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Welcome! The Garden Post is designed to share news and information specifically for women, offer spiritual encouragement and insight, and provide resources and connections for wise living.
I welcome the opportunity to connect with you and want to hear from you. Stop by my BLOG periodically or give me a call. Email me any time with a question or suggestion.
I'm thankful for the gifts of friendship and want to share them. Do you think about the unique role you have as a woman in your home, your community? Do you have a question about your faith? About God?
Let's connect today... Louann
Louann Rodgers
lkrodgers@comcast.net
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Home School Support
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TEENS... trials, temptations, treasures...
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
Navigating the years of parenting adolescents is challenging and humbling. Tuesday Evenings this year we offer a study track dedicated to parenting & prayer... seeking wisdom and biblical direction for guiding our teens through the teens years.
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 GRACE ANATOMY
Grace: (noun)
1. beauty of form or movement;
2. God's unmerited favor.
Join us as we study God's Word for wisdom, grace and understanding. Explore answers to tough questions. Share in dynamic discussion of spiritual truths and insight. Connect with other women and enjoy meaningful
friendships. . .
Dig Deep and Get Rooted to Grow...
Plan to join us for Women's Bible Study, beginning in September. Choose from 3 weekly study sessions: Tuesday Evenings, 7-9p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday Mornings, 9:15-11:30 a.m. Descriptions of Study Choices...
Kick off dates: September 25 - 26 - 27.
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Bible Study is a discipline and a pattern for wise living. "When we have a sustained commitment to certain spiritually rich patterns in our lives, we will be exposed repeatedly to the grace and truth of Christ, and we will be profoundly shaped by them." [Mel Lawrenz, "Patterns"] |
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 Leaving Summer
The turn of the calendar to September creates a mosaic of colors and scents that tell us we are truly leaving summer. The crisp mornings and beginnings of color filled leaves... the golden skies at dusk that quickly come earlier... the school schedule arriving in your mailbox... the sounds of fall sports, band practices, and yes, the ever familiar sounds of the school bus engines rolling...
We leave one season knowing it's time to move on. Sometimes we're glad to dust the sand off our feet and pull out the wool sweaters. Sometimes we want to linger, digging our toes deeper into the cooling sand and taking one last lingering look.
The pace and content of our lives moves us from one season to the next. But before you fully turn the calendar today take a moment of reflection for what you will leave behind and what you will take with you... leave behind regret and loss, drop from your tote bag anxiety and the baggage of expectations... bring with you the treasures of memories, family, new friendships, word pictures of slower days, the riches of lessons learned, and the spiritual insights you gained. Don't let go of the joy of moments your soul was moved by the presence of God.
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 A Circle of Friends Looking for a small group? Do you want personal friendships of insight and encouragements?
We have several types of NEW small groups you can choose from this year...
BIBLE STUDY small groups still enjoy what makes them meaningful... a diverse and unique blend of women of all ages and stages in life, sharing together the desire to grow in wisdom through the study of God's Word. Study groups are led by a leader(s) to help facilitate group discussion.
[NEW] LOOPING (optional second year) with your small group will allow you to deepen the roots of friendship and depth of sharing that you began last year.
[NEW] SOUL PURPOSE (shared leadership and accountability) groups are now available for any study session and study choice. You can choose this small group format if you want to be actively commited to going deeper and are looking for the accountability and discipline this option will offer.
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 Choices
"...every choice we make is an investment in a future we cannot see. Some invest wisely. Some invest poorly. As the clock keeps ticking, the stresses of appetite, applause, and authority expose the state of our hearts and the stability of our souls. May the God of grace strengthen us to invest each tick well." [Alicia Britt Chole]
Most women struggle with balance because they are challenged to find equilibrium in roles that are often in opposition ... we stray from balance when we neglect, forget or deny that we need strong input, output and rest. We need nourishment physically from food and healthy rest, and we need spiritual strength from God and His Word. We need physical release in exercise and we need spiritual and creative outlets that bring us joy deep within our souls. If we are in healthy balance, physically and spiritually, we are ready to be stretched to influence the world around us.
Balance is when someone...
- senses a call on her life and says yes even when she feels unqualified
- says not to something she's not called to, even though she may disappoint others
- guards and protects her time with The Lord
- refuses to allow food to become an idol
- gives herself the gift of exercising several times per week
- gives herself (and her children) enough time to get out the door
- pushes herself beyond what's comfortable for the purse of growth
- is teachable and flexible
- practices self control
"Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 2 Peter 3:18
Remember to add QUIET to your quiet time with The Lord each day...
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Quietness creates a pause that re-aligns your values with God's.
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Quietness unclutters your faith and refreshes your peace.
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Quietness frees you from the forceful currents of business and magnetizes your soul to eternity.
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Quietness gently ushers you closer to God -- which is exactly where He wants us to be.
"The Lord confides in those who fear Him; he makes his covenent known to them." - Psalms 25:14 | |
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