Growing in Faith

The Girlfriends met not too long ago at Panera Bread to share a meal. As before, Anna is out of state with her parents for a couple more weeks. Elisabeth was also out of town celebrating with her hubby for his birthday. We miss them and look forward to the next dinner when we expect all to attend!

Nothing out of the ordinary came in conversation….husbands, children, work, church, life; however, the outlooks seem different, especially in our attitude toward events in our working lives. Within the group I have seen us experience harassment, age discrimination, new bosses with different ideas and employers reorganizing. 

I know if these same circumstances occurred at earlier times in our lives, our responses would have been much different than they have been. The Bible tells us in James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking.” 

I believe we are maturing. I see us praying more, trusting more and submitting to His will.

Prayer. 
Praise God for Bible studies and small groups that help us learn and grow. God wants us to learn what He has for us and how to live our lives. One study focused on prayer. What a wonderful way for us to develop a personal relationship with our Lord. We can pray. Lay down our cares and concerns. Tell Him everything. He listens! Any time. Any where. About anything. He is always accessible and wants us to call on him. Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Trust. 
We have studied and discussed Biblical characters who trusted God. Those stories remind us of our natural inclinations to be in control. We try to handle things on our own first and they don’t work out. We learn to turn to God first. He is faithful. He fulfills His promises. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Submission. 
Admittedly, I did not look forward to the study about submission; however, I gained a new understanding for just how much God loves us. He is our heavenly father. He was and is and is to come. He knows what is best for us. Jeremiah 29: 11 reminds us “I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for evil, for a future and a hope.”

This meal Sarah shared about future uncertainties with her employer. She is concerned, but not worried. She knows that no matter what happens, God will provide. Sarah, like the rest of us, has been praying, she trusts God and is submitting to His will. 

None of us are perfect, far from it; however, we keep pressing on like Paul does in Philippians 3:13-15 “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. [ Following Paul’s Example ] All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.“

May you persevere in maturing your faith in Christ,

Ruth

March Madness!

I love March in Michigan. Yes, really, I do. 

OK, I only really love the excitement that comes with the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament each year. This is my all-time favorite sporting event. For me it’s a time when we get to use words like Cinderella Team, on the bubble, bracketology, and underdog. We can talk to just about anyone at any place about basketball during this three week period and find some common ground, a common theme of teamwork, and loyalty. We can root for underdog teams and watch a miracle unfold before our eyes, as a 15 seed team bumps off a top seed and moves to the next round. We can scream and yell and laugh and cry all within the same 2 hour time frame. Makes me feel alive!

But what I love the most about March Madness is feeling like I’m part of a team, something bigger than me, something that requires everyone to be working together, toward the same goal, with unselfish intentions. Even if I only participate from my living room, I still feel it, and it feels great!

My girlfriends are my team. They pick me up when I’m down; they carry the load when I cannot; they share my successes and my failures, they coach me when I can’t see the way, and they work with me on a common goal of trying to be more like Christ. We can scream, yell, laugh and cry together all within the same 2 hour time frame, and we are all part of something so much bigger than us individually! Not that much different than a dedicated sports team. I love my team of Christian girlfriends.

If you have been reading our blog (Girlfriends Breaking Bread) for any period of time, by now you know that we meet regularly to share a meal and enjoy fellowship and conversation. This month, we met at the local Richland Pub, a bustling little establishment at the northeast part of the village of Richland. 

Shrimp baskets and burgers were the favorite this time around along with variations on a theme of fries! Beer battered, curly, regular or country fried. 

Mmmm, comfort food at its best. Our conversations drift easily in and out of light fluffy topics like where’d you get your nails done, to deeper more serious topics like, when do you think you can retire? We laugh at getting older and share stories about bladder control (or lack thereof), our young adult children and decisions they are having to make, aches and pain that are truly a pain in the back. 

We know we have something special together and we make it a priority to get together and continue to hold each other up in prayer as we muddle our way through this confusing world we now live in. We miss our dear friend Anna who will be returning to Michigan in about a month, so our team will be whole once again!

