Warrior PresWIC

Storm Relief

2011-05-03T16:43:00.000-07:00

This photo is what is left of Krispy Kreme in Tusacloosa. Behind it were homes and apartments that were completely leveled.

The Spiritual Retreat was postponed (we sincerely hope to be able to reschedule with our speaker) due to the tornadoes that ripped through much of our area.

In an effort to keep Warrior Presbytery informed of needs and ways to help, I am posting the websites of the two Tuscaloosa churches. Trinity and Riverwood will be hosting teams from MNA's Disaster Response for the foreseeable future. These teams will come in and will be here until there is no further need. Obviously there will be much help needed throughout the days, weeks, and months to come.

Please check these websites often as they will contain the most up to date information concerning needs and the relief effort. If you know of other organizations helping in other areas, please leave a comment or email warriorpreswic@gmail.com and pass that information along. We want to be able to help in the best possible ways.

The obvious need that all of the stricken areas has is prayer from God's people. Prayer for strength, stamina, peace, patience, are especially needed.

Websites:
Trinity Presbyterian Church--Tuscaloosa

Riverwood Presbyterian Church Relief--Tuscaloosa

Get Ready!!

2011-04-19T10:25:00.001-07:00

The Warrior PresWIC Spiritual Retreat is fast approaching!

Please make your plans to attend.

When: April 30 at 9:00 a.m.

Where: First Presbyterian Church, Demopolis

Service Project: Please bring canned goods/non-perishables to be donated to the Demopolis Food Bank.

Speaker: Donna Evans

Donna is a free lance writer from Birmingham. She will be speaking on The Wise Woman's Bucket List--a study of Proverbs.

This promises to be a wonderful morning of fellowship, learning, and, of course, a delicious lunch.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Prayer Request

2011-01-31T05:28:00.001-08:00

We have received word that Judy Pratt, who hold the PresWIC Missions position, had a stroke over the weekend. Please be in prayer for Judy, her family, and her doctors. This is the last email that I received concerning her condition:

Judy has a blood clot to the brain that the meds that they have given her has not dissolved . We pray that the blood clot to her brain will dissolve. Also, the doctors are concerned the next 48-72 hrs. about swelling to the brain, which may cause the clot to move. We pray that her brain does not swell. The blood clot is on the right side of her brain, so her left side is the side involved.

Emily Bowman, Centreville WIC Pres.

Agape Puppet Ministry

2011-01-26T07:35:00.000-08:00

One of the ministries that we supported in 2010 through an offering is The Agape Puppet Ministry.

We learned on Saturday at the Annual Meeting that they have been in the Middle East. Following are a series of emails concerning their departure from this unstable part of the world. Please take the time to read these and pray for this ministry.

Email #1

Dear Friends,

Please pray for Linda, Padraig and Jared. The country where they have been
ministering is experiencing a great deal of unrest and, after consultation
with local believers, they have decided to leave now before the situation
becomes more unstable. Please pray right now as they are traveling to the
airport to fly out. Pray for a safe and swift journey for Linda and the team
as well as for the many seeds of the Gospel that were planted and the many
Muslim children who expressed a desire to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord
and Savior.

In Christ,

Pastor Travis Hutchinson
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Agape Puppets

Email #2

Join us in praising the Lord and continue in prayer for Linda Summer and the
Agape Puppets team. They have made it safely out of the area of unrest and
are remaining for a while at an evangelical seminary until later today, when
they journey to the airport to leave the country. Pray for their continued
safety and traveling mercies, as you also lift up the believers in the area.

Pastor Travis Hutchinson

Email #3

Dearest friends,

We are on schedule to leave the Middle East. We leave from the airport
tonight at 11:30 and our faithful friend Mohammed will take us. God gave us
grace in getting through the troubled areas last night. Today, those same
roads are impassible. Afain, God showed us great mercy. The unrest is
spreading but not a problem where we are. We are only 3 people but this
country is full of your brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray for your family
here and ask God to restore peace to this nation. Always remember... It is
the Father always in charge.

In Jesus,
Linda Jared and Padraig

Email #4

Dearest Friends,
Enjoy this report from yesterday.

NEAR THE BORDER

Today, Monday, we travelled for an hour to reach a village near the
border of a country that is very unfriendly to Christians. This country is
also not friendly to Americans. When we arrived, we set up, but we never did
the show. There had been a problem in the school between a Muslim student
and a Christian teacher. The village is totally Muslim and the staff at the
school are from a Christian tradition.
Our plan was to share with the children, but God's plan was for us to
share with the principal, a politically connected teacher, and her husband,
a pharmacist. They are all from a Christian tradition that teaches their
people to believe that they can be good enough for God. They have survived
as a small number in the Muslim world because they have refused to anger
their Muslim neighbors. Simply put, we could do the program as long as we
did not talk about Jesus.

Pastor Shaddi does not compromise . I love this about him! He told them
that if we do not talk about Jesus, there is nothing to say. I agree with
him. Since we would not compromise, we were not able to do the show as we
had planned. God had made another plan.

For about an hour, we met with these friends. Johnny and FuFu are 2
precious believers in Pastor Shaddi's church. Today, they went with us and
Johnny shared with the politically connected teacher. At first it was a
little loud, but Johnny quickly softened his voice. Lovingly, he told her
the truth of the Gospel. When she said that she was afraid to speak Jesus'
name, he told her the story of the first martyr, Stephen. Then I shared my
testimony and she looked as though she would cry. God was softening her
heart.

All of them listened with their hearts. Before, we left, we prayed for
the principal and his situation. His countenance changed. The lady teacher
came to Shaddi and said, "I am with you to the death."

Please pray for this village of 8,000 Suni Muslims who live in desperate
darkness. The children are from poor homes, but they suffer from a greater
poverty. They do not know Jesus. The principal has agreed to let our new
puppet tea, return when things are calmer. This is why it is so important to
train and equip nationals. Pray for God to hold open this door for them.
Pray for the 3 adults who heard the Gospel so clearly and sweetly today to
hold to Jesus without compromise.

In Jesus,
Linda for Padraig and Jared

If you would like to receive email updates from Agape Puppets, you can send a email requesting that you be added to their list to: Msummer05@gmail.com.

These emails allow you to follow the puppet team and know how to better pray for them.

Puddle Jumpers

2010-10-13T11:16:00.000-07:00

Do you need to search for some gently used clothing for the little ones and children in your life?

If so, make plans to attend Puddle Jumpers at First Presbyterian Church in Demopolis Saturday, October 16 from 9:00 - 4:00.

At last report, there were over 30 consignors so there is sure to be much to choose from!

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Children's Ministry.

Be sure to come out and have a look around!

Agape Puppet Ministry

2010-09-30T07:19:00.000-07:00

Here is the You Tube link for the Agape Puppet Ministry.

This clip was played at the Spiritual Retreat.

The Agape Puppet Ministry is the recipient of Warrior PresWIC's Send the Light offering. This offering is due on October 15. Please prayerfully consider what you can give.

Spiritual Retreat 2010

2010-09-27T11:41:00.000-07:00

On September 18, the ladies of Warrior PresWic gathered in Aliceville at the beautiful First Presbyterian Church.

Kathy Cheely was with us for the morning. She talked about Hospitality 101. What a treasure of ideas and encouragement!

Here is short summary of the information that Kathy shared with us. Elaine Carr wrote this for Demopolis' newsletter.

Hospitality 101

50+ ladies from Warrior Pres-Wic met on Saturday, September 28, 2010 to hear Kathy Cheely, our sister from Briarwood Presbyterian in Birmingham
speak on hospitality. Through Kathy’s enthusiasm, passion, and obvious talent for hospitality, we were encouraged, challenged, (and
yes, even convicted) to develop our calling to offer hospitality in the name of Jesus.
Hospitality is a biblical mandate and the Greek word for hospitality means “the love of strangers.” We are told that the strangers among us are
to be beloved. We are called to love those who are difficult, not those who are easy.
Basic Principles of hospitality:
• We don’t all have to practice it the same way
• It is not a “spiritual gift!” It’s a learned behavior, a discipline. There are those however, who have the natural talent for it and the rest of us
have to develop it through deliberate, intentional practice
• If we are NOT having people into our homes, we are sinning by not enabling our husbands (the spiritual heads of our homes) to be hospitable
(a scriptural mandate).
Hospitality is NOT limited to our homes, however

Barriers to Hospitality:
• Closed groups (too busy maintaining our own circles of friendship)
• Suspicious of new people/fear that people will be ‘high maintenance’ and require much of us
• Inability to manage our time (make a plan and stick to it!)
• Fear that we cannot do it in modesty (feeling that we have to go all out – we don’t!)
• Lack of serious focus (slow down and enjoy having company!)
• Lack of communication skills (practice!)
• Homes too luxurious for guests (put up things that might get broken or damaged when company is present)
• No history of familial hospitality (it’s a discipline you CAN learn!)
Differences between entertaining and being hospitable:

Entertaining
1. Seeks to impress
2. Things before people
3. Presents an ideal
4. Look please, & admire
5. Looks for repayment
6. “What a wonderful home!”

Hospitality
1. Seeks to serve
2. People before things
3. Allows others to see our humanness
4. What is mine is yours
5. Expects no reward
6. “Thank you for having me! God is in
this home!”

Specific instructions from God’s Word:
• Col. 3:12b – Tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering
• II Tim. 1:7 – Have not a spirit of fear but of power and love and of a sound mind
• I Peter 4:9- Be hospitable without grumbling
• Luke 10: 7b – Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality

Creative hospitality:
• Take food to co-workers for lunch, eat with them
• Don’t allow taking goodies to people negate our responsibilities to them in other ways
• Babysit for families with small children or “adopt one or two children to do special things with in order to free up parents
• Arrange flowers for a friend who is having a special event
• Have a picnic with someone
• Entertain internationals (college students, adults, families)
• Help others to be giving (provide someone with baked goodies to give away to others at Christmas)
Come on now……..think of 10 more ways you can creatively offer “hospitality” to strangers…………and in so doing they become your friend
(and who knows……..you may get the honor and privilege of inviting them into God’s forever family!) What a joy!

Just before lunch, door prizes were given! Two of the door prizes were plates with the following poem:

From A Plate by Kathy Cheely

If you were just to look at me,
I think a plate is all you'd see;

A waste of space 'cause I don't match,
But I'm hoping a vision you will catch.

To give me away with something more;
There are oodles of ideas galore.

What about a cake for guests entertained,
Or a dessert for a study where the Word is explained,

A new neighbor on the block,
Someone racing the clock,

A friend confined to bed,
A family trying to get ahead?

You get the idea, it's not about you.
I've done my part, now what will you do?

