2/8/11 Meeting Follow Up

Ladies,


Hope you are having a great week so far.  Below is the update from last night's meeting.


We read from Sarah Young's devotional "Jesus Calling"...
"Come to Me for rest and refreshment.  The journey has been too much for you, and you are bone-weary.  Do not be ashamed of your exhaustion.  Instead, see it as an opportunity for Me to take charge of your life.
Remember that I can fit everything into a pattern for good, including the things you wish were different.  Start with where you are at this point in time and space, accepting that this is where I intend you to be.  You will get through today one step, one moment at a time.  Your main responsibility is to remain attentive to Me, letting Me guide you through the many choices along your pathway.
This sounds like an easy assignment, but it is not.  Your desire to live in My Presence goes against the grain of "the world, the flesh, the devil."  Much of your weariness results from your constant battle against these opponents.  However, you are on the path of My choosing, so do not give up!  Hope in Me, for you will again praise Me for the help of My Presence."


The first sentence is "Come to Me for rest and refreshment."  Where do you go for rest and refreshment?  The place you look to for help, strength, assurance, and rest is a starting point for examining yourself.  Do you go straight to your husband?  Pick up the phone and call your friend?  Your mom?  How often do you seek the Lord first, knowing He is the only One who can provide true rest and lasting refreshment.  Then we are reminded of a promise to believers in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  And that includes the things you wish were different.  God doesn't only use the wonderful things.  The good things.  He uses hardships, pain, and suffering.  A Christian's suffering does not go to waste.  A wonderful quote by Dr. Peter John Kreeft: "In fact, it's significant that most objections to the existence of God from the problem of suffering come from the outside observers who are quite comfortable, whereas those who actually suffer are, as often as not, made into stronger believers by their faith.  Indeed, the fact is that it is the world's greatest sufferers who have produced the most shining examples of unconquerable faith."
Now weariness comes from our constant battle with the flesh.  From going against the grain... swimming upstream.  However, the hope and peace to sustain us is found in His Presence.  (Psalm 42:11)  How do we get there?  His Presence?   Just as it mentioned earlier, remaining attentive to Him.  Seeking Him first, keeping our focus and attention on Him, His word, His truth.  That is how He leads us, guides, us, and speaks to us.  Through His word, through prayer, through time spent with Him.  How else can we expect to know Him and be in His Presence unless we sacrifice our time and attention?


MEALS: Thank you so very much to all of you who delivered a meal to the Garifos.  It was so awesome to see you serve others so willingly.
GIRL TIME: Next coffee date is set for Saturday the 26th at 9:00am.  (Starbucks at Willow/ Nees)  Please let me know if you can make it!
PLAY DATE: We set a play date at Dry Creek park (Peach/ Alluvial) on the 24th at 11:00.  Hope to see many of you and your kiddos there!
NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, March 8th at 7:00 PM.


Please email or call me with any prayer requests.  I am prayerful and confident that God will do some great work with Firefighters Wives For Christ.


Blessings,
Jessi Silva
silva.family@att.net