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
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
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