Due to the Thanksgiving holiday neither Common Grounds or The Perk will meet this week, but will resume next Wednesday and Thursday. Just enjoy hanging out with your family.
Don't forget that that the SURPRISE wedding shower for Michelle is coming up soon--Saturday, Dec. 1st at 11 AM at the church. Try to come a little early and park in the back. (I'm not sending her a copy of this WOW-Zine, so don't worry about her seeing it. She probably doesn't have time to read it anyway!!) As far as she is aware, she is having a shower on the 8th. So feel free to say things like, "I'm really looking forward to your shower" or "So sorry I can't make it", but just don't let on that it's not really happening on the 8th. I've only received a few RSVPs so far, so please do your part and let me know if you're coming. We're doing a money tree for her to help out with extra fun on their honeymoon. (Just bring the cash with you when you come.) Also bring a small brunch-type item, as we'll all eat together. A word of marriage advice or a funny story from your own wedding would be welcomed too.
I know we're not quite to Thanksgiving yet, but I want to let you know about our WOW Christmas party coming up on Saturday, December 15th at 6 PM at Amy Rusaw's. What a fun time we're going to have at our PEPPERMINT POUND PARTY! Try to dress in red and/or white, and bring along a pound of something to use as a gift in our White Elephant exchange. (Think of different types of things that come in pounds, and be creative in the way you wrap them.) Also bring an appetizer and/or dessert based on the red and white theme, as we'll be sharing a meal together. So put it on your calendar, and be there, or be a pound of square!
You may be concerned because a Christmas Cookie Exchange was not mentioned as being a part of the party. Never fear, we're still doing that, but it will occur during our final Bible studies of the year--December 19th for Common Grounds, and the 20th for The Perk.
I'll close out with the article I wrote for this month's Wapato newsletter. A little something to consider as you prepare Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.
You know what’s just around the corner, right? Yep, it’s time to start planning those fabulous holiday meals. While we may get brave and try something a bit different this year, most of us have a list of reliable recipes we turn to for these family events. Do you know that God likes to get in on these special times too? In Ps. 23 we’re told that God has prepared a table for us, and invites us to enjoy the things He has prepared. So what might be on His menu?
Turkey—Usually a big turkey, roasted golden brown, is the star attraction of a Thanksgiving meal. The succulent, moist meat pairs well with everything else on the menu. There’s even the choice of white or dark meat, and the huge drumsticks for the kids to fight over. Norman Rockwell even painted nostalgic pictures with the turkey being the centerpiece of the table.
In thinking of God’s Thanksgiving table, what do you think is the main course? Is it His unfailing love? His over-the-top forgiveness and grace? His strength for each new day? All of those are very important, but I think it comes down to the meat of His Word, the Bible. Just as it takes time to roast that perfect turkey, it takes a lifetime to dig into the message of the Bible and understand it in its fullness. We learn about love, forgiveness, grace, and strength as we spend time chewing the succulent Word. During the busy season ahead of us, let’s not forget to focus on the main course.
Stuffing—Bread mixed with sautéed onions and celery, spices, and melted butter--I love it! I always put the turkey in the oven so that the cavity filled with stuffing is facing outward. Then throughout the baking time, I reach a fork in to grab out some of the cooked stuffing on the edge.
How does stuffing fit on God’s table? Just as we all have our own favorite ways to make stuffing, so it is with the way God individualizes His word in our lives. The basic truth is the same, but He applies it to our lives in ways that meet our particular need. That’s one of the things I love about what happens in our women’s Bible studies (Common Grounds and The Perk). Each week one woman or another has an “a-ha” moment with God, when He takes a truth and applies it to her own life. And He doesn’t dump the whole turkey full of stuffing on us at once, but lets us take little bites of goodness with our fork.
Mashed potatoes and gravy—I think of this as the ultimate comfort food; gravy spilling over and adding a depth of flavor. There’s nothing much more basic than a lowly potato, but in the hands of a good cook it becomes the basis for a delicious dish.
God serves us up a big helping of potatoes and gravy when He takes the homely things of life and shows us the beauty of simplicity and the ordinary. Our lives as Christian women are filled with a mundane routine most of the time—each day looks pretty much like the day before it. But when the Lord is in the midst of our potatoes, there is comfort in knowing we’re doing just what He’s called us to do—be the best woman we can be in our daily lives.
Green bean casserole—I know this dish sometimes gets a bad rap, so feel free to substitute whatever veggie recipe you like to serve your family. And while a green bean casserole isn’t all that healthy, at least it’s a vegetable! And you know how it is—sometimes it’s hard to get your kids to eat their veggies, as they don’t like the taste or the consistency.
What are the healthy vegetables God serves at His table? The things that happen to us in our lives that are hard to swallow, yet make us stronger as a result of “eating” them. You can probably think of several examples from your own life—people who have hurt you, disappointments, rejection, or the results of poor choices you’ve made. We can either gag on them, or pinch our nose and try to get them down without tasting, but our Father wants us to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” As we trust, He can take even a bad situation (brussel sprouts) and change it into something good in our lives (green bean casserole)
Pies—Whether is apple, pumpkin, or pecan, ending the Thanksgiving meal with a slice of pie is a tradition we all look forward to. A holiday meal without dessert would be just like a… uh …a holiday meal without dessert! Inconceivable!! Even though we may be full to the gills, there’s always room for a sweet bite at the end.
God saves the best for last at His table. The ultimate sweetness of being with Him forever in heaven is what is awaiting us at the end of our lives. He says, “I know you’ve enjoyed the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole, but you haven’t tasted anything yet! There’s another table prepared for you, and it is full of more than you can possibly imagine. And you’ll never tire of it!”
So as you plan and cook your meal on Thanksgiving, I hope you’ll remember the abundance the Lord has provided for each of us, not just in physical food, but more importantly, the spiritual food that gives us real life and health.
Happy Thanksgiving to each of you!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com 971-285-6699
No comments:
Post a Comment