View from the Pew...Why Our Upcoming Pitch-Ins Are Opportunities to Make our Body *Fat*

Hubs and I have been at Calvary Chapel for 11 years now. We started attending when the church met at the old Boys and Girls Club and we could walk to church each week. We loved bringing our friends and introducing them to the *best* teaching in town:) After about a year, we were committed to the body, loved the teaching, but really hadn't connected with very many people. It felt...awkward. We considered Calvary our home church, but it felt more like a boarding house than a family.

Then, we were personally invited to a church pitch-in. I honestly don't remember who invited us, but I remember being invited. Someone made a point of finding us after church and asking us to come. They explained where and how the pitch in worked and made sure we knew we were welcome. That was a turning point for us. At the pitch in, we sat at a table with the Brinkerhoffs and Anglins and they made a point of getting to know us better, sharing their lives with us. The next week at worship, we had someone to share a row with and that was the start of falling in love with the people in our body.

This morning, I was looking around during the meet and greet portion of the service and realized that there are several new families in the body that I don't know. At all. I get so wrapped up in giving hugs to the sisters I know, saying hello to the families of our kids' friends, checking in with someone I have been praying for...but it's been awhile since I really tried to meet someone new.

Sisters, there are a LOT of new people to meet!

There are two upcoming pitch-ins and opportunities to fellowship with our body. The first event is October 31, Halloween night. There will be a bonfire, pitch-in and fellowship. The second event will be held November 13 right after worship service, celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the joining of Calvary Chapel and Christ's Fellowship. Both of these events are excellent opportunities to invite a new person, a new family to come and fellowship with us.

Actually, I want to challenge each of you to reach out in love to someone in the body, making a prayerful point of encouraging them to join us. This is a great way to *fatten* our body, to make us grow. It might be just the thing that makes someone feel like they belong, that our church is their church...and really, the church that Jesus asks us to be.

My first trip the the Midwest Pastors' Conference

My family and I returned from the 2011 Midwest Pastors' Conference this afternoon, and while some of my thoughts are still fresh, I want to share my impressions with you all. First, I want to say that I am so, so glad we went! For years we've heard others in the body share their love and enthusiasm for this conference, but it seemed like we always had a little baby...and then another little baby and another and, well, you get the idea:) This year, we were blessed with the opportunity to attend the conference as a family and it truly was a blessing.

Second, the teaching was amazing. Ahhh-mazing! Truth? I have two favorite radio teachers: Bob Coy and Mike MacIntosh. I heard them both. Couple of times. So, so blessed, sisters! Though I kept leaning over and telling Susan Cole that they didn't look like I had imagined them in my mind:) Tom Stipe also taught and he was equally incredible. Someday (when I catch up on my sleep and have time to process all the ahh-mazing teaching), I'll post some thoughts about the teaching...or better yet, maybe some of you who were there can post your own thoughts!

Each session began with worship and it was...worshipful. Spirit-led. The most beautiful part for me was watching all these pastors and leaders and people from our own body relax into the Holy Spirit. To look around and see hands raised, unabashed adoration of Jesus...well, it's hard to describe. And sisters, we are so blessed because we get to experience that every Sunday, if we choose to.

There was time for fellowship, time for walking, time for praying...time for eating. And more time for eating:) The nicest part of our time at the conference was that we could choose to follow the schedule...or not. Tuesday after lunch, I was tired. So, I took a nap instead of going to the session. That nap was equally ahhh-mazing:) This morning, our little boy needed some "mama time," so we skipped rocks at the lake and played corn hole. Sometimes, little boys are the greatest teachers...

And I forgot to mention the scenery...gorgeous. This sweet little lake, surrounded by October's brilliant hues; wrap-around porches; swings; weeping willows; crunching leaves; cool, crisp mornings; foggy sunrises...the majesty of God's creation all around.

If you were able to attend the conference, then you have your own impressions, your own grateful thoughts about your experience there. If you weren't able to attend, I would encourage you to consider attending next year. You have a whole year to plan:) In a couple of weeks, the teachings from the conference will be available for download on the church's website. When it becomes available, I'll post a link here and let you know. I encourage you to take the time to listen to each teaching and share them with others. If you don't have a way to listen to the teachings in the mp3 format, let me know and I will get you a CD.

