From Death to Eternal Life

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday, Seasonal teaching
Apr 132011

On February 17th I attended an Ash Wednesday service at a local church to begin the season of Lent. The minister had burned the palm branches from the previous year, mixed them with water, and administered ashes on the worshipers’ foreheads with these words: “Turn away from sin, and be faithful to the Gospel.”

While not specified as a feast day in the Bible, the seasons of Lent and Easter are part of the historical Christian calendar. Our Aim 2 gives us freedom and guidance in teaching ladies the history and programs of the church along with Bible study.

Some Christians traditionally give up habits or drinks or foods during Lent; others focus on adding something to their observance. Working at an assisted living facility or a soup kitchen or homeless shelter – or helping other less fortunate people in the community – are ways to add acts of service to your Lenten activities.

The first two days of Lent this year were focused on my Dad’s last two days on this earth. After a yearlong battle with lung cancer, Mom and I were privileged to usher Dad into Glory on the evening of February 18th. It is something that has changed me, and I hope that as I grieve in a healthy way, the change has been for the good.

I find it interesting – providential – that during a season of preparing my heart and mind to celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ that I have been in a period of intimate mourning. My focus during Lent this year has been death. As I witnessed those last struggling breaths, I thought about how Dad would see Jesus soon. I thought about what Jesus’ last day on earth was like. It wasn’t in the privacy and comfort of a home. It was public and controversial and bloody.

While our identity as Christians is all wrapped up in the Christ’s resurrection, this year I’ve been forced to consider the extent to which He went to seal and secure our eternal life, i.e. His physical departure from this earth. While His mother and friends watched. As they prayed and cried.

I’m sure they were changed as well. And what a glorious day it was when He came back from the dead!

I pray your Lenten season has been one of great reflection on Jesus. Look for blog entries that reflect that last week that Jesus walked on the earth – from His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem to the long road that carried Him to the old rugged cross. Come, be part of this journey that begins with death but ends in eternal life!

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

A Leader who Shines.....Connects with Identity

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday
Mar 162011

Submitted by Cinky Jones

Can you identify a genuine Coach handbag or eye a Brighton bracelet at twenty paces? Can an onlooker identify you as a genuine servant leader of Christ and not just a PWOC member or leader?

Are you dressed, “as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, [with] compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another… and forgiving each other?” The first chapter of Colossians reminds us as servant leaders of Christ that this is the outfit we should be wearing as His chosen ones. As The Message states it, “You’re done with that old life. It is like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom made by the Creator, with His label on it… And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”

Paul points us to the Creator of our identity and invites us to stick our selves in the item that He picked out for us, overlap the flaps, and to give the belt a nice snug pull. He shows us that it’s one of those beautiful and yummy outfits that you never want to take off.

When we lead, with or without a leader title, we want to be identified by Whom’s we are – by our Designer’s label. Second Corinthians, chapter 1, states that God has commissioned and identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment of the wardrobe He will complete.

As we lead – old fashions, titles and labels need to be torched by the fire of the Holy Spirit working in us. The stunning accessories of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs along with the holy coordinates of peace, unity, wisdom and thankfulness will surely have all eyes on Him.

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

Identity Update – Still Missing

Real life stories
Oct 012009

For those of you who read my blog entry last Thursday, here’s an update on my missing military ID card: 

