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Devotional
by Jodie Mannion
Have you considered that there are over 50 references in the Word of God to "one another"? Bear with, encourage, strengthen, forgive, help, love... The concept of "one anothering" has been God's idea from the very beginning. Jesus himself confirmed the whole of the Law and the Prophets in loving God and loving our NEIGHBOR. But in an even more radical display of "one anothering" we need only gaze at the Cross and see the One Who would give His life for another.
Today I had the opportunity to ponder what "one anothering" looks like from a contrast in perspective. A close friend of mine, invited me to the Jewish International Film Festival in Atlanta. We had a delightful time with each other, viewing and discussing the foreign film "Anita". It is an exquisite film about an Argentine Jewish woman in her 30's with Down's syndrome. She loses her mother in a bombing and ends up wandering city streets. It presents a sequence of unlikely people who care for her until she is eventually found by her brother. Her innocent love and trust is juxtaposed against the often selfish yet shadowed tenderness of human sensibilities. It is a powerful, moving reminder that my actions toward others really are the essence and reality of a life of faith. The gentle, yet just way that Jesus walked and cared for others looks different. Though Anita encounters an array of human behavior she delivers a consistent, tender response that exposes, without condemnation, lives handicapped by fear, self-centeredness and poor choices. God beckons us under similar conditions to "one another" in this way. We show our love for God when we choose to love others. I shared with my friend that only Jesus the lover offers us true freedom to live rightly and lovingly with one another. Eventually all other ways fail at the root level because the motivation is self preservation.
From Genesis to Revelation, God consistently gives us commands that show us how to live the "one anothering" way of life, with no exception and no exemptions. It is the base standard that encompasses the whole of the Bible. Watch for it as you study.
The Bible says we will be known by our fruit. As we follow Jesus we will look different, realizing that as we walk it out it will be costly. This fruit in Galatians 5, begins with love but ends with SELF CONTROL. It means there is a choice to be made. In the moment, what will I choose? Me or you?
Remember He chose you, in unparalleled "one anothering".
Lord thank You for loving me. Continue to show me the varied ways in Your Word how to live a life of "one anothering", that I might demonstrate Your love to a watching and needy world. For in this, You take delight. |
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| Love & War by Eleanor Lewis
 'Love and War" is the title of our new seven week Bible study for men and women. There are personal stories of the battles people face - such as pornography, fear, divorce and sickness. But it also reminds us that God is our Victorious Warrior who not only wins the final victory but empowers us for the everyday battles. The workbook is complete and in May, Lord willing, we will film six DVD's in a casual small group setting with excellent men teaching with us.
This study reminds us of the many evidences in the Bible of God's love and man's wars. We certainly do have enemies - the world, our own flesh and the devil - but all the world and the devil can do is tempt us. It is our flesh that gets us in trouble. God said, "If you love Me, you will obey Me." We make choices. God did love enough to create a perfect home for us with only one rule. However, man questioned God's love, disobeyed the rule and the battle with sin and death resulted. In His love God chose Israel to be the line of our Savior. He gave them 10 rules because He wanted the best for them. Israel resisted God's love, worshipped other gods and separation from God and defeat by enemy nations resulted. The result of rejecting God's love is always war!
When life doesn't go the way we think it should we often question God's love. Standing before the camera filming Deuteronomy for The Amazing Collection I suddenly lost the vision in my right eye and couldn't read my Bible! I was struck with fear but finished the teaching purely by memory and God's grace. Two nasty surgeries followed. The first one required my bending over to keep my eyes looking straight at the floor every minute for two weeks - 24/7! My whole body swelled up as this isn't the way we humans operate best!
At times like this our battle is to trust God's love. We question: 'I'm doing something for You so why is this happening? I have important things to do so why now? If you really loved me, You wouldn't allow this trial'.
"The Lord your God is in your midst, a Victorious Warrior!"
God's love doesn't mean the end of trials, but it does assure us of His presence and power through them. Patience is not one of my strengths but He gave it. I met others requiring the same surgeries who couldn't read for a year. All I did was read! He does love and provide all we need even in the hard times. In addition He promises we will live in His victory forever!
Thank you for joining with us to make His love known.
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| Miracle of Prayer by Linda Sweeney
Isn't this just the best journey...traveling through God's Word and finding out how it all fits together?! What a joy to learn along with you AND to know that the glue that holds it all together is PRAYER...our very foundation! What a thrill it is to know that we are beckoned to appear before the throne of The King of All Creation and speak with Him about that which concerns us! Astounding!!!
