Living Your Best Life! Newsletter

The days of warm summer sunshine and cool glasses of lemonade are over, as the race for getting back to school begins.

Join Best Life's staff and friends this month, as we help you to prepare for school days, and we deliver tips on keeping your child safe, encouraged, and close to God.

Welcome fall colors, fall leaves, and fall fun!

SEPTEMBER 2013

Building Your Faith

By Kathy A. Weckwerth, Founder & Exec. Director

"Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to Me, awake and ready for Me each morning, alert and responsive as I start my day's work. When you find Me, you find life, real life." Proverbs 8:34-35 (MSG)

Photo By: Josh Garland

It seems like many of us take a break from church and even our personal relationship with God when summer months arrive. Everything comes to a halt and our organization and schedules take a break.

This month, I want to encourage each of us to work on building back into our schedule ... time for God and growing our faith.

This week I have been finishing up writing our new Bible study for the Church in the Grove's studies that start next week (wow! that was cutting it close!) But after long hours of studying, I wanted to give my mind a rest and so I sat down to read an old devotional. There was a picture that intrigued me of old sepia toned photo taken from years ago. The photo was of a name I recognized, Fannie J. Crosby, author of the old hymn, "Blessed Assurance." The more I read about her, the more God spoke to me again about the topic of faith.

Webster's Dictionary says that faith means "trust or confidence." Under the word "assurance," the definition states "a feeling of certainty." They tie together and so I read on about Frances J. Crosby.

In 1820, Fannie Crosby developed a severe cold with inflammation around her eyes, when she was barely six weeks old. This resulted in a desperate call to the doctor. However, the family doctor was not available and so another man posing as a doctor took his place. He ultimately prescribed something that caused irreversible consequences and Fannie was blinded in both eyes for life.

By the age of 15, she enrolled in the New York School for the blind and began writing poetry and songs. When she was 44 years old, she wrote what was the first of over 8,000 hymns. She signed a contract with a publishing company and was expected to write 3 hymns a week, but instead she turned out 6 or 7 a day. Her most well-known hymn was "Blessed Assurance," written in 1873.

The story of her life fascinated me. First off, because she was blinded for life and yet learned how to play guitar and piano. Secondly, because she was someone who didn't give up but had a strong faith in God and His plan for her life. Thirdly, she chose to put her faith and assurance in a God whom she believed in and loved with her whole heart, and so she kept finding ways to give back to God, to give back to people, and to give back to life itself. She never held a bitter spirit for the man who had taken away her sight, but instead was quoted as saying, "If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me."

I sat and pondered where am I in my faith journey? Is it the beginning, the middle, the end? Do we only exercise faith when things are going smoothly? Do we hold assurance in things other than God? Do we make time to meet with God and grow in our knowledge and faith in Him?

As I was pondering that, I reached for my phone to return a call. The phone rang once, twice, three times and I heard the little seven year old voice answer, "Hello?" I asked for her mother. She launched into her excited voice repeating that her mom was gone and she wanted to tell me about their summer vacation.

"What was your favorite part?" I asked.

She gleefully expressed, "The roller coaster! I almost threw up once, but didn't actually."

Then I said, "Weren't you scared?"

"Oh, no, "she said, "My daddy was riding right next to me."

I hung up the phone and realized a basic truth. We're all really on a ride. We're all riding the rollercoaster of life. It just seems a lot safer, a lot more comforting, when we embrace the faith and the assurance that our Dad, Our own Heavenly Father is riding right next to us.

Today, take a journey with me. Let's explore our faith. Let's explore the stories of our lives, the assurance that we feel or don't feel, and the day in and day out journeys in which we travel. Let's ponder what we're doing to grow in our faith-walk with God. And let's encourage one another, on this ride called life, to stretch and grow, and reach far and wide for what God has to offer. This week as we focus on getting back on track with fall schedules, let's reach out to learn more about faith, and ride the ride ... of our lives.

By Kathy Weckwerth

For More From Kathy, log onto

www.bestlifeministries.com

Back to School:

Preparing Your Family

By: Dr. Ryan M. Walker, DDS

(Ryan owns a private practice specializing in endodontics (root canal dentist) in Saint Joseph, Missouri. He has been married to his wife Jeanne for sixteen years and has six wonderful children. Ryan is also a member of his church's worship

team, on the Board of Directors for the local Pregnancy Resource Clinic, and a volunteer for many local ministries.)

Well, fellow parents, it's that time of year and Back to School is upon us. I have been quietly observing parents rejoicing over the return of structure in their family's lives and have also seen a fair number of sad faces on children as the end of summer draws near.

This summer really has flown by! My wife and I have been blessed with six children and four of them just started school last week. I will admit to you that we were confident we would be celebrating the structure of school settling back into our family. That was until we received our new after-school curriculum schedules! I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:1 "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens." Now we find ourselves continually on the go, remembering that a few months ago we had been longing to enter the rest God had promised us in the now distant memory of summer break. Can anyone else relate?

