What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Mmm!

  This week's devotional is brought to you by Holly Gerth: Your favorite flavor of Ice Cream.

Be sure to check out the details on the upcoming event: Women's Ministry Fall Retreat!

Also, check out a new Beth Moore bible study that will be starting up October 1st: 

Living Beyond Yourself 

Give Me Jesus

Give Me Jesus

 

I am not ashamed of the gospel (of Christ), because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:  Romans 1:16

 I remember the story a friend of mine told about the name of Jesus.  She was living and working in a foreign country.  As she was talking to someone she had met, this person asked her something about a song or favorite song.  My friend began singing, "Jesus Loves Me".  When she finished, the other person repeated the name -- Jesus -- several times, then said, " what a beautiful name."

Think about that name.  In Hebrew it is Yeshua -- which means, "He will save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21)."  It is a beautiful name!

 

When we need comfort there is no other name that can be so comforting.  When we need courage, whose name but Jesus' can we call upon to bring us courage?  When there is unrest and we need peace, no one but Jesus can bring that peace.  What a powerful name!

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.  There's just something about that name.

Master, Savior, Jesus.  Like the fragrance after the rain.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.  Let all heaven and earth proclaim.

Kings and Kingdoms will all pass away,

But there's something about that name.

 

Isn't it strange, then, that Jesus' name has become so familiar to us that we take it for granted?  We sometimes throw it about like a ball, using it flippantly or with disrespect.  We sometimes refuse to say it so as not to offend, but didn't Jesus say his name would be an offense to some.  Oh, if we could only learn that the name of Jesus is beautiful and powerful -- it can comfort, defend and protect us.  And, his name is the way of salvation for you, me and anyone who calls upon it (Rom. 10:13).

Fernando Ortega was in our church yesterday!  He sang two or three songs in the morning worship time and gave a concert in the evening.   Yesterday morning he sang "Give Me Jesus."  It was an amazing time of worship for me.  This is such a simple song, but its message is so full and deep.  He sang it with such reverence and humility.   Wouldn't it be amazing if we all spoke the name of Jesus with such reverence and humility. I am so blown away by the mention of His name!

 

In the morning when I rise,   In the morning when I rise,   In the morning, when I rise.

Give me Jesus.

 

When I am alone,   When I am alone,  When I am alone,

Give me Jesus.

 

And when I come to die,  When I come to die,  When I come to die,

Give me Jesus.

 

Give me Jesus,  Give me Jesus,  You can have all this world,

But give me Jesus.

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:9-11

Judy K. Williams

Olympic Sized Dreams

This week's devotional is brought to you by Priority Ministries Glo-Girl Blog:

Olympic Sized Dreams

**If you have recipes, book recommendations or devotionals you would like to share, 

please email them to hintsofheaven@gmail.com!**

Castles, Gratefulness and why you might kiss your Carpet!

 This week's devotional is brought to you by Holly Gerth:

 Castles, Gratefulness and why you might kiss your Carpet!

A few months ago, the Women's Ministry Cooking School made its debut.  Here are the recipes that were featured: Cooking School Recipes

Happy August 1st to you!!!

The Princess Diaries

This weeks devotional is brought to you by our very own Judy Williams.  Have a great week!

The Princess Diaries 

When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers,

The moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained;

What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him?

And the son of man that Thou dost care for him?

Yet Thou hast made him a little lower than God,

And dost crown him with glory and majesty!

Psalm 8:3-5

There is a line in "The Princess Diaries" that I cannot get out of my head.  Mia is talking to her best friend and says, "Someone sat on me again!"  It is the most descriptive way, I have ever heard, of someone saying they felt invisible.  Have you stood in a room with only a couple of other people and they didn't seem to notice you were there?  Have you been talking and in the middle of what you were saying the people around you started talking about something else?  Have you been "sat on!"?  Do you go unnoticed?  If so, then you know how it feels to go through life invisible.

I find it interesting that Jesus spent his ministry with those who were the invisible of society.  He touched the eyes of Blind Bartemaus and healed him.  The woman with the blood disease anonymously touched the hem of His garment wanting to find healing.  Christ turned to her and made her whole.  The lame man who could not get to the pool of Bethsada when the water was stirred was healed by the Great Physician.  The whole of society ignored each of these individuals even when they cried out for help, but Jesus took notice.  He stopped, even when those around Him wanted Him to hurry, and ministered to the needs of those anonymous people of society.  He not only stopped, He noticed.

Who are the unnoticed, invisible people around you?  Who is the anonymous person that needs Jesus' ministering touch?  Take a look around with open eyes -- with spiritual eyes -- to see an invisible hurting people who need the healing touch of Jesus.  Give me eyes to see and ears to hear.

Judy K. Williams

All rights reserved, (2001)

Risky Love

Risky Love

by Max Lucado

“If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My father will honor. John 12:26”

Mary brought in a pint of very expensive perfume made from pure nard.  She poured the perfume on Jesus’ feet, and then she wiped his feet with her hair.  And the sweet smell from the perfume filled the whole house.  

John 12:3

When Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet, his disciples mocked her extravagance.  “Why waste that perfume?  It could have been sold for a great deal of money and given to the poor,” they smirked!

But don’t miss Jesus’ prompt defense of Mary:  “Why are you troubling this woman?  She did an excellent thing for me!”

There’s a time for risky love.  A time to pour out affection on one you love.  Seize it!

Someday, I can take her on that cruise.

Someday, the children will understand why I was so busy…

But you know the truth, don’t you?  Some days never come!

Write the letter.  Make the apology.  Take the trip.  Do it!

What's Ahead will be Worth It

This week's devotion is brought to us by Holley Gerth: What's Ahead will be Worth it

And here is a poem written by our very own Phyllis Wall!

WHAT  WILL  HAPPEN  TO  ME

Does anybody care if I disappear?

Each night I live in fear.

I’m not sure what will happen to me.

Let it be, let it be!

Do you see me in the dark?

Can you hear the lonely dog bark?

I’m not sure what will happen to me.

Let it be, let it be!

Warm tears fall from my face.

Deep within my dark hiding place.

I’m not sure what will happen to me.

Let it be, let it be!

I look out into a world passing by.

Leaving me curled in pain, why?

I’m not sure what will happen to me.

Let it be, let it be!

It is up to me to crawl my way.

Darkness turns to the light of day.

I’m not sure what will happen to me.

Let it be, let it be!

I see a change in the passer by.

They reach into my soul with their Hope filled eye.

I’m not sure what will happen to me.

Let it be, let it be!

On my knees, with a helping hand.

Through the Solid Rock I stand.

I’m sure what will happen to me.

Let it be, let it be!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Phyllis Wall 2008