Women’s Ministries

Sausage and Tortellini Soup February 4, 2012

Continuous Cleaning Oven: Elves Not Included. January 3, 2012

I just finished cleaning my 25 year old “continuous cleaning” oven.  As with all good deep-cleaning projects, a few thoughts came to mind.

1) I’m not sure whose brilliant idea it was, but the name is a complete misnomer.  Well, either it’s a misnomer, or whoever delivered this oven to this house 25 years ago forgot to include all the tiny little elves that sit in it and “continuously clean.”  I’m also wondering: if the elves had actually been included in the package, would they have also maintained the outside?  Does “continuous cleaning” include the little dust bunnies that collect in the door hinges, or all the burnt crumbs that gather in the storage drawer down below?

2) Alright, all joking aside, I know what “continuous cleaning” means and how to clean such an oven.  Well, I know because I googled it–AFTER buying one of those fancy aerosol bottles of oven cleaner which clearly states on the label “NOT FOR CONTINUOUS OR SELF-CLEANING OVENS.”  Dang.  Too bad I didn’t see that when I bought the thing.  I’m still wishing my oven came with tiny little elves.

3) After going through nearly an entire roll of paper towels and meticulously sweeping out all of the little burnt crumbs I possibly could, then having to completely empty the contents of the storage drawer, wash out all of those items that now had little burnt crumbs on them, I thought “There has to be a better way.”  Always wanting to learn from the past I made a mental note: Next time use the vacuum.

4) If you haven’t noticed by now, this was one of those projects that seemed simple when the idea was first conceived, but then not far into it I realize this is not one of those oh-I’ll-just-do-this-really-quickly-while-I’m-thinking-about-it projects.  It’s one of those what-was-I-thinking-doing-this-right-now projects.  Now the oven racks are blocking the sink, every cookie sheet, muffin tin and other oven-proof container I own is consuming my counter space.  The gloves are on, the paper towels are flying, and my mind is a blur trying to figure out why I decided to do this right now, and whose genius idea was it to name this “Continuous Cleaning”?!?!

But alas!  Project complete: continuous cleaning oven cleaned.  At least I won’t have to think about that for another 3 years.

Our Merry Little Christmas December 24, 2011

Submitted by author Lydia Harris, as see on her blog Mentoring Moments.

I awoke with anticipation. After years of illness, I finally had the energy to host the Christmas gathering for our kids and grandkids.

Our home sparkled with festive touches, and the dining room table looked beautiful with our best china and silver. Soon the smell of fresh yeast rolls and simmering beef stroganoff would greet the family.

In my mind, I could already hear the grandkids squeal with joy as they ripped open their packages. And for the adults, I had planned a fun treasure hunt to find gifts of money. I couldn’t wait to snap a photo of our family wearing the colorful fleece scarves I had made.  Perhaps we would don them and carol for the neighbors. This would be a Christmas to remember!

The phone rang. “Merry Christmas!” I said. It was our daughter, but her “Merry Christmas” sounded flat. “Alex has a fever.”

I sighed. With my compromised immune system and our son’s two-month-old baby, I knew we couldn’t all get together. So we
rescheduled our family Christmas for New Year’s Eve.

Our son and his family still came for Christmas dinner, but with only half the family present, I felt let down. We read the Christmas story, but two little voices weren’t there to join in. The day hadn’t gone as planned. However, I looked forward to celebrating together on New Year’s Eve.

As my husband and I crawled into bed, he said, “This year we had a merry little Christmas–with the emphasis on little.” He yawned. “But sometimes, little is more.”

As the days of December dwindled, I looked for the more in our little Christmas. But I couldn’t find it. The little became even less when our son-in-law got sick and couldn’t join us for our belated celebration. I half-heartedly cooked another Christmas dinner. But I couldn’t recapture the memorable Christmas I had hoped for.

