizing with water so that He would be revealed to Israel." John is about to baptize God in the flesh. How unworthy John must have felt, as he told Jesus that he was not even worthy to untie His sandal. John's entire life was completely dedicated for this moment that took a few seconds or minutes. The amazing feeling that John had when he baptized Jesus must have made all of those not-so-great days insignificant. John baptized the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. John's mission was fulfilled. And God said, "Good job, faithful servant."

I have to ask myself, "Was John's entire life worth that one moment - baptizing Christ?" Yes!!! As a wife of a church leader, we may go through each day and the days seem to look the same, the months run into each other and we are in what seems to be a desert. This may be the time that Christ is perfecting, growing, and developing our character in order to use us for His all-knowing perfect plan. Just as John the Baptist was placed in the perfect place to serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, we are also placed into the ideal place to serve Christ, who selected us for the role of a pastor's wife. During those very difficult days, we need to remind ourselves that just like John the Baptist, God assigned us right where we are for a very specific purpose in order to fulfill His mission. That mission is to glorify God through our lives. Not a small order - though it is an order. May the Lord bless each of you through your journey and in your commitment to Him.

Dear Sisters,

Earlier this month our country celebrated its freedom on the Fourth of July. Do you have an anniversary for your own spiritual freedom? Mine is August 31st, 1975, the day I received the gift of forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Christ's redeeming work on the cross.

You may or may not remember the exact day of your liberation from the "domain of darkness" to become a born-again child of God. But as Christians we have all been freed from the "yoke of slavery," as Paul says in Galatians 5:1. Our writer this month reminds us to be firm in our freedom as believers, and to refuse to be in bondage. She encourages us all to work hard at the spiritual battle using spiritual weapons.

So sisters, let's refuse to take on the heavy burdens of guilt, expectations, and sin that can so easily weigh us down, and fight the "good fight of faith." Then we can walk joyfully in freedom and grace to truly love and serve Christ and others.

In His service,

Sandy Hopler

Standing Firm for Freedom

by Shari Damaso, New Life Community Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Recently we celebrated Independence Day as a family. Next to Christmas, Independence Day is my favorite holiday; and my favorite part of the day is the fireworks. My family usually leaves home by mid-afternoon to secure an unobstructed view of the launch site. We pack a picnic dinner, lawn chairs and blankets, games and toys, sunscreen, flashlights, and lots of cold water. We are joined by friends and relax while catching up on life and enjoying the festive atmosphere and being out-of-doors. And no matter how hard we try to avoid it, there is always a last-minute scramble to get everything packed away by flashlight when we realize that the curtain of darkness has fallen and the "main event" is about to begin. Our city's fireworks are synchronized to patriotic music, which enhances the experience.

I am always emotionally touched as I sit wrapped in the warm darkness with people I love, oblivious to everything but the breath-taking explosions of color that fill my sight and the booming lyrics proclaiming national pride and God's favor. For almost 30 minutes my heart swells with pride, peace, and thankfulness for the sacrifice others have made to win and maintain my freedom.

While my feelings of freedom may be heightened on Independence Day, I am equally free the other 364 days of the year. Whether or not I embrace my freedom to the same extent, it is just as real and powerful. Each day I have the responsibility of choosing what I will do with that freedom. Will I take it for granted? Waste it? Use it for selfish gain? Bless others with it?

On July 4, 1776 my forefathers declared freedom from the rulers who oppressed them. But that was not the day that they fully experienced their freedom; for years Americans lived in the presence of their former rulers even though they were free from their power. A long battle was fought before they truly were free to live under a new government.There are many parallels to our spiritual lives. We have been set free from the oppression of sin, worry, fear, doubt, and death. Yet we live in the presence of an enemy and must battle to live out the freedom we have gained in Christ. How nice it would be if we could snap our fingers and - poof - we were immediately freed to love, live, serve and worship with every fiber of our being. But that is not God's plan for us. Instead we need to "work out our salvation" (Philippians 2:12).   

Galatians 5:1 instructs us to "Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Thankfully we are not threatened with physical slavery, but what of spiritual slavery? Are you living as a free woman? Do your actions show that sin has no authority over you?

Growing up in a traditional church I saw many people try to put the pastor's wife in a yoke of slavery. People had definite ideas about "proper" and "improper" behavior for her. I am so thankful our pastors are raised up from within the flock; I have found that sharing our lives in this way serves as a protection from that yoke. Yet we are not immune from the expectations of others. Can you stand firm in freedom to be the woman God created you to be, or are you tempted to take on the yoke that others think belongs to the pastor's wife? You are free to be your husband's wife - not "the pastor's wife."

A young Christian woman I was getting to know once asked me what kind of books I enjoyed reading. When I had answered, she replied, "So that's what a pastor's wife reads." No, that's what I read! Her question made me wonder how often I am answering a "pastor's wife" question when I think I am answering a personal one. But, I refused to let it take away my freedom. I can read lots of book genres or enjoy a variety of activities because I am free to be myself. And so are you!

I am sure that many of you have thrown off the yoke of oppression. You are engaged in battle and Christ is giving you victory. Your hearts are free and you lovingly serve as we have been instructed in Galatians 5:13.  But others who read this feel the weight of oppression. You are weary of fighting. You may feel alone and overwhelmed by the forces attacking you. There is hope and help for you!

Remember our fight is against spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12) and requires spiritual weapons (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). What are these weapons? Prayer. Knowing the truth of the Word in our innermost parts. Facing our fears. Confessing our sin. Uncovering the places in our hearts where our enemy has a foothold and recovering them for righteousness. Living in unity with other saints. Forgiveness. Holding firmly to the truth that Christ has already won the war and He empowers us to be victorious in our battles. 2 Corinthians 3:17 reminds us, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." There is freedom in you that no power can take away. Choose to revel in that freedom today.

Heavenly Father, thank you for setting us free from the tyranny of sin that had separated us from you. I lift up my sisters to you today, Lord. Restore the joy of their salvation, the peace and hope that comes with spiritual freedom. Prepare each one for the battles that she will face today. Walk beside her; carry her if necessary. If she feels alone, reveal those who are fighting alongside her. Give each of us the strength to follow you, to obey your commands. We long for the day when we will be in your presence, totally removed from sin and pain. But today we will battle in faith through the power of your Son, our Redeemer. In His precious name, Amen.

We need your help!

We are thinking of putting together a helpful booklet for wives and moms  across our GCC movement of churches.  If you had 10-15 minutes to respond, we would much appreciate it. This would be a wonderful way to pool our resources and also bless and encourage other young pastors wives and moms in Great Commission.

 1.  To GCC Pastor wives:

What are the best one or two tips you can give to wives in Great Commission Churches?  Just a couple of sentences, a paragraph is fine.  Any wisdom tips?  A word of encouragement?Also, what's a good resource that you have used with the women in your church?

2.  To GCC Pastor moms:

What are the best one or two tips you can give to young moms in Great Commission Churches?  Again, just a few, short thoughts.  A habit you have held onto?  Any wisdom tips?  What you have learned from others?  A word of encouragement?

Please send your emails to: nevaatgcnw@aol.com.

By the time the Air Force moved us to northern Virginia in 1995, Paula was pregnant with our second child, and we found a Great Commission church known at that time as Westview (now Evergreen Community Church). Within a few years, Paula stepped up to lead the children’s ministry there, and I started through the GCLI material.

The Lord led us to extend my Air Force assignment in northern Virginia about the same time that our fourth child was born. I retired from the Air Force in 2005, content to stay here as long as God willed. By 2007 I was recognized as an elder, and Paula and I continued to lead and build into the Evergreen children’s ministries.

Today, we are thankful for the Lord’s blessing of four children: Alec, Rebecca, Jared, and Danielle. We are excited to be teaching and building into the youth and leading the Evergreen Family Ministries. We are very grateful to be a part of the Great Commission Church movement here in Manassas, and we especially enjoy the recent partnership developed with Howell Community Church, Oak Ridge Community Church, and Ablaze in Blacksburg, VA. The youth affectionately refer to themselves as HowEverOaksBurg! We look forward to many more years of fellowship and growing together!

The first time I understood what God meant by “go” was in 1980 at a GCC conference in New York City. The passion, love and commitment of the men leading this conference to obey the Great Commission, coupled with our pastor Freddy Perez’s desire for us to do the same, moved me to take part in this great adventure of seeing the world ransformed by the power of the Gospel. Constant exposure to the teachings and modeling of men who were living out the Great Commission the following years really moved me. In 1985 I went on a short-term mission trip to El Salvador to help with the planting of a church there. That trip changed my life forever. It was there where the Great Commission became embedded within my heart and I decided then that I wanted to “go” and plant churches wherever God would lead.

In 1987 God gave me the privilege of teaming with 5 other young men and women to plant a church in the Dominican Republic. While working to make disciples in this new church plant, God united my heart with the love of my life. Nancy was one of the three courageous women who were part of our missionary team. In 1989 we were married, and 10 years later God gave us, through adoption, two of the greatest beings on earth, Melanie and Bryan.

In 1992 we felt God leading us back to the states to re-focus and wait on His leading for a future church plant venture. While in Miami, I was asked to help with a new English service (The Rock Miami). Together with a few other families and new believers from La Roca, God began to lead us to Palm Coast, FL. In 2006 we moved to plant The Journey Church. We believe that this work is an intercultural, intergenerational expression of God’s grace. Today, we are blessed to be working alongside Herschel Martindale, our sister churches Walnut Creek and Oak Ridge, and the LINC Dominican Republic team to plant a church in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Wow, what an adventure! All of this because I heard God say “go!” I thank God that He is allowing me to be part of what He is doing. I have always believed that God has a plan for my life. Often I have wondered why God doesn’t choose someone else that may do it better. But He reminds me that…“The LORD will work out His plans for my life…” Psalm 138:8. I fully believe that He will continue to do so. I am thankful that I heard His command to “go.” With God’s
grace, I went and will continue to go.

 Dear Sisters,

Our letter this month is brief and oh-so-powerful! Tom and Jean Dunham have given their lives for the past 30-some years to building a wonderful family as well as building God's church. Having given two daughters in marriage this past year, Jean has "reflected" on deep truths God has been showing her through her years of mothering seven children.

Wherever you are in your journey of motherhood, take some needed encouragement to "do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve" (Colossians 3:23,24). Bringing up children to love Christ is certainly a wonderful way to serve the Lord and advance His gospel! I pray we can all take heart through Jean's words to continue laying down our lives for our children, and to ultimately entrust them to God's own grace and goodness.

In His service,

Sandy Hopler

A Mother's Year of Reflection

by Jean Dunham, Cottonwood Community Church, Grand Forks, North Dakota

This past year has been one of reflection for me. Two of my daughters were married within six months of each other! I have just a few thoughts to share on my reflections. Giving them away, literally handing our authority over them to their husbands, was intensely emotional. It caused deep reflection weeks and months before the weddings.

My youngest child will be 18 in July so I am at the end of this amazing career we call motherhood. And what a ride it has been! My children have brought me some of my greatest joys in this life, as well as some of my greatest pains and sorrows. But the one thought I had when Tom walked those girls down the aisle was, "I am glad I gave them all I had." I have not been a perfect mother. But certainly for the past 32 years, my life has been laid down for the seven children God entrusted to my care.

Hosea 11:4 says, "I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love, and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I STOOPED and fed them." What a picture of humility! What a picture of motherhood! We spend years drawing our children with gentleness and love. We take the burdens and cares of their world upon our shoulders. We take the yoke of their sin and mistakes upon us. We STOOP and feed them.

Sometimes as moms we feel like we have emptied ourselves for our children...and that is a GOOD thing. Romans 5:8 says, "God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Jesus emptied Himself of everything for us. And He did it for us before we came into a relationship with Him, striving to live godly. When we were in our sin and wanting nothing to do with Him, Christ died for us and that demonstrated His love for us.

For some reason before we have children the idea of dying to self seems more SPIRITUAL and we look for opportunities and people for whom to lay down our lives. Then we marry and have children and feel like we aren't able to DO for God what we once did. We can feel like we have lost our identity and purpose. Sisters, we must see that this call of motherhood on our lives is the closest opportunity to be like Christ we will ever have on this earth. We lay down our lives for our children while they are yet sinners. And we keep laying down our lives until every last one of them comes to Jesus. What an amazing privilege! What an amazing honor!

So this is my first reflection: You want to come to the end of your parenting years KNOWING that you gave it all you had, knowing that you died to self to demonstrate God's love to your children.

The second thought I have is somewhat random but I believe God gave it to me to pass on to young wives of pastors. When my children were young, my husband was very busy planting and shepherding the church. I was the main nurturer and caregiver of our children. Most nights he was off to some event or meeting and during the day worked as an optometrist. I didn't "over-think" much about how we were managing living like this, as it was just my reality and I felt very capable to care for my little ones. As my children grew into teenagers I saw Tom take on much more of the responsibility of their parenting and he was really good at it! He was very calm and patient. He knew just what questions to ask in conflict and how to appeal to their spirits and keep emotions out of the equation. He was much more firm exhorting them to work hard, study hard and have quiet times. When my daughters met their future husbands, he was very involved in these relationships, holding them accountable and asking these men the tough questions. And where did he learn these amazing skills? He learned them over the years shepherding the church, counseling college students, helping troubled marriages, and being sharpened by the men with whom he was serving.

So this is my second and final reflection: If you are a mother of young children, let your husband be busy now in the business of the church. He is learning skills that will prepare him to parent your children through the teen years and beyond. And that will be a huge blessing to you, and your children, and the generations to come.

Dear Sisters,  

The weekend of Mother’s Day, my husband and I had the opportunity to attend Grace Point Community Church in Powell, Ohio.  Pastor Terry Lewis and his wife, Kelly (our writer this month) shared the stage for the message. As a Hallmark Card lady, Kelly has a special window into the world of the sentimental value of this special holiday. Terry wanted Kelly to give her unique perspective on how we all can show appreciation for the significant women in our lives.

Mother’s Day has come and gone, but I’ll give you a post-Mother’s Day boost!  Kelly has given us her message as our newsletter this month. And let’s remember that any day of the year can be a time to give much-needed encouragement to the women in our lives, whether they are our moms, friends, or mentors.

Blessings,
Sandy Hopler

A Post-Mother’s Day Blessing

by Kelly Lewis, Grace Point Community Church, Lewis Center, Ohio

I work part time for Hallmark, and recently I learned that you can send a Mother’s Day card to a daughter, friend, someone like a mother, or (my favorite) from the dog.  We have you covered! I say this because as I write this for the month of May, what comes to mind is mothering, and I don’t want those of you who are not moms yet or who will never be a mother to feel like there isn’t something applicable for you in these thoughts.  Just like there are Mother’s Day cards for every possible need, there are also lessons in mothering no matter what stage of life you find yourself.

I have seen a lot of Mother’s Day cards for friends, and although I have never personally sent one, I probably should.  Nothing has helped more through the challenges of raising children than to have a buddy alongside to encourage, help, and to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus. Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” This is especially crucial for young moms who are in the middle of the exhausting toddler years. My best friend Louise and I have done a lot of “team-momming” as we have raised our kids. I remember an afternoon where I was watching all of Louise and my kids (eight total!) while she got a little time away. She returned to find my kitchen a complete chaos of toys, uneaten pb&j sandwiches, and cranky kids. I called the oldies radio station and dedicated the song “Rescue Me” to Louise. We danced around the kitchen while toddlers tugged on our knees. Sometimes it’s just good to have someone to laugh with and not take life too seriously!

A friend is also important as your children get older and the worries get bigger.  Our adult children may not always make godly choices, and our tendency as moms can be to feel like a failure or to wonder what we did wrong. There is no greater compassion and understanding found than from a friend who has gone through something similar. I wonder if Paul had mothers in mind when he instructed us to “bear one another’s burdens.” (Gal. 6:2)

I have also been very intrigued by the cards you can send to someone who is like a mother. Whether or not you have a mother who is a godly Christian role model, we can all benefit from older women who are spiritual mentors. I have been involved with wise women throughout every stage of my life, and their guidance has been invaluable. Titus 2:4 gives us a model for this in urging older women to “teach 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.”  Don’t hesitate to initiate with someone you respect and to humbly learn from them.

On the flip side, we all have the opportunity to be “like a mother” to someone else. I remember being at a conference once and sharing with some other wives how I felt lost as my kids were leaving for college. Sue Keator shared Romans 16:13: “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.” It encouraged me to realize that along with continuing to mother my children, God would also give me spiritual children to be involved with. These might include friends of my kids, young wives and moms, or an international student looking for a friend. I love Job 42:12 that says, “The Lord blessed the last part of Job’s life more than the first.” God has great opportunities for us to continue to be used by Him.

So there you have a few reflections on mothering, inspired by greeting cards. I tried to find a creative application for the “from the dog’ card, but I came up empty on that one. This Mother’s Day, whether or not you have kids of your own, may God provide opportunities for you to be a “joyful mother of children.” (Ps. 113:9).

Growing up in a household torn apart by alcoholism and plagued by emotional, spiritual and physical poverty, I had some serious questions about life. I decided to skip finals and drove up to the mountains with a couple of boxes of sleeping pills, a bottle of aspirin and a bag of rat poison. I couldn’t find significance in my life and was ready to throw it away.

After a stint in the hospital, I decided that I was taking things a little too seriously and I partied my way into a freshman year at Colorado State University. That fall, I met a group of people who had a peace and joy that I had never seen before.And the way they loved me was revolutionary. Through them I encountered Jesus of Nazareth. In Him a meaning and significance flooded into my life which changed everything.

The next few years as a follower of Jesus were a wild race of dorm outreaches, spring break road trips and summer programs all over the country, and mission trips around the world. I graduated from CSU, married an incredible woman and went on staff with the student ministry in Fort Collins, where I was recognized as a pastor. When I look at my family today and look back on the abundant life God has given to me, I am amazed by the gracious and wise ways of our Savior who redeems and uses the most broken of lives!

I had one failed marriage to my name and was destroying my relationship with another woman (Kathi). I loved her and didn’t want to lose her, but my addictions were destroying me and those around me.

Now, I had admitted my powerlessness in the face of alcohol. I acknowledged that only a “higher power” could help me and I called out to God to deliver me. I wrote out my story detailing my life and where I had gone wrong, and now I was ready for the dreaded Step 5 – confessing it to another human. But to whom? Who would listen to me?

Kathi had made some friends with people who attended a bible study. One was a member of Grace Community Church. Kathi suggested that I make my public confession to the pastor of that church.

On the day I entered the church building I was extremely nervous. I didn’t want to enter a church environment as no one likes to be judged. I pulled out my confession and started reading it out loud. I started feeling remorse. Shame swept over me, as I realized what a terrible person I really was. But what amazed me was the pastor’s loving acceptance of me. Later on, I came to the church and put my faith in Jesus Christ.

Yes, I dreaded walking through the doors of that church many years ago, but I am so glad I did! I found the grace of God. Our lives are not marked by addictions and bad habits. We are children of God, saved by grace, changed by grace, growing by grace, and headed for an eternity of grace!

 Dear Sisters,

This month's article written by Sandy Lennander is about winning our children's hearts. It contains a parent's object lesson in obeying Philippians 2:3,4: "... with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." My husband and I tried to remember that our kids were unique individuals with their own gifts and interests, considering them fellow-heirs of the kingdom deserving our time and respect.

Let's seek creative and sacrificial ways to involve ourselves in the interests of others, whether that means our own children or "children of the faith." Haven't we all heard the maxim, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care?" May the Lord use these efforts to teach us more fully to understand and care for the needs of those around us. Then we can experience the truth and love of Christ with those whom He came to save.

In His love,

Sandy Hopler

My son, give me your heart... Proverbs 23:26

by Sandy Lennander, Cedarcreek Church, Eau Claire, WI

As parents, one of our deepest desires is to have a close relationship with our children. That relationship is built from when the kids are babies, and continues through school age and all the way to adulthood. Then the cycle starts again with the wonderful world of being a grandparent.

Since our deepest desire as parents is to have our children's hearts, these few tips I will share can go a long way to making that happen. Treat each child as an individual, encourage them in their special interests and get into their world. I believe that these suggestions will help you develop your relationship with children of all ages.

When the children are little, they look to you for everything. You are their anchor in life. One thing I learned during this period of life was that each child is so very different. One little extrovert wants to spend time with a bunch of kids and your introvert wants one on one time with a special friend. Boys are different from girls and need to be treated differently. It was so much fun to see Dave having a tea party with our daughter using a little tea set. You need to do things that the child likes to do. It is so important to have special time with each child individually. One of our kids loved Legos so much that he even played with them once in a while as a high school student. He loved to have someone build huge castles with him.

As children get older, allow them to be individuals in choices of sports and hobbies. My oldest son wanted to play baseball, so I assumed our second son would want to play also. I signed him up for a season, but he wasn't interested. A pastor at Evergreen told me that one of his sons loved hunting and anything to do with it. This pastor wasn't a hunter himself, so it was all new to him. It encouraged me that he went to great lengths of time and money to help one son with a passion for hunting.

When we were in Berlin, we did an exercise that helped us to try and understand a passion someone on our team had and get into their world. On our team was a couple that really liked video gaming. They loved playing these games and would get online to play against others. Since that is not my world, I decided to buy a video game magazine and read it cover to cover and see if I could get a glimpse of what made this so attractive and fun for this young couple. I learned a lot. I found out what a radical gamer was like and I realized that the couple on our team wasn't radical. That helped me get to know this couple and learn to love them and encourage them in their passion for gaming.

I believe that sometimes we need to get into our children's world to try and understand something that is important to them. One of our children really liked country music. My husband and I weren't really into it, but decided to turn the radio dial to our local country station. We bought a couple of CD's and we were amazed to find out that we liked it and still do today. We went to a concert and stood in line to see the performance. It amazed me that we could learn to like something that originally we were lukewarm about. It was good for us to get into our son's world and see what excited him about country music.

All of these suggestions take time, sometimes money and thought. I believe that treating our children as individuals, encouraging them in their interests and getting into their world will make a huge impact on the way to win their hearts.

 Dear Sisters, 

This month's letter is all about wisdom--but not the kind that we can think up on our own. Our writer points us to the kind of wisdom that comes from God: "But the wisdom from above is ... full of mercy and good fruits..." (James 3:17). It is wise to show mercy and to be kind to those who are not performing up to our expectations. 

Our writer helps us understand that our sense of justice and fairness just doesn't go far enough. We must remember how "unfairly" God treated us. He sacrificed His Son for the ways we have not performed up to God's expectations, instead of punishing us "fairly." Remembering God's grace will keep us from judging others and will help us to treat them with grace and humility. 

Oswald Chambers said, "I have never met a person I could despair of, or lose all hope for, after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God." 

So sisters, let us "humble [ourselves] under the mighty hand of God, that He might exalt [us] at the proper time" (1 Peter 5:6). When we humble ourselves under the grace of God, we can bring that grace and hope to a hurting world. 

In Christ's grace,
Sandy Hopler  
 

Don’t Be the Older Brother, Sisters! 

by Dotty Vanderhorst, Lenexa, Kansas

“Wisdom is like a two-sided coin: right actions and right heart.” So prayed my friend Kathy this morning. She and I have been praying together for about seven years now. She is the initiator: she makes the drive to my house every Tuesday morning around 7 am, always calling me first, a good precaution to make sure I’m up. If she’s sick, she calls and we talk at least a little on the phone. Through this long sharing of our lives and concerns, we have built a common understanding of what our Father’s heart is really like. 

One story Kathy keeps coming back to in the New Testament is the Prodigal Son. She warns me about the older brother and tells me that God continues to work on her because she has a tendency to be like him–to judge, to consider herself above someone else. I have to humble myself and admit I do too. I can easily sympathize with the older brother…or Martha, the hard-working homemaker, preparing the special meal all alone in the kitchen while her sister relaxes in the living room, enjoying the Lord’s words of life. Like Martha, I find it easy to judge by appearances, to be critical, to compare myself favorably with someone else. This is the heart of the older brother. 

But always the Lord enlarges the picture, helping me to see that my perspective is too small, that there are bigger things going on here than I can fathom. And let me pull in another of Kathy’s favorite stories, to complete our cast of characters, before we jump in over our heads together. The Pharisee and the publican who end up in the temple at the same time praying (Luke 18) are a pair who line up with the older and younger sons in the Prodigal parable. Let’s take a look at these characters, and our own hearts. 

You all know the story out of Luke 15. The younger son is the stinker who dismantles the family fortune to get his share early, spends it all on himself and his fast-living friends, but finally sees himself and his own selfishness clearly, repents, and comes home. His compassionate Father is overjoyed and pulls out all the stops on a great celebration. The older brother comes in late, wonders what is going on, and understandably enough, feels left out. What’s going on here is not FAIR. He’s the good guy, the hard-working one who has always served his father, done what’s right. Like the young David, he would maintain, “I have walked in my integrity...” (Psalm 18). He tells his dad, “I have never neglected a command of yours” (15:29). That means he should be rewarded, praised, and fêted, not his scoundrel brother. His point of view makes sense; it’s logical. 

But God’s mercy is not logical. It far outmaneuvers logic, out-circles sin, and brings redemption. That’s what the cross is all about: Mercy triumphs over judgment, Love over “fairness.” Fairness means getting what we deserve–we all go to hell. Mercy means some of us are received into Heaven. 

Because of his limited viewpoint, the older brother plays the judge–he wants to be treated fairly, repaid for his goodness while his brother is punished for his badness. He doesn’t understand that in his worldview the virtue he is lacking is love. Love, another name for God, is what he lacks toward his kid brother. He also doesn’t understand that his brother has changed, been redeemed, is a new man. As Javert judges Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, the older brother judges his brother as a kind of criminal who did not just DO BAD, but IS BAD. (That’s why Jesus said, “Do not judge.” We all label the other person “BAD” when we judge another soul.) 

What I see in the older brother (which is sometimes in me) is that heart of judgment, of criticism; of thinking I’m superior in some way to someone else. This is the same heart, which is in the Pharisee in the temple, reminding God of his many virtuous habits. He is consciously gloating over his moral superiority, complacently focused on his own goodness. His lifestyle looks good, but his heart is self-focused–“Look how righteous my deeds, how white my robes!”–rather than God-focused. He is both blind to his pride and unaware of his wrong thinking. 

In the ignorance of youth, as young wives and conscientious mothers, we can feel, “I’m doing well, aren’t I, Lord?” and receive His smile of “Yes, darling daughter.” He lets us think that way until we get older and more aware of our own fallibility and vulnerability and frailty and downright sin. Then we say, “Oh, Lord, help me–in You is all my strength!” David of Psalm 18 was pretty sure God loved him so much because he was so faithful, had so much integrity. In Psalm 51, however, David doesn’t feel that way any longer. He has seen the lust of his own heart, and knows the only reason God loves him is not that he deserves it, but because God is merciful and forgives repentant sinners. 

The publican or tax collector in the temple realizes his own wretchedness, his utter lack of deserving anything from God. He throws himself on God’s mercy, like the older David, like the younger brother, perhaps like Mary, just listening to Jesus, not thinking to impress Him or earn His praise for her good cooking. 

What are some applications of this for our lives? 

Kathy has taught me a very valuable lesson here. Whenever she is tempted to judge another’s soul for a specific sin she observes, the Holy Spirit has taught her to ask, “Can you match that in my life, Lord? Have I ever acted that way?” She says He has never failed to bring to mind something in her past, an action or thought, that has a connection to the sin she is ready to condemn in another. That prompts her to ask for mercy for the other person, and mercy for her own sin. She moves from the judge to the intercessor, from the older brother, sure of his own goodness (so “good,” but so unloving) to the repentant prodigal, the sorrowful publican, Mary, resting at the Lord’s feet, receiving grace. 

Sometimes I’m tempted not to think well of my husband. “He is not very appreciative. He doesn’t say ‘Thanks!’ much.” Or “He reads a book all evening rather than give me some attention.” When I apply Kathy’s exercise to myself, I am quickly asked by the Holy Spirit, “How appreciative are you to John? How often do you thank him for providing for you, for dates, flowers, dinners out?” Or “How often do you disappear during the evening to do projects or talk to older children, totally oblivious of his feelings?” I find my critical spirit dissolves pretty quickly. 

Here’s another application. In raising our eight children with my husband John I thought that if we followed the Lord and pleased Him in our ways, our children would all turn out “right” and follow Him too. I had the misconception that our “righteousness” would get a certain result: Righteousness In, Blessing Out. My viewpoint has changed over the years. I still believe that in following Him is great blessing. Relationship with Him is our highest good. I would live no other way, but I am so much more aware now that any righteousness we “possess” or love we extend is by His grace, through His power, and because of His great mercy toward us. I knew that all along in my head, but now I know it in my bones. 

I used to think in a very narrow way: if the children run amuck, the parents must have missed something in their upbringing. Now I understand, if the children follow God, God has been merciful to overlook all our shortcomings, bless our attempts, act in that child’s life and enable him or her to come to mature faith, and cover with compassion the future. I praise Him for those of our children “walking in the truth” (III John 1:4). He is increasing my faith for those who stray from Him. I’m learning that the story is not over yet. He is an active God. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done FOR you” (John 15:7). 

So, dear sisters, those of my generation and you amazing next generation wives, let’s not be the older brother. Let’s not compare ourselves to others, and tell God, “That’s not fair!” as Jonah said to Him about forgiving the city of Nineveh. Our universe is not based on fairness. We are not on a scale of relative goodness: “I thank you I am better than...” We are all failures before Him. Only through God’s mercy do any of us make it. God does not rule by fairness, but by a deeper justice that understands the mystery of sin and exercises mercy. 

His last question to Jonah was, “Shall I not have compassion...?” Yes, Lord, our lives depend upon it.

Dear Sisters,

Light and truth are so necessary to a deep and secure relationship. What a blessing it is to have a friend who is honest with us, and with whom we can be our true selves. "If we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another." (1 John 1:7)

God desires such an intimate fellowship with us, and did everything to bring us to Himself. He wants us to trust Him and to know Him with all our emotions, with all our hearts.

The writer of this month's article has been meditating on verses on the heart--and how we can give our hearts more fully to God. She urges us to "pour out our hearts" to the Lord, and experience fellowship with Him and each other. Then Jesus will be seen in all His glory: through our secure love shown in our marriages, our families, and to the needy world.

May God use this article to stir you to love the Lord your God with all your heart.

In Him,

Sandy Hopler

An Open Heart

by Becky Crane, Walnut Creek Community Church, Des Moines, Iowa

February is the month for hearts, and I have been thinking a lot about mine! The Lord has brought together two trains of thought for me--a seminar that I gave on emotions at Faithwalkers and a Bible study on intimacy in marriage--that have been a sweet reminder that God truly desires a safe and intimate relationship with us. In the midst of all we do with family and ministry, He is still keenly and relentlessly focused on our hearts. Here are some observations:

1. Our hearts cannot be trusted. Proverbs 3:5--"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding."

2. Proverbs 28:26-- "He who trusts in His own heart is a fool..." We all know trusting in our own understanding, feelings, perceptions, or intuition can get us in trouble, and we probably all have some painful stories to prove it. Jeremiah 17:9 explains, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?" Like everything else on this planet, sin has affected our hearts and warped our emotions, so that they have become untrustworthy and deceitful.

3. Our hearts are the source of our spiritual life and vitality. Proverbs 4: 23-"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." God knows the condition of our hearts is so crucial to our spiritual health that He wants us to guard them carefully. Like our actions, words, thoughts, and attitudes, our feelings are a key indicator of what is really happening inside us. My friend, Dave, is a security guard for a big insurance company. He patrols the outside and the inside of the building. He must not let any unauthorized person in, but he must also be alert to all sorts of dangers inside the building that would threaten the records stored there. We need to be aware of the spiritual dangers already lurking in our sin-damaged hearts so that we can effectively protect what God has purchased with His own blood.

4. Our hearts are too important to ignore. One common response to the deceitfulness of our hearts is to totally disregard our emotions because they are obviously so unreliable. Unfortunately, I meet regularly with gals who are "breaking down" or "shutting down" emotionally, and have absolutely no idea why! "Stuffing" our feelings is actually the opposite of God's actions; His attention is constantly riveted on our hearts.

- Psalms 44:21 - "Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart."

- 1 Chronicles 28:9 - "... for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every intent of the thoughts."

- Psalms 33:15---"He who fashions the hearts of them all, who understands all their works."

- 1 Samuel 16:7---"...for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

- Jeremiah 17:10 -"I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind..."

- Jeremiah 11:20--"But, O Lord of hosts, who judges righteously, who tries the feelings of the heart."

- Psalms 7:9---"for the righteous God tries the hearts and the minds."

The Hebrew word for "tries" means to investigate, examine, prove or try by trial. What is the purpose of a trial? To examine the evidence, investigate by questioning, and expose the truth. God is Truth. He always operates in Truth and He is always looking for the truth. Psalms. 51:6 says, "You desire truth in my inward parts..."

So the Bible tells us God fashioned our hearts, looks at them, searches them, tests them, and tries them. That means He is investigating, examining, and seeking to expose the truth. If we are trying to ignore our emotions, hide our true feelings, pretend they don't exist, seek to cover them up or sanitize them or make excuses for them, or just be too busy to pay attention to them, are we cooperating with God's attempts to search, know, test, try, and expose the truth? No! We are actually at cross-purposes with God! He is trying to bring them into the light and we are trying to hide them in the dark.

5. We can cooperate with God and invite Him into our hearts. Psalm 139:23-24-"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way." Look at all the words David uses in his prayer that match God's actions toward our hearts! He asks the Lord to bring the searchlights and expose the spiritual reality inside of him. He recognizes that what he thinks and feels cannot be trusted, and he invites God to lead him outwardly by first examining him inwardly.

6. We can cooperate with God and make our hearts known to Him. Proverbs 3:6 says "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." The word translated "acknowledge" in this verse has over 60 possible meanings in the original Hebrew. Many have to do with knowing, understanding, or discovering God. But many also have the idea of "being known," "make to be known," "make oneself known," or "be learned by" God. One meaning of acknowledge is to be a "familiar friend." Wow! Think about that! God is saying, "Girl, I want you to press on, to know Me, but I want you to make yourself known to Me in all your ways-even in the area of your emotions-so we can be familiar friends." This is what real intimacy requires: a relationship where both individuals are actively seeking to know and be known, emotional openness and honesty, and the willingness to risk being vulnerable.

But that risk of being vulnerable is very real. The fear we feel at actually admitting the ugliness of our sinful hearts or experiencing the pain of our emotions, to God, or ourselves makes it easy to keep busy and pretend everything is fine. But He reassures us in 1 John 4:18-"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love." He is not going to punish us for what is in our hearts; all the wrath He has for our sin has already been poured out at the Cross! Rather, He wants us to openly talk to Him about our deepest thoughts and feelings so that He can bring His light and truth to them and we can go deeper in our relationship with Him!

7. We can cooperate with God by pouring out our hearts to Him. God has gone to great lengths to prove His love for us and that He is a safe place for us. Psalms 62:8 -"Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." The word "pour" means, "to cause to flow in a steady stream" and "to make known freely or without reserve." I love how this command is nestled between two truths about God that give us the security we need to be that open and vulnerable. It says, "Trust in Him at all times." We can rely on Him, lean on Him, and have confidence in Him because He can handle whatever we find in our hearts much better than we can. And it says that "God is a refuge for us:" a safe haven of protection. Within these truths we have a safe, secure place in which we can freely, and without reserve, cause our hearts to flow out in a steady stream before Him.

We build momentum for change through relationships. By partnering with people like you – other like-minded organizations and groups – we place a high value on working together towards a common goal: relief for orphans and at-risk children. No one is too young or too old to make a difference.

Check us out online: www.OrphanWorldRelief.org and make an impact in the lives of God’s little ones.

God has blessed our move tremendously. We have met a lot of other Christian leaders in the area and we were able to get a unique house just 2 miles from the campus. We are turning our basement into a college “ministry house” complete with living suites, kitchen and a hang out area. Mostly, we are thrilled to be doing ministry as a family even though our kids “went away to college.”

Dear Sisters,

"Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving." Col. 4:2

We are told by the Apostle Paul to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17). When we pray, we cultivate a heart that loves to be in the presence of Jesus. We come to know in a deeper way the One who is the strength of our heart.

This year, I have been impressed with my need to grow in faith. What better way than to spend time with the One who is our greatest example of dependence on the Father in prayer?

In this month's newsletter, three women give insights and practical tips on the topic of prayer. These words are from women who are examples at spending time in prayer with Jesus. Their common message is this: Expect God to answer your prayers!

Let's learn from their examples and draw closer to Him, Who "is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think." (Eph. 3:20)

In Christ,

Sandy Hopler

What are some practical steps you have taken to strengthen your prayer life?

One of my biggest prayer verses is Jeremiah 32:17 "Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." Reading this reminds me that nothing is too difficult for God.  In my life I have seen God do more work while I am on my knees than when I am busy trying to answer my own prayers.

At the beginning of last year I asked all of my children and the women that I am discipling, to please give me a list of their prayer requests.  I typed the list on a sheet of paper and taped it to the inside cover of my Bible.  I prayed as faithfully as I could. Around October, I looked at the list again and realized that ninety-five percent of the prayers were already answered. God had been so faithful to do the work that only He could do!  I was encouraged once again to pray "God sized" prayers that can only be answered by our heavenly Father.

This year I am putting together my prayer list once again. I was challenged this past Faithwalkers by Jan Gordon's message. She and her family have created a list of seventy people and they commit to praying for ten people from that list each day. So I have my list of seventy. Each morning I enjoy walking for about twenty minutes, which gives me plenty of time to pray for ten people per day.Psalms 5:3 says, "In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch."  I am excited to see each day what God is going to do!

Barbara Wilson

Raleigh, North Carolina

Planning when and where to pray has been very helpful in strengthening my prayer life. I have often thought of the prophet Daniel who routinely prayed to God three times a day. From my understanding, the Jewish culture set up prayer times in the morning, mid-afternoon, and evening. I don't know where or how that started, but I do know that habit and routine definitely help me to pray.   

I am still refining my prayer times, but here are a few times and ways I regularly turn to God in prayer- "Dawn's Top Ten:"

1. First thing in the morning, my husband and I lie in bed and pray together for the coming day.
2. Before breakfast- take a pocket New Testament and walk and pray over a Psalm (in our basement).
3. After breakfast- pray with my husband and son for local and regional requests.
4. Praying over my "verse for the day," my family and other things that God puts on my heart.
5. Bedtime- pray with my husband and son (when he's home).
6. Monday afternoons- each week set aside an afternoon to spend with God "praying" in my journal, praying out loud over the Word, and walking and praying more deeply for my life, my family, and my church. (I do this at a local church or outdoors at a park in nice weather AWAY from home.)
7. Dates with my husband- in all our conversations, prayer is a vital part of our planning, sharing burdens, seeking wisdom, etc.
8. In between- God is always there and always interested to listen. I like to ask for His help and blessing in whatever I'm doing, and also pray for people and events that the Spirit brings to mind.
9. Did I mention the Spirit? I often ask God to lead me by His Spirit when I pray. It is always amazing and VERY encouraging as thoughts and insights come to mind that I know I wouldn't have thought to pray about on "my own".
10. Praying with others- whether through a phone call or in person, I like to pray with others. There is strength and encouragement when two or more gather together and pray. When people share burdens, I like to bow our heads together and "take it to the Lord in prayer." Are joys shared? We thank Jesus together! Conversations are blessed when they are kissed with prayer.

I realize we are at many "stages" and under different circumstances in our lives, but God will always creatively lead you when it comes to praying, giving you your own times and places to connect with Him. After all, He is more passionate about relationship with us than we are!

Dawn Bovenmyer

Ames, IA 

Psalm 5:3 says, "In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch" or "wait in expectation."  It's like putting in my order for my favorite food at a restaurant and waiting eagerly for it to come to my table. I try to, on a daily basis, write a few things down that I really want to see happen. With a colored pencil, I color them green, Herschel Martindale's coloring-the-Bible color for prayer, so that I can easily find these prayer requests for future prayer. I have a Father who delights in answering prayer.

Years ago, I read a book explaining the Lord's Prayer. Each phrase is expounded on with examples for what to pray about for that specific phrase. Starting out the prayer with "Our Father" helps prepare my heart and reminds me that I have a loving Father who desires to be a part of my life. Another phrase, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done..." is where a lot of supplication happens.  I add "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in my life" or "in my husband's life" or "in my children's lives." Learning how to better apply this framework that Jesus gave to His disciples has given my prayer life structure and purpose. If distracted, I start the prayer over and find my place again.

One other thing I have done that has strengthened my prayer life is, at the back of my journal I have listed the days of the week and under each day I have 10 lines. These lines are for prayer for people I meet and want to influence for Christ. I want God to prepare their heart for salvation. That will add up to 70 unsaved people I am praying for over a period of a week. This excites me and gives expectation for the next time I run into that person. I wonder if "today is the day of salvation" for that person and how God may want to use me. I have not filled in all the lines but I continue to meet people and now know how to have a great influence in their lives. I will pray for them.

Jan Gordon

Gainesville, FL

"Now...the people were in a state of expectation..." Luke 3:15

This verse is a motivation to me as I look forward to Faithwalkers.   Christmas is a wonderful time with family, followed by the Faithwalkers conference where we come together with God's people to worship, hear God's word and fellowship together.

The following are some testimonies that I, and other women, have of how Faithwalkers has been used in their lives. My prayer is that God will make the 2011 Faithwalkers a time where you experience God in a new and fresh way.

Blessings to you,

Sandy Hopler

Getting Ready for Faithwalkers

Every year around the middle of December I chide myself: "How have you gotten yourself into so many things? Why do you do this?" Then I state, "Well, next year I don't HAVE to go to Faithwalkers." Then after Christmas, we pack up as much of our family as is available to go and head to North Carolina for Faithwalkers East. I am always so blessed by the teachings, the worship, and the extra time spent in fellowship with people I don't see very often. I love hearing what God is doing in people's lives, basking in God's presence, and watching my own children grow and learn from exposure to some of the godliest people I know (3 John 4). Every year I am so glad I made the decision to go. 

Louise Martin

Columbus, Ohio

I read an article one time by Michael Pearl who wrote about children jumping ship, and why so many kids of Christian parents left home and forsook their faith. He commented how so many Christian parents spend so much time homeschooling, often keeping their kids home and apart from other children their age in order to shelter them from the world. They involve their children in church activities but not much more. Therefore, they are not exposed to the world or to many other people so that when they leave home they do not know how to be a Christian among so many different kinds of people. His analogy was our family is on a ship going downstream. We pass all kinds of other ships with all kinds of other families on them. When our children see what the other families are doing and it looks more exciting than what we are doing, then they will want to jump ship and join in what the other family is doing. So, in order to keep this from happening, Michael Pearl suggested two things. 1) Make sure we are continuing to engage our children in doing worthwhile and eternal things on our ship so they want to stay onboard. 2) From time to time, dock your vessel with the other vessels so that families can interact and enjoy what the other families are doing.

For us, this is one thing we love about Faithwalkers. It gave, and still gives, our boys (now young men) the opportunity to "dock" with other kids their age and enjoy relationships that were established at LT, or other Faithwalkers, or simply by being with the kids of their parents' friends. They get to see that kids their age are doing the same things they are: reaching out, sharing Christ, and enjoying the Lord. It's an opportunity for them to be sharpened by the examples of older men and women and their peers.

I love it that we can all experience the same teachings, meal times, tie downs, etc., but each one comes away with something different because the Lord has met them where they are. And many times, the things they come away with are learned from other kids their own age.

Thank you, dear ladies, for raising godly children that are such positive influences on our young men!!

Barbara Wilson

Raleigh, North Carolina

I would like to take this opportunity to share with you how God did a unique and special work in our family at the Faithwalkers conference in 2003. 

As John and I have raised our children, our hope was always to have them united with us in love for each other, and for the Lord. We knew the greatest gifts we could give them were faith in God, and a mission worthy of their lives. Whatever vocation they eventually would choose, we hoped they would be part of fulfilling the Great Commission. We knew we had to live this out in front of them first. In general, we were thankful for the direction our family was headed. Yet we were looking for the Lord to "show up" in greater ways. Did John and I still have the same burning passion for the things of God, and were we transferring that to our children? Or would we be satisfied with what we were, and "settle" for lives not too dissimilar to the world around us?

It became apparent that God was more concerned about the spiritual state of our family than we could ever be. As we came to the first Faithwalkers conference that December, we couldn't conceive of how much He would bless us. Thirty years (!) ago our lives had been changed radically by joining our Christian community at conferences, where we received God's Word taught by godly men. Now we were able to bring our family to listen to some of the same men- Christian leaders who had continued to faithfully follow Christ. The teachings we heard, and the relationships our children established, had profound effects on us. At the end of the evening teachings, our children mixed with other believers in prayer. God awed us all as the "nextgen" and the older generation became one "generation of those who seek... His face." (Psalm 24:6).

But, God did more amazing things after we arrived back home in Ohio. In Mark 5:42, after Jesus raised their little girl from the dead, it was said of Jairus and his wife that "...they were completely astounded." John and I were astounded with God's goodness and power on our first night back from Missouri. In humble tears, on their knees, our children dedicated their lives more fully to Jesus Christ. It was the most significant time of prayer we have ever had as a family.

Since then, God has continued to work in our children's lives. One example of this was demonstrated when our son David reached out to a young man from school. Eight years later, that young man and David are leading out in ministry. 

For our family, while I am encouraged with what the Lord has done, I realize that there is plenty of room for growth. And for this reason, John and I come to God freshly this December, expecting great things from Him as we go to Faithwalkers as a family.

Sandy Hopler                                                                                                             

Columbus, Ohio 

Dear Sisters,

For a brief time this fall we thought we had our house sold and that we would be moving  before the Christmas holidays. While supporting our desire to move, our grown children all  seemed reluctant to miss one last Christmas "at home." We've experienced so many holiday traditions and memories in this house.

Yet traditions can live and be passed on as we change and grow, and as our children grow and leave our homes. I asked some pastors' wives to share with us those special traditions they enjoyed with their families over the years. I pray these bring a blessing to your homes this holiday season!

Thanking God for you,

Sandy Hopler 

What are some Christmas traditions that have built your family in Christ over the years? 

Our Christmas tradition is both fun and serious at the same time.  Christmas  Eve is devoted to Christ and the Christmas story.  We have a large ceramic  manger scene that we put up high on a shelf.  We then turn off all the lights, except for a flashlight for Berk, who reads the Christmas story.  One of the kids  gets another flashlight, and shines the light on whatever figure(s) are being read about at that time.  However, before the story is even read, as in earlier in the day, this person has collected other things throughout the house that can be"stand-ins" for a character in the Christmas story.  For instance, last year Herod looked a lot like Jack Bauer on the back of the "24" video.  We also sing  appropriate Christmas songs that coincide with where we are in the story - always ending with "Go Tell It on the Mountain," which is Berk's favorite. 

 -Barbara Wilson

In the spirit of Mark 10:45, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many," we have come  up with a couple of Bowen Christmas traditions that we do each year. We deliver plates brimming with homemade Christmas cookies and candies for empty-nest neighbors to enjoy with their loved ones. These gifts, along with other acts of service sprinkled throughout the year, have made a way for us into the lives of our neighbors.

The more recent Christmas tradition we have added comes after the first Christmas Eve service at church. The children and I return home to ready an appetizer dinner to be enjoyed by the family when Mark gets home from the final Christmas Eve service.

--Judi Bowen

Our children had a large collection of Lego's so we often built things that had to  do with the holiday. One year it was a Lego Mayflower.  We then were able to recreate the story of the Pilgrims. Most years, we built a stable for Christmas. In the beginning we just used Duplo Lego's, but as the years progressed the stables became more complex. Then we would read or tell the Christmas story.  Eventually we purchased small figures of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus although we could have constructed those too.

--Virginia Biang

With a big family we cannot afford to give expensive gifts, so the emphasis is on being together and enjoying the season together. The Nativity scene is a focus of our decorations.We often shared our Christmas day with others outside of our own physical family.  As you can imagine, the people who don't have a place to spend Christmas tend to be those who are a bit needy, such as single moms, soldiers, and international students. We always have big meals and we always have all of our meals at one table-- even if the table is 35 feet long and snakes around a couple of rooms!

Getting ready for Faithwalkers is now part of our holiday traditions. Rick's PowerPoint for his teaching has been a family team project at that time. And then we go for some kind of long, crazy hike--grandparents, little babies, whether it's snowing or just cold. We walk.

-Neva Whitney

One Christmas tradition that I especially enjoyed when our children were small  was something I would do when Dennis had to be gone for the evening. We would turn off all the lights and sit near the lighted Christmas tree. After singing a few carols, we would talk about all the ways our decorated tree could be a visual reminder to us of God and His goodness to us. Some ideas were, the tree: God's creation; decorations: reminders of God's beautiful blessings; tinsel: the glories of heaven awaiting us.

A second tradition is our "Gifts to God." We begin individually thinking and praying about what the Lord is putting on our heart to 'give Him' as the holiday approaches. Each one writes his gift on a card and puts it in our gift box along with the others. One of the last things we do together around the tree on Christmas Eve is to open the box, handing out the cards, reading them aloud one by one.

-Thelma Clark

It warms my heart every time I think of our tradition to put up our tree REALLY early! Yes, it is usually the beginning of November-but at times has been the later part of October. We do this because December always seems so busy with not much family time to just sit back and talk about life. In a world of hustle and bustle, we feel very at rest in our living room with the gentle lights of the tree, fireplace and a warm cup of cocoa or cider and sharing our lives with one another. I will never forget these times!

 -Cindy Sokoll 

What stands out so much in my mind regarding Christmas and tradition is family. We begin our Christmas celebration the day after Thanksgiving. It has become a tradition that the whole family comes together that Friday, heads to the Christmas tree farm and cuts down the perfect tree. We then haul our trees back to our houses and begin the decorations.

-Kathleen Williams

Christmas Eve has meant attending our church's evening service, where we celebrate and remember the BEST Christmas gift- Jesus. After the service, we head home for eggnog, Christmas cookies, and caroling. Since we are a family of musicians, we gather around the tree (with a crackling fire in the fireplace) and sing carols accompanied by our many instruments...definitely a Norman Rockwell moment.

-Dawn Bovenmyer

My family had a lot of Christmas traditions growing up, and I've chosen to continue them in our family. One thing we've done is read special stories by candlelight over the Christmas season. This came from my parents' tradition of reading together during Advent.  It didn't happen every night, but when the kids were younger, we would buy anthologies of Christian Christmas storiesand read them together at bedtime. We also would read the Christmas story from Luke. These stories helped focus us on meaningful things at Christmas, and gave us a special family time.

There have always been lots of service opportunities during the Christmas season, and we've done Christmas shoe-boxes together with grandparents, and also delivered gifts to families in need in our own area. These things have been very meaningful to our family over the years. Building traditions has really helped us focus on Christ and others, while giving us meaningful family time that has bonded us together.

 -Karen Haring

Our family loves to eat together, and we always ate Chinese food on Christmas Eve after the services (where we served as a whole family), or before the midnight service (when we had one). Giving the gift of the Faithwalkers conference to our kids has become a tradition. I design a "coupon," wrap it, and put it under the tree.

 -Louise Martin

Every year we carefully unpack our nativity scene and place it in a central location of the house along with our other Christmas decor that recognizes Jesus as the coming king like "Wise men still seek Him."  When the kids were young we would read the account of Jesus coming to the world from the gospels and let them act out the story simultaneously with the figurines.  It was fun and lively! And when people come to our house, they see what our Christmas means to us.

 Our traditions have grown in the last four years to include "The Outsider Christmas: Away in a Manger!" This is Open Range Fellowship's primary outreach each year to the community and our whole family participates in this drama with a live nativity scene with live animals. I suppose I would say that our tradition is to make the most of every opportunity at hand in seeing other people come to know Jesus Christ!

-Terry Putthoff

Dear Sisters,

This month we are discussing the "empty-nest" phase of life. When our children grow and leave the home, it can be a soul-searching time. In the following articles, several wives share their experiences and thoughts on how to get through this transition with faith, joy, and a greater understanding of who we are in Christ.

Although for some of you this topic seems light-years away from your present mothering experience, I trust that this will be a blessing to everyone. I read a book on the empty nest two years before I sent off my last child to college. At that time it didn't affect me much one way or another. I thought, "What's the big deal?" Now that Paul, our youngest of eight, has moved in with his two older brothers nearer to campus, I really "get" what the big deal is all about!

I hope you find grace and encouragement here whenever you find yourself in your own empty-nest "time of need."

Much grace to you,

Sandy Hopler

What has helped you in your transition into the "empty-nest" phase of life?

I officially "retired" a year ago this fall. Our youngest son of seven graduated and enrolled in community college, so this seasoned "home-school marm" put away the books, red pens, calculator, and school supplies, and shut her school room closet for nine months. I needed time to let life settle before truly cleaning things out.

I didn't rush out and jump into dozens of new activities or land a part-time job. Instead, I opted to relax and catch my breath after over thirty years of managing a crew of kids. Even though I had been slowly transitioning as each of our children grew up and left home, it was still kind of like grieving. I didn't want to make any major changes after the "loss" of my long-held position of "mother in residence."

What I DID do was seek the Lord. I tried to spend longer times alone with Him, soaking up the Word, praying about all of my GROWN kids and grandkids and my dear husband, and seeking His direction for my future days.

As the months passed, God confirmed what I long suspected. Empty nest years offer amazing opportunities to explore and expand what God has already "hinted at" during those busy and consuming years of mothering. For me it has proven to be a beautiful and natural transition, as many of those interests and serving areas that I've dabbled in for years are developing into passionate and effective areas of ministry.

Most importantly, I have seen that the main priorities of my life haven't changed. Partnering with my husband has never been so fun. Entertaining in our home, reaching out to neighbors, doing projects, and serving together in our church's care ministry are all things I have done for years with Dave, but I now have more time to devote myself to them and with God's help, hone my skills.

Caring for my kids continues, just in different scenarios. Because I don't have a job, I am more available to visit and serve them, babysit grandkids, help them with projects, and even attend the births of my grandchildren!

As you can see, empty-nesting hasn't been so much a major shift or change, abruptly changing course in my life. Rather it has been just an ever-deepening, joyful continuum of what I've given my life to the past many years: loving and serving my King, my husband, my family, and my church.

---Dawn Bovenmyer

So much of what a wife can give herself to when her time is freed up from raising children depends largely on her individual gifting, but also her husband's desires for how she should devote her time. This can vary couple to couple. Some women may want to finish their degree now that they have more time, or take on a long-desired hobby. The Lord may open up foreign mission work opportunities for the husband and wife together. But it's important for a wife to keep a strong role in the home, and to have the husband's approval of her desires and plans.

My own husband wanted me to be less a partner in his work as much as a "refuge" in the home where he could be eager to come for rest from work. Therefore I was now more available, for example, when Herschel wanted to bring guests into our home with very little notice. I was a help to him in his work in a local university church, when I used my gifts and experience to volunteer-teach cooking classes to Korean students, helping them with their English and sharing the gospel with them. We enjoyed having three young men who were growing in the Lord living with us at one time. I felt like a mother to so many of these young people we became involved with after our own children were grown and living away from us.

Now in our 80's, Herschel and I are very near our own family again, living with them in fact. I have been able to help our children with their families, even to help home-school some grandchildren! Our children still seek out and value our input. Your own influence with your children will certainly continue. You never stop being a mother!

 ---Mardean Martindale

"Empty-nesters"-WOW-never thought we would be there!

So, when we were young and had a couple of kids, Pat asked me if we could go on dates and not talk about the kids. I looked at him like he was crazy because I felt the children would be our life-ALWAYS! It was so difficult! Well, thirty years later, we are together and have a history of investing in our younger years, cultivating a friendship and romance that brought us to this point of embracing and celebrating US!

Don't hear me say, "We couldn't wait for our kids to be gone." But the truth is, they grow up and move on in their lives and we take a support role. Yet Pat and I still remain together. I am SO thankful Pat had the "look ahead " vision for our relationship, to ask us to be intentional about being a couple even in the midst of raising our wonderful children.

Jesus always kept His passion for His church. If my marriage is to be a picture of Christ and the church, then my attention should be devoted to being passionately in love with the man with whom God has blessed me.

---Cindy Sokoll

A few years ago, when I realized I was approaching the "empty-nest" years, I started praying that the Lord would prepare me for this new phase of life. I was beginning to look forward to doing some of the things that I had been putting off doing all the years when I was busy with the kids. There would be lots of opportunities ahead, but God began revealing to me that I had many fears about the future.  

First of all, I knew that my husband Tom, a campus preacher, was hoping that I would travel with him more. I had some fears related to that.  It has definitely been out of my comfort zone to travel, and I had to confront my fear of witnessing, of being around people I don't know very well, and my fear of not living up to others' expectations. 

Secondly, I realized that over the years, I had tended to use my kids as an excuse for not doing things that felt uncomfortable. I found that my home was becoming a retreat where I could "be safe." Living in fear is not the way God would want anyone to live. Fear keeps us from blessing others and loving others. 

I pictured Jesus standing at an open door, and waiting for me to walk through it - away from all these fears.  And I remember actually telling Him, "Lord, if You take my hand and walk with me through this door, I will." As I began to trust Him with these fears, I started changing.  I began reaching out to my neighbors more, traveling a little more with Tom, and letting God love others through me. 

I'll give you an example of how God began working in me.  One morning soon after this, I saw my next-door neighbor outside, cleaning off her driveway.  Instead of staying inside my house, looking out and wondering about her, I initiated.  I told her that I thought it was nice that she could take the day off work, but she said that she had been let go.   After listening to her and seeing that she was upset, I asked if I could pray for her. She later told me that she expected me to just go home and pray, and it surprised her when I asked if I could pray for her right then.  So right there in her driveway I prayed for her, and then we talked a little further.  It was such a simple thing, but it meant so much to her.  We began praying together daily after that, and then we started reading the Bible together regularly.  We have become close friends, and I have seen the Lord touch her heart and meet some very deep needs in her life. She has been so appreciative - God showed me that a very simple act of kindness can have such a tremendous effect on someone. What did it take?  For me, it was walking with Jesus "through that door" and away from my fears.  By the way, I have since volunteered to be the official "greeter" for our neighborhood association! 

God wanted to set me free to serve Him in these empty-nest years, and as I continue to walk with Him, I find that He is opening up lots of opportunities to love, serve and witness! I can honestly say that I am "smiling at the future."  And I hope that in the years ahead, as it says in Psalm 92:14, "even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green!"

---Roz Short

Dear Sisters,

Nothing can compare with the joy of leading someone to Jesus Christ. To share the gospel and to see a person pass from death to life--Wow! What a thrill!

For years I have shared the gospel with my sister, praying that she would come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Recently she has responded to the message of grace and has begun attending Bible studies at a gospel-preaching church in her area. We discuss God's Word together and find ourselves encouraging each other's faith. My physical sister is now my sister in the Lord!

I think you will really enjoy the following articles by these ladies. These testimonies will whet your appetite to be involved in the greatest work of all-proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. May the Lord fulfill His Word through us: "The Lord gives the command; the women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host" (Psalm 68:11).

In Christ,

Sandy Hopler

What are some practical steps you have taken to reach out to the lost?

One of my most recent and fruitful steps in reaching out to the lost was responding to a Facebook post by a neighbor. She was going through a personally painful time, sharing details through her Facebook page. God moved me to respond to her, offering to be someone she could talk with, and be a help to her on her personal spiritual journey. She replied "yes" to me that same day.

My neighbor came over for coffee, and we talked for three hours. She also attended church with me that weekend, and we began the Bible study together, Begin In Christ. She brought her family to church the following Sunday, including her ex-husband and children.

The Bible study has been amazing. We went through the gospel of Christ thoroughly. Doing so unearthed so much: her family history, faith history, and her present set of difficult circumstances. I couldn't tell if she was truly saved, but she felt she was a believer and going to Heaven. I decided she had trouble 'believing' her position in Christ.

Long story short, two months later, when we got to the verse in Revelation 3:20 about Jesus standing at the door and knocking, saying "Open the door," my new friend stated, "God has told me to open the door to Him. I have been keeping Him at arm's length. I need to invite Him in." So there, at my kitchen table, she prayed and accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior!

It's been the most awesome experience. I've told people, "Everyone needs a friend like this in their lives, to take through a Bible study and see them get saved, and see them so hungry for God and responsive to the truth." And I also believe everyone needs to take someone through the Begin In Christ series of studies. It's so thorough.

So, from now on, instead of just reading through a tract with someone, I'm going to ask people if they'd like to do a Bible study. First Corinthians 3:6 says, "My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow." I have had the privilege and pleasure of seeing God work in someone's life, and save them, right before my very eyes. "He is the one (indeed!) Who makes the seed grow" (1 Corinthians 3:7).

Ask God to give you a friend like this! Your life, and their life, will never be the same.

--Mary Knox

As a pastor's wife, who raised a big family of seven kids, I often was on the "sidelines," so to speak, when it came to sharing my faith. I was busy with my little disciples. As our children got older, we worked to equip and train them in evangelism, but I was in my home. The kids reached out to their friends at school, and we had other families in our home a lot, saved and lost.

But I didn't get a lot of personal, one-on-one time to share the gospel.

Three and a half years ago, Rick and I left Colorado and moved to Manhattan, Kansas, on a small church plant. I looked at our small team and realized that I would have to do my part in inviting people to church and talking about Jesus.

I was surprised, shocked, and humbled to see God use me and bring people to church. I had two gals pray to receive Christ when we read through a gospel tract.

Our church has now grown and God has raised up several people who want to help reach our world.

For the first time ever, I took the Outreach Class this past summer. It was a big commitment and took a lot of time and effort over ten weeks.

I read, studied, did homework, and memorized-all summer long.

I missed several classes during the summer due to different trips, but I traveled with my notebook and studied while in Indianapolis at a conference, in Pella at a niece's wedding, in Salt Lake City meeting a new grandson, then in Denver helping with another new grandson, on a road trip to Wisconsin with my mom and sisters, and finally in Seattle on a church visit with my husband (not counting several day trips to Omaha).

I passed the final, just barely, but I passed!

Since then, I have had several opportunities to go through the Bridge Diagram with different gals, and I look forward to more opportunities.

So, my practical tips on how to reach the lost?

- Step out of your comfort zone.

- Study to give yourself some confidence.

- Open your mouth and believe God to use you.

--Neva Whitney

Since my husband pastors a campus church, where my daughter attends, and I have a son who dual enrolls at a community college, I have taken advantage of the opportunities these settings hold to reach out. Over the years I have taken the Outreach Class, a 15-week class using Ron Tewson's Outreach Manual, quite a few times to try to sharpen my tools for effective evangelism. We have had each of our kids also go through the program, sometimes starting as young as 4th grade, helping them to memorize the accompanying scripture and learn the Bridge Diagram.

During the school year, I have purposed to go to either to the community college or the university once a week for an hour to share the gospel. I usually take one or more of my kids, and meet up with my son and daughter, as well as some others. Typically, we use a questionnaire to engage in a conversation.

This determination to get up and go to campus has been such a blessing in developing a heart for the lost, not only in my life, but my children's lives too. God has whetted their appetite to be fishers of men and kept mine eager.

--Jan Gordon

Reaching the lost has been something I have been committed to for many years, but equally something that I have been "hit and miss" on. After a Faithwalkers conference two years ago I was freshly challenged to make the most of opportunities with unbelievers. This has resulted in two major changes.

First, I have made it a practice now to carry tracts in my purse. I have them in a pocket next to my wallet. When I'm at a store, garage sale, or "wherever" paying for my purchase or interacting with others, I offer a tract saying something like, "I'd like to give you one of these. It tells how you can know for certain where you are headed when you die. It's something great to know." Being cheerful, showing interest in that person, and smiling only reinforce the message that I am offering them.

The other practice that powerfully goes along with this is prayer. Before going into a store or to an event, I often pray that God leads me in my conversations with those I bump into. Also, after offering a tract and leaving that person, I try to pray for them...that they would read the tract, that the Spirit would speak powerfully to them, and draw them to be born-again.

My husband and I have tried to implement these strategies as we go through our days...whether traveling via the airlines, eating out at restaurants, or simply living in our neighborhood. We have invited neighbors over for meals, and had great opportunities to share the gospel or at least leave a tract with them during our visit. Praying for neighbors is also a powerful way to eternally influence their lives.

The most surprising thing has been the responses that I have received. Very seldom has anyone been surly or rude with me. Instead, I have found people to be very interested, or at least willing to take the tract and even talk about spiritual things. This has certainly made it easier to be bold with the gospel, and with the Spirit's help, I'll just keep growing and learning more and more how to be a better-equipped ambassador for Jesus.

-- Dawn Bovenmyer

 Dear Sisters,

When we met, my husband and I were completely unfamiliar with each other's families. Although we were both from Cleveland, Ohio, we didn't meet until we got saved through a church in a different city than our families. But as we got to know one another, some of our first conversations together were about our parents and siblings.

Whether you have been married for several decades or completely new to life with the in-laws, you know how important your relationships are with the family of your spouse. The fact that your spouse is a pastor gives added weight to the significance of the quality of those relationships, as there is such a desire to affect our loved ones for Christ.

Two wives give us their help and perspectives on loving and serving the families they married into. Whether we have had great experiences with our in-laws, or struggled with differences or conflicts, there is always God's grace to help us this day. May we continue to trust in the Lord to bring His light and love into our family times!

Love,

Sandy Hopler

How has God helped you overcome challenges in coming into your husband's family?

Understanding a New Family Culture

I have been privileged to have my mother-in-law living in an apartment that is connected to our house for the last 15 years. She has, so far, been in pretty good health so she is relatively independent, even after voluntarily giving up her driver's license a few years ago.

For me, the most helpful thing in my relationship with her has been "understanding." When we were first married, it was sometimes difficult to visit my husband's parents because their "rules" were so different than I was used to. Every time we went, I armed myself with the verses from Colossians 3:12-13, "So as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another and forgiving each other."

The more I interacted with Chris' family members, the easier it became to accept them. "A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of understanding draws it out" Proverbs 20:5. So I decided to ask questions:

What were your parents like?Where did you grow up?What was it like to be in that neighborhood?What were your experiences like with your own in-laws?What was your greatest joy?What was the most difficult thing you did?Etc. etc.

As I learned about them I gained a lot of insight into the reasons and motivations behind many of their behaviors. Every family has a "culture" and an established way of doing things. Understanding the reasons why has helped me to accept and adapt.

Virginia Biang

West Lafayette, Indiana

In-Law Desert

For both my husband Pat and myself, our in-law journey has been an uphill walk. Each of us for different reasons, were not well received by the other's family. Our path needed to be one of faith and not of sight.

Our relational difficulties were certainly provoked and incubated in our lost condition. We had formed certain habits prior to faith that made our witness harder to believe and caused suspicions of our genuineness. We had quite radical spiritual conversions and following Jesus led to some abrupt life style changes. I started my relationship with my in-laws, at least the females, in a deep hole and lost ground quickly. It seemed that I could not replace the "one" they had chosen for Pat. As a consequence, I would describe life with my in-laws to be very strained and distant. There was much harsh and unkind treatment from them whenever we were together at family gatherings. Most of the family has since apologized for this treatment.

I think there are three significant principles that still help and enable us to endure and even prosper as a couple in a relatively hostile environment. The first principle was "leave and cleave" (Genesis 2:24). A significant part of my ability to practice the other two principles was the fact that Pat aggressively defended me to his family. He made it clear that we were now the primary relationship, one flesh, and nothing would separate us. This was hard to understand for a family that positioned the in-laws on the outside of family pictures, in case someone got divorced! Pat's stand gave me great confidence to endure the challenges.

The second principle that helped us prosper was the promise "blessed are the peace makers" (Matthew 5:9). God is really pleased by those who seek peace as more important than their "rights." This was a promise that gave me strength in many tense and hurtful situations. Regardless of how I was treated, I could seek peace and pursue it and know that God was pleased and would also bless!

The third principle is "overcome evil with good" (Rom 12:21). What a blessing to walk in the assurance that good will always triumph over evil. Always, every time, in His time, good will win! Certainly our faith was severely tested. But God has proven His word over and over in this area. Eventually people break themselves against the goodness of God.

As I write today, God is making a way for more extended family relationships to be built on His Word and not my personality and charm! Still some are very challenging and we are trusting God for those.

I hope there are not many wives with a story like mine. But even if the challenges were far worse for you, God's faithfulness has convinced me of the truths that will grant a way of peace through very challenging relationships.

This experience has surely shaped our idea of being IN-LAWS of our children's spouses! And we love and are thankful for those that God has given so far!

Serving Christ Together,

Cindy Sokoll

Loveland, Colorado

Dear Sisters,

What a joy and privilege it is to be a mom, and what a great responsibility is entrusted to mothers, too. I will always remember the rush I felt when, after the hospital birth of my first child, my roommate announced to me "Now you are somebody's mother!"

Thankfully, God knows we need to operate by more than feelings as we love, nourish, and train our children. It's just not possible without His "training manual," God's Word.

Five seasoned and godly mothers share their favorite Bible verses that have guided them and their husbands through raising their children. As I read their thoughts, I am freshly inspired to be faithfully in the Word and to share it with my family. Then it will not be my efforts but His grace that will change us more and more into His image!

In His grace,

Sandy Hopler

What verse has helped you the most in being a mother to your children - and why?

The greatest Mom verse of all time is:

"And I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less?" 2 Corinthians 12:15

Spend and be expended - that pretty much says it all. Moms lay down their life day after day, night after night, week after week, and year after year. They do this for decades. It's hard work. Yes, there are rewards. But the work is hard, nonstop and relentless.

The verse says "gladly" spend and be expended. That always was a 'check' to my spirit. I did not always succeed, but I sure tried. I felt it was my responsibility to smile, as that's what God always wanted from me. Being a mom is not just a duty; it's a privilege. Being a mom is a work that can only be done well, if it is done with joy.

As wives and moms, we cannot fall into this world's way of complaining about the time children take or the interruptions and inconveniences they can cause. We tend to hear so much complaining! Our children are our God-given disciples and they will define most of our daily schedule and when all is said and done - our life's work!

A joyful mother should set the atmosphere in the home, even when sleep-deprived or buried under a pile of laundry and bathroom messes.

