Woman's Health Awareness Forum

I want to extend every one of you an invitation to a Woman's Health Awareness Forum this evening, Monday, August 30 at 6:30 PM at Bethel Assembly of God in the Mace building, rm 109. Most of the time we are sure to take care of everyone else in our household except ourselves. It's important to take the time for your health. There will be a seasoned professional from the Shenandoah Women's Health Center speaking to us (lasting approx. 30 minutes). There will be a time to ask questions as well. As Mom's Connection is a group for woman we have never done anything like this before but I believe it will be beneficial for us. Of course we will have refreshments afterwards. Please invite other woman to join you as this is for all woman.

I know many of you had the opportunity to meet Vida Sackey-Duah, a nursing student at Mountain State University, at our Back to School Pool Bash. As part of a class she is taking she needed to put together this forum. She chose to do it on women's health. She is a lovely person and I hope we can support her. Thank you.

Blessings,
Lisa

Releasing our children to God...

Just spending a week covering our children in prayer is not enough. There are so many areas of their lives that need the touch of God. However when we do all we can to love, care, and pray over our children, in the end we must release them to God. Stormie Omartian says it best, "We can't be everywhere. But God can. We can't see everything. But God can. We can't know everything. But God can. No matter what age our children are, releasing them into God's hands is a sign of our faith and trust in Him and is the first step toward making a difference in their lives." Let's pray...

Lord,
I come to You in Jesus' name and give (name of child) to You. I'm convinced that You alone know what is best for him (her). You alone know what he (she) needs. I release him (her) to You to care for and protect, and I commit myself to pray for everything concerning him (her) that I can think of or that You put upon my heart. Teach me how to pray and guide me in what to pray about. Help me not to impose my own will when I'm praying for him (her), but rather enable me to pray that Your will be done in his (her) life.
Thank You that I can partner with You in raising him (her) and that I don't have to do it alone. I'm grateful that I don't have to rely on the world's unreliable and ever-changing methods for child rearing, but that I can have clear directions from Your Word and wisdom as I pray to You for answers.
Thank You, Lord, for the precious gift of this child. Because Your Word says that every good gift comes from You, I know that You have given him (her) to me to care for and raise. Help me to do that. Show me places where I continue to hang on to him (her) and enable me to release him (her) to Your protection, guidance, and counsel. Help me not to live in fear of possible dangers, but in the joy and peace of knowing that You are in control. I rely on You for everything, and this day I trust my child to You and release him (her) into Your hands.
Amen.

A prayer from The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian, Releasing My Child into God's Hands

Blessings,
Lisa

Happy Birthday, Julia Bivens!

Let's pray over our child's room...

We have lifted up our child(ren) this week while they have been at school. Now let's pray over our child's room so when they come home their room will be spiritually clean. Just think about all they come in contact with during the day especially in public school. We don't want them to bring anything home that shouldn't be. Let's pray...

Lord,
I invite Your Holy Spirit to dwell in this room, which belongs to (name of child). You are Lord over heaven and earth, and I proclaim that You are Lord over this room as well. Flood it with Your light and life. Crowd our any darkness which seeks to impose itself here, and let no spirits of fear, depression, anger, doubt, anxiety, rebelliousness, or hatred (name anything you've seen manifested in your child's behavior) find any place here. I pray that nothing will come into this room that is not brought by You, Lord. If there is anything here that shouldn't be, show me so it can be taken out.
Put Your complete protection over this room so that evil cannot enter here by any means. Fill this room with Your love, peace, and joy. I pray that my child will say, as David did, "I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set nothing wicked before my eyes" (Psalm 101:2-3). I pray that You, Lord, will make this room a holy place, sanctified for Your glory.
Amen

A prayer from the The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian, Praying through a child's room

Blessings,
Lisa

Woman's Health Awareness Forum

Monday, August 30 In partnership with Vida Sackey-Duah, a nursing student at Mountain State University, would like to invite you to a woman's health awareness forum with a seasoned professional from the Shenandoah Women's Health Center at 6:30 PM at Bethel Assembly of God in the Mace building, room 109 (lasting approx. 30 minutes). Light refreshments immediately following.