It's Time!!!

2010-09-11T11:21:00.000-07:00

Please make plans to join us for this special meeting!!

For Thought

2010-04-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

From The Valley of Vision--a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions:

Great God,
In public and private, in sanctuary and home, may my life be steeped in prayer,
filled with the spirit of grace and supplication,
each prayer perfumed with the incense of atoning blood.
Help me, defend me, until from praying ground
I pass to the realm of unceasing praise.
Urged by my need,
Invited by thy promises,
Called by thy Spirit,
I enter thy presence, worshiping thee with godly fear,
awed by thy majesty, greatness, glory,
but encouraged by thy love.
I am all poverty as well as all guilt,
having nothing of my own with which to repay thee,
But I bring Jesus to thee in the arms of faith,
pleading His righteousness to offset my iniquities,
rejoicing that he will weigh down the scales for me, and satisfy thy justice.
I bless thee that great sin draws out great grace,
that although the least sin deserves infinite punishment
because done against an infinite God,
yet there is mercy for me,
for where guilt is most terrible,
there thy mercy in Christ is most free and deep.
Bless me by revealing to me more of his saving merits,
by causing thy goodness to pass before me,
by speaking peace to my contrite heart;
Strengthen me to give thee no rest
until Christ shall reign supreme within me,
in every thought, word, and deed,
in a faith that purifies the heart,
overcomes the world, works by love,
fastens me to thee, and ever clings to the cross.

It's Almost Time!

2010-04-13T13:05:00.001-07:00

It's almost time for ladies of Warrior PresWIC to come together for the annual spring meeting.

Make plans to attend!

Add to the Mix...of Ministry Ideas

Sharing Session
April 17, 2010
Aliceville, FPC

Workshops Include:

Stitchin' With A Purpose...Prayer Shawl Ministry
(wrap in love, cover in prayer...maybe learn a stitch or two)

Living for Less...Lessons in Frugal Living

How the Church Can Minister to Widows (session 1)

How Widows Can Minister to the Church (session 2)

Does Christianity Squash Women? A book review (and discussion)

You may choose 2 workshops. Lunch is provided.

Service Project: Please bring canned goods to be donated to Aliceville Food Bank.

A Letter From Elaine

2010-03-31T07:56:00.000-07:00

This was from Elaine and there was much in here that I just decided to include it all! Be aware that the recordings of Leadership Training are (for a limited time) available for $35. Also, Warrior PresWIC has a Facebook group. Just do a search for Warrior PresWIC and become a member!

The email below is from our Southeastern WASC representative. There is GREAT information below, even if you didn’t get to go to the leadership training this year. I was very sad that I didn’t get to go b/c it was the same weekend as our Mission’s Conference – tough decision but I felt it best to stay with our local church event –in a small church every hand on deck is a necessity and a good thing!!). Please read the information and be looking forward to more information coming in April (17^th to be exact) at the Warrior Pres-Wic Sharing Session!

Consider buying the set of CD’s she mentions from the conference for your ladies Bible Study group or church library. One year, when I was just a young bride (my that was MANY years ago), I purchased a set of CASSETTE tapes (does that tell you exactly how LONG ago that was?) from a PCA conference with talks by women like Susan Hunt, Elizabeth Elliott, and Edith Schaeffer. I listened to them, then shared them with some of the older ladies in our congregation (they were probably about the age I am now). They were so moved by the tapes that we had a Stitch and Sew Lunch Bunch that met once a week all summer long that year. We would spend the first hour doing our favorite hand crafts while listening to a particular tape, and then we would eat a sack lunch while listening to hour 2…that was a great time in the Lord! Sometimes we would hang around after hour 2 to just talk about what we had heard and learned. Life’s a little faster now, however time spent listening to God’s men share God’s truths is not a bad way to spend some time with your sisters in the Lord. Consider finding some creative way(s) to hear these nuggets of truth and wisdom.

In case you are wondering about the reference to the Administrative Committee, our region has been asked to pray for that particular committee and their many ministries for this upcoming year. We have ordered laminated versions of the attached prayer card and.more information will follow but in the meantime you can go to www.pcanet.org and click on the Administrative committee button and see what kinds of things they do for our denomination at large! That will make you better informed as to how to pray and I hope you will begin now to include the Administrative Committee in your personal, family, and corporate prayer lives. All of the committees of the PCA have deeply felt the financial crunch of this recent recession.

I am looking forward to seeing all of you in April. Don’t forget to remind your ladies of our service project and that they need to bring at least one canned item when they come……..

Blessings!

Elaine

STEWARDSHIP

What a privilege it was to be taught by Jerram Barrs from Ruth. He showed us how Boaz' example stands as a miniature depicting God's missionary calling in front of the backdrop of lawlessness and rebellion in Israel (similar to the times we live in). He gave us a metaphor (actually, Gordon Wenham's metaphor) for obedience: the commandments are "the floor of the law", which is to be filled up with the treasures of good works in which we fulfill the intent of the law by imitating God's character. Behind the law of God stands the character of God. Were you totally blessed by this? I was.

We also benefited from the workshops we attended. The Lord sovereignly appointed that time to equip you in some way for kingdom work. Our regional times allowed us to process together the things we learned and to share with each other the blessings and challenges of our own local women's ministries.

The good gifts you were given at LT require your good stewardship. Strategically share the recordings of the teaching with your women and girls. Go back through your notes and the spiral-bound notebook as you prepare to debrief with your leadership team or PresWIC council. Pray that the Holy Spirit would help you and your team bear fruit for the gospel as a result of your attendance at LT.

RESOURCES

Speaking of recordings, you can order all of them for $45 (free shipping). Jerram Barrs' teaching alone is a bargain at $45. But you're getting ALL 14 workshops as well! CEP has divided up portions of the recordings into smaller groups available for $12 each.

CONNECTIONS

Begin praying now about next year's LT in Atlanta - for CEP and the WASC in the planning process, for provision for those who will attend, that the Kingdom of Jesus Christ would be extended through our women's ministries.

Closer on the horizon is General Assembly, which will be in Nashville this year. I had the pleasure of sitting next to Diane Filson at dinner on Friday night at LT. She is the event planner responsible for much of the detail work with regard to venues, hotels, and travel (and a pastor's wife!). Pray for her and the Nashville Presbytery Host Committee as they make the final preparations for our annual "family reunion"!

Last, but not least, remember to pray for the Administrative Committee (AC)! They are fully engaged with GA preparations now. But we are going to be praying for them all year. You can use the prayer guide (attached in case you need it) in your Bible studies, prayer meetings, ministry team meetings, devotions - just be intentional with this part of your ministry.

If you're on Facebook, you can request to join our group (it is kept private). It's called "Southeast Region Women's Ministry - PCA". Here's a link: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=73426581046&ref=nf

Pastors' Wives Luncheon

2010-03-30T07:44:00.000-07:00

The annual Pastors' Wives Luncheon (PWL) was held on March 27, 2010 at First Presbyterian, Demopolis. The PresWIC council sets aside this time each year to minister to and show appreciation to the wives of the pastors.

This year, 12 pastors' wives (out of 23) attended. They were treated to a spring tea party of sorts. Tables were beautifully decorated with 4 different patterns of china. Each place setting had a ceramic Easter egg (complete with candy) favor.

The ladies enjoyed a delicious lunch (recipes included), a time of fellowship, and a time of sharing. Peggy Perry moderated the sharing time. Thank you for doing such a great job!

Here are the recipes:

Chicken Spectacular

3 cups cooked, diced chicken

1 pkg Uncle Ben’s Wild Rice, cooked

1 can cream celery soup

1 small jar sliced pimento

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 can French-style green beans, drained

½ cup mayonnaise

½ cup sour cream

1 can water chestnuts, diced

Salt and pepper to taste

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together then pour into buttered 3 quart casserole. Bake 25-30 minutes. Serves 8-10

Mandarin Orange Fluff

16 oz cool whip

16 oz sour cream

1 tall can crushed pineapple (drained)

2 cans mandarin oranges (drained)

1 cup chopped pecans

1 lg box orange jello or 2 small boxes (dry)

Mix all ingredients together and chill.

(Can make with sugar-free/fat-free brands for a diabetic friendly version)

Broccoli Salad

1 lg bunch broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 med onion, diced

6-12 slices bacon, fried and crumbled

1 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup golden raisins

Dressing:

1 cup Miracle whip salad dressing

1/c cup sugar

2 tbsp vinegar

Combine broccoli, onion, bacon, sunflower seeds and raisins. Mix dressing ingredients and pour over salad, tossing gently until completely mixed.

Refrigerate.

*We are working on getting photos from this and other events on the blog.*

Church Ministries

2010-03-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

The new issue of Riverwood Presbyterian's Salt and Light (a monthly publication) is available here.
Back issues are also available for download. Visit the entire site for sermon downloads, the blog, and other information.

Riverwood Classical School is also accepting applications for the 2010-2011 school year. For more information regarding classes, check here. The school will be hosting an informational meeting regarding a 6th/7th grade class soon. Click on the contact link to request more information about this.

First Presbyterian Demopolis held their annual Missions Conference in February. Take a moment to look through their missions page! Be sure to look through their entire website.

Trinity Presbyterian has a very informative website as well. Be sure to check out the blog, the calendar, and the WIC section.

If your church has an upcoming event, please share it with us! Also, consider writing a brief "report" of a past event! Just email any submissions to warriorpreswic@gmail.com.

Some Links to Click!

2010-03-16T07:13:00.000-07:00

There are some power point presentations and handouts from the Leadership Conference available
here.

Information (including a video) on the 2010 Love Gift is available here.

Susan Hunt has developed a 3 year discipleship curriculum for girls. This begins with pre-teens and goes through the teen years. What a wonderful resource for girls' Bible studies, Sunday School classes, discipleship groups, homeschoolers--check it out here.

A great article on intergenerational relationships among women.

Grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy a few minutes clicking!

Council Meetings

2010-03-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Executive Council meets 4 times a year. The people of Greensboro Presbyterian Church are gracious enough to allow those meetings to take place in their beautiful building. This is so very appreciated!

Council meetings consist of prayer, planning for upcoming meetings, working on budget issues, securing speakers, and...
some fun and fellowship as well!
Council members for 2010 are: Elaine Carr, President; Dale Glover, Vice President (who was missed at this meeting!); Karen Lashley, Secretary; Kim Leard, Treasurer; Gail Rankin, Historian; Vicky Clemmons, Spiritual Growth Chairwoman; Judy Pratt, MNA/MTW Chairwoman; and Dana Miller, President-Elect.
Please be in prayer for each of these ladies as they seek to glorify God and serve Warrior PresWIC in these roles.

