Women’s Ministry Blog (Page 2)

Women’s Ministry Blog (Page 2)

This blog is written by wives of Stonebrook Pastors, as well as other women in Stonebrook. We hope that you will enjoy getting to know them better as you hear their hearts!

Pandemic Ponderings – The God Hunt Challenge

 Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Philippians 4:8 As the Coronavirus continues to play out in our world, I find myself reacting in a variety of ways, the most recent reoccurring one being restlessness. It’s a similar feeling to what I used to grapple with towards the end of my pregnancies when I was…

Kings and Chronicles

Lately I’ve been reading 1&2 Kings and 1& 2 Chronicles and I’ve been thinking about the leadership and example of the various kings in these accounts.  One account that stood out to me is in 2 Chronicles 32, where Sennacherib, king of Assyria, is attacking Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah, and was threatening the people that their God would not deliver them.  Sennacherib says, “On what are you trusting, that you endure the siege in Jerusalem? Is not Hezekiah…

Mr. Rogers – What Can We Learn?

Dave and I recently watched the movie, “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” – the behind the scenes story of Mr. Rogers and his impact on others both on screen and off. It deals in particular with Mr. Rogers’ positive influence on a magazine writer whose life was burdened and messy. Overall, it was inspiring. (I would highly recommend it!)  It struck me that the reason Mr. Rogers appealed to so many people was that he reflected the Spirit…

Shield

In late January I was burdened with the COVID-19 crisis in China. As I was praying for the devastating situation, surprisingly, I found myself asking God to put a shield around me, my family, and my community. Two months later, this pandemic quickly moved to the U.S. and I realized it was a Spirit-led prayer at a time when few were expecting the pandemic could be a great threat to many around the world. The image of a shield has…

Wash with Soap

Wash With Soap Dawn Bovenmyer 3/18/2020             What with all the recent developments with Covid19 I have found myself faced with some choices. Choices such as, should I go to the grocery store? If I go, how much should I buy? Should I go to the salon for a haircut? Get an adjustment at the Chiro? How much should I be out and about? Should we have any houseguests? Decisions, decisions!             Then there are decisions at home- how often…

Set Free

Testimony from Wendy ConcerningFeb. 29 SIP! 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Lunch included)Set Free: Sexual Integrity for Women Last summer, a local afternoon Christian radio host was interviewing a woman who was working with Walnut Creek Church (a sister church to Stonebrook in Des Moines). The topic was Biblical Sexual Integrity. I was a little uncomfortable with the public forum but was intrigued, so I kept listening. She mentioned several times God created and designed not just men with sexual…

Will I Yield?

Will I Yield?  My life seems to revolve around words or themes for a season of time.  Not sure why, but I have noticed the pattern many times.  Right now the key word is: YIELD.  It’s such an interesting word and has multiple meanings that all seem to fit. Yield (verb) – to produce, to afford, to exhibit, to allow, to concede, to admit to be true, to give as claim of right, to permit, to grant, to emit, to…

A Perfect Pray-er

This summer I have been reading a number of Elisabeth Elliot’s books. (Her husband was martyred in the 1950’s while they were serving as missionaries in Ecuador.). In “The Shaping of a Christian Family: How My Parents Nurtured My Faith,” I was struck by the role of prayer in her parents’ lives and therefore their children’s lives. She talks about her father rising early for Bible study and prayer for the family every day and how he instructed the children…

Grass, Grotto, and the Gospel

Grass, Grotto, and the GospelMy Summer Reflection All summer long, I have been thinking about Mathew 12:20, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench.” This verse speaks about a gentle servant as prophesied by prophet Isaiah and fulfilled in Jesus.  A reed is a type of hollow grass that becomes even weaker after it is bruised. Yet, Jesus, out of his tender and merciful heart, will not break it. This imagery of…

Looking Ahead!

