In the Thick of It

Devotions
Jan 112010

I’ve been in the thick of it lately. Like that old saying, “when it rains, it pours”, it’s been pouring on me lately. Fort Hood, my place, my city, my neighborhood, was thrown into a whirlwind of tragedy and mourning on November 5th. My husband left for a year in Iraq on November 13th. My grandfather, who is 102 and has been living on his own all this time, has been in the hospital with pneumonia and now faces the fact that he should no longer live alone. My sweet mother-in-law has been diagnosed with colon and liver cancer. My own mother has had surgery on both her eyes in the past month. My 2 year old is suddenly acting like a 2 year old. I have had 2 minor surgeries recently. There are many more little and big things too numerous to list.

I don’t write all of this to make people feel sorry for me. I know there are individuals who have it far worse than I do and many who are in the same boat. I write this so that you may be encouraged as I have been encouraged. God, my faithful and loving Father, has surrounded me with friends and family that pray for me, support me, and have stepped alongside me to walk with me during this time.

God, my provider and protector, has used His marvelous Word to reaffirm His love for me and reiterate that He is in control. Here are just a few of the scriptures that have spoken to my heart lately:

Isaiah 43:1-2 But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (NIV)

1 Peter 2: 12-13 Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. (The Message)

Deuteronomy 31:6 & 8 “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (NASB)

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Capture 2009 – Create 2010

Seasonal teaching
Jan 052010

Submitted by Christine Young, President – PWOC Europe

“See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”  Isaiah 43:19

Welcome to 2010 and another year of possibilities and potential.

Capture 2009

I love the New Year and the opportunity that we have to reevaluate the year we have just finished.  Something happened in your life in 2009 and even though it may have been something painful, it’s worth remembering.  You might consider the following suggestions:

  1. Sit down soon and briefly journal the highpoints of 2009.  Even if you take a half hour (the time it takes to watch a short sitcom), it is time well spent.
  2. In our family we like to do a time capsule and put some highlights from the year, a picture and write goals for the New Year.  We store it in a cylinder that won’t be opened until the following year.  We ask what was the best thing that happened to you this year?  Who are your closest friends?  What was the hardest part of the year?  What are you looking forward to in the coming year?  If you did send out a holiday letter, make sure to include it in the capsule.   Just an idea.
  3. For those of you that love to scrapbook take time to pull your best photos from the year and scrapbook them.

Create 2010

Time is such a precious resource and one that we can never ever get back again.  That being said, pause now to evaluate how you spend your time.  If you didn’t get where you thought you would get last year, it may be that you didn’t plan your time in such a way that you would find success in your goals.  What’s important to you?  If someone were to follow you around for a week and observe your life in motion, what would they say your priorities are, based on how you spend your time?  Plan your time accordingly.  Live life on purpose!

God did so many wonderful things for you last year and He is going to do new and exciting things this year too.  The trick is to see God at work in your life and cooperate with Him along the way.  He knows the desires of your heart and wants us to steward our time for His glory.  I pray that you commit your ways and days to Him and that when you reach the end of this year you will have found more fulfillment in who you are in Christ by how you’ve allocated your time in 2010.

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Peace

President's Pen
Dec 312009

Precious PWOC Women,

What an amazing holiday season I have been celebrating with my family and friends this year.  This has been a season filled with a flurry of activities, even snow flurries (and blizzards).  To my amazement, I even got out a few Christmas cards. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to my whole list because of family photo issues.  Seems that of the family group photos we took this year, one of my two young men were missing…either my son, or my son-in-law.  I couldn’t bear to leave one of them out of our family photo, so I opted to send a photo of myself bending down in prayer at a beautiful waterfront to the few, until I could get a full family photo taken for everyone else.

You couldn’t tell the photo was me, so I thought it would be a good one to send to people who didn’t necessarily know my family.  I felt lead to write in gold on the photo a part of the following verse:  ”I will extend peace to her like a river…” Isaiah 66:12.  Because of what our nation is going through, I thought the Scripture spoke hope.  In the midst of all the craziness surrounding us, the Lord gives us His peace.  We need not be fearful of the uncertainty of 2010, but we need to seek Him and know Him in deeper ways than ever before.  God loves each of us deeply and wants to show us this love.

PeaceImage

I have seen His love released in this ministry in beautiful ways this year.  There was evidence of this at our regional conferences and at my own local PWOC.  God knows what we have to endure in the military.  His sweet presence and love has been quite evident.

I know that some of you are in the midst of deployments, which is difficult to endure.  I want to encourage each of you, no matter what season of life you are in to seek the Lord and trust Him.   God is with you and wants to show you His deep love in the midst of your trials and suffering.  You can trust Him.  Allow His peace, which surpasses all understanding, to guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Praying for an incredible increase in your awareness of God’s love for you in 2010.

Captivated by His Love, Brenda, President, PWOC International

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The Beautiful Plan

President's Pen, Seasonal teaching
Dec 242009

As I reflect on this special day, I think about how the birth of Jesus Christ set into motion a beautiful and divine, majestic plan of His kingdom reign, which knows no end.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

The birth was the point at which Jesus Christ, fully God in the form of man came to live on earth and be with us.

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord has said through the prophet:  The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel—which means “God with us.” Matt 1:22-23 (NIV)

He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  Knowing in the beginning that He would need to come to earth to become the redeemer for all mankind who would accept Him.

