Panic not, you didn't lose a day somewhere! I just realized I'd better write this blog tonight, as tomorrow (Monday) is going to be a full day.
We'll start the day off with our 8 AM exercise class, Holy Sweat. We've had a good group of women that show up to that every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We only have another month of this until summer is over, so it's time to join this free activity right away. And Holy Sweat is certainly an appropriate name for it, as I'm wholly sweaty by the time we finish!
Then at noon, we'll meet at the Tillamook Forest Center with our kids and grandkids for a bring-you-own picnic. It's a beautiful location on the way to Tillamook on Highway 6. Some of us were there a couple years ago and really enjoyed it. We'll eat, climb the lookout tower, enjoy the free museum, and walk across the bridge to enjoy a lazy afternoon wading and visiting. This is a wonderful opportunity to just relax together as the kids entertain themselves.
Both our Bible studies meet this week--Common Grounds at 6:30 Wednesday night, and The Perk at 9:30 Thursday morning. We have three more lessons in our study of our spiritual armor. What a great time we've been having as we've gathered together to discuss the scripture, then hear teaching via a DVD. Last week's lesson was very powerful, and I know it spoke into the lives of many of us. This week we'll be on Lesson 6--The Shield of God's Protection. Even if you don't have the book, please come join us at one of the classes. You'll be glad you did.
Hey, I'm looking for women who would like to serve as part of the Cupcake Walk team at Wapato's Summer Sizzle on Sunday afternoon, August 19th. I will be out of town, so I need to have extra hands to run the cake walk. If a whole bunch of you would volunteer half an hour of your time, we can pull it off in grand fashion. If I don't get volunteers, I'll start contacting you individually, and we all know how scary that could be! Please contact me right away and let me know you'd like to help. We need two people there at a time--one to hit the play button on the CD player and call out the winning number, and one to hand cupcakes out to the winner. It really is a lot of fun. I'll have signup sheets with me at both Bible studies. And thanks to all of you who signed up to bring cupcakes or cookies. We've got those all covered!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012 WOW-Zine
I hope none of you have been holding your breath waiting for me to publish the WOW-Zine today, as John and I left for an overnight getaway after church yesterday and just returned this evening. We had a wonderful time at a B&B on the McKenzie River. A huge osprey nest was in a tall tree across the river, and it was a joy to watch the momma bird find fish to carry back to her babies. Instead of winging straight from the river to the nest, she would circle three times and gradually gain elevation before reaching her destination. I guess mothering is hard work whether you're a human or an osprey!
Don't forget about our trip to the Tillamook Forest Center next Monday. This is an opportunity for you to bring your kids along to one of our events. Bring a picnic lunch, snacks, sunscreen, towels, etc. We'll meet there at noon to eat, then spend sometime inside the great hands-on museum before walking across the bridge and finding a good place to wade and catch minnows. Remember to let me know if you're coming.
This week we have our usual schedule--Holy Sweat exercise class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the church at 8 AM; Common Grounds (lesson 5) at 6:30 PM Wednesday, and The Perk (also lesson 5) at 9:30 AM on Thursday. It's been fun to have a different combination of women at each Bible study this summer, as sometimes Wednesday works best for someone, and on another week Thursday is the perfect fit. So just find the class that works best for you, and join us, even if you don't have the book Your Strong Suit. We've had some really good discussions as we're applying God's spiritual armor to our lives. Those of you who were there last week, don't forget what you're supposed to think about as you're getting dressed each morning!
Now let me leave you with a special message for all you mothers out there:
It’s easy to focus on the “don’ts” in our parenting. We invest a lot of time in disciplining our children for their misbehavior, for their bad attitudes, their sinful words, their disobedient and unloving actions.
We need to do the same in the living room when two children start arguing again. They are not wearing appropriate “clothes” for a child of God. If we want to help our children glorify God by getting along with each other, we will help them put off selfishness and impatience. But we don’t want to leave them with nothing on. We also need to help them put on the godly attitudes of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and love (Col. 3:12-15).
We should take the time to encourage and motivate them toward godliness. For instance, we can encourage the bickering child to “take off” his irritability and to “put on” patience. We could even have him take off the shirt he is wearing in order to put on a new shirt – one that has been labeled “patient”. Talk about patience with him and about the idea of putting off sin and putting on godliness. Encourage him to wear the shirt all day, praying for God to help him grow in patience.
The word for “patience” in Colossians 3 is also translated “longsuffering”. The word is formed from two Greek words that translate as “long” and “temper”. (Perhaps you will want to write these two words on his “put on” shirt.) The word is often used to describe God, who does not ignore our sin, but is slow to chastise us, giving us opportunity to repent.
