Being a Verb

regional review, Testimonies
Aug 052010

Submitted by: Alicia Meyer, regional president – Alaska

At many stepping stones in my life I have been asked some form of the question “What prompted me to respond to a call to service?” and just as many times my answer starts with a PWOC sister’s name.  For example “Well, Dawn suggested…” or “Karen came to me and said…” and I got to thinking about what they have taught me either by lesson or example and I had this thought “She was a verb in my life!”   We know something has arrived in the worldly sense when a proper noun becomes a verb.  In this age,  we ‘Google’ things on the web instead of looking them up or we ‘Martha Stewart’ something when we make some not so cute item into a “good thing”.   These women saw something that God planted inside me and didn’t say …”one day you will…” they reached inside and helped it grow, they took an active role in my life, and they became verbs in my life.

In the Great Commission Jesus said:

“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.” (Matt28:19-20a)

These are very active words, they are verbs.  They require action; they require me to take an active role in someone’s life.

I am thankful for these Titus II women in my life and the verbs they became and find myself asking; “Am I a verb in someone’s life?”  This term the Alaska Region has been called to “unite and empower”, this too requires action, so I challenge everyone to consider how it is that you are accomplishing this in your life and the lives of others.  Are you acting on the call God has placed on our lives to invest in others?

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Why I Serve in PWOC

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday
Jun 302010

Submitted by Lynn Jackson

I have been active in PWOC for 8 years and served in a variety of positions for a variety of reasons.  See if you can identify with any of my experiences below.

1. First, I take any job in PWOC because I believe it is an opportunity to be part of God’s plan. I was amazed and inspired by all that God was doing in the first PWOC I attended.  As Henry  Blackaby put it in Experiencing God: see where God is working and join Him. That’s exactly what I did when I accepted my first board position as Spiritual Life VP. I wasn’t sure what the job entailed, but the Selection Committee asked me to serve so I accepted their assignment. It was a wonderful experience. My PWOC President was very patient, and the team I served with could easily have done the job without me.

2. Second, I sometimes take a job out of what Bill Hybels calls Holy Discontent. After enduring some very boring PWOC programs, I began skipping them and only attending PWOC on regular class days.  When it came time to select officers for the following year, I put my name in for programs.  I had a blast the next year, again serving with a great team, planning Olympic competitions and Bingo parties, etc.  The Joy of the Lord is my strength!

3. Third, I serve to help others. Galatians 6:10 (The Message) puts it this way: Right now, therefore, every time we get a chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith. I resisted serving as Titus 2 advisor once, but when the second opportunity came while we were stationed overseas, I accepted. I lead a Bible study for the executive board members outside of PWOC and made “coffee dates” with individual board members. It was a great year, not without problems and challenges, but we were all blessed as we chose to “do life deeply together.”

4. Fourth I serve to use the gifts God has given me.  My primary spiritual gifts are teaching and administration.  I seldom pass by the opportunity to teach, enjoying Bible studies, W.I.L.D. training, and teacher training, so when God gave me the opportunity to use my teaching skills to write for PWOC I was ecstatic!

God in His mercy chose to use my first less-than-successful efforts and gave me a second opportunity to serve as Bible Study Resource Coordinator on the PWOC International Board. Watch for the new PWOCI study God’s Love in 3-D being published by the American Bible Society. Again, I had the opportunity to serve with a great team. I am humbled, grateful and blessed that God has given me an opportunity to serve doing what I love!

So what is hindering you from serving? If you can’t identify with one of my reasons, pray and ask God to give you his reason for you to serve.  PWOC is a safe place to grow in the Lord and be blessed!

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Spring to Life: Bloom and Grow

Devotions
Apr 052010

Submitted by Laura Miller, Yokoto AB, Japan

Isaiah 45:8
You heavens above, rain down righteousness;
let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
let salvation spring up,
let righteousness grow with it;
I, the LORD, have created it.

