Monday, May 6, 2013 WOW-Zine

It's already mid-afternoon on Monday, so I guess it's about time I get my blog on! There was too much to do this morning--a walk with my husband, working on details for the Women's Ministry Team meeting tonight, and a shopping trip to McMinnville. But now it's your turn!

As we continue our study of Jesus the One and Only this week, we'll be looking at Luke 17:1-5. (Yes, you can trust me that this is the correct passage this week--I've triple checked it!) Common Grounds meets at 6:30 Wednesday night, and The Perk takes off at 9:30 Thursday morning. I truly hope you can work one of those times into your schdule, as the time we spend together in God's word is really worth it. And remember, there's childcare available on Thursday. Cindy will be the WIC (Woman in Charge) this week, along with her two helpers. Thanks to you ladies who are stepping up and volunteering to meet our childcare needs. We need a volunteer for next week.

Time is running out to make your reservations for our Feminini-Tea, which is Saturday, May 18th, 10 AM at the church. Please check your in-box for your E-Vite invitation with all the details. Thanks to those of you who have already responded. It's important that we have enough tables set up for everyone who comes, so that's why I need you to R.S.V.P. as soon as possible. May 15th is the deadline to do so, but earlier than that would be much appreciated. If you find it's just to hard to respond to the evite, and you plan on coming, please send me an email and let me know and I'll put your name on the list. (If you've signed up to host a table, I'll be sending you information later this week after the team and I get more planning done.)

This Friday and Saturday is the mini-retreat at Ashberry Lane. Please be praying for the fifteen women who have signed up to attend, as well as for me and my assistant, Nicole Paz, as we lead our time together. We're expecting the Lord to do great things! Plus we'll have a lot of fun in the process.

I got another great blog from Holley Gerth, who seems to look at life the same way I do. Maybe it will speak to you too!

  Why Whatcha Want and Whatcha Get Don’t Match 

By Holley Gerth

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart.” — King Solomon

“You git what you git and you don’t throw a fit.” — Southern Saying

As I drive, my thoughts zip down a two-lane road in my mind as well. In one lane, I’m thanking God for answered prayers and desires granted. In the other lane, I’m feeling frustrated that my day-to-day reality doesn’t always line up with the magnificent vision I have in mind. I long to see a sign from God that one day those two lanes will merge. When will that finally happen?

It seems God has an answer for me. Um, heaven.
Oh, right. I should have seen that one coming.

We live in a paradox, friends. We are not Home yet. And on the journey to where we’re going, what we can dream up and what actually unfolds in our lives are never going to align perfectly. Never. I’m not saying that to be a stinker. I’m saying it to save us from one of the biggest dream killers: unrealistic expectations.

If we demand that our perfect vision be fulfilled then we will never be satisfied.

Not with our dreams.

Not with our marriage.

Not with our job.

Not with our church.

Not with ourselves.

“So why bother dreaming?” you might ask. It’s simply this: “Where there is no vision the people perish” {Proverbs 29:18 KJV}. In other words, our dreams and desires pull us toward life. They draw us toward Home. They keep us looking to God for his best in our lives. That’s a good and beautiful thing.

It’s only when we turn our desires into demands that we get into trouble.

You know what I’m talking about, don’t ya? Yes, ma’am, we all do.

What can we do to avoid that? First, we can accept that we will live between those two lanes all of our lives here on earth: the ideal and the real, the eternal and the everyday. 

Then we intentionally thank God for what’s less than perfect. And at the same time we keep pressing toward the vision he’s placed in our hearts.

We live in the paradox.

We release our expectations and yet we continue to look to the future with expectation.

One mile, one day, one dream at a time.

Yes, all the way Home.

So, ladies, that's it from Ashberry Lane for this week. May you have a super-blessed one!

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director

sherrieashcraft@yahoo.com    971-285-6699