Thank you to Amanda Dagostino, our Event Coordinator, for doing a wonderful job this summer planning our events. We had a great time at War Memorial Park Pool for our Back to School Bash! It was great to see so many of you!
Blessings,
Lisa

Praying for our children this first week of school...

We know as adults, especially now, how important friends can be in our lives. The people we choose to surround ourselves with can either build us up or tear us down. The Bible says, "The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray" (Proverbs 12:26). This is why we take the time to pray that our children will make the right friends this school year and be drawn to the right role models. Join me...

Lord,
I lift up (name of child) to You and ask that You would bring godly friends and role models into his (her) life. Give him (her) the wisdom he (she) needs to choose friends who are godly and help him (her) to never compromise his (her) walk with You in order to gain acceptance. Give me Holy Spirit-inspired discernment in how I guide or influence him (her) in the selection of friends. I pray that You would take anyone who is not a godly influence out of his (her) life or else transform that person into Your likeness.

Your Word says, "He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed" (Proverbs 13:20). Don't let my child be a companion of fools. Enable him (her) to walk with wise friends and not have to experience the destruction that can happen by walking with foolish people. Deliver him (her) from anyone with an ungodly character so he (she) will not learn that person's ways and set a snare for his (her) own soul.

Whenever there is grief over a lost friendship, comfort him (her) and send new friends with whom he (she) can connect, share, and be the person You created him (her) to be. Take away any loneliness or low self-esteem that would cause him (her) to seek out less than God-glorifying relationships.

In Jesus' name I pray that You would teach him (her) the meaning of true friendship. Teach him (her) how to be a good friend and make strong, close, lasting relationships. May each of his (her) friendships always glorify You.
Amen.

A prayer from The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian, Attracting Godly Friends and Role Models

Blessings,
Lisa

This first week of school, let's pray...

Yesterday I felt it imperative to pray first over our children's safety. I think it's our first concern. I know it's mine. For today, let's pray for our children's school, teachers, classes, and their mind.

Lord,
I pray that (name of child) will have a deep reverence for You and Your ways. May he (she) hide Your word in his (her) heart like a treasure, and seek after understanding like silver or gold. Give him (her) a good mind, a teachable spirit, and an ability to learn. Instill in him (her) a desire to attain knowledge and skill, and may he (she) have joy in the process. Above all, I pray that he (she) will be taught by You, for Your Word says that when our children are taught by You they are guaranteed peace. You have also said, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7). May he (she) never be a fool and turn away from learning, but rather may he (she) turn to You for the knowledge he (she) needs.

I pray he (she) will respect the wisdom of his (her) parents and be willing to be taught by them. May he (she) also have the desire to be taught by the teachers You bring into his (her) life. Handpick each one, Lord, and my they be godly people from whom he (she) can easily learn. Take out of his (her) life any teacher who would be an ungodly influence or create a bad learning experience. Let him (her) find favor with his (her) teachers and have good communication with them. Help him (her) to excel in school and do well in any classes he (she) may take. Make the pathways of learning smooth and not something with which he (she) must strain and struggle. Connect everything in his (her) brain the way it is supposed to be so that he (she) has clarity of thought, organization, good memory, and strong learning ability.

I say to him (her) according to Your Word, "Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge" (Proverbs 23:12). "May the Lord give you understanding in all things" (2 Timothy 2:7). Lord, enable him (her) to experience the joy of learning more about You and Your world.
In Jesus' Name

Prayer from The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian, Instilling the Desire to Learn

The First Day of School!!!

When my children were five years old, this was a day I dreaded-the first day of school. Now after a few years under their belts, I'm not upset anymore. There are moments I breath a sigh of relief. However, I still am concerned over them. Who will they sit with on the bus? Will their teacher like them? What does this school year hold? With that in mind, I bring all my burdens for them to God in prayer.

So this week I would like to focus on praying for our children. Whether you're teaching them at home, sending them off to Pre-K, Elementary, or "Ahhh" Middle School, lets agree together that God will look after our children's mind, body, and soul.

