Monday, September 24, 2012 WOW-Zine

It's definitely starting to feel like fall, isn't it? I know some of us hate to see summer slip away for another year, but there's a certain sense of excitement about going into the next season. The kids have been in school for a couple of weeks, the mornings are on the chilly side, Starbucks is serving pumpkin everything, and the days are growing shorter. Maybe you don't like having your kids in school, and hate chilly mornings, pumpkin, and short days, but there's really not much you can do about that. Might as well look for special things that make you feel good about this time of year and make the best of it. And isn't that what we should be doing in all of life anyway? It rarely goes just the way we wish it would--there always seems to be things we have to deal with. But that's part of how we   grow in our faith as we trust God in each new situation. And often they're not nearly as bad as we anticipate!

Speaking of anticipation, we've got some good things coming up in the near future. You've heard me talk about Women of Faith, which will be at the Portland Rose Garden October 5th and 6th. I'd love to be able to sell the one ticket I have left. ($91) We'll be spending Friday night at the Comfort Inn by the airport, which will cost about $30 more. And there are meals that you need to take care of also, though breakfast is included at the motel. Yes, it all adds up, and I know money is tight for all of us, but it's a very worthwhile event. (Sure shows what a super deal our cost of $80 for our weekend retreat in Lincoln City in April is!) Contact me ASAP.

We've got a WOW movie night coming up Friday, October 19th, beginning at 7 PM at Ashberry Lane. Just a reminder that our events are for women only (at least senior high) unless stated otherwise. This evening is not being stated otherwise! This is a chance for women to leave the cares of their world at home and come hang out with some fun ladies. Bring snacks to share, as we always get hungry. 

Both our Bible study groups got off to a good start last week, but there's room for you to join us if you had to miss. Both Common Grounds (Wed. 6:30 PM) and The Perk (Thurs. 9:30 AM) meet EVERY week. Some of you are forgetting that small point, and one of the reasons for doing it weekly is so you won't have to stop and think, "Is this a week we meet or not?" The answer will always be "Yes, it is!" unless it's Thanksgiving week or during Christmas break. So just write it in on your calendar, as well as on your brain, and come! We'll be continuing through Luke chapter one, taking up at verse 28. And just so you know, we are now able to provide childcare at The Perk, thanks to Eileen! The kids are in one of the rooms off the sanctuary, so you'll need to bring toys for them to play with. 

I'm going to leave you this week with a lot of options to choose from. These ideas were listed on a blog I got from Ann Voskamp (the One Thousand Gifts lady) and I thought I'd pass them on to you. Especially since I've talked about Starbucks and pumpkin! Have fun looking through these ideas she had for the weekend and let me know if you do any of them. (They're not limited to the weekend, after all!)

  Scroll through these Fall Beauties with Leaves from BHG for some simple creativity this weekend with the family… and just. pick. one.

{You are living these 7 Habits of Creativity & making happy time everyday to be creative, yes?}

Friendship on the Weekend:  This read so encourages, yes? Couldn’t it change the whole weekend into amazing? {See below}

Kitchen Love for the Weekend: So. If you read the link above… Here’s where it gets really fun! Make your own Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte (really!) and whip up these *2* ingredient pumpkin muffins… and then tuck in one of these gorgeous printable Fall card — and ta da!

Kid Fun for the Weekend:  Have you come up with your Fall Fun List? (Or print out this Fall Bucket List? Every day’s a gift!)

Joy for the Weekend: Grab a kid, a friend, five minutes — and a clothespin. And make this message for someone who just really needs to hear it. (Scroll down for steps) Something this simple? And so happily memorable.

Organization for the Weekend: Okay, this is ridiculously simple and pretty revolutionary for fridges everywhere… and pick up one of these for the vehicle: brilliant!

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director

sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com   971-285-6699 

Monday, September 17, 2012 WOW-Zine

Hello, dear ladies! This is kind of late in the day to get the WOW-Zine out, but since I was a day early last week, I figure it all evens out. You ever have the kind of day where you're busy the whole time but it's hard to figure out what you've accomplished? Yep, that's been my day on this Monday. Not that it's been a bad day, but it's just been difficult to keep it going in the right direction. I think I needed a new GPS for today!

