First Sunday of Advent: Our King is Coming!

Devotions, Seasonal teaching, Testimonies
Nov 302009

“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be constantly on the watch! Stay awake!…You do not know when the Master of the house is coming.’” Mark. 13:33

I had always wanted my solider husband, Don, to surprise me with a homecoming. While he was deployed to Iraq, he decided this would be the perfect opportunity to surprise me with his R&R. Now, I knew my man Don was coming home on R&R but I didn’t know when. I waited and watched for that three month deployment mark when I knew that R&Rs would begin. Each day I would awake with eager anticipation wondering if this would be the day my love came home to me.

Would this be the day I could hold him in my arms and tell him how much I loved him? Would this be the day that he would hold me in his arms and tell me everything was going to be ok? Would this be the day that those held back tears of anguish would all come flooding out now that I was secure in his arms? Would this be the day he would wipe away tears of relief and joy from my face? Would this be the day?

Those thoughts would soon be followed by thoughts of “if today is that day, will my love be honored with what he finds here in our home?” Will my husband be honored with the condition of the house? Will he be honored with the condition of my mind, my heart, and my body? Have I done the things that I know would bring him great joy and great honor? Really, I was asking myself if I was ready for today to be the day that my husband came for me.

As we go into this first week of advent, those same questions flood my heart again as I reminded to watch for Jesus, the coming King. We, promised bride of the King, should awake each day with eager anticipation wondering if this will be the day that our Savior, who loves us, will come to bring us home. Will this be the day that He holds us in His arms and wipes every tear from our eyes? Will this be the day we hear His voice with our ears as He proclaims His great love for us? Will this be the day?

Girlies, how much would if effect our thoughts, our emotions, and how we care for our bodies if throughout our days we asked ourselves, “will this be the day that I see Jesus face to face?” If this is that day, will we be ready?

Arise, oh, daughters of the King!

Arise, princesses of the Most High God!

Though we know not the day, we know that our King is coming!

Posted by Christina McClure at 2:00 am Tagged with: , , , , ,

O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL!

Friday Fruit, Seasonal teaching
Nov 272009

We are approaching a season called Advent. Aim Two of the PWOC Aims states that we are to “TEACH women the history, beliefs and programs of the church, all built on a solid foundation of worship and Bible study.” Over the next four weeks, ideas about Advent will be presented in the PWOCI blog. Staying true to our heritage of ecumenical Protestant beliefs, let us come together as we prepare our hearts and minds and homes for the celebration of Christmas.

Advent is a term that comes from the Latin word, “adventus,” – “arrival” or “coming”. This term is used sometimes in our culture about a new beginning, as in the “dawn of a new day,” but when mentioned in conjunction with the end of our calendar year, it signifies a holy time, the time we prepare our hearts to celebrate the first advent of Jesus – God coming to Earth. This marks the beginning of the Christian church calendar year and is typically celebrated for the four Sundays prior to Christmas Day. For Americans, this usually means that Advent begins the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

The celebration of Advent can be found recorded as early as the Fourth Century, AD, and has been associated with preparations for Baptism, Epiphany, the Birth of Christ, and anticipation of the Second Coming of Christ. By doing some internet research, you will be able to find many resources and to incorporate this celebration into your family’s holiday traditions.

One tradition that has been a fun one for us is the use of Advent calendars. Children love the idea of routine and excitement, and a calendar helps them be consistent in counting down the days to Christmas. Our family also reads a book about the ABCs of Advent, each day having a reading associated with the season. For example, A is for Angels; B is for Bethlehem; C is for Candles; and so on. Advent wreaths are used in worship services and can be made for your own home as well. This season of Advent can be the perfect time to focus Christmas all on Jesus.

So as you begin your decorating and festivities, put on some music and sing along with us, “Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free; from our fears and sins release us; Let us find our rest in Thee; Israel’s Strength and Consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.”

Posted by Melinda Hemphill at 2:00 am Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Prayer Points November 29-December 5

Prayer Points
Nov 272009

I Chronicles 16: 8-12

Give thanks to the Lord, call on His Name: make known among the nations what He has done.  Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. Glory in His holy Name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.  Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgements He pronounced.

God,   We give thanks to you today!  We call upon the Name of Jesus.  There is no other name by which we can be saved.  We proclaim You in the many nations where we are stationed.  God, you have done so many wonderful things.  We praise you for saving us.  We praise you for healing our wounded hearts.  We praise you for lifting our burdens.  We praise you for delivering us from bondage to sin and our flesh. We thank you for healing our bodies and our minds.  We thank you for protecting our children.  We praise you for holding our marriages in the palm of Your Hand. 

