February 14-February 20

Prayer Points
Feb 122010

Dear God,

You have been teaching me that the opposite love is not hate but fear.  Set me free from all fear that I may be secure, strong, confident and whole in Your love!!

  • Lord, every time I strive and perform to win your love, I am sliding back into religious slavery. Forgive me for trying to get it right instead of surrendering my brokenness to you and letting Your power flow through me.
  • Every time I act up and don’t treat those around me with your tender grace, I am feeling unloved.  Oh, God, cause my feelings to line up with the truth in Your Word.  While I was still a sinner, unable to do anything for You, You showed me Your Love by dying for my sins.
  • God, I feel ashamed and I hide from You, from myself, from those around me.  Set me free in love!  I want to worship you with nothing in between us.
  • Lord God, forgive me when I get intimidated and don’t speak or live in the glorious freedom you bought for me.  Forgive me for fearing man instead of reveling in awe of My Glorious King who loves me.

I receive your forgiveness and I choose today to give and receive love from a place of tender surrender, knowing I am loved, adored and all my shame is washed away.  I renounce all fear:  the fear of man, the fear of rejection, the fear of  punishment.  I receive the spirit of adoption by which we can cry, “Daddy, Daddy!”  Make me complete, perfect, whole in Your love.

I love you, Father.  In Jesus Name, Amen

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. I John 4: 18

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

Journey of Transformation, Part 10

Life Happens Jesus Answers, Real life stories, Testimonies
Feb 112010

LifeHappensBanner

Holding It Together

The kind ob/gyn managed to contact my friend and then invited me to sit down on the blue plastic chair placed against the wall behind her desk. I sat in that chair, rocking forward and back, arms wrapped around my midsection. The rocking was instinctive. I either was attempting to comfort my shattered soul; or I was subconsciously rocking the newborn I would never hold. Like Jackie Kennedy scrambling to collect a piece of John’s skull from the back of their open convertible the day he was assassinated, I was desperately grasping the womb that encased my dead baby.

I stared at the floor, expressionless; feeling battered and bruised on the inside. It was all emotion. The wailing episode had drained me. My brain became more and more disengaged as I slipped into autopilot. But this dark journey had just begun and I needed to stay present.

The doctor proceeded to call the Red Cross. It was their job to locate and notify Steve. Little did I know it would take extra effort and a lot of time for them to succeed. As the ob/gyn initiated her phone call, the male nurse who had shoved tissue into my hand earlier came to escort me to a different doctor. He led me out of the examining room to the right, down a corridor, through the halls. I was in a fog. Nothing seemed real. Everything was blurry. I put one foot in front of the other, staying directly behind him, keeping my head straight without turning to the right or the left.

As we walked down the center of the hallway, we cut a path requiring people to walk around us. Through my peripheral vision I caught glimpses of pregnant women passing me on both sides. Today that memory brings to mind God’s parting of the Red Sea. He cut a path through the water so the people could cross. In my case, I carried death down the corridor while life passed by me. It seemed cruel. If I could have mustered the strength, I might have screamed.

The date of this dreadful event was Friday, April 20, 2001. The new doctor explained that even though I hadn’t had any cramping or significant bleeding up to that point, it could happen over the weekend which would make this situation much worse. He encouraged me to schedule a D & C for later that afternoon. (Dilation and Curettage — A common procedure used to remove tissue that hasn’t been expelled on its own. It also stops bleeding and prevents infection.) Because the day was getting older and operating rooms were filling up, I had to decide quickly.

It was so abrupt. I had just arrived at the hospital at 9:30 a.m. to be examined; then one hour later learned I’d had a miscarriage; and then I was strongly encouraged to get rid of the contents of my womb. Just like that. Still, reason and wisdom took control over the grief and anger I felt brewing inside. I’ve always been practical; doing what makes the most sense. Even during the most unbearable loss of my life, I managed to pull myself out of autopilot and use my brain. Or was the Holy Spirit responsible for that? He had to be holding me together.

