A Year of Growth

Hey Everybody!

Long time no blog. :) We are at the halfway point of all our "Community Day" Bible Studies at Lee Park.  The Lord has blessed and we are all growing in the knowledge of His Word.  Tuesday's are so fun.  Please consider joining us for one in the Spring. We start back the third Tuesday in January.

I'm thankful for Kris Singleton.  She teaches one of our Nehemiah studies.  She and her husband Tim lead our First 5 Years Marriage LINK class.
Thanks to her for her blog and honesty.  She honors the Lord.

Love you all! 
Becky:) 

November 5, 2011 was a day I prepared 6 months for. It was a day I planned to check something off of my bucket list...and that thing was a body building competition. Crazy, I know...that's why I have only done one. :) I remember writing a blog this time last year about how the Lord is with us--even in the small things. I remember being extremely emotional about the strict diet I was on and giving Him the glory in my blog for calming my anxieties on the day of competition. It all seemed like such a big deal then.

November 5, 2012 is the due date my husband Tim and I were given at the doctors office in March when we got to see our cute little peanut on the ultrasound screen and hear the oh so sweet heartbeat. I remember thinking...oh how different I will look in one short year. :)

Well, just a few weeks later, the unthinkable happened. Our precious little baby went home to be Jesus. I remember crying in my husband's arms and wondering why this happened to us. As Tim prayed, I knew the same arms that were holding our baby, were also wrapped around us. God is so faithful and was so present in this time. Of course we were incredibly sad, but I had an unexplainable peace. That peace was Jesus. Honestly, it was so strong that I actually felt bad about it. I didn't know why I wasn't crying more and when people asked how I was getting through it, my only answer was GOD.

As I write this, on the evening on November 4th, with tears in my eyes, I am grateful how the Lord has grown my faith this past year. Knowing that just one short year ago, a body building competition was what I was praying for God's strength in. Maybe that's all I could handle last year. I am thankful for a church and a ladies ministry under the direction of Becky Justice, that encouraged me to get into my Bible and grow in a deeper walk with God. I didn't know what He was preparing me for, but I am so glad that He strengthens me and grows my faith daily.

So many women approached me after our miscarriage and shared that they had been through the same and offered such encouragement.  Recently, I actually had the opportunity to encourage some friends who were now dealing with miscarriage of their own. I am grateful the Lord has entrusted me with the tender hearts of these women and pray that my testimony will help them get through their difficult loss.

I pray that YOU know this God I'm talking about. I pray that you don't just know Him, but have a personal relationship with Him. I encourage you to grow in a deeper walk with Him and get to know His word because you never know when you will need that peace assurance that only He can provide.

I've Got Your Back

"I've got your back!"

That is the way I read one of my favorite verses in red, the words that Jesus spoke. I am convinced that were the Bible written in the 21st century, that is exactly what John 14:25-27 would say.....at least the SRV, the Susan Revised Version.

Jesus promised a Helper when He left this earth, and He always keeps His promises. Our Helper, the Holy Spirit, is always there to remind us of Jesus' words and how to apply them to our lives.

We all have moments when we forget that we have that Helper, but thankfully He does not forget us. Let me let you in on how this has worked for me recently.

For this school teacher, the year started with a bang! There was loads of paperwork and added responsibilities, and that was before the year even started!

Planning for a substitute teacher is one of my least favorite things I have to do, but I have to do it. It adds three hours to the lesson planning process. This year, I was required to get a sub for two days within the first three weeks of school.....so I could go to training classes. Wait, I am not done. On top of that, the first day of the training class was the biggest day of the Democratic National Convention. Would you like to guess where the class was? Of course, the class was in downtown Charlotte right in the middle of the convention. Stress, not peace, was the feeling that I had most.

That day away from school on Thursday could not have come at a better time. The traffic that I was fearful of, was nothing that day going into town. And the required training class, that I did not really want to go to, has made the planning process easier for me.

That's when I remembered.

"These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." John 14:25-27

Helped, even before I knew I needed it,

Susan Seward

She's a writer now...

Representing the Ladies Ministry, Mary Armstrong, will be teaching a study that she wrote on her own beginning this Wednesday, September 5.  Come join us!