We glory in the powerful and precious Name of Jesus.  You are the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Father, we seek you and we rejoice!  We rejoice because when we seek, we find.  When we ask, we receive, when we knock, you open the door of your heart to us.  Thank you for your consistent loving response to our need and desire for You.

God we cry out to You once again for strength.  Fill us with your strength that has no end.  We seek your face always.  We remember your mighty wonders and miracles and we honor your righteous judgments.  Your judgments remove obstacles to your love.

We confess our love for you.  Glory to Your Holy Name!  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Posted by Dawn Kennedy at 2:00 am Tagged with: , ,

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bits & Pieces
Nov 262009

ThanksgivingMessageMay the Lord keep you this wonderful Thanksgiving day as you celebrate with your families and friends. Let us give thanks not only for the sacrifices of those who came before us in our great country and the freedom that came along with it; but also for the gift of God’s Son, Jesus. Let us rejoice and give thanks for our Salvation through Him. Let your light shine before men so that all might know and believe!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Posted by Blog Manager at 2:00 am Tagged with:

GIVE THANKS!

Devotions, Real life stories
Nov 252009

Melinda Hemphill, PWOCI 3VP CommunicationsTurkey. Parades. Mashed potatoes. Sweet potatoes. Stuffing. Cornbread dressing. Pies. That green bean casserole you either love or hate. Football games. Family times around the table, the yard, the TV, the fireplace. What is your definition of this American holiday we know as Thanksgiving? My children love the Peanuts version where the kids are sitting around the ping pong table, eating pretzels, popcorn and toast.

As far back as the early 1600s, white settlers and Native Americans would feast and celebrate and be thankful with the bountiful crops of the year. Or so that’s what we hear and think of when Thanksgiving rolls around the fourth Thursday of each November.

In thinking about giving thanks, I am reminded of what Jesus did “on the night He was betrayed.” Matthew’s Gospel says, “While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.’” (26:26-28)

In both this account about the Lord’s Supper and in Matthew 15 about the loaves and the fish, the word “thanks” is used to mean “being thankful.” The word is actually eucharist. The next time you approach the Lord’s Table to commemorate His death and resurrection, remember the words of Jesus Himself.

We ask a blessing before we eat a meal around the table. We give thanks. I pray these traditions are more than just what is common to do; I pray they are heartfelt prayers of thanks for the new life God has given you in His Son – and for the abundance of blessings God has given you. By remembering where we come from as a physical nation and a spiritual nation, we can’t help but be thankful. God bless you and yours on this special day. And if you are apart from your loved one due to deployment or other separation, I pray He pours out an extra measure of His grace to comfort you and give you strength.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Posted by Melinda Hemphill at 2:00 am Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Hit the Power Button

Tech Tuesday
Nov 242009

TechTuesdayBanner

As I sit here staring at the calendar, I wonder where the year went. My husband has been home from Iraq for a year, yet he only returned last week it seems. Spring turned into summer, summer turned into fall and Thanksgiving is but two days away. My head is spinning!

Life moves fast and if you’re not paying close attention, you’re sure to miss something important. My Tech Tuesday tip for this, the week that kicks off the Holiday Season 2009, is to stay focused on what’s important in your world and that may mean hitting the power button. Not the ‘on’ button, but the ‘off ’ button.

Yes, you heard me say it right here. Sometimes you just have to turn off the computer; turn off the game player; turn off the cell phone.

Try this: the next time your family sets out to drive somewhere together, resist the urge to turn on the radio and power down all cell phones (especially the ones your teens text 1,000 words a day on). You’ll go through a period of discomfort, confusion and grumbling but soon you may notice something else…conversation. You remember conversation, don’t you? That’s when two or more people share ideas, plans, stories, get to know each other a bit better. When was the last time your family shared a good old-fashioned conversation?

What’s the most valuable gift you can give or receive? Time. This holiday season, don’t get distracted by the retail hype and give your loved ones the gift they really want…you.

_____________

“Tech Tuesday” will be unplugged for the holidays and will return on January 12, 2010. In the meantime, this blog will be featuring posts on Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas and Epiphany over the next six weeks. Be sure to check them out and share them with your family and friends. To reach Tracy with comments or questions, email her here.

Posted by Tracy Hathaway at 12:42 am Tagged with:

Thanksgiving, Faith and Freedom

Devotions
Nov 232009

Have you ever thought about passing along a legacy of faith? Or what this means to our culture?

