Little Ben

Recently on my Facebook wall there have been a number of friends who have shared a link to a blog written by a mother whose 4 year old son, Ben, is dying of a brain tumor. Losing a child has to be the most difficult, heart wrenching, emotional circumstance that a parent would ever have to endure. I simply cannot imagine what these parents are going through. Just reading her blog brings tears to my eyes. Here is the link.

The mother, Mindy, shares from her heart and it is special that she is allowing many others to ride along with her on this journey. I'm sure that writing is therapeutic to Mindy and I know that she receives encouragement from many who are supporting her and her husband through this, but what constantly comes through in her writing is her steadfast trust in God. Even if God takes Ben from them, she refuses to be bitter and her trust in God is unwavering. Would I be able to be as strong as her, when going through the dark valley of death? I'm not sure.

I have learned to love the Sauer family--Mindy and her husband Andy, little Ben and his twin brother Jack and younger sister Megan. My heart aches when I see the beautiful pictures and I read the words that Mindy writes. Ben is so precious and such a joy to this family. It seems unfathomable that this darling little boy will be taken from this wonderful family and I am praying along with many others for a miracle.

Only God knows how this story will end, but reading Mindy's blog has made my faith stronger. She has made me realize that trusting in God does not mean that everything will happen the way I want it to, but it means that no matter what happens I know that God loves me so much more than I can imagine. Thank you Mindy, for sharing your story.

Mary Lehman
Secretary

Creativity

When God created the world, He used so much creativity. I enjoy so much variety in the colors and shapes of flowers, trees, animals and even in people. I am so thankful for my eyes to enjoy all of this variety.

The donations we get at the thrift store have lots of variety in them also. We are able to have things to sell that appeal to so many different people. Some come for the clothing, and some shop for the household items or knick knacks.

I also enjoyed the creativity that was so evident at our fashion show just over a week ago. All of the outfits that the models wore were from donations that had come into the store. Those that put these outfits together used creativity as they found tops to match capris, and then added a purse and jewelry to accent the outfit. And, it all comes from donations that come into the store.

Creativity was also evident in the décor at the show. From the items that were "borrowed" from the store to help create a boutique area, to the tablescapes created by  ElizabethKate Designs, everything looked beautiful.

We also enjoyed the creativity in the food that we were treated to. Our caterer Justine put together beautiful appetizers, and a delicious quiche and salad for us to enjoy. This was topped off by some beautiful and delicious desserts made by Berries and Butter Cakes.

I am so thankful that I was able to enjoy all of the creativity that was evident at the fashion show. If you missed the show this year, make an effort to join us next year. You will be amazed by the creativity that comes from items that are donated to the thrift store.

Deb Riddell
Thrift Store Manager

Just Say "No"

In recent weeks, I’ve enjoyed the practice of Lent. Traditionally, a person takes the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter to fast from food. Some churches or denominations ask their parishioners to abstain from some sort of pleasure or comfort or idle distraction. It’s a way to prepare our hearts to focus more clearly on our Lord and His sacrifice for us.

I chose to fast from all white flours and sugars (except I allow myself a “treat” on the weekends) and from television. I’ve had to say “no” to myself many times over these past weeks. When I’ve been craving chocolate or a piece of toast, I’ve been tempted to cheat. I find myself involuntarily picking up the remote to watch TV when I’ve wanted some downtime. It hasn’t been easy to deny myself my favorite comforts; but it has been good.

I feel a bit more confident as I say “no” to myself. I’ve had the epiphany, “Wow! I can practice self-control.” When I lay down my head at night, I’m pleased that I drew close to God during a time of temptation and He proved Himself faithful to give me the strength I needed to overcome the temptation.

So, in addition to drawing closer to the Lord, I’ve learned something about myself. My fast motivates me. I have consecrated this tiny bit of time in March and April to choose something other than my own desires and wishes. And because it’s for God, I can do it!

I wonder what would happen if every day I chose a fast of some sort? On Monday, I could choose to say “no” to grumbling and complaining. On Tuesday, I’ll deny myself the whipped cream on my latte. Wednesday, no gossip. Thursday, I will get up a half hour earlier and exercise. Friday, I won’t say anything negative about my husband. Saturday, I won’t spend money on anything I don’t need. On Sunday, I won’t nap, but instead I’ll visit with some elderly neighbors.