This kind of patience helps us not become irritated with people who wrong or ignore us. Thankful for God’s patience with him, a patient person will calmly bear with difficulties and the offenses of others for a long time, knowing that God is at work, and putting his hope in Him. He does not hurry to retaliate or punish someone who provokes him.
It‘s not always easy for children (or adults, for that matter) to be patient with others. In fact, we all need to remember that we will never be able to do the right thing in our own strength. We won’t be able to be compassionate, kind, humble, meek, patient, or loving without Jesus. He is the only one who has lived a sinless life, and when we put our faith in Him and His work on the cross, we actually put on Christ. (”For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Gal. 3:26-27) When we put on Christ, we put on His righteousness, and He gives us the desire and the power to become like Him – compassionate, kind, humble, meek, patient, and loving.
__________________________________
The “crabby” T-shirt pictured above is available from lousmithart.wordpress.com (but your children won’t need any of those.
)
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Don't forget about our trip to the Tillamook Forest Center next Monday. This is an opportunity for you to bring your kids along to one of our events. Bring a picnic lunch, snacks, sunscreen, towels, etc. We'll meet there at noon to eat, then spend sometime inside the great hands-on museum before walking across the bridge and finding a good place to wade and catch minnows. Remember to let me know if you're coming.
This week we have our usual schedule--Holy Sweat exercise class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the church at 8 AM; Common Grounds (lesson 5) at 6:30 PM Wednesday, and The Perk (also lesson 5) at 9:30 AM on Thursday. It's been fun to have a different combination of women at each Bible study this summer, as sometimes Wednesday works best for someone, and on another week Thursday is the perfect fit. So just find the class that works best for you, and join us, even if you don't have the book Your Strong Suit. We've had some really good discussions as we're applying God's spiritual armor to our lives. Those of you who were there last week, don't forget what you're supposed to think about as you're getting dressed each morning!
Now let me leave you with a special message for all you mothers out there:
Doorposts of Your House - Putting Off and Putting On
|
Posted: 19 Jul 2012 01:00 AM PDT
It’s easy to focus on the “don’ts” in our parenting. We invest a lot of time in disciplining our children for their misbehavior, for their bad attitudes, their sinful words, their disobedient and unloving actions.
But teaching our children to get
along with each other involves more than breaking up fights and taking
away coveted toys. We know that they need to “take off” the impatience
and pride that so often lead to petty and not-so-petty arguments and
strife. But we must also teach them to do the right thing. We need to help them replace those sinful attitudes and actions with godly ones. When Paul tells the Colossians to not lie to each other, he reminds them, “You have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Col. 3:9-10).
What if we took our children up to the mountains for a day of
sledding and play in the snow, but one little guy somehow slipped into
the van wearing a T-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops? Clearly, he would not
be properly dressed for the outing. Would we just have him take off his summer attire and send him out into the snow? No. We would help him put on appropriate attire. We would zip him up into his snowsuit, stuff him into his boots, and send him out to play.We need to do the same in the living room when two children start arguing again. They are not wearing appropriate “clothes” for a child of God. If we want to help our children glorify God by getting along with each other, we will help them put off selfishness and impatience. But we don’t want to leave them with nothing on. We also need to help them put on the godly attitudes of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and love (Col. 3:12-15).
We should take the time to encourage and motivate them toward godliness. For instance, we can encourage the bickering child to “take off” his irritability and to “put on” patience. We could even have him take off the shirt he is wearing in order to put on a new shirt – one that has been labeled “patient”. Talk about patience with him and about the idea of putting off sin and putting on godliness. Encourage him to wear the shirt all day, praying for God to help him grow in patience.
The word for “patience” in Colossians 3 is also translated “longsuffering”. The word is formed from two Greek words that translate as “long” and “temper”. (Perhaps you will want to write these two words on his “put on” shirt.) The word is often used to describe God, who does not ignore our sin, but is slow to chastise us, giving us opportunity to repent.
This kind of patience helps us not become irritated with people who wrong or ignore us. Thankful for God’s patience with him, a patient person will calmly bear with difficulties and the offenses of others for a long time, knowing that God is at work, and putting his hope in Him. He does not hurry to retaliate or punish someone who provokes him.
It‘s not always easy for children (or adults, for that matter) to be patient with others. In fact, we all need to remember that we will never be able to do the right thing in our own strength. We won’t be able to be compassionate, kind, humble, meek, patient, or loving without Jesus. He is the only one who has lived a sinless life, and when we put our faith in Him and His work on the cross, we actually put on Christ. (”For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Gal. 3:26-27) When we put on Christ, we put on His righteousness, and He gives us the desire and the power to become like Him – compassionate, kind, humble, meek, patient, and loving.
