Monday, December 17, 2012

Retreat

I'm thrilled about the StoneBridge women's retreat coming up in March. To be honest, I'm usually excited about something. I'm like one of those yip-yappy dogs nipping at your heels, so excited to see you. And a lot of the time what I am thrilled about is God's work in and through the people of StoneBridge.

As prayer coordinator for Vine Life, I have been praying about the women's retreat for a few months. As a member of the Vine Life leadership team, I have heard about the preparation already well underway. With some of the leadership team, I visited Ridgecrest Conference Center in July to check it out; it's a wonderful place to get away!

But it's as an individual woman I am most excited about the retreat. I have been on three StoneBridge women's retreats in the seven years I have been at church. I have loved every one of them! I have talked with women whose counsel I sorely needed and didn't even realize it. I have laughed till I cried playing board games. I have soaked in truth from the speakers and then discussed those ideas in small groups. I have shopped, taken naps, and praised God in song. I have seen women comfort others who are hurting. I have spent desperately needed time alone praying and crying out to God. I have met new friends and reconnected with old ones. I have consistently left retreats thinking "My cup runneth over."

My heart yearns for you to experience all of that! The women's retreats have been highlights of my time at StoneBridge. I am excited to be leading prayer again for the retreat. I am praying earnestly for women to come to the retreat who never have, weren't able to before, or who were not at StoneBridge during previous retreats. Of course, I want everyone to come but if you have never experienced one of our women's retreats, my prayers are focused on YOU. Because I want you to experience the grace, the joy, the healing, and the refreshment that my sisters in Christ and I have.

If the women's retreat is not yet on your calendar, I hope you will immediately start praying! Pray about attending and pray that other women will be able to come as God intends. Come to our Vine Life prayer times and pray TOGETHER for the retreat. Pray for all the plans being worked out right now; pray for Laura Bansek, Vine Life director, and the leadership team. Pray for the army of volunteers that is needed to make this retreat happen. E-mail Laura at lbansek@carolina.rr.com if you want to help. Ask God to show you how you can support His work though this retreat. Maybe it's not your year to go, but you could support someone financially, stuff retreat packets, or cover for someone who would normally be serving at church that weekend.

We worship and serve a great, big God. And He can do great, big things! One of my consistent prayers for the retreat is that God will change the women who attend in such amazing ways that when they return home, to their neighborhoods and workplaces, Christ will impact people through them. We want the retreat to be just that for you - a retreat, a time of spiritual refreshment where you draw close to the your Savior and to your sisters in Christ. But we want even more that you leave ready to obey and honor God in all things, loving those around you.

Mark your calendar for March 15-17. Pray daily. Offer to volunteer. And watch God work!

- Kathryn

Monday, December 10, 2012

Regarding Peace

Regarding peace, C.S. Lewis says, "God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."

Nearly forty years ago, when Steve and I were in Bible school, he worked nights at an electric insulator factory. Several of the married students worked there - full time - as well as being full-time students. I was alone many nights in a strange little country town in Western New York. The winter was snowy and our small apartment was very chilly, especially with my imagination running wild (probably a leftover from my pre-Christian days). Often, fear supplanted peace. I knew the Lord. I prayed. I read scripture. Nothing really impacted my anxiety until late one night I discovered Psalm 4:8. The Psalmist declares, "I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." His peace swept over me that night, and a new confidence in Him began to grow. I realized I could trust Him and rest in Him.

Recently, while studying peace in Philippians 4:6-9, I realized that I've been letting my reliance on God's peace slip into the background - especially as the excitement and busyness of the Christmas Season is looming. So much to worry about! Verses 7-8 promise that as we lay our anxieties and burdens at His feet, He will give us His peace. And His peace will guard our hearts. So the other day I started praying about what each day holds, paying close attention to God's peace in each activity. Not surprisingly, I changed some plans and added others. He began to direct me in unexpected ways that worked out so harmoniously that only He could have arranged the circumstances. This renewed sense of His presence and involvement in my daily life amazes and delights me - and reminds me of the real "reason for the season."

