The rewards of serving: Peace and Joy

I'm in a position at church where people want to volunteer to do something in The ReignForest and I get to help them get engaged. Sometimes it's holding babies. Recently I sat down in Origins Cafe' and introduced myself to Penny M. Her husband was busy tearing down (taking down chairs) in the auditorium. I found out after talking with her that they had been coming to NPCC for about a year. I asked her if she was ready to do something like hold babies. She said "Yes, I'm ready to start. I'd think I'd like doing that." I can't possibly express how much this encouraged me. She's serving in the Grasshopper room and has attached herself to one of the little ones who is very precious, a little guy waiting for a heart transplant. Can you believe it ! I believe that she is there at the right place and the right time. This little guy needed someone who wouldn't be afraid to care for him while mom and dad are hearing the message. That's cool, but there's more.

I was so excited that day to have taken the time to meet Penny and her husband and then talking with Penny later I asked her if she was in a Small Group. She said No, that they had not joined one yet. So I invited her to join one that we were joining. Well six weeks later, her and her husband Jerry are now in Small Group with us and they are so cool !! Jerry is just overflowing with the freshness of falling in love with Jesus, he's a new believer and Penny is excited that she has renewed her commitment to Christ. There's something about fresh commitments that makes me re-evaluate whether my Love is FIRST and FOREMOST to God.

I have another story to share with you...normally I like to keep things shorter, but this is really good. I hope you'll read on.

Many people don't realize that The ReignForest is setup in 3 different zones; a nursery zone: ages birth - 24 months, The Reign Zone: two year olds (25 months - 35 months) The Preschool Zone are those children who are 36 months (potty trained) and ready to be promoted the first Sunday in September of the current year. The various stages of preschool children can be lots of fun to engage children in activities. It can be challenging also. Two principles we implement is: we teach them what is relevant to their age and we teach "with the end" in mind.

Here's a story from a mom who is seeing the benefits of The ReignForest:

"Walking to our car after church on Sunday, Cassidy says “You made the world and everything in it! Sam 89:11!!” The smile on her face was just beyond words. I am so excited and blessed that my 2 ½ year old already knows a BIBLE VERSE!! Cassidy sees a tree, “God made trees”. She sees a cloud, “God made clouds”. Whatever is happening in Monkeys and Canopy is working and my child is learning and growing and feeling good about it! A happy 2 year old makes for a happy Mommy!"

Thank you Tammy for sharing this story. You have encouraged me and others.

Come serve in The ReignForest, learn memorization and application...it's so easy a 2-1/2 year old can do it.

Romans 5
Peace and Joy 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Thankful

Cooler weather, fairs, festivals, and "trick or treat",
colors of trees, shrubs, apples, gourds and pumpkins,
decorations on porches, lawns and doors,
orchards full of the plenty of Summer.
We are so fortunate to live in an area where the season diversity is prominent.

All of the colors and beauty that are being celebrated with come from God.

Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Packing & Chinese culture with the Li's

I have to tell you that my husband, Len is an amazing man. I am so blessed to have him. He is so thoughtful and considerate of the mission drive I have. He sits back and watches me go a hundred miles a minute, be gone to meetings, come home late, work on the computer...he's a true partner in ministry.

Last night I invited him to our China team meeting. Yeah! with a mission in mind. I asked him if he would repack the suitcases for the team getting them close to the weight that they needed to be for the airport. He agreed to go and do this for the team.


Meanwhile we were upstairs having cultural lessons from the Li's. Dean, Ying and Jessica were invited to come to our team meeting to provide cultural information from their homeland. What a lovely couple. We sure enjoyed getting to know them. They were friendly, open and generously gave us information to help us while we are there in China.

Their daughter, Jessica, was adopted 7 months ago from China and is adorable. She loves melon, orange melon (cantaloupe) that is. She has a bottomless pit for a 3 year old.

We are so thankful for the opportunity to get to know the Asian culture and develop friendships with people from China.

I'm awed at the bigness of God in the world.

Thank you God for doors opening in China.
Thank you God for the China team going where YOU are leading.

Thank you God for the generosity and kindness of my husband.

Thank you God for friendship with the Li's.

You are good all the time.

Thanks

When illness strikes or calamity arrives in the midst of your family, your life or your friends you realize just how not in control you are. You realize at those moments just how much you need to depend and look to the one who is control.

Last month I began a devotional to study the names of God and how to call on him. Here is one name; Hashem (ha-SHAME) which means "The Name". You'll find when you read I Kings 8:28-29 that God promised Solomon when he finished the temple that His name will be there forever and that His eyes and heart will always be there too.

Please don't think that there are magic results in learning the names of God or being able to pray them. That's not the goal. What I'm finding it does is it creates a bridge of familiarity in drawing close to your friend - God. In a small way, it's similar to knowing your best friends middle name or using their nick name. I would encourage you to begin to know the names which God is known by in the Bible. Along with those names you will learn many of his attributes. You know, those characteristics which if you are a Christ follower you are to reflect.

Here's my response to a challenging review of the past six weeks....there are times when all you can do and all you need to do is say - thanks.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE
The Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to whomever He wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men. I will bless the Most High and praise and honor Him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. He regards all the inhabitants of the earth as nothing, and does as He pleases with the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: "What have You done?" I praise, exalt, and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true, and all His ways are just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.
(Daniel 4:17, 34-35, 37)

"Father God, may the words that come from my mouth bring glory and honor to Hashem. May my life reflect the spirit of your Son Jesus Christ which by choice is being renewed daily through the power of the Holy Spirit and by your Holy Word. Teach me to walk rightly before men so that they might find forgiveness, peace and healing through the power of your name. Amen"