Being a mom is such a God-given privilege. Our children are a blessing and a gift - from God's own hand.

- Neva Whitney

I have to say that it took much more than "a" verse to have, to raise, to train, and to love children through the years. But HOW faithful God was/is to daily meet my needs in this area. Now there are thousands of verses, and consequently, lots of dying to self, transforming work, and joy. The following few verses have been like anchors of encouragement and strengthening to my soul. Even though this isn't the place to dwell on all the ways they've ministered to me, God will use them mightily for any who will "chew" on them.

To begin with, of course, was the realization of what God really said about children - they are a gift from the Lord, a reward from Him. Choosing His perspective was huge.

The Lord then used something Mardean Martindale told me, to give a whole new, eternal perspective on raising children: "Our children belong to the Lord; they are His. It's as if He comes to us and says, 'I have a precious person to raise, and I'd like to place him/her in your family so that you can do this for Me over the next 18 years or so. Give it your very best as you do this for Me.'"

It was exciting to realize that one of my life purposes in Col. 1:28-29 would now include my children: "We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me." How motivating!

John 12:24: "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." I didn't need to try to keep "holding on to my life." What a promise when I felt like I was kind of disappearing. But THIS is what we've wanted: multiplication.

Isa. 58:10-11: (Again, what a promise when I felt 'poured out.' Notice who is benefitted, and by Whom.) "And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."

I Tim. 2:15: (This may not be the exact theological interpretation, but God definitely uses it to keep setting me straight.) "But women will be saved through childbearing--if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with propriety." Through all the hours and days of childrearing, the endless tasks and emotional strains, will I CONTINUE in faith, trusting that God is involved in my moments, allowing them for my good, and a very present help as I look to Him? Would I CONTINUE in love...doing what's best for them and my husband, not holding on to my own life- learning how best to build and train them? Would I CONTINUE in holiness, not giving in to sins of anger or fear or anything else...and repent and make it right if I did? This helped me to remember that raising children was part of God's "training of me."

- Thelma Clark

When Dave and I first began having children I remember my aunt reminding me that our kiddos really belonged to God and that we were just their perfectly appointed guardians. What a great thought: our family is God's flock and He is our Shepherd.

As Shepherd, He ultimately does the tending. He knows and understands my kids like no one else, and through His Spirit, wrestles with their hearts. He loves them more intensely than I even will, and pursues them with a passion.

He uses my parenting-strengths and weaknesses-to accomplish His purposes in their lives, and I love this, He gently leads me as their mom. I can be hard on myself, often putting my efforts down, yet God lovingly offers me grace, patience, and forgiveness, flawlessly balanced with a firm, guiding hand. He's their shepherd AND mine, because we all need His care under His ever-watchful eye.

- Dawn Bovenmyer

Looking well to the "ways" of our household takes time and effort. It involves praying for our children and evaluating with our husband what God wants us to help our children grow in, and setting some goals for them. About twice a year I write down each of my children's names and ask God what he or she needs to grow in. Often, my husband and I then discuss these and I ask for his suggestions, and I purpose to watch for these "ways."

"Not eating the bread of idleness", to me, means training and disciplining my children toward these goals. It means being alert, "looking" to what standards my husband and I have discussed, and purposing to help my children. It means going to his room and checking on what he is doing and maybe redirecting him so that what he is doing is more purposeful. It means asking them about what they read in their quiet times, so that they are being held accountable. It means involving yourself in their quarrel, when they are not pursuing peace. It is easy to overlook sins in our children, especially when it is inconvenient...or could the overlooking be a symptom of idleness? We are all tempted to miss some of these things and not be consistent. I am challenged with this.

I try to look at consistency in the same way as going through childbirth. If I take advantage of each labor pain, allowing each contraction to do its work fully, it may mean one less labor pain toward birth. And with our children, the labor pains are disobediences. If I take advantage of training my child during this act of disobedience, bringing him or her to full submission, it may be one less spank (or more) when he gets older, for he has learned to obey the first time.

- Jan Gordon

"Pray without ceasing, pray all the time, pray perseveringly, pray continually, never stop praying" are all versions of the same verse.

Thelma Clark's words ring in my memory often: "Turn your thoughts into prayers." We rarely stop thinking of our kids, true?

So turn those thoughts into prayers. Just like we should impress the Word on our children, we should be praying for them: "...when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" Deuteronomy 6:7.

Enjoy the time of praying for your children. It may be one of the most wonderful things you can do for them!

- Mary Knox

Our question this month focuses on the wife's role of "helper" to her husband, and how God's Word is her support in that role.

"Then the LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him'" (Genesis 2:18).

My husband has often pointed out to me that the best test of whether your service and efforts are helping someone is if that person desires that help, and feels helped. It has taken time and humbling for me as a wife and mother to believe this truth! It reminds me of a Family Circus cartoon in which the kids tell Dad, while pulling on their sweaters, "Mommy's cold." We can often take our own needs and project them on others. Am I truly a student of my husband's needs and desires? Or am I pursuing my own agenda?

One wife responded to our question this month with this comment: "I knew his desires and goals for our family and put forth my time and best efforts to help make them reality." The wives in our churches have been this kind of godly example to me through the years, and I am so very thankful for you all!

Blessings,

Sandy Hopler

What verse has helped you the most in your being a helper to your husband--and why?

Ephesians 5:22

As I pondered this verse, I realized that one phrase has helped me most in being a helper to my husband: "Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:22).

Whether it's embracing God's purpose of being a helper and companion to my husband, and bringing Him good every day of my life­-or whether it's following His commands to wives-the bottom line is my heart toward God and being pleasing and yielded to Him. It's all about my relationship to God, and He will be the one to reward me accordingly.

This truth has carried me, and continues to carry me, through the difficult times. Hard discussions are resolved when I realize that even if I might be right, my anger and frustration are wrong before the Lord. Just acknowledging that to God as I strive to please Him makes all the difference. It is like the story of Pilate's wife who heard in a vision that Jesus was a righteous man who shouldn't be killed. She was "right", but knowing that God's redemptive plan was accomplished through the "wrong" decision of her husband reminds me that I'm only responsible for what He asks of me, submitting "as to the Lord." I can leave to my husband his responsibility before the Lord to be the head. --Thelma Clark

Proverbs 3:5-6

I've been learning recently the value of being more sensitive and attentive to God's voice in my life every day.

The verses in Proverbs 3:5-6 have taken on a new significance-"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (NASB). This applies especially to those moments when I sense His gentle nudges to lead me through my husband's requests or suggestions.

In these "nudge" moments, I can choose to trust God and recognize His appointed authority in the person of my husband, Mark. Instead of letting my excuses manipulate him or allowing my fears or stubbornness get in the way, I can fit in with Mark's plans and promptings. That way I'll hopefully be opening up, through faith, more opportunities for God to bless and enrich our marriage in His wonderful ways, big or small. I'll have more chances to express my gratitude for the Lord's divine direction in my life by saying once again, "Thank you Lord for leading me." --Kathy Darling

Genesis 1:18

The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him" (Genesis 2:18, NIV).

I've often been asked through the years, "What do you do?" Though my response has usually been, "I'm a homemaker," or "I home-school my kids," I wonder if I shouldn't rather have answered, "I'm my husband's helper," for that is truly my highest calling as a wife.

Helping your man is played out in so many ways, fitting uniquely to each individual marriage relationship. For me, helping Dave has meant buying groceries and faithfully serving healthy meals day after day for 36 years. Each time I put clean socks in his drawer, iron a shirt, pack a lunch, run an errand, or varnish a window, I am thankful that I can serve him and free him up to be about other things.

Caring for our kids over the years has been all about helping my man. I knew his desires and goals for our family, and put forth my time and best efforts to help make them a reality. From potty training to schooling, arranging swim lessons, piano lessons, and Tae Kwon Do...I've been his right hand assistant in raising our kids.

Caring for our home, offering hospitality to guests, and most of all welcoming my hubby home each day are great ways that refresh and encourage Dave and say, "I'm so glad I can lovingly come alongside and help you."

What I do may not seem all that important to outsiders looking at my life, but I know that I hold a privileged position as helper to my husband. And I know that God is pleased that I take Him seriously with His high calling for my life. --Dawn Bovenmyer

In the three years since its planting, the people of River Ridge have boldly reached into their neighborhoods, and God has blessed that faithfulness with lives being changed by the Gospel and people being baptized. In January, the church began having two services to serve the growing number of families who had begun attending River Ridge. The Teays Valley campus is actively pursuing property in the Teays Valley area in order to reach this community for many years to come. As God continues to widen the geographic influence of River Ridge into surrounding communities, the pastors are always seeking to identify leaders for a future church plant. Check out River Ridge Church, Teays Valley, West Virginia: www.riverridge.org.

Dear Sisters,

Do you have a favorite verse? Is there a portion of Scripture or a particular truth from God's Word that you come to often, particularly during times of stress or trouble?

When feeling helpless or needy, I have found myself many times repeating Romans 10:13, "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved." The simplicity of His promise is so true. After I pray out loud, "Jesus, save me!" His help and grace have always come to me in some way.

Four pastors' wives share with us the verses that have encouraged them in the Lord. As the verse in the front foreword of my Bible states, "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8). What a privilege to have God's Word so available to us, to comfort and guide! Women-let's get in the Word!

With you,

Sandy Hopler

What verse has encouraged you the most in your walk with God-and why?

Genesis 12:10-20, 20:5

Many verses have encouraged me, but as a pastor's wife, I think a story has encouraged me more than a verse. I shared this at the southeast pastors' wives time because I think it is so important to keep in mind.

When Abram and Sarai went to Egypt, Abram was afraid for his life. He believed the Egyptians would kill him on account of his beautiful wife, so he told Sarai to "lie" and tell the Egyptians she was his sister. Abram seemed to be looking out for himself and not trusting God. But the Bible never says Sarai disagreed with Abram's request or didn't follow it. What a bad decision Abram seemed to make. But God protected Sarai and never let any harm come to her. In fact, when they left Egypt, they left with much more than they came with. God took a bad situation, protected the couple, and blessed them in the end.

As a pastor's wife, there will be many times that you may think your husband is making a bad or unwise decision, whether it is within your family or the church. If appropriate, a respectful appeal is wise, but there will be times when the right thing to do is keep your mouth shut and know that as you follow your husband you are being protected and blessed by God. Your husband has been named a pastor because other men of character who may have walked with the Lord longer have sought the Lord about naming your husband a pastor. It is not a decision made lightly. Your husband is a man of character who is seeking to love the Lord, you, your children, and the saints wholeheartedly. Trust the Lord in this!

-Barbara Wilson

Cary, North Carolina

Psalm 139:1

I have many "favorite" verses, but Psalm 139:1 has been my all-time bedrock, "go-to" verse. It says, "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me." I love it! Now to some people the thought of God searching them can be intimidating, but I have learned over the years that God's "searching" is a good thing. When something is searched out, there are no hidden pieces of information. You understand every angle and are well acquainted with the subject. It implies intimacy and closeness. Someone interested enough to get the teensy-weensy details, wants to "be there," up-close and personal. I am comforted and warmed every time I read Psalm 139:1, as it reminds me that my loving Heavenly Father passionately knows and understands me, unlike any other (including myself!). No matter where I am, or what my situation, He continually studies me, all for the purpose of drawing close and blessing and meeting my needs.

-Dawn Bovenmyer

Ames, Iowa

Three Top Verses

Now this is a very broad question. The whole Bible, right? One verse? Come on! I guess I'll narrow it down to three verses. The verses that I share the most with people:

1. "Walk before Me and be blameless." (Don't be a people-pleaser) Genesis 17: 1 NASB
2. "The nearness of the Lord is my good." Psalm 73: 28 NASB
3. "God is good and what He does is good." Psalm 119:68 NIV

-Mary Knox

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Luke 1:45

A verse that has encouraged me over the years is Luke 1:45, "And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord." This verse says to me that the promises spoken by God are there for us to believe and to observe the fulfillment of them. They are steadfast, trustworthy, and worthy of our focus. A heart of faith, ready to believe and see God do His work, will be rewarded (Hebrews 11:6). Fear and doubt will not be rewarded.

We must have our focus be on Him and His promises. We all desire our children to follow the Lord and, with 11 children, I have held fast to this verse when my heart wants to fear. I believe that God wants to uniquely use each of my children and I can confidently trust Him in this, for this is His heart also. One by one I am claiming that God will capture his/her heart for Himself. Within the last two months, five of my children have been a part of a gospel presentation and brought someone to come to know the Lord. He is faithful and will fulfill. To God be all the glory!

-Jan Gordon
Gainesville, Florida

Dear Sisters,

Spring brings new beginnings-and so we begin a new series, "Questions for Pastors' Wives."

We've all wished at times we could sit down with another wife to discuss a tough issue, or find out how someone else handled a situation we've never encountered before. Even better, imagine the chance of being in a room with six godly, wise women, and they're ready and willing to talk about their experiences in supporting their pastor husband!

Well, we've asked a number of you to respond to a few questions that we will cover during the next twelve months---and we've gotten great responses back! Hopefully, you will find these discussions helpful and relevant to your busy life.

It seemed to me that the advice the wives offered for April's question could be categorized into five "top tips." I hope you find in this "combined wisdom" help and encouragement in all you do for the Lord Jesus and His kingdom.

In Christ's service,

Sandy Hopler

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Advice for a New Pastor's Wife

Suppose there is a woman whose husband was appointed to be an elder last Sunday morning. What advice would you give her in her role as a pastor's wife?

Tip #1.) You are not the elder-he is.

I would remind her that she was not appointed. Her fundamental job description has not changed. Her priorities are the same as they were before - her God first, her husband, then her family and home, followed by the church and the lost.

When Christians might tend now to bend her ear, to ask her a question to pass on to her husband, she needs to hold her tongue and say, "I don't know. You should probably talk to my husband." And if she does this, the questions and counsel will fade. And then people will recognize that they need to talk to her husband and she won't have to be an intermediary.

-Neva Whitney

Many times church members assume that because you are a pastor's wife, you know EVERYTHING that there is to know about church planning and events, and that you have very nearly met the requirements for being a pastor yourself! I have often resorted to this humorous line when asked a question that I either honestly don't know, or feel I shouldn't be put in the position to answer: "I don't know, I'm just the pastor's wife!"

-Dawn Bovenmyer

We as wives can slowly become co-pastors with our husbands and that takes a lot of energy away from us both. I choose to take that energy (and so does Pat) and spend it on us--as a couple! Pat has other men in his life to lead and share burdens with--others called by God and other godly men.

-Cindy Sokoll

1. Be humble. Learn from the other pastor's wives. If it's multi-staff, find a wife with whom you resonate, and ask her to mentor you.

2. Be very humble. Becoming an elder's wife does not mean you have arrived. People put you up on pedestals. I tell them, "Get me off that pedestal, right now!" Be humble, be authentic, be open, and be real.

3. You are the wife; your husband is the elder. Tell people that.

-Mary Knox

Tip #2.) You are his helpmate-he needs you.

God daily gives me opportunities to do good for Dave, whether it's something "small" like washing his clothes or preparing him a meal, or something "large" like helping conduct a seminar. I often ask Dave, "How can I help you today? Is there something you want me to do?" Not only should I eagerly ask this question, I should be ready to do what he asks.

What he appreciates more than anything is my listening ear. I like to view myself as his supportive sounding board, not so much to give answers, but rather to give reflective feedback that helps him in formulating his own solutions before the Lord.

-Dawn Bovenmyer

As your husband sees your faith, that you are believing God to really work in the problems and burdens of the church (without trying to "relieve" him or fix the people or problems), it will help him put his eyes on the Lord and His promises.

The best way to help a leader is to be a good follower. As others see you eagerly following his leadership, it will affect their view of his leadership.

-Thelma Clark

Tip #3.) Your contentment brings him joy and blessings.

One of the best ways we can help our husbands is to not only free them up by managing our homes and families well, but by being content. If we're unhappy with the time we have together or money or things or whatever, it puts pressure and strain on them to "please their wives." Go to God with these needs, knowing that He can change your husband or meet needs some other way, or the Lord may choose to satisfy you in your present circumstances.

-Thelma Clark

I would remind her also, that her husband may shield her from 90% of his conversations and she should not feel left out or overlooked. But that he is only protecting her.

-Neva Whitney

Tip #4.) Meet the challenges in your new role with faith.

Pray for them [husband] more than for anyone else. I've enjoyed having a list of prayer needs laminated above my kitchen sink. Then I can just look at one item and be praying it throughout the day. When we pray for them and all that concerns them, we're able to enter into the joy of what God does for and through them. Regularly say things to the children like, "Isn't it wonderful daddy can be helping those people tonight to love the Lord more?" With them, in prayer, thank God for him and ask God to bless his work.

-Thelma Clark

As Oswald Chambers once wrote, "God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede." Learn to quickly give those problems and "insights" of people's needs to God and not carry them yourself to fret over. End your conversations in prayer.

-Dawn Bovenmyer

I would remind her that her husband has demonstrated an ability to manage his own family - and that she can be secure in that.

-Neva Whitney

After I married Jonathan in 2004, I then felt the old, comfortable position had completely changed and I was now a "new member" of Grace Community Church - a once familiar church became very unfamiliar as I was now seeing things from a very different perspective. It was unusual, uncomfortable, exciting and very much a time of being re-defined and refined. I no longer seemed to fit into the role that I once held in the church and was now, all of a sudden, in a "new" role as "pastor's wife." It took some time for me to feel settled... I had to ask God for His grace, wisdom, blessings and most of all, for His direction, which included a smoothing of my very rough edges. God does indeed give to those in need (and I was in need). God also does stretch us into the role that He destined for us. He will sometimes move us gently and other times push us right in so that we can have a strong impact for His ministry through our husband's life.

-Kathleen Williams

Tip #5.) Intimacy is a priority in your marriage.

As a pastor's wife, I have the privilege of meeting my man's most intimate needs emotionally and physically. Regardless of the demands of family and household, Dave is my number one priority. Proverbs 31:12 has been a tremendous verse for gauging what I am giving myself to. "She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life."

-Dawn Bovenmyer

My first thought is, you did not marry The Pastor. You married a man who made your heart skip a beat. Remember to take time to play and romance that pastor! It truly is a forgotten art. I am called to "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth-for your love is more delightful than wine!" (Song of Songs 1:2) I truly believe this is a part of living out the gospel. It will bring much glory to God when our heart beats for our spouse, if we truly are a picture of Christ and His bride, the church. Let him pastor the church and let him be your heartbeat! Have fun and enjoy one another to the fullest! Pat and I run away often (short trips) and don't talk about the church or children, to always keep our fire burning. I truly think this makes a healthy pastor and pastor's wife! He is my lover, and by vocation, a pastor.

-Cindy Sokoll

And some wise additional advice that I appreciated about relationships within the pastors' wives community:

And assuming that I am her sister in that same church, I would work to make sure that the two of us had a good relationship, a growing friendship, and that the lines of communication were always open between us. I would remind her again that if either of us had questions or needed any counsel or support from each other, we should not hesitate to call. I would work to get to know her even better and look for opportunities to help her and serve her and pray for her. And I would adopt her as a "daughter," since she probably is younger than I.

-Neva Whitney

Thank you, dear sisters in the Lord, for your encouraging words of guidance not just for new pastors' wives, but also for our whole community of "sisters on the wall."

• More churches to start and staff ISMs. • For an integration of the vision of churches with an ISM to overseas mission work that will result in creation of new mission endeavors and eventual church plants. • Plant new churches on campuses where there are good graduate

• Plant churches in key cities in the U.S. and overseas where international students can get jobs and stay united with GCC churches. • Continue development of web tools as a means of connecting, equipping and sending workers into international ministry programs for international students.

This year's ISM Conference is May 13-14 in Lincoln, NE, and the cost is only $10. For more information on this conference, visit http://www.harvest-ne.org/ism.

Dear Sisters,

I like to read instructions. I enjoy the confidence I get by studying a manual or receiving thorough explanations before I try a new project. Studying through Titus 2 with our pastors' wives over the past year, I felt like I was getting expert instruction in the most important "project" of my life--glorifying God by fulfilling my own role of a Christian wife and mother, and teaching younger women to do the same. Every letter of the series was useful and encouraging.

Our article this month by Sharon Wong (and contributions by Fran Miller) reminds me how instructive it is to watch someone accomplish a difficult task, especially if it's a task I want to do, and do well. Not only are Sharon and Fran wonderful examples of the obedient Titus 2 woman, but they also have mentored a group of younger women for the last seven years. Sharon writes about how this group aims to encourage women to love their husbands and children.

Sharon and Fran have embraced the opportunity to share what they have lived out from the Scriptures with women who greatly need their experience. This letter encourages all of us to be women who live out our high calling to honor, obey and teach God's Word.

In His Grace,

Sandy Hopler

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Titus 2 Group

by Sharon Wong (Oak Ridge Community Church, Clarksville, Maryland)

I have greatly enjoyed the recent series that has focused on the verses in Titus 2. What joy to be reminded that as wives and moms, we have been created for a purpose with specific tasks on God's heart that we were uniquely designed to bear. And what encouragement it was to hear the practical counsel of wise women walking that same walk. Jan Gordon encouraged us to have firm convictions for our children as we love them. Carol Meyer shared with us that "to be successfully busy at home will be a reflection of the Spirit, not of your own personal ability. We must be connected to the source." Karen Haring defined being sensible as "right thinking" and "right living." I appreciated these and the contributions of other women as we explored this passage of Scripture together.

Another reason that this series of newsletters spoke to my heart is because my dear friend, Fran Miller, and I have been meeting with a small group of women for the past seven years in what we call our Titus 2 group. Maybe not the hippest name, it nonetheless reflects our focus and our hearts.

It started when two young moms in our church asked if I would be willing to meet with them for encouragement in raising their children. I pulled Frannie into the mix and soon after, the women began to invite their friends. We discussed parenting, loving our husbands, and more. The group began to grow. Over the next few years we had a house full of women, sleeping babies, and active toddlers. We now have a building to meet in, but continue to finesse things to accommodate changing needs and growing children.

Women from other churches have asked us how we got our group started. Well, it's definitely a God-thing. We could never have "planned" for it to work the way it does. However, there are some things that have helped make it successful:

1. Do it with a friend - My heart is to encourage others, but I was concerned that it might be too much for me when I was already busy raising my own children. Ecclesiastes 4:9 says, "Two are better than one," so I thought that if I did it with a friend, we could share the responsibility. Having Fran co-lead the time with me gave us the flexibility we each needed. The bonus was that we were able to build our own friendship and bring another person's perspective to the table.
2. Do it at a time that works for you and your family - We decided to schedule the time so that it suited our own schedules. It was important for us to do this in a way that kept our husbands and children as a priority in our lives. Evenings were difficult for Frannie and weekends were hard for me. That left us weekdays while working around my homeschool schedule with my daughters. We do realize that this has limited our group, but I have peace that we are doing this in the way that God has provided for us.
3. Initiate the standard of behavior and conversation while your group is small and new members will follow suit - People have noted that our group is very respectful when they discuss their marriages and children. We can't take any credit for that. I believe it is because the original women in the group had a high standard in these areas. As women joined our group they seemed to understand and adapted themselves to that standard.
4. Make room for conversation - Our meetings include books and Bible studies, but the heartbeat of our group is that someone will ask you, "How are you doing?" Often, we just go around the circle, checking in with one another. It is great to see one woman's journey spark a conversation or to hear the women minister to one another. I believe Romans 1:11-12 reflects our feeling about these times: "I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong - that is that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith."
5. What to do with the children? - It doesn't take long for the children to outnumber the adults. We've tried different ways to care for the children during the meeting. When they were small, the moms had the kids take naps at each other's house. We've had babysitters at times. Right now the moms rotate babysitting. We do emphasize that kids are always welcome. They are never an interruption because they are our priority.
6. What's our main message? - Frannie and I are there to simply love and encourage the women. Besides general encouragement, there are two main lessons they would say they have learned:

1) What they do every day as wives and moms is important in God's economy. One of my favorite promises is Hebrews 6:10, "God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them."

2) They can be purposeful in whatever they are doing. Whether we are managing a corporation or managing our household, we need to assess the needs around us and plan to meet those needs. Sometimes that might mean seeing an area of training needed in our child's life, or a discipline we need to develop in our own life.

We have loved the opportunity to come alongside these women. They have allowed us to be practical and honest with them and they have responded with sweet hearts. Watching them, I am reminded of the energy and commitment it takes in the younger years. Fran and I just want to be an encouragement to women at this stage of life. We know that if they do not grow weary in doing good, a rich harvest awaits them.

If you would like to respond to Sharon, please email info@gccweb.org.

Dear Sisters,

We have a follow-up letter from one of our "Titus 2" series writers, Barbara Wilson. Barb wrote on having a pure heart before God. Recently, the Lord showed her even more about having a heart that is completely His. I think you'll be blessed with her transparent and humble application of her own teaching. I praise the Lord for His Holy Spirit, Who is so faithful to reveal Jesus to us and in us, as we keep our eyes on Him.

Like Barbara, let's follow her urging and "take inventory and take action" in developing a heart that is purely God's.

In Christ's love and service,

Sandy Hopler

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Pure, Part 2

by Barbara Wilson (Grace Community Church, Cary, North Carolina)

Dear Ladies,

I wanted to follow up my previous encouragement with a testimony of what God has done in my life since I wrote the article on "pure." God is so good to finish what He started - still perfecting us each day to be more like Him. So this is Pure - Part 2.

A dozen women in our church have been going through Beth Moore's book, Breaking Free. It is a wonderful book that helps her readers shed Satan's strongholds in their lives. When we chose this book, I had specific women in mind in our church who could benefit from taking this book to heart. Of course, since I've been following the Lord for 32 years, combined with being a pastor's wife, I figured I had no struggle with such strongholds. Surely I had dealt with all of them in the past. Right?

Well, a few weeks ago, God came through (as always). I'm usually a calm person until it comes to electronics - when they don't work and I have no idea how to get them to work, I get a bit...feisty. Our computer wasn't working and the "fix it" book that came with it didn't give me the answer. I angrily went to Berk, threw the help books on the counter, and LOUDLY announced that there was nothing I could do to make the computer work! He quickly addressed my attitude. I "repented," but I was still angry. Then a week later, he asked me to help him and I responded in a very ungodly way, a way that I had never responded like before. This time, I was very repentant and went to the Lord for help. Something was very wrong. I was believing a terrible lie from Satan. What was it?

When I was a young girl, my brother used to hit me in the arm and call me two names - DIS (dumb, ignorant, and stupid) or a VIP (very ignorant pig). I heard these names at least once a day for five years. My parents tried to stop him, but to no avail. I think they thought it was kind of cute, and very normal for a brother to harass his sister, but I took the names to heart and they hurt...very badly. And so I grew up believing that I was stupid. I worked hard to graduate first in my high school senior class. I got involved in lots of activities in college, even being crowned Miss Clemson, because I just wanted my parents to affirm that I wasn't stupid. Unfortunately, they never told me anything contrary to what my brother called me.

So, that was the lie. I was stupid. I got so used to the lie and I learned to live with it. I could compensate for the lie in other ways until I was around my family. Then, I would become so stressed because all I could think was "Don't do anything stupid!" And then, of course I would, and Satan would reinforce in my heart what I thought was true all along.

Isaiah 61:1-4 is a beautiful picture of breaking free from the bonds of Satan - the brokenhearted are bound up, the captives are set free, the prisoners are released from darkness, the mourners are comforted, a crown of beauty replaces ashes, and a garment of praise replaces a spirit of despair. Little did I realize that I was in this category of captives and prisoners. Beth Moore does a great job of illustrating how to replace lies with truth and rid ourselves of the shackles of Satan.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, they will raise up the former devastations; and they will repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations (Isaiah 61:1-4).

So, God and I had several conversations about exposing the lies and replacing them with truth. Isaiah 61:4 says, "They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor." What a beautiful illustration of God's goal for each one of us; to be strong in righteousness and display His splendor.

I am still renewing my mind daily with the truth, as Satan still tries to accuse me of being stupid. I really encourage each one of you to take inventory of your heart. Don't be deceived like me into thinking that since you have walked with the Lord for so long, surely there is nothing wrong. If there are recurring attitudes or actions in your life that are contrary to God's Word, you may have a stronghold. It's so easy to stuff the sin and live with it, and be deceived into thinking you're okay. Perhaps there is someone close to you that is struggling with imbedded sin. If you have had repeated conversations with a friend, and she struggles with the same thing over and over, that's the key that Satan has his talons imbedded somewhere in her heart.

Pick up Beth Moore's book. It's worth reading and working through the steps of breaking free. We will more and more display God's splendor as we address sin in our lives, identify strongholds, believe God's truth, and apply His Word in our daily obedience.

I hope this has encouraged you to take inventory and take action. You women are an amazing demonstration to me of God's glory!

If you would like to respond to Barbara, please email info@gccweb.org.

"Older women, likewise are to be...teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women (to be) subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God may not be dishonored" (Titus 2:3-5).

Dear Sisters,

The focus of this month's letter is submission to our husbands, and it reminded me that my relationship with John is a reflection of my walk with Jesus Christ. Am I ungrateful and grumbling to him about circumstances in my life? Then I am not believing and honoring God's word that says, "God causes all things to work together for good..." (Romans 8:28). Am I striving against my husband's leadership and decisions? Good chance I don't trust God is loving and leading me, because His word promises, "...just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right..." (1Peter 3:6).

Yet as Cindy Sokoll points out, Sarah (or Sarai) was not always so believing and submissive! God's plan was for Sarah to trust Him by submitting to her husband, but she came up with a plan of her own to accomplish God's will. And just as Eve "taught" Adam, which resulted in disaster and death, Sarah involved her husband in going outside of God's plan. May we be women who trust God from the heart by obeying His leading in our lives through our husbands.

Love,

Sandy Hopler

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Teaching the Younger Women to be Subject to Their Husbands

by Cindy Sokoll (Summitview Community Church, Loveland, Colorado)

My name is Cindy Sokoll. I am honored to be serving alongside each one of you, your husbands and your families. It's not an easy life we walk and one that cannot be defined as "perfection." It is a life of adorning ourselves with God's grace, and bringing God glory through everything we face. I am humbled to share a story about how "my God" came alive!

I was driving alone in my car. This often-traveled highway was a long stretch of solitude that I was in the habit of using for encouragement, prayer and worship. I found myself reflecting on a difficult marriage situation in another church that had been brought to my husband, Pat's, attention. Tragically, the situation involved adultery in a marriage. As I was driving and praying for wisdom for my husband and the other pastors, I found myself once again a bit annoyed by unfaithfulness in marriage. My mind followed a well-worn trail, back to the story of Sarai and Hagar.

Now Sarai, Abram's wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, "Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight. And Sarai said to Abram, "May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the LORD judge between you and me" (Genesis 16:1-5).

My often-repeated question to God on this topic was, "Why Lord? How could it be 'OK' to give her husband to another?"

As my "whys" floated heavenward, His words penetrated my thoughts. It seemed God spoke His thoughts very clearly to me. "Because she didn't trust Me."

A bit startled, I began to reflect on that profound truth. Were Sarai's actions nothing more than a lack of faith? She had the promise of God. Yet somehow, it seemed good to Sarai to take matters into her own hands. Until that moment, I had always looked at Sarai's circumstances and not her heart. It "seemed" sacrificial--it seemed like maybe God could use her variation of His plan. Sarai even convinced her husband to go along with the plan. Culturally, it was no big deal. Within her culture, men did take other wives and have children with them. But did Sarai believe God's promise to make Abram into Abraham-the father of multitudes; that His promise of a son born to Abram and Sarai would be fulfilled? No, she wrongly believed she had to come up with a plan to "help God"-but at such a cost! "WOW!" I said aloud and started to weep.

I was weeping because I had to ask myself, "How many times had I done this?" I considered what circumstances I might unwittingly bring to my life and family if I chose to seek my own way. Moments of my life where I had chosen not to trust God flowed before me. How many times was I unwilling to let God work His plan through Pat? I knew what submission was. I knew all the verses. In fact, I am often held up as an example of joyfully submitting. The scenes in my mind were all the more powerful because only God had known my heart during those times of cleverly disguised distrust. Times of fear, emotionalism, drama, exaggerations or strength of "conviction and opinion" were simply ways of manipulating toward my desired outcome. The verse that kept playing through my head was Proverbs 14:1, Solomon's words: "The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands."

During all of those fearful examples, I could have easily justified my actions as godly. Others would have seen nothing wrong. My actions were "acceptable." My faith, however, was AWOL. I had been practicing "godly" manipulation.

As I thought of that phrase that spoke to my heart, "Because she didn't trust Me," my response was to repent. The remainder of that drive was spent in sweet fellowship with my Savior. I then urged Pat to please follow God with his whole heart into His good, pleasing and perfect will. It is not enough that my husband, or anyone else, thinks I am submissive. I want my hidden heart to display faith in a good God who is leading me to good things.

In closing, I want to urge us women to check our hearts, and to believe that what God desires for us wives is the same as He wants for anyone else-a heart of trust and obedience to Him. And then, dear sisters, as we trust God by faith through a heart of obedience to our husbands, we will see the goal of Titus 2:3-5 fulfilled: "...that the word of God will not be dishonored." And God will get all the glory!

If you would like to respond to Cindy, please email info@gccweb.org.

Between having our six boys go through a high school, and hosting the Bible study, we became pretty well known among the teachers and students at Cary High School. So, in September 2008, when the mom of one of the students passed away, Berk and I were one of the first to hear about it. We knew in our hearts that God wanted us to take Chris into our home. When Chris moved in, he was not saved, so we spent the next year loving him and giving him spiritual and life direction. He attended Faithwalkers with us in December of 2008 and, at Faithwalkers 2009, he gave his life to the Lord.

We are so thankful for the opportunity to work with this generation coming after us that will be carrying the torch of Jesus Christ and salvation to their generation and beyond.

Barbara attends Grace Community Church of Cary-North Carolina State University: www.graceforstate.org.

This church plant, which came from Linworth Road Church (LRC) in Columbus, Ohio, has been in the works for the last decade, and we are so blessed to see where the Lord has brought us in that time. The relationships within Awaken began to form about 10 years ago with a group of teenagers in the youth ministry at Linworth. Many of these teens remained serving at LRC during their high school and college years, and later, as young adults, began meeting as the core group for the church plant in the fall of 2009.

The church is located in an area just north of downtown called the Short North. This area is very socio-economically, racially, and spiritually diverse. It is a central hub for Columbus' hip art scene and night life, and yet is so very spiritually void.

Our calling comes from Isaiah 61:1&4. This area of Columbus has been neglected by the church and we want to rebuild those ancient ruins. We pray that we can impact not only those who are spiritually poor, but physically poor as well.

We have been amazed and humbled to see God's financial provision for us. He has provided homes for team members, along with friendships with neighbors, schools, and other local churches. We are excited to be a part of reaching an area that the church has lost influence in, and we pray that we can establish more branch campuses in surrounding areas in the future through our collaborative vision to reach the city.

Dear Sisters,

God's Word sets the standard, Jesus Christ is our example, and Kathy Darling has great insight for us in "teaching the younger women to be kind." And wow, after reading Kathy's thoughts, I am so aware of my need for the Lord's continued work in my life in the area of kindness! I am glad the Lord is merciful and patient-as we see in Psalm 145:17, "The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds." He desires this quality to be reflected in each of our walks with Him, and He promises to complete His work in us just as He began it.

As we near the end of 2010, I am filled with thankfulness for all of you women, my "sisters on the wall." What a privilege to know and learn from you, as I see your humble, wise, teachable hearts. God bless you and your families this Christmas season and the coming New Year, with the joy and encouragement of His Spirit!

In His grace,

Sandy Hopler

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Encouraging the Younger Women to Be Kind

by Kathy Darling (The Rock Church, Minneapolis, Minneapolis)

Kindness

Definition of kind: affectionate, loving, gentle; of sympathetic nature; disposed to be helpful; of forbearing nature.

"...that they wisely train the young women to be good-natured (kindhearted)...." (Titus 2:4)

Kindness

The very core nature of God:

"Now all praise to God for His wonderful kindness to us and His favor that He has poured out upon us, because we belong to His dearly loved Son. So overflowing is His kindness towards us that He took away all our sins through the blood of His Son, by whom we are saved" (Ephesians 1:6-7).

As I have pondered over this area of kindness through the years, but especially more recently, I cannot help but begin by saying that staying closely connected in our own personal walks with the Lord (by daily lingering in His presence and getting spiritually renewed and encouraged through His Word), will be very influential in allowing kindness to be exhibited more fully in our lives. If we drift from His voice and His truth, kindness will drift from us, and we'll have missed opportunities that we can't get back. But as we stay connected to Him (our Source), this will enable us to be conformed to His likeness:

"Our God, who is full of kindness through Christ..." (1 Peter 5:10, Living Bible Paraphrased)

"Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant and patient God is with you?" (Romans 2:4)

Believing and experiencing God's kindness toward us allows us to understand more clearly how to show kindness to others, and the more we see and understand this, the more we will be able to exhibit it continuously.

It takes faith and obedience to be kind, especially if we don't feel capable or willing at times. Kindness, as we know, is a fruit of the Spirit as it says in Galatians 5:22. So even when God prompts our hearts to do it, it takes faith because kindness comes by walking in the Spirit; by trusting God to empower us. We won't always readily see the results of our deeds of kindness, but we know that this pleases and honors God and that it is His will for us to display, as it says in Ephesians 2:10 that God has already planned in advance good deeds for us to continually walk in.

When I'm lacking in kindness, when I'm not guarding my heart or walking in the Spirit, I can easily let my emotions get irritated, and then harsh tones and a very displeasing mood comes over me. I become anything but kind, and you don't have to go much further than the walls within my own home to find this out. I end up hurting those who I am around, especially in my own household. In this mode, I'm certainly not being loving or helpful, but rather harmful, disappointing myself, as well. However, I strive not to remain in this state for very long because I do want peace by pursuing kindness so that God's blessings can continue to come.

"Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel" (Proverbs 11:17).

Ephesians 4:32 tells us to, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." It's interesting that in this verse, we see that one real way to be kind to one another is by learning to forgive each other just as God has forgiven us. And it takes a tender heart-not a judgmental one-to forgive others. When we begin to do this to one another habitually, we really begin to experience a new aspect of kindness and friendship that we never knew existed.

We should also consider that our deeds of kindness really are strongly connected to the area of friendship evangelism. Friendship means "showing kindly interest and goodwill." It means looking out for the interest of others. And, in many ways, we live in such a cold world with so many lonely, hurting people. Perhaps that's why they thrive on others who show them (sincere) friendship - through acts of kindness. Kindness is a special attribute of God's love (as it says in 1 Corinthians 13) that draws people to you, and then eventually to Christ, as well as encouraging those who are Christians: "...whenever we can we should always be kind to everyone, and especially to our own Christian brothers" (Galatians 6:10).

Showing kindness is an inoffensive way to show God's love to someone, letting them know that they really do matter. And people are attracted to someone who is kind. "Kindness makes a man attractive..." (Proverbs 19:22).

When I first met my husband, Mark, his kindness toward me just warmed my heart and really attracted me to him. He took genuine interest in me and he took several opportunities to prove it by his deeds of kindness, and he's still habitually doing this today! On an opposite note, coming as a tip from the Christian author, Stormie Omartian, she remarks, "Keeping yourself healthy and attractive is something you can do as an act of kindness to your husband." Ladies, may we rise to this!

May I also add that reproducing this ministry of kindness to our children, especially in their early years of training in our homes, can be quite productive. I really think that it's great and advantageous to teach them as early as possible about the joy of serving others and displaying deeds of kindness. It really helps them to develop a friendly, outgoing spirit. When our children were younger, they did several things like making pictures for others, special notes, special cards, homemade presents, making special treats to deliver to others, or shoveling our elderly neighbor's snow, etc. I think for them, just seeing people's hearts warmed was enough to make them want to do it all the more.

Before I close, I want to mention two more aspects relating to kindness. One is with our facial expressions. A cheerful face and a nice smile go a long, long way! I think that's one reason why God gave us the ability to smile towards one another. It's a kindly gesture. It is a silent way of saying, "I care for you," "I'm behind you," and "You're someone special." People need smiles. It gives them an extra boost. Smiles give real support!

And then lastly, remember that kindness with our speech is just as important as our actions. Life and death lie in the power of the tongue. "The Lord delights in kind words" (Proverbs 15:26). "Kind words are like honey, enjoyable and healthful" (Proverbs 16:24). And Proverbs 31:26 tells us that, "...kindness is her rule for everything she says." It is a challenging rule to abide by, isn't it (especially in the home)?

It may be easier at times to speak kindly to those outside the home, but we'll have a lasting impact with our words of kindness to those inside the home, when people see the fruit that our kind words are having in the midst of our own families. And not only that, our friendships in our homes will only be that much sweeter when we make kindness our rule for everything we say. It takes trusting in God to guard our thoughts before ever opening up our mouths to speak. May this poem (a shortened rendition of a longer poem entitled, "Ripples, " by James W. Foley) leave a lasting imprint upon our hearts.

"Drop a stone into the water -

In a moment it is gone -

But there are a hundred ripples

Circling on and on and on.

Say an unkind word this moment -

In a moment it is gone --

But there are a hundred ripples

Circling on and on and on.

Say a word of cheer and splendor -

In a moment it is gone -

But there are a hundred ripples

Circling on and on and on."

Whatever God leads us to do - whether it's a look, a word, a touch, or whatever acts of kindness that involves cheerfully sacrificing our time, energies, gifts, and resources, let's remember these verses:

"May you always be doing those good, kind things which show you are a child of God, for this will bring much praise and glory to the Lord" (Philippians 1:11, Living Bible Paraphrased).

"Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck" (Proverbs 3:3).

If we have this as our sole intention, we'll be practicing kindness enough that it almost becomes an acquired skill, enabling us to be more effective when the opportunity arises.

Ladies, may our continual deeds of kindness make a positive, lasting impression on others, giving glory and honor to God, as we each remember to rely on His grace to flow through us!

"And may the Lord our God show us His approval, and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful" (Psalm 90:17).

I'll end with this quote (an old Quaker saying) found in the classic devotional book called, Streams in the Desert:

What shall I do? I expect to pass through this world but once. Therefore any good work, kindness, or service I can render to any person or animal, let me do it now, for I will not pass this way again.

If you would like to respond to Kathy, please email info@gccweb.org.

Dear Sisters,

We are engaged in a great spiritual battle. If women think that our homes are a refuge from that battle, they don't understand the importance of our role as "workers at home." The Lord puts His most strategic instruments into the most needed, strategic places. I believe the most intense attacks on women occur at "home base." The home is the center for the well-being of the entire family, the unit God has chosen to affect His world for Christ. It is no surprise that after the first family was formed, Satan launched his first attack on mankind. As workers in the home, we must always be on the alert.

Our writer Carol Meyer points us to Christ as our source for winning that spiritual battle. His Spirit must infuse all our "busyness" if we want to truly have our homes reflect Jesus to the world.

This holiday season, may Jesus Christ fill you with power and strength as you work at home, to the glory of God.

In His grace,

Sandy Hopler

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Encouragement to Be Workers at Home

by Carol Meyer (Summitview Community Church, Fort Collins, Colorado)

"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 train 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." Titus 2:3-5 NIV

To me, working at home seems like the easiest one on the list. It may be difficult to love, be self-controlled, be pure or kind, but at least I can be "busy at home." It's an area we can control - or at least try to control. I may mess up everywhere else, but I can get the "good girl badge" of being "busy at home." We can judge ourselves, and judge others, with a "just how busy are you?" standard. However, as with everything, God isn't concerned about the outward workings or appearance, but with the inner woman - her heart and source of strength.

A refreshing example of being busy at home was given by single - not married - women, who had created a home with their brother, Lazarus.

Luke 10 records this story - "As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!' 'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'" Luke 10: 38-42

This case of hospitality provides some important insight to being busy at home. Martha was industrious, but in her industry, she was characterized by being worried and upset about many things. Martha was in control, and she was even working to control Jesus!

Jesus was not interested in her industry, but in her heart...her heart in relation to Him.

Jesus communicates in John 15:5,"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing."

To be successfully busy at home will be a reflection of the Spirit, not of your own personal ability. We must be connected to the source.

There will be spiritual battles that surround anything that brings God's good. The opportunity you have to create a home brings true good that touches your life, your children, your husband, and others. There will be a spiritual battle. If you are not walking with the Spirit at home, you can do "nothing" at home - even if you seem very busy.

A couple quick thoughts on being a "connected, working at home woman:"

• The Proverbs 31 woman reminds us that it takes focused effort. There is nothing passive about the choice to be busy at home.
• Your home is not your identity. It would be easy to let the world shape us in this area.
• Your home is not your source of happiness. That's a lot of responsibility for brick and mortar.
• It's helpful for me to view my home as a tool, a blessing - a place for which I am to be thankful. 
• You are an alien and stranger here. Hold everything, including your home, loosely.
• Your work at home is not in vain. You are not forgotten and your work is not forgotten. 

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58

• Your gift of service, your work of the Lord, may be sacrifical. Do I have a willingness to suffer?

As a personal example, my oldest son, Josh, when he was about four years old was diagnosed with Legg-Perthes disease and put in a leg brace. Next, my second son, Stephen, was 22 months old when he was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. A year later, I had unexpected twins. I was managing my own home, serving in the church, taking care of two children with health issues, one of whom was a diabetic toddler. And besides this, I was taking care of two babies! It was extremely challenging for me, emotionally and physically. It was difficult for years. I experienced depression - feeling crazy from lack of sleep, but I also experienced Jesus.

"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Remember, your personal relationship with Christ is key. You cannot live in your own strength. It must be an outpouring of the Spirit.

Do not forget, your work is not in vain. You are not forgotten, overlooked, or unknown. You have to know there is something, Someone, greater than the lonely moments at home, the floors, the diapers, the dishes, the laundry. And this Someone LOVES you and He has the ability to bring good.

If you would like to respond to Carol, email info@gccweb.org.

Dear Sisters,

How would you define the idea of "pure?"

Is it how Procter and Gamble describes Ivory soap since the 1800's, "99.44% pure?"

That slogan has always struck me as impossible-if something is pure, shouldn't it be without any impurity, 100 percent completely pure?

As our writer, Barbara Wilson, explores the characteristic of purity in a woman, her focus is the heart. How do we present a heart completely, one hundred percent devoted and pleasing to God? I'm so thankful Barbara directs us to the truth of the "pure milk" of the Word. My prayer for us women is that we all put our hope on Him and His return-resulting in humble, undivided hearts for God.

"And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:3).

All for Him,

Sandy Hopler

Teaching the Younger Women to be Pure

by Barbara Wilson (Grace Community Church of Cary, Cary, North Carolina)

Dear Ladies,

First of all, let me say that I have absolutely loved getting your monthly teachings on Titus 2. I have cherished each one of them and have learned so much! What a great idea to dish out each segment and have someone expound on it. What a true motivation for me!

So, the topic I chose was pure. I thought it would be a challenge, since it's not something I necessarily dwell on. All of the phrases that surround the admonition to be pure are phrases that seem to be much easier to measure: encourage the young women to love their husbands, love their children, be sensible, workers at home, etc.

But the word pure is stuck in there and to be quite honest with you, I tend to skip over that one, not giving much thought to it. Pure is that four-letter word we may not pay much attention to because we are too busy trying to love our husbands, our children, and be amazing workers at home.

So, why is pure stuck right there in the middle of it all?

Well, I started going through the Bible looking for what it means to be pure. Interesting that we are told to be an "adjective" when we are surrounded by phrases that include such tangible verbs. Even though pure is found many times in His Word, several verses jumped out at me. So, what are some things that are pure?

Job 11:4 says God's teaching is pure. Psalm 12:6 says the words of the Lord are pure. Psalm 19:8 says God's commandments are pure. Proverbs 15:26 says pleasant words are pure. I Timothy 1:5 tells us the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart. And 1 Peter 2:2 talks about the pure milk of the Word. Well, this is all well and good, but I confess I needed more.

So I turned to the good old dictionary, which I found pretty challenging. Of course there are many definitions, but the one that stood out to me was, "free from adulterants or impurities; full-strength." That really challenged me--what does it mean to be full strength for God, free from adulterants or impurities?

As I continued to search the Word, I found James 4:8. It says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinner; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

Finally! A verb I could act upon...purify my heart.

And verse 10 concludes with, "Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." That's it! Purifying my heart means to humble myself in the presence of the Lord! Of course that takes conscious, daily work, but let me ask you:

Are you humble before God? Are you confessing sin, continuously sloughing off the junk in your heart that may keep you from standing blameless before God? I had to ask myself these serious questions and take earnest inventory of my heart.

We all know what it's like to have such a busy week that the necessary chores at home just don't get done. Shoes pile up by the front door, clothes (both clean and dirty) pile up in the hampers and on the sofas, dirty dishes fill the sink, and beds remain unmade. We finally get to the point where we say "Enough! We're all going to focus on cleaning our house and putting away all the clutter...now!"

How good it feels to finally get our house back to a state of cleanliness. We vow AGAIN that we will be more disciplined to put things where they belong throughout the day so that the clutter doesn't return.

This is what we need to do throughout the day with our heart.

Are we conscious throughout the day to cleanse our hearts? Do we engage in gossipy conversation? Confess it immediately, throw that sin in the trash and celebrate that person. Do you harbor bitterness? Confess, trash it, and find a way to bless the person who hurt you. Tell a lie? Put it in the trash and speak truth. How about anger? Confess, throw it out of your heart, and cancel the debt!

Get the idea? We serve a holy and pure God. Habakkuk 1:13 tells us His eyes are too pure to approve evil. He cannot approve anything impure in our heart and we shouldn't either.

Martin Luther said that we cannot control birds flying over our heads, but we can keep them from nesting in our hair. We can't keep Satan from tempting us and firing those flaming arrows at us, but we can keep sin from rooting in our hearts. Confess that sin quickly and replace it with the purity of God's Word (a kind teaching or a pleasant word). First John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Another area of purity we are all involved in is modesty. With most of the women in our church being college students, modesty is something we deal with regularly. My experience is that many of the young women coming through our doors on Sunday are pretty naive about their dress and how it affects the men.

Being in my 50's, I know I am a "mother" figure to these women, so I don't feel badly encouraging our young women to dress modestly and discreetly, with no cleavage showing and no clothing with words going across their chest or behind. Although I believe modesty begins in the heart, I love my brothers in the church too much to let them get tempted by immodest women.

Ladies, we all want to be full strength for God; free from adulterants or impurities. We must purify ourselves daily. Let's make confession and renewal as much a part of our lives as keeping our house continuously neat and tidy. Without a pure heart we won't see God (Matthew 5:8). And if we don't see God work in our lives we cannot truly love our husbands and children, be sensible, or all the other things God asks us to do in Titus 2. Our actions will be superficial at best.

James 4:10 reminds us that as we humble ourselves in God's presence, He will exalt us! Hallelujah!

If you would like to respond to Barbara, email info@gccweb.org.

Check out The Journey Palm Coast: www.thejourneypc.com.

International Student Ministry (ISM) is one cultural group of people crossing cultural boundaries to love and serve people of another cultural group. With over 670,000 international students and millions of immigrants to the U.S., there is a high need and opportunity for the gospel through ISMs. What effect does ISM and short-term missions have on those doing the ministry? Here are a few examples: Six people from one church are being much more diligent to learn the Chinese language from their Chinese friends. A high-school senior is praying about teaching English in China after graduation. There are a growing number of former international students now working in the U.S. who are very engaged in ISMs in their respective Great Commission churches. One young couple is preparing for ministry in Asia as they continue their many years of ISM work in their church. For another church, hosting high school exchange students continues to be very fruitful for the gospel. Just recently, a Chinese professor studying here in the U.S. asked during a Bible study what he should do since he belongs to the communist party and therefore it is illegal for him to become a Christian. God is fulfilling His will and command to "Go and make disciples of all the nations..." (Matthew 28:18-20).

Dear Sisters,

I have loved our journey through Titus 2:3-5 so far! The godly person described in these verses is the kind of Christian I want to be. It's been so helpful to have so many "handles" attached to the qualities of the woman who pleases God and is used by Him in the lives of younger women. And with this month's letter from Karen Haring, we are given insight into the life and influence of a sensible woman. Karen reminds us that, as we think, so our actions will follow. Sound thinking-sound living.

May God lead us all to be sensible women, who stand solidly on His Word!

United with you,

Sandy Hopler

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Encouraging the Younger Women to be Sensible

by Karen Haring (Chestnut Ridge Community Church, Morgantown, West Virginia)

When I mentioned to my friend that I would be writing on the topic of "sensible," she said, "What exactly does that word mean?" That's a great question, and in order to get a good handle on the meaning, I did some research. The Precept Austin website has this information from the Greek:

"Sensible (sophron) has the idea that they now have 'saved' minds (derived from sozo = save + phren = mind) and a saved mind should lead to right thinking, which leads to right living ("good deeds")."

Some words that are given as synonyms for sensible are: self-controlled, sober, discreet, wise, using good judgment.

In order to better understand a word or concept, it helps to first realize the opposite of the word, or the problem. Opposites might be: foolishness, unspiritual thinking, and poor judgment. As I thought of the opposite of sensible, a favorite verse immediately came to mind:

"The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish woman tears it down with her own hands." Proverbs 14:1

I think this verse relates in so many ways to the directives to women in Titus 2. I can easily get into the foolish mode of wrong thinking, which can lead to harming my household (and others) instead of building them up.

I can get into wrong thinking by believing that my own ideas and ways are best. I must say that a lot of times I think I'm right, but there is the saying that "no one but a fool is always right." When I get stuck on "being right," I'm actually being foolish. I can be foolish by not seeking my husband's thoughts or ideas, by neglecting God's Word and thoughts on a matter, and by not listening to His Spirit inside of me. This can often lead to wrong priorities, poor judgment, and negative consequences for my family and me. In the parable of the ten virgins, five were foolish enough not to think things through and prepare to have extra oil for their lamps. Later when these five were desperate, they asked the other five for help, but it was too late.

As women, we can tend to be emotional, and this is another reason that we are instructed to be sensible. I can get all worked up about something, and my husband, Tim, will remain calm and level headed. He can be a voice of reason when I overreact and am liable to use poor judgment. I think Mrs. Bennet from Pride and Prejudice had this problem:

"An example of how attention is focused on feeling in the objective story is depicted by Mrs. Bennet, a foolish woman who uses only her emotions to assess how things are going, and in doing so almost ruins her daughters' chances for a promising future: 'She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented she fancied herself nervous'" (Austen 7)-dramatica.com.

When we are foolish, we do destructive things to our kids and our husband. We have incorrect priorities. We can think about and chase after things that waste our time, instead of being sober minded about what God has given us and the opportunities we have with those around us. We lose our chance to influence our family, believers, and unbelievers. People will love to be around those who are discreet, trustworthy, and wise. People will open up and share their deepest difficulties and struggles with those who have this quality of being sensible. Husbands will be encouraged, built up, and supported. Children will be open, and communication and our relationship with them will improve. Other women will share their lives with us. Being sensible paves the way for influence.

And how do you become sensible? By allowing yourself to be influenced. Right thinking will lead to right living.

Trust in the Lord; don't lean on your own understanding.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

It's important to fill our minds with His Word and His thoughts. I like to think of "practicing His presence" throughout my day. I read the One Year Bible, which is also helpful because it includes portions of Proverbs to read daily. This helps me to grow in wisdom. I enjoy praying specific verses, both to get God's mind on things and to ask Him for help. And I love looking up verses on anything and everything I'm going through! The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Get our husband's input and advice.

"Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ." Ephesians 5:22, The Message

I ask Tim about all sorts of things­-the meaning of Bible verses, priorities, with whom I should be spending my time, what to do with the kids, advice on situations I'm dealing with...even advice on pastors' wives articles! It's easy to slip into doing things ourselves, or according to our own ideas. Asking my husband for his thoughts helps me to be sensible and to build up our house. It helps me to know and understand what he is thinking, and support him.

Get input and advice from others as much as possible.

"Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed." Proverbs 15:22

"One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." Proverbs 13:20

Sometimes I can think to myself, "Oh yeah, I've encountered this before. I know these ropes." But it's amazing to me how others can have a clearer, eye-opening perspective when I take the time to ask. I may have driven a few people a bit crazy over the years, as I asked questions all the time of wives, moms, and older women. I still do a lot of this, getting advice from leaders and friends in our church.

Bounce ideas off of others! Seek out advice, and you will be truly wise. The more counsel we get from other godly people, the more sensible and wise we will become. Learn to be a "master of questions," asking others' advice on things any chance you get! This is both a protection for us and our families, and a chance for us to grow. I have learned so much by asking many, many questions from others who are godly and wise.

When we are driven by emotion, self sufficient, or view ourselves as always right, we become foolish. Only as we allow ourselves to be influenced by God (and others) can we truly be sensible.

If you would like to respond to Karen, email info@gccweb.org.

I was raised in an abusive home with an alcoholic father, a mother who worked over 60 hours per week to provide for us, and an autistic older brother. My mother is an amazing person and was raised in a Christian church. I knew the basics, but I never had a relationship with Christ. I was fully convinced God did exist, but He apparently didn't want anything to do with me or my family. I came to The Rock as a joke one Saturday in the winter of 2006. Yet I didn't feel like I was at church. I actually felt comfortable. I instantly felt like God put His hand on me for the first time.

Jesus Christ is my Redeemer. He brings me joy because I know how much He loves me. He took my place on a cross and died a death I should have died. He conquered the grave so I can be with Him forever. I didn't earn it - and I definitely don't deserve it - but I humbly accept it. I'm hopeless without Him.

~Bryan, The Rock Church - Salt Lake City, UT ~

~ Rob, Candlewood Church - Omaha, NE ~

Great Commission Churches and specifically Candlewood Church has done much to shape my life. This church has provided me an outlet to realize my full potential for Christ. This church has brought me into an environment where I would meet my spouse and others. It has given me opportunities to serve and labor on a certain section of the wall and for that we are grateful. None of this is possible without Christ, and to him belongs all the glory and honor.

~ Jacob, Candlewood Church - Omaha, NE ~

When I visited Summitview Community Church, I discovered men and women genuinely and completely in love with their Savior and radically living out what they believed. Because of God's grace and my Summitview family's examples of worship, vulnerability, and holy living, I have fallen more deeply in love with the Lord than I ever though possible, and have united heart and soul with the most amazing warriors ever!

~ Elizabeth, Summitview Community Church - Greeley, CO ~

I had prayed to God that he would direct my steps in life and where it was that I needed to be and go. Three different times I prayed that he would lead me, and three different times after I prayed I was approached by people from Candlewood, and they shared the Gospel with me. I finally broke to God's calling and went to Candlewood Church. The passion for the lost, the love the disciples had for each other, and the realness of living for Christ shook me and has changed my life forever. I've been to many churches in my life, and none that I have encountered have compared to the New Testament like Candlewood, and other Great Commission churches.

~ Dan, Candlewood Church - Omaha, NE ~

I came to college as a lonely woman looking for friends, and I was given so much more. I have the greatest family God could ever bless me with. The men and women of Candlewood Church in Omaha have genuinely loved me, encouraged me, challenged me, spurred me on, and have been there by my side in this battle; I am forever grateful.

~ Kayla, Candlewood Church - Omaha, NE ~

I made Jesus Christ my King in 2007 and my Savior has dramatically changed me and my life since then! Candlewood has made one of the biggest impacts on my family and I think without it, we would be so lost in this broken world. I am so thankful for my brothers and sisters. I can always see their passion and the love for our Savior and for the lost every time I am with them.

~ Goaler, Candlewood Church - Omaha, NE ~

By the grace of God I have found a family at Candlewood Church in Omaha. The saints here have given me a taste of godliness and I want to attain it. This is where I have planted my flag and I will die serving next to my brothers and sisters on the wall.

~ Joe, Candlewood Church - Omaha, NE ~

I moved to Salt Lake City shortly after graduation from high school in order to pursue my dream of competing in the Olympics. My life was lived completely apart from God. At that time, skating was my religion. I used my talent to gain status and to appear successful within my social network. I was also completely skeptical of God. In fact, I hated Him. Just the mention of His name would cause me to disengage from any further conversation about Him.I moved to Salt Lake City shortly after graduation from high school in order to pursue my dream of competing in the Olympics. My life was lived completely apart from; I was also completely skeptical of God. I had exhausted what I thought were all the necessary means for me to find happiness, even to the point of reluctantly going to the last place on earth I ever expected to find peace. But church is exactly where I found it - in the person of Jesus Christ.

I have now been going to The Rock for six years. God allowed me to realize my dream and I was able to proudly represent my country at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, but now I use my skating as a means of worship to God. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take away my condemnation and give me life to the fullest. He is in my heart and lovingly uses my dreams and desires so I can know and love Him, and He personally offers that love and relationship to everyone.

What is The Rock Church? It's a place that God uses to give us back our lives. It's a place where I was saved and continue to grow. It's a place where God changed me from a victim to a conqueror!

~ Bekah from The Rock - Salt Lake City, UT ~

I introduced myself to Christ as a young boy. But being immature and without a proper understanding of who He was, I only had hazy ideas about God, heaven and life. God led me to The Rock Church, where I felt accepted instantly - where the focus isn't so much on the outward, but on the inward life. God has also reunited our family there. My dad (who continually prayed for me during my dark times) and my sister (who began seeking God after seeing His change in me) and I attend The Rock together, and much healing has resulted. God continues to bless me and has given me the wonderful gift of a loving wife and an amazing daughter. I look forward to the future with high hopes, and I now see each day as the blessing of a clean slate and a chance to make a difference in this world.

~ Joell, The Rock Church - Salt Lake City, UT ~

I came to New Life Community Church a broken person. The loving family of saints there allowed me to experience the richness of God's grace. Jesus Christ and the saints at New Life saved my life and I am eternally grateful for the blessings I have experienced through this church and this movement.

~ Dustin from New Life Community Church - Cedar Rapids, IA ~

I attended Linworth Road Church's youth group in high school and now, 4 years later and living in Texas, I still depend on the Linworth Road Church as a place where I can direct friends who are searching for truth. It's been amazing to know my family in Christ, no matter how far away they may be, continues to reach out not only to me but also to those I love! Linworth continues to steadily pour out the water of the living God into the lives of unbelievers.

~ Marielle from Linworth Road Church - Columbus, OH ~

Candlewood Church has made a difference in my walk with Christ by showing me what Christ's love looks like in action. I am blessed to have a church family who genuinely cares for me and goes out of their way to encourage me in the everyday battles. February of 2009 was the first time I saw a church family who didn't have favorites and was loving to everyone who entered the doors.

~ Jennifer, Candlewood Church, Omaha, NE ~

I'd always considered myself a Christian. But I never actually had a relationship with God. I always told myself I'd start living for Him "tomorrow," and I never sought His will in my life. Without God's perspective, it was only a matter of time before I was living in all the wrong ways for all the wrong reasons. When I decided to take an evangelism class at The Rock, God hit me with something huge that finally began to turn my life around. That night God opened my eyes to what a rotten sinner I really was. For the first time, I realized that my sin was leading me to eternal damnation, and Christ alone could provide a way out. Heartbroken, I dropped to my knees and repented to God. I acknowledged my sin and my hopelessness without Him. I asked Jesus to come into my life and make me a new person, so others would see His love shining through me. Today, tomorrow and forever more, I am living for Him who died for me!

~ Molly from The Rock Church - Salt Lake City, UT ~

Though I grew up in the church, I had no idea what it really looked like to live my life for my Savior. When I came to Candlewood Church in Omaha, though, the men and women here showed me through their lives, what it looks like to daily, hourly, constantly lay down their lives for the Kingdom and for each other. I was blown away by their examples and have been trying to do the same ever since, compelled by my love for the Lord and His great love for me.

~Sarah - Candlewood Church, Omaha, NE~

God used the Great Commission church in Gainesville, FL while I was a student at the University of Florida to change my life in a huge way! Here are a few: God gave me a heart to share the gospel with lost students, equipped me to learn to share the gospel, life-long friends, my brothers recommitting their lives to the Lord, having a best man in my wedding, finding my beautiful wife, Andrea, learning how to raise a godly, Great Commission family, going on staff with the church, participating in 11 overseas mission trips, and deepening my relationship with Him everyday. Thank you, Lord!

~Michael - Gator Christian Life, Gainesville, FL~

At The Rock, I was welcomed with a message of love and hope. God has restored my faith and trust in Him, as well as my compassion and love for others. What I cherish most is knowing that there is NO stain too dark for Christ to remove, that NO wound is too deep to be healed by His power! I want to be the seed in Matthew 13 that falls into good soil, showing someone else that there is a way out and God does heal!

~ Shawna, The Rock Church - Salt Lake City, UT ~

Jesus Christ grabbed my life from a sinner living in denial on his way to hell to the work in progress that I am today. I am grateful for the purpose that God has given my life and the believers I have met who are on board with this radical lifestyle of following Jesus Christ.

~ Michael, Candlewood Church - Omaha, NE ~

I came to Candlewood Church three years ago, and the men and women in my church quickly became my family, and impacted my life in a huge way. I was a stagnant Christian before this, but Candlewood quickly threw me out of my comfort zone. God has used this church in an incredible way in my life. Through Candlewood, God has refused to allow me to be complacent, and my life has been changed by the lives of the people here.

~ Janna, Candlewood Church - Omaha, NE ~

Growing up, I was pretty sure that God was real and I wanted to love Him, but I didn't know how. I tried to love Him in the ways that everyone said I should, but I always failed. No matter how many times I went to church or read the Bible or tried to clean myself up, I always ended up back in the same spot..until a Christian friend invited me to The Rock.

The longer I attended The Rock and the more I talked to people there, the more I came to understand grace. Through God's free gift of salvation, I finally learned how to show my love to Him - by accepting the love He's shown to me.

My life has changed. I am a new person, and God has blessed me since I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I know that He is in control of my life and my eternity, and I know that nothing can separate me from Him.

~ Ben, The Rock Church - Salt Lake City, UT ~

When I first came to Evergreen Community Church in January of 1993, I'd heard and understood the gospel message, but I'd never responded personally. Two months later, through a message at Evergreen, I accepted Christ as my savior. I believe the big difference was the people. For the first time in my life, I saw people that really loved me and truly lived out their faith. This helped me to see that God's love and Christ's sacrifice were not just distant concepts, but they were for me personally. In 2000, I was raised up as a pastor and now have the opportunity to help others see these truths as well.

~ Pastor Mark Stiglitz, Evergreen New Hope Community Church, New Hope, MN ~

I came to Candlewood in Omaha two years ago, and my walk with God has become stronger and grown more in those two years than it had in the previous 21. God has really used the church to show me what a Christian should be by seeing others lead by example in serving, building into others, outreaching, and just living their lives. Never before in my life have I experienced the love and community that this church has shown me.

~Marie - Candlewood Church, Omaha, NE~

The final barrier fell at the 2007 all-church campout. Seeing so many people from so many different backgrounds (some the same as mine) come together just because of God was literally overwhelming. I finally came to Christ and was baptized there.

Since then, nothing has been the same! Sure, I'm still going through some healing and I know there are many more lessons to learn, but as long as I have God in my life I don't care what it takes! Because I can tell you this: God is real! He is love. He is mercy. I have given Him my heart and my life, and He's got a hold of me. I can't wait for Him to come and take us home!

~ Miriam, The Rock Church, Salt Lake City, UT ~

After being skeptical of how people could truly be so loving, I realized that I was the one posing, not the members of the Rock. Their love amazed me so much that eventually I decided I wanted to be like them. I repented of my sins, and have been trying to live for Jesus alongside Candlewood Church ever since.

~ Xavier, Candlewood Church - Omaha, NE ~

In the mid 70's, two college students knocked on my door and shared the gospel with me (Pastor Gary Osborn was one of those students!) My life was a mess- hippie lifestyle, drugs, recent divorce/remarriage, friends were literally loading a truck out the back door for us to move "back to the land" for a new start. Today I am blessed to serve the Ames church alongside some of the most godly people I have ever known.

~Elaine - Stonebrook Community Church, Ames, IA~

Dear Sisters,

"And to love their children, not with a natural affection only, but a spiritual...taking care of their souls as well as of their bodies, of their spiritual welfare as well as of their temporal..." Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Bible

In stark contrast to popular culture and worldly wisdom, the Scriptures point to the exalted role of the mother. Our writer Jan Gordon has taken her role as mother very seriously. Raising kids for Christ's kingdom takes so much more that just "natural affection!"

Our natural feelings of love and caring for even our own children (aka "sinners") go just so far. We moms (including Jan) have all had days when we've told God that it's just too hard. We think, "Things haven't worked out the way they were supposed to." But we keep on loving that child by the power that Christ alone provides. And we learn to love, not the child we wished we had, but the child we really do have.

Let's all continue to seek the Lord, and to unite with our husbands to know Him and make Him known in our families. As Jan prays, "Let Your work appear to Your servants and Your majesty to their children" (Psalm 90:16).

In Him,
Sandy Hopler

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Teaching Younger Women to Love Their Children (Titus 2:4)

by Jan Gordon (Gator Christian Life, Gainesville, Florida)

When I was a younger mom, the older women in my life taught me to love my children by...loving my children. They would point out sweet qualities in them and praise them for things they did well. Most of all, they taught me to love my children by being a godly example of training up their own children, so that I could learn from them. Here are a few things that God has been teaching me lately.

I am the mother of 11 children and can easily fall into the trap of people pleasing tendencies. I love my children so much, and try to think of the things that would be best for them, but that sometimes gets mixed up with what they think is best for them. My best judgment can get muddled with their desires and wants. This happens most when I make a decision and they appeal it, and my "best" judgment goes out the window because I want to please them. You've heard the saying, "If you let the cat in the door once, he will forever try again." The same is true with our children. They can start believing that your word is not the final word, or that our convictions and judgments can "change," and try to push for their wants and desires. Our hope, since our kids were small, has been that at our command they would obediently (and cheerfully) respond with a "Yes, Ma'am."

As they get older, our desire is still a submissive, cheerful response. We want there to be discussion and for them to share their thoughts and heart in situations, but their mindset shouldn't be to challenge and change what we have decided.