The length of our days is seventy years- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Psalm 90:10 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1 Last month we spent a few days at our family’s lake cabin in Illinois, connecting with many of our kids and…

Grapefruit-Sized Hail

Exodus 9:25-26, “Throughout the land of Egypt, the hail struck down everything in the field, both people and animals. The hail beat down every plant of the field and shattered every tree in the field. The only place it didn’t hail was in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were.” The kids and I are reading through Exodus, and we came across this passage. Upon further research, we discovered that in order to shatter trees and kill animals, hail…

“I’m Fine” …or Not

Doesn’t it sound wonderful to be “fine”?  So happy, put-together, and ready to face the world.  The trouble is, that word can mean a lot of different things at different times, and it’s most likely what we wish we were rather than what we are. It’s polite to say “fine” and it stops people from asking questions.  What would you do if someone randomly said, “I’m not fine”?  I’ve just started the Lysa Terkeurst book called, “It’s Not Supposed To…

Steadfast Love between Walls of Water

“… to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever;and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever;but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,for his steadfast love endures forever…” – Psalm 136:13-15 I love how Psalm 136 repeats the phrase “for his steadfast love endures forever” over and over between pieces of history that the psalmist highlights. The theme of God’s steady, unchanging love is…

Not Now, But Later

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” – John 13:7 The setting of this verse is the “last supper.” Jesus and His disciples had gathered one last time before His crucifixion to eat a meal together. And Jesus in His usual fashion had a lesson to teach. Stripping off His outer garments, (or in our vernacular, getting grubby) Jesus began washing the disciples’ dirty feet. They couldn’t believe it … Jesus…

Believing What is True

In recent months our small group has been reading and discussing a book called Gospel Fluency. I hope I can explain what I’m learning from it. (It would be easier to talk with you across the table with a latte in my hand, right?) I would describe the premise of the book like this: we need to have the full truth about the gospel on our minds and lips, believe it fully, and let God bear good fruit in our…

Angels Don’t Have Wings

Something I learned the other day BLEW MY MIND! Growing up, my church had stained glass windows depicting angels with wings. I never questioned or thought about the subject beyond this. I had always assumed angels had wings. The other day, in my Bible studies/lessons with the kids, we were going in depth about spiritual beings. To my shock, every scripture mentioning angels never mentioned wings. The only mention of wings was with seraphim and cherubim. Then, to my utter…

It’s Been Such a Long Time

(The song from “Boston” is running through my brain now…. No relation to this subject.) For those of you who know me, you know that the devotional, My Utmost for His Highest has long been a staple of my Christian life. I like the “chewy” old wording that makes me slow down and have to look up definitions, because I used to assume that I knew what certain words meant until Oswald used them in a way that didn’t make…

Living by Faith in Who?

“And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself forme.” – Galatians 2:20 (ESV) This year several life groups along with the youth group are working through Gospel Fluency by Jeff VanderStelt. God has used this in my life in some big ways this past fall and spring. Some of you may be familiar with his “root to fruit” exercise where we look at what…

Lessons from Max

Seven and a half years ago I had the privilege and honor of becoming a grandmother to a special needs grandson. Just this past December, I had the sorrowful experience of saying goodbye to that special little boy as he passed away from respiratory issues. Maxwell (Max) came into the world in a difficult way. Birth complications related to a damaged umbilical cord prevented oxygen flow to his brain for several minutes. As a result, our little Max experienced seizures…

Whatever God Ordains

I was asked to write a blog last month, but I was not in a good place in my soul, feeling I had nothing to write about. Today, I’m a little further along on the journey with more strength and meditations on my heart, so here it is. My health continues to be my challenge of faith, and it probably will be until I die or until I am the recipient of a miracle. One thing that seemed to be…

Come Let Us Adore Him

Advent is my favorite time of year. I love the building anticipation of celebrating the coming of our Lord Jesus through daily traditions and devotionals. Our daily traditions are many. One is in the form of an Advent calendar comprised of doors. Behind each door is a Bible passage, a hymn to sing, a children’s book to read, and an activity to do that helps us better understand the purpose for Jesus’ first coming. We also do a Latin Advent calendar,…

Mary – The Right Kind of Attitude

This Christmas season is like most for me. I feel rushed and out of time and energy to do all that I want to do. Visions of being “ready”, whatever that is, dance in my head. As it is, the Christmas tree is in a corner with nothing on it and no gifts anywhere. I have a week… a week…oy! Are you feeling the pressure too? I stop because when I think of Mary and her willingness to serve God…

Yielding My Will to a Big God

“As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.” – Ecclesiastes 11:5 Recently, in 5th and 6th grade Sunday school, we were studying about how God works and moves in order that we can see Him in action. The stories that were used to highlight this were: the account of Gideon and the army of 300…

Get-Away!

“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” – Zephaniah 3:17 I’m excited! Really excited! Next week my hubby of forty-three and a half years is taking me away to a country retreat! We will pull back from our regular duties and commitments and take a couple of days to slow down, get refreshed, and…