May 12th, 2011 / No Comments » / by Pam

Did you know that the average life span of a butterfly is about one month.  It seems a little sad that this creature that has lived through such a miraculous transformation would be so short lived.  But I know this is God’s beautiful plan, not mine.  We, on the other hand have a lifetime (whatever that time is, for each of us individually) to continually transform into the creatures God desires us to be, by the “Renewing of our minds”.  This too, is God’s beautiful plan, not mine.  Enjoy the pictures.  They were taken by my “hubby”.

 

Posted in: Biblical Significance Of The Butterfly, Daily Steps, Love Change

May 4th, 2011 / 1 Comment » / by Pam

Annual Mother’s Day ~ Round Grove Women’s ~ Compassion Breakfast

Where and When: Round Grove Church on Mother’s Day

In response to the Great Commission, Compassion International exists as an advocate for children, to release them from their spiritual, economic, social, and physical poverty and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults.

Compassion began in 1952 when evangelist Rev. Everett Swanson felt compelled to help 35 children orphaned by the Korean conflict.  Their programs include the Child Sponsorship Program, where a sponsor is linked to a child living in poverty, the Child Survival Program which mentors new mothers and provides for babies and toddlers, the Leadership Development Program for college students and a Malaria Initiative, which provides treated mosquito nets to fit over a child’s bed in order to prevent Malaria, as well as other programs.

Through Round Grove Church we have 30 children being released from poverty.  Our sponsors include the Round Grove Women, The Pastor’s Sunday School class, M. Duncan’s Round Grove Christian Academy class, and several family sponsors.  A breakfast is held each Mother’s Day to raise support for the 2 children from Mexico sponsored by the Round Grove Women.  The Wednesday night women’s group has also supported a Child Survival Program.  Compassion serves in 26 countries around the world and the program is administered through local churches in each country. 

Nancy Young ~ Round Grove Church Compassion Coordinator

If you would like more information about any Compassion program, there is a Compassion button link on my blog.  Thank you Nancy, for your Passion for Compassion!

At Round Grove Church, we are Passionate for Children who need us.  If you were to look inside the hearts of our Body of Christ you would see many families who…

Accept ~ Sponsor ~ Foster ~ And Adopt

…children who need us.  Today, consider reaching out to a child in need.  There are many different ways in which you can be a part of God’s Plan.  All you have to do is open your heart and ask The Lord to show you the need…in your Family, your Church, your Community, your Country and in Countries around the world. 

Matthew 25:34-35, 40

One day, Jesus was speaking to a group of people and he said to them, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. 

The people asked Jesus, when did we do this?

 Jesus answered them, if you did it for one of the least of these,  you did it for me. 

It’s All For The Sake Of Christ

Pam Mosher ~ Round Grove Church Mission’s Director

Posted in: Ministry

April 28th, 2011 / 1 Comment » / by Pam

I just wanted to share something about yesterday evening with you.  Ordinary, everyday life can be such a testimony to the Love of God and His goodness!  It began like any other day.  I woke up, got ready for work and drove to work.  I received a call around 10:00 a.m. from a girlfriend I hadn’t seen in quite a while.  She asked if I could meet her for coffee.  Since I am my own boss, I put a note on my office door and closed for an hour.  You can do that when you’re the boss!  It was great to catch up and pray with one another.  So very sweet to be with my friend again.  This was a great start to my day.

Well, I went back to my office and skipped a lunch break because I had been out for my friendly coffee break. After my workday, I was off to be with my Grand-babes.  Before I picked up my first Grand-babe, I had to make a stop to pick up my Husband’s sick computer at the repair shop.  I was told the computer would not be computing anymore, as it got fried with a bolt of lightning.  Not the best news, but I couldn’t do anything about that.  After I picked up the worthless computer I headed out to pick Avery up, and we headed to McDonald’s to have fun with my second Grand-babe Jenna, and her Mommy.  Of course, the children were more interested in giving the McD’s playland a good workout with all the other children there.  Daughter Kim and I had fun talking and watching while the playland got it’s workout.  Kids can really get rowdy in that place. 

 
Towards the end of our time there, a woman came in with a small two year old girl.  We could tell the woman was very apprehensive about her small child playing with the rowdy older children.  The small girl was apprehensive too. We were talking to the woman about her apprehension.  The next thing we knew, the older children began to comfort the little girl.  I could tell you that my Grand-babes were the ones who tried to help the little girl, but that would be incorrect.  All of the children, including my Grand-babes began to comfort the little girl and help her through the playland maize.  The woman, who was the little girls aunt, was so taken by the helpfulness of the older children.

My mind took me back to a couple of weeks ago.  My Husband and I were speaking to our Church family about our current Mission’s project.  Our two Grand-babes, Avery and Jenna were with us that day sitting quietly on the front row as we spoke. We were talking about what it means to follow Christ and His direction, for Missions in our body of Christ.  I made the statement, “three out of five of our Grandchildren have already accepted Christ in their hearts, but I want them to know what it means to follow Christ.  I want them to know the joy of serving Him by meeting the needs of those He places in their paths.  This service often comes in small packages and in our daily lives.”