As a mother, I desire to have prayed through (and talked with my husband) and developed convictions in regard to how to "best" answer and make decisions for my kids. I desire to seek wisdom for "then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity and every good course" (Proverbs 2:9). I want my yes to be "yes" and my no to be "no" in their minds, and that it would be a rare time that they feel they should challenge me on my (our) decisions. I need solid convictions, boundaries for my kids, and no allowance for "distortion" of what Matt and I desire for them.

A verse I have been meditating on this week is Galatians 1:10, "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ." This is speaking to the Galatians regarding their "variations" to the gospel and Paul's need to confront their erroneous thinking. We need to be alert, understand God's heart, and seek His ways for our children. They are our priority, our focus, (just after our husband), and we do our kids a favor as we seek His face for our children and their ways. "She looks well to the ways of her household" (Proverbs 31). Pray for those convictions and judgments that are from God, and from decisions with your husband.

Weekly I like to write my children's names down and pray for them (daily), and write one thing down that would be specific to do with or for them. Sometimes it may mean buying them shoes, playing a game or riding a bike with them, cooking them a "special" something, or calling them (if they live elsewhere). No one will love, care, and think about them like we will, and it is a special place we have in their lives.

I pray through a list of prayers for children. I am attaching it and hope you are able to print it and put it in a place for daily use. I believe that God works through a mother's prayer and want to believe God to do His work in and through them. Psalm 90:16 says, "Let Your work appear to Your servants and Your majesty to their children." I ultimately desire that my children will be prayer warriors and see His majesty. This is happening!

About twice a year I like to think through their spiritual needs and set some goals. This list may also include daily disciplines I want to implement in their lives to help them be well rounded. I have to get alone for two to three hours of extended time with the Lord for this to be effective. I follow my husband's lead in guiding them spiritually, but I like to dream about what gifting I have that can add to this flow.

One example of this is memorizing verses to made-up songs. A treasure I discovered in our house this year is an MP3 player that I can record songs on, then hook up to a speaker, and replay our verse we've made into a song. We then put them on the computer and make a CD to listen to in the car. The kids now try to make up songs or raps to learn verses on their own or with others. Adding sign language for the younger children has also been a desire of mine because it brings life to the words. "Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes" (Psalms 119:5).

We have an opportunity to expose our children to so many "right" things and build into them truths that will last their lifetime. "Do not despise the day of small beginnings" (Zechariah 4:10). I will end by sharing Rick Whitney's suggested "Seven Days of Prayer for Our Family." I believe they give us courage and hope, as we believe God for His grace in our lives to love our children as He would, and give the younger generation this same hope.

1. We would be Astonished by God's work in our family.
2. Our children would do Better works than their parents.
3. The kids would have Christ-like values and character.
4. All my Descendants would be saved.
5. The children would become Excellent spouses and find good mates.
6. Our family would be Free from moral impurity.
7. That we would be a Great Commission family.

Biblical Prayers for Children
"Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants, and our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace" (Psalms 144:12).

1. That God would draw them to Himself at an early age (John 3:3, 6:44, Psalms 78:5-7).
2. For them to obey and respect authority(Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:1).
3. For their moral purity (Proverbs 5:7-23; I Thessalonians 4:3, II Timothy 2:22).
4. That they would be protected from the deceits and schemes of Satan (Ephesians 6:10-11, Psalms 91).
5. That they would know and love God's Word (Psalms 119:9-11, I Peter 2:2, II Timothy 2:15).
6. That they would glorify God in whatever health or life circumstances He gives them, rejoicing always (I Thessalonians 5:18, Philippians 4:4).
7. For them to be wise in the wisdom of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7, 2:1-7).
8. That they would have and be a special friend (David and Jonathan­-I Samuel 20).
9. That they would endure hardship in fellowship with Christ (Colossians 1:24, II Thessalonians 3:13, Hebrews 10:36).
10. That their yes would be a yes and their no would mean no (Matthew 5:37, Psalms 15:4).
11. That they would be equally yoked to a godly spouse (II Corinthians 6:14-20, I Corinthians 7:32-35).
12. That they would always be humble, desiring for God to have the glory (I Peter 5:5-7, John 3:30).
13. That their life would be used to promote God's Kingdom (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 20:24).
14. That they would understand grace and so live out the law of Christ (Titus 2:11, I Peter 1:13).
15. That my girl(s) would have a quiet and gentle spirit and my boy(s) would be the spiritual leader of his family (I Peter 3:4, Ephesians 5:23).
16. That they hunger and thirst for God's righteousness (Matthew 5:6, Proverbs 20:11).
17. For them to identifywith femaleness/maleness and be protected from gender confusion (Romans 1:25-28).
18. That they hate evil, avoid it, and get caught when they disobey (Psalms 34:11-14, Proverbs 4:14).
19. For them to be hard workers (Colossians 3:23).
20. That they would think biblically (John 8:31-32, 2 Corinthians 10:5; Romans 12:1-2).
21. For them to be an encourager to others (Hebrews 10:24).
22. That they love the Church (Ephesians 4:14-16).
23. For them to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16).
24. That they be securein who God has made them to be (Romans 8:1, Ephesians 1:3-6).
25. That they know they are deeply loved (Psalms 103, Lamentations 3:22).
26. That they love the Lord their God with all their heart (Matthew 22:37-39).
27. That they love othersas they love themselves (Matthew 22:37-39).
28. That they would have honestywith the Lord, themselves, and others (I John 1:1-9, Psalms 15:2).
29. That they be faithful stewards of their God-given talents and their money (I Timothy 6:6-10, Psalms 112:5, Proverbs 11:24-25).
30. For them to live by an eternal perspective (Philippians 2:20, Colossians 3:1-2).
31. That they would be men and women of prayer (Colossians 4:2, James 5:16, Acts 2:42).

If you would like to respond to Jan, email info@gccweb.org.

I was brought up in Catholicism by a grandmother who took me to church every week, so I've always known about God and Jesus and how they were somehow a part of life. But back then, I never knew God had a plan to change people's lives - including mine. I went to some services at The Rock, played some drums, and got saved by Jesus Christ. Ever since I accepted Christ into my life, I've never looked back. He is the center of my life, and nothing will ever compare to the blessings I have received from God. I married an amazing woman who also loves Jesus, I still pray relentlessly, and I even get to rock out in a great Christian band. Jesus has completely transformed my life - there's no other way to describe it!

~Randal, The Rock Church, Salt Lake City, UT~

~ Ashley, Candlewood Church, Omaha, NE ~

Currently, we have 10 adults and five children who have moved from Eau Claire, Wisconsin and are preparing for action. Our total team of 24 adults and 18 kids is making a push to get settled in this summer to begin the ministry of Coulee Rock Community Church.

Our team has been working on building unity with each other and has been planning and preparing for just over a year. We have been amazed as God has filled in so many blanks already.

Our ministry roles have been established and our focus will be on public service, our small groups, and community outreach events. We are doing our public launch by objectives, not a specific date.

Our location and meeting place is one of our last big blanks yet to be filled in. (God is doing some amazing things in that regard but that's another story.) Overall, we remain excited, humbled and encouraged by all that God is doing and will do as we prepare to open our doors. We appreciate your prayers.

Check out Coulee Rock Community Church at: www.couleerock.com

Dear Sisters,

This month, Thelma Clark writes on "teaching what is good." She reminds us that whatever phase of spiritual growth or phase of life we are in, we are going to influence others. Therefore we need to spend time in His Word with a heart ready to believe and obey God. The woman who loves God's word is in a position to train younger women.

When I go to God's Word with a heart of faith, He can use me in a positive way in the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Occasionally a woman will say to me, "I'll never forget that time when you said to me...(fill in the blank)"--and I won't remember at all what I had said or when I had said it. But at that time, I was led by the Spirit and He used me somehow in that sister's life.

So, let's learn from Thelma's encouragement to abide in the Word of God. As we do, God will use us wherever we are to be a blessing to the people in our lives.

In His grace,

Sandy Hopler

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Teaching What is Good

by Thelma Clark Prairie View Community Church, Parker, CO

During high school, a man who had not personally played the sport our son loved, coached him in it. And while this man brought leadership and some good character qualities to the team, the players didn't benefit the way they would have had he personally gone through years of practice and games to acquire the skills necessary to win actual games. What a contrast to the plan God has for training women.

"Teach the older women to...be examples of the good life so that the younger women may learn to..." (Phillips) to be models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to..." (The Message).

When the Lord was taking hold of my heart and giving me a desire to influence others, I was taught that the emphasis of these verses was to teach by example. I realized that I needed to grow and become the person God wanted me to be by spending time in His Word with a heart to believe it and to obey. "THEN they can train/coach the younger women."

It helps me to think of this passage in outline form: "be...don't be...but be examples ...THEN you can train...." You can fill in the blanks with the text.

Being shown how to do something always makes something easier to learn than just being told how to do it. It's good for me to ask myself: Am I an example of living before Him everyday; of not gossiping; of loving my husband the way the Lord would want; of loving and training my children the way He intends; of...? It's definitely a life-long, on-going work.

Charles Swindoll tells of a group of men who were discussing their favorite translations of the Bible. Eventually the oldest man among them spoke up, "I liked my mother's translation best." When the other men asked if she really did write a translation, he answered, "Yes, she translated it into her everyday life. That's what brought me to faith." Example influences.

It's encouraging, though, that no matter how "old" we are in the Lord, He will use us as we walk with Him and let His Word impact our hearts. When we helped start the church in Ohio, I wasn't much older in any way except that I was one of the few who were married, and then later I had one, then two, then three of our children. Those were fun, but challenging days. I remember feeling pretty consumed with just learning how to train my children and manage a home, while staying involved with church activities and having people over. Yet sisters have said that God used me in their lives during that time. I can think, "Now what was I doing...juggling strollers and three little ones in and out of places, trying to talk with at least a few people?"

I didn't have a lot to teach, but as we spent time together I would just tell them what God was doing for me and how His Word was so living that it would speak right to my need: a neat promise that helped us endure a trial, or of some verses on anger that were affecting the way I spoke. It reminds me of Deuteronomy 6 where parents are told to imprint their children by telling them what God has put on their own hearts, and to do it continually as they live life together.

Morgan Thatcher spoke to our ladies group last week, and it was so encouraging for them to hear from someone going through the same things they are. The gals were challenged as Morgan gave examples of practical things she has recently struggled with as a wife and mother, and how the Lord has spoken to her through several verses that helped her make right choices.

As for passing on "what is good," there is nothing better than this desperateness to stay attached to God every day, hanging onto His Word for dear life. No matter what we go through, "God is GOOD" and He longs to strengthen us and to show us another aspect of His goodness that we've never known before. Every day there are reasons for women to be anxious; every day there is a need to freshly put hope in God. The result? Women whose inner selves are transformed into what He says have great worth: more gentled and quieted spirits (I Peter 3).

This past year, my daughter, who has five young children, discovered that she had melanoma. She went through weeks of tests, waiting, surgery, and dealing with fears. It was difficult to watch her endure the inner struggles known only to one's own heart, but when all was said and done (she's now cancer free-praise Him!), she had experienced a sweetness of the reality of God and His precious Word that she'd never experienced to that degree before. She would say that the Lord truly does walk through the fire WITH us, that "The nearness of God is my good."

The other "good thing" that I'd like to mention is the need to be an example of valuing what God values, calling "good" what He says is good-which includes the role He planned for us as wives and mothers. I need to be an example of wholeheartedly embracing this work as the highest calling I could have. God designed it as the most privileged, safe, happy place He could have put us, and like the Israelites, we can "despise the 'pleasant' land." Instead of feeling "less than," I should be so very thankful for the privilege of being a wife who's primary purpose is to help her husband, bringing him good every day of my life, enabling him to be "in the city gates."

What joy it must bring God when we believe that whatever His Word says is right and good, so we simply obey-knowing that this is what gives anything eternal value.

Much of God's instruction to us concerns physical things: "Being busy at home, managing the home, all kinds of good deeds, handling food/clothing, raising children, washing the feet of others, helping those in trouble, etc." Because these aren't valued by many around us, at times I can feel like I'm not accomplishing anything very significant. At those times it helps me to read again what God said specifically for women, clearing my head with what He says is important (I Timothy 2, I Timothy 5, I Peter 3, Titus 2, Ephesians 5, Colossians 3, Proverbs 31).

How encouraging to see that these really line up with much of what I do, and to remember:

1) If these were His instructions for wives, and

2) If He's the one who gave the Great Commission to all of us, then these "commissions" must fit together perfectly in His master plan. Also, it is these very things that put us with people (our families and others) so that we can influence them for Him. They open the door to our "stage" for influence. They are very good indeed.

Even though I haven't always had the privilege of being around literal "older women," many of you have greatly impacted me, not only with your lives, but also with your words. "Faithful instruction is on her lips, and kindness is the rule for everything she says" (Proverbs 31). I'm so thankful for the many conversations that have adjusted my perspective, raised my bar, given me good ideas, or increased or challenged my faith. I still read through notes that I've jotted down during these last 40 years after spending time with a sister-things I knew God wanted to use in my life-and things that He's still using.

He has also used many of you who have given teachings or written articles, books, or Bible studies to make huge impacts. We're blessed to be recipients of the myriad of ways He has gifted women, and each stage of life will probably look different for all of us. As the years add up for me, and I only have one child at home, there are a few hours some days where it's quiet and my mind isn't engaged in schoolwork or training children; but because the "mother's heart" is still there, I'm finding that God is using those hours to be able to place others on my heart more often so that I can pray for them, enabling Him to give me promptings concerning them.

If this is a little glimpse of what it will mean to be an older woman, I can see what a resource they can be: their genuine motherly interest, their experiences in life from which to draw, their walk with God and the Word, their humility from going through times of failure and weakness, their seeing God's faithfulness over and over again, and their availability to pray for and counsel younger ones.

It reminds me of something Joan Stockdale in Poland recently wrote: "I just got back from helping a new mom with a breast infection. The young mom said, 'I am just so calm when you are here.' God taught us so many wonderful lessons in those hectic years as moms of all of those little ones. It is an honor to pass it on." What a blessing Joan was to that young woman!

Matthew Henry wrote: "...which is a positive duty of aged patrons, namely to be teachers of good things! Not public preachers, that is forbidden (I Corinthians 14:34...in the church), but otherwise teach they may and should, that is by example and good life. Hence observe, those whose actions and behavior become holiness ARE thereby teachers of good things...."

As Neva said in her March letter about Jan Gordon: "Jan and I hardly talked that whole weekend, but her service and life spoke volumes to me and to many others."

Thelma Clark

If you would like to respond to Thelma, email info@gccweb.org.

Dear Sisters,

Before Jesus came to earth, women were often chattels, merely property, treated with indignity. Christ and Christianity brought social change, freeing women from literal slavery. But more importantly, Jesus Christ came to set women free from the bondage of sin.

This month Terry Putthoff examines the quality in Titus 2:3 of "...not addicted to much wine." Her words inspire me to freshly examine my own life and habits to see if there is anything that is master over me-anything but the Lord Jesus. I ask myself, "Is my life different from the world? Will others seek to believe Christ because of His truth and power being lived out in my self-controlled example?"

May God work through each of us to exhibit the fruit of self-control, as testimony of the liberating power of the gospel!

In His grace,

Sandy Hopler

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Self Control

by Terry Putthoff, Lee's Summit, MO

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good..." (Titus 2:3).

I have pondered this section ever since I agreed to comment on it. I'm a "list-type-of-a-person" and get quite a bit of satisfaction in checking off my list when particular tasks are done or if certain qualifications are met. When I read this verse, my simple way of thinking is: "CHECK! Got that one down. Let's see what's next."

The literal translation of this verse is the same in Greek as it is in English. Other translations say:

• "not given to much wine" (KJV)
• "slaves to drink" (RSV) 
• "must not be heavy drinkers" (NLT)
• "addicted to much wine" (NIV)

What's insinuated here is not a command to abstain from drinking wine, but rather that one not "linger long over wine" to the point that it masters you and you become a drunkard (Proverbs 23:30).

I looked this verse up in the Greek Lexicon and found a few treasures that shed some light on the subject. First of all, the only negative instruction for older women in these verses is to "not" be malicious gossips and "not" be drinkers of too much wine. They are connected by the same word and the same part of speech. Some translations use the word "nor" in place of "not."

In the Greek, the word "nor" is used here as a negative disjunctive conjunction (meaning it has the same verb in common). It implies "God forbid" and the focus is to deny even "the thought of the thing." Therefore, we could say that these two "not(s)" have the verb "enslaved" in common.

So, we older women are not (God forbid) to be enslaved or addicted to malicious gossip or wine. I just never thought of gossip being an addiction in the same sense as alcohol. I've heard of AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), but not MGA (Malicious Gossips Anonymous)! And on top of that, I don't personally know of any pastor's wife that is "enslaved to much wine." But I do know of other things in life that have the potential to master us.

So that makes me think about things in our culture that we might also be tempted to be enslaved by, and just so that no one can think more highly of me than they ought, I will state some of the things that try to master me.

Starbucks. Nothing like it on a cold day! I could sit and "linger long" over a white chocolate mocha, especially with a good friend and an open Bible. Don't get me wrong here, there's nothing wrong with that. It's whether it causes me to drive out of my way to HAVE to have my mocha for the umpteenth time of the day.

Eating. For me, it's more WHAT I eat. You see, I have a blood sugar problem and I am in a pre-diabetic state. My doctor has instructed me to keep my carb count to 150 mgs a day and to focus on lean protein, lots of fiber, and 80 ounces of water. All those high-glycemic foods are what I crave. My conscience reminds me: "To him who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin."

Reality TV. Who will be the next American Idol? Even the title should raise the hairs on the back of our necks. How about TV series like "24?" There are times that we have worked our schedule around it to make sure that we don't miss the next episode. What will happen to Jack Bauer? Or the United States, for that matter?

Fox News. The political environment is so unbelievable that it can be fixating. We don't have cable TV (thank goodness), but whenever we go to our folk's house, I get my fix of Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity. I find it gratifying to hear news that exposes the dark things going on in our government and to just be "in the know." (Hmmm, I wonder if that is connected to the addiction of malicious gossip?) Now, don't misunderstand me, I'm not promoting ignorance of the political realm. Just don't let it control you and your thoughts.

Physical appearance. Every time I go to the grocery store, I'm reminded that I am not like the beauty on the magazine cover. Sadly, most women are enslaved to an image that is unattainable, since the majority of magazine covers are computer manipulated. These false images have driven us to strict diets, harsh physical regimens, and expensive beauty treatments. God's Word tells us: "Your adornment must not be merely external ... but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God" (I Peter 3:3-4). That's what is precious in the sight of God! We need to be good stewards of our body, but only in the context that "bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (I Timothy 4:8).

Keeping up with appearances. I still can't believe that the "June Cleaver model" isn't the way everyone else operates. Somehow I feel like I'm the only one who hasn't discovered the key to looking good, having the perfect family, keeping the cleanest house, saving the most money, being energetic for my husband and kids, and always having the greatest attitude. My daughter participated in a Mother's Day celebration at our church when she was very little. The stage was set for an Art Linkletter-type "Kids Say the Darndest Things" show. She was asked: What is your mother's favorite hobby? I just knew she would say something like having tea parties with my little girl, or something cute like that. Instead she proudly announced, "Cleaning house!" At that moment, I knew it was time to refocus what was important in life.

Productivity. We live in a culture that drives us to multi-task in such a way that the goal is to be overachievers. I have to admit there is a "rush" when it does happen, but typically I find myself irritable because we run such a tight schedule with very little margin. Sometimes my quiet times are on the run. Have you ever tried to pray when you are intentionally breaking the law? Nothing will bring the cruise control down better than being reminded that I'm praying to a holy God who has set authorities in place to enforce the law.

Facebook. Need I say more?

All these things are not necessarily wrong in and of themselves, just like drinking wine is not wrong, nor is it prohibited in the Bible. Being "enslaved," however, or controlled by anything other than the Holy Spirit is where our problem lies. "Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone (or thing) put a harness of slavery on you" (Galatians 5:1, The Message).

"Don't drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of Him" (Ephesians 5:18, The Message). I know that each one of us would rather be spilling over in excess of the fruit of the Spirit than anything else in life. And as we daily bring our "vessels" to God, He is thrilled to replenish us and fill us up to overflowing! "Now to Him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20, RSV).

Terry Putthoff

If you would like to respond to Terry, email info@gccweb.org.

Dear Sisters,

Titus 2 is a chapter of the Bible that is devoted to describing godly character. The older women are instructed to avoid being malicious gossips. Their speech must be so above reproach that they are able to be an encouragement to other women by their example and by their words.

I have received such encouragement all throughout my Christian life by our writer of this month's article. Mardean Martindale's gracious, kind words and example have taught so many of us sisters in Christ what it means to be a godly woman. In preparation of this letter I spoke with Mardean on the phone. Her love for the Lord and for all us women was so evident in her cheerful spirit. She has helped us see ourselves as Jesus sees us. She and Herschel often pray for others using Paul's prayers for the churches, and here is what she prayed with me on the phone:

"...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge..." (Ephesians 3:17-19).

Such sweet and true words! May all of our speech be so full of God's truth that the world sees Jesus through us.

In Christ,
Sandy Hopler

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Not Malicious Gossips (Speech)

by Mardean Martindale, Oak Ridge Community Church, Clarksville, MD

Speech is such a valuable gift. With our speech we can worship and praise God, teach and love our children, encourage our husbands and other believers, and share the good news of our Savior with those who do not know Him. Our words reflect God to our families, to the world in which we live, and in our churches. When Jesus was on earth, the people marveled at the gracious words from His mouth. We know what God is like because Jesus came to this earth. Now, our families, friends, colleagues, and neighbors can know what God is like through us, His children. What an opportunity and what a challenge!

Women tend to be so verbal. That makes it much easier for us women to sin with our mouths! It's a proven fact that the Lord pinpoints in Proverbs 10:19, "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise." How many of us have left a ladies' get-together, and lost sleep that night as we ruminated over and over something we said that we regretted? Satan would love to deceive us, or prompt us to think and speak negatively, and miss the blessing that God intends for us.

How do we keep from allowing "unwholesome talk" from "coming out of (our) mouths," and speak "only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Ephesians 4:29 NIV)? We can begin with being very sensitive and cautious with the confidential information we are so often aware of because of our husbands. As pastors' wives we know so much. Our husbands are gifted with the grace to "handle" the knowledge of some very deep and troubling problems, because they have the responsibility entrusted to them. But the same knowledge can be discouraging to the wife, since she is not the one responsible and in authority. We need to trust our husbands if they decide not to include us in something particularly hurtful or defiling that has happened within the church that they are helping to resolve. It may be a guard on our mouths, to keep us from being tempted to take offense with someone, or to gossip. So instead of insisting on details when we don't need them, we can pray for wisdom for our husbands and unite with them in that way.

But when we are part of the problem and/or part of the solution, how important it is to guard our thoughts and our speech, even in prayer! Herschel and I have experienced at times, when in counseling or prayer situations, a prayer request that had been shared in too intimate of detail where I thought, "Oh, did I really need to know that?" We need to be careful what we pray about in public, when we have other people's privacy entrusted to us. Women like to fix things! We want to help, and then it's easy to say things that shouldn't be shared. It can truly lead to "malicious gossip" and instead of helping that person, we are hurting them and their reputation, by improperly sharing someone else's weaknesses "just for prayer."

When detailed problems are shared unnecessarily, even for prayer, it may make things difficult for others' faith. "A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards" (Proverbs 29:11 KJV). For example, a simple request for prayer might be met by a probing "Is anything special wrong?" More is then said than was meant to be shared, and it provides the possibility that the details may get beyond the "prayer circle." We need to be on our guard as to whether we should allow certain things to be shared...even in the context of prayer. Where others' sin is involved, it is especially tempting to sin by gossiping. Paul warned the Romans to "be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil" (Romans 16:19). In our younger years, if one of us began to gossip or bring up negative things, we would gently begin singing a little chorus to one other, "Let's Talk about Jesus!"

You know, it really is the will of God that we encourage one another daily (Hebrews 3:13). We need one another so much, we really do. Yet trying to be so cautious with our speech may even make us retreat from others. But we can always say encouraging words. It certainly helps if we are thinking rightly, and viewing those around us just as Jesus sees them. I have always loved the story of how the great missionary to China, Hudson Taylor, found the secret to this, as relayed in Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret.

Hudson went to China, living as the Chinese lived and winning them to Christ. He went back to England to bring more missionaries to China. Once in China, the new English missionaries' problems kept surfacing and causing many distractions for Hudson and his work in the gospel. His time was so consumed with reconciling relationships and dealing with conflicts that he was losing his spiritual joy. As he read the prayers of Paul for the Colossians and the Philippians, Hudson saw how Paul didn't speak of their problems. He focused on the good-they were partners in the gospel; they loved one another; they were faithful to the Lord Jesus. So Hudson prayed Paul's prayers for his fellow-laborers; he prayed they would see why God had them in China, and that they would see themselves as God saw them. What happened? Hudson Taylor's heart changed as he prayed; praying not about their problems, but for their faith and joy and Christ-likeness. His own joy and faith were restored!

We can also be such an encouragement to the others in our lives, to help them see themselves as Jesus sees them. We can choose to think of others as the Lord sees and thinks of them, to pray Paul's prayers for them; and then encouraging, truth-filled words will follow! Paul said for us to "Set your minds on things above..." (Colossians 3:2). It's not natural, but it's a choice.

Facing my own weaknesses in the areas of gossip and righteous speech, I have memorized and meditated on many verses on those topics! The following are some wonderful scriptures on the subjects of our speech and right thoughts.

• Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer (Psalms 19:14).
• For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart (Matthew 12:34b).
• We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5b).
• Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).
• Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth (Colossians 3:2).
• Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
• She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue (Proverbs 31:26).

Mardean Martindale

If you would like to respond to Mardean, email info@gccweb.org.

Dear Sisters,

How exciting to begin to explore Titus 2:3-5 together, the description of a godly woman within the local church! The Church is Christ's body, saved by His precious and spotless blood. As pastors' wives, we are linked together in church ministry. The church is what we are devoted to, as our husbands' helpmeets. As Neva says in this month's letter, we are "sisters-on-the-wall!"

As I read various versions of Titus 2:3, quoted by Neva, certain words jumped out at me: "Guide the older women into lives of reverence" (The Message), "Bid the older women" (Amplified), and "teach the older women to be reverent" (NIV). Guide, bid, teach-it seems that to be holy and useful to the Lord Jesus, we wives must first be guidable, teachable, and able to follow the godly men leading in our lives! The Apostle Paul also taught Titus, the church leader, that women have a big effect on whether the Word of God is honored, or whether it is dismissed as irrelevant by the world.

Let's seek the Lord and His grace to grow in fear and reverence of Him, and in humility and teach-ability toward those He has placed in authority over us in the Lord. I pray we are examples that will draw others to want Him and believe in Him all the more.

With you,
Sandy Hopler

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Reverent in their Behavior

by Neva Whitney (Vintage Faith Church, Manhattan, KS)

Dear Sisters-on-the-wall,

As I jotted down some thoughts for this month's article, I thought about all of you gals reading this-all the different pastors' wives that I'm working alongside within our Great Commission churches. What a blessing you are to my life! If our men are Brothers-on-the-wall, then I guess we can't help it, but that makes us Sisters-on-the-wall.

Recently I read a Faithwalkers daily devotional-written by a young and beautiful pastor's wife that I know personally (and who has four young children). Morgan's heart to encourage our movement of churches with her insight on a great verse really touched me, and I was encouraged not just by her good thoughts, but by her young mom's life. I remember well what every one of her days look like, what with four little ones under foot, and it really moved me that she took the time to put her thoughts down for our encouragement.

I also think of Jan Gordon. What an encouragement she was to me last fall when Rick and I attended Gator Christian Life's 30-year reunion in Gainesville, Florida. Jan and I hardly talked that whole weekend, but her service and life spoke volumes to me and to many others. Rick and I left Florida over 25 years ago and have been involved in churches in Maryland, all across Colorado, and now Kansas. And to come back to a campus and a city where Matt and Jan have labored faithfully for these past three decades-raising up laborers, year after year, and launching numerous church plants-was just amazing. Jan has been right alongside her husband while raising a beautiful family. Anyway, these girls have all deeply encouraged me. I see such a noble heart in these two women. Watching them holding down the home fort; observing their active service in the church. I am so thankful for their lives.

I am also thankful to Sandy Hopler and for her faithful ministry to us, month after month, as she edits, coordinates, and sends out this newsletter of encouragement for all of us. I am sure that it's pretty challenging, especially as she works with volunteer writers like us!

Sandy's plan, to look in depth at these Titus verses, should be just what we need to stay on the wall this year. I'm happy to throw this small contribution into the mix this month with some thoughts on "reverent in their behavior."

So here goes. . .

"Older Women are to be reverent in their behavior..."

What do you think of when you picture an older woman who is reverent in her behavior? I see a woman who fears God, honors her Lord, obeys her Savior, and in like manner honors and supports her husband. A reverent woman reveres God and shows it in how she treats other authorities in her life. She understands what a healthy fear of God looks like.

That fear is reflected in how she lives her every day life. How she dresses. How she talks. How she spends her time. How she interacts with people. I envision two aspects to this woman's life.

First, she has a face-to-face relationship with God. She is on her knees-at least in her heart. She is in tune with her Creator. She is in fellowship with Him. She is a woman of prayer and a woman who deeply respects her Lord's Word.

Then I have to picture that same woman showing her reverence in how she deals with all the people in her world: her husband, her children, Christians in the church, and those that don't know her God.

Picture a woman like Mother Theresa, only with a more modern look. How about an example like Ruth Bell Graham?

This reverent woman is with His people, and with them in their messes. She is changing dirty diapers and wiping runny noses on the young and old alike. And she does not lose her reverence.

A woman who is reverent in her behavior sees life from God's perspective and realizes that the simple daily routines are important.

People around her, who are watching her, who see her life, see that her heart is for God. Her life is centered on the things that matter to Him. She wants to live to please Him, and she wants to please her husband (and sees no dichotomy).

She speaks the truth when necessary. A reverent woman brings the Word into her daily conversations and shares what she is reading with those around her-because it is on her heart.

Definition:

To understand the phrase "reverent in their behavior," let's look at the dictionary. Reverent is defined as deferential, respectful, and worshipful. The antonym is irreverent. I can easily picture what irreverent behavior looks like and you probably can too (which is exactly why we need to take heed).

The dictionary offers the following words to define behavior as performance, actions, deeds, activities, manners, and conduct.

So my paraphrase might be something along this line, "respectful and worshipful conduct and actions."

Other Translations:

"Bid the older women similarly to be reverent and devout in their deportment as becomes those engaged in sacred service, not slanderers..." (The Amplified Bible).

"Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don't want anyone looking down on God's Message because of their behavior" (The Message).

"Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good" (The New Living Translation).

A Warning:

There are verses in 1st Timothy, and these in Titus, which together offer several warnings for older women. Whether we like it or not ladies, we are these older women...especially before our churches.

So these warnings should be duly noted. Without God, and left to our own fleshly devices, we could easily be lazy busybodies, gossips, lacking self-control, and over-indulging. I picture very lonely old women, with no purpose to live for.

Conclusion:

As an older woman in our church, I have to keep asking myself, "Am I living my life in service to God? Do I fear Him? Do I want to obey Him? Do I honor and respect my husband? Would my people describe me as a reverent woman?" I sure hope so.

Am I saying and doing what's "right" in God's sight, not what always seems proper or even popular in the world's sight?

God bless you women of all ages today as you lay down your life for your husband, your children, your grandchildren, your church, and your lost community.

May all our lives please Him today!

If you would like to respond to Neva, email info@gccweb.org.

Mission to the City is a service-oriented evangelistic outreach in the urban and inner-city areas of Minneapolis for 10 days every July.

Why did you feel particularly moved to get involved with this ministry?

Oddly enough, I grew up in a rural community in Michigan, but went to college near Detroit and became very good friends with someone that grew up in inner-city Detroit (later to be my best man). After getting saved, the Lord increasingly put on my heart a desire to reach people of other cultures and communities, particularly African American. The urban areas of America are like the harbors of old. The nations are literally coming to our backyards and doorsteps.

After going on an international trip and having an amazing experience, the Lord showed me that I didn't have to go half way around the world to connect with people from different cultures. Our church decided to offer Mission to the City in 1999. Folks took a week off of work and we headed just 20 minutes down the road to minister in the city.

What have been some memorable highlights of your time in this ministry?

Opened eyes for sure, starting with mine. It's been amazing to see how participants have awakened to the great, yet sometimes daunting, opportunity all around us. Meeting and serving a Somali single mother of six who had lived in the U.S. for five years without ever being invited to an American's home was definitely a highlight. Connecting personally with a young man that now lives with us has been one of the most blessed experiences of my life.  The partnerships that have developed with other ministries have been wonderful.

Do you have any future goals for this ministry?

One dream that is just starting to be realized is seeing folks from churches host their own Mission to the City trips. Our church joined Cornerstone Community Church in Kansas City in 2009 to help them with an urban mission trip. We hope to continue hosting trips that reach our city for the Kingdom of God, and help God's people grow their hearts for all the nations.

Andy attends The Urban Refuge in Minnesota: www.theurbanrefuge.com.

The Lord sent my wife, Pam, and I to Turin, Italy first. He has established a thriving church there, raised up two other pastors and through them, is training and raising up other leaders.  The church is well-established, and the national leaders-in-training are coached by the elders.  This growth has allowed us to move out and make disciples in other cities.  Jesus said, "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work'.  You know the saying, 'Four months between planting and harvest.' But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest" (John 4:34-35).

Last September, Pam and I moved to Milan, Italy, joined by a young student, Tony.  Another couple will be joining us this coming June.  We feel like God has opened all the doors for us here.  It seems like everyone wants to practice speaking English. We have met three students who work with a student organization and they have helped greatly by allowing us to register students inside the university and use its classrooms free of charge.

Last year, we had two mission teams who led English Clubs in March and October.  The October team came from the Turin church which proved to be very successful. Since then, the Lord has given us the opportunity to continue English clubs three times a week.  We have also started two Bible studies and, this past January, we began our first worship service.  Recently, the father of a Ukrainian family that lives near us received the gift of eternal life and will be baptized at our first service.  Praise the Lord!  Keep us in your prayers that the Lord will continue to lead us and guide us to make disciples.

For more information on Great Commission Europe, log onto: www.gceweb.org.

Dear Sisters,

I have a friend who, in her search to know God, found that her church leader didn't believe that all the "stories" in the Bible were true. Her alarmed response was "How can I trust the Bible at all if it's not ALL true?" She left that church quickly and found another where the Bible was proclaimed as God's revealed Word to the world.

That leader's example definitely dishonored the Word. My friend's experience reminded me of the awesome responsibility we have as Christian women and pastors' wives to believe the whole Bible and to show by our behavior that we honor it as God's Word.

God warns us to not live according to the world's values. I like the paraphrase of Romans 12:1,2 in The Message: "Take your everyday, ordinary life-your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life-and place it before God as an offering.... Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out."

So how do we as women avoid living by the standards of today's world? How do we lift up the Word of God, and prevent it from being "maligned" or dishonored? God's Word gives the clear answer in Titus 2:3-5:

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored."

As women, we can either honor His Word or dishonor His Word. It all depends on our behavior. If we live out Titus 2:3-5, we can have confidence that God's Word will not be dishonored.

So why don't we start with a "clean slate" and go right to the source of godly wisdom? Let's put aside any of our own ideas and start fresh!

Dear sisters, here is our plan for the rest of the year. Each newsletter we will focus on one of the qualities in Titus 2:3-5. A pastor's wife will write on that quality, sharing her insight on what God desires for godly women. Here are our topics:

March: Reverent in their behavior

April: Not malicious gossips (Speech)

May: Not enslaved to much wine (Self-control)

June: Teaching what is good

July: Encourage young women to love their husbands

August: Encourage young women to love their children

September: Encourage young women to be sensible

October: Encourage young women to be pure

November: Encourage young women to be workers at home

December: Encourage young women to be kind

January 2011: Encourage young women to be subject to their own husbands

I am excited about these newsletters. My expectation is that these articles will give us a deeper understanding of God's desires and standards of an excellent wife, a woman who fears the Lord. Let's pray for these writers, that the Lord brings His grace and understanding into their lives as they seek the Lord on their topics.

Let's also humbly seek the Lord for our own lives as He conforms us to the image of His Son. As we follow Titus 2:3-5, we will become more like Christ--excellent wives, who are "the crowns" of our husbands (Proverbs 12:4).

So, this year, may the Word of God be honored in our lives, and in the lives of others as we study and follow the teaching in Titus 2:3-5. When God's Word is believed and obeyed, God will get all the glory!

United with you in Him,

Sandy Hopler

In Kiev, Ukraine, Voleri, a drug addict and infamous hooligan not only repented, but was given a vision for how God wanted to use him and his storied past as a witness to reach those around him. From Voleri's testimony and investment in others' lives, more than 15 alcoholics and drug addicts have come to Christ in the past year. Two churches and a rehab center have been started through these men because they have grasped the power of God to transform and use broken and ordinary lives. 

In this part of the world, many Christian leaders are realizing that their countries will never be reached if starting churches requires buildings, professionally run programs, and full-time pastors.  Their desires and openness, coupled with the experience we have gained through our years with Great Commission, are opening up doors for us to train church planters in countries all over the former Soviet Union.  My wife, Kenyon, and I are so thankful and are humbled that the vision we prayed and dreamed about so many years ago has become a reality.

For more information, contact Timmy at: timmy.powers@gcmweb.org.

Timmy is a member of Great Commission Europe: http://www.gceweb.org/.

In February of 2007, we were given a building rent-free in the East Village, a young hip part of downtown, to meet in for Bible study and a Saturday night service.  By May, we had outgrown the building and moved to a new and larger location in the heart of downtown.  As the various ministries continued to grow, and people were getting saved, we began to focus on meeting the needs of the city through outreach, service projects, and volunteering for any and every downtown event that we could. 

Four locations later, the Downtown Church consists of 15 Bible studies meeting in homes around the city, two weekend services, weekly prayer times, and outreach teams through the summers designed to reach out in new and creative ways.  We are thankful for the growth and for the laborers as we look ahead to see what God will do in reaching the city of Des Moines. 

Check out The Downtown Church: http://www.thedtc.org.

To the Pastors' Wives,

Greetings in the Lord Jesus.

I know it is unusual for me - a pastor - to write in the Pastors' Wives Newsletter.  But there is a story and a message that I thought would be good for you to know. And as will become evident, there is no one other than I who can tell this story.  Also,  because of the nature of the story, I asked my wife Sandy to bypass writing an introduction, as she normally does.

So, here goes...

I did not grow up in a home that taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. But by the grace of God I became a Christian on December 11, 1973 through the witness of people who planted a Great Commission church in Columbus, Ohio.  It was in the church that Sandy and I met. We fell in love and got married on December 3, 1977 - the happiest day of my life (except for every day thereafter!).  Since then, Sandy has been my best friend - and my best helper.  

When we were newly married, the pastors of the church planned a 5-day open-air preaching series on West Campus at Ohio State.  Jesus Christ was the focus of the series, as we addressed topics such as, "Why Jesus Sociologically?" and, "Why Jesus Psychologically?" and, "Why Jesus Philosophically?"  I was picked to start on Monday with "Why Jesus Historically," in which I would share the proof of the resurrection. 

This was a big step of faith for me. Before I was saved, I was not much of a risk-taker.  I preferred being a couch potato and watching football games, to stepping out and being courageous. So I was really going outside my comfort zone to preach before the students at OSU.  (Frankly, I was scared to death!)

Sandy and I drove to West Campus, parked the car and strolled nervously to the grassy hill where students were eating their lunches.  I carried an easel with a cardboard sign that said, "Why Jesus Historically?"  We prayed, and I walked to the top of the hill, and set up the easel.  And then I started.  "Today, I want to talk to you about 'Why Jesus Historically' - why Jesus is the center of history."

Of course, right away the snickers started.  "Oh, brother. Who is this kook?  Oh, no, not another religious nut."  But to make matters worse, the day was very windy - and 15 seconds into my preaching, the easel and sign fell down.  As if I didn't look foolish enough already!   My courage was really being tested. Quite honestly, I felt like giving up.

But then came Sandy.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her come to the top of the hill.  She picked up the easel and sign and held them in the brisk wind.  It was extremely windy that day.  It took a lot of effort on her part to keep the easel and sign upright.  But she did it.  As people mocked, she just stood her ground behind me, holding this sign that said, "Why Jesus Historically" while I preached about Jesus and the resurrection. 

I did not preach long. Unlike Tom Short who gathers crowds and leads many to Christ, I did not see anyone come forward to receive eternal life. I do not know of any students on the grassy hill whose lives were changed that Monday afternoon. But I do know this - my life was changed.

At a moment when my faith was being severely tested, my dear bride stepped forward. This timid aspiring pastor was bolstered by his wife who was willing to suffer with me in the cause of the gospel. And I was forever changed. 

On December 3, 1977, Sandy made a vow to God and to me to stick by me through thick and thin. In the spring of 1978, on a grassy hill at Ohio State University she fulfilled that vow in dramatic fashion. She held up my sign - and she has been holding up my sign ever since. In doing so, she has not only affected me - she has also affected the world.

Ladies, I cannot overstate the effect that you have on your husbands. Your love, your support, your faith and your loyalty are powerful. Very powerful.

God commands us to "Only be strong and very courageous." (Joshua 1:7)   For a man, sometimes his courage is tested when God calls him to take on a new venture.  Other times his courage is tested when he is being questioned or attacked.  Whatever the situation, each man must face his fears.  When his courage and convictions are severely tested, each man must trust his God and climb the hill. The world may laugh at him. But he must go forward. 

When a man takes that step, it is not only a God-moment for him. It is also a God-moment for his wife. She has an opportunity to follow his lead-to join him at that critical moment when his faith is being challenged.  A wife has the great privilege to stand by him, proclaiming the One who died and rose again on our behalf. It is her opportunity to hold up his sign.

Ladies, you have no doubt had the opportunity to hold up the sign of your husband many times in your life. When you did so, you made an impact on your husband more than you will ever realize.  As you follow the Lord in the future, you will have many more opportunities to hold up his sign.  When that opportunity comes again, seize it.  Seize it with all of your heart.  When you do, it will not only transform your marriage.  It will also transform the world.

God bless you, ladies.  
John Hopler

Dear Sisters,

Every one of us is uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit to serve in the body of Christ, for His glory. At the same time, as pastors wives we understand that our primary ministry calling is to support our husbands.

Our writer this month, Karen Haring, is incredibly talented in writing and music (and, I'm sure, in other areas of which I'm not yet aware!). In her love for Christ and her husband, Karen has used her talents in serving Tim and their church. Her focus has been on Christ and her family, not her gifts. But her gifts have been used in a powerful way through a church that ministers to several thousand people in the weekend services and to tens of thousands in their annual Passion Play.

I believe that the fruit from Karen's ministry is a direct result of her maintaining Biblical priorities-the Lord, her husband, and her children. May God use her example to inspire us to more fully serve Jesus Christ and our families as "good stewards of the manifold grace of God." (1st Peter 4:10)

In Christ,
Sandy Hopler

The Proverbs 31 Passion

by Karen Haring (Chestnut Ridge Community Church, Morgantown, West Virginia)

I've always thought of the Proverbs 31 woman as my example on how to be a helper to my husband. Obviously a great wife and mother, her various projects that could have detracted from her priorities, actually enhanced their family life even more. She made her husband's success her primary mission, and that's my goal too.

I've been involved in several ministries with our church that have helped support Tim in his role as a pastor and in his desire to reach our community. Our worship service programming and music are my serving strengths. As he and the other pastors work on their messages, we're able to mesh the music and programming to help people get the full impact. This reinforces what those pastors share even more and helps bring the message home to every heart. We also look for ways to include our kids in the ministry, and the older three have participated in various ways over the last six or seven years. It's been a joy to work together and see our kids rub shoulders with other great people doing actual ministry. It's not only a support to Tim and the church, but our kids are learning to serve others too.

Another support avenue is our yearly Easter musical, "The Passion." What started as something small many years ago has become a powerful gospel tool that creates a bridge event for our members to invite friends and family. As I look back now, I see how God was molding me to have certain experiences and abilities that could be leveraged for supporting Tim in his vision. I've also helped create the drama and directed the musical end of things. This event has really helped us have a bigger impact as a church. It's been a way for us to serve together as a family, as I've done the music, the kids have worked on stage or backstage, and Tim has spoken.

As wonderful as all this has been, there are several things I'd like to mention about pitfalls. One difficulty has been the busyness involved during the season of "The Passion." Our kids have been home-schooled and now attend public school, but during the week of "The Passion" I cancel all classes, and try to do some relaxing or "hang out" things with the kids: shopping, a movie, or going out to eat. This has helped keep us all connected and minimized the craziness of pulling off a huge production. The younger two have not been in "The Passion," but this gives them and Tim more opportunity to be together while I'm engrossed with the last week of rehearsals.

Another challenge is learning to keep a balance between what I say and don't say to Tim about differences we may have about how we do the services. Being directly involved in the worship services provides a lot of opportunities for us to talk about church things. Because we're both involved in the same area, sometimes we have differences of opinion on how things should be done. I feel I have erred on both sides-sometimes saying too much and sometimes remaining silent when I should speak. I think praying first and asking God to direct through His Spirit is always a good first step for me. I've also learned that it's often better to let others speak to Tim from a programming standpoint, than to have me bring things up all the time. Tim really values my input, and often it's easier to focus on what needs to be changed instead of the positive and encouraging points. I have too often failed to do this. I always need to be thinking about how I can encourage him and support him in what he is doing. Always encourage!

I'm very thankful for the opportunities God has given me with our church ministries. We've been able to labor together as a family and as a couple. God has answered in amazing ways as we've prayed for "The Passion" and the weekend services. It's really built our faith, reached a lot of folks in our community, and also brought them to church. And along the way, God is refining me and helping me grow in learning how to support my husband even more. I'm not exactly the Proverbs 31 woman, but she remains my example!

If you would like to respond to Karen, please contact us at info@gccweb.org, for her email address.

Dear Sisters,

Life is a little like knitting a sweater, according to our writer this month. I looked up "knit" in my Bible concordance and found this:

"...that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself..." (Colossians 2:1-3)

We all need our faith and hearts encouraged to continue to trust, and to be united in love with each other. I like that Cheryl points us to Jesus and His return as our hope. Let's fix our hope completely on Him, sisters, and know we will then never be disappointed with life!

Love in Christ,
Sandy Hopler

Knitting and Life

by Cheryl Sanchez (Rio Rancho, New Mexico)

I had not picked up my knitting for a long time. Life just seemed to be too busy. I had started the sweater for my grandson while he was still in the womb and we didn't yet know he was going to be a boy...so...a yellow sweater. Nathan is now five years old.

I began to knit again this week and have almost finished the tiny creation. It will now belong to my granddaughter who will be born next February. Good thing I used yellow yarn.

Knitting is a lot like life. I began with a tenuous chain of stitches, connected to nothing but each other, like a chain of DNA. That row is the most tedious and most frail. Frequently, it needs to be restarted and it seems it will never amount to anything. But the pattern, written by an experienced knitter, says otherwise. As one stitch is added to another, row upon row, a pattern begins to appear, giving hope. Psalm 27:14 encourages me, "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

I didn't understand how it would all fit together though. After a small section finally began to look like something, I was told to place it on a holder, to come back to later. And then another small section was put on another holder...and another...and another. I had to trust the pattern that it would all come together because it didn't make sense to me. Psalm 130:5 says, "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope."

Some rows are knitted very quickly, almost without looking at the stitches. Others, when an adjustment is being made, must be knitted slowly and carefully with tedious counting of stitches. And I always make some mistakes. Even the most experienced knitters do. Then stitches need to be ripped out...sometimes rows of stitches! Those are discouraging times when I really feel like quitting.

Somewhere in there, I laid the knitting down for nearly six years. I was amazed at how much satisfaction I found picking it up again. One of those projects you start, drop, and think you will never finish, and then...one day the time is right...and you gain the courage to finish it. It does take courage to finish things I think. Life can be hard and tedious. In Romans 8:23-25, we are encouraged to keep going. "We ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

Finally, the pattern told me to take all the stitches off the holders and put them back on the needle. There was barely room to hold them all! What an exciting row of stitching. It was difficult though and had to be done very carefully. I didn't want to make a mistake at this point...not when I'm finally putting things together. Psalm 40:1 says, "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry."

Now I could tell that it was going to be a sweater, but it was still a long way to completion with hours of stitch upon stitch, row upon row ahead of me. Day upon day, year upon year, "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him." (Isaiah 30:8) Life is made up of days, hours and minutes of obeying the God who created us and wants to create something wondrous of our lives. I love the following passage in Titus 2:11-14, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."

I am down to the last six rows and then I will bind off the stitches and add the buttons...the end result is clear. As I can now see a great deal of my life behind me, I have a better view of what lies ahead. I yearn to see my Lord face to face! (Not until my time is completed, of course, because I think I have a lot of stitches left.) Yet I look forward to it with anticipation. I Thess 1:10 says, "...wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath." I am willing to wait, to finish the stitches I have before me, to "Wait for the gift my Father promised." (Acts 1:4)

I look forward to giving the gift to my daughter for her precious baby girl. I know Jesus yearns for the day he will present us, perfect and without flaw, to our father, the Lord of all.

If you want to respond to Cheryl, contact our office at info@gccweb.org to get her email address.

Dear Sisters,

"And He will be the stability of your times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is his treasure." (Isaiah 33:6)

In the midst of life's changes, how comforting it is to know that our God stays the same. No wonder then, the psalmist so often describes the Lord as "my Rock." Our writer this month is finding her stability and contentment in God. Where changes initially brought her tears, she now is finding joy and contentment through claiming and believing promises from His unchanging Word.

So, whatever our "times" bring along, let's allow Him to be our Rock and our stability. Then we can stand firm and strong no matter what comes.

In Him,

Sandy Hopler

He Is Still There

by Virginia Biang (Glen Arbor Community Church, West Chicago, IL)

Several years ago, I remember listening to a song with the following lyrics:

"But I welcome the change like I welcome the rain, for nothing has grown in a long, long time."

I don't remember who sang it, but since I'm a person who is oftentimes not excited about change, I appreciated the song. I have found, however, that without changes in life, we become stagnant and do not grow. This principle has become apparent once again in my life.

Last fall we suddenly found that we had a virtual "empty nest." Our oldest son was married, the two next oldest boys had rented their own house, and the youngest son had moved to Kansas. Only my daughter was at home and she worked full time and was busy most evenings. Suddenly I found myself with hours of time by myself in quietness, and I will admit that I did not like it very much! When the kids were all young, I remember longing for some peace and quiet, but when I actually got to that quiet time in life, I felt like I was living in a desert. As the oldest child in a family of five, there was much companionship and activity in my childhood home. Since I had home-schooled all my own children until their mid-teens, there was always noise, chatter, and music around the house. The sudden quietness and time by myself seemed very foreign.

As I was praying about this (with a few tears), God reminded me of His promise in Isaiah 43:19, "I will even make ... rivers in the desert," and Isaiah 51:3, "The Lord will comfort Zion ...Her wilderness He will make like Eden and her desert like the garden of the Lord." It helped me a lot to start looking for the streams of water in my "desert place." When I started to look, I actually found some! I no longer have to be so rigid with the use of my time. I enjoy being more relaxed and moving at a slower pace. When my husband wants to talk, I am not distracted by what I need to do next. My quiet times are longer and fuller. My small communications with God are becoming more numerous and I've even started doing some memorizing. (What a shock!) Along with this, I am not as limited in the times I can meet with and encourage others.

In Psalm 106:24 God talks about how the Israelites "despised the pleasant land." It was very easy for me to want to go back to the way things used to be and despise the pleasant land that God was giving. The Israelites kept wanting to return to Egypt and would not enter the promised land. How often I am like that! I keep looking back with longing to a time and place that is comfortable and familiar rather than moving on and embracing a new and unfamiliar land.

And now, after twenty-one years in Chicago and thirteen years in our present home, we are going to move to West Lafayette, Indiana (Purdue University). What a stretch this is for someone who doesn't even like to have her furniture changed in the living room! As we have prayed about this, God has been very faithful to show His truth.

Psalm 84:5 says, "Blessed are the people whose heart is set on pilgrimage." Twenty-nine years ago, I linked my life with Chris' to journey with him wherever God sent us. Somehow, when we got to Chicago, (particularly after we built a house), my heart forgot about the journey. I settled in and was content to stay. However, now that the kids are adults, God wants me to pack up my tent and continue with the pilgrimage. As a result, He promises blessing on my life. It is difficult to think about leaving our present house. We built this house to accommodate my physical challenges and it is easy to think about staying in this house that meets my needs. But Philippians 4:19 says, "My God shall supply all your needs." Just as God has provided here, so He will provide in the next place as well as any place we will be in the future. "Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things." Matthew 6:32

Most importantly, as my life circumstances change around me, I have been especially comforted by contemplating the stability of God. No matter what happens, He is there. No matter what changes occur, He is still there on the other side of the change - immovable, constant and eternal. Even after the biggest change of all (death), He will still be there. Hebrews 13:5 says, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you," and also in verse 8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

My situation (multiple sclerosis in a scooter full time) is a little different from others. My ability to get out and interact in the Gospel is somewhat limited. Our plan in the future may include having room for college age women to live with us, where I can continue to have relationships and a place to serve. So, we are choosing to open up the nest once again.

What will be the result of all these changes and transitions? He promises blessings, provision, pleasant lands and His never-ending presence and help. Psalm 73:26 says, "God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." He is what we inherit and what we will get in the end. When we die, we will not be sorry about the changes He has brought into our lives.

Our church has a couple of strong points. First, we've been able to answer many questions people have about the Christian faith. Second, we've been able to take the gospel to the students instead of waiting for them to come to us. We've been taking back turf that this world so brazenly claims it owns. Recently, I had lunch with a freshman. After our conversation, he kept thanking me because he had never heard the gospel explained so clearly. He knew that day that Jesus was his Savior. It's been great to go out on a limb and find the fruit God has for us.

Check out Pneuma Christian Fellowship.

In 1982 when Lael became a Christian, she was shy and hesitant to surrender her life to God in the area of evangelism.  She feared that the moment she did, God would have her speaking publicly in the streets.  But God helped her overcome her fears and is now using her in an incredible ministry.  In 1996, she and her family got involved with Operation Christmas Child.  New Song Community Church joined efforts and in 2001, 88 shoe boxes were filled for children around the world.  Last year, thanks to her "packing parties," Lael and 100 other volunteers of all ages from New Song helped put together 1,951 shoes boxes filled with gifts for Christmas.  But most importantly, they included Gospel tracts in the child's native language. 

Samaritan's Purse has found that an average of 20 people hear the Good News of Jesus Christ from just 1 shoe box.  Based on this average, nearly 40,000 people heard the gospel last year through the New Song packing party organized by Lael.  An amazing work by God through someone who was hesitant to be an evangelist!

If any church is interested in having an Operation Christmas Child "packing party," please contact the GCC office for more information.

Dear Sisters,

It's fall season again and a new school year has begun. But this time around, our youngest is a junior in high school, and he's the last of eight here at home. Our evenings are usually pretty quiet. So I asked a number of our pastors' wives to share with us anything that helped them in their transition to the "empty nest." Their replies revealed to me that although everyone is different in how they approach changes and challenges, these women all love and trust the Lord. Along with the excellent woman in Proverbs 31:25 they "smile at the future." I hope you enjoy and learn from their thoughts, just as I have!

In His service,

Sandy Hopler

Like it or not, we are empty-nesters and have been so for over four years.  To quote my husband, who repeated this ad nauseam to almost anyone who would listen, "Our children actually had the gall to grow up and leave us."  But I am happy to report that they are all doing well and so are Rick and I.

Two thoughts:  First, give yourself permission to grieve.  It's the end of an era.  Raising our family was a great time.  It was a lot of fun and a lot of work.  It's the end of an era.  It's okay to cry about it and you need to work through it.  Let the Lord help you.  I did better when I gave myself (and my husband) permission to grieve. "Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll -- are they not in your record?"   Psalm 56:8.  Second, move forward.  To quote some lyrics from the Alan Jackson song Remember When,

•             "Remember when we said when we turned gray

•             When children grow up and moved away

•             We won't be sad, we'll be glad

•             For all the love we've had

•             And we'll remember when."

My life is not over. There is a whole lot that God still wants to do in and through my life.  I have maturity, skills, talents, and gifts that I developed as I was raising my family, which God now is using.

From Thelma Clark (Parker, Colorado):

It's easy to think the "empty nest" stage is for the rest of our lives and that we need to come up with something kind of "permanent" that God would have us fill the time with.  However, once our children have their own families, it often coincides with our own parents or close relatives beginning to need help/care. These on top of our own husband/household/church can produce so many needs for us to help meet that it's almost more demanding than when all of our kids were under our roofs, because they're all different and in different places.  Whenever a woman reaches the "empty nest" stage, I would encourage her to visualize this stage possibly ahead for her.  And whatever she does--keep growing in the Lord and in faith, getting strengthened for the sprint coming.  

I think of what Elizabeth Elliot said: "God made us all to be mothers whether we ever have children or not."  The world needs mothering (care, love, training, serving, reaching)...and we rub shoulders with those who need our care everywhere.

From Karen Haring (Morgantown, West Virginia):                                                                   

So much of my life the past few years seems to be about "letting go." I find myself thinking often, "let go and let God."  I guess I have found that thought comforting and faith-building as I have seen two go off to college, and this fall sent my last two home-schoolers to public school. When I look at my life closely, there is so much that I want to be in control of.  It helps me to grow closer to God by knowing that I can fully trust Him and let go to let Him have His way-in my kids' lives, and in mine.

One other thing that has really helped me is to think back on the good things my parents did with me. They trusted me, let go of me, and prayed much for me. This encourages me when I realize these steps helped me, as their child, to grow in God. I want to do the same for my children, and allow them to make their own decisions and mistakes.

From Louise Martin (Columbus, Ohio):

Although not quite empty yet, my nest has cleared out to a great extent. Three of our four children live away from home, which leaves my sophomore son home alone with the "old folks."  Even though we've been steadily sending kids off for a few years now, I found this fall brought the biggest changes in my role as a mom. I find that I am more attentive to the needs of my remaining son than I have ever been. He won't admit it, but I think he is experiencing the "empty nest" more than I am.  His whole life he has had a brother to wrestle with or a sister who wanted to cuddle with him. In particular, this year he has lost his basketball/video game/baseball brother, and what he's been left with, at least until Dad gets home, is this gray-haired middle-aged lady!

What have I done to meet his needs? Well, I have picked up the ping-pong paddle after years of disuse. I plop on the couch when he's studying or watching TV and just do what I'm doing near him. Instead of assigning the chores and managing/inspecting as I've always done, I do chores alongside him.  I try to say "Yes" to going places he wants to go. All throughout my parenting I have remembered when Jacob returned from being with Laban. He didn't rush ahead with Esau, but traveled at the pace of his children. (Gen 33:14). This has helped me to be content when I could not do things that others were doing. Now I see I have to pick up the pace to keep up with the "bird" I have left.

From Jan Gordon (Gainesville, Florida):

We have really tried to be in fairly close contact with our kids as they have left the nest.  My husband has done Skype with our four boys once a week, though we need to re-establish this since new fall schedules.

Matt's family has been an amazing example of calling us often throughout our married lives, and it has been such a blessing knowing they are watching our back and, in a lot of ways, keeping us accountable (though they wouldn't have thought of it that way, I don't think).  We want to try to do the same. Matt is also planning a once a year get away with the boys to connect

In my talks with the older boys, I let them know that I will be asking what they are learning in their quiet times and I want to share mine.  One thing we have been encouraging is, that as many as can, to do the same quiet time plan.  We do this with the ones at home and, one day a week, we discuss what we are getting out of it. (We are taking notes, doing outlines, and writing challenge verses with practicals, etc).  At least one of our older boys has joined us. I would love to get us all on the plan. 

We pray daily for each young man out of the house. Our goal is to let them know we are on the same team accomplishing the same purpose, just in different locations. This has helped me "not miss" them quite as much.

From Barbara Wilson (Raleigh, North Carolina):

As far as empty nesting goes - I am feeling a bit guilty that I am enjoying it so much. Our youngest son, James, is the only one left at home.  He is a senior in high school, so he is busy with the church and school activities that he is involved in.  So, I am thoroughly enjoying the time I am able to give to Berk and the church.  Since none of our sons are playing high school football, I am able to attend weekend retreats now whereas I have not been able to for the past 5 years.  We had a beach retreat this past weekend that I attended. Berk is speaking in Daytona Beach at the Gator Christian Life retreat and I am able to go along.  I am also partnering with another sister in our church to work on getting a small women's ministry going.

All of our young men (used to be boys) are doing very well where they are and we keep in touch with them regularly via cell phone, so I don't feel like I am going through any type of mourning because they are not here.  I guess we always knew that they would grow up and leave home, so we're not thrown off by that. I also walk by bedrooms and enjoy that the beds are made just like they were the day before, and there are no dirty clothes on the floor.  (I have to make sure that neatness does not become an idol in my life, but I have lived with mild clutter for so long I like things being neat).

When you have lots of kids who are involved in lots of things, it certainly makes for a very hectic schedule.  So, I am enjoying a more relaxed time in our lives.

From Beth Sebek (Columbia, Maryland):

I was thinking of the stages of releasing the arrows that God has given us, or giving them wings to fly. We've seen kids go to school, marriages, moving out, new jobs, grandkids and some come back for round two; all come through our home.  An acrostic came to mind when thinking of this. The result of our labor of early years brings a HARVEST of change for new growth and fruit. Think of your own verses you would apply to these. 

H- Hug the memories- Ps. 143:5-6- I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. (Take the moments to remember and savor).

A- Adjust to the changing tides- Eph. 1:16- I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. (Allow change).

R- Release to new journeys- Ps. 118:24- This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (We can safely let go into our Father's hands). 

V- Value the moments- Philippians 2:13- For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Look for opportunities to empower).

E- Explore the possibilities- Eph. 4:7- But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. (See what new things God would have for you).

S- Step out on the water- Eph. 3:20- Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. (Obey what He shows you today).

T- Trust in God's unfailing love- Ps. 16:8- I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (My value comes in Christ alone, not what I do).

The one thing that kept me going was my grandmother. Then one night she fell and broke her hip. She went to the hospital and became very ill. My grandmother - my only reason for living - was going to die. I couldn't live with myself and everything began to fall apart. I took a bunch of pills and tried to end my life. I ended up in the hospital, and my grandmother soon passed away. I was very angry at the world and with myself. The morning after we buried her, I entered a rehabilitation clinic.

I came home from that clinic knowing that God was real and that I loved Him. The problem was, I still didn't know how to do that - I only knew what I had been taught all of my life. No matter how many times I went to church or read the Bible or tried to clean myself up, I always ended up back in the same spot. Until a Christian friend invited me to The Rock.

I wasn't comfortable at The Rock at first. It went against almost everything I had been taught to think a church should be. In fact, a casual environment, coffee, and rock music were all things I was taught were the opposite of what God would call a church! There was a lot of talk about grace and about how you don't need to work to receive God's love and acceptance. I learned that I don't have to prove myself to God or earn my way to heaven! My life has changed. I am a new person, and God has blessed me since I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

From this beginning we have had 20-30 students in attendance on Sundays, and we have a group interested in creating a worship team, and serving however is needed. Thank you for your prayers and praise God for His ability to build something great where there was nothing there before!

Dear Sisters,

"The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain."   Prov. 31:11

Sometimes I wonder, what is the best thing I can do for my husband so that he will have "no lack of gain." John then reminds me that his greatest desire for me will be the greatest blessing to him-that I would be a woman who has faith and puts her trust in God. My husband can then trust that I will encourage myself and others in the Lord, even in difficult circumstances. This month we have a wonderful testimony from Thelma Clark on how she strengthens her faith in the Lord during the hard times. Sisters, let's follow her advice and find our husbands enjoying the gain of encouraged wives!

Love,

Sandy Hopler

Faith

To my dear sisters "on the wall,"

If we could all sit and chat for awhile, each of us would have "such a story to tell" of all that's going on in and around our lives--each of us with the unique stresses and joys and responsibilities that the Lord has allowed for us.  As I look around at our church family right now, it's amazing how many have especially difficult circumstances to deal with.  My "mother's heart" kicks in with the desire to fix everything and help everyone, but most of the situations are too big to fix and I'm only one person with some of my own unusually stretching circumstances. So I do what I can and then take them in prayer to the throne of our Father, for I so want them to make it--to keep standing strong, not losing heart.

This has helped me understand Paul's heart for the believers, and Jesus' heart for Peter.  Jesus prayed that Peter's FAITH wouldn't fail.  (Luke 22: 32)  Paul couldn't stand it any longer, so he sent to find out about the Thessalonians' FAITH because he was afraid for them.  He sent Timothy to strengthen and encourage them in their FAITH so they wouldn't be unsettled by their trials.  He was encouraged when he was brought good news about their FAITH.  He prayed most earnestly that he could see them and supply what was lacking in their FAITH.  He said he "really lived" since they were standing firm in the Lord. (1Thes. 3:1-8)

When my kids were all at home and the to-do list was endless (does it ever change??), it helped me to put at the top of the list: "the children."  It was a visual reminder that loving and training them was the most important thing to which I needed to tend.  Recently I've begun to think that now I need to write down FAITH (mine and others') as the most important thing "to do" each day. We have a wonderful God with a mighty hand and outstretched arm to walk through each hour with us, and placing trust in Him each of those hours in every day is the ultimate. He is the One who "breaks open the way" (Micah 2:13 NIV), so you'd think that by now "trusting peacefully" would be my habit.  But worries and discouragements are still a natural default and it often takes time and effort to put my hope in God again. I keep getting to know more about Him every day in my quiet times, which helps me to walk in faith in my own circumstances. Then I am able to help others see His love and ability to help them persevere in their own situations.

Of course God's Word and promises are the main faith builders.  But there are two other things that jump start me in "believing" again once I've wavered.  Thanking God for the exact thing that just happened or was said or is upon us helps to immediately change my perspective.  And giving thanks is what involves God.  (Psalm 50 says it prepares the way for Him to show the salvation of God.)  In the book 31 Days of Praise, it says that praise "frees us from wasting energy speculating how things can be part of His plan and puts a stamp of approval on His unseen purposes....  Praise makes your circumstances and life a test tube (for others to see) that demonstrates the existence of a personal God who is present and involved and controls the natural universe.  It turns our attention to spiritual and eternal values and directs it away from the pleasure and success mentality which resists all pain and delay." 

The other prompter to faith for me has been singing.  David said in Psalm 63:7 "Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings."  When I'm stressed or discouraged, I certainly don't feel like singing, but there are a couple of "life songs" that have helped me over this hump time and time again.  God has used them to live out His promise to me in 2 Thes. 2:16,17: "May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father....encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."  I keep these words in my daily journal and wanted you all to have them.  If you can learn the tunes, you'd be blessed even more.

Day by Day

Day by day, and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here.

Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment, I've no cause for worry or for fear.

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure, gives unto each day what He deems best.

Lovingly, it's part of pain and pleasure, mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day the Lord Himself is near me with a special mercy for each hour.

All my cares He feign would bear and cheer me, He whose name is Counselor and Power.

The protection of His child and treasure is a charge that on Himself He laid.

"As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure," this the pledge to me He made.

Help me, then, in every tribulation, so to trust Thy promises, O Lord.

That I lose not faith's sweet consolation offered me within Thy Holy Word.

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting, 'er to take as from a Father's hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting, till I reach the promised land.

He Giveth More Grace

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater;

He sendeth more strength where the labors increase;

To added afflictions He addeth His mercy;

To multiplied sorrows, His multiplied peace.

Chorus: 

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure;

His power has no boundary known unto men.

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and giveth again.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed 'er the day is half done;

When we've reached the end of our hoarded resources,

Our Father's full giving has only begun.  (Chorus)

Two others:  "How Firm a Foundation" and Travis Cottrell's recent song "God Leads Us Along"-- (the chorus): "Leads.. some through the waters, some through the flood, some through the fire, but all through the blood. Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song in the night season and all the day long." 

Paul boasted of the Thessalonians' perseverance and FAITH in ALL the persecutions and trials they were enduring.  (2 Thes. 1:4)  Even though I don't know all of the things that each of you have endured, I do know that I could boast, too, of your perseverance and faith because you are on the front lines and you are still standing.  Might God strengthen us to stay strong in faith till the end, and meet Him singing "Great is Your Faithfulness, O God my Father."   

Thelma Clark

Parker, CO

Recently, we did an internal poll with the pastors of Great Commission Churches on the subject of divorce. The pastors were asked to count the number of committed member couples that were part of their church in the past 10 years--together with the number of these couples who have since gotten divorced. (If a couple left the church and got divorced later, they were included in these statistics.) Based on the responses to these questions, it was determined that the divorce rate in Great Commission churches of committed member couples in the last 10 years has been 2.5%. 

GCC Director John Hopler gives five reasons why the divorce rate is so low for Great Commission Churches members:

1. The grace of Jesus Christ. In Colossians 1:17 we are told that in Christ "all things hold together." In our movement, we understand that Jesus Christ is the great "glue" in a marriage. Each husband and each wife is a weak and needy person--but in our weakness, Jesus Christ keeps a marriage strong. To Him be all the glory!
2. A heart devotion to obey the Scriptures. We believe in the adequacy of the Scriptures, as is stated in 2nd Timothy 3:16: "All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." Our movement believes that God blesses couples that follow His truths as to marriage. Also we put a high emphasis on the Lordship of Jesus Christ where His word is not merely listened to, but obeyed (James 1:22.) Church members are urged to humbly believe in the grace of Jesus Christ and to obey His commands, including the commands in Ephesians 5 related to the roles of husbands and wives.
3. A commitment to love and unity as a church. In Great Commission churches we emphasize elders and members living out Philippians 2:3: "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, let each of you consider one another more important than himself." Elders practice this bondservant life-style of loyalty and self-sacrifice towards each other--and this example has had a powerful effect on couples in the church. As elders work through their relational conflicts, couples in the church are inspired to follow their example of loyalty and devotion to each other.
4. A Great Commission church vision. Jesus gave the command in Matthew 28:19,20 to "Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you." We have seen that marriages are strengthened when couples devote themselves to a common cause--the cause of advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ through the local church.
5. A resolve among couples to not get divorced. God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16.) If we love God, we will hate divorce as well. My wife and I often say to each other, "I just want you to know, that if you ever leave.....I'm going with you!" We aspire to build this mindset, this resolve, in couples in Great Commission churches." 

Praise God for His grace-- and pray that He will continue to strengthen and build marriages in His church, so that the name of Jesus Christ may be honored and loved throughout the world.

Dear Sisters,

Have you ever given serious thought to how many people your life is influencing? This month's article urged me to also consider the direction and quality of my influence on others, and to seek more than ever to draw those I serve closer to Jesus Christ and His gospel.

"Granny" was a loving wife and mother who had an incredible impact on many, many people. She was a person of influence because of her devotion to the Lord and her faithfulness to obey God's word. Our writer points out that the "teaching of kindness was on her tongue." But what spoke the loudest to those she loved and served was her example.

I pray the Lord Jesus inspires us from Granny's life to find joy in imitating Him, who came not to be served, but to serve.

United with you for His glory,

Sandy Hopler

---

The Power of an Example by Thelma Clark

I wish you all could have known Granny (as everyone called her). Starting when I was 18, I was privileged on several occasions over a couple of years to stay for months at a time in Granny's home. Little did I realize then how much she was impacting my life, but her example in so many areas was what Titus 2 speaks of: "older women teach younger women," with the emphasis being teaching by example as much as by words.

Through the years since then, remembering her example and receiving occasional advice from her has often instructed or inspired me.

It always seemed that her attitudes, joy, and zeal were primarily from her strong personality and giftedness (and of course from the Lord). But at her memorial service last summer when I heard from her family the real reason for who she was, it left a lasting impression.

Let me describe those times in her home as I remember them.

What a busy place it was, housing Granny, her husband, and their two adult sons, her daughter and son-in-law with their seven young children, AND they were keeping the 8-10 of us "singles," as well as continually persuading numerous guests to come for meals or evenings of fellowship with homemade ice cream or goodies!

It didn't matter who walked in the door-Granny would warmly and enthusiastically greet them. She had a way about her that made everyone feel special and sincerely loved.

This enthusiasm for people didn't deter her hard work in managing the home and all that was going on in it either.

She was usually the first one up in the morning (reading her Bible before going to the kitchen), and often the last one to bed at night. Her home was her "tool" for loving people by providing good times of fellowship and great food. Meals were a real gathering time. Somehow everyone sat down (the adults mixed in with the little ones), and the relaxed after-dinner conversation usually centered on the Lord and His Word.

Even though Granny thrived on hearing and being a part of these discussions, she often never sat down, but kept bringing more food, making sure everyone was taken care of. She always assured us that she had gotten plenty to eat-but it was probably by eating what was left on the little ones' plates (seriously!).

Whether Granny was cleaning, doing laundry, instructing a child, or cooking (feeding 20-30 people daily!), she was cheerful and often singing (teaching anyone else in the kitchen her songs); and she knew how to graciously get everyone in the kitchen involved in helping.

She often placed toys in an out-of-the-way place in the kitchen so she could supervise the little ones' play and sing with them while she worked. Whatever conversation came up as we helped her, Granny seemed to find ways to make the most of the opportunity by applying God's Word to the topic.

It was a new experience for me to live with a family where the speech of all the adults was characterized by an extra measure of graciousness. This in itself made it such a warm and welcoming place to be.

Now I realize how much Granny's spirit enlarged her influence-because we loved being around her and it drew us to her; and then, because we felt loved, we were receptive to her unapologetically speaking the truth to us. I was being exposed more than I ever had before to a home focused on loving God and loving and influencing people for Him-all lived out in a very magnetic way.

Fast-forward nearly 40 years to Granny's memorial service.

It was inspiring to get a small glimpse of the fruit of her life. All of the "little" grandchildren, now grown (who should've hardly remembered us) greeted us with the warmth and enthusiasm that had been Granny's way, making us feel loved and special to them. We were joined by the rest of the grandchildren, most of whom had their own spouses and little ones now. It was exciting to see them loving God and reflecting the godly values we had seen lived out in Granny.

I was reminded of the verse: "Grandchildren are the crown of the aged." They were truly bringing honor and attention (as a crown would) to the life she had modeled, taught, and prayed for.

Many individuals in the audience stood and told of the times they'd been in Granny's home, of her influence on their lives, and of the many ways she had served them and been an example to them-each of these now representing numerous others that their individual lives had touched.

We heard of the impact this extended family (beginning with three children) has had on the whole community over the years as it's grown to 16 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren--that when this family is mentioned, people know of their testimony and hold them in high regard.

And they know of how Granny (nearly blind in her later years) had asked daily to be taken to a different grandchild's home so she could do their laundry-even when she had a broken arm!

At the service I was touched by the extent to which Granny's quiet life had so profoundly impacted and empowered others. I was encouraged and convicted that the gracious speech and warm spirit that had characterized Granny now imprinted the grown-up grandchildren. But hearing something I "didn't know" about Granny impacted me the most.

Her family told of how she was not necessarily a cheerful person-but that after she came to know the Lord, she read the Bible as God's Word to her as how she should live. When she read the verse: "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it," her response was, "I'm going to obey."

They also told of her life as a younger woman. We all knew she was a very gifted and spirited woman, but I had only seen it lived out as a devoted wife and mother in her home and community.

In the 1920's when many women didn't go to college, she did-and she was the only woman in the Amarillo Philharmonic Orchestra (a cellist), resulting in a radio contract that she eventually broke to get married. Years later, when as a married woman, she heard what the Word taught about God's plan for the roles in marriage, she wholeheartedly committed to this for her marriage and family.

The memorial program said of her: "The Lord gave His life for her and she wanted to give her life for Him. Faith seemed easy, and obedience was instant. She was unapologetic about whatever she felt the Lord wanted her to do; the vision that will forever be burned in the mind of her children and grandchildren is of their Granny, sitting beneath her window with the daybreak sun streaming in, reading her large print Bible with her magnifying glass. In the last 10 years she slowly read through her Bible seven times, able to see only two words at a time."

God used Granny to imprint me once again that day as I heard that it was her choices to obey the Word that made her who she was. Her daily time with Him gave her the strength she needed. It was little choices-but with far-reaching, life-changing effects!

With my heart newly challenged, I was encouraged when they shared that if Granny could speak to us from where she is now, she would tell us, "It is worth it all! Don't grow weary--you will reap a harvest. Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Granny knows this now, and I'm forever grateful that God allowed Millie McCotter's life to touch (and repeatedly touch) mine.

Thelma Clark
Parker, CO

If you want to respond to Thelma, contact our office at info@gccweb.org to get her email address.

As the candidate develops an effective leadership team and expands the effectiveness of this current ministry, a new emphasis will be to create and develop a college-age ministry that will effectively reach out to this age group for the purpose of seeing students come to Christ, grow in their faith and be enfolded into a local church. There is currently a local community college and a private 4-year college in the area.

The candidate should see this staff position as a life calling and not as a stepping-stone to pastoral ministry - even though it is understood that God can always redirect a person's life calling and purpose - we want to know that the candidate sees himself or herself in this position for the long haul.

Personal Qualifications

• Sex Male or Female
• Preferred Age Range 22-32 years old
• Marital Status Married or single
• Spiritual Background Born-again Christian of at least 6 years
• Experience 2 years previous experience in leading or having a key leadership role in an effective youth ministry is required.
• Spiritual Gifts Aptitude in administration, teaching God's Word, and relating well to high school students
• Biblical Qualifications See 1Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9, and Galatians 5:22-26

These qualifications should be evidenced in the life of the candidate in the following three ways.

1. Character (See the above passages.)
2. Compatibility (See our website; www.discoverlifespring.com).
   The candidate should:
   1. Be unified with LifeSpring's doctrine, vision and mission.
   2. Be in agreement with the core values of the Great Commission & of LifeSpring.
   3. Have a proven ability to submit to pastoral authority.
   4. See unity in the Church as a high core value.
   5. Be a proven team player, not an independent agent.
   6. Be a person who thoroughly enjoys hanging out with teens.
3. Competence
   The candidate should:
   1. Have proven excellence in ministry leadership, administration, teaching, and in relating with & as a mentor to high school students.
   2. Possess self-starter qualities and be creative and innovative with the ability to place his/her own unique signature on the ministry.
   3. Be unsatisfied with the status quo and always striving for new heights in reaching students for Christ.
   4. Have the ability to resolve conflicts at every level: with students, team leaders, and parents, and not get defensive when criticized.

The LifeSpring leadership team, consisting of the two pastors along with four members, realizes a growing need for a person in this position. We are open to God's leading and realize that this area will need to be a step of faith for both the church and the candidate.

We are currently a 5 ½ year-old church of 250 (160 adults/90 children). Currently, on average, 30-35 teens attend our Monday evening youth meeting. We have our own facility on 7 acres, with plans to build a larger facility in the near future. The church has experienced consistent growth over the years and is in the middle of a season of significant growth. Both pastors are paid full-time salaries and have both been in ministry for 15-20 years.

While our budget has grown each year, we currently have limited financial resources to add a third full-time staff position for the size of our church. This is where we believe the step of faith comes in. The possibilities for financial support could be varied depending on the candidate, and we are open to anything that God may want to do. We believe the congregation will be involved in supporting this need.

Important Note

We believe "the way of wisdom" dictates that this position will be initially looked at as a 1-year internship to give both the candidate and the church the opportunity to evaluate, at year's end, if it is a good fit for everyone.

Application Requirements

1. Current resume
2. A salvation testimony, current spiritual growth testimony, and a ministry experience testimony
3. Three professional references and one pastoral reference 

Interested candidates should send all application requirements, by May 1, 2008, to:

Pastor Jim Donahue

Email:
jim@discoverlifespring.com

Mail:
LifeSpring Community Church
1615 Thoele Road
St. Peters, MO 63376

Phone:
(636) 922-1615

Website:
www.discoverlifespring.com

Dear Sisters,

This may not be true yet in your part of the country, but I'm seeing some fresh green and pink buds on trees lining the streets of our neighborhood. It's raining, and my lawn is also greening. How refreshing the warmer rain has been after harsh winter snows.

Being around someone with a thankful, praising spirit is like a spring shower to the dry weary heart. Our writer, Rita Bergen, takes some time this month to give a blessing of thanks to all of our godly women who are quietly, faithfully serving their pastor husbands, their families, churches, and the Lord. You women are having an impact for the gospel! I pray that her thanks and praise to God for all of you will be refreshment to your spirit.

We can all say "Amen" to Rita's comments. I know that so much of what God has built into my life in my role as wife, friend, and mother, is from the Christ-filled examples of you women. We Great Commission wives have an awesome sisterhood in Christ!

God's grace to you,

Sandy Hopler

What I Have Learned From You by Rita Bergen

Where would I be today without the godly examples of so many of you? I've thanked some of you individually, but I want to take this opportunity to say a big corporate thank you to one and all! Lots of women all over the country have had an impact in my life. A little here, a little there. Yet it all adds up to a HUGE impression for me. Christ's body is at work, each member doing its small part, but together so big. Over the years I've been able to watch Christ in lots of your lives in the various places I've lived. Plus, I've had good times at conferences, hearing the wisdom and faith of so many of you. Even when I didn't know you personally, your life was a model to me. I've been influenced--for the better! Sometimes you probably didn't even know that your words or example made an imprint on me, but they did. You made a difference in my life, because Christ is in you. And that's what He does.

Your simple life, lived in a godly way, really is making a difference. Christ is in you. You are in Christ. Because of being in the Vine, you are bearing fruit. You are impacting the world (whether you've tasted the results yet or not). Christ is using you to speak His love and truth into the people around you.

I think as wives and servants of the church, we sometimes wonder if our part is making any difference. That's how I've felt at times. I long for people to know God. I hope that I can be used to influence them. The blessings in Christ are so real and so wonderful. "Please God, help me to pass along the blessing."

Then I reach out with my faith and share my experiences with others. I try, and give it my best shot, but sometimes I wonder if anyone has ever really been helped. After all, I'm a "nobody." Why should my life have helped anyone? My role seems so small. I live a lot of my life "behind the scenes."

Yet occasionally someone will come up and say, "You know that verse you shared with me in 1996 (or '83, or some other time in ancient history)? It helped me so much!" And then I feel amazed. Because sometimes I can't even remember the ancient conversation! And the thoughts I'd shared at the time were just in passing--just speaking my faith into the need of the moment. A little here, and a little there, but voila - people were helped. Amazing! Jesus in me, blessing someone else. Wow!

Christ's Spirit in you IS blessing the people around you. Be encouraged. You are changing the world - a little here, a little there. And as part of Christ's universal body, it all adds up to one huge impact. Thanks for influencing me. I love you gals!

Here are a few of the nuggets you've taught me over the years. Even though there's not room to list all of the dozens and dozens of names, I have each of you in mind! Some examples of the things you said or did that affected me were:

• Jesus is glorious, and through Him God has given us every spiritual blessing.
• Be a woman of the Word. It is my instruction book and my promise book.
• Cling to promises. Have a promise for everything I face in life.
• Sometimes it's hard to keep hanging on to promises. Persevering in this is the "good fight of faith."
• Grief does not equal unbelief. We can go to God in our tears, full of faith in His goodness and wisdom.
• Praying scripture can keep my prayers from turning into "holy" gossip sessions.
• God is always near, even in the tunnels of life.
• Loyal friendship is possible even when separated by distance and years.
• One way that I can share in the gospel is by being a servant of the church.
• My home can be a base of operations for the gospel.
• Being a homemaker is a noble calling.
• If I need to "stay at home with the baggage," I will still share in the victory.
• I can put a crown on my husband's head through my respectful, submissive, loving attitude.
• I don't need to be my husband's personal Holy Spirit (i.e. trying to change him). Instead, I can be his cheerleader!
• Remember that my husband has other men in his life who can teach him. I don't need to become his mentor.

When there is a misunderstanding, look for the meaning behind the words my husband chooses to use. Often people have different connotations for words. We may be using the same words, but meaning different things. Don't correct his word choice, but try to understand his meaning for each word.

Children are a blessing from the Lord. Enjoy them!

When all my preschool children seem to need "Mommy" all at once, don't get overloaded trying to solve all their problems simultaneously. It doesn't work! They can take turns. Address each issue in turn.

In many ways, a woman sets the tone of her home. My gloominess or cheerfulness will color the mood of the home.

Godly women have a variety of personalities. My personality has a place.

Laughter is good! Joy and laughter are ways of expressing love. I can help my family and friends enjoy having a good time together.

We are like pioneer women. At times we endure difficulties when getting the gospel out, but we have hope that our sacrifice will be worth it in the end. We trust that our ventures (and adventures!) will result in people spending eternity with the Lord.

That is well worth the effort!

Encouragement often comes simply through a friend lending a sympathetic ear.

Sometimes the way we help friends is by expressing confidence in them.

Hope in God. Our help is from Him and so is our future. "She smiles at the future."

I learned these things from you. Thanks again!

All because of Jesus,

Rita Bergen
Lee's Summit, MO

If you want to respond to Rita, contact our office at info@gccweb.org to get her email address.

Dear Sisters,

This school year is almost over for my kids, yet school is never out for those who want to be useful
to Jesus Christ. Neva Whitney has some lessons for wives who have been, or will be, planting new churches with their pastor husbands.

I remember in the late 1980's when the Whitneys were planning to move from Washington, D.C. to help a new church in beautiful Colorado. Rick's heart was "into it" and so then was Neva's. And there they were fruitful-but the Lord had more for them to do once they were grandparents!

The lesson I want to learn from Neva is that of courage. She urges us to courageously serve God in faith-and "astonish" God. Let's follow her example and then find ourselves astonished at God, as we experience His goodness and faithfulness.

In His service,
Sandy Hopler

Lessons from a Church Planter's Wife

By Neva Whitney (Vintage Faith Church, Manhattan, KS)

"May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us - yes, establish the work of our hands." - Psalm 90:16-17

I didn't realize it at the time, but I married a church planter almost 36 years ago. Not that it mattered. I would probably have married him anyway - my skinny cowboy with his newfound heart for God.

And being a new Christian myself, I did not have a hint of what God had in store for us and the path our lives would take.

Rick and I became Christians while students at Iowa State University during the early '70s. After we graduated we moved to Rick's hometown and worked for a couple of years before moving back and rejoining the Ames church in Iowa.

Shortly after Rick was recognized as a pastor, he teamed up with another young pastor and along with a great, little team - we moved to Gainesville, Florida! Being uprooted from the Midwest and moving so far away should have been my first hint that I might have married someone who loves to start new churches and try new things for God.

After we had been in Gainesville for about five years, Rick was asked, along with some other men, to move to the Washington D.C. area and help organize Great Commission Churches nationally. So we packed up and moved our ever-growing family to Maryland.

While living there for another five years, my husband volunteered for almost every opportunity he could get, to get out of town, and to work with new churches (mostly in the southeastern part of the country). So he traveled a whole lot.

Again, after about five years, Rick decided to help pastor a young church in the Denver area. The church had a few deacons serving there and they were friends of my husband. They strongly implored us to move to Colorado. It really didn't take much asking on their part.

So we packed up our ever-growing family once again, and moved halfway across the country.

This move was different from the others. This was the first time that we bought a house, settled into a neighborhood, and a community for a long time and raised our seven children there--but we kept planting churches.

While living in Colorado we didn't stay with one church for any great length of time. Maybe we should have. Looking back, it's sometimes hard to sort out what we should have done. Maybe we should have stayed with one church a little longer. Many dear men (and their wives) have been pastoring the four Denver churches, been extremely faithful, and have done a tremendous job.

But it seemed like we often tended to move on after a few years to help get another
church going. And I hasten to say, that we never did any of this alone. We were always alongside a wonderful team of sacrificial servants and hard workers.

One nice thing while we were in Colorado was that we didn't move our family each time we got involved in starting a new church. Instead we just committed to drive our van full of kids a lot. Sometimes almost an hour one-way, but we loaded up and traveled in that minivan and had a ball. And our kids were with us every step of the way, learning about God, learning about life, learning about themselves, and learning about planting churches.

After 20 years in Colorado my husband surprised me when he again got the "itch" to do something new for God. We asked our now grown kids, "What should your mom and dad do?"

And they told us! "Go big or go home!" "Get out of the boat!" "Keep it real!" "Do
something for God!"

They recognized that we weren't young pups, but their counsel was, to quote Tennyson, "Though much is taken, much abides; and though we are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; one equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

We sold our home and moved to Manhattan, Kansas, home of K-State.

We have been here for almost nine months and Kansas is starting to feel like home - though when I was flying recently from Texas, after helping with a new grandbaby of a daughter who is planting a church in El Paso, at the airport I kept looking for a gate with the destination Denver and not Kansas.

Being a church planter's wife has taught me much over the years. And I trust that some of these lessons encourage you, dear sister, no matter what your husband's gifting and whether you have done a new church plant or not.

The first lesson is that church planting is not really that big of a deal. Whether we move or not, I do not think that's the biggest pressure on us, ladies. The biggest pressure is faithful service and fulfilling our call in life to be daily followers.

Another lesson that crosses all of lives is that life is never routine on a church plant. It is good to view each day as an adventure. You don't know exactly what God (or your husband) has in store for you. You learn again how hard work is and how hard life is, and just how hard daily life can seem at times, but that's okay. God called us to labor, to work, to pour out our lives, and He will
give us all the grace we need.

We have got to believe this and we show our belief if we are experiencing that strength,
that grace. Grace for even the routine or mundane things.

I am often reminded afresh how important it is for a wife to support her husband and come alongside him in all his adventures, ideas, and schemes. To be excited about what he is excited about. To be his main cheerleader and counselor, not his critic or complainer.

I have learned you should never get too comfortable in your church. Don't rely on others to be out sharing the gospel and inviting people to church activities. Keep these kinds of things high on your priority list and a vital part of your weekly activity.

I have learned to not get strapped down by our possessions. We need "things" to function and be effective in outreach, (a frying pan, for instance) but each time I saw how much "stuff" I had accumulated and needed to part with, to make the moves halfway successful. He has weaned me of things.

I've learned that I am not above anything. When moving here - no one knew me. On campus or around town. Many times I have found myself in rather awkward or uncomfortable situations - whether it's passing out tracts on campus during a break in class or moving into a tiny
old apartment while waiting for our house to sell or traipsing around town in the rain under the cover of a big umbrella handing out flyers for a picnic that evening - and thinking to myself, "I'm above this. I don't need to do this. Do these people know who I am? I'm a national leader's wife. I'm
Mrs. Regional Director. I am the First Lady of this crazy church."

But then God gently whispered to me. "Vanity, my little girl. You are nothing of the kind. You are simply My servant. Follow Me. Trust and obey. Let go of your pride, My daughter."

God in His steady, consistent way has repeatedly said to me, "No, Neva, you are not above doing any job I might ask for you. You are not doing this for anyone else, but for Me. And serving
Me girl, isn't that enough?"

I have learned to answer Him, "Yes."

I like the quote by Margaret Atwood that Rick shared with my daughters and myself one time awhile back. "There are some women who seem to be born without fear. God appears to protect such women, maybe out of astonishment." I have learned, over and over again, that life demands courage. And He has given me courage.

I don't seem to feel any more outward confidence, even as many years go by, but I do experience and know His courage more and more.

Courage has been His faithful gift to me.

- May we, as Great Commission women, continue to always be fearless women.

- May we again and again astonish our God (and our husbands) as we step out in faith and ask God to step in and protect us.

- May we daily come alongside our men and help reach this world for our Lord and Savior Jesus.

If you want to respond to Neva, contact our office at info@gccweb.org to get her email address.

Dear Sisters,

Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him" (Genesis 2:18).

Our writer this month, Terry Putthoff, likens herself in her faithful following of her husband Dave, to Jonathan's armor-bearer. As Jonathan had the inspiration and faith to attack the enemy against overwhelming odds, his lil' old armor-bearer had to agree to go along, believing his shaking limbs would be able to charge up that hill. So too, Terry made a decision by faith to allow Dave to "do all that was in his heart" knowing she and the kids were right behind! Not only has the result (through many trials) been the gospel's spread, but Terry and her children have also been blessed by seeing answered prayers and desires fulfilled. Not to say it hasn't been a "wild horse ride" at times!

I pray we all can imitate her example, and then see the Lord show Himself to us as strong and able to provide--for us and our whole family!

Blessings,

Sandy Hopler

The Big "Perhaps" perhaps: adverb, used to express uncertainty or possibility

By Terry Putthoff (Lee's Summit Community Church, Lee's Summit, MO)

Several years ago, Dave and I were reading a book together entitled, Hope Rising by Kim Meeder. It is a testimonial book of how wounded horses have helped wounded people experience God's love and forgiveness in a very unique way. I believe we were prompted to read this book as God had prepared our hearts through the prayers of our daughters. Many nights their prayers would consist of: "Dear Lord, I want to be a missionary for You, and could we have horses too?" Understanding the innocence of their prayers, I would wink at God, as if to remind Him that they were just children. Their desire to be missionaries at such a young age made me proud. But the "horse thing?" It was only a wishful dream.

I reflected on some of my childhood dreams - to be a mommy, a missionary in India, and also own a ranch with horses. How far fetched is that? As a single, I did go to India on a mission trip and 10 years later I met Dave. Interestingly, going to India was far easier than fulfilling the dream of becoming a mommy. We struggled with infertility for many years, but the Lord was gracious to us and granted us three delightful children.

One night after the usual prayers, I thought it was about time that I soften the blow for my girls by informing them that we would probably never have horses and we would never live on land that would support them. I didn't want them to be disappointed with God. After all, we live as a one-income family and that income was that of a pastor. Looking back, I shudder to think now how small I made God seem in trying to save His reputation--as if He needed it. I directed them to give thanks to God for our good friend, Carolyn. She had horses that we could ride practically anytime we wanted. I thought that's how God was fulfilling their prayers.

God continually steered people into our lives that had something to do with horses. Not only did he bring Carolyn into our lives, but he also prompted other friends. They raised Paint Horses and were downsizing their herd. Out of the blue, they called me to say that they had a mare that we should consider buying. She was with foal at the time. In February of 2004 we bought our first riding horse and in March "imprinted" our first filly upon birth. Dave's folks had some acreage at their place and let us bring our horses there. Just for the record, Dave and I were not what you would call "horsey people" at that time. Dave rode horses in his younger years and I had a Shetland pinto growing up. So what were we doing?

Again, we heard the broadcast of Kim Meeder on Focus on the Family. Our hearts were captured by the testimonies of God's unique way of using these incredible animals to touch hearts. Something inside kept pressing us to check out this ministry. So, we booked our flights to Bend, Oregon, taking along with us our oldest daughter, our trail riding friend, and Dave's parents. Little did we know that it would only be the beginning of some incredible experiences.

Dave's sister and her family became very interested in this potential ministry. They had just purchased 40 acres and would consider using it for the ministry. There was another 10 acre track adjacent to theirs that had a house on it. That spring, we put an offer on that acreage and house before we had even put our house on the market.

I wish I could say that the excitement was growing in me, but that would be far from the truth. It was fear. Our house sold in a weekend and the loan went through miraculously for the land and the house. It was all moving too fast for me. Had we pre-empted God? Was He really calling us out of our comfort zone? It felt as though I had saddled my horse and barely got one foot in the stirrup, and it took off--not at a walk, but at a full run...blazing a new trail.

Dave shared an awesome passage with me that has continued to give me faith and courage in this endeavor. You all know the story in I Samuel 14 about Jonathan and his armor-bearer. The situation is desperate. A bloody battle is imminent. Only Saul and Jonathan out of the whole company of soldiers have swords with which to fight. Jonathan slips away with his armor-bearer. He says to him, "Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; PERHAPS, the Lord will work for us, for the Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few." Now I don't know about you, but if Jonathan said that to me, I would be saying, "PERHAPS? Are you crazy? You want to risk our lives on 'PERHAPS'? I want you to KNOW that you know that God is in this." (That was my thought about buying this land and house.) I wonder if the armor-bearer had a "check" in his spirit? As I pondered this passage, the Lord spoke to my spirit, "Is My arm too short that it cannot save? Am I restrained by many or few?"

"No, Lord. You are more than able." And so as the armor-bearer said to Jonathan, my response to my God under the direction of my husband had to be, "Do all that is in your heart; turn yourself and here I am with you according to your desire." Amazingly, in one acre of land THEY slew the enemy; even the armor-bearer slew a few.

Several years ago, we started this journey. What we thought this ministry would look like has taken on different appearances. We thought we would be working with emotionally handicapped children under the name of HorsePower. But then Dave started sharing a deeper desire of his to reach out to men in the rural setting. We saw God bring together a team of people with similar passions and talents that wanted to "saddle up" with us. Two years ago "Open Range" began as a monthly outreach. And now since November 2008 it has turned into a weekly "cowboy church" and many are coming to know the Lord.

Although I still don't know exactly where this trail will lead us, I am comforted that I am in good company with other ordinary people of faith. "By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing where he was going" (Hebrews 11:8).

In closing, the very thing I told my daughters that we would never have, such as horses and land, we have. We have seven horses and one rescued donkey named Elvis who has ministered to many children. God truly is the Dream-Giver and the Dream-Fulfiller. I am humbled, but find it necessary to proclaim that we serve a much bigger God than we realize. And if we will continually release our fears of failure or disbelief, He will do miraculous wonders. I can picture in my mind, God smiling at me and winking back. "Is anything too difficult for Me? I, Myself, will accomplish all that concerns you" (Jeremiah 32:27; Psalm 138:8).

Dear Sisters,

In a recent GCLI discussion, pastors in Great Commission Churches addressed the topic of educational choices for children. It was discovered that 90% of the pastors in Great Commission have home educated their children, at least during the early years of their education. This is an article by Kathy Darling on her experiences with home schooling. It is clear from this article that Kathy invested her life in her children during those years teaching them in the home. Today, as many of you know, she continues to lay her life down for her children--in particular her daughter who is battling a terrible sickness.

Regardless of the educational option you have chosen, please take the time to learn from Kathy's heart. Her example of fulfilling the noble calling of motherhood is an inspiration to us all.

Grace to you,

Sandy Hopler

---

To Encourage and Share the Benefits of Homeschooling

By Kathy Darling (The Rock, Minneapolis, MN

I want to thank you all for giving me the opportunity to come and visit with you today. I hoped that something that I could pass on to you ladies would be my reflection on home schooling my children; to tell you a little bit about why I enjoyed home schooling, how it benefited us as a family, how it kept us more connected and focused, and how it helped us keep our first and foremost priority in our lives: the true desire to cultivate our relationship with God.

I'm hoping that some of what I share with you today will help to encourage you and stimulate your thinking. As I look back now on nearly 22 years, I reflect on just how grateful Mark and I were for the opportunity to home school our children, and that the option to do so existed in the 1980's. We chose to embrace this option because we envisioned having the privilege of home schooling our children to be critical to our parenting. We believed doing so would allow us the opportunity to be completely involved in integrating both their basic educational needs with their spiritual character needs, to help fully prepare them for their future. We believed it was also the best way to have their hearts!

Homeschooling was a 2-in-1 thing (they went hand-in-hand) in many ways - because as they began learning their reading and writing skills, much character training also went on around the Darling Homeschool Academy kitchen table as well.

First, I think training them to stay focused by learning to study & concentrate with other noises going on was a key factor. There would be me cooking at times, interruptions with Mark coming and going with his work being within our home, the phone ringing, doorbell ringing, etc. Though we had a fairly set schedule, we still needed to learn to be flexible, yet focused with all these interruptions.

The children not only learned to eventually become independent learners, they also learned to be diligent to finish their assignments, lessons, quizzes (because we required them to), at the same time, learning lessons in behavior (example: being considerate of their siblings by studying together, being patient, kind and cooperative, displaying good manners, having good attitudes, respecting authority, and being good friends). They also had opportunities as they got a little older to learn phone-answering skills, to learn the habit of integrating prayer into our day, and to learn to integrate a quiet time with the Lord along with their home school lessons.

Even in the beginning years, one of the ways we helped them to get spiritually connected with the Lord was teaching them to read their Bibles. Starting with the book of Proverbs (over and over each month by date) and we taught them scripture memory verses on little spiral note cards to help them to hide God's word in their hearts, that eventually the Holy Spirit would bring to their minds when faced with making choices between good and wrong behavior and learning to walk in obedience to God. Then we would reinforce these verses with their every day life and challenges.

Some samples:

"Do all things without grumbling..."
"Do not be afraid, only believe..."
"Say only what is good..."
"Children obey your parents..."
"I would have you learn this great fact...'"
"Direct your children on the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it." Prov 22:6**

**This verse is a command for us as parents, and we MUST do ALL WE CAN on our part to help see this verse become reality.**

Our children are our #1 disciples. God has given us - and our husbands - full responsibility to raise them up to become lovers of God and lovers of people, and to hopefully be successful contributors to our society and churches. So what we invest in them is a glory to Him!

Another way we benefited in the home schooling arena was that it gave us a more flexible schedule - time for school: (3-4 hours daily) and time for other activities: co-op, extra-curricular activities, eventually jobs, and paper routes. All four children participated in both karate and paper routes. They learned hard work, perseverance and respect for others. Eventually, they were also involved in music and serving in the church ministries.

We had time to reach out to our neighbors as well as serving others in our church (as God would lead), i.e., shoveling snow, baking treats to deliver; teaching our children to be outgoing and developing kindness skills (looking people in their eyes, smiling at them, speaking courteously). People matter to God, so they must matter to us. Also, we made time to fit in daily chores. The flexible schedule allowed us to juggle schedules by taking field trips (planned or unplanned) and taking plenty of moments to have 'hang-time' with family and friends! Church was a big highlight for them!

As a teacher, I especially appreciated all the legwork done for us from the homeschooling curriculum companies that we used over the years. The parent/teacher manuals helped to make my part much easier. TIP: You don't have to follow them to a "T." Don't be rigid. Learn to adjust and change things as necessary.** Be diligent to stay on tract with your teaching, with especially putting your emphasis on spiritually training them (follow through with your commands, loving and firm, be like a "velvet hammer") when given those opportunities throughout your day.

It's critical to be able to personalize your home schooling options available to you (especially from year to year) as God leads you. For us, PSEO options (taking full-time college courses their last two years of high school), worked great for all of our four kids. By God's grace they assimilated just fine when they entered the public school system.

We learned to confidently put our trust in His leading for each individual situation and He was faithful to guide them and bless them and carry them through, as they learned to lean on Him! You'll be amazed to see God's hand at work in and through your own childrens' lives.

I wanted to encourage you moms that you are doing a noble and God honoring task in teaching your children at home and raising them up in the Lord. It takes a lot of love + time + sacrifice + devotion to fully embrace this role. But eventually it reaps many blessings. You will enjoy the fruits of your efforts!

It was such a joy and privilege for me to be able to teach and train my children (one-on-one) at home (being both parent and teacher) and to see them learn and develop their minds and skills academically and their minds, hearts and talents spiritually, watching them grow in the godly behavior, closer in their own relationships to the Lord, helping to nurture them along the way (through my own walk with Christ as an example). Helping them to learn to put to death the deeds of the flesh-they will fail, as we as parents do fail, but we put an emphasis on forgiving and covering over; tolerating one another's opinions and preferences, showing lots of love and affirmation, working hard to keep peace-as well as making daily choices to live and honor God, becoming all that He wants us to be. Oh the joys of seeing their unique personalities begin to develop and their special talents and gifts to be able to be used for God's purposes! And to especially see their love for God develop, and their tender hearts surrender to His will. We were there to see them responding to adversity and accepting by faith their personal life challenges, and to watch them grow in persevering faith as they continue to get older in their walks with Christ. As parents we prayed with them and for them and now have the privilege of serving the Lord together (my husband and I) with them all. Now we have two wonderful new spouses (son-in-law and daughter-in-law) added to our family and a beautiful new grandson!

Again, it's been a priceless experience!

Dear Sisters,

In the past few months, we have enjoyed some special moments with our children. Two of them were married and two others were key players in their team winning the Christian school league state championship game in soccer. At the marriage ceremonies John publicly honored our two children for their faithful love for Christ. And since our sons' team won the state championship nearly two months ago, we have not gotten tired of praising them for their accomplishment. Pouring praise on our children is what Barbara Wilson talks about in this article. I think your heart will be encouraged by her words as she paints a picture of God's character that many people do not realize. Our Heavenly Father is more loving and more giving than we can ever imagine.

I pray that we all can experience the love of Christ in a special way this Christmas season. The Lord bless you and your family in 2009!

Merry Christmas,
Sandy Hopler

Rejoicing Over His Children

by Barbara Wilson


I'm a Football Mom. Sarah Palin has popularized the title of Hockey Mom, but I'm proud to say I'm a Football Mom. Because one or more of my sons has been involved in football since 1994, I've been around the field for quite a long time. My husband and I have watched untold amounts of games, from Pop Warner (little league football) to Junior Varsity in high school and on to Varsity. So far, none of our boys have played in college although our graduating senior would love to do so next year.

If your children are in sports you know how it is to be a parent on the sidelines. You multi- task by watching your child with one eye while making conversation and eye contact with another parent on the sidelines, both cheering when someone on the team makes a good play. It's quite an art, but one we all can master. Usually the conversation centers around the team, the kids on the team, and eventually your own child. Who doesn't want to talk about their own child and how wonderful he/she is? So, having been in the football mom business for 14 years, I've had lots of opportunities to brag on my kids.

Recently, our senior was invited to an ACC school to watch a football game. He had done very well in this school's summer camp and one of the coaches invited him to a game. We had a wonderful time meeting other recruits, walking on the field to watch warm ups before the game, and even getting to hear the coach's speech in the locker room after the game. Actually, my son went into the locker room. God gave me the wisdom to know that's not quite the place a woman needs to be after a football game. So, I stayed outside the door in the tunnel waiting for my son to re-appear.

While standing there doing nothing, the touted quarterback from the football team, who will probably go on to play pro ball, walked out of the locker room, stood about 10 feet from me, and was immediately swarmed by reporters wanting the "scoop" on the game. All this seemed very normal to me until a stranger walked up to me and started talking.

The stranger turned out to be the father of the quarterback. He couldn't contain his excitement at the sight of a dozen reporters encircling his son wanting to hear what he had to say. In his excitement, he fumbled to get his camera out to take pictures all the while pronouncing that he couldn't believe the reporters were so excited to hear his son.

As I thought about the short scenario, I was surprised at the father's excitement. His son, obviously a great football player, surely played Pop Warner, JV, and Varsity football. His father spent many, many hours watching his son out of one eye while making conversation and eye contact with another parent on the sidelines. He had ample opportunities to brag on his son who probably made many great plays, won many games, and received many awards for his accomplishments. Yet, at this moment, he was just as excited about his son as he had been when the boy was young. He never tired of living in the life of his child and rejoicing in his accomplishments.

The Lord immediately reminded me that that's how our loving Heavenly Father is with us. He has watched us from birth and will continue to do so the rest of our lives. Zephaniah 3:17 says that He rejoices over us with joy. Not one day goes by that God doesn't rejoice over us. Not because we do great things, but because we're his children. He never tires over doing that. I can just imagine Him in Heaven nudging an angel, pointing to us and saying, "That's my child. Look at her, isn't she wonderful?" He gets excited watching us live our lives for Him. What a delight we are to Him!

Dear sister, we so often get caught up in doing and forget to just be. Just enjoy God loving you for who you are. Be confident that His love isn't based on your works, but on the fact He died for you and you have accepted that. May you be blessed!

Dear Sisters,

Over the past few months, I've spoken to a number of women who have expressed great concern over recent events in our country. The downturn in the economy and its effects on our families and churches; the presidential election; the abortion issue; the attempts to redefine marriage--these are some of the issues that can create anxiety in the hearts of Christians. As believers in the Lord Jesus, we have prayed for God's will to be done. But when we watch the news, at times it can seem as if God has been deaf to our prayers.

Several weeks ago, I called Mardean Martindale and talked to her about these issues. The faith and wisdom that she shared in our phone conversation were so encouraging to me that I asked her to write down her thoughts. I think you will be extremely blessed by her words. As Mardean has often quoted: "So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, even you." Proverbs 22:19

In Christ,
Sandy Hopler

What Happens When God Doesn't Answer Prayer Like We Want?

By Mardean Martindale

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28).

God sees the bigger picture. He sees the beginning to the end. He knows what will accomplish His purposes.

Herschel often tells the story of how his mother prayed that Herschel wouldn't re-enlist and go back into the Army for a second time. His first stint in the service was straight after his high school graduation. He had started drinking alcohol quite heavily and not living as she thought he should. Later, he went on to college and graduated in three years, but continued in a wrong lifestyle. He could have gone into the Reserves, but he was offered the opportunity to re-enlist and go to the Navy School of Music to join the Fourth Army Band. Herschel's mother started praying he wouldn't re-enlist and be part of the Reserves instead. He did re-enlist, but it was while he was at the Navy School of Music that he became a Christian, and his life was transformed. Because the Korean War had broken out, if Herschel had stayed in the Reserves, he would have been drafted with the rest of his unit. Almost his entire unit was sent to Korea and most were killed. God spared Herschel's life and transformed the rest of his life.

Herschel's mother's prayers were answered, but not the way she expected. That's why we need to pray according to HIS will! God knows the future, and we don't. When God revealed to Hezekiah that he would die, he pleaded with God to spare his life. God did. In the 15 years that followed, Manasseh was born, became king, and it was a tragedy!

We are concerned to see our nation turn to God. The economy is bad, and it seems like things are not going as we feel they should. God knows what it takes to turn His people back to Him. God can answer our prayers and yet send leanness to our souls! God wants His people to humble themselves before Him and recognize Him as who He is, but only He knows what will accomplish that. We pray for our children. We pray for our nation. We pray for our leaders. But sometimes, God answers differently than what we expect or even want.

We planned to go to Chile as missionaries. We sold all we had, including our car. Herschel took the Wycliffe course and went on to Dallas Theological Seminary. Then, we were rejected for lack of experience! We wondered why, when we were trying to obey God in reaching His world. God knew what He wanted to do in our lives and changed our plans. Of course, God knows best, but it's easier to see later than at the time. More people turn to God through trials than through blessing. God so often blessed Israel, but they would then turn back to idols. God would have to punish them and restoration happened. Will not the God of all the earth do what is right? He wants us to humble ourselves before Him and intercede for our mates, children, church, and nation. Above all, God desires our fellowship, for that is one reason He created mankind in the first place. Is God interested in politics? We may think our future is determined by the Republican or Democratic Party, but God says, "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases." (Prov. 21:1) We can and must trust Him.

Dear Sisters,

We have been given a serious mission in the Lord's Great Commission. The fields are white for harvest. We are called to join Jesus Christ to win souls for Him. Yet our God, the blest Controller of all things, is not weighted down with concern or worry. He daily is rejoicing in His children, and all of His creation. So why should His children be so serious?

Kenyon and Timmy Powers have been serving the Lord as missionaries in Ukraine since 1998. It is a challenging task they have undertaken. They have worked so hard to learn, adapt, and love in a foreign land. But Kenyon isn't one to go around with a long face. In fact, she has written a book about some of the funny events that have happened in their lives on the mission field.

Kenyon's words remind me of what my husband has often said: "Laughter" is God's middle name. Why is that? Because the word "Isaac" means "laughter"-and our God calls Himself the "God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

Enjoy Kenyon's thoughts and an excerpt from her book she shares with us. And together let us seek the Lord with rejoicing hearts as we bring glory to Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.

Rejoicing in Christ with you,
Sandy Hopler

The Lighter Side of a Serious Mission

by Kenyon H. Powers

"You should write a book!" This is what I've been hearing for years after telling people in America about something crazy that happened to me in Ukraine. Well, after hearing this so many times, I decided to do it!

I'm the type of person who tries to laugh whenever possible (and when it's appropriate, of course). It seems like we're surrounded by so much serious stuff. If you watch the news, it can be downright depressing. This is why I decided to write about the humorous things of my missionary life.

Most of the time, I'm not laughing at the very moment of the cultural experience, but have to find the humor in it in order to make it through the rest of the day. Every time I leave the apartment, I have enough material to write another chapter! I'd rather have an uneventful outing, but have yet to do so in the 10 years I've lived here! You would think I'd seen it all by now, but there is still never a dull moment.

I know living in another culture has made me more dependent on God. It's just me and Him most of the time. He's the only one who's with me 24/7, who understands English! I'm really thankful for that. He always understands me. As I say in the book, nothing ever gets "lost in translation" with Him. Knowing He's always with me helps me feel secure in a strange land; a land that is very different from South Carolina.

Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be). Amplified

You know, what I just said above is true for all of you. God is with you all the time. You may feel all alone sometimes even in your own culture, but you're not. He's there to see you through the rough times when there's nothing to laugh about. He listens to you when no one else seems to be listening. You can pour your heart out to someone who speaks your language. You're talking to someone that knows you and the culture you're from. You don't have to worry about being misunderstood. It's very comforting.

I'd like to share an excerpt from Chapter Ten to give you just a taste of what I'm talking about in "The Lighter Side of a Serious Mission." I hope everyone that reads the book will have a good laugh and also be challenged to make their life count.

Enjoy,
Kenyon

The Medical World

I had had foot surgery in the States and after six weeks returned to Kiev. After a few months of pain, thinking it was still healing, I decided to get an x-ray to see what was going on. I went to my neighborhood clinic with someone who could translate for me. I entered into an old building that was dingy and dimly lit. I gave them my passport for information and sat to be waited on. It wasn't too long before I was greeted by the x-ray technician who was a little more cheerful and talkative than most. I didn't have to smell her breath to realize that she had had a little more than corn flakes for breakfast! I did remind her I'd like the lead apron if it wasn't too much trouble. Hey, I was surprised they had an apron! If you had been there with me, I would have given you the official Ukrainian "Yep, they're drunk" sign, by thumping the side of my neck.

The tipsy tech did offer me some medical advice though. She told me to make a paste of sour cream and salt, rub this on my foot, then cover my foot in cabbage leaves and sleep with it like this overnight. I smiled and thought about waking up with this, putting my foot between two slices of bread and I'd have lunch!

You may order Kenyon's book from her website: http://powers.weebly.com/

Dear Sisters,

Fall is here--which usually means more challenges for the families of pastor's wives. While the wives are focused on their children's education, the husbands are busy in launching fall outreach campaigns for their churches. It is a time of year when many of us are especially desperate for God's provision.

This month we’re sending you a link to a story that will encourage your faith in this needy time. It is a story that I’ve wanted all of you to know since I first read it a year ago.

Darlene Deibler Rose was a missionary with her husband in Asia at the beginning of World War II. She and her husband were placed in prisoner of war camps by the Japanese. Her faith in God and His provision for her is described in this link. In particular, I think you will appreciate the "banana story" as an example of how God provides for us in ways we never expect.

I pray you find fresh encouragement and hope from this woman’s joy in her Lord in the m idst of trying circumstances.

In Christ’s love,
Sandy Hopler

http://www.johndubler.com/Darlene_Deibler_Rose_Part_II.pdf

Dear Sisters,

Last month Jan Gordon shared how God blessed her (and their whole family) in challenging circumstances by allowing Matt "to dream" and by being willing to follow his lead. This month's letter from Kelley Faler is another great lesson in what supporting our husbands and allowing them to "dream" looks like. Kelley has been involved with Mike and his passion for international missions and evangelism throughout their married lives. For her, his dream has happily meant for them to be a "team."

Let's dedicate ourselves in a fresh way to partnering with our husbands in the Great Commission so that together we can bring glory to our Lord.

In Christ,
Sandy Hopler

Partnering Together in the Gospel

by Kelley Faler, Linworth Road Church

Deep in the heart of every man and woman is the desire to share an adventure together. I believe that we all long for excitement and fulfillment in our life, and in our marriage (if you've read the books Captivating and Wild at Heart, you know what I mean!). God has given us that someone to share the adventure with --- our husbands. And He has given every married couple the adventure, the gospel --- the Great Commission, the mission of taking the good news of Jesus Christ into the entire world. I believe God wants every Christian couple to be in this venture together, as a team.

This month, my husband, Mike, and I are doing our sixth international mission trip together, this time to Berlin, Germany. Each trip is unique as God does something different every time! Mike and I have fond memories of each trip. There is something about working side by side in the Great Commission that brings you closer and makes your heart beat faster. It does for us! For those of you who have been on an international mission trip, remember the close bond you experienced with the other team members as you labored together in the gospel? How much more special when it's with your husband!

Our mission team has been meeting together over the last several months to prepare, plan, and pray. With each meeting, we experience more unity and a unique closeness as Mike leads us through Bible studies, various strategies on sharing the gospel, how to answer tough questions, prayer, memorizing, and reviewing gospel verses. Mike quizzes the team regularly. They know now to be ready to quote them at a minute's notice! It's stimulating to partner together in prayer for our team, the church we're going over to serve and encourage, the evangelism outreaches, and for the divine appointments with people who need to hear the gospel. As we get to know each other, our team has deepened and become like a family. Developing new relationships with each trip is a highlight for me…especially with the college students.

I enjoy supporting my husband as he prepares and leads the teams beforehand, and assisting him while we're there. God has put us together to complement one another with our different gifts and abilities. I help with the administrative duties. These include everything from passports and plane tickets, to scheduling meetings and reminding the members of the "next thing that needs to be done before we go." Last, but definitely not least, if you're a college student --- I feed them every time we meet (usually in our home), whether it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner. For this trip, we've covered all three!

When I think of Europe, I'm reminded of what Jesus said: "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." There are so few Christian witnesses, in such a spiritually dark place, with so many people who have never heard a clear presentation of the gospel. I am always in awe of God's faithfulness and how He wants to use us as His ambassadors. God's love does encircle the globe!

In the New Testament, two married couples stand out in my mind. One couple is Ananias and Sapphira, but they were "partners in crime." Not a godly example! The other, Aquila and Priscilla, is an encouraging husband and wife team. We learn that they were a united team, always mentioned together in the Scriptures. They show us that a married couple can have an effective ministry.

In Acts 18:3, it says that Paul came to them and because he was of the same trade (tent-making), he stayed with them. In I Corinthians 16:19 and Romans 16:3-5, both mention that a church met in their home. Paul referred to them as fellow workers in Christ Jesus. He and all the churches of the Gentiles were thankful to them. As we look again in Acts 18:24-26, we find Apollos, a man mighty in the Scriptures, being taken aside by both Aquila and Priscilla when they heard him boldly speaking in the synagogue. Apollos didn't fully understand the gospel, so they gave him the rest of the story! Apollos became a great man of God in the early Church.

As a married couple, we also learn that they shared an adventure together. More than one, I bet! Remember, they were partners in the gospel with Paul. Imagine having Paul on a mission trip with you! According to Acts 18:18, Paul took leave of the brethren and put out to sea, and with him were Aquila and Priscilla. They traveled with him. Paul says they risked their own necks for his life.

As a Christian couple, I do not believe you can be truly fulfilled in your marriage unless you are somehow involved together in the gospel. If not, I think there will always be something missing. Even when our two children were young and I stayed home while Mike went on international trips, I prayed for him daily. Back then, the trips were two weeks with little or no communication. I couldn't wait to hear from him! I shared in his enthusiasm when he returned home with so many exciting stories and answers to prayer.

"God was faithful, Kelley," he would always tell me when he called after arriving back in the States. And I knew what he meant because of all the praying we did together for specific requests beforehand. When we reminisce now about these three trips to our married children, they can not imagine not being able to talk to their spouses. No cell phones then! As our children grew older, we were all able to go together to Central America. Another time, one of them joined us on a Europe trip.

When a husband and wife partner together, the world (secular & Christian) will notice. It's a testimony and light as it brings glory to God. It's a great model of what marriage should look like…a team! The Great Commission is an exciting and fulfilling adventure with my husband. I believe it to be the "sparkplug" of the Christian life and in marriage as well. It is one of the greatest joys we share together.

Dear Sisters,

Just last week I had the privilege of spending time with our writer for this month, Jan Gordon, wife of Matt. I accompanied my husband on a visit to two Florida summer campus projects to which the Gainesville church sent teams. While in Tallahassee, where the Gordon's are staying for five weeks, John and I took part in the team's activities. It was delightful to observe the whole Gordon family joyfully taking part in the project, packed into a small apartment, learning and loving. But what impressed me most about Jan is something she tells us in her article: "This year...I allowed my husband to dream." Wow! The summer's fruit will be a result of that faith-filled yielded attitude of Jan's. I want to be like that, yielded enough to my Lord to allow John to dream, and join him where that dream leads.

I pray that this article by Jan Gordon will inspire you to be a woman who trusts God as you and your husband unite together to advance the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Christ's love,
Sandy Hopler

The Summer Project

by Jan Gordon, Cypress Church of Gainesville, Florida

I'd like to share with you some of the blessings (and challenges) that have been mine over many of our summers. Our church has a goal to plant churches about every three years on college campuses. This involves sending out preliminary teams to explore and reach out to these campuses, which also means I've had the opportunity to be a part of these summer projects from mid-May until August. My initial, internal response to our summer plans is to feel inconvenienced. The school year is interrupted, our older children who attend public school have to stay back for a few weeks, and there are many things to do, on top of a typical day, in order to get ready. What I've been learning is to be flexible with my schedule and trust the Lord for nice little surprises along the way.

Last year I asked my husband if we could just go to the summer project for five weeks and he agreed. After the five weeks, I really wanted to stay because God was doing so much with our team. This year, instead of discussing the length of time to be gone, I allowed my husband to dream. The result is that we will not only be five weeks in Tallahassee (in a one-bedroom apartment), but also five weeks in Tampa (and live in an off-campus dorm).
To give you a little background, we have 11 children, four are college age, two high school age, and five others ranging from 11 to 19 months. This summer the youngest seven live with us, one older brother is attending the Tallahassee Summer Project, and one is an intern at the Tampa Summer Project, (the other two are at Colorado LT). The kids love all the students and staff and immerse themselves in their culture. They cook and wash dishes for the group meals, pair up with students and staff to go out sharing the gospel on campus. Even our nine year-old takes notes at the Truth Project, The Way of the Master, and Crown Financial Ministries! As a group we are also memorizing five verses a week and studying the Book of Acts. It is hard to beat this type of schooling! I have had to let go of what looks and feels like a normal routine, and embrace what God is designing for the summer. We take full advantage of the cities we are in for field trips and special family outings. The walk to the state capitol is about an every other day trip, as are the museums.

A challenge that comes with the turf is the Project schedule. It is often different every day and may even change weekly, and includes different children of ours at various times. I have had to learn to keep my list of things I need or want to do handy and see where they fit. I try to keep a yielding attitude that submits to God's plan every day and embraces what I can do, instead of wishing for normalcy. I'm believing God to teach our family things that I wouldn't be able to produce or think of myself, to get "out of the box." Picking up and leaving the comfort of the home causes me to be more faith-filled, and to rely more on His grace to accomplish in my children and me what He desires. My verse for the summer is, "For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God." In just the first four weeks at FSU, 14 people have put their trust in the Lord. To Him be the glory!!

Dear Sisters in Christ,

The newsletter this month is a little different from those in the past. Instead of an article, we compiled from pastors' wives the answer to the following question:

What is the one main lesson the Lord has taught you as a pastor's wife, that you would pass on to the wife of a newly appointed pastor?

For me, the answer was simple:

"Support your husband's vision--share it and make it your own life's mission."

I trust that the following words of advice will be an encouragement to you, as we unite with our husbands and churches to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.

United with you in Him,
Sandy Hopler

Advice from Pastors' Wives

Virginia Biang, wife of Chris Biang, Glen Arbor Community Church, West Chicago, IL:

Be your husband's main supporter, and make sure he knows it. There may come a time when he may feel very alone and he will need you by his side.

Dawn Bovenmyer, wife of Dave Bovenmyer, Stonebrook Community Church, IA:

RESPECT your man--say it with both words and actions AND remember that your number one job is to be his helpmeet. Ask him often, "What can I do to help you?" and mean it!

Thelma Clark, wife of Dennis Clark, Prairie View Community Church, Parker, CO:

I've needed to remember that he's the pastor, I am not--I am a wife and a mother like many other women in the church. Because he has a much bigger sphere of influence and responsibility, I should:
1) Free him up as much as I can, working hard to maintain the home and train the children well, and 2) have a daily vital, growing relationship with the Lord, asking Him to help me always be content--which is one of the biggest "helps" to our husbands.

Mary Knox, wife of Brent Knox, Evergreen Community Church, MN:

Your husband is the pastor, not YOU. And you are not the ASSOCIATE-PASTOR. You are his helpmate, companion, mother of his children, another member of the congregation, etc.

My verse: "Walk before Me and be blameless" Genesis 17:1 (NASB). Don't be a people-pleaser. Be humble, authentic, open. Don't let people put you on a pedestal, just because you're a PW, as we so fondly call ourselves in Minneapolis. I've told people publicly, "Get me off that pedestal." Remind them that you're just like them (Acts 10:26).

Mardean Martindale, wife of Herschel Martindale, International Ministry, MD:

Don't receive an accusation or instruction for your husband, but encourage the person to go directly to your husband, following biblical principles. It is not our job to instruct or defend our husband, but to pray for and love them. This gives the Lord the opportunity to teach or correct.

Terry Putthoff, wife of Dave Putthoff, Lee's Summit Community Church, MO:

My trust and confidence is in the Lord, not in my husband. It frees him up to be who God calls him to be and to go where God calls him to go. Sarah followed Abraham when he "went out not knowing where he was going." Sometimes we (via our husbands) are called to go a direction that may not seem logical, at least to our American culture indoctrination. But after we have openly discussed our concerns, ultimately we need to release our husbands to follow the way they feel God is prompting them. Then we can be as the armor bearer was to Jonathan in I Samuel 14:7 and say, "Do all that is in your heart; turn yourself, and here I am with you according to your desire."

Roz Short, wife of Tom Short, Linworth Road Church, OH:

One of the most important things that the Lord has taught me is that I need to listen to Him. I have always had a tendency to want to please everyone and to meet their expectations--and of course, it's just not possible. I have needed to continually go to the Lord for His guidance, His strength, and His approval--and then I can have the confidence that I am doing what He wants me to do. My desire is to hear from Him, and then to follow! "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" John 10:27.

Cindy Sokoll, wife of Pat Sokoll, Mars Hill Church, IA:

1) Letting Pat decide how involved I am in church affairs--not me insisting on knowing more than he decides--and knowing when to drop concerns, trust them, and God.
2) Spending quality time together, romancing, playing, laughing, holding hands, touching, and keeping your passion burning for one another--FIND THE TIME because this glorifies God!

Neva Whitney, wife of Rick Whitney, Great Commission Northwest, CO:

A close, daily time with God is the only way we will be able to pour out our heart for others, day after day, for the rest of our lives. In ministry there are many challenges that come up and they are sudden and they are hard. We will feel tremendous pressure on our marriages and our families. So don't wait until your children are older. Don't wait until your kids are gone. Connect with God today!

Desperately seek His face, even if it's only for a few precious minutes at a time. This will allow you to be an even more enthusiastic support to your husband. If you are talking to God, He will help you to not be a drain, or a distraction, to what He is trying to do through your husband and your marriage and your family and you. Remember God is able to instruct, calm, and bless your soul, and He is even better at that, than the best pastor/husband. You may have the best man in the land, but God is even more able.

Spending time with God daily is the only way that we will be able to finish the race.

Barb Wilson, wife of Berk Wilson, Grace Community Church, Cary, NC:

I think the biggest thing I've learned is this:

Trust my husband and his wisdom. He is before the Lord every day reading, learning, obeying, so when he makes a decision that I don't think is the right one, go with his decision. I guess that's submission at work. I can't think of one time that I've done that and I've had the opportunity to say, "I told you so." God has shown me over and over again that, after giving him my thoughts, I am only blessed as I follow his decisions.

Mary Young, wife of Bill Young, The Rock Church, Salt Lake City, UT:

I would have to say that the main lesson that the Lord has taught me over the years, and over and over again, is that Bill was the one who became the pastor and that does not mean that I am the co-pastor. It's very difficult for me not to want to "help" him and guide him in some of his duties and responsibilities.

I know he couldn't be successful without me, and God certainly uses me in his life. But what I've learned is that I am not responsible for the church and the sheep. The responsibility was given to Bill and he's the one answerable to God, not me. So, that means there are times I need to step away from what might be going on and trust God to lead Bill, not me, in decisions to be made and things that need to be done.

The Coordinator serves the church by planning, designing, coordinating and facilitating a unified worship experience. This is a 15-20 hour per week paid position.

Duties and Responsibilities

Collaborative Planning of Services

1. Plan, implement and evaluate the annual worship calendar, including service formats, themes, and special programs
2. Manage logistics of all worship services, including picking songs in consultation with the preaching pastor
3. Meet weekly and/or prepare weekly reports for the pastor regarding worship teams
4. Work closely with the drama team and the tech team in planning and preparing for church services or other events.

Coordination of Musicians and Volunteers

1. Research, locate and make choices about music to be learned and used.
2. Prepare music for team: lyric sheets, chord sheets and sheet music.
3. Purchase of music equipment.
4. Plan and prepare for workshop events for the purposes of learning new music, developing skills, team building, and spiritual renewal.
5. Plan and prepare for annual team retreats.
6. Plan, prepare and lead (with Sara Pecina) auditions for the team.
7. Lead team in prayer, team building and worship, as well as in rehearsal.
8. Minister to and nurture team members and their families.

Administrative Duties

1. Develop team schedule, and manage the changes made to it.
2. Organize music files and slides
3. Assist in making overhead slides and song sheets/chord sheets, as needed
4. Help in publicizing special Praise and Worship gatherings

Qualifications

Candidates should be strong in communication and have a heart for worship. This person need not play an instrument but must have some musical training and, as indicated above, must be gifted musically. They must have a heart for the unchurched, work well in a team, be creative, collaborative, organized, warm and outgoing, familiar with and enthusiastic about emerging worship, and comfortable in a leadership position in worship. Other qualifications are as follows:

1. Spiritual growth, evident by practicing the marks of Christian discipleship
2. An understanding of Grace Community Church's core values and beliefs
3. An appreciation of and ability to plan and implement a variety of worship styles
4.  Facilitation with involving the community in worship leading
5. Team building skills and the ability to lead, guide and correct volunteers
6. Strong leadership and administrative skills
7. Quality verbal and written communication skills, with computer efficiency
8. The ability to read music

Relationships:

1. Reports directly to Jonathan Williams
2. Works with Worship team members, drama, and tech crew

Hours:

On site:
1. Attend Tuesday Staff Meeting
2. Be present at Sunday worship
3. Attend worship team practices, as needed
4. Attends and sometimes schedules additional meetings with preaching pastors, worship team members and volunteers as needed

Off site: Some coordination and communication may be completed off-site.

Compensation:

1. Wage: between $1000 and $1500 per month (to be determined)
2. Continuing Education negotiable.

Anyone interested should contact:Jonathan Williams

Phone:
210-659-8200 x 308.

Resumes can be sent to:

Jonathan Williams - c/o Grace Community Church
701 Kitty Hawk Road
Universal City, TX 78148.

Note for those from out of town: Since this is only part time, anyone interested would have to have some other means of income. However, we wanted to let everyone know because someone might see this as an opportunity to develop their music skills and ministry for the Lord and would be willing to relocate to San Antonio to take this position. It is also possible that this could develop in the future into a full time position.

Dear Sisters,

Whether we have children born to us physically, or children born "of the Spirit," we know what it is to yearn and ache for our loved ones to experience all of God's best for their lives. "I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth," (3 John 1:4).

Our sacrifice and prayers over many years are evidence of our love and faith. But what about when our prayers don't seem to be answered, and our faith is tested? How do we continue to believe God in the midst of the fiercest spiritual battles? This month's writer shares with us how the Lord has used these challenges to draw her to Him and to grow her own faith and relationship with God.

United with you in Him,
Sandy Hopler

---

Fight for Your Children

By Thelma Clark, Prairie View Community Church, Colorado

This quote from D.L. Moody reminds me of the heart that the Great Commission has helped instill in us for our children and spiritual children: "My school work will not tell much until the century closes, but when I am gone I shall leave some grand men and women behind." This "heart" is why it's so difficult when, at times, it seems like our loved ones aren't wholeheartedly embracing what God has for them.

One of the ways God has used those times in my life brings to mind the instruction that flight attendants give at the beginning of a flight. If adults are flying with young children, and need oxygen in an emergency, they are told to place the oxygen mask on themselves first…then on the child. In other words, "Stay strong yourself so that you will be able give aid to those in your care." Learning to do this in a spiritual way is one of the main lessons God has been trying to teach me.

When our children were young, I may have naively doubted that we would encounter much "turbulence," but as they have grown, they're facing the same three "enemies" we have to face-the world, the flesh, and the Devil-all of which can disturb the "smoothness of the flight." Consider Nehemiah.

He urged the Jews to not be afraid of the enemy, but to "Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and FIGHT FOR your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives, and your homes," (Nehemiah 4:14). God is FOR families…for OUR families. When things haven't looked just like I'd hoped for in our family, and I've wanted to give up, this verse has been like God saying to me, "Get up off the ground...you're in a battle! Raise that shield of faith!" He wants me to raise my eyes to Him, the Mighty Warrior who can win this battle, like Moses fought for Joshua by raising His hands to God, obtaining divine help.

We're not like Daniel in a literal lion's den, but it's as if we're in a spiritual coliseum with a roaring lion that IS seeking ones to devour. Psalm 129 says, "They have often attacked me since my youth, but they have not prevailed." Attacks begin in "youth." The Lord promises, "I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save," (Isaiah 49:25). I praise Him that He is on our side and can break snares and cut the cords of the enemy...and I pray for these things (Psalm 124:1, 3, 7 and Psalm 129:4). "The wicked shoot their arrows from the shadows at the upright in heart,"(Psalm 11:2). Our shield of faith stops these arrows!

I can be like the disciples who jumped to a despairing conclusion when the waves came: "We're going to drown!" (Luke 8:24). How convicting that Paul could ALWAYS pray with joy for ones because he was CONFIDENT that He would complete the good work He had begun, despite their imperfections (Philippians 1:6)!

Mary believed the Lord could heal her brother Lazarus as long as he was sick (John 11), but when the Lord allowed his condition to worsen and he died, she stopped believing. Jesus said to her, "Didn't I tell you that if you believed (even if it got worse) you would see the glory of God?" Letting it worsen enabled Him to perform a bigger miracle. What a lesson to keep believing when we haven't "seen" evidence of God's victory.

I love seeing God's heart in Isaiah 44:1-5: "This is what the Lord says-he who formed you in the womb and who will help you. Do not be afraid…I will POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON YOUR OFFSPRING…one will say, 'I belong to the Lord...still another will write on his hand, 'the Lord's.'" Yes, please do! Your Spirit in our children's lives is what will make all the difference.

For years we've devoted ourselves to the many good and right things that will give our children discipline, character, foundations, boundaries, examples, and instruction…but Jesus Himself is the only one (not even my godliness) that can totally heal them spiritually. When the lame man was healed in Acts 3:1-16, Peter asked: "Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? By faith in the name of Jesus this man you see was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing." Our trust needs to be in God to do great things in others…whether it's for the empowerment that He gives us to do good toward them or for His personal involvement in their lives.

Of course our Enemy knows opportune moments to strike with haunting questions like: "What did we do wrong? What has pouring my life out for this person been worth?" While it's important to learn from mistakes and continually grow and change, I've also learned to answer this by agreeing with God's Word, and say, "We've probably done plenty wrong, because all earthly fathers are imperfect, disciplining as they thought best," (Heb. 12:9-10). God chose US to parent these children in spite of the fact that we're imperfect, and He knows that they, like us, can be trophies of one thing: His grace. And I love Paul's quote about pouring out his life for people in II Timothy 4:6-7: "I have already been poured out as an offering TO GOD." The drink offerings were poured on the ground and appeared "wasted," but they were TO GOD who always sees and rewards.

Growing in my realization of God's unlimited ability, and in my relationship with Him, is a great benefit when I see my children go through "imperfect" times. His Word is so intimate, specifically meeting my need at the moment-filling my spiritual lungs with strength and faith once again. Just a word from Him, followed by a choice to believe it and pray it, has transformed difficulties into stepping-stones. Here are a couple of the other phrases He has given me to pray:

"Open the eyes of their Hearts…so they'll know the hope you've called them to," (Ephesians 1:18). You can open their "hearts' eyes" to see all you have for them.

"Inspire them to fear you so that they will never turn away from you," (Jeremiah 32:38-42). Wow, God, you can INSPIRE them!

"Circumcise their hearts and the hearts of all our descendants so that they will love You with all their hearts and with all their souls and live," (Deuteronomy 30:6).

Until my aunt's funeral, I'd never heard that she carried on what she'd seen her mother doing (my grandmother), praying regularly for all of her descendants. Upon hearing this, I couldn't help but wonder if their prayers were a big part of MY loving God. May the Lord use us to be mothers, and grandmothers, who fight for our families by raising our shields of faith, in trust, and involve Him to win battles for our loved ones.

Dear Sisters,

How would you feel if no one in your church knew your name? What if everyone just addressed you by your husband's name, with "Mrs." tacked on the front? For example, our author this month would be called "Mrs. Berk." Barbara Wilson presents us a fascinating look at Noah's wife, a woman with no name. If we think we've been persevering in supporting our husbands through tough times, think of Noah's wife enduring for over 100 years of ark-building! She must have been so humble, teachable, and full of faith. Let's imitate Mrs. Noah's willingness to "stand beside her husband, trusting God's plan, confident in a hopeful future."

United with you,
Sandy Hopler

Mrs. Noah

by Barbara Wilson, by Grace Community Church, North Carolina

Dear Pastors' Wives,

Whenever you are introducing yourself, do you ever feel like you have to qualify who you are? Perhaps you are your husband's wife, or your children's mother. For some strange reason I have this thinking that people won't remember who I am, so at church I always introduce myself to others as Berk's wife, or Luke's mom, or one of my other boys' mom. Why can't I just let myself be me? I'm afraid if I call one of you on the phone and introduce myself as Barbara Wilson you will go, "Who?" I hope that's not true, but sometimes we can get lost in who we are and qualify ourselves according to someone else's accomplishments.

That's why I have been so encouraged lately by Mrs. Noah. We don't even know her name, but of all the women in the Bible she was certainly lost in her husband's accomplishments. Think about it. She was one of eight people rescued by her husband from the worst natural disaster in the world. She survived so much before and after the flood that she's worth pondering.

I'm amazed at how strong for God, and her husband, she stood in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation. Genesis 6 describes the culture at that time as one where the "inclinations of everyone's heart was only evil all the time." Can you imagine having to always be on guard because you never know who is out to harm you? Her culture was violent and void of any room for God. Everyone was out for themselves. No one thought of her and what she needed, except for her family.

On top of that, Mrs. Noah was married to a man who was one of a kind. He "was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God." Don't think Mrs. Noah walked through the marketplace and didn't get laughed at by the heathen women who made fun of her "righteous" husband, building a ridiculous boat. And she didn't have to endure this for only a short time. It took over 100 years to build this boat. It's not easy for me when people criticize Berk for a sermon he preached or a decision he made concerning the saints. But that passes and things get back to normal. Mrs. Noah had to endure sneers and smirks for over 100 years! Besides that, in those 100 years, Noah didn't lead one person to the Lord. His conversion rate was zero. He had no credentials to put on his resume, other than building an enormous boat. Mrs. Noah didn't have a small group or a close friend to run to when she came home from the marketplace, having been laughed at by other women in town. Perhaps she ran to her daughters-in-law, but she certainly didn't have a peer that she could confide in. She didn't even have the Bible to open and get encouragement from God.

