I have watched you suffer all of your life
And now that you’ll listen, I’ll tell you that I...”
I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love
The love that you never knew
from What Love Really Means by JJ Heller (song)
I love JJ Heller's song "What Love Really Means." The lyrics so beautifully capture people's anguish to feel love from something or someone and how God yearns to show us His love. His real love.
I especially love, "and now that you'll listen, I'll tell you..." Have you ever wondered where God is? Why did this happen? Were you listening? God loves you and He wants more than anything to show you His love.
Did you ever let this verse sink in to the depths of your heart and soul? Read, let it sink in for a minute.
John 3:16 (NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Reflect on God's love for you this Easter. Think of the above verse. Think of the cross. The cross is the ultimate symbol of God's love for us. Happy Easter and God Bless!
By Wings Team Member Lisa Talbert
Monday, April 25, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Hope
It is a beautiful early spring day. Tomorrow however, the temperature will drop 20 degrees. If this were November I'd be sighing and wish I lived farther south, but in the spring it doesn't affect me the same way. The knowledge that this time of year we will begin to have more warm days than cold ones gives me hope that winter must give way to spring.
We learn to have hope from past experience and trust. Past experience being the constant, as long as that remains the same we dare hope for the same result. Sometimes our hope rests on a person, our history in relationship with them may encourage hope for a certain out come because we've learned we can trust them.
Hope is tricky business, we live in a fallen world with a broken system and things we set our hope on can potentially let us down. Something new gets added to the mix and we end up with a different end. People disappoint us and to be fair, we have let others down who hoped in us too. Misplaced hope can be a painful experience.
When we are crushed by broken hope or see the brokenness our actions have caused in others we have a place of encouragement. Thank goodness God is not bound to the falseness of our broken system! It is impossible for God to lie, we who have accepted the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for our heart, a place of security. (Hebrews 6:18,19)
An anchor is a vivid picture of security. It holds the ship in a safe place though a fierce storm may threaten to throw it against the rocks. Hope, which is compared to an anchor, is offered through life in Jesus Christ. The God of hope offers to fill us as we trust in Him. (Romans 15:13) This not a limited offer, but can be accessed as many times as needed!
When life is disappointing, uncertain and downright dangerous, it is comforting to know that there is a safe place for our heart. That hope is available through faith. (Hebrews 11)
We learn to have hope from past experience and trust. Past experience being the constant, as long as that remains the same we dare hope for the same result. Sometimes our hope rests on a person, our history in relationship with them may encourage hope for a certain out come because we've learned we can trust them.
Hope is tricky business, we live in a fallen world with a broken system and things we set our hope on can potentially let us down. Something new gets added to the mix and we end up with a different end. People disappoint us and to be fair, we have let others down who hoped in us too. Misplaced hope can be a painful experience.
When we are crushed by broken hope or see the brokenness our actions have caused in others we have a place of encouragement. Thank goodness God is not bound to the falseness of our broken system! It is impossible for God to lie, we who have accepted the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for our heart, a place of security. (Hebrews 6:18,19)
An anchor is a vivid picture of security. It holds the ship in a safe place though a fierce storm may threaten to throw it against the rocks. Hope, which is compared to an anchor, is offered through life in Jesus Christ. The God of hope offers to fill us as we trust in Him. (Romans 15:13) This not a limited offer, but can be accessed as many times as needed!
When life is disappointing, uncertain and downright dangerous, it is comforting to know that there is a safe place for our heart. That hope is available through faith. (Hebrews 11)
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Real Rest
I have a love/hate relationship with our drive-thru mentality culture. The idea that everything can be done or should be gotten fast devalues many important things. Now I do admit to taking advantage of time-saving methods and love efficiency, but faster is definitely not synonymous with better. In resistance, I have tried to buck this powerful current which runs just under the surface of American life and found myself at odds with a system much bigger than me.
Sleep deprivation and stress levels are a major source of medical issues, yet people with work-alcoholic tendencies are often praised because they get so much done. Scheduling a block of time to do nothing is pretty much a sin in our culture. When we want to check-out we stick in a movie, get on facebook or surf the internet. Though we all need down time, we seldom give ourselves permission to really rest.
Women are the worst at this! If I work hard enough, better myself intellectually, and sacrifice for a time, surely I'll get where I want to be. If I have my kids in every sport, club and function maybe that will prove I'm a good Mom. If I go to church 3 times a week and am involved in every ministry does that mean I'm a good Christian? If I recycle, conserve gas and participate in disaster relief surely I am a responsible human being. What keeps us on this mouse wheel? Who said we have to continue living like this? When is enough really enough to reward ourselves with a little rest?
