February 2013

Love Is Like Fine China

A china cabinet full of beautifully ornate, 24-carat gilt-edged dishes sits in the corner of my dining room. I ve never eaten a speck of food off them. Why? I think they are just too too. Too pretty, too fragile, too valuable, and too sentimental to use. And too clean if I take the dishes out I ll have to wash them! Admiring their blue and gold pattern from across the room at lunch one day, I looked down at the cheap paper plate under my sandwich and realized there was a deeper too reason. They were just too good. Too good for me that is. My china is beautiful, perfect, and pristine. I m not. I might break a plate, chip a cup, or scratch a golden edge. I m not worthy to be trusted with something of such value. It s often the same way I feel about God s love that I m not worthy of it. I m afraid to allow the beauty of God s love to be used, really used, in my everyday life, because I m the chipped, cracked, and broken one. Dare I believe in the fullness of God s love he desires to pour into me? Agape, that is what God s love is a love without expectation of anything in return. It s a beautiful love we inherit through the shed blood of Jesus that remains perfect even as we remain imperfect. It s a rare and precious gilt-edged love like my fine china, yet it s meant to be taken off the shelf and lived. And each day I allow God to fill my cup with agape I become a little less chipped and a little more gilt around the edges. Tomorrow I ll eat my sandwich on a china plate. Next week I ll serve tea to some friends in my china cups. From now on I ll try to allow the fine china of God s love to live in me and through me in a real life display. Because Agape is just too good, too pretty, and too indestructible not to share.

The Salvation Army 310 N DeSpelder Grand Haven, Michigan

TH E W ORD
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 1 John 4:16

What fine china or precious item lives only on display in your house? How can you use it in real life to share God s agape love this month?

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What is Love?
Jesus said we were to come to him as little children. So to get a younger perspective on the subject, we asked some kids: What is love? That means you love your brother and your sister. Love is nice to say. It's well...I'm gonna tell you a story. One time ago I had a dream of princesses and that's a nice one. I love Strawberry Cake (Strawberry Shortcake). Davie (age 4) I love God. It means liking others and helping them learn about God and when you're going somewhere and you feel better and you meet a friend, it's like that. Judah (age 5) When someone is good to you, they are loving you and keep you safe. Ethan (age 8) It's hard to explain. Maybe if you love someone you do what they ask you to do. If you love someone you care about them more than yourself. Caleb (age 10) Ask your kids, grandkids, students, or friend s kids What is love? Then share their witty and wise words with the world on the Group for Women Facebook page! (facebook.com/GroupWomensMinistry)

What is Love?
Like chocolate and peanut butter super sweet together and a special treat just like our friendships! Celebrate more than just Valentine s Day this month; celebrate God s love as you share these yummy treats with new and old friends.

The Most Valuable China

Considered precious, priceless, and prestigious, Flora Danica porcelain china was first created in the late 1700s for the crown prince of Denmark to give to Catherine the Great of Russia. Still used by kings and queens today, it s regarded as one of the most unique and beautiful patterns from the golden age of porcelain. Want to sip tea like a queen? Flora Danica is still in production today...at the royal price of close to $2,000 for one teacup.

No-Bake PB & C Bars

2 cups peanut butter cup butter, softened 2 cups powdered sugar 3 cups graham cracker crumbs 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips Beat 1 cups of the peanut butter and all of the butter in a bowl until creamy. Beat in 1 cup of the powdered sugar, then use your hands to work in the other cup of powdered sugar, the graham cracker crumbs, and cup of the chocolate chips. Press the mixture into a greased 9x13 pan. Melt the remaining cup of peanut butter with the remaining chocolate chips over low heat, stirring until smooth. Spread over the graham cracker mixture. Refrigerate until the chocolate is set. Cut into bars and share! (Recipe from the devotional book God So Loved the World That He Created Chocolate)

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Media Morsels
Movie Review
The Odd Life of Timothy Green Release Date: 2012 Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy Rating: PG for mild thematic elements and brief language Length: 105 minutes This movie features a childless couple, Cindy and Jim Green, who have hoped for a child. After learning that they will not be able to have a baby, they symbolically write their dreams on paper, put them in a box, and bury the box in the garden. Suddenly, after a strange nighttime storm, their lives are turned upside down when they find a 10-year-old boy named Timothy in their kitchen, calling them Mom and Dad. This film is cute, sweet, and appropriate for children. It s also an interesting illustration of the desire for children and the hopes and dreams we place on them. As you re watching, consider what the Greens and others learn from Timothy and the opportunities we all have to affect the people around us during the time we have on earth.

Book Review
Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul
Author: Jennie Allen Publisher: Thomas Nelson This book tells a story of what happened when author Jennie Allen and her husband prayed a risky prayer: God, we will do anything. Their journey had brought them to a place of surrender, and God gave them the courage to exhibit this willingness to let everything go for his sake. As a result, their lives were changed they found themselves saying goodbye to much of what they had thought they needed in order to be happy. They discovered the deeper joy that comes from discovering what life is really about. This book will challenge your own comfort and your pursuits in life, asking you to consider praying this same prayer of surrender. What might happen if you were to offer God anything?

This page is designed to inform and educate you and is not an endorsement. Our prayer is that you will make informed decisions on what you see, read, and listen to.

February
A Taste of What s Happening for Women
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri 1 Sat 2

All ladies are welcome to come join us as we grow together in Christ!

3 Morning Worship Service 11 a.m. Potluck lunch @ noon 10 Morning Worship Service 11 a.m. 17 Morning Worship Service 11 a.m. 24 Morning Worship Service 11 a.m. Twila B. Anniversary

6 Sewing Sisters 5-7 p.m.

7 WM 1:00 p.m. Knitting Program

11 Jeane C. Birthday

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13 Sewing Sisters 5-7 p.m.

14 Valentines Day! WM 1 p.m. CHILL project 21 WM 1 p.m. ScrapBooking your personal Grace page 28 WM 1p.m. Program by Roxy Lattin

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16 Craft Day 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

18 Presidents Day

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20 Sewing Sisters 5-7 p.m.

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27 Sewing Sisters 5-7 p.m.

Contact for more information

Name: Captain Sally Davis Phone: 616-842-3380 E-mail: sally_davis@usc.salvationarmy.org

Design and base content 2013 Group Publishing, Inc., Loveland, CO, group.com/women. Permission to photocopy granted for local church use only.