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"They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green." Psalm 92:14
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Angel Co-Op Newsletter Dear Sister, Well, the frost is on the pumpkin here-- frost and ice and snow. One of the great bogus fiestas has passed, making way for the next onslaught of commercial glitter. It is a challenge for me to find a pastel and peaceful place away from the exhausting pace of the "everyday world." I have a fantasy that involves me not working at my current job, of finding time to do the things I don't feel energetic enough to do, to see the people I somehow don't seem to have the time to see. I know that many of you have the same desire for peace amidst chaos. It reminds me of the email Forward that comes around quite frequently, the one that points out that it is in Satan's best interests to keep us so diverted and distracted and spinning that we forego the really important relationships in our lives: with our Lord, with our family and friends. Another Forward contains this cryptic reflection: "Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slowly through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress is savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together." I am ever so thankful for the spiritually-disciplined Basal Lefts (Click HERE to read "ONE BODY") in my life-- they remind me and model the peace and order that come from spending daily time in the Word, especially at the start of the day. God is apparently so pleased to have me visit that it would seem that he puts extra coins in the meter-- when I have a genuine desire to be with Him, I don't have a sense of the time running out, of the sand slipping through the glass faster than I want it to. It is my prayer that each of you will have the opportunity to spend time with your Lord this week! *************************************************************************************************** Ministry is a rather 'churchy' term referring to how one serves the Lord. One practices a ministry when one acknowledges God-given gifts and passionately chooses to use these gifts in ways that ultimately lead the recipient of the service to a knowledge of, and a relationship to, Jesus. A nurse's aide with the gift of Compassion can change a senior's diaper in such a kind and loving way that this is an important part of her ministry of healing. Think about Mother Teresa. A mother (check out Carla's posts in our column) can take her merciful, nurturing gifts and find ways to lead her children that are not punitive or permissive. Parents have a very important ministry. The way in which they serve will be a model, often, for their adult children's choices to serve. If "intercessory prayer" is a gift (a passion, a kind of 'natural direction') I would like to draw your attention again to click on our Angel Co-op site and pray for the many needs that are expressed here (and to praise God for answered prayer: Megan's Dad has had a successful liver transplant!) Women's Ministries are diverse (because women are). Some recent samplings of our Angel Co-op crew include:
What about you? What ministry are you involved in? We would love to hear about it! **************************************************************************************************** We are happy to present a new testimonial on Angel Co-op. Dena Guthrie is an adult nurse practitioner and owner of Healthy Happenings in Coulterville, California. She is a member of the Groveland, California, Seventh-day Adventist Church. We believe that you will enjoy reading how God turned her "vacation trap into a mission with meaning." This piece of Dena's originally appeared in the book Over and Over Again 2: 150 Adventists Share Personal Faith Stories About Stewardship; 2000. We are grateful to the Adventists Affirm Board for permission to reproduce it on our Testimonials page on Angel Co-op. ****************************************************************************** Early in January 2004 we will be starting "The Purpose Driven Life" 40-day devotional together, via email. You will need to have a hard copy of this book to take part in this devotional. You can purchase it from several sources, including Costco for $9.99, or by clicking from our site onto Amazon.com or Christianbook.com (and our WM ministries-- including the maintenance costs for the Angel Co-op site-- will benefit from this method of purchase). If you would like to read an excerpt from the first chapter of this excellent devotional, go to: http://www.christianbookpreviews.com/christian-book-excerpt.php?isbn=0310205719 If/when you have purchased the book and plan to be part of the email devotional, please let me know at angelco_op@hotmail.com so that I can include your address in the daily emailing. *************************************************************************************************** God bless you all! In Christ's love, Cynthia
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