Lookin' out my Window by Donna (Ensign) Woods

Riding down life's highway,
In one place, we cannot stay.
Lookin' out my window
Watching time fly by...
Fighting the urge to cry.
Speeding by...nearly out of control
...Daily trials take their tole.
Lookin' out my window
To a peaceful, woodland scene...
Rolling pastures...lush and green.
Homes, each with a story to tell,
...Some being built and some to sell.
Crossing lazy rivers and streams,
Lost in my own hopes and dreams.
Lookin' out my window
Framing scenes and changing fast
...No moment is made to last.
Roadside flowers...and a wooden cross
...In memory of precious lives lost...
With my destination no where in sight,
There's food and lodging, the very next right.
...But onward my journey goes,
On paths only my Lord knows.
Lookin' out my window
At trash along life's highway,
Old tires and food wrappers, tossed away.
...Like garbage in my very own past !!
...And memories...forever to last.
I pray for people in cars I meet,
Especially for children in each back seat.
As I listen to my engine hum...
I wonder what each is running to...or from.
Lookin' out my window
A big rig is broken down
Waiting for a tow, from nearby town.
Row after row of beans and corn
...And new baby calves that have just been born.
Drivers with families ...and some all alone
...A bicycle fastened to a motor home.
Old cars and new... trucks big and tall
...I wonder about the treasures they each haul.
A homeless man holds a sign...
Tugging at this heart of mine.
Through the window, I hand him a bill...
Praying for him as I top the next hill
A beautiful sunset comes into view.
God's promise....that tomorrow will be fresh and new.

A Sacred Privilege by Tana LeMay

I love communion time during our worship service. I think it is so important, it was one of the factors I considered when searching for a church home years ago. I’ve never understood churches that only practice communion once a month or once a quarter. Why would they give up an opportunity to experience this sacred privilege each week?

Reflecting on my actions and attitude of the previous week isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes, I’m tempted to pray, “Lord, forgive me” and leave it at that. Why put my failings into words when he already knows what they were? His blood has already washed me clean. Is it really necessary to voice what I’ve done wrong, the things I should have done or said, but didn’t?

The answer is yes. By facing my sins, naming them, remembering them, they are more real. I did those things. If I’m truly sorry, I should be honest with myself and Jesus. 1 Corinthians, chapter 11, verses 23 through 32 states it best:

23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

Communion by Joyce Schafer

I always associate communion with community. My personal definition of communion is the community of Christian believers coming together to receive the body and blood of Jesus.

This is one area of worship all Christian churches observe. These churches are very diverse in the ways they practice communion. Some worship places offer communion every day, others offer it once a week and yet others offer communion only on very special occasions. Some religions offer wine and wafers and others use grape juice and bread, but what really matters is not the form, but the Lord’s Supper itself.

In 1 Corinthians 11:28 it reads “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.” We need to confess our sins and ask forgiveness. This is the way we personally prepare our bodies to receive communion.

We also need to prepare ourselves to receive communion as one body in Christ. We do this by living in harmony with our fellow Christians. Only then can we come together for communion as a true Christian community.

Thank you! Thank you! By Susan Shull

More often than I want to admit-I feel like a spiritual simpleton. Have you ever been in a Bible study and all of a sudden, a light bulb flips on and a verse or concept becomes amazingly clear? I get all excited to share what seems to be a unique idea and when I do, I feel as if everyone looks at me like, “Isn’t she funny? Does she just now understand that simple concept?” It is a little embarrassing, but I’m still grateful that God is revealing and opening his word to me….so I keep plugging away. If you already “get” what I am going to share, please humor me and pat me on the head when I am finished!

Sometimes I forget that Jesus was a Jew. So much of the New Testament can’t be fully comprehended without understanding what occurred in the Old Testament, and this concept was pointed out to me again this week in our study of Jesus, the One and Only. We were learning about the Last Supper, which was really the celebration of the Passover from Exodus. The Israelites were instructed to remember each year the time when God brought them out of bondage in Egypt. At that time, Moses instructed each Jewish family to sacrifice a perfect lamb and put the blood over the door of their homes so that the death angel would “pass over” them, thereby saving the lives of their firstborn sons. After that horrific night for the Egyptians, Pharaoh released God’s people from bondage.

It is almost too much to imagine that Jesus sat with the apostles celebrating this feast, knowing that in a few hours he was going to become the perfect lamb, sacrificed once and for all, for the sins of each of us-you and me. We would be offered a way to escape forever the punishment we deserve. I cannot understand such perfect love, but I am so grateful that Christ was willing to do it. Otherwise, we would be damned to an eternity separated from God’s goodness. My heart bursts with praise and thanksgiving!

The Jewish nation celebrated the “preview-Passover” once a year. We have the opportunity to celebrate the real, genuine, saving Passover every Sunday when we partake of communion. Aren’t you glad that Jesus didn’t restrict his love and salvation to only one nation?

As we partake of the Lord’s Supper this Sunday, I pray we never forget the unblemished Lamb who bore the shame of our sins and was separated from God for a time so that we wouldn’t have to be.

“For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise!” Psalm 96:4a

I Can Only Imagine by Theresa Zuber

John 14: 1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.
2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so,
I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back
and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk by your side.
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When your face is before me.
I can only imagine

CHORUS:Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah; will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine

I can only imagine when that day comes
And I find myself standing in the Son.
I can only imagine when all I will do
Is forever - forever worship You.
I can only imagine.

