A Blast from the past - one of the first posts!

In case you missed out on what this is about. You can look at the archives. Here is the first post.

The Salvation Army of the Western Territory will spend the months of August and September praying about and planning for what they will do to Win Our World for Christ. Each corps will help their women Win One Woman for Christ, the Kingdom of God, The Salvation Army and for Women's Ministries.

That is the "How" phase.

The "NOW" phase begins in October 2006 when corps and ARC units through out the territory will put their plans into action. The months of October 2006 through March 2007 will be monitored and measured. We will have a territorial celebration June 9, 2007 for what has been accomplished.

You may be able to tell, that I am excited about this Initiative and praying that God will use it and us for His Glory.

We will circulate "Prayer Pots" through out the divisions and the ARC command. This is to insure prayer coverage for this fantastic opportunity. We also hope it will build interest in the WOW Initiative. Everyone will bring their prayer pots to the June Celebration.

During the June 9, 2007 celebration we will have a time when we BOW before the Lord God to give Him our offerings of what was accomplished to date through this Initiative.

What is WOW supposed to accomplish?

WOW! So what is the thinking behind the WOW Initiative? In the spring of 2006 Commissioner Pat Swyers met with Lt. Colonel Debi Bell and Major Rose-Marie Leslie to share her heart and thoughts about Women’s Ministries in the Western Territory. We all sense that there is a great opportunity on the horizon for advancement of the Kingdom of God. We share the same belief that the women of The Salvation Army will be mightily used by God to bring about the salvation of souls and a movement of holiness not yet experienced in our history. Our statistics tell us that we have been in a fifteen year recession through out most of the territory. That in itself is a great concern to us. We prayed and talked about the challenges facing the women’s ministries programs.

Commissioner Pat Swyers shared her thoughts about some kind of WM promotion that she would like to see developed and that she would like us to name it WOW. She explained that WOW could stand for Win One Woman. As we talked about the ways to develop this idea for the territory, the three of us became very enthusiastic about the possibilities of this endeavor.

Tasked with filling in the blanks, Major Rose-Marie and I left the office to begin to piece together a plan that would be “user friendly” for the corps and ARC units of our territory and still have the desired effect of winning souls for the Kingdom of God and building the ranks of The Salvation Army. That is how the WOW Initiative was born. We decided that it would be called an Initiative instead of a campaign, contest or endeavor.

Why use the word “Initiative” instead of something else? The word initiative means “plan, proposal, scheme, idea, enterprise, program, project, or inventiveness.” We hope that our officers and soldiers will catch the vision and get excited about what they can do for the Kingdom of God, The Salvation Army and for women.

There is nothing new here. We want the field to recognize the value of what is expected from a balanced ministry approach.

Women’s Ministries Programs can provide one of the best outreach opportunities we have in The Salvation Army. The women who “enter” The Salvation Army through the door of Home League or other women’s ministries groups often become your stable leaders and hope for the corps. It is time to take back the dignity of women’s programs and work. We can no longer allow it to be marginalized. As leaders in The Salvation Army, it is up to you to create a culture where women’s ministries and women are valued. (By what you say and do.)

Our dream is to see creative, exciting programs reach out to women and their families to bring them to a right relationship with Jesus. Then to establish them as leaders and soldiers in the Salvation War!

Plans for WOW! Moving forward!

We are really excited to see how the plans for the WOW! Celebration Event are developing. The purpose the of WOW! Celebration Event is for Salvation Army women from the Western Territory to come together to celebrate our past, present and future.

Past
Celebrations of the past will include a salute to 100 Years of Home League. It will also salute one "honoree" from each division and command who has caught the vision of the WOW Initiative. (Twelve honorees will receive recognition of their efforts for promoting Christ through the Women's Ministries programs or efforts from October 2006 to March 2007.) The honoree may be a single person, a women's ministries group, or even a corps who reached out and won women and their families to the Kingdom of God, The Salvation Army, and for the corps. We will also have historical photos of Women of the West so that we can recognize the work of women officers and soldiers specifically in the west. There will be video taped interviews, silent films and photos depicting the story of Women Out West.

