Retreat 2011-SNEAK PEEK Video

        In  September, 33 ladies from MBC attended a weekend Ladies Retreat.  The Theme was "Encouraged in Heart, United in Love."  Here is a peek at some of the memories we took home.

Ruth - Kindness changed everything - Week 3 Video

Our Ladies Evening Cafe is studying the book of Ruth.  Even though we have been meeting for several weeks, this is a study that is easy to begin at anytime so it's not too late to join.  You'll love the fellowship, insight, and connection that happens when you study with friends. For information contact Tracy @ 214-4976 or ctsigner@tds.net

I am loving all the ways God is using the book of Ruth in my life.  I can really relate to the girl who begins this video when she says:

          "I've always wrote off Ruth as a romantic story,

           but Kelly is touching on so many other parts of life

    and I think by going thru it bit by bit, and verse by verse

 -- it is so powerful

Enter their discussion through this week's video as they grasp the profound truth:

"How MUCH life can be changed by somone's kindness"

Praying for us all to "see" how we can show kindness to others TODAY.



Thanks be to God

We've just passed the Thanksgiving Holiday and are entering the Christmas Season to remember Our Saviors birth.  Wherever God has you this Christmas Season,  He loves you and has a plan and a purpose for all things

1 Thessalonians 5:18
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don't already

have everything you desire.  If you did,

what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,

for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the diffiult times, 

during those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations, because

they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge, because

it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.

They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary, because

it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for good things.

A life of rich fulfillment ,

comes to those who are also

thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can

turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way

to be thankful for your troubles,

and they can become

your blessings.

Author unknown

Bible Study Tips

Our NEW SESSION for Morning Cafe starts this week. Click here for information  Advent Cafe Session

Whether your new to Bible Study or just need a fresh way to approach Scripture, here's some hints on how to study the Bible when there is no
study guide to help direct you.

 Prayer, of course, precedes all suggestions.  The Holy Spirit can and will work in your minds, especially when you ask him to! 

1.  Read each verse individually.  Jot a summary phrase for each in a notebook, leaving space between each verse.

2.  Summarize the entire passage in one sentence.

3.  If these were the verses from which a sermon is being written, what would be the title of that sermon?

4.  Pick out one verse as the best one to memorize.


5.  Ask yourself, "What might the Lord be trying to tell me specifically in these verses?"

6.  Look for practical application in your daily life, in living out the verses and what they try to teach.

7.  Look for words that 'leap out' of the pages and grab you.  Look them up in the dictionary.  Check out the word-origins. 

8.  Look those words up in a concordance to see where else those specific words were used in scripture.  Do you see any common use or idea/theme?

9.  Finally, look in other resources:  Bible dictionaries, commentaries, etc.  These should only be used AFTER you've allowed your mind to ponder and 'hear' the Holy Spirit speak to you.  Be sure to remember that commentaries are NOT the inspired word of God and should never be looked at as infallible.
 
10.  Pray again!  Let what you've read permeate your spirit and let the Holy Spirit percolate the verses in you.

Morning Cafe - NEW session

      My Heavenly Father has often used  "coffee times" with my friends to encourage, challenge, instruct and move me.  I am thrilled the Wednesday morning Cafe will be offerring a new session that will give us an opportunity to meet up with our girlfriends, sip warm delicious drinks, AND look into God's Word. This session examines the "4 Hearts" of the Sermon Series--1. The Dull Heart  2. The Resistant Heart 3. The Oblivious Heart, and 4. The Repentent Heart.   Join us for as many dates as you can - One, Two, Three, or ALL FOUR !  NO SIGN- UP NEEDED !

  

  Wednesday Morning Cafe

         NEW SESSION !