In Philippians 4:8-9, Paul encouraged the believers in Philippi with these words, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." (NKJV)

We are promised that the God of Peace will be with us when we walk in His ways. In his book, Maybe It's Time to Laugh Again, Chuck Swindoll offers these 3 simple exercises for staying "worry free":

1. Feed your mind on positive thoughts - Philippians 4:8
2. Focus your attention on encouraging models - Philippians 4:9a
3. Find the God of Peace in every circumstance - Philippians 4:9b

What a great way to approach this beautiful time of celebrating the incarnation of Christ. The Prince of Peace will be with us when we surrender our lives, our burdens, our thoughts and our wills to Him.
Barbara

Sunday, December 2, 2012

new perspective

it's fitting that this post comes after vicki's post from last week. while she is getting used to the idea of being an empty-nester, i'm getting used to being a mom [if you want to read more about keane's entrance into the world, you'll find that story HERE].

keane is now just over a month old, and just so happens to be the cutest little boy ever [granted, i'm biased...]. see what i mean, though?


anyway, i've naturally been thinking about a lot surrounding children and parenting and family, and all of that. and while four and a half weeks of being a mom doesn't give me any great insights into parenting, there are a few things that have hit me right in the gut.

first off, having a newborn really makes me think about Jesus sacrificing everything to come to this earth as an infant. it's absolutely crazy to realize that the God of the universe was a completely helpless newborn baby. that has hit me in new ways in these last few weeks, especially in light of this christmas season.

and then there's how much i love my son. how sometimes, when i stop and really think about it, i just start crying because he's such an incredible blessing. i love him so very much - as much as i possibly can, and yet i love him so imperfectly. so how much greater is the love God has for us, undeserving as we are, because he loves us perfectly. perfectly.

in the sense of trying to understand God as father, being a parent has certainly helped. i think about how much i want what's best for my son. how much it pains me when he's in pain, how much i hope for good things for his future, and i think about how much truer all of those things are when God looks at us.

it puts the cross into better perspective. the father watching his son in so much pain, and having the ability to change it, to fix it, and yet he turned his back and forsook his son, so that we could know him as father too. it's heart-wrenching.

yet, it's that much more of a confirmation of God's love for us, and of his trustworthiness. he sees all, he knows all, and he is in complete control. so even though we cannot see or understand all of the pieces of the puzzle, he knows. and even more than i want good things for my baby boy, God wants good things for us. he wants the best things for us. and he is the only one who knows how to mold us, and grow us, and make all things work together for good in the end.

God has shown himself to me in brand new ways during my pregnancy, through keane's birth, and through this little slice of parenthood i've experienced.

i'd love to hear about experiences you've had where God has shown himself to you in brand new ways.


katie

Monday, November 26, 2012

Change?!!!



Change?!!!

On December 14, 1986, God called me to be the mother to Jillian Nicole Vincent.  I had gotten used to my call as Mason's wife, a professional in the accounting world, as well as various little roles of daughter, sister, neighbor...  But this call was huge.  It was clearly a call that I was not qualified for, yet here I was holding this beautiful baby; completely terrified and completely joy filled! God had challenged me and pushed and carried me through things that scared me before, but never anything that required such a personal responsibility and investment.  Mason and I had no idea what we were doing, in fact the early videos are a bit painful to watch!  Miraculously, she somehow survived.  

 We were a little more prepared when Mason Thomas, Allie, and Madi came along over the next seven years, but still completely over our heads!  Our home was filled with chaos and love.  Nothing has defined me so powerfully and completely as my role as mom.
There were many ups and downs, but I remember laughter and such a feeling of finally knowing who I was and what I was called to do.  Bad theology!

 Soon came the crazy emotions of reality, as the time came to let my children go.  It came in small steps; "No, Mommy, I do it myself."  Preschool was quickly followed by school all day.  For me, there was never a time that they were all gone all day since we homeschooled through most of their pre-college years.  Being a mom completely filled my days.  But God held me close as He told me my call was changing.  High school, driving, youth trips, college, weddings... yikes!!!

In August we dropped our youngest one off at college; driving away I thought, "Wow, now what do I do?"  Mason knows what he does, he's been doing it! The nature of our family choices have been such that the role of dad was not as singular as my role of mom.  He still has the same job that he still goes to on a regular basis.  He loves that when he is home he has my undivided attention, I love that too! We both love the freedom of being empty-nesters (that still seems crazy to me!) but a big part of who I am is gone, or so I thought.

I told Jillian when I took her to college that it felt like I was being fired.  She said "Not fired, Mama, just reassigned!"  She was right.  I have loved every minute of being a mom.  I loved the chaos, the laughter, all of the games and recitals.  I loved the Nutcracker and the craziness of Christmas.  I have loved every tear shed and wiped away because of all that God did through them.  I loved the privilege of getting to know their friends and the imprint all of them have had in our home and our hearts.  I loved watching Mason be a dad, I love how our love grew so deeply as we raised our family together.  I love how God has revealed Himself to me so beautifully through this deep love I have for Mason and the kids. I loved my call to build God's Kingdom through raising our children.