Again, many thanks to the people of Greensboro Presbyterian Church for hosting these meetings. Greensboro will also be hosting the Spiritual Retreat coming September 18. Mark your calendars!

Worth Reading Part 2

2010-03-11T07:23:00.000-08:00

Here is the second part of the message by John Piper. You can read it in its entirety here. Again, it is lengthy but worth the time!

Genesis 1:27, "God created man in His own image. In the image of God, He created him. Male and female, He created them." Now sometimes I think we make a mistake by thinking like this: "Well, God created us that way, then later He sends His Son to die for sinners and created a people for Himself by His own blood, and He thought, ‘Now I want to make this intelligible. I will look for some analogy that might be illuminating and work. Oh look, there's marriage. That might work. I will apply marriage to the meaning of what My Son has achieved.'" That's not the way it happened.

When God designed in His own eternal mind how He would make a creature called a human in two varieties—male and female, He had in His mind already the cross. That's why He made us the way He made us. He didn't make us this way and then later think, "Oh that would work. I'll apply that to the cross." That's not the way it happened.

Here's why we know that: Because in Ephesians chapter 5, verse 31, Paul quotes Genesis 2:24, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This is reaching back before the fall, all the way to the beginning, the first marriage. He is quoting it, then he adds this spectacularly important interpretation. He says in verse 32, "This mystery is profound and I am saying it refers to Christ and the Church."

Thousands of years before there was any cross, God said about manhood and womanhood, "This is about the most important event in history. That's why I made them this way. I mean for this manhood and womanhood choreography, in marriage mainly, and in singleness, we will see, to be a display of the most important thing in the universe—My Son, displaying My grace in sacrificing His life as a husband for His wife."

So here's my main point: What is the ultimate meaning of true womanhood? It's this: True womanhood is a distinctive calling of God to display the glory of His Son in ways that would not be displayed if there were no womanhood.

When God described the glorious work of His Son as the sacrifice of a husband for his bride, He was telling us why He made us male and female. He made us this way so that our maleness and femaleness would display more fully the glory of His Son in relationship to His blood-bought Bride. This means that if you try to reduce your womanhood to physical features or biological functions and then determine your role in life purely on the basis of competencies, you not only miss the point of womanhood, you diminish the glory of Christ in your own life.

So here's my application question: What does that look like for marriage, and what does it look like for singles?

First, a word to you married women. Paul says in Ephesians 5:22,

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Now, the point here is that marriage (headship and submission and the dynamic that exists between them) is meant to display the covenant-keeping love between Christ and His Church. If a reporter came up to me and said, "All right, what's the main point of marriage?" I wouldn't have the slightest hesitation.

Marriage exists to display the covenant-keeping love and grace that exists between Christ and His Church. That is the meaning of marriage, ultimately, which means that husband and wife, headship and submission, are no more interchangeable than Christ and the Church are interchangeable. They're not interchangeable.

Men take their cues from Christ as the head, and women take their cues from the Church, called to admire and stand in allegiance to Christ. Men have the greater burden and the greater responsibility. I do not like to talk about headship in terms of rights. I like to talk about it in terms of weight and responsibility, which thousands of men are too wimpy to pick up, and that's one of my biggest prayers for you.

Some of you God is going to touch so profoundly in these days. You won't want to go home, because he's letting you down so badly. So let's pray for each other. I would like to be speaking to 6,000 men. I would, and I would get in their face big time (a lot harder than I'm getting in your face). I would tell them, "You're the main problem in most of these situations. Your women would rise to this if you did it like Jesus."

Let me define headship and submission just briefly.

Headship is the divine calling of a husband to take primary responsibility for Christ-like servant leadership, protection, and provision in the home.

I could unpack that for an hour, but I won't at all—frustrated as I am. I'll read it again, though. Headship is the divine calling of a husband to take primary responsibility for Christ-like servant leadership, protection, and provision in the home.

Here's my definition for submission, and I believe I could show all of these from Ephesians 5.

Submission is the divine calling of a wife to honor and affirm her husband's leadership and help carry it through according to her gifts.

I'll say it again. Submission is the divine calling of a wife to honor and affirm her husband's leadership and help carry it through according to her gifts.

Now the point here is not to go into detail about how this gets worked out in every marriage, and every marriage looks a little different. The point is that these two, headship and submission, correspond to true manhood and true womanhood in marriage. They're not the same, and these differences are absolutely essential, by God's design, so that marriage will display more fully the glory of the sacrificial love of Christ for His Bride and the beauty of the lavished reverence and admiration of the Bride for her Husband.

I know that leaves 200-300 questions unanswered. What about unbelieving husbands? What about believing husbands who don't do this leadership, protection, provision? What about wives who resist leadership, don't like the idea of being led, think it's all 50/50 always?

There are hundreds of questions that we could take up now, and I apologize that I won't. But here's my comfort: If you could embrace this truth that as married women (and I'm turning to singles in one minute), if you as married women could embrace this magnificent truth, that your true womanhood ultimately means that your distinctive role in marriage is meant to magnify the glory of God's grace supremely expressed in the covenant-keeping love between Christ and His Church, you would have a compass with which to navigate hundreds of questions. You have a lifetime to ferret them out.

It's not a small thing to believe that true womanhood is meant to display the glory of God's grace in the sacrifice of the Son of God in the purchase and purification of His Bride who then lives her everlasting life in exquisite joy in His presence, standing in awe of Him, and reverencing Him and honoring Him. But what if you're not married?

The apostle Paul loved his singleness, really loved his singleness. He loved it because it gave him such radical freedom to get arrested month after month without having a wife at home crying her eyes out, and to be beaten with rods over and over, and be lashed so that his back became jelly five times multiplied by 39, and so he could be shipwrecked at sea. Singleness is a high calling if you take it like that. He celebrated it and called many of you to follow him in it, even though marriage is meant to display the glory of Christ.

So how can that be? Why would He lure some of you out of marriage, that is,out of pursuing marriage? Why would He do that if He made marriage as this magnificent portrait of His Son's covenant-keeping love with His Bride so that husbands and wives, living out their unique manhood and womanhood, become a magnificent drama of that glory? Why would He lure anybody away from that, which He does? There's a very clear reason why.

In this season of history since the Fall, the natural order that God established at the beginning is not absolute. "It's not good that man should be alone. It's not good that woman should be alone." That's true. It's just not absolutely true because now sin has entered into the world, and there are other things to take into consideration besides the sheer natural order that God set up before there was sin and collapse, and thousands and millions of people to be rescued from perishing. The reason that it is not an assault on God's glory for the apostle Paul to say, "I would that you were single like I am, if you had the gift" (see 1 Corinthians 7:7).

The reason that's not an assault on God's glory is that in this world there are truths about Christ and His kingdom which can be more clearly displayed by womanhood in singleness and manhood in singleness than by womanhood in marriage and manhood in marriage. I'll give you three of them.

These are three things that your womanly singleness can say better to the world than any married woman can say by virtue of her marriage.

1) A life of Christ-exalting singleness bears witness that the family of God grows by regeneration through faith not propagation through sexual intercourse. The family of God grows by regeneration not by propagation, by faith, not sexual intercourse. The main thing we're about is growing that family. So if you never marry, and you embrace a lifetime of chastity and biological childlessness, and if receive this from the Lord's hand as a mercy and a gift with contentment, and you gather to yourself the poor and the lonely, and you spend yourself for the gospel without self-pity; you will, in your unique single womanhood, magnify Christ in ways no married woman can.

2) A life of Christ-exalting singleness bears witness that relationships in Christ are more permanent and more precious than relationships in families. If a single woman turns without bitterness and regret from the absence of her own family and gives herself to creating God's family in the church, she will find a flowering for her womanhood in ways never dreamed of, and Christ will be uniquely honored.

3) The Christ-exalting singleness of a woman bears witness to the truth that marriage is temporary and finally gives way in the end to the relationship to which it was pointing all along, Christ and the Church, the way a picture is no longer needed when you're face to face.

Marriage is a beautiful thing, and I want to bear public witness and gratitude for Noel. She has been a gift to me that I didn't deserve, and we together have labored to raise five children and ten grandchildren and are still, with tears, laboring. As parents you never ever stop being a parent, we have now learned, never stop with tears, never stop with joy.

Nevertheless, she and I would both say, we say it with deep conviction: Marriage is not the main thing. It's momentary. Otherwise Jesus would not have said, "In the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven because they do not die anymore." My relationship with Noel has a few more years, and then she and I will experience what that was all about, ultimately, with Him.

As I close, I commend to you this truth: The ultimate purpose of God in history is the display of the glory of the Son in dying for His Bride. God created man male and female because there are aspects of Christ's glory which could not be known and displayed any other way than through the dynamic relationship between femininity and masculinity or manhood and womanhood. Those complementary differences are essential to the revelation of the most important event in history.

Therefore, true manhood, true womanhood—true womanhood—is a distinctive calling to display the glory of the Son in ways that would not be displayed if there were no womanhood. Married womanhood has ways to magnify Christ that single womanhood cannot. Single womanhood has ways to magnify Christ that married womanhood cannot. So whether you are married or single, do not settle for wimpy theology. It's beneath you. God is too great. Christ is too glorious. Womanhood is too strategic. Don't waste it. Your womanhood, your true womanhood was made for the glory of Christ.

Worth Reading

2010-03-10T10:35:00.000-08:00

This excerpt was taken from the Revive Our Hearts website. It is part of a sermon that John Piper delivered at a conference in 2008. You may go here to read the rest of it. The second part will be up tomorrow. It is a bit lengthy but well worth the time.

I'd like to begin with a huge assumption, tell you what it is, explain it a little bit, and why it matters that you hear what this assumption is. I give it to you partly because it will help you feel emotionally some of what I would like you to become as a result of the conference—not just think about it, but feel what I'm up to and what I think all of us are up to here. Because if you understand this assumption, you'll understand why I minister the way I minister and why this message will sound the way it sounds.

The assumption is this:

Wimpy theology makes wimpy women.

I don't like wimpy women. I didn't marry one. With Noel, I'm trying to raise Talitha, who turns 13 on Saturday, not to be one. The opposite of a wimpy woman is not a brash, pushy, loud, controlling, sassy, uppity, arrogant Amazon.

The opposite of a wimpy woman is 14-year-old Marie Durant when in the 17th century in France was arrested for being a Protestant, put in prison, and told, "You may get out for one phrase: I abjure." She wrote on the wall of her cell, "I resist," and stayed there 38 years until she was dead doing just that.¹ That's the opposite of a wimpy woman.