GOD EMBRACE: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK

          My family and I have been blessed to be members at Lee Park for almost four years.  During this time we have been encouraged in our walk with Jesus and our faith has grown.  One of the many areas that God has used to serve this purpose in my life is through participating in and teaching ladies Bible studies.  It has been instrumental in growing me closer to my Lord and developing godly relationships with other ladies.  

     I am thankful for our church leaders that not only provide opportunities for us to grow personally, but also exhort us to share in ministry as we serve others.

     Grateful and humbled is how I feel about an upcoming opportunity to teach a Wednesday night ladies study centered in the book of Habakkuk.  I appreciate the willingness and support that Pastor Chris and Becky have offered by allowing me to write and teach this study.

     Habakkuk is probably not your most familiar Bible read.  This fact was brought home to me a few years ago when Pastor Chris stated that he had told someone he would be preaching from the book of Habakkuk only to have them reply, "I thought he was someone on Star Wars."  Case in point!  

      It may be tempting for you to shy away from the smaller and less familiar books of the Old Testament.  Such was the case for me, until several years ago, when I read a book that had a chapter in it dedicated to the book of Habakkuk.  Within those pages I "fell in love" with this minor prophet that I had previously known nothing about.  I was surprised to find that as I read his story I had more in common with him than I could have ever imagined.  

     Habakkuk was a man that God used to serve Him and the nation of Israel.   Yet, he wrestled with the same hard questions of the faith that can plague you and me......."Where is God when bad things are happening all around me?"  "How long am I going to have to endure this hardship?"  "Why does God allow pain and suffering in the lives of His children?"  Maybe, like me, you have asked a few of these questions yourself.   If so, we are not alone.  As we study together this book of the Bible that bears his name, we will feel Habakkuk's despair, see his wrestlings and watch him pour his heart out to God.   We will also get to see God do what only He can do...turn a worrier into a worshiper and transform a fearful man into a man of faith.

       In fact, Habakkuk's name means "embrace" and that is exactly what this man of God learned to do--embrace his God in the midst of painful and difficult circumstances.  As we delve into this study in God's Word, we too, will learn how we can more fully "embrace" our God and grow in our walk of faith.  I hope that you will join me as we move together toward a "God Embrace."

What's Missing?

Hey Ladies!

We are busy getting ready for the "Ladies Bible Study Fall Expo,"  Tuesday, September 18th, at 7:00.  We are trying to convince you, our friends, that in-depth Bible study and time with other ladies is what is missing in your life.  If we can help with any questions, please email us here on the blog.

Today, meet one of our newer teachers, Kim Bass.  Kim and her husband, Jeff, serve faithfully at Lee Park.  She is in the Ladies Ministry and He is in the Men's Ministry.  She and Jeff run their Insurance Business.  I love to shop at my local Harris Teeter and see their picture on my cart advertising that business.  I'm thankful for Kim and her willingness to serve.  She is always so caring to her students that take one of her studies.  She has snacks:).  

Thanks Kim for writing this blog. 

Do you have time for God?  Within our busy days, how many times do we ignore God? With a million things on our minds, having to be in 3 places at one time, when God spoke to us did we hear Him?--Probably not. We need to be aware that God is near, watching us and loving us.

Sometimes to experience God we just need to be still. To feel a cool breeze on a hot summer day, or to see the white billowly clouds floating aimlessly in the deep blue sky or even to hear the birds chirping in the early morning, that should bring God to your mind.  To know that He is near.

He delights in our conversation with Him, but how do we know God?

Through His Word is the place where we will find Him. Taking time to read and study His Word, not only will enrich our lives, but will be pleasing to our God.  How much joy and peace can the Creator of the Universe bring you?  As He takes care of the birds in the air, how much more would He take care of you?

To be in a Bible study is the answer.  Our great God wants to spend time with you.  Don't let life bring you down, turn toward our God for the fulfilment in life that only He can bring you.

Hope to see you September 18, at our Ladies Fall Bible Expo!!!

What Bible Study Has Done For Me

My name is Shannon Hill. I am a wife to an amazing man, Mark, a mother of three, Parker, 5, Kessler, 2, and Riley, born in January. I am also a part time hair stylist. I was honored, (after the terror wore off) to be asked to lead a Bible study at church. I love the ladies ministry and the godly woman who run it that I look up to. When asked to write a blog for our ministry,I was very unsure of what to share, or what not to share, but after much prayer, I hope the words that follow are from Christ and not me.

I will never forget my first day of my Bible study, “So Long Insecurity”. The walk from the parking lot to the doors at Lee Park was almost enough to make me turn and run to the comforts of my home. I was fairly new to Lee Park, very new to Monroe and even more new to the idea of Bible study. Every insecure thought I could have raced through my mind at once, (funny how God works, He was already preparing me for what was to come).  I felt more insecure walking into a room full of Christian woman for an insecurity class than I did my first day of high school. I soon realized that I was not alone!! That study was just the beginning of my freedom through Christ. It was also the beginning of a better marriage, a better home life with my children and a better relationship with my mother.  It led to a much desired, much deeper relationship with my Creator. I enjoy Him now like I never knew I could. 

My Bible study “walks” have gotten much easier, and I haven’t missed an opportunity to be a part of one since. I have found deep friendships and awesome role models. These studies have not only changed me, but the Lord has worked on so many of my loved ones through the knowledge I obtained during these studies. Instead of casting judgment on my mother, which I had done for years, I now wanted to call and encourage her, to tell her how much God loves her and longs to have her back. She went from ignoring God and condemning herself to joining us on our ladies retreat and feeling closeness with the Lord that she had not felt for years! What a blessing it was to so many of us to hear her testimony on that trip. But wait, it gets better!! My sister, who is six years younger than me and who always looked up to me, even when I was living a life the opposite of what God intended for me, she found Christ a little over a year ago! I am so thankful that the Lord let me have a hand in that, and even more thankful for the forgiveness He has given to me! It just goes to show that He knows what He is doing, even when we don’t. He let me choose my own path, make my mistakes and then helped me realize how much I needed Him to choose my path for me. And even after all the years of turning my back on Him, He so graciously still chooses to bless me with so much.

I’m not saying life is perfect, I don’t expect perfection this side of heaven. What I am saying is that life is worth living with Christ leading, and not just worth it, it is overwhelmingly enjoyable. I am just a sinner, saved by grace, trying every day to live in this world and not be of it and praying hard that others see more of Him and less of me!

I pray that these studies touch you like they have touched me; I pray you will choose to make “the walk” through the doors and I pray you will always find open, loving arms waiting for you on the other side, just as I did.

Much Love,

Shannon

Ladies Ministry Fall Bible Studies

Here is a list of our upcoming Fall Ladies Ministry Bible Studies!  We wanted to put this list out now so that you can be praying about which one to take.  Sign-ups will be at our Fall EXPO, “Designed By God” on September 18, 2012 at 7 p.m.  Mark your calendars now and if you have any questions, please call our church office at 704-289-4674.

A Woman’s Heart God’s Dwelling Place (A great follow-up to the Patriarchs)

A Woman’s Heart explores the building of the Old Testament tabernacle. It looks at the significance of its intricate design, its pivotal role in God's eternal plan, the grand fulfillment of its purpose by Jesus Christ, and its variety of meanings for your walk with God today. This is a video driven study. (Offered in both the AM and PM)

Believing God by Beth Moore(The Bible study that we believe everyone should do)

Originating from a concept introduced in Isaiah 43:10, Believing God examines what it means to believe God rather than only believe in Him. Participants study the lives of Abraham and others from Hebrews 11 as examples of people who believed God. This study parallels a personal journey Beth took in coming to understand what it means to believe God.  This is a video driven study. (Offered in both the AM and PM)

Breaking Free by Beth Moore (Offered each year and great for first-time in-depth study)

Breaking Free leads you through Scripture to discover the transforming power of freedom in Jesus Christ. Themes for this study come from Isaiah, a book about the captivity of God's children, the faithfulness of God, and the road to freedom. It draws parallels between the captive Israelites of the Old Testament and New Testament believers in Jesus as the Promised Messiah. This is a video driven study. (Offered in the PM)

Brave by Angela Thomas

This study speaks to us about deep feelings that all women have at one time or another. Angela looks boldly at some of the fears and struggles of being a woman and she helps us see how we can be brave in the face of those challenges. It takes a brave woman to ask these questions and dig into these topics alongside other believers. We've all got insecurities, flaws and struggles that we're afraid to address but if we can be brave enough to raise the questions, God will answer us. You've got questions. God's got answers. Be brave.  This is a video driven study. (Offered in the AM)

Cookies on the Lower Shelf by Kay Arthur (Flexible levels, great for anyone!)