Song of Solomon 2:12a
Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,

Spring to Life: Bloom and Grow was the theme of the Yokota PWOC conference held on March 19-20. The theme and decorations were planned around the season and colors of the Sakura Tree. Sakura means Japanese flowering cherry (cherry blossom) and it is a beautiful season to observe in Japan and Washington D.C. too. The Sakura tree has the appearance of a dead tree during the winter months and in late March it springs to life (blooms) with delicate white or pink blossoms. The tree branches become loaded with these lovely blossoms; but within a week, they begin to float to the ground, dropping their seeds upon the soil, and the branches are replaced with light green leaves. As the tree grows, the branches develop more leaves that take in sunlight and by summer the tree is filled with dark green leaves that reveal a mature tree with abundant life. Under the tree the roots are taking in nutrients from the soil and water that nourishes the tree and makes it flourish above.

As I reflect upon the cycle of a Sakura tree; I compare it to the life of a Christian. Do your branches appear dead? What is the condition of the soil of your heart? A fertile heart is created my allowing the Holy Spirit to plow deep into the heart to reveal sin and strongholds that leads to confession and repentance; turning away from sin. God places His seed, Jesus–the Word of God, into the soil of our hearts and causes salvation to spring up and righteousness to bloom and grow. May our hearts be fertile ground and the seeds planted through daily devotions, weekly Bible studies, monthly programs, and PWOC conferences be brought to germination by the power of the Holy Spirit. God desires to create a woman full of the Holy Spirit; a beautiful flowering tree that appears on earth that offers up a sweet fragrance unto Him. His plan is for us to drop or sow seeds of His Word and bear fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:8). Are your branches bearing fruit? Abide in Him (John 15). Are you sowing seeds of righteousness and sharing the gospel? Hearts that are cultivated and watered with prayer and the Word of God will result in transformed lives and mature women in Christ. Allow the Son to shine upon you and bask in His presence in prayer. Sink your roots deep into His Word so that you may bloom and grow and flourish; even under adversity (winter).

Adversity creates an environment that can destroy a tree, such as a wind storm or freeze. Adversity can actually make you stronger if you remain firmly planted and rooted deep in Christ and trust Him to get you through the struggle. You will not be uprooted or die and can withstand the harsh winter months and burst forth with fruit in due season of time.

This morning as I drove my children to school, I noticed the Sakura trees that line the streets of my neighborhood are laden with flower buds. Yokota AB will soon be filled with shades of pink and white. I hope as we witness the cycle of the Sakura blossom or any other flowering tree or plant this spring; from the budding of the flower, to the blossom floating down to the ground, then see the development of the leaves as they grow and multiply into a mature tree, that it will remind us that is what God wants to do within our hearts.

I would also like to remind you that it was upon a tree that Jesus died and gave His life for you and me. Spring to Life: Bloom and Grow as you celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord and Savior. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may Jesus be resurrected in you!

Acts 13:29
When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.

Acts 5:30
The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.

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Gardening

Real life stories, Testimonies
Mar 102010

Submitted by Karen Jaedicke of Fort Bragg, NC

My first attempt at a vegetable garden was a disaster!  I was born and raised a city girl and had moved to the country, in the heart of a farming community.  Several ladies were excited to introduce me to so many new things:  gardening, canning, quilting and even driving a tractor.  We started with gardening.

I quickly learned the amount of effort (make that hard work) that went into growing one’s own food.  With the help of a few friends and a tiller, we eventually had a patch ready.  With great excitement, I made rows and began planting various seeds; zucchini, cantaloupe, watermelon, tomatoes, corn, potatoes and more.  Then I waited to enjoy the fruits of my labor.  The next time I went out to check (several weeks later) the entire garden was overrun with WEEDS.

Now I know at this point some of you are laughing.  But remember, I am a city girl, and no one had mentioned that after you have planted you have to care for, weed and maintain the garden.  I only expected to find fully developed, healthy fruits and vegetables more succulent than any commissary or grocery store.  What a surprise for this girl!

Our spiritual lives are much like a garden.  The seeds that are planted there on a Sunday morning, at PWOC, or by a conversation with a friend, must be watered, nourished and cared for.  And the weeds!  They are constantly working to wrap themselves around our beautiful plantings.  Only consistent, purposeful care can keep out the things that try to change our focus, steal our joy, and defeat our spirit.  I’m sure glad God takes on the job of Master Gardener, aren’t you?  I hope you’re asking Him daily to walk with you through the garden and see what needs His attention.  I know I am.

……my Father is the gardener.  John 15:1

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