Hi All,

Right now, I'm in the process of planning for our next mentoring session, which you will hear about after Christmas. It's going to be outstanding, and I'd like for you to be a part of it. Consider yourself invited! You can be:

1) A mentor
2) A mentee
3) A prayer warrior

Check back here in January for more details.

In the Lamb,
Julie Taylor
Psalm 139

I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Karen Jouwstra for attending our Mentoring Half-Time Refresher meeting today (Saturday, May 9).

We reviewed some of the things we've learned in our Bible study up to this point:

God as:
* Elohim - the Creator, Trinity
* El Elyon - the God Most High
* El Roi - the God Who Sees
* El Shaddai - God Almighty
* Adonai - Lord & Master
* Jehovah - the Self-Existent One
* Jehovah-Jireh - the God Who Provides
* Jehovah-Rapha - the God Who Heals

She and I also enjoyed watching the following video clip from Beth Moore:
http://lifetoday.tv/qt/2009/03/90325.htm

It's a 15 minute clip. Grab a cup of tea, sit back and enjoy it.

Don't forget Saturday's mentoring meeting:

Saturday, May 9

10:00 a.m. in Calvary Hall

Mentoring's "Half-Time Refresher Meeting"

It is for everyone involved in this current session of mentoring.

Please be there.

Do these terms mean anything to you:

Jehovah-Jireh

Jehovah-Rapha

Elohim

They'll mean something after Saturday's meeting.  Don't miss out!

I'm Not Invisible...God Sees Me!

Have you ever felt used, abused or betrayed?  Have you ever felt alone and invisible?  Many of us have.  

But there is good news, my friend.  God sees you in your distress.  He is knocking on the door of your heart to give you comfort, compassion, and instruction.  Let Him in.  Open yourself to receive the balm He provides.  

In our Bible study, we learned about "El Roi", the God who sees.  Perhaps you feel angry BECAUSE He sees, and in your eyes, He has done nothing about it.  You are seeing an incomplete picture, dear one.  You are looking at, and holding on to one small piece of a puzzle.  

Do not grasp that puzzle piece, white knuckled, and shake your fist bitterly at God.  Do not curse Him because He has allowed ugly things to happen to you. If you will release that grudge, at least for a moment, to search God's word, you will begin to see that there is more to the picture than you may realize at this point.  He has a plan.  

There are a couple of Scripture passages that shed some light on this.  Stop what you're doing, and take the time to read them, pray about them, and roll them around in your mind.  

Genesis 42:6, and chpt. 45: tell of how Joseph was abused and sold into slavery by his own brothers, the ones that were supposed to love him.  Years later, his brothers were horrified to realize that Joseph now stood in authority over them.  What was Joseph's reply?  "...and as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive."   

You see, Joseph did not not hold on to his "unfair" puzzle piece and shake a bitter fist at God.  He gave the puzzle piece to God, and allowed Him to make a beautiful masterpiece with it.  It was one piece of a greater puzzle.  It was an unpleasant piece, for sure, but God used that one piece, in many ways.  If Joseph would have held on to his bitterness and anger, he would not have known the joy and splendor that God had planned for him, his family, and his country.

Consider, also, Genesis 16.  The life of Hagar.  Abused, mistreated, and thrown away, she ran from her circumstance.  God saw her distress, spoke to her, and instructed her on what to do.  Hagar realized she was not alone.  God saw her and had a plan for her.  Was it easy? No, it was not.  But, she was obedient, and God was true to His word.

In closing, read Psalm 139.  This is my favorite chapter in all of Scripture.  Why? Well, read it and find out!  Hold on to it.  Be comforted by it.  Be encouraged by it.  Be enlightened by it.  It can change your entire life, my friend.  It did mine.  

Okay, girls.  We're almost to this session's halfway point.  Don't fall back now.  Keep in touch with your partner and your prayer warrior.

Say a prayer for your partner, send her a note, or give her a phone call.  If she's been hard to get hold of, try a different means of contact.   Don't give up.  Renew your focus.

How's your Bible study going so far?  Let me hear from you on that.  By now, you have learned several of God's characteristics.  Call on Him accordingly.  Delve deeper into your study and see what you can learn; how does that impact your daily life?

The Lord is a strong tower.  Run to Him and be safe and secure, my friend.

I Will Praise God Even in the Storm

Lonliness, heartbreak, isolation, betrayal...the list goes on.