Another opposite of a wimpy woman is Gladys Staines. In 1999, remember the story? After serving for three decades with her husband Graham in India, to the lepers, heard one day that her husband Graham and little Phillip (10) and Timothy (6) had been set on fire, burned alive in the back of their car. She said to the newspapers, "I have only one message for the people of India. I am not bitter, neither am I angry. Let us burn hatred and spread the flame of Christ's love."

The opposite of a wimpy woman is her daughter, well named, Esther. When asked by the reporters, "How do you feel about your father's murder?" She said (she was 13), "I praise the Lord that He found my father worthy to die for Him."

The opposite of a wimpy woman is Krista and Vicki who together, in my church, have had 65 surgeries for so-called birth defects from Apert Syndrome and Hypertelorism. They write, "I praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know them right well" (Psalm 139:14). Krista says, "Even though my life has been difficult, I know that God loves me and created me just the way I am. He has taught me to persevere and trust Him more than anything."

The opposite of a wimpy woman is Joni Eareckson Tada, who would give her right arm to be with you. After forty-one years in the wheelchair she prays, "Oh thank You, thank You for this wheelchair. By tasting Hell in this life, I have been driven to think seriously about what faces me in the next. This paralysis is my greatest mercy."²

The opposite of a wimpy woman is Suzie. Four years ago her husband (59) was taken, then a month later she found she had breast cancer, and then her mom died, and then a miracle happened. She wrote to me,

Now I see that I have been crying for the wrong kind of help. I now see that my worse suffering is my sin—my sin of self-centeredness and self-pity. I know that with His grace, His lovingkindness, and His merciful help, my thoughts can be reformed and my life conformed to be more like His Son."

Wimpy theology makes wimpy women. That's my assumption as I begin this message.

Wimpy theology does not give a woman a god big enough, strong enough, wise enough, good enough to handle the realities of life in a way that enables her to magnify Him and His Son all the time. He's not big enough.

Wimpy theology is plagued by woman-centeredness, or as we usually call it, man-centeredness.

Wimpy theology doesn't have a granite foundation of God's sovereignty underneath. It doesn't have the steel structure of a great God-centered purpose for all of human existence, including the worst of it.

So I turn to my main point, the ultimate meaning of true womanhood, and I start by stating that solid steel structure of God's ultimate purpose in all things. God's ultimate purpose for the universe, and all of history, and your life, is to display the glory of Christ in its highest expression in His dying to make a rebellious people His bride. That's the reason the universe exists: To display the glory of God's grace in its highest expression as the Son of God dies to make a rebellious people His bride.

That's the reason the universe exists: To display the glory of God's grace in its highest expression as the Son of God dies to make a rebellious people His bride.

Everything exists so that that can happen, and everything exists to highlight that and make much of that, especially you. God's ultimate purpose in creating the world and choosing to let it become this sin-wrecked world that it is, is so that the glory of Christ could be put on display where He bought the rebellious bride at the cost of His life.

Now that's based on text. Let me give you a couple of them.

Revelation chapter 13, verse 8, goes like this. God is talking about writing names down in a book, and those that are in the book don't worship the beast. He says, "Before the foundation of the world, in the Book of Life of the Lamb who was slain."

So names are being written before the foundation of the world in a book, and the name of the book is the Book of Life of the Lamb who was slain. That is amazing. Before anything existed but God, Christ was crucified in God's mind for sin that didn't exist anywhere in the universe. That's amazing. That's not wimpy, and it doesn't produce wimpy women. It is staggering to think that God was planning the death and slaughter—that's the word slain—of His Son before the universe was made.

Why? Here's the other text. This is Ephesians 1:5-6, "In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto the praise of the glory of His grace." There isn't anything on the other side of that design—like that's a means to anything. It isn't. When you arrive at the praise of the glory of the grace of God, you're home. That's it. There isn't anything beyond that. That was what the universe was made to do, to be. God was planning it in such that the apex, the climax, the supreme expression of that grace would be the Son's purchase, at the cost of His life, of His wife—you and me.

Listen to Ephesians 5:25: "Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church [there's the parallel-husbands love wives / Christ loves church, His wife] as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish."

So putting those three texts together—Revelations 13:8, Ephesians 1:5-6, Ephesians 5:25-27—I draw the conclusion: The ultimate purpose of all things is the praise of the glory of the grace of God supremely manifest on Calvary when the Son of God laid His life down to purchase and purify His wife out of an absolutely hell-bent rebellious people. That was the apex, and that's why God created the world, and that's why He created you.

True Womanhood: At the Center of God's Purpose

Now the question is: What does all that mean for true womanhood? It's not wimpy to say that God created the universe and governs all things to magnify His own grace in the slaughter of His Son for an undeserving people, that those people might become His everlastingly happy bride. It's not wimpy. That's steel. That's granite. There's a place to stand when everything around your soul gives way.

How I love the women in my church who stand when everything around their soul gives way. Oh how the grace and the glory of God shines off of their lives. I've been there 28 years. I've walked through a lot of dark valleys with them, and I've buried a lot of children. It doesn't lead to wimpy womanhood, but it does lead to womanhood, that theology, that ultimate purpose of the world. It does lead to true womanhood. In fact, it leads to a mind-boggling understanding of true womanhood.

What we have seen so far in those three texts (and there are many others that could be used to supplement them), what we have seen so far is this: masculinity and femininity, manhood and womanhood, belong at the center of God's ultimate purpose. Manhood and womanhood are not an afterthought of creation. They're not an afterthought of the cross. They're not peripheral to the design of what is being said when Jesus dies to magnify the grace of God. They're right there at the center at Calvary. It's staggering. Oh how I pray that you women would be done with small thoughts about God's design for womanhood.

We have a curse on human nature called triviality. The big problem with television and movies are not sex and violence. It's banality. It's living every day as though TV mattered. It doesn't matter at all! It's here today and gone tomorrow. Eternity and the things that are unseen matter. I would just like to see 6,000 souls rise into the significance of what matters in the world. You can transform every simple diaper moment or any other moment into massive significance if you realize that your womanhood is here, being brought to the very center of the purposes of God in this universe, which come to a climax when Christ, the husband, bought His bride.

Leadership Conference Update

2010-03-02T05:57:00.000-08:00

February 25-27 was the 2010 Women's Leadership Training Conference. The conference was held in Atlanta.

As a first time attendee, I wasn't quite sure what to expect! It was a great time of learning and fellowship. Jarram Barrs, professor at Covenant Theological Seminary was the featured speaker. Each of his sessions were focused on the book of Ruth. I strongly urge you to contact CEP and get CDs of individual sessions or the flash drive of the entire conference.

The individual sessions that were offered throughout the day on Friday were another source of information (much of which I am still processing!) and fellowship. Regional sessions gave women the chance to connect and share ideas with other ladies from their particular area of the country.

While there was much good information, and I do want to share more of that soon, there was one item that I particularly felt necessary to share with you now. CEP is the umbrella over several ministries of the PCA. Overall, giving to CEP is down significantly.

Some items from the fact sheet given at the conference:

Each year the General Assembly approves the CEP budget and the "ministry ask" for the coming year. Currently the ministry ask is $7 per communicant member per year. If every church gave this ministry ask, CEP would be 100% funded.

Due to the recent economic downturn, CEP's support from local churches has declined significantly as many churches have had to reduce their giving in order to balance their own local budget. Consequently, CEP is having to reduce staff which reduces ministries.

Facts specifically regarding Women's Ministry:

The Women's Ministry budget represents approximately 10% of CEP's overall budget and receives over 15% of the funds that are contributed to CEP. Funds for women's ministry are used to pay for the following:
*costs associated with planning and carrying out conferences and training events
*costs associated with developing new (and screening potential) Bible studies and curriculum
*printing and mailing the Women's Resource Quarterly
*building and equipping a team of advisors and trainers
*efforts to assist local churches in establishing new women's ministries or revitalizing existing ones.

In 1996, CEP received a donation of $300,000 from a woman (who is now with the Lord) who believed women's ministry at the denominational level was essential for the PCA and beneficial for women in the Kingdom. She gave that gift with the intention that it would partially fund the ministry for 5 years--through 2001. Due to God's goodness and careful stewardship, those funds actually lasted through January, 2010.

Over the past several years, the Women's Ministry department of CEP has been funded as indicated:
Conference fees--$56,000
Annual funds used from donor--$30,000
Designated support by women's groups--$11,600
Designated by individuals--$1,630
CEP General Fund Subsidy--$73,955

Now that the $300,000 donation has been exhausted (along with the economic distress) CEP is faced with an urgent need to replace the lost funding with new donations--either to CEP in general or designated to Women's Ministry. CEP believes with concerted prayer and an intentional communication effort, the women of the PCA could more than provide all the financial resources needed to fund women's ministry at the denominational level.

Some specific ideas:

Please encourage your session to give the "ministry ask" of $7 per communicant member per year or incrementally give until, in God's providence your church is able to meet this goal.

If you or you local women's group is already giving to CEP, please continue to do so. If you are not, please consider "tithing" from your local women's ministry budget to the denominational women's ministry.

Continue (or increase) giving to the PresWIC offerings and gifts that support CEP. (Warrior PresWIC's designated offering for CEP is the Atlanta Budget offering which is due September 15.)

Please, above all, pray for CEP and women's ministry within the PCA. Also, prayerfully consider individual support of CEP.

I know that this has been lengthy, but I really felt that everyone should know about this need. Please join the PresWIC Executive Council in prayer (and giving as you are able) for this.

*Written by Dana Miller (Riverwood Presbyterian), PresWIC President-Elect. Gail Rankin (Faunsdale Presbyterian), PresWIC Historian also attended the conference--and will hopefully share some of her experiences with us!! More on the conference to come...

Upcoming Offering Reminder

2010-03-02T05:45:00.000-08:00

Just a quick reminder about 2 offerings.

The Contingency Fee offering was due on February 15. This offering is, in large part, the operating budget for Warrior PresWIC. Each church is asked to give $1.00 per woman in the church. This offering will help to pay for speakers for events, mailings, and other operating costs of Warrior PresWIC.

The next offering is Showers of Blessing and is due on April 15. The recipients this year are Palmer Home for Children and the Ridge Haven scholarship fund. Please take a moment to look at the great things happening at and through Palmer Home. Scholarships for Ridge Haven are given to children in Warrior PresWIC who wish to go to camp but can't afford the entire fee. In the past, we have been fortunate to be able to help each child that applied for assistance. The money collected will be split between the two recipients.

Please prayerfully consider the amount you can give to this offering. All checks should be mailed to Kim Leard, PresWIC Treasurer.