William Bradford, one of the original Pilgrims, wrote Of Plymouth Plantation. In this easy-to read history, you see examples over and over again of the Pilgrim’s faith. They stood on the biblical fact that salvation is by faith alone placed in Christ alone. Salvation does not come out of the empty traditions of men or by works. In Europe, they suffered much persecution as a result of their faith. When they arrived at the New World, they encountered great trials and near starvation. They looked not on their suffering, losses, and persecution, but lifted their eyes to the heavens on behalf of their country and quieted their spirits. Their Christian behavior left a deep impression on the minds of many. Their peace, courage, and shining testimony came out of a faith already present and a repeated commitment to look to Christ and God’s word.

If you are not familiar with this portion of history, it is partly because within this century there has been an overt attempt to strip the historical record of any mention of God and His providential dealing in the matters of nations and peoples. Today we are seeing different organizations pressure our leaders to remove God’s name from money, buildings, textbooks, and end public prayers. The example of the Pilgrims sets the record straight that God was and still is involved in the affairs of America. Without remembering our true roots, it is inevitable that we as Americans will lose sight of our original call from God.

Judges 2:7 reads “And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua who had seen all the great work the Lord had done for Israel…and there arose another generation after them who did not know the work that He had done for Israel. And the children did evil in the sight of the Lord and served Baal.” They forgot their history!

This Thanksgiving, may we also look to Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, seeing the incredibly compassionate, merciful, just, loving Father God behind this whole free gift of Salvation – giving this awesome legacy to our children, husbands and whoever will hear and believe by God’s amazing grace. And don’t forget the Pilgrims and their example as you celebrate. The spiritual wellbeing of future generations depends on it.

Posted by Judy Nay at 2:00 am Tagged with: , , , ,

Prayer Points November 22-28

Prayer Points
Nov 202009

Hebrews 12:1

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.  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 the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

As we celebrate the anniversary of the Pilgrims’ Thanksgiving to God, we remember their passionate pursuit of freedom to worship and freedom from tyranny.  We have enjoyed the fruit of their sacrifice in our nation.

Father God,

We thank you for the godly heritage of our nation.  Please forgive us for using our freedom as an excuse to do unholy things.  We throw these weights off and run toward you.  Jesus, you are our goal and our prize!   Thank you for the incredible strength you showed in faithfully going to the cross.  Thank you for your endurance, your humility, and your authority.  Strengthen our hearts for the challenges ahead.  Father, wash away our weariness.  Remove hope deferred.  Help us to finish well and strong like You did. Teach us to walk the paths of life, never giving up!

We honor you and we love you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Posted by Dawn Kennedy at 2:00 am Tagged with: , , ,

Journey of Transformation, Part 5

Life Happens Jesus Answers, Real life stories, Testimonies
Nov 192009

  LifeHappensBanner 

Insults, Dippy Doctors, and a Road Trip

During my mysterious symptom accumulation, I landed in the office of a new primary care physician whose kindness and sensitivity were astounding. Not! After hearing me talk about my strange symptoms and the tentative diagnosis of “lupus” given by previous physicians, he examined me and asserted, “I think you have fibromyalgia which isn’t recognized by the medical community as a real condition. You are depressed and your symptoms are largely psychosomatic.” I replied, “You think these symptoms are in my head?! You think I’m making them up?” I was insulted.

How is it that I was given a fairly accurate diagnosis in Germany, then ended up at Fort Campbell with doctors who couldn’t agree? Part of the problem is that many autoimmune diseases mimic each other. Getting a final, accurate diagnosis is difficult until you have enough symptoms that fall into a certain category. It’s even harder with mixed connective tissue diseases because they can affect every part of the body. Ultimately, to be considered official, my diagnosis had to come from a rheumatologist — a doctor who specializes in autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and others. 

Unfortunately, specialists like these can be hard to find. The closest one who was available to see me in a reasonable amount of time was located an unreasonable distance away … in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Oh, it was only a two-hour drive. And, it didn’t matter that this doc spent more time in the hallway talking to his nurses than he did with me in the examining room, did it? Nor did it matter that he was from the Middle East and I couldn’t understand most of what he said. Although irresponsible of him, did it really matter that he offered me samples of prescription drugs for conditions I didn’t even have? No, not really. After all, to him I wasn’t a human being with feelings. I was a number preceded by a dollar sign. He had visions of greenbacks dancing in his head.

Drives, distances, and dollar signs aside, at least this specialist guessed that I probably had some kind of autoimmune disease. Wow, what a revelation! His guess was nothing new and he arrived at it without much investigation. As a result, I still didn’t have a definitive diagnosis from a rheumatologist. I suspect this dude gladly welcomed me to his office for as long as I would endure his malpractice. I visited him a couple more times then gave up.