TO BE CONTINUED:

Women of PWOC, and other interested parties, stay connected for the rest of the story. It will continue as long as the Lord allows. If you’re a little lost, and would like to get caught up, feel free to read previous entries in Life Happens – Jesus Answers under “Categories.” Until next time, may God bless you with peace and joy as you traverse your week.

_____________________________

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 6:47 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Out with the Old, in with the New

Testimonies
Feb 102010

Submitted by Wendy Olmeda, PWOC Administrative Coordinator, Fort Belvoir

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17 NKJV

There are many worthwhile benefits of living by the Holy Spirit.  Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of these benefits perhaps maybe because we’re having difficulty experiencing them, or because we’re so focused on getting rid of sin in our lives. Getting rid of sin is important, but God also wants us to enjoy the fruits of living for him.  After all, Jesus came so that we would have life and life more abundantly (John 10:10).

Romans 14:17 reminds us that God’s kingdom is about righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  In our fast-paced and uncertain times, we certainly need peace and joy as we meet the daily challenges of life.  Paul prayed in Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Hope is something that we cannot live without.  It is an integral part of our faith in God.  Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The Holy Spirit will help us overflow with hope, and as a result our faith will be strengthened.

When we place our trust (faith) in Jesus, God sends the Holy Spirit to live in us (Ephesians 4:30). The Holy Spirit brings the life-changing power that enables us to live as a truly new person (Romans 8:11).  If we respond to the Holy Spirit and cooperate with him, the “new person” in Christ will surely manifest in us (2 Corinthians 5:17).  If we do not respond to the Holy Spirit, but rather, continue to live in our old sinful habits we had before we were saved, we’ll continue living like and acting like the our old self, failing to experience the benefits of living by the Spirit. The questions to consider are what fruits of the Holy Spirit have you experienced in your life so far?  Are there any that you have not yet experienced?

On January 15th 2009, I repented of my old self and was baptized into new life in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the presence of my family and Fort Drum PWOC sisters. Today, I continue to thank God for the amazing gift of the Holy Spirit at work within me. If you are struggling to experience the benefits of living by the Holy Spirit, I encourage you to ask God to intervene in your life. Don’t allow the enemy to steal your peace, joy and hope.

My prayer mirrors that of Paul’s “May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Lord Jesus, thank you for the blessings and benefits that are ours through our faith in you.  Please strengthen us to live by your laws and crush Satan under our feet. Please fill us with joy and peace in the Holy Spirit so that we overflow with hope and stand strong in our faith. I trust in you.  I praise you and thank you. May we truly say through the power of your Holy Spirit “New Year, New Us, Out with the old in with the New” for your glory.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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

Choosing New Technology

Tech Tuesday
Feb 092010

The speed of advancements in technology seem to be increasing every year leaving tech savvy geeks shelling out wads of cash to keep up while leaving others, less savvy, increasingly confused. How do you know when to upgrade and furthermore, what to upgrade to?

Very simply, this question is no different than that of choosing a new car. Let’s say, for example, that you’ve decided it’s time to replace your work vehicle since it’s become old and obsolete. You visit the dealer and learn that there’s a great dealer incentive program in place and to sweeten the deal, there’s only one of last year’s model remaining on the lot so they’re willing to strike a substantial chunk off the sticker price. The fact that the vehicle is your favorite color seals the deal and you drive away with your brand-new, shiny, new-smelling sedan with moon roof. You haven’t decided about the satellite radio option, yet, since you can’t even figure out how to change the station! That’ll come later.

Arriving home, your spouse steps out to greet you in the driveway. With a curious facial expression, she cautiously asks, “But honey, how are you going to haul your ladders with this?” You see, this is to be your work vehicle and you’re a house painter!

Almost every purchase decision begins with the same question—What function do I need this item to fulfill (over what I have already)?

