Can I Get an "Amen" ?

Discussion #6 will begin and end with Prayer

It's been a delight to research different aspects of the Christian Faith and share them with ladies over the past couple of months.  Encouragement, Enlightenment and even some Good Humor have all been fruits of our rapid-fire discussions.  This week we'll be doing a word study along with our usual scripture reading and light-hearted discussion.  The word of the week is (drum roll please...) "Amen."

Come join us for any amount of time between 10am and 2pm this Saturday March 22nd.  My dogs will be contained in the kitchen, the brownies will be fresh from the oven and I will make as much coffee as it takes for you to feel awake.  Gather Ground is a safe and encouraging place where your point of view and your presence are always valued.  If you need directions, have questions or just want to put in a prayer request: email me and I'll get back to you ASAP.

VERSE - Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

WORD STUDY - Amen
Definition:

• at the beginning of a discourse - surely, truly, of a truth

• at the end - so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled. It was a custom, which passed over from the synagogues to the Christian assemblies, that when he who had read or discoursed, had offered up solemn prayer to God, the others responded Amen, and thus made the substance of what was uttered their own.

The word "amen" is a most remarkable word. It was transliterated directly from the Hebrew into the Greek of the New Testament, then into Latin and into English and many other languages, so that it is practically a universal word. It has been called the best known word in human speech. The word is directly related -- in fact, almost identical -- to the Hebrew word for "believe" (amam), or faithful. Thus, it came to mean "sure" or "truly", an expression of absolute trust and confidence.

*Source: Biblestudytools.com > Greek lexicon

Four-Ever Grateful

Last weekend Gather Ground welcomed 3 new faces!  There is something so thrilling about a Gather Ground Meeting Day because I never know who is going to join me or when they're going to show up!  For some, this scenario may be a nightmare, but for me the unpredictability is energizing.  There were three 'shift-changes' (2ppl, then 3ppl, then 4ppl, then 2ppl) this past Saturday, each of which took on a different kind of conversation which made the hours fly by.  

If there's anything I'd like ladies to gain from this week's post, it's that all women have something unique to contribute to a group setting.  Whether you're young, old, excitable or reserved - you have a voice and deserve to be heard.  Listening is a big part of Gather Ground.  Some people just need to know they've been heard; that someone cares; that there are other people out there striving for what's good and right.  Check out our summary of discussion points below from Discussion #5 and chime in as you see fit in the comment area.  You're participation is greatly appreciated!  Thanks for sticking with us and reading along.  I hope it refreshes you!  I hope it's a bright spot in your day or week.

LENT & FASTING
After delivering a brief summary of the history of Lent and proclaiming my personal decision to practice Lent this year, we found ourselves analyzing the concept of fasting on a whole.  Most people participate in Lent (the 40 days before Easter - not including Sundays) by giving up something.  However, the concept is best portrayed by not only giving up something - but replacing that presumably 'fruitless' thing with something meaningful (i.e. prayer and meditation on scripture).  Some participants were happy to know more about Lent, but felt no need to participate.  Other participants had recently fasted and found the whole practice to be very cleansing and enlightening.  I personally considered giving up bacon, but selfishly could not rationalize such a sacrifice.  Instead I'm giving up some sleep and adding a reflection time before bed each night - I'll keep you posted on how that affects my preparation for Easter. 

RIGHTS OF PASSAGE
How long does it take to gain favor at a place of work?  Sometimes when you start a new job it's obvious that there are some favorite employees.  While it's hard for managers not to play favorites based on personality or family ties, the lack of fairness can bewilder and demotivate otherwise committed and joyful employees.  Some of our ladies this week were facing this exact scenario and wondering what the secret is to overcoming the bias and lies that easily overshadow good work ethic.  Do we have to settle for situations that require us to compromise our personalities in order to gain a right of passage?  We all confirmed that there are plenty of opportunities out there where we can be properly appreciated and it's worth it to seek them out.