                      "Rabbit Trails 
         on the Sunday Advent Series"




                           November 23  &  November 30
             December 7  &  December 14               

                                                  Meets at the
                               BOOMERANG BAKERY
                                         (1117 16th Ave. Monroe)

                                             No Cost and No Sign Up

                                                    9:30-11:30

November 23:  Matt 13:10-17
- The Dull Heart

November 30:  Mark 3:1-6 -
The Resistant Heart

 December 7:  Mark 8: 14-21 -
The Oblivious Heart

December 14:  Luke 3:3-15 -
 The Repentant Heart

**No cost and No book (except your Bible) for this Cafe session
**Coffee, Tea, and pastry available at the Boomerang Bakery for an additional cost

      Give Laura a "jingle" if you have any questions
862-4334  or lroth09@gmail.com

            For an explanation of why we call our Fall Studies Cafe click here the acronym for Cafe 
            MORE STUDY HELPS---COMING TOMORROW

Czechoslovakian Stuffing- Really?

MEET DAWN JORDAN

Dawn Jordan’s passions are music and children and she feels blessed to be able to incorporate them both into her daily life as a piano teacher and substitute elementary teacher . She and her husband John met while in college and have been married for 32 years. They have 5 grown children and 3 grandchildren. Dawn enjoys reading, writing letters, and spending time with her family. Since her children are spread out all over the U.S., holiday times are cherished when they travel home to celebrate. Step into her home as she shares reflections and a recipe from her childhood, that she has passed onto her children.

     In the Jordan household, November 1st is the official date when thoughts turn toward the holidays. Very shortly Thanksgiving will be here and soon after Christmas. Being a piano teacher, I will be digging out my Christmas Music.

     I love Christmas Music because it stirs our hearts and souls, and puts our focus on things Heavenly and Eternal.

     Recently I gathered with a few other ladies over coffee.  We had a sweet time in fellowship and our conversation turned to the holidays and included alot of talk about baking and cooking customs.  If you have heard of Bratzeli or Lefse, you know that there were a number of Swiss and Norwegian ladies there.

     Although my husband John and I farm near Monticello, I grew up in Rochester, New York.  After college, John and I taught at a Christian School in Niagara Falls, Canada for 2 years and then moved to New York for 2 years.  It was John's love for farming and his family roots that drew us to Wisconsin where we have lived ever since.

     My background has neither Swiss nor Norwegian roots and during the first years in Wisconsin it was quite "interesting" getting used to the Midwest food customs.  Thanksgiving was no exception.

     My Paternal grandparents came to Ellis Island in 1910 from Czechoslovakia.  Thanksgiving meals always included Czechoslovakian Stuffing.

     I have continued the custom of serving this stuffing in my home every Thanksgiving and it is one of my family's favorite foods.  My kids insist it is the best part of the meal and it has passed the test with other children as well.  Recently my son-in-law, who is a 6th grade teacher, made it for his class.  It was a big hit with everyone. 

     It is definitely a crowd pleaser and distinctively different.  I am pleased to share it here.

                                Czechoslavakian Stuffing

                             2 long loaves of regular sliced bread
                                        1 pound of bacon
                                    1 onion (or more to taste)
                                               8 eggs
                                               milk

1. Cut bread into cubes and put into a very large bowl.  Set aside.
2. Dice bacon and onion.  Cook together in a skillet until done.  Drain off fat - BUT RESERVE IT
3. Add bacon and onion to bread, and 3 Tblsp reserved fat
4. Mix in 8 eggs
5. Add Milk - enough to get a nice moldable consistency

     This can be stuffed inside your turkey or mold it into a loaf pan on greased foil -- Take 2 pieces of foil and put them together lengthwise-with the seam in the middle.  Mold stuffing into a long loaf on the foil.  Seal at the top. Place on cookie Sheet .

Bake at 350 for 90 minutes.  Open up top then to brown. Stuffing should be firm but not dried out.  Slice and Enjoy.

Strengthened by a Story

Last weekend, my daughter and I attended the Ladies Luncheon put on by the missions committee at  church.  We eagerly anticipated getting to know a few of the missionaries our church supports.

The group of ladies who organized the luncheon truly made it special and we felt blessed.              

Entering the church we were greeted with the Dessert Table

---nothing like getting ooos and ahhs right away!!

