It's Friday, but Sunday is coming

My friend, Pastor Randy of 1st Assembly, shared this e-mail this morning and I asked permission to share. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. JMS

I think there is a natural tendency for us to want to skip ahead to Easter.
Easter is celebratory.
Easter is bright.
Easter is upbeat.
Nobody would argue Easter Sunday is a day of celebration. We celebrate that Jesus conquered death so we can have life. It doesn’t get any better than Easter Sunday, the third day.
But we don’t hear a lot about day one and two? After the crucifixion on day one and leading into day two it almost seems as if nothing is happening. It’s a period of questioning, doubting, wondering, and definitely waiting. It’s a season of helplessness and hopelessness.
And honestly, this is where some of you are right now. You’re in a season where you’ve begun to wonder if God is asleep at the wheel or simply powerless to do anything about your problems.
Is it possible, though, that this season is actually a time of preparation? Is it possible God’s getting ready to do his best work in you?
Because that’s exactly what was happening during this time between the crucifixion and the resurrection. While it appeared that nothing was happening we know, in fact, that God was engineering a resurrection.
You may currently be in the midst of a horrible, out-of-control situation. You feel as if God is not there, that there’s nothing that can be done.
But here is the message of the gospel for you while you’re stuck in your seemingly helpless, hopeless, season of waiting: God does his best work in hopeless situations.
We worship a God who specializes in resurrections. He specializes in hopeless situations. After all, he conquered death—the ultimate hopeless situation—so you could have life.
It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming.
See ya Sunday!!
Pastor Randy

Amish Grace - Review 1

Hey all!  This is Renea posting today.  Notice I titled this post Review 1.  You see after all the excitement and anticipation Joy didn't get to see the movie last night!  :(  So this is going to be my take on Amish Grace and you can stay tuned VERY SOON for Joy's review.  We're like Siskel and Ebert.  LOL  Only cuter. ;o)

It came as a big surprise to us when the folks at Lifetime Movie Network contacted Joy through an e-mail about promoting this movie on our blog.  Pretty exciting for us country girls from nowhere.  We talked about it with one another for days!  That there must be a big message there that God wants us to hear, as well as many others.  After watching the movie last night..... well, WOW.  MANY lessons there.  What an incredible story that came from such a tragedy.


Without trying to give too much away (for those who haven't gotten to see it yet!) I was amazed at the lessons that kept coming at me.  Not just the overall point of forgiveness.  I saw many things in this movie.


You see, my husband and I talk about Amish life sometimes.  How wonderful it must be to have things so simple.  We live 10 minutes from one of the biggest Amish communities in our state.  Amish culture is something you are witness to on a daily basis.  It's always a blessing to do my shopping when I go to the bulk store to get flour and such.  Or taking my son to the cheese factory on field trips and days that we want to get out, just because.  Him getting to meet the other children, getting to see the lifestyle makes our kids stop and think a bit about our lives.


The things that stand out in my mind about the movie, I'm sure were different for everyone.  Examining the life of the shooter's family, you could tell he was withdrawn because of his grief but you never once saw him angry or abusive with his family.  His wife attended Bible study regularly and when the Amish elders came to visit her as they mentioned how and why they must forgive she cited the scripture reference to them.


This was a family that became as broken as the Amish families that lost their loved ones.  Is it more/less/same shock from a family experiencing a tragic event and losing their child/ren than a woman who not only lost her husband but had to deal with the grief and guilt of not really knowing who/what he was in the long run?  The Amish perspective made you think about her grief as well.  Not to just be angry with someone for the violent act they commit but to feel the pain and suffering that must be inside their heart to have brought them to such a dark place.


The strength of the Amish community and people to stop and pray--there's a lesson we can all learn.  Sure, we tell people we are praying for them, or we need to pray for this or I'll put you on the prayer list.  But when someone asks you to pray for them, how often do you REALLY stop what you are doing to pray?  This is something I have been pushing myself to do in the last few months.  Our prayers are heard by God if we are His children.  Why would I not want to talk to Him?

