Fall...

                  There is a right time for everything:  2 

A time to be born; A time to die;

A time to plant; A time to harvest;

3 

A time to kill; A time to heal;

A time to destroy; A time to rebuild;

4 

A time to cry; A time to laugh;

A time to grieve; A time to dance;

5 

A time for scattering stones;
A time for gathering stones;

A time to hug; A time not to hug;

6 

A time to find; A time to lose;

A time for keeping; A time for throwing away;

7 

A time to tear; A time to repair;

A time to be quiet; A time to speak up;

8 

A time for loving; A time for hating;

A time for war; A time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 

Living Bible

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 Fall 

             When I was young, the new school year began in September—fall—a new beginning bundled with excitement, anticipation, new experiences, seeing my friends and meeting new ones.

            Fall was the time to look forward to new: notebooks, pencils, lunch box, and a few clothes.  I especially loved the new box of underpants presented in a divided box for the seven days of the week; the day was embroidered on the side of each pair greeting me in seven different glorious colors.

            When I began my career as a teacher, I relived the excitement of a new school year.   I found enjoyment in purchasing a new, crisp, clean, teacher’s plan book and, I treated myself to some new outfits and always new underwear.

            When I became Dean of the Department, my life still revolved around the academic year; only now August had become the beginning of the new school year.

           

As a retired person, I still carry 

the image of fall offering up

new beginnings.  I think of my mom

as I design and arrange my fall
centerpiece for my dining room 

table; I remember her taking delight 

in welcoming each new season 

and holiday with different table 

decorations.  I love hanging the colorful dried leaves and flowers put together in a wreath my granddaughter made when she was in elementary school. I find myself smiling a
I set out new, tall, thin, tapers, the color of exquisite burnt orange.

            As I write, this I realize the word “Ours” has now melted into “My.”

For 31 years Eddie and I loved cooking Thanksgiving Dinner for our families—now there are no more Thanksgivings at my home.  Last year I gave my daughter our beautiful china platter, which held our turkeys for all those fun and wonderful years of celebration; now it’s time for new traditions to be born.

            I welcome Fall with its pumpkin lattes, pumpkin bagels, my sister’s tasty pumpkin bread, my daughters delicious pumpkin cookies, and I applaud and give thanks  for   God’s  gifts of colorful leaves and crisp fresh air setting the scene for new experiences and discoveries for me to make about living my life forward.

            The changes of the seasons reminds us that God’s love for us is everlasting and always there for us each day of our lives.  I say “Thank You.”

Written by Connie Clark

Through it all

10 /24/14

Today I am welcoming a new writer to our Writing Staff. Terri Baker is a friend and an insightful person. She has five adult children and a granddaughter. Her son Daniel is a pastor at our church. Terri works in the youth program every week.
In this writing she is being real. That is how she is. Her insights will be edifying to others as they read her post which will occur once a month. Welcome my friend. She is a loyal and loving friend who always says good by in her special way....."Mwaaaaaah!!" 

Thank you and back at you, Terri!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you ever feel yourself falling deep into a dark pit, lost and alone?  One minute life is grand. You feel so special,  so happy,  surrounded by love.  Then there you are, out of the blue, just like that, on your own to sink or swim.  You find yourself looking up grasping for all the hands you believe will be there, reaching in to save you.  All of those people you know, your family, your friends, those who claim to love you?  You ask yourself, where are they?  It is getting darker and darker.   Deeper and deeper you go. You wish for someone to come rescue you. Yet you ask no one.  You are alone.  You begin to believe that you are not worthy.  You begin attacking yourself with questions. Where have I failed?  What is wrong with me?  You hide in your hiding place, hang your head and can no longer stop the tears. Depression can suck the life out of us.  It hurts so bad.  

For years I found myself there. That was until the year 2005.      