  • Checked at the Air Force Academy Fitness Center front desk three times to see if any good-natured Samaritan, or kind and benevolent Colorado Springs resident, might have turned it in. No such good fortune. And no fortune cookie either. 
  • The last time I checked at the Fitness Center front desk, a helpful young woman called the Security Forces desk to inquire whether anyone in a particularly good mood had turned in a Firtko, and they said, “No card with that name here.”
  •  Each time I walked from my car, to the locker room, from the locker room, to my car, I checked the ground, the grass, the parking lot. Nothing with my face on it. 
  • So, I officially no longer exist. I even got searched! Well, not me personally, but my car – a red 2007 Honda CR-V … oh, right, you don’t care about that. 
  • When I had to enter Fort Carson the first time without my precious Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege card, the security dude who checked my adorable (NOT!) driver’s license was quite kind. You’d think I’d know these things … I had entered the lane where you go if you’re not official (even though the red, 2007 Honda CR-V has stickers, which makes it official) … have you ever had a car that was more official than you? Okay, sorry, digressing again.  
  • So, back on point – I didn’t think I would be considered official because I didn’t have that priceless piece of laminated information extended from my sweet little paw. However, the kind security gentleman said to me, “You can go in the regular lane because your car has stickers. You don’t need to show your registration and insurance to get on post. Just show your driver’s license.” Duh. Yes, I felt like a dip wad. But, it just goes to show you that I RARELY lose anything, especially my entire LIFE all at one time. This was a newbie experience. 
  • Even though I felt like a dip wad, I was totally relieved that I still counted. Or, at least my vehicle counted. I don’t count for much until I get new plastic. 
  • Well, guess what! Just yesterday my U.S. Army – HOOHAH! – husband accompanied me to the DEERS office to get an identity replacement. Yeah, I know. Apparently Uncle Sam doesn’t acknowledge my existence unless I have a soldier with the same last name, wearing ACUs, standing right beside me, declaring that I do, in fact, exist and that we are married, and that I have a right to reclaim my lost identity. The only problem is that the DEERS office was closed from 11 a.m. until closing for an “organizational day.” You know what that really means, right? A bold-faced boondoggle! 
  • So, here I am, on the ninth day without my personhood on a page and I’m trusting God. I trust Him to protect my identity; I’m grateful that He is in control of everything and has allowed this little challenge for a reason, although I might not ever know that reason; I’m glad that replacing a military ID card isn’t a big deal … unless the DEERS office is closed!!! Deep breath … I won’t lose my peace J; and, this is just another awesome reminder of my human imperfection and total dependence upon the One True God and Creator of the Universe.  
  • Finally, no matter what happens in my life and yours, “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised” (Psalm 113:3).
Posted by LauraFirtko at 1:40 pm Tagged with: , , , ,

Help! I've Lost my Identity

Bits & Pieces, Testimonies
Sep 232009

Submitted by Laura Firtko, Fort Carson, CO

Today I sense some enemy action. What do I mean by that? It appears that Satan is trying to get me all spun up and anxious before PWOC tomorrow. This morning my ID card decided to jump out of my purse, apparently. You know how it is as a military spouse — ya ain’t got no identity without that little piece of laminated personal info.

In the military it goes like this:  No ID card, no identity; No ID card, no getting on post (not easily anyway); no ID card, no commissary; no ID card, no medical appointments; no ID card, you might as well have been vaporized!

This is what happened: I paid a visit to the ever-so-available, and desperately needed Air Force Academy Fitness Center; dropped my ID card into my purse; went to brush my teeth (don’t ask); put my gym bag and purse in a locker; locked the locker securely; and went about my workout. It wasn’t until I finished showering and returned home that I discovered my LIFE was missing!

Now, it is highly unusual for me to lose much of anything, especially my precious government issued uniformed services ID and privilege card. Thank the Father that Jesus recognizes me. Without Him, I’d be nothin’ and I’d get nowhere!

Here comes the prayer: Okay, Lord, I do believe that this is happening for a reason because everything you do in my life has purpose and value. So, show me what you want me to learn from this, and while you’re at it, would you mind having someone turn in my ID at the AFA Fitness Center desk. Thank you so much. Oh, today would be good, you see, I have to get on post early tomorrow to set up for hospitality, AND instead of being in the sanctuary as usual, we have to be flexible and do it all in the fellowship hall, which means I have to have it set up before we start or shortly thereafter, and the gal who is normally there to work with me is on leave … Okay, okay. I really don’t have anything to complain about. My heart is beating, I feel pretty good, I got home safely in our first snow of the year … (yes, women of PWOC, it’s September 21 and it has snowed heavily in parts of Colorado Springs, CO. This is the earliest snow I’ve ever seen). Slip slidin’ away … not really. Just tell me to get back to the story.

Knowing God the way I do, I’m certain that something good will come out of what feels like a total disaster. Oh yeah, Father, please protect me from identity theft. Right now my identity is only missing. I certainly don’t want it stolen and used by someone else. This is serious. Please send a wonderful, honest person to retrieve my existence on this earth and turn it in at the AFA Fitness Center desk. Amen.

Oh, I’m not done yet. This episode is still fresh and I’ve learned so much already. What have I learned? That even when the U.S. Government doesn’t acknowledge my existence, Jesus Christ does. Not only that … He rejoices over my existence and considers me to be of inestimable worth and value. Be encouraged, women! Even when fellow humans don’t acknowledge you as the special, one-of-a-kind creation you are, God the Father regards you as the apple of His eye. His unconditional love and acceptance are immeasurable, and they are worth much more than earthly recognition. Yes, even the recognition that comes with a military ID card.

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