Kim: O-o-h Child, Things are Gonna Get Easier...

L.W. asked me to share this post from my blog with you. God bless! :)

A little while ago I plopped down on my bed to have some quiet time, a bit discouraged and overwhelmed with all of the complex life stuff going on right now. When I opened my Bible this is the first verse I read:

"You were tired out by the length of your road,
yet you did not say, 'It is hopeless.'
You found renewed strength,
therefore you did not faint."
-Isaiah 57:10

That encouraged me so much, I just had to share.

I love how God speaks to us and reminds us of times past when we were in a situation and He saw us through. Just when we feel like things are hopeless, He gives us hope! He is so amazing, and I can't imagine life without His love and comfort.

Last March I was pacing my bedroom, trying not to worry about a new financial mess we were in and I was just in a funk. I was praying my heart out and on impulse I turned the radio on while I was still talking to the Lord. The first lyrics to drift out of the speakers were, "O-o-h, child, things are gonna get easier... o-o-h things'll get brighter..."* It made me cry. Our God sees us and He cares. He is SO good!

* Song originally by The Five Stairsteps, 1970.

Kim: Diving in!

Hi ladies! Summer is upon us and now is a great time to get outside in the sunshine and do some summer reading. Whether you are poolside, parkside, seaside, lakeside, riverside, or mountainside, it is the perfect time to dive into God's Word. If you're looking for reading options or maybe a summer reading challenge, here are a few ideas:

Read the Bible in 90 Days- Summer Challenge

"Read the Bible cover to cover by investing as little as 30 minutes a day. In 90 days (two “grace days” are included) you’ll see the big picture of God’s great story unfold before you."

Click here to download the reading schedule: The Bible in 90 Days Reading Schedule.pdf

I am doing this challenge with a few friends, and so far we are loving it! Laurie K. is modifying this plan by reading through the Bible in Chronological order, so that's another option. (You can use the One Year Chronological Bible reading plan, listed below, and combine days to arrive at "90 days.")

The One Year Bible Reading Plans

If you have been wanting to start a Bible reading plan, TheOneYearBible.com has some great options. (Sherri Youngward talked about using The One Year Bible, NIV, at our spring retreat.) Here are some downloads if you want to follow the OYB plan but want to use your own Bible:

The One Year Bible Reading Plan.pdf

"Each day contains a passage from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs."

The One Year Chronological Bible Reading Plan.pdf

"The one year chronological reading plan contains the entire text of the bible arranged in the order the events actually occurred. This unique viewpoint allows you to read the whole Bible as a single story and to see the unfolding of God's plan in history."

Sherri Youngward's Free Bible Study Help

During the spring retreat, Sherri Youngward taught an impromtu class, "How to Study Your Bible." All of us were blessed to learn the very simple yet fruitful way that Sherri personally studies her Bible. Sherri's website has a free resource with the three easy steps you can use in your personal devotional time.

Click here to download her free Personal Bible Study Help.pdf.

(Thank you, Sherri, for sharing this with us! You are such a blessing! :)

Enjoy the Water, ladies!

Shannon: Precious

"And His eye sees every precious thing" (Job 28:10)

Last Wednesday, in his teaching on Psalm 116 --"I love the Lord, because He hears my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live"--Dave said, "In the deepest, darkest moment of our lives, God bends down near to the mouth of prayer." I've been thinking about that all week, loving the image of God's ear bent low to catch my whispers.

Then this morning I saw this picture, and those words from Job came to my mind. It all went together.

Know, today, ladies, that you are that "precious thing" upon which His gaze is fixed. Nothing you're facing, nothing you're struggling against, nothing that concerns you has escaped His eyes. And His ear is bent low to hear your whispers.

Cora: Monthly Calendar

Hello ladies.

Here is the schedule for February:

February 10: Chapter 9 - The Lord Who Heals
February 24: Chapter 10 - Review

Please note that some of us leave for our trip to Israel on February 24. However, we will still be having Joyful Life. Sue Kunkle has graciously agreed to give her testimony that night. But still come prepared to discuss your chapter as you will be breaking up in groups after Sue speaks.

May the Lord bless you greatly as we continue to study His Names.

Remember the retreat is April 23-25. More information will be coming in March.

"Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for Thou are my praise." Jeremiah 17:14

Cora: Monthly Calendar

Happy New Year, ladies! I pray that God blesses you greatly as we begin 2009.