Sisters, our little fellowship of believers is being used in a mighty way...2 radio stations ministering all across West Central Indiana, our school, the Pastors' Conference, this blog...and many, many other ministries. Lift up our church and the many ministries the Lord has called us to...ask for protection, for vision, for discernment. Ask the Lord how He might use YOU in one or more of these areas!

God, we thank You for all the ways you are working in our lives. We praise You for this Pastors' Conference...for all the churches and families represented there. We ask for Your blessing, Your vision, Your wisdom. Pour out Your Holy Spirit on us, God. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Praying the Word 8.29.11

God, we are needy. Desperate. Hungry. Tired. Dirty. Poor.

We need You. To meet our needs. To give us hope. To feed us. To revive us. To cleanse us. To give us the riches in Christ.

But more than that, we need You to show Yourself to us. Show us Your glory! Show us Your character, Your grace, Your mercy. Reveal Yourself to us, Oh God.

Show us Yours...Your hurting people, Your needy people, Your suffering people. Show us who we can touch, minister to, comfort, encourage.

Thank You, that You are a God Who saves. A God Who heals. A God Who loves. A God Who was...and is...and is to come. Thank You, God, oh, thank You!

Praying the Word 8.15.11

Father, thank You for Your Word.  For Your promises...that You keep them every.single.time.  That Your Word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path.  Forgive us, Lord.  Forgive us for not obeying Your Word.  Forgive us for hearing You clearly and choosing to disobey.  Forgive us for turning a deaf ear to Your patient instruction.  Forgive our unwillingness.  Help us to be doers of Your Word, and not hearers only.  We need Your help to be obedient.  We cannot obey without Your Spirit moving within us.  Thank You for the lesson of the rich, young ruler.  Help us to be willing to give all....everything we have...to You for Your glory, for Your purposes.  Thank You for loving us....for loving us in ways that we can understand and see, and ways that we cannot begin to comprehend.  Help us to live for You...In Jesus' Name, Amen.  

Prayer--Are we committed to it?

I recently had the urge to pray for the women of Calvary Chapel. I originally wanted to let these women know that they were being prayed for, so I quickly wrote a blog post wanting to share this. I discussed it with a woman in our body and she said we need to be committed to praying for the women of Calvary Chapel. This hit hard. Truth be told, I am not a committed praying person. I want to be but sometimes I forget and I let the world come in and take over. So how do I become committed to praying for the women of Calvary Chapel? I have to go to God. I have to ask God to give me the desire, the remembrance and the opportunities to lift up my sisters in Christ.

You know what? Even though I may fail there are women of Calvary Chapel who are committed to pray right now and the women of Crawfordsville Calvary Chapel are being prayed for. The specific needs, cares, and hurts may not be known, but you know what else? God knows them. And when God is asked to mend hearts, heal wounds, tend to the women of CCC, He knows exactly what to do, when to do it and where.

So, yes, you are being prayed for! I am being prayed for! That is huge. That is big. That is something to embrace. We are being lifted up to the Father, our Father who created us, who knew us before we were formed, who loves us. Who loves you.

That my friend, is something to rest in. Think about it. He loves you. He sees your hurt and your struggle. He sees it. He sees you. Trust that. Don't rely on your experiences with people - because people are human. They make mistakes. They forget to pray! They fumble and tumble through life. They are as human as you are. That helps me to know that whatever "stage" of life we are in, we are equals in the sight of the Lord and He gives us grace. He picks us up after we have faltered and gives us new mercies.

Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

So let's learn to be committed to prayer specifically for each other. Let's bring it to the Father who wants to hear from us and who rejoices in seeing us love one another.

