_Éäx. Not-So-Buried Treasure. March 2013 T H E WORD. Think About It

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1 _Éäx L V E March 2013 T W M F F C U F C Not-So-Buried Treasure What images come to mind when you think of treasure? Precious sparkling gemstones? Jewelry and gold coins tucked away in a hidden treasure chest? What would spiritual treasure look like? The Bible tells us it looks like thēsauros. Translated treasure in the Bible, it means the place in which good and precious things are collected. The place. Not the riches themselves. It s the location of the collected things that is the actual treasure. And just like the X that marks the spot on many a buried-treasure map, God has given us a map in Scripture to discover the place of our hidden treasure it s where our heart is. The thoughts, desires, affections, and purposes of our hearts mark the place where we re collecting things that we deem precious. And, let s be honest, sometimes our heart s desires need to be relocated. Bigger houses, new i -gadgets, and more possessions aren t meant to occupy the storehouses of our hearts. God created our hearts to store up heavenly things. We don t need a map to find a hidden treasure chest. We can open our own hearts and follow a few women who had the courage to go to the place where devotion and faith are found: the cross. Even the disciples didn t follow Jesus to the cross, but a small band of women did, and watched from a distance. Imagine the depth of love Mary Magdalene and the other women must have had for Jesus to endure witnessing his suffering on the cross. While people cried crucify him! these women remained faithful. They were rewarded for their devotion three days later with the first knowledge of his resurrection to new life. These women discovered the places of their heavenly treasure. The cross and the empty tomb where they collected the precious gifts of salvation, hope, and love. And there, in those sacred places, is where we ll find the treasures of the true desires of our hearts. T H E WORD Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Ma hew 6:19-21 Think About It This Easter season, what are your heart s desires? Evangelist Billy Sunday once said, If you have no joy, there s a leak in your Christianity somewhere. What leaks might be preventing you from experiencing the joy of the good news of Jesus this Christmas?

2 March 2013 Page 2 ONE TO ONE O ne to One is offered at Faith Fellowship by a team of women of varied ages and backgrounds for women who want another woman to talk to, whether it be a single conversa on over a cup of coffee or a mentoring situa on. We love the Lord and His Word. We know what it is to have God lead us through to the other side of difficult situa ons and allow us to grow in Christ. Our experiences are widely varied; from young mothers; career girls; to re rees. We are ordained ministers and lay ministers. We would love to spend some me with you. We do not pretend to be professional counselors but abide by the words of John the Apostle, if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:12 Baby By-Word Mothers of babies and toddlers. Would you like to share a story about your little one? Baby s first (fill in the blank) feel free to send some pictures. Or perhaps some traditions that you and your family have established? Do you have a tip for new mothers about surviving and enjoying life with a baby or toddler.

3 March 2013 Page 3 By Barbara Callas The Glory of the Lord shines through the darkness. The Power of the Word can move the mountain. The Spirit of the Lord can bring new life. The Love of the Lord will pierce our hearts. The Mercy of the Lord can heal the sinner. The Beauty of the Lord shines through our eyes. The Healing of the Lord works through our hands. The Joy of the Lord is heard in our voices. The Peace of the Lord is felt in our spirit. The Promises of the Lord are in the Bible. The Praises of the Lord are on our lips. The Blood of the Lord washes away our sins. The Dying of the Lord on the cross for you and me. The Rising of the Son on the third day, on this Easter Day, so we may live forever and ever through His Spirit. Amen