Yet, I wonder if Mrs. Noah didn't get out there and wield a hammer right next to her husband. If she didn't do that, she certainly had a good meal waiting for him when he came home after a hard day's work. I don't think he could have gone on if he was met with constant criticism everyday for building something so absurd. I bet she kept his spirits high. She encouraged him to get back out the next day and keep going. She stood by him. She supported him. She administered encouragement to a man who was in the trenches day after day. She set an example for her children of strong support for her husband. She rallied behind God's plan for all of them so that in the end, she had three sons and three daughters-in-law that accompanied Noah and her on board the ark.

Mrs. Noah had no idea what the future held. But she was willing to stand beside her husband, trust God's plan, and live it with him. After the flood, when the waters subsided, she found herself having to start all over in her old age (so much for a nice retirement), but she did start all over and why not? She learned an aspect of God that few others in her previous world had grasped. God held her safety and her future in His hands. He had already rescued her from destruction in the flood. Obviously, God still had work for her to do. So, she could confidently exit the ark knowing that her God was with her, her husband was righteous, and her future was hopeful. Isn't that what the rainbow helped her to see?

When I get to Heaven, I can't wait to find Mrs. Noah and find out her real name. I can't imagine going through what she had to endure. To me, she kept a steady course. She saw her job as a wife and mother as paramount in keeping her family looking to God amongst people who had no heart for God at all. What a testimony of her faith and trust in a God she couldn't read about, or sit in a Bible study and talk about, but one she experienced first hand in the midst of a wicked generation.

I hope you think about Mrs. Noah, too, when things get hard. She endured a lot for a much longer time than we will ever have to endure. But she trusted God. She supported her husband. And she was a model to her children of someone who held on to the goodness of God.

Dear Sisters,

As women of faith, our one defining characteristic must be "seeing the unseen." Is life joyous at the moment? God, who is unseen, is the Blesser. Are there heart-wrenching griefs in our lives or the lives of ones we care deeply about? Our compassionate God cares, and draws near-even though the circumstances aren't "looking" good.

Beth Sebek encourages us this month to keep on trusting God, in ways we have not trusted in Him before. He has promised to never leave or forsake us. Let's cling to Him in our challenging times, and also "see Him" by drawing encouragement from one another!

In Christ,
Sandy

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Is Anything Too Difficult?

by Beth Sebek, Oakridge Community Church, Clarksville, MD

Dear Pastors' Wives,

Recently we have had many challenging times. Times of recent joy with a new grandbaby, Isabella Candace Denning, being born and enjoyed. But mostly many challenges. It must be the year for it.Friends walking through cancer and health challenges, and multiple friends losing loved ones suddenly and sometimes shockingly. One thing after another. The Lord is teaching us to trust Him in new and deeper ways. Then our own challenges add to it. What's one to do?

Cry out to Jesus is all we can do when the road gets rough. Seeing His light in the storms and valleys. Yet in the midst, we are also finding new moments of joy. Moments of serving together as a church family, for one another, and being Jesus' hands and feet to one another. Moments of drawing closer as a family and supporting one another and experiencing God's love and amazing grace.

My daughter Angela sent me a couple of thoughts today. She is reading Becoming a Vessel God Can Use by Donna Partow, in her girls group. I thought I'd share a few of these thoughts:

"There is no oil without squeezing olives, no wine without the pressing of grapes, no fragrance without crushing the flowers, and no real joy without sorrow. " Pack Up Your Gloomies In a Great Big Box by Barbara Johnson

"In time of trouble say,
'First, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this place; in that will I rest.
Next, He will keep me in His love and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child.
Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the grace He intends for me.
Last, in His good time, He can bring me out again, how and when only He knows.
Say, I am here:
By God's appointment,
In God's keeping,
Under his training,
For His time.'"
-from Humility (By Andrew Murray)

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, and who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

"Ask yourself now: 'Am I willing to allow God to mold me and shape me-using whatever tools, whatever circumstances He chooses?' If you can answer yes, then you can become a vessel God can use." Donna Partow

Here is a poem the Lord gave recently, encouraging my heart to trust in His greatness.

Is Anything Too Difficult?

It's a fallen world with a stormy sea,
Yet still my Savior walks there with me.
Thru a path of pain or with lonely chains,
Won't stop the One whose freedom reigns!

Have you lost your hope? Is your strength worn out?
Then lift your eyes to see His glory now…
For He speaks a Word with such command,
And He holds your hand throughout every land!

For the blind do see and the winds grow still,
When the Son of God breathes His truth to will.
There's no giant too great or a care too small,
That can hide from the One who sees them all!

He will fill your cup from His lavish love,
And clothe you with strength, from His stores above.
His truth will shield and yes, surround,
And defeat the lies that were meant to drown!

He will raise you with hope when there's none to be seen,
For this is the glory of His Majesty!
Oh, praise Him today for His wondrous ways,
And sit at His feet till His songs you raise.

Then whatever path or fears you face,
You can know that your Lord will bring vic'try to taste.
For nothing is too difficult for our King of Kings,
When I put my trust in Him to cling.

He will save and deliver, He will comfort your pain.
Whether tears or such fears, whether trials that remain.
DON'T give up or give in, till our Lord sees you thru!
He will triumph every foe, for His treasure…. is you…

Hebrews 4:16- Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,
So that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

February 11, 2008 Elizabeth Sebek

In the midst of the storm, the waves can look so large. But if we hold His hand and hang on, His light pierces the darkest storm and breaks through with the dawn.

Keep your eyes on His light, dear sisters. He is Jesus! The light of the World.

Love,
Beth

Dear Sisters,

In honor of Valentine's Day coming soon, we have an article for you about romance! Our writer, Cindy Sokoll, reminds us that the areas of romantic love and sexual intimacy are essential in building up and encouraging our men to be their best. Cindy encourages us to understand our man, to be available to him, and to communicate. Our excellent, model wife in Proverbs 31 had it right: "He will have no lack of gain. She does him good!" Proverbs 31:11, 12 (NASB).

United with you,
Sandy

Blessing Your Marriage

By Cindy Sokoll

Dear Pastors' Wives,

I have been asked to share a few thoughts with you concerning a wife's role in helping our husbands in the area of physical intimacy so that they can be all that God intends them. If you are reading this in a hurry, I would urge you to wait until you have a little more time to really consider if God has something to reveal to you through this short note.

Many of you don't know me, so I'll start with an introduction. My name is Cindy Sokoll and my husband is one of the pastors at the Great Commission church in Iowa City. We've been married for 26 years and have 5 children.

I really believe that God has blessed our physical relationship and I'd like to share a few attitudes and principles that God has used to help me understand my husband and my role in his purity and success. The role of the wife is to be a helpmate to our husbands. As we form family units through marriage, God puts pieces of the puzzle together that will be fulfilling, satisfying, and God-glorifying. Much could be and has been written about all the wonderful attributes of a properly functioning biblical marriage. Sexuality is the topic of the day!

Here are a few of the principles:

1. Men and women are not the same. (This was God's idea!)

It may seem pretty elementary, but the first thing we must keep before us is that we are not the same. We do not think the same, look the same, act the same, or relate the same. We are not motivated by the same things and we are not stimulated by the same things. Men, as designed by God, are stimulated primarily visually. When they see something they like, they also want to touch it. The female form (your body) is designed by God to be attractive to your husband.

Conclusion: He wants to look at you, and he wants to touch you. He has been designed by God, and it is a good thing. It may take time and patience to appreciate your husband's efforts to express his love and desire for you but it is well worth it.

2. We must cultivate a greater and greater appreciation for sexuality.

As wives, we are a very important part of God's plan for our husbands to live out their lives and their sexuality in a pure, righteous, God-glorifying way. Sex is a beautiful thing. We can view it as either a blessing or a curse. Our attitude and effort in this area will probably be the largest factor in our enjoyment and appreciation of this special area of our lives.

Where are you personally? I urge you to examine your own attitudes. Many women have simply wished that this whole area would just "go away." If we do not meet the needs of our husbands, there is an ever increasing likelihood that what will "go away" is our husband's purity. I love the fact that I am the object of my husband's passion and affection. Our experience has been that as our physical relationship has grown and blossomed, other areas of our relationship have benefited as well. When all the parts are healthy, the whole is healthier. Please understand, this area will not just go away!

3. We must be available sexually.

A thought that has encouraged me many times is this. My husband has many needs and desires, physical, emotional, relational. When it comes to sex, I am the only person on the planet ordained by God to meet my husband's need. What an awesome privilege and responsibility!

It is often very natural for mothers to give all of our attention to the needs of our children. We must view the sexual needs of our husbands as legitimate needs. When the basic needs of children are not met, we would call it abuse. When our husband's physical needs are not met they will be much more tempted to seek to have those needs met outside of God's intended plan. My body is not mine alone. It belongs to my husband as well.

We all experience times when we are truly so tired we are emotionally unavailable. If this is your normal response to the "look and touch" mode of your husband, you will be taking away your husbands only opportunity to have his needs met in a holy way. When we are consistently unavailable or disinterested we can also be telling our husbands that we no longer attracted to him, we no longer respect him, we no longer value our relationship with him. If this becomes a pattern, we are failing to honor our marriage vows and are creating an opportunity for sin. If you are too busy to save some of yourself for your husband, you are simply too busy!

4. We must communicate about the topic of our sexuality with our husbands.

No one needs to look like a supermodel to satisfy our husbands. After five children, an appendectomy, and 47 years of living, I know I will not compete with images and standards of our fallen world. What I have found in our relationship is that my availability and my interest in him are what truly satisfy his needs. (And mine!) We must be courageous enough to talk with our husband about what pleases each of us, what is attractive and desirable to each of us in our own intimate relationship. If we are not open and communicating, the wounds and scars will produce distance and a further lack of godly intimacy, and sexuality.

I really hope that these few short thoughts are a blessing to your life and marriage. I realize this is very short and incomplete. If this is an area that you struggle with, I urge you to seek out a godly couple who is winning in this area, and get some help and encouragement.

The role of "Wife" is indeed noble, and I hope you agree with God as He tells us that: "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." Proverbs 31:10-12 NIV

Love,
Cindy

Dear Sisters,

Here we are in December once more, with Christmas and Faithwalkers fast approaching. I'm looking forward eagerly to both. Yet I know the sheer busyness of the month can take my eyes off of the Lord. How can we keep focused on God and be prepared to hear and learn from Him at Faithwalkers? Our writer, Beth Sebek, points us "down"--to our knees, that is. As we spend time with the Lord Jesus this season, may our focus be refreshed in Christ's love and strengthened to show Him to the world!

Merry Christmas!

Sandy

Bended Knees in a Busy World

By Beth Sebek, Oakridge Community Church, Maryland

As pastors' wives, we are all in different seasons and places in our lives. But some things we have in common. One is a love for Jesus, and second, we can all get very busy with our lives. (I'm sure there are many more...)

Sometimes, it seems the Lord has us in a slow down, clear the decks (I want all of your attention) kind of place. Then other times, we are stepping into more than we planned, yet the Lord seems to be leading this and saying, "I'll give the grace." I suspect we have all experienced both of these at different times.

Lately, for me, it seems that it's the second place. In either place, it requires us to focus on Him in the midst and take hold of His grace. When things get multiplied in many levels in my life, it is easy to get anxious, worry about little things, and busy God right out of my schedule.

It's easy to forget and not have peace or a right perspective. I need to take time to "See the Lord." Not just a quiet time, which is good, but taking the time to see Him.
It reminds me of my kids when they were younger. Often some would be involved in an activity, yet when they saw me sometimes they would stop, run to my side, and hold my hand for a moment. They would lean their head against my side, rest, and smile at me.
They seemed to calm as I smiled at them, then off they would go. It was a moment of re-setting and drawing strength.

In the same way, the busier the times get, I find that I need this same experience with the Lord. Do we have to be on our knees? Isn't God always with us as I do my work or run my errands? Absolutely, but I find that when I bend my knees, something happens to my heart. It bends too. I see that He is God and I am not. I see the cross and God's glory. There is a re-setting of heart and drawing strength.

Today I was reading Ezekiel and was just overcome, weeping with his vision of God and His glory.

Ch. 1:22- Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked like an expanse, sparkling like ice, and awesome.
Under the expanse their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body.
When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.

Ch.1:25-28-Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads (cherubim) was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking...

When I see Him, I see me in comparison and am overcome with my fleshly ways. Oh, how can you love me, so unworthy of Your grace, my Lord? It is just incomprehensible to my finite mind. Who am I? And yet the unbelievable is that He delights in me and dearly loves me. I am free and have intimacy with Him because of Jesus and the cross!

Bending my knees brings Heaven into view, and helps me see things here through God's throne and cross. As I see through His view, He fills me with His strength for another day to seek to be His hands and feet.

As pastor's wives around the world, loving Jesus and serving Him, may we have knees that bend easily, and often, to see and hear from Him. Then, stand in His strength, refreshed for another day.

These words came to mind:

On Bended Knees

Lord, it's been awhile now,
Busy thoughts can fill my days.
How can I let this life overtake me?
Bring me back to my knees with You...

A lot of good things call my name,
"Yes, I'll be right there," I say.
Just click the send button one more mail.
Bring me back to see freshly with You....

The to-do list is getting long now,
Still, the work, it will get done.
Lord, I need a resetting of my heart here,
Bring me back to be still with You...

Lift my eyes now to Heaven above,
See how Glorious You are!!
Know my life is but a moment...
Bring me back to see here thru You...

I could blink my eyes again,
And in Heaven we would be...
I'll stand before Your throne...Breathe Your air...
Oh, bring me back here now, to my knees with You!

Beth Sebek

"Be still; in that focus, all else comes into focus."
Prayer : Does it Make Any Difference? Phillip Yancey

Dear Sisters,

This month, it is only right to have a letter reminding us to be thankful. Our writer, Shari Damaso, has used music in her life to focus her thinking on recognizing and enjoying God's blessings. The first psalm set to music I learned as a new believer was Psalms 103: "Bless the Lord, O my soul..." How thankful I was to experience God's blessing of salvation. May we all be continually aware of the Lord's goodness to us, and rejoice in Him alone!

Thankful for God's grace,

Sandy

Don't Just Count Your Blessings....ENJOY Them!

By Shari Damaso, New Life Community Church, Marion, Iowa

The hymn "Count Your Blessings" has a special place in my heart. It was the first song I learned to play on the pipe organ using both keyboards and the foot pedals. Since it can be played as an upbeat hymn, as a teen I liked to pull out all the stops and play it so loud the church windows rattled. Every time I was finished, the catchy tune of the chorus was stuck in my head and I left feeling happy. Even thinking about those days brings a smile to my heart.

I've discovered that there is truth in that hymn: counting your blessings can be a helpful tool in the Christian life. As a younger Christian, I learned that when my thoughts were negative it helped to pray through Philippians 4:8 and find something true, something noble, something right, etc. that I could focus on to correct my thinking. Now I realize that whenever I do that, each thing I pray is a blessing.

When my young children were grumpy, I would often ask them to name three things for which they were thankful. Sometimes I would need to ask for three more.....and three more....until their improved attitude was clearly shown by immediate and sincere responses. They didn't realize it, but each item they named -- from sunshine to stuffed animals to Daddy -- was actually a blessing in their lives.

In those times, I was following the familiar hymn's instructions to count my blessings during difficulties. I have found advice to be helpful, but I wish there was a verse reminding me to LIVE my blessings. Blessings are meant to be more than a list I review from time to time, they are meant to be experiences of my Creator's love, provision, and character. A Sunday morning message I heard recently emphasized that blessings aren't always tangible items, sometimes they are simply the peace and joy and hope that we experience in our hearts. I want to live in a way that acknowledges God's hand in all of my blessings, but too often I forget or - even worse - overlook them!

Recently I was praying for wisdom in addressing undesirable attitudes and behaviors in my children. As I thought about our days, I realized that we weren't having fun together. God impressed on my heart that we needed more laughter, more joy. We needed to spend more time enjoying His blessings together.

In the busyness and difficulties of life, we often fail to notice our blessings. Maybe life is routine and we take them for granted. Maybe life is hard and it seems that blessings are like miracles - few and far between. Another hymn - based on Ezekiel 34:26 - declares God's promise that "There Shall Be Showers of Blessing." Showers: not wimpy sprinkles that fail to water our parched hearts. Showers: not scary thunderstorms that overwhelm us.

My children LOVE to go out and play in the rain. They are always on the lookout for a rain shower to enjoy. When one comes, they are eager to get outside and experience it. They run, they play, they laugh, they smile, they hate to see it end, they glow as they tell Daddy about it when he comes home, they dream about the next shower and what they will do in it.

Imagine if we had the same outlook on showers of blessing. Every day we would eagerly look for blessings. When they arrived we wouldn't admire them from a safe distance; we would run out and experience them as quickly as we could, not wanting to miss a single drop. What fun we would have! How refreshed we would feel! What joy would fill us! How clearly we would see God! What stories we would have to share with others! How eager we would be for the next shower of blessing!

Check your blessing forecast today, sister. I am confident that whether the skies over your life are filled with sunshine or gray clouds, your loving Father has a shower of blessing ready for you. Anticipate it. Recognize it. Experience it. Share it. Enjoy it.

Dear Sisters,

Would we describe our lives as pastors' wives to be "the perfect life?" "For better, for worse" we and our men pledged our lives together. Is that enough? Kelly Lewis understood during a difficult year as a couple how much her husband Terry needed her as his support-and she needed his. She found that in the hard times and the good, it's enough to do her husband good, and not evil, all the days of her life (Proverbs 31:12). It is the perfect life! So whether you're having a season that you would call "better" or one that is "worse" may you find grace in your time of need by drawing close to one another and the Lord.

In His grace,

Sandy

The Perfect Life for Me

By Kelly Lewis, Grace Point Community Church, Lewis Center, OH

Last spring Terry and I took our daughter Abby to see the movie Amazing Grace. As we were leaving, Terry asked, "Do you know who the real hero is in that story?'

Abby, like all self-respecting PKs, answered, "God." And although that was a pretty good response, Terry was actually thinking of Barbara Wilberforce. If you haven't seen the movie, when William Wilberforce had given up on his dream to abolish slavery in England, and it seemed as though the whole world was against him, it was Barbara who believed in him, encouraged him, and stood by him. I was inspired by that example and it led me to thinking about the topic for this newsletter.

I wanted to start off with a disclaimer - this article doesn't talk about three sure-fire ways to stand by your man, and it's not filled with a lot of practical to-do stuff. Rather, it's an honest look at some storms Terry and I have faced recently, along with my realization that we needed to learn how to hold onto each other as a couple through all of them.

The first half of 2007 had not been a good year for us. Without going into a lot of detail, there were some struggles in our church, some conflicts to work through, and some good friends that left. I also went through some health issues that left us feeling a little bewildered by life. It's funny, because I've always thought of myself as a person well suited to be married to a pastor. I love having a house full of people, a calendar jammed-filled with activity, partnering with Terry, and living an adventure. I guess I just never thought people would say negative things about Terry, or the church, and I never realized how much it would hurt.

So what do you do as a couple when you find yourselves staring at each other, beaten up by life, and wondering where God is in it all? It's an important question to answer, because we will all face it in issues dealing with our kids, our relationships, our church, and our finances. I think the first word that comes to mind for me is tenderness.

Terry and I just needed to be able to hold each other without words and know everything was going to be okay. It was the best picture we could have of God's comfort and tenderness toward us. Secondly, we needed to be able to separate who we were as a family from our lives in ministry, and to protect those boundaries. This is a tough one for me. There were evenings when Terry would come home and I would be full of questions: "What are we going to do about this?" "What's going to happen now?" I just had to let it go and to allow home to be a refuge where Terry could be a husband and dad and to take off his pastor's hat for a while.

I don't know how many of you have read Jan Karon's Mitford series of books, but they are among my favorites. In one of them, Father Tim's wife (Cynthia) is reading a quote that says, "It is as important to marry the right life as it is the right person." Then she adds, "I thought about it when I married you, you know - whether this was the right life for me. And it is...it's perfect."

I shared that quote with Terry and was able to tell him that despite ups and downs, I could say wholeheartedly that being a pastor's wife is the perfect life for me. Our husbands so need to hear that from us!

The good news about storms is that they eventually end. We just had a congregational meeting at Grace Point and there was such a buzz of hope and excitement for where God was leading us. On a personal note, I recently had two very positive reports from doctors and my health is great. The tendency for me would be to jump back into church life and to let it become more important than taking care of our life as a couple, but I am doing my best to remember, through both the good and the difficult times, to strive to live Proverbs 31:12 and to "do my husband good every day of my life."

Dear Sisters,

Many busy days I think, "I don't know what to do next" or "...now where am I supposed to be and which child am I picking up now?" Thelma Clark shares in her article "The Safest Place" that I don't have to figure things out on my own. Whatever the day may hold, scheduled or not, I can yield to the Lord's gentle pulls and nudges, or to His reprimands, to go where He wants and do what pleases Him.

Hope your day finds you dwelling in Christ's presence, enjoying His Word!

Trusting in His guiding love,

Sandy

The Safest Place

By Thelma Clark, Prairie View Community Church, Parker, CO

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:20)."

As I began my day with the Lord a couple of weeks ago, I was overwhelmed with thankfulness for being able to "get in the yoke" with my God and let Him guide me through the day. What a safe place to be...yoked with the One who has unfailing love for me and whose knowledge and ability have no lacks! What a privilege to receive His gentle instructions throughout the day and be able to ask Him for counsel at any moment.

When my days were filled with caring for young children, God mightily used this verse to help me accept and tackle the myriad of situations a mother can encounter daily. Once when I was attempting to get everyone out the door, a pitcher of orange juice spilled on the kitchen floor. This verse enabled me to think: "Oh! The yoke is turning this direction--to the orange juice--not to the door quite yet." The Lord was (and is) working on my reactions, desiring to replace a frustrated, reactionary spirit with a gentler, accepting one. Learning to yield as if I were in a yoke with Him helped me see I wasn't a victim of circumstances, which made it easier to learn gracious responses.

Recently the Lord applied this verse to my heart in a couple of new ways. With Dennis gone, I was uncertain about a decision I needed to make concerning one of our teens. It was one of those gray areas with no exact right or wrong; and even though I didn't have many convincing reasons, I felt uneasy about it. While mulling it over, the Lord reminded me to look over to Him, the One I'm yoked with, and ask Him to lead in this. Instantly I knew the uneasy feeling was from Him, but now I needed to know how to explain my decision because I knew there would be initial resistance. The yoke concept came to my mind, and I knew this was the answer.

Later I shared with my teen that every day I get in the yoke with the Lord and want Him to be the "boss" and now, in this decision, even though I couldn't explain all the reasons, I needed to yield to the 'tugs' I felt He was giving. Seeing my own position of being under a higher authority seemed to help my teen yield more easily too.

The next application of the yoke came last month while riding in the car with both a driver-in-training and also an older child. At first I was amazed at all the great instruction being given to the trainee by the older. However, as it went on and on (concerning almost everything that was being done or not done), I began hoping that the younger would have the grace to stay teachable...hearing and accepting the instruction without getting defensive or upset. If only he would stay humble, he'd be a better driver for it all, even if it were a little over-kill.

All of a sudden I got an image of it being the Lord and I in that vehicle, or yoke. I wondered if I respond to each of His corrections and promptings in the teachable way I was hoping my son would respond; or do I defend and justify myself and therefore, not benefit like I could? This vivid picture has helped me want to be more responsive when I sense thoughts like: "Your speech was too strong there...your attitude isn't what it should be...being critical is always wrong...you should've responded willingly...grumbling never helps...put on a smile and serve...anger never brings about the righteousness of God." Oh, Lord, help me to respond: "Oh, OK!" or "You're right...thank you!" or "Thanks...will You help me?"

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me...." What a good place to be, even with His constant corrections. After all, I can be a better person for it!

Dear Sisters,

As a follow-up to our last month's tribute to Ruth Bell Graham, Jean Dunham of North Dakota has shared some thoughts about this mighty woman of faith. I have been recently talking with a friend about the need our husbands have for respect. As impressive of a person that Ruth was, her husband was the one who got the most respect, attention and press-- for good reasons. Billy, the preacher, was her first priority after the Lord Jesus. The world has been blessed for all eternity through her husband's ministry, because she considered her call to be a helpmate as sacred, from the Lord. Let's imitate her faith in our own marriages!

In His love,
Sandy

Imitate Her Faith

By Jean Dunham, Cottonwood Community Church, Grand Forks, ND

I have been thinking a lot lately about the life of Ruth Bell Graham. She has been my modern day hero for years and when I heard she entered the presence of her Savior a few weeks ago I wished I could be in on her welcoming.

I have admired her strength of character and willingness to forgo her dreams and aspirations, and embrace her husband's goals. Ruth was a woman who got behind her man 100 percent. And it cost her in this life. Ruth was much like a single mother, especially early in her husband's ministry when Billy would be away for months at a time. But Ruth had spunk and she would need it. She once said in relation to marriage, "If two people agree on everything one of them is unnecessary!"

This is a woman who knew her worth; that her opinions, ideas and thoughts were valued and needed, though her role was very different and much less noticed than Billy's. I can't help but think her life was similar to a pastor's wife.

Much of our ministry is with our families and our service unknown to many. And yet would Billy Graham have been able to do what he did without Ruth holding down the fort at home, joyfully, wisely, and without complaining? I see a lot of weak Christian women today and it makes me sad because I don't think the women we read about in the Bible were wimps. I think we should start a GCLI class for young women engaged to men who aspire to be leaders in their churches. We could title it "A pastor's wife is not for wimps." We could begin by walking through the typical Sunday for a pastor and his wife.

From my perspective...Tom leaves early for meetings before church. I prepare lunch or potluck food, wake, dress and nurse babies---or now pull the teenagers out of bed and get us to church on time (or early if I teach Sunday School which I did for many years with the help of my not always willing children). I rarely sat with Tom during a Sunday service, Easter, or Christmas. Basically Sunday mornings I am like a single mom bringing my kids to church. Sunday afternoons find my husband taking a much needed nap. Sunday is not my day of rest, but I would not have it any other way. This is my job, to free up Tom so he can serve God via the church.

Ladies, we must remember that God gave woman to be the helper to man. Some of what I see in Christianity today is just the opposite...man being the helper to the woman. I tell the ladies in our church all the time that a man is not created whole; he is made complete by his wife--we on the other hand were created perfect! I talk to so many women who struggle to make it through the day with toddlers and throw the kids at dad as soon as he walks through the door. Women who can't stop a teenage daughter as she walks out the door dressed immodestly, and take personal the hurtful words of a frustrated teenager.

Recently, I read in Judges 9:50-53 about a "certain" woman. When Gideon dies he leaves 70 sons and one son from a concubine, named Abimelech, who kills all 70 of Gideon's sons and then goes from town to town killing any who side with God. Beginning with verse 50, "Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he encamped against Thebez and took it. But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women-all the people of the city-¬fled there and shut themselves in: then they went up to the top of the tower. So Abimelech came as far as the tower and fought against it; and he drew near the door of the tower to burn it with fire. BUT A CERTAIN WOMAN DROPPED AN UPPER MILLSTONE ON ABIMELECH'S HEAD AND CRUSHED HIS SKULL."

For some reason I don't think this woman had difficulty taking care of business on the home front! This one woman took Abimelech down and we don't even know her name. She is only known as a certain woman. My exhortation to all of us is to aspire to be "certain women." We may not take down the enemy physically and we may never be named or known outside our homes or churches, but we are strong physically, emotionally, and spiritually in our homes and in our churches. We are not needy wives; we can handle the family on Sunday mornings while our husbands are about the business of the church. We can handle what God brings our way and lean hard on God rather than bring every small problem to our husband to solve.

Ladies, teach your women to free up their men to serve God 100 percent. Be your husband's helpmate as God intended. I am sure Ruth Bell has no regrets about laying her life down for her husband's vision as she basks in the presence of Jesus, as well as the multitudes that were saved as a result of her husband's ministry made possible by her sacrifices.

A Tribute

Dear Sisters,

Ruth Bell Graham, wife of Billy Graham, died on June 14th. She was 87 years old, and was married to Billy for 64 years. This sister in Christ, this fellow ministry wife and mother, has been an encouragement to women throughout the world. Her love for Jesus Christ and His Word, and her faithfulness to her husband and family, are her legacy.

This month in her honor, please experience her memorial at the provided link, press Ctrl and click here. I pray we are all inspired to follow her example of sweet and simple love for her Savior, as sampled in part of her poetry, Only You:

"...give me Yourself alone-
nothing beside-
so will I be with You,
content, satisfied!"

United with you,
Sandy

*If you are having trouble viewing Mrs. Graham's memorial site, please copy and paste the following into your internet browser: http://www.billygraham.org/RBG_TimeToAdore.asp

Dear Sisters,

This month's letter is about being a servant. We are all called to serve the Lord Christ. All of you wives are so excellently doing that in being loving and faithful helpmeets to your pastor husbands! And for many of us, this includes caring for our children. Diane Yousling has served her Lord as a single, as a wife, and finally as an adoptive mother of two precious boys. I've known her for over twenty years, and am blessed to hear what she has to share about ministry and motherhood. I pray you receive encouragement to enjoy the Lord, and relish life in the season and area of service He has so carefully placed you. "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me: and where I am, there shall My servant also be," (John 12: 26).

In Christ,

Sandy

A Season of Serving

By Diane Yousling, Prairie Ridge Community Church, Aurora, CO

There are a number of godly women in our movement who have older children and are becoming empty nesters. They have more time available for ministry in the church. The younger wives with children might see how involved these older wives are, and how much older women can now do for the Kingdom.

Young moms might struggle between being more involved with their children at home versus being available for outside ministry. I know I do sometimes. Younger pastors' wives might not have ever seen these older moms when they had young children and were also busy, every day with their kids. I had that privilege and am thankful for it. So I thought I would write and share a little of my story.

"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 train the younger women to love their husbands and children." - Titus 2:3-5
I love this verse. And I love that this Great Commission movement has throughout my life - preached this, demonstrated this, and continues to live this verse, especially the part about "loving our husbands and children".

For years Jay and I could not have children. Then when I was in my early 40's, I had my first son placed into my arms. And when I was 47, I had the sweet experience of taking my second son home from the hospital. Both of our boys are adopted. Most women will not have their first and second child in their 40s. I smile at myself sometimes. I am of the "Red Hat" wearing age and here I am, teaching 3rd grade and preschool, at home and I love it! I love raising my boys. I am so glad I have children - to love, teach, train and give my heart to.

And I am so grateful that I have had great women around me who have this same heart and this same desire for their children. I have learned to honor, love, and value motherhood from other Great Commission women. When I go to our Denver area PEW Club (Pretty Elder Wives), though each of us are intimately involved with our husbands in their work as a pastor, each wife is still claiming promises and verses on learning more about being a better mother and wife. I appreciate my fellow sisters and their attitude. It is a great heritage that I cherish dearly.

When the world says that children are too expensive and so much work and take too much time, I want to say to the world, "But I love being a Mom!"

Recently I was watching my boys take swimming lessons at the city pool. During that time there was also a "Parent/Tot" class across the way. Watching these new moms and dads take their 3-to-6-month old kids into the pool and play "The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round" and all sorts of other games - is a hoot. One night I was sitting on the bleachers and in runs a young dad obviously coming directly from work. He was in a big rush. He was very excited to get in the pool with his wife and new child in this Parent/Tot class. He had his pants slung over his arm with his swimsuit on. He had quickly put on his swimsuit in the locker room, slipped his work shoes back on and ran out to the poolside. He quickly stripped off his work shirt and jumped in the pool. He was so pumped, you could read it all over his face. But in all his excitement to spend time in the pool with his new, little baby, he forgot something. It was precious. Here was this hard-working dad, who was even more excited to be with his wife and child. So excited he forgot to take his very nice dress shoes off before jumping into the pool.

I will not forget his sweet excitement.

Even when it seems that all I have done in a particular day is spend the entire morning in the bathroom "training" my 5-year old. Or when my 9-year old complains about cleaning that bathroom. Or when I must spend another hour with him on his math. Or when my boys want me to walk to the park and I still have 101 other things I need to do before supper. I will remain excited. Cause I am.

When I was not able to have children and it was just Jay and I - I could do so many things for the church. I was able to meet with women one-on-one, plan and help with lots of women's activities. I bought dry-cleanable clothes (didn't have to worry about spit-up), spent whole, entire evenings doing my hobbies. I went out to eat in restaurants where there wasn't a play area. I was able to join my husband on so many occasions.

Now I buy clothes I can just throw in the washer - no iron, casual. I quietly crave to go to a "Crop Night" to scrapbook, but instead I get to share my special die-cut machine with my 5- year old. Instead of going out to eat great food and enjoy the atmosphere, I get to hone in on my home-made chicken nuggets.

Right now my priority is to not get too involved in working with younger women and doing the same amount of church activities that I did before. My priority is to train, teach and disciple these two little guys. God is the One who has so graciously given Jay and me these boys and I will be faithful with them.

I am surrounded in my neighborhood with ladies who have nice clothes. Who go to the newest restaurant and provide the latest entertainment for their children. They exercise at Curves or at the rec center. But some of my neighbors need purpose. They need spiritual purpose. They have never read how God has given them instruction to love their husband and train their children.

I once gladly and wholeheartedly pursued God's will for my life as a single woman. Now I want to gladly and wholeheartedly pursue God's will for my life as a mother. And I think I am. I wouldn't trade it for the world. And some day I hope to gladly and wholeheartedly pursue God's will for my life as an empty nester. Each stage has key lessons and priorities. I deeply desire to pass on the legacy that has been passed on to me by my PEW club friends.

Dear Sisters,

Spring blessings to you!

This month’s article is appropriate to the season, as it contains lessons learned while Neva Whitney was caring for their spring lambs. Despite the fact that she is (in my opinion) already such a great example of working hard to be a helpmeet to her husband, she still sees room for growth in her service.

Do you also want to improve as a “hard worker?” Whether we are serving others in our families, our churches, or at our jobs, Neva reminds us to be available, humble women who are unable to be “inconvenienced.”

This article reminds me of a quote by John Wesley that my husband has been sharing lately:

“Leisure and I have taken leave of one another. I purpose to be busy as long as I live.”

May God help all of us to be stronger workers for God and His kingdom.

In His service,
Sandy

Still Learning to be a Hard Worker After All These Years!

By Neva Whitney, Great Commission Northwest

I have just survived a rather challenging 12 days.

Probably just like a number of your husbands, my husband needs to travel at times, but these last 12 days seemed longer than usual. Four back to back trips! It started with the Front Range Men’s Conference. A lot of men came and I heard that it was a great time. From there he went to a regional leader’s time, meeting with a few men. From there to Columbus, Ohio, to help out in a variety of ways. At least that’s what I picked up. And then finally out to Seattle for a weekend with that dear church.

I decided to make the best of it and get some projects done around the house.

Rick’s travels meant that I also would be in charge of our small flock of sheep.It is a wonderful hobby for Rick, which he says helps keep him sane (but this same flock might just help drive me bonkers). The sheep were a great experience for our children as they were growing up. Now when our children are grown, I get to be in charge when Rick needs to be gone.

It is just a small flock and what my husband does in a few minutes’ morning and evening, and thoroughly enjoys - I seem to have not quite mastered.

When Rick returned one afternoon, before heading out again on another trip, I could tell he saw things that I could have paid more attention to.It started with Bella our dog and how she was pretty worked up. I love her and sometimes do not work with her like I should. I do need to keep training her and she does need the training. And he saw this before he even got to the barn. When we went out to the sheep barn, things were apparently worse. Rick noticed many other things. Things that are important for the health of the flock. We have just had a whole bunch of new baby lambs and they needed more attention then I
probably was giving them. Bottle lambs. Creep rations. Dry pens. I decided to “grin and bear it” and not try to defend my actions, or rather lack of action, during his short time at home before he hit the road again. Early Wednesday morning as I was taking him back to the airport, Rick gave me a list of additional chores to do, much like you might a hired hand, when you were going to be gone and you were not certain how they would use their time. “Neva,” he said, “Honey, you’ll need to do more. Sorry. I sure hope you can handle it.”

“Also you will need to go to the feed store and pick up more feed. And there are some towels from the barn and the dog’s blankets that need to be washed. You might stop at the Laundromat, since you don’t like to wash those things in the
house.” He went on. . . “That one water tank needs to be cleaned out and refilled. . . .Pretty simple. Only take you a minute. Bye. Love you.”

Leaving the airport, I headed toward home and was thinking through what I wanted to share in a talk to a ladies group in one of our Colorado churches later that weekend. I was not thinking at all about what he wanted me to do. Then it hit me. I was going

to be talking about service and having a good servant’s heart. But here I was, not really caring at all about what my partner needed from me. Not living out what I was going to be sharing with all those gals. God wants us to have a servant’s heart, ladies – deep down a servant’s heart!

I had to laugh and reprove myself for doing such a poor job, not being a hard worker, and not being faithful with the little things – the very kind of things that I was going to share with those Christian women. I went straight home and worked till early afternoon that first day getting everything whipped into shape out in the barn. I checked off the things that were on Rick’s “To
Do” list for me. I came up with more things on my own.

Needless to say, I continued to really apply myself the next couple of days so that when Rick came home from his third trip out of four - things would be sparkling. I couldn’t wait for him to go out to the barn and see what a great job I had done with
his flock.

And do you know what? He had such a short time at home before his fourth and final trip, that he hardly even made it out there. Several things had come up that he needed to deal with via the phone, email, and with a last minute meeting. When my husband finally returned I was quite eager to see him and turn the “Golden Shepherd’s Crook” back over to him.

I felt that God had reminded me again, on this very same important lesson, about being faithful, hard-working, and a servant.
And how we need to look at ourselves as a servant and be proud of serving, and serving hard.

Anyway, here are some of my teaching notes from that message I was now eager to give -

A Revolutionary Christian Woman Works Hard Every Day.

Two things –

A. Women who claim to fear God are always servants - to everyone. And we serve our family and other people, not knowing how it will all turn out.

“And I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less?” - 2 Cor.12:15

Paul shows here his unquenchable love for the people of God. He was willing gladly to give himself in tireless service for their spiritual welfare. Even if there was no hope of love from them - he would keep on loving them.

This was also our Lord’s example and should be ours as well.

B. Women who claim to fear God cannot and will not be inconvenienced. Are you following me, ladies?

“When Jesus came into Peter's house, He saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on Him.” - Matthew 8:14, 15

At first we think of the mother-in-law and her example of being healed and then serving with renewed dedication and joy.

But then think of what probably went on earlier that day with our Lord. How tired do you think our Lord was? How busy? How often did people have needs and express those needs directly to Him throughout that day?

But He came into the house and again served another needy person. Peter’s
mother-in-law. We often are tempted to think our needs are first. Yet our Lord thought of others and showed us a different perspective.

- How tired are you?
- How many diapers?
- How many phone calls?
- How many messes have you cleaned up this morning?
- How much driving do you have to do? How many errands?
- How many schedules do you have to organize?
- How chaotic are things at your work place?

Do you think you are the busiest person on your block? Maybe, maybe not, but what difference does it make any way? God calls us to serve.

We all have friends who help us in different ways. Some friends encourage us when we’re down. Some friends challenge us when we’re not reaching our full potential. This month’s writer does both. With the regular “tune-ups” our friend Shari recommends for our ministry journey, we can be energized by the Holy Spirit. May you experience the true refreshment that comes from Christ as you serve in His name.

In Christ’s love,
Sandy

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True Refreshment

By Shari Damas, New Life Community Church, Cedar Rapids, IA

I don’t know about you, but I am bothered by our culture’s mantra: “meet your own needs first, then give to others.” Even in Christian circles this is promoted, and I bristle at the self-centered focus it promotes. As wives of men in leadership, we do work hard and we do need rest, but we enter dangerous territory when our lives center around meeting our own needs. Instead of refreshment, that mindset leads to unhealthy self-indulgence. This month I want to remind us that the formula for true
refreshment is offered in Proverbs 11:25, “A generous man will prosper: he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” The key is to have right relationships, first with God, then with others.

People frequently ask how I do so much ministry without being drained. I am surprised to hear this question from Christian women whose lives appear similar to mine. It seems that while I am energized by meeting the needs of others, these women are burdened. What’s the difference? I think it lies in receiving true refreshment.

At Faithwalkers, God impressed this analogy on my heart. We are God’s ministry vehicles and He desires to use us for His work as long as we are on the Earth. To prepare for this journey with Him, we can think of ourselves as a car being prepared for a long trip. Before and during the drive, we need to:

• Perform routine maintenance: Fix little things before they become major problems; address relationship problems as well as attitudes and behaviors in your own life. Fuel up daily through prayer and time in God’s Word; spend weekly encouragement and accountability time with at least one women; plan special activities you enjoy doing with others (scrapbooking, walking, etc.), date your husband, laugh regularly.
• Monitor fluid levels: Know how much fuel you need to get through the day. Don’t plan to end the day on fumes, but leave energy for detours. You may find unexpected refreshment through a scenic bypass you encounter along the road. (I was recently asked to hold a makeup party at a teenage sleepover for girls in a difficult situation. With only 4 hours notice, I wanted to say no, but decided building into the girls’ lives was the right choice. After the makeup, I spent a couple of hours catching up with my adult girlfriend. I am so glad that God sovereignly planned my day to leave time and energy – and a willing husband – to provide me thatrefreshing detour!)
• Check for leaks: Are commitments, activities or relationships draining you? Too many? Too demanding? Eliminating “fuel wasters” gives you more energy for important and refreshing relationships. If you are seeking God, ladies, and He tells you to move on, He will provide someone else to fill the gap, if it needs to be filled. For years I have believed the lie “if it’s gonna be, it’s up to me.” It is so refreshing to walk in the truth that some things aren’t my responsibility! I have been surprised to find that even though the number of commitments I have cut out is small, the increase in my energy, joy, and availability has multiplied exponentially!
• Follow the owner’s manual: God has given us instructions for peak performance. Following His commands produces fulfilling relationships and true refreshment: forgive quickly; be slow to anger; give generously; love deeply; seek first His kingdom; live out Acts 2:44 fellowship. We know these commands, but do we consistently apply them? Are we teachable and eagerly seeking fresh understanding? When we realize our sins do we repent and obey our Father quickly, cheerfully, and completely? He has told us now to live refreshed; we simply need to obey.
• Clean the windows: Remove the grime that obstructs your view. Get input consistent with God’s perspective. If the media you consume leaves you feeling empty, replace it with sources that exemplify God’s character and spur you on to love and good deeds. One of our pastors reminds us that we live in a booby-trapped world. Satan has plenty of land mines planted around us and eagerly waits for us to step on one. Some of those land mines cloud our minds with deception. The only way out of deception is taking in wonderful, refreshing truth.
• Plan for breakdowns: Don’t be surprised when problems arise. In recent weeks God keeps reminding me that this world isn’t heaven. Life in this world is hard, it is full of hurt, it contains many disappointments -- if it didn’t, it would be heaven. For us, sisters, the difficulties of this life are the worst we will ever have to endure. Our home in heaven offers what we long for: widespread righteousness, lasting peace, abundant joy, unconditional love, faultless justice, and more. But we’re not there yet, so keep pressing on! Keeping “tools” – bubble bath, a good movie, a favorite scripture, your sense of humor – on hand helps you get repaired and back on the road.

It is refreshing to bring a smile to the face of a hurting friend, to help a neighbor in need, to hear hopeful words from someone who has been struggling, to gain a fresh insight into God’s character. The little we give -- a smile, a kind word, a few minutes, a few dollars -- has big impact. In healthy giving we experience the refreshment promised by the writer of Proverbs 11:25!

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9 NLT)

Dear Sisters,

Greetings! In this month’s letter we see another excellent example of a pastor's wife. Patty Osborn, wife of Gary, describes a “typical” day in her life. I am impressed with her humble and loving heart as she daily seeks to please God and her husband.

What greater priority can we have than “to do whatever it takes to keep our eyes on Him?” May God use Patty's example to inspire you to be a person who loves Jesus Christ throughout the day.

In His love,

Sandy

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God’s Will for My Day

By Patty Osborn, Candlewood Community Church, Omaha, NE

Someone asked me recently about how I decide what God’s will for my day looks like. This is basically what I do…

First of all, I tell myself after my quiet time, “Well, at least I did the most important thing!” There isn’t anything more important than this. I do take Jesus’ statement to Martha seriously: “ONLY ONE thing is necessary.” Nothing else is as important. Doing this does help me keep my perspective right; to see the Lord for a little while anyway!

As far as the rest goes, I’ll try to share a little of how I think….

Mostly I just try to keep my priorities, and that takes up a lot of the time. Quiet time, do whatever I know Gary wants me to do, take kids where they need to go, and keep up the home. Our kids at home mostly know what they’re supposed to do each day,
so I don’t have to give a lot of specific direction. With Gary working at another full time job (besides being a pastor), he doesn’t have that much time to think up specific things for me to do outside of the regular stuff, but I do make whatever he likes a priority (I know he likes the grill cleaned every time we use it, so if we used it the evening before, that’s one thing I put on my list of things to do).

I follow routines, maybe not so exact as “every Tuesday is grocery day,” but most days have certain structures (Wayne--7th grade and Wyatt--5th grade always have school, as soon as the breakfast dishes are done, and we’ve been working on memorizing at noon, or reviewing verses; Wednesday is piano lesson day, etc.). After lunch, we relax for awhile; they read books, and I take a nap (and read). Not for a long time, but whatever I need. I’m worthless when I’m tired, and we have so many things in the evening, I have to get rest in the afternoon. I probably do a lot of things by my feelings, judging how much time I need, trusting that God is giving me wisdom. I follow principles, more than asking God continually “What should I do? For example, if we’ve been really busy, we’ll relax a little. And of course we have to fit in with my husband’s personality. He’d hate it if I was too regimented, because he’s not! Sometimes deciding what things to do is not so much the amount of time they take, but how much they wear on you. I can only get with a few people regularly, it seems, and I only have a few close relationships, even if I have the time. So I get with two or three sisters regularly for accountability. It seems the Lord has not only given us limited physical strength, but also limited ability to have relationships.

I do try to go out for an extended quiet time on Saturday morning. Last week I really missed it, but this Saturday I should be able to get back on track. Recently Gary decided we should all give out tracts more, and all the kids (all seven) should write

their own. So I’m helping them to do that now. We always want our husbands to lead in spiritual things, and when they do, we want to complain, “Another thing to do!” Really, there’s only one thing God wants us to do at a time, and doing what my
husband wants, I feel, is top on the God’s list for me.

I know if Gary had an office at home, like many pastors do, things would change a lot. When he did, I had to be ready to help him whenever he needed it.

Today we broke all our routines. Wayne needed teeth pulled at the dentist, so I thought we ought to “take a day off.” We went to the dentist at nine o’clock in the morning. When we got home, we put in our “Fellowship of the Ring” movie. I did things I could do while watching it (ironing, mending, etc.). I have been feeling stressed, just too busy. I already feel better. It’s so silly for us to think if we don’t do things, it will all fall apart. Who do I think I am anyway? That helps me relax.

Well, today the reading was Hebrews 4. My verses are 10 & 11, “For all who enter into God’s rest will find rest from their labors, just as God rested after creating the world. Let us do our best to enter that place of rest for anyone who disobeys God,
as the people of Israel did, will fall.” The most important thing is to see Him, and not all “I have to do.” That’s my thought. Whatever it takes to keep my eyes on Him, that’s what I should do…I know that the only things I do of lasting value are the
things He is involved in, so why stress myself by doing other stuff?

How do you decide what’s God’s will for your day?

Love ya,
Patty

Dear Sisters,

This month is a fresh beginning, as Mary Knox has always felt about January. The blank pages of her new calendar have for some years prompted a day with the Lord, to seek Him and give the coming months to His loving care. Yet the last year has been one of “surprises” from God’s hands for our sister Mary. He has revealed Himself in fresh ways to her in the midst of those surprises.

Whatever “new” revelations Jesus Christ brings to you in 2007, I pray along with Mary that this year will be crowned with His bounty for you.

In His love,
Sandy

You Crown the Year with Your Bounty

By Mary Knox, Evergreen Community Church, Bloomington, MN

I just put up my new January calendar. I love a new calendar. A new year...a new fresh clean page...a brand new beginning. A blank slate. New dreams, possibilities, plans. And you know what I like to do sometimes in the first week of January? I like to find some time to get alone with God...[A "DAWG DAY" is what my husband so fondly calls it-- Day Alone With God- Day] ...a few hours, a day, a weekend...whatever can be carved out. I use Psalm 65:11 as my guide verse: "You crown the year with your bounty." I like to think about God, and what He's done in my life that past year. I think about what He's taught me...about Himself, about myself, about life. I like to praise and thank Him, for who He is, and what He's done. And I anticipate the coming year. I think about what I need to grow in and what changes need to be made. I think about goals for the coming year.

This year I'll do the same. But my past year has been off-the-charts 'Shock and Awe!' A little history first. God has given me a little message-series that I present at different women's events called SURPRISED BY THE GOD OF SURPRISES. Well, the GOD OF SURPRISES has surprised me this past year. He surprised me with a health challenge. Exactly a year ago, I found out I had Hepatitis C. My past nine months have been spent undergoing a year-long, cancer -cocktail treatment for the "cure." The treatment has been effective. The Hep C is "non-detectable. But they don't called you "cured" until 6 months after your last injection and the Hep C hasn't returned. My treatment ends March 7th. I'll find out sometime in October 2007 if I'm 'cured.' It's been a challenging nine months. The treatment has its myriads of sideeffects--mostly uncomfortable. But God gives grace.

My goal with this little letter, is NOT to tell you all I've learned through this experience. I'll share that another time, after the treatment is over. I know I'll have a BRAND-NEW message to add to my GOD OF SURPRISES series. But what's been awesome....is ALL that God has done in my FAITH this past year. Though I'd never CHOOSE to have Hep C and undergo this devastating treatment, God has kindly and lovingly revealed Himself, and His Ways, and His Personality and Character in ways I'd NEVER have discovered if I HADN'T GONE THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE.

I've learned some new NAMES for God. If I was going to write my own book on The Names of God, my list would include:

* THE GOD WHO LAUGHS: I've learned God has quite a sense of humor, and He uses humor, and laughing to minister to me.
* THE GOD WHO COMES THROUGH FOR ME: He's my cavalry, coming to my rescue, in times of challenge.

There's more...THE GOD OF THE DEEP, THE GOD OF EXILE ISLAND, THE GOD WHO MAKES IT REAL...but that will be included in my new installment for the GOD OF SURPRISES series. You'll just need to invite me to speak at your local women's events in 2007 to hear it all. That's one of my 'goals' for 2007...to speak my little vocal chords off after my Exile Island experience is over.

This January when I have my DAY ALONE WITH GOD, I'll look back over my past year, and anticipate the new year and I'll marvel at how God "CROWNS THE YEARS WITH HIS BOUNTY. " But I'll be including the rest of verse 11, AND 12 in my meditation: "You crown the year with your bounty; even the HARD PATHWAYS OVERFLOW with ABUNDANCE. The WILDERNESS becomes a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy."

Please treat yourself to your own DAY ALONE WITH GOD. Reflect on your own list of 'the names of God" that you've discovered this year. And don't be afraid of the "The God of Surprises." His surprises are always Good.

And, hey, see you next year, when I'm done with Exile Island!

Dear Sisters,

As we celebrate the season of our Savior's birth, we enjoy creating or buying presents for the people we love. Christmas is definitely the time for giving gifts. Well, how about the gift that "keeps on giving"-prayer!

Karen Haring has been giving and receiving many blessings since she has been praying verses and specific prayers straight from the Word of God, for her friends and family. This is an example I want to follow! And so I pray for you all, dear sisters in Christ, that you would know "what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe." (Eph. 1:19)

Merry Christmas!

Sandy

Praying God's Word

By Karen Haring, Chestnut Ridge Community Church, Morgantown, WV

I guess it all started back when I was a student at Ohio State. I had a couple of close friends who weren't Christians, and one became antagonistic towards me. I found it hard to love her the way I knew I should. That's when I came across John 17:26:
"I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

Wow, what a promise! The love that God loves Jesus with is IN ME! I not only memorized that verse, I began to claim that promise, and pray constantly that God's love in me would work through me. God answered that prayer by changing my heart. I knew that I had a real love for this friend that could only come from God's love inside of me. God gave me great peace in the midst of those circumstances.

I'm sure over the years I spent some more time "praying God's Word", but it wasn't until four or five years ago that I began seriously praying God's word again. After hearing Kristin Hagen speak one year about fasting, I had begun fasting and praying at different times and I saw God answer some really big prayers. Once during those prayer times, I realized how many specific prayers God has given us in His Word. I started by jotting down a few verses that Paul had written as prayers for people in the different churches. It encouraged me to search for more of the same.

Then a friend was going through some struggles, and I decided that the best way to pray for this friend was to pray God's Word for them. I found specific verses and prayed them daily for this friend. One of the verses was, "May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance." (2 Thessalonians 3:5) I could see God really working! It was very inspiring to hear things come out of my friend's mouth that were the exact things I had been praying for! Of course, this made me want to pray God's Word even more!

I wrote down verses to pray for my husband and my kids. I not only wrote down promises to pray, but things like: "With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:10-12) In the midst of all of this, I also came across some prayer cards by Stormie Omartian that have some great scriptural prayers.

Now I have pages of verses that I pray every day for family and friends. I keep them in a small book that I take with me everywhere, so that when I have spare moments, I can pray. There are so many side benefits to praying God's Word. One is that it's easy to memorize verses when you pray them every day! Also, I'm able to serve people and help them more specifically as I am filling my mind with God's Words and praying God's Word specifically for those around me. And finally, my prayer life has grown through God's Word. I find that God is changing me.

Dear Sisters,

In the past, I wrote how much the Lord did for my family through the fellowship, worship, and teachings that we were able to share together at the Great Commission Churches Faithwalkers conference. Here is the story of a pastor's wife who went to Faithwalkers for the first time, last year. I hope you enjoy Carol's story as much as I did. She says, "My own hopes were fulfilled." What a testimony! Hopefully Carol's experience of blessing will inspire you to consider going to Tan-Tar-A this year (December 27-31).

This Thanksgiving, as our families gather to remember God's goodness, we have so many reasons to thank Him. I especially am thankful for you ladies that God has put us together to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. May God greatly enable you to enjoy His blessings this Thanksgiving season.

Because He is so good,
Sandy

Faithwalkers

By Carol Meyer, Summitview Community Church, Ft. Collins, Colorado

Faithwalkers. The conference posters hung on our church building walls every year, but I paid little attention. I thought it was just for college students. But last year, my husband John informed me that we were going as a family. So right after Christmas, we packed the van, gathered three of our boys and we were off to Tan-Tar-A, Missouri!

I remember that first evening. Standing in line to check-in, then singing and worshipping, followed by praying with ever-changing, one after another, small groups of believers...all with my boys. Also meeting so many new people and enjoying old friends. (It had been several years since I was blessed to sit in a back row with Chris and Virginia Biang.) The whole night was wonderful!

Yes, there were lots of college students; however, my own hopes were fulfilled. I had believed that if I went, then God would too. It's astonishing to have a personal relationship with an omnipresent God! True to His character, God faithfully instructed me in every single teaching.

I remember John Hopler's thought, "God's grace is greater than your awareness of His grace." That really got me thinking.

Herschel's wise admonishment from Ephesians to, "Be very careful, and make the most of every opportunity."

However, it was a one-two combo of Dennis Clark and then Mark Darling's words that touched this pastor's wife's heart and her life.

During my 20 pastor-wife-years, there have been many challenges. We have all had them. I felt, by the grace of God, I had weathered them well. However, when Mark stated, "I love this church, it's the best thing that ever happened to me." My first thought was "Really?" I wasn't so sure. Could I say the same thing? The "church" had been a source of some
tremendous blows to my heart. A chill had set over my heart that I didn't realize was there. My questions revealed it.

As I mulled over my reaction, God reminded me of the "goodness" of His body.

I was saved in high school, but my life was changed through the "church" in my early twenties. I smiled as God jogged my memory of how the "church" had challenged me, loved me, corrected me, persevered with me, admonished me,
encouraged me, and supported me over all these years.

I am a different woman because of God's church. I was humbled by this undeserved blessing I have received from the church. The Spirit thawed my heart. I thought, "I love the church too. It is the best thing that ever happened
to me!" God smiled, and then I smiled. I now knew what He had already known.

Dennis shared on a personal commitment to God and His Word. I have great respect for Dennis and always love to hear him teach. His first point involved accepting the authority of the Word. Yep, the authority of God's Word, next point.

The next point was God's quiet voice, "Carol, you have compromised here."

Here?

"Yes, here."

I was surprised, but God wasn't. God wanted to expose the competition He was facing when He desired to speak into my life. Often His words were competing with my emotions, my personal understanding, my vantage point, and my feelings. What I didn't fully realize, was that these emotions often easily override His Word in my life. Because of how deep some of my feelings are and also because of how I have gone through some pretty "tremendous blows" in the church, I felt  justified in having my feelings be top dog.

I realized I had chosen my emotions for my safety and my hope, instead of choosing to trust God and His Word for my security. What a second-rate substitute my emotions are! 

So much better to place my hope in Him.

Yikes! This was not where I wanted to be. I had compromised the authority of God's Word and had stepped under the authority of my emotions. But God knew; He lovingly brought fresh air into a stale place and I humbly repented.

There were many more thoughts, delightful conversations with believers, encouraging worship and a Lord that always touches my life when I sit at His feet during a conference like Faithwalkers.

Dear Sisters,

A major role most of us play is the role of a mother. But guess what? Kids grow up and move from home! How are we to respond when the children leave the nest?

Neva Whitney and her husband Rick have raised and released their children. Now in her new empty-nest phase of life, Neva shares with us how she is continuing to seek the Lord's will and do what He wants, through continuing to be her husband's support and help. May we get hope and encouragement through her example of living for others!

In Christ's service,

Sandy

Empty Nesters

By Neva Whitney, Neva Whitney, Great Commission Northwest, Colorado

For the first time in 30 years, Rick and I do not have any of our kids living at home. They were everywhere and all around us, but slowly things kept quieting down. And now they have all graduated and moved on. Although it is not easy and it has been a big adjustment - probably bigger than we thought it would be - I think I am figuring it out. I have a tendency to go from one stage of life to the next kicking and screaming and crying. But by God's grace, I just keep turning to Him, and trusting, and the Lord has helped.

God truly wants us to embrace every step of the journey and I'm doing just that. I am eager to see what God has for me in this new stage with some new and different opportunities for ministry.

Drawing closer to my Savior has certainly been a highlight. The first couple of months I just fed on the Psalms, day after day, week after week. I gained strength and comfort from reading those familiar words. Often I would tear up and He would always bless me. If you ever need a little direct encouragement from your God, I encourage you to go to the Psalms, and expect God to help you let go and relax. And He will.

I have enjoyed more uninterrupted time with my husband also. It is just him and I now, and that is taking our relationship to an even better level. We really are connecting (and I thought we were pretty close before). I'm grateful that through our child-rearing years we kept our relationship a priority. We made time for one another when the kids were around. We always liked one another and enjoyed being together, and over the last few months, praise God, it has gotten better!

Also, I have had a renewed appreciation for being "a worker at home." Those verses from Titus still relate, even today. For decades I have had children to help with household chores and prepare meals. This fall if I want a chore done around here, I can't call out a name and have someone do it, or even help me to do it. I have rolled up my sleeves a little more. It's exciting to see God use me in a variety of new ways outside of the home too.

We're working with a new church in downtown Denver called The Firehouse. It's mostly made up of young people---recent graduates, first jobs, young marriages, and little kids. Lots of working singles and even a few students. Recently, right after a Sunday service was over, I had the privilege of leading one of our new visitors in her prayer to receive Christ as her personal Savior. What a thrill! I am praying that she will grow and become a devoted disciple.

God has also given Rick and me several opportunities to labor together in counseling situations with couples in our church and in our neighborhood. We are always so humbled to be used by God with other folks who are hurting, angry, confused, and yet still searching for truth.

Before kids, I worked as a journalist. And then the kids came. But with them now gone, we decided that it might be good for me to do a little part time work outside of the home and see if I could hang with some other middle aged women, maybe be used by God in a new way. After talking to several pastors wives, I decided to work with Weight Watchers. God used it as a blessing year's ago, and I wondered if I could be a blessing to others now.

The first part of this year I worked as a receptionist at three weekly meetings. About 12 hours a week. Not a big commitment, but I was able to rub shoulders with lots of ladies. It involved meeting and greeting the members, signing up new members, and a little selling. Just last month I went through an intense four days of group leader training which involved instruction in leading small groups, public speaking, and counseling. That was right up my alley. (For all you pastor's wives, could I just say that it really was nothing new, but very encouraging.)

I'm currently finishing my mentoring to become a new group leader. I've been privileged to take advantage of the training that this company provided and I can see many ways where it will benefit me as a pastor's wife. I am praying that God will continue to use me to be 'salt and light' with all these ladies. I have already had opportunities to minister to a number of them.

One recently lost a sister. Another is taking care of an unloving mother. One opened up about her child who had just left for college. There are lots of marriage and child rearing questions that have come up too. As a Christian, the Lord has helped me to show care and concern. He's allowed me to minister to these women and speak truth to them, and I am very grateful. It has also been very gratifying to see how proud and supportive my husband has been as I have stepped out in this new adventure.

So, although I am a newbie, empty nester, I am excited! God has helped me to be full of faith. He continues to have a plan for me and my husband. (Rick would also appreciate prayer to help and guide him through these changes too!) The Lord has safely brought us this far. He is not done with us. He still has an abundant life planned for both of us - 'sans children.' He still wants to use us - if we still want to be used.

Dear Sisters,

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." Phil. 4:8

Dotty Vanderhorst obeys this verse this month with her article! She has highlighted, deservedly so, the excellent women I am privileged to know as pastors' wives in Great Commission Churches. I pray you are as encouraged as I have been to be reminded of some writings we have had in our newsletters, and to hear of how God has used these women to encourage Dotty's life. Surely, you all are "the majestic ones, in whom is all my delight," (Ps. 16:3).

In Christ's love,

Sandy

Four Hearts God Loves

By Dotty Vanderhorst, Cornerstone Community Church, Overland Park, KS

After two hours of skimming Pastors' Wives Newsletters in preparation for this article, I feel there should be fireworks exploding all over the sky with choirs singing the Hallelujah Chorus in the background. Wow! What a company of women! What a work of God. "The Lord gives the command; the women who proclaim the good tiding are a great host: 'Kings of armies flee, they flee, and she who remains at home will divide the spoil!'" Psalm 68:11-12 is given concrete reality for me. This year I have felt more a part of the company of women in Great Commission than before. But to read through a stack of Pastors' Wives Newsletters I've collected from 2002 to 2006 about bursts my heart with pride at the glory God gets from such women.

For me this has been a year of openheartedness with women. My policy had been to make friends with women one by one and, for the most part, to avoid relating to them in groups. I've participated in very few women's groups or Bible studies. My home priorities have prevented this, and, to be honest, I've felt insecure in groups of women, not knowing how to "fit in." However, last fall God used problems in our church to show me that I was out of touch with some of the women dynamics going on. Through pain, self-discovery, and listening and responding to women's concerns, both my husband John and I have grown. Our church has also moved forward into greater openness, love, and unity.

Also this year God has given the gift of new or deepened friendships with pastor's wives within Great Commission. Cheryl Freidline, the other pastors' wife at Cornerstone, and I attempted a weekly visit for the first time. She served me tea, and we just chatted. It was so good. And I was able to interact with more pastors' wives in GC churches than ever before. So let me brag about some of these women and what kind of heart they have for the Lord. A few of these I've not met yet-but their heart is evident in what they write.

Four hearts in this company of women are obvious: a heart of compassion, a heart of truth, a heart for the Word, and a heart that is Christ-exalting.

I became aware of the first heart-a heart of compassion--when I was at a wedding. There I ran into Gayle Honeycutt, back in Kansas from her new home in San Antonio, Texas. Crossing the reception hall, standing between tables, we jumped into a conversation. After exchanging news, we shared our concern for one young person's life, and brainstormed together about possible scenarios for the Lord to work things out. The unusual thing was that this was the first in-depth talk I had ever had with Gayle. I have always been intimidated by her brash, bold personality. And she obviously loves groups of women-big groups! But because the Lord had given both of us a heart of compassion for another, suddenly our way was open to become friends. At June's Pastors' Conference at Tan-Tar-A, Gayle initiated with me, and we took some time apart. We caught up on our children's lives, then talked over our history that went back twenty years, clearing up misunderstandings and stereotypes. What freedom and joy the Lord poured out! I felt free to confide because I recognized God's heart of compassion in Gayle.

In the newsletters, Vicki Nurre's story of her sister Debby's death in "Unfathomable Boundaries" clearly shows this heart broken for others. So does Carol Young's encouragement to the "Struggling Faithful" through the scene of Jesus' weeping at Lazarus' tomb. Su Keator's recent "Cold Turkey" article stirs my heart to be ready to jump into new lives, as the Lord opens doors through evangelism. (Thanks, Su, for your consistent mother's heart toward me!) And Shari Damaso is so transparent in "A Ray of Hope" about her path of pain the last two years-yet her heart is to strengthen us to say, "Lord, blessed be your name."

The second heart, a heart of truth, Joan Stockdale made me aware of by a comment last January. For the first time I had the opportunity for personal conversation with Joan as we welcomed her family into our home while they were visiting Kansas City, back from Poland. We were working over the stove together, chatting, and Joan said, "Do you know something that is different about women in Great Commission? We are willing to receive reproof from one another. I don't know you well, but if I saw something in one of your children and mentioned it to you, I know you would receive it and take it seriously before the Lord. And I would do the same if you saw something in one of my children. But that isn't necessarily so in Christian women who have not come through this movement." (Joan, pardon the paraphrase-I'm not quoting exactly!) That comment was actually the seed for this article. It started me thinking we have a special heritage here, something to praise God for.

This heart of truth, a "tough" heart that can be hard on itself, humble enough to receive bad news about itself, is seen in Carol Young's "The Rating Game" from May '03. Quit comparing yourself to others, and start measuring yourself by Christ! she exhorts. Jana Graber reminds us about "Staying Positive in a Negative World," an ongoing challenge, in her July '03 contribution. And Joan Stockdale was "tough" enough to refuse to give in to self-pity when she spent her first Christmas in Poland without Jack. Her beautiful piece "Come and Worship" reminds us that Christmas "is not home, it is not family. It is Jesus" (from December '03). Rita Bergen, Sharon Brown, and Susan Wang speak on the hardship "When Husbands Travel"--not to complain, but rather to equip us. (I appreciate their attitude, for once I got to travel with their husbands--and mine--to China, because these wives were willing to let them go.)

A heart for the Word is evident in all these pastors' wives and their articles. Lori Goering, our First Lady of Europe, particularly exemplifies this for me. I remember the 1998 National Women's Conference called "Living in His Presence." That was the year Dee Brestin was the guest speaker, with movie clips and new technology. Lori was asked to give one presentation. To prepare she had kept a journal for the entire year of her hindrances and helps to living in God's presence. Her talk was very practical and just packed with Scripture. I can still find my notes! I kept them because my spirit was deeply strengthened, as she spoke from a heart laced through with God's Word. Lori's article "Never Be Disappointed" of June '05 gives us insights from her meditation on the life of Joseph in Genesis: "Joseph learned to love the Dream-Giver more than the dream itself." May women in Great Commission continue to be the "well-driven nails," "masters of these collections," Solomon mentions at the end of Ecclesiastes.

The other heart that comes pouring forth in the newsletters is the Christ-exalting heart. These are not women telling each other the burdensome duties of the Christian life or a pastor's wife. These are women in love with a glorious Savior! Sara Pecina in "My Part in His Production" prays that we will "let God loose in our lives..." (August 2004); Beth Sebek tells us to "Bring What You Have" because of the miraculous ways of our Lord. Gayle Honeycutt, Mary Knox, and Jennifer Bartley all urge us to faith and continued exertion through our Lord, especially when some of us are more than halfway to the finish line ("A Certain Future," "Second Serve," and "Moving Forward," respectively). Neva Whitney affirms our passion with "We're in the Right Business, Ladies," reminding us that "giving our life for the Great Commission, sharing our faith...is the most important thing we can do on this earth" (February '05). And Sandy Hopler, month after month, adds her voice to strengthen us to seek Christ. "Sisters, the battle is on, and the enemy is strong" were words she wrote just before the National Pastors Conference in Tan-Tar-A this year. The day I read that warning my husband asked me to go for a walk and talk. Because Sandy's words came to mind, I gave him my full attention, trying to be sensitive to his spirit. And he was really grateful.

The Lord has shown Himself strong on my behalf this year. I'm getting over my discomfort in groups of women. I'm learning that I really do have sisters in our church and in Great Commission. I'm very proud of these sisters. They are truly to the glory and praise of their Master!

Dear Sisters,

This month we hear from three wives who have teamed together to share about a familiar topic. As we are all married to leaders, we have probably experienced separation from our husbands due to ministry work. Whether he is flying internationally to encourage workers in the missions field, going on a weekend retreat with fellow leaders, or even spending a day alone with the Lord, we know what it is to manage without our "guy" for a while. Rita, Sharon, and Susan sent their mates off to Hong Kong and then came up with these encouraging tips for us to consider and practice when our own men are away.

As you read, if any of your own ways of coping and growing when you're alone come to mind, please send them our way. We'll post those in upcoming newsletters to keep each other encouraged!

Love in Him,

Sandy

When Husbands Travel

By Rita Bergen, Sharon Brown, and Susan Wang, Lee's Summit Community Church, Lee's Summit, MO

Dear Sisters,

This morning my husband left for Hong Kong. He'll be gone for 10 days. Right now Mike is somewhere over the Pacific Ocean and I'm thinking about him, wondering how his flight is going. It won't be long before he arrives and joins Doug Brown and Ching Yu Wang, who are already there. These leaders from our church are preparing opportunities in Hong Kong that will be a venue for building relationships and reaching people for Christ. But this means that Sharon Brown, Susan Wang and I will be without our husbands for days.

I'm happy that Mike can go on this outreach. I really want him to be there, yet his absence brings us a cost and a challenge. The cost is loneliness. The challenge is keeping our unity. It's so easy to drift apart when we're in separate cities. Not only do I miss his presence in giving direction to our family, but I also become lonely for his friendship.

