Monday, October 29, 2012 WOW-Zine

Happy Monday, ladies, and aren't you glad we don't live on the other side of the country?! Wow, what those people have to put up with as far as weather goes makes me extremely grateful for months of simple rain interspersed with sun breaks. I know a lot of us have friends and/or families back there that we are praying for during this time.

This week Common Grounds falls on Halloween. I know many of you mothers will be out running about getting your yearly collection of candy, er, I mean accompanying your young children on their quest for cavity causation, but our Bible study will still be meeting at 6:30 PM Wednesday. So if you're not out trick or treating, or you live so far out in the country that you never have any kids show up at your door, please join us as usual. You can read Luke 4:1-28 ahead of time if you'd like. Just realize there's no guarantee as to how far through the chapter we'll get! The same goes for those of you who attend The Perk on Thursday at 9:30. Feel free to show up at either study, even if you've never attended before. It's been great to have people bring their friends with them. (Child care is provided at The Perk.)

For those of you who were at our retreat last spring, remember when we made the bracelets and included words of affirmation for women going through hard times? I gave some of them to St. Child's, a Christian-based home for young, unmarried pregnant women, and finally got around to giving the remaining bracelets to the Pregnancy Counseling and Information Center in McMinnville. I received a nice thank you note from Barbara Morley, whom I guess is the Director there. I wanted to pass it on to the rest of you. She said, "I wanted to thank you, and the ladies from your retreat, for the lovely bracelets for our clients. They have made our girls feel special and loved. Thank you for your kindness in providing such a thoughtful gift."

 Do any of you remember the old advice about how to run your house? The ditty said, "Wash on Monday, Iron on Tuesday, Mend on Wednesday, Churn on Thursday, Clean on Friday, Bake on Saturday, Rest on Sunday." (Don't you wish it were that simple?) As women, our lives become so busy that I'm afraid we feel we're caught in the Spin Cycle with no way out. Well, here's another cycle you might be finding yourself in, as explained by writer Holley Gerth:

 Are you in the Guilt Cycle or the Grace Cycle?

I open my eyes to a new day and a long list of to-do’s. Before I’m even out of bed, I notice a cobweb in the corner. Guilt creeps under the covers with me. I think of other women with cobweb-free corners (in their homes and hearts). I vow that today I’ll try harder…

Can you relate that that pattern? If so, you’re familiar with what I like to call the Guilt Cycle. It’s like a little hamster wheel in our hearts that we run around again and again. It looks like this:

Guilt Cycle

Another day I wake up and take a deep breath of grace. I’m loved and known and whatever happens today I will be okay. I slip into the kitchen with a smile for my first cup of coffee. I sit at the table with my to-do list and ask God for His perspective on it. It seems like I can feel Him with me as I check off the first item…
Can you relate to that pattern? If so, you’re familiar with what I like to call the Grace Cycle. Instead of a hamster wheel, it’s a safe space for our hearts to rest and thrive.

Grace Cycle

If you’re like me, the Guilt Cycle is one of my biggest struggles. I go into it without even realizing it until the end of the day when I’m exhausted. I’m asking God to teach me to live differently. To trade guilt for grace. How does that happen? Here’s a start…

Getting from the Guilt Cycle to the Grace Cycle…

First, pause and identify which cycle you’re in.
If it’s the Guilt Cycle, listen for the lie. What are you telling yourself that isn’t true? For example, “I’m not doing enough.”
Then replace that lie with grace-filled truth. For example, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. But He never asks me to do it all!”
Ask for help. Whisper a prayer saying, “Jesus, I’m on the hamster wheel of the Guilt Cycle again. I want to step off of it and back into grace. Please forgive me and help me receive what I need to from You right now.”
Then do it again tomorrow.

I think her last statement is profound: Then do it again tomorrow. We tend to forget that making the right choice is something that needs to be repeated over and over until it becomes a part of the fabric of our lives. (Just like the commercial for cotton says!) Here's to supporting each other as we leave the Guilt Cycle and move up to the Grace Cycle.