Starting with this simple question will filter out many of the other, more confusing, questions that seem to get folks off track. Getting more specific, I have many folks asking me lately if they’d do well to switch from PC to MAC. Before that question can be answered, however, you need to determine what functions you perform and which software is required to complete those functions. Not all software titles are available on both platforms. As to which smart phone to purchase, you should start by asking yourself what you want your device to do for you and which wireless carrier you want to contract with.

Not every new device released to market will satisfy your practical needs. Using caution and avoiding impulse decisions will keep you from getting swept up into the fervor of a new release. One example would be the latest release of Apple’s iPad. While very exciting, and extremely promising, you’d be terribly disappointed to get home to your sofa, snuggled in and poised to harvest crops on FarmVille only to learn that this device doesn’t support an app called Flash, necessary to run games like FarmVille.

Alternatively, once you have carefully weighed your options and made your purchasing decision, I encourage you to explore the limits of your new device. I’ve had my current smart phone for over a year and I still enjoy learning of new features and apps available for it.  Can you believe that I can deposit checks into my checking account, set my satellite receiver to record a tv program AND arm my home security system…ALL from my cell phone?! That’s just crazy!

_____________

“Tech Tuesday” is published every Tuesday. To reach Tracy with comments or questions, email her here.

Posted by Tracy Hathaway at 12:21 am

Mt. Fuji: Just a Snow Covered Mountain?

Devotions
Feb 082010

On a clear winter day I can see Mount Fuji from Yokota Air Force Base. The snow covered mountain juts high above all the surrounding mountains. It is a beautiful sight of God’s creation! I know what lies beneath the snow because I climbed Mt. Fuji last summer. Mt. Fuji is classified as an active volcano and there is a big hole or crater at the top. The mountain is covered with volcanic rock and residue that gets stuck in the shoes when trekking down the ash-covered paths. These small pieces of hardened cinder cause your feet to hurt and you have to remove them from your shoes to be able to walk comfortably. The mountain is barren; few signs of life along the path.

Buddhists named the mountain after the fire goddess, Fuchi. Located at the top of the mountain is a Shinto shrine dedicated to another goddess. Living in Japan opened my eyes to false religions. God warns His people in the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me”. Deut 4:39 says, “Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.”

Mt. Fuji inspires me to reflect upon some truths: There is only one God. Our hearts have big holes or craters that only Jesus can fill. No other religion or false goddess can do that. God makes us a new beautiful creation when we trust in the shed blood of Jesus and His work on the cross. Jesus removes the sin (cinders) from our hearts and makes us white as snow. God gives us His Word that is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path to show us how to live (Psalm 119:105). He warns us to stay on the narrow path that leads to life, and not trek down ash-covered paths that will lead us astray.

Do you have a crater in your heart and need Jesus to fill it? Have you asked and trusted Jesus to forgive you and remove the cinders and give you life? As a believer, are you trekking down an ash-covered path or are you on the narrow path?

Dear God, open the eyes of people deceived by false religions to see and know the Truth. Impress upon the hearts of PWOC to arise and share the good news. Thank you for the Bible, your Word. Help us to obey your Word and live righteously, in Jesus name, Amen.

Submitted by Laura Miller, President Yokota Air Force Base, Japan

Laura Miller and her husband Mark of 20 years are stationed in Japan at Yokota Air Force base. They have 3 children, 19, 16, and 14 years old, as well as a Rat Terrier named Riley.