Several months ago Susan and I were talking about the challenges we face when our husbands go on extended trips. We discovered that we face similar battles. And it's not just us. We talked to Sharon and other wives. Whether it was a mission trip, a business trip, or any other kind of trip, our marriages went through similar patterns. Somehow knowing we were not alone in these challenges brought comfort. We weren't weird and didn't need to feel ashamed. There are typical patterns that husbands and wives face when one of them travels. Then we speculated: "Since it helped us to talk to each other, maybe it would help other wives to hear what we've discovered." So if your husband travels...read on.

Susan, Sharon and I have noticed that the challenges can be divided into three time periods, each with different struggles: Pre-Trip, The Trip, & Post-Trip.
Have you ever noticed that in the days leading up to a husband's trip, things go wrong? This time for Mike and me it was sickness. We both had colds. Other times it has been disagreements. Or unusually needy children. Or being extremely busy with trip preparations. And often I'm just a little "blue" the day before, anticipating loneliness. There can be an unconscious pulling away from each other. Or a temptation to cling and complain. Satan wants to discourage us and to devour our marriages-and Pre-Trip is an opportune time.

And then The Trip comes. He's gone. I'm alone holding down the fort. Since I don't have the excitement of the trip, I'm more aware of being alone than he is (which can make me extra lonely). Not only am I lonely, but I can also become independent. When the children have issues, I'm the only one to make a decision. It's survival mode, and the only way to survive is to be decisive because my husband isn't readily available for consultation. Marital unity can seem a thing of the past. Also, I may go through times of worry. Sometimes during our husbands' travels Susan and I have faced fears of widowhood that are more intense than usual. When the husband is gone and we are alone, we feel the reality of what it would be like to lose our husband. And then there are the struggles of managing our children while their father is absent. When trying to handle it all I may become inflexible with excessive structure for the children...or I may swing the other way and become overly permissive in a way that would shock my husband if he were home. I also may feel overwhelmed when my teen is facing a huge emotional struggle or a major life decision and dad isn't home to help them.

After enduring days or weeks of his absence, finally he comes home. Joy, oh joy!!! But wait. Post-Trip struggles now arrive. After the initial thrill of reunion, we still face challenges as a direct result of his absence. You see, even though he is with me, I may stay mentally separated in my independent mode. I survived for days without him and made it just fine. I may charge ahead with decisions without even thinking to consult my dear husband. I might feel emotionally aloof. That doesn't help our unity!
Or conversely, I can become clingy when he returns (because of emotional depletion from loneliness and taking care of children). Imagine my frustration when I find that HE still needs some time and space apart from me to mentally process the trip and to physically recuperate. Plus he needs to catch up on mail and everything else that has been waiting for his return. We are reunited, but it still seems we are miles apart.

So is there hope? YES! Susan and Sharon and I would like to give you these ideas that have helped us cope with trip loneliness & disunity. None of us use all of these suggestions for every trip, but these ideas have been helpful to us and we want to pass them along.

• Admit challenges you are facing. Acknowledgement is half the battle. For example, when things go wrong before the trip, recognize them as pre-trip temptation for disunity. "Oh, these are just the-day-before-the-trip-hassles." Somehow recognizing it for what it is helps you to face it down. "Uh-oh, I'm in my independent mode now." When you recognize the problem, you can ask God to help you with your attitude and to give you His perspective. (Rita)
• Ask people to pray not only for your husband, but also for you and your children. Take initiative to find a prayer partner who will pray specifically for your family. (Susan)
• Ask them to pray not only during the trip, but also during the days before the trip (Susan) and even after the husband returns home (Sharon). There is often up to a week of physical recovery for the husband after an international trip. The wife may have to carry the burden of the home during that time. Prayer is needed for this period of time as well. God's strength and grace are available for Pre-Trip, The Trip, and Post-Trip. Tap into HIM!
• Have a "go to" scripture for worries-a promise that you can hang on to when fear hits. Also, use this time of separation to enjoy the Lord as your Friend and Lover. Keep a Bible handy, such as on your nightstand (or even on his pillow), while he is gone. A trip can be a special time to remember that your Maker is your husband. Is.54:5 (Rita)
• Put your full trust in the Lord for your husband's protection. He is in the Lord's sovereignty. Whatever happens, the Lord is in total control. (Susan)
• Keep an itinerary of his trip and pray for him. Stay mentally with him. (Rita)
• Agree to try to stay in touch by email or phone. Even if he doesn't succeed at making contact, it helps to know that he is trying. (Sharon)
• Have a person to contact if there are problems with the house or car while your husband is away. (Susan)
• If you tend to feel you don't belong at church events where other families are intact, think of a person to sit with or to invite to be with you at these events. This is especially true on weekends. (Susan)
• When making decisions at home, ask yourself "What would my husband do?" This helps keep you supportive of him in your spirit. And it helps give perspective to the issues. (Rita)
• Be completely behind your husband and his work. Realize that you are a part of your husband's work by staying at home. Help your children understand the importance of Daddy being gone. (Sharon)
• Reach out to others. Follow the Spirit's nudge to contact someone you have been meaning to reach out to, and be alert to other's needs. The Lord often prepares special work for me when my husband is on long trips. There is joy in listening to His Spirit and reaching out in new ways. I also become more aware of the needs of my single friends. (Susan)
• During the trip make some different or special plans for you and your children to look forward to. Some examples: a trip to grandparents, a girlfriend or sister to come visit you, a home project to finish, a good book to read at night. (Sharon)
• Do something fun for yourself. (Sharon)
• Keep yourself and your house in order so that he doesn't return to chaos. (Sharon)
• Keep yourself rested so that he doesn't return to an exhausted wife. Be rested and ready for his return and for that wonderful embrace. (Rita)
• When your husband returns, plan a special dinner or welcome home party with your children. Also arrange a date time alone with him to "debrief." (Sharon)
• Apart from the trip, have a firm foundation in your marital relationship. Then the separation during the trip will only be a bump in the road, not major reconstruction. (Sharon)

Susan, Sharon and I have experienced the fruit of God's grace during these times of travel. We pray that you'll experience His love and closeness in the days ahead as you face the challenges of your husband's trips.

Dear Sisters,

Summer seems to hold extra challenges for so many of us. Whether it is planning family get-togethers, the church's Vacation Bible School, HSLT, or just having our "regular" life disrupted, we may be finding ourselves tempted to feel hurried and rush into the day's demands. But if I slow down at the beginning of my day, I can listen to the Lord and receive what only He can give in His great love. One anniversary, my husband gave me a gift with a little card that read, "Expect a Blessing!" What a great concept as to my God! Beth Sebek shares with us how we can "bring what we have" to Him and experience His wonders in return. I pray we all can have that expectation of the blessing of His presence and powerful works on our behalf-more than we can imagine!

In Him,
Sandy

Bring What You Have

by Beth Sebek, Oak Ridge Community Church, Columbia, MD

Dear Sisters,

Lately in my times with the Lord, I've been just dwelling in the gospel of Luke. I'm enjoying the amazing day-to-day things the Lord did and savoring all that  happened.

I was reading in Luke 8:10 -17 of the account of the feeding of the five thousand plus people. What an amazing thing! I think I've heard it so much it can lose its impact. I'm a very visual person, so I was imagining the scene. Think of it freshly with me. Men, women and children covering the grassy land by the sea. Probably weary, sweaty, but excited people. Maybe kids crying, hungry and probably needing sleep. A sea of humanity under the hot sun.

Yet none were willing to leave their places where they were listening to the words of life that Jesus spoke to their hearts and souls. They were desperate to hear Him. I continued to picture the disciples, very aware of their devotion, but perhaps alarmed at the enormity of their needs for food. The practical, logical thing was to send them home.

Then, Jesus asks Philip (John 6:5) where they can buy enough food for them all, knowing they can't do it. He was training His men in the process of this obstacle. Asking them to do something He knows is impossible to them. He decides it is an opportunity to show His glory. To teach them to trust Him to do the amazing, to do what they cannot. In Matthew's version of the account, in verses 14:18, Jesus says, "Bring them here to me," (speaking of the loaves and fishes available). Then went on to give instructions of what to do next. Another way to say it is, "Bring what you have."

Wow, I don't know about you, but that just speaks to my heart so much! He didn't say, "Well, you're right. You obviously don't have what you need to accomplish this so let's not do it. No, he said, "Bring what you have!" The thought being, let Me do the rest! Make up the balance. Do the amazing part! What did He do after that?

He led them to follow through on His instructions for the task, and then God did something incredible! He multiplied the food needed to feed everyone, and even had some left over. Isn't that like the Lord? Giving above and beyond!

I had to wonder as things developed this way, if the disciples didn't look at the crowd and tremble. They had to step across the line of faith, and risk looking foolish to this sea of people.

I don't know about you, but many times I feel, no, actually know, I'm inadequate to the task that God desires. Many times feel stretched and feel "not enough," yet know that God has allowed it or brought me to this place.

What a comfort to my heart, to know that all that Jesus asks, is for me to "Bring what I have" and He will meet me there. That if it is His desire, then He will make up the rest. He will be my adequacy and do the amazing part. He knew what I had before He asked or gave responsibilities...whatever... He wasn't surprised.

He knows we need these opportunities to live outside our "comfort zones" so we can see God be God and do amazing things. To learn to expect Him to do the impossible and provide His amazing grace over and over and over again. For us to learn to think in terms of His ability instead of ours, even if it's five thousand for dinner!!

Ladies, I know this is probably so familiar to you and you have taught it yourself, but maybe take a moment and relax and rejoice in that thought. Just, bring what I have, let God do the rest, moment by moment, day by day.

So, in our families, in our churches, in our ministries and talents, just like the loaves and the fishes, let's "Bring what we have" and watch to see what God may want to do!" II Cor. 12:9-"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."Last year in a time with the Lord, He prompted this poem. May it bless your heart.

His Touch

When I look at me,
I can't see how.
When aware of my limits,
Hope may be lost now.

But oh, when I look,
To my Savior above.
His strength, it unfolds,
Covering me with Love.

As I grasp His provision,
His power so Holy,
I know He is able,
To use humble offerings solely.

We need only bring,
What pieces we can give.
Letting Him take them,
His glory thru them live.

For it's His storehouse,
That provides all needed.
One that gives and gives,
All expectations exceeded.

Just open your hand,
Give Him your heart!
Give Him your all,
Let Him do His part!

Watch now to see,
His empowering provision.
The touch of His Hand,
It's more than you could imagine!

Ps. 107:21, 22- Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men! Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of His works with joyful singing. 7-23-05

©2005 Elizabeth Sebek

Dear Sisters,

Just next week, many of us will be gathering in Missouri at Tan-Tar-A, for the National Pastors' and Leaders' Conference. This year the focus is on classic Christian leadership, as taught in the book of Titus. Thelma Clark's letter to the pastors' wives this month is a great example of Titus 2:3-5, where older women are instructed to teach the younger to love their husbands, children, and to generally act in such a way that will honor the word of God. I can testify that Thelma is a woman who has lived these verses out throughout her married life. She has truly been an example to so many of us! Thank you, Thelma!

Sisters, the battle is on, and the enemy is strong. His target is our husband, our children, our marriages. But as we continue to encourage each other day after day, our God is able to show Himself strong for us, and we know that He is greater, and that He has already won! What we wives and mothers are attempting is impossible on our own. What you each are striving for daily is worth the fight, and I honor you all for your faithfulness. We need His strength and His Word. This year, and especially during this conference-whether you are at Tan-Tar-A or you are at home-let's hold each other up in prayer.

Because He is worthy,
Sandy

A Mother's Investment

by Thelma Clark, Prairie View Community Church, Parker, CO

Dear Ladies,

Because one of my main aspirations for the past 33 years has been for God to enable me to be a good mother, I have always been "tuned in" to anything that would give me encouragement or motivation in this work. I did not want to just have children and raise them, but to be a godly mother...I have a deep desire to give courage and motivation to you who are either mothers already, or who desire to be mothers someday.

Before our first child was born, a friend told me that having a baby is like the Lord saying: "I have this baby...he's a very special person I'm creating to live forever...will you keep him for me for about the next 18 years, caring for and loving him and doing your best to raise and train him? I want him to know Me and succeed in life, and to be a blessing to you and all who know him." This was a very sobering, but inspiring thought.

It's a small percentage of women today who are willing to invest the prime years of their lives, every day of those years, into the next generation. It IS an investment. Perhaps the reason this is so undervalued today is that the spiritual enemy knows how vital it is in passing God's "baton of truth" on to the next generation, so he dangles in front of us any and every distraction he can think of that would appear as more important to us women.

As we allow God to develop this "devoted mother's heart" in us, we will see that He'll use us not only to mother physical children, but to meet all kinds of people's needs everywhere. "The world" needs "mothers"-ones who will love and care for them, who will train them, teach them and bring them to Him. One of my life verses is Hebrews 6:10-12, and I pray it will be true of my life whether I have children in the home or not. "For God is not unfair. He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him and how you have shown your love to HIM by caring for other Christians, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will KEEP RIGHT ON LOVING OTHERS AS LONG AS LIFE LASTS,......THEN you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will inherit God's promises..."

I've included a few readings that have been encouragements to me recently, and I hope they will encourage and re-encourage you as you read and re-read them. The first one is a Daylights article that I've kept as a marker in my Bible for years, and it continues to give me just the perspective I need on certain days.)

Joyful Mothers, by Neva Whitney
"He makes the barren woman abide in the house as a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!" Ps. 113:9

Moms, according to the above verse, what attitude does God want you to exhibit in your home as you do your work today? That's right-"joyful!"

It can be very disturbing to hear Christian women in our churches conforming to the world's attitude about motherhood and caring for children. It is unbecoming for Christian mothers to complain about the time children take to raise or the interruptions and inconveniences they can cause in our schedules. Our children are our life and our schedule and our work! Our first priority is to walk in the Spirit as we do our work. This is what our children will remember-not how tender the roast was or the spotlessness of the bathroom.

A joyful mother sets the atmosphere in the home. She might have been short on sleep last night and buried beneath an avalanche of dirty diapers and spilled milk yesterday; yet God wants to help her to walk in joy today. Going over and over your first grader's phonics rules, your third grader's multiplication tables, your pre-teen's chore schedules and your teenager's endless questions about appropriate adolescent freedoms and boundaries can be draining on anyone's joy reserves. But God can fill and refill them from day to day, if we will faithfully bring the empty vessels to His storehouse.

Being a mom is such a God-given privilege. Our children are a blessing and a gift-from God's hand. Don't waste a moment thinking you have missed out on anything. Enjoy them today. They will no doubt respond to your enthusiasm for them in return and at times will even prefer to be with you over their friends because of your joy and delight in them.

(Next are more encouraging words for mothers from "Herald of Truth" written in August 1866. It's really neat to see the simple standards that were the norm.)

"From your children's earliest infancy, inculcate the necessity of instant obedience. Unite firmness with gentleness. Let your children always understand that you mean what you say. Never promise them something unless you are quite sure that you can give them what you say. If you tell a little child to do something, show him how to do it, and see that it is done. Always punish your children for willful disobedience, but never punish them in anger. Never let them perceive that they vex you or make you lose your command. If they give way to petulance or an ill temper, you need to subdue their anger and show them the impropriety of their conduct. Remember a little present punishment when the occasion arises is much more effectual than the threatening of a greater punishment should the fault be renewed. Never give your children anything because they cry for it. Teach them that the only way to appear good is to be good. Accustom them to...perfect truth... Teach them that self-denial rather than self-indulgence will prove in the end to be the most blessed road to travel."

(And finally, these are some excerpts to encourage all of us wives! They are taken from quotes from a nineteenth-century preacher, John Angell James, about the high priority the Puritans put on family and on the woman's role in the family...)

"...home, sweet home, is the sphere of wedded woman's mission...to make one such home a seat of holiness and happiness: to fill one such sphere with an influence so sweet and sacred; to throw the fascination of connubial feeling and of maternal influence over one such community; to irradiate so many countenances with delight; to fill so many hearts with content, and to prepare so many characters for their future part in life; such an object would be deemed by an angel worth an incarnation upon earth.

"...the springs of an empire's prosperity lie in the domestic constitution, and in well-trained families...Even one such family is a contribution to the majestic flow of a nation's greatness. Can such families exist without a woman's care, and oversight, and wisdom?

"...I very distinctly perceive, and as impressively feel, the importance of the female character on account of its influence upon the well-being of society. And it is clear to me, that woman's is a domestic mission, which is to affect society through the medium of family influence. As she fills up her place with wisdom and propriety, so will she promote the well-being of the community. Nor is it society only, but the Church of Christ, that is concerned in, and promoted by, the female character."

Dear Sisters,

Summer is fast-approaching with a break from school for most families with children. My own household has already acquired two extra occupants with their recent arrival home from college. As there are more of us rubbing shoulders at home, I'm happy to read Julie Cavanaugh's timely article about manners (someone once defined manners as "love at home"). As I think of the Proverbs 31 woman, that model of the excellent and godly wife, I pray I model manners by showing gratitude, with loving behavior, and with speech filled with "the teaching of kindness," (Prov. 31:26).

United with you all in Christ's love,

Sandy

Manners Matter

by Julie Cavanaugh, Valley View Community Church, Henderson, CO

Well girls, Grandma might not say anything to you, but trust me, she and her Bridge Club friends are probably sighing over how young people today need good manners! My mother worked like a fiend to help me show appreciation to those who gave me gifts or did kind things of benefit to me. I remember many-a-day over Christmas break playing with my newly received toys under the threat that the time to sit at the table and write a thank-you note was just around the corner (unless I could get out of it somehow). Lo and behold, I married a man whose mother's middle name is etiquette and she took the baton from my mother and continues to help me and our family in this simple act of gratitude. For years now, one of my top New Year's resolutions is to grow in being appreciative by valuing and pursuing the lost art of writing thank-you notes; well, for that matter, the lost art of having good manners. Life can be so full, it's easy to relegate simple courtesy to an optional status over and over again. I often feel reminded by those I love of my need to grow in this area.

There are many reasons to write thank-you's, apart from the fact that love has good manners. Just as "... Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52), appreciating people around you causes us to grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men!

Here's a little secret about thank-you's ... they increase the frequency and quality of your gifts! Not that we would ever write a note for that reason ... but I remember hearing my grandmother once say, "I am not sure the girls received the gift ... maybe they didn't like it ... was it lost in the mail ... I don't know, maybe it is time to stop trying to figure out what they might like." We have also received phone calls checking to see if their gift had arrived. In other words, getting a thank-you written is hard enough, but it needs to be written on time! Now an expedient thank-you note would have spared that giver from the awkwardness of the phone call and the giver's uncertainty of not knowing if the gift was received.

I have received many notes from my mother-in-law praising some minute quality in my life or in the life of one of the kids. And you know what? It makes me want to be that way more. A verse in the book of Hebrews (10:24) says, "And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds." Thank-you notes qualify as both love and a good deed!

Here's a few tips. Thank-you notes are brief. Keep your supplies readily at hand. Pre-inscribed thank-you notes are perfectly fine but plain note cards are often easier. You may not feel like the curly lettering looks. Choose paper you like. Stay away from full sheets of paper although we have been known to have our children use it when young. Postcards are perfectly acceptable if you don't mind your postman reading it. Greet the giver, express gratitude, discuss it's use, express hopes of seeing one another soon, say thanks, give personal regards, and put it in the mail. This last step is sometimes the toughest step for me.

R.S.V.P.'s are another hot item. I'm hoping the trend of not R.S.V.P.'ing is not from rudeness but from not understanding what the term means. ‘R.S.V.P.' comes from the French expression "répondez s'il vous plaît," meaning "please respond." If R.S.V.P. is written on an invitation it means the invited guest is asked to respond and to let the host know whether or not they plan on attending the event. It does not mean to respond if you're coming, and it does not mean respond only if you're not coming (the expression "regrets only" is reserved for that). Simply put, the host needs a definite head count for the event you've been invited to and they need it by the date specified on the invitation.

We all should return emails to our friends that write us, even if to say, "Don't have time to respond right now, hope all is well!" Return phone calls and emails. Not to respond is, well, rude. The Bible certainly weighs in on the subject in verses like

1 Corinthians 13:5 which says that love "does not act rudely." Love has good manners!

When I call friend's homes and their children answer, I often don't know the children by the sound of their voice. There is consideration in teaching your children phone manners by answering the phone with, "(your family's name)" ... which communicates the caller reached the right residence and then "(the child's first name and ‘speaking'" which communicates who you are talking to. Otherwise, the caller is left guessing who they are talking with.

If a person is truly acting in love, he or she will be courteous and considerate. Indeed, manners matter. Let's grow in it. Let's raise the bar in it. Let's all purpose to be an example to the next generation! If we key-in on the standard of our peers, especially those of the younger generations, we'll not see the right standard in this area. Pray God takes you to a "rock higher than you" ... higher than the examples you have around you or the habits you currently have. Manners matter!

Dear Sisters,

When Su Keator mentioned "cold turkey" evangelism in her article this month, I was curious why we use that phrase when we approach strangers with the Gospel. The online Wikipedia encyclopedia describes cold turkey as a slang expression, meaning doing something right away or suddenly. That's a nice thought-to be willing to share how to find eternal life with people "right away." Su and Mike are a great example of a couple who have spent a lifetime listening to the Spirit and obeying "right away." So whether we are led by God to evangelize in a "cold turkey" way or "warm turkey" (existing friendships) path, I pray we may seek those opportunities and obey God's leading.

Love,
Sandy

Cold Turkey

by Su Keator, Hope Alive Community Church, Mesa, AZ

"Cold turkey" or "warm turkey"---- Which do you prefer? I'm re-discovering the delights of both!

I'm speaking, of course, not of sandwiches, but of sharing the gospel! The purpose of this letter is to encourage us as pastors' wives to see that the fields are white for harvest, and to ask God to use us increasingly in both arenas of evangelism.

Mike and I, almost empty-nesters, just moved close to ASU Polytechnic Campus, which is minutes from where our church meets. Desiring to infuse some youth and vitality into our community church, we decided to do some "cold turkey" evangelism in the campus dorms, student housing, and apartments nearby.

Going door to door we use a 2006 magnetic calendar with church information to give as a gift. Then we ask, "Do you have a church home or are you looking for one?" After explaining that our church is non-denominational, we use one of several methods to get into the gospel:

? Sharing quick personal testimonies
? Asking if the church they attend teaches how they can know for sure they will get to Heaven
? Asking them how sure they are that if they died they would go to Heaven, or if there was a way to know for sure, would they want to know?

We have drawn the bridge diagram numerous times just standing at doors. On one occasion I sat on some outside apartment steps and three people watched me draw the bridge and listened. I was amazed!

In the same apartment complex, I recently met a wife named Cynthia. She expressed great interest in a relationship with God, but couldn't talk at that time. Several days later I caught her at home, and her husband was gone. We had one half hour together. I shot up prayers to keep her undistracted long enough for me to share the gospel. Opening with, "Cynthia, it seemed the other day that you have a desire to get connected to God! Is that right?" She replied, "That's what I want---to get connected to God!" So I began to draw the bridge diagram. Using a booklet and a simple drawing I did my best to help her understand the message of salvation. Periodically she would have a question and after a simple explanation she would say, "I got it" or "I understand perfectly!" Was this for real? Again I was amazed at God! She was like a little bird with its mouth wide open ravenously ingesting truth. We got to the end. I asked her if she wanted to pray. She said,"No," adding that she would feel uncomfortable with me. My heart sank. But I thanked her for being honest with me, and urged her to pray after I left. Before leaving I prayed for her. At my "Amen," the door opened and in walked Lance, her husband. Whew! God had done it! Several days later I returned with a friend, a plate of cookies, a Bible and a question. "Cynthia, remember what we talked about the other day?" Opening to the bridge diagram with the cross between man and God, I asked, "Where do you think you are in this diagram?" Without hesitating she said, "I'm hanging off the cliff!" She was struggling with simply believing. We encouraged her to begin reading the Gospel of John and asking God to reveal truth to her. She began to read the Bible and was understanding it when they moved last week. Had God directed me to her? I believe so. Was I disappointed they moved? Yes! Will God continue His work in her life? Absolutely! Does "cold turkey" evangelism work? I ‘m so thankful I went to her door!

Switching gears, I want to share what happened yesterday. I sat with four women comfortably encircled on a patio, munching delicious snacks (healthy and not), drinking cold beverages, catching up on each others' lives, children, and homes. The weather was crisp and perfect! It was fun, relaxing, and social. We knew God had been working on Aga, an unbelieving neighbor over the last eight or more years. Sara had moved in right next door to her. Through Sara, Aga met Kaye, then me, then Carol! God had put Aga on our hearts and we were on a relational mission to win her to Christ!

The mood changed in that small gathering of women as we donned our bathing suits and stepped into the heated Jacuzzi! As we waded into the water's depths, our conversation seemed to follow. Struggles began to surface; the sharing became heartfelt and personal. Each person's relationship with God began to be openly shared, and difficult circumstances, trials, and desperate faith attempts only revealed God's faithfulness and help. Words of encouragement flowed.

Suddenly a corner was turned. Aga began to talk about her Polish-Catholic background, but quickly expressed, "I go to that church here because it reminds me of home! But I always think of you all--- Your relationships with each other and with God!" Carol, who used to be Catholic, sensitively identified with her, sharing her own similar background and her testimony. It was one of the first times Carol had ever witnessed!!! I was ecstatic!

Others chimed in. And in the next hour, the multi-faceted gospel unfolded! Line by line, each person's addition with personal experiences, created a whole, beautiful, magnificent picture of the love of God, the need of man, and the provision of Christ! With sweat beading on my face, I listened, watching and marveling at what we were experiencing. I felt like I was soaking in a spiritual hot tub---A God-ordained get-together---the fruit of years of relationship cultivation!

Will Aga get saved? Absolutely! In closing I just want to say how encouraging it is to be pursuing my Great Commission roots of evangelism. I told Mike the other day, "Wow, just being ‘out there' again, I feel awakened." I'm recommitting my life to this great purpose, that by any and every means, the gospel gets out.

Out of my comfort zone but learning to love it,

Su Keator

P.S. [a few days after writing this newsletter] Cynthia just called me yesterday after church. They have moved across town, but her three-month old baby died yesterday morning of SIDS. She was so thankful for our spiritual connection and asked for help. I met her mom and sister today. They have asked Mike to do a service for the infant, and we will be getting together with them. God is leading us step-by-step.

Dear Sisters,

February is a month that begins with thoughts of the heart and romantic love. We are instructed in Romans 12 to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is..." The world system tells us we prove our love with chocolates and Valentines. God's Word says He proved His love at the Cross.

We share this month a portion of a talk given by Jean Dunham to younger wives about Paul's instruction to older women:

"...so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children..."

In His love,

Sandy

Teaching the Younger

by Jean Dunham, Cottonwood Community Church, Grand Forks, ND

--Read Titus 2:3-4

I find it interesting that Paul would need to instruct the older women to teach younger women to love their husbands and love their children. Doesn't this seem so natural? Why do we need to be encouraged to do something that seems so basic? Of course I love my family. Of course you love your husbands. As I have been thinking about this section of Scripture, contemplating its meaning, I have wondered if this is especially a word for our generation. Jesus said in Matthew 24:12 speaking of the end times, "because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." We also read in 2 Timothy 3:2 that in the last days men will become lovers of themselves. I believe our society is in this place. We live in an ungodly society, where the idea of doing what is right in your own eyes is taught; there are few moral laws. In this type of environment Jesus said that the love of many would grow cold. What seems so easy and simple becomes difficult and distorted and we can struggle and lose our way.

When a society no longer lives by principle, love becomes only a feeling and as we all know, feelings can be deceptive and fleeting. I witnessed a sad example of this a few years back that really illustrates how we can be confused and lose our way in defining and living true love. A young couple was having marriage problems; the husband had actually met another woman and wanted out of the marriage. I offered to baby sit their little girl while he and his wife got together for an afternoon to try to sort things out and perhaps save their marriage. The wife dropped off the child full of hope, and the husband came four hours later to pick up the little girl. To this day, I am haunted by those few minutes he spent in my home. He had just told his wife that the marriage was lost and he was in love with another woman and he wanted a divorce. But, he runs to his little girl and picks her up and tells her he loves her. I don't think so. He was deceived; he really didn't love her at all. He loved himself, and was fulfilling his own needs, not the needs of his daughter or his wife. This man's love had grown cold and he didn't even know it.

I would like to share a bit about my parents' lives. They are the "older teaching the younger" about a life already lived. My parents were married in 1949 and remained so until my father's death in 1996---47 years together. My aunt tells me that they were deeply in love and everyone around them could feel the connection they had with one another. And that their Catholic wedding was one of great joy and excitement. Soon after their wedding the babies began to arrive-eight in all. My mom was a registered nurse and loved her job, but gave it up to stay home with her children. And there were sacrifices; we had one bathroom for our family of ten. My dad made the single garage into a family room. My dad worked long hours running his grocery business 6am to 6pm, six days a week, and often did the books on Sunday afternoons. Still, he tried to show my mom love and every Saturday night found them out for dinner and dancing. He told me that many of those evenings he would have rather stayed home, but he knew my mom needed to get out and have a break from the kids, so he put his needs aside. Still, little by little, conflicts came and went and never got resolved, and they drifted apart emotionally. They didn't know how to handle the pressures, resolve the problems. They didn't have the Gary Smalley tapes on Hidden Keys to Loving Relationships, not the insights into the differences between men and women, or a relationship with Jesus Christ. But, the one thing they did have was commitment, a commitment to their marriage vows, for better, for worse. Well, the worse came in 1988 when my mom suffered a massive stroke at the age of 61 and was unable to care for her own needs. It was at this point that I knew my dad really did love my mom and took his vows before God seriously. I sat in the doctor's office with him when the doctor said, "I'd put her in a nursing home, she will never be a wife to you again." My dad took my mom home and cared for her. Daily, he dressed her, bathed her, and made her meals, for seven years, until his own illness. But, the walls were thick and big and still they remained.

Five months before my dad died he received Jesus Christ as his Savior. A few months later he was able to begin healing his marriage as he confessed his shortcomings to my mom and verbally expressed his love to her. And then, the Lord took him home. My father's love had not grown cold, he knew love was more than a feeling, love was a commitment. My mother's love had not grown cold when she gave up her career as a registered nurse; she knew children needed her, not things. When I was with my mom as she passed away last June, I couldn't help but realize that at the end of the road, when life is ending, and all is done for this earth, the only thing that matters are the relationships we have nurtured and loved. My mom was surrounded by five of her eight children. She didn't lay there thinking she wished she'd given more to her job, had a bigger house, a nicer car, or more fashionable clothes. I saw that my mom really was an older woman teaching a younger woman----me---to love my children, and to love my husband.

Dear Sisters,

Happy New Year! Since our family's return from Faithwalkers, I've experienced quite a "packed" January. Christmas season just officially ended for us when our two college students returned to school Monday.

Our writer this month, Shari Damaso, has served with her husband Ray in New Life Community Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for over ten years. Shari was part of that church's new plant in 1994, after she got involved as a believer in the campus church in Iowa City in 1986. As a younger mother of two children, ages six and three, Shari has experienced some trials and physical difficulties. God has used these hard times to teach her where to find fresh hope, even in the midst of trouble. She urges us to make sure our
hope is in the Lord, because "hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us," (Rom. 5:5).

Blessings in Christ,

Sandy

A Ray of Hope

by Shari Damaso, New Life Community Church, Cedar Rapids, IA

Have you ever felt hopeless during a difficult time? Maybe you are there now. As wives of leaders we are not exempt from these feelings, but we may not feel the liberty to share our struggles openly. If you have felt hopeless (or are there right now), you know that even the smallest ray of hope can keep you going. One ray can give you the strength to attend meetings, offer hospitality, listen to and counsel others, share nuggets of God's truth, and keep smiling. During trying times, where does your hope come from? Is it based on the solid rock of God's truth or shifting sands of circumstances or feelings?

The past twenty-three months have been difficult for me. They started with an energy-sapping pregnancy that ended in a difficult miscarriage requiring medical attention. My hormones remained unbalanced - for reasons unknown to my doctor -- and caused ongoing physical and emotional problems. After fifteen months of repeated attempts to "jumpstart" my hormones, the doctor performed blood tests and discovered that I had gone through menopause. Since I was only 37 years old, I was placed on long-term hormone therapy to prevent other estrogen-deficiency problems from developing. Hormone therapy helped to stabilize my emotions, but eight months later I was still struggling to handle my scaled-down family and life responsibilities. For months I have been praying that I could just feel "normal" again. I don't want to be overwhelmed by any demands beyond keeping my children fed, clothed, squabble-free; I want my old energy and motivation to return -as well as my ability to multi-task! I have even asked God to make itclear if this is my "new normal" so I can adjust my expectations. I'm not sure that my old energy will ever return, but I know my temptation to focus inward and pull away from the needs of others is not what God desires for my future.

A single ray of hope has kept me going on the bad days. It is from a song that came to my mind one night early in this struggle when I desperately cried out to God for some unchanging truth I could cling to as my body and emotions were unraveling. In God's perfect timing, the same song blasted from my car radio two days later while I drove to the doctor for an ultrasound. I wept as my husband led our congregation in singing it shortly after the miscarriage. I have heard it countless other times, and it always renews my hope. Some of the lyrics say: "Blessed be your name when the sun's shining down on me, when the world's all as it should be. Blessed be your name on the road marked with suffering, when there's pain in the offering. You give and take away; my heart will choose to say, "Lord, blessed be your name."*

That song echoes my heart. I don't want to accept good from God but reject the hard things He allows into my life. I have praised Him during the sunny days of my life; now He's giving me the opportunity to praise Him in the midst of a storm. My hope comes from the fact that He is sovereign and worthy of my praise. The past two years have been the hardest of my life, but God has faithfully carried me through each step. At times during this struggle I have clearly seen how well He knows me; He has provided exactly what I needed at the precise moment that I needed it. At those moments, I gained a new understanding of how personally and intimately He loves me.

Some days, I felt like it was all I could do to cry "Help me, Lord" as I slowly went through the requirements of my day. I clearly remember one noontime when He brought Psalm 62:1-2 to my mind: "My soul finds rest in God alone, my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken." Immediately, my mind was released from the struggles of the morning, like a fog had lifted. That day I learned that part of placing my hope in God is listening to Him and meditating on the truth of His Word. I had been talking to Him about my struggles, but not listening for His truth or perspective. I praise God in saying that He has made me stronger, more honest about my shortcomings, and more aware of His perfection through this situation. I am far from having "arrived", but I can already see some of the blessings that He has given me through these long months.

What is your ray of hope, sister? Is it truth from His Word? Is it based on His love for you? Is it one of His unchanging character traits? God doesn't just want to get the glory through your difficulty- He wants to get glory while you're in it as well. He wants to take your ray of hope in Him and make it shine as bright as the midday for all to see. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

* Lyrics from the song "Blessed Be Your Name" written by Matt & Beth
Redman, recorded on "Matt's "Where Angels Fear to Tread" album

Great Expectations

"Now...the people were in a state of expectation..." Luke 3:15

This verse is a motivation to me as I look forward to the month of December. Christmas season can be a time that evokes either great dread or great anticipation. And for those of us who will be attending the Faithwalkers conference, it makes a world of difference when we approach that time with an expectation that God will "show up." I would like to take this opportunity to share with you how God did a unique and special work in our family at the Faithwalkers conference two years ago.

As John and I have raised our children, our hope was always to have them united with us in love for each other, and for the Lord. We knew the greatest gifts we could give them were faith in God, and a mission worthy of their lives. Whatever vocation they eventually would choose, we hoped they would be part of fulfilling the Great Commission. We knew we had to live this out in front of them first. In general, we were thankful for the direction our family was headed. Yet we were looking for the Lord to "show up" in greater ways. Did John and I still have the same burning passion for the things of God, and were we transferring that to our children? Or would we be satisfied with what we were, and "settle" for lives not too dissimilar to the world around us?

It became apparent that God was more concerned about the spiritual state of our family than we could ever be. As we came to the first Faithwalkers conference that December, we couldn't conceive of how much He would bless us. Thirty years (!) ago our lives had been changed radically by joining our Christian community at conferences, where we received God's Word taught by godly men. Now we were able to bring our family to listen to some of the same men-Christian leaders who had continued to faithfully follow Christ. The teachings we heard, and the relationships our children established, had profound effects on us. At the end of the evening teachings, our children mixed with other believers in prayer. God awed us all as the "nextgen" and the older generation became one "generation of those who seek... His face." (Psalm 24:6).

But, God did more amazing things after we arrived back home in Ohio. In Mark 5:42, after Jesus raised their little girl from the dead, it was said of Jairus and his wife that "...they were completely astounded." John and I were astounded with God's goodness and power on our first night back from Missouri. In humble tears, on their knees, our children dedicated their lives more fully to Jesus Christ. It was the most significant time of prayer we have ever had as a family.

Since then, God has continued to work in our children's lives. One example of this was demonstrated this month at New Song, our church. A young man, Nick, shared with the congregation how his school friend, our son David, reached out to him in the aftermath of Faithwalkers. Nick has not been the same as he has also dedicated himself to living fully for Christ. Both David and Nick have served as interns at New Song this past year.

For our family, while I am encouraged with what the Lord has done, I realize that there is plenty of room for growth. And for this reason, John and I come to God freshly this December, expecting great things from Him as we go to Faithwalkers as a family. Similarly, I want to encourage you to be like the people in Jesus' day who were in a "state of expectation." This December, seek the Lord with your whole heart. This month, believe that God wants to amaze you!

Have a wonderful holiday season,
Sandy Hopler

Dear Sisters,

Autumn greetings! The lovely blue skies of fall here in Ohio give me a kick in my step. Even more invigorating are Mary Knox's thoughts on our "second half" of life being filled with a fresh energy and motivation for ministry. As she has sought to support her husband, Brent, in his gifts and new focus, God brought Mary to know Him and His grace in precious new ways. I pray we look forward in faith to the challenges and adventures our Lord brings to us in our "second serve."

God's grace to you!

Sandy

Half-Time

by Mary Knox, Evergreen Community Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Last spring, my husband started breaking ground for a ministry, inspired by the book by Bob Buford, called HALF-TIME. Evergreen's new ministry, called "Second-Serve" is really a community: a community for people in their late 40's and older, "empty-nesters," who are in the second half of their life. The purpose of the ministry is to help "half-timers" find a fresh infusion of purpose and significance at mid-life.

During the pre-ministry development and dialoguing with focus members, Brent suggested that God will lead us in how HE wants us to use our gifts, talents, abilities, and passions, to impact our world, in this second half. The words started resonating in my head: MISSION TRIPS! This second half just might be the time to go on the short-term mission trips our churches are offering. These STM'S, so far, had eluded me. I had been a stay-at-home, home-schooling mom/ busy pastor's wife. Now I'm a bona-fide, turning 55- "half-timer," [though not an empty-nester] eligible to join the Second-Serve ministry. Maybe God was nudging me that my "calling" was to go on short-term missions trips.

This past spring, as we were knee-deep in planning my oldest son's June wedding, Evergreen's Youth Ministry announced that their summer outreach program would be a mission trip to Honduras. As a family, we curiously attended the information meeting, to see what the leaders were cooking up. Our kids were very interested. I was intrigued. But Brent's mind was percolating. "We have always wanted to go on a mission trip as a family," he said, "This might be our opportunity."

Well, though I was intrigued, I came up with every objection and
misgiving a person could conceive.

• It's too hot.

• It's the rainy season.

• We don't speak Spanish.

• What about the rabid monkeys?

• My knees are arthritic.

• I have bunions.

But, Brent stood firm. "It may be now or never. I think we need to go for it. This may be the only time we can ALL go together." It was a little stressful there for a while. I was sending out support letters just days before we sent out wedding invitations. But after the wedding was over, it was full-steam ahead for Honduras.

When people asked us what we were going to do in Honduras, we had a few ideas: visit the orphanage, paint the new church buildings, share the gospel. But REALLY, we had no idea what God had in store for us. We only knew that GOD WANTED US TO GO.

My prayer was that God would make us "global Christians" --that God would mark us, so that our team would so love going on this mission trip, that we'd choose to go on mission trips the rest of our lives. And He did.

The short summary of what God did for us on that mission trip? He went with us, He gave us grace, and He blessed us. Proverbs 20: 24 reads: "How can we understand the road we travel? It is the Lord who directs our steps." GOD TOOK US ON THIS MISSION TRIP. HE made us missionaries! Missionaries who will [prayerfully] be mission-minded for the rest of their lives. He made us want to learn languages. He made us want to be better gospel-sharers! He made us people who pray for other countries and other churches. He made us care more about His world, instead of our own little worlds. He made us want to be faithful at sharing the gospel in this country.

Sandy Lennander, in the Rock Berlin video, said it this way: "I believe some of the fruit of what God has done in Rock Berlin, is in my own life." And I agree. I wrote in my journal, while I was in Honduras: "We came to Camalote to see people saved, but God brought us to Camalote and La Virtud to `save' us."

So as I enter this Second Half of my life, and go on the "Second-Serve" discovery of what God wants to do in and through me in this, my Second Half, I believe missions could very well play a large role in the future. Stay tuned. I believe there'll be more to come!

Dear Sisters,

Earlier this week I received a newsletter from Daniel Goering, who is ministering in one of the Great Commission churches in Germany. He shared a quote from A.W. Tozer: "According to the Bible, we have because we ask, or we have not because we ask not. It does not take much wisdom to discover our next move. Is it not to pray, and pray again and again till the answer comes? God waits to be invited to display His power in behalf of His people." The Set of the Sail, pp. 33-34.

As Christians we are called to pray. We are to pray for our family, for our pastors, for our church, for those who are affected by tragedies such as Hurricane Katrina, and for the gospel to continue to spread throughout the world. This month, Barb Wilson urges us in her letter to "pray, and pray again and again."

In His service,
Sandy

Do You Pray?

by Barbara Wilson, Grace Community Church, Cary, North Carolina

Dear ladies, I have a question for you: Do you pray? I know that sounds silly. Of course you pray. You're a pastor's wife. You're supposed to pray. You're a mother, a wife, a mentor, and probably 15 other things. Of course you pray. But do you really? This summer God has impressed on my heart so much the need, no, the ardent necessity, to pray.

My husband, Berk, and our family spent 10 weeks in Wilmington, NC, leading a summer outreach project on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. One activity that we attended to regularly was prayer. Every Tuesday through Saturday our group of 17 would meet in one of the apartments we rented and pray from 6:30-7:30 in the morning. At first our prayers were shallow and half-hearted. We prayed but our main objective was to stay awake for that time. But after a few days, our hearts began to change. God laid Psalm 5:3 on our hearts: "In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch." How exciting it was for us to pray in the morning and then look back over the day and see how God answered our prayers.

Our first big answer to prayer was to become a student organization on campus after 9 months of trying. This enabled us to meet on campus for church and other meetings. We went out each day to share the gospel which many heard. We were so excited when people gave their hearts to the Lord. We hosted a weekly meeting that answered many apologetic questions, and had 40 people attend. We delved into pursuing holiness in our personal lives and saw God break through in many ways.

We left Wilmington's campus with a core group of excited believers who will meet with us weekly in the fall. All of this came about, not because we are really cool Christians who others want to be around, but because of prayer. This wasn't just our haphazard prayers as we went along our way, but this was our "on our knees before a Holy God" prayers. God honored our labor in prayer. He heard our petitions and answered according to His will. His Spirit spoke to us through our Bible studies, our personal quiet times, and through our fellowship with each other. So, let me ask you again. Do you pray? Do you steal away to spend long times before the Father pouring out your heart to Him? Do you enter His throne of grace with confidence? Do you pray with faith believing that what you ask you will have? Do you leave your burdens at the foot of Jesus and go on your way confident He will take care of them?

We are in warfare and the one thing Satan can't stand is to see us praying. It is a solemn thing to speak with God but it is of necessity if we are going to have any impact on this world for Jesus. His Spirit must fill us. His presence must surround us. If we do not make prayer a regular business of life, we are wasting our day. Paul commands us to "Continue in prayer," and, "Pray without ceasing." Of course we can't be on our knees 24/7 but like the fire on the altar of sacrifice, our hearts should always be ablaze with silent messages to God through the day. Our husbands and children absolutely need our prayers. It is the fervent prayer of a righteous woman that accomplishes much. Are you fervent?

Are you knocking, crying, wrestling, laboring, and striving in prayer before the Lord? Are you asking according to God's Word? God says He will answer yes to our prayers as we pray according to His will which is His Word. Do you continue in prayer? Do you have family members trapped in habitual sin? Keep on asking; don't give up. We prayed for certain people all summer who finally, toward the end of the summer session, jumped on board with us. There is one young man who heard the gospel, attended one of our worship and prayer meetings, played all kinds of games with us, but has still yet to give his heart to the Lord. We are persevering in prayer over him and are confident that one day he will pray the prayer of salvation. We eagerly anticipate that day!!!

As wives and mothers we fill our schedules to the hilt with all kinds of responsibilities and duties. We can easily get up in the morning with all good intentions of spending a long time in the Word and prayer before the day begins. But what happens? We are interrupted by more pressing needs and before you know it; our time with God has evaporated like the fog.

I encourage you to persevere. Steal away. Put aside the "necessary" for the "essential" - prayer. One book we read this summer was A CALL TO PRAYER by JC Ryle. It is very motivating and inspiring and I encourage you to read it. JC Ryle reminded us of the promise in Jeremiah 33:3. "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and Unsearchable things you do not know." I pray you would see great things from God as you fervently pray.

 Dear Sisters,

Wow! I've had an action-packed summer--how about you? You may or may not have noticed, but we skipped a July letter. It seems we're all too busy with summer doings to be able to sit at a computer. Our family traveled with teens from our church to serve the Great Commission church plant in Seattle; I went to visit my daughter Faith in Florida (together with the in-laws); took in two amusement parks with the kids; and just got back from (sob) taking my youngest daughter to college in the mountains of Virginia.

Hopefully, though, we're never too busy to have refreshing fellowship to build others and ourselves in the Lord. This month two women responded to our call to share how they receive encouragement from their leaders' wives community. I pray we follow Sharon and Laura's examples in making community a priority in our lives. We really need each other!

In His service,
Sandy

Living in Community

We have a fast-growing church--about 2000 members now--but it wasn't always this way.
Gone, for now, are the days when we knew everyone who walked in our doors, when the pastors' wives wore every hat there is to make the church run, like secretary, hostess, greeter, baker, Sunday school teacher, babysitter, Bible study leader, and janitor. I used to be "the" pastor's wife.

Now there are six of us, and if we weren't all in ministry together, few of us would be close friends. We represent six areas of service, six different personalities, six different sets of talents and gifts, and six different circles of responsibilities, not mentioning children and grandchildren, etc. If somebody didn't do SOMEthing, we'd never see each other! Not even in church, where we have 4 services to choose from.

So, one summer Gayle Honeycutt (now in San Antonio) dreamed up a way to keep us in contact with each other. Every week, whenever we can and whoever is available, we set the alarm for "early" and meet at a local coffee shop. Here we wipe the sleep from our eyes, apologize for looking like we just got up (since we just did) and have a couple of hours of catching up, gabbing, laughing, praying, encouraging and building each other up. It's not an accountability group, so much as a group of friends.

Some quotes from the girls:

"It's great to talk and pray through the decisions of life together."
"In a church our size, it's important to get together to know one another and pray for one another."
"Connection."
"With our husbands in leadership, we face similar situations--it's a safe environment to share."
"I view it as a bank account--what we put in, we get out, with interest for the future."
"We can cry freely!"
"If we didn't talk every week, I wouldn't know what was going on in the church, since my husband fails to tell me lots of details...!"
"This is my only regular scheduled time with girls."
"We share, but we never husband bash (no, never!), or gossip (heaven forbid!...grin)."
"When can we get together for a nice lunch or dinner?"

We urge you to keep connected with the pastors' wives in your church. Sometimes your season of life won't allow you to, but it's more than worth the sacrifice of your time.
It's building relationships for eternity!

Sharon Brown (with help from Denise Lash, Cathy Erickson, and Terry Putthoff)
Lee's Summit Community Church
Lee's Summit, MO

Here are some thoughts on this subject from Laura Blanco, wife of Rudy, from Great Commission Church of Miami:

We leaders' wives in Miami meet together every other month, and I thought our latest conversation would be encouraging to share with you. My thoughts that day when we met were taken up with the challenges we face as leaders' wives.

A Christian friend recently asked me, "Laura, how do you do it? Who encourages you, and meets your needs, when you're always thinking about everyone else's needs in your role as a pastor's wife?" My response was that she was right. It was challenging, but somehow it doesn't bother me, because I love what I'm doing, and love the people I'm helping. Meeting needs in their lives helps keep me encouraged.

As I related these thoughts in our wives' meeting, I asked the girls that evening, "What is the greatest challenge you face as a leader's wife?" They came up with some "doozies:"
? Keeping up with his pace of spiritual maturity
? Being a "hostess with the mostest" when he invites people over
? Being honest with myself about his weaknesses and being faithful to pray for him
? Believing God for financial provisions
? Being a helper to him in the ministry the way he needs, not necessarily the way you think you should be!

In a nutshell, we all concluded that we needed a lot of prayer and support from one another! We drew names out of a hat and committed to praying and fasting over each others' lives. What an encouragement!

That night as I lay in bed it Hit Me! That's how He does it, encouraging me through my sisters in Christ and I don't even notice it sometimes. What a great God we have!

"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. Gal. 6:9-10.

 Dear Sisters,

"For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed."" (Romans 10:11)

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13)

Isn't it wonderful, how God's word points not only to actions, but to what is in the heart? And we show what is filling up our hearts by what we say and do. Do we live our lives in expectation and faith in God's love and faithfulness, or by our circumstances? Lori Goering from Germany shares her thoughts this month on dealing with circumstances when they seem to let us down, and tempt us to think God isn't loving us in them. Her insight into Joseph's life in prison has inspired me to look beyond the disappointments, to see God's grace revealed to me in Jesus. I pray the same for you!

Let's keep our husbands and fellow church leaders in our prayers this next week, as they attend the GCC Pastors' and Leaders' Conference: The Heart of the New Testament Leader, in the Ozarks.

In His love,

Sandy

Never Be Disappointed

by Lori Goering, Gospel International, Germany

If you are anything like me, you often find yourself struggling with a deep sense of disappointment or frustration that arises from unfilled expectations. It can be hundreds of little things throughout the day- like missing the green light when you thought you could make it, or getting to the store and finding out that the one thing you came to buy is sold out. Or it could be bigger things like not getting the job you were so sure was the perfect one. Or the house you so wanted to buy gets bought out from under you. To even bigger things like one more month going by and you still aren't pregnant, or watching your child make choices that lead him further away from the Lord. Life always seems to have a way of surprising us and catching us off guard. It can so quickly happen that a sense of heavy sadness, or worse, an angry bitterness settles in and makes itself at home in our hearts as we go from one disappointment to the other. Proverbs tells us that "Hope deferred makes the heart sick." But on the other hand, Rom. 10 tells us that Scripture teaches us that if we put our hope in Him we will not be disappointed. So how do we put our hope in Him? Sometimes I don't even know that my hope is not in Him until my expectations (which I didn't even realize I had ) don't get fulfilled, and I suddenly feel sad and disappointed.

I have been thinking a lot about Joseph lately in relation to these things.He is someone who really had to deal with disappointment. God had given him a dream, a vision, that his life would play a very important role in the scheme of things. God had made it clear that He wanted to use Joseph's life in big ways. But suddenly Joseph woke up one day in prison. Limited in what he could accomplish, repeatedly being forgotten and overlooked, Joseph had to have wondered on some days if what God had revealed to him was really true. This was not the way things were supposed to turn out. This was not the way it was supposed to look. He had had such high hopes... and now all he had were prison bars.

And then at just the right time, Pharoah heard about and called for Joseph. Joseph had just enough time for a bath and then found himself standing before one of the world's most powerful men. When Joseph clearly stated that he had no ability in himself to intrepret dreams but that his God would do it, there was no sign of a sick heart. No depression, and no fainting spirit ready to give up on life. There was no bitterness that defied the Pharoah. What were the secret lessons that Joseph willingly learned from God all those years? How was it that he didn't give in to sadness or anger? How exactly did he put his hope in God and not in the circumstances?

It's not clearly spelled out for us in God's Word. But as I have thought about it, and tried to imagine myself in Joseph's place, God has brought to mind some things that are challenging me to grow in this area.

1) Joseph did not assume that the way to avoid disappontment was to refuse to have ANY expectations at all. He did not simply shut down emotionally and refuse to be involved with living any more. He continued to have hope and anticipation,not being paralyzed by the fear of disappointment. He went ahead and asked the chief cupbearer to remember him before Pharaoh and hoped he would. - but he learned that the moment disappointment appeared in his life - that was a sign to turn immediately to God and renew his trust in Him.He learned to use disappointment as a springboard for diving deeper into the grace of God.

2) Joseph refused to question the goodness of God. When He experienced disappointment, he turned to God and submitted his own will to that of an all loving and all knowing Father. Gen. 39:21 tells that us that while he was prison God was with Joseph and showed him His kindness. Because Joseph saw and tasted the goodness of God, he could let go of any momentary dispappointment by holding on to that goodness, regardless of how the circumstances appeared.

3) Joseph learned to accept the fact that in this world we will have tribulations. He learned that a fulfilled life is not the result of perfect circumstances, but comes from a perfect God. He didn't insist that everything be "right", and realized that God alone is the Perfect One. And so he focused on seeing the presence of this Perfect One amidst imperfect circumstances.

4) Joseph did not insist on getting his rewards here and now. He worked hard and gave his best whether with Potiphar or in jail. And when he was treated unkindly, unfairly or simply forgotten, he could rest content, knowing that the rewards for making right choices lay with his Father's "well-done" and not in recognition from those around him.

5) Joseph learned to love the Dream-Giver more than the dream itself.When it appeared that the dream would not be fulfilled he was willing to let go of it and and trust in his Father's wisdom to work all things out for good. He didn't insist on having his dream fulfilled in order to be happy. Having God Himself was more than enough!

God, like every good father, longs for his children to be happy. He faithfully trained Joseph how to choose to be happy and content in the midst of difficulties, unfulfilled expectations, and disappointments. Isn't it wonderful to realize that God is the same today as He was with Joseph? He who began a good work in us will complete it. He will teach us how to focus on what we have and not what we don't have. He will show us the path of contentment and joy inspite of any and all disappointing circumstances in our lives. Isn't it fantastic to be a daughter of the King?

Dear Sisters,

We all are aware of our Lord's command to keep ourselves free of the clutch and pull of the world's worries. "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything." Phil. 4:6 NLT. But haven't we each experienced the gut-wrench of care for those we love? And we pray that God "fixes the problem." Is that God's goal, to merely fix things? Or does He have an infinitely greater, more wonderful, plan?

Mary Knox shares with us her struggle with God over her son Caleb's need for a "cop job." Her story is a testimony to our loving Lord's unique interest in each of His precious children, and His completely trustworthy character. I pray we all can "throw" ourselves into His loving care.

In Him,
Sandy Hopler

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Faith Matters

by Mary Knox, Evergreen Community Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota

It all started with my first son, Caleb, getting his AA in Law Enforcement. It got more complicated when he got engaged to Jess. He started the long endeavor of trying to land a "cop job." We were not prepared for the long prayer journey ahead of us.

On Sunday after church one of our friends whispered apologetically, "I hate to tell you this, but it's almost impossible to get a cop job right now, unless you have a four-year degree."

Then I met Cynthia Rowley, the famous post-9/11 FBI whistle-blower (we were both working out at the YMCA). We got to talking about kids, and majors, and degrees, and careers...and she says, "Now is a nearly impossible time to try to get a job in law enforcement." Oh great.

God has used this "trying-to-get-a-job-thing" to do a lot of things in all of us: to make us desperate in our prayers; to build our faith; to grow our understanding of WHO HE IS and HOW HE WORKS; to develop our characters. Wow. God does a lot of things in our lives and our faith, as we PRAY, and as we WAIT.

You should read my prayer journal. Many daily entries have read like this: "GOD...PUH-LEEZE!!!!!!!!....PLEASE GIVE CALEB THAT ROSEVILLE COP JOB"...Next day, "GOD...PLEASE...PLEASE...I BEG YOU...PUH-LEEZE....GIVE CALEB THAT EDINA COP JOB..."

I've even caught myself trying to convince and persuade God. "C'mon, God. This would be the perfect job for Caleb. It's in the same suburb as our church It's near their new apartment...he could be a force in the community. C'mon, God. This seems so perfect..."

I've filled out prayer panels at church, enlisting the fervent prayers of righteous men, gathered in groups of more than two's or three's. Surely this will work. "Please pray for Caleb Knox, that he'd get a cop job before he gets married on June 19th."

I've learned...that all the begging, all the crying, all the pleading, all the convincing, persuading...will NOT give Caleb that cop job...until it is GOD'S PERFECT WILL, AND GOD'S PERFECT TIME.

I've had to land on the truth...that God cares more about Caleb and Jess than we do. God will give Caleb (and Jess) a job, when He is good and ready. But first things come first.

What God values is our faith-our deep faith. God cares more about developing our prayerful faith, than He cares about giving them a good job, or health, or comfort, or spouse.

And God values our humility. God likes it when we come to the end of ourselves...and our resources...and our abilities... and when we, naked and poor, stand before Him and say, "I'm at the end. I'm empty. If you don't come through for me...well...that's it." I've been comforted by a few verses...really many verses...but a few, special, spectacular verses, like Psalm 31:14,15. It says, "But I am trusting You, O Lord, saying, ‘You are my God! My future is in Your hands.'"

Trust. Trust. That is what God wants. Us...to trust...Him. He wants us to empty ourselves, and surrender ourselves: My future is in Your hands." I love it.

Now, I hardly ever listen to the radio. But one day I turned on our local Christian radio station, and a show by Leif Anderson, pastor of Wooddale Church, comes on, called "Faith Matters." Leif shared about a study done on prayer. The researchers were exploring what happens to peoples' faith when it seemed God didn't answer their prayers. Leif was surprised by the results. He thought peoples' faith would go south, and they'd become bitter and faith-less. Instead...the very opposite happened. The peoples' faith grew stronger, and deeper, and more vibrant. And he explained how with a story. "There were missionaries in a primitive country, doing Bible translation in a primitive tongue. When they tried to translate the word "trust"...as in "trusting God"...there wasn't a word in the native language that even came close to explaining what trust was. But one afternoon...when the missionaries came back from an exhausting day in the field...one of the workers... dropped his exhausted body onto his hammock...and one of the translators yelled..."That's it! That's it!"...there was a word in the natives' language for the idea of "throwing or dropping the full weight of your body onto the hammock." And that's the word the translators used for TRUST."

And that's what we need to do with our faith "matters." We need to throw the "full weight" of our concerns on a trustworthy, loving God. And we need to keep in mind that our faith matters more to God, than our "answered prayers."

So...Back to Caleb. I am continuing to pray for him, to get a cop job. But I'm praying MORE for him that his faith develops and deepens and strengthens. I'm praying he becomes a man of humility and trust-a man who learns to throw the whole weight of his life-on God.

Dear Sisters,

"Listen, O daughter, give attention and incline your ear: Forget your people and your father's house;" Psalms 45:10

"This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" Matthew 17:5b

What a glorious thing, to be able to be in communication with our God and Savior! It's more natural for me to be telling Him what I think and want; less so to be still enough, long enough, to hear what Jesus thinks and wants for me.

I pray this month's letter motivates us to open our ears toward God, with the goal of our joyful obedience.

In Christ,
Sandy

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Listening for God

by Linda Burlile, Darby Creek Community Church, Hilliard, Ohio

"Jethro, could you take out the trash? Jethro, Jethro!" Picture a mom with arms flailing in front of Jethro. "Hello, is anybody listening?" Have you ever witnessed this with a once very attentive child that has suddenly become a teenager? It is like aliens have inhabited the teen's body and they are not able to hear as well as before they were a teenager. This past year I have learned more about how I am sometimes that teenager with God. Often, He is speaking and I miss what He is saying.

My journey began this summer on vacation. We went to the local bookstore to escape the afternoon summer heat in Florida. I was hoping to find a good book on prayer and happened to pick up a book entitled, Listening for God by Marilyn Hontz. Immediately I knew I had to buy this book which is very atypical for me. Generally I would put the book on my "To Read" list and request it from the library trying to be a frugal pastor's wife. I wondered why I was so drawn to this book and what God wanted to teach me. Although I knew many of the truths that the book points out, in the midst of daily life I had allowed myself to miss all that God had wanted me to hear.

My first encounter with listening happened only days after God started chipping away at this area in my life. It was the middle of the night and I couldn't sleep. Now normally this wouldn't be a big deal, because hey it's vacation, but this was not a normal vacation. My husband had a serious foot infection and had been unable to do much driving. I had driven most of the way to Florida by myself and I would probably be doing most of the driving back - TODAY! This was not the time humanly speaking to not be sleeping, but God knew He needed to get my attention. "Lord, please help me to sleep, because I need to drive home tomorrow." I still couldn't sleep. After about three times of praying this, I was reminded of the story of Samuel which I had just read (I Samuel 3), "Lord, here I am. I'm listening." During this time of listening, God showed me all that He had done during the birth of my daughter. My daughter is now eight years old, but I don't think I had fully grasped how many prayers He answered during that time. As I have been more receptive to listening lately, I have found that God often speaks to me in the middle of the night. Maybe it is because I get distracted during the hustle and bustle of the day. He has my full attention when it is two or three o'clock in the morning.

Not only does God want my full attention, He wants all of my heart ready to obey what He is saying. Over a year ago, I heard that one of my college professors was going through a hard time. We had gotten to know each other a little bit during college and even had lunch on one occasion after I graduated, because I wanted his advice about my job situation. I felt like God wanted me to contact him. Friends and I prayed about it and at first I didn't contact him out of fear. I thought he probably won't remember me, because I hadn't talked to him in about 19 years! I would pray about it off and on. Finally, several months ago I asked some prayer partners to put it on their prayer list. God was persistently tugging on my prideful heart. I was driving down the road one day when I started praying, "God if you want me to contact this professor would you just make it really clear to me. I want to do what you want me to do." At that moment a truck pulled out in front of me with a license plate that had the name of that professor on it! "Okay, God, I got the message." I still wasn't sure what I was supposed to say, but I kept praying. My husband encouraged me to contact the professor. Later when I sat down to write the professor words just poured out of my fingers as I typed the email. That was totally a God thing, because writing is not one of my talents. I shared with the professor the story of the license plate and that I had been praying for him. It was a great encouragement to him. I definitely saw God work when I was ready to obey what He wanted me to do.

God can use many ways to speak to us - His word, the Holy Spirit, other people, circumstances, and sometimes even a license plate! To be very honest I have seen God speak to me through His word for many years, but I have been a little scared with the other forms of communication. How do I know this is from God and not just me? God used a donkey and many other things in the Bible, so why wouldn't He do that with me? I have found that listening to God can be difficult, if my heart is not right. I love what George Mueller says, "I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter" (Proverbs 3:5, 6). I have to be careful that I don't rely on my feelings, but have my heart right and check God's Word. I have been learning to steep everything I hear in prayer to make sure I'm hearing God and not just listening to myself. You see I have realized I am Jethro, the teenager, in my relationship with God. I need to ask God continually for a clean heart - "If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you" (Proverbs 1:23). I have not always gotten it right the first time. In fact, recently there was a situation that God had to wait until my heart was fine tuned to Him.

I am not always tuned in to God, but I am learning each and every day how to listen better. How has God been speaking to you lately?

Dear Sisters,

"Whatever it takes, Lord!" has been the prayer of our writer this month, Vicki Nurre of Seattle. She has prayed for many, many years that God would be able to give His best to herself, her family, and to all those she loves. This prayer demonstrates a faith in God's loving power and plans for those who belong to Him.

Vicki shares with us how the Lord has built her faith as He has done "what it takes" to bring His gospel to her family. Painful lessons came through the recent death of her sister, Debby. How wonderful to recognize His goodness and grace even in trials and troubles! Her story reminds me of Proverbs 22:19:

"So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, even you."

In His loving grace,

Sandy

Unfathomable Boundaries

by Vicki Nurre, The Expedition, Seattle, Washington

It is a bright pink. I haven't worn this bright a color since, oh, maybe junior high. But it is a good shirt to exercise in. And several ask me about it when I get to the gym.

"It says, ‘I smile because you are my sister. I laugh because there is nothing you can do about it!'" And I manage a half-smile.

"Oh, is that from a family reunion?"

And then I tell briefly about my sister and her death just two months before. That's when I know that I have turned the corner. The anger, the hurt, the disappointments, the memories of all those are still very real. But I am no longer crying at the mere mention of her name. Her name is Debby, and her death has taught me lessons I did not expect.

Acts 17:26-27 says, "and He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us." I have always read this as an explanation for why I live in the twentieth (and twenty-first) centuries, and am not a prairie woman. And why I live in the U.S., and not Scotland. But I see these verses now as encompassing the very situations that so form our lives. The Lord loves us so much, that He wants to, and will use, every opportunity to reach into our lives to draw us to Him. And in this respect, death can become our ally. "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good."

My sister became ill almost two years ago. This was preceded by twenty-five years of longing to be involved in her life. And those years took a toll on me and my two other sisters, which for me included anger and bitterness. And although a very difficult time for my family as we watched Debby begin her physical struggle, it afforded me and my sisters a chance to be with Debby and serve her as we had never been able to. But for all the renewed involvement in her life, we simply could not halt the monster that lived inside her brain.

The call came that she was dying. Debby's boundaries were now undeniably set, and the Lord was drawing her to Himself. The only task that remained for us was the one the Lord had laid before us. We were not at all sure that Debby understood and had embraced eternal life from Him. And now Debby could not speak, could hardly move, and was blind.

But the Lord was very gracious to us, as He answered very particular prayers. Every possible opportunity I could personally have had to share with her, I received, as did my sisters. In what was likely the worst presentation of the gospel I have ever given (as I was uncontrollably weeping as I tried to talk!), I shared with my sister while one of my other sisters held her good hand, waiting for the squeezes that would tell us that she heard and understood. And we prayed. We sang old hymns and read the stories that went with them. We read scripture. And as a family, we did things together that we had never done. And we knew that Debby heard us, for at one point we saw a tear roll down her cheek.
Oh, and we laughed! We told all the stories that made us giggle about Debby, and would have convulsed her. She had a very unique way of falling apart when she got tickled. I imagine that she really was giggling while we did this, only she could not let us in on her secret!

And as we did these things, my parents and Debby's husband stood close by, sometimes participating, sometimes just listening. Always listening. And they heard over and over again the hope that is ours. And the changes began to happen, so slowly.

My parents were devastated as they watched their daughter leave too soon. They watched as those who have no hope. But they, too, began to respond to the grace that was being poured out as friends prayed for and with us. Not too long after Debby's death, one of my mother's brothers died, and my parents went to their church and had a service for him that they created. Nobody else there, just them. A short time ago, this would have been unimaginable for my parents to do. But by themselves, they prayed and sang. Old hymns of their childhood...bringing back the memories, I am sure, of Christian lessons taught so long ago by ones who cared so much for them: their parents, their brothers and sisters, friends, church Sunday school teachers...reaching far beyond time to help them remember truth so long rejected or buried. Again, boundaries - constructing their times, that they might find Him.

And my brother-in-law began to talk to us about all kinds of things. He is a very quiet man, very private. His openness was completely new to us. And he began to talk more openly about religion, talking about a God who is there.

Boundaries. My anger and bitterness melted away as I began to discern that the Lord had been at work for many long years helping to craft a way for many in my family to hear and possibly respond to the gospel. I had often prayed, "Whatever it takes, Lord." And as He crafted the boundaries, the living were watching and listening. We live and move and breathe in these boundaries, in the hope that what we do might help others find Him. "O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?...For from Him and to Him and Through him are all things, to Him be the glory forever! Amen. Rom 12:33-36

Dear Sisters,

During the Christmas holidays my family went to the theatre to see a movie. My daughter, Ann Marie, had already seen the film a week earlier and was eager for us all to enjoy it too. As the feature began, it was a blurry picture, and Ann Marie boldly (I thought) marched to the manager to ask that the picture be rightly focused. Then we were able to see and enjoy the movie as it was meant to be experienced.

This month's letter has to do with being rightly focused, too. Neva Whitney uses lessons learned through the deaths of two friends to remember freshly why the Lord has us all in ministry. It's all about people: the very ones Jesus came "to seek and to save." I pray we can all refocus, if need be, to a bright and clear view of the importance of reaching out and using our opportunities to keep the Gospel "the main thing." Then we can enjoy life as the Lord meant it to be experienced.

Love,

Sandy

We're in the Right Business, Ladies!

By Neva Whitney

"Deliver those who are being taken away to death, and those who are staggering to slaughter, oh hold them back." - Proverbs 24:11

Two recent deaths touched my family and reminded me that as pastors' wives, we, along with our husbands, are in the right business - the business of saving souls.

The first death I want to tell you about was a rather remarkable Christian man named Ron. He wasn't much older than Rick and I. He and his wife had raised five children and were enjoying a number of grandchildren and the results of a successful landscaping business - when the Lord used cancer to call him home.

I knew Ron mostly through my two sons who had each worked with his crews while they were in high school. Working for this Christian man had been a wonderful opportunity for each of our guys to begin to get a handle on what it means to work hard, to interact with other people, to earn a living, and to work for a strong male outside of our home.

Over the years Josh and Mike both had many wonderful conversations with Ron which they would come home and tell us about. In fact, Josh's heart for the work our church in Salt Lake City is doing with Mormon families (almost 50 Mormon families have come to know Christ in the last three years) can be partly attributed to Ron's understanding of the Mormon beliefs, and Josh's many conversations with him.

And the same is true with our younger son Mike who also worked for Ron several years later. Over Spring Break last year, Mike came home from college and worked for Ron that week. Mike originally was planning to use some of the money he earned to get a tattoo when he got back to school. He and a Christian football player there at the University of Nebraska at Omaha had each decided what tattoo they wanted. They thought it would be a great witness.

