What's New?

One week into the COVID crisis, I sat up at 4:00am filled with anxious thoughts. The “what ifs” started pouring in. The “if onlys” came right after. Following the intermission of this two-part heart-racing play was the trilogy, “Now what?” As quick as I could, I grabbed my pen and began to listen.

Speak, Lord, I am listening.
Where are You in this crisis?
What are You doing?
Do you see our fears?
What do You want us to know?

Opening the Bible that stays on the pillow next to me,

Here is a great idea for celebrating Easter differently this year! Ask several neighbors to join you in creating a walking scavenger hunt in your neighborhood. Included in this scavenger hunt are two main items, cute Easter riddles/jokes and Bible verses highlighting the Passion Week. On the attached printable forms are eight cards for each. Ideally you would ask eight neighbors to join you (adapt accordingly). Assign one joke and one verse to each of your eight neighbors. On Easter morning, each neighbor would post the joke and the Bible verse with a symbol inside the Easter basket, along with either a plastic figure of the item listed or a creative alternative.

On Easter, families go around your neighborhood looking for the Easter baskets that have these cards. The scavenger hunt sheet shows them what to look for on these specific cards and check them off. This is a fun way for us to celebrate #EasterTogetherApart.

Melody began praying for her neighbors and developing relationships four years ago. She started a neighborhood Bible study one year ago. What you are about to read is a poetic reflection that you don’t have to do big things, but one little thing at a time. Since she began, Melody has seen fourteen women join her in Bible study and five have come to Christ. She hosted a Christmas gathering where thirty participated. In her Easter outreach twenty attended. This doesn’t happen overnight but in micro-decisions and a commitment to pray moment by moment and day by day.

How it all began. . .

One little prayer 
Awoke in my heart
Full of hopes and dreams
Not clear how to start.

Hey, mamas. Lots of thoughts are racing through my mind as I sit at the YMCA typing, praying, and asking God to give me words to encourage you around partnering with God to love your neighbors.  

Thank You. Two simple words — both written and spoken — hover as an endangered species in our ‘hurry up and get it done’ culture. But we see in the Book of Luke that Thank You is important to God.

As another Christmas approached I found myself weary of the commercialized season. What I really longed for was thoughtful moments being mesmerized by my Savior's birth. The story that had transformed my life somehow seemed diminished in the to-do's of December. I searched for an Advent study that would take me through the Scriptures in order to feel the story firsthand, but I couldn't find one. So, I wrote one. I invited several others on this personal journey, and their encouragement to publish and post this study was unanimous. 

Step out of time and into these Scriptures. Find yourself pondering afresh this moment when our stratosphere was interrupted with the divine. The silent and holy night is near. Make ready your heart to worship.
The following is the introduction to the ADVENT study. The ADVENT study guide and compact guide are available here.

KNOCK-KNOCK.
Who’s there?
Opportunity.
Opportunity Who?
Opportunity is knocking at your door this Oct 31st.

The opportunity to love your neighbor on Halloween and be a LIGHT.
I know, I know, it is the dreaded holiday -- Halloween. The one you celebrate BECAUSE it’s over.
But what if I told you that October 31st is redeemable? This is a day when you can bring glory to God. How, you ask? By letting your light shine!
Jesus says,
“I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness
but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5
Not only does He say that He is the light of the world, but that WE are as well.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.” Matt 5:14-16

Don’t hide, turning out all the lights so no one can see you this Halloween. And please don’t put a note on your door saying, “We are Christians and don’t celebrate evil.”
Paul says,
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21
This is the time to overcome the darkness with light.

What if this year we all turn our lights up bright, and are the light to our neighbors?
How can you be a LIGHT this year to those around you? It can be as simple as opening your DOOR!

*Turn on your lights. Make your house bright and cheery. Put a string of white Christmas lights around your house. Make luminaries to line your walkway — buy Kraft lunch bags, fill with 2 inches of sand, and place battery lights inside.

*Give the BEST candy. (If you give a good-news tract, put candy with it as well.) Chocolate. Chocolate. Chocolate. Be a generous giver.

*Pray for your neighborhood as you prepare. Prayer-walk or prayer-drive the
neighborhood, asking God to help you develop relationships and to be a blessing to someone.

*Have treats for the parents -- cold water or hot chocolate, depending on the weather.

*Greet visitors with a smile and a welcoming attitude. Be on the porch as they
walk up. Create an inviting atmosphere with happy music playing. Decorate with pumpkins. (Remember they are not evil.)

*Get to know your neighbors by asking how they are or who they are.

*Value the children by finding something positive to say about their costumes.

*Have some dog treats available in case your neighbors bring Fido.
If you don’t have a “neighborhood” that has any trick-or-treaters, then ask a friend who has
“too many” if you can help -- buy candy; be a greeter and a blessing.

Go -- and be the light!
Other ideas and resources:

Click here for an excellent article on the origins and history of Halloween and All Hallows' Eve:
https://www.christianity.com/christian-life/marriage-and-family/to-halloween-or-not-to-halloween-1356581.html

We are excited to share a new resource with you that we hope you will love and that will draw you closer to the heart of God! An audio Bible in women's voices. Here's how it came about: