How's everyone's week going? I certainly appreciated the beautiful weather yesterday. It was nice to get out for a walk along our country road. Also spied the first crocus blooming in my garden. I love the little encouragement God places in our lives, even through flowers!

If you were at church Sunday or read the Wapato Weekly yesterday, you'll already know that the Valentine's event that was slated for February 13th has been cancelled. There are a lot of pieces that go into making this a fun, successful event, and this year they just weren't falling into place. This might give you a good opportunity just to get together for dinner with another couple or family. Or perhaps your Life Group would like to spend the evening together playing games. Or ...

I hope you can join us at one of our weekly Bible studies for women. The Perk gathers at 9:30 on Thursday mornings, and is over at 11. Child care is available. This week Jaimie is bringing a goodie for us to enjoy along with our coffee/tea. Thursday evening at 6:30 Common Grounds meets for the same lesson I will have taught in the morning. Shana is bringing something for us to snack on during that. We are working our way through the book of Colossians, and this week we'll be in Col. 2:16-19. Just bring a Bible and a notebook (if you like to take notes) and enjoy a good time together. These Bible studies always have a lot of laughter, sometimes a few tears, and application to real life.

On the first Sunday of February, registration will open for our annual women's retreat in Lincoln City. Cost is $90 for your accommodations at our beautiful house there, plus your meal on Friday night, Saturday breakfast and dinner, and breakfast on Sunday. The dates are April 8-10th. Our theme this year is Who's Your Daddy? with our guest speaker, Joy Roberts, from Lake Oswego. Over the last couple weeks I've been including a picture of the house. Here's the link so you can check it all out for yourself:
https://www.vrbo.com/309670. If you haven't stayed there with us before, make sure to check it out, as it's unlike any retreat house you've ever been to in the past!

Speaking of Joy Roberts, I wanted to share her recent blog with you, just to give you a taste of what we have to look forward to. Joy is part of the team of three ladies, including past retreat speaker Laurie Sheffield, who constitute the group of speakers called For the Joy of It!

I Almost Missed It I almost missed a HUGE opportunity today!   I made it out for a quick run this morning with my sweet little dog Brandy.  When I was headed back, on the homestretch, just a half-mile from my house, I saw a woman.  I noticed her because she had two walking sticks and was soooo slooooooooooow. I watched her for a bit thinking…that’s going to be me someday.  I’m going to get really old and really slow and someday a half-mile will feel like a half-marathon. BTW…She was not particularly old looking. But she was literally at least double my age and I’m not exactly young anymore.  So really…She’s AMAZING.  I want to be her when I grow up! Hello…she was out for a walk wearing cute hiking boots AND red lipstick.  She looked good! I’m all about building women up…right!  Our mission at Joy of It is to UNITE, BUILD and encourage women to LIVE life for the joy of it. So just before I zipped passed her I exuberantly said “HI” really loud (in case she could not hear).  I scared her half to death!  She literally almost tipped over.  I slowed down long enough to make sure she was ok. That’s when I noticed she clearly was recovering from a stroke and when she said something about my adorable dog. And then I was off like the elite runner I AM NOT.  Of course my conscience screamed at me to PLEASE STOP.  I argued with myself…reminding myself of all the important stuff I have to do to UNITE, BUILD and encourage women to LIVE for the joy of it.  Oh brother…the irony…right!  I finally did stop. I ran back and introduced myself to my neighbor named B.  We talked about my dog.  She choked up when she told me her little dog died a few weeks ago.  B asked about my kids.  I asked her about her life.  We sweetly patted each other on the back like old friends would.  Then she took off at her snail’s pace and I slowly headed home realizing I almost missed a huge opportunity. People mattered most to Jesus and people should matter most to me. If my life and ministry don’t collide then I have a problem with my priorities.  When I’m 90, out with walking sticks, recovering from a stroke …I hope some “young” chick in her mid-40s stops when she sees me. When my dog and many of the people I love have died…I need you to stop.  Please don’t look past me or run past me or pretend you don’t see me.  I need you. You actually need me too.  We need each other. I’m reminded today, God has uniquely positioned each one of us to love others. He has put each of us in the places and spaces and communities where we can invest in the lives of others in big and small ways.  I don’t want to miss opportunities that are right in front of me! And I don’t want you to miss them either.  “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10). Don’t walk or run past people.  Embrace the opportunities you have to make people a priority exactly where you are at.  We are His workmanship created for good works right where we are today. So go do good work…we were made for it! BTW…I’d love your input!  What keeps you from slowing down and making people a priority?  We will be covering this topic on one of our radio shows so thanks for sharing your thoughts! Thanks for reading! Join me, Laurie and Julie Thursday afternoons at 2:30pm on 93.9 KPDQ and Sunday mornings at 11:30am on True Talk 800. Each week we explore God’s Word and discuss practical ways we can live for the joy of it in our homes, relationships and community. Can’t join us live? Go to joyofit.org for the podcast or subscribe on iTunes. The post I Almost Missed It appeared first on For the Joy of It. leave a comment For the Joy of It A community of women actively chasing after the heart of Christ together.

Copyright © 2016 For The Joy Of It, All rights reserved. Runway Show Event, H2H, Lake Bible Church Our mailing address is: For The Joy Of It 14195 SW 116th Terrace Tigard, OR 97224 Add us to your address book

Until next time,
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@gmail.com     971-285-6699

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Tuesday, January 19, 2016 WOW-Zine

This will be a short communication today, as I'm fighting a cold and don't have a lot of energy. I do plan on being well enough to teach this week, however, so please plan ahead to attend one of our Bible studies. (I just won't hug you!)

