The Church of Christ of Grand Junction March 2012 – Ladies’ Pages Compiled by Lesa Brassette

Points to Ponder (Taken from The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren)

1. It’s not about me.

2. I am not an accident.

3. Living on purpose is the path to

peace.

4. There is more to life than just the here

and now.

5. Life is a test and a trust.

6. This world is not my home.

7. It’s all for Him.

8. I was planned for God’s pleasure.

9. God smiles when I trust Him.

10. The heart of worship is surrender.

11. God wants to be my best friend.

12. I am as close to God as I choose to be.

13. God wants all of me.

14. God is real, no matter how I feel

15. I was formed for God’s family.

16. Life is all about love.

17. I am called to belong, not just believe.

18. I need others in my life.

19. Community requires commitment.

20. Relationships are always worth

restoring.

21. It is my responsibility to protect the

unity of my church.

22. I was created to become like Christ.

23. It is never too late to start growing.

24. The truth transforms me.

25. There is a purpose behind every

problem.

26. Every temptation is an opportunity.

27. There is always a way out [of sin].

28. There are no shortcuts to maturity.

29. Service is not optional.

30. I was shaped for serving God.

31. Nobody else can be me.

32. God deserves my best.

33. I serve God by serving others.

34. To be a servant I must think like a

servant.

35. God works best when I admit my

weakness.

36. I was made for a mission.

37. God wants to say something to the

world through me.

38. The Great Commission is my

commission.

39. Blessed are the balanced.

40. Living with purpose is the only way

to really live.

“God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.”

– Shannon Ethridge from Completely His

Plants of the Bible – “A” (www.christiananswers.net)

Acacia

Algum

Almond

Almug

Aloes

Amber

Anise

Apple

Ash

An Invitation …

If you have ever:

Questioned if this is all there is to life …

Wondered what happens when you die …

Felt a longing for purpose or significance …

Wrestled with resurfacing anger …

Struggled to forgive someone …

Known there is a “higher power” but couldn’t define it …

Sensed you have a role to play in the world …

Experienced success and still felt empty afterward …

Then consider Jesus.

A great teacher from two millennia ago, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God,

freely chose to show our Maker’s everlasting love for us by offering to take all of

our flaws, darkness, death, and mistakes into His very body (1 Peter 2:24). The

result was His death on a cross.

But the story doesn’t end there.

God raised Him from the dead and invites us to believe this truth in our hearts

and follow Jesus into eternal life.

“Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies.” - Proverbs 20:15

The Meaning Of …

Contrite: Sincere, complete remorse

Admonish: To warn or reprimand; advise or urge earnestly

Rebuke: Express sharp disapproval or criticism of someone because of their behavior or actions

Discipline: Training to act in accordance with rules

Glorify: Reveal or make clearer the glory (of God) by one’s actions

“Learn More” (Excerpt from Promises for Life: For I Know the Plans I Have for You)

“You learn something new every day

if you pay attention.”

- Ray LeBlond

“Pay close attention, friend, to what your father

tells you; never forget what you learned at your

mother’s knee. Wear their counsel like flowers

in your hair, like rings on your fingers.”

- Proverbs 1:8-9 (Msg)

“The purpose of learning is growth, and our

minds, unlike our bodies,

can continue growing as we continue to live.”

- Mortimer Adler

“The mind of a person with understanding

gets knowledge; the wise person listens to

learn more.”

- Proverbs 18:15 (NCV)

I am defeated, and know it,

if I meet any human being from whom I find

myself unable to learn anything.”

- George Herbert Palmer

“Teach the wise, and they will become even

wiser; teach good people,

and they will learn even more.”

- Proverbs 7:7 (NCV)

“No matter how some may think themselves

accomplished, when they set out to learn a new

language, science, or the bicycle, they have

entered a new realm as truly as if they were a

child newly born into the world.”

- Frances Willard

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this

world, but let God transform you into a new

person by changing the way you think. Then you

will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good

and pleasing and perfect.”