CRAFTS & CONSIGNMENTS
While a lot of people get excited about craft shows and consignment sales around the holiday season, we were all pumped up about them this week at Gather Ground.  Not only is this the kick off of Yard Sale season (can I get 3 cheers?!) but there are some really amazing craft shows and consignment sales hitting the Lehigh Valley in March and April.  One of our Gather Ground regulars is participating in her first official craft show this coming Saturday March 15th and we gabbed about her adorable preparations.  From a killer table display to finishing up some homemade sale items, craft shows require some real skills these days.  It's important to try and stand out in a sea of tables.  A children's consignment sale is coming up as well that a few of us are attending and we're preparing our lists of 'wanted' items so that we can be stealthy shoppers among the inevitable crowds that these kinds of events draw.  This will be my first consignment experience (in late March) and I can't wait to see what kind of chaos ensues!

CAREER PATH
We had an awesome surprise this week!  No, my dogs did not run away and get magically returned by a door-to-door salesperson (see Open Door Policy).  But one of our attendees brought her grandma along!  Yay for age diversity!  First, let me say that my love for old people is abnormal.  If I could adopt elderly men instead of children, I would.  Second, this woman was closer to my father's age than my own grandmother's so I'm going to express that she was not "old," just much older than any of the other ladies.  Her presence was refreshing and dynamic and she spoke of her past career of 35 years.  We all listened closely as she described the challenges, joys and adaptations she encountered at that job in the hospitality industry.  It seems like a fairytale to our generation to think of having a job at the same place for such a long time.  She also told of her humble beginnings of being a babysitter at the age of 12 so that she could buy her school clothing.  Wow.  I could have listened to her for hours.  May we never grow tired of hearing what the strong women in previous generations experienced.  We all appreciated her visit to Gather Ground.

MOVING ON

Moving on was definitely a theme this week.  When do we know that we need to move on from something that is poisonous in our lives?  Sometimes we cling to what hurts us.  Sometimes we grow fond of our weaknesses.  Sometimes we nurture our insecurities in unhealthy ways.  I've spoken with enough women to know that we all do this.  It's sad and frustrating, but it gives us the potential for growth if we're willing to fight through the vicious cycle.  I've seen women walk away from horrors that blinded and crippled them for years.  I've seen experienced women come alongside the weak and the terrified.  Gather Ground was a place of safety and strength this weak.  I pray that more women would know where to find a firm foundation.  God is our Father.  He loved us (like a father) before anyone else had a chance to define us, hurt us, reject us... I pray that women re-discover Him and know that His Love is where we begin again.  His Love gives us the strength to walk away from anything that has taken us captive, stolen our joy and defiled our hope.  He is the source of all beginnings.

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PRAYER REQUESTS

Please feel free to email me privately any prayer requests you may have.

I will/do pray for you. 

 

 

Good & Lenty

Discussion #5 will begin with an exploration of Lent

Many of us practice Lent and many of us are clueless about it!  I fell into the particularly 'clueless' category and did some research this week about what it is, when it began and how people participate in it today.  Come join us and familiarize yourself with Lent.  It's a beautiful practice that prepares our hearts for Easter!  Join us this Saturday March 8th and email me if you need details.  Otherwise, find our Starting Point below and enjoy!

VERSE - Isaiah 58:6-9
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness^[a] will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
⁹ Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

ANECDOTE
Excerpt from "7" by Jen Hatmaker

Oh how we love our religious yokes, not for what they communicate about God, but what they say about us.  This is the kind of people we are.  We say "no" when everyone else says "yes."  We don't do that. We don't watch that. We don't vote that way.  We don't go there.  We don't include them.  But God's idea of a fast is less about what we're against and more about what we are for.
...
When we hear "fast" we put on a yoke of self-denial.  When God said "fast," He meant to take off the yoke of oppression.  The Isaiah 58 fast is not about mechanics of abstinence; it is a fast from self-obsession, greed, apathy, and elitism.  When it becomes more about me than the marginalized I've been charged to serve, I become the confused voice in this passage: "Why have I fasted and you have not seen it?"

Remember: Join at any time, for any amount of time; the doors are open from 10-2.  Brownies, apples and coffee are all free while supplies last. Gather Ground is for all ladies - just email me if you need directions or more info.  Parking can be confusing, but I assure you it's always possible and my dogs will be confined for those who are canine-cautious.  I look forward to spending time with all of you!

Open Door Policy

Better Late than Never!

^ While this used to be my motto for my 'monthly gift' - I am using it this week to rightly introduce my tremendously late re-cap of the last Gather Ground meeting which was FAR from boring and deserved true literary effort.  With that said, I am now committed to catching you all up on the discussion and calamity that commenced a few weeks ago.

