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Have you ever lain on your back and watched the clouds form pictures in the sky, listened to the soulful sound of a train whistle blowing in the distance, snuggled with a stuffed animal, or napped with a pet, satisfied that all is right with the world?
Have you ever listened to the tree frogs or crickets on a warm spring night, lost yourself in a good book on a cloudy afternoon, watched a bee flit from one flower to another gathering the makings of their golden nectar and pollinating God's garden? Have you ever followed a colony of ants carrying weights much heavier than they, yet keeping perfect form one with another? Have you ever smelled a rose or picked a daisy, made a clover chain, or blown wispy dandelion seeds into the wind? Have you ever run through a sprinkler on a blistery summer day, rolled in the warm green grass, or popped glistening soap bubbles carried on gentle breezes, gazed in wonder upon a 4th of July sparkler and wished it would last forever? Looking up at the night sky, have you tried to count the stars, or marveled at the vastness of the Milky Way, or questioned how the Big Dipper knows to point to the North Star? Have you slipped your toes into the cool refreshing waters of a placid pool or tossed pennies into a fountain, strolled through a park still wet with morning dew, or watched young squirrels chase one another through overhanging branches? Have you mimicked a monkey at the zoo, pet a beetle ambling through the dirt, or watched lightning bugs glow in a jar? Have you caught your breath at a cat’s astounding acrobatics? Has a mockingbird’s rhapsody prompted you to really listen? Have you been rocked to sleep by the cooing lullaby of a dove, or been caught off guard by the course, throaty call of a crow? Have you been captivated by the amazing maneuvers of the tiny hummingbird, the beauty and swiftness of a red-tailed hawk, or the proud majesty of an eagle soaring high among the clouds? Have you ever touched plush moss clinging to the north side of a tree, collected colored leaves in the fall, or smelled the rich fragrance of honeysuckle and sucked the sweet juices from its flower on a warm summer day? Have you roasted marshmallows over an open fire and burned them...on purpose? Have you hugged a child or kissed a baby? Have you picked a bouquet of pretty weeds for someone dear, or colored a picture to give to your teacher? Have you ever explored the delight of cotton candy melting in your mouth, sticking to your cheeks and hair? Have you ever played dress up, paper dolls and Barbies, hopscotch, double jump rope, or jacks? Have you ever roller skated or ridden a bike and had the exhilarating feel of the wind in your face? Did you play "King of the Hill", cowboys and Indians, trucks, or Matchbox cars? Have you collected sparkly gravel in mason jars, bitten your toenails, stuck bubble gum on your nose and looked at it cross-eyed? Have you ever waded in a creek, skipped rocks across the water, caught a fish on a pole or a crawdad in a food strainer? Have you climbed a tree or chased butterflies, made bucket-mounds in the sand, squished mud between your fingers and toes, slipped the food you did not like to the dog under the table, or startled your mom with a frog—and she said the frog would give you warts? Have you ever sneaked a cookie out of the cookie jar, or cut your own bangs? Ever taken a walk in your own back yard just to see what you might see? Life is full of wonder...adventure...beauty...discovery...and fun! Awareness and reception are mostly notable in childhood. Perhaps that is why Jesus said to come to Him as a little child. A child freely experiences, trusts, learns, and enjoys. We mature; yet remaining childlike in heart assures we continue to grow in knowledge and wonder, and to enjoy and rejoice in the beautiful God-given stuff of life that keeps us smiling and forever young.  Terry has been in Christian ministry for nearly fifty years, is a licensed minister, author, pastoral counselor to church leaders, missionary, and founder of Grace Harbour Ministries, a Bible-based international teaching and discipleship ministry to women. She oversees and teaches needs-based Overcomer classes in her local church, dedicated to helping men and women apply Biblical principles to life situations. Terry is a lover of people in general, and her family in particular. She enjoys good friends, stimulating conversation, writing, photography, and fishing with her husband, Don.