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

--Matthew 21:22

When the elders went to the widow's house you expected what they were going to say.  After all, it's what the movie was about.  Forgiveness.  You expected them to say they forgive the shooter.  (It was a preview after all.)  What you didn't expect was them telling the widow that if there was anything they could do for her or her family to please tell them.  They wanted to help her in any way they could.  Wow....  going beyond forgiveness.  The second greatest command....

The entire law is summed up in a single command: 

"Love your neighbor as yourself."

--Galatians 5:14

How do you tell someone who is the wife of the person that just murdered your daughter you would do whatever you could to serve them?  ONLY with God....and I believe I would struggle.  Terribly.


Another part of the movie that took me a while to grasp was the shunning.  Ida's sister had been shunned yet she missed her so.  Kept contact through her letters and photos she sent, which was wrong.  I ask my husband how they could shun someone if they have such a strong faith and such a willingness to serve and love everyone?  Then it dawned on me....


We've been discussing the same thing (basically) in Sunday school.  Church discipline.  You don't discipline (or shun) someone without doing it in love.  It is done in hopes that it will turn the persons heart to come back to what is right.  To what God wants for them.  To not live as a worldly person, but as a Godly person.  (which might I point out we all fail at most days...  some days miserably!).  Shunning is no different in this sense.  Lessons to learn and study on.


I think I would have reacted in much the same way Ida did.  Wanting to run from a people who didn't seem to understand my grief.  Wanting to harbor hate and pain for the person who shattered my world.  And then the bombshell....  her daughter lived with her heart in line with just what they had taught her.  There's one I won't spoil for you.  You'll have to watch the movie.  Her words so profound that it's like grabbing her mother and shaking her silly.  Back to what she knows to be true.  Forgiveness.


One woman's words to the grief counselor was how she starts everyday in sorrow and anger and has to offer it up to God to get it out of her heart so it doesn't consume her.  And continues to do so....  sometimes every few minutes, every hour.  Showing us it's definitely NOT the easy way.  But it is THE way.


Forgiveness.


When the widow is broken and standing at the grave of her husband...  The man she knew to be so good.  A good husband, a good provider, a good father.   ...she stands alone with few friends and family to rally around her.  To comfort her.  A woman from a big church, full of 'Christians'.  A group of Christians that could learn a lesson from the Amish community who came to her side at the burial of her husband.  Wow.....  it just kept getting better.


First forgiveness.


Then support and offering help to the widow.


Then surrounding her with love at the funeral of her husband.


How amazing.  I would like to think I could do the same in such a situation.  To forgive someone who could do me such harm and wrong.  Yet, I remind myself there are people who have hurt me much less, in much more insignificant ways and I've struggled with how to forgive them.  Boy oh boy I have a lot to work on.


It becomes much easier when your walk with God becomes stronger.  When you learn to put God above ALL else in your life.  He shows you how to live, you strive to live in a way that pleases him.  But we also fall very short of what he expects most days.   I'm sure there was much more to the actual events than could be portrayed in the movie.  Besides the graphic nature of the whole incident, the anger and bitterness that had to be present even among other members of the community these people lived in.  I imagine this was a very controversial issue for this town for quite some time.


We could all learn a few lessons from Amish Grace.  I hope if you missed it last night that you can find a chance to watch it again.  For those that missed the "Amish Grace" premiere, here are the dates/times for re-play.

Thursday, April 1, 8 pm/et

Friday, April 2, 12 am/et

Check with your cable provider for the correct channel and times for your area.  Please note this is on Lifetime Movie Network and NOT Lifetime channel!

Also, for you book lovers (who doesn't love a good book?!), the books are always better than movies!  You can read an excerpt from Amish Grace by clicking HERE

You can find the book here on Amazon.  There's also another book about this tragedy from Rebecca Sue's perspective (one of the children at the school).  It's called The Happening - Nickel Mines School Tragedy and can be purchased HERE.  

