Proverbs 3:5

www.inspirationalbibleverses.com

. . . some of the wisest, and most difficult words ever spoken.
Praying for you this weekend,
♥ ferree

Friday Funnie: Oh, The Places We Go!

I thought this was cute and clever, and I hope it brings a smile to you today.

♥ ferree

Oh, The Places We Go!

(anonymous)

     I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can't go there alone--you have to be in Cahoots with someone.

     I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there.

     I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and co-workers.

     I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not too much on straining myself.

     I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too often.

     I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm.

     Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm getting older.

     One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense! It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart!

     Where are you today?

Get-Away Weekend !!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey everyone! This is so exciting!---something I've been hoping for since last summer, and now God has opened this opportunity for us -- YOU and ME --to meet together!

The women's ministry at this church is graciously letting me hold 8 (eight) spots to their retreat with Jennifer Sands (I met Jennifer last summer and promise you will love her! Click here for that WCP post). 

So hurry and send me your registration---first come, first served---the Crowne Plaza will be great, and the price for this retreat is rock bottom--I admire and appreciate how they've kept their costs down! And . . . if you fly in to Cleveland-Hopkins, the hotel has a shuttle. Or even better---I'll come pick you up myself!   ♥ ferree
P.S. Thanks to Terri and Janice for joining Google friends here. How nice of you! 

WOW Ministries Community Church of Portage Lakes

Presents

2012

Annual Ladies’ Retreat

Friday, March 16th, 7:00 p.m.

and

Saturday, March 17th, from

8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“Abiding in Christ”

With Jennifer Sands

at the

Crowne Plaza

Cleveland South - Independence

5300 Rockside Road

Independence, OH 44131

Phone: 216-524-0700

John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Four plans to choose from:

A – 4 in a room $70.00 (all rates are per person)

B – 3 in a room $80.00

C – 2 in a room $95.00

D – 1 in a room $145.00

All plans include room at hotel, all sessions, snack on Friday night, full breakfast, snack and lunch on Saturday.

The cost of the ladies retreat has been set according to our costs and we cannot make special rates. We hope that all ladies can attend both the Friday and Saturday sessions while staying at the Crowne Plaza.

Check in anytime after 3:00 p.m.

Jennifer has written 3 books: “A Tempered Faith” (2003) – Jennifer details her emotional and spiritual struggle in the first year after 9/11. “A Teachable Faith” (2006) – the journey continues as Jennifer shares how God uses everyday circumstances to teach us, refine us, and draw us closer to Him. “A Treasured Faith” (2009) – Jennifer illustrates her continuing Biblical growth and shares her recent battle with breast cancer.

Jennifer’s books will be on sale at the retreat.

Jennifer Sands

When Jennifer’s husband was killed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, no one could have convinced her that she would recover from such an unthinkable tragedy. In 2007, Jennifer received another blow: a diagnosis of breast cancer. But Jennifer has learned that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we can ever ask or imagine when we put our complete trust in Him. Since 9/11, Jennifer has undergone a dramatic spiritual transformation from tragedy to victory in Jesus Christ. She is now determined to share her testimony of God’s abounding grace and faithfulness…and to spread a message of overcoming all the trials we encounter in life through faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

Copy & paste this registration form to an email. Fill in the information and send it to me at WCplace@gmail.com

I will then arrange with you where to send your check, so our group is all together.

REGISTRATION

2012 LADIES’ RETREAT

“ABIDING IN CHRIST”

Deadline to register with Ferree is Sunday, February 19th, 2012

Name_______________________

Phone_______________________

Address_____________________

Plan:A – 4 in room $70.00____

Plan:B – 3 in room $80.00____

Plan:C – 2 in room $95.00____

Plan:D – 1 in room $145.00____

*Full payment is due at time of registration. Please make your check payable to CCPL

*No Children Please*

If you want to go alone

you may mail your registration to:

Community Church of Portage Lakes

3620 Cormany Rd.

Akron, OH 44319

(330) 644-6121

 http://ccofpl.org

Telling Our Stories

Remember the people from whom you have come. (Gaelic proverb)