Performed by Mercy Me(c)1999
Simpleville Music(ASCAP)Words and Music by Bart Millard

Have you taken some time to imagine what heaven might be like? The line of this song that says, “Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still?” How out there is that? When I picture heaven, I never picture myself dancing in front of Jesus. But, if Ed McMahon showed up at my door with a 10 million dollar check, you couldn’t hold me still. I’d be dancing all over the neighborhood! Why would my joy be less?

And the part that says “Or in awe of you be still” You know me; I always have something to say. Most often when I think of heaven, I picture calm and peace and love; which are really more feelings, than visions. I do envision a choir of angels and of course, I couldn’t help but sing with them. ”When all I have to do is forever – forever worship you.” But being still?

Revelation 21:21 “The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.”

Even if you have a good imagination, everything that we can think of will pale in comparison to how breathtaking it will truly be. In the book of Revelation, John uses the rarest jewels and gems to describe what is indescribable. Streets paved with gold is unimaginable enough – but gold so pure it is clear??? A gate made out of a single giant pearl? It’s like trying to describe a rainbow to someone who has been blind since birth. Indescribable.

Spend some time today, thinking about what it will be like to be in the presence of God Almighty. I can only imagine standing there in complete silence, as my lack of true knowledge astonishes me in His presence. I imagine being awestruck at the beauty and magnificence of his heavenly creation. But “I can only imagine.”

Rev 19: 6Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear."

Judgment is real. Heaven is real. Hell is real. The choices I make today have eternal repercussions. There is something better out there and the reason we’re never satisfied is because “we are not of this world.” But one day, we’ll go home to our heavenly Father - and oh- “I can only imagine.”

Rev 20: 11Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Father God, help me to never be completely content with my life on earth, because I know that you have much greater plans! I know that my human mind can’t fathom the magnificence of heaven – of you. Just help my simple mind to understand that it IS real and that missing out means eternal separation from you. Lord, that is something I cannot imagine – and never want to. What I long to experience is complete peace and beauty. And one day – I’ll no longer have to imagine.

My name’s written there…is yours?

“Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah; will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine”

His Body and Blood by Donna (Ensign) Woods

I take the emblems as they pass by.
I bow to pray and softly cry.

I envision His body on the tree...
Dying there...instead of me.

...A crust of bread...a sip of wine...
His body and blood...instead of mine...

Before lifting the cup to trembling lips...
It's gently held between my fingertips.

Within the blood of His hands and feet,
...I can see my very own pulse beat.

The cup was filled...one drop at a time.
With His blood...instead of mine.

For Me - By Donna (Ensign) Woods

It was decided that I must die !!
I screamed in terror and began to cry.

I begged for mercy...I begged to live.
A man stepped forward...Said,"I'll forgive."

"I'll give my life to set you free"
Then He hung on a cross...and died for me !!

Values by Joyce Schafer

Today it seems like old furniture is cherished more than old relatives and pets are loved more than teenagers.

We need to get back to the values the bible teaches. In 1 Timothy 5:1-2 it reads "Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exalt him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity."

We need to get back to this value system. People are more important than things and all life is precious.

Today we are all busy but how much time does it take to pick up the phone and ask "How are you?" or drop a card in the mail, or Email a message, or say "I love you" to a family member.

In this "Throw away" society we live in, when an appliance quits working we get rid of it. Unfortunately people are becoming "throw away" too. These are the values of the world but as Christians we should strive to do better. With God's help we can do better and our actions and words should lead everyone to know that we are Christians, not only in church, but more importantly, in the world.

I Would Die for You written by Donna (Ensign) Woods

As I struggle with the "unfairness" of my little granddaughter's medical problems,
I write...and I write... in an effort to cope, to understand....to find comfort and peace.
I share this with anyone who is dealing with life that is often "unfair"....especially "unfair" to a child you love. I pray you will find peace within my words and rhyme.

especially for my little Madison

With Maddy, I snuggle and rock,
Sing "Jesus Loves Me", laugh and talk.
My precious little one,
We set and rock, when day is done.
I hold you safe and tight,
Ready to defend and fight.
But for the demons I cannot see,
I fight that battle from bended knee.

A kiss, a hug, a gentle touch
I love you ...so very much !
If I could spare you from tears you cry
...I would not hesitate to die.

With Father God, I plead my case,
Just let ME suffer... in her palce.
Let her grow healthy and strong
Living with peace and joy so long.

All the testing they put you through
With fear and uncertainty too.
If I could wipe away tears you cry
...So you would never suffer or sigh
I would not hesitate to die for you
This, for you...I would do.

If I could bless each tomorrow
and save you from pain and sorrow.
If I could face your fears...
...And I could own your tears
I would lay down my life for you
If that would bless your life anew.

As I search your baby blue eyes...
A million times, my heart breaks and cries.
Often times, I fall to my knees and cry....
"WHY GOD?? WHY ??"

I struggle to understand
...As my tears fall into His hand.
I humbly pray, down on my knees
And His gentle voice is carried on the breeze.

And He whispers.....
"I love Maddy...even more than you do."
"Trust Me... to carry her through."
"I love her...you can be sure" "...Because I...already died for her !!!"