Correction

2010-02-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

**This is a correction to a previous post.**

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

to

Claire Olivia Mackin

Claire, of Demopolis Presbyterian, recited the catechism and will receive a certificate and Bible from CE&P. Her name will also appear in an upcoming issue of Equip Magazine.

Congratulations on your achievement, Claire!!!

Recipe From Annual Meeting

2010-02-02T07:25:00.000-08:00

Nita Lovelady sent the following recipe which was served at the Annual Meeting. Several ladies had requested the recipe! Enjoy!!

Baked Grits Toasts

2 c. stone ground grits
2 c. milk or half and half
2 c. water
1tsp salt
cayenne pepper
2c. shredded cheese ( sharp cheddar, swiss or a mixture; using 1/2 cup parmesan is great)
milk

Bring grits, liquid and salt to boil over medium heat; reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently for about 25 minutes. Stir in the cheese until it is completely melted. Add 1/4 to 1/2 tsp cayenne if you like a little kick. Add milk by tablespoons if it seems too thick. Pour into a jelly-roll pan (10 1/2" x 15 1/2" x 1"). Refrigerate several hours or overnight until firm. Remove from refrigerator and cut into squares, diamonds, bars or use a round biscuit cutter. Place on lightly greased cookie sheets and bake at 400° for 15 minutes and then turn them to the other side for an additional 15 minutes or until they are golden brown. You can make them to this point and warm them just before serving, about 5 minutes at 400°.

*This is a recipe I adapted from Paula Deen, you can check out her recipe at http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/grits-toast-with-creamy-mushrooms-recipe/index.html. I use my recipe for basic cheese grits.

2010 Offerings

2010-01-29T07:00:00.000-08:00

As most know, PresWIC collects 4 offerings through the year.

The first is the Contingency Fee and is due February 15. Each church is asked to contribute $.50-$1.00 per woman on the church roll. This offering is used for the operating budget of Warrior PresWIC.

Showers of Blessing is due April 15. The recipient of this offering is approved by PresWIC Council. This year the money collected will be split between Palmer Home for Children and the Ridge Haven Scholarship Fund, which provides for scholarships for children of Warrior Presbytery wishing to go to camp.

The WIC Love Gift is due June 15th. The recipient of this offering is chosen by CE&P in Atlanta and rotates between all PCA committees. The recipient for 2010 is MNA Special Needs Ministries.

Atlanta Budget is due September 15 and is used for the WIC headquarters operating fund in Atlanta. Again, each church is asked to contribute $.50-$1.00 per woman in the church.

Send the Light is due October 15. Again, the recipient of this offering is approved by the PresWIC Council. The recipient is the Agape Puppet Ministry.

Please take a few moments and look through the links for each of these ministries and prayerfully consider your offering.

2010-01-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

Congratulations!!!!!!

to

Emma Lessman

of Demopolis Presbyterian.

Emma recently recited the entire Children's Catechism and received a Bible and certificate from CE&P and will have her name in an upcoming issue of Equip magazine.

2010-01-27T07:00:00.000-08:00

This is the poem that Elaine Carr wrote and shared with us at the Annual Meeting. Some great thoughts!

Women’s Ministry. What’s it to YOU?

Keep the nursery tomorrow you say?

And then deliver the flowers to shut ins the next day.

Bake a cake and serve at a tea,

Give a shower, please can you help me?

Can you make some phone calls and serve up some lunch

And then come decorate for the church staff brunch?

Can you help us to gather some new volunteers?

Don’t take no for an answer even if there are tears

Please come be a part of our new Bible Study

Never mind that in that group you don’t have a buddy.

And we need to develop a new prayer chain

Can you get it up and running again?

Rear up those children in the way they should go

And when the church calls, never say no!

So, I ask you……

Do you believe that this is all that we are?

Going nowhere fast, not getting too far?

Do you think that we meet just for meeting’s sake?

Ask you to give and give and you never get to take?

Old fashioned, pointless tradition, is that your view?

Women’s Ministry is for the old, the weak, the lame, the few?

Where is the love, the mercy, the care?

It’s really right here, it hasn’t gone anywhere!

Equipping, Sharing, Serving and More

Is why we exist, that’s what we are for!

Connecting with our sisters, here, there, and yon

In local churches, presbyteries, and even across that great pond!

There so much that you can choose to do, or not

Our purpose is not to put you on the spot.

No matter your age, season, or plight

God has called you in this world to be salt and light!

He has purposed in you His good will and a plan,

Discover it with us, Let’s give each other a hand!

Please come with us. You can help us along

To give ear to our sisters’ needs and words to their song!

Help us to be strong arms that are always outward reaching

Comforting, encouraging, providing good solid teaching!

Knowing Jesus and making Him known all the world round

So that His love, grace, and peace can surely abound.

I hope that today you will begin to see

That this ain’t YO MAMA’S WIC!

It yours, you own it, it belongs to you all!

So take up the challenge, and run with the ball!

2010 Warrior PresWIC Annual Meeting

2010-01-26T05:04:00.000-08:00

The 2010 Annual Meeting was held on January 23 at Trinity Presbyterian.

Many, many thanks to the ladies of Trinity for giving us such a warm welcome. Everything was lovely. It was a special treat to see Trinity's new building! Music was provided by Will, Joanna, Caroline and Ben Duncan on strings and Keats Rivas on piano. Many thanks for such beautiful music!

The meeting was a report, of sorts, of the things that PresWIC had accomplished during 2009.

The 2009 Showers of Blessing offering was presented to Paul Herring of Palmer Home. Mr. Herring also gave a brief overview of Palmer Home's Ministry.

The 2009 Send the Light offering was presented to Joyce Huizinga of the Border Sewing Ministry. Mrs. Huizinga shared with us slides and some information on this ministry.

We also heard from several young ladies who received scholarship money from PresWIC to attend Ridge Haven camp. Those young ladies were: Claire Mackin, Kayley Cook, and Emma Lessman from Demopolis Presbyterian and Hannah Urban and Brianna Morgan from Riverwood Presbyterian.

Not mentioned was the special offering that was received and given to Camp Brave Heart which is operated by Ridge Haven.

Other business matters such as approving a few minor changes to the WIC Constitution/Bylaws and discussing upcoming meetings were also taken care of.

****Please make sure you visit often for more reports of the meeting, including some poems that have been requested plus more on upcoming events for 2010!****

Upcoming Event

2010-01-12T12:34:00.000-08:00

Trinity Presbyterian in Tuscaloosa is, in addition to hosting the 2010 Annual meeting for Warrior PresWIC, having a women's conference on Saturday, February 6.

This conference will be from 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and will feature speaker Donna Evans from Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham.

Donna will be speaking on principles from The Red Sea Rules by Robert J. Morgan. The theme for the day is that God always makes a way for His tired yet trusting children.

Tickets are $10 with lunch included and will be on sale at the Annual Meeting on Saturday, January 23. No nursery will be provided--a wonderful day for an adventure for fathers and children!

There will be information coming to each church in the near future. However, if more information is needed, call (205) 391-2111.

Be sure to get your ticket at the Annual Meeting on the 23rd. You don't want to miss this day of encouragement!

2010 Warrior PresWIC Annual Meeting

2010-01-03T15:59:00.000-08:00

IMPACTING THE WORLD RIGHT WHERE WE ARE

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider
how to stir up one another to love and good works."
Hebrews 10: 23-24

The first meeting of 2010 will be held at Trinity Presbyterian in Tuscaloosa on January 23.

Registration will begin at 9:00 (a nursery will be provided).

In addition to the 2009 PresWIC report, we will also hear from the 2009 offering recipients: Palmer Home, Border Sewing Ministry, and Ridge Haven campers.

This meeting promises to be a very informative one--there will also be lots of warm fellowship to chase away the winter chills! Make plans to attend and, as always, please be in prayer for PresWIC leadership, the speakers, and the host church.

A Christmas Event

2009-12-01T06:25:00.000-08:00

Beth Acton is a Wycliffe/MTW missionary to Papua New Guinea and is a member at Crescent Hill Presbyterian. The following email announcement was sent concerning a special Christmas event at Crescent Hill. What a great way to get into the spirit of the season!!

One of my home churches in Selma, Crescent Hill Presbyterian, inviting all who are able to come and hear a Christmas Concert of my songs. I know not all of you will be able to make it but for those who can and need directions or anything just let me know. But I would appreciate your prayers for this time.

I will be singing a lot of new Christmas songs that I have written over the past recent years as well as a few of my old ones. I might even take a request or two. :)

The Walker Sisters are hopeful that they will be able to join me. They always make me sound better.....

It will be an informal time but mainly a time to share with you the way God has blessed me and given me songs to sing for Him. Please pray that it will be a time to glorify Him and celebrate His love in coming to be our sacrifice and our Savior.

When: December 6, 2009

Time: 6:00 PM

Where: 100 Crescent Hill Presbyterian, Selma, Alabama 36701

In His service with you,

Beth

Calling All Movie Buffs

2009-11-12T07:15:00.000-08:00

If you enjoy movies, you may find this list interesting. It is a list of the top 100 spiritually significant films.

Check it out and let us know (by leaving a comment!) if you have seen any of them. If so, do you have a favorite? I haven't looked at the entire list yet but did notice that Babette's Feast was on. That is a great little short story and a wonderful film.

Let us know what you think!

Don't forget the upcoming PresWIC meeting: January 23, 2010 at Trinity Presbyterian in Tuscaloosa.

Report of Warrior PresWIC's 2009 Spiritual Retreat

2009-10-25T09:40:00.000-07:00

If you were unable to join us for the Spiritual Retreat, you were missed!!! We had a great time of fellowship, heard a great speaker, and were sheltered from the very hard rain! (Thanks to Demopolis for supplying the report.)

Please make plans to attend the January meeting which will be held on January 23, 2010 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Tuscaloosa.

Warrior Pres-WIC’s 2009 Spiritual Retreat

Approximately 64 ladies and 5 guests met at the Centreville Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Though it was raining (hard) outside, we enjoyed a wonderful time together in sweet fellowship and learning. Edna Gleason was our featured speaker. She spoke on Jesus: the secret to a satisfied heart. Using Hebrews 12:1-3 as our guide. We learned what the Bible teaches us about Jesus and then how to apply that to our lives. Below is a short summary of some points Edna brought to us:

Though we grow weary, we need to get back to the joy of knowing “My Jesus”. We please God by believing and following in faith. Hebrews 10:32-34. If we personalize Hebrews 12: You are my righteous one, one that I have made, you are mine, do not lose heart, continue to trust in me, “Trust Me”, run the particular race that I marked for you.

