Missing you!

I woke up last Tuesday morning and something was missing. It was that expentancy that I would be seeing all of you on my Tuesday night. So, I prayed that God would do a work in your lives that day and that each of you would have the privilege of seeing It.

I wanted to share this with all of you. I found it a couple months ago and thought it was an appropriate time. I miss you all so very much!!!

Love, Julie

This is a true story from Brennan Manning in the book, Abba’s Child
Once a woman asked me to come and pray with her father, who was dying of cancer. When I arrived, I found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows and an empty chair beside his bed. I assumed the old fellow had been informed of my visit.
“I guess you were expecting me,” I said.
“No, who are you?”
“I’m the new associate at your parish,” I replied. “When I saw the empty chair, I figured you knew I was going to show up.”
“Oh yeah, the chair,” said the bed-ridden man. “Would you mind closing the door?”
Puzzled, I shut the door. “I’ve never told anyone this, not even my daughter,” said the man, “but all my life I have never known how to pray. At the Sunday Mass I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it always went right over my head.
“I abandoned any attempt at prayer,” he continued, “until one day about four years ago my best friend said to me, ‘Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here’s what I suggest. Sit down on a chair, place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It’s not spooky because He promised, “I’ll be with you all days.” Then just speak to Him and listen in the same way you’re doing with me right now.’
“So, Padre, I tried it, and I like it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I’m careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she’d send me off to the funny farm.”
I was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old guy to continue on the journey. Then I prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the rectory.
Two nights later the daughter called to tell me that her daddy had died that afternoon.
“Did he seem to die in peace?” I asked.
“Yes. But there was something strange. In fact, beyond strange—kinda weird. Apparently just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on a chair beside his bed.”

Recipes

Cathy T. asked me to post my pumpkin cheesecake recipe on the blog. I thought it was a great idea to share recipes while we're taking a break! Anyone who wants this recipe, check out the core thoughts.

AND, Kathy B., please post your cherry dessert. Oh yeah, Melissa C., you HAVE to post the chocolate cookie recipe! Oh, and what about the apple crumb thing Crystalle made!!! Please post that! Any others???

Suggestion

After our Christmas break I have a suggestion for a book. A friend of mine (actually a few have read it) suggested this book. She said she never really understood how much God loved us until she read this. Check it out when you have time:

http://www.amazon.com/Redeeming-Love-Francine-Rivers/dp/1601420617/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256403586&sr=1-1

It is Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

QOTW...10/23

I'm intrigued and puzzled by the question in Kathy's last post...so it becomes our question this week.

How did Jesus fail? Or DID he fail?

Love all the questions for reflection and thought-processing on the blog, even though I don't get to it daily.

Tuesday night we asked what stood out to us from Manning's book:
**wanting to see grace all around
**having the grace to see everyone the way God sees them
**how much God loves us!!!! Yea!!
**how different our lives would be if we believed all of the above -- free from fear, from expectations, etc.

We also talked about failure somewhat. This from a journal I have:
"By avoiding failure we avoid our own humanity. But in avoiding our humanity we dodge and deny our very selves, the most precious gift God has given us.
"In view of society's attitude (towards success vs failure), failure actually may be one of the great spiritual discipines . . .However, we must be careful not to spiritualize failure because failure can crush the human spirit. . . we do well to proceed with gentleness and deep care. Failure should not be brushed aside, belittled, or trivilized [we could add glorified]. Yet failure, for all its harshness and darkness, may lead us to the light."

That same author pointed out that "Jesus failed too [we might ask ourselves how He failed] -- as people of faith we need to remember that the resurrection tosses out all standard expectations and measurements of failure and success (neither is inherently good or evil)."

Love you all -- Kathy
I would appreciate your prayers -- I am stressed, and that's not usual for me!

Lyrics I wanted to share

When I was working out last weekend I listened to some Faith Hill. She was brought up Baptist and I just think must be a pretty darn cool lady. BTW-I also ADORE her husband Tim McGraw....anyway. This song, "This is Me", had new meaning and I wanted to share the lyrics:

Yeah I have my addictions
and keep my share of secrets
and things you'll never see
I get selfish and defensive
And pay too much attention
to my insecurities
Oh I'm just like everybody else
I try to love Jesus and myself
*Chorus*
I don't know what you believe
or what you think of what you see
but this is a part of me
what i do and who i am
all my impurities
Are right here on my sleeve
This is me
This is me

My heart break for the homeless
I worry about my parents
and all my bills are late
I'm dealing with the changes
This complicated Strangeness
Of seeing life this way
I'm just like everybody else
I try to love Jesus and myself
*Chorus*

I laugh at silly movies
Tear up when i see babies
And I'm stubborn as a stone
I criticize my body
I wonder if I'm ready
To ever be alone
Oh I'm just like everybody else
I cry like everybody else
*chorus*

FYI

If you're wondering why the music doesn't automatically start, it's because I changed the settings a little. I am having a difficult time reading, writing and listening to the music. I am not very good at the multitasking thing!! haha! Don't laugh! So, the music is still here...just press the play button if you want to hear it and are better at multitasking! Hope that's okay that I changed it a bit. ;)

Love,
Julie

QOTW...10/17

This isn't so much of a "deep" question as it is one requiring reflection. We seem to always come back to our first book "The Apple" in our discussions. So I thought we could bring this full circle.

Name one lie you believed about yourself that you no longer believe. What helped you overcome the belief in this lie? Why did you believe it to begin with?