- Romans 12:2 (NLT)

“Be neither a doormat or a bulldozer.” - Author Unknown

“Even if you can’t see the harvest of your hard work

now, I promise that others will one day look back at

the time you were in their lives and remember your

acts of kindness, words of wisdom, and love for them.” - Sheri Rose Shepherd, His Princess

Take it One Step Further (Author Unknown – Lists to Live By 2)

Do more than exist … Live

Do more than touch … Feel

Do more than look … Observe

Do more than read … Absorb

Do more than hear … Listen

Do more than listen … Understand

Do more than think … Reflect

Do more than just talk … Say Something

_____________________________________________________________________________

- From The Simple Life by Wanda Brunstetter

“Oh that you had listened to my commands!

Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river

and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.” - Isaiah 48:18

Digging Deeper: (Questions by Liz Curtis Higgs from an article in “Today’s Christian Woman”)

1. Read Psalm 33:13-15. How does knowing God sees you impact your life? 2. In Genesis 16:13 Hagar named Him El Roi: God Who Sees Me. What would you name God, and why? 3. According to Psalm 11:7, 34:8, and 66:5, how can we “see God,” as Hagar did?

“There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and

those to whom God says, ‘All right then, have it your way.’ ”

- C.S. Lewis

“You have been handpicked by Me to refresh a world that is wandering around in a dry and

thirsty land.” From His Princess by Sheri Rose Shepherd

“…provide for their journey in a way that honors God.”

– 3 John 1:6

Let Me Tell Ya ‘Bout a Friend of Mine By Lesa Brassette

“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” - Proverbs 31:29

Her name was Kristen Corder Fagala. She was born in 1970. She married her high school

sweetheart. Together they brought 7 children into the world. She was a long time member of

the Church of Christ. She homeschooled all of her children. She served beside her husband in

his position of Youth Minister at least twice in their life together. She was my friend.

Kristen lived her faith out loud. She led Bible studies and prayers. She lifted her voice in song

and you’d swear it was the voice of an angel. She told anyone who’d sit still long enough about

Jesus and what He’d done for her. She’d tell of His amazing love; His unparalleled,

unconditional, amazing love.

I remember vividly a prayer she led at our Missouri Street Church of Christ Women’s Retreat in

2006 or so. She stood and began speaking. It wasn’t a rote recitation. It wasn’t filled with

properness and tradition. It was just a woman, speaking to a love, a friend, a Father. The

emotion in her voice forced my head up and my eyes open and I saw her in her happy place (on

earth). Her arms were outstretched, her eyes were lifted Heavenward, and the biggest, most

lovely smile played across her face. I knew in that moment I wanted that kind of relationship

with God. I had been a believer my whole life long … but I wanted THAT!

Kristen had a lot to do with our family’s decision to homeschool. Watching her passion for

keeping her (then 4) children at home for their education was a sight to behold. She could offer

advice, solutions, and reasoning. She could encourage, sympathize, and understand. She was a

wealth of knowledge and a fount of patience and wisdom. She made me feel like it was okay to

want to think outside the box. She helped me have the courage and confidence to make choices

for my children that not everyone around me agreed with at the time.

On July 16, 2011, Kristen was lying in bed nursing her infant daughter, Annalise, when she fell

unconscious. She was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later. Weeks later we

would learn a tear in her heart had gone undetected and caused her death.

Her death rocked me. I didn’t get it. Frankly, I still don’t. That in itself has been a lesson; a

lesson I’ve struggled to accept and acknowledge. God is in control and I may not always get it.

And for now, I don’t have to get it. I just have to trust. Someone I had struggled to emulate

who herself struggled to emulate Jesus was ripped from our world. As time passes I remember

more and more of what I learned from being friends with Kristen.

She was a regular woman. No great financial wealth, no magnificent discoveries or

achievements by worldly standards. But she loved God. And she loved others. She gave

everything she had to her family, to her brothers and sisters in Christ, and to furthering God’s

kingdom. By Heaven’s standards perhaps the word angel or saint would be fitting. She was as

human as they come but with a gentleness that touched a fallen world and left a legacy of love

that reaches far beyond the boundaries of the earth. Maybe she really wasn’t so regular after all.