A little known fact is that in nature, there is a certain order as to how the birds begin to sing every morning. The birds with the largest eyes sing first. If we keep our eyes focused on Jesus, then our hearts will sing.

Peace comes from hearts satisfied in Jesus. We don’t have to be anxious because He has a plan for me and nothing can change that plan.

We then looked at some points of what Jesus is:

Perfect harmony with His Father
Creator
He holds everything together
He is in complete submission to His Father
Obeyed his parents (ones that He created)
He Loved God’s Word
Lived a simple life (though he created all things)
Never coveted
Loves his followers though they were sinners
Loved children
He wept
Loved God with his whole heart
Loved his neighbor with no sinful anger
Was always true and reliable
Compassionate
Content with what God called Him to do.
Never worried/or discontented/or dissatisfied
Never proud
Never feared man
Willing to correct but with perfect love and wisdom
Suffered the rejection of His Father
He made complete payment for ALL guilt for ALL his chosen ones.

BUT NOW,

He is exalted to highest place
He is interceding for ALL of us
One day we will see Him – not with these eyes (our sin puts a film over our eyes now)

THEN our hearts will sing.

Go back every day to see “Our” Jesus so we won’t forget what He has done for us. Or we will try to do things on our own, and we know how that turns out.

FIX OUR EYES ON HIM.

Practical things:

Women are prone to discontentment and anxiety. (These are sins.)

Discontentment says “Lord, what You have given me is not enough.”

Anxiety is not trusting God. In our own strength, we ca n not “not worry.” We have to look to Jesus. The Cross is big enough for ALL OUR sins.

From Philippians we learn to be thankful through all our trials and troubles. He is using them to shape us. Though they are not pleasant as we pass through them, they are used for our good. We sometimes forget that we are truly blessed.

A Song to Share

2009-10-01T06:12:00.000-07:00

Cooler breezes are blowing.

Football has started.

The leaves are beginning to blush their colors.

A new season is beginning.

This song may help refocus our attention, calm our spirits, and remind us of who set these seasons in place--and of who holds each season, not only of the earth, but also of each of our lives.

Exciting Times

2009-09-08T14:04:00.000-07:00

Exciting things are happening at Riverwood Presbyterian!

The first phase of a building program is underway. What began as the monthly mail out newsletter for church members, the Salt and Light has been revamped and is now a monthly magazine (available in print and electronic versions). This magazine features articles written by members and friends of Riverwood and touches on various aspects of culture, looking at them through the lens of the Gospel.

The latest edition features details of the building program. You can take a look at it here. Previous issues are available for download at that site.

Please keep the people and leaders of Riverwood in your prayers.

Reminder

2009-09-03T06:15:00.000-07:00

Please join Warrior PresWIC on September 19 at First Presbyterian Centreville for the 2009 Spiritual Retreat.

The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. Guest speaker will be Edna Gleason. Her topic for the morning is "Seeing Jesus: The Secret of a Satisfied Heart."

The meeting will conclude with lunch.

Please be in prayer for this meeting, for Mrs. Gleason, and for the ladies at Centreville as they prepare to host this time of learning and fellowship.

Recipe

2009-09-02T06:12:00.000-07:00

Another yummy sounding recipe from Kelly McNutt!!

I would highly recommend the cookbook A Passion for Baking by Marcy Goldman to anyone who loves to bake from scratch. Her recipes are not easy, that's for sure, but they are amazing! I have made several things from her book in the past and true to form, this one did not disappoint me either!

Double-Dutch Chocolate Scones

Week 5 (Not easy)

3 c. all-purpose flour 1 large egg

3/4 c. sugar 2 T. strong brewed coffee

1/2 t. salt 2 t. pure vanilla extract

3/4 c. cocoa powder 1 c. whipping cream

1 T. baking powder 1/2 c. each coarsely chopped

1/2 t. baking soda semisweet and white chocolate

pinch ground cinnamon Finishing touches

3/4 c. unsalted butter, cut into chunks 1 c. each chopped semisweet & white

chocolate, melted & cooled slightly

1. Preheat oven to 425. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange oven rack to upper third position.

2. In a food processor, add flour, sugar, salt, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon and blend briefly. Add chunks of butter and pulse to make a coarse, grainy mixture.

3. Remove mixture to a large bowl. Make a well in center and stir in egg, coffee, vanilla, and most of cream. Stir with a fork, adding remaining cream if needed to make a soft dough. Stir in 1/2 c. each semisweet and white chocolate chunks and then remove dough to slightly floured work surface. Knead gently to make a dough that holds together. Divide dough in half and pat or roll each portion into a 6-inch circle, about 1 1/2 inches thick. Cut each into 6 wedges.

4. Place on prepared baking sheets and place in oven. Reduce oven temperature to 400 and bake until dry to the touch (it is hard to see by the color of the crust, since chocolate scones are dark to start with), about 18 to 22 minutes.

5. Smear melted semisweet chocolate on each scone and, once chocolate sets, drizzle with white chocolate. Let chocolate set.

Equipping

2009-08-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

Karen Lashley, PresWIC secretary has been going through the PresWIC archives. In doing this, she has come across some audio cassettes that have some great content!

Titles include:

Connie Miller WIC Building Blocks

Diane Balch How to be Outreach Focused in PresWIC and Local WIC

Charles Dunahoo Conflict Management

Karen Grant Creative Compassion

Kathy Cheeley Yes, Virginia, You Too Can Be Productive

If you would like to listen to any of these, please contact Karen at First Presbyterian Demopolis (demopres3895@bellsouth.net).

These are great resources!

Also, if you have not heard of (or never looked at) Modern Reformation magazine, it is definitely worth a peek. There are some articles on the website. The magazine has great articles each month and are quite thought provoking. There is a free trial option which includes a print issue and online access for 30 days. A one year subscription is $32. One issue provides more than enough articles to read and reflect on until the next issue arrives!

Yummy!!

2009-08-17T05:32:00.000-07:00

Kelly McNutt of Demopolis has begun a Bible study at her home. The lucky ladies who attend not only get the joys of a great Bible study and lovely fellowship but also are treated to a new dessert each week! Kelly is sharing some of the recipes she has tried so far.

Gooey Turtle Bars - Week 1

Prep: 8 minutes Cook: 15 minutes Chill: 30 minutes

~ 2 cups graham cracker crumbs ~ 2 cups (12 ounces)
or vanilla wafer crumbs semisweet chocolate morsels
~ ½ cup butter or margarine, melted ~ 1 cup pecan pieces
~ 1 (12 ounce) jar caramel topping

Combine crumbs and butter in an ungreased 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan; stir and press firmly into bottom of pan. Sprinkle with chocolate morsels and pecans.

Remove lid from caramel topping; microwave at HIGH 1 to 1½ minutes or until hot, stirring after 30 seconds. Drizzle over pecans. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until morsels melt; let cool in pan on a wire rack. Chill at least 30 minutes; cut into bars.

Yield: 2 dozen.

Mocha Brownie Cake - Week 2

1 (21 oz) package chewy fudge brownie mix 1/2 c. chopped pecans
(i used Duncan Hines) 1 1/2 c. heavy whipping cream
1/4 c. water 1 T. instant coffee granules
1/2 c. vegetable oil 1/4 c. sifted powdered sugar
3 large eggs, lightly beaten Garnish: chocolate shavings

1. Coat 2 (8 in) round cake pans with cooking spray; line pans with wax paper, and coat with cooking spray.

2. Combine brownie mix, water, oil, and eggs in large bowl, stir in pecans. Spread batter evenly into pans. Bake at 350 for 25 min. Let cool in pans on wire rack for 5 min, invert onto wire racks. Carefully remover wax paper, and let cakes completely cool on wire racks.

3. Combine whipping cream and coffee granules. Beat at medium speed with electric mixer until foamy; gradually add powdered sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Spread whipped cream mixture between cake layers, on top, and on sides. Cover and chill 1 to 2 hours. Garnish if desired. Store in refrigerator. Serves 12.

Marbled Chocolate Bundt Cake - Week 3

1 (18.25 oz) package devil's food cake mix 1/3 c. sugar
without pudding 1 large egg
1 t. vanilla extract 1 c. (6 oz) semisweet chocolate
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened morsels

1. Prepare cake mix batter according to package directions; stir in vanilla. Pour batter into greased and floured 12 c. Bundt pan; set aside.

2. Beat cream cheese and sugar at medium speed with electric mixer until fluffy. Add egg, beating well; stir in chocolate morsels. Spoon cream cheese mixture into center of batter, leaving a border around outer edge. Gently swirl batter with a knife to create a marbled effect.

3. Bake at 350 for 45 min. Let cool in pan on wire rack 10 to 15 min; remover from pan, let cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar in desired.

Plum upside-down cake

1/2 c. (1 stick) plus 1 T. unsalted butter 1/4 t. baking soda
plus extra for pan, room temp. 1/4 t. salt
4 firm, ripe plums, each cut into 8 wedges 1 large egg
1/4 c. plus 2/3 c. sugar 2/3 c. sour cream
1 c. all-purpose flour 1 t. pure vanilla extract
3/4 t. baking powder

1. Heat oven to 350. Butter 8 in. cake pan and line with parchment paper.

2. Melt 1 T. butter in large skillet over med-high heat. Add plums and 1/4 c. sugar and cook, tossing until sugar dissolves and juices from plums become syrupy, 3 to 4 min. Arrange plums in cake pan in slightly overlapping concentric circles, starting from the outside. Pour any pan juices over plums.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

4. With an electric mixer, beat the remaining 1/2 c. butter and 2/3 c. sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg, sour cream, and vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated.

5. Pour batter over plums and bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 50 - 55 min. Let cool in pan for 1 hour. Place large plate over the cake pan and invert the cake onto the plate. Serves 8.

We look forward to more of these great, easy recipes!! Thanks, Kelly.

For A Monday...

2009-08-03T06:01:00.000-07:00

"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.

Out of the mouth of babies and infants,

you have established strength because of your foes,

to still the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your finger,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him

and the son of man that you care for him?

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly begins

and crowned him with glory and honor.

You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;

you have put all things under his feet,

all sheep and oxen, and also the bests of the field,

the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,

whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8

Information and Prayer Requests

2009-06-16T05:15:00.001-07:00

First Presbyterian Church in Demopolis has DVDs from past National Women's Conferences. These great resources can be checked out by contacting the church at demopres3895@bellsouth.net or (334) 289-3895.

The following titles are available:

1989 Charles Dunahoo The Constant Woman in a Changing World

1992 WIC International Conference Sessions 1-8 (session 6 is missing)--various speakers

***************************************************************************************

As many of you know, General Assembly is being held this week in Orlando, Florida. Please pray for the travel safety of those who will be attending and for the business that will be handled there. If you would like further information (including the docket of the meeting), you can go here. The docket as well as the schedule are available on the far right.

