Women of Promise

  Image Source: DiscoverQuotes.com      Samuel and Susanna Wesley were parents of  19 children, 9 of which survived infancy. Samuel was a minister in the Church of England in the late 1600's  to early 1700's.  These parents were extremely conscientious to train their children in the knowledge of the Scriptures from the earliest ages.      One night in 1709, their home caught on fire.  Starting in the corn room, it spread quickly to the dry thatched roof.  Pieces of burning thatch dropped onto 12-year-old Hetty's bed, waking her.  She ran screaming to her parents, who quickly gathered their children as best they could, guiding them down the burning staircase. Leaving all their possessions to the fire, they desperately shielded their children from the smoke and flames to the safety outside. Susanna was late in her pregnancy with her last baby. Her legs and face were burned during the escape.      As they gathe...

           October is traditionally "Pastor Appreciation" month.  I think it is wonderful that we make a special effort to show our pastor and his family that their labor and service for the Lord is noticed and loved. I would also like to challenge us to spend some focused time in prayer for our pastor. The enemy is desperately attempting to squelch the work of the Lord.  Those who faithfully bear witness to the gospel and serve the body of Christ are targets of the enemy's attacks in a way the rest of us may never experience.  While we should always be in regular prayer for our pastor, I am challenging us to spend time in special prayer for Pastor Rob, Autumn and Reese.      Sometimes we don't know what or how to pray.  Here are some prayer prompts that may help you.  Use one a day for a focused time of prayer, or pray through the list as you have time.  God inhabits the prayers of His people.  Let's surrou...

    We hear often  about the importance of seeking out God and who He is. Did you know that God seeks us out too?  He is chasing after our hearts and desiring to draw us close to revive and renew us.  Isaiah 57:15 gives us a look at what kind of person God is looking for to accomplish this beautiful work of revival: For this is what the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, says: “I dwell in a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite."        That word lowly is also translated as "humble" in some translations.  I don't know about you, but I desire that renewing of the spirit that only God can provide.  Isaiah tells me that God is looking for humble people to lift up and revive.  Revival is not for the lost.  Revival is for those who are Christ-follo...