~Nina

**If you feel led to pray, want to learn to pray, NEED to pray, please join us on Saturday mornings at the Women's Prayer Meeting. 10 AM in the sanctuary. Come and go as your schedule permits. Lord, teach us to pray...**

2 Corinthians 3:1-6...Notes from Pam Markey's Excellent Teaching

2 Corinthians 3:1-6

1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? 2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit;[a] for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Last night, we were treated to the excellent teaching of Pam Markey. If you don't know Pam (and I really don't, other than the few times she's taught at Calvary over the last 10 years), she is a real joy to be around. Raised on the mission field (Africa, to be exact), she and her husband George served Calvary Chapel and the Crawfordsville community for several years before being called into the mission field. They and their nine children served (and still serve!) in Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan until George's death a few years ago. Now, Pam serves as a teacher at the Bible college in Hungary.

We opened with worship and Pam launched into 2 Corinthians 3. We only got through the first six verses, but the teaching was so impacting! Pam rounded out each section of scripture with a series of questions and I've listed them, along with the corresponding scripture and my notes, for you to use in your own personal study and reflection.

Question #1: What were the Corinthians demanding from Paul? Do we begin again to commend ourselves?
Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? (v.1)
Personal Application: What do I feel is demanded of me to be involved in ministry?

Question #2: What does Paul cite as his credentials?
You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. (v. 2-3)
Personal Application: What qualifies me to do the ministry I am called to? Who has qualified me? (see Colossians 1:12)

Questions #3: What would I like others to read in me as an epistle? (remember that "epistle" means "letter" or "missive," and can refer to a public or private directive or teaching...so 'others' can be a multitude of people or just one other person)

Question #4: How does Paul reassure the church of Corinth of their ability to minister?
And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (v. 4-6)
Personal Application: In what ways have I felt unfit, unworthy to be a minister of the Gospel? Have I acknowledged and identified that feeling? Fill in the blank: I can't minister because:___________.

My Notes:
My weaknesses are God's strengths.
Could my weakness be the very thing that ministers to another person's heart? Brings healing, restoration?
What do I have in my hand (think of Moses at the burning bush...he held a staff in his hand, a symbol of his failure)? Am I willing to give over whatever is in my hand (my weaknesses, my failures) to Jesus and let Him do mighty things with whatever is in my hand?

*Offer my weakness as a GLAD sacrifice...to be burned up. Receive what God offers in exchange.*

I am enjoying the rare treat of some quiet time around the house these days. My oldest girls have been busy with some fun summer camps and all (yes ALL) the kids went to VBS every night this past week. I nearly fainted when I found out I was going to have 2.5 free hours every night:)

All this extra quiet time has really helped me get into a better routine with my Bible study. Sometime that's all it takes, doesn't it? Some extra quiet, an unexpected respite or break...sometimes that's the perfect opportunity to start over, start fresh. I wanted to share with you some of the things God has been using to make my quiet time amazing...not because I think you need to do it this, of course. Just as encouragement, sisters:)

First, though I know Dave says, "Get up early in the morning and wait on the Lord," and I mean no disrespect whatsoever in this comment...with a house full of little people, there's a limit to how *early* I'm willing to get up:) I do spend a few minutes in prayer and try to listen to the radio as I'm getting the kitchen squared away for the day, but I save my real study time for a time of day when I will have the best chance of success. This last week, it was after I dropped off the kids at VBS. This coming week, it will probably be late mornings. When school starts, it will be during the kids mandatory reading time.

Second, I've been on this kick of wanting to understand Biblical principles better. Things like "holiness," "purity," "righteousness." A great way to view every reference the Bible makes on topics like these is to go to Bible Gateway and search. Be sure to choose the version of the Bible you most often use for your personal study. What I find is that reading through one search generally leads to another and another. I keep a note pad handy to jot down any particular scripture that stands out to me.

Third, I really like to listen to quiet praise music while I'm studying. If it's distracting to you, skip this. A great way to listen to praise music is to create a playlist on a free music site like this one. I choose 6-8 songs that repeat over and over and I try to stick to soothing, quieter songs. Right now, I'm on a Kari Jobe and Sherrie Youngward kick:)

Lastly, I've asked God for accountability in my study time. Thankfully, my husband is willing to check in with me through the week and ask me what I'm learning in the Word. He lets me ask the same of him. I could also ask another sister in the Lord to keep me accountable and pray for me. Knowing that someone is going to ask me what I've been studying has encouraged me to stay with it.