*************************************************************************************

On a local level, we continue to pray for the healing of Elaine Carr's (President) mom. Elaine has been with her mom for several weeks as she has gone through hip replacement and all of the recuperation that is involved with that. Please lift Elaine, her mom, and Elaine's family at home (who are missing her!) up in prayer.

Please also do keep the upcoming September PresWIC meeting in prayer. We will be meeting in Centreville on September 19 and are looking forward to a refreshing time of learning and fellowship.

Flowers

2009-05-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed and were created." Revelation 4:11

Photos by Elaine Carr, First Presbyterian Demopolis.

Poetry

2009-05-14T06:33:00.000-07:00

The following poems were written by Barbara Sessions. Barbara is the executive director of Carenet in Demopolis and is co-owner of Curves.

Despair of my soul tore at my heart,

I felt as if life were falling apart.

Festers of sorrow were too much to bear.

With expressions of grief, I called out in prayer.

“Why, oh why, is there so much strife?”

I agonized in this situation in life.

The gloom of the hour held me captive for time,

Until I consulted His Word divine.

Assurance came as I drank from His Brook.

Calming water was mine as I read in His Book.

Despair turned to praise, how my heart did rejoice.

Life is renewed as I chart a new course.

Grief

By Barbara Sessions

The grief of my soul is wearing me down.

Oh, for the joy that once did abound.

It’s not for me my heart doth despair,

But for those that I love, please hear my prayer.

Lord strengthen my faith that I may endure.

Trusting you is The Way, of that I am sure.

2009-05-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

This amazing work of art was done by Karen Davidson of Demopolis. She and her husband, Dennis, attend First Presbyterian Demopolis. Click here to "meet" Karen!

You can see more of her lovely work here. Such beautiful work--you'll enjoy your visit!

Thank you so much, Karen, for sharing your talent with us. To contact Karen, click here.

**We would love to feature your creation--sewing, scrap booking, cakes, photos, etc. Please take a moment to take a picture and email it to warriorpreswic@gmail.com.

Easter Sunrise Service

2009-05-13T06:26:00.000-07:00

The following pictures were taken at Demopolis' Easter Sunrise Service. What a beautiful background for worship. Thanks to Elaine Carr for sending along the photos.

Needed...

2009-04-26T07:32:00.000-07:00

This is a shameless plea for submissions to this blog!!!

Have you read any good (or not so good) books lately? Write a brief review or simply submit the title. Don't forget about children's books.

Have you watched movies recently? Again, a review or the title would be welcome.

Do you craft, sew, take pictures, etc.? Please submit a picture of your latest creation. Tell us how you got involved in that particular craft, how long you've been doing it--we want to know about YOU!!

Do you have a favorite quote or favorite recipe? Please send it in.

Do you know the history of your church? Please take a moment to write it out and send it in.

This blog is all about getting to know each other and the churches in Warrior Presbytery. We want to hear from you!! Submitting is very simple--email warriorpreswic@gmail.com.

Signs of Spring

2009-04-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

These pictures were taken by Dana Miller (Riverwood Presbyterian in Tuscaloosa). Daughter Gracen was thrilled to watch a wren build a nest and lay eggs. She was able to watch the eggs hatch and the birds grow. On the morning the babies left the nest, Gracen was on the porch watching. The birds flew all around (and on) Gracen!

Ridge Haven Camps

2009-04-23T07:24:00.000-07:00

Many PCA children will enjoy a week of camp at Ridge Haven Camp this summer. This is an exciting time in the lives of children. They have great fun, make new friends and, of course, learn a lot. Please be in prayer for these children and the adults who will go with them. Pray for safety, growth and health. Pray, also, for the workers at Ridge Haven--many are college students working through the summer. For more information about the camps offered at Ridge Haven, go here.

As we learned at the April Sharing Session, there is a new camp at Ridge Haven with a very special focus. Brave Heart is a camp specifically designed to support children and teenagers who have faced the pain of the death of a parent, sibling, grandparent, relative or special friend.

Part of the offering that was taken at this meeting will be sent to Ridge Haven to help support this camp. Please take a minute to look at the link provided above. Please also keep this camp in your prayers.

Sharing Session

2009-04-21T16:11:00.000-07:00

The Sharing Session for Warrior PresWIC was held on Saturday, April 18 at First Presbyterian Church in Camden.

The ladies of Camden went above and beyond by providing much delicious food, beautiful flowers and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Their attention was appreciated by all in attendance.

Please take a moment to look at the pictures from this meeting. A link is on the sidebar under Picture Gallery.

Also, be sure to put September 19 on your calendar now and begin praying for the Spiritual Retreat which will be held at Centreville Presbyterian Church.

Reminder

2009-04-14T06:47:00.000-07:00

Please don't forget that this Saturday, April 18 is the PresWIC Sharing Session.

Don't miss this time of fellowship, fun and learning!

For further details, please click this link.

Also of interest is the following email from PresWIC President Elaine Carr regarding upcoming opportunities for ministry:

While Gail Rankin was at Leadership Conference last month, the WASC (Women’s Sub-Advisory Committee) asked that each Pres-WIC make a financial donation toward the new camp that is being offered at Ridge Haven for bereaved families. Originally they were asking for one camp scholarship to be provided by each Presbytery, however they have just asked each Pres-WIC to contribute what they can. Of course camps are coming up rather quickly and the one for bereaved families is in June which makes this a priority matter. Our council has prayerfully considered this request and feels strongly that we should give the wonderful women of Warrior Presbytery the opportunity to contribute to this worthy cause as they see fit. To that end, we are going to give a portion of the offering that is taken at the Sharing Session to Ridge Haven to be used towards a scholarship for the bereavement camp. We wanted to give you prior notice so that you can let your ladies know so that those who are able and willing to contribute can come prepared to do so.

We have also prayerfully considered some type of “service” project for our Pres-WIC and decided to do something for the students at RUF prior to the end of the semester. The consensus among the college students at Alabama with whom I have talked is that they particularly appreciate food and would like to have a pizza party. So, please ask your WIC treasurer to bring a check for a minimum of $10 so that we can provide that meal without having dip into the general funds of the Pres-WIC.

Again, please make plans to attend the meeting on Saturday and prayerfully consider how you can help in these two worthy ministry opportunities.

Easter

2009-04-10T06:23:00.000-07:00

"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?

He is not here but has risen."

Luke 24: 1-6

Pain

2009-04-09T05:56:00.000-07:00

The following post was written by Dana Miller in 2006. Dana is married to Jeff Miller, Music Director at Riverwood Presbyterian. They have one daughter, Gracen. This post also appeared in Riverwood's monthly publication, The Salt and Light. For more about Dana and their family, visit her blog here.

My maternal grandfather owned a butane company. He would go out in all kinds of weather on service calls. When my Mom was a little girl, she would go along with him sometime. They would have to go out in the dark, in fields that were caked with mud with knee deep ruts cut through. The wheels of the old butane truck would get stuck and throw mud. Mom was scared that they would be stuck with no one to help them for days. Papaw would always say, "we're going to make it, got to make it." Mom says they always did make it.

Pain is kind of like those fields caked with mud and knee deep ruts. Whether it be physical, emotional, or mental; pain is dark and can make you feel as though you aren't going to make it. Most of us don't like to talk about or even think about pain. As a society, we've gotten pretty good at masking the symptoms. However much we don't like to think about it, there is one sure fact: we will all have pain at some point in our lives. It is part of living in a fallen world.

Our pastor preached a sermon on Psalm 150 several weeks ago (you can listen to it here ). One of the points that stuck with me was praising God in everything and with everything. I had to think on that a while--especially with regard to pain. I know pain--I know it well. Literally, every step that I take hurts. Sometimes the pain is indescribable. I don't question why--well, not a lot anyway--I know why. For 20 years, I've walked on something "unnatural" so to speak. The prostheses I've had in the past weren't great; technology has finally made some great strides but not before damage was done. I hurt in the morning, during the day, and at night.

Pain brings out lots of emotions in people. Some carry it almost as a martyr's badge of honor--either by pretending that they don't have pain and everything is "fine" or by making sure that everyone knows that they have pain! Some ignore it in the hopes that it will simply go away. Others may try to do enough good to outweigh the bad in the hopes that it will simply disappear. Some get bitter and lash out at everyone. But, praise? Not exactly an emotion we think of in the context of pain. You see, praise has to have an object. We have to praise someone or something. Are we going to praise someone or something for whatever kind of pain we find ourselves in?

The short answer is yes. We are going to praise someone. We may praise ourselves (secretly or otherwise) for being able to bear the pain. We may praise the doctors or medicine who may be able to give temporary relief. We will praise--it is what we are designed to do. Maybe the rub comes when we have to say who we praise. Psalm 150 doesn't leave any doubt--and there is no exception clause.

There are many times that I am tempted to join Frodo in Lord of the Rings and "wish that this had never come to me." But, I always think of the alternative. Cancer could have won in 1985. This path is probably not the one I would have chosen (had I had the option to choose!) but I am incredibly thankful that I didn't choose the path for my life.

In light of all this roaming about in my mind, my question became am I worthy of the path (and pain) that I walk? Philippians 1:27 says
Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ
so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear
of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind,
striving together for the faith of the gospel." Then verse 29:
For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to
believe in Him, but to also suffer for His sake.
Now, I know that Paul was talking to the Philippian church about persecution and such, but if we are to praise God in all things--and rejoice and be thankful--then it seems that we have to consider whether we are worthy of the path He has put us on. I don't mean worthy in the sense of worth but worthy in the sense of conduct. Are my actions to my pain worthy unto Christ? Crying out to Him to relieve the pain--even as Paul did but accepting in His grace if the pain remains or gets worse--and living, walking and trusting in that grace to sustain me.

Am I able to do that? Not a chance. It is then that I am so thankful for Christ's words to Paul: My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Sunday Thought

2009-04-05T14:12:00.001-07:00

“No single piece of our mental world is to be hermetically sealed off from the rest,

and there is not a square inch in the whole world domain of our human existence over which Christ,

who is sovereign over all, does not cry: “Mine!”

Abraham Kuyper

Many thanks to Melissa Lien for sharing this quote.

Melissa is the wife of Rev. Tim Lien, pastor of Riverwood Presbyterian. She is mommy to Laurian, Anderson, and Lainey.

Good Words

2009-03-31T06:16:00.000-07:00

Keith and Kristyn Getty are Irish hymn writers/singers. Many of their hymns, such as In Christ Alone, have gotten much play on Christian radio.

