It is Finished...

Several years ago God brought me to a place in my walk with Him to deal with deep rooted sin and immorality in my heart. Even though I had been risen to new life though receiving the grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, I was still wearing the grave clothes. Just as Jesus had called Lazarus out from the grave after being dead for four days, He had called me out of the grave. When Lazarus emerged from the grave he was still wearing the grave clothes and so was I. Filthy rags draped around me with the stench of sin, shame, guilt and unforgiveness. But just as Jesus told the people "Unwrap him and let him go!" (John 11:44) Jesus had faithfully sent His people into my life to gently unwrap my grave clothes to set me free! There was a history of sin in my life that needed to be cleansed. A dear friend of mine walked with me for nine weeks though this process of cleansing. Every Saturday morning we met together and invited God to meet with us. And meet with us He did! Though prayer, intense study of His word, and sharing with one another in a safe place, little by little the rags were coming off. Week by week I was beginning to feel lighter and smell better. Until finally the rags were gone and I was naked before my God. God still had much to teach me in this process. As I followed the spirits calling, I was led to write down each sin of immorality that I had committed in the past, and place them in a small envelop. Though prayer the Holy spirit revealed each one to me. I carried those sins with me for three weeks everywhere, and realized they were a heavy burden. I knew I was being called to do something physical to release them. God had a plan. Through His word, God lead me to be baptized, which simply means to immerse in water. So I found myself, naked with God and my little envelop of sin in a tub of water. I went though an agonizing period of confessing each sin, forgiving, and releasing that sin to Jesus, placing it back in the envelop never to be taken out again. Huge drops of sweat was falling into the water and I could hardly bare the process. I then emerged myself in the water fully expecting to arise, feeling refreshed and clean, but I didn't. If anything I felt worse. This made me angry. I did everything I was suppose to, what happened. The next morning was the same. As I was driving to church I heard a song that made it all make sense. I was being purified. I was not in a cleansing rain but a purifying fire. Three days after my confession I met one last time with my dear friend and we burned that small envelop in the fire. A late summer thunderstorm was rolling in and I stood outside holding three white balloons. My pastor had said Sunday," Forgiveness means to send away." So I let the balloons go. Cool drops of rain hit my face and I could hear thunder roll in the distance. We stood in silence and watched as the balloons rose in the sky. As the rain fell all around us those balloons formed a perfect cross, and we stood staring until they could no longer be seen. Ahhhh, the cleansing rain. The Lord said to me "It is finished, it was finished at the cross, I love you, my precious daughter." I went from grave clothes, to nakedness, to clothes of righteousness.

"Be strong and courageous and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly." 1 Chronicles 28:20

Dear Sisters In Christ,

As we prepare to start the time we celebrate the Passion of Jesus, I would like to encourage you to spend some time reading the recount of what Jesus did for us in one of the Gospels. I am reading it in Mark right now and it is so emotional.

Beginning with Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey and people shouting His name and waving palm branches... to the denial of Peter. The unjust accusations of the Jewish Leaders and trial before Pilate. To the horrible torture of our Savior and then his eventual excruiciating (the word "cross" comes from that word) death on the cross....we see the Love of God on our behalf. Jesus was sacrificed in our place for our sins and His blood cleanses us from all of our sins when we receive Him as our sacrifice and Savior.

Praise God, He arose from the dead and was no longer held captive in the tomb. Our sins, past, present and future were paid for when He cried out, "It is finished". The veil was torn in two in the temple and Satan's destiny was sealed. Jesus went up to Heaven in the presence of His beloved disciples! Hallelujah, we serve a Risen Savior. We owe Him our all!

The last line of the great, old Hymn, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" says:

Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life , my all.

How can we not give Him our all? When He has given so much for us!

I pray this Easter will be the most special one that you, my sisters in Christ, have ever experienced. Blessings to you and your families, may we all work together for the Kingdom of God and our wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ.