Months later, however, God worked in my heart, and the little began to grow. God reminded me from John 1:16 (NIV) that from him “we have all received one blessing after another.” Finally, I was ready to recount some of my “little is more” Christmas blessings.

As I listed them, I realized our entire Christmas season had been filled with touches of God’s love. God also reminded me of our
pastor’s message on Christmas Eve. The pastor emphasized that Jesus’ birth was only one snapshot in a larger photo album telling the story of Jesus’ life. Yes, we see Jesus born as a sweet little baby. But the Bible is the entire album and reveals other pictures of his life, including his tears, temptation, crucifixion, and resurrection.

Reflecting on our merry little Christmas, I realized that memories of Christmas shouldn’t hinge on one single day. Christmas is only one small snapshot in our family’s photo album of life. As I pictured the years of our lives, I found God’s fingerprints of love and blessing throughout them. No, we weren’t always smiling in the pictures. But even when things didn’t go as we planned, they were part of God’s plan.

Now as I anticipate another Christmas, I know it probably won’t turn out exactly as expected. But that’s all right. I’ve learned that if I let Him, God can take even a merry little Christmas and make it more.

People Matter November 19, 2011

This Christmas season, we at NSB are being challenged to BRING, GIVE and SERVE.  This is a great challenge for the holidays and one that will help keep our focus on what the season is all about.

The challenge to bring a friend, family member, coworker, or neighbor to church can be an easy one to sort of “blow over.”  At least it can be for me.  I find it so easy to make excuses, like: “My neighbors already have plans.”  (Have I already asked them?  No.)  Or: So-and-so has rejected the invite before so it’s not really worth asking again.”  It can also be a gut check: do I even have any relationships with non-Christians?!  Am I looking for opportunities to share the gospel with others?

I read a great and challenging book for a course in college.  The book is Building a Contagious Church by Mark Mittelberg.  It’s geared toward church leaders, but as I read through it, my heart was unexpectedly challenged: Do I love the lost the way the Lord does?  I wanted to share with you an excerpt from this book:

VALUE #1: PEOPLE MATTER TO GOD
…I know that when you hear the words “People matter to God” you’re tempted to say, “I’ve got this one down–let’s skip to the more advanced principles.”  But hear me: This belief is the hardest one to fully absorb into our value system.  It’s also the most difficult value to build into those around us.

Those of us who have been in church for a long time, myself included, get very adept at affirming a statement like this and then completely ignoring it in our daily lives.  When we hear it, we run an instantaneous internal litmus-test program that includes, “Of course, John 3:16–’God so loved the world’–this is a value that passes my theological filter.  I agree with it.”

We agree with it, but we don’t own it.  We slot it into our minds right next to other biblical truths like “David was king,” “Moses parted the Red Sea,” and “Ruth was a Moabite.”  We nod our heads in intellectual approval and move on to other topics.

So please slow down and read carefully what I write next, for it has life-and-death implications: What we do with every other concept in this book will directly depend on the degree to which we own and apply this first value.  People matter to God.  Do you believe this to the very core of your being?

A friend of mine says that when this value really takes root, it dramatically affects our checkbooks and calendars, because those are the places where it expresses itself in daily life.  We ought to be able to look back and say, “Here’s where I’ve spent time and energy trying to reach people outside the family of God.”  We should be able to open up our checkbook ledgers and say, “Here’s where I’ve invested my resources to help make evangelism happen through supporting the church’s outreach efforts; buying Bibles, books, and tapes to give to spiritual seekers; spending money to take a non-believing friend out to breakfast or lunch; or inviting non-Christians into my home.”  These are investments that flow out of a heart that says genuinely, “People matter to God and they matter to me too.”

When you start trying to rearrange the priorities in your life…this value will be tested immediately.  The question naturally arises, whether aloud or below the surface: How much to people matter to God?  Without announcing themselves or asking for anyone’s permission, other values start competing with and crowding out this first one.  [Again, see here and watch the video.]