This is what I learned since then.  It is not just me but in fact we all come to a place like this in our lives.  Some of us more often then others.  Some go deeper than others. Sadly, some go so deep they can no longer see the light of day.  There are so many things that can bring us to this spot.  An overload of responsibility, unpaid bills, losing your home, needs for your family that you cannot afford, jobs we hate, worldly people that bring us down, kids that are rebellious or that we fear for because of their life choices, illness in ourselves or those we love.  And then there is that ugly, painful past that keeps sneaking back up on you, piece by piece.   So very many things.   

Depression can suck the life out of us.  

    

We often believe its the things in our lives that lead us to this place of darkness, and yes, they can.   But more often then we realize,  God Himself often brings us here.  Not for punishment or to cause us pain but to begin our healing. When we least expect it He will plop it down, right there in front of us. A heap we see as a mountain too high, too painful to climb.   

People fail us but God never fails.  He knows everything about us.

I do have friends that always care, but He knows when I need them. He tells me when it is time for my one on one's with Him. He also blesses us with His warriers, our precious friends who pray for us. We are not alone. We need to look up, way up

He always meets us there!  His out stretched hand not just reaching to grab us, but pulling us up on our feet.  He blesses us with his people, those I like to call, Angels on earth that pray for us and who help to make His plans for us so clear to see when we cannot hear Him talking.  He is always there making us stronger, making us wiser, giving us freedom and healing us from the inside out!  

God does not want us to suffer, but allows us time to face the things that cause us pain. He gives us the heart to forgive who or what it was that caused that pain.

He built us to face and conquer our demons. 

So, the next time you are feeling alone in a dark place,  know... He is right beside you all the way.  You are, in fact, in a very blessed place, able to spend one on one time with the very best friend you will ever have.   He who has suffered for us.   He enables us to stand taller and stronger than ever before, ready to fight the next battle., whether it be our own or someone else's.  It is all in His perfect plan.  Trust Him  

He is a healing God. He loves us more than life!  

Today, my life is far from perfect.  I still suffer illness, depressing times and even subtle reminders of things from my past that begin burning what feels like holes in my heart.  It is just so much easier now, knowing it is His plan and knowing…that Jesus is beside me holding my hand, through it all!  

Written by
Terri Baker

DAY OF PRAYER FOR JERUSALEM

9/30/14

This month I wanted to share with you some information regarding the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem. It is coming up this Sunday October 5th. Israel is very dear to my heart, as I'm sure she is to all of you. It seems the closer we draw to the Lord, the more we cherish the Holy Land and her people. The Word of God commands us to pray for Israel and promises us a blessing when we obey. 

Psalm 122:6 reads: 

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”

Genesis 12:3 speaks of Israel and states that 

“I (the Lord) will bless those who bless you.”

“ On the first Sunday of every October, hundreds of millions of people around the world join together to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” To see how you can personally participate in this event go to: Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem – Official Site or to www.daytopray.com   

I find it so exciting to be able to unite with others in such a powerful call to prayer. The Lord led me to discover a beautiful prayer for Jerusalem which I wanted to share:

Father, you are the God of Israel and they 

are your people. .........................................................................Isaiah 45:3 

Save them with an everlasting salvation....................................Isaiah 45:17

Raise them up in righteousness and direct all their ways..........Isaiah 45:13

Be a shelter for your people and the strength
for the children of Israel...............................................................Joel 3:16 

Bring health and healing to them and their land.
Let Israel be to you a name of praise, and an honor
before all nations of the earth.....................................................Jeremiah 33:9

Restore everything that has been removed from them...............Joel 2: 25

Seek out your sheep and deliver them from the peoples
and countries where they were scattered and bring them
to their own land...........................................................................Ezekiel 34:12-13 

I pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they
prosper that love you....................................................................Psalm 122:6

Lord, cause their enemies to cease from the land......................Ezekiel 34:25

Make them and the places all around Jerusalem  

a blessing and cause showers of blessing to come 

down in their season...................................................................Ezekiel 34:26 

Let your people dwell safely in their land......................................Ezekiel 34:27 

Delivered from trouble from all the kingdoms 

of the earth...................................................................Jeremiah 34:17

May God bless you.....

Shared by 

Cathy Friberg