Believe it or not, we actually did get through four verses last week, so we'll be starting at Colossians 2:13 on Thursday. We're learning a lot as we work our way through this small, but powerful, book. Both of our women's Bible studies meet at the church. The Perk gathers from 9:30-11 AM (Natalie is bringing treats) and Common Grounds from 6:30-8 PM (McKenna is providing goodies.) Childcare is available in the morning. 

Coming soon to a church near you--Romance in the Valley. This is our church Valentine event on Saturday, February 13th, 7 PM at the church. This year we are doing dessert only, and the $10 per person will cover the cost of that, childcare, and giveaways. You'll be able to purchase your tickets starting this Sunday. 

On the more distant horizon is our annual Women's Retreat April 8-10th in Lincoln City. If you've never gone with us before, this is the year to change that all around! We stay in a beautiful 4-story house in the southern end of Lincoln City, which comfortably sleeps 40 people! The cost is only $90, which covers most of your meals for the weekend.

(The theater, where we meet for our sessions.)
Our theme this year is Who's Your Daddy? with guest speaker Joy Roberts, from Lake Bible Church. 

Registration for women who attend Wapato Valley Church will open the first Sunday of February. Then we have a tiered registration in which we open it to ladies who have attended retreat in the past but don't go to Wapato, and then lastly, if spots are still open, we invite you to bring friends who have never come before. I must receive payment in full in order for you to register. (Please give cash or checks to me, with checks made out to Wapato Valley Church. When you register you will be able to choose your bed at the same time.)

Until next time,
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@gmail.com     971-285-6699

Tuesday, January 12, 2016 WOW-Zine

Hello there, ladies! Wasn't it good to get back into our routine last week? I so enjoyed being with each of you who were able to make it to one of our Bible studies, as well as with the fun group of women who showed up Friday night to undecorate the church, chow down on pizza, and play games together. Y'all are a lot of fun!!

In our Bible studies this week we'll continue our way through Colossians 2, probably verses 9-12. (If you're a regular attender, reading that last sentence probably made you snort your coffee right out of your nose, as when have we ever covered four verses in one week??!! But it could happen!) The Perk meets at the church Thursday morning from 9:30-11, and Common Grounds meets at the church that evening from 6:30-8. I teach the same lesson in both groups, so just come to whichever one best fits with your schedule.  In the morning, Nicole C. is bringing treats to go along with our coffee/tea. No one has yet signed up for Thursday evening goodies, so let me know if you'd like to. Feel free to join us at any time. There's no book to purchase nor any homework to do!

Coming on the horizon is our church Valentine event on Saturday, February 13th, 7 PM at the church. This year we are doing dessert only, and the $10 per person will cover the cost of that, childcare, and giveaways. You'll be able to purchase your ticket in the next week or two, so be looking for more information. 

On the more distant horizon is our annual Women's Retreat April 8-10th in Lincoln City. If you've never gone with us before, this is the year to change that all around! We stay in a beautiful 4-story house in the southern end of Lincoln City, which comfortably sleeps 40 people! 

The cost is only $90, which covers most of your meals for the weekend. Registration for women who attend Wapato Valley Church will open in a few weeks. Then we have a tiered registration in which we open it to ladies who have attended retreat in the past but don't go to Wapato, and then lastly, if spots are still open, we invite you to bring friends who have never come before. Put that weekend on your calendar NOW!

Until next time,

Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director

sherrieashcraft@gmail.com     971-285-6699

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Welcome to the first full week of 2016! Some of you may be experiencing a 2-hour late start for your kids going to school, but at least they're going today! After all the non-schedule of the Christmas break, it's time for life to get back to its "regularly scheduled programming!"

Don't forget that this Friday, beginning with pizza at 6 PM, we will meet in the sanctuary to take all the Christmas decorations down. After the "work" of boxing up decorations and eating, we'll have a game night, starting around 7 PM. If your schedule doesn't allow you to come until then, that's just fine. Everyone can bring a snack to share (good way to get rid of the last of those Christmas cookies that are taking up space in your freezer), as well as your favorite game. If you are coming at 6 and will be eating pizza, please let me know by Thursday night so I know how many to pick up. A donation of $5 would be appreciated.

I'm excited about our Bible studies resuming this week, and hope you are too. If you've never come, this would be a perfect time to start attending. You don't need to have any previous knowledge of the Bible or even be able to find your way around in it. We're very casual and love to learn together. The Perk meets from 9:30-11 on Thursday mornings, and we have childcare available. I teach the same lesson (currently going through the book of Colossians) at Common Grounds Thursday evenings from 6:30-8. If one of your resolutions for the year was to spend more time in God's word, or develop deeper friendships, this is a great way to do those!

I know April may seem like it's a long way off, but our annual women's retreat will be here before you know it. Please save the dates of Friday, April 8th through Sunday, April 10th to gather at "our" beach house in Lincoln City. Lots more information will be coming to you over the next few months, but those of you who have attended in the past know what a special time we have together. We've had to make a slight increase to the price (we've kept it the same for about ten years!) to $90. So start saving now!

I'm excited to share this final thing with you! While scrolling through my Facebook feed the end of November, I came across a site that was new to me--www.swtblessings.com. One of the things on the page was a suggested plan for writing out Scripture each day. I determined to do that for the month of December, and found it was a great discipline for me. I'm a very fast reader and tend to speed-read the Bible too, which I know isn't always the best thing. But taking 6-10 minutes a day (depending on the length of the suggested passage) to write verses in longhand makes me slow down and really think about what I'm reading. I know several of you have already joined me in this venture, and I hope more of you will too. It's not too late in the month to start this. 



Until next time,
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@gmail.com     971-285-6699