A Precept Inductive Bible Study Series that covers the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation in three, 10-week segments. This series is designed to help you see the Big Picture and give you the context needed to get the most understanding from future studies!  This particular study will be Genesis through Ruth and then we pick in the Spring with I Samuel through Malachi and then again in the fall with the New Testament. This is book study. (Offered in both the AM and PM)

Daniel by Beth Moore  (For those looking for more in-depth study)

Join Beth in a faith-building study of prophecy and learn how to live with integrity in today's self-absorbed society resembling Babylon. The prophet Daniel faced unbelievable pressures to compromise his faith, to live in a hostile culture, and to confront temptations and threats. Today, believers in Jesus Christ face many of the same trials.  This is a video driven study. (Offered in the PM)

David: Seeking a Heart Like His by Beth Moore

A compelling women's Bible study of David. In this examination of the "man after God's own heart," David will delight and disappoint you. If you've ever experienced doubt, temptation, loss, family problems or personal inconsistencies, this study is for you!  This is a video driven study. (Offered in both the AM and PM)

Every Body Matters by Gary Thomas

This study is about how proper eating and an active lifestyle can affect how we serve God. Gary Thomas reaches all the way back to the apostle Paul, who wrote that we need to prime our bodies to become, 'an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. In every instance, Thomas makes a direct connection between the physical challenge and its spiritual consequence. This book is a must read for anyone seeking new and compelling motivation for strengthening their bodies and fortifying their souls.  This is a book study. (Offered in the PM)

Faithful, Abundant and True by Kay Arthur, Beth Moore and Priscilla Shirer

God is faithful.  His provision is abundant.  His promises are true!  Join these three amazing women from live recordings at a Deeper Still event as they share How God is faithful, how we can live an abundant life even when we are in the middle of an impossible situation and to live by every Word that God says. This study is taught similar to their previous study--Anointed, Transformed and Redeemed. This is a video driven study.  (Offered in both the AM and PM)

God’s Story by Anne Graham Lotz  

God's Story begins in Genesis with Creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and Noah and the ark.  Join Anne as she thoughtfully illuminates each moment of Creation with inspiring insights and probing reflections, leading you to know God, the Creator of us all.  
This is a video driven study. (Offered in both the AM and PM)

Nehemiah by Kelly Minter  

Nehemiah's heart was so broken for those in need that he left the comfort of his Persian palace to help them. This study challenges women to let God break their hearts for a hurting, lost world and move them in compassion to lead people to Jesus. This is a video driven study. (Offered in the AM for all and PM for Youth)

Return to the Garden by Kay Arthur

This interactive Bible study is an honest, redemptive call to recognize and return to God's standards for purity. Kay's straightforward lessons from Scripture focus on love, sex in marriage, purity, modesty, and examples of how men and women should relate to each other. These timely messages are for women, whether married or single, mother or daughter.  Kay writes from the perspective of one who has experienced God's grace and voices heartfelt concern for a sex-saturated society that has forgotten how to blush. From the beginning of time, our sexuality and distinctiveness as women has been front and center with God. We are designer goods, designed by God, no less! And when it comes to our sexuality, He has much to say to us.  This is a video driven study. (Offered in the AM for all and in the PM for College/Young Singles)

So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore  

Beth speaks truth into the lives of readers, showing them how to deal with their innermost fears, rediscover their God-given dignity, and develop a whole new perspective. Women of all ages and backgrounds will resonate with this message of security and discover truths that will free them emotionally and spiritually and lead them to a better life as they walk with God. This is a book study. (Offered in the AM)

The Patriarchs by Beth Moore (For those looking for a deeper understanding of the Old Testament)  Discover God's pursuit of a relationship with man, and marvel as His plan to bless all people unfolds. Full of twists and turns, ruin and redemption, revelation and mystery this Bible study keeps participants captivated by the God who stars in it! Explore concepts such as blessing, covenant, and promise, and the bearing each has on a New Testament believer's life today.  A wonderful picture of how God keeps His covenant with His people. This is a video driven study. (Offered in both the AM and PM)

Peace in the Storm

We are just back from a two-week family vacation.  We had such a great time with our dear friends, the Pressley’s.  Clint and Connie (Mac and Nate) have been our friends for many years and we typically go with them to an Island in Florida around this time of year.  This year, as we headed down to Florida after Sunday morning church, we learned that the island had been closed due to a Tropical Storm.  The island was without power for about a week and we were searching for new vacation plans. 

We met our friends in Tifton, GA and made it our ‘new vacation’ place for the week.  Tifton isn’t generally considered a vacation destination but we didn’t spend much time complaining.  Family time and good friends made the location insignificant.  God blessed our time and our small town vacation was actually pretty fun.  We went to the Tifton bowling alley – the Tifton movie theatre – the Tifton Waffle House (actually there are two Tifton Waffle Houses)– and the Tifton Chick-fil-A. 

In our time there, we also walked the downtown area.  On one particular walk, we crossed a railroad track and Clint remarked that he and his oldest son were thinking of running the railroad tracks on one of our afternoons.  That thought is probably harmless for most people, but standing on those railroad tracks sent my mind to thoughts of my brother, Tommy -- thoughts that stayed with me the whole two weeks.

Tommy was my great-looking oldest brother.  He was 25 and I was in the third grade when he died.  In fact, I was in Mrs. Nelson’s class at Darby Elementary in Ohio when I was told about Tommy.  (I love Mrs. Nelson so much to this day.  She was a comfort to me then and still cheerleads me and Chris via Facebook.)  Tommy was hit by a train in the middle of the night.  He and his girlfriend were laying on the tracks hanging out late at night right behind her parent’s home.  She went inside, he stayed outside a little longer and fell asleep on the tracks.  The train came through and Tommy tried to escape, but his clothes got caught in the tracks. 

My parents were in the thick of raising kids at that time.  My brother, Steve, was in college; my sister, Cathy, had just given birth to her first child; my sister, Karen, was ready to start her first day at Ohio State and my brothers, Mitch and Johnny, were in Middle School.  My dad was an over the road truck driver and out on a run in another state.  My mom was working as a supervisor for the State of Ohio.  The police came by that morning to have someone identify the body and my sister, Karen, was the only one home.  She is the sweetest girl, my heart breaks knowing she was asked to do this at such a young age. 

How could any family be prepared for what my parents would have to deal with?  My parents, who were saved as adults and started a church in their home (that would later become Southwest Community Church of the Nazarene – and still stands today) would be forced into a situation in which their faith would be on display like they couldn’t possibly have prepared for.   But the way they displayed their faith has been a remarkable testimony to the peace that can only come from the Lord. 

I love time to reflect.  Bedtime is the best time for me to reflect.  I go over the day -- repent for feelings, thoughts and behaviors.  I ask the Lord to purify my heart and draw me close to Him.  These two weeks away allowed for great reflection time.  I would start reading something and then my mind would wonder and I would think of my extended family.  I love them all so much.  However, there are many things we have done as a family without Tommy.  For me the list includes: the day I got married, the day I had my first child and the day we bought our first home.  Every big event and even some simple ones, quickly make my heart remember that Tommy did not get to experience those things.  He was so much older than me.  He was really more like an uncle.  He went into the military and I have no memory of us living in the house together. 

I have just one memory of him.  Breaks my heart – but it is the truth.  He and his girlfriend came out to the house one evening and took Johnny and me to the drive-in movies.  It was an incredible night.  I enjoyed it so much and he was so handsome like my father.  I loved every minute of being his kid sister that night.  He reeked of cool!  Once I got my license, I would drive over to that same drive-in by myself just to remember him and then go to his graveside.

My parents put “First One Home” on his gravestone.  I love that.  That one act from my parents brought great peace to their children.  My parent’s resolve to honor God and trust Him sealed any doubt I had.  I kept looking, for years, for a chink in that resolve -- I never saw it.  Their kindness to the conductor of that train will be an incredible testimony I will tout for the Lord for all my days.  The man feared facing my parents and he desperately needed them to relieve some of his grief.  My parents quickly did.  They prayed for his relief when they prayed for their own.  Faith in the midst of a trial, faith in the midst of lasting heartache -- my parents found a very faithful God.  He sustained them, kept them, pursued them and rewarded them with peace and comfort. 