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil 2:6-11 (NIV)

Christmas Day is the day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and to fully receive His free gift of salvation.  If you are unsure of whether or not you have accepted His free gift, visit our web site where you can pray through the steps of salvation at http://www.pwoc.org/Resources/Resources_Downloads/StepsToPeace.pdf

Jesus is our everything, He is our all in all.  His birth announced to the world, that His kingdom has come and that His throne will last forever and ever.

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.” Ps. 45:6 (NIV)

May your Christmas day be filled with the fullness of the beauty of His plan for you, His beloved.

Brenda Marlin, PWOCI President

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Prayer Points December 6th - 12th

Prayer Points
Dec 072009

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, [a] Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9: 5-7

Dear Abba,

Thank you for sending us your precious firstborn son.  Thank you for His Kingdom Government.  We rejoice in you Wonderful Counselor.  Give us wisdom and heal us.  We honor you Mighty God; reveal your dunamis power through us!  We place our security in you, Everlasting Father.  Guide us, mentor us, connect us to your heart, bless us and ignite us with your purposes for us.  Prince of Peace, thank you that you are crushing Satan under our feet.  Thank you that you are giving us authority to break chaos.  Thank you that your garrison our hearts when we dwell upon your goodness.

Let your government and peace increase in me, in my local PWOC, in my region, and in our chapels and homes around the globe.  As we Arise because you Extend Your Scepter, let us be ambassadors of your justice and righteousness in our own spheres.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Prayer points for October 11-17

Prayer Points
Oct 162009

Fear Not!!  Our VBS song this summer declared, “I will not, be afraid, though trouble’s out there, night and day.  No I will not, be swamped with fear, because God is always, always, always….yeah… He’s always here.

In a season where cute pumpkins and happy hayrides sometimes get overshadowed by death, gore, and fear, God gives us a clear message of hope. He is with us, He loves us and He is personally involved in the details of our lives!!

Isaiah 43: 1-7

 1 But now, this is what the LORD says—
       he who created you, O Jacob,
       he who formed you, O Israel:
       “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
       I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

 2 When you pass through the waters,
       I will be with you;
       and when you pass through the rivers,
       they will not sweep over you.
       When you walk through the fire,
       you will not be burned;
       the flames will not set you ablaze.

 3 For I am the LORD, your God,
       the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
       I give Egypt for your ransom,
       Cush and Seba in your stead.

 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
       and because I love you,
       I will give men in exchange for you,
       and people in exchange for your life.

 5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
       I will bring your children from the east
       and gather you from the west.

 6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
       and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
       Bring my sons from afar
       and my daughters from the ends of the earth-

 7 everyone who is called by my name,
       whom I created for my glory,
       whom I formed and made.”

Dear God, I praise you because you know my name. You not only formed me, but you called  me by my name, and you even came looking for me and brought me back to you.  You protect me in ways I don’t even know. When I go through hard times you not only know about it ahead of time, but you even walk through the difficulties with me. You don’t allow me to be destroyed.  You restore my children.  I am called by Your Name!  You wanted me in your family.  Help me to remember that you made, formed, and created me for your glory!  Let my strengths bring you glory.  Shine your light through the cracks in my life. God, my neighbor, my husband, my child, my friend needs to know your Name.  Draw _______(insert name) to Yourself.   You are good and kind.   I love you.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Prayer Points September 20th-26th

Prayer Points
Sep 222009

Hope When The Enemy Seems to be Prospering

Although this scripture does not specifically mention hope, it is my favorite when I am discouraged by the world around me.

According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay,
      Fury to His adversaries,
      Recompense to His enemies;
      The coastlands He will fully repay.
      So shall they fear
      The name of the LORD from the west,
      And His glory from the rising of the sun;
      When the enemy comes in like a flood,
      The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.
       “ The Redeemer will come to Zion,
      And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,”  says the LORD. Isaiah 59:18-20 (NKJV)

Dear Father,  Thank you for taking care of us.  Thank you that no enemy of yours goes unpunished.  Lord, overturn unholy laws and decrees in our land.  Send your righteous judgements to remove every obstacle to your love.  Let our nation be once again overcome with the reverential awe of the Lord.  Turn back the tide of lawlessness.  God, the enemy has come in like a flood.  Lift up a standard of holiness against Him.  All of our HOPE is in You, our Redeemer.  We turn back from our sin and turn to You.  Save us and we will be saved.  Heal us and we will be healed, Our Lord, Our Rock and Our Redeemer.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Prayer Points September 6-12

Prayer Points
Sep 112009

 Hope in Darkness

This week we remember the anniversary of September 11, 2001.  This was a day of great grief for our nation, but the stories of self-sacrifice, love and redemption also abounded.  In this hour, many things look dark but we need to be a house prepared to shine with the light of glory.  Do not give way to despair.

“Arise, shine; for the light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.  For behold, deep darkness covers the earth and deep darkness the peoples; But the Lord will rise on you, and His glory will appear upon you.  And nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising.”     Isaiah 60: 1-3

Father, we see the increase of darkness in our land.  Please rise upon us today.  Let your glory appear on us as we submit myself to you.  Lord, draw the nations to the light of your presence in us.  Prepare us to shine!!  Father, we put our hope in you!!   In Jesus Name, Amen.

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