As I watched all of these older children conform to the situation around them and focus on the needs of this little girl and her aunt, I thought how sweet to see their hearts choose to serve another.  Especially, since they were having so much fun being rowdy.  I don’t know about the other older children, and where their hearts are spiritually.  They obviously were touched by the little girl’s need to feel secure.  I do know my own Grand-babes hearts.  I do know their hearts were touched by the situation and the need.  I see this quite often out of Avery and Jenna, for others and for each other.  They are GG’s ~ God’s Grand-babes!  What a wonderful end to my day!

Avery and Jenna

My GG’s 

Posted in: My Family

April 10th, 2011 / No Comments » / by Pam

From My Pastor’s Message

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.  When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.  He said to them, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. 

And He (Jesus) took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

I couldn’t help but think about the importance of loving  physical touches as we read the scripture passage this morning.  When my Hubby and I teach “The Five Love Languages” by Gary Chapman, we always spend some extra time talking about physical touch (this is one of the five love languages in which we give and receive love).  Mark 10:16 is always the scripture we use to talk about the importance of gentle, loving physical touch.  Physical touch can communicate love or hate.  I’m sure you understand what I mean.  Physical touch can be kind and gentle or it can be forceful and painful. For the person whose primary love language is physical touch, this is extremely important. 

As we teach about the five love languages, we always practice each love language.  For the love language of physical touch our practice symbol is called “Bear Hug ~ Have You Hugged Your Honey Today”.  Each person gets a piece of paper with instructions on it.  The instructions are an explanation of the importance of gentle loving physical touch, then we ask participants to “Hug” their Honey when we say “Go”.  When we pass out the practice symbol instructions we ask everyone to read their instructions personally and not to share while  they are reading.  It’s so cute to watch each couple give “Bear Hugs” when we say go.

Today, if you know someone who has or is experiencing the opposite of loving physical touch please pray for them.  If you haven’t hugged your Honey or your kids today, GIVE THEM A BIG LOVING BEAR HUG!   Put your hands on them and bless them.

Enjoy the remainder of your Silent Sunday.  Shhhh…..take the time to be quiet with The Lord!

Posted in: Silent Sundays

April 9th, 2011 / No Comments » / by Pam

Why am I?  This is probably the most important question of the three, therefore, I should probably have asked myself this question first!  Why am I, is a question that borders on the fine line of self worth (selfishness) or where do I find my worth (selflessness) ~ within whom and why do I exist?

The most straight to the point answer for why am I, is because God created me for His pleasure.   Revelation 4:11 says this:  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

So what does that mean? 

First of all, in whom and why do I exist?  I saw a post on face book last week that said, why are we here?  I think it was a heartfelt question, because I know the person who asked it and know that this person has had a difficult time with life in general recently.  Haven’t we all had these times in life? 

I exist because many, many years ago God created mankind in His own image.  All you have to do is go to the book of Genesis in The Bible, The Holy Scriptures, and read with your own eyes what it says.  I can tell you, with all certainty, that my great- great- great (and more greats than I care to write) grandparent was not some sort of little crawler, or swimmer, or tree climber.  I am a product of God’s creation. 

Second, Do I believe this with all my heart?  Absolutely!  Last year at this time I studied and wrote my Bible Study titled The Teacher.  My heart felt conclusion~No, it was by revelation from God through His Word, was (and is) this: 

The Purpose of The Book of John, And Life

“…that  I may BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by BELIEVING I may have life in His name.” 

Third, What does it all mean for my life?  In a world, a time such as this, when I can look around me and see craziness and I can see a world that says it is okay to destroy a baby, but it’s not okay to mistreat an animal.  I can see a world in which there are homeless children in my own community and children without warm clothing for winter.  I could go on, but I’m not going to.  My point is, that now is the time to remember and believe in my source.  My favorite Psalm is Psalm 103, and has been for many years. 

Bless the Lord Oh my soul.  I forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all my iniquities, who heals all my diseases, who has redeemed my life from destruction, who  has crowned me with loving kindness, and tender mercies, who  has satisfied my mouth with good things, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  He executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.  He made known His ways to Moses, His  acts to the children of Israel.  My Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.  He will not always strive with me, nor will He keep his anger forever.  He has not dealt with me according to my sins, nor punished me according to my iniquities….as far as the east is from the west He has removed my transgressions…He knows my frame, He remembers that I am dust….

I remember that I am dust, and this world is a part of my journey toward heaven~eternity.  So, the bottom line(s) is…

I Am  Here because God created me for His pleasure.  He created me in love and it is my pleasure to shower my love upon Him by loving Him with all my heart, by loving others~following Christ’s example…simply because He first loved me.

Although I see around me a world gone sort of crazy, I know that my joy is not found in the craziness.  My joy is found in all that God is and all that God has granted me in my life.  The fact that now I am a daughter of God (1 John 3:2) gives me great comfort and hope for my future and that of my families future.  The fact that it is very plain to me that God reconciled Himself to me through Jesus Christ and  has given me (as He has you) the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20) gives me structure and purpose in this life.  All in The Name of Jesus~My Worth.

And, what a wonderful  time of year To Remember all of this.  It’s springtime!  It’s almost Easter!  Everything is new and fresh!  Things are changing!  Even I am changing ~ becoming more aware of this life’s purpose ~ structuring life around this life’s purpose! 

It Is A Love Change!

2 Corinthians 5:17

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things pass away and ALL Things Become New!

Thought to Ponder:  I changed my mind.  It’s good I asked this  question last!

Posted in: Daily Steps, Love Change