I remember finding my mom, yearly, on Tommy’s birthday and the date of his death, seeking time alone with the Lord to calm her sad heart. 

Teach your kids this kind of faith.  Someday they may be called to serve Him and your faithfulness might be what keeps their faith on track.  My parent’s undeniable faith has encouraged me on countless days. 

I love the Lord.  His peace is real and true. 

I will serve Him all my days.

Praying for my siblings who don’t confess a faith in Jesus.  Praying they repent and believe His promises – and remember the undeniable testimony of our parents. 

I love you all!!!

It is so good to be home and in love with Lee Park.

Becky ;)

Focus: Fixing My Eyes on Jesus

Lately, I have been thinking about the word "focus."  God's Word has a lot to say about it.  For example, Col. 3:2 admonishes us to "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things on the earth."   That's definitely being intentional in our focus!

The Lord  is teaching me personally that to have a focus like this, it is something I must choose and in which I must be trained.  To me, it would be so much easier if God would just take the 2 "D's" that come into my life away so my perspective could be easily maintained. What are the 2 "D's" you might ask? Distractions and devastations.  I like to categorize things and it seems the hinderances that lure me away from where my mind needs to stay, which is on Christ, nearly always comes in the form of the 2 "D's."

I was having my quiet time this morning and was called to answer a knock at my door.  It was a short interruption, but as I returned to my room, I found myself wanting to blame someone else for not answering the door.  Didn't they know what I was doing was important?  Weren't they closer to the door anyway?  I realized this tiny little distraction was going to harness my thoughts and begin to run wild with them if I didn't just ignore it and place my focus back on my time alone with God.

Sometimes the things that steal my perspective are as simple as that.  Other times they are much more intense involving extreme issues to deal with.  This past summer was such a time for me.  As our family tragically lost my father-in-law and also my mother-in-law 18 days later, I felt the winds of devastation storming through my life.  Unanswered questions, doubts, and fears begged for my time and attention, making my focus on God all the more difficult, yet crucial. 

     
I had to choose whether or not I would let my anxious thoughts drive me away from God or to Him;  whether or not I would stay focused on my circumstances or turn my eyes back to the Lord.  Trust me when I say I have lived a good portion of my life handling my circumstances on my own and the outcome has not been desirable.  I definitely didn't want to go back "there" again so I was desperate to run to Jesus and pour out all of my feelings and fears to Him.  The result:  In His timing, He delivered me out of the dark place I was in and He set my feet back on steady ground.  It wasn't easy and it didn't happen overnight, but He did calm and heal my anxious heart.  To Him be the glory!!! I realize now it was all part of His training as He wants to teach me to continuously to refocus and look to Him.  

I heard a story a while back that really reenforced to me our need to be trained to keep our eyes on The Lord:  Two men were placed in a flight simulator that would give each of them the same type of experience one might face in flying an air force jet while in combat.  As they occupied their compartment, each man was whirled around upside down, creating a dizzying effect that would effect most anyone.  However, when the motion had ceased and each man exited their simulator, two totally opposite reactions resulted.  One man walked out of the simulator composed and calm; the other was dizzy, sick, and had lost his grounding.  What produced the difference?  The calm, composed man was an air craft pilot trained for his profession.  The other man was an ordinary civilian that had been chosen to demonstrate an interesting concept.  How had his counterpart been trained to enable himself to keep his equilibrium?  What did he know that his poor, unsteady partner didn't?  The professional aircraft pilot had been instructed as his jet went into motion, to focus his eyes on one designated spot and keep them there during the entire test.  The other man didn't know the value of such a discipline.  I imagine he felt just about as out of control as his surroundings actually were.   

What an analogy for me!  In my times of menial distractions and in my times of devastation when my world appears to be turning upside down around me, Jesus is to be my one constant focal point.  For I am learning He is not just the calm after the storm; He is my Calm in the storm.  He's not just the light at the end of the tunnel;  He's my Light in the tunnel.  And He's not just the One I will see when I get to heaven; He is the One I am to set my eyes upon now! 