So, do you have a story that should be told? We need to hear it soon. If you are a soldier in the corps you report to your Corps officers. If you are a corps officer with stories, you report to the Divisional Women's Ministries Secretaries, who will report to THQ. Or you can post a comment to the blog and we will figure it out!

Present
We will celebrate what God is doing now, yes NOW, in the live of women and in Women's Ministries. Do you have stories about what God is doing in your corps or life right now? I want to hear! Your story may appear in the blog or in the New Frontier. (Maybe even the War Cry!) We need stories and pictures for the WOW! Celebration Event!

Have you ever thought of doing a silent video? Well you should! Soon you will hear about the opportunity to tell the story of your WOW group in a short (2 to 3 minute) silent video. The best ones will be used at the WOW! Others could be posted on Youtube! WOW! Stories will tell about HOW God is moving in your group to reach new women, grow you as saints, or show how you are impacting your corps and community for Jesus sake.


Future
Through out WOW! there will be an opportunity to renew your commitment to God. We will lift up our prayers to God. (Remember the prayer vessels that are traveling over the territory? Those will be brought to WOW! and physically lifted up to God symbolizing our prayers. We will BOW before the Lord in worship.


Seek the Lord - NOW - with all your heart and soul - WOW - and build His Kingdom!

If you want to attend the WOW! Celebration Event (June 9, 2007) you must let your DWMS know today! Each division only has a limited number of seats and once those are spoken for that is it! The cost is $25. A ticket is required to enter the gates.

Right now there is an ART Contest where officers, soldiers and employees have been invited to submit art work that could be used in the program, or as a logo, for WOW! Ask your DWMS for details today!

The Daffodil Principle

Major LeAnn Trimmer shared this with me and I share it with you.

The Daffodil Principle

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come to see
the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour
drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead "I will come next Tuesday", I promised a
little reluctantly on her third call.

Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I
drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the
joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my
grandchildren.

"Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog,
and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to
see badly enough to drive another inch!"

My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother."
"Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading
for home!" I assured her. "But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's
just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this."

"Carolyn," I said sternly, "Please turn around." "It's all right, Mother, I
promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."

After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a
small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with
an arrow that read, " Daffodil Garden ." We got out of the car, each took a
child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a
corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight.


It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over
the mountain peak and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in
majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy
white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and butter yellow. Each
different-colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and
flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of
flowers.

"Who did this?" I asked Carolyn. "Just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She
lives on the property. That's her home." Carolyn pointed to a well-kept
A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We
walked up to the house.

On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are
Asking", was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. "50,000 bulbs,"
it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two
feet, and one brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958."

For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman
whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb
at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop.
Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever
changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created
something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The
principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of
celebration.




That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a
time--often just one baby-step at time--and learning to love the doing,
learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time
with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish
magnificent things. We can change the world ...

"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have
accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years
ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years?
Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"

My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start
tomorrow," she said.

She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The
way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is
to only ask, "How can I put this to use today?"

Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting.....
Until your car or home is paid off
Until you get a new car or home
Until your kids leave the house
Until you go back to school
Until you finish school
Until you clean the house
Until you organize the garage
Until you clean off your desk
Until you lose 10 lbs.
Until you gain 10 lbs.
Until you get married
Until you get a divorce
Until you have kids
Until the kids go to school
Until you retire
Until summer
Until spring
Until winter
Until fall
Until you die...

There is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

So work like you don't need money.

Love like you've never been hurt, and, Dance like no one's watching.

If you want to brighten someone's day, pass this on to someone special.

I just did!

Wishing you a beautiful, daffodil day!

Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

~anonymous
"Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

WIN ONE WOMAN! One by one we will make a difference!

