Saturday, April 11, 2009
Happy Easter!!!
"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, 'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!'" (Luke 24: 1-6)
Friday, April 10, 2009
Our Easter Party
On Tuesday, March 30 we celebrated Easter together in the gym with our children. We started out with a mixer for moms in which we drew eggs out of a basket that had written facts about moms inside each one. Then we opened our eggs and tried guessing who it belonged to in the group. For example, we learned Donnis Lloyd was once a runway model and Mariah Triggs collects frogs!!
We enjoyed some activities with our children. We made bunny baskets which was put together by Donnis Lloyd. We played games with our children and had an easter egg hunt outside.
Everyone brought something to share for lunch. We had a delicious spread. Afterwards we took home beautiful handmade miniature baskets filled with Hershey's kisses made by Tina Burton and homemade chocolate suckers.
Happy Easter Moms!!
You are invited to join us at our Easter egg hunt this Saturday evening at 7:30 pm and on Sunday morning at 9 am or 10:45 am services at Bethel Assembly of God in Martinsburg, WV.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Scariest Verse in the Bible
"Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" Matthew 7:22-23
I literally shudder every time I read it.
I would always ask myself, who in the world could do all of this supernatural "stuff" and just not make it. I finally came to a perfect example. Someone we can learn so much from. Judas.
It's passion week and today is Holy Thursday, the day that commemorates the Last Supper. I read all four gospel accounts of the Last Supper closely and came to an eye-opening discovery. JUDAS DID NOT TAKE COMMUNION at the Last Supper. During the time around the table, Jesus and His disciples shared a meal. It is referred to in the gospel of John when Jesus mentions in 13:26 that the one who betrays Him is the one "whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." He's not referring to communion. Judas actually eats this bread and then Jesus tells him in verse 27 "What you are about to do, do quickly." Then in verse 30 it says, "As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out."
In the gospels of Matthew and Mark, the same chronological order is followed, however, they don't mention Jesus telling Judas to leave immediately. If you put the puzzle together, we know for sure Judas did not partake in the very first holy communion. The gospel of Luke does not follow the chronological order as the others and makes it appear as though Judas does take communion. After some interesting research of Bible scholars, the gospel of Luke's sequence is unlike the other gospels in many ways. We can rest assured that Judas left after he took the bread Jesus gave him but before Jesus administered the bread and wine as symbolizing His body and blood. Let's look at the spiritual implications of this.
So Judas saw the miracles of Jesus. He listened to the teachings of Jesus. He even was given authority to "drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness"(Mathew 10:1). Judas even came from the same ancestoral tribe as Jesus. "Iscariot" means the man from Kerioth" which is one of the towns in the tribe of Judah. All of this, yet Judas never had "true communion" with Jesus.
To think so many people in the universal church today are listening, witnessing miracles, worshiping and claiming Jesus. But they do not have "true communion" with Him. They instead have their own agenda, and are trying to keep as much of their life without letting Jesus cover it all and live through them. Today I especailly check myself. "God, am I just talking the talk, or I am really living it." On this Holy Thursday, sit down with Lord and have communion. It's actually His idea. Here Him say, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me"(Rev.3:20).
Deneil Busey
I literally shudder every time I read it.
I would always ask myself, who in the world could do all of this supernatural "stuff" and just not make it. I finally came to a perfect example. Someone we can learn so much from. Judas.
It's passion week and today is Holy Thursday, the day that commemorates the Last Supper. I read all four gospel accounts of the Last Supper closely and came to an eye-opening discovery. JUDAS DID NOT TAKE COMMUNION at the Last Supper. During the time around the table, Jesus and His disciples shared a meal. It is referred to in the gospel of John when Jesus mentions in 13:26 that the one who betrays Him is the one "whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." He's not referring to communion. Judas actually eats this bread and then Jesus tells him in verse 27 "What you are about to do, do quickly." Then in verse 30 it says, "As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out."