 "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2  

Mary

Summer Book Club

Tomorrow starts our "Summer Book Club" at Lee Park!  
We will offer two books for our 8 weeks together:

                         "Lazarus Awakening" by Joanna Weaver

                             "God's Story" by Anne Graham Lotz

We will meet on Tuesdays in the mornings from 9 -10 a.m. and in the evenings from 7-8 p.m.

We will not be having meals in the Summer.  This allows us all to get back to our families for Summer Fun.

I hope you will consider signing up with us.  I am going to miss a few weeks...most everyone that signs up will...it's Summertime. Still, please consider coming and getting a great Summer read..with the added bonus of some fellowship.

I am already so excited for the Fall.  Put September 18th on your calendars.  We will have our "Fall Ladies Ministry Expo"... as my husband would say ...IT'S GONNA BE BIG!

Thank you to Mary Armstrong..Sharon York..and Lisa Nance for teaching this Summer. Thanks to Sharon Latta and Robin Gagne for the weeks they will fill in.

Love you Ladies...I'm praying for you and your families. I'm praying for you as you create a happy home for you and them. 

Becky:)

A Bondservant....

"James, A bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Chris, in the early days at Lee Park did an entire sermon off of that part of the first verse in the book of James.

bondservant-
1. A person obligated to service without wages.
2. A slave.

Am I a bondservant of God?

The brother of Jesus is introducing himself as a bondservant.  Doesn't say, "I am James, brother of Jesus."  He only says, "bondservant of the Lord Jesus Christ."  I have nicknames for my brothers.  I like to show familiarity and sometimes that trumps the respect I should show for position.   I love the respect...the awe James shows to our Lord.  He doesn't seem interested in flaunting his "brother" credentials...only interested in expressing his "sold-out(ness)" to his Lord, Jesus Christ.

While I like modern...some modern phrases get me a little tweaked.  "Jesus is my homey"..."Jesus is my homeboy" ....ohh and this one makes me want to pull over cars and discuss the theology of such ..."Jesus is my co-pilot."   (How did that phrase make it to bumper stickers?)

Ladies....
As we begin James tomorrow, may we approach the Lord Jesus Christ...praying to be "bondservants" ...bondservants as we prepare to do our homework..bondservants as we carve out time to go to study...and bondservants as we try to memorize the book of James.

Many of you, (I've been guilty too) come on Tuesdays asking for what can be done FOR you and many walk away empty week after week.  Maybe we all can go into this study (since we all will be doing the same study:):):)yay!)...asking only to make us bondservants of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I'm praying for you..I can't wait to see you...feed you...and study God's Word with you.   More than anything...become a bondservant of God with you!  :)

Much love!
Becky

It's still not too late to come tomorrow...we have a book for you.....call 704.289.4674 with any questions or just come to 2505 Morgan Mill Road tomorrow at 9 a.m. or 7 p.m.

The long walk to the door.....

Ladies,

Tomorrow is our big day for Bible study sign-ups! We are very excited and can't wait to see everyone. This blog is one you need to read. It is from our dear friend, Sarah Vick. Her Bible study testimony may sound familiar to you, that you could write it yourself. It may be how you are feeling about tomorrow. Sarah taught a Bible study this past fall, and is one of our James teachers for this semester. She is an absolute delight, a wonderful friend, and has the best sense of humor! We are very glad she made the long walk to the door four years ago, our lives were changed for the better!

Becky and Lisa

Four years ago, I found myself in a new season of life. My older daughter was a student at Meredith College. My younger daughter was about to graduate from high school and begin her freshman year at NC State. My husband, John, and I were about to become "empty-nesters". My season of carpooling, packing lunches and helping out in my daughter's classrooms was already a thing of the past and my season as a mother of teenagers was quickly coming to an end. John and I have a strong marriage and we love spending time together so that was not a worry. At age 55, I was facing a major life change--I loved my roles of wife, mother and homemaker, but I wanted to know what new plans did God have in store for me?