 I think Hallie was REALLY glad she came after seeing that.

We were seated at a beautifully decorated table and served a delicious meal by our own private waitress. 

 Becky, our waitress, and several other girls from  "Bright Lights", a    

discipleship training group for young ladies, made sure we were well taken care of.  Excellent job ladies!

Jan Burke served as our Emcee for the day and Jane Skelton

and Barbara Thompson (missionary girlfriends) gave encouraging presentation.

Jane Skelton  ( on the left in the picture) was our first speaker.  Jane and her husband Eric work with Wisconsin Family Council.  I've known Jane for about 13 years.  We met at church and became fast friend.   Because our kids also became good friends we've spent many hours at each other's houses enjoying sweet fellowship. I would say I know her pretty well. 

Yet as I sat there listening to her share about their mission work and also share her testimony in Christ, I was given fresh encouragement from parts of her story I did  NOT  know.  She shared openly about her marriage struggles and how those exact struggles are the ones God has used to put passion in their hearts for where they now serve - Marriage Ministry.  One phrase she said summed up why I was so glad I came to the luncheon.

 "They just don't know what it was like."

You see, Jane had shared that in mentoring couples in struggling marriages she always encourages them by sharing what a wonderful plan God has for their marriage.  Often they don't believe her.

Perhaps their doubt in - "believing things could be different  for them" is because - it comes from HER. 

Perhaps because what this struggling couple sees before them  is -- A healthy married couple who honors and serves Christ by loving and caring for one another. Of course SHE can say that when she has a great marriage.

That's when Jane's thoughts go to

"They just don't know what it WAS like"

During her luncheon talk she openly shared with us, what it WAS like in her marriage 10 years ago. She shared the struggles and victories of what Christ has done within them to bring them them to where they are now.

Likewise, sometimes I do the same thing this struggling couple does -- DOUBT.

When I've come into a relationship with a girlfriend AFTER God has already been doing a miraculous work with her, I only "see" - what's before me.   I too can doubt words of truth a girlfriend speaks to me,  because I have a misperception of thinking she has always been where she is right now. She can't possibly know what I am going through.

Meeting someone new can do this.  Meeting  someone new who is a missionary--well, double misperception time--- she's obviously been a Saint all her life-right?  

Misperceptions tend to stay that way--- unless----We get to know someone more and we hear their story.

 2 weeks ago, all I had to go on about who Barbara Thompson is, was a picture and a few short words from our church newsletter.  Our Mission Board has committed to supporting her family (husband Brian and 2 daughters) as missionaries to Hungary. At the luncheon, I loved that Barbara also shared her story of what it was like over the past 15 years that led them to where they are now----going to Hungary.   Listening to her began a friendship that has helped me know her more, help me understand missions more, and gave me a great desire to be involved with what God is doing. 

 Both of these wonderful ladies gave me loads of encouragement by sharing their stories because.....

It's when a girlfirend shares where she was BEFORE in her struggles and the victories that Christ has given her in them that I am most encouraged. 

                      "really, she went through that too"?

                      "really, that happened in her life too"? 

                      "really, she still has things she struggles with NOW"?

                     

I draw hope from a  real life girlfriend who shares what she has been through AND how she has made it through.  Instead of doubting , my thoughts become hopeful that I may make it too - that I could have victory as well.

God seems to be speaking to me alot about the strength that comes from sharing.  I am currently going through a devotional series by Beth Moore on the life of Paul.  Last week, the title of one of my devotions was "wisdom from the aged".  Up to this point in the book I have been reading through Acts and seeing what God did with Paul and his journeys. The Bible also tells me "what it was like" for this early missionary.  Scripture tells us in Act 14:21-22 that Paul and Barnabus returned to the exact cities from which they fled in persecution.  Beth comments:

       " I hope we have shared some of the strength and encouragement

         Paul and Barnabas gave to the believers in Lystra, Iconium, and

         Pisidian Antioch.  The new converts saw living examples of

         perseverance through suffering.  Paul and Barnabas departed from

         each city under difficult circumstances.  They went out of their way

         to return so they could say "We're OK!  We've Survived! And

         we're still believing and serving!" In seeing the joy and commitment

         of God's suffering servants, they knew they could survive too."

Just like Paul, we too can strengthen and encourage others by sharing our struggles and our victories.

It can be scary to do at first.  I've had a hard time sharing about certain things I have gone through and am going through. 

 I've been scared to because -  THEN THEY'll KNOW........

......................what I am really like,

......................how weak I am

......................and on and on.

  Yet, what usually helps me move forward and share is remembering this instead:

THEN THEY'LL KNOW..........HIM.

I was expecting to hear about missionary "adventures" at this ladies luncheon.  I didn't know God would speak encouragement into MY heart about what I struggle with. 

I was expecting to come and show my support for the missionary for what they go through.   I did not know, that in having the missionary share her story, I would be the one recieving support for what I go through. 

I was expecting to come, chat, laugh, listen and eat a nice lunch.  I wasn't expecting God would deepen my friendship with Jane and Barbara, deepen my understanding of their passion, deepen how to be a better friend to them both,  and deepen my resolve to press on in my struggles.

Is there someone YOU can strengthen today by opening up and sharing your struggles and your victories?

.......Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.  Acts 14:21

Reflections on Ruth: Prince Charming

I'm so pleased for this second post on "Reflections on Ruth" from the gals in North Carolina.  This one comes from Trudy. 

In the absence of my own Prince Charming this week, my affections have been lured by another.

Thankfully he’s dead.

Well not really, dead - alive in Christ - and definitely alive in the eternal pages of Scripture - but his handsome body has long returned to dust. At least until Christ speaks the word and it re-composes into an even more glorious body....Oh happy day!

His name is Boaz and you can read about him in the pages of Ruth. But be warned, this man is dreamy and if you are single he will set the standard high, but hey, nothing wrong with high standards my single-lady friends.

Will you be my guinea pig for a minute? Something about the description of Boaz has intrigued me and I wanted to see if it had the same effect on you. First, read what we know of him.

He was a:


mighty man of valor
well-to-do land proprietor
highly respected
kind
generous
strong
protector
provider
fair & just
godly
sensitive
responsible
kinsman redeemer

Now...what picture of Boaz has your mind conjured up?

Ugly or handsome?

If your mind is anything like mine, that list and "ugly" just don’t partner.

But here’s the interesting thing. I couldn’t find anything in my version of Scripture that said Boaz was handsome. The focus was all on his character.

Which underscores this truth: Character is attractive.

It may not always be blonde haired, blue eyed, tall and chiseled, but make no mistake....it's attractive!

Now you want to see an interesting twist?

Guess what Boaz first notices about Ruth?

I don’t have trouble believing she was beautiful. Moabite women were known for their beauty and sensuality and somehow I don’t think her first husband Mahlon (who later passed away) would have traded the heavy expectation that he marry a Jewish girl for just any ole ugly Moabite girl.

But a quick glance at Ruth 2:11 & 3:11 will tell you it was not her physical beauty that first caught Boaz’s eye

...it was her character.

I know, I know, our culture today makes it hard to buy that a man valued character above beauty but read the Word...that’s what is says...

He had heard about all the things she had sacrificed and the hard work she had done on behalf of Naomi and took notice. And not just Boaz, he later told her "All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character." Her reputation had preceded her and it peaked his interest.

Its almost as if character begets character,

or maybe its just that it takes a person of character to notice and value character in another person.

Or maybe, the principal that you reap what you sow is in play here (2 Cor.9:6)

I find any of those encouraging and it makes me want to focus more on godliness than lipstick. The bottom line is Jesus just makes us prettier than what we really are and the glow he gives is just better than any night cream I’ve tried.

There are so many applications I could draw here, I pray that God speaks one that is just for you, but as a mom of 4 boys, a few of which are beginning to take notice of some pretty little faces I am going to put on my parenting hat and leave this one with you because I see it as a vitally needed thing in the culture we live in today.