Do you have a grandmother, favorite aunt, long-ago friend who you now recall and feel strengthened and richer for having had them in your life? Remembering these people "from whom we have come" is a powerful source of courage and perseverance. As Christians, we not only have our natural geneology and memories, but also our spiritual family of faith. We can claim lineage with all who believed--from the Christian family around us today way back to the apostles and early Christians, and even further to David, Joshua, Moses, Abraham and Sarah--all who lived by faith.
Have you ever thought about your lineage? Have you imagined the people you came from? How did they arrive in America, or Canada, or Phillipines, or England, or Mongolia? Where did they settle? Were they farmers? Business owners? Factory or railroad workers? What challenges, hardships and losses did they battle through?

What did they look like? Do you have their eyes, same color hair, their build or backbone? Have you benefitted from their dreams or hard work? Did they fall in love, sing when their heart was breaking , laugh until tears streamed down their face? Try to picture them. Do you think they pictured you?

I love how Hebrews 11 tells us we're surrounded by them--by a "great cloud of witnesses." Their same bloodline flows through us, one faith, one hope. We hear of their stories, their endurance, their faithfulness against the odds . . . We then consider our own. We pick ourselves up by their example. They carried on and so will we.

Good things can still happen. And if not in this life time, then in the next, for our future is in heaven and our legacy is left here on earth for our descendents. Someday a grand-daughter, or a great-great-great grand-daughter or neice, or friend of a friend's daughter will be widowed and come across our stories. A song entitled "Generations," by Sara Groves sums it up like this: "Generations will reap what I sow . . . I can pass on a curse or a blessing to those I will never know." She ends it with singing to her great-great-great grandchildren to "live in peace."

That's why we tell widows stories on Wednesdays. So others will live in peace. We're all connected and hope never dies. Look forward to another year of widows' stories--maybe even your's! Volunteer your story or the story of someone you know. Contact me at WCPlace@gmail.com and I'll help you with it. Thanks!

♥ ferree

A Prayer for Widows With Babies & Toddlers

This is the first in a 12-part series of prayers for widows, one each month.

Lord God,
     I pray for widows with babies and young children today. I never knew of such a tragedy before, yet now I now of several, and how my heart goes out to them.
     First, I pray for these young mothers. Please strengthen them through your servants in the church, through their family and through their friends. Make these people sensitive to their needs so they don't have to ask so much. Give them eyes to see, ears to hear and a sensitive spirit in tune with the heart of a widow and her children. Burden them to pick up an extra gallon of milk and package of diapers, burden them to pray for her as they shovel the snow from her driveway, replace the brakes of her car, fill her gas tank or grocery cart.
     And, Lord, your Word says that you gently lead those who have young. (Isaiah  ) so fulfill your promise in this widow's life. Guide her to green pastures where she will find peace. Give her income and wisdom to manage it well. Give her kindness from her employer, kindness from strangers and rest from her worries.
     I also want to pray for her children. May you be a father to the fatherless. Rest your Spirit upon these little ones, that they may grow strong in their convictions and leadership. May they know your holy power and love with great certainty and honor. Give them a love for their mother, protect them from bitterness and selfishness, grant them a heart of gratitude for your generosity and goodness to them.
     Now, Lord, encourage these widows with babies and little ones. Encourage them with your presence. May they each see your fingerprints over all the circumstances of life--not only the miraculous, but also the mundane. May they sense your love and watchcare over them and their babies this very day and everyday.
     In Jesus Name,
     Amen

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11 (NIV)

If God Wants Us To Be Happy, Why Do We Suffer?

 If you believe widowhood qualifies to be on a list of "What Is Suffering?" --then I think you'll find this short video from Dr. John Piper to be not only informative but also able to encourage and comfort as you learn God has a purpose in these things we suffer.
Most of the Bible he quotes come from these verses:
Romans 8:31
Romans 8:35
Romans 8:28

Does what he said make sense to you? I'd love to hear your comments.
I'm praying for you today,
♥ ferree