When I founded Best Life Ministries, it all began with a vision to deliver help ... hope ... and healing to women everywhere.

This month, join our team as we take a closer look at believing that life is worth living, that God is in charge, and that there is always hope!

In this issue, we'll hear from Pastor Bev about hope, suggest some hope-filled books, give some fun tips on products and table settings, and encourage you with scripture. Let hope flow freely in every aspect of your life!

May 2015

Finding HOPE

Founder & Executive Director

Kathy Weckwerth

Romans 8:26-28

"Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along."

Hope seems to be intangible at times, and yet in our faith journey ... so very crucial.

Several months ago, I traveled to see several specialists about a health issue I was experiencing. It was stressful, it was worrisome, it was SCARY! Driving downtown Minneapolis to the U of M, I saw a doctor who gave me NO HOPE. He was abrupt, discouraging, and dismissive. On top of that, he wrote me a very curt letter that told me I needed a procedure, immediately.

The fear began to press into the corners and crevices of my mind. I felt lost and hopeless. But something changed that. God met me in many ways ...

1) through scripture reading

2) through prayer

3) through others

4) through nature

5) through rest

6) through a song

I found that as I waited on God, God was waiting on me to seek Him, trust Him, and hold onto HOPE!

I began to pray and ask for a hope-filled spirit that would trust God with every detail. I made an appointment for another specialist. As I drove to see him, I felt a little lighter, a little freer.

My appointment was met with a doctor who was older, kinder, and had different information to deliver.

There I found hope, there I found promise, and there I found faith.

Sometimes it seems as though we're alone. We can't feel the presence of God. We question if He even cares. I have found in moments like those, that God sends specific comfort for us personally ... He sends us HOPE.

It's in ways that only you and God can know. It can be in the words of a doctor, or a song, in the chorus of a robin's voice, in the warmth of a friend's voice, or a spouses' hug. It can be in encouraging scripture or from something we read, hear, see, smell, that reminds us of this truth: we are never alone.

God stretches us. He helps us to grow up and to lean into Him. It's only in those times where we quiet ourselves, look out and watch and listen for Him, that we gain our strength...that we ignite our hope.

Relish in this HOPE: We love and serve a real God. One who cares for our every need.

Living With Hope

Pastor Bev Modlin

For much of the Old Testament period, hope was centered on the world but the believers were encouraged to wait for God, hopefully, willingly, readily, fervently.

Wait in eager expectation for God, in hopes to hear and learn from His teaching and for His salvation, and it's with the requirement to trust in God alone, that there is a close connection between hope and trust.

Just as the Old Testament emphasizes hope and trust, Paul in the New Testament writes about setting our hope in Christ alone as Jesus Christ is our hope. The follower of Christ has a living hope when Jesus said, "Because I live, you will live also."

In the NIV version of the Bible, the word hope is mentioned 174 times~94 times in the Old Testament, and 80 times in the New Testament.

Our Great God gives us the Bible of hope to guide us to communicate with us. And even though we may not have walked the earth with Jesus, as did Peter, Andrew, James, John, and the rest, we love Him.

None of us can see Jesus now, not like Mary and the other women saw Him after the resurrection, and He doesn't appear to us like He did to Paul on the road to Damascus. Yet we believe in Him, we believe in Christ our Living Savior. And because He is a living Savior, He lives in the hearts of believers/followers who live with hope through Christ.

Nevertheless, we are not shielded from the troubles of the world, but we can be (with His life within), victorious over all the disappointments and tragedies we face in our daily walks of life. It's life. Everybody goes through it, and everybody endures it. You start in one place and end up at another. You sometimes walk through the valleys to get there; sometimes there are mountains to climb, but in Christ, however, the ending is always the same, regardless of what it took to get there and that's living hope.

With hope, there's always a possibility. There's always help along the way. There's always the strength to reach where you're heading and our fellowship with Jesus makes all this life worthwhile. There is no doubt in my mind that hope is one of the necessary ingredients for human life. With hope, we believe that even though we suffer the difficulties, anxieties, worries, troubles, and trials of this life, we will one day rejoice in all things, for where there is life, there is hope. And in living hope, there are always possibilities. There is always regeneration and rebirth. Jesus is alive, and in the living Jesus, we find living hope and through the persevering of faith in Jesus Christ, the outcome will indeed be the salvation of our souls.

Hope is the proper response to the promises of God. Hope leads to joy, boldness, faith, and love. Hope also leads to comfort and hope leads us to encourage one another with the knowledge of the resurrection.

"Show us your ways, O Lord teach us your paths; guide us in Your truth and teach us, for you are our God our Savior, and our hope is in You all day long. " Psalm 25:4

Live and be joyful in hope!

Pastor Bev

joy filled woman

GOD'S HOPE FOR YOU

BLM's Book Suggestions

1. Hope: Your Heart's Deepest Longings Life Guide Bible Studies, Revised $5.99 cbd.com

2. Experiencing God's Story of Life and Hope: A Workbook for Spiritual Formation $15.99 cbd.com

3. New Community Bible Study Series Romans 8: Updated $6.29 cbd.com

Hebrews 6:19, "For we have this hope as an anchor for the soul."

What's In Our Bag?

BLM's Fun Finds for Under $20.00

Some of our favorite products that you will find in our spring bag!

Goodie Hairbands
Tide To Go Stain Remover Stick
Simple Sensitive Skin Experts Eye Make-up Remover Pads
Altoids Small Mints
TRESemme Hairspray
Up & Up Lint Toller
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Smartease
Herbal Essence Naked Dry Shampoo
Annie's Gluten Free Oatmeal Cookie
No 7 Photo Fix Wrinkle Filler and Primer
Burt's Bees 100% Natural Lip Shine

Finding Hope in Your Everyday World

Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.

Martin Luther

It's Spring & Time for Fresh Salads

Southwestern Salad

Large head of Romaine lettuce
1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained
1 large orange bell pepper
1 pint cherry tomatoes
2 cups corn (fresh or frozen, thawed)
5 green onions
1 avocado

Dressing
1 cup loosely packed cilantro, stems removed and roughly chopped
1/2 avocado (or 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt)
2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (about 1/2 lime)

1 garlic clove

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 1/2 tsp. white wine vinegar

1/2 tsp. salt

Instructions

To make the dressing: puree all ingredients in a food processor until smooth.

To make the salad: Chop romaine finely, chop bell pepper, tomatoes, and green onions. Place all ingredients in a large bowl and stir to combine. Toss with desired dressing.

The Bottom Line Movie Review

Do You Believe?

Rated: PG13

Running Time:115 minutes

Reviewer: Farmer Dean & Kathy Weckwerth

The second film brought to you by the creator's of God's Not Dead was as satisfying and motivating as the first movie, but with this one, I cried from early in the film, through to the end. Farmer Dean wants me to note that he only used his sleeve once, and that was at the end of the movie, but he thinks it's because the popcorn oil was dripping down his cheek. Uh-huh ... right!

Movie: When Pastor Matt (Ted McGinley) is faced at the beginning of the story with the question, "Do You Believe?" he is inspired to ask his congregation that same question, encouraging them that if they believe .... than live that OUT in your life.

The movie hosts some great Hollywood names including: Cybil Shepherd, Lee Majors, Sean Astin, and Joseph Julian Soria.

Throughout the movie, we encounter 12 lives, some who believe in God and some who do not. We watch how the movie twists and ties their lives together and how faith is stretched and pulled in each and every life.

From the gang kids, to the pregnant teen, to the lost souls who are mourning their daughter's death, to the homeless woman & daughter, to the doctor and his girlfriend, the EMT and his nurse-wife, to an older prison ward who's dying, to Pastor Matt & his wife, the story follows each life as they are faced with being bold for Christ, or turning and running.

Bottom Line: This movie will inspire you to ask yourself some hard questions like ... what am I doing for the cause of Christ? The ending is great, with a few surprises, and even though the Rotten Tomato critics gave it terrible reviews, Farmer Dean says we shouldn't waste our own garden-grown tomatoes throwing them at their review staff, but instead, should encourage you to find a theater where it's showing ... and get some popcorn and sit back and be encouraged. Bring Kleenex! Oh ... and Farmer Dean says, wear long sleeves to wipe the oil (or tears) on your sleeve!

Fabulous Summer Table Settings

Sometimes the best table is one that is simple. Take this one for instance.

~Cover a simple folding table with a fun tablecloth (Better Homes & Gardens Lace Medallion Tablecloth~Walmart~ $15.96),

~Bring out the wooden folding chairs (American Champion Bamboo Folding Chair ~bizchair.com~$22.99 ea),

~Add plastic tumblers (Mambo Striped Tumblers~Dollar Tree~$1.00 ea)

~Add water goblets ~(Pier One Imports~4.00 ea)

~Pick garden flowers and place into recycled jars (pickle & peanut butter)

Note: Adding white dishes will make things appear clean and appetizing.

Enjoy the great outdoors!

BLM's 2015 CONFERENCE Topic is

"Get on Track! Train for Your BEST LIFE"

Bring our conference to your location! $50.00 referral fee to anyone who refers us to a church who delivers an event.

New workshop classes include: Celebrating God Through Psalm 119, When Faith Stretches, Stretch With It!, Living Your Best With Authentic Prayer, Living Your Best With Vitality and Letting Go of Fear and Worry.

Tickets this year are $35.00. Connect with Executive Director, Kathy Weckwerth for questions or to book your women's event!

Kathy's email

Upcoming Conferences:

Saturday, May 2-The Church in the Grove, Benson, MN

Saturday, May 9-Bethany Reformed, Clara City, MN

Saturday, September 19-St. John's of Biscay, Hutchinson, MN

Saturday, September 26-Peace Lutheran, Faribault, MN

Come and visit us at

The Church in the Grove!

1025 Hwy 29, Benson, MN

Events Happening All the Time!!

Need Hope With Fabulous Music To Lift Your Spirits?

BLM Recommends: Jen Stanbro

"Real With You" cd

Lyric Sample: God Day~it's early in the morning, the house is quiet but I've set aside this time for You. I bow before the throne of a noble King and in this place my heart begins to sing

i t's gonna be a God Day, God Day ... from the CD "Real With You"

Fun, depth in her lyrics, motivating, powerful, and original.

jenstanbro.com

This month, take some time to review how hope-filled you really are, and then keep in touch with us via our facebook page: BLM facebook for encouraging help.

I Peter 1:3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

Commit to remaining in hope ... in everything. God will honor your faith!

You can find out more about Best Life Ministries by visiting our website at www.bestlifeministries.com or
kathyweckwerth.com

Remember, it's never too late to make changes.

Start today. Start living your best life!