So, moving on is bittersweet.  I am still a mom, but that role is changing as God makes room for more and different.  Sometimes our call to service is hard but He is always in the middle of hard.  Cancer is hard but God is faithful.  Wayward children, financial crisis, difficult family dynamics, marriage struggles.  These are all difficult calls that we learn to be thankful for the lessons and even the blessings through, but very thankful when they pass.  Sometimes, however, we are called to move on from something we love.  God is still good and He will faithfully lead and equip us for whatever is ahead.

Change is usually hard, it is how God pushes us as He grows us and uses us in so many wonderful ways to build His Kingdom.  Change is good.  It reminds us of how completely dependent on God we are.  A friend once told me that "God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called".  How very true.  If you knew the mess that both Mason and I came from, you would understand that as well as we do!  God has carried me through much, always teaching, always merciful, always graciously equipping for whatever lies before.  I'm not clear what He is calling me to in this next season, but I know He will stretch me and equip me for whatever it is.  As I seek His face, He will reveal, one step at a time; just as He will to each of us in this ever changing world.  One thing is sure, we are His servants called to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.  That is who I am, who we are, what defines us.  We are His, bought by His blood, thankfully!!! Our call for service in this world will change.  Count on it.  But God never changes.

"Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever.  Amen." (Hebrews 13:20,21)

I would love to hear your stories of change as God perfects you...

Blessings,
Vicki



Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Acceptance


I've always been captivated by the sinful woman in Luke 7.  She went to the Pharisee's home, she wet Jesus' feet with her tears, dried them with her hair and anointed them with expensive perfume.

She loved Jesus with such abandon...  such courage... such boldness...

I have to admit, I've often wondered (with longing) what inspired her to love Jesus so freely?  What compelled her, in the face of those who judged and condemned her (the Pharisees), to pour out her love so extravagantly?

Verse 47 gives us the answer, "Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - as her great love has shown.  But whoever has been forgiven little loves little."  She loved much because she had been forgiven much.

But I am like the woman - I came to Jesus when I was older, my sins were many, I had been forgiven so much, and still my love felt restrained...  It was confined by my fears of what others would think...  It was limited by something I was missing in the story...  Something that is not explicitly spelled out, but it is part of the essence of what Jesus did for her...  He loved her...  He forgave her...  He accepted her.

She didn't have to fear the rejection of the Pharisees (or anyone else for that matter) because she had the complete and total acceptance of the one who created her!

Acceptance...  the act of receiving something that is offered.  Please know that I am not in any way suggesting we condone sin, but the sinful woman offered Him all that she had at the moment.  She didn't wait until she was cleaned up...  perfected...  or worthy by the world's (or Pharisee's) standards.  She simply went to Him in all of her sin and Jesus accepted her, she was enough...  He received what was offered without a demand for more (or even better).  He knew that what He offered would eventually transform her.  Transformation is a journey and, like Jesus allows us, we need to allow people the grace for their own journey.

As I'm coming to understand more and more that Jesus loves and accepts me right where I am... that I cannot do one...  no, not ONE thing...  to make myself more loveable or acceptable to Him (He did it all on the cross), I am freed to love Him with abandon...  without fear of what others will think...  And I am freed to live by His grace, trusting the journey, that He will be faithful to complete the good work He began in me.  I have to wonder though, how well do I reflect that acceptance to others?

As we enter into this wonderful season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, let's consider...

1.  Has there been someone in your own life that offered you the gift of love, forgiveness and acceptance and showed you Jesus?  For me it was my grandfather, Pop Charlie...  (Feel free to leave a comment in honor of them.)

2.  And... are we willing to offer the same gift to others?  To family that we may not get along with?  To those who disagree with us politically?  To one whose sins we think are many?   Are we willing to give the gift of acceptance in gratitude for what Jesus did for us?  Maybe, like the woman in Luke 7, that's all that someone needs to begin their journey of experiencing the love and transforming grace of Jesus!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Sharla

Monday, November 12, 2012

Snow Sharks?!?

Collecting quotes is a past time I enjoy.  I believe quotes can synthesize significant thoughts and express them in simplified terms.  One of my favorite quotes is:

"I was at this restaurant.  The sign said, 'Breakfast Anytime' - So I ordered French Toast in the Renaissance."  -- Steven Wright

What is the profound truth in this quote?  There isn't one really.  But I do think it's hilarious!