God set a presidence for rest knowing we'd need it. The best rest is when we are at peace inside. Maybe that's the real problem...
If inner peace could be sold the manufacturer would be an over night trillionaire! Yet, God offers it to all who open their lives to Him. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest." The Message.
What does it look like to "get away with Jesus?" We all get 24 hours each day and make the choices as to how we spend that time. We may feel these choices are out of our control at times, but in reality we are the only ones who can make those choices. Making time in our day for Jesus is a constant challenge, yet is vital to our ability to really rest. Whether through an internet devotional, reading the Bible, listening to worship music, talking with a friend who encourages us spiritually or getting away to just talk with Him (praying) you'll sense a rest like no other. Those moments are multiplied back to you over and over and worth the effort of finding them.
Sleep deprivation and stress levels are a major source of medical issues, yet people with work-alcoholic tendencies are often praised because they get so much done. Scheduling a block of time to do nothing is pretty much a sin in our culture. When we want to check-out we stick in a movie, get on facebook or surf the internet. Though we all need down time, we seldom give ourselves permission to really rest.
Women are the worst at this! If I work hard enough, better myself intellectually, and sacrifice for a time, surely I'll get where I want to be. If I have my kids in every sport, club and function maybe that will prove I'm a good Mom. If I go to church 3 times a week and am involved in every ministry does that mean I'm a good Christian? If I recycle, conserve gas and participate in disaster relief surely I am a responsible human being. What keeps us on this mouse wheel? Who said we have to continue living like this? When is enough really enough to reward ourselves with a little rest?
God set a presidence for rest knowing we'd need it. The best rest is when we are at peace inside. Maybe that's the real problem...
If inner peace could be sold the manufacturer would be an over night trillionaire! Yet, God offers it to all who open their lives to Him. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest." The Message.
What does it look like to "get away with Jesus?" We all get 24 hours each day and make the choices as to how we spend that time. We may feel these choices are out of our control at times, but in reality we are the only ones who can make those choices. Making time in our day for Jesus is a constant challenge, yet is vital to our ability to really rest. Whether through an internet devotional, reading the Bible, listening to worship music, talking with a friend who encourages us spiritually or getting away to just talk with Him (praying) you'll sense a rest like no other. Those moments are multiplied back to you over and over and worth the effort of finding them.
Friday, February 11, 2011
More
That word can do a lot of damage in us. With it we compare ourselves unfairly to others leaving us feeling less than--whatever; less beautiful, less intelligent, less wanted/needed, less lucky. The list goes on and on.
More does have a good side. It is the desire for more that gives us the strength to push through difficult situations to a resolution; in a broken relationship or a health issue or even just to finish a project.
What does it look like to want more of God? We turn to church or Christian TV and can be disappointed. We turn to a friend we believe to be more spiritual than we are. We turn to the Bible or a devotional book or Christian music and all these things are good, but it's when we turn to Jesus with our heart wide open that the desire for more will be met. He is the missing link because of what He did on the cross. Understanding, even believing He died for the sins of the whole world is too general its when that becomes a personal reality and we take responsibility for our sins which led to His death that change will occur. The most amazing realization is that He did it out of love for us! He saw us struggling under the weight of sin knowing we could never do enough to lift that. This is the greatest love-story rescue of all times!
Those who desire more of God are promised to get what they're searching for (Matt. 5: 6) Those who look for Him are told they will find Him. (Matt. 7:7)
Wait! There must be more!! Surely, there's something I have to do, changes I should make first, this can't be that easy... where's the catch? At the beginning, God created all kinds of systems that sustain life as we know it; gravity, physics, atmospheric/oceanic cycles, seasons, migration/instinct patterns.
But when it came to humans He decided to give us a will--the right to choose. I have wondered if He ever regretted that. In creating us with the ability to choose He also took the chance on being rejected by us. With all His power He will not force us to choose Him, He does not manipulate us or corers us into submission He waits, He loves. He did everything He could to reach out to us Jesus life and death showed this. The only thing that stands in the way of us connecting with more of Him is our decision to accept His provision personally. This is a conscious choice on our part, but it is only the beginning. We choose to open the door to Him and He invites us on the beautiful journey of getting to know Him.