4 March 2013 Page 4 A By Faythe Grant s I sit here and think about the last few years of my life a few things come immediately to mind: debt, hardship and pain. But even as I write those thoughts, today I am feeling humble and thankful. Several months ago I had to leave my job because of physical issues. This left us in a very difficult financial place; a mortgage needing to be paid, a car payment and oil bills that were impossible to pay. In spite of these, God has provided ways to meet these bills along the way, and I am thankful. During that time, the transmission on my car blew, and left me without a car. I am thankful to my parents for stepping in and sharing transportation with me. Over the winter I have been relying on them to help me get around. The ability to purchase a car just isn t part of the immediate plan. But still, I am thankful.. Friday night during the last snow storm, my husband was coming home after dropping the kids off for an overnight, and an oncoming car lost control on black ice and the two cars collided, totaling his car. (Neither driver was injured) He got a ride home from the police, and explained to me what happened. For some reason I was extremely calm, and didn t panic. We have 3 kids to get around, and jobs to get to, but still I felt at peace. TWO days later I received a phone call from a family friend who learned about our situation, and they offered to help. They had a car that we could have for use, immediately! My husband had to find a ride to work on Monday, but, by Tuesday we had a car. A car that is more reliable than the car he was driving. I am thankful that even during all these difficulties, God not only provided for us, continually, but He gave me peace to move forward without a heavy heart and with a free mind. I am humbled by these experiences, because as a child of God I have learned that I am never in control, and God is ALWAYS in control. God has never left us to fend for ourselves. I think the hardest part about trusting God is that we have to blindly trust sometimes. As humans, we don t want to do anything blindly. We don t like to give up control. We are impulsive and want immediate answers and results. The sooner we realize that we are actually never in control, the sooner we can learn to trust God. Today I have a Thankful Heart for all the people God has put in my life to help me along the way. I am Humble in Spirit knowing that I have no idea what I am doing, but God does, and when I trust him things just don t seem so bad! Faythe Grant, husband Matt

5 March 2013 Page 5 Easter Storytelling Cookies Start a new tradition with this creative way to share the Easter story with family or friends while making yummy treats. Ingredients: 1 cup pecans 1 pinch salt 1 tsp. white vinegar 1 tsp. vanilla 3 egg whites 1 cup white sugar Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and place the pecans in a resealable plastic bag. Read Matthew 27: Crush the pecans into small pieces with a mallet or rolling pin. Read Matthew 27: Pour vinegar into a medium size mixing bowl. Read Matthew 27: Add the egg whites to the vinegar. Read Matthew 27: Sprinkle the pinch of salt on the egg whites. Read Matthew 27: Add vanilla and sugar, and beat with electric mixer on high until stiff peaks form. Read Matthew 27: Gently stir in pecans, and drop batter by teaspoonfuls onto the parchment paper. Read Matthew 27: Place the cookies in the oven, and turn the oven off. Go to bed and read John 16:20. Open the oven in the morning, and take the cookies out. Read Matthew 28:1-9. The Longest-Running Passion Play The longest-running show on Broadway is in its 25th year, just a blink of an eye compared to the over 375 years the longest-running passion play has been performed in Oberammergau, Germany. The play was first performed in 1634, after the villagers vowed that if God would save them from the plague that was spreading throughout central Europe, they would put on a performance of the life and death of Jesus every ten years. And they have been doing just that ever since. With almost 2,000 performers (all residents of Oberammergau), the five-hour performance was seen by over half a million people during the summer of Tickets can be harder to come by than a Broadway show, so it s never too early to start planning for 2020! Want to know more? Visit YouTube to watch the Oberammergau Passion Play 2010 Official Trailer. Share the Treasure The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched they must be felt with the heart. (Helen Keller) Share the beautiful treasures of your heart this month by giving them away! Share peace. Let the frazzled mother go ahead of you in the checkout line. Deliver dinner to a sick friend. Invite someone to take a quiet walk in the park. Lose an argument. Share hope. Pray. Pay for a stranger s coffee or lunch. Donate to a local food bank. Send an encouraging verse and note. Smile even when nobody smiles back. Share love. Play together. Hug more o en. Laugh. Let someone else be first. Forgive and forgive some more.