Posted by Laura Miller at 2:00 am Tagged with: , , , ,

February 7-February 13

Prayer Points
Feb 052010

Dear Father in Heaven,

I thank you today for Abraham Lincoln, born on February 12th.  I praise you for this humble pioneer who was defeated over and over again but continued to persevere.  I thank you for His faithfulness to stand against the horrors of slavery in America.  God, please give us the courage to stand against the injustices of our day:  human trafficking,  the blood of 50,000 million aborted babies crying out from the land in our Nation,  and abortion clinics being built in primarily minority neighborhoods. God strengthen us to stand against unrighteous laws that try to silence the gospel.  We lift up the authority of Jesus Christ over each of these issues.  Heal women in our midst who have had abortions.  Help us to be a voice of hope to unwed mothers. Give us your heart for the oppressed.  Open our eyes to see what is happening in our own neighborhoods.  Get us off of our holy hills and into the battle with you, Lord of Hosts, Lord of Armies. God, we arise with you to rule the nations as you extend your scepter of justice in the earth.  We choose to be found standing with you in truth!  I love you.  In Jesus Name, Amen

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

Journey of Transformation, Part 9

Life Happens Jesus Answers, Real life stories, Testimonies
Feb 042010

LifeHappensBanner

Grief Emerges

When the doctor returned to the examining room I was sitting on the table composed but stunned. The questions that bounced around in my brain still couldn’t be asked. My mouth wasn’t ready to engage. This had been my first pregnancy. At the time I didn’t know it would be my last. The road ahead would be long and hard but I had to stay present in this dark moment.

The doctor began asking necessary questions: “Where is your husband?” I responded, “He’s not here. He’s at school. He didn’t even know I was pregnant . . . no one knows.” Her eyes widened in disbelief. Then embarrassment climbed atop all the other emotions accumulating at my core. Suddenly I was no longer napping in denial. Reality woke me up.

It rumbled and pushed its way up from a depth I didn’t know existed. Like hot bubbling lava desperate to burst forth from an active volcanic core, grief emerged indescribable. All I did was answer the doctor’s question, but that was enough to cause anguish to churn and rise like waves of nausea determined to force out projectile vomit. Only, this wasn’t vomit, this was the very essence of my being — my soul. My soul knew what happened. It knows everything. It writhed and groaned like it wanted to leave my body in search of relief from the agony holding it captive.

By the time the doctor asked the next question grief gripped my heart. “Where is he?” she inquired with concern. I couldn’t answer. My body felt paralyzed. Waves of sorrow swirled upward and made their way to my shoulders and neck. My head grew hot. As I opened my mouth and struggled to speak, the waves unleashed streams of despair through my eyes. With labored breath I spoke in a slow, quiet whisper, sobs punctuating the sentence, “Heee’s at . . . he’s . . . he . . . heee’s at . . . Fort . . . Leaven . . . worth . . . Kansas.”

The doctor couldn’t understand what I said so she asked the question again, “Where is he?” Once more I fought to release the words, “Fort Leaven . . . worth . . . Kansas.” Then it came. What had been rumbling from the depth of my being finally made its way out in full force. With raw, uninhibited emotion my vocal chords emitted something like the sound of a soul tormented in hell. Crying and sobbing were done. For the first time in my life I WAILED.

It came from a deep, dark, black hole — a place outside my body — a dimension unknown to mankind — a place I’d never been. The doctor held my head to her BDU clad chest and spoke gently, “This is the hardest part of my job.” She had done this before, many times.

She gave me a few minutes to expel the first wave of volcanic grief. A hazy cloud formed around me. I felt anesthetized. In a kind, compassionate manner the doctor continued her questions, “Is there anyone here we can call?” I had to think for a minute but one person came to mind. With that name the doctor went over to her desk and set the notification process in motion.

TO BE CONTINUED:

Women of PWOC, and other interested parties, stay connected for the rest of the story. God displays His faithfulness and compassion each step of the way. He is El Roi: God of Seeing; El Shaddai: God All Sufficient; Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord will Provide; and ultimately, Jehovah-Rophe: The Lord Who Heals.

_____________________________

“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: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bible Study and the Internet

Tech Tuesday
Feb 022010

There are seasons in life and each season has its purpose and resulting fruit. Some seasons are tougher than others but God uses all of them for His kingdom work. As military spouses, we well know our share of difficult seasons as we’re nearing a decade of combat deployments, sometimes back to back, but all of them too long.