__________________________________
The “crabby” T-shirt pictured above is available from lousmithart.wordpress.com (but your children won’t need any of those.
)Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Monday, July 16, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012 WOW-Zine
Happy Monday morning! My week is off to a good start. I rolled out of bed and made it down to the church for Holy Sweat at 8. (I agree--it helps that I lead it and have to be there!) Had a great workout and then home to enjoy the last few hours with our littlest granddaughter before taking her back to Tigard around noon. I'll get to spend time with the rest of the family there before coming back home to fix dinner. What's your day shaping up (refer back to Holy Sweat) to look like?
Our outing to the Tillamook Forest Center has been rescheduled for Monday, July 30th. Our previous date didn't work out well, but at least a couple of women and their children have said the 30th will be perfect. So bring your kids or grandkids, along with a picnic lunch, and meet us at the Forest Center at noon. We'll eat lunch together, explore the exhibits inside (as well as climb the lookout tower outdoors), then head across the river to find a neat place to wade and relax. Bring towels, snacks, drinks, and sunscreen for an afternoon by the water.
To get there, catch Highway 6 by Banks, and head west toward Tillamook. Continue 29.1 miles west on Highway 6. The milepost numbers will be counting down to Tillamook. The Tillamook Forest Center is near milepost 22. You’ll see it just past the turn-off for Jones Creek Campground, and around a big bend in the highway to the left. Look for the large stone and wood entry monuments. You’re there! It is about 20 minutes this side of Tillamook. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE COMING.
Women of Faith--Friday, October 5 and Saturday, October 6. Several women have already signed up for this event. Be smart and join them! I'll get a little brochure with the information printed up soon, so you'll have all the information. It's around $90, which I know can be a lot of money. But some things in life are worth spending like that, and this is one of them. For those who don't want to come all the way home after the Friday evening session, we'll be getting a couple of motel rooms, which enables us to split the bill and keep the cost down. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE COMING, EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY YET.
THIS WEEK'S OPPORTUNITIES:
Monday--Holy Sweat, 8 AM (You already missed it. You snooze, you lose--but not
pounds!)
Wednesday--Holy Sweat, 8 AM.
Common Grounds, 6:30 PM. Lesson 4
Thursday--The Perk, 9:30 AM. Lesson 4
Friday--Holy Sweat, 8 AM.
You've heard me say it before--one of the things I so appreciate about our Women Of Wapato (WOW) is that we've learned to trust each other and be open with each other. I hope you all realize what a gift that is. I want to leave you with a thought by one of my favorite bloggers:
Our outing to the Tillamook Forest Center has been rescheduled for Monday, July 30th. Our previous date didn't work out well, but at least a couple of women and their children have said the 30th will be perfect. So bring your kids or grandkids, along with a picnic lunch, and meet us at the Forest Center at noon. We'll eat lunch together, explore the exhibits inside (as well as climb the lookout tower outdoors), then head across the river to find a neat place to wade and relax. Bring towels, snacks, drinks, and sunscreen for an afternoon by the water.
To get there, catch Highway 6 by Banks, and head west toward Tillamook. Continue 29.1 miles west on Highway 6. The milepost numbers will be counting down to Tillamook. The Tillamook Forest Center is near milepost 22. You’ll see it just past the turn-off for Jones Creek Campground, and around a big bend in the highway to the left. Look for the large stone and wood entry monuments. You’re there! It is about 20 minutes this side of Tillamook. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE COMING.
Women of Faith--Friday, October 5 and Saturday, October 6. Several women have already signed up for this event. Be smart and join them! I'll get a little brochure with the information printed up soon, so you'll have all the information. It's around $90, which I know can be a lot of money. But some things in life are worth spending like that, and this is one of them. For those who don't want to come all the way home after the Friday evening session, we'll be getting a couple of motel rooms, which enables us to split the bill and keep the cost down. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE COMING, EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY YET.
THIS WEEK'S OPPORTUNITIES:
Monday--Holy Sweat, 8 AM (You already missed it. You snooze, you lose--but not
pounds!)
Wednesday--Holy Sweat, 8 AM.
Common Grounds, 6:30 PM. Lesson 4
Thursday--The Perk, 9:30 AM. Lesson 4
Friday--Holy Sweat, 8 AM.