Love In Jesus,
Nancy

Dear Precious Sisters In Christ,

We experienced such an awesome presence of God and out pouring of His Grace and Love on us @ the retreat @ the Cove this past weekend. We missed you, if you weren't able to attend and wish so much you could have joined us. Our speaker Jana Spicka was awesome and absolutely had a message from God to share with us. The worship team led by Jill Burns took us to a level of oneness with the Lord that was just such a blessing. The 6 women who shared their testimonies of God's grace in their lives just brought us all to tears. We had some great skits and break out sessions and of course being at the Cove is like being in the waiting room for Heaven! Our theme was "The Time of Your Life"....walking with God through the different times or seasons of our lives.

We will be having a Post Retreat Gathering this Sunday @ 3 PM in Pod D @ Brookwood. We invite not only those who attended the retreat but all Brookwood Women to come and enjoy a little taste of what the retreat was all about!

I hope to see you there. May God....Show you the path of life....in His presence is fullness of joy, at His right hand, pleasures for evermore.

God Bless you!

Nancy

Welcome Ladies!

Thanks for joining us on the B Women Blog. Whatever season of life you are in we want to be a source of encouragement and blessing to you. Our "B" not only stands for Brookwood Women, but, it stands for Bonding, Blessing and Building and that is what we hope to do as a Women's Ministry.

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We look forward to connecting with you at our next event and on this blog. So, check back often! Also, feel free to contact us at www.brookwoodwomen@gmail.com.

February 1, 2009

Hello Ladies,

Something that has been on my heart recently is the opportunity to reach out to women within our own church. Sometimes we get so busy doing "church" things that we miss taking the time to really see who is around us. Brookwood makes it easy for people to slip in and out "undetected":) Even when women might really be yearning for a friend or someone to take an interest in them, they tell themselves they just want to be left alone! I was one of those women! I sat @ Brookwood for several years, no one spoke to me or personally asked me for coffee...nothing! Till one day, when there was a small group connection tent outside @ the old church and I finally decided to go and see! God's timing was perfect and there was only one person in the tent.....a woman @ the Women's Small Group table. Finally, I got connected to a person and the rest is history.

Last Sunday we went to a different Service time and there was a woman I hadn't seen behind me. I turned to her and introduced myself, we chatted and I said, "let's get together for coffee". We exchanged info. I emailed her and her response was, "I moved here 2 years ago and only know 2 people, I was just asking the Lord to help me get connected some how and then you talked to me." We are having coffee this week and I pray God will direct me to be able to get her connected.

Let's be more intentional about reaching out to the hundreds of women coming to Brookwood each Sunday that we might be the channel that God uses to touch their lives...let's show them God's love! Have a blessed week, B Women!

Nancy Buck

New Year, New Beginnings

This past year I experienced a rut. Several months of unseeming growth and battles of anxiety. I had been running from God, because I feared what He would reveal to me or may have me do. It was the middle of the year and I was working with an elderly lady, Ms. Betty, who suffered from Dementia/Alzheimer’s and was confused much of the time. I love her dearly. This one particular week was very busy with appointments and different functions. She needed assistance with a shower and all week she would bathe but never had time to wash her hair. By Friday, she could have gone into the oil business, I was determined to get her in the shower and scrub that nasty head. I washed her hair three times, roughly, and felt much better about it. After her shower, I would help her into a chair and I would proceed to dry and style her hair. I left the room to fetch a few needed things and when I returned, Ms. Betty was crying. I asked her “Why are you crying?" her response was," It just feels so good to be clean." The night before I had awoke at 2am (not by choice) to spend some much needed time with my Lord, that I had been avoiding like the plague. I was convicted of my lack of obedience and wept though the night. Sitting in that small bathroom, I shared this with my dearest friend, and this is what she said. “Oh, the Lord has such wonderful plans for you. He is going to pour water over you like you poured that water over me in the shower, He wants to scrub you clean, just like you used your hands to scrub me clean. But, you see, you won't feel clean until your head is clean." Ahhhh, tears rolled down my face as I stared at that sweet little lady. I knew God was speaking to me, telling me not to be afraid, that He is gentle and loving. The funny thing is, Ms. Betty began to say things that made no sense and suddenly she said, "What? Ohh, God just told me to shut up." That's all she needed to say, I won't feel clean until my head is clean. Ms. Betty had bathed all week, but she could not feel clean until her head was clean. I asked God right then to clean me, and that's just what he did. For several months He bathed me in His word. When my head was clean, I was able to run after God, seek Him without fear and guilt. As we race full steam into a new year, I pray that Christ's body will have a clean head. In 2009 I resolve to allow God to wash me, do away with the rotten and old, and replace the old with fresh and new. God's word tells us that if we belong to Him the old has passed away and behold all things are made new. Let us start the new year with a clean head.