Someone posted a song on Facebook right after Kristen died. I have to share these words and

hope that it will cause each of us to pause and take inventory of what our “Legacy” will be.

“Legacy” (as performed by Nichole Nordeman)

“I don’t mind if you’ve got something nice to say about me And I enjoy an accolade like the rest

And you can take my picture and hang it in a gallery Of all the who’s who’s and so and so’s

that used to be the best at such and such It wouldn’t matter much.

I won’t lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights

We all need an “atta boy” or “atta girl” But in the end I’d like to hang my hat on more besides

The temporary trappings of this world.

I don’t have to look too far or too long awhile To make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy

It’s an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile Where moth and rust, thieves and such

Will soon enough destroy

Not well-travelled, not well-read No well-to-do or well-bred Just want to hear instead

Well done, good and faithful one

I want to leave a legacy How will they remember me?

Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough? To make a mark on things?

I want to leave an offering A child of mercy and grace

Who blessed Your name unapologetically And leave that kind of legacy!”

Father, help me leave a legacy of love. Help your love be reflected in me through the way I

care for others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Blessings Y’all! - Lesa

“Sing Your song to me, oh there’s no greater thing

Than to listen to the sound of Your voice

When I hear Your song, I want to sing along

And listen to the sound of Your voice.”

From “The Sound of Your Voice” by Casting Crowns

(on the movie soundtrack of Courageous) _____________________________________________________

Governing in the 21st Century: (Excerpt from “Today’s Christian Woman” that was adapted from

Serve God, Save the Planet by J. Matthew Sleeth, MD)

“When God created the world, He gave mankind the power to govern over His creation. That’s

a huge responsibility! Here are some simple ways you can be a good steward of this amazing

gift by conserving resources:

Wash your clothes in the coolest water possible.

Turn off lights, TV, radio, and other electronics when you leave the room for more

than a couple of minutes.

Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth.

Only run the dishwasher when full, and don’t use heat for the drying cycle.

Turn your thermostat up three degrees in the summer and down three degrees in the

winter.

Three Pillars of Learning: 1. Seeing Much

2. Suffering Much

3. Studying Much

- Benjamin Disraeli (Former Prime Minister of Israel)

_____________________________________________________________________________

Patsy Clairmont of “Women of Faith” refers to God as:

“The keeper of our days and the divine distributor of our tomorrows.”

Sopapilla Cheesecake Ingredients:

1 – 8 ounce package cream cheese,

softened

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2 – 8 ounce tubes crescent rolls

½ cup melted butter

½ cup sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare a 9" x

13" baking dish with cooking spray. Beat

the cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar and vanilla

until smooth; set aside. Unroll the cans of

dough and use a rolling pin to shape each

into a 9" x 13" rectangle sealing seams as

you go. Press one sheet into the bottom of

the baking dish. Evenly spread the cream

cheese mixture over the dough. Cover with

second sheet of dough and brush with

melted butter. Stir together remaining sugar

and cinnamon and then sprinkle over the

top. Bake at 350° until the dough has puffed

and turned golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Let set for 10 minutes before serving.

Corn Casserole Ingredients:

1 – 15 ounce can cream-style corn

1 – 15 ounce can sweet corn

2 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 – 8½ ounce box corn muffin mix

½ cup butter, melted

1 cup Sharp Cheddar cheese,

shredded

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease 8" x

12" baking dish. In a mixing bowl combine

both corns, eggs, sour cream, muffin mix

and butter. Pour into prepared dish. Bake in

for 30 minutes or until lightly brown.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with

cheese. Return to oven for 15 minutes or

until center is firm.

Creamy Chicken and Noodles Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast

halves

2 – 10 ¾ ounce cans Cream of

Chicken soup

½ cup butter, sliced

42 ounces Chicken Broth

Salt

Pepper

Onion Powder

Garlic Powder

24 ounces dry egg noodles

Directions:

Combine all ingredients except egg noodles in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low

setting for 8 hours. One hour before serving, remove chicken, shred and return to slow cooker.