I purchased this one at the book store in our Amish community and have yet to read it.  I just knew the events and the story and thought it would be an interesting read.  Definitely, now I have to dive into it!

Also, if you are wanting more information on the movie event, photos, casting, even real photos from the community in Nickel Mines you can check out theLifetime Movie Network site for all the details and even a discussion forum for those who have watched the movie.  Great stuff Lifetime!  As always. 

Wishing everyone a blessed Monday!  --Renea

There Is Hope

The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities:

a virgin's womb and an empty tomb.

Jesus entered our world through a door marked "No Entrance"

and left through a door marked "No Exit."

And for all who feel it is impossible to overcome the situations facing them, sickness, death, divorce, persecution, loneliness, despair, addictions, Jesus stands at the human door marked "No Way" and knocks.

The time has come....

AMISH GRACE

It's finally time!  We've been anticipating this movie since I blogged about it a few weeks ago!

Well now the time has time and Amish Grace premiers on Lifetime this Sunday night.

I can only imagine the journey this movie will take us on if we will allow ourselves some time of inner reflection.  I plan to watch and ask myself how I would handle this situation,were it to happen to me. 

Everyone tune in and then journey back to the well next week and we discuss it here!

I need Africa more than Africa needs me

Love Story

Wow!!!!

Who knew that a bible study could be as riveting as the latest blockbuster thriller??? 

Who knew that a bible study would keep me on the edge of my seat, saying over and over again... "I wonder what happens next?!"

Who knew that when you stop reading the words on the page, and actually dig deeper in the bible, you can find the greatest mystery, action, drama or romance story?

Really, WHO KNEW???
And that's just the first 5 verses!

This... is the book we're studying.
Now, I'm just gonna wait right here while ya'll go grab your bibles so we can recap our 1st lesson!
Go on.... get your bible!

Ruth 1:1 In the days when the judges ruled, [a] there was a famine in the land, and a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man's name was Elimelech, his wife's name Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.

3 Now Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.

Naomi's family being from Bethlehem-Judah is like a New Yorker also being an American.  They left Bethlehem because there was a famine in the land.  To get a little history on the relationship between Israel and Moab read Genesis 19:30-38.  What do these verses say about the origin of the Moabites?  (Sound like anyone you would like to associate with?)

Now read Dueteronomy 23:3-6 and Judges 3:12-14.  Does this not sound a bit disfuncional?  Not a healthy relationship, for sure.  It's not like us, as American's, going into Canada.  This was an enemy.  One whom God had commanded His children not to be in relationship with.

Here I began to quesion Elimelech and Naomi's faith.  Did they not believe that God would provide?  And, hey!  Bethelem is known as the House of Bread, so what's up with the famine there in the first place?

Read Judges 2:11-19.  Do you see any evidence for why there was a famine in the land?  Yeah... I did to!

Now, what did the people tend to do when a judge died? (vs.19)  This made the think about our Presidents.  It seems with each one... our society gets worse and worse.  Now we're okay with same-sex marriage and abortion.  We always behave even worse than with the last President.

Elimelech and Naomi stood on the precipice of a sticky decision -to stay in the arid land of God's choosing or to flee to the bountiful one God had roped off.  We know what Elimelech chose, but what about you?  What will you choose?

Ponder Galatians 6:9 and Hebrews 11:24-26 and comment about how those verses encourage you to stand firm where God has you.

It is our wisdom to make the best of that which is, for it is seldom that changing our place is mending it. -Matthew Henry.

God is present right where you are.  Stay put and stand firm.  It is always more blessed to be under the care of His will than anywhere else - no matter how green the grass.

That's Day 1 of our journey folks.  Please leave some feed back on how you enjoyed the beginning of the study and if you'd like to see it presented another way.  I mean if another format would make it easier to read.  I'll leave this one up a day or 2 then post Day 2 that we did at the same time. 