…Remember in John chapter 4, where Jesus broke a Jewish custom by traveling though the heart of Samaria?  Then, completely ignoring the rules of political correctness, he risked his reputation by talking openly with a sinful Samaritan woman.  This was scandalous behavior for any Jewish man and even more so for Jesus, because he was a rabbi.  What could he have been thinking?

I’m confident that Jesus was thinking about how much this wayward woman mattered to the Father.  he felt a holy love and concern for her and her people.  In face, he lingered at the well long enough to allow her this broken woman to bring her friends down to meet him.  Then Jesus spent more time teaching them.  He even altered his plans–making last-minute adjustments to his ministry calendar–so that he and the disciples could stay and minister in Samaria for two more days.  And the text tells us that “because of his words many more became believers.” (John 4:41).

That is only one of numerous examples from Jesus’ life that reveals how much people matter to God.  But we can’t stop there.  Ephesians 5:1 tells us to “be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.”  We need to do whatever it takes to gain God’s heart toward those outside the family.  We need to make sure they matter to us the way they matter to him.

People matter.  Relationships matter.  Let’s keep our focus this season and pray for God to grow our hearts for those outside His family, and to open our eyes to places where we can build relationship and love others the way He loves them (and us!)

Thanksgiving Traditions November 15, 2011

One of the best parts of holidays is the traditions that often go along with them.  When I was growing up, we’d spend Thanksgiving with one side of the family and then Christmas with the other.  My dad’s side of the family would always commence the Thanksgiving festivities with the Turkey Bowl – a ruckus touch-football game (with the occasional tackle) involving all the dads/uncles and cousins while the moms/aunts prepped the giant feast.  Everyone would stumble to the table cold, bruised and starving, then fall into a pile in the living room after stuffing our faces–and nap.  It was awesome.

Now all of us cousins are grown up, spread throughout the country and building families of own, making our own new traditions.  I think every stage of life brings the opportunity to give up some traditions and embrace others.  I know for me and the stage of life I’m in, I find myself thinking a lot about what kind of traditions I want to start for my kids to help them grow fond memories of the holidays.

I’d love to hear what kind of traditions you have with your family!  Is there a special dish you must have at Thanksgiving, in order for it to feel like Thanksgiving?  Is there an activity you always do, or certain people you’re always with?  Please share in the comments!

(No prize this time, just the opportunity to pick up a new holiday tradition!)

Teal The Cows Come Home November 1, 2011

I have a secret obsession: fingernail polish.   I cannot go to the drugstore or Target without perusing the nail product aisle.  Let me tell you why I’m obsessed with nail polish.

Reason #1: I love nail polish names.  Whose job is it to name nail polish colors?  Is there an Executive Color Caller?  I want that job.  I want to point and say “Hmm, let’s call that ‘I Pink I Love You.’  And this one will be ‘Yodel Me on My Cell.’  And that over there shall be called ‘Ladies & Magenta-men.’”  (I’m not making these up, by the way.  These are real nail polish color names.)

While I’m at it, I should probably admit that I don’t often stop at perusing.  If you saw a bottle that said “A-taupe the Space Needle,” could you resist buying it?!  Okay, maybe you could, but I’m a sucker.

Reason #2: So many different colors!  I love colors.  If it were socially acceptable I would probably wear as many different color clothes as possible.  I like bright colors and dark colors.  Whenever I’m out window shopping, I am always drawn to the object with the most color.

Reason #3: Accessorize.  I think all of us could admit that at some level, accessorizing is fun.  Accessorizing allows us to put a personal stamp on ourselves.  Something that says: This is me.  It might be small earrings that are emotionally significant, or hundreds of flashy bangles, but fashion accessories take an outfit from “Anyone could wear that” to “I’m wearing that!”  I see nail polish as an accessory.  If the color is too crazy, or something that might be ‘too much’ to some people–like an electric blue or bright orange–then it’s a perfect color just for the toes.  I prefer natural, or more traditional colors, for my fingers.

