Do We Embrace the Seasons of our Lives? 10~19~2013

This past Saturday I went to church for a women's meeting.  And first of all I just want to let all you women out there, that missed this, well that is ashame for you, it was a very worthwhile meeting.

The speakers were wonderful!   And the music...one of the women played and sang a song I haven't heard for years.  The song is titled, "Only Hope," and my youngest child actually played and sang this song with her very dear friend Kelly, when Tim and I married.

Take a listen as you read on this is an amazing song.  Jesus is our "Only Hope!"  Wouldn't you agree?

Well this song started the meeting for me on an extremely positive note, especially after having spent the previous day, with the man of my dreams, as we wondered around the Dulles Expo Center, and enjoyed looking at all sorts of artwork, and amazing artwork, by wonderful artist and wonderful and creative sewing ideas...ohhh...there is such creativity out there!  And then on our way home we stumbled upon an amazing antique shop or I shop say "Shoppes," because it seemed like there were a few together,  maybe some consignment type arrangements, I am not sure, but it was wonderful... I will be posting some pictures of this in a few days, still working on them.

But back to the meeting...this meeting was titled, "Embrace the Seasons of Your Life."  Great title, because there are so many seasons that we are all in!  And the purpose of the meeting was, to inform us of two ministries, that do amazing things. And for some of us as we proceed thru these different seasons, some of us need a little help as we go thru these seasons.

The first The Courage House, is a FAITH based addiction center...you cant fight addictions with-out Christ, and the people that operate the Courage House know this all to well.  There are so many people out there that have tried to operate many different things without Christ...I wonder....how is that working for you?  I bet not very well, although it could be going okay, but just imagine how much better it could be if you put Christ in control?  Hmm...Something to think about!

The other group is called Freedom Path Ministries.  This is operated by Jesus and Mrs. Peggy Freed, her husband and family as well as extended family, and by this I am referring to some of the women who have worked thru being a part of Freedom House, that now help to keep it going.

These are two very worthwhile organizations that you might want to consider partnering with on a regular basis.

So all of the speakers spoke about "Season of our Lives" in some way or another, Peggy Freed told us about the way that her life was working and how Freedom House was conceived and how it operates, the one thing I need to say about Freedom House is that it is certainly wonderful that their are people who listen to and for God's voice and do as He instructs...

Another of the speakers was Harvest Chapel's own Mrs.Virginia Hicks, this amazing women, is one that I can call my best friend, and more importantly is in charge, along with Jesus, of course, of Ladies Ministry at Harvest Chapel.  Many of the people that were there probably hadn't heard Virginia speak before and tell her testimony, this is so worthwhile to hear, to meet this women and hear of the trials that she has been thru...
So worthwhile to hear...and so uplifting...

Another speaker was Mrs. Irene Rivera...Irene spoke to us of a particular woman in the Bible, a woman who isn't given a name, but you probably know her, she was the woman with the issue of blood, for twelve years.  First of all, I do not wish to be gross, but women, let's face it, this would be horrible!  First of all, how in the world did she survive all those years with this problem...there was only one way...this whole situation was created for and by God for His Glory.

Psalm 139:1-7

King James Version (KJV)

139 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

God does all for His Honor and His Glory!  Following is the retelling of this woman's plight...

Mark 5:25-34

King James Version (KJV)

25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

Please remember, back then a woman was considered unclean, you couldn't go near to her, you couldn't touch her, you couldn't sit where she sat, unless the area was first washed and decontaminated...can we even begin to realize the misery and loneliness this poor women must have had to deal with?  Well this woman had faith that if, just if, she could touch the hem of Jesus' garment, she would be made whole...Do you have this kind of faith?  
If not, how can you and I have this kind of faith? Get and stay close to our Lord and Savior!
How would people have know she was "unclean?"  Did she wear special clothes or a cloak that signified this?  Yes apparently so.  I didn't know this, but apparently this was the case.
She was in the crowd and people may have made a bit of a clear way for her, but we know what it is like to be in a crowd, you aren't really thinking about the people or persons around you except for what your goal is... and this woman had a goal to touch the HEM of Jesus' cloak, she was convinced, this would cure her.
And as we read in the Bible verses above, Jesus knew, and He spoke to her, in love and in kindness, probably the first kind and/or loving words she had heard in a long, long time! Irene you did a wonderful job teaching these Bible verses to us. 

Isn't this the way that we are to treat each other?  

         With Love and Kindness....Then do it, and not just around Christmas time, do it all the time!

We had one more speaker and that was Mrs. Jessica Slenker, this fine woman is the daughter of Mrs. Peggy Freed.  She gave us her testimony and taught us about what it is like to be a wife and mother and teacher in this day and age...things are certainly different now, compared to the way they were when my babies were little.  Times change, but the love we have for our families is timeless.

Any of you out there who knew of this and missed out, you really missed out.  And if any would like to contribute to Freedom Path Ministries or to the Courage House this can be done quite easily by mailing a check to Harvest Chapel at 6947 York Road, Abbottstown, PA 17301 and just note in the corner of your check that this is for these organizations or you can give on line at: www.harvestchapelpa.com, and again just note that you would like these funds to go to the group of your choice.

Blessings to all of you this fine fall day!