The book has 5 days of study, then a session with recipes and such.  It is a living room study, so you're supposed to do the daily studies, then meet at the end of each session and discuss them.  Oh, and eat!

I hope you're enjoying Ruth as much as I am.  I love getting all the history.  Who knew that Elimelech and Naomi leaving Bethlehem and journeying to Moab held such implecations!  I can't wait to read what happens next!

Abundance Abounds.... Joy

Ruth

Well, the day has finally come.  We are beginning our biblestudy. 

Actually we have met weekly for a while now, but have been at a loss on what to study.  We began reading through a book that just did not hold our attention one bit and decided to throw in the towel on that one! 

After much thought and deliberation we have decided to study.... RUTH!

In the beginning I thought, Ruth.  That's a nice little book of the bible.  And 1 of only 2 named after women.   I thought it would be a good place for us to start.

Then last night I was reading the introduction to the study....

"Perhaps you can relate to Ruth's plight and her journey's challenges.  you've struggled with the daunting dynamic of being a woman and a follower of Christ in an environment that doesn't always promote your beliefs or your gender. (Well, duh!)

Or maybe you feel well supported but you've quietly wept in your singleness, longing for a man to choose you.... only you. (Now I'm thinking that since this doesn't petain to me, I can handle this study.)

Maybe you've been blessed with intimacy but you've been struggling to love that one person in your life you'd like to rename Bitter - or something else not as nice. (Uh-Oh, now I'm thinking this study is going to step on some toes.)

Or maybe you've been completely shattered by a recent loss, or one far removed that has left a wound still bleeding.  Or perhaps you've never done a bible study before but the story of Ruth sounds intriguing and you want to give it a try."

Wow!    Love. Loss. Devotion. Legacy. Hope. Redemption. Who knew there was so much to the book of Ruth. This study is sure to make us question ourselves, our motives, examine our fruit, and much more. 

So follow along on our journey as we begin our study of Ruth.  I would encourage you to read the book of Ruth and let's learn together. We'll get some discussion going see where God leads us.

We meet weekly, so we'll be in touch and let you know what we're learning. 

Here is the book we're going through.

Joy

Amish Grace

Do ya all remember the news regarding the Amish School shootings in Pennsylvania a few years ago?  Boy do I.
Well today I received an email from a Lifetime rep who had been reading Journey to the Well (Whhaaa???), telling me about the new movie coming up on Lifetime and asking me if I would add the preveiw to Journey to the Well.  Absolutely.
In Lifetime Movie Network’s upcoming film, AMISH GRACE, a mother’s life is changed forever when her daughter is murdered. She finds herself struggling with her community’s belief in the transcending power of forgiveness. The movie is based on a true story about the aftermath that followed the 2006 schoolhouse shooting in the Amish community of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania.
The movie is having its world television premiere Sunday, March 28 at 8PM EST/ 5pm PST on Lifetime Movie Network.


So what do you think? What if you were this mother?  Could you forgive the shooter?

Be sure and watch March 28th and we'll meet bck at the well to discuss it.

Unconditionally Surrendered....Joy

Identity Theft and Yeast

You're probably wondering how these 2 things go together!

Recently, I was a victim of identity theft.  Someone had gotten ahold of my debit card information and made some rather large purchases from WalMart.com. 

Only one of the purchases actually cleared my bank account, the others were caught and cancelled before hand.  The one that cleared, I was able to dispute and it all worked out fine.  I did, of course, have to cut up my debit card and now I wait (impatiently) for a new one.

I felt a little betrayed that someone used me.

Uneasy that someone had gotten my information.

Angry that they were charging their stuff to me rather than work for it themselves.

A lot of emotions ran through my veins.

Then God brought to my attention that I tolerate Identity Theft every single day.

Main Entry: iden·ti·ty

Pronunciation: \ī-ˈden-tə-tē

the distinguishing character or personality of an individual

Main Entry: theft

Pronunciation: \ˈtheft\

the felonious taking and removing of personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it

Identity Theft - taking and removing the distinguishing character or personality of an individual with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it.