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by Jill St. John “The church should really do something about .” “The church could really use someone who could .” Do those words ring as familiar to you as they do to me? All kinds of things can fill in those blanks. Usually, I whole-heartedly agree when people come to me with those “shoulds” and “coulds.” The Church really should do something about whatever it is, and the Church really could use someone who could do all the things! Our community and church family have so many needs. Ultimately, Jesus is the answer, and thus His Church is the answer. And, how do we actually go about meeting those needs? More specifically, how do I actually go about meeting needs when I feel like I am not enough and that what I offer is not enough? The disciples were struggling with something to this effect in Mark 8. During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” The disciples were doing the math: 4,000 hungry men + women and children + no food = 1 hunger + angry (“hangry”) disaster waiting to happen! I grew up on a farm in South Dakota in a remote place; the nearest supermarket was seven miles away. That’s not very far by car, but as I put myself in this pre-automobile setting with Jesus and His disciples, I imagine being on the farm, surrounded by thousands of hungry people. I probably would have panicked and figured out how to slip away unnoticed before a ravenous riot ensued! But not Jesus. He was driven by compassion and was about to band together with His team and throw down a Miracle Picnic. According to Merriam-Webster¹, Jesus had compassion--“a sympathetic conscious-ness of others' distress, together with a desire to alleviate it.” And He invited the disciples to consider with Him how they could act in compassion to do something for the hungry people. The disciples were asking, "Where can we get enough bread to meet this enormous need?" Jesus asked, “How many loaves do you have?” (Mark 8:5 NIV) The disciples were looking at the lack; Jesus was looking at the disciples. What do you have? Jesus is saying: Let’s start where we are with what we have. What resources do you have that don’t seem like enough? They had seven loaves and a few small fish. The disciples handed over to Jesus that seemingly insufficient offering. He instructed the throng of thousands to sit on the ground; it was time for a Miracle Picnic! Jesus took that little bit of food, gave thanks to the Father for it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples to feed the people (Mark 8:5-7).  Photo by Markus Spiske from Pexels Verse 8 describes how it turned out: The people--we can safely infer that this includes ALL OF THE PEOPLE--ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. Miracle Picnic indeed--plus leftovers! Won’t He do it?! Fresh lessons abound from this familiar passage. When I am faced with a need, or that familiar phrase, “The Church really should or really needs,” Jesus asks what I have to offer. Not what I wish I had to offer. Not what others have to offer that I would like to have to offer. Not even what others seem to wish that I had to offer. He is asking what is in my hands; what is within my abilities and capacity? As I offer that to Jesus, inadequate though it usually seems, He takes it. He never rejects it or says: That’s all? It is so humbling to think of this pattern that our Savior, King of Kings Jesus, takes what we give Him, thanks God for it, then multiplies it to meet needs. Miracle Picnics of provision have been part of my experience of Jesus “feeding” me so many times through the offerings of others. I think of Don and Connie, my Sunday School Teachers/Small Group Leaders when I was a new believer, freshly saved out of a pit. They owned a small sporting goods store and were a part of Wellesley Park Assembly of God in Wayland, Massachusetts. (How did a farm girl from South Dakota end up in a suburb of Boston? That’s for another blog!) They had love, time, and kindness that they offered to Jesus. He thanked God for it, multiplied it, and applied it with His compassion to the needs of my life, as well as many other young adults in our church. My hunger or need was to experience and receive God’s healing and freeing love. Jesus met that need through Don’s and Connie’s love and discipleship of me. It came by way of their example of giving what they had: opening their home, feeding me actual food, and teaching me God’s Word. They did not have divinity degrees nor formal training of any kind. What they had was kindness and love; Jesus took and multiplied that, bringing restoration and nourishment to every part of my life. God used what they offered to build His foundation in my life, leading to His call and to my serving as an ordained minister. Using their example, along with countless others, I go about serving and ministering, offering what I have to Jesus to multiply and meet needs. What we offer is enough because He is more than enough!  Jill St. John, once a high school English teacher, is an ordained minister in the Assemblies of God. She serves as Co-Pastor alongside her husband, Jason. For the last 23 years, they have served at Evangel Church in Kansas City--6 years as youth pastors, and 17 years as lead pastors. Jill has a passion for Jesus and a zeal for teaching God’s Word, helping others walk in God’s love and purpose. As a 4-time cancer survivor, she knows the goodness of God through the highs and lows of life and ministry. Jill is an authentic, enthusiastic messenger of God’s joy and hope. Teaching, cooking, laughing, and hanging out with her husband and two children are the delights of her life!
by Julie Davenport I recently remembered the lyrics of a well-known Gaither song¹ describing the sweetness of holding a newborn baby and thought of holding my own. How easy it was to cradle them in my arms during those early days. As they got older, I had a wonderful "baby papoose carrier" I could wear and be hands free to wash dishes and still keep my baby calm and comforted next to my body.  As my two daughters grew, I read an assortment of parenting books on issues from raising toddlers to teenagers. What about books on issues with our adult children? I know there are some good books out there, but sometimes the struggles with our adult children are more complicated than when they were little. The truth is this: As our children get older, we learn to carry them differently. We go from cradling them in our arms to carrying them on our hips to them walking on their own into independence and adulthood. As much as I would like to carry and keep my two daughters who are now in their thirties close to my heart and body, it would look really strange to put them in that same baby papoose carrier with their legs dragging on the ground. They would be too heavy. We can't control or fix the things our adult children go through. We can pray and love them and offer advice when asked, but we cannot carry them in the same way we did when they were babies. So often, not only with our children, but with many things in life, we try to carry things that are too heavy for us. The Bible says in Galatians 6:2 NIV, "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Then in the same chapter, in verse 5, ". . .for each one should carry their own load." So, which is it? Carry others' burdens or carry our own load? Yes. Both and. Between the above two verses, verse 4 says: "Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else." How can we apply this to our own lives, to raising our children, and to our calling and ministry? As an "older person" past the age of sixty, or as I prefer the designation of a "mature person," I have been through many seasons and stages in my life. I have been through a season of miscarriages and unable to have children, through a season of raising children into adulthood, and now a wonderful season of being a grandma. I had a season as a pastor's wife, a season of being on staff at a church, a season of travelling and speaking, and a season of writing and publishing a book. I am now in a season of having more time to invest in my local church and minister to my neighbors. Yet, I still struggle with learning the best way to carry others’ burdens. I still struggle with comparing myself to others. I still struggle with learning to carry my own load. Rather than saying I am struggling, a more positive way would be to say that I am still learning. This is what I wish I could say to my younger self or to those of you who are in the thick of the middle stages of family and ministry. These are a few things I am still learning: I am still learning life will always have loss and sorrow often at the very same time that we are experiencing joy in another area. We often carry others’ burdens of loss along with our own load of loss. We compare our loss to others’ loss. Loss will never go away. We have to learn how to carry it. When I first lost my precious Mother to Alzheimer's disease over two years ago, the weight of the loss was so heavy at first that I could hardly stand the pain. The pain of the loss is not gone, but I am learning better how to carry it. I remind myself of how thankful I am for all the wonderful ways and joys of having my mother for almost sixty years. The pain is still there, but it has been softened. At the same time of the deep sorrow, I have experienced the great joy of having a new baby grandson and watching him grow. I am still learning that we are to carry others’ burdens, but we are not necessarily called to carry them through their entire journey. Sometimes we are meant to plant a seed or to water, but we don't always get to see the harvest. We are to minister to those who come across our path each day. I am still learning to not compare myself to others as I pass through different seasons. Our callings sometimes look different, and we are not called to please others. We are called to please only the Lord. I am still learning that we must ask the Lord for wisdom to know how to carry our own load. We need wisdom to know exactly what is the load we are supposed to carry. Sometimes He asks us to lay the load aside and rest. Sometimes He asks us to divide the load into portions instead of carrying it all at once. Sometimes He asks us to roll the load over to Him. I am thankful the Lord continues to lead and teach us how to carry others’ burdens with our own load. I am thankful, most of all, when any of it gets too heavy, He promises to be with us and to help us. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7 KJV ¹Gloria and Bill Gaither, "Because He Lives," 1971.  If one word could depict a life, Julie Davenport’s would be “redemption.” As a child, Julie’s character was forged within a legacy of faith, godliness, and ministry, so when she married a charismatic young pastor on the fast-track to prominence, life was everything she’d dreamed it would be...on the outside. But inside, alone and hidden from view, Julie endured abuse, betrayal, and infidelities that spiraled to include miscarriage, cancer, divorce, mental illness, and eventually suicide. Julie is now an ordained AG minister who through speaking engagements and two daughters continues the legacy of ministry, God is using Julie’s life-story to validate His immeasurable grace and prove His power to redeem what Satan tried so hard to destroy.
by Tamie Bixler-Lung We have all found ourselves in a place of disappointment. Perhaps someone close really hurt us or a planned event didn’t quite come together as we hoped. In ministry, it’s easy to get disappointed with fellow leaders, congregations, events, students, or even yourself. Most of the time, we can get past it and move on. One of the most difficult struggles is when disappointment finds you and refuses to leave.  As women in ministry, we may feel added pressure, as if under a microscope, by who’s watching us. As leaders, we’re surrounded by people looking to us to set an example in our everyday lives. So, when it comes to disappointment, we must carefully demonstrate a healthy response. Over the years, I’ve learned that lingering in disappointment too long leads down a dangerous path into self-pity, bitterness, and unforgiveness. We women have a responsibility to be an example to our families and others to whom we minister. Our unique design gives us the capability of being sensitive, emotional at times, and hormonal. These characteristics aren’t negative if they’re not being used in negative ways. It’s easy to get on a pity-pot if you stay focused on the hurt for too long. Years ago, a woman, who was part of the outreach program at the church we attended seemed to have a new story of heartache and disappointment every week. She complained how it made her feel and affected her life. I encouraged her to forgive, let it go, and focus on the good things happening around her. She found more gratification in the attention she received by victimizing herself to others. The strife in her life caused her to spiral into a dangerous mental state of suicidal attempts. She became disappointed with everyone around her, including God. Her self-pity led her to unforgiveness and self-destruction. Sometimes in our journey through life and ministry, we find ourselves teetering on the edge of a “disappointment” disaster. We may think we’ve let it go and it’s under control, but the first time that same person disappoints us or a similar situation happens, we dig up the past and fall into a self-pity mindset. Perhaps we really haven’t forgiven them or we become disappointed with God thinking he didn’t come through for us. It’s interesting how women in ministry can find themselves in these delicate places. We would never see ourselves living in self-pity or unforgiveness, but here we are, doing just that. The beautiful thing is: we are not alone. God sees our heart and desires to help us. If we can keep a healthy perspective on our situation, we can learn to handle disappointment with finesse and wisdom. There’s nothing wrong with being disappointed if we don’t take up residence there. It’s easy to become distant from God when deep inside you feel he hasn’t come through for you.  The enemy strategizes to convince you that God doesn’t care because your prayer wasn’t answered the way you wanted. If Satan can get you focused on yourself, your disappointment, your inconvenience, and your hurt feelings, then, he can begin to make you feel sorry for yourself and get you on that pity-pot. He knows that you can’t be pitiful and powerful at the same time. Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher that the earth, so are my ways.” In this passage, God reminds us that although we might not understand why certain things or people don’t work out to our expectations, he is still on the throne and in control. He sees things we don’t see. God operates out of time and space, and he sees the beginning as well as the end. Sometimes we must forgive ourselves. As women in ministry, it’s common to feel outside pressure to be many things to many people. We don’t leave room for imperfection. We set up expectations for ourselves and become disappointed when those aren’t met. We confuse our disappointment with ourselves with God’s view of us, imagining he’s sitting with a club, ready to hit us on the head. As God does with us, we must give ourselves and others grace and mercy. The best way to handle disappointment is to embrace a perspective that leaves room for God to work. Romans 8:28 NIV reminds us: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” We find in 1 Peter 5:6-7 to “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” When we choose to handle our disappointments with confidence in God we will see and experience a peace that only God can give through his Holy Spirit. If you are disappointed by not meeting your own set expectations, remember that God’s timing is perfect. Keep him first and trust his leading. As the previous verse stated, “he will lift you up in due time.” Women in ministry are a vital part in the kingdom of God. For some, you are your husband’s right hand with encouragement, friendship, support, and leading programs in your church or organization. For women who are single or widowed, you’re working with fellow leaders using a special focus that has a unique perspective of commitment. Disappointment will find you at some point. Regardless of the reason, try not to linger too long in that place, so the enemy doesn’t take you down a path of self-pity. Remember, forgiveness isn’t an occasional act, it’s a constant attitude. Be generous with extending it—especially to yourself. The enemy fears God’s work inside of you and he’ll stop at nothing to lead you down the wrong path. If you’re struggling, pray in a way that leaves room for God to astound you. Let the Holy Spirit work to give you new perspective and vision for the ministry where he’s placed you.  Growing up most of her life in Springfield, Mo, Tamie experienced much of what the Ozarks had to offer, including a few years at Evangel College. During that time, she met her now husband in a college Sunday school class. They’ve been married for 36 years. Tamie and her husband, Tim, have been involved with various lay ministries throughout the years while living in his home state of Illinois with their five children, whom she homeschooled. They own a gourmet seasonings company called Crawdad’s Classics, which was purchased from Tamie’s father in 2009. Various entrepreneurial endeavors brought them back to Tamie’s roots of Southwest Missouri in 2016, where her husband became a licensed minister and they took their first pastorate with Mt. Sinai A/G, a small, rural church in Rogersville, Mo. Tamie is not only a business owner, but also an inspirational speaker and author. Her most recent book, This Life We Live, is a 31-day devotional with inspiring stories of challenges and triumphs that we all can face. Her six grandchildren are very close to her heart and she can be found many times during the week entertaining them and finding new adventures.
by Angelia Crane In 2021 God asked me if I would be vulnerable. That was the word and question for me. I was raised in extreme legalism and that word was never used. How do I share my heart in vulnerability? Here is just a small portion of my heart that was filled with disobedience for a season. God has healed what I thought was a mistake and as He did, He turned it into a blessing. I want to share with you today a small portion of my story. It was an early morning on a fall day when I got up after a season in battle for my life in ICU for twelve days. Before that experience, we had gone through a harsh battle in ministry that was very challenging and hurtful. After a few months out of the hospital and away from the battle of a major church split, on that fall morning, I stood with a list of things to do for the day still on my mind. I turned to my husband and said out of a heart of pain, “I know people can be imperfect because we are all human. I can see how people we pastor can be deceived and cause divisions due to their own blindness. But I am mad!!! I want to know where God is in all of this.”  Have you ever been through a thing that has rocked you to your core and exposed things in your heart that caused you to question God? After all, Jeremiah 29:11 NIV says He knows the plans He has for us: “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” It was during that day after a season of struggle in my own heart that I had to go pick up a rental car in Springfield for a pastors’ conference in Texas. I pulled out of the driveway with the new car and flipped the radio on. What happened next rocked my world. I had distanced myself away from God because, frankly, I was really hurt by God's ultimate power to control the outcome of my life, after He had allowed church people to hurt us. I felt like He was the bully. I was mad at God!! Yes, everyone gasped together…. “She was mad at God. What?” I told my husband during this season of grieving that I have always been the good girl and if I am His child and He really is my Abba Father, He will love me when I am mad at Him. I didn't pray as much! I read the Bible less! I listened to more jazz music, watched more Hallmark, and just had a negative outlook toward ministry. But the weird thing was, I had a positive outlook towards my own life. I had such a conflicting heart issue through this. I really struggled to navigate the real grace of God through that season. Believe it or not: I found out God does love us unconditionally. He was teaching me a great lesson that I needed to go through. He was teaching me how to get unstuck in grief. He was also teaching me the rest of the scripture in Jeremiah 29:12,13 NIV: “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”—His part--"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart”--my part. How am I supposed to seek God when I am mad at Him? But, yet how do I navigate a church wound without Him? There is nothing more that I hate than wasting time on ungrateful people. My time is valuable and so is yours. But how do we change our perspective from us to the Father? Hebrews 6:10 NIV “God is not unfair. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love for him by helping his people, as you continue to do.” Time, grieving, and reaching out for help. I made up my mind I was not going to be bitter in ministry. It was not easy. I turned that same anger toward my husband, and it just kept creeping into all areas of my life. I could literally see the bitterness growing like weeds choking out the blessing of God. Not because of Him but because of my perspective. I had to have his help. So here is what happened the day after grieving for a year. Remember when I told you I got a rental car? Here is the rest of the story. I asked my husband that morning, “Where is God in all of this?” I left that parking lot and turned on the radio. The radio was tuned to a Christian Station. And this is what it said, “So you want to know where God is in all of this? God never said it would be easy.” Then the man on the radio continued to talk about Paul and how he faced all the trials in his ministry. Then he said something that humbled me and healed me at the same time. “God never said ministry would be easy but, He did say….IT WILL BE WORTH IT!” That broke me. All my anger melted. Not to say I didn't struggle a little through the grieving as a pastor who was rejected, betrayed, abandoned, and used. I was healed and I did forgive God in my heart. I now have a better understanding outside of grief and PTSD! I am now in love with God more than ever. I think He saw this all along. I am so grateful.  Guest blogger Angelia Crane and her husband Anthony began full-time ministry in 1991 and have been in missions or pastoral ministry for over 25 years.
In 2006 they established a ministry to rural pastors and their wives called Tour of Life. They provide retreats, helps, refreshing, and connection to ministry leaders. Tour of Life recently built the first phase of a Pastoral Media center/retreat in Ozark, MO. Tour of Life is partnered with Pastoral Care Inc. For more information, see their Website or Facebook page. by Jill St. John It’s lying open on the hounds-tooth ottoman in our bedroom. I walk by It many times each day, knowing what It says, letting It breathe into my spirit and being. And still I struggle. There is so much death, dying, sickness, and heartache in our world. Not just in the world out there, it is in our churches, schools, neighborhoods, families, and our homes. Loss has come near in probably each and every one of our lives in some way over the last two years. We are--I am--becoming grief-fatigued.  It is God’s Word, and It lies open on my ottoman to Psalm 91. It speaks, offering light in the darkness and hope in the heartache. Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him. Psalm 91:1-2 NLT I know it is true. I trust Him, and I often breathe a prayer: Help me trust You, God. Help me rest in You. The last verses of Psalm 91 stir up my need for a different dictionary. I will rescue…protect…answer…be with…honor… I will reward them with a long life… (from Psalm 91:14-16 NLT).  Roland Zumbühl, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Long means--sorry to state the obvious--not short. Like Twizzlers Rope Licorice vs. Nibs. Like the Niesen Railway in Switzerland--the longest stairway in the world at 11,674 steps--vs. the five steps up to the main level of our home from our living room. My definition of a long life, not that we are ever ready to say goodbye to a loved one, means eighty-something years and beyond. In light of recent losses in our church family and in our personal family, according to my dictionary, there have been some people taken way before they lived a long life. What do we do when our definitions do not match God’s? When God uses His dictionary, perhaps He is inviting us to learn more about His higher ways and thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). While bringing tremendous comfort, Psalm 91 has also been that kind of invitation to me. It has caused deep digging, resulting in redefining and gaining better understanding of the abstract concept of eternal perspective. To us humans, death means the end. It is the end of so much. When someone we love dies, it is the end of the precious presence of that person. No more hugs or hearing their voice in conversation; no more of their bright ideas or their jokes that caused a chuckle with an eye-roll; no more of their wisdom or their help; no more of the sound of their cadence or their laugh. It seems very much like the end of their life. And yet, it is not. This is somewhat of a wrestling match between earthly reality and the reality of eternal life. Though we have no more of that person here with us, believers in Jesus who are absent from their body are very much present, whole, and living out long life, in the presence of our loving Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). Recently, I journaled to the Lord about Psalm 91: Help me trust Your “long” even when it is not mine. I know that You don’t see our death on earth as the ending of life–our passing from here means being with You face to face, Jesus. That is not the end; it is the beginning. Divine definitions give divine perspective, which can refresh and bring tremendous comfort to our grief-fatigued souls. The hallmark verse that has been a lamp and light for me through four diagnoses and battles with cancer, losing my father and younger brother, and now *walking with my mom through late-stage metastatic breast cancer invites us to His higher way: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NIV. I would define power as strength to take the next step and do the next thing. What I sense God revealing from His dictionary is more like power being the divine I AM flowing through us human Christ-followers as we yield to His Holy Spirit in us. No human power or strength is sufficient. Only He can fill us with joy and peace as we struggle and mourn. Only He can lift our gaze over the muck and mire to the glory of what will be but is not yet. May He indeed be the One Who defines not just words, but our lives as we surrender to Him. My Bible will continue to lie open on the ottoman to Psalm 91, acting as a reminder of the eternal perspective that God is teaching me. He promises long life according to His dictionary, and what other kind would I want? (*Mom has now gone to Heaven. My Bible is still open to Psalm 91, and God continues to give strength and peace.)  Jill St. John, once a high school English teacher, is an ordained minister in the Assemblies of God. She serves as Co-Pastor alongside her husband, Jason. For the last 23 years, they have served at Evangel Church in Kansas City--6 years as youth pastors, and 17 years as lead pastors. Jill has a passion for Jesus and a zeal for teaching God’s Word, helping others walk in God’s love and purpose. As a 4-time cancer survivor, she knows the goodness of God through the highs and lows of life and ministry. Jill is an authentic, enthusiastic messenger of God’s joy and hope. Teaching, cooking, laughing, and hanging out with her husband and two children are the delights of her life!
by Pam Morton Over New Year's 2021, John and I watched a marathon of the show, "Alone." The producer distributes ten people throughout Vancouver Island with the goal of surviving in the vast Canadian wilderness for as long as they can...alone. Get it? The last person remaining wins a large sum of money and innumerable parasites. It's fascinating to see different personalities, alone and under stress, try to work out the best way to survive. Some immediately go to work and create a home of sorts, while others get by with the bare minimum. As the days pass and hunger increases, reasons to quit or tap out become more frequent. "This is not what I signed up for," said the guy chased by a bear. "BLEEP! BLEEP! BLEEP!" said the electrician who can't hack his way through the brush. "I can't survive on one field mouse a day!" exclaimed a Baptist pastor. "I love being with Mother Earth, but my kids need me," said the part-hippie, part-herbalist. "Uh...I need help. I've had an axe accident," said the firefighter. "I never realized how hard it would be to be alone," said ALL of them. The reasons mounted, until one by one, nine contestants tapped out. They were done. Wilderness, 9; Humans, 0.  I sit smugly with my iced Diet Coke while yelling at the TV: "It was only ONE bear!” … “C'mon! You've got enough slugs there to last you for at least a week!” … “Can't you Superglue that cut?!” In the same breath, I review my 2022 calendar and begin to list all the reasons that I may tap out before I even get started. I don't even know what goals to put on paper. "Um...2021...Need I say more?" It wasn't a bear, but some things have had me running! "I think I've used all my reserves already!" (Metaphorically...) "More isolation? When will I ever get to sit with a friend again? Gah!" Now I know what I'd say to me if I were reading this. The survivalists in the wilderness all knew the pros and cons of all their arguments, too. What made the difference in many of them was their “Why.” If they had a solid reason for Why they were there, they were able to endure and press on longer than those who felt their initial reasoning flimsy. What's your “Why” this year? Psalm 33:20-22 says, “We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you ALONE.” (NLT) I can try to live life alone or I can trust in the Lord alone. I’ve seen what I get when I try to do life alone...a rather sketchy looking psychological lean-to accompanied by a gnawing hunger of wanting more than I can trap. This year, I’m tapping out to self and tapping in to Jesus. Bears, rain, winds, wolves, and even murder hornets may come, but my “Why” keeps me steady and sure, for His “unfailing love surrounds us.” We’re going to make it another day. Welcome 2022!  Pam and her husband, John, and two teenaged daughters packed up their fulfilling, understood Midwestern lives and moved to Cairo, Egypt in 2009. Her dream of serving overseas became a shocking reality of daily cultural encounters that often left her wondering if she’d actually landed on Mars instead! From Cairo to Khartoum to Upper Egypt to deserts unknown, Pam continues to learn, live and thrive in a sandy, sweaty, hospitable land. An author, global worker, teacher trainer and self-proclaimed “professional luncher,” Pam wants to share laughter, life and hope with her dear Middle Eastern neighbors while providing insight into their customs and everyday life with her friends in the West.
by Kim Boley It was the start to a meme posted in a Facebook group I’m in. This began conversations among the women in the group about how they find it so difficult to find and keep friends these days. If I’m being honest, I’ve been there too. Some days I still feel that way. But I did something about it. I believe most people know that they need people. The number of people they may need might vary but there is something in each of us that craves community at every age. Working in college ministry, I have the privilege of watching students learn how to be themselves and find a community and other friends that become their future roommates, best friends, maids of honor/best men, etc. I’ve been there. Friendships happen hard and fast in college. But that’s also because they are around each other almost every single day. After college, life has a different rhythm. After babies, life has yet another rhythm. As kids enter school, life hits another rhythm. Etc. I’ve recently been on a journey with friendship myself. I am by nature, an extrovert. Hard. This means I get my energy from being around people. Being a Chi Alpha missionary means I’m around people a lot. However, ministering to college students isn’t quite the same as hanging out with friends. I love my college kids. I do. But I knew my friendship tank was lacking. I also go to a great church that has a beautiful variety of people that I see almost every Sunday. Yet I didn’t know even a fraction of their life beyond the simple pleasantries that get passed in the hallways at church. I was tired of being lonely, and I thought that maybe some of the people I saw on Sundays were too. So, I did something about it. Yes, my schedule is crazy. Yes, I am tired. But yes, I wanted friends more than I wanted loneliness.  There was one other young mom at my home church that she and I would linger after church and chat here and there. She had mentioned how she felt the closest to me out of anyone because we actually talked and even text each other beyond church stuff. She mentioned that she hated how she felt; and although having been at the church for over a year, she didn't know anyone really well. When I asked her if she’d want to help me try and get some other young moms together for Bubble Tea, she lit up! So, we did it. We came up with a list of other young moms in our church. We invited them to Bubble Tea on a Thursday night to just hang out. No Bible study. No devotional. No planning some event. Just to hang out. Almost all of them said yes! It’s been almost a year and a half--yes, we started this during covid craziness. While some women are more committed than others, I can’t tell you how many of them have thanked me for putting this together; how much they look forward to it; and how much they have needed it. In that time, we have grown closer to one another. We have prayed for each other, cried when one announced she was moving, brought others to join us and then our church, share food ideas, swapped birthing stories, and just really shared life. Now, here’s the thing…. Yes, we try to get together once a week. Sometimes it just doesn’t happen. I know I’m not as close to these women as I was with my college friends by this point. But we aren’t around each other every day. To better enjoy these friendships as they develop, I have given them and myself grace. I think we forget that real deep and lasting friendship take time. And conflict. And commitment. On both sides. I’m just working on developing friends. I’m honestly still working on this idea of who my “best” friend is right now. It was much faster in college. And I’m recognizing that’s okay. I’ve really had to make it work to develop the local friendships I have and I’m giving myself (and them) grace to take time to find/develop. I’ve been surprised who I’ve naturally connected with and disappointed by those that don’t seem to reciprocate. We have a theme verse in our Chi Alpha group, the college ministry my husband and I lead: , “…Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well” 1 Thessalonians 2:8. Once a week Bubble Tea may not seem like a lot. But it’s a great starting point where we’ve taken time to share life together. What can you do to share life with someone? If you’re feeling pretty set on your friendships and content there, awesome! But invite someone in. If you’re feeling lonely or alone because your friends don’t live in the same town or you feel forgotten, or whatever… take initiative. It doesn’t have to be fancy or well thought out. I just simply asked women in the same stage of life as me if they wanted to sit at a new restaurant and try this drink called Bubble Tea. Through that, I’m finding some incredible women to share life.  Kim serves alongside her husband, James, as Chi Alpha missionaries at Southeast Missouri State University. They have two daughters, Abbi & Lizzie, and one fur baby (a black Labrador) named Natasha. Kim attended Missouri State University in Springfield, MO where she was introduced to Chi Alpha Campus Ministries her freshman year. After she graduated in 2006, she spent the next seven years at the University of Missouri in Columbia, serving as a missionary associate with Chi Alpha. In 2013, she and James felt led to pioneer a Chi Alpha where there wasn’t one. Through a series of God-moments, He brought them to Cape Girardeau, MO and the campus of SEMO. Since then, they have both become ordained ministers, learned even more about life and ministry, and fallen more in love with God and each other. Kim is a huge fan of coffee, dogs (especially labs), books, and her college kids. She loves doing Chi Alpha with her whole family by sharing life together.
By Terry Magness Years ago, when my husband and I were an adventurous, young couple, we stepped onto an aged mine elevator that carried us down, down, down, deep into an Ely, Minnesota iron ore mine shaft. Streams of warm sunlight flooding through the generous opening welcomed us when we finally reached the mine floor. A man with calloused hands and rugged face, wearing a miner’s helmet with a carbide light on the front, made his way across the cavernous room into a hand-hewn tunnel. Our small group stepping from the elevator, fell in stride behind him. The pungent smell of damp earth and metal filled our nostrils as we followed him into the tunnel, leaving behind remnants of fading sunlight. Venturing further and further into the belly of the old iron mine, our way illuminated by intermittent lights and our guide’s helmet lantern, we entered another large room. Stopping, he shared historical and current information about the mine including the fact that the ore in this mine is so pure there is no need for processing after extraction. We were still thinking about this when our guide warned he was about to turn off the lights.
match. Instantly its brilliance lit up the entire room. We could see when moments before we were blind in the dark. Oh, how we embraced the light. When God created the world and everything in it, it was pure, holy, set apart for His purposes. But darkness entered the world through sin, and great was that darkness. God in his amazing mercy sent His Son, a Light in the darkness, Jesus Savior of the world. Yes, the Light came, but not as expected. He entered the darkness as a human baby, helpless, innocent, needy. We find in John 1:10-11, that Jesus came to his own, a people of his own creation, yet they did not embrace the Light but chose rather to stumble around in darkness. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 ESV. John tells us, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4 KJV. In John 3:19 ESV, we read this sad commentary, "...that light has come into the world, and the people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil." The fact is the Prince of Darkness rose up to extinguish the Great Light who was a threat to the darkness of this world. For three days it appeared the Light of the World was indeed snuffed out, but on the third day, that Great Light burst into a mighty flame of Life, conquering death, hell, and the grave. Today, The Light of the World illuminates heaven, a kingdom where no darkness exists, and has set ablaze multitudes upon the earth throughout the centuries with a fire fueled by His Spirit living within them. Darkness enveloping this world, has tried to douse the flames of those lesser lights as well, with some seeming success. But the faithful lights continue to multiply and shine brightly, dispelling darkness across the world. Darkness still rules over the earth, but The Light of the World has promised that a day is coming when he will gather up his lesser lights, darkness will be apprehended, and the Light of the World will rule the earth once again. This is the Season of Lights, Christmas, a time we remember God’s grace and love, and His son Jesus, the Light of the World, sent to dispel our darkness. Let us determine to shine ever brighter in an ever-darkening world! “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 KJV.  Terry Magness is author, speaker, and founder of Grace Harbour Ministries, a Biblically based teaching and discipleship ministry to the nations. Terry is passionate in helping people to know God and the hope, healing, and power He offers for overcoming the challenges to victorious Spirit-filled living through Jesus Christ. As an ordained Assembly of God minister, Terry is called to undergird, encourage, and empower the church and its leaders. Her years in Biblical study, pastoral counseling, and more recently, coaching, have equipped her for this unique role.
Terry enjoys writing, photography, art, and fishing with her husband, Don. They share with joy two adult children, Greg and Valarie, and three beautiful granddaughters. By Cynthia J. Thomas, article reprinted from news.AG.org, August 13, 2021 Sherry L. Welch likes to have a full plate. In addition to being director of women’s ministries since 2001 for the Assemblies of God Southern Missouri District — plus a mom, grandmother, and minister’s wife — she is an ordained AG minister serving as lead pastor of Seymour Life Church since 2014.  After eight years as sectional representative, Welch hit the ground running at the district office, supervising the first women’s retreat under her leadership right after the tragic events of 9/11. The pace hasn’t let up. The district offers women a yearly spring conference, “Empowered to Serve,” and a fall retreat at the district campground, where this year’s theme is “Abiding in Him,” along with other events to encourage women in leadership. Welch has spoken at women’s conferences in several African countries, the Middle East, Central America, and Mexico. “Our primary goal is to encourage women,” says Welch, who travels regularly throughout the district assisting churches in establishing or expanding women’s ministry. “We try to help them find their giftings so they can use them to encourage others and further the kingdom of God.” The district also offers specific support for ministry to single moms, younger women, and widows. Another big priority is missions. Under the motto, “Compelled by Compassion,” women’s ministries in the district support Southern Missouri missionaries through multiple projects, often focusing on worldwide needs of women and children. There is also a shopping room for missionary needs, kept stocked by annual “Compassionate Heart” rallies across the district. Welch says needs have been high in 2020 and 2021, as multiple missionaries unexpectedly had to leave the field due to COVID-19, even as no in-person rallies could be held to gather supplies. God nevertheless has provided abundantly. Welch lives 45 miles east of Springfield in Mansfield, where for 25 years she served alongside her husband, Stan, as he pastored Mansfield Assembly of God. Stan L. Welch accepted the district position of secretary/treasurer in 2006. Commuting into Springfield, the Welches regularly passed the church in Seymour. As district staff, they knew the church faced impending closure with dwindling attendance. Stan felt Sherry could pastor there. Although she has held ministerial credentials since 2010, Sherry hadn’t considered pastoral ministry in addition to her district work. “I do like to stay busy, but being a pastor was not on my spiritual radar,” she says. My life was full and blessed.” Son Steven and daughter Summer both live in the area with their families. With Stan’s encouragement, though, Sherry gave the idea some thought. Further confirmation came through Ted L. Cederblom, pastor of Springfield’s Life360 Church. As district executive presbyter, he had been tasked with oversight of the struggling church, including appointing a pastor if the district felt closure could be avoided. “Sherry is anointed of God, a talented leader and project director,” he says. “It seemed clear God was calling her.” She accepted the position. One immediate challenge involved the reality that some in the rural church didn’t embrace the notion of a woman pastor. The congregation had dwindled to about a dozen regular attendees, and more left with the announcement of Welch’s appointment. The situation didn’t surprise Cederblom, who is familiar with rural communities comprising the Life360 network. He believes a woman’s tendency toward a nurturing heart is frequently exactly what rural communities need. Perseverance has paid off, as the congregation now averages 105 on Sundays. The church has a part-time associate pastor, youth and children’s ministry, girls ministries, and Royal Rangers. Seymour Life Church reaches out to area single moms and also partners with local schools in a food program to help children who would not otherwise have a decent meal after coming home for the day. The turnaround has not been without personal sacrifice of family time, finances, and the ability to travel with her husband. Others have come alongside, including Stan, who leads Wednesday evening Bible study. The church holds an annual kids crusade, and a friend day outreach.
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