Normally I prefer natural, more traditional colors, for my fingers…

A week or so ago I headed to Rite Aid for some hair product and, lo and behold, where should I find myself but in the nail product aisle.  Actually, this particular Rite Aid sucked me in right at the door.  There is was, a beautiful and terrifying display featuring special Halloween nail colors.  Now, it is important to note here that I do not love Halloween.  But this display featured a new kind of polish that actually crackles–you put on one color, then a second color over the first and the second layer “cracks” to reveal the color underneath.  That may sound petrifying to some of you, but for whatever reason, it sucked me in.  After giving it some serious thought, I decided the crackle was a little much, even for me.  But next to the crackle, there it was, staring me boldly in the face:

Black Out.

I used to think, Black nail polish is so…goth.  But times change, and I guess my taste in nail polish does also, because I bought it.  I couldn’t wait to try it.  I had seen other ladies wear it–look good it in even–and it didn’t look like they’d just walked off the set of The Munsters.  Even as I waited at the check out stand I thought of my mom, who would be completely appalled at the idea of her daughter wearing black fingernail polish.

Let me tell you, ladies, this was a fashion risk worth taking.  I love it.  Who cares if I can pull it of?!  Sometimes you just have to step outside your own box and accessorize in a whole new way.

To find your own favorite color & crazy nail polish names, you can check out this website!

Need some breathing room? October 18, 2011

Fall is in full swing and I bet a lot of us are up to our eyeballs in work deadlines, ministry deadlines, soccer practices and games, band concerts, coffee dates…whatever else fills our schedules!  DOES ANYONE NEED A BREAK ALREADY?!  Does a 24-hour period of silence sound like the best thing since sliced bread?  Do you feel like you just need some space to breathe?

Solution: Interlude.  Your day with Jesus.

November 12-13
5:30pm Saturday to 3:30pm Sunday
Rainbow Lodge, North Bend

Join other women of Northshore for a restful one-night retreat to spend quiet time with the Lord, read, walk the trails, pray and refresh your soul.

The cost is $75, double occupancy.  This includes dinner Saturday and two meals on Sunday.

Register online at nsb.org or in the Corridor on Sunday, October 30th and Sunday, November 6th.

This Is War October 11, 2011

This last Sunday, Pastor Jonathan Alexander started a new teaching series called THIS IS WAR, The Reality of Spiritual Warfare.  I am so excited about this series.  It is so good to be reminded of the cosmic battle that we’re in but also, more importantly, that we’re on the winning side.  As Pastor Jonathan reminded us, we’re not fighting for victory, but from it.  I don’t know about the rest of you, but I received that word with open arms.  GLORY!  He is the Victor.

Spiritual warfare is not a new concept in our home.  My husband and I talk about it regularly.  (And most recently, not surprisingly, last week: Men’s Retreat.  Anyone else?!)  It seems funny to me that no matter how “prepared” I might feel, or how aware I am of spiritual warfare and the reality of the enemy’s schemes, it STILL manages to get the best of me sometimes.

Our Savior’s enemy–our enemy–truly is cunning and deceitful.  Example: last week was a fairly hectic week and Jeremy and I had only a few moment throughout the week to connect.  Most of those moments were not-so-lovely connections, or not even connections at all, just quick pass-throughs.  Especially Friday morning.  He was trying to meet up with some friends to head down to the retreat and I was trying to pack up the two boys and myself to spend the night with my in-laws.  As the morning progressed, things got more and more tense.  Finally Jeremy stopped and looked at me and said, “You know why this is happening, don’t you?”  Yes.  (Scowl)  I wanted to stomp my foot like a kid who isn’t getting her way.  I knew why it was happening and I was annoyed.  And the enemy knows if he can get me annoyed, I’m eight times more likely to snap, say things I don’t mean, withhold grace on purpose, etc. etc.  As I drove up north to my in-laws, the kids safely strapped in where I couldn’t yell at them or–heaven forbid–be tempted to strike one of them, I thought about how annoying spiritual warfare is.  Again, the enemy knows my tipping point.  He knows that if I get annoyed, I don’t want to pray or cry out to God for help.  Rather than turn to Jesus, who has complete power over the enemy, I choose to try harder to do it on my own.  Lose patience.  Lose my temper.  Say mean things.  Snap at my kids.  Get more annoyed.  And on and on.  I lose.  The enemy wins.