If what the Word says is true, then we are ROYALTY!  We are joint heirs with Jesus, Queens and Kings, you and I! 

How often do we act like that?  How often does the enemy steal our identity?

How often do we allow friends and co-workers to rob us of our identity?

We need to remember who we are in Christ.  Our identity is taken everyday, with our permission.  We don't fuss or feel hurt.  We allow it.  Sometimes, we give it away willingly.

We get so hung up on the small things, we forget about the big picture.

It saddens me when I think about all the little things I do that keep me from behaving as Royalty.  All the little things I allow to creep in and spoil my witness. 

1 Corinthians 5:6

Your flip and callous arrogance in these things bothers me. You pass it off as a small thing, but it's anything but that. Yeast, too, is a "small thing," but it works its way through a whole batch of bread dough pretty fast. So get rid of this "yeast." Our true identity is flat and plain, not puffed up with the wrong kind of ingredient. The Messiah, our Passover Lamb, has already been sacrificed for the Passover meal, and we are the Unraised Bread part of the Feast. So let's live out our part in the Feast, not as raised bread swollen with the yeast of evil, but as flat bread—simple, genuine, unpretentious.

What is your true identity?  Puffed up with arrogance, pride, full of gossip?  Or simple, humble, thankful with a servant's heart?  Don't let appearances fool you.  Things that look good on the outsite can be full of ungodly things on the inside.  The things that are best for us, don't always look pretty and appealing!

Are you prepared?

In our Wednesday night biblestudy, the pastor is leading us through Revelation.  Last night we were discussing some of the many calamities that will befall people in the end times and a visitor asked "How do we prepare for this?"
So the question was given to us... "How do you prepare for the end times?"

Perhaps this handy dandy survival kit?  Would that help you survive the calamites the book of Revelations describes?  Not a chance.

What if you didn't have to go through that at all?  It is possible, my friend.

That 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.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved...  for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 

Romans 10

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus...

1 Timothy 2

DIED ON THE....

SO YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN.

Can I trust you?

Sunday Sermon Spotlight

I thought it would be fun to begin recording one thing from our Sunday Sermon that really gave us pause, caused us to think, convicted us, something we found worth sharing.  Surely there's something each Sunday that God speaks to us.

Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Our sermon was of course on LOVE.  But what grabbed my attention was at the end.  Our Pastor asked if we ever felt God saying to us, "Go share with Bobby" or "Invite Susie to church" or "Tell Timmy about my Son."  After all we are commanded to spread the Gospel.  It's one thing to ignore those little nudges from God, but if we're not hearing them at all, then perhaps God doesn't trust us with spreading the Gospel.  Are we trustworthy?  Are we obedient?  Can God use us?  Is God using you?

Day Book Feb 15th

FOR TODAY  February 15th


Outside my window...  Ugly mud on top of the white snow.  Makes me wonder why when Jesus washes us white as snow and we're so beauiful, we go and tromp mud on top of it.

I am thinking...  Next year for Valentines Day my husband and I really need to acknowledge it at least.

I am thankful for... Good friends

From the kitchen... Mmmm... Chili tonight.  However my son ate all the Frito chips, so I have to go by the grocery store on the way home now.

I am wearing... My Acquire the Fire T.  Getting geared up to go again this weekend!

I am creating...  Meal planners and chore charts!  Trying to organize and delagate!

I am going... to try and start over... do better.

I am reading... Becoming a woman who pleases God

I am hoping... I can be a postive influence at home.

I am hearing... the wind blow outside - terrible!

Around the house...  Had a great weekend sewing and now I'm in a creative mood.  I want to redo a few things to simplify.

One of my favorite things...  Feeling like I've accomplished things, scratched off my to do list.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Getting my hair cut mid week and then we're are spending the weekend in the city with the youth from church (Aquire the Fire).

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

The Simple Womans Daybook

Just In Time...

