Monday, April 29, 2013

Those of us who were able to attend the Beth Moore conference in Eugene this past weekend were blessed right out of our socks! I wish you all could have been there. It was an event that was nearly as large as Women of Faith, with 7,3000 women (and a few brave men) gathered together. The worship times were inspired and intense, and I often found myself with tears streaming down my cheeks. And what a delight it was to be able to see and hear Beth teach in person! She is so genuine and down to earth, and yet such a gifted speaker/teacher. I'll let you know the next time she's back in our area.

Doing The Impossible, the mini-retreat will be happening in less than two weeks. This is your last week to sign up to attend that. I need to know by this Saturday, May 3rd, if you'd like to come to Ashberry Lane for May 8th and 9th. The cost is only $10, and you get to go home and sleep in your own comfy bed. We'll begin Friday night with dinner here at 6 PM, and we'll finish Saturday afternoon around 5. I've already sent out an e-mail to those of you who've told me you're going. So if you didn't get one, and want to be part of the retreat, let me know right away. Babies who are not yet walking around may come with you if you don't have other childcare available.

Common Grounds (Wednesday night at 6:30) and The Perk (Thursday at 9:30 AM) both meet this week. We'll continue our journey through the book of Luke as we concentrate on Luke 19:11-32, which is the story known as The Prodigal Son. Stephanie has signed up to be the mother in charge of childcare for Thursday morning. We're grateful for the wonderful care Becky provided last week. It seems to be working well for you women to take turns with the kids in order to give us an uninterrupted time of study. 

Our Feminini-Tea, with the theme She's All That and a Box of Chocolates, will be held Saturday, May 18th, at 10 AM at the church. Thanks to those who have agreed to host and decorate a table. You all should have received an Evite to this event, and it's really important for planning purposes that you respond to that. So far we have over thirty guests coming, but there's still forty-something of you who have not yet replied. We want to be sure we have enough tables set up, so that's why it's important to let me know if you're coming or not. Our guest speakers will be Kathy Togstad and her adult daughter, Melissa Beuhler. Please remember that any girls you bring must be at least four years old and able to sit quietly through the talk. Feel free to invite friends and family, and just include them as guests when you R.S.V.P. There is no cost for this event, but we ask that you bring a tea-type food to contribute to our meal.

Let me leave you today with an article written by blogger Holley Gerth. She calls this, "If You Ever Feel Like You're Not Living Up to Your Potential."  I hope you find it encouraging as you begin this new week. She says:

“I could do more.”

“I could try harder.”

“I could perform a little better.”

Thoughts like these run through our minds and in return we run through life never feeling like we are enough. What if we don’t live up to our potential? Wouldn’t that be the biggest waste?

And yet there is One who didn’t live up to His potential.

He could have fed more hungry people.

He could have healed more of the sick.

He could have ended sin once and for all.

Yet Jesus didn’t.
Have you ever thought about that?

And He didn’t reach the end of His life and say, “I didn’t live up to my potential.”

Instead He said, “It is finished.”
In other words, “It was enough.”

You are not called to live up to your potential–to do as much as you can, as quickly as you can, for as many people as you can.

{Hint: “Potential” is usually just a code word for other people’s expectations.}

You, my friend, are simply called to say “yes” to God.

With all your heart.

For the rest of your life.

Until the day He says you are finished.

And, yes, it will be enough.

Because there is no greater success than being a servant who simply brings joy to your Master…and you do.

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