All kidding aside, families are now in high gear as the school year is kicking off. As Godly parents our desire is to train our children in the ways of the Lord consistently throughout the year.

Here are a few tips for Godly parenting that I have found to be beneficial:

1. The first tip is not directed toward our children but towards us as parents. It is not seasonal but continual. For Gods glory and the sake of my children, I still make my primary focus in life MY relationship with the Lord. As we seek to know God's character and He reveals Himself to us, we will find that our love and adoration for Him increases. My children can sense this love relationship I have with God. As a result of this fellowship, I do not have to point them in the direction I think they should go to find God, but I can take their hand and walk with them to the place where God is truly found (metaphorically speaking). It is the Spirit-filled abundant life that Jesus Christ promised us as we live by faith.

2. Secondly, invest time in each one of your children one-on-one even though the school year will get hectic. Scheduling is always tough but for daddy's and daughter's, date night is an awesome opportunity to love, cherish, and invest time in your daughter. You can go somewhere nice if you want but all that matters is that you are with them (and that you buy them ice cream at the end of the date). My sons are still young but they like to work with me on the farm and my oldest can talk continuously for several hours if he is kept occupied with a task. Spend time engaging your children in deep spiritual conversation during these one-on-one times. Superficial stuff is easy to talk about but has no eternal value. If they have not yet made a decision to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, I would encourage you to pray that God would bless you with the opportunity to be the one that guides them through it.

3. Lastly, have a family prayer time and Bible study. You can utilize a devotional

book, but always use scripture that relates back to any situations that are going on in the family or at school, and help them make application to those situations. For instance, we have had about one thousand discussions on Eph. 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." I think just one more week and we will have made the application!! Sunday evenings are great because it gives the kids an opportunity to focus their energy on things they desire to pray for regarding the upcoming school week that they might not otherwise articulate. It's a time to grow and seek the Lord as a family.

My youngest daughter, Lilly just shared her memory verse with me, and it made me smile. III John 1:4 "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth."

I pray that God is already blessing each of your families in new and unexpected ways this school year!

Blessings,

Dr. Ryan

Mister Rogers

"In the external scheme of things, shining moments are as brief as the twinkling of an eye, yet such twinklings are what eternity is made of -- moments when we human beings can say 'I love you,' 'I'm proud of you,' 'I forgive you,' 'I'm grateful for you.' That's what eternity is made of: invisible, imperishable good stuff."

Fred Rogers

The World According to Mister Rogers

7 Tips to Keep Your Child Safe

By Alice Wisner

(Alice serves as a Crime Analyst with the West Des Moines, Ia Police Department)

Back to school! Those words can fill a parent's heart with joy, but also a little fear and dread. Our children are leaving the safety of their homes and our watchful eyes. We can go from knowing almost everything they do every day, to having large gaps where we are unsure how they are interacting with the outside world, which can be a little overwhelming these days when we are constantly bombarded with bad news in the media.

Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to help your peace of mind and make your children safer.

If your child will be walking to a bus stop or to school, plan a walking route and travel it with them. Point out safe places they can go to if a situation arises they are not comfortable with. Make sure they are walking with either a friend or sibling. When crossing intersections without benefit of a crossing guard be sure your child knows to make eye contact with the driver of any stopped car before crossing the street.
Know your schools' emergency procedures as well as their day to day school safety and security procedures. Have a family plan in place that meshes with your school's plan in the case of a natural disaster or other emergency.
If you are away from home when your child will arrive, it's a good practice to have them check in with you. If they are reluctant to do this because they are "too old," use that call as an opportunity to assign chores, get their opinion on what sounds good for dinner, or just discuss what the schedule for the remainder of the day is.
Many secondary schools will hold active shooter or intruder drills. Find out and talk to your child about what this entails, and that it is important to understand it is practice and the odds of this actually happening are minute but that they should understand what is happening, and not treat the drill as a joke.
Monitor your child's internet and cell phone usage. As parents, this is probably the most challenging for us in monitoring how our children interact with the world. Sexual predators can disguise themselves online as any age. Show your children how to protect their privacy with social media and to not disclose personal information about themselves. Make sure that your child personally knows every friend they have on their facebook account. Monitor texts when possible, and check into parental options your cell phone company has. For a small monthly fee, most companies have the option of shutting a cell phone off between certainhours, overnight for example.
Make sure that valuables such as wallets, IPods and cell phones can be locked up in school lockers.
Most importantly, listen to your instincts and listen to your children. If something seems off with them, or if they are telling you that something is not right in the neighborhood or with one of their friends, listen and check into it. Many tragedies could be averted if only someone had not only listened, but acted on their intuition.