As you walk through this mentoring journey, realize that you do not have to bear all these burdens alone (Gal. 6:2).

One thing we are learning in this ministry is that we are to reach out beyond ourselves. Sometimes that means that we are to slow down and take time out to care for other people.

Other times it means that we need to step outside of our comfort zone and share some of our own burdens with someone else. This is an important element in mentoring. It is part of our journey toward godliness...together. Don't forget to utilize your prayer warrior. She is there, waiting to lift your name to the Lord of hosts.

Turn your eyes toward God and praise Him even during your stormy times. He holds you in His capable hands, and will not let you go. God has a plan, but we cannot always see it. Our Bible study reminded us that, "the Lord of hosts has sworn saying, 'Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand...For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it?'" (Isa. 14:24, 27).

The words to this popular song help me to praise God, even when life seems bleak:

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will life my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

New Logo

We've got a new logo!

I had an idea for a logo, but I couldn't draw it out.  I'm no artist.  So, I talked with a graphics company to see if they could put my idea to life.  They did a lovely job, and I'd like to share it with you.  

(explanation of the above logo) The tree of life is rooted in God's Word, which allows it to be a thriving, fruitful tree.  Notice that one must open the Bible in order to extract the nutrition from it.  The tree produces the fruit of the Spirit (listed above the canopy of the tree).  Our theme verse, Titus 2:3-5 is also prominant.  The three branches of the mentoring ministry are shown on the trunk, "Big Sister", "Prayer Warrior" and "Little Sister".

I'm pleased with the way the logo turned out.  Let me know what you think!  Post your comments.

Know Him by Name

Good morning, Miss So-and-So.

Good day, Mr. Whats-your-name.

How are you doing, Mrs. Jane-Doe?

Marvelous, Miss Lady-Down-the-Road!

    

*******************

Sounds intimate, huh?  Like they know all about each other?  Ha!

Isn't that how many of us speak to God, our Creator?  

These days, we're all so busy.  Many times we're busy with good things.  But, beware that you are not so busy with the good things, that you crowd out the BEST things.  

Our Bible study for this session of mentoring ("Lord, I Want To Know You", by Kay Arthur) will help us to build an intimacy with God by teaching us of His many names.  Yes, He has more names than just "God" or "Lord".  

As we learn about His names, we also learn of His character.  As we learn of His character, we learn how to depend on Him and call out to Him because we are building intimacy with Him.

Kay Arthur says it this way, "Why don't we run to the arms of our all-suffcient God?  I think it's because most of us don't really know our God.  Why do many collapse in the day of trouble and testing?...Because Christians, for the most part, can't boast in the name of their God."

What about you?  Do you have a heavy heart?  Are you pulled in many different directions?  Do you feel that you can't hold it all together anymore?

Run to God, my friend.  Put your trust in Him.  Call out to Him.

Psalm 50:15 says, "Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."  Proverbs 18:10 teaches us that "the name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe."

Don't you want to know that "strong tower"?  Don't you want to be completely "safe" in the arms of your loving Father?  

Do you remember the words to that precious old hymn...

Peace, peace...wonderful peace.

Flowing down from the Father above

Sweep over my spirit, forever, I pray

In fathomless billows of love.

My friend, you can know that peace in your life.  This day.  God is calling out to you and desires a close relationship with you.  Imagine that!  The God who created all that we see, who formed you in your mother's womb (Psalm 139) wants time with YOU!!!

will you give Him that?  Will you allow yourself the time to get to know Him intimately?  

I challenge you to spend 15 minutes each day in our Bible study (available in our church office).  Pray before you begin that God would help you to focus on that time, and not to be distracted.  Pray that He will help you to depend on Him according to His great name.

Let me know what comes of it, my friend.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Ready, Set, Go!

I'm so excited to find out what this 6-month mentoring session has in store for you.

READY - you've gotten ready by attending the informational meeting and finding out if you'd like to participate in this ministry

SET - you've gotten set by attending the training session and receiving your handbooks and Bible study book (this session the study is "Lord, I Want To Know You", by Kay Arthur, available in the church office for $15).

GO! - Now it's time to get started with your new mentoring partnership. By following the guidelines laid out for you in your handbook, and enjoying a light Bible study, you will be building a perfect foundation for your partnership to grow.

Remember to:

• meet regularly with your mentoring partner, preferrably once a week or every two weeks.
• Be courtious and return phone calls as promptly as possible
• Remember to pray for your mentoring partner