"You'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious-the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies." Philippians 4: 8-9 (The Message)


Kristin Spehar

Sense The Season

We went to Jekyll Island, Ga. for Thanksgiving this year and before heading home on Sunday we visited a small church on the island. A congregation of about 40, all locals to the island, we were the only visitors this Sunday. Madison and Andrew were the only children in the church. To say it was a special experience for our family would be an understatement. There were many elements of this sweet service that grabbed my attention, but what caught me the most was the pastor's opening to his sermon. He asked us how we use our senses this time of the year. Things we smell, taste, see, hear, how we use our hands. What made this so profound for me was the fact that for the past two weeks I've been thinking a great deal about my senses, and taking so much delight in them. Madison and I spend some time in bookstores doing our school work and there is just something about being surrounded with new books and the smell of coffee that motivates you to learn. The kids and I stopped by a Christmas tree lot to pick up a couple of wreaths and the air was filled with that wonderful Christmas smell. Another afternoon I was working at my desk and stopped to enjoy the smell of an apple-cinnamon candle burning and homemade soup cooking on the stove. At my weekly woman's group our opening question was, "what are you thankful for" and my answer was "good smells". I am amazed at the sights, sounds, and smells of the season. Just in our small Thanksgiving vacation there were millions of ways to take joy in our senses. The delicious food and sweet treats, smells of the ocean air, the feel of bare feet in the sand, the beautiful view of an ocean sunrise and the sights of a Christmas tree lighted up and fireworks that filled the sky, the sounds of Christmas carols and children laughing and squealing while playing in the man-made snow. I could go on and on. Could we use our senses to feel God? Absolutely! Our senses are the means through which the body feels and perceives to include seeing, hearing,touching, smelling, and tasting. They are a gift from God to bring pleasure and delight to our lives and to teach us about the world around us. God is always reaching out to us and we can relate with him though our incredible senses. He is awesome!!!This season when things tend to get stressful and busy be sure to take the time and notice what you smell, taste, hear, see, and feel. Our God is a God who sees and hears, He can smell and feel and speak. Unlike man-made gods that cannot speak, they cannot feel or see (Ps. 115:5-8). We are made in Gods image. How can we use our senses to bring joy this Christmas, bring delight to our families and homes, and experience God?

"Then Jesus placed his hands on the man's eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly." - Mark 8:25

"Anyone with ears to hear, should listen and understand." - Matt. 13:9

"Taste and see that the Lord is good." - Ps. 34:8

"Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God."- 2Cor.2:15

"She touched the hem of his robe, for she thought, If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed." - Matt. 9:20-22

Kristin Spehar

Sing A New Song

Jesus pulls us out of the mud and the mire, all the garbage in our lives, the lies and doubts and fears that we carry around everyday. Can't you see it, like a loving father, a best friend, one who is in love with our souls reaching down and picking us up out of the pile of manure that we wallow in. Cleaning us off and setting us upon that mighty rock. Placing us on a solid and strong foundation, the truth, love and grace of Jesus Christ. We can stand on that foundation and not be moved, never shaken. Because it is true, it is right and it is good. Praise God! Jesus begins to guides us, shining His light in the darkness of our hearts. He gently takes our hand and leads us down the path of life. He establishes our steps and with Him we cannot waver, we cannot fail. As we walk with Him, listening to His voice, staring intently at Him, things start to look different. Our hearts are beginning to sing, a new song, a song of praises to our God.