The words that follow are another of their hymns--one that perhaps has not seen as much as air play on the radio. The words are soothing and reassuring.

"Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer"
Music by Keith Getty; Words by Margaret Becker
Copyright © 2002 Thankyou Music

Jesus draw me ever nearer
As I labour through the storm.
You have called me to this passage,
and I'll follow, though I'm worn.

May this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart's testing,
With Your likeness let me wake.

Jesus guide me through the tempest;
Keep my spirit staid and sure.
When the midnight meets the morning,
Let me love You even more.

Let the treasures of the trial
Form within me as I go -
And at the end of this long passage,
Let me leave them at Your throne.

April Offering

2009-03-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

PresWIC has several offerings throughout the year. These offerings not only provide some of Warrior PresWIC's annual operating funds but also give the women of Warrior PresWIC the opportunity to support some worthy ministries.

The recipient of April's Showers of Blessing offering is chosen by the Warrior PresWIC Executive Council and is a contribution to MNA Missions. The recipient for 2009 is Palmer Home for Children.

Please take a few minutes and look through Palmer Home's website. Take a look at all that is going on and what they do in the lives of the children who come to them. Take a moment to pray for the children currently living at Palmer Home, for the staff, and for the families the children come from.

If you are lead, please make a contribution to the Showers of Blessing offering during the month of April.

Baked Beef Ziti

2009-03-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

A yummy, quick main dish...

12 oz. uncooked ziti (or any tube pasta)

2 tsp. olive oil

2 medium garlic cloves

1/3 lb. ground beef (can use a little more, if you prefer)

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. dried thyme

1 tsp. dried rosemary

(Instead of all these, you can substitute Italian seasoning; most brands have all these in it already!)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

28 oz. crushed tomatoes

1 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 350. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside.

Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat; brown beef--adding in garlic. Drain the beef. Add beef back to pan and add spices. Add tomatoes and bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer about 5 minutes.

Spoon a small amount of beef-tomato mixture into bottom of a 4 quart dish (just enough to cover the surface); top with half the cooked ziti. Next, layer with half of remaining beef mixture and half the cheese. Layer with remaining ziti then top with remaining beef mixture and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake until cheese is golden and bubbly, about 30 minutes.

Upcoming Events

2009-03-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

As many know, the next meeting of Warrior PresWIC will be on April 18 at First Presbyterian Church in Camden.

A bit of history on First Presbyterian, Camden:

The Church was organized on April 3,1845. The original church edifice, erected in 1856 at the cost of $2,700.00, burned in September, 1869. The present building was constructed in the 1880’s. The church features an open shingle carved belfry with ‘stick-style’trim and bracketed cornice. An itinerant artist, in exchange for food and lodging, was credited with the original majestic painting in the sanctuary. The impressive interior wall behind the pulpit featured a style of painting,‘trompe l’oeil’( meaning ‘trick of the eye’) of a visual simulation of a ‘stairway’ along with the painted pilasters(columns) which remained until a major restoration of the sanctuary was begun in 1948. In 1955, the construction of the educational/activities building was completed. The sanctuary was again refurbished in August, 2003 by the refinishing of the original wooden shutters and the ‘heart pine’ flooring. Chandeliers and sconces were added to enhance the natural beauty of the sanctuary. First Presbyterian Church of Camden is a member congregation of the ‘Presbyterian Church in America,’a denomination with early roots in the Protestant Reformation.

April's Sharing Session meeting will focus on advice for running the race in everyday life. The sharing session offers 5 break out sessions that last approximately 40 minutes each. There will be 2 break out sessions, so begin now to think about which 2 you most want to attend!

The sessions are:

--Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

This session is especially for tweens and teens (of course, moms are welcome!).

--Shepherding Your Child's Heart (Rebecca Lessman)

--Mentors That Don't Know They Are Mentors (Vicky Clemmons)

--Supporting Families During the Educational Years (Dana Miller)

--Ministry to Missionaries at Home and Abroad (Elaine Carr)

In addition to these great break out sessions, personal testimonies will be given by Vicky Clemmons and Rebecca Lessman.

Please mark your calendars now for this event. Also, be sure to look in your bulletins, bulletin boards at your home church for more detailed information. This will be a great time of fellowship, encouragement, discussion, and learning.

A Little Encouragement for Your Inbox

2009-03-24T15:40:00.000-07:00

Elaine Carr, PresWIC President, forwarded an ezine that she gets periodically from Chuck and Sharon Betters' ministry. It was filled with encouraging articles and thoughts.

To subscribe, follow this link. You will see a sign up for the Treasures of Encouragement ezine about mid-way down. There are lots of articles here and on the entire site.

Chuck and Sharon Betters are the authors of Treasures of Faith, Treasures of Encouragement, and Treasures in Darkness.

Friday Thoughts

2009-03-20T05:35:00.000-07:00

"Relying on God has to begin over again every day as if nothing had yet been done."

--C.S. Lewis

"Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear; rather look to them with full hope that, as they arise, God whose you are, will deliver you out of them. He has kept you hitherto--do you but hold fast to His dear hand, and He will lead you safely through all things; and, when you can not stand, He will bear you in His arms...The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations."

--Francis de Sales (1567-1622)

"God is God. If He were small enough to be understood, He would not be big enough to be worshiped. Because He is God, He is worthy of my trust and obedience. I will find rest nowhere but in His holy will, a will that is unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what He is up to."

--Elisabeth Elliot, Through the Gates of Splendor

Do you have a favorite quote or something that you have read lately that has really caught your attention? Please leave a comment and share!

Leadership Training Report

2009-03-16T06:09:00.000-07:00

Gail Rankin, PresWIC Historian, was able to attend the 2009 WIC Leadership Training in Chattanooga. She gives the following report, hopefully, we will be able to hear some more from her about this conference!

Gail is a member of Faunsdale Presbyterian Church. She is married to Jody. They have 4 daughters and 8 grandchildren--including the newest born February 23, 2009!

The 2009 Women in the Church Leadership Training in Chattanooga, TN is now just a memory—a wonderful memory! The theme, FAMILY MATTERS: Loving, Equipping, and Serving God's Church, was well planned and well executed. There were three types of meetings: regional, workshops, and General Sessions. The regional meetings (3) allowed us to interact and pray with other women from our geographical area. We had a choice of 11 workshops; unfortunately we could only attend 2. I chose one on how we of the older generation can better relate to the younger generation of women without seeming bossy, overbearing or a know-it-all. The other one concerned de-cluttering our own ministries whether on the PresWIC , local or personal level. Imagine having to not only keep our closets neat and uncluttered but our lives and ministries as well! The information was great.

Our last General Session speaker was Pam Benton, wife of a PCA minister now in Nashville. Pam reminded us that we need to all feel connected. She emphasized that we all must keep focused on our purpose, priority, and passion for the body of Christ. (That's us, the church!) As we move forward, what at first seems a job should become a joy. A duty should become a delight! It was definitely a delight to meet so many new friends as we prayed and persevered together. Another word of advice from Pam was that in our Christian lives we must not "sit, soak, and sour"! Go forward and love, equip, and serve God's church!

Free Classes

2009-03-12T06:04:00.000-07:00

Covenant Theological Seminary offers many courses available online. Best of all, these great courses are free!

This is a wonderful opportunity to study at your own pace, in your own home and still get great teaching.

Be sure to check out this link. Please leave a comment if you have taken or are taking a course--or would like to! Which course most interests you?

What is PresWIC?

2009-03-08T14:00:00.000-07:00

Basically, PresWIC is made up of women attending the various churches within a specific Presbytery. Most local churches have a WIC (Women in the Church) of some form. Some have officers, others have leadership committees.

Please know that if you are a woman in a local church, you are part of WIC--you don't have to sign up or anything! You are a Woman in the Church and, thereby, welcome to all WIC/PresWIC events.

PresWIC has a group of women who serve as officers (Executive Council). These officers meet 4 times per year to plan the 3 PresWIC wide meetings that are held throughout the year. Officers are nominated and must be approved by their local church and by the Presbytery. Each officer serves a 2 year term and may serve up to 2 consecutive terms.

PresWIC also has 5 offerings that it collects money for throughout the year. Briefly, these offerings are:

Contingency Fee--Used as the operating fund for Warrior PresWIC.

Showers of Blessing--Recipient is approved by the Warrior PresWIC Executive Council.

This is a contribution to MNA (Mission to North America). The 2009 recipient is

Palmer Home for Children.

WIC Love Gift--Recipient is chosen by CE&P (Christian Education and Publications) in

Atlanta and rotates between all PCA committees.

The 2009 recipient is the Administrative Committee.

Atlanta Budget--Used toward the WIC Headquarters operating fund in Atlanta.

Send the Light--Recipient is approved by the Warrior PresWIC Executive Council.

This is a contribution to MTW (Mission to the World). The 2009 recipient is

The Border Sewing Ministry of Joyce Huizinga.

For an excellent resource on WIC/PresWIC, please take a few minutes to read this.

The logo for WIC is an old fashioned kerosene lamp. Here is an explanation.

The PresWIC Executive Council strives, with all of the meetings, to further the purpose of WIC which states:

The purpose of the Women In the Church is that every woman know Christ personally and be committed to extending His kingdom in her life, home, church, community, and throughout the world.”

Communion

2009-03-08T13:43:00.000-07:00

Riverwood Presbyterian Church has recently gone to a weekly Communion schedule. A book was recently written by Tim Lien, Pastor, Eric Venable, Assistant Pastor, and Jimmy Hopper, Ruling Elder and Pastoral Administrator entitled This Is For You. The book is a collection of 40 reflections on the sacrament of Communion.

This poem was written by Peggy Drinkard after reading This Is For You. Peggy is the Director of Children's Ministries of Riverwood Presbyterian Church. She is the wife of David and mom to Vic, Caleb and Samuel. In her spare time, she writes beautiful poetry such as this. More of Peggy's thoughts and poems can be find at her personal blog.

Invitation to Communion

Come to this table spread for you

With costly manna, finest wine

Where strength and health and life renewed

Flow to the branches from the vine.

There is no price that you can pay

To dine at this exclusive club

The guests are debtors, sin-clad men

Who own themselves deserving wrath.

Your elder brother brings you here

To feast on his own flesh and blood,

Providing everything you lack

To fill your soul with proper food.

For only this bread satisfies

The hungry, gnawing, empty heart.

This wine alone can quench its thirst,

And make the parching pain depart.

So come and join your family here

Around this table spread for you,

Where Christ is both the centerpiece and meal

And you will find Him good.

pdrinkard, Feb. 23, 2009

"O taste and see that the Lord is good." Psalm 34:8