Sticky Notes~~~~~~Go Green

Those who delight in God's commands will be like a tree planted by a river.  Ps 1:3  Go green. Plant a flourishing tree in yourself by delighting in God's commands. 

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In Christ, I Can Find Grace and Mercy in Time of Need

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

Oh what exciting news that we can come to the throne of grace to receive the mercy and grace needed to survive. 

We are not only told to come but come boldly and confidently before the throne. A move that needs to be made in the right attitude of humbleness and thanksgiving instead of one full of arrogance and pride. 

Why are we instructed to come boldly and confidently?  It's not for anything we can take credit for. It's because God is telling us we can come that way because we can rest assure we will get what God promises. It doesn't matter what we have done, we are promised grace and mercy. 

Too often we think we are too bad of a person to receive such a thing. We feel we are beyond deserving God's gifts of grace and mercy He tells us to come boldly forward to claim. These are lies from Satan that need to be ignored. 

It's our job to toss aside the lies and step forward in our confidence in Christ. Stepping up our boldness as we claim our gifts today and tomorrow for evermore. The gifts needed for our survival. The gifts designed for you and me. 

Copyright 2015 Karen J Gillett @ Pencil Marks and Recipes Publishing. 

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In Christ, I Am Handed the keys to Heaven

Matthew 16:19 "and I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

This was a promise to Peter as Christ just called him the rock He was going to build His church upon. 

We too are given this promise in the fact that we were told about Jesus. His salvation, his entrance into the world to shed His blood for us is our key into the Kingdom of God. 

What a wonderful thing for God to hand over the keys to His kingdom to you and me. Very few people, even our closest relative or friend would hesitate to hand over the keys to us for their home to allow us to enter and stay. However God does it without hesitation. 

Problem is we are reluctant to quickly take those keys and use them properly. We take them alright but we treat the entrance way as something that is ever revolving so we can come and go as we please. 

This is no way to treat this privilege we are given when, in Christ, we are handed the keys to a wondrous place called Heaven. Instead let us go to the door of eternity and open it wide with the key of Jesus and enter to stay. 

Enter it to marvel at, to praise and glorify, to settle into for all eternity, to enjoy endlessly. 

Truly let us go to God and don't forget our Key!

Copyright Jan 2015 Karen J Gillett @ Pencil Marks and Recipe Publishing

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Sticky Notes from God~~~Marching orders

Blessed is he who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly. Ps 1:1 You have your marching orders feet so start walking.  

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In Christ I Am~~~~A New Creation

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (‭II Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ NKJV)

Too often when we come to Christ we make the mistake of thinking the minute our scalp hits the water of baptism that we instantly become a new creation. If that was the case the devil would be out of a job. The job of tempting Christians to stay as they are and not allow God to change them. 

It's true we can and should be new creatures in Christ but it takes time and effort on our part. The new doesn't instantly appear and it is not wear proof. It is something we strive for. Something we should want so badly that we would do anything to get it as well as keep it. 

Coming to Christ is a chance to start over. It is making the decision that because of our love for Christ we will go out of our way to no longer live for ourselves. In doing so we become new creatures in Christ. We live for Him and not us. 

Praise The Lord for the chance, opportunity and ability to become a new person. One that is not centered on self but centered in Christ. One with the focus to love and live outside of the box of 'self' but lives for the glorious Christ which in turn spills over to those around them. 

Thank you Lord for giving us this gift. May we take care of it, put it together, and nurture it to its fullest potential. Amen

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This Year's Women's Retreat

First day of women's retreat was great. Speakers were good and the food was too. The scenery as always was beautiful. God is great. It's always good to get away into the mountains, even Jesus did that to reconnect with God. We should as well.

Our first speaker was Bev and she gave a great lesson in "What's in your purse?" More pictures and details to follow as its lights out soon at the lodge here and I'm worn out. Night everyone.

Here are the more pictures I promised you. It was a great women's retreat as the three speakers: Bev Campbell, Cathy Koch and Carol Sheldon talked about being well dressed spiritually as Christian Women as we walk out into the world and witness for Christ.

Bev had us look into our purses to see what we are carrying around in there. Is it full of things like thankfulness, praise, love, forgiveness, kindness, goodness, faith, trust, and all the other qualities of Christ. Or is your purse loaded down like a bag of heavy rocks with things like bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy, greed, anger, uncontrolled tongue, resentment, and other things that weigh us down rather than lighten our load.

Carol and Cathy gave us a good demonstration about well-dressed feet and a custom creation. They talked about what different things such as flat shoes, pumps, work boots, infinity scarfs and other things can represent to us as we get properly dressed for God's kingdom.

Each year as we attend the retreat it is so wonderful getting in touch with our other sisters in Christ that we only get to see once a year. The fun we have playing games, making crafts together, singing, hiking to Frog Lake and fellowshipping is priceless. 

Speaking of "frog." I just learned something from my friend in Chicago who told me what her grandmother taught her. Frog stands for Fully Rely On God. F.R.O.G. That is what we need to strive to be as Christian women, women who are fully relying on God and that is what the goal of our annual Christian Women Fellowship of Central Oregon retreat is  all about becoming FROG Christians.

Rhonda, Nyla and Aubrey

Nyla and her service dog Grace

The lodge

Smile ladies :)

Brooke and Aubrey trying out the paddle boat

Bev looking into what's in our purses

 

Speaker Carol Sheldon demonstrating various shoes

Speaker Cathy Koch

Karen and her granddaughter's Brooke and Aubrey

View of Round Lake

View of the swing and picnic table area

A look down from the lodge balcony

Coordinator Joan Anderson. Rosie in the chair

Bonnie looking like she is getting all tangled up

 

Craft time of crocheting purses out of grocery bags. Another craft was scented bath crystals, foot massage powder and others. Also there was a table for those who wanted to try and make jewelry.

Thanks to our cook Kristie and her parents Dick and Claire we were well fed

 

Closer look at the homemade swing set with the basketball court in the background

Thank you Lord for Your presence with us at retreat. For the wonderful weather and the chance to fellowship with one another while we learned more of what we can do to enhance our walk with You.

In love W.I.T.H. Jesus,

Karen J. Gillett

Women's Retreat

This year's retreat is soon here. Sorry for the late notice. It is September 12th and 13th at Round Lake Wilderness camp.

In spite of my cancer I get to go this year. I am so blessed. It's been something I have looked forward to attending each year for over thirty years now.

I was blessed to go when I was disabled with my epilepsy and now I am still attending even though my disability is now my cancer. It's just a good time up in the mountains surrounded by God's artwork and fellow sisters in Christ. We fellowship, learn new things, get in touch with God and have fun.

If you can't make it this year come next year at this same time. Get out of the rat race of life and relax surrounded by the presence of God.

Karen Gillett

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