These are foundational beliefs upon which Wings exists, however they are not mandatory view points for all who attend. We are adults, and as such respect is both extended and excepted. Practical life-issues, social networking and the honest exploration of faith will be encouraged. We are not in this process alone. Self-discovery is valuable, but perspective from others helps us see the bigger picture.
More does have a good side. It is the desire for more that gives us the strength to push through difficult situations to a resolution; in a broken relationship or a health issue or even just to finish a project.
What does it look like to want more of God? We turn to church or Christian TV and can be disappointed. We turn to a friend we believe to be more spiritual than we are. We turn to the Bible or a devotional book or Christian music and all these things are good, but it's when we turn to Jesus with our heart wide open that the desire for more will be met. He is the missing link because of what He did on the cross. Understanding, even believing He died for the sins of the whole world is too general its when that becomes a personal reality and we take responsibility for our sins which led to His death that change will occur. The most amazing realization is that He did it out of love for us! He saw us struggling under the weight of sin knowing we could never do enough to lift that. This is the greatest love-story rescue of all times!
Those who desire more of God are promised to get what they're searching for (Matt. 5: 6) Those who look for Him are told they will find Him. (Matt. 7:7)
Wait! There must be more!! Surely, there's something I have to do, changes I should make first, this can't be that easy... where's the catch? At the beginning, God created all kinds of systems that sustain life as we know it; gravity, physics, atmospheric/oceanic cycles, seasons, migration/instinct patterns.
But when it came to humans He decided to give us a will--the right to choose. I have wondered if He ever regretted that. In creating us with the ability to choose He also took the chance on being rejected by us. With all His power He will not force us to choose Him, He does not manipulate us or corers us into submission He waits, He loves. He did everything He could to reach out to us Jesus life and death showed this. The only thing that stands in the way of us connecting with more of Him is our decision to accept His provision personally. This is a conscious choice on our part, but it is only the beginning. We choose to open the door to Him and He invites us on the beautiful journey of getting to know Him.
These are foundational beliefs upon which Wings exists, however they are not mandatory view points for all who attend. We are adults, and as such respect is both extended and excepted. Practical life-issues, social networking and the honest exploration of faith will be encouraged. We are not in this process alone. Self-discovery is valuable, but perspective from others helps us see the bigger picture.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Welcome
Hi there!
If you are a young woman who's looking for an atmosphere to explore faith, build friendships and take intentional forward steps into your future... Wings may be just for you!
Such a gathering is coming soon!
A framework for young women to reach their potential; socially, spiritually and individually is being formed. We envision a strong support system as you reach for dreams, explore callings, and develop abilities. We want to provide an environment you can be comfortable bringing your friends to; Christian or not. We desire to listen to your heart-passion, and encourage you to step into God's timing and plan. We want to offer the benefit of years of adulthood without judgment, control or rigid how-to's being vulnerable about the time we spent (spend) searching for answers—allowing your ideas to take shape and have a safe place to try them.
Nights focusing on topics like:
We are hoping that Wings will give you the tools you need to take flight in your faith, relationships, and self-image. Please feel free to provide feedback or thoughts here at our blog or on facebook at www.facebook.com
If you are a young woman who's looking for an atmosphere to explore faith, build friendships and take intentional forward steps into your future... Wings may be just for you!
Such a gathering is coming soon!
A framework for young women to reach their potential; socially, spiritually and individually is being formed. We envision a strong support system as you reach for dreams, explore callings, and develop abilities. We want to provide an environment you can be comfortable bringing your friends to; Christian or not. We desire to listen to your heart-passion, and encourage you to step into God's timing and plan. We want to offer the benefit of years of adulthood without judgment, control or rigid how-to's being vulnerable about the time we spent (spend) searching for answers—allowing your ideas to take shape and have a safe place to try them.
Nights focusing on topics like:
- Education/Career path. What's your plan?
- Finances. Check,Please—Reality Check!.
- Image. More than skin deep.
- Motherhood, the hardest best thing you’ve ever done!
- Did I marry the “right”guy?
- Why is growing in God so hard?!
- Did my Faith grow up with me?
- Girls just wanta have Fun…Coffee Date!
- Recipe Exchange/Cooking together
- Book/Movie Reviews
We are hoping that Wings will give you the tools you need to take flight in your faith, relationships, and self-image. Please feel free to provide feedback or thoughts here at our blog or on facebook at www.facebook.com
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