Autumn Dancers

Have you ever met someone who came to know Jesus through nature? I've met a few. When you really take it all in, and notice all that God has done (the way Alison told us little Matthew did on Thankful Thursday), you can't deny the presence of God. If we could all be so sensitive to the beauty of nature and respond to God with a word of thanks for allowing us to experience it! Here's a poem from one of our very own girlfriends, Colette Boicelli, and her take on this beautiful new season of Fall. Enjoy every word of it, along with the fresh new weather!

Autumn Dancers

Love in bloom

That sounds like Spring

But what we got-

it's an Autumn thing!

We dance together

My leading Gent-

The harried wind

that came and went.

But long before

this dance is through

He'll take may leaves

and shower you.

and leave me with

my bare arms swaying

My robe of color

on the ground, decaying.

by Colette Boicelli

Overworked and Underpaid?

Do you sometimes feel like you're stuck living a life that doesn't matter?  

You may be working day-after-day in a job where you don't feel appreciated.  You have a boss who doesn't care about your circumstances.  You work harder than anyone else around you, yet others are praised and you are ignored.  You're taking care of an aging parent and your siblings won't compromise or help in any way.  Maybe your role as a wife or mother feels empty and meaningless.  Your husband wants a "thank you" for taking out the trash once a month, but do you ever get thanked for cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, serving as the tutor, nurse, taxi driver, counselor, and more EVERY DAY?  Wow!  It can all be so overwhelming.  What does God's Word have to say about the way you serve and the reward you deserve?  I've continued my focus on Colossians recently and ran across this very issue.

Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ.  Colossians 3:22-25

We don't work for our boss.  We don't work for our husband.  We don't work for our family, church, or community.  We work for our heavenly master, God, who is always true to His promises.  I'm encouraged to know that I can - and should - give the best I have to offer in everything I do.  At work, at home, in my relationships, I will commit to giving my best.  I may not receive an earthly reward or the thanks and encouragement I think I deserve.  I'm comforted to know that one day, I'll be paid in full when I inherit my eternal reward.  In fact, it feels good to know that my work is way more important than I ever thought before.  It's a work for Christ.

Missions Message

Last week our prayer focus gave us a tiny snapshot of India.  This week we will zoom in on the children of India.  According to Operation World, " 70+ million children are child labourers, 10 million are bonded laborers (a form of slavery to pay off family debts), 13 million children are homeless and two million are street children without families.  Female fetuses and often infants are killed and the estimate that there is a deficit of 40 million girls because of these practices.  Over half a million children are child prostitutes."

The following is directly quoted from the CIA's World Factbook: "India is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; internal forced labor may constitute India's largest trafficking problem; men, women, and children are held in debt bondage and face forced labor working in brick kilns, rice mills, agriculture, and embroidery factories; women and girls are trafficked within the country for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced marriage; children are subjected to forced labor as factory workers, domestic servants, beggars, and agriculture workers, and have been used as armed combatants by some terrorist and insurgent groups; India is also a destination for women and girls from Nepal and Bangladesh trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; Indian women are trafficked to the Middle East for commercial sexual exploitation; men and women from Bangladesh and Nepal are trafficked through India for forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation in the Middle East "   

Many of these statistics reflect the desperate poverty and needs Indian families face.  So please pray for:

 

1.  Christian ministries to rise up and address these desperate needs.

2. The gospel will be preached and transform communities and lives so that children would be valued, loved and not subjected to these kinds of horrors.

3. That our hearts would break for these children and that we would know how we can respond whether through prayer, giving or direct ministry.

 

Next Week:  Religions of India

by Simone Martin

Weekly Prayer Priority

I thought this week we could focus our prayers on our children. I believe one of the most important ministries we have, as parents, is praying for our kids. They face so many pressures and influences daily that are contrary to God's best for them, we have to engage in the battle. Even if you don't have children of your own, pray for God to lay one (or more) on your heart that you could be praying for. Please pray for specific, individual needs that you're aware of, as well as: first and foremost that their eternal future is secure through a relationship with Jesus Christ; that this would be a life-long, vibrant, growing relationship; and that God would use them in a mighty way.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Angela Lockwood

Weekly Prayer Priority

Once again - I'm excited to have assistance in keeping our blog fresh and relevant to the girlfriends at Living Hope! I love the idea of our family of believers tuning in each week on a "missions message" and a "prayer priority" that we can all be a part of. There's power in the act of so many prayers going up together in unity for the same purpose. Angela Lockwood has graciously agreed to lead this weekly prayer effort for us. So - without further ado...

Let's pray this week that God would use us to be a blessing to the people around us: family, friends, co-workers, and even strangers! It might be stopping to listen, or making a phone call to check in on someone, or simply telling someone why you appreciate them. Just whatever God lays on your heart. Let's pray that the Father would:

1.) Help us to see beyond ourselves (and our to-do lists!)

2.) Give us an awareness of how we might encourage and minister to the needs of people in our daily lives.

3.) Give us an eagerness to act when He gives us the opportunity to.

Hebrews 3:13 - "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today..."

Thanks, Angela! We appreciate your help and servant's heart!

Missions Message

I'm so excited! Every week we will have a new "Missions Message" by a member of Living Hope's Missions Committee, Simone Martin. For the month of September, we'll be focusing on India. There are so many different things to learn about and pray for. I hope you'll take this time each week to educate yourself and let God speak to your heart about the way He is moving around the world.