Lord,
I lift (name of child) up to You and ask that You would put a hedge of protection around her (him). Protect her (his) spirit, body, mind, and emotions from any kind of evil or harm. I pray specifically for protection from accidents, disease, injury, or any other physical, mental, or emotional abuse. I pray that she (he) will make her (his) refuge "in the shadow of Your wings" until " these calamities have passed by" (Psalm 57:1). Hide her (him) from any kind of evil influences that would come against her (him). Keep her (him) safe from any hidden dangers and let no weapon formed against her (him) be able to prosper. Thank You, Lord, for Your many promises of protection. Help her (him) to walk in Your ways and in obedience to Your will so that she (he) never comes out from under the umbrella of that protection. Keep her (him) safe in all she (he) does and wherever she (he) goes.
In Jesus name, I pray.

Prayer from The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian, Securing Protection from Harm

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.'" Psalm 91:1-2

Blessings,
Lisa

Upcoming Events for August...

"Earth is crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees, takes off his shoes." Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sunday, August 15 Prayer Walk- Join us at Bethel Assembly of God in the sanctuary at 6:30 PM for a prayer walk to rededicate the church. The whole family is invited to participate including your little ones. Bring your strollers as we will be walking around the church campus!

Monday, August 16 Back to School Pool Bash- Join us at War Memorial Park Pool from 6-8 PM with your whole family! Refreshments will be served! Please remember your modest swimwear, towels, and sunscreen! Hope to see you all there!

Monday, August 30 Woman's Health Awareness Forum- In partnership with Vida Sackey-Duah, a nursing student at Mountain State University, join us for a woman's health awareness forum with a seasoned professional from the Shenandoah Women's Health Center at 6:30 PM at Bethel Assembly of God in the Mace building, room 109 (lasting approx. 30 minutes). Light refreshments immediately following.

Meet...Sharon Doerk

It is my sincere pleasure to introduce to you for our feature this month a lady that I feel is a genuine treasure. Sharon Doerk is a great friend and has become one of my go-to-girls. She has a real heart for other people and is very compassionate and a great encourager. She is also a teacher in the 2-3 year old room during Sunday morning service at Bethel Assembly of God in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Sharon and her husband, Brian have been married for five and a half years and met through a mutual friend. They became friends and then more. She says, "Brian is my soul mate and best friend". They have two children, Olivia (3) and Jacob (18 months).

Her hobbies and interests include gardening, cooking, music, physical fitness and her children. She enjoys all kinds of music with the exception on rap and hip-hop. She says, "I worked in the music industry for many years and had the opportunity to work with various artists. You never know what you will find in my CD player!" She has recently been listening to a lot of Christian pop/rock such as Casting Crowns and Phil Wickham and some 80's music.

Sharon's favorite thing about Mom's Connection is getting out of the house and getting to know other moms. She says, "I've learned so much in the little time I've been involved with Mom's Connection. It's a great group of ladies!"

I asked her what her relationship with the Lord means to her and she said she knows she is becoming a better person, wife, mom and friend because of the relationship she is building with Him. She knows that she can go to Him and confess her spiritual "slip-ups" and ask forgiveness and strength to not do it again. She said, "It is very important for me to start and end my day with prayer and reflection. He is my rock and my strength."

Her favorite Bible verse is Matthew 6:34, "Do not worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will take care of itself..." This verse reminds her to "not rush each day but to enjoy it for all it has to offer, get a good night's rest and be ready for whatever life and the Lord has for you the next day."

Tina Burton

School Supply Drive Tonight

Please go to Tropical Smoothie Cafe TONIGHT Monday, August 9th from 5-9 pm. They will donate up to 20% of all proceeds during those hours to Bethel Assembly of God's School Supplies Drive!

We are trying to make sure local students have everything they need to start the school year prepared. There is no flyer! There is nothing special you have to say...all you have to do is go out to eat!

They have a terrific menu of food to choose from AND of course their famous smoothies! Thanks!

Any questions contact, Amy L. Brooks. amysstadiumshere@aol.com :>)