Tonight at bible study our pastor was telling us about a new concept in telling time.  He works for a factory that makes and ships products across the US and people now want their deliveries JIT.  Just in Time.  Not too early.  Not too late.  Just in time.  Just in time for when they need them. 
He was telling of a company getting upset because their delivery was going to be late due to a large snow storm.  He thought "where's the compassion?"  His driver was on the way, driving in conditions that the people who wanted the product wouldn't drive in, passing snow plows that have drove off the side of the road.  But all that mattered was getting the product, JIT.  The delivery drivers life didn't matter, the compassion and understanding didn't matter...
I was thinking to myself that I live a lot like that.  Just in time.  Don't get there too early, don't get there late, but get there... yes, you guessed it!  Just in time!  That leaves me very rushed and I don't take time to enjoy the journey.  This is something I'm not going to soon forget.  Society as a whole tends to live... just in time.  We don't want things early.  We don't want them the day after, we want them now, when we want them... just in time.
But what about those others out there that live with the concept of ...just in time. Oh, I like livin' it up and drinking with my friends.  I'll get Jesus.... just in time.  Oh I don't really want to quit that habit, I like it!  I'll give it up and get Jesus... just in time.  When I thought about that, my heart broke.  If only they knew what they're missing out on... right now!  It broke my heart to think about those who want nothing to do with Jesus now, but will want him... just in time.  It is a very good thing that Jesus runs the show, because I would tell them 'sorry'!  You didn't want anything to do with me then and it's too late now.  How incredibly generous our Savior is.
Of course who knows when... just in time is?  Jesus says we know not the day nor the hour, only that the time is near.  He will come as a theif in the night, without warning.  We will not have time to prepare.  None of us are promised tomorrow.  Just as the days of Noah, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away.
It scares me to see how deceived people are.  How people trust their heats, which is deceitful above all else, rather than command their heart, lead their heart.  Even Adam and Eve, living in paradise and in the presence of God, Himself were deceived.  How much more so are we be able to be deceived? 
I want to show up early.  I want to be first in line.  I want Jesus now.  Not just in time.  But, all the time.  Forever and always.

The Womans Daybook...

Each Monday there will be a new Journal Entry added to the Simple Woman's Daybook.  Go on over for details and lets spend some time in reflection together!

FOR TODAY  February 4, 2010

Outside my window...  It's cold.  It is fixin' to snow... again.  People are walking, driving, trying to reach their destinations before dark and before snowfall.

I am thinking...I'm inside where it's nice and cozy.  I try not to take it for granted.

I am thankful for... My life.  My family.  My Savior.

From the kitchen... There's always room for improvement there!  It's actually an area where I strive to do better. 

I am wearing... Black (ugh)  Wishing I were home in my jeans and "I'd rather be in my Garage" comfy sweatshirt I stole from my husband.

I am creating... a more harmonious homelife.

I am going... to make a difference.

I am reading... Johns Story

I am hoping... to begin a successful weekly bible study with friends.

I am hearing...  Loud trucks go by... they really annoy me.

Around the house...  Messy. Warm. Cozy. Love.

One of my favorite things...  Worship Music

A few plans for the rest of the week... Preparing for our bible study that begins on Monday.  I'm in the mood for a little sewing and kitchen re-organization...

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

The Prayer Farce...

I'll pray for you.

I'm praying for you, friend.

Girl, you're in my prayers.

How many times have you said these words of comfort to another, only to not follow through?  I'm ashamed to admit I have plenty. Do we believe in the power of prayer? If so, then why aren't we falling to our knees? 

I once told the kids at church that I wish all my shoes were scuffed on the end from spending so much time on my knees.  Are they?  No.  How many opportunities have I missed to commune with my Heavenly Father because of my lack of sincerity, discipline or belief? 