Sisters, what are ways God is encouraging you in your pursuit of Him, in your study of the Word?

~Jen

Linky Love

2 Timothy 3:16-17

¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

My kids and I have been memorizing this verse this week.  I must confess, I am the absolute WORST when it comes to scripture memorization!  My kids are amazing at it...in fact, they know all the books of the Bible and put me to shame when we race to find scripture.  Pretty sad, huh?  Anyway, the material we've been using suggests that we approach scripture memory in a variety of ways.  Day 1, we make up hand motions; day 2, we draw a picture; day 3, we write the verse three times...and so on. I'm finding that hand motions are my friend when it comes to scripture memory:)  If Pastor Dave ever teaches one of the verses I know motions to, I'm going to have to sit on my hands!

I think it's important that we find whatever way works best for us to learn the Word of God.  Maybe you learn best by listening to podcasts.  Maybe curling up in an easy chair with your Bible works for you.  Maybe you need to take notes while you're studying.  Maybe (like me!) you need hand motions to really, really "get it." 

Or maybe you don't know what works best for you.  Maybe...and it's okay if this is true for you...maybe you aren't really studying the Word right now.  Maybe you want to, but you aren't sure how to get started.  Or maybe you've started in the past, but haven't found a way that works for you consistently.  If any of this is ringing a bell, if the Holy Spirit is giving you a nudge right now, I want to encourage you!  You can be a student of the Word of God.  In fact, God made you unique and beautiful and knows exactly how to teach you.

Below is a list I like to call "Linky Love."  These are links to websites and web tools that I know to be helpful in our pursuit to know God's Word and apply it to our lives.  It isn't an exhaustive list, so please, if you are aware of other helpful sites--let me know!  Not only do I want to share them here, but they would be personally encouraging to me as well.

Remember, these are all helpful tools, but the most important pieces in growing in our study and understanding of God's Word are a humble heart and teachable spirit.  May the Lord bless you as you grow in the knowledge of His grace...

Jen

Bible Gateway:  http://www.biblegateway.com/
Study Light:  http://www.studylight.org/
Blue Letter Bible:  http://www.blueletterbible.org/
Amazing Bible:  http://www.amazingbible.org/
Bible Study Tools:  http://www.biblestudytools.
The Active Word (Bob Coy):  http://www.activeword.org/
Thru The Word with J. Vernon McGee:  http://www.thruthebible.org/site/c.irLMKXPGLsF/b.4104119/k.949F/Welcome_to_Thru_the_Bible_RadioThe_Bible_Study_Program_Taught_by_Dr_J_Vernon_McGee.htm
The Word for Today (Chuck Smith):  http://www.twft.com/
Moody Bible Institue Radio:  http://www.moodyradio.org/

Anybody Out There??

Hello?  Yoo-hoo?  Anybody still reading?

Well, of course not, seeing as I haven't really posted anything new since, oh say FEBRUARY!  That's some hiatus, huh?

It wasn't intentional, but sometimes lengthy breaks are good.  Quiet is good for revival and that's just exactly what's going on here at "We Gather Together."  I'm really excited about the direction of this little space.  In addition to telling our "God stories," we're now going to be offering posts that emphasize more teaching.  Right now, it will just be me sharing whatever I'm studying and how the Lord is speaking to my heart through the Word.  As we travel on, I'm hoping more and more of our sisters in the Lord will offer their own reflections on the Word and how God is teaching each of them.  If you like to write, if you feel led to share what you are learning in the Word...this is an open invitation to share!  I'm not looking for great spelling and grammar and perfect prose...just hearts open to the Lord and solid Biblical truth we can share with one another.

So, ready, set, off we go on the adventure!  I'm looking forward to our journeys together!