So what's going on for Women Of Wapato this week? Both Common Grounds and The Perk will meet every week this year (except for holidays.)We start the actual lesson of our new Bible study by Beth Moore, called Jesus, the One and Only this week. Please be aware that this will not be a video series by Beth. I'm just using her workbook on the subject to present the lessons. It will be Sherrie doing her imitation of Beth--big hair, southern accent, and all. No, in reality it will just be plain ol' Sherrie presenting the Word, with lots of interaction from you, based on studies by Beth.

Common Grounds meets at 6:30 PM on Wednesdays. For you working women that feel pressured trying to get there by 6:30, please realize that our first 15 minutes are specifically designed for snacks and socializing. The study doesn't officially begin until 6:45. Please don't feel bad if you can't get there until then. I'll be through by 8:15, and people always stay around and visit more then, though those that need to get home right away are free to leave. We need one more person to volunteer to bring snacks this week. Rita is in charge of reminding those who have signed up, so if you'd like to help out by bringing something tasty for this week, please give her a call at 503-828-2853.

The Perk meets Thursday at 9:30 AM. I want all you young mothers to know that you can bring your babies along with you. And in fact, it looks like we may be able to provide babysitting, though I haven't heard back officially, so can't really announce it yet. I don't want mothers to miss out on Bible study, as you really need all the encouragement you can get! So bring those little ones and we'll make it work! Just like with Common Grounds, our first 15 minutes are for eating and talking, so you have a little wiggle room to get there on time. I'll end by 11:15. 

This week we'll be focusing on a Bible passage found in Luke 1:10-38. I suggest you carefully read this passage ahead of time so you'll be better prepared for our discussion. During this entire study we'll be be looking at Jesus in a fresh way, beginning with the announcement of His up-coming birth. 

My Women of Faith commercial in last week's WOW-Zine didn't garner any response. I guess I'm going to have to keep my day job, as I wasn't successful as infomercial personality. So, this week I'll just tell it to you straight. I need at least two more women to come to Women of Faith with 9 others of us the weekend of October 5th and 6th. The cost is $91. I've also reserved 3 motel rooms( four women in each) at the Comfort Inn at the airport, which will cost an additonal $30 each. I need to know this week if you can go, otherwise I have to turn in our unused tickets. So ladies, please act NOW!

I'm going to leave you with a wonderful piece written by Ann Voskamp, author of One Thousand Gifts. She's got some real wisdom as to how we women can support each other. She has an unusual way of expressing herself, and I hope you'll enjoy it.

What Women Need to Say to Each Other… because it’s what every woman needs to hear

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 08:50 AM PDT

Girl, you’ve come from this long line of women —
Women who shunned anything silk or feminine because they never wanted a man to notice them because men did things you didn’t want them to and took things that weren’t theirs to take.
Women who wore bulky sweaters and baggy pants and walked around hoping a lot of yardage might make their souls invisible and avoided mirrors like an allergy that might make it hard to breathe. Why is it that any reflective surface makes a woman see pounds and deflating ugly?
Did I ever tell you that I once followed a recipe in Seventeen magazine for DIY mousse? And went around with this sticky mess of hair that had sugar shaking out of it all day like a medical emergency case of dandruff.
And all the years the other girls were jaunting about in pink jelly shoes?
I had to wear black orthopedic shoes for an aching spine and have you ever tried to make black orthopedic shoes look right with white shorts? Numbers on tags have seemed like undeniable proof of ugliness and standing in a room full of primped women can make the self-hate gnaw right up your blushing insides.
Swim suits can taunt mean and clothes can mock loud and I’ve stood in front of mirrors and looked right in those eyes and whispered it out louder: Loser.
The boys called me barn-board straight Annie.
Being a woman every day can be this mind field in self-maiming thoughts.
I’ve cut my skin with glass and blades and words and hated myself enough to write down a plan to die.
Remember that part in that book you read, our Hope-girl? When Annie told us how she’d yelled at that girl in the mirror that she hated her and she found a roll of duct tape and tried to tape herself thin?
And she wound all those sticky expectations and the tape so tight around her middle that she couldn’t breathe?