For those of you who don’t know, I am a die-hard Michigan State fan. I am riding a wave of elation right now because my Michigan State Spartan team continues to move forward in the tourney journey and are now in the Final Four. They have been an underdog throughout the tournament and no one expected them to get this far. I’ve listened to their coach give them words of encouragement and listened to how they’ve encouraged each other. 

I want that feeling of teamwork in my Christian life, and knowing that my team has my back. It seems to me we need to take a lesson from these young kids playing basketball, and do a better job of keeping the “Christian” teams together, whether we win a game or lose a game, we are still on the same team. We keep our chins up and we push on. As long as we keep fighting the good fight, with all of our God-given talents and gifts, all that matters is we are all Christians, on the same team, working toward the same goals… being more Christ-like.

For now,

Elisabeth

The Polar Vortex

St. Joseph Michigan Lighthouse Under Ice (Photo credit: RandomSpace)

Another tough winter. . . . . This has been one of the coldest and snowiest on record with only a few days above freezing so far this year. But, as the winter grinds to a close we can begin to look forward to safer commutes, warmer days, and the smell of freshly mowed grass.

Regardless of the cold weather, family and friends are always around to warm our hearts! A week or so ago Miriam, Ruth and I met for dinner at North 11. Miriam enjoyed a turkey burger, Ruth a traditional pizza (none of this white sauce or artichokes for her!) and I had a great steak burrito. The food at North 11 is reliably good but the restaurant always seems a bit loud. Our waiter was good, showing up when we needed him, but giving us space and time to chat when we needed that.

Elisabeth was supposed to have joined us but her brother-in-law passed away the night before and she was with family. Praise God – he was a believer! Grief seems easier when we know that there is sunshine and hope on the other side of this life. We lifted the family up in prayer. We missed Elisabeth that night. Dinner just wasn’t the same without her smile and encouragement.

We missed Anna too. She is still in Florida waiting for Michigan to thaw. We had more praises as we’ve heard that her foot is healing well and that she is back to walking two miles a day! God willing, she and her parents will return in about two months. Will it really take that long for Michigan to thaw?

Dinner conversation rambled comfortably, twisting and turning through things familiar to us; jobs, friends, parents, kids coming home over spring break. . . . . It’s that familiarity that I think we all enjoy. Each time we meet, the conversation turns to God’s plan. We always agree that we are blessed.

See you all soon, sisters. I love you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Giving thanks,

Sarah

Sun and Renewal with Sista’s

On Friday I had the distinct pleasure to greet and pick up two of the best Sisters anyone could have at Tampa airport. Elizabeth and Miriam had arranged a visit to me in Florida for a relaxing; much needed women’s retreat, though we missed Ruth and Sarah. We drove directly to the rental home and relaxed in the sun for the afternoon hours, topped off with a nice dinner at a local restaurant.

Saturday began with delightful conversation on the lanai and the three of us decided upon attending the Sarasota Art Festival at St. Armand’s Circle. We were pleasantly surprised with the depth of talent in the displays by the hundreds of artists and enjoyed live music as we mused throughout the tented collections. Walking and shopping in the many unique stores around the circle made us crave a nice meal and after window shopping menus, we decided upon Tommy Bahamas. The three of us savored crab bisque, and crab and shrimp salads, and coconut shrimp…delicious! Our car was a mile walk, which we all needed after the delicious seafood lunch.

Awakened to sunshine on Sunday morning, plans were made to go to the gulf and bury our feet into the sand and warm ourselves in the sunshine. We drove to Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island, sunk our chairs into the white sand, and proceeded to enjoy the diverse beach goers and their activities. Elizabeth was not particularly fond of the aggressive seagulls that many were feeding, causing them to swarm and become attack birds. A late lunch of chicken salad sandwiches and fish tacos was our treat in the beach cafe', while we were serenaded by a local DJ and his eighty-something groupie line dancers. Pleasantly pink skinned, we drove home to relax over television and late snacks.

Monday was a dreary wet morning and cooler start to the day so shopping at the local outlet store became our amusement. Fortunately, some great buys were purchased, and we then met my parents for lunch.

