Remember!!

Children's Ministry Summer Fun Kick-off

BEACH PARTY at Reunion Beach
           Thursday, June 2
              from 5:00-8:00

What to bring:

• picnic supper
• drinks
• towels
• chairs
• friends

You don't want to miss it!!

Finally!!

The "blogger" has been down for over a week! Sorry you haven't been receiving any posts. Hopefully, all issues have been resolved now.

    Make plans to come to the...
SUMMER KICK-OFF
BEACH PARTY!!
At Reunion Beach
June 2, 5:00-8:00 P.M.
All children and parents are welcome!
What to bring? Picnic supper &
Drinks for your family; Towels & chairs; Friends!
Dessert will be provided.

ASC

Arts & Sports Camp
"Arts & Sports Camp." You’re going to be hearing a lot of that in the next several weeks. Get used to hearing it. "Arts & Sports Camp." And begin praying how God will use you in it. It is the biggest event the Children’s Ministry has undertaken to date. "Arts & Sports Camp." The theme this year is
                                                      treasure!

We will focus on the Truth that our real treasure is found only in Jesus.

Look on the Arts & Sports Camp website
madisonheightsasc.wordpress.com
to find:Registration Form, Medical Release Form, and ASC Worker/Nursery Registration Form.
and other great information.

Please make as many cop-ies as you need. Registration dead-line is June 12. *You must submit Registration and Medical Release forms for every child that plans to participate in Arts & Sports Camp.* Early registration is encouraged for your child to be able to participate in the activities of his/her choice. They will be assigned on a first come/first served basis. You will also notice there is a $5 fee for each t-shirt ordered. *Payment must be received for your t-shirt to be ordered.* Remember to invite your friends and give them the necessary forms!

We still have several "slots" available in which you may help. Don't hesitate to ask me!sherlie@madisonheightschurch.com or 601.605.9929.


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Lies Women Believe...

Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Great book!! Here are a few of the lies we believe that are relevant to all ages...

• "I'm not worth anything."
• the Truth:
• My value is not determined by what others think of me or what I think of myself. My value is determined by how God views me. Ps139:1-18, Eph 1:3-8, 1Pe 2:4
• To God my soul is worth more than the price of the whole world. John 3:16, Ro 5:6-8
• If I am a child of God, I am God's cherished possession and treasure. Ro 8:1-2, 13, 15-17, 1Pe 2:9
• "I can't help the way that I am."
• the Truth:
• If I am a child of God, I can choose to obey God. Ro 6:1-14, 8:1-2
• I am responsible for my own choices. Deut 30:19, Josh 24:15
• I can be changed throught the power of God's Spirit. Gal 5:16, Phil 2:13
• "I need to learn to love myself."
• the Truth:
• By faith, I need to receive God's love for me. Gal 2:20, Heb 11
• I already love myself. I need to deny myself and let God love others through me. Mt 16:24-26, Jn 15:12, Eph 5:29

Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free is a book I recommend for all parents to read. Women are not the only ones to believe the lies, but we are most vulnerable to them. Men, you will understand your wives better, and together you will be better prepared to teach your daughters the Truth to counteract these sneaky lies.

National Foster Care Prayer Vigil

I am reposting a page from Cry of the Orphans. Please join the JOY ministry this month as we pray for Foster Care, including the children, foster children, social workers, churches, and our responsibility as given by Christ.

Learn about the issue What Happens to the waiting children Learn Why Promote Care Videos Other Resources Overview Location Map Register your Vigil Downloads Download the Prayer Guide 2011 National Foster Care Prayer Vigil May 2011 Many kids in foster care feel like they don't have a prayer...let's change that. The National Foster Care Prayer Vigil is calling followers of Christ together across the country during the month of May (which is National Foster Care Month) to cry out to God on behalf of children and youth in our nation's foster care system, their families, their workers, and the church as it responds to the needs of those involved in the foster care system. A prayer vigil can take on many forms. It can be a formal, church-wide event, or it can be an informal gathering with your family after dinner. In fact, the possibilities are endless. Consider asking your small group pastor to include it as part of the curriculum for all groups, or maybe during Sunday school classes all throughout the church. Take time in whatever groups you are part of to encourage people to pray for kids in foster care. Download the Prayer Guide here Register your Prayer Vigil here The important thing is not what the vigil looks like or how well it's planned, but rather that believers come together to pray for those in need. Is God calling you to be the voice for your city? See the map for a listing of vigils already scheduled. And once you have your vigil scheduled, be sure to add it so we can see the prayer happening all around the country. Gather together. Pray for the kids. Watch God work. Home|About Us|Radio / Media|Contact Us © 2010 Focus on the Family. Cry of the Orphan is a collaboration between Focus on the Family, Hope for Orphans (a ministry of FamilyLife), and Show Hope.