Joyful Life will be starting up again on it's regular schedule. Here is what we have for January:

January 13 - Chapter 6 - The Lord
January 27 - Chapter 7 & 8 - The Self Existent One/The Lord Will Provide

Also, please note that our annual retreat is April 23-25 at the Homestead.

"And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

Cora: Monthly Calendar

Can you believe December is upon us? Winter is just around the corner and Christmas will be here before you know it!

We are taking a break from our regular Joyful Life Bible Study this month so you can enjoy the Christmas season with your families.

We will be having our annual Christmas Tea on December 9, at 6:30 p.m. at the church office. There will be soup, sandwiches and yummy goodies. Don't forget your teacup. Also, we will be having an ornament exchange. Shannon will also be sharing with us.

Also, we will be going to the Lights of Christmas at Warm Beach Christian Camp as a church family. Meet us at the church office at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 12. We will carpool out there and enjoy the beautiful lights.

Praying that God blesses you richly this Christmas.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.

Cora: Monthly Calendar

Hello ladies!

Fall is truly upon us and we enter into November. God has surely painted us a beautiful picture with the leaves turning red, yellow and orange.

Here is the calendar for November:

November 11 - Chapter 3 - The Most High
November 25 - Chapter 4 & 5- The God Who Sees and The All Sufficient One

Please note that our annual Christmas Tea will held on December 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the church office. If you would like to host a table or help with the goodies, please contact Nancy Henry. Her information is in the directory. Sign up sheets will be coming out in the next couple of weeks.

"I will cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me." Psalm 57:2

Pam: Joy in the Lord

They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the Lord. Psalm 106:25

Yesterday my husband moved two of our steers and our bull from their familiar surroundings where they were content on acres of grassy pasture free to graze and move about with the rest of the herd to a much smaller area far away from their comfort zone where they have been bawling loudly and unceasingly, longing to return to what they knew and were accustomed to.

How often are our lives like that? We go about from day to day with our recurring schedules, comfortable with our jobs, who we hang out with, chores and even our devotional time has become routine, everything is habitual. Then the Lord rocks our world, adjusts what is familiar to us.

How do you react when the Lord makes alterations in your life? Do you joyfully take on the new challenges the He puts before you? Do you wait with great excitement and anticipation the opportunities He presents you? Or do allow the enemy delight in times like these, as he prowls about relishing every grumble and complaint you murmur when life isn’t exactly as you would have it?

In such times you must believe your strength is in the Lord; He will not leave you or forsake you. When the Lord takes you out of your comfort zone, gladly grab hold of His hand, talk to Him, humble yourself to Him, allow Him to lead the way and blessings will be heaped on you. The Lord wants you to know He loves you, you can trust in Him.

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3

Laurie: Daughters

My Beloved Daughters,
You come to see Me, you won't be disappointed. Anytime you come seeking Me, you win. Line upon line, precept upon precept, come and discover all that I am. The nearer you desire to come, the more I will reveal. It is your choice. How much of Me do you want? Just enough to get by or do you want to dive in and swim in all I have for you? Daughters you are free to receive all of Me, come into My throne room and glean all you can hold, then come again, gather and carry the treasures I reveal. Distribute them to the world. Then come for more. I am never ending. I want the world to know Me. Come and know Me daughters, I have riches you know not of that I want to lavish on you to pour to a hurting world who cannot see Me. But you see Me, you have My Spirit. Come and let Me fill you. Come and seek My presence. You'll never be disappointed.

Cora: Monthly Calendar

Hello ladies!

Can you believe the summer is over and it is time again for us to begin meeting?

This year we will be going through Kay Arthur's book entitled "Lord, I Want to Know You." This book will teach us the various names of our Lord and Savior. This is going to be a great study as we get to know God even more.

If you don't have a book, I have extra copies and would be happy to give you one.

To start off our year together, we will be having a Ladies Day Out on September 27, 2008. We will be meeting at the church office at 9:00 a.m. and driving down to the Seattle waterfront and going up to Pike Place Market for some shopping and lunch.

For our monthly meetings, we will be meeting the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at the church office at 6:30 p.m.

Here is the calendar for October:

October 14 - Chapter 1 - Names of the Lord introduction
October 28 - Chapter 2 - The Creator

May the Lord bless you richly this year as we study God's Word together.

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe." Proverbs 18:10