November 1st
Don't forget...
Turn your clocks back tonight! |
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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
www.RootedToGrow.com
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Predictions...no matter who wins the Elections:
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praises to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross for you.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost if they turn to Him.
Isn't it great to know who is still in control?
- Deuteronomy 7:9
'The LORD keeps all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.'
- Psalm 145:30
'And
we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those
who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.'
- Romans 8:28
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november
is
National Adoption Month
Join us as we partner with the orphan care coalition, a grassroots organization of churches in the PA, NJ & DE area working toward the placement of 50 children during the month of November.
What can you do?
PRAY for children needing forever families
GIVE by donating each week during small group sessions
ADOPT consider if God is leading you to a choice of adoption.
Over 100,000 children in the United States are waiting to be adopted...1000 in our state of Pennsylvania.
www.bethany.org
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A Recipe
...for maturing faith in the midst of life's struggles...
First, read the book of James... it won't take long before you see the wisdom in this special recipe...
1. First preheat the oven (trials). (James 1:1)
2. In a bowl put in wisdom (1:5), add faith and works (2:17) this is important because faith without works is like dead yeast, it will be inactive and not produce life.
3. Then add marinated or tenderized tongue (3:17).
4. Strain out any selfishness floating to the top (4:10).
5. Wait patiently; basting all the while with prayer (5:8).
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Gratitude...
"I want to be grateful because I know it, not because I miss it"
- Marian Strong, worship October 28th
"Be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
- Colossians 3:16-17
November brings a time of reflection. When we consider this season of Thanksgiving and the abundance we have in our country, do we consider our gratitude? Consider the things we see, use and experience very day. Consider the freedoms we experience in our country. Consider the freedom, grace, and forgiveness God has given us. Consider the blessings of faith, family and friendships. Are we grateful?
Of all the human emotions, gratitude is the most powerful. So powerful
is gratitude, it can obliterate fear, hopelessness and doubt. Gratitude
can heal a broken heart, slow the aging process and restore broken
relationships. Gratitude creates hope and hope brings joy. It is in
joy, not fear, that we find strength.
Our culture and society of greed and ambition drains gratitude from us. We never feel thankful because we never have enough, do enough, receive enough... we want more. Giving is the action that turns our satisfaction driven culture upside down to gratitude. Giving away some of what is most precious to you is
the ultimate thank-you note. Giving opens the door to God's blessings
and your eyes to see the big picture. Giving allows us to view the world
through new eyes of compassion. Giving is an outward expression of a
personal affirmation that no matter how bleak your situation may
appear, you really do have enough.
Author Melody Beattie says it well, "...gratitude unlocks
the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It
turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It
can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a
friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
Enjoy God's blessings and indulge in gratitude. Consider giving back this season.
CLICK HERE for links to several ways to give back:
- Thanksgiving Outreach Dinner at Salvation Army
- Pajama Drive for Coatesville
- Operation Christmas Child
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If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray... We are a nation founded in prayer. Our nation needs our prayer and God needs to hear the hearts of His people.
"If
my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray
and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from
heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." - 2
Chronicles 7:14
Tuesday we will elect our next President.This
is a pivitol time for our country and our world. We have the privilege
and the responsibility of freedom in this country that many around the
world do not have.
 On Election Day, November 4th, be sure to vote. Exercise the liberty of your voice with your vote.
By exercising the highest privilege of your citizenship, you fulfill the
dreams of our Founding Fathers who envisioned a nation in which every citizen
has a voice and a vote. Throughout history, American leaders have spoken up
with strong voices regarding the importance of your vote:
"Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not
an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a
President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters
of this country."
--Franklin D. Roosevelt
"The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter."
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
"In a world that might say one vote doesn't matter..., it
does matter because each person is of infinite worth and value to God... Your
vote is a declaration of importance as a person and a citizen."
-Billy Graham
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 Perspective in Uncertain Times
If God's Economy is perfect, then why are times so uncertain?
Do you struggle to find peace when news changes each day?
Find peace in God's certainty.
God allows difficulties for 3 reasons:
1) To
accomplish His intentions - God has a bigger plan for us, beyond our
comprehension and understanding. We only see things from our own
perspective and find it difficult to see what's in store for us. Read
Genesis 45:5-8.
2) To develop our character - Growth is a painful process.
The best teacher is experience and painful experiences either mold us
or break us. Read Romans 5:3-4.
3) To discipline His children - if we
don't get the message right and we don't heed the warnings, we need to
learn the hard way. Read Hebrews 12:6.
As stewards of God's properties, we need to ensure that we will take
good care of them. If someone lends you a pen, aren't you supposed to
take care of them while it is in your possession? The Parable of the
Talents (Matthey 25:14-30) gives us wise insight. The Lord wants us to take
good care of his properties, grow it and use it according to His will.
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 WISE THOUGHTS ABOUT MONEY... Money will buy...
a bed... but not sleep,
books...but not wisdom,
finery...but not beauty,
a house...but not a home,
medicine.. but not health,
luxuries...but not contentment,
amusement...but not joy,
a beautiful wood carving of a cross...but not a Savior,
an investment in the future...but not eternity.[author unknown]
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Spirit to Spirit...WISDOM
Encouragement by Linda Slavin
Hidden for you...not from you...Treasures of Wisdom
The prophet asked, "What did they see in your palace?"
"They saw everything in my palace," Hezekiah said. "There is nothing among my
treasures that I did not show them." - 2 Kings 20_15
How many times in our lives have we wanted to have, wanted to know... simple
requests that seem so easy for God to answer or respond to? We know He is
omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent... so we wonder why? Why not let us in on
what's going on? Why does it seem like God is keeping something from you and
that things would become so much easier if you just knew certain things?
The serpent used this desire with Eve in Genesis 3, he told her that God knew
and she could also know. Our answers are not in the
knowledge and wisdom of this world. But our answers are in God, wisdom that is
hidden for us and not from us. The deceiver thinks he has seen all of our treasures and
tempts us to give them up. But the hidden things of God, the mystery of His
wisdom always surprises the forces of darkness.
So when you don't know what to do and you can't figure it out... when you
feel like you are in the dark about something, begin by praying it out instead
of figuring it out and you can be confident that God is going to show up with
great treasures of wisdom that have been Hidden for You.
"I will give you the treasures of darkness,
riches stored in secret
places,
so that you may know that I am the LORD,
the God of Israel, who
summons you by name."
Isaiah 45:3
"In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this
so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments." Colossians 2:3-4  |
Treasured Abundance...
Thanksgiving is our opportunity to reflect on all that
God has given us. God wants to bless us with abundance and fill us with His Spirit so we can overflow to others.
Scripture provides a wealth of
promises and blessings that we can claim through our
Savior, Jesus Christ --
enjoy His feast!
[click here for more...]
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