Happy Mother's Day

I am so thankful for all of you mothers. Your job is is so crucial and so often taken for granted. You work late many nights, and sometimes pull all-nighters. Many of you go to a daytime job after that. You juggle meals, work, school, soccer, ballet, music lessons, baseball, cheerleading, in-laws, children's friends, personal friends (occasionally), try to love your husbands well, pray, read Scripture, go to church, go to Bible study - pick any five of those, and you have an overwhelmingly full day!! (I hope you included your husband in the five you chose!) Moms are the busiest people and best jugglers of anyone out there!! I applaud you. I appreciate you. I admire you. Thank you for being spent for the good of others. Thank you for holding the next generation of adults and leaders in such high esteem that you give everything you have to love them, guide them, teach them. May God continue to strengthen you, encourage you, and bless you with grace and wisdom as you seek Him in guiding those little ones He entrusted to your care.

Below are some Scripture passages that guided through many difficult days of parenting (and wifing):
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Is 43:1-4
"Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Is 40:30-31
"He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that have young." Is 40:11
"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." 1Pe 4:8

We won't love perfectly in this world, but we can love earnestly. And we do. Most of the time. When it gets so difficult that you are ready to throw in the towel; when you are so confused and frustrated, you don't know which way is up, much less which decision is right, stop and run to the Savoir who gently leads and carries you and your little ones. Rest in Him. Don't trade time with Him for the busyness of life. He alone gives rest. And peace. And wisdom. And strength. He is a good Shepherd.

Lots of love and prayers,
Sherlie

As a side note:
The children, ages 3 though 4th grade, will be rehearsing during the Sunday School hour. The children will go to their rooms as usual. Their Sunday School teachers will take them to the auditorium for practice.

Emily's post... or most of it...

I love reading Emily Kines' posts on her blog. I was so touched by this one, I decided to post most of it on this blog. I'm sure Emily doesn't mind. Besides, it's already on the web for the world to see...

Too many flowers? emilykines | May 1, 2011 at 8:19 pm | Categories: Children | URL: http://wp.me/p1reqv-3h

"It's nice to have a baby around the house."

This is what Anne Elise said to me this morning and my soul soared. Yes, it's so nice. There's nothing better. There is nothing better! Even with the sleepless nights. It reminds me of my favorite Mother Teresa quote, "How can there be too many children? It's like saying there are too many flowers?" I couldn't agree more. Maybe my favorite quote ever. I love flowers, but I love babies more. And you can't have enough of either.

It is our responsibility to instill in our children a love for children.We have never brought a new baby home and not had him or her completely loved and embraced by all of the family members - even the two year old. Even with the incessant screaming that always accompanies our little bundles of joy. I think this has to be our lifestyle. There's a Biblical mandate to love children. Jesus loved children. He even tells us that we must become like them. He told the disciples to let them come. What an awesome picture! Can you imagine children running to Him? Grabbing His legs? Climbing in His lap? God made flesh with children on His knee...

It's an amazing thought that we have the privilege of that kind of relationship with God. He created the universe with a word and He has adopted us. Ephesians chapter 1 says, "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding."

We have redemption because He chose to adopt us.

He chose to adopt us.

He chose to adopt us.

Josh and I have said for a long time that we want lots of children. They ask us for a number and we say "at least 7" and they think we're joking - or crazy. We are. And we're lying. We really want at least a dozen. Unless I die of sleep deprivation before then. And that seems more and more possible everyday.

I blogged a while ago that I have a fussy baby. The fourth one. That's four out of four. Some friends have asked if I still want more children. The answer is YES! Lord willing. I certainly am not saying that everyone should have lots of children. I'm not even saying that everyone should have children. I am saying that we should all love children. We should see them for what they are - blessings. They are always blessings. God's Word tells us so.

Am I saying all of this because I got a full night's sleep last night for the first time in six weeks? Yes. No. Maybe. It doesn't matter. If we believe God's Word to be infallible. Inherent. Then we believe Psalms 127 when it says, "Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. "

So go have babies. Lots of them. Or adopt a whole bunch. Or both! And don't ever sleep again. Ever. Sleep is overrated anyway.

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