Jen

Love Never Fails

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails;
1 Corinthians 13:1-8a


Listen to Sherrie Youngward sing this scripture here: http://www.blueletterbible.org/hymns/hymn.cfm?MusicID=3

"I failed, Mommy?" she said, her eyes filling with big tears. I swallowed hard and remembered how many times I had stared at her paper, my teacher hat on, my parent hat being twisted in my hands, willing the answers to be right, wanting to find a way to justify giving her a passing grade. I rubbed her shoulders silently and stared at the paper with her. Her first real failure at something that she was entirely capable of excelling at. My heart ached for her.

"Yes," I said quietly. She wiped her eyes and looked at me...lost. She didn't know what to do with failure. She had no frame of reference. I wrapped my arms around her and gently showed her that she had not followed the instructions given...that her answers were right, with different directions. I couldn't give her grace...we had gone over and over the directions in class and she had forgotten or ignored those instructions. So, she failed. As her teacher, I knew I was justified and required to give her the failing mark. As her mother, I felt that the grade was somehow a reflection of my mothering skills, my influence.

There is an ache in the heart of the failing follower. Where do I turn? How do I find my way back? It's easy to fail, easier still to feel helpless to change. Difficult to claw our way out of the pits of self-pity, denial, shame, guilt. We struggle to do something, show proof of our willingness to be right, to do right, to do good, to be good.

All but love will fail.

Our efforts, our righteousness, our works, our gifts...all of this fails. But love does not. And not any sort of love, but the love of Christ. This extravagant love...

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:12-13

The kind of love that lays it all down, lays down one's life. This love does not fail.

And so we must cling tight to this love. Wrestle with it. Let it wear us down, out. Change us from the inside out. Cleanse us and purify us with fire. Love doesn't fail.

And the whys of the failure are there...did we ignore, dismiss, cast off instruction? Have we become calloused to the call of love? Have we built stone walls around our hearts in place of His walls of fire? But the whys are less important than the how...how do we return to our first love?

We confess our need. We cry out to the Living God for mercy. We receive the Love that laid down His life for us. We marvel in the value He places on our hearts. We trust in His forgiveness. We walk forward with Him in Love...and we lay down our own lives for that Love. Love never fails.

So I pray with her and we ask to start over. She knows she cannot undo the mistakes. She knows of the consequences. But she also knows she is loved. I lay down my fears of failure as her mother and pick up hope and carry it with us. Failure doesn't have to define us. We are redeemed.

Thank You, God. Thank You for making a way for failing me to learn to love. Thank You for showing me how to truly love another. Thank You that you redeem my failures. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Beauty For Ashes

by: Nina Cunningham
"Straight up?" "Yes straight up - tell me straight up..."

"Ok, it's like this: Christians aren't perfect."

I see a luna moth, attracted to the light, fluttering, flying up and down, trying to reach the light. She's tired and frustrated. Could it be she's not trying hard enough?

Luna is tethered. She is tethered to a stake pounded deep within the earth. It's a nuisance and the rope is thick and strong...

As an artist, I tend to think in visuals. The already transformed luna moth, is me. The light is Christ. The stake is my past and the rope...well, the rope is me not trusting in the Lord.

Sometimes I wonder who's will is stronger? My will not to trust God, or His Will? Well, it's not a matter of the strength of our wills because we all know the ONE who created us, His Will, will be done. He can very easily change the situation, or take the situation away...but He doesn't. He waits patiently, a light, shining, waiting for that one day, when we will untie that rope.

I was asked to lead worship at the Calvary Chapel's women's luncheon and one of the songs I chose was called Beauty for Ashes (Shane and Shane). The song is based on Isaiah 61:3 “...and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.”

I felt as thought there could be others beside myself struggling with "holding on" to what was, and in doing so, not completely trusting in God. As Christians, we don't like to admit that we can struggle with trust. When we are in Christ, we are new creatures, so why would we have a hard time trusting in the One who gives us this new life? 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Is it the simple fact that we don't see the meaning of His words as they truly, deeply mean? Do we really understand that we are new creatures? Do we really understand that He replaces the ashes of our mourning with beauty? With Him?

