December Devotional: Emmanuel

Emmanuel

Mary is one of those friends who walks into your heart and takes up residency there. She fills your heart with kindness and care through her deeds, sacrificially giving and finding great joy in doing so. She thrives on being a blessing and doesn’t miss a chance to bake cookies, send a cheery note, or invite you for dinner. Mary is a heart friend. I like that idea of a heart friend.

I pondered that idea for a minute and the thought came that Jesus is a heart Friend. Once invited, He takes up residency and fills our hearts with His radiating love that permeates the layers that have separated us from Him melting away fear and hurt and pain. He is gracious to take only the space that we give Him and patiently waits in the drawing room until He is invited into each room. It is because Jesus has been invited into Mary’s heart that Love spills over and permeates people whose lives she touches.

Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song entitled “Christmas Is All in the Heart” found on The Music of Christmas CD

Chorus:

“Cause Christmas is all in the heart, that's where the feeling starts

And like a fire inside, it touches every part

‘Cause Christmas is all in the heart

And even if no white snow falls, that's all right because

The joy can still be found, wherever you are

Cause Christmas is all, all in the heart

No, it's not in the snow that may or may not fall

And it's not in the gifts around the tree

It's in the love heaven gave, the night our Savior came

And that same love can still be found wherever you are

'Cause Christmas is all in the heart

And the joy can still be found, wherever you are

'Cause Christmas is all, all in the heart

It's all in the heart

Emmanuel. God is with us. That is the message of Christmas. Jesus came as a baby to this earth so that He could live and die and be raised again and through His Holy Spirit reside with us in our hearts. He is our heart Friend who sticks closer than a brother, who comforts and encourages, who calls and empowers. We ask that our hearts would be broken by the things that break the heart of God because He came. Joy to the world!

CANCELLED THIS MONTH! Next Service Opportunity at Network Tacoma

UPDATE: THIS HAS BEEN CANCELLED. It turns out there are other holiday related activities taking place this month, so our gathering has been cancelled. The next opportunity should be on January 8th--stay tuned!

Our monthly opportunity to fellowship with and serve Network Tacoma families, and enjoy craft activities with the children, will take place soon.

Let's spread a little Christmas cheer! If you would like to participate, please bring one of the following items - enough for 10-12 people:

--Bagels--Coffee--Juice--Fruit

Saturday, December 11th

10 - 11:30am

(Please arrive a few minutes early to set up.)

Location: Network Tacoma Office

5435 S. M Street

Tacoma, WA

Questions? Email wovsouthpugetsound@gmail.com

Thank you!

Mali Child Sponsor Visit - Video Posted!

November Devotional: Psalm 103

PSALM 103

Psalm 103 expresses thanksgiving and praise to the Lord for all his benefits and blessings that he bestows on his people. During this Thanksgiving week, may we remember anew God’s goodness to us and remember his blessings that He showers on us and may we in turn by His Hands extended to the poor and marginalized in our world.

Psalm 103 (New International Version)

1Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
19The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding,who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion.

     Praise the LORD, my soul.

Sex Trafficking has come to Tacoma

"Sex trafficking is an international problem. It is certainly not taking place in MY backyard."

FALSE.

Tiffany Bluhm of Charisma and Esteem Ministries will educate us about this problem which really IS taking place in our area. Yes, our hearts are broken by what is happening in other countries. But are we in denial that the U.S. also has a serious problem?

Tiffany is a breath of fresh air and an amazing force of energy. You will enjoy hearing from her, even if your heart is broken by what you learn.

We will also give more detail about our human trafficking victims recovery project in Cambodia. Did you know that one of our chapter members is planning to visit Cambodia, and bring back first hand news of this important project?

Please join us for this free event - open to all women; bring interested friends and colleagues:

"Sex Sells Lies"

November 9, 2010

7-8pm

Life Center, Tacoma

Speaker:  Tiffany Bluhm

See more detail and

Print Event Flyer Here