In other words, I will choose each day to sacrifice some comfort or unhealthy behavior. Not a bad idea for changing a life from self-focus to God-focus. And really, I think that’s what Lent is about.

Isaiah 58:6-8

Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh. Then your light will break out like the dawn; and your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you the glory of the Lord will be your rearguard.”

 

Shannon Shertzer

Patiently Endure

These past few months have been very trying for me, as I was admitted to the hospital three times in a matter of four weeks. I was in pain, exhausted and wondering how much longer until I would be able to dive back into my life. After all, I have things to do; I don't have time to be derailed by illness.

Many of us have forgotten the path of patience we must take to get to the next level  in our relationship with Christ. Sometimes that means enduring suffering. Having patience has been rejected by a society thriving on instant gratification, faster technology, and a fear of commitment. We want it now, or we don't want it at all. Even committing to a two-year cell phone agreement is considered a courageous feat these days. No wonder we balk when we hear the word "patience." Our culture has denied it, and most of us have forgotten it.

To discover God's dream for our lives, we've got to rediscover the forgotten path. Surely the path is paved with patience, but if you live your life constantly trying other routes, hoping that a quick devotion in the morning and a 10 second prayer for your neighbor with cancer will get you to the next level, you're likely to grow frustrated and resentful. We learn patience as we embrace tough times.

When you're facing difficult times, remember the hope found in the Easter story. Life can come after loss, and we can bear it because of Christ. The question isn't whether you will have tragedy and loss in your life. Those are givens. The question is...what will you decide to do with it? Will it take you under? Will it make you stronger? Will it take you deeper? Will you allow God to use if for His glory?

So Lord, I know it is daring to pray for patience, because that usually opens the door to difficulties. But the important lessons You desire us to learn usually do. So, teach me patience Lord. Patience to endure hard times and loss, patience to see that difficulties draw me nearer to You. Bring me to a higher level of relationship with You through the tough times in life. Amen.

Connie Hanten, BCMCLC

"Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:4 NKJV

Jesus Recipe for Popcorn (Part 6)

Jesus has a special unique recipe for POPCORN – and it involves us!

JESUS USED COMMON THINGS TO TEACH US

Some of these ways were referred to by Jesus and others in the Bible, through the use of the names and qualities of common substances metaphorically, attempting to capture the essence of how and what He is doing for us by His outpoured Holy Spirit in each one of our lives.

These include Oil, Fire, Salt, and…. 

KERNEL (SEED)

Finally, we have the kernel of God’s Word sown into us by Jesus, through His messengers in the earth.

God’s Word is sown into our hearts by Jesus through His Holy Spirit, who works through His messengers that walk the earth today, and by His words preserved for us over many centuries in the Bible.

As Jesus’ well known Parable of the Sower tells us, there are many heart conditions into which this kernel of His Word falls.

This broad range and variation of results in people’s life experiences, is certainly influenced and affected by our own openness and obedience, or our personal resistance and reluctance, to the work of the Holy Spirit within and upon each of us.

Some with these heart conditions either reject God’s Word outright or do so over time, when faced with difficult conditions or rejection by others.

Others, with different heart conditions can slowly strangle the life out of the Word, because of all the other things from this world (cosmos) system already growing and taking over within them!

Jesus’ description of this fourth and final heart condition speaks of good soil and fruitful results, but also shows us several differing levels of productivity.

This variation in the level of our fruitfulness may be based on divine callings and giftings, but is also influenced and affected by our openness and obedience to the Lord in receiving and reflecting His many graces offered to each of us:

It finally comes down to how well we choose to receive and reflect our Lord Jesus and His many graces, offered freely to every one of us:

MARK 4:¹⁴ The sower sows the Word. ¹⁵ The ones along the path are those who have the Word sown [in their hearts], but when they hear, Satan comes at once and [by force] takes away the message which is sown in them. ¹⁶ And in the same way the ones sown upon stony ground are those who, when they hear the Word, at once receive and accept and welcome it with joy; ¹⁷ And they have no real root in themselves, and so they endure for a little while; then when trouble or persecution arises on account of the Word, they immediately are offended (become displeased, indignant, resentful) and they stumble and fall away. ¹⁸ The ones sown among the thorns are others who hear the Word; ¹⁹ Then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless. ²⁰ And those sown on the good (well-adapted) soil are the ones who hear the Word and receive and accept and welcome it and bear fruit—some thirty times as much as was sown, some sixty times as much, and some [even] a hundred times as much.

