We certainly had a wonderful time together at our Spring Picnic Sunday. Around 45 people came out to eat, play volleyball and corn hole toss, sing kareoke....even a little square dancing for fun! I had to leave at 4:30, but others stayed around past 6:00. Thank God for the beautiful weather.....thank you Tom of the great music....thank you Geneva for heading up the corn hole toss...thank you Roger for keeping us hopping at volleyball....thank you Cindy and Doris for contacting everyone by phone (twice!)...it was just good all the way around! I met many new people....that was a treat!
We voted that our next big activity will be canoeing and kayaking on Blue River in Indiana on Saturday June 26. It will cost around $30 each for a full day of fun, sun, exercise, and fellowship. More details to follow. Make your plans now to attend!
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Mourn and Move On
read pages 122-125 One in a Million by Priscilla Shirer
Deut. 34:8 "So the sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end."
If the Israelites had allowed sadness to discourage them, they would have missed out on the exciting new chapter in God's plans for them as He raised a new leader, Joshua, to take the people into their new home. The author shares insight in this thought. As we go to new dimensions in our relationships with the Lord, God often asks us to embrace a new phase of the journey that sometimes requires that we leave behind the familiar to embrace the new. While such steps are often painful, each is necessary if our spiritual growth is to continue unhindered.
* What has God asked you to relinquish as you journey on with Him?
a person
a relationship
an ambition
a life goal
a habit
a lifestyle choice
a religious comfort zone
control of your time
Consider the danger of not letting go of the things God asks us to give up.
Remember that mourning is a healthy expression of sadness that assists us in moving on. If you grew up in an environment that discouraged expression of emotion, you probably struggle with handling loss.
In their work "Grief, Loss and Transition," the counselors teach that "we have 3 options for deaing with loss:
We may ignore (deny) the loss
We may get lost in the loss cycle and replay the past over and over through what are called flashbacks.
We can resolve the loss and find new meaning in a relationship...or thing to which we were attached."
Which of the 3 options best describes your way of dealing with a loss?
In Biblical times, it was typical for the mourning time to be seven days. However, the gravity of what they were losing required more emotional healing. Ps. 30:5 says "weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning". Grief comes in seasons. Don't allow it to define your life.
Moving on----
The customs of mourning in ancient times encouraged a very visual and vivid expression of grief. Discuss (page 124)
Eccl. 3:4..."there is a time to weep....a time to laugh....and a time to dance"
read Deut. 34:9...a new season....a new leader
If you are in an extended time of mourning, make a wise decison to stop the actions of mourning so that your heart can be encouraged and begin to heal.
GOD IS UP TO SOMETHING NEW AND YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS IT!
Looking forward to seeing you soon,
Becky
****Get involved in "The 99".....and.....serving at the City of Hope!*****
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