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

Monday, October 22, 2012 WOW-Zine

Good afternoon, ladies. I know this is a bit late in the day to get this out, but since I last talked to you last week I've hardly had time to catch my breath. I told you I had a busy week ahead of me, and I wasn't lying! Do you ever do what I found myself doing last Monday? I was driving to Tigard and was suddenly overwhelmed by the extreme busyness of the week. I found myself on the verge of tears without warning. I had to talk out loud to both myself and the Lord. "What is wrong with me? Here it is, only Monday, and I'm already looking ahead and imagining how drained and exhausted I'm going to be by Sunday night. Lord, this week is jam-packed, but it's all stuff I've volunteered to do and love to do. So please help me not get a resentful attitude but to serve in all these areas with a sense of gratitude and joy that I get to do so. I have no business thinking of how tired I'll be on Sunday, when that's nearly a week away. Please help me remember to just take things one day at a time, and to rely on Your strength." And you know what? He most definitely answered that prayer. I managed to take the week on day by day and fully live in the moment. I had unexpected curve balls thrown at me, but reminded myself I could handle them with His strength. And by the time I was finished with my Awana duties last night I was tired, but not spent. His grace was definitely sufficient, and His strength made perfect in my weakness. I hope you're finding the same to be true in your busy life!

This is a fairly quiet week as far as Women's Ministry is concerned, as we only have our regularly scheduled Bible studies going on this week. But don't confuse "regularly scheduled" with "boring." These are not your mother's Bible studies, you know! The Sherrie spin colors our sessions as we continue through Jesus The One and Only. This week we'll finish the last verse of Luke 2 and go on to Chapter 3, which deals with Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. As in all these lessons, I'm sure you'll find challenges and applications to your life. Common Grounds meets Wednesday at 6:30 PM at the church, and I teach the same lesson again at The Perk on Thursday at 9:30 AM, also at the church. (Childcare is provided on Thursday.)

Thanks to all of you who came to the WOW Movie Night on Friday. We had a great time as we visited and snacked together, and then got down to a serious movie--October Baby. This deals with the sensitive topics of both abortion and adoption, and generated a wonderful time of discussion and sharing afterward. It almost felt like we were at retreat! I absolutely love how supportive and understanding our women are of each other. My goal is to have all our women's events be places of safety and "realness", and each of you are helping bring that about. It's such a joy to work together with each of you!

So, I'm going to keep this short and sweet this week and bring this to a close. I hope you choose to make time to join us at one of the Bible studies. You won't be sorry!

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

Monday, October 15, 2012 WOW-Zine

Happy Monday, ladies! You've successfully got the kids off to school, had at least one cup of coffee or tea, and are probably scratching your head as you look at your to-do list for the week and wonder how you'll manage to accomplish everything. Well, I don't have to get kids off to school today (though every-other week I make a trip to Tigard to take my granddaughter to school after she spends the weekend with us), but I am sitting here with a homemade mocha as I visit with you and getting a little freaked out by my to-do list! It includes cleaning house for a lady, going to my daughter's to take care of her kids for two days while she and her husband have a getaway, teaching two Bible studies, hosting two events at my house, a dentist appointment, a mammogram (I hope I don't get the two mixed up--my dentist will wonder why I'm wearing that funny little cape!), a couple special family visits, and having four grandkids and one great-grandchild with us for the weekend. I'm so thankful God will give me the energy I need for this week, as I know I'd be worn out by Wednesday if I had to do it in my own strength.

Hear ye, hear ye! Just a reminder that Common Grounds will be meeting at Ashberry Lane (my house) this Wednesday at 6:30 PM. Put a sticky note on your steering wheel, a note in your electronic device, or, if you're planning on getting a tattoo this week, get it inked on the palm of your hand to remind yourself not to go to the church this Wednesday night. Guys will be working there that day to install a new sound system for the church, and we don't want to get in their way. The Perk will meet at the church at 9:30 Thursday morning just as usual. 

Okay, you Common Grounds women, you all banded together last week and unofficially declared it to be Low Attendance Week for your Bible study. The seven of us who didn't get the memo had a great time together, but we certainly did miss the rest of you! So this week, it's time to turn that around and see if you can beat the attendance of The Perk. (Remember to come to my house to do this. It won't count if you show up at church!) We need a little healthy competition between the two groups, and so far The Perk is winning. We have between 13-16 ladies that attend that. Plus since we also provide childcare for that, the place is crawling with babies! (Pun intended.)

This week, both groups will be continuing our study of Jesus, the One and Only, taking up at Luke 2:39 through the end of the chapter. There's a very slight possibility we may also get into chapter 3, though it's highly unlikely. I would much rather give us the opportunity to have rich times of discussion and application of the Scripture, than to rush through it just to say we did. 