In the gospels of Matthew and Mark, the same chronological order is followed, however, they don't mention Jesus telling Judas to leave immediately. If you put the puzzle together, we know for sure Judas did not partake in the very first holy communion. The gospel of Luke does not follow the chronological order as the others and makes it appear as though Judas does take communion. After some interesting research of Bible scholars, the gospel of Luke's sequence is unlike the other gospels in many ways. We can rest assured that Judas left after he took the bread Jesus gave him but before Jesus administered the bread and wine as symbolizing His body and blood. Let's look at the spiritual implications of this.
So Judas saw the miracles of Jesus. He listened to the teachings of Jesus. He even was given authority to "drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness"(Mathew 10:1). Judas even came from the same ancestoral tribe as Jesus. "Iscariot" means the man from Kerioth" which is one of the towns in the tribe of Judah. All of this, yet Judas never had "true communion" with Jesus.
To think so many people in the universal church today are listening, witnessing miracles, worshiping and claiming Jesus. But they do not have "true communion" with Him. They instead have their own agenda, and are trying to keep as much of their life without letting Jesus cover it all and live through them. Today I especailly check myself. "God, am I just talking the talk, or I am really living it." On this Holy Thursday, sit down with Lord and have communion. It's actually His idea. Here Him say, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me"(Rev.3:20).
Deneil Busey
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
What's Up, Wednesday!
Thank you to everyone who came out and participated in our Easter party. Special thanks to Donnis Lloyd and Julie Burton for planning it. We all had a great time and I know our children did too as they participated in a craft, egg hunt, and games!
Our upcoming events for April are as follows:
Saturday, April 11 Easter Egg Hunt-Come join us at Bethel Assembly of God at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary for a time of music, short story, and fun. Dress warm, bring a flashlight, and a basket for the nighttime egg hunt for children ages 12 and under
Tuesday, April 14 Topic Meeting- Join us at Bethel Assembly of God in the Mace building rm 109 from 10-11:45 am for our topic meetings. We will enjoy a time of fellowship and break into care circles for discussion. You will choose from one of the three topics we are currently studying.
Friday, April 17 Pajama & Movie Night- Tender Touch Ministries at Bethel Assembly of God in Martinsburg, WV Event. Meet in the upper center room of the MACE building on the second floor at 6 pm. Movie snacks and childcare will be provided.
Tuesday, April 28 Topic Meeting-Join us at Bethel Assembly of God in the Mace building rm 109 from 10-11:45 am for our topic meeting. Grace Mueller from Babymoon Doulas will be our guest speaker during our opening. Then we will join our care circles for discussion.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Texas Trip by Julia Bivens
On our trip to Texas, we traveled on route 40 through Arkansas, which is one of the most desolate stretches of highway I have ever seen. There is nothing but flat farm land as far as the eye can see, and about 20 miles between each exit. To make matters worse, there had been a drought. Not only was it a barren landscape, but it was dry, hot and dusty with huge dust clouds being blown around by a severe windstorm that day.
The traffic was heavy, and we were boxed in by a couple of semis. The truck immediately in font of us swerved to avoid a piece of curved sheet metal as big as a kitchen table. When my husband pulled onto the shoulder to drive around it, the strong winds blew it under our van. All power to the engine was cut off, and immediately Eric started asking God to help us.
We didn't know what was wrong with the van, but it was still rolling so we were able to coast along the shoulder. Thankfully, there was an exit right there, and we drifted down the hill onto a small country road. Unfortunately, the only thing we could see was a HUGE billboard advertising the triple X adult store off the end of the exit ramp. Great, we thought, four small children and the only shelter was THAT!
Eric and I got out to inspect the damage and saw that the fuel lines were severed. We spent only a few minutes crawling around on the ground and already the severe wind had blown grit and dust into our eyes, teeth, hair, and any other place imaginable. We miserably took shelter in the van to reassure the children and discuss options. That was when we noticed what looked to be a run down garage with a lot of junk cars laying around. Eric went to see if there was anyone around who could help.