Stir in noodles; cover and cook on low for 20 to 30 minutes more. Optional: Would be easy to

add in peas and carrots, mushrooms, etc. Recipe is similar to a thick chicken noodle soup.

Chai Tea Mix Ingredients:

1 cup nonfat dry milk powder

1 cup powdered non-dairy creamer

1 cup French vanilla flavored

powdered non-dairy creamer

2 1/2 cups white sugar

1 1/2 cups unsweetened instant tea

2 teaspoons ground ginger

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon ground cardamom Directions:

In a large bowl, combine milk powder, non-dairy creamer, vanilla flavored creamer,

sugar and instant tea. Stir in ginger, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom. To serve: Stir 2 heaping

tablespoons Chai tea mixture into a mug of hot water.

From His Princess: Love Letters from Your King by Sheri Rose Shepherd

My Princess …

You are my precious daughter (2 Corinthians 6:18)

My Princess …

You don’t have to fit in (Galatians 1:10)

My Princess …

It’s never too late (Joel 2:12)

My Princess …

Be My light to the world today (Matthew 5:14-15)

My Princess …

Run to win (1 Corinthians 9:24)

My Princess …

I am the way (Isaiah 48:17)

My Princess …

See what matters most (2 Corinthians 4:18)

To Tickle Your Funnybone:

Late For Class

A little girl, dresses in her "Sunday best" was late and running to her Sunday

school class. As she ran, she prayed, "Dear God, please don't let me be late. Dear

God, please don't let me be late." Then she fell.

She got up, dusted herself off and saw that her dress was now dirty and had a

little tear. She started running again, still praying, "Dear God, please don't let me

be late." But this time she added, "But please don't push me, either!"

My Dad's Better Than Your Dad

Three boys on the playground were bragging about their dads. One said. "My dad

scribbles a few words, calls it a song and they pay him 50 bucks."

"Oh, yeah?” said the second kid. “My dad scribbles a few words, calls it a poem

and they pay him 100 bucks."

"That's nothin'," said the third kid. “My dad scribbles a few words, calls it a

sermon and it takes six people to collect all the money!"

Unique Rabbit

Question: How do you catch a unique rabbit?

Answer: Unique up on it.

Question: How do you catch a tame rabbit?

Answer: Tame way. Unique up on it.

Countryfied Snakes

M - R Snakes!

M - R not snakes!

O – S – M – R! C – M – E – D – B – D eyes!

L – I – B! M – R Snakes!

March is Women’s History Month!

March 1, 1872:

Yellowstone becomes the U.S.'s first

national park.

March 6, 1950:

Silly putty is invented.

March 7, 1933:

Monopoly board game is invented

March 12, 1912:

The Girl Scouts were founded.

March 17, 1845:

The rubber band was invented. Can you

imagine life without them!?!

March 29, 1886:

Coca Cola is invented.

Great Quotes from Great Women:

“I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God

who is sending a love letter to the world.”

- Mother Teresa

“God’s gifts put man’s best dreams to shame.”

– Elizabeth Barrett Browning

“I have learned from experience that the greater part of our

happiness or misery depends on our dispositions

and not on our circumstances.”

- Martha Washington

“Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did,

but she did it backwards and in high heels.”

– Faith Whittlesey

“Without fanaticism we cannot accomplish anything.”

– Eva Peron

“The one thing that doesn’t abide majority rule

is a person’s conscience.”

– Harper Lee

“My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue,

an everlasting vision of the ever-changing view.”

– Carole King

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow,

you gotta put up with the rain.”

– Dolly Parton

“You learn more from ten days of agony

than from ten years of content.”