WOW Movie Night is this Friday, October 19th, 7 PM, at Ashberry Lane Theater. We'll be watching a wonderful movie called October Baby. This drama tells the story of 

college freshman Hannah ,stunned and angered by the truth of her birth, who sets out on a spring break road trip with her best friend Jason and a band of misfits to discover who she is, where she came from, and where she will go from here. I've heard a lot of great reports from people who have seen this movie, and our own Amy Rusaw previewed it for us and gave it two thumbs and two big toes up! So bring some snacks, a blankie if you'd like, and come relax and cry together Friday night. (This is for high school juniors and above.)

Well, as much as I enjoy sitting around visiting with each of you, I think it's time to start chopping down that list of mine. So let me leave you with a thought from Hydrated Living, the blog of Donna Pyle. (She's the lady that wrote the Bible study we did this summer on spiritual armor.)

Hydrated Living

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Why We Need Hard Reality Checks

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 10:04 PM PDT

It happened on Sunday night at Small Group. 

Reality 101.

I didn't plan on sharing this particular struggle even though it's been weighing on my heart and mind for over a year. But out of the blue, out it came. Right out of my heart. Right out into the open.

I'm struggling relationally with a person who's very dear to me.

The endless drama swirling in her life never seems to end. Some of it is self-induced, some not. Her difficulties are spilling over and affecting my life and frankly, I had just about had it. I have enough drama in my life, thank you very much. Even though I act loving and kind toward her, my heart has slowly retreated.

I know that's not pretty, but it's real. And it's self-centered. And ugly to the core.

I want so much for my heart to join my hands and be right there helping her as much as I can for as long as I can. So after whining about dealing with all the drama, I asked that precious group of friends for wisdom.

How do you stop your heart from retreating when I'm guarding it out of self-preservation?

One lady in particular shared her struggles about a similar situation she had experienced. She spoke with love, grace, and kindness, yet her difficulty had been 100 times worse. Literally. But she relied on God to mend that relationship and move forward in a positive manner in full peace. It gave me a lot to ponder and pray about.

On Tuesday, God showed me in no uncertain terms that I needed a serious a reality check, a heart check, and an attitude adjustment. Big time.

Ouch.

I had to sit down for a minute and let the tears flow. And confess my self-centeredness. And face my icky heart junk in the mirror: judgmentalism, a critical spirit, a holier-than-thou attitude. It was appalling. I can only imagine how appalling it was to God.

The reality? I was viewing her situation through the lens of how it was affecting me. I willfully chose to ignore how her struggles deeply affect her. Many aspects of her difficulties lay beyond her control, yet I've been unjustly holding her accountable for the whole thing.

That's not loving. Or fair. I mean, what if Jesus viewed and treated me that way? Instead, He commanded:

"Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.
Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others." Colossians 3:13

Cast in that light, her situation doesn't affect me nearly as much as I thought. Truthfully, she's doing the best she possibly can. And I could be doing a whole lot more to lessen her burden. So why am I whining instead of reaching out?

God has a way of pointing out our icky so we come face to face with His grace. And I'm so thankful. We need hard reality checks, because living in this harsh world is hard enough without adding to the ugliness.

I'm still feeling tenderized today, but as long as God is the one doing it, I'm resting in the best care ever.

Is it hard for you to face your heart ick? How do you respond when God points it out?

 

 Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director

sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com   971-285-6699

 

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 I can't believe it! Not only am I late in the day getting this WOW-Zine out, but after spending the time to write it, I can no longer find it! It simply disappeared from my computer even though I don't think I did anything wrong. I mean, sometimes I know I pushed the wrong key and caused something to spend eternity in cyber-space hell, but I really think I'm completely innocent this time. At least that's my story, and well, you know the rest! So here I am, starting all over again.

 So in the interest of time, I'll get right to what's going on this week and in the near future. Both Common Grounds (Wednesday, 6:30 PM) and The Perk (Thursday, 9:30 AM) meet this week as usual at the church. We're having a great time as we've taken time to look at familiar stories, such as Christ's birth, through fresh eyes. This week we'll continue our study through these familiar scriptures, beginning with Luke 2:21 through the end of the chapter. (Or as far as we get this week!) We're in no hurry, you know. It's more important to take the time to give the Word of God a chance to take root in our hearts, rather than hurrying through a certain number of verses. 