But praise the Lord for the small revelations he gives us about who we are and how we work.  While knowing myself a little bit better doesn’t completely deter the enemy, it does give me a head start.  When I recognize myself entering that quick-to-be-annoyed stage, I can suit up with my shield of faith and sword of the Spirit.  And I can pray.  Oh prayer.  How long do you have to be a Christian before you stop underestimating the power of prayer?!

The following prayer is from a book called The Believer’s Guide to Spiritual Warfare by Thomas White.  As we look again, or for the first time, at this very real war, I hope you will pray this with me.

*  *  *  *  *

PRAYER OF CONSECRATION
Father, I thank you for the access I have to you through Jesus Christ, my High Priest. I choose in this moment to draw near to you. According to your promise, draw near to me. I acknowledge my need for greater grace. I ask you to touch my heart and fan into a flame the ember of love I have for you. Stir up the spark of commitment to your kingdom that already burns within. Father, give fresh light to my mind in understanding your truth. Give courage to my heart in following your way.

Lord, I acknowledge my dependence upon you. Open the eyes of your servant to see as you see. Anoint my lips to speak as you would speak. Grant your servant the authority of your Son to stand against the evil one and his workers, and to speak triumph over the evil one and his workers, and to speak triumph over them in Jesus’ name. Impart to me your graces and gifts to fight and prevail in the battle for souls. Let nothing hinder the high and holy purposes you have for my life. Speak afresh to me….I long to hear your voice. Train my hands for battle, and assign me my place in your army. Teach me the ways of your Spirit, and lead me in the path of understanding for Jesus’ sake and for the cause of his kingdom. Amen.

*  *  *  *  *

You may not have the quick-to-be-annoyed button that I have, but we all have our weak points.  We all have areas that give the enemy a foothold.  I’m praying for you this week, that God will reveal those areas to you.  We are not powerless, friends!  There is power in prayer, there is power in the spoken Word of God, and there is power in coming together with each other and seeking accountability and prayer.

Remember, we are not fighting for victory, but from it!

If this whole idea of spiritual warfare is new to you, and/or you missed Part One of this series, click here.

Stuck in Deuteronomy September 14, 2011

I know it’s good to read all the different parts of the Bible, but sometimes I get stuck.  I don’t mean “stuck” in the negative sense, like “stuck in a rut.” I mean enthralled.  I get so caught up in the encouragement of the Psalms, or so captivated by the movement of the Holy Spirit in Acts, or so miffed by the Israelites ungratefulness in Exodus that I don’t want to read anywhere else.  So I’ll spend several days or weeks just going back to that same spot.  And I kind of like it.  Familiararity isn’t always good, but spending a lot of time somewhere allows you the ability to look at it from different perspectives.  You can enter into the story and try to imagine yourself there.  What would it have been like to be in that cave with David when Saul entered (1 Samuel 24)?  Imagine what it would have felt like to be among the three thousand that asked to be baptized after hearing Peter preach after Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 2: 36-41)?