Whether on a mountaintop or in a valley, where do you turn for peace and strength? I hope you’re turning to your Creator. This is a time to deepen your relationship with the only One you’ll ever truly need, God Himself. Where can you find him? Besides everywhere (duh, He made it all!), you can get to know Him better by spending time in His Word, the Bible.

For new believers, and some not.so.new, approaching the Scriptures can be intimidating. It’s a big book, after all. The good news is that you’re not alone. First and foremost, invite the Author to join you as you approach His Word. He wants you to join Him there and He’ll be overjoyed that you’ve invited Him to be your tour guide.  Learn to open your heart and your mind to His guidance, and enjoy the unspeakable joy that comes from a personal relationship with the God of the Universe.

Okay, so where does the Tech Tuesday part come in? Since I’m a DigiGeek, my initial response to all things is how can my computer help me here? I’ve harnessed the power of my computer in Bible study for many years and have learned that there’s a mountain of information available to help you spend more time in Scripture and to make that time more fruitful.

A simple start would be a daily/weekly reading plan. I noticed some nice reading plans recently at the local Christian bookstore that were priced at one or two dollars. I laughed to myself since I know that there are scores of these reading plans available for FREE on the Internet. All you have to do is print them out and slip it into your Bible. I can remember creating and typing out my own reading plan about fifteen years ago before the Internet became what it is today. How things have changed!

Second, if you’re like me, sometimes you want to know what a word means, or meant in the original language of the written text. One option is to spend hundreds of dollars on a shelf full of Concordances or you could simply harness the power of the Internet (for FREE) and collect the same information. Among the many, a few good sites to visit are:

Bible Gateway
Biblos
Blue Letter Bible
Bible Study Tools

A habit I picked up a few years ago when I approach a book study is to listen to the entire book before I begin reading. There are several, okay many, audio Bibles available out there for any variety of prices including versions you can put on your iPod or mp3 player. I personally prefer the free versions that I can find on the Internet. If you enter ‘listen to the bible on the internet’ into your favorite Internet search engine, you’ll find several sites where you can listen to Scripture absolutely free…you can even choose the translation you prefer!

What if you want to know more about a Bible study you’re considering? In most cases, you can use the Internet to locate the author’s website and learn more about the author’s background, training, and doctrinal beliefs. You may also find reviews of the study or opinions from other believers that have taken the study. These can be valuable resources as you, with the Lord’s guidance, consider how to spend your study time.

If you still want to dig deeper, the Internet is an inexhaustible resource. I would caution you, however, that not everything on the Internet is true and accurate. Be mindful of the source of information and weigh everything against the absolute truth of Scripture. And never, ever, ever enter into any study of the Scriptures without inviting the Author to guide you first. Do not let the Enemy get a foothold!

_____________

“Tech Tuesday” is published every Tuesday. To reach Tracy with comments or questions, email her here.

Posted by Tracy Hathaway at 12:47 am Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Do You Have a (Faith) Training Partner?

Devotions
Feb 012010

A few years back, while we were stationed in Europe, my husband ran a marathon in Venice (rough, huh?). His time was 3 hours and 19 minutes. Prior to that, he had run a marathon in Kansas City with a time of 3:31. Twelve minutes is a lot of time to shave off a race, even a marathon, so what made the difference? Well, in the second race he had a running partner. These two, similarly matched, trained together several times a week prior to the race – holding each other accountable to make their mileage goals, challenging each other to run faster, and building a solid friendship along the way.

The Christian life is like this. Ecclesiastes 4:9 says that two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. We are encouraged in God’s Word to think of our faith journey as a race, and this could include setting specific goals and surrounding ourselves with people who can help motivate, encourage and strengthen us (and this is one reason why church is important). How about you? Do you have a faith training partner, coach or mentor who will challenge you to meet your spiritual goals? Is there someone who comes to mind?

• I Corinthians 9:24 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets a prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”

• Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

• 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.”

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