Every woman should breathe peace in her own exquisite skin.
It was after reading Annie’s story of Jesus doing gentle, healing business with her and grinning that He’s made her perfectly unique from head to toe — it’s after reading her book, that I see it in you — how you sparkle again.
How you’ve revived and how you laugh again and no glossy, media-induced, photoshopped lies can steal away your God-given joy in being you.
Your soul is made to perfectly fit your skin… and you glow.
The way you’ve been going around here smiling, you make me think this, daughter of mine, that women could be this to each other:
We’ll tell our daughters at the sink and at the mirror and at the door, that your Father made you fearfully and wonderfully and uniquely and You are the perfect-sized you for a God-sized plan.
And we’ll say it in the dressing rooms and to the shaming thoughts behind closed doors and we’ll say it to every woman who hides: that God’s daughters fit in any swim suit, dress suit, shimmering suits, because they are suited up in the armour of Christ, and no arrows from the media or the past or ourselves can harm us.
We will be sisters to each other and we won’t ever judge another sister and we will see each woman’s face as pure God-masterpiece because it’s the truth and we’ll tell each other what every woman needs to hear: You have the prettiest eyes.
Because it’s always first the eyes, always first the perspective and the way we see, and if the eyes have light, the whole body is full of light. We have to help our sisters see who they are in light of Christ — so radiant. 
So we’ll say it a dozen time a day, to every woman who we meet because it’s the truth and she needs to hear it and no matter if she has a man saying it, she has sisters speaking into her scraped and bleeding places: You are so beautiful — so soul beautiful. And we’ll watch our sisters’ eyes light, always first the eyes.
And we won’t ever let one of our sisters ever forget and we won’t leave even one woman behind:
The curve of a smile is a woman’s most perfect curve and the only tag that matters is the one that says Robed in the Righteousness of Christ.

It may not be easy to be a woman in this world. But it is always perfect to be a woman in His hand.

Hope-girl? When we held on to each other late in the kitchen last night?
We are the women who let go all the woman-baggage that came behind and hold onto each other and affirm in the firm grip of Christ and did you hear me stand there in the kitchen and whisper to you what I heard the Father whisper about you?
You are a treasured possession, and love is being lavished on you and you aren’t ever rejected but loved everlastingly and over you, over you — God sings this everlasting love song.
It’s the last thing I thought of last night after the lights were out —
how you smiled and just shone.
IIt’s when you came up behind me and put your arms around me in the kitchen last night while I was making food for your Dad.

The way you laid your head on my shoulder and you held me, mama in the daughter arms after all these thirteen years. I reached up and laid my hand on your cheek, and it only takes a moment and mother and a daughter aren’t far apart anymore.

You know we come from a long line of women who have struggled in their own skin, right?

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com   971-285-6699 

Monday, September 10, 2012 WOW-Zine

Hello, my dear ladies! I'm writing this late Sunday night, as I'll be getting up early in the morning and will be gone all day, but wanted to make sure you get this! I think I'll keep this fairly short and to the point, though I do have several things to remind you of.

The first is that I still have one ticket available for the Women of Faith conference the first weekend of October. (You can still purchase tickets on your own after this one gets snatched up, but there's no guarantee you'd be able to get a seat with the rest of us.) So, for only ONE monthly payment of $91, you can be the proud owner of a ticket to WOF! Don't let this limited-time offer pass you by!! Be the envy of all your friends as you say, "Yes, I am. I'm going to Women of Faith." Hurry--this opportunity won't last forever!!! Call Sherrie at 971-285-6699 to order your ticket NOW!!!! (Some restrictions may apply.) No, not really, but I just needed to make this ad sound official!!

This Wednesday evening at 6 PM, our Common Grounds Bible study will kick off with a potluck dinner and just a relaxed time of hanging out together and getting caught up on what's been going on in our lives during the summer. You won't want to miss the start of our fall sessions. Our new Bible study for the start of this year is ... hmmn, I'm going to make you wait and hear about it Wednesday night. Let me just say I'm excited about it and think we're in for a good time of studying together. (Please note that we're meeting a half-hour earlier than usual this week because of eating dinner together. The other weeks we meet at 6:30.)