Choose Wisely

Do you have favorite lines or scenes from movies? (Lines like the famous one from Terminator: “I’ll be back.”) Here is one of my husband’s favorite scenes from Indiana Jones, The Last Crusade. The scene is toward the end of the movie when Indiana, the bad German, the knight, who guards the Holy Grail, and the blonde are in a room filled with cups. The cups are all shapes and sizes. The bad guy wants the Grail. The knight tells him that he will have to choose one. The bad guy looks at all the cups and admits he does not know which one to choose. Elsa, the blond, offers to choose for him. She falsely chooses a cup that would be fit for a King. He fills it with water and drinks. He dies dramatically and turns to dust. The knight replies: “He chose poorly.” Indiana chooses a cup that would belong to a simple carpenter. He dips it in the water and drinks. His wounds are healed. The knight replies: “You chose wisely.” There were so many cups to choose from, but Indiana used the truth he knew to help him make the choice. His choice enabled him to bring the cup to heal his father. There are choice still to come in this film clip.

Choices, choices, there are so many choices we have to make in our life times. Choices we make affect others. Choices others make affect us. Choice – a funny word. Here are some other words used to describe choice: selection, alternative, option and preference.

What do we know about Eve? Her story begins in the first chapter of the first book of the Bible. “Then God said, "Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life--the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals, and small animals." Genesis 1:26

The Hebrew word for “people” is “adam” and literally means “groundlings,” but through the years we have understood it as “man” meaning mankind or all humans.

So we know that Eve was created in God’s image.

“So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27

We know that Eve was created as Adam’s equal.

“God blessed them and told them, "Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals.”” Genesis 1:28

“And the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him." So the LORD God formed from the soil every kind of animal and bird. He brought them to Adam to see what he would call them, and Adam chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, birds, and wild animals. But still there was no companion suitable for him. So the LORD God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. He took one of Adam's ribs and closed up the place from which he had taken it. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib and brought her to Adam.” Genesis 2:18-22

Ribs, the Hebrew (Tsela) literally means side and does not refer to the rib bone. It was not until the medieval times that Rabbis taught this translation to support that women were made inferior. They also used the same verse to teach that women were created as an after thought and in the image of man rather than God.

God made a companion to help him. The Hebrew here is “Ezer Kenedo” and means “helper corresponding to.” It is interesting to note that God often refers to Himself as “Ezer,” our Helper. There is nothing subordinate in that job description.

We know that God was happy with His creation.

“Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was excellent in every way. This all happened on the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31

We know that God created the world with human kind in mind so Eve really had it made. God gave them permission to eat all the fruit in the garden except the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

“Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he placed the man he had created. And the LORD God planted all sorts of trees in the garden--beautiful trees that produced delicious fruit. At the center of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Genesis 2:8-9

“But the LORD God gave him this warning: "You may freely eat any fruit in the garden except fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat of its fruit, you will surely die."” Genesis 2:16-17

We know that Eve was curious and liked to “push the envelope.”

She was inspecting the tree.

^“Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the creatures the LORD God had made.”

"Really?" he asked the woman. "Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?"

"Of course we may eat it," the woman told him. "It's only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die." Genesis 3:1-3

She was considering truth of what God said.

She added to the truth. (Even touch it.)

She refers to the forbidden thing by its position in the garden rather than by its content.

She rationalizes and she was ripe for the temptation offered and the hidden lie.

^“"You won't die!" the serpent hissed.

"God knows that your eyes will be opened when you eat it. You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil."

The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise! So she ate some of the fruit. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. Then he ate it, too.” Genesis 3:4-6

Eve made her choice. She took the bait because she ignored or forgot the truth. (Truth: She was already like God because she was created in the image of God.)

Adam was with Eve, but we do not hear or see him trying to stop her.

They both swallowed the lie.

The consequences:

Eve became separated from God by her choice to eat the fruit. Adam became separated from God by his choice to eat the fruit.

Eve lost everything. Adam lost everything

Their rebellion caused sin to enter into our world.

Generations have been affected and infected by their choice.

It is true that the choices of others affect our lives. Their choices may narrow our choices or may bring more choices. Think about how your lives have been affected by the choices of others. Some have brought you good and some have brought you bad. Think about how your own choices have affected you. Every day we have a choice: We can be like Adam and blame Eve or someone else for the consequences of their choices. We can choose to wallow in the mire of bad choices or we can choose to take responsibility for the choices we have made and take responsibility for our future.

Choices, choices we have so many choices to make. Will you choose wisely?

