October 20 meeting

I found the devotional for tonights meeting after being inspired by a verse in the description of a Proverbs 31 woman.

Proverbs 31:20 - She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

Two verses were refered to in my Bible.

Deuteronomy 15:11 - There will always be poor people in the land. Therfore I caommnad you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

Ephesians 4:28 - He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

So with that inspiration I put a search in online and came up with a devotional from Julia Bettencourt's blog.

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Making a Difference
by Julia Bettencourt

"And of some have compassion, making a difference" Jude 1:22

The holidays are a great time to find a charity or needy cause to bestow our good deeds on. Some people relish in that and I admire them for it, but sometimes I think that is all some of us have---seasonal compassion. Oh to have the heart and desire to do good all the time. To look at people the way Jesus did. When he looked at the multitudes, He was "moved with compassion".

"But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." Matthew 9:36

Not only did Christ see the people with compassion, but He was prompted to do something about it. He healed the sick and lame, fed the multitudes, and genuinely cared about people and about their souls. Look how He dealt with the Samaritan woman at the well. He knew all the things that had entangled her life and He took the time to let her know about the Living Water. Remember the man no one could control and went around cutting himself and crying in the tombs in Mark chapter five? Basically a crazy man running through the graveyards acting crazy. He was possessed with unclean spirits. We probably would have ran in the other direction. Most of us don't like dealing with the "crazies" of this world, but Christ cared for them. Christ went about making a difference in everything He did and with everyone He met on this earth.Our verse in Jude 1:22 is one of those verses that always just reaches out and grabs me with conviction.

"And of some have compassion, making a difference"Jude 1:22.

How much compassion do I have? How much of a difference am I making in this world? Do I encourage people? Do I share Christ like I should? Do I care for people's needs? Am I a blessing to others? I trust I can be a woman that makes a difference.

Here are a few examples of women in the Bible that made a difference:

Esther. Esther was one of those women who was right where God wanted her to be at the right time. Do you realize she even held her tongue when she was supposed to? That's kind of hard for some of us. Remember she didn't tell anyone her family heritage or who her people were until the right time? Because of the way she lived her life she saved her people. She had an impact.

The Shunammite Woman. This woman made the first "prophet's chamber" for Elisha. She did what she could for the man of God (II Kings 4). She was a blessing.

Rahab. Now Rahab wasn't the most respected woman in town but God gives us her story for a reason, maybe to show us what a difference she made. In Joshua 2 she hid the two men that Joshua had sent out to spy on Jericho. She saved them from being found out. She did some good.

Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Mary was a woman who was willing to be used of God. If an angel came to us like with Mary to tell us we'd be carrying the Christ Child, what would be our reaction? "Whoa! Not me." "Get someone else to do it." "I'll pass on this one!" Mary led a pure life and was tender to God's calling. She was willing.

Conclusion:
Have you ever noticed the epitaphs on headstones? "Beloved Mother" "Loving Son" and all sorts of things designed to reflect what those people were. It may be kind of a morbid topic but we are all going to die eventually unless the Lord comes back first. What will we have done with our earthly lives? Yes it will be wonderful to get to heaven someday but God left us here for a purpose. What kind of mark will you and I as Christian women leave on this world?

So, are you making a difference?

Copyright ©2001-2009 Julia Bettencourt
Scripture References are from the King James Version.
www.juliabettencourt.com

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Lots is getting done on the blue quilt that Mary Cecil is leading! We are all excited about the possibilities for gifting the finished product. We talked about adopting a family for Christmas and other opportunities that we would have year round.

I pray that God would help you to find a way to make a difference every day!

Have a blessed day!

Bonnie

Devo from Meeting #2

Sorry for the delay of this posting...but my house has been taken over by an almost 14 month old.
Here is the Devotion that I did at meeting number 2.
Hope you enjoy it. I have borrowed it from Julia Bettencourt.

The Inviting Colors of Fall

" But if our gospel be hid,
it is hid to them that are lost" 2 Corinthians 4:3

Many people are drawn to fall colors. Fall colors are warm, vibrant, extraordinarily rich, and energetic. I wonder how appealing I am as a Christian? Do other people gravitate to me because I am a warm, vibrant, and inviting person?


Red
There's just something about the trees that are full of red leaves glistening in the sun. It's just extraordinary. They stick out and you notice them. Red brings up the thought of passion. No matter where we are in our Christian walk, I think we all could do with a little more passion for Christ. We should stick out in a good way. We should reflect all that brilliance of Christ.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Orange
The color orange is so beautiful in the fall. We see it in not just the fall leaves, but in those beautiful pumpkins as well. Orange reflects warmth and symbolizes thoughtfulness and sincerity. As Christians that's something we should portray. We should be that warm inviting person that cares about others.

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

Yellow
The yellow color of fall makes me happy. Yellow conjures up joy and cheerfulness. I don't really think that if we aren't cheerful as Christians, other people will want what we have. If we have Christ, we should have joy in our hearts and that joy should reflect out through us. It's listed right there in Galatians along with the other fruit of the spirit that we should be bearing.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,gentleness, goodness, faith,Meekness, temperance:against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22,23

"Speaking from personal experience of my not so great weekend. On late Friday night I shut my garage door WITH my other garage door openers on the inside of the garage...I couldn't get in at all. PLUS I had to wait until Monday to get my car back. It was not the best of experiences in my life. However due to my church family & friends I was able to get a ride to church on Sunday...I acted 'Joyful' on Sunday when people asked how life was going with Rick in Colorado. I was NOT 'Joyful' I am sure the more this gets past me then I will laugh about it...however it still not the best memory I have."

Purple
Some of the colors we see in fall are the shades of purple. Leaves we find in the purple family are so striking. Purple is the color of royalty. As Christians, we are royalty in Christ. Our behavior should reflect that royalty. We should be striking as Christians.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Romans 8:16,17

Brown
If we didn't have all that brown in the midst of the bright fall colors, I doubt if they'd be so brilliant. Brown represents stability and it anchors all those other beautiful colors of fall. In Christ, we have our anchor. Others can see if we are living for Christ and depending on Him in our lives. It comes out in our actions and behavior.

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6,7


Conclusion:
Showing Christ through our behavior is so important in our witness to others . Our "colors" do matter. How we act and behave is what people see when they look at us. I hope I grow to have a beautiful, warm, and inviting life in Christ. I don't want Christianity to be hid from the world because of me. I want to portray vibrancy and warmth so that people will want to get to know me and learn about Christ through me.

So, what colors are you projecting?

I would like to add seeing that this Life Group is a crafting group...PICK your favorite fall color or even all of the colors and make something from that! Be Creative and enjoy being crafty! Again the next meeting is THIS Tuesday the 20th at 6:30pm. However I will not be there. But Mary & Bonnie will be so come out and sew or get your hands on making that quilt!
Mary Brown, Mary Cecil, Rosalie & Summer doing the quilting...Bonnie is in the background sewing.