In closing, while it sometimes seems that the world is a scary place and full of

dangers none of us thought of when we were children, at the same time it is a wonderful world and we all want our children to live rich and full lives enjoying life. With a little proactive planning and education, that can happen with less angst on our part. And of course I also recommend lots of prayer to keep us all safe!!

Alice Wisner

"A child needs both to be hugged and unhugged. The hug lets her know she is valuable. The unhug lets her know that she is viable. If you're always shoving your child away, they will cling to you for love. If you're always holding them closer, they will cling to you for fear." ...Billy Graham

Jenessa Grossman, Art Teacher

Best Memories

WHO ARE YOU?

By Jenessa Grossman, Lincoln Elementary Art Teacher

"Tootsie Roll, Lollipop, We've been talking ... Now let's STOP!" As comical as it may sound, this little song worked every time to help quiet the first grade class I was student teaching.

The very first time I watched the first grade teacher use this method, I thought she was really silly. But as I looked around, I noticed that the hyper children were completely quiet. I politely asked them if they would teach me this song.

"Sure, Mrs. Grossman!" they happily screamed.

Sure enough, the following week I asked to learn the song, and they immediately taught me the hand motions and the "sweet" little chant. I asked them theatrically, "So you're telling me that's all I need to do for us to be quiet?" I smiled as they all giggled loudly and in unison they said, "Yeah!" And sure enough, they proved that the little song really does work.

Each week after that, they shared different songs, rhymes, and hand signals that

would quiet the whole class in an instant and each time I never had to ask them

to quiet down, I just sang jingles. The sweet innocence of a little first grader

is so precious.

Because there were too many students for one class, the first graders were divided in half. I remember my last day was with the second group of first graders. Both groups were a treat to have in the art room. As they finished up their paintings, I noticed how well they were doing and how they worked so hard and they behaved in class.

I stopped them five minutes to the hour, knowing this would be the last time I would see them. I told with them how much I would miss them. While sharing that it would be my last time teaching them, I looked around at their little faces; the once happy first graders looked devastated.

Before I could finish my sentence, all of the children ran up and hugged me. Sixteen children surrounding me, squeezing with all their might and shrieking, "Don't let go!" was so overwhelming. Tears welled up in my eyes and everything suddenly became a blur.

At that moment, I knew this was supposed to be my profession, and I was making all the right choices for my career. I knew that I had taught them about art, colors, patterns and so much more.

As the class let go of their heartfelt hug and started lining up for the bus, I

felt a little tug on my shirt. I look down to see a bright-eyed little blonde girl.

"Can you hold my hand while we walk down to the buses? Can you wait with me until my parents pick me up?" she asked.

"Of course," I replied.

As we walked, she squeezed my hand tightly. I frequently looked down at her face to see her expressions. Holding a small hand might have felt unnatural for me, but she seemed so content, as if it was a comfort for her, a security of an adult's guidance.

Twenty-five minutes passed by as we stood holding hands, waiting for her parents to arrive. Other students of mine passed by and hugged me, sharing that they would miss me. I didn't mind the stares as everyone saw me holding her hand. I stood there and as promised, I waited until her parents arrived. She hugged me a handful of times and as her little blonde ponytail disappeared in a truck, I was proud to be a teacher in her eyes.

I was a teacher at Hancock school and a teacher I will always be.

Exec. Dir Kathy Weckwerth & Good Friend,

Marie Johnson
Interview With Marie Johnson

BLM: One year ago, Kathy and Dean Weckwerth purchased the Frank Lake Covenant Church from the Hillside Cemetery Association for $1.00.From an insider's perspective, what was going on behind the scenes with the Association, and their concerns about the building?

MJ: About 10 yrs ago at the yearly meeting of the Hillcrest Cemetery Association they began talking about what to do with the church as the outside and the inside were beginning to deteriorate. Repairs were needed but there wasn't money to pay for them. Should the building be sold or maybe torn down? Each year the association had the same discussion without any decision being made. In the spring of 2012 it was decided that the time had come to make a decision, they would advertise to sell the building for $1.00 with the buyer moving it. It was with joy and excitement that the building was sold to Kathy and Dean!

BLM: As the day arrived for the move, how did you feel about the move?

M.J.: I certainly had mixed feelings, but so very, very grateful to the Lord that the church would again be used for the purpose it was built!

BLM: What is one important thing that happened in the history of the

old church?

M.J.: I believe the one most important thing is that the life saving message of Jesus Christ was proclaimed there all those many years.

BLM: As you have visited the building now after the move, how do you

feel about seeing the building in a different location?

M.J.: The building is beautiful in its new setting......looks as if it has always been there!

Again I am so thankful it is restored and lovingly taken care of. But most importantly is to know that once again the true message of Jesus Christ is being taught there. Thank you, Kathy and Dean. Thank you, Best Life Ministries.

"Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." Isaiah 58:12

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All praise, glory, and honor to a God who thinks bigger than we possibly could, who loves us beyond our understanding, and who gives us the dreams deep inside our hearts.

Hit Pick List

Favorite Encouraging Song:

Song of Hope by Robbie Seay Band

Purchase on Itunes for $1.29

Lyrics: "All things new I can start again. Creator, God, calling me Your friend. Sing praise my soul to the Maker of the Skies, a song will rise ... ."

Favorite Devotional Books:

My Utmost For His Highest: An Updated Version in Today's Language

by Oswald Chambers

$6.99 cbd.com

Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids

by Sarah Young

$7.99 cbd.com

Live Loved: Experiencing God's Presence in Everyday Life

by Max Lucado

$8.99 cbd.com

Living the God Life

by John Ortberg

$3.30 amazon.com

Recipes From the Meadow

By Juli Johnson, Owner of Cricket Meadow Tea in Litchfield, MN

Today is a perfect day to do some fall cleanup projects around Cricket Meadow. The sun is shining brightly in a beautiful blue sky, the maple is turning red and everywhere I look I see work. But I love being outside in the glorious weather, pulling stakes away form the holly hocks and delphiniums, filling the bird feeders, cleaning debris out of the flower beds, properly disposing of a dead snake in the perennial bed, and finally, harvesting produce from a slightly overgrown and a bit neglected garden.

First the tomatoes and peppers. Hopefully, there will be enough for one last batch of salsa. Then I survey the herbs. Mountainous lemon balm plants. Spiky fragrant rosemary. Thick hedges of thyme, borders of basil and shrub-sized sage. I grab my largest basket from the shelf in the kitchen and head out with a shears to begin snipping. When my dehydrator is full, I place the rest on a screen in the garage, topped with another screen, allowing air to move freely around the herbs for proper drying. After a week or so, I begin crumbling the dried plants into canning jars and, covered and labeled, they rest in my pantry or on my kitchen shelves until I need them for cooking. When winter has its grip on my soul, I reach for a jar of summer elixir, drop some lemon balm leaves in a china cup, pour boiling water over, steep and breathe deeply before sipping a bit of joy. And I can face the worst winter has to offer.

Herbed Buttermilk Biscuits

4 cups flour

1 tablespoon chives

1 tablespoon dill

2 tablespoons baking powder

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup cold butter

2 cups buttermilk

2 tablespoons butter, melted

In mixing bowl, combine flour, chives, dill, baking powder, sugar, soda, and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in buttermilk. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto greased baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Brush lightly with melted butter. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, until golden brown. Yield: 24 biscuits.

Lemon Balm Cookies

1 cup butter

2/3 cup sugar

2 egg yolks, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups white flour

1 tablespoon minced fresh lemon balm or lemon thyme

In a mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar together. When fluffy, add egg yolks, vanilla and herbs. Stir in flour. Use a cookie press to make desired shapes on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 7 to 10 minutes.

Information from Juli's blog, where you can find more fabulous recipes .. and fun stories from our friend, Juli! http://fromthekitchenatcricketmeadow.blogspot.com/

Or to try Juli's food for yourself, visit Cricket Meadow Tea in Litchfield, MN http://www.cricketmeadowtea.com/

While you're there, pick up one of Juli's cookbooks. We love Come With Me to the Meadow!

Juli Johnson

Yours From the Meadow,

Juli

BLM's Top Favorite Back-to-School Snacks:

snack 13

1. Oikos plain vanilla greek yogurt. Toss in some blueberries or strawberries ...yum!

2. Sargento's String Cheese in mozerella, cheddar, or colby jack.

3. Wholly Guacamole Classic Dip. Add some tortilla chips and you're set to go!

4. Cashews ... a handful of these give you some good energy!

5. Snyder's of Hanover Multi Grain Pretzel Sticks.

What's Happening at the Grove?

Any woman that lives within close radius of the Middle of Nowhere is so welcome! Come on over ... we have God's Word, good worship, and a big mug of steaming coffee with some fabulous morning treat.

1025 Hwy 29, Benson, MN SE

The Church in the Grove

(BLM Headquarters)

For More Information, Log onto http://www.bestlifeministries.com

Upcoming Events!

Closed Doors, Open Windows! Women's Conference

Saturday, September, 2013/9-3:30

Bethany Reformed Church, Clara City, MN

http://bestlifeministries.com/september-28-2013-bethany-reformed-church-clara-city-mn/

Church in the Grove~ Sunday night service with Pastor Lewie Schultz

Sunday, September 29, 2013-6:00 p.m.

Church in the Grove~ Sunday night service with Pastor Lewie Schultz

Sunday, October 20, 2013-6:00 p.m.