What is the most sad is that I have witnessed the power of prayer.  I have felt the overwhelming sensation of being covered in prayer.  I have seen mountains moved because of prayer.  Genuine heartfelt prayer, full of faith, believing, surrender...  So why would I tell someone I will pray for them and not do it?  Especially when the other person is coveting prayers, depending on them, waiting to see answers from them. 

Oh, I have a long way to go.  The good thing is that I'm on my way.  I have stepped out of the boat.  Begun the journey.  And I believe.

Crossroads

I sit at a crossroads.

I'm completely torn in 2 different directions.

Have you ever found yourself here? You look one direction and it's as different as night and day from what you see in the other direction, but both are equally pleasing.

I thought I had made up my mind to go one direction, but I miss what lies the other way.

And this is just my inner turmoil. I haven't even brought to the table that of my husband and children.

We are all in agreeance that we are unable to choose which way to go.

I need to figure out what's going to be the best thing for me.  I need to strip it down to the bare essentials.  I need to stop considering all the extra things that make each each path appealing and just do what's right for me.  I need to get in the Word.

"You Can Do Better"

As we prepare to begin our weekly biblestudy, I'm always on the lookout for some interesting things to talk about. This comes from Yahoo news. This lady has had an 'afterlife' experience after suffering from an aneurysm. Here is what she says.

“I went into this tunnel, and I came into this room that was just beautiful. God held me, he called me by name, and he told me, ‘Mary Jo, you can’t stay.’ And I wanted to stay. I protested. I said, ‘I can’t stay? Why not?’ And I started talking about all the reasons; I was a good wife, I was a good mother, I did 24-hour care with cancer patients.
“And he said, ‘Let me ask you one thing — have you ever loved another the way you’ve been loved here?’ And I said, ‘No, it’s impossible. I’m a human.’ And then he just held me and said, ‘You can do better.’ ”

Wow! You can do better. So not what I want to hear. I want to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant... Enter into the joy of your lord."

But what would God say to me? Well done.... or, you can do better? That's certainly something to ponder. I know that I have not loved others with a love that would make me want to willingly leave my family, my children and husband behind. What love must one feel the moment we enter Heaven to leave our lives behind and desire to stay. Protest to stay. Instantly. I don't care what or who I leave behind, only let me stay. I would have to feel some deep, abiding, unconditional love radiating around me. But have I loved others that way? No. Some, perhaps. But I can do better. How about you?

Here are just a few reminders about LOVE. It is the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another. It is demonstrative, it requires action.

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
1Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love
                   of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently
1John 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

These are just a few, but meditate on them a bit. Men shall know we are God's disciples by the way we love. We are commanded to love, because God loves us. And we know that God requires obedience, not sacrifice. We should love with a pure heart, fervently (marked by great intensity). We have heard this message of love since the beginning, we should have it down by now! And again, if God so loved us, we ought to love one another. We should. But we don't.

As you go through this week and encounter different people, ask yourself if they can tell you're a Christ follower by they way you love. Are you demonstrating pure love with great intensity? Would God say "Well done!" or "Go back and do better."

Welcome...

This is a spinoff of my Journey to Jia blog.  Journey to the Well is a dream of Joint Heirs Adoption Ministry partners, Renea and myself.  It was our desire to be a part of a group that had an infinite yearning to sit at our Saviors feet and spend time in His Word. 
Our goal is to be in pursuit of Proverbs 31 and Titus 2.  We felt if we started our own home biblestudy, women might feel more comfortable to join us rather than at a church.  We hope that as we begin with a small core group, that each of us will reach out to friends, who will in turn reach out to their friends and want to join.
Our intention is for this to be a time of prayer, devotion, worship, study etc.  We need a group of women who desire to follow God and want to be empowered by other women with the same goal.
Ideally, this blog will be used to follow along with our group.  I hope to post wonderful things that happen within our group, what we're studying, our prayer requests and just some thoughts in general.  Please feel free to meet with us at the well via this blog.  We'd love to hear from you.
Anxious to be at His feet....
Joy

New Years Resolution

You be LORD....

     I'll be quiet.