– Sally Jessy Raphael

Pruning Some years ago my husband bought a super duper riding lawn mower. Les could

hardly wait to try out his new toy, excuse me, his new equipment. He even bought a

spiffy hat for his maiden voyage, so Les was looking good. He revved up the powerful

motor, careened out the garage door, onto the grass, where he lowered the mower,

shifted into high gear, and proceeded to barrel right through my flower bed.

That was not what Les meant to do. That was not what I wanted him to do. By the time

Les lifted the mower and made his way out of the flowers my hydrangea bush looked

like a handful of pickup sticks, my roses were potpourri, and my butterfly bush was

not fit for a gnat. This was not purposeful pruning at its best.

Even so would you believe the following year those bushes came back with gusto.

They were full of gorgeous blossoms. And the year after that they were show stoppers.

Folks were actually stopping to take pictures of them.

It’s really a reminder that what others do accidentally or spitefully can be used to

cause us to flourish. Doesn’t that remind you of Joseph from Genesis? If you remember

his life looked like nothing but hardship and injustice. From sibling jealousy, to female

revenge, to ingratitude, Joseph’s story looked like he had been mowed down and

discarded. But God used it all as pruning to cause Joseph to grow into a wise leader.

None of us would volunteer for family rejection, slavery, imprisonment, or injustice.

When Joseph was young and still full of innocent dreams he never imagined as the

favored child of his father he would live such a rootless existence. But God grafted him

into the Egyptian world for holy purposes of position and provision. Joseph after being

cut down like a sapling grew to become an oak of righteousness. His management of

the fruit of the fields flourished the people through a world famine.

We can observe growth in a petrie dish, a preschool, and a seniors vocational center.

We were born to grow until our fruit falls to earth for the last time and we blossom

into eternal life. — Patsy Clairmont

From Bible League Verse of the Day Daily Email:

[Jesus says,] "So go and make followers of all the people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have told you to do. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of time." - Matthew 28:19-20 (ERV)

Meditation Wow -- Jesus chooses to use ordinary people like us to change the world. Are you a disciple of Jesus? Are you making disciples? Are your disciples making disciples?

From Lesa: Does this question make anyone else think of Mary Kay? Or other sales programs? Where else do we gain followers and disciples in our lives but leave our Lord on the sidelines without growing His team?

March Trivia: 1. “Pride goeth before __________ and a haughty spirit before a ________.” (Proverbs 16:18)

2. In what book is the following verse found? “For Adam was first formed, then Eve.”

a. Genesis b. Exodus c. 1 Corinthians d. 1 Timothy

3. Which woman was the Jewish Queen of Persia?

a. Jezebel b. Priscilla c. Deborah d. Esther

4. Which woman did Peter raise from the dead?

a. Lydia b. Dorcas c. Priscilla d. Joppa

5. This woman was barren, but when God answered her prayer for a child, she dedicated her

newborn son’s life to the Lord’s work.

a. Hagar b. Hannah c. Phoebe d. Eunice

6. Which woman committed adultery with David, but a few years later gave birth to Solomon,

the wisest king in the Bible?

a. Bilhah b. Abigail c. Bathsheba d. Michal

7. Which woman was a prostitute that married Hosea, the Old Testament prophet?

a. Drusilla b. Gomer c. Hephzibah d. Vashti

8. Which woman was Jacob’s first wife?

a. Rhoda b. Lois c. Leah d. Mara

9. Which woman was Moses and Aaron’s sister?

a. Miriam b. Damaris c. Elisabeth d. Tirzah

10. Which woman bore the twins Jacob and Esau?

a. Zipporah b. Rebekah c. Sarah d. Judith

Answers for February Trivia Questions:

1. Jared (Genesis 5:20)

2. Ishbosheth (2 Samuel 2:8-10)

3. Abraham (Genesis 15-17)

4. Healing an official's son in Cana

(John 4:43-54)

5. James, brother of John (Acts 12:1-2)

6. Silas (Acts 15:36-41)

7. frogs (Exodus 8:1-8)

8. Ehud (Judges 3:15)

9. Simeon (Genesis 29:33)

10. Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:6-10)

11. Balaam's donkey (Numbers 22:28-30)