Will you choose to share the Gospel Story with someone who needs to hear it today. Will you choose to Win One Woman?

WOW We Want to Hear From You!

WOW!

Recently we were at Territorial Executive Council meetings and met together with the TEC Women to hear reports on the WOW Initiative. It was thrilling to hear the stories. It was encouraging to hear the stories! We want to hear your stories.

If you have a WOW story to share, please send it to my lotus notes address. Testimonies always inspire us to do better. Also you can make a comment on the blog site. Some have tried without success to comment, so that is why I suggested you send them to me. If you are in TSA you will know how to get my address. If you are not on Lotus Notes, ask your corps officers to send it for you. Keep the stories, short, real and uplifting.

We are getting into the deeper waters of planning for the WOW Event. We need your prayer support and you need to let us know how we can pray for you.

Changing Lanes

Changing Lanes

In the medieval age the Church saw the need to address the moral behavior of the masses of people. They used entertainment in the form of street plays. These were called Moral Plays. The main character was cleverly named “Everyman” and faced moral dilemmas that every man could and probably did face. Occasionally Hollywood comes up with a great example of a moral play. One such movie is Changing Lanes. The language is raw, but the story is great. Two men become our “Everyman” character. The encounter between the two men takes place in New York and lasts one day. We get glimpses of both men before they encounter each other. One man is an insurance salesman estranged from his family. He is a recovering alcoholic and on his way to court to retain partial custody of his children. His good news is that he has been able to get a loan to buy a house so that his ex-wife will not move to Portland, Oregon with their two boys. The other man is a young, Wall Street lawyer who had started out his career with high expectations of making a difference. We see him giving a speech to grade school children who have just performed their first concert using instruments donated by a foundation that he helped set up. After the concert we discover he is being sued in court by the granddaughter of the man who left the legacy for the children. She is very angry because she believes he sold out his ideals and took advantage of her grandfather.

The moral play presents us with two men who have high hopes for the future. These two men will be challenged, will examine their core values and have a choice presented to them. Actually the play gives these two men several opportunities to redeem their situation before they reach the point where there is no turning back. While on their way to court the men are distracted, and as they change lanes to take the same exit, they have a wreck. The man in insurance wants to change information and do the correct thing. The lawyer is in a hurry and cannot find his insurance information and offers the other man a blank check. The insurance man refuses. The lawyer stuffs his court files back in to his brief case in which he had been searching for the insurance information and leaves the insurance man with a disabled car on the road. The lawyer is late for his court hearing. He unpacks his legal files to discover one of the most important files is missing. The judge gives him until the end of the day to bring it back. The problem is that the lawyer does not know who the man is because he did not exchange information properly and left the scene of an accident.

It begins to rain and the insurance man sees that the lawyer has left a file on the ground. He picks it up with the intent of returning it. He is twenty minutes late for his court hearing and is not able to present the fact that he has the loan to buy a house. The judge has awarded the wife with full custody of his sons. When the insurance man leaves the courthouse, he throws away the file. He walks off despondently in the rain. Low and behold out of the millions of people in New York the lawyer drives by to see him. He offers a ride. The insurance man declines the ride and tells the lawyer that he threw the file away. He will not accept the apology offered. They go their separate ways. Now the lawyer knows the name of the insurance man and the insurance man knows the file is important to the lawyer. The insurance man goes back to find the file. He taunts the lawyer by faxing the first page of the file to him.

The lawyer is told about a computer hacker who will be able to help him. The computer hacker shows how easy it is to get information on the guy and fix his records. The lawyer asked if there was any other way to handle this. The computer hacker tells him he could call and ask nicely for the file. One push of the button and the situation escalates. I will not tell about you the entire movie., but will skip to the end. The lawyer has a conversation with his boss, who is also his father-in-law about how he can live with himself and the corruption. The father-in-law says: “I judge it all by the end of the day. If I have done more good than bad, I consider it a good day.” The lawyer has choices to make. The insurance man has choices to make. Can they make things right by the end of the day?

I relate the story told in this movie to you for a reason. The reason is to challenge you today as “Everyman” and “Every-Woman” who daily face ethical, moral and spiritual dilemmas to carefully consider the choices you make. Your choices carry a heavier price tag because of your call and appointment as an officer and spiritual leader.