Back at the rental home, relaxing conversation ensued with deep thoughtful discussions that were followed by a group prayer. God always blesses our time praying together in the most amazing way! We felt His presence so intensely, we all were moved to tears. It is such an honor to pray with close friends.

Miriam’s last day in the sunshine state was Tuesday, so we again ventured out for some fun at the beach, this time at Siesta Key. Elizabeth was amazed at the size and depth of the famous, Best Beach Award winner. We found our spots and enjoyed the sun and excitement of the children playing in the sand and waves. Elizabeth bravely tested the cool gulf and we all hummed “toes in the water, toes in the sand, not a worry in the world… life is good today.”

On the way back we found the local Jimmy John’s for a quick bite and relaxed on the lanai at the house. That night, we drove to Anna Maria Oyster Bar for great fresh oysters, salmon, king crab, and fresh Grouper dinner, Yum! What a nice send-off meal for Miriam, Elizabeth, and I to share together.

Unfortunately, morning came at 5:30 when Elizabeth and I drove Miriam to Tampa for her return flight back to the chilly north. Thankful for a renewed spirit in the company of amazing Christian women, we said farewell until Elizabeth and Anna return home. What a blessing it is to have friends!

God is good, all the time.

Blessing from the sunny south,

Anna

Misplaced Faith

Last night on a blustery, winter evening, the girlfriends ventured out to dine at what is arguably the nicest restaurant in Richland. Mission Point has been the location of at least a couple girlfriend dinners in the past year, and since we planned this dinner as a belated Christmas get-together we wanted to go somewhere a little special.

We shared our latest praises and concerns that ranged from proud grandma videos to concerns of a corporate takeover to the boiler in my basement that fuels my home's hot water heating system and currently sounds like a B-52 about to drop its payload. 

One concern we all shared was how technology and social media have become such a part of our lives. Although we like to see photos of our children, grandchildren and extended families – constantly checking social media can be a real time waster. And how do we handle those friend requests from high school chums who, well, really were not at all chummy back in the day?  Ruth suggested only logging on once a day and limiting the time – a great philosophy that takes some willpower – especially for Elisabeth and I, who are retired.

Well, as we often say, God works in mysterious ways.

This morning, my computer was being stubborn, so I rebooted. While I waited for my MAC to come alive again, I picked up a little book that Ruth gave me for Christmas titled “New Every Morning, A Celebration of God’sFaithfulness for Women” authored by Leah Slawson.

I opened to the first devotion, titled Misplaced Trust and read the following: 

Sometimes it seems the entire world is connected – through texting, phone calls, status updates and the list goes on. We all want to communicate with one another – all the time. We want to speak and have an audience, and we want to read and listen to what others say. We need and depend on one another, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. We were created for interdependence like parts of a body.

But it’s easy to cross the line of trusting in people more than trusting in God, talking to friends more than talking to Jesus, seeking counsel rather than seeking the Counselor.

Our instantaneous connection with others carries with it the danger of putting all our trust and hope in others. We put faith in our companies, our political parties, our social groups, our teachers, even our preachers. We can always find another blog to read, website to peruse, sermon on podcast, text to respond to or email to read.

We become dependent on these relationships and before we know it they have displaced faith.  Our time and our thoughts are consumed with the words of everyone but God. Scripture tells us people are here and gone in the blink of an eye. In a moment, our plans perish with us.

Only Jesus - only His presence is lasting in our lives Only He will be with us in this world and the next, every moment of every hour.

So without checking email, FaceBook, twitter, the local newspaper website or my favorite blogs, I began to write this post.

Now you could argue that asking you to read MY blog post is part of the problem. But I choose to think of it as a way to bolster my resolve and offer a suggestion to you as well.

Today, as recommended by the scripture below, I will put my trust (and time) in God, not in the princes of social media. 

Psalm 146:3-4 (NLV) 
3 Do not put your trust in princes, in a son of a man, who cannot save us. 4 When his spirit leaves, he returns to the earth. His thoughts end on that day.

