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