The morning began with my perfectly cleaned home radiating the sweet aroma of freshly baked pineapple muffins and double chocolate brownies.  Two lovely guests arrived and we dove right into some parables.  We reviewed and revered the classic Good Samaritan story and pondered the value of the Kingdom of Heaven.  

V-DAY
The three of us reviewed our Valentine's Day experiences and collectively we determined that while chivalry may not be dead, we were all less than romantic this year.  The day comes down to an accurate ability to communicate expectations and agree upon them beforehand.  Follow through is essential.  This is every meaningful day in a nutshell, so feel free to share this 2-sentence wonder with your partner.  You're welcome. 

TOUGH TIMES
The discussion on pineapples was brief but sweet and then we all admitted that it had been a particularly trying week full of ups and downs.  It's important to remain positive, but in all reality sometimes life hits hard.  Job loss and job juggling together with financial burdens that seem all too 'grown up' make our efforts feel small and can leave us feeling drained.  At the end of the day it's crucial that we cut ourselves some slack and realize that if we did the best we could, then that's got to be enough.  Not to mention that most of the time, we (women) are harder on ourselves about our productivity than anyone who is directly relying on us. 

COME ON IN!
As my father always says "Just do the next thing, Sal... Just do the next right thing"
Sometimes that's the best approach... so when I noticed another female figure approach my door I was excited to open then door and invite her in even though she was just the door-to-door salesperson for RCN.  Normally I wouldn't be so hospitable to a salesperson while I was in the middle of a get together, but Gather Ground has an open door policy between 10 and 2.  So in she came and I got her settled on my couch with 'my most recent bill' for her reviewing pleasure.

SILENCE IS STRANGE
A few minutes went by before I realized that my dogs had not been quite as inviting.  They usually greet guests obnoxiously, but there was a strangely peaceful lull in the house and with one check of the back gate I realized that my dogs had escaped several minutes prior.  Turns out a faulty latch and a very windy day are a bad combination.  My stomach turned to a knot and the combination of coffee and brownies sent me buzzing into a silent panic. All of a sudden our Gather Ground meeting turned into an intense search for my wayward dogs.  Meanwhile there was a stranger sitting in my living room and I couldn't leave home because of my baby.  Confined to my house, I resolved to internalizing my anxiety and finished up my conference with the RCN woman as gracefully as I could.  I sent her on her way with a flyer (from when my dogs ran away last March) and a large piece of brownie.  She was very kind and expressed her remorse for my situation.  I fake-smiled and thanked her as she went on her way.

SEARCH PARTY
My husband, his friend and the Gather Ground Loyal (who has attended all meetings) took off to scour the neighborhood for Ringo and Fancy.  They're not smart dogs... as soon as they leave our backyard, they're lost.  Luckily my other attendee stuck around to ensure that I didn't have a nervous breakdown and took on the duty of caring for my sweet baby (who slept through this whole ordeal).  After about an hour of high tension and lots of prayer, we were informed that my husband had found Ringo but not Fancy.  That's when I got the phone call from the RCN girl checking in to see if we'd found them.  "Wow" I thought, "she's actually looking and helping!"  She then re-routed to go back to the area where Ringo was found in hopes to find Fancy.  Meanwhile, hunger and exhaustion had defeated my search team and I was mentally processing how many flyers I would have to put up and how many rescues/vets I would have to call to find Fancy.  I was just praying that she was unharmed. 

Sure enough another hour goes by and I get another phone call from the RCN girl: "I've got Fancy!!!" she exclaimed.  Turns out she saw Fancy slip under someone's back gate and she had taken it upon herself to knock on their door and retrieve my dog from them!  What are the chances?!  The girl was even kind enough to bring Fancy home.  I ended up upgrading my internet and cable in appreciation.

Moral of the story?
The open door policy of Gather Ground probably saved my dogs' lives.
My back gate is now being triple checked until we can install a spring-load closure.
Prayers ALWAYS work, one way or another.
God's timing is impecable and miraculous.
RCN has the best customer service.

I'm sorry you missed our exciting 'discussion' - but I hope you've enjoyed the summary!  Join us if you can this week anytime from 10-2 on Saturday.  I'll be posting our Starting Point on Thursday.  Thanks for reading and enjoying the conversation with us!

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PRAYER REQUESTS

Please feel free to email me privately any prayer requests you may have.

I will/do pray for you.