Chew on this...10/13

At last Tuesday night's meeting Kathy suggested we ask ourselves two questions this week:

1. How have I experienced grace today? yesterday? the day before?

2. Am I intentional about seeing grace?

Lately I have been asking myself: Why is it easier to show grace to some and more difficult to show grace to others? Jennifer posted this on the last QOTW that has stuck with me, and I think it relates well to my question: "To get out of 'being' lukewarm we must have the willingness to fail. If we stay in our comfort zone all the time and never RISK anything then we stay lukewarm". This goes so well with Kathy N.'s last post: "God can never make us wine if we object to the fingers He uses to crush us with." Is it possible that our willingness to experience suffering may have something to do with showing, seeing, experiencing and receiving grace? Isn't it interesting how much easier it is to show grace when we have experienced the same pain as another??? Just something I've been thinking about this week. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Much love,

Julie

Brennon Manning Link

Hoping this works for you:

Audio

**I had to attempt 2 times and it worked-that was what happened at kathy's. Also, you could try saving the file then opening it.

October Prayer Requests

Kathy Narney's student, Joe, was in a head-on collision. He made it through, but please pray for continued healing in his body.

Kathy Border-her friend's mom has breast cancer and will need surgery

Cecilia (Jennifer D'Amato's neighbor)-please continue to pray for this family at the tragic loss of their father and a specific prayer for her sister, Mary, who found her father in his home

Hugh Connilee (Sfwy Meat Dept and husband to Moms Club member)-was diagnosed with cancer

Melissa S.-needs wisdom when the opportunity comes up to talk with the women who participated in the psychic activities at the Halloween party. Also, let's pray to open the hearts and minds of those whom she will have the opportunity to speak to.

Julie- prayer for Colin as he is showing signs of a flare up and they are changing his medication. Also, please pray for Julie to 'get out of the way' for Colin...peace.

Mary's daughter Megan needs a new job.

Pray for each of us to have "grace eyes" and see grace each and every day...that if we are not seeing it that God would show us.

QOTW...10/9

Well, per Julie's request...I will try to post a Question of the Week on here. I've been a little dry lately in the "deep" question department. But this one came to me today as I was pondering obedience. I missed this week's discussion, but from the looks of it, you guys discussed obedience?? In light of that, here's one to think about...

Revelation 3:15 & 16
"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

What does it mean to be spiritually "lukewarm"? And how do you know if you are "lukewarm" or not? And how does this fit into the Gospel of Grace?

Chew on this...10/6

Every single week this group of women amazes me. I awake Tuesday morning with fervent expectancy for what God has in store for us that night. And, as I think more and more about the story that Jennifer told of Jesus meeting us fact-to-face just as we reach out to touch His robe, I believe He met us fact-to-face last Tuesday night.

Much Love,
Julie



This week's spiritual food is from Kathy N:


Thinking about obedience:
"Obedience is to do God's will, not to be useful, not to win souls; [the believer] is useful, and she does win souls, but that is not her aim. Her aim is to do the will of her Lord."

Then -- and this fits with Tuesday night's discussion about "functional atheism," etc.: "God's call has nothing to do with personal sanctification, but with being made broken bread and poured-out wine. God can never make us wine if we object to the fingers He uses to crush us with." Yikes! (I have a story about this).

I add: Too often we are more concerned about "the whine" in us than being made into "wine!"
..."to be a sacramental personality means that the elements of the natural life are presenced by God as they are broken providentially in His service."
We reject or run from being broken -- especially when we are so aware of our own broken-ness -- we don't want more of that, we want, long for -- wholeness, integration. That's of God -- but there is no easy route to that.

Praise God for.....

Kathy Narney's daughter got a job!!!!

Cathy Taylor's granddaughter does not have to have eye surgery!!!!!

Jennifer D'Amato's husband got a new position at work!!!!

Julie's FIL, Eldon, had a petscan and the spot on his lung is gone and the others are shrinking!!!

GLORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back in the Groove

I dislike when things get crazy and I do not have time to visit this blog and read and write with you wonderful women of God. I did have a wonderful experience at my first Women of Faith Conference-I cannot wait to share some of the stories, lessons, and jokes with you! God was doing some great work in that place and I was blessed to be witness to it. I never want, even for a moment, to take for granted lives saved and people made new!

I am greatly anticipating Tuesday night and spending time with all that can be there at Amy's house!

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
J.

Thanks, Julie, for adding more about the Lazarus story. This from Eugene Peterson: Without wonder we approach life as a self-help project; motivationsl energies for living well get dominated by anxiety (we can read FEAR!) and guilt which restrict (which we can experience as causing us to not be able to BREATHE) -- and we are malformed into lives of moral workaholism or pious athleticism." And the wrong kind of fear underlies all of this -- instead of the "fear-of-the-Lord."

Do you believe God is crazy about YOU?!!!

Chew on this...9/29

After our discussion about fear last Tuesday, I can't stop thinking about something GramiSu (Susie) posted on the blog a couple weeks ago about her fear..."Woke up in fear so intense this morning it feels like Big Foot is standing on my chest."

When I image this, I can see so clearly how the heaviness of fear (Big Foot) takes the "breath" right out of us. It debilitates us. I mean, what CAN we really do without the ability to breathe. Without breath, the body shuts down. Think about it. Chew on it.

About last Tuesday...

Kathy gave us an assignment to be written on our 3X5 cards. After reading John 11:44, rewrite the verse with blanks to be filled in with answers that apply to yourself. It would look like this: "Unbind (my name) and let (my fear or other) go free!"

It really helped me to read the more of the story of Lazarus again, so I have put more verses here. I really encourage you to read the previous verses not listed here too. The entire chapter was too long for this space.

John 11:38-44 (New Living Translation)
38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.
But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”
40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unbind Lazarus and let him go free!”