Stay warm out there (and perhaps say a prayer for my boiler),

Miriam

Women's Weekend in South Haven

Last month the girlfriends met at NED’s (North End Deli) in Richland for dinner.  I said I would write the blog for this gathering and never did.   Now, I can’t remember enough of the evening to do it justice.   

Forgiveness.  That is one of the MANY attributes I LOVE about my Christian sista’s.  They are loving, kind and forgiving.  Thank you, God, for putting them in my life. 

On to the latest gathering….

Groceries at Bloomingdale's Bulk Food and Grocery:  $6.36

Lunch at Taste of South Haven: $18.48

Shopping in town: $60.00

Weekend get-a-away with Christian Sista’s:  Priceless!

Elisabeth and her husband purchased a condo in South Haven to enjoy in their retirement.  Since making the purchase they have been busy with updating the condo to their liking and helping plan and enjoy their son and daughter-in-law’s wedding. 

This fall things have slowed down a bit and Elizabeth invited us for a women’s weekend in South Haven.  Unfortunately, Anna is already out of state for the winter and Sarah had other commitments so they were unable to join us.  We missed them.

Elisabeth, Miriam and I met at Elisabeth’s house early Saturday morning and drove west, the back way, to South Haven.  It was late fall so most of the leaves were already down, but an occasional splash of color dotted the woods.  It was overcast and windy, but not too cold.   

We drove through Alamo, Gobles and Bloomingdale and Elisabeth said she wanted to make a stop at a quaint Amish grocery co-op.  We wandered up and down the aisles looking at spices, baskets and baked goods.  We picked up a couple of things to eat later and got back on the road.  The conversation continued from one thing to the next and it wasn’t long until we arrived in South Haven.

Elisabeth has created a warm, welcoming get-away.  The condo has two floors, the lower with two bedrooms and a full bathroom.  She let us pick which room we wanted to sleep in and continued the tour to the upper floor.  It has an open concept living room, eating area and kitchen.   It is a beautiful place to call home.  They will make many memories there with family and friends.

After getting acquainted with our weekend surroundings, we went downtown.  The main street is lined with great shops that have household goods, clothing, bakery goods and much more.  I always enjoy shopping out-of-town hoping to find a unique gift to give for Christmas.  This trip was no exception.  I bought…oh, wait!  I can’t tell in case my daughter’s read the blog! 
 
We had a variety of options for lunch.  Elisabeth suggested Taste of South Haven.  She and Miriam have eaten there before and enjoyed the food.  If I remember correctly, they both had Chef Joel’s signature tomato bisque with Parmesan cheese and a blend of herbs followed by Bay Scallop Scampi with garlic bread.  I enjoyed the corn tortillas filled with grilled tilapia, homemade creamy slaw, corn & avocado salsa.  We had no agenda for the weekend so we had a leisurely meal enjoying every bite as well as great conversation and a glass of wine.

We had a chance to walk to the beach just as the sun was coming out from under the clouds and setting in the west.  The water and wind were wild!  There were snow fences on the beach to help control mother nature later this winter.  The sand was blown through them and up and over the road.  The water swelled in the channel up and over the walls.   

The sand was dotted with clumps of weeds and shells from Lake Michigan.  From a distance they looked like sea animals on shore.  The wind pushed the water this way and that crashing onto the shore.  It was a beautiful display of God’s power and beauty.  I see why Elisabeth and so many enjoy the shoreline.  As the sun set we walked back to the condo and enjoyed pizza, a girly flick and more conversation.

One of the nicest things about being with my Christian Sista’s is that we can talk or remain silent and it is okay with everyone.  We had great conversations regarding our bodies and how they are changing.  We talked about recent events at church.  We shared family joys and sorrows.  It was a relaxing weekend that was much needed and much appreciated.   

Thank you, Elisabeth, for sharing your space with us.  Thank you, God, for friends.

As we come to Thanksgiving I was reminded recently at church to always give God thanks for His many blessings. 
“Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18.

And in that spirit, thank YOU for reading my blog post!

Ruth

Amazing Blessings!