 Now something different will be occurring NEXT week with Common Grounds. A new sound system will be installed at the church that day, and because they may have to be working on it into the evening, Common Grounds will be meeting at Ashberry Lane (my house) on the 17th. Please mark that on your calendar now. For those that don't know where I live, the address is 24090 Wapato School Rd, about 4 miles south of the church. My phone number is always included at the bottom of the WOW-Zine, so feel free to call if you need directions. Remember, that is NEXT WEEK, not this one. The Perk will meet at the church next week as usual.  

 Speaking of Ashberry Lane, you need to come over on Friday night, October 19th, for our WOW Movie Night. We'll be watching the new movie, October Baby. This event is a time for women to leave young children at home and come relax with friends, so girls must be at least a junior in high school to attend. We'll start with munchies (bring some) at 7, and begin the movie by 7:30. I sure hope you're able to join us! 

 Those of us who were able to attend Women of Faith this past weekend had a great time together. They offered some tickets at a discounted price for next year if we bought them this weekend, so we purchased a group of ten tickets and received $10 off, bringing the price down to $81. Heidi H. gets the non-existent prize for buying the first ticket from our group of tickets for 2013. Congratulations, Heidi!! 

 And now I will leave you with a blog that was sent to me courtesy of Amy Rusaw. She thought a lot of us could relate to this, and I'm pretty sure she's right! 

   

You Are Beautiful

By Lindsay on October 4, 2012 in faith & womanhood

There we sat snuggled in and playing a roaring game of cards (the game Speed in fact). My husband in his sweet way looks up and says, “You’re so beautiful.” Immediately, my self conscious way pips up and points out the leftover baby flub on my tummy as I emphasize the fat by holding it between my finger tips. As if he wasn’t fully aware of the way my body has changed and grown over the years and the effects of birthing three babies? In a laughing insecure way I respond, “but this isn’t very attractive.”

My husbands instant reply struck me to the quick: “The only thing I find unattractive about you is your lack of confidence in yourself.”

Wow. My heart was instantly convicted. The only thing my hubby, and I might just venture most men out there, find unattractive about us as women is when we speak negatively about ourselves. It only makes us unattractive to our men. We need to let go of the silly notions about image and appearance. Your man loves you for who you are not based upon how skinny or fit you are. He loves you with all your quirks and baby flub, just like our Heavenly Father.

I look at my numerous stretch marks and say, “yuck”, but my husband looks at them and sees beauty. These are the marks that brought his children into the world. These are the scars that brought forth precious life. I exchanged temporary physical perfection with eternal precious little souls. I imagine these stretch marks as a permanent kiss offered for my child.

When we speak negatively about ourselves, we ultimately mock our Creator. He who has fashioned and designed you unique and imprints “beautiful” all over you. When we look at ourselves in frustration and despair, we are doubting His goodness and that His ways are perfect.

Sisters, make yourself beautiful for your man and others by cutting out the critical attitude about yourself. Embrace the way God has beautifully created you to be. You are beautiful and precious in His sight. Embrace your appearance, your specific gifts, your style, and seek to use it for His glory in bringing life into your spear of influence.

And remember…the only thing unattractive about you is when you speak negatively about yourself. I’m letting go of the crap (for that is what it really is) and embracing my design.

{Photo Credit}

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director

sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com   971-285-6699 

Monday, October 1, 2012 WOW-Zine

Happy first day of October, ladies! Hard to believe, isn't it? Have any of you started your Christmas shopping yet?! I imagine some of you over-achievers at least have your list made out. I always think about doing that, but usually end up waiting until December to start the shopping. Right now I'd rather concentrate on enjoying autumn!

We've got good stuff happening this week, so I hope you'll be able to participate in at least one thing we have to offer the Women Of Wapato. Our Bible study, Jesus the One and Only, has already proven to be a challenging study. We're taking our time looking at the life of Jesus, and the difference it should make in our lives. Last week one of the things that meant a lot to me was when we talked about when Mary sang her song of praise, which is referred to as The Magnificat. It gets that name because she was magnifying the Lord. We were reminded that it's important for us to take out a magnifying glass and look at our life and what God is doing in it. A magnifying glass gives us a different perspective than looking at something with our naked eye. Sometimes we may not see what God is doing in our life, but when we choose to magnify Him, we look at things through different eyes, and thank Him for how He is specifically working in and through us. Our discussions have been rich and meaningful, and our times together very sweet. So please join us for either Common Grounds on Wednesday at 6:30 PM or for The Perk on Thursday morning at 9:30. (You don't need a book, and can join the study at any time.) Child care is provided on Thursdays. If you need childcare for Wednesday nights, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Ten of us are leaving late Friday afternoon for Women of Faith at the Rose Garden. I still have access to one ticket ($91) so if you're a die-hard procrastinator, now is your time to act! We'll be spending the night at a motel by the airport, and will return Saturday evening after dinner. Call me (971-285-6699) if you want that ticket!