Overview: India is a country that dominates South Asia with a population of over one billion people. It is a country that is going through tremendous economic change and is probably second to China in economic growth. Despite significant economic progress, a quarter of the nation's population earns less than the government-specified poverty threshold of $0.40 per day. In 2004–2005, 27.5% of the population was living below the poverty line. The official language of India is Hindi and the government uses English but India recognizes 22 more languages and each state may have its own official language. In addition to this, there are over 1000 dialects. The main religion is Hindu with 79% of the population claiming this as their religion. 12% are Muslim 2.4% Christian and the rest other religions including Sikh, Buddhist. India is a very complex and diverse country. For the next few weeks I will turn our attentions to India and ask you to pray some specific things for its people.

Prayer point: India has more and larger people groups with no Christians, churches or workers than any other part of the world. Pray that the Church world-wide might rise to complete this task.

Prayer point: For the leaders of the nation and its states that they may uphold the constitution by maintaining religious freedom and that they may be more committed to tackle the serious ills of society such as poverty, the use of child labor, female infanticide, AIDS and serious environmental degradation.

Next week: Children of India

* Sources - Operation World & Wikepeia

Waiting for Lightning

Are you waiting for lightning? Do you want to serve Christ or find a way to minister to people around you, but feel like you need to wait for a sign or special invitation? Sometimes I feel that way. I feel like I need to study Jesus more, improve my prayer life, fix all the issues in my family or with my attitude. It's hard to imagine Jesus using me to do something helpful when I feel so far from "ready". In a recent quiet time I read the following scripture and it really stood out to me.

"My counsel for you is simple and straight forward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live Him. You're deeply rooted in Him. You're well constructed upon Him. You know your way around the faith. Now, do what you've been taught. School's out. Quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving!" Colossians 2:6-7 (The Message)

What are we waiting for? If we've asked Christ to forgive us and be #1 in our lives - He has! The power of the Holy Spirit is living in us and ready to move! We need to LIVE HIM and share our faith with those around us. I'm so thankful I don't have to work on the level of a Bible Scholar or Theologian to serve Christ. I can share my experience with others, invite them to church or small group, and actively serve them in a real way every day!

Prayer Focus - Small Groups

Each week, Living Hope Girlfriends will be focusing on a specific prayer item or focus for our church and community. This week, please join me to pray for our Living Hope small groups that kick off next week! Small Group leaders have been attending training sessions and several church members have already signed up. If you've been in church the past two weeks, you've heard Pastor Jeff focus on the need for small groups in our spiritual walk and the vital role they will play in the future of our church's direction.

Please spend time this week in sincere prayer for our small group ministries. Here are a few thoughts for you to pray over:

1. Pray that ALL regular attenders of Living Hope will sign up for a group.
2. Pray that we will make this weekly commitment a priority to attend.
3. Pray for small group leaders to be filled with God's power and His words as they guide our groups.

Thanks for your prayers, girlfriends. If you want to sign up for a group and need more information, email Jamie at ragamuffin_kids@yahoo.com.

Girlfriends Spotlight on Liz Haugen!

Introducing our newest newly-wed girlfriend with a new name! I know you'll enjoy this interview as you get to know her better!

What is your full name? Elisabeth Anne Haugen!
Do you have any brothers or sisters? One sister, Laura.
Where did you grow up? Brentwood, CA.
Are you married? I am! I'm married to the most wonderful man, Wayne. We've been married just over 2 weeks!
Do you have any kids or grand kids (names and ages)? Not yet. Not for a while! We work with the youth group so there's enough kids for me to play "Mommy" there, ha ha.
Name a favorite thing about someone in your family. I love my husband. He's the most selfless and hilarious person I know.
What is your current job? I work as an accounting clerk at a law firm in Davis.
What profession would you like to attempt? Motivational speaking. I love encouraging people.
If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would you get? Bagels. Or waffles.
What is one goal you’d like to accomplish during your lifetime? I want to get a tattoo when I'm 80.
Who is your hero? My mom and dad are pretty amazing people. Shane Claibourne is pretty sweet too. My husband.
What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer? Swim!
Are you a morning or night person? Definitely morning. I shut down after 7 pm.
What are your favorite hobbies? I love making things with my hands. Singing, playing music. Hanging out with the youth group kids.
What are your pet peeves? I HATE when people say the exact same thing that I just said about 2 seconds before they did but they weren't listening.
What turns you on? My husband..RAR!
What turns you off? Nosy-ness.
Tell us about a unique or quirky habit of yours. Whenever I'm talking in my sleep I usually say "Yeah, that's cool though."
If you had to describe yourself using three words, it would be… Silly, Saved, Open.
If I could be anybody besides myself, I would be… I wouldn't want to be anyone else.
When, how, why did you start attending Living Hope? About a year and a half ago. At the time I was looking for a new church home and so Wayne (my boyfriend at the time who is now my husband) invited me to go to his church. I loved it, so I stayed!
What message do you want to send to your LH friends? I love love love ya'll!

Well Liz, I must say (and I believe I speak for all the girlfriends) we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE you too! You and Wayne make an awesome couple and we know God will do great things through you and your marriage!