Instead we can be stagnant, stuck, tethered to a past life of sin. We may be ashamed of our past to the point that we actually deny the freedom that Christ provides! When we allow ourselves to be tethered to the past, we are not allowing Christ to change us. We are making a choice not to trust in Him.

So He waits patiently for us to come to Him, so that He may replace the ashes (no more mourning) and become our beauty. He is our Great Physician and our Counselor. He heals - and will make us free if we just untie that rope.

Fast forward - a new visual - this time no luna but a "heart tethered to the Truth." I heard these very words on a Christian radio pod cast this past week. It's no coincidence that the very word tethered was used giving me this new visual. So what is the Truth? The Truth is Christ and He makes us free. John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Teed Commentary: If you have trusted Christ as your Savior, you are already living today in a spiritual “Year of Jubilee.” You have been set free from bondage; your spiritual debt to the Lord has been paid; you are living in “the acceptable year of the Lord.” Instead of the ashes of mourning, you have a crown on your head; for He has made you a king (Revelation 1:6). You have been anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit, and you wear a garment of righteousness (Isaiah 61:3, 10).

God promises restoration. When we trust in Him we give Him glory. We no longer rely on ourselves but Him and a renewal will follow. Praise be to God who showers new mercies each day upon the children who often refuse to take His hand. He restores them so that they may fulfill their purpose to bear witness to the One that frees the captive.The One who saves.

*********
Lyrics for Beauty for Ashes
Shane & Shane
(Click here to listen)

beauty for ashes
a garment of praise for my heaviness
beauty for ashes
take this heart of stone and make it Yours, Yours

i delight myself in the Richest of Fair
trading all that i've had for all that is better
a garment of praise for my heaviness
You are the greatest taste
You're the richest of fair

The Domino in My Purse

by Diamond Deacon
First let me explain the title to my story. I am a kindergarten teacher. Over the course of the day I pick up many things that are out of place. These things go in my pocket to be put away later. Sometimes they end up at home with me. This particular day, I found a domino in my pocket. I put it in my purse to return to school and proceeded to forget about it until this morning. I have seen it in my purse often over the last few months, but I never remembered to return it to my classroom.

This poor domino has been alone in my purse for months. It has been unused-- you may go so far to say it’s been ineffective. After all, what good is a single domino? If I mix it with other dominoes, it can provide fun game time for friends or family. They can be used in a kindergarten classroom to teach counting and addition. They can be used by children to make towers and elaborate patterns to topple. I remember a time when the kids would stand dominoes across the gym at recess just to watch them topple when their teacher arrived. It was a huge deal to the kids and they would work together toward a common goal. These recess days were a joy to watch.

The topic of Christian isolation seems to keep coming up in my Bible studies. Saturday morning, the comment “Isolation is a tool of the enemy” was one of the first statements I heard in my study. I had been talking to loved ones about isolation and how we can’t hide ourselves from the world. I knew isolation could be detrimental to our walk, but I hadn’t gone so far as to think of it as a tool of the enemy. Yet, it makes sense. Like the isolated domino in my purse, we are of no use for Christ’s kingdom if we isolate ourselves.

As Christians we are to be a light to this dark world. We are to walk our walk with Christ in full view of believers and non-believers. Believers need to be visible to each other so we can glorify our Lord and we can fellowship with one another. We need to be available to help our brothers and sisters in need. We need to be available to offer praise to the One in Whom all blessings are shared. Christians should be filled with joy and should be a joy to watch as we go about our day. We need to be a light to non-believers as we are commissioned to introduce others to Christ so they may enjoy eternity in Heaven with us. Eternity for non-believers is partly dependent upon our willingness to draw them to Christ.

When we isolate ourselves, we are robbing the very people we profess to care about as Christians. Sometimes isolation may be necessary. I remember a time when I was leaning so heavily on my Lord to get me through each day, that I did isolate myself. I was going through dark times and was clinging to my Father’s hands to survive. This was a trial that shook me to my very core and I knew that to get through it meant that I could rely only on my God and nobody else. However, these times are meant to be short-lived and as we come out of them, we need to share how God’s merciful grace was the only way we could find our way out of the trial. These times of isolation should be the exception, not the rule. The testimony that arises from these times of isolation should be shared as a witness to draw others to the One who healed our hearts and brought us out of isolation.

