Women’s Ministry Blog (Page 3)

Women’s Ministry Blog (Page 3)

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!

The Good Shepherd

In John 10 we learn that Jesus is the good shepherd who proclaims His sheep are eternally secure in God the Father’s hand.  By human standards, a shepherd that attempts to protect his sheep from most threats is labeled as a “good” shepherd. But Christ, in obedience to God’s standards, showed Himself to be the ultimate good shepherd by laying down His life for His sheep. Just as a flock of sheep will know and follow their shepherd’s voice, we…

2 Corinthians 12:9

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 Many of us love this verse and the promises that God’s power and grace will work through our weakness. The truth is that most of us do not like the state of being weak. Apostle Paul, who pleaded…

Not Alone

On May 28th, I returned from my 90-day stint in China getting traditional Chinese medicine (acupuncture and Chinese herbs, plus physical therapy and more). We received blessings from heaven through all the love, concern, prayers, encouragement, and financial support. We prayed for significant healing, but also tried to rest in whatever the Lord might do. After my return to the U.S., I had improved in some areas, but my biggest goal of independent walking was not even close to being…

The Flood

“When the Lord saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved.” – Genesis 6:5-6 We are studying Ancient History in homeschool this year. As such, we are studying through Genesis this year as well. We are only a few weeks out from studying the single most cataclysmic event…

I am the Samaritan Woman

“What do you need to hear?” This is the question I ask myself at the start of every single blog entry. You need to hear from God, but what will specifically meet your need, I don’t have a clue.  I start by asking God to direct me, because He knows exactly your need. He longs to speak to you. He speaks through His Word, which lines up with His character and nature. I will give you a heads up that…

Another’s Life, Another’s Death

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV Recently I came across an old hymn that was set to new music: “Upon a Life I have not lived, Upon a Death I did not die, Another’s Life; Another’s Death, I stake my whole eternity. Jesus, Son of God, I build on what Thy cross has done for me; There both…

Nebulae and God’s Love

Last fall we noticed a bright object in the north eastern night sky.  After seeing it three or four times, we decided to pull up Google Earth’s sky function and try to figure it out.  We think it might have been a double star system (I’ve forgotten the name, but Psalm 147:4 says God remembers it!). Inevitably, we ended up looking at some of the amazing images the Hubble telescope has taken of nebulae. If you get a chance, Google…

Grandma Grace

I’m just coming off from ten days of “Grandma/Grandpa Camp” with four of our out-of-town grandchildren. As you can imagine, this grandma has gotten a little rusty not having kids in her home 24/7 like the “old days.” And not just rusty! I am older, tire more easily, and my memory has slipped a bit! (How many times did I mix up my granddaughter’s names!?!) “Grandma!!!” Going into the time, I knew I would need help… help from Dave, help…

Rochester Church Planters Update

Rochester Church Planters Update (Christie Johnson, Teresa Blader, Hannah Frye, Emily Visser, Adriana Harle) Here are some brief notes from a few of the ladies who attended Stonebrook and are now in the midst of starting Living Hope Church in Rochester. From Christie: “For I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’” – Isaiah 41:13 Recently, I was watching a friend’s toddler at the park. He…

Back from the Other Side of the World!

Well, I’m back! I’ve been home now for four weeks, and I am so happy to be back with you all…. and to be able to speak the same language. I am very grateful for my time in China, but at the same time, it was one of the harder times in my life. I was alone a lot with a language barrier and few women there for friendship. Even though Brad came twice, and I could video chat with him…

10 Year Reflections

In May, Luke and I celebrated our 10th anniversary. I love milestones, because they provide the perfect opportunity for me to look back and see what God has taught me over a long period of time. So, here is a list of just a few of the things I’ve learned through my 10 years of marriage with Luke: 1. God is abundantly merciful. Over the past 10 years, nothing has caused a greater amount of awe and respect than Luke’s…