John and I had been attending Lee Park for several weeks when it was announced that Beth Moore's study, The Patriarchs, would be offered. I decided to sign up for the morning study. I did not know anybody else in the study. As I got ready to go to the first session, I was so nervous that I almost didn't go. I just didn't know what to expect. When I pulled up into the parking lot, my feelings intensified and I almost drove away. Another lady was going in so I introduced myself to her and went in with her. When I stepped into the basement at the old Lee Park Church, I realized that I was the only newcomer. I found myself standing alone while my new friend went to take care of something in the kitchen. I felt like I was going to cry and was just about to leave, when I found myself surrounded by the most wonderfully kind ladies. They invited me to sit with them and took me into the kitchen to get something to eat and drink. My new friend from the parking lot finished her duties in the kitchen and came and sat with me too. I saw Jesus in all of these dear ladies.

I had never done a Beth Moore Bible study before and when I saw the workbook, I felt very intimidated and just plain overwhelmed! I confessed my feelings of inadequacy to my new friends and found they felt the same way! Becky Justice and Lisa Nance were the class teachers. I soon discovered that I could relax and just listen because they were not going to randomly call on us to answer questions or put us on the spot in any way. I do not like to speak up in groups of people so this was a relief to me!

I absolutely loved and still love Tuesday morning Bible study. I am so thankful that I did not let my negative feelings get the best of me and keep me from going to Bible study four years ago. Bible study has changed my life and filled the void I was experiencing with such peace and joy. God's Word has shown me new ways to serve Him. As I read and studied His Word, I learned that I could trust God completely and  depend on Him and Him alone. No problem is too big for Him and He loves us lavishly and unfailingly. What an awesome God we have!

Please come and join us on Tuesdays for Bible study. The blessings that you will receive from the study of God's Word will carry you through any season of life!

Sarah Vick

New Year.....New You??

Hey!

It's my turn to talk to you! We have heard from those of you that love the blog, and our rotation of ladies to hear from. We are glad you are reading.....keep visiting and send your friends!

I can not believe that it is the year 2012, weren't we just worried about Y2K (and I am aging myself with that reference!) I love this time of year. I get the urge to get cleaned and organized. I know I am not the only one, just walk into Walmart or Target and see all the organizational stuff when you walk in! There is something about the New Year that gives us a chance for new beginnings.

I am not one to make resolutions....I like to say it is time to "get back on track." I am thankful that we serve a God that has mercies that are new for us each morning, Lamentations 3:22-23, instead of each year. The New Year just seems to be a great time to start something.....................new.

I know a lot of people start to read through the Bible in a year at this time, and we have some that we are buying One Year Bibles for this exact purpose. I have chosen to do the Bible in 90 Days this year, with the hope of reading the Bible a couple of times this year. It does seem odd to not even be a week into the year and be into Exodus already, after so many times of reading it other ways. Maybe your something new is just to begin reading the Bible, or to begin to study the Bible more in depth, but you don't know where to begin. Lee Park Ladies Ministry can help you.


I am happy to be co-teaching a Bible study class on Wednesday nights with Mary Armstrong and Sharon York. The class is called Blessed: A Journey Thru the Psalms. We are studying, you guessed it, the Psalms. It is a wonderful book of the Bible to learn to pray through, and to learn more about our relationship with God through. We would love to see you on Wednesday nights at 6:30 in room 301 at Lee Park.

It is time for Tuesday Community Day to begin again! January 17th is our sign-up day, at 9am and 7pm in the Family Life Center. It will be a time to learn about our most exciting semester yet! And it will not be one of these studies:



We are very excited to all be doing the same study together this time! This opportunity does not come along very often, and we are thrilled to have it now. We will be studying the new Beth Moore James study.

How do two hundred women study it all together? Well, for that answer, you have to come to Sign-Ups on Tuesday, January 17th at 9am or 7pm. We will begin the study on January 25th. It is a wonderful study on one of my favorite books of the Bible, with a new five level approach. What is a five level approach?.....guess what the answer is.......come to Sign-Ups! You know we will have food.....and coffee with fancy creamers!

Can I tell you for just a moment, that Bible study has changed my life. I am, thankfully, no longer the person I was seven years ago, because of the study and teaching of God's Word. My nerdiness found a home....God's Word.....see, take a look:

My heart found it's voice.....God's Word. My soul found it's solace.....God's Word. I know God and love Him deeply, through the study of His Word. I believe Him, trust Him, and worship Him.....because of His Word. Open it, read it, study it.....you will be changed.

If you have any questions, please comment and they will be answered. Or check the church website www.leeparkchurch.org

I will see you on January 17th,

Lisa