This might sound strange, but sometimes I get stuck in Deuteronomy.  I know, those Old Testament books can be overwhelming–or even boring.  But there’s something about Deuteronomy!  The name means “second law.”  Moses wrote it as the Israelites prepared to enter the Promise Land, to remind them of all God had done for them and how they were to live when they finally entered.  Sometimes when I’m stuck in this book, I think Man, how could the Israelites even think about grumbling with all that God did for them!? Then like a kick under the table I suddenly realize: who am I to talk?  I grumble, I complain, I think about greener grasses.  And look at all God has done for me.  For starters, I live in a free country where I worship God without persecution.  I own a car.  I can afford groceries.  Shoot, I can afford lattes.  The list goes on and on and on and on.  The point: I’m no different than the Israelites.  I have been chosen by God.  I am blessed.  I still grumble.

Despite my grumbling, so many verses in Deuteronomy take me back to a spirit of gratefulness, to a place of awe.  They remind me that God is GOD.  The One and Only.  All powerful.  Almighty.  Amazing.

What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?  (4:7)

You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other.  From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you.  On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire.  Because he loved your forefathers and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength, to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today.  Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below.  There is no other. (4:35-39)

The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.  But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.  Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.  (7:7-9)

In her book What the Bible is All About, author Dr. Henrietta C. Mears writes this about Deuteronomy: “Nothing in literature matches the majesty of its eloquence; nothing in the Old Testament has any more powerful appeal for the spiritual life.  No book in all the Word of God pictures better the life that is lived according to God’s will, and the blessings showered upon the soul who comes into the richness and fullness of spiritual living along the rugged pathway of simple obedience” (pg. 81).

Are there places in Scripture where you find yourself getting stuck, in a good way?  Please share! There’s a whole community of women here wanting to be stuck with you!

Lessons From a Baby Born Blind September 6, 2011

Submitted by Lauren Neal.  Written by Mike Anderson for the Resurgence.

It’s not often that you get the opportunity to empathize with God; I recently experienced that bittersweet insight when I found out that my eleven-week-old baby girl was born almost completely blind.

I don’t want you to feel sorry for my baby or our family, but I think it would be good for your own heart to read and consider that God is an actual Father. He cares more than you can imagine. There’s a reason that Jesus came to give sight to the blind—visual blindness is one of the most powerful metaphors for the spiritual blindness we have at birth.

1. God’s Heart Hurts when His Children Don’t See Him

As a new father it’s painful to see my beautiful little baby and know that she can’t see me. The depth of the spiritual blindness that God’s creation are born with is even deeper than what I’m feeling. God is not indifferent to our plight. I am relieved that I’m not alone in my care for my baby. The God of the universe grieves.

2. The Father Knows the Pain Involved with a Sinful world, So He Comforts

The God of the universe suffered unimaginable pain. I always understood the physical pain that he felt on the cross, but as a dad with a baby who can’t see I can empathize with the pain of having a child who is marred by the effects of a sinful world.

God seems to tell us that the way to joy is not around pain, but through it—and he leads the way. In the first chapter of 2 Corinthians, Paul reminds the reader that when we suffer we are sharing in Christ’s suffering—we have been sent a comforter called the Holy Spirit who comforts us even in the midst of pain. I feel great comfort from God through this trial. The God of the universe comforts his kids.

3. The Power of God Is Revealed through His Blind Babies

When Jesus and his disciples came upon a man who had been blind from birth, one of his disciples was curious about why this man was blind. Jesus’ response was, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:1-7). Wow.

I know God doesn’t have to, but I want so badly for baby Violet’s blindness to be a medium to display the POWER of God. I am hopeful that baby Violet’s disability will not be in vain. The God of the universe is Holy—he makes great things come from situations of suffering.

4. God Would Go To Any Length for His Children to See His Face

Why would the God of the universe humble himself to let his own creation nail him to a cross? This was one of those questions that I could only answer on a cerebral level, but now I understand. There is nothing that I wouldn’t do to try to help baby Violet get her sight. Money, time, effort—it doesn’t matter—I’m going to do what it takes to help her. God paid the ultimate price to give sight to his spiritually blind children. The God of the universe heals.

Click here to read an update on baby Violet.