On Thursday morning, at our usual time of 9:30, The Perk will begin their new year with a brunch, potluck style. You can bring any yummy goodness of a breakfast-type persuasion for us to all enjoy. This is a great way to start your day off every Thursday, as we all apply God's word to our lives and support each other in any difficulties we're going through. Our women's Bible studies are places where deep friendships are formed, so I really encourage you to attend whichever study best works with your schedule.

Don't forget that this Wednesday is the first meeting of a new group for women that is starting up in McMinnville. The Yamhill County Christian Women's Fellowship is an opportunity for women from various churches to get together around lunch and a speaker. It's always nice to find we're a part of a bigger picture, even in our local area. And guess what? They've asked me to be their speaker at this inaugural meeting. (After all, it is an election year.) So join me at noon at Jake's Deli, on Baker St. right by Linfield College for a no-host lunch and give me the support of your smiling faces as I share on the "Different Flavors of Goodness". No reservations are necessary.

Why you can’t “get over it” right away Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:04 AM PDT photo thanks to donjd2 An upsetting email slams my inbox. A driver cuts me off on the highway. A friend and I unintentionally say hurtful words to each other. I can click delete, pull into the driveway, hug my friend and know all is well. But hours later my mind can still be running in circles, my heart racing. “I’ve dealt with this,” I tell myself, “I know what’s true. Why in the world can I not just ‘get over it’ right away?” It turns out there’s a very good reason why. God made us with a fight or flight system. When we encounter a threat or a stressful situation, our body releases chemicals that flood our system. So while our brain and heart may have decided all is well, it takes our body time to catch up. Stress is like having a bucket of water thrown over your head. Even if you deal with it right away, it still takes time to dry off. So if you can’t “get over it” instantly it’s time you know this–you’re normal. Then try these four things… 1) Go easy on yourself. When we can’t “get over it” right away we often are tough on ourselves–which only causes more stress and more chemicals to be released so it takes even longer to “dry off.” 2) Do something physically relaxing. Laugh hard. Take a walk. Hop in the bathtub. Help your body settle down. 3) Don’t take it out on someone else. It can seem like hollering at the next person who crosses your path is a good idea but, again, that only gets you more drenched. 4) Be careful with shortcuts to drying off that mess with your physical system. It’s tempting to grab that gallon of ice cream or bottle of wine but sugar hypes up your system and alcohol is a depressant. Moderation is your body’s friend. 3) Sleep on it. If you wake up the next morning (or a few days later if it was a lot of stress) and you’re still upset, ask God if there’s something lingering that might still need to be dealt with after all. Over time, you’ll learn to recognize how long it takes you to “dry off” emotionally and what you need to do so. {Note: I’m talking here about the everyday stresses, conflicts and irritations we face. Bigger issues or hurts are a whole different story. And usually we need someone else, like a counselor, to help us “dry off” plus a lot more time}. Life is going to toss a bucket of water over our heads sometimes. It’s not about getting over it…it’s about getting through it. And that takes a little patience and a lot of grace {for ourselves and each other}. p.s. This applies to other people in your life too–especially kiddos. Someone who seems really grouchy may actually just be super soggy. (Written by Holley Gerth, of Heart to Heart with Holley) And with that, I'll leave you for this week, until I see you Wednesday or Thursday! Blessings, my friends. Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com   971-285-6699

Happy Labor Day! Yes, it's almost over, but I'm still coming in under my self-imposed deadline. I hope you've all had a wonderful day filled with family and friends helping you celebrate the last holiday of the summer. We had five generations at my house today--my parents, my daughter and son-in-love, lots of grandkids, and even my great granddaughter. I always savor the times we're able to get together, as I know we won't always have everyone around.