We may find ourselves isolated just because it’s easier than facing the world. It’s safer. If we isolate ourselves, we can’t get hurt. We can’t fall into temptation. We don’t put ourselves in a position to be influenced by others. We don’t have share our testimony. It’s during these times that we really need to remember all that Christ faced for us. He faced scorn and a shameful death on the cross so that we can be free and yet we choose to honor this sacrifice by hiding ourselves. Isolation not only hurts us, it grieves Christ deeply. Can you imagine how He grieves when He sees his beloved turning away from others who desperately need to hear our testimony and know of our love for Christ?

Whatever the reason for our isolation, it’s time we surrender that reason to the One who loves us more than His own life. We need our light to shine for Him. We need our light to shine for other believers. Most importantly, we need our light to shine in a non-believing world. It’s the second thing that Christ commanded of us, love one another as ourselves. (Matthew 22:39) How can we love one another if we isolate ourselves from those we are to love? I know for me personally, He is speaking to my heart about sharing more of myself. I’m not sure where this will lead me, but I just pray, “Lord, Your Will be done.”

As for my lonely domino that I have stared at as I write this, I intend to return him to the domino bin tomorrow. I know he will be much more effective with the others and he will be used as he was intended….just like we will be once we leave the protective cocoon of isolation. Praise You, Lord Jesus, for loving us. Now I pray that we love one another as You command.

January Women's Luncheon--Pam Markey

I wanted to write you all a quick note about this coming Saturday's Womens Luncheon. It starts at 11am at the church and Pam Markey will be teaching us on "TheTale of Two Women". I am excited that she has decided to come and share with us separately from her time that she will be sharing about missions.

Pam is a dear friend to me and nearly a 2nd mother to me! I have known her for over 30 years. Pam is currently serving the Lord at Calvary Chapel Bible College Europe in Hungary. She is the head of the missions training at the college. Her experiences as a missionary kid in Zimbabwe, Africa from the age of 7 as well as her years of ministry here in Crawfordsville as a pastor's wife and then 15 years of ministry in Ukraine have allotted her wisdom from the Lord and discernment regarding marriage, children, women's ministry, and missions.

We encourage you to come and fellowship with other sisters in the Lord and glean from the Lord through Pam's teaching. It will be a wonderful time of food, fellowship, worship, and teaching! If you know you are coming please send me a quick reply if possible. It is not necessary to reply, of course, but we are just trying to get a general head count for food.

If you need childcare, please reply or call me (366-4617) with the number of kids you will have.

I hope to see you all there and I am excited as to what the Lord has
in store for us! May the Lord bless you this week!

In Him-

Cindy Ellingwood
 
Bio for Pam Markey:
Pam spent the years of her life from age 7 to 17 on the mission field with her parents in Zimbabwe, Africa.
At 17 she returned to the States to attend college. She enrolled in Kentucky Christian College, then in 1970 she graduated from Indiana University with majors in zoology and allied health sciences.

After graduating she married George Markey, who became the pastor of the first Calvary Chapel in the Midwest before they moved to the former Soviet Republic of Ukraine as missionaries in 1992 with their eight children.

In 1999 they adopted their ninth child. During the fourteen years that they spent in Ukraine, the church that they planted in Kyiv resulted in many daughter and granddaughter churches being planted in other cities of Ukraine.

In 2006 they moved to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, a Muslim country in Central Asia that was also part of the former Soviet Union, to do church planting work.

George was taken ill in Bishkek in January 2007 and went to be with the Lord in February. Pam is currently on staff at the Calvary Chapel Bible College in Vajta, Hungary.

Here is a link to an interview with Pam:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hischannel.com%2FBackQ%2F2000%2F2509%2F.php&h=7126dm96KEsq14XVtVZk7ltFiCw

Women's Brunch

Women's Brunch - Saturday, January 15th, 11am at Calvary Chapel.
Pam Markey to share.
Please join us in fellowship and praise!