Recently I heard the children’s poem Jack and Jill used as a parable lesson to point to our circle of influence. Jack’s fall effected Jill. Because when Jack fell, Jill came tumbling after. Your circle of influence as a Salvation Army Officer, soldier or Christian makes it crucial for you to choose the most correct response to the ethical, moral and spiritual dilemmas you face.

Well I have given you a quick look at Hollywood’s version of a moral play and a very quick look at a nursery rhyme’s version of a moral out come; but what does God’s Word have to say?

Here are a few “sound bites” from the Bible. Can you find them? A tree is known by its fruits. Be holy, because I am holy. You are a new creation. Walk worthy of your calling. Live in such a way to honor God.

What do your choices say about you at the end of the day? I hope they say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”

WOW – Will your life style win others to Christ and to The Salvation Army?

Bind The Strong Man

Bind the Strong Man

Jesus referred to binding or tying up the “strong man” when the Pharisees challenged and tried to discredit Jesus for His ability to cast out demons.

“He knew their thoughts, so he said, ‘Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart. You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive? And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For when a strong man like Satan is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.’”

Luke 11:17-22 (NLT)

Parallel account found in Matthew 12:29 King James Version: “Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man?”

How does this idea relate to the work we do for the Kingdom today? The strong man is Satan and Satan has stolen many people from God. They are “stored up” or held captive in his “house” and we must liberate those captives in the Name of Jesus. In order to do that we must “bind the strong man” in the same way that Jesus bound him.

We are involved in a battle. The battle belongs to the Lord. Some times the best fight is to first commit the problem or battle to the Lord in prayer. Through prayer we bind or tie up the strong man so that we can invade his house or strong holds to set captives free. What are the strong holds that you face in your corps and community? A strong hold can be identified by repetition of a problem or challenge in one or more families. Unwed pregnancies, gang activity, violence, illness, abuse, and addictions are examples of how the enemy can get a hold on the lives of people. These are strong holds and these strong holds can only be taken if we bind the one who holds them. Bind the strong man.

Before any prayer warrior takes it upon themselves to begin to bind the strong man, they must be covered in the armor of God. (See Ephesians 6) Also a prayer warrior is to cover in prayer their health, their reputation, families, their ministries, their homes and their businesses. Cover in prayer anything or anyone that could be used to distract them from the battle or be used against you.

The word for today is: Bind the strong man.

When Does Christmas Happen?

When Does Christmas Happen?

When does Christmas happen for you? In The Salvation Army we are kept very busy with Christmas happenings. The first stage is planning. We plan how we will do it all. (This usually takes place in the summer.) For the needs of the community the next stage is the interviewing. We interview people to see if their families will qualify for Christmas assistance or if another partner agency will help them. Then we interview prospective volunteers and employees who will be responsible for raising money at a kettle which will go toward taking care of people. The next stage is gathering. We have to gather all the resources we need to take care of the people who have been identified as those we can help. The next stage is the delivery and distribution of resources. We have to get those resources to the distribution sites and that takes even more volunteers. (Praise God for volunteers.) Then you have the clean up stage which takes you long past Christmas Day. Finally you have the thank you letters and reports. Oh, don’t forget about evaluation and planning for next year. That is a lot of happening.

In addition to the community needs for Christmas, there are the congregational needs of the corps, the needs of family, the officers in charge, and the needs of the organization. Add to that the pressure society and culture put on us to purchase and give gifts, send cards and be merry. We have a lot driving us and a lot happening. These things can keep Christmas from happening.

During our corporate times of worship we read the Christmas Story, sing the Christmas songs, and hear or preach the Christmas sermons. That should help Christmas to happen, but even the most alert and devout among us can miss Christmas.

