Still Standing

Ileana Reich spoke this past Tuesday at Women of Worth and gave 7 points & illustrated them. Point (7).

Stand in it based on 1 Peter 5: 8-10.1 (New International Version, ©2011)

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

We are called to stand firm in our faith. Praise God He will restore and make us strong, firm and steadfast!

I'm still standing!

Hugs,
LaDonna

Thank you WOW Leadership!

Hi Ladies!

Today I took some time off to go have a pedicure and I ended up getting the Herbal Escape Deluxe pedicure. It felt really good on my feet.

I've been experiencing a horrible burning sensation in my right foot for a couple of months and it's going up to my knee. I got the Peppermint herbal treatment with massage. I can't tell you how good it felt! It cooled me down and it felt wonderful not to have the uncomfortable burning feeling for awhile.

This isn't a really good picture, but my toes came out really pretty and I'm happy with them.

So, thank you to the Women of Worth leadership team for my good looking toes! The leadership team blessed me back in October with a gift certificate at a local spa.

On another note: don't forget our Women's event this month. We'll meet next Tuesday, January 25 at 6:30 pm for a time of fellowship. Please bring a pot-luck dish that we can share.

Our speaker is: Ileana Reich and she will bring the word that God has placed in her heart. It's going to be a wonderful evening!

Hope to see you there! Please sign up GCAG ladies in the lobby! Thanks!

Hugs,
LaDonna

Commitment: Taking it to the next level

Today during Pastor's sermon it got me thinking about something he mentioned. He said, "Commitment is fleeting and so hard to come by." "People are committed when it's easy and something they want to do". "Your level of commitment is tested when you are struggling and things are harder."

You know, those statements are so true! On a personal note, today I didn't feel well at all and could have stayed home easily, but I knew that it was important that I be there. Just because I'm a musician doesn't mean my being there is more important than anyone else. You know I'm deathly ill or on vacation if I don't show for a church service.

You have to remember I've not always been in ministry, but I was brought up to be at my home church when there were church services. You never wondered if you were going to church on Sunday's or Wednesday's at my house. It was never a question.

As Chef Emeril says, "Let's take it to the next level" We're gonna give it a little BAM! I hope in this new year you'll step up to the plate and take your commitment to the next level with him through every area of your lives.

Don't forget our monthly event on Tuesday, January 25 at 6:30 pm with speaker: Ileana Reich. Our theme is "Moving Forward" and we're taking it to the next level!

Love & Hugs,

LaDonna

Behind The Scenes January 12, 2011 — by David C. McCasland

Okay, I'm trying to catch up on my bible reading and a little behind....already in this new year! I read this today and just loved it! I'm a musician and director of our music department at church. Sometimes dealing with sound men can be a challenge. In fact, we've clashed and butted heads on an occasion or two. I loved this entry for yesterday, Jan 12th.

I'm sure you've been in church and heard some awful sound come from the sound system and everyone looks back at the guys running sound. It is a thankless job at times. I do try to remember to thank them for doing an excellent job every week.

Hope you enjoy this entry and next time you see your sound men....thank them for a job well done. They could probably use the encouragement once in awhile!

Hugs,

LaDonna

WOW Director

Recently I attended a memorial service for a gifted musician whose life had touched many people. The tribute to this Christian woman included video and audio clips, photos, instrumentalists, and speakers. After everyone had left the church, I stopped to thank the technicians whose flawless work at the control board had contributed so much to this moving tribute. “No one noticed what you did,” I told them. “That’s the way we like it,” they replied.

In Matthew 6, Jesus told His disciples to give (vv.1-4), pray (vv.5-6), and fast (vv.16-18) in order to please God, not to gain praise from people. “When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place” (v.6). Whether giving, praying, or fasting, Jesus said, “Your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (vv.4,6,18).

Something within us makes us want to be seen and recognized for our good deeds. While there’s nothing wrong with encouragement and appreciation, a desire for praise can undermine our service because it shifts the focus from others to ourselves. When there is no public “thank you,” we may feel slighted. But even when we serve God in secret, He sees it all.

The service that we do for God
May go unpraised by men;
But when we stand before the Lord,
He will reward us then. —Sper

It is better to earn recognition without getting it than to get recognition without earning it.

In Loving Memory of Mallory Ann Conway

Mallory Ann Conway was born April 30, 1991 passed away January 3, 2011

The Lord answers, "Can a woman forget the baby she nurses?
Can she feel no kindness for the child to which she gave birth?
Even if she could forget her children,
I will not forget you." Isaiah 49:15

She will always be remembered and never "Forgotten."

One of my hobbies....tablescapes

Hi Ladies,

One of my favorite things to do is create seasonal tablescapes. I'd never done it before until seeing it on the Food channel and just fell in love with creating them.

When we first began having our WOW meetings it brought me such pleasure in creating tablescapes for our monthly meetings. Since then, I've delegated that job on to capable women on our leadership team that are so talented and do an amazing job every month in making our tables and room so beautiful for you that attend.

We look forward to this new year and all that God has in store for our church and you Women of Worth!

Make your plans to come as Ileana Reich shares a word from the Lord this month, January 25th at 6:30 pm in the Life Center. Bring a dish to feed eight that we share for our mealtime together.

Hope to see you there! Sign up in the lobby

Hugs,
LaDonna

It's tough being a woman!

Hi ladies!

Happy New Year! I wanted to invite you to be part of our women's bible study that we'll be hosting every month on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. It will be video driven by Beth Moore called Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman.

Here's the promo information for this bible study.

Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman - Member Book by Beth Moore provides a personal study experience five days a week plus viewer guides for the group video sessions of this in-depth women's Bible study of Esther - a profile in courage.

Join Beth in a very personal examination of this great story of threat and deliverance as she peels back the layers of history and shows how very contemporary and applicable the story of Esther is to our lives today.

If you've ever felt inadequate, threatened, or pushed into situations that seemed overpowering, this is the Bible study for you.

Just as it was tough being a woman in Esther's day, it's tough today. This portion of God's Word contains treasures to aid us in our hurried, harried, and pressured lives.

We will meet at 6:30 pm in the Hospitality room. I hope to see you there!

For questions, or further information, please contact me at the church office.

Hugs,

LaDonna Jones

WOW Director