Jesus sows His Word into those of us who have been prepared, and now have the blessing of this fourth and final human heart condition.

Within our prepared hearts, the works of the Holy Spirit, depicted to us by Jesus, as Oil, Fire, and Salt create a dynamic combustion within our human spirits, eternally transforming our hearts, souls, minds, and wills!

This divinely produced transformation begins to blow away the hard outer shells we have developed within ourselves, because of wounds from others, and our own negative reactions to our hurts.

As we then begin to have softened, enlarged spiritual lives, we open up more and more to give and recieve love, to be loved by God and love other people.

This dynamo of love within our expanding hearts and lives flows from deep within us, until our true destiny to become like Jesus blossoms forth, growing upward, forward, and outward, toward full realization in and beyond our lifespan here on earth, and on into eternity!

IN OTHER WORDS - POP!

Neil Uniacke
Executive Director

 

 

 

 

 

Apologies

I have been thinking lately about apologies. What is an apology? Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines “apology” as “a statement saying that you are sorry about something: an expression of regret for having done or said something wrong.”

What is the reason for making an apology? The reason is this precisely: we are human and from time to time we fail and hurt those we love. How do we restore the relationship after we’ve done or said something hurtful? We apologize! To apologize is one of the most healing things we can do in a relationship.

Here is an example of an apology two brothers I was working with in a family conflict situation made to each other:

To my brother _________________:

Over the years of living and working together as brothers on the same farm, there have been times I have wronged you, in word and action. Some of these wrongs have been unintentional, while there are other times, I am sure, that I have wronged you and knew that I was sinning against you. I apologize for sinning against you both unintentionally and intentionally, and ask your forgiveness. I want the two of us brothers and couples to be able to separate in peace. May God go with you and ________________ as you move to another place and raise your family.

How difficult is it for you to apologize? For most people it is a very difficult thing to do. After all, underlying apology is the admission to oneself and to others that I was wrong. For many people, this admission in itself is daunting. But to arrive at the place where one can admit that they have been wrong can be very freeing. After all, who of us in never wrong? No one! And yet, some people live as though they never err in any way.

There may be a number of reasons why people have difficulty apologizing. One may be that a person grew up in a home environment where apologies were never expressed. Or perhaps children were made to apologize, but parents never did. I worked with a man who shared that he never heard his mother apologize even once in all his life. This man knew there were times his mother could have and probably should have apologized but she never did. This client also found it very difficult, as an adult, to apologize to his wife and children.

Another reason people may have difficulty apologizing is due to a perfectionist approach to life. For some people, to ever admit that they were wrong and apologize to others, is to lose control over their life situation. For some, the only personal strength they may have is wrapped up in the aura of perfectionism, and to admit wrong or failure would be devastating to their self-image.

Try apologizing! It is very freeing. It also greatly improves relationships! Apology breathes new life, grace and openness into marriage, family, friendships, and workplace relationships.

Tom Horst, MA MFT

Marriage and Family Therapist

Spring

Happy and blessed almost Spring! I want to share this poem with you:

Spring

A walk in the woods this warm spring day,

Brings me into Your presence as I walk along the way.

The warm damp breeze has me breathless as I,

Take in creation awakening right before my eyes.

 

The oak as its branches are raised in rigidity,

Reminds me to raise my praise to You, Your majesty.

A downy white feather floats softly to the ground,

Reminds me of all the blessings this day has found.

 

The ferns and the moss have awakened from their slumber.

And I am reminded of Your return as I hear the distant thunder.

A storm that is impending, the rapidly darkening skies,

Reminds me to be thankful, for every season of life. 

Danette Kettwich

Submitted by: Ann L. Gantt, Ph.D., LCSW, NEW HOPE counselor