Next Wednesday, September 12, there's a special event I'd love for you to attend. The very first meeting of the Yamhill County Christian Women's Fellowship will be at Jake's Deli in McMinnville. It begins at noon with a no-host lunch, and they've asked me to be their first speaker. I'm really excited by this opportunity and would love to look out in the audience and see your friendly faces looking back at me! I'll be speaking about the "Flavors of Goodness"--how God shows His love through different experiences in our lives. You don't have to make a reservation--just show up, order lunch, and enjoy being part of this new group where women from various churches can get together.

Common Grounds will resume Wednesday, September 12, at the church. We always start off the year with a potluck dinner at 6 PM. (We usually meet at 6:30.) This is a low-key time of getting together after being apart during the summer, sharing what's been going on in our lives, hearing what our next Bible study will be, and just hanging out together. And the food is always fantastic!

The following morning (Thursday, September 13th) The Perk will do the same thing. Well, we'll have a potluck brunch rather than dinner, but the rest of the event will be the same. So show up at 9:30 AM to start your day off with some good friends after getting the kids off to school.

Speaking of getting the kids off to school, here's an article I came across that may be of help as you start this new school year.

Unglued Mama Mornings

Tags:  Family

As we enter the new school year I’m making a bold commitment: No more unglued mama mornings. I want our mornings to go better this year with less frustration, yelling, and chaos.
I started thinking about this last spring when we had a string of really hard mornings.
One day, as I pulled up to the school, the atmosphere inside the car was thick with tension. Not wanting the last words spoken to my daughter to be harsh, I tried to change the course of our conversation before she headed into her day. “Listen, I love you. I’m sorry we had a rough morning.”
“We always have rough mornings,” she shot back before slamming the car door.
Nothing quite makes a mom feel more successful than a little dialogue like that.
As I rubbed the stabbing feeling in my chest, I thought, “Something has got to change. Each day I promise myself I won’t yell at the kids. But each morning something triggers me and I just lose it.”
Ever been there?
It’s not like we wake up in the mood to get frustrated with our people, right? I mean honestly, I usually wake up in a pretty good mood. But then the stress of getting everyone ready and to school on time makes the crazy creep in.
This one can’t find her shoes. That one needs a report printed and we have no ink. The bread for sandwiches is still at the grocery store because I forgot to buy it yesterday. And to top it all off, I have no cash to give the kids so they can buy lunch at school.
The whining. The complaining. The feeling that I can’t ever get it all together. It all escalates and sends me over the edge.
Well, I want this school year to be different. I want to be like our key verse today describes: “made new in the attitude of my mind.” (Ephesians 4:22-24) The Greek word for “made new” is kaino. One of its definitions is uncommon. I want to be an uncommon calm in the midst of chaos and an example of peace for my kids in a world of pressure. For that to happen, I came up with a plan:
Tell the world to wait.
When I wake up, my mind is like a dry sponge. What I soak up first will saturate me most deeply. If I don’t want to be consumed with the stresses of my day, I must soak up what will renew my mind instead — God’s Word. Even if it’s only for 5 minutes, I’ve got to put the world on hold until I’ve checked in with God.
Remember I’m managing blessings.
If I want my attitude to be made new, I must keep things in perspective. While my frustrations seem big, things like lost shoes and less than perfect lunches aren’t big problems. They are small aggravations that come with managing blessings.
Let my kids own their ‘irresponsibilities.’
My kid’s irresponsibility will not become my emergency. I need to communicate my expectations so they know they’re going to have to own the consequences of their choices. For example, if they wait until the last minute to print their report and the printer has no ink, they’ll have to print it at school or turn it in late. Either way, I can’t own this situation and let it throw me into frantic, fix-it mode. I can let the consequences of my kid’s choices scream, so I don’t have to.
All of this is going to take some intentionality and I seriously doubt I’ll do it perfectly. But I’m excited about trying. I’m excited to “put on my new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Which is a fancy way of saying I’m excited to have less unglued mama mornings and a lot more peace this school year.
By Lysa TerKeurst
For more information on the 5-Day No More Unglued Mama Mornings Challenge and Lysa’s new book, Unglued, click here.

I guess that's it for this week. Don't forget to let me know if you're going to Women of Faith, and get that $91 check to me right away!

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com    971-285-6699