Details

Last night, I laid awake in bed in the middle of the night with details on my mind. June is going to be a very busy, and I am trying to keep a thousand details in order. I think lists are going to be my best friend for a while, or at least they may help maintain some sanity. As I was thinking about details this morning, I was reminded that perspective makes all the difference in how we see…

2 Corinthians 5

“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:9 As someone who can feel many pulls on my life and attention and heart, I was recently blessed by the simplicity of priorities in this verse. It’s also interesting to look at the previous verse (“Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” – 2 Corinthians 5:8)…

She Laughs at the Future

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.” – Proverbs 31:25 What keeps you from laughing at the days to come? What drags you down? Do you think you have strength and dignity? Where do those traits come from? The 2018 Women’s Retreat drew 57 women to talk about these and other questions. Although the weather brought rain, freezing rain, and heavy, wet snow, the time of fellowship, time with the Lord, testimonies, and…

Our Gracious Father

“If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp…Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream…” – Judges 7:10-11;13 Gideon and his men were facing overwhelming odds- a Mideonite army of 135,000 men was “knocking on Israel’s door!” This was an army that had ravaged their land for the previous seven years. Not only…

Leviticus

I just finished the book of Leviticus in my yearly Bible reading plan. Leviticus is the third book of the Bible and picks up where Exodus leaves off. This book describes with incredible detail the pure and powerful presence of God- essentially His vast and somewhat dangerous holiness. It also describes how He made a way for corrupt people (Israel) to live in close proximity with Him without being completely destroyed by His holiness. This is accomplished through ritual sacrifices,…

Needy

I don’t know about you, but I REALLY do not like to be needy. I don’t even like the word. It means: “being in want, poverty-stricken, distressed by want of means of living” and it goes far beyond finances. It can include emotions, attention, affection, and more. I mainly don’t like how it feels. Sometimes I feel weak. Sometimes I feel ashamed.  I’m sure this is pride speaking but, when I have a need, I am painfully aware that I…

Proverbs 22

“Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you.” – Proverbs 22:17-19 The phrase “if all of them are ready on your lips” in this proverb has caught my attention lately. I had…

Philippians 4:6-7

Elizabeth Brehm (guest post; College of Veterinary Medicine student) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7 Over the past 6 months, I have been in charge of planning and organizing the annual veterinary missions trip that the ISU College of Vet Med…

Romans 8:26-27

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” – Romans 8:26-27 I was scheduled to write for the woman’s blog last week, but I was hardly able to put…

Prayer

“…and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.” – James 5:16 (NLB) Stonebrook ladies, we have the wonderful privilege as God’s daughters to come before our Father’s throne with requests, knowing he hears us and is the rewarder of our faith. I love King David’s perspective in Psalm 5:3, “Morning by morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; morning by morning I lay my requests…

Marriage Conference Take-Aways

Luke and I were blessed to attend the Marriage Conference this past weekend. It was a video series on “The Mingling of Souls” by Matt and Lauren Chandler. If you are married and couldn’t attend the conference, I’d highly recommend reading his book. If you are single and someday hope to be married, I still recommend reading this book, as the first part of it is written to singles specifically. Here are some of the boiled down takeaways that I…

Proud or Broken?

Recently, I was reading a newsletter from a female inmate sharing a very humbling testimony, not of her salvation, but of her learning to be broken. She is a believer, but a Bible study leader had confronted her with some areas of pride. She was shocked! “Look at what a shambles my life is in. How can I be full of pride?” was basically her response. She mentioned a few things from a Nancy Leigh DeMoss book on brokenness, so…

Romans 8

Recently, I found my mind churning, thinking about a sinful attitude that I had just realized I had been having. I was stuck in a circle of guilt and shame. I realized I was feeling condemned, as Romans 8:1 talks about, but I also realized that the words of that scripture had not fully penetrated my mind and heart. Sometimes, “The Message” paraphrase of the Bible can break through the familiarity of some verses for me, so I looked it…