You've heard me say it before--one of the things I so appreciate about our Women Of Wapato (WOW) is that we've learned to trust each other and be open with each other. I hope you all realize what a gift that is. I want to leave you with a thought by one of my favorite bloggers:
Heart to Heart with Holley Gerth: Underneath All Our Layers
|
Posted: 11 Jul 2012 11:36 AM PDT
I
step onto the newly mopped floor and my sock sticks. I hop like a
crazed rabbit back to the carpet. Looking back at the tile, I tilt my
head to one side. Little white patches are dotted across it. Hmm.
When my husband gets home I declare, "I think I bleached the floor!" He doesn't look too surprised. Odder things have happened in this house.
We investigate together, down on our knees, like a pair of detectives in a bad movie. Finally he says, "I don't think it's bleached. I think there's some kind of film on it." He scratches at it with his thumbnail and a small flake of grey comes up, revealing white tile beneath.
It turns out our "shine and glow" cleaner has laid down a pretty thick coat of wax--along with trapping a fair amount of dirt.
I'm horrified. I vaguely wonder if
my husband will be taken away from me because our home environment is
unfit. So I haven't been the mopper of the century but I certainly
didn't think we were walking across that.
We research how to strip the floor
and my hubby tackles it one weekend. I can hardly look at the bucket. I
perch outside the door in my pajamas and ponder how this came to be.
All this time I thought I was cleaning and I was actually sealing in what I wanted to get out.
It's not the first time.
I used to be master of the layers.
A friend would asks me how I was on a bad day and I'd reply, "I'm fine." Layer of wax, a little dirt trapped.
An email from someone I don't even know would hurt my feelings. I'd tell myself, "It's okay." Another layer.
A disagreement would leave me wounded. I'd say, "It's not really a big deal." More layers.
Then a few years ago I noticed some
dots on the floor of my heart, a little more authenticity showing
through. I wanted to cover them up in a hurry. But it seemed God
whispered instead, "This is what I want people to see. It's time to strip away some of this stuff."
And He did. Bit by bit.
At first I was horrified.
Then relieved.
And, finally, free.
We aren't meant to put on a coat of
wax to shine for the world. God can handle our grit. Our mess. He knows
how to deal with it in a way that brings healing and even reveals
beauty.
In the corners of my kitchen, I can
still see bits of wax. They peer out at me like little reminders of the
past. Over time I'll find a way to get them all.
Because I want the real deal--maybe not as shiny but clean and bright and cool beneath my feet.
A place I can stand tall.
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Monday, July 9, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012 WOW-Zine
What? Are you kidding me? Is it really Monday afternoon already? Well then, I'd better get busy and get the WOW-Zine written and sent out! Do you ever had days that just get away from you, and before you know it it's time to start thinking of what to fix for dinner? It doesn't mean it hasn't been a good day, or that we haven't accomplished things, but just that it hasn't gone quite as planned. And that's perfectly okay!
We've got a busy week ahead of us, so pull out your calendar and pens and start writing.
Common Grounds meets Wednesday at 6:30 PM and The Perk meets Thursday at 9:30 AM. I can't tell you what a great time we're having as we go through our study called Your Strong Suit, which is about our spiritual armor. Those of you who have the workbook can do Lesson 3 before you come. If you didn't purchase a workbook, come anyway! There is still plenty of discussion you can participate in, plus view the video teaching at the end of our time together. Both these studies will meet for six weeks in a row, and then we'll take a few weeks off before gearing up for our fall schedule. Remember, it's up to you to provide your own beverage of choice during the summer.
I'm so proud of all the ladies showing up for Holy Sweat on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at 8 AM at the church. We're having a great time working out together. This is when you know you've got good friends--you can just roll out of bed, throw on some clothes, and show up. And people still love you! No makeup, no fancy hairdo. Just a commitment to get a bit healthier and in better shape. Come join us!
Thanks to those of you who have already let me know you want tickets (around $90) for Women of Faith, which will be October 5th and 6th at the Portland Rose Garden. This event is always one of the high points of my year. It's thrilling to join with thousands of other women and focus on worship and find encouragement for the challenges of life. Make plans to attend, and let me know to add you to the list. This is something you don't want to miss!
So, I guess that's it for this week. Oh, several of you have asked about rescheduling the trip to the Tillamook Forestry Center. We'll discuss possibilities at the studies this week, so come with a proposed date.
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
We've got a busy week ahead of us, so pull out your calendar and pens and start writing.
Common Grounds meets Wednesday at 6:30 PM and The Perk meets Thursday at 9:30 AM. I can't tell you what a great time we're having as we go through our study called Your Strong Suit, which is about our spiritual armor. Those of you who have the workbook can do Lesson 3 before you come. If you didn't purchase a workbook, come anyway! There is still plenty of discussion you can participate in, plus view the video teaching at the end of our time together. Both these studies will meet for six weeks in a row, and then we'll take a few weeks off before gearing up for our fall schedule. Remember, it's up to you to provide your own beverage of choice during the summer.