Though Rick and I had tried to dissuade Mike, he was convinced that this was something he wanted to do. Now I know that a tattoo really isn't that big of a thing, but the topic came up during the week and Ron said something that convinced Mike that he should not do it. Ron probably talked about the same things Rick and I were saying, but got through to our boy.

My sons also appreciated Ron taking an interest in their lives outside of work. He came to both of their high school graduation parties. Ron showed up at a high school football game that Mike was playing in. It was such a cold snowy night in the bleachers and we were ready to head for the warm car, but Ron found us and sat through the rest of the game with us.

Ron spent hours dialoguing with Mike and even some of his sisters about dating, or rather their choice of not dating in high school. This was a new concept for Ron and he wanted to explore with our kids whether this was their conviction, or were they just humoring us.

Another death that touched my family recently was the classmate of my high school daughter. Some young driver was going too fast and the car Chelsea was riding in was hit. She was air-lifted to an area hospital and then later the next day taken off of life support.

Although my daughter Becca did not know Chelsea very well, the death touched her in two different ways. First, it reminded her of another classmate (and good friend) who was killed in a different car accident several years earlier. And it reminded her of her cousin who died tragically just a year and a half ago.

Rebecca is a peer counselor at her high school so the principal and school counselors came looking for her and other "trained" students to sit and listen to the students who were more personally touched by these tragic deaths. At first some of the other peer counselors were concerned that they wouldn't know what to say to the young girl's grieving friends. But Becca told them, "The kids just want someone to listen, as they talk about their friend and what they are feeling."

These two recent deaths, an older Christian man and a young high school girl, reminded me afresh that heaven and hell are real. Death is a part of life. We do not know when the Lord is going to call someone home, whether young or older.

So giving our life for the Great Commission, sharing our faith with our lost family, friends, and neighbors, and even with strangers, is the most important thing we can do on this earth.

Sometimes, as a pastor's wife I can live a pretty padded life - a life surrounded by Christians. I need to work to find opportunities to interact with unbelievers and to be able to talk with them--about life and about faith. Like people in my church, I need to be praying for the lost, speaking up when I am in different situations, and then putting myself out there to share the Gospel. Jesus said, "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which is lost."

I know we are all very busy being a helpmate to our husband, caring for our children and our home, showing hospitality, and being involved in ministry as needed in our church. But as pastors' wives we need to keep the Gospel as one of our primary concerns.

We need to remember that our primary focus should be reaching out and sharing our faith with the lost and trusting God to give us the opportunities and the wisdom and the boldness to take advantage of them.

Thanks for listening.

Dear Sisters,

A happy and blessed New Year to you all! I hope the coming months of 2005 hold many realized dreams and goals for you, your families and churches. Yet we all know that although "plans of the heart belong to man" (Prov. 16:1), the Lord controls what really comes about, doesn't He?

Angie Valtman had summer plans for her break from teaching elementary students. Wedding, family, trips-she had her schedule. But she also was dealing with some severe headaches. Angie saw her plans changed by God, Who in His loving wisdom cared for her needs in His way. I pray her story of learning to trust day-by-day encourages you to find true that "I (God) know the thoughts and plans that I have for you...thoughts and plans for welfare and peace, and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome" (Jer. 29:11 Amplified).

Peace to you in His love,
Sandy

His Plans

by Angie Valtman, Linworth Road Community Church, Columbus, Ohio

I always find it amazing to see what plans God has in store for me. About 20 years ago, I began to think of Jeremiah 29:11 in a different light. Repeatedly over the years, I have seen that God has plans for me and often they are different than the plans I had in mind. This summer was no different.

My plans: I will finish my school year, see my daughter get married, go to Missouri for the Pastor's Conference, take care of general household things, and relax the rest of the summer. Well, my summer began as I planned it. I finished the school year moving from one classroom to another. Then, I focused on our daughter's wedding plans for the next two weeks. The day after the wedding, we left for our trip to Missouri. We had a nice trip, enjoyed the location, and had a refreshing trip home. The only problem was I had a headache that lasted the whole time. It was not severe; it just would not stop. I did not mention the extended problem to my husband, Bob, since he tends to be sensitive to my headaches. You see, ten years ago, I had an aneurysm, but I had gone through the surgery only to find out God had healed it. Or at least we thought he had. We did not know He had plans to reactivate it. I had a regular doctor's appointment scheduled the beginning of July Since I felt better, I wasn't even sure I was going to tell her about the headache, but just before leaving my doctor's office, I did mention it. She knew my history and thought it would be good to have a CAT scan.

God's Plans: My next few months were going to be different than my plans. The CAT scan did show possible aneurisms, which led to an MRI, which led to an angiogram. At this point, I scheduled an appointment with my neurosurgeon from 10 years ago. I learned he was a consultant now. The neurologist handling my tests would also be unable to do any of the current procedures available for aneurysms. These involved going through the groin with an angiogram and using coils to seal off the aneurysm. But, mine was an unusual situation. My case was forwarded to a new neurosurgeon. My thick files from 10 years ago were still available. At this point, the report was not encouraging.

Bob and I had thoughts that went in many different directions each step of the way. But, I never left my belief that God had His plans for me. It was unclear whether the aneurysm was related to the prior one, however the situation was not a typical one and would require a bypass surgery. Through our questions, we found the surgery was rare and my neurologist had not done any like this. Bob and I just looked at each other. We did not feel we were being told by God to agree at that time. More prayer, more questions. We called a high school friend of ours in Pittsburgh who is a neurologist. He suggested, as the previous doctor, that we get a second opinion from the Cleveland Clinic or the Mayo Clinic. Our friend, Joe, had also offered to look at the films and said since the prior records were available it would be helpful to study what had happened at that time. It seems we were given little pieces along the way. Our request is often, "Lord, give me the answer right now." He just walked us through this in little steps. We were sharing with others and bringing others into prayer with us. It is amazing how quickly God makes things work when it is in His time. I thought an appointment at either of the clinics would take a long time. When I asked my doctor to schedule an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic, she called back the next day with an appointment the very next week.

The waiting time is always the hardest. I just wanted an answer. I wanted to get through whatever His plans were and then move on. Our report at the Clinic brought another possible question and another possible location. The initial view of the tests showed the bypass surgery as a probability. Since, it is not one that is done often, the neurologist would present it to the team and they would determine whether they felt they could provide the best situation or whether it would be better to refer us to a neurosurgeon in Phoenix, who is considered the best in the field. More prayers. We returned the next week and met with both the neurologist and the neurosurgeon. Now, I was referred to as one in a million. Not a term you want to hear under these conditions. However, now we heard a little hopefulness. It was possible that the blood from the affected area had been rerouted. They had studied my entire packet of films, thought about it over the entire week and came up with a plan. I would need to be awake during a major part of the procedure. Angiograms would be inserted into both groins, and the surgeon would close off the blood flow in part of the brain with a balloon, while constantly checking my responses and my statistics. If all progressed as he believed it would, he could then put me to sleep and fill the diseased area with coils. At that point, I could have complete recovery or experience some stroke-related risks. The doctors stated a 25% chance of success. It seemed to me that the possibilities led to a 50/50 chance, either would be acceptable. Whatever happened, I would be enjoying life with the Lord or with my family. To Bob, however, the two results were slightly different.

Well, the results were a tremendous blessing. On September 27th, I went in for surgery, spent 3 days in the hospital, and returned to my classroom within 3 weeks. My experience brought an overwhelming experience with God. Our church joined together in prayer before the surgery, people across the country were praying, people from my school had been praying, believers trusting, and those seeking or not believing were watching in awe at the results. I know God has His plans, as stated in Jeremiah 29:11. I was prepared to go wherever they would lead. They led to more awe and wonder, more thanks and praise. This Thanksgiving and Christmas were celebrated with a stronger belief and trust in Him.

Dear Sisters,

Lee Coria offers us her perspective on trials and suffering--desert places in life. She says that, by definition, the desert is "a hard place to find nourishment and hope." Sound familiar, unfortunately?

Or is it truly unfortunate to find ourselves in a place where we are hungry, thirsty, and weary? Or should we, as Lee urges us, view these times and places in our lives as a chance from God to know and love Him more? I do want to, because as I'm finding, being in desert times is part of walking the path of closeness with our Savior and Lord.

I pray we can all feel Him near in our pain and times of trial. "The nearness of God is my good."

Love in Him,

Sandy

Lessons from the Desert

By Lee Coria

My favorite devotional is Streams in the Desert. It has encouraged me and given me hope for over 30 years-cheering me on during the desert times in my life.

The desert is dreary, lonely, and uncomfortable, not to mention monotonous. It is a hard place to find nourishment and hope.

I have never spent much time in a real desert, but I have certainly traveled there in my soul. As I read my Bible, my devotional, and talked with other Christians, I have found that, although the desert is not a place most of us would chose to go, it is a place we all must visit at one time or another.

We find ourselves in the desert for a variety of reasons: loss of heart, on-going trials, faded dreams, betrayal, poor health, relationship problems, hormonal changes, and rebellion. The length of our stay in the desert varies also.

I have discovered that it can be much easier to endure the dryness of the desert if I can remember these four truths: that God is sovereign, that God's ways are different than mine, that God is always at work (even if I can't see it), and that God will faithfully bring me out in His good time.

First, it is incredibly important to hold onto the fact that God is sovereign. When we go through a desert time the circumstances of our pain often do not make sense to us. If we could only understand why we must suffer so, it might be easier to bear.

Our desert times may never make sense this side of Heaven. I may obsess about the details of my trial and still find no sense whatsoever in them. I may cry out to God day after day, even year after year, asking, "Why?" and He may see fit to just not answer. Oh, is this hard!

I need to die to my need to understand. I must learn to trust in the sovereignty of God, leave my broken heart with Him and be OK with that. Only then can I find the relief I long for. This is often a process that can take awhile, but I believe it is one of the main reasons for the desert.

A second truth that is important to remember while in the desert is that there is always another way of looking at my circumstances. So many things we go through seem obviously bad to us. Our financial troubles, the struggles of our child, and our day-in and day-out loneliness can only be seen by us in one way-our way.

Even though our emotions can scream at us to feel a certain way, and even though we can logically justify feeling the way we do, if we can look up higher, and move above our feelings, new truths can open up to us. God does things differently than we do and He is the central reality in every situation. I've lived long enough now, to see that some of my deepest pains, when laid at the cross, and given the gift of time, have led to some of my greatest joys. God does know what He's doing.

A third truth to remember is that God is always working while we are in the desert. We must know this and hang onto it. His word is adamant that He will never forget me, yet during times of His silence, I can spend countless hours living like I believe He has. Someone once said, "Just because God is silent, doesn't mean He is inactive." What a precious truth!

A final truth to remember is that with God there is always hope for the future-He will bring us out. No matter how black the present looks, no matter how dry the soul is now, if we are Christians, there will be a tomorrow. I remember one night the pain in my heart was so deep that I didn't see how I could go on another day. The trial had pressed in so hard and for so long that I was weary of life. I lay in bed in the darkness of the night and cried out in my soul, "God, I can't do this anymore. I am so tired and I see no end in sight. How can you ask me to live with this pain? I have done all I know to do to make this situation different. But it is out of my control. Please God, help me. Please rescue me." At that moment He brought a verse to my mind and it was like water to my thirsty soul. "Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting" ( Ps. 126:5 NASB). Such a simple, short verse and yet it changed me. Once again I was able to hope.

There will be a time of rescuing and God has already marked it on the calendar! Look at this verse talking about the deliverance of Israel, Exodus 12:42: "This night had been reserved by the Lord to bring his people out from the land of Egypt, so this same night now belongs to him. It must be celebrated every year, from generation to generation, to remember the Lord's deliverance" (Ex. 12:42 NLT). God has reserved a time for us, too.

Until then, we can rest in His sovereignty, remember that His ways are different than ours, be confident that He is always at work, and know that He will come to save us - at just the right time.

"The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom . . . Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with a vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you'" (Is.35:1, 4 NIV).

Dear Sisters,

Kelly Lewis from Grace Point Church in Powell, Ohio, shares with us her struggles and thoughts about using our time wisely. We Americans are so much about "doing," aren't we? Kelly discusses the principles of prayer, pride, and priorities in determining God's will for each day's "doings."

I found it interesting that she begins with quoting a Jim Croce song about time. He died not long after writing this song, in a plane crash. Makes me think about the psalmist's prayer to "teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom" (Ps. 90:12). Remembering we were made for eternal things makes today so very precious.

Love in Him,
Sandy

Maximizing the Minutes

by Kelly Lewis, Grace Point Church, Lewis Center, Ohio

Recently Terry and I heard a local performer sing "Time in a Bottle." I strongly related to a truth found in a line from the song: "But there never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do once you find them." That's my biggest frustration in a nutshell. I constantly find myself torn between so many valuable activities and relationships that beg for my time. When Carol asked me to write for this month's newsletter, I decided upon this topic since it is frequently on my mind. I'm definitely writing from the perspective of a struggler; but I'm a struggler who is studying all I can to grow in this area.

Living with a pastor for so many years must be rubbing off on me because I discovered that all the principles I wanted to emphasize begin with the letter "p"! First, I have discovered that the reason I often lack direction in how to spend my time is that I fail to pray. I find myself committing to things without seeking the Lord. God has given me the gift of 24 hours in every day. He is not cruel enough to require 27 hours of responsibilities within that time frame. I think He has definite ideas how I should use my time wisely, and I need to show Him the respect of asking His direction. I love the Living Bible translation of Proverbs 10:27 that says: "Reverence for God adds hours to your day." As I put His will before my agenda, He will help me to sort out the good from the best.

My second pitfall is pride. Being busy makes me feel important. Having people seek me out for advice makes me feel like I'm SOMEBODY. I like to be needed. Added to this is what my friend Dee Dee calls FOMS disease - "fear of missing something." If there is a neat new woman attending Grace Point or an exciting event being planned, I want to be a part of it. I haven't experienced a lot of victory in this area, but I think I'm learning that the key is to humbly admit my pride to God, and to ask His help in learning to live for an audience of One, instead of for the praise of men. I also am reminded of an exhortation Mary Knox gave at an elder's conference a few years back: "You are not an elderette!" I wish I could sit down with her sometime and talk about how to learn not to be all things to all people and to leave the pastoring to my husband. (Mary, if you're ever in Columbus, I'll buy you a cup of coffee and pick your brain!)

The last principle is priorities. I was sharing my frustration in this area at our last elder's wives meeting and I learned so much from my friend Michele Houser. She has such a good perspective at how to use her time most effectively. For example, she is currently volunteering for a political party, seeing the long-term effects her time can have in shaping elections and the direction of our country. She is also involved at her boys' school, seeing the importance of being a visible presence and getting to know the staff. For this season of her life, she is maximizing her hours for the things she feels will count the most. I, on the other hand, feel confused by choices for my time - ministry needs, band boosters, our home school group, the high school, people at church. I need to filter these legitimate needs through God's priorities for me and ask good questions. Does this commitment help Terry and allow us to work as a team? Am I available to my kids during these crucial years of their development? Is my home peaceful, or is it chaotic because I'm running in so many directions? Am I taking time to still my mind and sit at the Lord's feet? Am I making time for relationships to be accountable with other women? Am I using my gifts for God's glory? I echo the plea of the psalmist, "Oh, teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well" (Ps. 90:12 MSG).

Wow.... all of this is still a tough issue for me. I wish I could buy a little of that "time in a bottle" that Jim Croce sings about. But I believe God would prefer to have me learn to be a better steward of the time He has given me. Let's keep encouraging one another to never settle for giving our days to anything less than God's best for us.

Dear Sisters,

As I read Neva's article on unity with other leaders' wives, I was impressed that she began by pointing to the spiritual battle. Satan is a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), and a lion chases his prey off alone, away from the herd. He then attacks and devours. Disunity among women makes it so easy for our enemy to isolate and lie to us. He wants us to be alone. Let's listen to this godly woman and learn to cling to each other, building up our sisters in Christ!

Love,
Sandy

Unity Among Pastors Wives

by Neva Whitney, Great Commission Northwest

Over the last several months I have had a number of different conversations with pastors' wives - each needing words of encouragement in their relationship with fellow leader's wives. It is very important to be united with co-leaders, for the sake of the Lord, your husband's ministry, your church, and the gospel. Satan is the one who is overjoyed when we struggle in this area.

Psalm 133 shares God's thoughts on this area.

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers (and sisters) to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron's beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon, Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing-- life forever."

The Psalm indicates that unity equals goodness, pleasantness, and God's blessing, none of which should be taken lightly.

I realize that unity does not come naturally and is not always easy, but you are neither the first nor the only woman to struggle in this area. Think of Paul's words to the gals in the church in Philippi. "I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord." The Scripture also indicates that they were fellow laborers with Paul. The next verse describes these two as "...women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel."

When we struggle in our relationship with other wives, it makes our husband's job, and their call for unity between themselves, more difficult. As much as possible, I feel that we need to keep our "relationship issues" with other wives just between the Lord and us. We can be stronger, more dignified, and self-controlled in this. Our culture has told us to "spill everything out," but that's not necessarily wise.

Unity takes making time together, even if you don't want to. You can't really be united with someone that you don't know. It takes believing the best. We need to make the effort to get together and visit and share our lives and the lessons that God is teaching us.

Oftentimes relationships don't just happen. You have to die to self. They take work, and the effort puts us out. And this is how we find out if we are willing to die to self. If you think you have trouble getting along because you are so different, or because you have different gifts and different ministries - be thankful! Celebrate the differences. Think how boring your church would be if you were all the same personality type. It is healthy for other women in our church to see a pastor's wife job description, carried out by different personality types.

Sometimes the most "fun" relationships are the intergenerational friendships. We have so much to learn from one another. The younger wife can help the older wife to be more relevant, timely, and a little more hip. The older wife, from her experience and years in the pastorate, can help the younger wife to get God's perspective more quickly. Titus 2 could possibly be paraphrased to say something like, "Older pastors wives can train the younger pastors wives to love their husbands, their children, love their church, and be content in their homes and in their lives."

Another pastor's wife and I had lunch together recently. During the course of the meal we both had the opportunity to affirm one another, and agree that we would always believe the best of one another, always assume the best, and always talk if there was a question. We even "high-fived" each other.

I thought it was kind of neat of the Lord, that just a couple of days later, in working out some housing situations for a women's conference that we disagreed. But we deferred to one another and I walked away from our brief discussion thinking how much I like that woman and how much I want to continue getting to know her and work with her. I was smiling at God too, thinking how He so quickly put our "high-five" to the test.

Three Simple Steps to Help Build Unity

1. Speak well of each other. Speak well of each other when you are speaking to your husband or your children. Compliment the other sister in front of other women from your church. Let her hear you speak well of her.

2. Pray together. Find time. Make time. Take time to get together to pray for one another, but especially the ministry. Praying together unites. It bonds.

3. Finally, forgive each other. Then forget about it. I think of Paul, "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead." (Phil. 3:12) Forget and press on. Christians who can lay it at God's feet and move on are demonstrating that their faith is real.

"Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord...
...He Himself being the Savior of the body...
...as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything" Ephesians 5:22.

Dear Sisters,

Isn't it interesting to note how older translations of the Bible express a man being intimate with his wife? "Now Adam knew his wife Eve...(Gen. 4:1, KJV). Being united in marriage gives us the opportunity to thoroughly "know" our husbands, with their own unique needs and personalities. I have the special place in John's life to understand what brings him the rest and peace necessary for him to enjoy life and experience God.

Get encouragement this month from Wendy Walker's inspiration on how to bring refreshment to your pastor husband.

Serving with you,
Sandy

Refreshing Your Husband

by Wendy Walker, Chestnut Ridge Community Church, Morgantown, West Virginia

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul" Psalm 23:1-3.

When I have read these verses, I imagine David, whose life was full of triumphs and tragedies, literally lying down peacefully in the grass, or walking by a flowing stream. As he talks to God and enjoys the beauty of His creation, his soul feels more at peace, though his stress-producing problems remain.

As I thought about this, it reminded me of my husband and those who are in full-time ministry. I wondered about how I could help and encourage him so he feels energized and refreshed to tackle the next day. There are three practical ways that have helped my husband to be more relaxed and refreshed. I think these are often pushed aside because life is too complicated or busy.

In the last year, we traveled to places like New York City, Chicago, and New Mexico. When he thought about what he liked and didn't like about the cities and desert, it came down to the fact that he enjoyed God's creation more than what man created. It refreshed him more by being outdoors and taking in the God's beauty than to be indoors all the time.

The one aspect that had been missing in his life was making his down time or relax time just that...relaxing and refreshing. We have two decks attached to our house, but we had not taken advantage of sitting and watching the sunset, spending time with God there, reading a good book, or enjoying a cup of coffee--and each other's company. Imagine that! When he realized that we could if we made it more of a priority, he washed and stained it while I set some flowers, plants, and tiki torches on it for "atmosphere." He enjoys his relax time now and comes away more refreshed than if he didn't take the time to do so.

Another way that ministers to my husband is good food. Food is one of the things that scores big with Bill. But his favorite foods change constantly (except for pizza!). What he might like today, he may not like tomorrow. There is a logical reason why "change" is a regular part of his life. God made him creative and artistic. Variety is the spice of life (though there are specific things I try to always have in the refrigerator and pantry because he looks for them). And I've learned that presentation can make or break a meal.

Lastly, creating surroundings that stimulate and satisfy the senses can be soothing to the spirit. Our bedroom needed a major paint job so I chose a paint color he liked that was between masculine and feminine. A gift certificate given to us helped us buy a comforter and sheet set. And adding inexpensive curtains, blinds, and candles gave our bedroom a fresh, romantic, and soothing atmosphere.

This might not sound very "spiritual" in ministering to someone, but it is, if it is one of their love languages. Finding out exactly what ministers to my husband wasn't easy and I'm still learning about what shows love to him and what doesn't. I want our home to be a peaceful, Christ-centered place that he enjoys coming home to, a place of refuge, so that he can feel refreshed and energized to meet the next day. Of course, time alone with God and prayer are the foremost ways of being refreshed, but you already know that.

So my question is, what refreshes your husband?

 Dear Sisters,

Do you have mornings when you come to the Lord and His Word with a grumpy heart? I had to confess that to God this particular day, as I knew He was aware of my attitude already, anyway. Things were just not going the way I had hoped. Then He reminded me...things were going the way He hoped. John 1:7 says that John the Baptist came that "all might believe (in Jesus) through him." John didn't see that vision come to fruition completely, but delighted in the doing. Can I approach my life in Christ in the same way? Sara Pecina shares this month about knowing and appreciating the part God calls us to play within His wonderful plan. She prays every day she will be the person He created her to be. I pray you and I choose to listen to her advice today!

In Christ,
Sandy

My Part in His Production

by Sara Pecina, Grace Community Church, Universal City, Texas

One of the things I pray every day is that today I will be the person God created me to be. I pray that I'll be kept from envy or comparing myself with others, or from being ungrateful for my life in any way. I participated in a real-life lesson about this very thing last month. It involved princesses, magic, and big bad wolves and a little Japanese boy named Danny.

For the past three summers, I have been privileged to direct a drama camp for visually impaired students here in San Antonio. God plopped me into this situation, and I am forever grateful for it, because each year I learn more and am blessed more than I can say. This year, my special lesson came from Danny.

It was Danny's first year at the drama camp, and you could tell he was very excited to be there. He greeted all the kids even though he knew no one and was always first with his hand up to help if we needed it. Now, the camp consists of learning about acting and the theatre, but primarily the goal and everyday activity is to learn, rehearse, and present a play at the end of the two weeks. This year we did a spoof of fairy tales and it offered a wealth of fun parts, especially for boys who love to be villains and girls who love to be princesses. And Danny got the part he coveted--the Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk.

Now, as you are envisioning Danny as the Giant, add this to your mental picture...(remember, Danny is Japanese) he is also eight years old, maybe four feet tall, a little chubby, wears very thick glasses, and smiles all the time! He is too cute for words and everyone loved him, but "giant-like" he is not! (At least from all outward appearances.) Inside himself.....he was THE GIANT!

Danny took his part very seriously and memorized his lines almost immediately. This just added to his charm because Danny has been in the United States for only two years, and many of the words are still difficult to pronounce...especially those with the letter "L" in them. But Danny is very bright, and what he lacked in correct pronunciation, he more than made up for in enthusiasm.

When I would encourage the kids to "project," Danny projected! So much so that he had to be curtailed a bit, and we even considered not giving him a microphone. When I would remind him that he needed to have a "fierce giant" look, he would take his Hulk Hogan stance and grimace for maybe three seconds before his big grin would spread over his whole face. Even when we had to practice the same thing over and over again, or when I would make last minute changes in the blocking or even in his lines, he never complained.

What can I say, except that Danny reveled in his part. He LOVED being the Giant. His enthusiasm and perseverance and dedication were contagious, as was his joy.

On the night of the performance, Danny was a crowd favorite as he sang his part in a rap song and recited his Giant lines (which the audience loved even if they couldn't understand them!) His spirit just flowed out and he was perfect in his part of the play.

Which reminds me of the prayer I pray every day. God has given each one of us a special part to play too. Sometimes we have to go over and over and OVER a certain thing until we get it right. We don't all get to be the "cool" part. Sometimes He makes surprise changes that we don't really appreciate, but He knows what will accomplish the goal, and He's just getting us all into the right position.

What I tried to convey to the kids at the camp is that our lives are not insignificant. The fact that God has given us another day is not trivial. The God of the universe created and designed us individually ...on purpose! And He is the only One we can trust to make us the person He created us to be.

My prayer for each of us is that we let God loose in our lives. And I pray that brings us such joy and freedom in Him that who we genuinely are comes out and brings Him pleasure and glory every single day we live.

 Dear Sisters,

My favorite memory from our recent pastors' conference is the afternoon when I had the opportunity to pray with other women from my region. In joining with others' prayers offered before our King, I was encouraged by their faith, humbled by their grace, instructed by their wisdom and edified by the praying of scripture. To stimulate our thoughts toward prayer, Debbie Poindexter shares what she has gleaned from praying with godly women, and urges us to be devoted to prayer.

Blessings,
Carol

What I Have Learned about Prayer

by Debbie Poindexter, New Life Church, Belton, Missouri

Mollie sat quietly on the first row while the music team rehearsed songs for the following Sunday. She had told us she wanted to be there so she could pray for the worship time. I was impressed by her desire to pray, and encouraged to be more faithful to pray. I learned by her quiet and humble example.

Julia took my hands and began to pray for me. I had never heard anyone use so much scripture in prayer. I was touched by her love for me in wanting to pray for me, and I began to learn the power in praying the Word.

Carol shared with me the verse she has been praying for one of my sons. I was impressed by her insight into the specific need, and her discernment in choosing a scripture just for my son. Once again I was touched and motivated to pray the Word.

Karen took me aside after home group and asked if I would commit to pray with her on the phone weekly for our friends. We both had been feeling hopeless as we observed their situation, and were eager to see God work in their lives. We started to pray every week, and soon our list of people to pray for grew, as we included more and more struggling families that we knew. After a few months, a lot started happening. The Lord completely turned around the first couple. They are experiencing joy and victory like never before. The other couples are experiencing deep trials. We continue to pray, as we know that sometimes God allows painful difficulties to bring about His healing and reconciliation. I continue to learn what it means to persevere in prayer. I continue to learn that God works in mysterious ways, that prayer makes a difference-not only in the lives of those for whom I pray, but in my life as well.

Over the years these examples of godly women in my life have taught me how to pray. I have found myself eagerly looking for new insights on how to pray for people. I often pray Psalm 51:6: "Behold, Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part Thou wilt make me know wisdom." I pray that lies would be replaced by God's truth, and that God would have freedom to impart His wisdom and truth in a person's life.

Recently, I prayed Psalm 123:1,2 for myself and for the ladies in my Bible study. "To Thee I lift up my eyes, O Thou who art enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He shall be gracious to us." I want to be so sensitive to the Holy Spirit that I would be quickly responsive to even His quietest promptings.

Through the years I have prayed many scriptures for my husband. Early in our marriage, Diane shared with me that she prayed Proverbs 22:29 for her husband. "Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men." I've never forgotten what she told me, and I have prayed that verse many times.

I have been reading through First and Second Chronicles these past weeks, and have found many scriptures to pray for our church. First Chronicles 29:9 says: "Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly." And Second Chronicles 25:2 says: "And he did right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart." I have prayed that we would be delivered from half-heartedness, and that our people, especially our leaders, would be whole-hearted and joyfully willing to serve.

Many of my prayers are recorded in my journal. I have learned that my mind wanders, and writing my prayers to the Lord helps focus my thoughts. Also I find much encouragement by going back and marveling at God's faithfulness in answering prayer in unexpected and wonderful ways.

May you be encouraged by these thoughts to persevere in prayer, to pray the Word, to pray with a friend, and to record your prayers. He is "able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us" (Eph. 3:20).

 Dear Sisters,

It has often been stated in our movement of churches that the pastors' wives aren't "mini-elders." We wives, though married to a man in ministry, aren't the ones appointed by the Lord to lead the Church. Yet we all certainly share, in at least some degree, our husband's vision for seeing the Great Commission accomplished. Every believer, including every wife, has the awesome privilege to be a "priest" unto God, and to minister the good news of the gospel to people.

For this reason, I was really encouraged to read Barb Wilson's thoughts and experiences in ministering, within marriage and family responsibilities. As more mobility and freedom have come to Barb as her children are growing, she has used the opportunities to bring Christ to those around her. Her special joy is that the fruit comes as she is including her children in on these opportunities to serve and minister. She and Berk have been able to do this as a team, too!

I pray her example will inspire you to see God's chances to minister through your daily life, as you seek God and His Word. As Barb so well puts it, God wants to use you in every stage of your life.

Love,
Sandy

Keeping Strong in Ministry

by Barbara Wilson, Grace Community Church, Cary, North Carolina

Moms in Ministry. It kind of sounds like a support group doesn't it? We should all sit around and tell of our latest efforts in ministering to others. We think ministry is something we do; we plan it into our busy day; we are glad when we see specific fruit from our ministry. Our husbands are ministers. It is their job, their profession, and as such, we are ministers' wives. However, as a busy mother of six boys, coming into the stage of life when my children are leaving home and going to college, God has shown me that ministry does involve planning, but it is also my life in action as I seek to follow God and His Word daily.

I have two simple pieces of advice in encouraging you to keep strong in your ministry. Walk the walk AND talk the talk. And stay involved in your childrens' lives. Let me say that again. STAY INVOLVED IN YOUR CHILDREN'S LIVES. Did you get the message? Remember that the fields are ripe for harvest and the harvest is everywhere. Philippians 1:27 encourages us to stand strong for the purpose of telling the Good News. This Good News can be shared everyday with our children, those in our local body of believers, and the lost. I have invited many a college girl to help me at the playground with my children. We would invariably get into spiritual talks about the life of the girl. Sometimes, we were able to talk to another mom about her children and then ultimately about the Lord. These were conversations in a very natural setting where I could be involved with my children and with others.

I would always make sure I was outside with my children when they were young, especially when they were playing with the neighborhood kids. Many situations would come up that needed refereeing and this was a great way to share a Bible verse with my child and the neighborhood child. Our boys would love to ride their Big Wheels down our hilly street and into the street at the bottom of the hill. They couldn't do this unless an adult was at the bottom of the hill making sure no cars were coming. This was a prime place to chat with the other moms of the neighborhood and, seizing opportunities that I had prayed about earlier, we could talk about the Lord.

As our boys got older, I didn't need to watch them play so much, but I would still stay involved in their lives by having their friends over to our house rather than our boys always going elsewhere. My husband, Berk, and I would make sure we knew who the children were and that they knew the rules of our house. We expected them to abide by them, and for the most part, they did. When a friend stayed for dinner, we would still say grace and have our conversations about God, etc. We would just include the friend in the conversation. Just a month ago, our 12 and 13 year old sons asked Berk to share the gospel with their friend who had been asking lots of questions. It was a great time for Berk, our boys, and the neighbor. From meeting the kids, it was natural to meet the parents and then, down the road, invite them to church.
Our boys all played sports in the city sports leagues. Berk coached as much as he could because he could influence the children and their parents. Berk would always pray with the team before the little league baseball games and teach real character during practice. Not one parent complained. In fact, many parents supported him, and he and our family have become well known in the city sports circles.

As our boys started going to the local public high school, I started volunteering in the attendance office once a week. What a great way to get to know the administrators and the other students. You can have lots of influence when the school officials see you giving of your time to help them out. I also made lunch once a week for the juniors and seniors who could come off campus for lunch. Our boys would invite their friends and I got to meet so many people this way. Eventually, the word got out to go to the Wilson's on Thursday and we had close to 100 people coming over three different lunch periods! I had wonderful help from some college students in our church. From these lunches, we were able to invite kids to a Bible study in our home once a week. The Bible study is for high schoolers and we have about 20 guys and girls coming. Many of them have also come to our church, and plan to attend regularly when they go to North Carolina State University.

This summer, Berk and I are taking another step of faith in ministry. We are taking 12 students, plus three staff members, to Wilmington, NC, for our own summer leadership training. We are living in apartments near the campus of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and reaching out to students in summer school there. We would eventually love to get a church going on that campus. Our children are coming with us and jumping right into jobs and ministry just like everyone else. Because they have grown up in a lifestyle filled with people, in our home and elsewhere, they are catching the vision of standing strong for the purpose of telling the Good News.

God wants you for a laborer, no matter what stage of life you are in or what ages your children are. Galatians 6:9 tells us to "not grow weary in doing good because we will reap if we don't give up." Teach your children well and include their friends in your teaching when they are over. Don't be afraid to give of your time and possessions. "A man's gift makes room for him." Your children's friends will tell of your kindness and then the parents will want to get to know you. Stay involved in your highschooler's life. He or she needs you more than ever. Pray for God to use you, your husband, and children to share the Good News. God will always lead you in His triumph.

 Dear Sisters,

As another school year draws to a close, mothers feel a sense of release to be free of the school year demands - no matter whether their children attend school at home or away. But as we pack away the school items, let's not be in too big a hurry to delete all thoughts of school from our brains. God may have a bit of summer "homework" for you first. As Sandy Hopler reminds us this month, there is wisdom in seeking the Lord and evaluating how well school settings are fitting with God's current work in your child, and your child's receptivity towards Him. If it's been a while since you and your husband have tackled this assignment, it may be time to start praying. . . and while you are stashing away the school supplies, sharpen a No.2 pencil to record God's reply!

Yours in Christ,
Carol Young

Evaluating Schooling Options for Our Children

by Sandy Hopler, New Song Community Church

"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." 2 Corinthians 3:17

It's spring, which means it's time for John and me to re-evaluate our children's schooling.

During the course of raising eight children, we've sought God for each individual child's best school situation. This has often meant changes. I'd like to share the different paths we've walked over the years in arriving at our decisions.

We begin with the realization that the Lord is already at work in each child's life, and it's our job to join God in His desires and goals. My husband has often reminded me that, as much as we love and care for our children, we are merely God's "babysitters." He has entrusted us temporarily with His precious treasures. We strive to ultimately view our charges as fellow-heirs of the Kingdom, brothers and sisters in Christ. It's up to God to bring about the "righteous lives He so desires" (James 1:20).

Sisters, as women who have joined our husbands in church ministry, we know it's inevitable that others will watch the choices we make for our families. Ingrid Lawrenz, in "Raising Kids in a Glass House" (Just Between Us Magazine, May 2004), says:

"We have a congregation of eyes watching our children and watching us parenting them. Choices we make in discipline, schools, and what we allow them to see or own, often serve as a model for others...The need for wisdom can be a heavy burden."

However, our goal is to please God, not men. Do I worry about what others will think, or do I think about what God commands and promises? I was motivated at the Faithwalkers Conference by Dennis Clark: "Do you know enough of God's promises to be able to list them for longer than sixty seconds?" We need to look to God alone, and claim His Word for the children:

"All your sons will be taught of the Lord, and the well-being of your sons will be great" (Isaiah 54:13).

Besides listening to the Lord as a couple, I need to listen to and be aware of the needs and vision of my husband. Are we united on schooling option decisions? Do we communicate about the needs we see in a child?

We both entered parenthood with the desire to homeschool our children. We agreed that in their very early formative years, at least, we would teach them in our Christ-centered home. Even though I never saw myself as the "super homeschooling mom," it was a joy to please God and my husband, and to be there with the children. It has been a privilege to teach them each to read, and to see each receive Jesus as their Savior at a young age.

As I listen to the Lord and look to my husband's leadership, the needs and specific situations of each child can also be brought to light. It would be simple, wouldn't it, if our schooling choices could be a "hand-me-down" like a little girl's dress? We've all found how unrealistic it is to expect each child to learn in the same way or to compare a child with his or her sibling. Or perhaps you have an "only" or a special-needs son or daughter. We parents must be the students of their spiritual state and educational needs.

As John and I studied and received input from our kids, we found ourselves considering other options for their growth and learning. For some, the solution was the public school. Others went to Christian grade school when they were young. Because of our boys' personalities, John felt strongly that they needed to "get out of the home" into a structured school environment. We keep a sharp eye on their ability and desire to be influencers, instead of being influenced. We've had them all in public schooling for a few years, and now God is leading us to Christian middle and high school in the fall. You may be happy with your children in the same setting all the way through their education. It simply didn't work out that way for us.

God may lead your family through your own desires, strengths, and even weaknesses. I found that home schooling was not as feasible for me after I encountered some health problems years ago. When that happened, I kept involved with my children by volunteering at the school. In addition, I began a Moms In Touch International prayer group for our high school.

Each year, and its decisions, has brought challenges to the family. We always have sought to make decisions that were "owned" by the children. But sometimes changes have been made that weren't easy for our kids. But as they have seen us wait on the Lord, they have had the confidence and willingness to step out into new settings. And they have been able to maintain godly friends throughout, as well as make new ones.

Becky Hunter, in Being Good to Your Husband on Purpose, reveals the "environmental protection" provided to Jesus by His parents:

"Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" Luke 2:52.

"...It follows that one of your most important jobs, as a parent, is to make sure your child grows up in an environment that:
* Is conducive to learning-so that he can grow wise.
* Offers limits and challenges-so that he can grow healthy and strong.
* Affords opportunities for interaction with God and people."

So, listen to God. Listen to your husband. Listen to the unique needs of your children. Be aware of your own gifts and limitations. Then have confidence in your choices in the wonderful journey of educating your children for the Lord.

 Dear Sisters,

With our beautiful spring weather beginning to raise hopes of flowers and blue skies, we also often feel refreshed with new faith and hope for our lives, and the lives of those we love and serve. Yet there are many who don't have this encouraging outlook in this season of their lives. There are various reasons to feel a lack of fresh hope. This month Carol Young shares her perspective regarding struggles of faith in the face of disappointment, especially for those who must suffer through them alone. How can a believer continue on in the Spirit's power when she may feel let down, perhaps even let down by God?

I pray Carol's loving words and insights from the story of Mary and Martha at their brother's grave, comfort and direct you into "all faith." After all, she is obeying the command to "comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" (2 Corinthians 1:4).

Blessings,
Sandy Hopler

To the Struggling Faithful

by Carol Young, Clemson Community Church, Clemson, South Carolina

Struggles are all too common in the lives of believers. Some struggle for obvious reasons. Their own selfishness has ruined relationships; they coddle sin in their lives, or simply refuse to submit themselves to God. Other healthy, growing Christians struggle with everyday trials - not that they are trivial, but they are the stuff of life: temptations, conflict in relationships, and the struggle to persevere in doing right

Then there are faithful believers who encounter raging storms of difficulties. It may come as one prolonged agony with life-altering circumstances hanging in the balance, or it may be more like the experience of a farmer who withstands a flood to damage his crop, then fire to destroy it, then hail to strip away whatever attempts to survive. Some of the storms may be so private in nature that there are few with whom it is appropriate to share the burden. As much as we recommend openness with our struggles, there are times when, for the sake of the others involved, or to avoid participating in gossip or faction, the burden must be born in relative isolation. It is these dear believers that I call the "struggling faithful."

The struggling faithful are generally loved by God's people. They have born many a burden, and shared what they had in both worldly wealth and spiritual riches. Their maturity and steadfastness have supported others through their personal crises. They understand the concept of God disciplining and training His people through trials, and have solid track records of humility, obedience, and self-sacrifice.

But some storms rage so loudly and darkly that even the faithful lose sight of God. The sense of being lost or abandoned is genuine...genuine, and very confusing. It doesn't line up with what they have experienced through years of being in a relationship with God. The years have proved God to be loving, but why would a loving God send such pain? The years have proved God to be powerful, yet He's doing nothing to prevent or change the heart-breaking circumstances. The years have proved God to be a refuge in times of trouble, but His comfort and presence are nowhere to be found. The verses that have provided a firm foundation over the years now feel as solid as thin ice.

The suffering faithful search their hearts to repent of bitterness, unbelief, or unconfessed sin, like a miner searches for gold, hoping that some fault in their life is to blame for the unexplained hardship. Their thoughts could run in this vein: "If I'm to blame, then maybe I can do something to alleviate my suffering. But, if I find no unconfessed sin in myself, I'm left with some very frightening questions about God." Questions like, "Is God really intimately concerned with all my ways? Is God's power real? Is God true to His Word to never forsake me?"

Mary and Martha joined the ranks of the struggling faithful when their brother Lazarus died. When he had become seriously ill, the sisters had turned to Jesus. We aren't told what they expected from Jesus, but their experience with Jesus told them that He could heal Lazarus, and that He loved them and cared about them. When His reply to them was, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it," they had reason to believe that Lazarus would recover. Didn't their friend Jesus, who is powerful, wise, and loving, tell them that the sickness would not bring death?

Then Lazarus died. The Jewish community turned out to grieve with the sisters, but Jesus was nowhere to be found. When He arrived four days after the burial, Martha expressed faith tinged with confusion, "If you had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Martha believes in Jesus' power, even as she grapples with the "why wasn't it here for me in my need?"

Minutes later, a grieving Mary throws herself on Jesus' feet with the same conflict of faith vs. reality. "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." She could have added, "But You weren't here and now he is dead." At this point, Jesus became deeply moved in spirit and wept with the mourners.

Why? What provoked Jesus' tears? Surely not regret over His delay, as He'd known His plan from the beginning. Surely not Lazarus' death - He knew that it was a temporary condition soon to be remedied. Surely not a lack of faith, for the sisters believed even in the face of evidence to undo their faith - a dead brother. Jesus wept out of compassion for the emotional pain of the suffering faithful who did not possess the capacity to comprehend the drama unfolding around them. This was not a pain lessened by faith, but instead, heightened by the conflict between belief and current experience. Jesus wept with the understanding that holding onto faith when it is not making sense is more painful in the short run than the easy out of "curse God and die."

The conclusion to the story is one of the greatest events recorded in history. Jesus did a completely new thing! Never before had one been raised from the dead. Imagine Mary and Martha's unbridled joy! Weeping turned to laughter. Imagine the astonishment of the Jews! Unbelief turned to belief for many that day. Who would have expected this outcome?

Dear faithful ones, remember in your struggles that Jesus weeps with His who weep. His love and power, even when not felt or seen, remain as always. He did not act as expected in Lazarus' story, because He was devising a new way to bring God glory. He acts in your story, too, to glorify God. That you share His desire for God's glory is your assurance that you are one of the faithful.

Dear Sisters,

My friend Betty Boys writes for us this month. All six of her children are now adults. At least one of their sons is working with Michael and Betty in their Cincinnati church. Betty has been a wonderful example to me of a scriptural woman who "loves her husband and loves her children." She has devoted her life to supporting Mike and caring for her children. I love to hear what she says in perspective of raising six, which includes twins!

Betty now reaps much fruit from making her children's character and love for God her top priorities, working together with her husband. She is now doing the same for her grandchildren. I pray we can all learn as she shares her heart of prayer that has covered her life of service for God.

In His love,
Sandy

Shepherding Your Flock

by Betty Boys, New Life Christian Church, Cincinnati, Ohio

"I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.'" Psalm 122:1

I was sitting on a bench beside Niagara Falls. I was a young mother and wife of a pastor, with all of the questions and trials of taking care of my family and also serving with my husband in Christian work. An older woman sat down beside me and began a conversation. Somehow the topic turned to children. As it turned out, she was a missionary. Her sad recounting of her own family life impacted me for a lifetime.

She and her husband had been busy on the mission field and confident that it was right to send their children off to the care of others, so they could serve the Lord. The end result of this was bitter children who all turned their backs on Jesus. This dear lady wore a very sad face!

I felt the Lord had sent a special opportunity to me to learn from this lady. Proverbs 21:11 says, "When a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge." My greatest heart's desire was for our children to know, love, and obey Jesus. I wanted them, all six of them, to be glad to have grown up in a Christian home. I still keep the prayer of my heart that I petitioned before the Lord when they were young.

"Dear Lord, please help me to share joy with my children. Give me the grace to laugh with them, even when my duties become heavy. Please help me to answer their questions with gentle, loving respect and to stimulate their creativity to Your praise. Let them see Jesus living in my life. Bless me with a kind, gentle way so they might rejoice because you put them in a Christian home. Amen."

Our home was a busy one...full of laughter, noise, stories, crafts, toys, and generally a mess. It was also full of a broad cross-section of people who came to visit.

There were interesting people who enriched our lives; there were troubled people who were often difficult and demanding; there were kind people who talked to our children; and there were those who looked at them as a terrible bother. Most of these people wanted time and attention from my husband and me. Most of the time, these visitors got our time and attention, and often our food and a bed when needed.

But, there were those times when callers and neighbor kids at the door were told, "No, not now. It's family time." Often this was misunderstood; however, it didn't matter. Family time was for family. Jesus often took only those closest to Him off for private time away from the masses. These were times of unique purpose; so were our family times. These were times of building and strengthening those nearest and dearest to us.

I came to think of our children as my special flock Yes, there was always the larger flock--the church, the neighbors, the extended family, and the needy. But my special flock's need had to come first. Remember, 1 Timothy 5:8 says, "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." That meant, for us, that training in the Christian life; in polite behavior; in wholesome conversation; in kind treatment of others; of honest, hard work; of cheerful answers and all the other good qualities that my husband and I desired to see in my children were to be taught, and re-taught to them at home by my husband and me--especially me.

But teaching and re-enforcing those qualities was never enough. There were always those areas of the children's lives that seemed impervious to instruction and example. Those deep areas could only be touched and transformed by the working of the Holy Spirit as a response to much intercession for each child.

That job of prayerful intercession is never over. All six children are adults now. I think I pray for them (and their spouses and children) more now than ever before. I pray that God will "restore the years that the swarming locust has eaten" Joel 2:25. I seek Him to repair the foolish mistakes and neglects that we made with all our children. I pray for their health and well being, for their spiritual development, that they will pass a love of Jesus on to their children, and that those children will pass that love of Jesus on to their children. I pray that this process will go on as long as the Lord grants time and into eternity. It's my desire that my special flock will always be glad to go into the house of the Lord.

Dear Sisters,

Most of us are very aware of the release this week of the Mel Gibson film, "The Passion of the Christ." I received a copy of a John Piper book written to complement the movie, titled appropriately, "The Passion of Jesus Christ: Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die." It asks the question: "What did God achieve for sinners like us in sending his Son to die?"

Reading Mardean Martindale's article this month reminded me of Reason No. 22: He died to bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18). Mardean asks us what God is "allowing" in our lives to build our faith in Him. Isn't faith simply seeing God, and enjoying His presence above all else? With the death of Jesus in my place, I can have confidence that all God brings my way, no matter how testing, is to result in deeper companionship and trust between me and my Lord. Ephesians 2:13 promises that "you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." As you read Mardean's account of her own journey of faith, I pray your faith in our risen Savior, and His desire for you, will grow and increase also!

In His love,
Sandy

What is God allowing in your life TODAY to build your faith?

by Mardean Martindale, Valleyview Community Church, Columbia, Missouri

"So that your faith may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, EVEN YOU!" Proverbs 22:19

"And I am sure that God, who began a good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again." Philippians 1:6.

God is so very interested in each of us individually that He teaches, trains, and tests us every day of our lives-every season-every place-every circumstance! Only in this life do we need faith, for when we get to Glory, we shall see Him as He is! Because faith is what pleases God, He daily uses "life" to develop it!

As we grow in faith in our own lives, God often gives us other relationships in which we learn faith. In fact, it's an interesting study to see God building faith in His children. In each of the characters in the Bible, we see God at work-and sometimes it is a long journey. In fact, the more God wants to use us, the more He tests us to develop our God-confidence, so that the trials of life don't wipe us out. God doesn't always answer our prayers immediately to build our faith. With Abraham, God gave him a promise, but didn't immediately fulfill it! Yet the Bible tells us that in that situation, Abraham grew strong in faith. We so easily want instant answers, not realizing that God sees a bigger picture.

Many of us are mothers, and certainly God uses that entrustment as a BIG faith journey! Yet God never gives us an assignment or entrustment without His promise to be with us! We are never alone no matter how we feel. We get so distracted by the problems, that we forget that God is truly there and at work. How is God going to teach us the fruits of the Spirit, if we can do His work on our own? Maybe we've learned to depend on God for our own needs, but can we trust Him to work in our husband? Then, what about our children? We don't see the big picture-we only see the "right now" and it can scare us. Yet God doesn't have any grandchildren-only children, and He is at work in their lives as well. Because we're so busy as mothers and wives, we easily forget that as God works in each of us, He's also longing for our companionship and trust. We're each "moving to the next step!"

Years ago, when our own children were teenagers, one of their classmates at school professed to be saved. Drugs and alcohol had controlled him, and his parents found him impossible to control and asked if he might live with us. Even though we had taken a tough stand on "no drugs," he occasionally found a way to get high. One day, high on speed, he sat in a rocker in our living room weeping. He said, "You know, my parents never said ‘no' to me, so I don't know how to say ‘no' to myself." Of course, we told him that he now had a Heavenly Father who could help him say no to himself. As Christian parents, you are giving your children such a rich heritage. You are teaching them of our Heavenly Father who is teaching us, as well as them, how to say "no" to our flesh.

All of us make daily choices. Are we making choices of faith? Sometimes, it's good to tell our children of the choices we make. Our children find it easier to learn from ones who are also learning from our Father. None of us have arrived! Some children-especially strong willed ones-seem to want to learn everything for themselves instead of from instruction. We can learn so much more if we can learn from each other's mistakes, as well as from instruction. As parents, we are crying to God that our children won't make wrong choices that affect their whole lives. Even when we diligently teach children the basics of making wise choices, some are tempted to "test the rules." Sometimes, our children think we are more concerned about our reputation as parents instead of being concerned for their good, and that is a test we have to pass.

We realize, too, that we have an Adversary who hates strong families because they are a testimony of God's work and grace. Even then, we have the promise that "God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28). It takes faith to see how God can take even "bad" things to work together for good for His purposes. Watching and waiting while He does it is part of our journey of faith. God sees the whole picture, while we can only see such a small part. How wise God is in working with us as children, and we can learn so much from Him daily. So when things seem too difficult, remember to ask yourself, "How is He building my faith today?"

Dear Sisters,

With each passing year, my heart swells with growing eagerness to live eternally with our Lord. As God has not fulfilled that desire yet, I also recognize more poignantly that I'm still here on earth to accomplish the purpose for which He knit me together in my mother's womb (Ps. 139:13). Thoughts of accomplishing God's purpose sometimes take on intimidating mental proportions, but this month Tammy Smith shares with us a refreshing sense of being able to walk in God's purposes on a daily - even minute by minute - basis.

Walking a path of purpose with you,
Carol

Life on Purpose

by Tammy Smith, Heritage Christian Church, Westerville, Ohio

Recently I spent some time away with the Lord, which happened to be at the home of an 88-year-old woman who had jetted off to California for a Disneyland/Crystal Cathedral tour. Yes, I said "88." Of course, as I pondered such activity at 88, my mind begin to wander to what I might be doing at such an age, if the Lord wills that I live until then. Such thoughts dovetail with the flurry of activity surrounding the great book The Purpose-Driven Life in many churches across the nation. How can we seem to be people who struggle so with feeling unsure about our purpose, when we have been chosen, redeemed, and selected to advance the kingdom of an almighty God?

In my own life, I find that I don't struggle with wondering what I'm supposed to be doing when these two things characterize my life - power and prayer. By power, I don't mean control or self-confidence, but fulfillment and strength that come from my relationship with Christ. This is positional power. My primary position is a daughter loved by God. That's it. That's also my sole purpose - to experience God's love and love Him in return. If I am operating in power, I am operating from that foundation of my position as a loved daughter, rather than a second-guessing employee or needy spouse or insecure friend. I am instead realizing that I am (not wish I was) a bright light because the Holy Spirit resides in me. I believe, therefore, that I'm effective as I interact with people because God said I'm a light for Him (Matthew 5). And catch this, these things are true whether I feel like I'm a light or not, whether I see my effectiveness or not, and whether it seems like I'm doing any good or not. Such power comes from a deep-seated awareness of Ephesians 2:10 - that there are things I alone, of all the humans on the earth, was created to do. Positional power involves a deep-seated trust in God's word about me - that I am a special work of His with a specific purpose that is mine alone.

My six year-old son and I were talking about the special purpose God has for each of us and that's why He makes some of us with some talents, and others with different gifts. After 10 seconds of silence (an eternity for this child), he said, "Mom, I know why you're not dead yet." As I was catching my breath (Who said anything about being dead?), he said, "Because you have songs to sing and choirs to direct." He has watched me lead our Christmas and Easter programs at church, and rightly concluded that God must have more of such activity planned for me since I am still here. When the truth of Psalm 139 is deep within me ("all the days ordained for me were written before one of them came to be"), I realize that the line I'm standing in, that toilet I'm cleaning, that conversation I'm in, that song I'm singing, that person I'm smiling at are not coincidences, but part of exactly why I'm still here - my purpose!! Directing a program is not more my purpose than silently praying for the woman standing behind me at the Post Office. It's dangerous ground to distinguish between what we think are big and small assignments from God. Power characterizes when we are living life from a position of security instead of insecurity.

To live and move and have my being in God's purpose (Acts 17:28), I cannot do it without pervasive prayer. We must "nix" the idea of on-your-knees, intense, lengthy prayer as the ultimate. Our loving God knows that we do best (are most purposeful) when we are constantly praying (1 Thessalonians 5:17). In internal and external interaction with God, our purpose becomes a non-issue. We are praying for that person who just swerved in front of us; we are encouraging the person who seemed to slight us in the church lobby; we are listening to what our children are really saying; we are calling that person who is on our minds; we are recounting the attributes of God in worship to Him as we hear our Christian music; all these so much so that we don't have time or space in our brains for us to wonder what we're here for! As we interact with our loving God, He reveals His purpose for us. Pervasive prayer empowers us to forgive others, not overeat, quell anxiety, hope in our oppressive circumstances, enjoy creation, smile at strangers, hunger for God's Word and a whole host of specific-to-me-purpose-filled activities.

Pervasive prayer is quite literally that - always thinking my thoughts in conversation with God, as well as talking outwardly to Him. There is no formula. (Four words Western Christians dread!) It is simply attention to Him always, which will look different at different times. Yesterday, I was literally on my face, nose-first, hands thrust outward weeping in awareness of God's holiness and then not many minutes later talking with Him about what I should wear!

I would love to go on, but pray that the eyes of your heart might be enlightened to what HE wants you to get from reading this. However, I do want to mention what I think is the primary reason we struggle with purpose. I don't think we will ever grapple with feeling purposeful when we understand our positional power and exercise pervasive prayer. The battle comes when we take the eyes of our heart off these things and begin to look around at what others in the body are doing, experiencing, reading, looking like, etc. Comparison kills. It is a hellish tactic that will zap our power and prayer in seconds (2 Corinthians 10:12). You know it - think about how you feel when thoughts like "I wish I could sing like her" or "Why can't I look like she does?" come rushing in. At that point, I find myself forgetting that I'm having a great impact on the people around me and certainly am not in the mood to talk to God, because He's the one who made this mess called me in the first place! Comparison of any sort is a tool of Satan and must be duly rebuked. Remind the Enemy of his defeat and remember again God has given to each one whatever material substance, social standing, physical attributes, talents, and personality traits He needs to accomplish His purposes. Who are we to question Him?

So, my sisters, let's remember that we were set apart by God for God and live life taking each next step before us in faith that He is glorifying Himself through us. Whether I'm younger than 40 writing a little article at my computer or waltzing with Mickey when I'm 88, I want to be talking with God as I bask in His love and never forget - this moment is my purpose.

Dear Sisters,

This evening my husband and I attended a Christmas program that reminded me of the true meaning of Christmas. It means so much more than the Baby laid in a manger. Christmas is Christ coming to us in all of our need, sin, and messed-up lives. He has come to bind up the wounded, and heal the broken-hearted. And His presence fills our loneliness as no other gift can.

Joan Stockdale of Poznan, Poland, shares with us a wonderful story about her first Christmas in a foreign land. Her family experienced a special closeness to Jesus even as they were separated from so many people and traditions that were dear. As they drew near to Him, we see how they knew intimately the “true meaning” of the holiday.

Christmas blessings to you all,

Sandy

Come and Worship

by Joan Stockdale, Poznan, Poland

I was sitting at the computer working on a school project for my kids a few weeks ago when I became aware of the words of the song coming through the speakers: “I’ll be home for Christmas…” Right then and there I started to cry. I won’t be home for Christmas and our family won’t all be together.

Before we moved to Poland, God gave me the verses in Mark 10:29&30.

Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he shall receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.

These verses have encouraged me tremendously in the months since we left home. I truly have new mothers and sisters and brothers and children here and they are wonderful. But at the same time, I greatly miss the ones I left behind. And it seems that Christmas time is the time built into our psyche that we miss our families the most. But last year, our first Christmas here in Poland, God did something wonderful for me. Let me tell you about it.

It started in September when Jack returned from the European Pastors’ Conference. We were talking about some different things he had been asked to be involved in and it became evident that he would need to return to the States. “OK,” I thought, “just as long as you can be here for Christmas.” And when did he need to be there? December 27th, for the Ignite conference, of course! Always the “we-can-make-this-work” girl, I thought, “OK, we could celebrate Christmas together here and then he could leave early on the 26th to make the day-long trip to the States.”

But then I started to think about our kids back there. Ann and her husband would be spending the holiday with his family in Columbus. Caleb, who is in the Marine Corps, would probably have to spend the holiday on base. And Esther would most likely spend the holiday alone. I could not bear that thought. Since Jack was going anyway, we decided (and actually it was my idea) that he and Luke should go early and spend Christmas with Esther. (As it turned out, Caleb got liberty and was able to be with them also.)

As I took Jack and Luke to the train station on the evening of the 23rd, I knew I had a choice. This was my first Christmas away from home, in a new culture, with a new language and new customs. (Do you keep a carp alive in your bathtub for several days to be sure that it will be fresh for Christmas Eve dinner?) No close friends. No husband/daddy to take the spiritual lead. I was determined to make Christmas very special for my kids who were here with me. But how?

We did some of the traditional things we have always done. I had brought some of our Christmas decorations with us from the States and as we pulled out familiar things, we remembered sights and sounds of earlier years. We took cookies to our neighbors on Christmas Eve. That was quite an experience since none of them speak English, but cookies say “love” in any language.

All through the month of December, God kept reminding me of the last Women’s Conference I attended while I was in the States. Linda Dillow shared and God spoke to my heart in the area of worship. She spoke of the wise men, how they traveled for a year or more, risking their lives. Why? “We saw His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” She told of how she had made a trip to Eastern Europe and had traveled for many days in less than comfortable circumstances to speak at several conferences. But, she wondered, would I have suffered through all this “just” to worship?

I knew God wanted me to focus our Christmas on worship. So Christmas morning, after the kids had sung Christmas carols while sitting on the stairs and carried on the tradition that has been in my family since I was a small child, we gathered in the living room and I read about the wise men. We got down on our knees and worshipped the King who was born to give us second birth. It was a special time.

Lots of things were different for us last year. No Daddy to read the story of Christ’s birth. No big brothers of sisters around. No cranberry salad. No trip to Grandma’s. No English language carols at church. No Salvation Army bell ringers out side Wal-Mart. NO WAL-MART! But something wonderful happened for me last year. God helped me see in a deeper way, that Christmas is not traditions. It is not home. It is not even family. It is Jesus. And when we bow to worship Him, it is He, not a holiday, who fills our hearts.

Celebrating Christ with you this Christmas,

Sandy Hopler and Carol Young

Dear Sisters,

Where I live the current buzz is about the new movie Radio. You see, the film was made in our area based on events that happened here in the 1970’s. I joined the crowd at the local cinema, and still haven’t stopped thinking about this tale of compassion and redemption. As the story unfolds, the high school football coach, a white southern male, befriends a pathetic mentally handicapped black man. Disregarding the obvious differences in race, intelligence, and status, the coach consistently offers friendship and compassion. He restores dignity to Radio’s life and ushers him into the good graces of the townspeople.

Likewise, Laura Brandts and her husband, Dave, are committed to spanning the differences between themselves and the inner city families of Cincinnati, Ohio. Through their love and friendship, they are restoring hope and dignity to those who have been neglected by society. This month she encourages all of us to build bridges of love to those who are different from us.

Love in Christ,

Carol

Reaching Out to People who are Different from Us

by Laura Brandts, New City Church, Cincinnati, Ohio

Who are the people who are different from us? Really, everyone! There are no two people exactly alike. People may be similar in personality, income, looks, background, or culture, but no one is exactly alike. What we do have in common is that we are all made in God’s image. Whether we are white, black, Hispanic, Asian, or Indian, we all have a soul, we all have feelings, and we all deal with the same struggles in life. People who are different from us are people whom we do not feel comfortable being around or anyone that we would not gravitate toward hanging out with. Maybe it’s the homeless person who smells or maybe it’s the prostitute downtown who seems cold, hard and mean. Or maybe it’s a junior high kid who lives down the street. Or maybe it’s the black family who just moved into our neighborhood. Whoever they are, remember that they were created in the image of God and in God’s eyes they are just as important as we are – or even as important as the President.

Jesus demonstrated that He cared for those whom others might avoid. Jesus came not to care for the healthy but to care for the sick. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” In Isaiah 58, we are told the purpose for fasting. “Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”

So how do we do it? First, we have to spend time in prayer and fasting. Only the Holy Spirit can enable us to reach out. We have to study the word diligently to begin to understand God’s great and awesome love for us. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because He first loved us.” The key to reaching out to people that we do not feel comfortable with is love. We cannot love unless we begin to grasp how much God’s love cost Him. It is a sacrifice to love. I have learned that relationships are not about me.

I must enter into a relationship with others, not for what I want out of it, or to meet my needs, but to give to the other person. No matter how terribly Jesus was treated, He still died for the people that mistreated Him. He still gave to them. He forgave them. He forgave His closest friends when they deserted Him in the time of His deepest need. They were not there for Him, but He was there for them. He ministered to them while He hung on the cross in extreme pain.

When you begin to reach out to people who are different from you, you will be judged. You will be hurt. You will be ignored. You have to be willing for this to happen. You have to be willing to serve them and love them even though they have just slandered your name to others. You have to be willing to make the sacrifice to visit them or pray with them, even pray for them when they are hurting you! Hurting people hurt people, and many times they don’t even realize it. Your love must be sincere (Rom. 12:9).

Another thing God has taught me is that if you are reaching out to people who come from a different culture, you have to be willing to learn about their culture, accept it and adopt it into your life. (By the way, African Americans come from a different culture.) Do not expect others to assimilate into your culture. Paul said, “I have become all things to all men.” You eat their food, you live on their time schedule, you shop where they shop, and you go where they go. This is what it means to lay down your life for your brothers.

Jesus did not always wait for people to come to Him; He went to them. The prostitutes and the drug dealers will probably not come to your church. The single, pregnant teenagers will probably not come to your church. You will have to go and get them. A suburban, African American family may come and visit your church. Are you willing to incorporate black gospel music into your worship? Are you willing to let your kids hang out with their kids and wear baggy pants and doo-rags? If you are not, that’s okay, but I would encourage you to get on your knees and ask God to transform you into a woman who loves those that you may not understand.

Remember, the prayer Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Christians of all backgrounds will live together in harmony in heaven. Jesus’ passion is that we do it here, too.

Dear Sisters,

Are there things about yourself that make you unhappy? This month, Virginia Biang acknowledges that this is sometimes true for her. Whether your dissatisfaction concerns your physical health, appearance, or your circumstances of life, Virginia has wisdom to share from "spending time talking to God," through prayer and the Word. I pray we can gain from her a confidence in the Lord's loving design in how we were loved by Him, created by Him, and saved for Him.

Love in Him,

Sandy

Designed for Dependence

by Virginia Biang, Glen Arbor Community Church

Have you ever wondered what God was thinking when He made you? I seem to be having a lot of conversations with Him about this recently. There are things about myself that I am not very happy about. I have never been a very coordinated person. I was always one of the last picked for any team. Although musical, I was an ungainly dancer, and I always seemed to drop a lot of things. Now that I have MS, it is even worse because my right hand and my left hand now work about the same. Why didn’t God give me a body that did athletic things easily and walked like a model or danced like a ballerina? Instead of getting better with time, these things are getting worse? What’s the deal?

One day, after I dropped a whole glass of juice all over the white linoleum, I spent some time talking to God about my clumsy hands. His answer came from Psalm 139:13-14. “For Thou did form my inward parts. Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb. I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Also, “We are the clay and Thou our potter. And all of us are the work of Thy hand.” Isaiah 64:8 I get the picture of God taking a lump of clay and gently and carefully, with infinite love, forming a body that was unique. Then he started to weave together a whole sequence of nucleotides in the exact order that He wanted for my DNA. He had many choices when He did this. He chose my eye color, my skin color and type and my hair color (even that it would be white by the time I was 45.). He gave me my talents and abilities.

God did many wonderful things when He was weaving me all together. But there are a few things that are not as easy to live with. My klutziness is one of them. And it’s possible that my genetic code “allowed” the MS. If this were the case, why would God have put these flaws into my makeup?

As I picture Him bending over and putting together the person who would be “me”, I can almost hear Him say, “I am going to add these few things so that she will need to pay attention to me and interact with Me during her life, especially in the later years when she could become quite self-reliant. I love her so much and I really want her attention.” My physical problems and limitations are there because my loving God wants to interact with me regularly through each day. He desires me. When I drop things or goof up physically, I can give thanks and remember my loving God and His care, character, and forgiveness. I can use the experience as an opportunity to enjoy God.

Acts 17:26 says that God has “determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation that they should seek God”. Just as He has chosen our situations and our places, He has chosen our physical makeup. In His love, He designed every aspect of our genetic code and appearance. Are there things about your physical self that you wish were different? God wants to use those things to draw your mind to Him. Give thanks and enjoy your loving God.

Autumn greetings! Another season change brings to mind other kinds of “seasons” in a woman’s life. Something interesting about our churches around the world is that so many of our pastors and their wives are still young. You are obviously in a building season, with new beginnings, personally and professionally. But what of those who are getting older? Are we (notice I include myself in this category) still viewing ourselves as builders, as often starting something new? Or do we look at our lives with regret, thinking our chances are over if we haven’t seen our past visions come to fruition?

This month, Jennifer Bartley urges us to never stop forming new visions, as we pray and seek God’s way and will. We must move on with the resources and challenges with which the Lord has blessed us. As Jennifer has experienced deep losses and leavings in her life, she has turned her season of sadness into steps forward in her growth. In whatever season you find yourself, I pray you can imitate her courage and faith.

Love,

Sandy

Moving Forward

by Jennifer Bartley, Heritage Christian Church

I began to think something was wrong when we came home for Christmas one year and my usually organized mother had not sorted or wrapped the huge array of gifts that was the hallmark of the Matson Christmas. I was left with the uncomfortable task of selecting and wrapping the presents for my four siblings and their spouses. Walking alone with my father, I asked what was wrong with mom. “Alzheimer’s Dementia” was his reply. That was the beginning of a 15-year decline that has left my mother unable to walk, care for herself, or recognize her husband and children. In the midst of this daily decline, I have looked for ways to move forward in a positive direction.

Loss takes many forms in our lives, which can include the loss of roles. During the last six years, three of my five children have left home. In fact, in three years, it will just be Terry and I … alone! In the midst of my greatest treasures leaving home, I have looked for ways to move on with an optimistic attitude.

This has been a process. Understanding my gifts, abilities, and passions, as well as understanding who God is (and a belief that He has something for me in any situation) isn't automatic. I now understand that I cannot impart to others what I do not possess myself. I cannot ask my children to accomplish their dreams, to grow spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally if I am not willing to take the steps myself. So, after many years away from school, I returned to Ohio State and completed a degree in Landscape Architecture. I was also awarded a fellowship to complete my Master’s degree. Accomplishing this long awaited goal has been healing, positive, and energizing...but I had to move forward from where I was with my life.

Moving forward may depend on which "category" you're in though. I see two types of women (yes, all women everywhere fit into only two categories). This simplistic thinking helps my finite brain understand some reasons that we do not move forward. My categories are “Dreamers” and “Pragmatists.”

The Dreamers are very content to live in the thinking realm. Planning, inventing, and creating are easy for these women. Visualizing dreams is easy. The dreams may even be fantastic! The problem with the dreamers is that they are not actually moving! The dreamers need to commit to the goal and do the work. You may be a dreamer if you can invite someone (preferably another dreamer) into your garden and, even though it may be filled with weeds, what is important is the design and layout of the garden, the color, height, and smell of the plants. You are showing them the “potential,” the dream!

The Pragmatists are women who can actually find their “to do” lists and consistently complete tasks. They are the practical doers. The problem with the pragmatists is that their goals may be too small. The dream must be bigger. You are moving, but are you moving forward? If the goal is something you could accomplish without God’s help, then the dream is too small. The pragmatists need to expand the dream. You may be a pragmatist if you can’t see the beauty of the garden for the weeds!

The reasons we fail to move forward in both cases are fear and unbelief. Fear of failure. (What is the worst that could happen if you actually tried?) Fear of not being perfect. Fear of success! (What if God did answer our prayers!) That may be the most frightening of all! We need to learn from one another. I need help “doing,” but you may need help “dreaming.”