Character....godly character to be specific....is wildly attractive and in the end, the internal beauty of godliness is far more valuable than outward beauty which will eventually fade. I am not blind to the attraction of physical beauty and often the two go hand in hand, but when there is a choice set before my boys to choose physical beauty over godliness, oh how I pray they will have been trained to value character more.

But I really think "trained" is a key word here. They don’t need our help identifying physical beauty. They are wired to find that all by themselves. What they desperately need is our help unveiling the beauty of godly character.

So here’s my challenge. Let’s set ourselves to the strategic task of pointing out the beauty of godly character before our children (and other’s) eyes. Instead of being the "Horse Whisperer" we need to be the "Character Whisperers". Our primary task is to first live out godliness, (please don't lose heart here...only through Christ...if you need some encouragement to know God can redeem all things remember that Boaz's mom was Rahab...look up the details and be encouraged)

The secondary task is to teach it to our children and one way we can do that is to highlight it in the lives of others.  The Scriptures are full of great models, books on good character abound, but don't miss the gold mine of simply pointing out the many real life examples in the course of any given day.

Like...

"Did you see how that girl volunteered to give up going shopping in order to bake some cookies for some lonely elders today? That’s a girl that has learned to put others before herself, that’s a quality that will give her so much more joy than self-absorption".

"Son, I loved how you stopped and helped that player on the opposite team up after he was unfairly knocked over. That showed good sportsmanship which is far more valuable than looking cool or tough."

"Did you notice how that boy was brave and secure enough with himself to step away from his familiar friends and welcome that new boy who didn’t know anybody? Wouldn’t that have felt great if you were the new kid in need of a friend? I really value that confidence in a person that allows them to be more concerned about how the new kid feels rather than fearing being ridiculed."

We don’t make character beautiful...it is beautiful....we simply have the task to unveil it for those around us and train them to value it.

It does take time and effort.

But in the end if they catch themselves a Ruth or a Boaz, the reward will be great!

Are ya in?

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." Proverbs 31:10

　
　
　
　
　
　

Ruth - Being Honest with God- Week 2 Video

     I really appreciate that Kelly, the author of Ruth: Loss, love and legacy, is not afraid to challenge us in our honesty with God.

In  chapter one of Ruth, we see Naomi and Ruth "arriving". Naomi bears honestly how she is feeling in her relationship with the Lord.

 As we have gathered for discussion, many of us would have liked the Lord to give us much more background on Naomi to have her arrive at her state she is in upon arriving back in Bethlehem.
 It is in God's sovereignty that we are not told so many details, but

--what He does tell us is-- she told how she was feeling deep in her heart.

  Kelly challenges us to do the same as well.  To tell GOD what we are feeling deep in our hearts -- to be honest and open with the LORD instead of seeking to numb those feelings by becoming busy with other things.  May you be encouraged to be honest before the LORD.  I'd love to hear how the Bible Study is encourage you as well !  Enjoy the video for the Week 2

 session.

Ladies Luncheon

This Saturday Harvest Weekend kicks off !

 It's my daughter and my first time going to our
Annual Ladies Luncheon and we're really looking forward to it.

 I've heard some "behind the scenes"  info that it's quite different this year

 --  a delicious meal is planned and we'll be served most elegantly. 

 What a great "girly" setting to get to know our missionaries personally,
learn about what they do and the challenges they face.

 Hope you can join us! 

SATURDAY , November 5
12:00
Nehemiah Center

 Get to know Barbara Thompson,
Missionary to Hungary with United World Missions

and Jane Skelton
Missionary in Wisconsin with Wisconsin Family Council

Sunday, Nov. 6

9:30 am Sunday School Hour (3rd grade and up)
 with Tim & Sherry Thomas

 of AWANA Clubs

International-WI

Missionary Christmas gift "love offering" will be taken at each Worship Service.

For further information about either of these events contact Lynne Hardy at 608-328-2064.