I'm so proud of all the ladies showing up for Holy Sweat on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at 8 AM at the church. We're having a great time working out together. This is when you know you've got good friends--you can just roll out of bed, throw on some clothes, and show up. And people still love you! No makeup, no fancy hairdo. Just a commitment to get a bit healthier and in better shape. Come join us!
Thanks to those of you who have already let me know you want tickets (around $90) for Women of Faith, which will be October 5th and 6th at the Portland Rose Garden. This event is always one of the high points of my year. It's thrilling to join with thousands of other women and focus on worship and find encouragement for the challenges of life. Make plans to attend, and let me know to add you to the list. This is something you don't want to miss!
So, I guess that's it for this week. Oh, several of you have asked about rescheduling the trip to the Tillamook Forestry Center. We'll discuss possibilities at the studies this week, so come with a proposed date.
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Monday, July 2, 2012
Monday, July 2, 2012 WOW-Zine
Hi, there, ladies! I'm a bit pressured for time today so this is going to be short and sweet, which is the opposite of me! Or at least of half of me! (You choose which part.)
Let me start of by telling you what's NOT HAPPENING this week:
~No Holy Sweat (exercise class) on Wednesday due to the 4th of July
~No outing to Tillamook Forestry Center on Thursday due to no one signed up
~No Common Grounds or Perk due to it being a holiday week
We WILL HAVE Holy Sweat at 8 AM Friday. We've got a fun group of women who show up Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to get in a good workout. If you're like me, you have every intention of working out at home, but something always gets in the way. Committing to meet together with other women is a great way to work some accountability into your exercise program. We notice if someone is missing! Bring light weights and a mat or something for floor work.
NEXT WEEK begins our six weeks in a row of Common Grounds on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM and The Perk on Thursdays at 9:30 AM. Both groups meet at the church and are a Bring Your Own Drink during the summer. We'll be on Lesson 3 in our study of our spiritual armor. Some of you may think the topic isn't interesting, but let me tell you, we've all found it very beneficial so far, and we've just got started! This is some of the most practical stuff you could ever hope to apply to your life--just ask any of the gals who have been coming!
COMING SOON to a Rose Garden near you--Women of Faith, October 5th and 6th. They've changed things up a bit this year, and there will be no sessions during the day Friday, so those of you who have to work won't miss out on a thing. The event begins Friday evening and goes all day Saturday. Cost is right around $90 for the conference, and then we always get a couple motel rooms so we don't have to make the trip all the way back home.(Though people certainly can if they want to.) Put this on the calendar and let me know if you want to come, as I'll be in charge of getting tickets for our group. Feel free to invite friends too.
So, that's it from me for this week. Hope you all have a wonderful Fourth of July!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Let me start of by telling you what's NOT HAPPENING this week:
~No Holy Sweat (exercise class) on Wednesday due to the 4th of July
~No outing to Tillamook Forestry Center on Thursday due to no one signed up
~No Common Grounds or Perk due to it being a holiday week
We WILL HAVE Holy Sweat at 8 AM Friday. We've got a fun group of women who show up Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to get in a good workout. If you're like me, you have every intention of working out at home, but something always gets in the way. Committing to meet together with other women is a great way to work some accountability into your exercise program. We notice if someone is missing! Bring light weights and a mat or something for floor work.
NEXT WEEK begins our six weeks in a row of Common Grounds on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM and The Perk on Thursdays at 9:30 AM. Both groups meet at the church and are a Bring Your Own Drink during the summer. We'll be on Lesson 3 in our study of our spiritual armor. Some of you may think the topic isn't interesting, but let me tell you, we've all found it very beneficial so far, and we've just got started! This is some of the most practical stuff you could ever hope to apply to your life--just ask any of the gals who have been coming!
COMING SOON to a Rose Garden near you--Women of Faith, October 5th and 6th. They've changed things up a bit this year, and there will be no sessions during the day Friday, so those of you who have to work won't miss out on a thing. The event begins Friday evening and goes all day Saturday. Cost is right around $90 for the conference, and then we always get a couple motel rooms so we don't have to make the trip all the way back home.(Though people certainly can if they want to.) Put this on the calendar and let me know if you want to come, as I'll be in charge of getting tickets for our group. Feel free to invite friends too.
So, that's it from me for this week. Hope you all have a wonderful Fourth of July!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)