"He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. he set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God." Psalm 40: 2-3

Kristin Spehar

The Garden

"They heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze." - Genesis 3:8 (The Message)


Gardens ... They seem to whisper a secret language to our souls. Gardens have long been a sanctuary to man. A place on this journey to pause and marvel at the work of His hand. One morning as I admired the azalea's and dogwoods, God started teaching my soul about His Love of the garden. At the very creation of time ,He chose the garden as a place to dwell with his beloved. It was where He went to spend time with Adam and Eve. In the cool of the day He would relax and just be with the ones He so loved. Can you imagine the jasmine in the air, so intoxicating in the cool breeze it would almost take your breath away? Eden and all her glory. The place where God intended to dwell with His children. The secret place. Although we can no longer enter Eden, God's passion for us brought Him to earth as a man (Jesus). Who would reconcile us to Him forever. The sacrifice Christ made for us allows God to dwell with us in a new garden. One even more intimate than the original. The very one He was willing to die for. Yes ! We are His Garden. The very spirit of God dwells in us. He longs to spend time with us there, the creator of the universe wants to spend time with you in the garden.What will He see when He meets you there? Will it be well cared for? Grounds being kept in anticipation of The King's arrival? Your very time with Him alone! Or ,will He find a garden neglected over grown with weeds? When was the last time you prepared your garden to fellowship with THE KING?




Dreama Kees

True Beauty

I love looking beautiful just like any other woman. You can watch a little girl's love of playing dress up and making herself beautiful. Every bride adorns herself in beauty on her wedding day. Women long to feel beautiful. It is our deep question, "Am I lovely?", "Am I beautiful?". The world has a funny way of telling us how to obtain beauty and for many it feels out of reach. And that deep question is often answered "No". We feel we'll never have the perfect body, complexion, hair, so therefore how could we be beautiful.
God's word has something to say to us about beauty. If we look around us we'll see expressions of beauty everywhere. In the vibrant colors of a sunset, a field of Black-Eyed Susans, the laughter of children, a rainbow. The world is filled with sweet smells, vibrant colors, and magnificent beauty. God is the creator of beauty. We are an expression of His beauty and He delights in us. God has given us the creative ability to make things beautiful. I love to dress up in make up and put my hair in curls, wear sparkling jewerly, sweetly smelling perfumes, and have my hands and feet pampered. All of these things feel great and there is nothing wrong with any of it. However, it is all fleeting and will fade away. God taught me this lesson a few weeks ago. I was asked to speak at a small church one Sunday morning and the invitation was a day's notice. Not much time to prepare, but I felt led to go anyway. The problem was I desperately needed a haircut, to feel fresh and beautiful before I presented myself to a group of people. I simply could not go without a haircut. Thankfully, I have a dear friend who does hair and I called her for an emergency beautification treatment. She agreed, so I was happily headed for a fresh new look. On my way out the door, the question dropped in my heart, have you prayed, have you spent time with the giver of all beauty, are you prepared for the message you need to convey?
My answer was "No". Suddenly my mission for a haircut was diverted and I ended up at a small country church that I grew up in. It was dusk and I found myself surrounded with true loveliness, and peace. I sat on the front steps of that church, notebook and bible in hand and watched the sun set in front of me. I enjoyed the quietness for a while and then began to pray. "Okay God, I'm ready to take notes". Pen in hand, I waited and nothing came. After awhile I took a walk though the graveyard to three crosses that stood in a distance. The middle one had a crown of thorns hung around it. I stared at that crown and was reminded of what Jesus did for me. I bowed low at the cross and wept. After a while I stood and walked back to my car, realizing the purpose of my being there was to be emptied. Poured out, to be filled with God's spirit, true beauty. I did not have a new haircut, but I had a new found confidence in who I really was. The daughter of a King, a princess. Now that is beautiful...

"Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

Kristin Spehar