While he was gone, I was praying with our girls that God would take care of us. Audrey said that she wished God would have kept it from even happening, and I told her that we needed to trust that God had His reasons for this situation.
Next thing I knew, Eric and another fellow came along with a large fork lift. I figured that it was probably a good time to bail out rather that be eight feet in the air, so I took all of the girls to the garage office. It was exactly what you would expect a junk parts shop to be, but it had a clean blanket laid over the couch, and it was out of the stinging wind.
Eric and I started talking with the shop owner while the mechanic ran to get some parts. It turned out that the fellow was a Christian, and he told of all the times God sent people to the door of his shop in situations much like ours. He said it was his ministry to help stranded motorists, because his was the only shop for miles around. He said he should have left for Memphis 20 minutes before we arrived, but was delayed by an unexpected visitor. He even talked to Audrey, telling her that God often allows things to happen to keep us from being at a certain place at a certain time.
When the mechanic came in to say everything was fixed, Eric asked what we owed them, and the owner said, "Nothing." We were overwhelmed. After praying with them, we got back on the road. Another twenty miles of driving brought us to the scene of a major wreck where a tractor trailer had caught on fire and burned completely to the ground. God certainly kept us from being at that certain place at that time.
The traffic was heavy, and we were boxed in by a couple of semis. The truck immediately in font of us swerved to avoid a piece of curved sheet metal as big as a kitchen table. When my husband pulled onto the shoulder to drive around it, the strong winds blew it under our van. All power to the engine was cut off, and immediately Eric started asking God to help us.
We didn't know what was wrong with the van, but it was still rolling so we were able to coast along the shoulder. Thankfully, there was an exit right there, and we drifted down the hill onto a small country road. Unfortunately, the only thing we could see was a HUGE billboard advertising the triple X adult store off the end of the exit ramp. Great, we thought, four small children and the only shelter was THAT!
Eric and I got out to inspect the damage and saw that the fuel lines were severed. We spent only a few minutes crawling around on the ground and already the severe wind had blown grit and dust into our eyes, teeth, hair, and any other place imaginable. We miserably took shelter in the van to reassure the children and discuss options. That was when we noticed what looked to be a run down garage with a lot of junk cars laying around. Eric went to see if there was anyone around who could help.
While he was gone, I was praying with our girls that God would take care of us. Audrey said that she wished God would have kept it from even happening, and I told her that we needed to trust that God had His reasons for this situation.
Next thing I knew, Eric and another fellow came along with a large fork lift. I figured that it was probably a good time to bail out rather that be eight feet in the air, so I took all of the girls to the garage office. It was exactly what you would expect a junk parts shop to be, but it had a clean blanket laid over the couch, and it was out of the stinging wind.
Eric and I started talking with the shop owner while the mechanic ran to get some parts. It turned out that the fellow was a Christian, and he told of all the times God sent people to the door of his shop in situations much like ours. He said it was his ministry to help stranded motorists, because his was the only shop for miles around. He said he should have left for Memphis 20 minutes before we arrived, but was delayed by an unexpected visitor. He even talked to Audrey, telling her that God often allows things to happen to keep us from being at a certain place at a certain time.
When the mechanic came in to say everything was fixed, Eric asked what we owed them, and the owner said, "Nothing." We were overwhelmed. After praying with them, we got back on the road. Another twenty miles of driving brought us to the scene of a major wreck where a tractor trailer had caught on fire and burned completely to the ground. God certainly kept us from being at that certain place at that time.
Monday, April 6, 2009
I'm a Saint!
I'm a saint! That's right! I said it. I'm a saint! But guess what? So are you! I know when your children are arguing in the back of your van and you're yelling "Be quiet!" at the top of your lungs while you are going 75 mph in a 65 mph zone trying to get to your destination, you just might not feel like a saint! Neither do I. Who do you think I just described above? But regardless of how you feel God still considers us saints.