Toward the end of February Steve traveled to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, to attend school. By early March my condition worsened. Cooking, cleaning, and shopping rendered me breathless and exhausted. I wasn’t eating enough and spent more time in bed. Something needed to change or I would deteriorate. So, I placed Bridgette, our beagle, in a friend’s care and managed to hitch a ride to Fort Jackson with a military family. They “just so happened” to be heading the direction I needed to go. Yeah, right. It was no accident. God is totally in control of everything. This was just one example of the Lord’s timely provision along this journey.

While Steve was in classes I had plenty of time to read and pray. Each day I sat in a cozy chair by the window and looked out toward the evergreens in the distance. They reminded me of the trees at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. It was beautiful there. I love God’s creation, and I dreamed of one day living in a place that had beautiful trees.

In the meantime, resting had top priority while new symptoms grabbed my attention. What I had experienced thus far paled in comparison to what lie ahead. This journey was about to lead me down Heartbreak Road.

TO BE CONTINUED …

Women of PWOC, stay connected! Life Happens – Jesus Answers will resume with the “Journey of Transformation, Part 6,” on Thursday, January 14, 2010.  The Blog will be featuring posts on Thanksgiving and Advent over the next 6 weeks.  Be sure to enjoy them and share them with your family and friends.

During this season, be sure to cherish the precious moments you have with your families, and reflect on the grace and provision that God extended to you in 2009.

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy 2010 to all of you! When you’re walking through the commissary or down the street in your neighborhood, wish everyone you meet a “Merry Christmas!” After all, it’s only because of Christ that we have a reason to celebrate.

_____________________

“Life Happens – Jesus Answers” is a weekly column addressing the challenges we face in life, coupled with the presence and grace of Jesus, our One True Source of hope and peace. The column’s author, Laura Firtko, can be reached by email here: LifeHappens@pwoc.org

Posted by LauraFirtko at 2:00 am Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Comfort

Real life stories
Nov 182009

Submitted by Mary Crow

Today, we had Praise Team practice to prepare for the next two weeks of PWOC. I had just enjoyed a wonderful time with a handful of some of my favorite ladies while praising the Lord. I don’t think it gets much better than that! Anyway, I was driving, and had to drop a friend off at her house before rushing home to grab a late lunch. Suddenly, something in my back was tweaked and it hurt to even breathe. I had been putting off getting a check-up on an old injury, and it now had escalated beyond being ignored.

I dropped her off and came home. After feeding my three year old something, I changed while hoping that it would dissipate. It didn’t. I chose super-comfortable clothes and grabbed a sandwich, then sat still. Still, it did not stop. I had no choice but to go and wait at my friend’s house for kids from the bus (our daily ritual). The pain was unrelenting. Luckily, I recalled that I had pizza in the freezer. Thank the Lord that I didn’t have to cook dinner.

Hours later, after adding hefty pain killers, heating pad treatments, and sitting still as much as I could despite the strong drive I’ve had lately to clean and purge due to an upcoming PCS, I prayed. Why didn’t I do that first? Because life got in the way. I used Facebook as the wonderful tool that it is to ask for prayer. It’s still hurting, though, even through everything.

I finally cracked open my bible and began to read. The most interesting thing happened when I started turning the pages of the Word of God. Verses started jumping out at me like nothing as I flipped around through my bible.
Then I would still have this consolation—my joy in unrelenting pain—that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.(Job 6:10) Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, it does not go away.(Job 16:6) Night pierces my bones; my gnawing pains never rest.(Job 30:17) Job has been where I am now. My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body. (Psalm 38:7) For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me. (Psalm 38:17) I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me. (Psalm 69:29) David has, too. So has Jesus, as we all have been taught.

While my head knows that there is nothing new under the sun, sometimes my heart doesn’t want to believe it or cannot fathom the idea. Sometimes, it takes something as out-of-control as an agonizing pain, or a small annoyance to make us do what we were meant to do. I should know this from those scripture examples. Job and David didn’t have the Holy Spirit leading them the way I do, nor did they have a bible to turn to in times of trouble. Where did they turn? Directly to God.

The next time that I have a problem, I won’t turn to worldly things. I won’t run to a friend, lean on my spouse, or rely on medicine to fix me. I’ll go directly to my Daddy, my Heavenly Father. I’ll curl up in His lap. I’ll beg for His comfort. I’ll request His healing. He should be the one who I turn to first, just like my daughter turns to her parents when she is in need. After all, didn’t Jesus say to come as a child?

Posted by Blog Manager at 2:00 am Tagged with: , , , , , ,
Older Entries
© 2012 PWOC International Blog Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha