Thanksgiving Precedes Christmas

Thanksgiving, Christmas and then New Year's Day! Have you ever wondered who planned that? All those holidays and activities within a 5-6 week period is almost enough to roast a soul.

We feel the expectations of others as well as our own and each comes with its own weight. Who to please and who will be disappointed. Where to go and what to give-- it all seems to have a price tag. By the end of the holiday season, sometimes it feels as though we end up with an emotional debt as well as a financial one.

Let's slow down and spend some time reflecting. It strikes me as interesting that Thanksgiving is the first of the Holidays and I think it is with good reason that it should come before Christmas. We can express our dependence and our hope in the Giver and His grace, love and strength. We can take the time to express gratitude for what we have gained from the Lord in our lives, what we hold in Him, and the hope of which we will one day lay hold. These things we can truly be thankful for, because of one simple truth: He is Immanuel. God with us, no matter what; so we acknowledge His presence and His gifts for each stage of our lives.

Christmas is that time of the year when we remember that God chose not to whisper His love for us, but to shout it by sending His son. To not only show us how to live and to be with us as we live, but to set us free from sin so we can really live.

This year my Advent calendar will be filled with thanksgiving. I hope it will lead to a new year of deeper intimacy with my Lord, because of an awareness of His loving presence and acknowledging the gifts I receive from Him. Anyone want to join me?

Fall is here!

Here we are at the door of another seasonal change. It would almost be sad except for the cooler weather, the crickets chirping, fresh vegetables, and apples picked ripe from the tree are all delicious parts of the autumn season.

Other blessings of the season are the return to routine, school starting and our fall Bible study begins. Yeah! C.H.O.C.olate (Creating Hearts Of Community) will start on Tuesday, September 15 at 9:00 AM. This fall there will also be a Tuesday evening class at 6:15 PM. Both will be studying Esther by Beth Moore. Look for more details at the C.H.O.C.olate link on the side of this blog.

Our fall event, S'Mores, is scheduled for Friday evening, September 18. This is for women and girls of all ages who like to get together around a campfire and catch-up after a full summer. It's always been a lot of fun and this year will be even more fun as we check out a "gourmet-S'Mores-board." When you take special marshmallows and special graham crackers and special chocolate and add some wonderful women, this will be a very fun evening. Look for details in the bulletin.

As school resumes, we will also be resuming our mentoring relationships. "Tea Lights" our college-age mentoring program will begin early this fall. We hope to see many relationships develop between these women and the older women in our church (I mean, more seasoned women). If this is something that interests you, please contact us.

Summer's Coming

Summer is coming! Our activities will change with the season. We'll get outdoors more. We'll mow instead of shovel. We'll plant and play and work and rest. We'll get together with friends and picnic or hike. We will reunite with family to celebrate and remember. We will reach the fall season ready for "normal" schedules and routines but with memories of God's grace and bounty.

During the summer, the Living Light Church Women's Ministry looks forward to connecting with you. Some of the activities you can get involved in are:

• MN Fit- This is a way to stay fit during the months of June and July with some of your church sisters or your family. We'll "walk" around Minnesota without leaving town! Check out the map in the hallway at church to see how far everyone has traveled. For more details check out the information at the connections desk before May 24.
• Tuesday Morning Bible Study (C.H.O.C.olate)- We'll be going through Gary Thomas' book, Sacred Influence. For more details check out the link to the blog for CHOColate.
• We usually like to have a campfire and "S'More's" later in the summer. We'll keep you posted. This is for girls and women and is packed with fun things to do.

Enjoy your families this summer. Connect with other women. Make time to be with the Lord in a special way.

Who am I, Lord at my core?
Searching to know more

This life I live, the love I give,
The emotions I feel, my faith that is real,
What was I put here on earth for?
Desperate to know more.

In the depths of pain,
God's mercies reign.
Life's hardships that I endure,
leave me feeling weak and poor.
He is the hope I reach for-
Longing to know more.

What is my purpose, what is my plan?
On Christ the solid rock I stand.
I fall to my knees down on the floor,
Desiring to know more.

What will you show me? What will you say?
When I kneel down to pray?
Will it be the answer I seek? Will it be the truth I need?
You will answer, of this I am sure...
Lord, I ask you, please tell me more.

by Kathy Robinson

We are fast approaching our Spring Retreat: Reviving our Hearts through Restoration. We are emphasising "Restoration". We are not going to be talking about remodeling, reconstruction, refurbishing or refinishing. Restoration is a deeper work. The process may be costly, but it is worth it.

Please join us April 3 & 4. We will begin Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. We will go to our homes for a good night's rest and then return to church at 8:30 a.m. Come expecting to hear from the Lord and to leave revived.