Last week I reminded you that we are God's children, adopted into the family of God. We were strangers but are now daughters. Because when we accept Christ Jesus into our lives, our spiritual position changes. We were far off but now are brought near. In Ephesians 2:19 it reads, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people (saints) and members of God's household." We were lost but now are found! At the moment of our conversion, our position changed! In Ephesians 1:1 Paul describes the church of Ephesus as saints. We have been set apart. Please read further on what God's Word says about us as saints in Ephesians 3:8, 4:11-13, 5:3, 6:18. ( In the New International Version of the Bible, the word saint is sometimes translated "God's people" or "God's holy people".)
Now that we have been reminded of our position, what do we do about it? We are set apart for what? In Ephesians 1:18 Paul wrote, "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints...". We have a hopeful, rich future on this earth and waiting for us in Heaven. Being a saint means to be set apart. We are set apart to worship God, serve fellow believers, and reach those outside of the family. When we're saints positionally, we need to act accordingly as we are growing up in Christ.
Here's the key- we are growing up which means we're not perfect. Sometimes we need to focus more attention on the awe of our position instead of always thinking of our failures and frustrations. I know its hard to do because we are reminded daily of how we didn't act like a saint. Instead change your focus on how great God is that despite all your mess ups, your position does not change. God still says, "you're mine, you're a saint, you're forgiven, and I love you."
"For I am convinced that neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39
Blessings Saints,
Lisa
Last week I reminded you that we are God's children, adopted into the family of God. We were strangers but are now daughters. Because when we accept Christ Jesus into our lives, our spiritual position changes. We were far off but now are brought near. In Ephesians 2:19 it reads, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people (saints) and members of God's household." We were lost but now are found! At the moment of our conversion, our position changed! In Ephesians 1:1 Paul describes the church of Ephesus as saints. We have been set apart. Please read further on what God's Word says about us as saints in Ephesians 3:8, 4:11-13, 5:3, 6:18. ( In the New International Version of the Bible, the word saint is sometimes translated "God's people" or "God's holy people".)
Now that we have been reminded of our position, what do we do about it? We are set apart for what? In Ephesians 1:18 Paul wrote, "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints...". We have a hopeful, rich future on this earth and waiting for us in Heaven. Being a saint means to be set apart. We are set apart to worship God, serve fellow believers, and reach those outside of the family. When we're saints positionally, we need to act accordingly as we are growing up in Christ.
Here's the key- we are growing up which means we're not perfect. Sometimes we need to focus more attention on the awe of our position instead of always thinking of our failures and frustrations. I know its hard to do because we are reminded daily of how we didn't act like a saint. Instead change your focus on how great God is that despite all your mess ups, your position does not change. God still says, "you're mine, you're a saint, you're forgiven, and I love you."
"For I am convinced that neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39
Blessings Saints,
Lisa
Friday, April 3, 2009
Open Gym Time With Your Children
If you want to do something fun with your kids, check out Flip Over Gymnastics in the Berkeley Recreation Center located at 273 Woodbury Ave Martinsburg, WV 25401 (off of North Queen Street).
OPEN GYM
Open gym is $5 per child/ $3 for one sibiling discount
one-month open gym pass is $25
$20 for students who sign up for multiple classes
$20 for students who sign up for multiple classes
Sunday
noon-1pm 7 and under (older sibilings may attend)
1pm-2pm 8 and older (no younger sibilings may attend)
2pm-3pm Ages 13 and older
Monday
10am-11am 18 months through 7 years
11am-noon 18 months through 7 years
Wednesday
10am-11am infant through 5 years
11am-noon 18 months through 7 years
Friday
6pm-8pm 8 years and older
Thank you to Janine DiGiovanni for sharing this information with us and for the picture of her son Samuel at the gym.
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