This past Wednesday, I had the honor and privilege to take my aging parents to one of our states’ most beautiful treasures, Mackinac Island. In previous discussions, my Mom had informed me she had never been able to visit Mackinac and we decided it was a trip long overdue! My Dad had been there sixty years ago, so he was also excited to observe the changes, including a “new” bridge across the straights.

We found a reasonable mid-week overnight accommodation at the Grand Hotel and although on Mackinac, “reasonable” has a different connotation, the reservation was made. At 86 and 92 years of age, I was concerned that the trip would be exhausting, so I prayed for God’s favor to help us to make the lengthy trip and have a fun time, and also for good weather to see the Island. He always provides!

We arrived at Shepler’s Ferry at 11:20 am, caught the 11:30 trip across and found the shops and town to be inviting, bustling with excited families, and somewhat materialistic. We had lunch at a recommended spot, Horn’s Bar. It was a very eclectic renovated landmark and our food was very tasty. We found the carriage to the Grand Hotel, an original old carriage restored to its splendor of old and climbed aboard. The ride up the hill to the Grand was relaxing and fun as we chatted with two families also happy to be there. The kids questions to their parents made us smile, “Do they have electricity here?” 


We were met in style on the red carpeted entry with door men and women directing us inside. The Hotel definitely earns its name, Grand, with furnishings, paintings and artwork to amaze all ages! Our room was not available yet, so we walked outside up to the top of the property and took photos of the grounds. We proceeded to the famous porch and sat in the chairs enjoying the view and watched the passerby’s. Our room was promised by 4 pm but was ready at 3:45. We walked the halls to the very end of the hotel and then outside the double doors as directed. 

To our amazement, our “room” was the Masco Cottage, Grand Hotel’s finest accommodation! We had to pick up our jaws from the floor to enter the most wonderful and beautifully decorated home which would be ours for one night.

The four of us walked around exploring the four bedrooms in two stories of luxury surroundings, thinking we would just stay forever. We found our rooms and brought in our luggage, toasted the amazing opportunity and blessing we had been given with a glass of wine and walked outside to enjoy the view below. Discovering a walk around porch surrounding the Cottage, an outdoor grassy area with lawn chairs, and even a deck with Jacuzzi tub and patio set, the blessings just kept coming!

Dinner was at 6:30 PM so everyone changed, freshened up, and we trekked our way back to the main dining room where we were greeted and served like royalty. We enjoyed seafood cocktails, onion soup and salad, salmon, and chose some pretty fabulous deserts: warm brownie with cherry ice cream, pecan balls with chocolate syrup, and cheesecake to die for! Calorie counting starts another day. Our servers made the meal truly special. We now appreciated the long walk back as the meal was wonderfully filling. Mom and Dad turned in earlier than my Sister and me so we chatted in the upper level in our media room and bedrooms. After a restful night, we awoke early around 5:30 for a beautiful sunrise over our balcony and were blessed again with gorgeous rainbow colors as the sky also awakened to a new day! Hot coffee helped us start our morning on the deck. God is good, all the time.

Breakfast was a selection of smoothies or juices, fresh pastries, selections from omelets to crepes or pancakes, bacon, and fresh fruit and great coffee. Staff is so amazing, serving guests so efficiently and with great smiles, another spectacular godsend.

Perusing the many shops, smelling the wonderfully fresh flowers, walking the halls, visiting the Art Exhibit, walking down through the grounds to the Straights edge, and enjoying the carriages and horses going along the road encompassed our morning. It was quickly time to check out of the royal cottage we called home. Saying goodbye to our luxurious Shangri La was not easy, but we found ourselves awaiting a carriage back to the docks to await the ferry back to Mackinac City and our long ride home.

The four of us had to pinch ourselves to return to reality from the blessing we had just experienced on Mackinac Island and in our Masco Cottage. After a quick purchase of fudge, the road met us with another sunny day and fun conversation of all we had experienced. For a first and possible only visit to the Island, the Mackinac Grand really made our stay a spectacular family memory for years to come! 

Feeling blessed,

Anna