Imagine God asking a Godly man to marry a prostitute.  That’s exactly what happened in the book of Hosea.  In Redeeming Love, Francie River chose to retell the prophet Hosea’s story with the setting of the wild west.  Did you ever think that you could break God’s heart?  Are you amazed that when you turn back to Him, He waits with open arms?  This book will have you understand this in a very profound way.  Don’t miss this book!

http://www.francinerivers.com/books/redeeming-love-0

Chris Tomlin has a great gift for writing worship songs.  This song, I Will Rise, was written to help us worship God even in sorrow.  When it is all said and done, Jesus is our hope.

“And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise”
I’ve added two links here.  One is the beautiful song I Will Rise and the other is a short 3 minute interview of Chris Tomlin talking about writing the song.

Song:  http://www.youtube.com/user/christomlinmusic?blend=1&ob=4#p/u/1/IZCk8pXozU4

Interview:  http://www.youtube.com/user/christomlinmusic?blend=1&ob=4#p/u/8/0BLY5rr24mM

“Out there things can happen and frequently do

To people as brainy and footsy as you

And when things start to happen,

Don’t worry, don’t stew.

Just go right along.

You’ll start happening too!”

Coping with the Holidays Mini-Lecture Series

Location: Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, Center for Advanced Medicine

When: November  • 12 – 2 p.m.

Times: 12-12:35 PM – 13th Floor • 12:40-1:20 PM – 7th Floor • 1:25-2 PM – Radiation Oncology

The holidays are a time for joy, fellowship, and harmony. However, anxiety and stress often accompany this season as well. Join Karen Tripp, MS, LMFT and TWC facilitator, as she provides information on how to manage stress levels during the holiday season for optimum health and enjoyment.

GOOD NEWS!  I have been teaching my 15 year old daughter how to drive and she already drives better than me.  (Of course, if you know my driving record, you know that’s not saying much.)  Regardless, the lessons have been a good reminder for me of all the things I take for granted.  Like other cars.  When driving down a two lane country road at 55 miles per hour, I trust the on coming cars to stay in their lane.  When you think about it, that’s a lot of trust.  You trust a complete stranger to pass just a few feet from your car and not swerve into you.  In the most casual and mundane way, you are placing your life in the hands of each on coming driver.  How can you trust so easily?  It’s because you don’t trust the other car completely.   You partially trust them but your real trust is in your own ability to swerve and avoid a crash.  You drive in anticipation of trouble. 

Sometimes we drive our lives like we drive a car- anticipating that something might go wrong around the next turn.  It’s like being surrounded by the “what ifs” of life.  “What if they do this or do not do that?”  “What if I get hurt or they get hurt?”  When the “what if’s” saturate your life it can feel like you are drowning.   The goal can easily become to live your life trying to avoid any kind of trouble.   God does not want you to focus your life on trying to avoid trouble.  He wants the focus of your life to be on Him.

John 14:1 says Do not let your heart be troubled.  Trust in God.  Wouldn’t that be nice?  Wouldn’t it be nice to have a heart that is worry free?  Wouldn’t it be nice to be rid of the “What ifs” by trusting in God?  Maybe you do trust God but the “what ifs” are still there.  The question is do you trust God completely or do you still depend on yourself to get through the tough times?  The problem with trusting in yourself is that deep down you know the next tough time may be too much for you to bear. 

The truth is God is better at coping with your hard times than you are.  As long as you believe that you are better at handling problems than God, you are not trusting God completely.   Trusting completely comes when you understand  that “What if’s” do not matter to God.   It’s like saying to God  “What if X happens?” and Him answering “That’s OK.  I’ll still be there.”    God knows He will always be by your side.  The question is- do you?  Do you trust that He will be there, lifting you up, in every circumstance?

Turn your tomorrows over to Him.  Everyone’s life has some narrow roads and dangerous turns and God knows everyone of them.  The truth is, when it comes to life journeys, there’s no better driver than God.

A WEEKEND RELATIONSHIP ENRICHMENT COURSE
FOR COUPLES WHO ARE LIVING WITH MS

When: June 26-27

Where: Chesterfield , MO

For more info: Allison Harper at

National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Gateway Area Chapter
1867 Lackland Hill Parkway
St. Louis, MO  63146
Tel         314–446-4184

Couples who are living with MS often find it difficult to make their relationship a priority. This workshop is designed to address the needs of couples living with MS who experience these and other issues by teaching the following: effective communication and listening skills, problem solving and conflict resolution skills, ways to break old patterns, and manage relationships proactively.

Providence tells not only about a man’s difficult journey to faith but his faithfulness once his mature faith finds a crisis.  I like books that look at the challenges that Christians face after salvation.  The main character, Jack Clayton, is a unwillingly famous Christian author that is attacked by the media.  All the solutions I kept coming up for him as I read where not very godly choices.  The author, Chris Coppernoll, shows us that God’s way may look crazy, but really it’s very smart.  Also, there’s a great love story winding through the whole book .  Well written with a couple good twist.  give it a try…

http://www.providencebook.com/testimonials.html

There are some songs that become prayers.  This is one of those songs for me.  Nothing holds worth without Christ by my side. 

“I couldn’t face my life tomorrow
Without Your hope in my heart I know
I can’t live a day without You
Lord, there’s no night and there’s no morning
Without Your loving arms to hold me
You’re the heartbeat of all I do
I can’t live a day without You”

Listen to this prayer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsgY5mYbMoo&feature=related

WHEN: Saturday, May 22nd 1:00-4:00PM

WHERE: Parable Christian Store Arnold

171716 Missouri State Rd
Arnold, MO 6301016

For more information contact Christy Matlach at (636) 287-1231.

“…when pain is to be bourne, a little courage helps more than knowledge, a little human sympathy more than courage and the least trace of the love of God more than all.”