6 March 2013 Page 6 Ladies Tea & Luncheon Saturday May 11, :00 pm Fifteen dollars per person Menu: Baby spinach salad Chicken salad with grape sections Garnished with strawberry fans Fresh baked rolls Assorted desserts Tea and Coffee Menu will be gluten and nut free Speaker: Forshia Ross Healing in His Wings _Éäx L V! E Forshia Ross

7 March 2013 Page 7 When Jesus was at His lowest point of fruitfulness, when He had lost all potential to serve, to give, to minister; when He was the most helpless, the emptiest, the most useless in man s eyes, the biggest and most obvious failure, the most hopeless of life--- --He brought forth fruit in another life, because He was willing to surrender to the Father s will. Luke 23: H ung upon a cross Spat upon and scorned Useless, Impotent, Forlorn. N othing to give Empty of joy Barren, Stripped, Void. K ing of the Jews Crown made of thorns Failure, Defeat, Scorn. H ope was surrendered Finished He said Decision, Darkness, Dead. O ut of the night In the heart of a thief Guilt, Repentance, Grief. P romise was given Received by his faith Forgiven, Accepted, Safe. B arrenness gave birth Out of darkness came Light Hope, Eternal, Life. by Pauline Hayward

8 March 2013 Page 8 F R O M DA R K N E S S TO L I G H T by Ginnie Lunt I met Jesus at the end of the winter as the season was turning to spring. We had moved to another state to take advantage of a new job opportunity. It was a devasta ng me for our family. We had recently lost a child who had a birth defect so severe that she only survived one hour a er birth. With that loss and moving away from friends, I was depressed. Ginnie, God loves you! I reached out to Jesus later that night and said, If you love me, please show me. Jesus changed the whole course of my life! He forgave my sins, set me free from demonic forces and li ed the depression. My new life was so dras c a difference, that I felt as if I had been living in black & white and now could see the world in color. I remember that first Easter dis nctly because I knew that Jesus IS alive! In God s providence, we move next to a small church. Although I had stopped going to church, I believed that my children needed to a end church. The first Sunday a er I moved, I took my two girls; aged 2 & 4 to church. The pastor preached on the prodigal son. I was immediately aware that I was the prodigal. I checked off the would like a visit from the pastor on the visitor s car. He came and I poured out my heart to this stranger. His words, s ll ring in my soul, Jesus the One and Only Bible Study Begins Thursday Morning, April 11, am - 12 noon 11 Week in depth interactive study includes, personal assignments and weekly group sessions during which you will view Beth s video lectures, taped on location in Jerusalem in the places where Jesus walked. Hostess: Bonnie Parker 9 Bandy Lane Milford, MA Facilitator: Vivian Drummond Cost of the workbook is $17.25 There will be a sign up sheet in the Fellowship Hall

9 March 2013 page 9 Media Morsels Book Review/Movie The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series Author: Alexander McCall Smith Publisher: Anchor This much-read and beloved series stars Precious Ramotswe, a strong, relatable, and traditionally built woman who uses an inheritance to open the only female-owned private detection agency in Botswana. Her adventures range from hilarious discoveries to runins with the sobering realities of life in our times. The series, 13 books and counting, features wonderfully endearing characters. Among the most compelling is Africa itself, which figures prominently in each story. The series lovingly and gently approaches universal and important questions we all face and delivers lessons in culture and history at the same time. Plus, the author s wonderful humor shines through even the most complex dilemma. This is a great book club read! Also available on DVD and NetFlix Book Review This book is available at the Emmaus Library Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul Author: Jennie Allen Publisher: Thomas Nelson This book tells a story of what happened when author Jennie Allen and her husband prayed a risky prayer: God, we will do anything. Their journey had brought them to a place of surrender, and God gave them the courage to exhibit this willingness to let everything go for his sake. As a result, their lives were changed they found themselves saying goodbye to much of what they had thought they needed in order to be happy. They discovered the deeper joy that comes from discovering what life is really about. This page is designed to inform and educate you and is not an endorsement. Our prayer is that you will make informed decisions on what you see, listen to.