One of the first miracles that Jesus did was to turn water into wine. The headwaiter remarked to the bridegroom, "Every man serves the good wine first, and when men have drunk freely, then that which is poorer; you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus intervenes and serves the best wine at an unexpected moment. I have taken this as a metaphor for my life. I hope I am the "good wine kept until now." The best part of my life has been saved until this moment. We all have pain, loss, and regret. If we were God, we would adjust circumstances differently, but God is in control and has a different plan.

So be at ease, He will accomplish what concerns you. The future is very bright...but you need to move forward to get to it.

Your sisters in the struggle to move forward,

Carol Young and Sandy Hopler

 Dear Sisters,

Now that we have all spent the summer “making memories,” what do we do with all the pictures we’ve had developed from those wonderful times with friends and family? Linda Charlton is an expert in the area of scrapbooking. Let her inspire you, through her article this month, to preserve and share the fun in albums. Enjoy!

Love,

Sandy

Preserving the Memories

by Linda Charlton, Darby Creek Community Church

Sandy Hopler knows I like to scrapbook. I can't tell you how excited I was when she asked if I would be interested in sharing some thoughts about preserving memories. Would I ever!

Today was my 40th birthday, and the day has been well documented with photographs. Of course, any photo will not be treasured as much, or as long, if I forget why I took it--like the one of my kids on a bench outside of Bob Evans (because they looked so cute), or if our zoo photos aren't all together with a date and a note, or if I don't write down how I really felt about having a sign in my yard announcing, "Lordy, Lordy, Linda's 40!" (I thought it was great!). Recording each moment is fun, but if we preserve it, then the memory will last even longer.

We all love to get our pictures developed, and then share them with others, but too often these wonderful memories end up in a box and forgotten! But if we take the time to put our photos into an album, where there's room to write about them, then not only can we share our memories, but they're preserved to enjoy over and over again!

As a Creative Memories Consultant (I teach classes and sell supplies), I know photographs are best safeguarded in a well-made album, with an appropriate adhesive, and a pen created to be waterproof, fade proof, and not harmful to your photos. That's really all you need! You can keep an album as simple as you like, or you can spend time decorating with colored papers, pens, and stickers. What's important is that your pictures are safe in an album, someone has written down a few facts about the photos, and perhaps shared their feelings about them. I've heard so many positive things from women whose families have benefited from their scrapbooks.

Getting started seems overwhelming, but try starting with a small project like a vacation, a mission trip, or some current pictures where you remember the details (plus, they're the ones you’re most excited about right now). Then, you can go back and sort through the backlog as you become more comfortable with how easy and fun it is. When I pick up my photos, I file the ones I want to keep in a little photo-file Creative Memories offers. There's a section for each one of my kids. I sort out the ones that pertain just to them (like a sport or class they did), and the rest go in the family category. Each one of the kids has their own album for their own activities too. I add a group family photo occasionally. I try—although it’s hard—to throw away the bad or blurry photos. If I have several shots of the same moment, like someone blowing out the candles on a cake, I pick the best one to go into an album. All of my leftovers or extra doubles are stored in a photo box that I got at Wal-Mart. They are used for school projects or gift albums later.

We all know how quickly we forget the details of an event (I can't even remember the names of two people in a picture I ate dinner with on Mother's Day!). Many of us have seen old photos of relatives discarded because no one remembers the names of the people or any stories about their lives. Who were they and what was important to them? Our photographs will share that same fate, but not if we label them now and write the stories that our loved ones will treasure in the future.

I enjoyed all the fun ideas from last month's newsletter and hope to try them with our kids-- I'd also like my kids to remember we did them! And scrapbooking is a great way to remind my family how important they are to me. It's also a super way to get the most for your money by reliving the fun times over and over!

We can also leave a legacy in a scrapbook. I hope my children will see God's faithfulness and mercy as I document how He's blessed us. One of my scrapbooks holds photos of myself with no hair. The caption says, "Bad Hair Day," but I go on to tell about my chemotherapy for breast cancer. I was eight months pregnant when I was diagnosed with stage 3 or 4 breast cancer. I was able to record the many "Blessings in the Storm" that occurred at that time. Our son, Alex turns nine next month, and he can read about how he is one of those blessings.

But I think my favorite thing about scrapbooking, (besides getting together with friends to work on albums) is capturing the fun times our family shares. It helps keep my eyes on what's true, lovely, and pure. I can promote what I value. I don't take pictures of dirty laundry, sibling rivalry, or disrespectfulness. Carol Young mentioned how looking at old photos can soften her heart on a trying day with the kids.

So, I encourage you to find some friends, new or old, (this has been a great way for me to meet, and get to know, unbelievers) and get started placing your treasured memories into an album. Write down your stories to share with your family and friends, and enjoy them for years to come!

 Dear Sisters,

When my husband and I moved to our home 15 years ago, our well went dry the first day. The “well guy” assured us after inspection that our well was probably no good, would no longer produce water, and we should consider putting huge tanks in our basement to storehouse our water supply. I found this pretty upsetting. John found it ridiculous, and quickly got the guy out of the house. Then I got a lesson from my husband in “running away from the doubt-pushers.” He hired a man from the area who knew our well, who quickly cleaned the shale build-up, and we’ve had a great well ever since!

I share this story because Jana Graber’s article about staying positive in a negative world reminded me of those events. Jana urges us to focus on trusting the Father and His reward as we serve God, instead of “responding to the circumstances of life with an ‘oh, no’ attitude.” Jesus alone is our strength and refuge!

Trusting Him,

Sandy

Staying Positive In a Negative World

by Jana Graber, New Life Community Church

There are so many negative forces in our lives. The TV news is a great example. I'm often amazed at how people can watch the news, and then go to bed expecting to sleep peacefully! Let's face it, bad news is what gets people excited. That's what will cause people to tune in. It creates sensationalism.

But what effect does it have on our lives to be continually inundated with stories of murder, rape, and war? The verse I often think about is Matthew 24:12 "And because lawlessness is increased, most peoples' love will grow cold." After listening to such reports don't you want to hide in your house, pull down your shades, and lock the doors? God wants us to be reaching out, getting involved in peoples' lives, having a positive influence on the world around us. We need to immerse ourselves with input that will keep us moving in that direction.

Being a mother can also put us into a negative situation. Between whining two-year-olds and grumbling teenagers, we can find our spirits bogged down. It takes such faith to be a mother, and the rewards are often years away.

There are also accusatory and belittling people in the world. These people are so empty on the inside that they have to put others down in order to build themselves up. The effect is that we feel like dirt when we are in their presence. Scripture makes it so clear as to where these attitudes come from. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. We must never allow his accusations to determine how we view ourselves.

Another source of negativity may be from within ourselves. As a college student it seemed that grumbling about the dorm food was a way of life. And the weather - it’s too hot, too cold, too rainy, or too dry. I am deeply convicted about how often I respond to the circumstances of life with an "Oh, no" attitude. When we truly believe that God is the Blessed Controller of all things, we can respond to the spilled orange juice, the lost glasses, and the broken down air conditioner without a grumbly heart.

As I read through the Gospels, I am amazed at the positive spirit Jesus continually possessed when He walked on this earth. He was able to look at people, see their potential, and know they could accomplish great things. He said to Simon and Andrew, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Mark 1:7) What a challenge for me as I view the weaknesses of my children, or am disappointed by the people around me once again.

A verse we often use to keep our children in line is I Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good morals.'" Why do we apply this verse to our children and not to ourselves? Even in the context Paul was speaking to adult believers. We are so affected by the people we associate with. Even Jesus felt this effect. In Mark 6, He could do only a few miracles because He was surrounded by the unbelief of the people of His hometown. In Mark 5, He refused to even attempt to heal Jairus' daughter until He had gotten rid of the mockers and scoffers. It is so essential that we associate with people who believe in us and have a "Can Do" attitude, if we are to accomplish what God has planned for us.

In John 1:46, we see Philip finding fault with Jesus - He was from the wrong side of the tracks. How did Jesus respond? Did He see a man with a critical nature? No, He saw a man who had no guile. Every negative character we possess has a positive counterpart. This bit of information has the power to transform the way we look at our children and the other people in our lives. We can partner with God in His work of sanctification as we exercise faith in His ability to change people from glory to glory.

In John 12 we see Jesus well aware that the chief priests and pharisees are trying to take His life. What does Jesus do? He goes to Bethany. This is His place of refuge on this earth. He has friends there who love Him and who will meet all His needs - physical, emotional, and spiritual. Who is a refuge for you, and to whom are you providing a refuge? Life is tough. We all need a place where we can flee for support against the storms of life.

In John 13 we see Jesus facing eminent death - not a peaceful death where He would slip away to eternity in His sleep. His death would be agonizing in every way, and He knew it. What is Jesus' last act before He leaves this earth? Surely if there's a time someone is allowed to be selfish and complain or be mean and lash out, it's when he's dying. But Jesus decided to become the lowliest of servants and wash His disciples' feet. What made Him able to keep on giving to the very end? He focused on the reward. He knew He would be rich in Heaven. Soon all the splendor and glory and power that belongs to the Father would be in His hands again.

May God grant you grace to keep your eyes on the prize and walk above the circumstances of life.

 Dear Sisters,

The planned theme of this month’s newsletter was making summer memories with your family – you know, the things you do for fun, relaxation, and family bonding during the slower paced months of summer. As we talked with women and solicited ideas for the newsletter, it became apparent that this is a challenge for many families. Between families with preschool children for whom the summer brings no respite in schedule, large families who are busy with many activities, and the “average” pastor’s family who is heavily involved in the ministry of the local church, devoting time and energy to “fun” in not necessarily a high priority. Depending on your personality, the need for fun as a way to “recharge your batteries” may be at any point on a range of “absolutely essential” to “nonessential.” But nearly all of us want to develop closer ties and take advantage of the spiritual and relational opportunities that family fellowship presents.

So, we’ve included ideas on ways to have family fellowship, whether your style is adventure, low-key times together, or simply being busy as a family like Danelle Nelson’s family. The important thing to remember is that we are all at different stages of life with our families, and different points in our spiritual journey. Beware comparing your summer ambitions with others! The Devil would like nothing better than to trip us up in focusing on our faults and ourselves. Let’s humbly learn from one another and see our summer as a chance to enjoy our family as He intended.

For His glory,

Sandy Hopler and Carol Young

Family Fellowship

Amy Drage, Columbia, MO:

We go to lots of fun places each summer because of my husband’s job with LT. One favorite summer event is hiking the mountains in Colorado. We invite a few others, take lots of water, and head out for the morning. Not only do we bring back beautiful pictures and memories, but we also get lots of talking done along the way.

Another great memory-builder is when Dad takes the kids backpacking. John takes one of them each Friday with their gear on their backs. They hike for about an hour and then set up camp, have a great meal, and lots of fun together. The children who didn’t go backpacking get to go to garage sales with me on Saturday mornings. They love that also, especially when we find some unusual gadget that they can make into something new and inventive.

This summer we’re taking time after breakfast to work on memorizing Psalm 139. The kids are especially good at memorizing because they’re so young. It’s beautiful to hear young children quote chapters from the Bible. Even four year olds can memorize long sections. It’s a real bonding time for our family.

The kids also enjoy the library’s summer reading program. They have fun prizes that motivate the children to read on their own, or to the other children. It motivates all of us to read more and spend more time at the library.

Christine Custer, Clemson, South Carolina:

Our family has a tradition of "switch bed night" on Friday evenings. The children may sleep in someone else's bed, on the couch, or in a sleeping bag somewhere in the house. This is especially fun on warm summer days when they can set up the tent or place their sleeping bags on the deck or screened-in porch.

The brightness of summer evenings often makes it difficult for the children to calm down before bed. These evenings are a perfect time to read a classic aloud. My all-time favorite is "Anne of Green Gables" because it is so descriptive. The "Little House on the Prairie" series are also great read aloud books too.

You might try learning sign language. Check out a sign language video tape from the library and learn together.

Simple paper-mache’ piñatas are fairly easy to make and require a number of days to complete—a perfect summer project! One year each child made and painted a globe piñata (formed around an inflated balloon) and we saved them for their next birthday party.

Have a mini progressive dinner with one other family. One family hosts the meal at their house and the other family hosts dessert and entertainment/games at their house.

Or make sock or paper bag puppets. Have puppet shows acting out original plays or familiar stories.

Kelly Lewis, Lewis Center, Ohio

When my kids were younger, I found that they did better if they had a little structure to their days. I would make a long list with creative things to do for when they got bored. For example, have a lemonade stand, build a tent with blankets in the basement, make a movie with the video camera, do a puppet show, run through the sprinkler, etc. I think sometimes they get restless and just need a jumpstart to spark their imagination. They would refer to it often. Also, I would have fun incentives for them. I would make lists of goals they could accomplish such as doing 25 sit ups, memorizing verses, doing a special chore, working on multiplication facts, etc. They would earn points for each thing they achieved and then get prizes.

I’ve also done "scavenger hunt lunches." I write clues and hide parts of their lunches around the house and send them to find them all.

With our older kids, we have "DB's" - discipleship breakfasts. I'll take them out one at a time, we'll get into the Word, pick out an area they can be working on, find out what I can be praying for them, ask them if there's anything bugging them that they’d like to talk about, etc.

In general, we try to keep our schedule light so we can kick back and enjoy each other.

Carol Young, Clemson, South Carolina

Because of the distance from our relatives, long car trips have been part of our children’s lives as long as they can remember. When they were younger, they received several surprises on the 10-hour drives. The items were inexpensive (often from yard sales) and passed the time well. Some items were flannel design sets, chenille stems (sold in craft stores and can be bent and twisted into jewelry, cages, and all sorts of things), vinyl cling sets, storybooks, travel versions of games, Polly Pockets, long-lasting candies (think Sugar Daddy suckers!), and Magic Slates. As the kids got older, they enjoyed Mad-Lib books, Adventure in Odyssey tapes, cartoon books, I SPY books, card games, and having their own “theater-size” box of candy to trade with the others.

Quick ideas: hide peanuts in the shell throughout the yard for a peanut hunt; eat lunch under a tree, by a pond, or anywhere other than your kitchen table, or serve a huge strawberry shortcake as the main course for dinner.

Try something different for your family. Go to a rodeo, tour a cave, try canoeing, watch a touring dance troupe or choir from another country, rent a speed boat, go to an observatory or planetarium, attend a college or professional sporting event, participate in events or festivals sponsored by internationals, or go horseback riding.

Family Fun magazine is a great resource for games, crafts, recipes, and activities.

Remember to acknowledge your children’s growing maturity with activities that entrust responsibility too. Set the ground rules and give proper instruction, then let them light a wood fire to cook over, use real tools, create their own recipes, whittle with their own pocketknife, use real bow and arrows, or help them start a business.

Danelle Nelson, Woodstock, Georgia

I received a call last night from Carol Young asking me to write about the fun, relaxing things we do in the summer. Knowing our busy family, I was pretty sure she had the wrong number, but I promised I’d give it a shot!

Our day began with Matthew, our 19-year old son, packing his lunch for work. (He works for his brother Scott’s painting company in the summers to pay for school, 12 hour days, six days a week.) Stephanie, our l7 year old was also leaving early for work. Steve was leaving to put some finishing touches on his message for Sunday, the missions conference coming up next week, and plans for the Ukraine missions trip in July.

Julie, our 21-year-old daughter, is getting married June 28th in our backyard and since we made Whitney’s dress last year for her wedding, it has become a tradition in our family to sew the wedding dress. So Whitney, Julie, and I sewed and ripped apart and laughed and had a ball. In the meantime, Grace (15) and Merry (13) were mowing the lawn, cleaning the house, and trying on their dresses for alterations. Later in the afternoon the girls worked on the favors for the shower Whitney and my good friend Joanne were holding for Julie. Julie was doing wedding things while I was on the phone trying to set up a time for the girls to sell donuts in front of Wal-Mart to make money to go to Ukraine. Whew! Some “fun” day!

That evening the girls went on a shopping trip together and I sat down to write this article about how fun and relaxing our summers are—yeah, right! I couldn’t help but sit there and laugh! Try as I might, I’m afraid it simply isn’t who we are. Most days are just like this one. That’s not to say I don’t think we need to work on this, but it gets much harder to do when the kids are older, have jobs, and get married. The truth is we do a lot together – and in many ways there is nothing more relaxing and more fulfilling than working side by side together. Fun is sometimes all about our attitude and not “doing” events.

 Dear Sisters,

We women tend to evaluate ourselves way too much. Especially in America, it’s all about looking good---and we’re checking out the magazines and the malls. We’re relational---and then worry whether our friends truly accept us. On the job, we wonder if our work measures up with the boss. Throw motherhood into this mix, and a woman finds herself asking, “And how in the world do I know if I’m being a good mother?” This month Carol Young takes a look at evaluating our mothering. What criteria should we use to determine if we are raising our children in a way that honors God?

Carol speaks to us about comparing ourselves---not to other women, not to the world’s standards, but to Jesus Christ’s wonderful life. (This is a great relief to me personally, because I have a friend who was Mother of the Year in her Ohio county!) We can mother only as well as we are filled with God’s Spirit, and following Him! I pray we all look to Him for our standard.

In Him,

Sandy

The Rating Game

by Carol Young, Clemson Community Church

Every Mother’s Day, we focus on the work and contribution of mothers, but most of us who are mothers examine our efforts on a much more frequent basis. How many times have you and I asked ourselves the ambiguous question, “Am I a good mother?” The laughable part is that I personally have little idea of what the proverbial “good mother” is supposed to be! Ask anyone about their concept of a good mother and you will get a wide variety of answers. One of the most widespread images is of a smiling mother (who, of course, never raises her voice) handing out freshly baked cookies. Please, tell me that God has a more meaningful intent than for me to calmly distribute discs of fat and sugar-laden chocolate!

Those of us who are Christians understand that children are a gift from the Lord. We have a general idea that we want our children to love and serve God, and that we have a role of great influence towards that end. It is completely understandable that we wish for some criteria to tell us if we are doing the job in a way that honors God.

In seeking a method of evaluation, I’ve tried several ways to judge my performance as a mother. Some of the criteria by which I’ve gauged myself include the “how my mother raised me,” the “how other mothers in my church raise children,” and the “how Dr. James Dobson suggests” yardsticks. These have all been helpful and stimulating to my thinking. But, while thinking, I’ve also discovered that there is a drawback. The danger is that it all deteriorates into seeking a formula to make good children! The reality is that I have a stewardship to raise an individual human being made in the likeness of God, not a prize pig for the county fair.

I’ve also used comparison as a method of evaluation, both consciously and unconsciously. Do my children seem as polite, smart, healthy, self-controlled, generous, or _________ (insert your favorite) as the children next door or the children at church? Comparison is one of the favorite foibles of women and it brings many a woe. Woe to my children if they do not measure up, because now I will apply pressure to bring them up to par. Woe to me if my children seem “better” in comparison, because that encourages smugness in my life – one of the last things I need more of!

In my search for some sort of standard for mothers, I’ve concluded that what I really need is a bigger perspective and a better question. Being someone’s mother is not the sum total of my life – being Christ’s child is! So, considering all the facets of my life, what does Jesus want my life to look like?

Like Him! He desires that “Christ be completely and permanently formed” in me (Gal. 4:19) because “He is the exact representation of His (Father’s) nature” (Hebrews 1:3). It’s not about the job I’m doing as a mom; it’s about responding to the process that God is using to form Christ within me. This bigger perspective releases me from congratulating myself or condemning myself based on my child’s behavior. This is so important when the hard times come. When a child is really troubled, how can you minister to their need if you are blaming yourself or shutting down over what a failure you are as a mother? Instead, we can put our ego aside, tough as that is, and seek to represent Christ to our children, because their ups and downs are also part of God’s process for us.

This bigger perspective also leads us to a better question, such as, “In the role of motherhood, how am I doing at becoming like Christ and representing Him to my children?” Unlike the vague question about being a good mother, this question helps me determine if I’ve been sarcastic and need to seek forgiveness, if my own cold heart towards God is showing up as callousness toward a child’s needs, or if anger and embarrassment created punishment without regard for restoration. It helps me ask further questions, such as, “Have I delayed answering the voice of God’s Spirit about a need or sin in my child’s life?” or “Do I habitually give my “best” energy to tasks or other people and give my children the crumbs?” Though the answers to these questions are sometimes uncomfortable, they afford me the opportunity to redeem my actions through confession and forgiveness. Then I can move forward in a better direction.

Maintaining a bigger perspective on mothering is a learning process. There are many distractions along the way, and I only succeed a fraction of the time. Still, it’s been a joy to cast off the folly of the false measures of motherhood and focus on representing the nature of Christ to my children.

 Dear Sisters,

Ever wondered if those sweet moments with your children had any lasting effect for eternity? I found out recently that “making memories” could be as simple and inexpensive as looking at the night sky with a little girl in a nightgown. My daughter wrote the following article for a Relevant Books devotional. Her father and I wanted to share it with you this month. We pray it will help all of us, especially in this time of war, to remember God’s unending grace.

Love,

Sandy

Seeing Grace

by Faith Hopler

Grace is like the tree growing in the center of the house of faith: often walked around, talked around, built around, but never examined very closely. This attribute of God holds us up; without it we would collapse. We use the word flippantly; it’s the coin of the Kingdom. But what is grace? We see its astounding effect in the very possibility of a relationship with God. But what is at the heart of grace itself? When I attempt to answer this question, a memory comes to mind.

The memory is of sneaking out of bed as a four year old. Bedtime was a power game I played against my parents. I wielded the usual bag of tricks: the bathroom, a glass of water, sudden insomnia. Once these failed, and after my younger brother was asleep in the bunk below, I'd move with commando care to my door and crack it. If the hallway was clear, I'd hide behind the couch, listening to my parents talk. Sometimes I'd hear my parents’ firm tread down the hall, and I'd fling myself back into bed – feigning innocent sleep. The thrill of the game was to not get caught, to get away with something without my parents knowing.

One summer night I stole out of bed, restless. I crept across the room and slowly cracked the door. I froze. My mother was standing with her hand on the doorknob. I was caught! But she looked down at me and said, “I was just coming to get you up!” She took my hand, and we went out in our pajamas and bare feet to our tiny front stoop. We ate raisins out of a bowl while the moon rose and pointed out the stars poking through the sky. I don’t remember what we talked about, but I remember the sliver of light under my door, the shadows in the hall, and the cotton breeze of a summer night winding the shawl of grace tightly around my mother and me. I could scarcely think for happiness.

My poignant memory is of my mother simply wanting to spend time with me, her willfully disobedient little girl. In such a way, the grace of God comes to us as we stand – caught like a child – pushing the limits of His forbearance. He simply says, “Do you want to sit with Me? I'll show you beautiful things.”

Used with permission from Deeper Walk: A Relevant Devotional Series © 2003 Relevant Books

 Dear Sisters,

Remember the song around our churches years ago called "Walking With Jesus?" To a jaunty tune we sang, "...there is no greater thrill, than walking in His will!" Coming to Christ as a twenty-year-old, I had my fair share of pursuing my own will and setting my own schedule. What a pleasure to believe once and for all that Jesus had His own plan and desires for my life!

As ministry wives, though, we are frequently in the role of following and supporting our husbands, besides all the other responsibilities we each have. Shall we view the "interruptions" that come our way as unnecessary and annoying, or as Pam Dickman says, “His divine plan?” Let's imitate Jesus in Mark 1, Who met each call with a "yes" spirit.

United with you,

Sandy Hopler

Interruptions

By Pam Dickman, GracePoint Community Church, Lewis Center, Ohio

As is true for most of you, my calendar is packed. Between homeschooling my children, leading various ministries, working part-time, maintaining a somewhat organized home, and being a wife and mom, there are few spare minutes in my day. I normally have a handle on my schedule, though, and I enjoy this pace of life. However, there are times when I am interrupted and distracted from the planned routine. My inclination is to ignore the interruption and continue with the original plan, but God has been showing me how sometimes the perceived interruption is actually His divine plan.

In my past year, I have experienced two major interruptions in my life. The first occurred last summer. My husband and I lead our youth ministry, and Terry Bartley approached us about working with five summer interns. The program would be one month long and would require us to spend six nights a week with the interns and our youth. It was a huge time commitment on our end, and it came at a time of year when I looked forward to relaxing with my four children and my husband. Our lives were already very full with ministry duties, and we just couldn't imagine adding this to our responsibilities. Yet, somehow, we felt God tugging our hearts and agreed to participate.

The second interruption came about four months later as I sat at our small group Bible study. A young mother called the house to see if anyone could help by babysitting her children the next day while she went to work. The daycare was closed on weekends, and she was in danger of losing her job if she didn’t go to work. We watched the children the next day and had dinner with the young mother that night. She was raising two very young children on her own and was expecting a third in just a few months. She desperately needed someone to come alongside and help her, but again I wondered, how could we possibly fit this into our already busy schedule? The tug on my heart, though, was undeniable yet again.

I could write chapters on what God has done in my life through both stories. The college interns spent an incredible four weeks with our family. They ate dinner with us almost every night, played with my children, and became a part of our family in a way that I could never have imagined. Their impact on our youth was immeasurable, and one of the interns has just recently returned to work with us on a long-term basis. When that month ended, my heart was torn to pieces as I said goodbye to the five young men and women who had become so dear to us. My original concern had been that they would require too much of my time and energy, and by the time they left, all I could think of was how would I ever manage without them in my life. We had worried that our children would feel neglected during that month, but instead, our children gained five older siblings who loved them more than we could ever have imagined.

The young mother has since become a younger sister to me. My children love her children, and our families spend many evenings together. She has been a support to me as much, if not more, than I have been to her. She helped see me through the death of my grandfather and allowed me to accompany her during the birth of her third child. God has truly blessed me with this young woman.

Jesus knew the value of allowing the schedule to be interrupted. Some of His most powerful ministry took place in the midst of a completely different plan. As He sat teaching in a home in Capernaum, a paralyzed man was lowered through the roof by his friends. Most of us would consider it a major interruption to have someone come crashing down through the roof during the sermon, but not Jesus. I think He understood that the interruption was really what God had planned for His calendar that day.

Shortly after this, He was on His way to heal Jairus' daughter. She is dying, and time was of the essence. As He travels to her house, a woman who had been bleeding for years touches his robe and is healed. Jesus could have kept going, but instead he stops and asks who touched Him. He takes the time to point her out and commend her for her faith. In the meantime, Jairus' daughter has already died. If I were in the crowd that day, I would have wondered what Jesus was thinking. Why would He take the time to talk to the bleeding woman? Why would He let her interrupt Him?

I thrive in a world that is organized and planned. My tendency is to drive straight through life according to my mapped out schedule and to avoid the speed bumps and detour signs. God is showing me that His map does not look the same as mine. Sometimes the detours have scenery that the original roads would not have contained. When Jesus called the disciples, He did not provide a road map. He just said, "Follow me." As a result of their obedience, they saw firsthand who He was and they knew Him in a way that I can't imagine. I want to know Him that way, and so I am learning to look forward to the interruptions God will bring into my life. I am excited to see what surprises He might have for me in the future, and I just ask Him to help me be sensitive to His Spirit so I don't miss the detour signs!

Dear Sisters,

The images that Beth Sebek brings to my mind this month about running rivers is far from the picture that mid-Ohio nature is presenting to me. We woke up to an extra inch of snow this morning. But instead of frozen ponds, Beth is speaking of the moving river of our lives, and having a faith and love that travel the river safely. Not that our journey is without plunges, whirlpools, or stagnant water! She shares how God's faithfulness and love keep us on our way, true to the end.

May our loves and marriages stay strong through Christ, for His glory. As Beth says, "May our love be the lasting kind."

Enduring Love

by Beth Sebek, Oak Ridge Community Church

On November 30th, my brothers and I threw a party to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of our parents, Herschel and Mardean Martindale. Family and friends came to help enjoy the time with us as Big Band music played softly in the background. The original wedding dress was displayed with care. Mom and Dad cut a wedding cake, like they had so many years before. We laughed and cried watching a slide show of their lives. My brothers did a skit that made us laugh, and we had Mom and Dad tell stories with cue cards and props. Dad surprised Mom by reading a tribute to her that he wrote. They proudly introduced their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The granddaughters sang a song from their wedding. I presented to them a memory book made from the contribution of many people’s letters, cards, love and time. My brother led us in singing, “Thou art Worthy” at the end, which was wonderful. We had such a fun time doing this! Yeah, it was pretty much perfect! As I reflect on that day, I think about what makes a kind of love that “goes the distance” for 50 years or longer?

“Enduring” love is the term that comes to mind. What does “enduring” mean anyway? Is it “lasting”? Does it “weather the storms”? “Withstand the tests of time?” “Refuses to give up or run away?” Webster’s dictionary defines enduring as “lasting and durable”. “Endurance,” is described as “the ability to withstand hardship, adversity, or stress.” Enduring love may be many things, but above all, it is “lasting” and “goes the distance”.

When we first marry, love is hearts and flowers, romance, excitement and perfect bliss. Then we go deeper in our relationship and start to notice imperfections (mostly theirs!). That’s when we start learning to love in a deeper way, an “in spite of” and durable kind of love that is forged by the fires of life. That is the kind of love that I want to have: lasting, patient, kind, not easily offended, not giving up, doesn’t withdraw….pretty much a I Cor. 13 kind of love. Unfortunately, the reality is that I can easily be offended, impatient, withdrawn, have unrealistic expectations and give up. So, how do I develop this “enduring” love??

God seems to use life situations to build this kind of love. In my life, it seems like God takes me through different stages. I like to think of a river and its stages. There are the tranquil, quiet waters where things are pretty easy to deal with. Life is good. Enjoy the moments!

Then there’s the rushing, dancing, rippling, active waters when we are busy with all that a marriage and family are about. There are daily challenges, testing, and stretching. This is where we spend a lot of our time. Many wonderful things are learned here. It’s the daily learning of disciplines and developing in the fruits of the Spirit.

But beware the deep currents and foaming swift waters, with large sharp rocks. These threaten to rip you and your boat apart. It’s scary, hard, and can be dangerous. I think if we had our choice we would all stay away from these places. Unfortunately, life seems to bring them to us. In the movie, “Steel Magnolias”, one of the women remarks, “What does not destroy us, makes us stronger.” The deep currents of life can make you stronger and show you what your boat is made of.

We learn God’s kind of love the more we see and experience His love for us. I love the phrase in Ps. 136, “His faithful love endures forever.” King David exalts the Lord and gives thanks. He says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of Gods. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever.” (Ps. 136:1,2,4).

I rephrased this for my own encouragement in learning to love like God loves:

When I lose my cool with my kids (yes, I admit it) … God’s faithful love endures forever.

When I don’t have the right attitude (I’m a work in progress)…God’s faithful love endures forever.

When I have hot flashes and get cranky (my husband can attest to this)…God’s faithful love endures forever.

When I do things in my own strength and forget His grace is available…God’s faithful love endures forever.

When I’m not very loving to my husband…God’s faithful love endures forever.

When I don’t want to “grow” anymore….God’s patient, faithful love endures forever.

When I’m too tired to care about anyone else… God’s faithful love endures forever.

God’s love is supernatural, not natural like ours. As I experience God’s kind of love for me when I’m not very lovable, I learn to give “enduring” love to my husband, my family, and others.

George and I have been on our love journey for nearly 30 years. We’ve had some of the quiet waters, a lot of the rushing, learning every day kind of waters, and come through some of the really “hard” kind of waters. It’s worth the journey. I want our love to be enduring and lasting. May your love be the lasting, just keeps getting better, kind of love.

Trish Schlichte’s letter to us this month carries the messages we all need to remember in our daily battles of faith. They include the importance of being fed by the pure milk of the Word; of our need for prayer and reliance upon God; and of just plain not giving up or quitting. Trish’s lessons came in the context of many years of caring for her brain-damaged son, Kevin, and then dealing with his death last year. She has come to us through these experiences sharing her knowledge and conviction that God is good and loving.

I’m so thankful to hear that Trish was so comforted by the Lord as He was making Himself known to her, even in such painful times. What an encouragement to our faith! My New Year’s prayer for you all is that your 2003 will bring you to the same conclusion, ultimately, that God is faithful, loving, and true.

Dear Ladies,

Oct. 21, 2002, was the year anniversary of our son Kevin’s death. Kevin was 14 and had been seriously brain damaged at age 13 months. The last year of his life he gained 30lbs., got boy strong, had too many seizures, started to rage (hit and scream) and didn’t sleep. His care was 24-7, with a need to have him visible every two minutes. I would like to share some thoughts that gave me stability that last year.

In caring for Kevin I often felt abused by God. God was the only one who could change my circumstances and He seemed unresponsive. In my heart I knew this was “stinking thinking”, and totally based on my feelings. A friend shared her “Take Ten” method of getting in the Word, daily reading and meditation of 5-10 verses. After reading through the Bible for years, I decided to start this simple plan. The Word continually reminded me of God’s character, not my circumstances. He can only do good and often gets blamed for what Satan does. Job 1:22 declares, “ In all this Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly.” No matter what my life was to become, I didn’t want to accuse God, and blame Him foolishly. This verse became a goal.

Over time, I could hardly pray about Kevin, and that is why I needed you all to pray. When I would pray about him, I would often cry because his care was so overwhelmingly depressing. The constant reality of being on duty at all times, along with fatigue, caused me to want to crawl in bed and stay there. Unlike prayer, reading was something I could do without getting down. My Bible exposed me to God’s plans, verse by verse. Psalm 139:16 became my theme. “Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before they ever took shape, when as yet there was none of them.” Nothing about my life was a surprise to my heavenly Father. My brain-damaged son was a unique puzzle piece, designed perfectly to accomplish His will.

In September, we started to investigate foster care for Kevin. We were tired and also had five other children to consider. This decision was filled with emotion; he would live with and be cared for by someone else. Looking for foster care people for a mean, mentally handicapped, raging adolescent was awful. The possibility of Kevin being abused was high. One day when I felt I was losing my mind, I grabbed my Bible and told God: “You have 30 seconds to encourage me.” I was amazed at what He did! I read Job 19:25-26, “And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God.” Whether I had my skin on, or whether I had my mind or not, God was going to win. This life on earth became less important to me—my life was not my own and this world was not my home. Not knowing that this was Kevin’s last month of life, these verses gave me a joy only God could give. His care didn’t get easier, but it gave me a skip in my step.

Whenever I write about Kevin, I still get a lump in my throat and some tears. I lost my son but I am healing. I don’t have the last years all figured out, but I have seen my God at work. I am definitely a different person—God has changed me. I am not cynical about God’s love. He isn’t out to press me to insanity—He wants me to grow up. I know He loves me. After 28 years of knowing Him, this is good to know. My Bible has become a treasure chest. Now, God’s word isn’t a duty, but my very life. This journey of life is more like an adventure—watching God take negative situations and turn them into good.

Don’t quit,

Trish Schlichte

Remembering Dee Williams

A very dear fellow pastors’ wife has lost her battle with cancer and gained her heavenly home with Jesus Christ. As a believer, close your eyes for a moment and imagine what it must be like to shed this body of pain and world of sin and enter into the presence of the Lord, and the presence of believers who have been transformed into the likeness of His glory.

Now, as a woman, close your eyes and imagine the family and friends who will never again experience, in this life, the presence of this dearly loved woman. This is the double bind of joy and sorrow that physical death brings to the church. Even while we long for heaven ourselves, we still grieve the loss of the foretaste of heaven this godly woman brought to those around her.

Dee passed on to heaven on January 4th, leaving behind her husband, Jonathan, two sons, Nathan and his wife, Gretchen, and David and his wife, Sarah, and a daughter, Ginny, 16. The Williams have ministered in Great Commission churches in Kansas City, Northern Virginia, and most recently in San Antonio, Texas.

Dee was a wonderful woman who actively served in the church. She was devoted to Jonathan, not only as a wife but also as a fellow worker in the gospel. Her place in Jonathan’s life is well summarized by the name of her former business Jonathan’s Crown. In addition, she was a godly mother whose children are pursuing Jesus Christ and His mission on this earth. Dee left a legacy among friends, also, touching lives across the country. She had a great capacity to connect with others in an empathetic and supportive way that made her a close friend to many. Gayle Honeycutt recalls the time when she was caring for her dying father and Dee called her every day for six weeks, extending her kind and caring compassion. Many others recall examples of Dee’s service to them in times of need.

Please pray for the Williams and if you wish to make a donation to the family to help with medical costs, you can do so by making checks payable to Grace Community Church with "Jonathan Williams" in the memo. The church address is 701 Kitty Hawk Rd. in Universal City, TX 78148. The phone number is 210-659-8200.

United with you for His kingdom,

Carol Young and Sandy Hopler

Dear Sisters,

As this Christmas season is fast approaching, John and I decided how to divide up our preparations and shopping for the family celebrations. He happily attacks the addressing and mailing of letters and cards every year, while I really do enjoy tackling the shopping lists and marching around patiently from store to store. However, this year we’ll see a change in plans. I had surgery on both feet within the span of six weeks, and will not be doing any “marching” for some weeks yet. Now I guess I could have had all the Christmas shopping finished already, ahead of time, but I like doing it in December. The difference is in the music, in hearing the Christmas carols played.

Kelly Lewis shares some thoughts with us this month about the beautiful Christmas carols and hymns we hum and sing the season long. Do I truly take to heart the meaning of their words? Kelly advises us to “obey” what we sing! Her article has reminded me once again of the joy of knowing the One who was born to die, that we might live. God’s grace and blessing on you all this season!

In His love,

Sandy

Those Old Familiar Carols

by Kelly Lewis, Grace Point Community Church, Lewis Center, Ohio

I was excited when Sandy and Carol asked me to write for the newsletter this month, because it gives me the opportunity to reflect on my favorite time of year. Christmas is a big deal around the Lewis home. We use the four weeks of Advent to really focus on the Savior. It becomes a month long celebration of Jesus through family devotions, festive decorations, and thinking of creative gifts of self we can give to Him. It is a time when I feel hopeful, reflective, and joyful.

As I was thinking about things that give meaning to the holiday season, I thought of the words to some Christmas carols. We sing them so often that we can become oblivious to their meaning. I'd like to focus on a few phrases from these songs in hopes that they will bring added depth to our Christmas.

Probably the best loved Christmas hymn is “Silent Night.” Every year I sing the phrase “all is calm” and often I’ve thought, “No, it’s not!” “Calm” doesn’t remotely describe our lives during the chaos of the Christmas season. I’ve often thought that I could find peace if only I had more time or if only I could escape from my stress and activities. But Ephesians 2:14 says “He Himself is our peace.” Peace is found not through escaping, but through bringing God into the midst of our hustle and bustle. We find by praying over all we have on our plate on any given day and asking Him for the grace and help to handle it all.

“Joy to the World” contains the line: “Let every heart prepare Him room.” I want to draw our attention to the word “room.” Is there room in your heart for Jesus this year? The rooms of our heart are going to get booked up during the holidays with parties, shopping, family, financial concerns, and more. Jesus was born in a stable because there was no room at the inn. Will you also have to turn Him away? Preparing room for Jesus means deliberately and consciously setting aside time to remember Who the season is all about and to allow the Lord to fill and renew you.

What jumps out at you from the title “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing”? To me, it’s the word “hark.” It’s simply an emphatic plea to listen. Has the busyness of the season gotten you so distracted that you can no longer hear His voice? Ps. 46:10 says “Be still, and know that I am God.” This seems impossible to me when there’s just so much to get done. But I don’t think the verse is necessarily telling us to stop our activity as much as it is imploring us to slow down and to be aware of God in the middle of whatever we’re doing. Think about Him being the Light of the World as you light candles around your house. Give thanks for what an amazing gift He is to us as you wrap presents. Take time to listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings of whom you can reach out to at church, work, or while running errands.

If you have young children or are around them at all, you’ll most likely hear “Away in a Manger” at least a few times this year. I was recently reading an Advent devotional that highlighted the phrase: “And fit us for heaven to live with Ye there.” That should be our goal this Christmas – that God would mold us and make us ready for the home He’s preparing for us in Heaven. There’s no better gift we can give Him than our pure and devoted desire to love Him and become more like Him. How will you be different as a result of this season? Will you have spent more time in the wonder of His presence. . . developed patience. . .become more giving. . . show love to those around you? Whatever ups and downs come our way this holiday season, we need to pray for the willingness to let God mold and shape our character.

Go on your personal hunt through the Christmas hymns this year. Focus on the words of the carols you sing to discover what God wants to tell you about Himself. May you view them with fresh eyes and an expectant heart. Merry Christmas!

Dear Sisters,

Greetings in the Lord Jesus Christ! This month we offer a second letter from Kristin Hagan about adapting to our husbands. Kristin shares with us her struggles with a critical spirit toward her husband, Mark. Why is her marriage relationship the only one in which she has this temptation? I remember my own wedding-day vows to the Lord to "obey" John as Sarah obeyed Abraham, putting her trust in God. A relative said, "Nice wedding, Sandy, but those vows...!" The Devil and the world have been against my keeping of those vows to honor and adapt to my husband ever since, and they are against Kristin and you doing the same.

Let's remember the true war in which we are all engaged, the war waged in the spiritual heavenlies. Our enemy is against our number one human priority--encouraging our husbands. I pray the Lord's grace for us all to renew our vows daily to be the helpmates He desires us to be, as we put our trust in Him.

In Christ's love,

Sandy

Adapting to My Husband

by Kristin Hagen, Live Oak Church, Austin, TX

I heard a preacher say once that if there is disunity in a marriage, then the wife is not fulfilling her role. At first I was riled about this statement, but as I thought about it, I began to see his point. Simply put, the goal in marriage is unity; the role of the husband is leadership; the role of the wife is submission. The more we as wives can conform and adapt to our husbands, the more united we can become with them.

God calls us as wives to put ourselves under our husbands and adapt to them, just as the Church should put herself under and adapt to Christ (Ephesians 5:22-33), and Christ also put Himself under the Father. Eve was created for Adam as a suitable helper or adaptable ally (English synonyms) (Genesis 2:18). We, as wives, show our reverence for God by how well we adapt to our husbands (I Peter 3:5-6). Webster’s tells us that to adapt is to make fit (as for a specific or new use or situation) often by modification.

God has blessed me with a godly, devoted, and attractive husband. In our 21 years together, he has never shown me anything but kindness and gentleness. We share deep intimacy in our relationship, and I’ve never had a moment’s doubt that he was God’s perfectly chosen husband for me. In spite of all that, one of the areas that I’ve battled the most in my Christian walk is in loving my husband. I’ve not struggled in my relationships with my children or any other believer in this way. Yet, I do love my husband, and I’m committed to be his faithful wife for life.

My difficulty has been showing love, especially verbally, and responding emotionally to his love. I have been surprised to discover as we’ve talked to other couples how many spouses have similar issues. Mark and I are so excited about the insights into our marriage that God has given us, and we both have a great desire to help other couples that may be facing these same trials. Although there are many factors which can affect a wife’s love and desire for her husband, I think that an unwillingness to adapt is a common root problem. It has been for me.

My father was an editor. I guess I’ve inherited an editor’s outlook on life: looking at everything with an eye as to how to make it better. God is helping me become more content with (and grateful for) my perfectionist temperament as I recognize its strengths. One of the weaknesses, however, is being critical – and the person I’ve been the most critical of has been my poor husband!

During an extended time with God, I realized that focusing on my husband’s faults was a way of exalting myself in the relationship. I was convicted by the story in Luke 14:7-11, where guests picked the places of honor at the feast. As I was calling attention to Mark’s weaknesses I was making myself appear superior, thus choosing the place of honor in our relationship. Adapting to my husband means being willing to “take the lowest place” in the relationship, accept his imperfections (as God has accepted mine), and exalt his strengths.

Since I like to pray and I like to write, God has shown me how to use these two strengths to focus on Mark’s many commendable qualities. I have a prayer list with Philippians 4:8 at the top of the page. Under each of the following categories:

Spiritual Gifts and StrengthsHeart, Passions, VisionAbilities and AccomplishmentsPersonalityExternal, Physical Features

I’ve listed all the positive attributes of my husband and thank God consistently for each one. This causes me to have a more appreciative attitude that, in turn, helps me be more inclined to adapt myself to him.

Secondly, I enjoyed writing two “books,” which are for my husband’s eyes only. One is “How I Love Mark from A to Z.” Each page takes a letter of the alphabet and using alliterations, expounds on his good points. I’ll give you a sample from the “M” page – “I meditate on the matchlessly, magnificent merits and manner of my masculine mate, for your merciful mentorship has melted and mended my heart. The other “book” is “Love Notes from the Song of Solomon” in which I paraphrased and personalized the sections about the bridegroom. I won’t share any of those selections with you!

For me, having a positive and grateful mindset fills me with greater desire for pleasing my husband and becoming the adaptable ally God has made me to be.

When we were first married we rented a cozy apartment just off the OSU campus, built in the 1920’s. Along with a charming footed bathtub, we had electrical outlets with openings for only two prongs. We had to buy adapters with two prongs on one side and three openings on the other. I am reminded of these adapters as I think about our role as wives. As we shape ourselves to adapt to our husband’s needs, we provide for him a special connection to God that he cannot find anywhere else.

Dear Sisters,

This summer we, as leader's wives, have focused on praying for our brothers and sisters on Short Term Mission teams (STM) overseas. Michelle Larson has written an extremely enlightening account about some of her experiences with The Rock of Minneapolis' trip to Berlin, Germany. She was able to live the missionary wife's trials and joys as she served her sister, Suzanne van Dyke, for ten days. I am so thankful for what Michelle has shared with us, and much of it is not easy to hear. But entering into Suzanne's life (and all our other sisters' lives who sacrifice home and the familiar to follow God's call) has motivated me to pray even more, and to praise the Lord for Michelle's loving care for her sister.

God has "called" every one of us to our life's work and ministries. As we go along daily with our personal demands and trials, let's not forget those who are doing the same in a foreign land. After all, aren't we all in a foreign land, "strangers and sojourners" till we see Jesus?

Seeking His face along with you,

Sandy

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

by Michelle Larson, The Rock, Minneapolis

My husband, Greg, led a short-term mission team of 20 people from The Rock, Minneapolis to Berlin, Germany for 10 days. The team tried a number of approaches to meet young Berliners and form relationships with them, such as starting conversations with numerous Germans in parks, on campus – even around the soccer stadium where World Cup games where being played. The most successful approach was to simply play volleyball with people who visit the parks in the city. We recently heard that several young people that we met through volleyball have continued to spend time with members of the church planting team. John vanDyck, pastor of The Rock, Berlin, felt that our team made a good beginning for the summer outreach. Two other mission teams from Evergreen Community Church were able to keep the momentum going through the summer.

My purpose, however, for going on the team was very different. I went to administer “missionary care.” Simply put, “missionary care” means serving the missionaries who have left their homes, families, and churches and moved to a foreign land where they struggle to adjust to an unfamiliar way of life.

Here are a few examples of what life is like for our missionaries:

Suppose your two year old has a wart on his toe and you take him to the doctor. What if it sounds like the doctor is telling you to cut away the skin and peel it back? It doesn’t sound right or logical to you, but you just don’t understand.Suppose you are mandated by law to send your kids to school even though you love home schooling? Each of your children brings home about two hours worth of homework –all in German, of course – and need your help with it!Suppose you buy a backpack for your child and discover it to be missing some of its parts? When you take it back to the retailer, he becomes angry and starts to yell at you in German. You ask, “Does anyone here speak English?” A girl speaks up, “Yes, I do. He thinks you are a thief!”

These are all true examples from my sister, Suzanne van Dyke’s life. With scenes like this happening regularly, daily life can be exhausting and overwhelming.

My mission trip theme was: “What do you need, what can I bring, how can I help?” based on Galatians 6:2:

“Carry each others burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

The Message paraphrases this instruction:

“Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law.”

To accomplish this, we brought extra suitcases filled with items unavailable or expensive in Berlin. We brought books and magazines in English (!), pancake syrup, clothes, scrapbooking supplies, shoes, cake mixes and frosting, baking powder and more!

Another aspect in which I tried to “care” was to develop an empathetic understanding by experiencing Suzanne’s everyday life of being a stranger in a foreign land. I spent several days tagging along to the doctor’s office, grocery shopping, and to school. It was impossible for me to understand what it is like to walk everywhere with two children in a stroller until I endured it myself. To grocery shop every day, and to have to go to many shops to get what you need, is also very different.

As is the case with mission trips, it was a time of prolonged giving of myself. With God’s sense of economics, the more I gave, the more I got from the trip, so leaving was very hard. I encourage you to help lift the burdens of our missionaries in regular prayer for them. Better yet, plan to go and add your shoulder to their burdens during a mission trip!

 Dear Sisters,

Early in the summer, my husband's fellow-pastor's wife gave birth to a baby boy, Abram Daniel Phillips. I thought about this sweet baby as I read Kristin Hagen's article about adapting to the Lord. Little Abram was born a Phillips, yet to his infant mind "it has not appeared as yet what (he) shall be," (1 John 3:2). The process has begun, gently at first, to teach and train Abram what it is to be one of the Phillips family. He is encircled by his parents and fellow-offspring, having his needs met, and being conformed to adapt to the schedule and needs of the rest of the Phillips. (Hopefully he will soon "get it” that Mom Marie needs at least five hours of uninterrupted sleep each night!)

So we all, "reborn" into the loving arms of God and our church family, have much adapting to accomplish. Kristin shares with us wisdom about why this must happen, and how. And in 1st John, we find that ultimately "we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:2,3). May God give us each the grace to fix all our hopes on Jesus!

In His love,

Sandy

Adapting

by Kristin Hagen, Live Oak Church, Austin TX

These thoughts have mushroomed from a verse I have often pondered in the Amplified Bible. “Wives be subject – be submissive and adapt yourselves – to your own husbands as to the Lord” (Eph. 5:22). Perhaps in a future newsletter I could share my thoughts on adapting to our husbands. (I’ve had lots of them – thoughts, that is, not husbands.) But this time I am eager to talk about adapting to God: what it means, why we should, and how to adapt ourselves.

Webster’s tells us that ‘to adapt’ is “to make fit (as for a specific or new use or situation) often by modification.” “Conform” is given as a synonym. We learn in Romans 8:29 that God has already determined that we will be conformed to His image. Conversely, we are instructed not to be conformed to the world (Rom. 12:2) nor to our evil desires (1 Peter 1: 14).

The problem is that we are already conformed – twisted and marred – by the world, the Devil and our sin. The horror is that we don’t realize it! We are deceived into thinking that how we are is how we’re supposed to be. But Paul says, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31). John the Baptist declared, “He must increase and I must decrease” (John 3:30). Those men felt the need to continually be conformed to God’s image.

To me, this means taking our beliefs, desires, plans, emotions, personality, and reality, comparing them to God’s Word, and then making the necessary changes. The Israelites had to forget all they had learned in Egypt and adapt to God’s new laws – over 600 of them! They may not have naturally agreed with or understood the significance of laws like, “Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material” (Lev. 19:19), but they now had to determine what was right or wrong, good or bad, clean or unclean, based solely on God’s perspective. We do too.

Before we can find out who we are from God’s Word though, we must be willing to give up who we think we are. Hebrews 10:22 (Amp.) explains that as we “draw near to God with honest and sincere hearts” we can, by faith, “lean our entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness...”

Personally, here’s one example of how God is adapting me to Himself. In many ways, I grew up feeling unloved. I concluded that I must be unlovable. Furthermore, I surmised that I was also incapable of giving love to others. These are my thoughts, but God says that I became a new creation who is loved by Him (2 Corinthians 5:17; John 15:9), that I am lovable (Ps. 16:3) and that I am now capable to give this love to others (1 John 4:19). Letting go of my old definition of myself (unloved, unlovable, unloving) was hard and scary because it was familiar – all I had known - but as I meditate on God’s Word He is helping me begin to act like who He’s made me to be (loved, lovable, loving).

Here are three practical ways we can adapt ourselves to God’s image.

1) We can come to His Word every day with the prayerful attitude of “God, show me where I am wrong and You are right.”

“Search me thoroughly, O God, and know my heart! Try me, and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm139:23-24

“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to . . .” Ecclesiastes 5:1.2

2) We can have regular extended times of prayer and fasting. Fasting sets us free from false beliefs that oppress us (Isaiah 58:6-9).

3) We can realize that everything we take in (conversations, books, TV, movies, etc.) work to adapt us in one way or the other. We can be like David and determine to set no wicked thing before our eyes--and ears

(Psalm 101:3).

Each day God can reveal more of who He has made us to be. He will continue to conform us to His image as He has promised. Adapting to God won’t cause us to lose our personality, but rather to fulfill it. Wayne Grudem explains it well:

“Just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are exactly like one another in character (John 14:7,9), yet remain distinct persons, so we can become more and more like Christ and still be distinct individuals with different gifts and different functions (Ephesians 4:15-16, 1 Corinthians 12:4-27). In fact, the more like Christ we become, the more truly ourselves we become (Matthew 10:39; John 10:3; Revelation 2:17; Ps. 37:4) (Systematic Theology p.846)

Sisters, let’s speed up the process by being more adaptable. This is my prayer for us:

“ Now may the God of peace... strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be...” (Hebrews 13: 20, 21 Amp.).

 Dear Sisters,

Summer greetings! Remember that "free" feeling we had as kids during vacation from school? It's so easy as adults now to still look for that break from tasks and hard work. Rita reminded me in her article that true ease exists only in the knowledge that I'm in fellowship with the Lord! What a blessing to remember that when I became His child, His Spirit entered me and gave me true liberty (2Cor. 3:17). I'm now free to please Him and trust Him with my decisions, and others' that affect my life. I pray this month you enter into God's awesome presence and rest.

In His love and freedom,

Sandy

Born (and Reborn) to be Free

By Rita Bergen

This past year we’ve heard a lot about freedom and how precious it is. Actually this past year has been quite a year for me to learn more about “freedom under attack,” and not just because I live l5 miles from the Pentagon. You see, my husband and his fellow pastor had to make some major decisions concerning our shrinking church. During this process my husband would tell me of his various ideas for solutions. Some of these ideas did not appeal to me at all. I thought I should “submit,” and yet I felt trapped in circumstances that seemed beyond my control. It was rough! But God used the concept of my freedom in Christ to give me a roadmap for survival. And so one day, when my heart was full, I sat down and wrote a book on freedom. Well, actually I just wrote the table of contents…the text is still only in my head. But I want to share summaries of four of the chapters with you. Realizing that I am free and still have choices to make helped me a lot.

FREEDOM IN THE BEGINNING—We were created to be free. Adam and Eve had a choice. It was a God given choice. It was part of the love/trust relationship with the Creator (because love is not really love unless it is chosen). And like all choices, there were consequences. The good choice led to life. The evil choice led to death. This was a necessary part of freedom. Freedom does not mean we can do whatever we want with no consequences.

THE EXAMPLE OF THE FATHER & THE SON—In the greatest love story of all, the Father made His will known to the Son. Then the Son voluntarily obeyed the Father. Jesus made the choice to die for us. And then Jesus didn’t force salvation on us. It is our own decision to respond to His gracious gift of love. Our submission to Jesus is always by our own choice.

IT’S VOLUNTARY—In human relationships, submission (choosing to follow the lead of another) is always voluntary. Biblical instructions about submission are always given to the submitter, never to the leader (“…husbands, FORCE your wives to submit to you in the Lord.” NOT!) Read the book of Philemon. The apostle Paul understood this truth. He didn’t force his orders onto Philemon, but rather appealed to him. “But without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion, but of your own free will.”

ULTIMATE FREEDOM—Jesus wants us to be free! He died to give us freedom from the power of sin. He wants us to revel in His love and in the righteousness that comes to us on the basis of faith (not law). There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Not now. Not ever. When we choose to come to Him, what do we hear? His love and His gentle corrections, without a spirit of death and rejection. And finally He will bring us home—to ultimate freedom with Him, forever. It’s a hope that won’t fade. This is true freedom!

So how did these lofty concepts help me? Understanding my freedom in Christ gave me an anchor of hope through confusing days, and it also did wonders for my marriage. I wasn’t “trapped” and “forced” to follow, but truly free! I was able to be honest with my husband about my concerns and desires. We could talk at heart level about what it meant for a husband and wife to be united in ministry decisions. And because the Spirit of Jesus showed me that His freedom is not to be used as “an opportunity for the flesh,” I made a commitment to the Lord not to contend for my own way. I wanted Mike to have the full assurance that he was following the Lord (rather than being controlled by his wife). God brought each of us to a point of peace. Individually we gained assurance that the necessary change for our church, and for our family, was from the Lord. Now we are ready to move forward united in spirit. Praise the Lord!

 Dear Sisters,

Evy's article this month brings a whole new meaning to the phrase, “hang in there!" She likens our challenges as a pastor's wife to dangling from a high tree. The only thing holding us up is a knotted rope. But are we hanging on to something "utterly untrustworthy," the world's wisdom? Or are we relying on God and His Word? Listen to her descriptions of some unreliable ropes. May we all cling only to our Lord and His unbreakable wisdom, and then--swing in faith!

Love,

Sandy

Know the Ropes

by Evy Sommerlot, Riverview Church

Last year my daughter was playing in a friend’s sycamore tree. High up on a branch, she tied a rope, then swung out into the air. The knot immediately gave way and she fell to the ground, landing flat on her back. Fortunately, aside from a few scrapes, she was fine. “I thought the rope would hold me,” Laura sniffed as I comforted her.

Later, I thought about what happened. Laura, in complete faith, trusted in what was utterly untrustworthy. I could easily see the reason she fell-she didn’t make the knot secure. Then it hit me! Don’t I do the same thing in my spiritual life?

As a pastor’s wife, I can fall into trusting the world’s wisdom instead of God’s. How? Here are just three untrustworthy ropes that I grab:

1. The Fear of Man.

When I make decisions about what church activities I’m involved with based on others’ expectations instead of what would truly honor the Lord (and my husband), I’m headed for a fall. “The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that” (Prov.29: 25 TM). As I grab hold of that truth, He gives me wisdom and courage to plan my schedule in ways that honor Him.

2. Discontentment.

It’s funny. I can be completely happy with my house and everything in it until I browse through a Home & Garden magazine, or walk into a friend’s new home. Suddenly, I’m just not that content anymore. Even a trip to the mall can get me thinking about how old all my stuff is and how nice it would be to get something new. Grumbling and discontent, I whine to God, “Why can’t I have new stuff? How come I can’t ….”? Before I know it---splat! I’m flat on my back, the spiritual wind knocked out of me. Why? I’m trusting in the untrustworthy.

The world says contentment = THE NEWEST, THE BEST, THE MOST!

But God says “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (I Tim 6:8). “Bless the Lord O my soul, and forget not his benefits” (Ps. 103:1). By thanking God for all He’s blessed me with, I learn to be content. When I obey Romans 12:15, rejoicing with those who rejoice, I thank God for His generosity in others’ lives. As I cling to those verses, I’m safe from falling.

3. Comparing Spiritual Gifts and Talents.

I think I have CDD-Comparison Deficit Disorder-whenever I compare I come up deficient. I hear someone’s beautiful voice, and I’ll think, “If I had continued in choir, maybe I could sing like her.” Then, I’ll hear someone give a moving message, and I’ll think, “ Boy, I wish I could communicate like that!” Or, I’ll compare myself with the woman who has the gift of administration, and I’ll think, “Why can’t I have that gift?” What I’m doing is criticizing God. “God, why didn’t you make me with more talent? Why can’t I be like someone else?”

When I compare, I resist God and am ungrateful for the gifts He’s given me. Comparing can also alienate and destroy teamwork. If I’m constantly comparing my gifts with others, serving the Lord becomes a competitive sport rather than the overflow of a truly grateful heart.

When I immerse my mind in Romans 12, I escape the temptation to compare, and can honestly appreciate and rejoice in others’ gifts. These verses are basic to my Christian walk, yet essential to a “tight knot.”

Well, these are some of the things that can make me fall. What are the untrustworthy ropes you cling to? Before you swing out in faith, make sure you tie the secure knot of God’s Word!

 Dear Sisters,

This month we share in “The Chronicles of Vicki Nurre.” She has chronicled her church-plant journeys for us. Instead of traveling the geography of her trips, she takes us on her journey of faith. Yes, she took the first step in a daring adventurous spirit of trust. What a blessing to observe with her how her faith grew! As she and Pat (and, in time, their children) walked with the Lord, He was able to continue to move them on where He needed them. With each choice to trust and obey, Vicki has proven God’s faithfulness.

Love,

Sandy

Experiencing God’s Faithfulness

by Vicki Nurre, Seattle, Washington

When Patrick and I married in 1981, we were idealistic, eager to take on the world, and possessed of a singular desire to get down to the business of reaching the world with the gospel. We had been married for four months when we moved cross-country to start our first church plant. It took faith to do this, but what did we have to lose? We used the smallest U-Haul trailer available, as we only had our books, wedding gifts, a grandfather clock, and a rocking chair. We didn’t have much, but then, we didn’t need much! We were young with no hindrances!

Then . . . another move, another church plant, not quite across country, but it sure felt like it as we left dear friends to do this thing all over again! A slightly larger U-Haul this time, but would the Lord still be faithful to us? The stakes were higher now. We had a baby, and Pat was going to have to enter the business sector full time for the first time, with a commission job, at that! We were in a big city, living costs were greater, and for the first time, we were alone. Nobody moved with us on this plant. We knew that in time others would move to join us, but for now, it was just us. And now I was pregnant with number two! I was flat on my back, with my one-year-old bringing me Kleenexes as I needed them. Sales were slow and bills were looming. Scared? Most definitely! Then the Lord reminded me about 1 Timothy 6:8, “If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.”

Well, did we have food? (yes) Did we have clothing? (yes) So, evaluating what appeared to be a bleak situation, we concluded that we had everything that we needed, that God was faithful, and that we needed to have a celebration of His goodness, a personal Thanksgiving. So, in the middle of Spring, we celebrated! I bought steaks, and waited for Pat to get home from work so that we could celebrate the Lord’s goodness to us. You may have guessed the ending. Pat came home with a sizeable sale that night that more than took care of our needs!

Three children now, a thriving church, wonderful friends, and a proposal for another move…WAY across country. Seattle! You’ve got to be kidding. That’s a foreign country! Completely new challenges this time. Housing costs more than doubled. The kids are all teenagers. One is graduating from high school. What about college? And high school? We’ve never done the public school thing. What about their friends? How will my kids handle this change? And my career? Will I ever be able to recover what I am leaving? Can the Lord possibly help us figure this one out? Will He take care of us?

The largest U-Haul, plus a trailer and two packed vehicles later, He has done just that. But then, I never doubted. Not really. “O Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!” This has been my cry many times over the last 21 years. And He has taken me from faith to faith. There are still times when I am scared, but the past history of the Lord’s faithfulness is written on my heart. I know that He is good. I know it in the deepest depths of my heart. I have seen and experienced it with my own eyes.

 Dear Sisters,

Spring has come sooner to Erin Hendricks in southern California than to us in the Midwest states. But it is on its way! (I love to be reminded of blooming flowers and fresh fruit when we have ice storms in late March in Ohio.) Erin has devoted much time and love to communicating to women about the spiritual “gardening” the Lord does in us to bring fruit for His glory. She speaks of God as the Master Gardener. He is so committed to our growth and us. He is able to bloom our flowers of beauty, and bless the fruit of our faithfulness. The raging, freezing storms that so easily disturb us do not hinder Him. So let’s trust His expert care in our lives!

With love and faith in His loving hands,

Sandy

Spring Fever

By Erin Hendricks, Mountain View Community Church, San Diego, California

In Southern California, spring arrives early. By February, I’m delirious with Spring Fever and all its wonderful symptoms. Some share my love for dirty nails and others probably feel it only ruins a good manicure, but I believe God loves gardening. In fact, I see God as the Master Gardener. He is our ever-vigilant caretaker, always ready to cut or transplant for our healthy growth. He tenderly takes care of our every need. And unlike my neglected garden in July, He is never “not in the mood” for us. The question we must ask ourselves is, “Will I entrust myself to the Gardener’s care?”

I’ve wondered, “Why does God garden?” It’s a messy business digging around in all of our lives. Why does He bother? My answer came when I also asked myself the same question. Why don’t I fill my yard with plastic plants and cover the ground with green gravel? Three reasons came to mind—Beauty, Pleasure, and Fruitfulness. I believe Scripture shows God to hold those same values. Colossians 1:10 says, “that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” Let’s look at why God chooses to garden in our lives.

Beauty

I can’t look at the perfection of a delicate blue Columbine without marveling at its Designer. The majesty of the flower reflects the beauty of our Creator, Who is exquisite in every aspect. Revelation chapter four gives us a glimpse of His beauty. As a gazing ball, often found in English gardens, is intended to reflect the beauty of its surroundings, so our lives are to mirror our Creator. When we “live a life worthy of the Lord” as Colossians says, we reflect our Father’s beauty to the world around us, and our own beauty pales. Ezekiel 16:14 shows us how God desires us to be beautiful. “ ‘Then your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you,’ declares the Lord God.”

When people look at our lives we want them to see the splendor of our Father. Many times I have had to stop and ask myself, “Whose beauty am I reflecting right now, my own, or my Father’s?” Is my concept of what it is to be beautiful in line with God’s view of beauty? How am I helping the women and girls of my church to define their view of beauty by the standards of God’s character?

Pleasure

Another reason I like to garden is simply because I enjoy it! There’s something rewarding about a bare plot of dirt that becomes a flourishing garden. I believe God gardens for pleasure too. Psalm 149:4 says, “For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.” Do we realize that God takes pleasure in helping us grow? He actually enjoys you and me! None of us would argue that as believers we are in Christ. Think about what God said in John 3:17. “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” If we are in Christ, then the Father is well pleased with us. Of course we fail, but as our Gardener, He knows that failure is part of our growth process. Knowing that God is pleased with us can dramatically change the way we think about ourselves. Do we sense God’s pleasure in the process of our growth? Are we patiently pleased with the seemingly slow process of growth in those that we minister to?

Fruitfulness

There is much that can be said about how God produces fruit in our lives, but ultimately God desires to reproduce His life in us. We all know what His fruit tastes like. It is the sweetness of the fruit of the spirit, the nourishment of good works, and the refreshment of changed lives. His fruit is the natural result of a branch that is a healthy and flourishing part of the vine. I’ve never seen my nectarine tree straining to produce fruit. As long as I keep the tree healthy, it just happens naturally. Being in ministry, we are expected to produce fruit, and so we do, especially good works. But at times we may need a fruit inspection. Is our fruit as sweet, nourishing, and refreshing as God’s fruit? Is our fruit on display in a bowl on the kitchen counter looking attractive and decorative? Be careful, it may rot. Or is our fruit so inviting that it is picked from our branches and consumed by those around us before we even noticed it was there? God desires to produce His fruit in us, so that He can feed a hungry world with His love and healing. Our responsibility is to remain in Him so that He can keep us healthy.

So, if you too become smitten with Spring Fever and feel the need for dirt sifting through your fingers, remind yourself as you are down on your knees planting, to keep entrusting yourself to the Gardener’s care. He will grow you up to be perfect in His beauty and bountiful with His fruit. And in you, He is well pleased!

 Dear sisters,

This month we address a sensitive issue. What can help us handle the distress of having people leave our churches? As much as I love being a pastor’s wife, I also have to admit that being “one flesh” with the pastor leaves me vulnerable to feelings of rejection, anger, or failure when people leave our church. A parting of the ways between church members may be one of the hardest aspects of ministry.

In the following article, Sandy Hopler draws helpful insights from the Apostle Paul’s response to being left by his friends. Paul didn’t deny that he had relational needs; neither did he dwell on the unfortunate situation. He demonstrates a pattern of pressing on that will sustain us in similar circumstances.

Love and grace,

Carol Young

When People Leave Your Church

by Sandy Hopler, New Song Community Church, Reynoldsburg, Ohio

Hanging up the phone that afternoon, I noticed a pattern. I had talked with three different pastor’s wives in separate cities. Each wife was dealing with the impact of a failed church-related relationship. Either an individual or family had left the church, or the wife had suffered a loss of trust in a person who had been a significant support to her. And now each wife was struggling and hurting.

Im sure this is familiar territory for all of us. Every church experiences people leaving and the broken relationships that result from it. So how should a pastor’s wife handle it?

The apostle Paul gives us great advice in the book of Second Timothy. He was no stranger to losing supporters. He told Timothy, “All who are in Asia turned away from me no one supported me, but all deserted me.” (1:15, 4:16). So what can we glean from how Paul handled this pastors worst-case scenario?

Initiate and connect with a long-standing, loyal friend from another city. Paul connected with Timothy whom he considered to be his son (1:2-5). In her book, Women Connecting with Women, Verna Birkey speaks of the importance Scripture places on nourishing relationships. Paul was not selfish to seek comfort from Timothy. Connecting with others “with skin on” is being responsible with our relational needs. Sometimes this is needed so that we can speak to our husbands in a way that will build them up, instead of requiring them to hold up the shield of faith alone.

Focus on those who have stayed. Rather than being preoccupied with those who have departed, Paul bragged about Onesiphorus who refreshed and nourished him in that hard time (1:16-18). Take time to enjoy and appreciate those in your church who have linked their lives with yours.

Keep your eye on the mission. Paul saw his suffering as part of God’s plan to give the good news of Jesus Christ to a lost world (2:10). We wives can be praying that our faith will be increased, to believe the Lord uses even hurtful events to proclaim His glory. After all, didn’t someone once say that sometimes churches grow by addition sometimes by subtraction? J

Refrain from evaluating those who leave or hurt you. Paul admitted that only the Lord “knows those who are His” (2:19). In like manner, instead of judging the person who has left, entrust that person to God.

Keep from entering into controversy about the related issues. The natural desire is to defend our husbands, leading to conflict and strife. In contrast, Paul urged a kind, patient, and gentle approach to avoid conflict (2:23-25).

Maintain your eternal hope. Paul looked to Heaven: “In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness” (4:8). I have a dear friend whose attitude about change and challenges is it’s going to be better than before! Hope is so important!

Look to the deeper relationship with God. Paul says, “The Lord stood with me and strengthened me”” (4:17). Having faith in God enables me to trust people again.

Finally, I appreciate the counsel given by Verna Birkey: You’re tempted to create distance” I encourage you to be willing to be hurt again. Choose to embrace the hurt and pain. Don’t give up. You need others and others need you.”