Many times we are so busy about the business of life that we forget to stop and enjoy it.  This is very true of me.  I am often consumed with my tasks and lists; consequently, my focus is on what I am doing and what I need to do rather than enjoying the moments of life.  Now, let's not be unrealistic.  God expects us to do the work he has given us with diligence but I believe we can do that work without forgetting to take time to have fun (and perhaps even find fun in the work).

At times, even my desire to be a better disciple of Christ makes me feel that I should do more 'for God.'  Then I remember, it's not about the work I do but it is about God working in my life.  As I think about the person of Christ, I usually reflect on his character traits -- you know love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness -- and forget who he was as a human.  Jesus balanced his life so well between his work and his times of fun.  Is there any wonder a crowd of disciples followed him??  Jesus enjoyed parties.  Jesus gave people nicknames.  Jesus did those things which aren't necessary in life but which are essential to live the life God designed for us.

So embrace the life God designed for us.  A life in which we take a little time for fun.


As I attempt to find fun in the day, I am yours faithfully -- Cynthia

Monday, November 5, 2012

Simplify

About a week ago I downsized from a smart phone to a basic one. I did so to save money. I'd had the smart phone for six months and rarely used the features offered like navigation or the awesome apps people rave about. I did get addicted to checking e-mail and Facebook. So I'm surprised that a week after downsizing, I don't miss the old phone. Instead of feeling like I am missing out on the latest news, I am happy to be "out of touch" while waiting in doctor's offices and the grocery store line. I'm happy to look around, chat with the person next to me, or read a book.

Downsizing is swiming against the tide of our "more, more, more" culture. Nothing wrong with using and appreciating the advantages of technology. I am glad my friends with busy lives find their smart phones so helpful. But owning a smart phone, a car with power windows, or a house with air conditioning on both floors is not a need. Those are wants. One of the keys to simplifying is discerning the difference between needs and wants. Another is to decide what your priorities are.

One of our priorities these days is saving money for college for our two teenagers. So buying a less expensive phone and getting rid of the data plan allow us to set aside that money for education. I wonder - Have you ever downsized in one area to invest in another one? Was it worth it? Were there any unexpected blessings? (One I wasn't expecting was feeling less tethered to my phone.)

I'm not advocating living a simpler life for the sake of finding peace or contentment. Those things can only be found in Christ. I'm asking if you have, like me, downsized and found yourself suprisedly devoid of any feeling of loss. Downsizing my phone reminded me that I don't "need" what I thought I did. Ultimately, I only need God. He is more than enough.


- Kathryn

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Rescued

I have a new dog. His name is Pippin and he's 6 years old. I found him on a rescue site for his breed - Pembroke Welsh Corgi. He was left in the yard of a house that had been foreclosed. He hadn't eaten for a long time. The other dog in the yard ate all the food that the kindly neighbors threw over the fence. She was fat and he was emaciated. He had fleas and heartworms. The rescue people gave him medical attention before I adopted him, but he was a very scared little dog when we took him home at the end of June.


He is a delightful dog and we are so happy to have him. The first toy I gave him was a little blue ball. He loves to fetch, and takes his ball with him all over the house and yard - wherever he goes. He also loves to give kisses. Wherever I go, he follows me. He watches me with eyes of love. Sometimes he just puts his face up to mine and looks at me, as if he is saying thank you. He's a happy dog now, and he sleeps with abandon, unafraid.





When I think of how Christ rescued me and gave me a new life, I feel like saying thank you often, at odd moments. And don't we all feel like following Him around wherever He goes, just because He loves us and is so good to us? John 8:12 quotes these words from Jesus, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Barbara

Monday, October 22, 2012

come soon.

if you're anything like me, you look forward to a lot of things.
things like these, for instance:


christmas morning


vacationing somewhere fabulous


your morning cup of coffee



or my reality right now - waiting for the birth of our baby boy. [hopefully by the time you read this, he'll have made his debut!]

[these are from our 20 week ultrasound]
today i was walking the dog and thinking "okay contractions, anytime now, come soon baby boy,"  and i almost stopped dead in my tracks.

something i read about corrie ten boom popped into my head. apparently she used to say "Jesus, come soon" a lot. "Jesus, come soon."

and it made me stop and wonder - what do i long for more? do i long for the birth of my son more than the return of Christ?

have i really gotten so caught up in this world, that i don't remember that in the next one life will be how it was meant to be?

how often do i live my life in light of eternity?
truthfully? not often.

so, since i'm guessing that many of you are holier than me - how are you purposeful about living life in light of eternity? do you pray for Jesus to come soon?


i'd love to hear your thoughts!

katie