One thing we do well is DREAM BIG so our biggest dream was to show women around the world The Big Picture of God's Word. How in the world could we do this?? PRAY and watch God work. In Exodus 14:13, as the children of Israel were fleeing Egypt, God said, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today!" In the same way, He heard our cries for help and MIRACULOUSLY put us on one foreign satellite after another and in many cases translated our teaching into those languages! ONLY our powerful, prayer-answering God could do this!
NEVER doubt that God is still in the miracle business, and He's waiting for us to ask! He especially loves those requests that will further His kingdom on this earth. Thank you for every prayer you offer in our behalf, and for joining us on this great adventure in God's holy and life-changing Word. We know God hears and He answers! Please continue lifting up this ministry! He tells us in James 4:2b "You have not because you do not ask!" Thanks for your continued prayers.
In His grace and service,
Linda
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Christ Community Church
 Christ Community Church in Leawood and Olathe, Kansas, with approximately 1500 members, is part of the Evangelical Free Church of America. While their women's ministry was searching for a new Bible study, they saw a recommendation for The Amazing Collection on womensministry.net. and went to our website to learn more. Now their women's ministry, under the direction of Melody McSparran, has four TAC classes. Melody says, "The biggest surprise was how thoroughly the study has been embraced by women in our church, as well as guests. TAC was a virtual unknown when we began, and it has been a joy to see women flourishing in the study of the Word".
Some fruit from their study:
- The understanding of the meta-narrative (a master story/a plot that governs all other plots) of Scripture
- The insight that every book of the Bible is relevant and profitable for life today
- The wonderful discussions that the study sparks
- "Equipping of the saints for service" as we seek to minister outside to the community
Asked how TAC has made a difference in of their students' lives, one of their leaders shares: 'We have grown in our love for each other, grown in our prayer life (hardly a week goes by that someone doesn't send out an email for prayer during the week), and most importantly grown in the Word...All of this is a direct result of the Amazing Collection and working through the study together'.
Christ Community Church
Dr. Tom Nelson, Pastor
14200 Kenneth Rd.
Leawood, KS 66224
Melody McSparran
913-685-1161
melodym@ccefc.org
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Entertaining by Pat Harley
 My youngest daughter and her family were returning from the mission field for a couple of weeks to be with extended family for Christmas. A week before they began their pilgrimage home I asked her what she wanted to eat for dinner on the evening of their arrival. "Coming home" is always a celebration at our house so I thought she would choose something grand. Instead, without hesitation she replied, "Hearty Hodgepodge and Marie's Corn Bread!" Over the years this soup and bread supper have been one of our family's favorite winter suppers and always spells "home" and "comfort".
It is the cold season of the year when "home" and "comfort' are especially meaningful. I hope these two recipes will become your cold-weather favorites. They are very easy. They are made with ingredients that can be kept on the pantry shelf and in the freezer for drop in supper guests.
Hearty Hodgepodge
Brown in a Dutch oven:
1 ½ pounds of ground beef
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic
1 ½ cup chopped celery
When meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender, drain off some of the fat and add:
3 -10 ½ ounce cans of Campbell's Condensed Minestrone Soup
(No other brand and don't use the Healthy Choice)
3 cups water
1- 31 ounce can of Pork and Beans in tomato sauce, undrained
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon oregano
Simmer covered for 15 to 20 minutes. Can serve alone or topped with Parmesan Cheese.
Serves 8-10
Marie's Corn Bread
Mix together:
1 stick butter, softened or melted
1 - 8 ounce carton of sour cream
2 eggs
12 ounce can Mexican corn (corn with peppers)
1 package Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
Bake at in a 2 quart oblong dish at 350 degrees for 45 minutes
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| Partnering with New Hope International
Big Dream Ministries is now partnering with New Hope International. This outstanding ministry is committed to equipping the Church in Eastern Europe through partnerships that provide training, materials and encouragement as they win the next generation. Roman Matviyiv and his team in L'Viv, Ukraine are translating the fifth workbook into Russian. The first four workbooks are complete and are being distributed along with the sixty-six DVDs that also have been translated into Russian and Ukraine. We are very grateful for the work they are doing to teach people every book in the Bible through The Amazing Collection and many other excellent Christian materials.
For more information about New Hope International (Colorado Springs) please go to their website, www.newhopeinternational.org.
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