Submiited by Jennifer Cook, PWOCI 3VP Communications

On April 3, 1860, two horseback riders left simultaneously from Sacramento, CA and St. Joseph, MO on a trek that would change history. Eventually the Pony Express mail service would consist of eighty riders and approximately 400 horses, deliveringcommunication at amazing speed:  a message which previously would have been in transit for three weeks could now cross the 2,000 mile trail in a mere ten days.

Only 150 years has passed since those horseback days, but the speed of communication delivery has increased at a whirlwind pace.   The use of the telephone, television, internet, Facebook, Twitter, IM’ing, and email has decreased those ten days on horseback to almost near-real time communication between people, near or far.

As tech-savvy person, I have a great appreciation for the strides that have been made over the past century. With so many platforms to choose between, the PWOC Communications Team has an excellent opportunity to research choices and determine ways our ministry can make a memorable and life-changing impact through technology.  Our first step is to seek the Lord’s will and be led by His guidance. I rely on His words in the book of Isaiah 55: 8-9:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither

are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways

higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

As work proceeds, we pray for the Lord’s direction and specifically for “His thoughts and ways” to supersede our own.  Our current focus is the PWOCI website at www.pwoc.org. We are hard at work behind the scenes completely redesigning the site. The website will debut a bright, new look, improved maneuverability and will continue to provide useful resources for all levels of PWOC. We ask for your prayers for this project and for our future projects.  Another of our planned projects is to develop a stronger video presence on Youtube to share encouraging messages from the International Board and content from you. Yes, you! Your testimonies, as PWOC women from around the world, will encourage, build up, and strengthen women in their daily, yet unique, military lives.

Like the Pony Express before us, PWOC Communications has the opportunity to trek across the virtual miles, quicker and more effectively than ever before. We ask for your prayers as we embark on this new trail.

Submitted by Tracie Warren, PWOCI Assistant Curriculum Development

Life can be busy.  I currently find myself in a season where busy is an understatement.  There have been nights I would lie in bed mentally going through the coming day’s to-do list trying to determine which tasks could be pushed off to another day, because I knew, before the day even began, that I would not get through it all.  Ever been there?  It is exhausting – physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  Tired of being tired, I went to the One I knew could help.  I cried out to God, “I’m doing many things but I’m doing none of them well.  Please, show me what I need to release, what I need to lay aside.”  I felt that I had surely stepped beyond God’s will for my life and had taken on things He had not called me to.  Isn’t that what we so often do…assume that because things are uncomfortable or difficult we must have made a mistake somewhere?  Imagine my surprise when God’s response was simply, “some seasons are busy.”  Some seasons are busy?  “But God, isn’t busy bad?  Isn’t busy Satan’s ploy to keep us ineffective?”  I felt God speak to my heart, “Sometimes, Tracie.  Sometimes busy is bad, but other times, busy is exactly where I’ve placed you.”  As those words fell on me, this thought came to mind – sometimes we battle busy and sometimes we are busy in battle.

God showed me that right now, He has placed me in a busy season and my problem is not in what I am doing, but in how I have been doing it.  I have been trying to do my to-dos without Him.  I’ve not been relying on Him and His guidance.  God taught me that, as with Martha (Luke 10:41-42), there is only one thing I need to do, and that is seek Him first.  When I look to Him first and foremost, He will guide me through, not only my to-do list, but every aspect of my life.  When I focus on Him, He will strengthen me and lead me in accomplishing all that He has called me to do.

I have learned afresh that if we will seek God first, He will equip us for every good work.  We really can do all things through Christ, and sisters, we can do them well, but only when we determine to rely on Him, to follow Him, and to allow Him to guide us and lead us and walk beside us.

© 2012 PWOC International Blog Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha