All Women Make Plans to Attend !
Women ’ s Ministry
Wisdom for the Thought Storm
Women think , analyze , and wrestle with the incessant issues of life . During especially trying times , conflicting thoughts can come so rapidly to mind that we hardly know what to do with them or how to sort them out . ( Is this when we say that we are overwhelmed ?) We can feel as if we are holding our arms up shielding ourselves from an attack by an enemy and definitely not like we are receiving help from a friend . We can feel attacked , accused , unworthy , and even hopeless . How do we deal with this unfriendly thought storm ? Where is the wisdom found to deal with this unfriendly thought storm ?
The idea that our own thoughts are not always our friends may seem hard to accept . Our thoughts come from our minds after all , so should we not be able to trust them ? Don ’ t our own thoughts represent what is best for us ? Maybe they do and maybe they don ’ t .
Would our own thoughts betray us ? They might . The Scripture speaks of the heart as the center of the inner life . This we can understand . But Matthew 15 says that “ out of the heart come evil thoughts ” and Jeremiah 17 tells us that “ the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick .” As counterintuitive as it may seem , seeing the biblical view of the fallen human heart frees us to understand what we are up against . This truth changes the way that we deal with ourselves . We are not chained to or over-committed to our thoughts no matter how strong they may seem . In fact , 2 Corinthians tells us “ to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ .” As we react to situations and wrestle with the issues of life , we can factor in this natural heart problem that we all have . Our first reaction does not need to be our only reaction . But we need wisdom to sort out the fallen heart .
It is acceptable and even admirable for us to seek wisdom . But do we connect wisdom to fearing the Lord ? Proverbs does . “ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom .” Proverbs 9:10 tells us if we want wisdom , it begins by fearing the Lord . True wisdom cannot be separated from the fear of the Lord . This is the good fear ! Living in the fear of the Lord expresses our reverence for God and indicates that we relate to him as Lord . Having this posture before God is the beginning of wisdom for us . It frees us from the burdens of our fallen hearts . Every conundrum of life evaluated from this perspective , will give us perspective . The fear of the Lord which gives us wisdom is our ally .
Jane Boatright
All Women Make Plans to Attend !
From Middle and High School Age and Up
NEW THIS FALL
• Tuesday Morning Women ’ s Bible Study and Connections combine for an Inductive Study of the Westminster Standards , 10:00 a . m . to 10:45 , Teacher : Terry Johnson . 10:45-11:30 Breakout groups . Tuesdays : September-April .
• NURSERY MOMS TOGETHER Second Friday of each month , 9:30 a . m . to noon
Childcare provided by women of the church for mothers of nurseryaged children through 5 years . Opporunity for fellowship with fellow wommen of the church .
• Look for the WOMEN ’ S COFFEE CORNER in the Fellowship Hall each Sunday morning !
• LIVING SCRIPTURE - CCEF ’ S Annual Conference , October 19-21
Women of the Church Annual Fall Meeting and Tea
Saturday morning September 22 10:00 until 12:30 at Point Pleasant 441 Suncrest Blvd .
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