Mark your calendar for Friday, October 19th, as that will be our WOW Movie Night at Ashberry Lane. We'll meet for snacks and yumminess at 7 PM, and start the movie (TBA) at 7:30. It's a fun way to decompress after a busy week. (This is for women only.)

 Next Wednesday will be another meeting of the Christian Women's Fellowship that recently formed in McMinnville. (This is the group I spoke for last month.) They will be meeting at Jake's Deli on the second Wednesday of each month at noon. (It's right by Linfield College.) This month's speaker is Kathy Togstad, who some of you met last month. She will be sharing her testimony of how God has worked in her life. I can't remember all the details, but I know she talks about being conceived by a group rape, her husband was murdered, and all kinds of horrible things have happened to her. But she's been able to grow from them and find joy in the Lord. I'll be attending, so if any of you would like to carpool, just let me know. It's a no-host lunch, and a great way to meet women from other churches.

And now, a blog entry that I thought might appeal to some of you. It is important to think about what we're leaving for our children, and I'm talking about a lot more than just a financial inheritance.

From Generation to Generation

The legacy of a joyful life

by Angela Thomas

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Last week, I went to my parents’ house and loaded the back of my car with the dining room table and chairs that had belonged to my grandmother. There’s still a sideboard and hutch to come, but we thought it was a miracle to get a full-size table and six chairs packed all around me for the five-hour drive home. An afternoon in the car, driving over the mountain with your grandmother’s furniture creaking and shifting, gives a woman time to think about her heritage.

I asked for my grandmother’s table because I vividly remember all the years of our family around it. The meals we ate and the games we played. The mess she always made in the kitchen. Her alto singing that plays in the background of every memory I have of her. But mostly, I remembered the great joy of being at my grandmother’s house. While I was driving home, I decided that I wanted to pass the joy of being around her table to the next generation.

Maybe some would argue with this thought, but I believe the most powerful gift I can give to the next generation is a true and vibrant joy in the Lord.

Joy. Even more than academics. Even more than experiences or inheritance. People who possess real and abiding joy will live powerfully and for the glory of God—no matter their purpose, calling, or path. From generation to generation, I long to leave the legacy of joy.

What if we allow ourselves to be transformed by the joy promised through the indwelling Holy Spirit? And then what if we intentionally teach our children, through spirit and deed, what it feels like to live a life full of joy? Could there be any great gift to leave for the next generation? I think not.

We have lived in our house for three years and never once have we eaten a meal in the formal dining room. Not even a snack. Honestly, I don’t think anyone has even had a conversation in that room, but things are about to change. I hauled a 60-year-old table down the mountain so that every day we would remember. We’re going to pull up our chairs, open the pizza box, and I’m going to tell my kids about their grandmother of great joy and the God that she loved.

Don’t know where to start?

To begin shaping your own legacy, implement these four ideas:

• Have you given any thought to what you’d like your legacy to be? What do you want people to say about you? How would you want them to imitate you? Jot down some ideas.

• Is there a cycle of “joy-less-ness” that needs to be broken in your life? We transfer to others what and who we are. Without an intentional choice to grow in joyfulness, a life without joy will be passed to the next generation. What three things can you do to intentionally turn away from areas of joy-less-ness?

• Think about Proverbs 22:6: “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” If the path you choose is the path of joy, does this ancient truth still hold? How can you model this to the children around you?

• Leaving a legacy of joy for the next generation is about learning to enjoy every mile of the journey. Are you enjoying today? What about the miles you are currently walking? In the next few days, spend some time thinking and praying about your legacy of joy and jot down what God brings to mind.

Joy can become a legacy, but it begins today with you and me. We either choose to give the things we have been given or we choose to live a life that can be multiplied in others.

Angela Thomas is a speaker and author of numerous books including Choosing Joy, from which this blog post was adapted by permission of Howard Books. Copyright © 2011 by Angela Thomas. Check out our interview with Angela at www.todayschristianwoman.com/digital. 

So there you have it for this week, friends! I'm looking forward to getting to spend time with you this week at one of the Bible studies and/or Women of Faith. Have a blessed week!

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director

sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com    971-285-6699