How does life get so hectic? Sometime between those magical days of pre-school and 1st grade life gets so serious. Deadlines already imposed, benchmarks expected, each word, gesture, expression measured, noted and recorded. Teachers meeting, parents competing, and children caught up in the middle. Does it all have to be so? At least for a while today I was able to be 3 again, free again. My precious grand-daughter, Megan has more lessons to teach me I’m sure.

As we get closer to the day, Dec 25th, the stress and urgency is noted all around. The point of this celebration is missed when we get caught up in it. The sweetness and joy of just painting a bird house together made more sense than going to the mall, buying more STUFF and missing out on making a memory. Isn’t that what it’s all about anyway?

So this Christmas and going forward, I will strive to do just that. In the end that’s all we really have in this life, so I hope to make some good ones. Time well spent, meals enjoyed, stories re-told, stories re-lived. And hopefully, I will carry more than a memory from today. Hopefully I will learn to think, live, and on occassion paint like a 3 year old.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

One turkey escaped all the above. It was stuffed (not with cornbread stuffing…is there really any other kind?) with foam beads, fiber-fill and covered in a coat of soft cotton of many turkey colors. My husband, Tom and I bought it years ago for his parents, George and Bonnie for Thanksgiving. They liked it so much that they kept it out all year long. After 5-6 years, in October of 2009, George, Bonnie, and Tom turkey moved in with us. Dad was too ill and Mom too old to continue to struggle on their own. Tom turkey was relegated to the closet shelf for a year, just waiting to be noticed. Prior to our “Gathering” in November of 2010, I spotted him sitting up on the shelf looking lonely, like he needed the former appreciation once bestowed upon him. I took him down and noticed the soiled look of his outer covering. Fearful that throwing him into the washer would cause him to fall apart, I decided to wash him by hand. I took Tom to the garage basin sink, placed him in a bucket and proceeded to turn on the hot water. After scalding him, I poured soft dish soap on him and proceeded to drown him. He was pretty thick so, being a nurse, I performed CPR to get him clean, inside out. Thus being completely washed, I scalded him once again in rinse water. He was then rung out, neck to toes. I then sat him in a lawn chair in the sun to dry out in spite of the beginning of our first cold snap. That night, since he was still damp, I roasted him in the dryer. He came out, clean and fresh, colors bright, looking better for his rough day. He was then returned to a place of prominence in Mom’s room. Since Dad passed away May of this year, she will enjoy Tom turkey’s company all the more.

Our lives are pretty much the same as Tom’s for most part. We start out hand-fed, but end up spending much of our lives pecking for our “grains of food” and doing our best to find a meal for our young. Few of us escape life’s roller coaster. feeling like we are drowning, being covered by the sorrows of this world, burnt out from time to time, and as a result feel “rung out”. Sometimes we just need to sit out in the sun, get some fresh air, and soak in the beauty of of God’s creation, rejoice in Christ’s redemptive love, and know that we can forge ahead, and live as creatures created by the same God for His purpose. It is then that we can be restored to our original state and live a life full of thanksgiving and contentment.

(written by Georgia Jeffers on Nov 2010)

She was about 5 at the time and I believe her sister was about 3. They were playing together in the next room when out of the blue the 3 year old said, “God is in my heart.” The 5 year old replied, “The things you really want are what’s in your heart, so if you want God in your heart then he is.” Short pause and the 3 year old says, “yeah.”, and then they resumed playing. She already understood that whatever is in your mind is what goes into your heart. Why do we forget that most important of lessons? No wonder Jesus said we must become as little children to enter the kingdom of heaven.

If we want to change our hearts we must first change our minds. That is the answer to so many of our problems. Sometimes we look at other people who seem to be so much more loving and giving, or so much more passionate about their faith and we think it’s just in their nature. As if we’re either born that way or we’re not. But if in fact our heart follows our mind, our hearts can be transformed by changing the focus of our minds.

In scripture we are repeatedly commanded to love our neighbors. The burning question is how can we truly do that? How do we build our love for others, especially our enemies? How indeed could Jesus so love those who persecuted, tortured, and crucified him?

The other day I believe I had a bit of a revelation about that. We always think that we love others based on what they do for and to us, but the truth is it’s exactly the opposite. Our love for others grows out of what we do for them. Take for example our children. Who do we love in the world more than our own children? No-one. Why do we love them? Is it because they are so loveable? Well sometimes, but the objective truth is they often aren’t. Anyone who has raised a child to adulthood can testify to that, especially in the teen years. No our children are not about the business of living for us. We are about living for them. That is the point. We pour our whole selves into their well being. The more we give of ourselves to them the more our love for them grows. That’s why adoptive parents are able to love their children the way they love their biological children. It is in the process of nurturing the child that they come to love the child.

This revelation actually came to me as I was pondering the movie “Fireproof”.

At the beginning not only had Catherine quit loving Caleb, but Caleb had also stopped loving his wife. Thank goodness he had a wise and loving father who proposed the love dare to him. In the beginning Caleb thought it was about teaching his wife to love him again. Isn’t that the way most of us feel about the subject of marital love? How can we create more love for us in the hearts of our mates? The truth is we can’t. We can only increase the love we have for them. The more we give of ourselves to them the more our love for them increases. Their love may or may not be increased as a response to ours. It often does, but that is not guaranteed. However, as we open ourselves to them it is guaranteed that our love for them will grow. In the process of trying to win back Catherine’s love for him, Caleb regained his love for her.

We’ve all seen examples of someone hotly pursuing another, and the more they pursue the more obsessed they become in their pursuit. Remember, “Where your treasure is your heart will be also. That is because wherever you fix your mind and your purpose your heart will follow.

Your heart does not determine where you go and what you do. Your mind determines where your heart will go. If you want to change your passions change your actions. If you want to love more do more loving acts. Your heart will get on board.

Why is Jesus able to love us so completely? He came to do his Father’s will. His whole focus was our salvation. In the act of giving everything he has and is for us his love gained strength and was sustained.

If you want to change the things and the people you love and feel passionate about, change your mind and your actions. Your heart will soon follow.

Darlene Shay

As I mentioned in an earlier article, Christianity is meant to be lived out and expressed in every part of our lives. Since we are all so varied in our interests, we have an equal variety of ways to express and share our beliefs with others. Julie Craig, Linda Wheeler, Audrey O’Connell, and Jeannine Anderson have found another way that works for them.

They were first time participants in the recent Trekwomen triathlon at Disney World. The triathlon consisted of a ½ mile swim, 12 mile bike ride, and a 3.1 mile run. They discovered that participation in a test of physical endurance is not just an athletic experience, but a mental and spiritual one as well.

As we recorded the event in pictures, they explained how the training and preparation had been a vehicle for spiritual growth too. They were covered with the scriptures they found particularly strengthening to them, as well as names of those they were praying for. As they talked I began to see how a triathlon is in many ways a great analogy for the Christian race we run.

First of all it requires training and discipline. Every person has different strengths and weaknesses. For example, one person may be a strong swimmer, but struggle with running. We all have different strengths and weaknesses as Christians too. Just as a triathlete is required to improve on their weaknesses through practice and perseverance, we too must constantly strive to overcome our weaknesses.

In any race or test of endurance there are often obstacles that have to be overcome. For example, during the cycling portion of the triathlon Jeannine had a flat tire and had to ride on the flat until Audrey came along and stopped to pump it up for her. Then thanks to the help of a fellow Christian she was able to make better time. Unfortunately, the same tire needed further repair, and it quickly went flat again. She continued the race, but progress was slow and very difficult. Fortunately, a volunteer working the event finally came along and it was completely fixed. The important thing was that she didn’t give up.

In our Christian walk we will be faced with obstacles. It requires perseverance and faith not to quit the race in frustration. We are also responsible for coming alongside our fellow Christians when they face obstacles. We cannot get so caught up in our own race that we don’t notice and stop to help others who have some need along the way. Audrey O’Connell was focused on the finish line, but not so focused that she would miss the opportunity to stop and help her sister.

The final reason that I believe a triathlon is a great analogy for the Christian race we run is that for most of the participants it is less of a competition with others and more of a competition with themselves and their own past performance. It’s about improving themselves and most of all it’s about finishing.

Was it worth all the training and effort? The looks on their faces as they crossed the finish line told the story. For them it was worth that and more.

As Christians we know it’s all about the finish line, and our savior who is waiting for us there.

This was just a small part of the Maricamp Road’s Fall Festival.  There was giants blow up playgrounds, face painting, sack racing, and many other game where the kids could win prizes, You can forget the food!! Sno-Kones, Hotdogs, Cotton Candy!

GREAT JOB MARICAMP ROAD!!  Thank you all for making this Halloween an awesome one.

Our mission this summer was to learn more about Jesus – that he is superior to anything or anyone else, he was a real human being just like us, and that the word is still living and active. We also emphasized that life is like a race and that we need to focus on Jesus to be successful. We were also encouraged by the great heroes of the past; all of these wonderful messages came from the book of Hebrews.

The summer program was filled with many other hands-on activities. We learned about arrowheads, pottery, fossils, old stamps, coins and even Indy’s biggest fear – snakes! The Pathfinders erupted volcanoes, went to Egypt and learned about mummies, hieroglyphics and even made their own sand pyramid.

Each night, the Pathfinders earn points and could use them in the store at the end of the evening. We also gave out awards each night: the Pathfinder Award (a compass keychain) went to the student who set a Christ-like example in class and the “Cross Award” (An Arrowhead necklace) was given to anyone who talked to someone about Jesus and invited him or her to Church.

We have been very proud of our children’s generosity this summer towards others in need. Over the past 8 years, we have given over $5,000 to different causes. This year we chose to send Boots and Bibles to children in Nicaragua and will be giving over $800.00 towards this cause. Our Medical Mission Team will be involved in the distribution of both items.

Each night is also filled with singing, warm up exercises, a lesson (usually including a skit and application) then a rotation to four centers including: Wendy the Word Lady who teaches us about a Bible word that we need to understand better; Rhoda the Ace Reporter who reemphasis the lesson; an Archeology station and an activity station. The night ends with a tasty dessert.

When I wake up in the morning I am continually amazed at the peaceful feeling I own. Even when a snapshot of my life would be ugly to most, I see hope. I have said this many times and God continually makes it true. If you were to ask me to paint a picture of THE perfect life for me it would look nothing like the circumstances I live in. However I love my life.

That is really saying something because most of my life I have been very discontent. I searched for happiness and contntment, knowing that if I could be like you I would be just fine! The master of lies told me I could be happy if I lived life chasing true happiness. Wow that was a tiring search!

Without going into all the sordid details I will say my life was “creepy”, we’ll leave it at that for now!

I don’t know exactly when I was changed but I know it happened. I know it is still happening and for that I am continually grateful. There are so many people who helped me along the way, friends who prayed for me and loved me when I was very unlovable. I know they prayed for me to find the path that leads to true joy!

When I was living in darkness (pretending to be in the light)…I had no faith in God. Sounds so easy “just have faith”…but it is not easy for some. It wan’t easy for me. I only had faith in things I could see. Mainly I only had faith in me! That only brought me emptiness, and more futile searching.

Today I have faith in The Most High God, The One and Only God. I have been rescued from the pit and I have been given this faith! It is true; I know it is true because it has happend to me! I love telling it because it is a miracle, an unnatural occurance!

So if you look at me and wonder what happened, now you know!

Romans 8:30-31 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called the also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What shall we say in response to this? If God is for us , who can be against us?