For me Christmas is that one special glimpse of God’s love where He gives me a special miracle moment for a memory. Once it was in the tears of a grateful mother at the Toy and Joy Shop who was now able to give her children food and toys. Once it was tiny senior woman that opened the door to us so we could deliver a food box and tree. Once it was the surprised look on my husband’s face because he was not expecting to get two sweaters. Another time it was the awkward moment with my family as I tried to read a Christmas scripture and began to cry because they did not seem to hear the truth because their hearts were hardened by all the hustle and bustle of Christmas. Many times it has come while I was singing a familiar carol and discovered new meanings to a phrase. One time it was a young person from our corps giving me a gift that they had sacrificed time and money to obtain. God designed me in such a way that gifts of time and revelation are more important than things. So I have to remember that He will send Christmas in the way I least expect it. I have to keep my eyes and heart open to receive it.

How about you? How does Christmas happen for you in the midst of Christmas happenings?

The magi were looking for it, but in the wrong places and had to be put back on the right path. The scholars had preconceived ideas and missed it. The shepherds were in a quiet place and were surprised by it. The angels announced it. Most people missed it. Many of us still miss it. Please don’t miss Christmas this year.

Hark the herald angels sing: “Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled.” This was the description on the new born King. Jesus was God’s peace offering, offered in mercy so that humankind could be reconciled with God. Jesus was the spotless lamb given as a sacrifice so that we could know the love of God. Jesus is God’s gift of Grace! For me this was Christmas this year. Has it happened for you?

Win One Woman – Win Our World for Jesus’ sake!

WOW Numbers for October

Report For October Looks Good! We are so happy that we are dancing. We rejoice over the victories and weep for the loses, every ONE is important to us.

The numbers are in for Women’s Ministries attendance for the month of October 2006. (The first month of the WOW Initiative) Please God, let this good trend continue and catch on!

We saw an increase! There were 2,000 more women in WM meetings in October 2006 than in 2005. (Last year we saw a decrease by 1,500 so it is an even better increase in that we are 500 over the attendance of October 2004! These are round numbers.)

The following five divisions saw increases, Cascade, Golden State, Hawaii, Southern California, and Southwest. Congratulations to all of those who worked hard. If we all Win One Woman for the Kingdom of Heaven, for The Salvation Army and for our Women’s Ministries groups this year we will grow!

Keep Praying (POW – Prayers of Women, Prayers of Warriors). Keep in the Word of God and be Women of the Word who pray for Women of the World to come to Jesus!

Have you made your list of those people you can win for Jesus this year? Have more than one on your list and pray for them. Remember that every day could be the day God will put you in the path to sow a seed into the life of an unsaved person or water a seed that has been planted. You may even get to harvest a seed that is ready to know Jesus. WOW!

WORDS THAT WOUND

“Sticks and stones may break my bones”… Are you familiar with that childhood rhyme? It continues: “but words will never hurt me.” I am not exactly sure what age I was when my Mom taught it to me. I do know that I was under six. I vaguely remember the occasion. An unkind child wounded me with their words and I ran into the house crying. The funny thing about it was the unkind child was most likely my slightly older sister. The unkind words did hurt and I went to the one person I knew who could make things better, my Mom.

She did the “Mom Thing”. She wiped my tears. Reminded me that she loved me. She told me to go back out and face my tormentor(s). What were her words of wisdom? Don’t let people know their words hurt you and they will leave you alone. She also taught me the rhyme about sticks, stones and words. My Mom’s intentions were good and most of her advice worked. However, she was wrong. Words do hurt. Words make invisible wounds that can be much harder to heal than physical wounds.

Words spoken in anger, in malice, and even the “accidental” outburst of a hard truth wound the mind and soul. Words are sharp instruments. We can use them to hurt or to heal. Think about it. A knife in the hands of a physician can cut out a dangerous infection or growth. A knife in the hands of an evil person can cause great harm and even death.

The holidays are coming. This wonderful time of the year is also one of the most stressful times of the year. We want things to be perfect and we stress out trying to produce perfection. We dwell on the past and relive memories. Not all of these memories are sweet. One of the first people to wound a child by their words will most likely be a family member. Families and friends love us and are usually the safe people to be around. However, life happens and words are spoken. Words, once spoken, cannot be erased.

Common wounding words spoken by families and friends are comparisons, out bursts of anger, and negative observations. Have you ever heard any of these phrases, “You will never amount to much.” “Why are you so lazy?” “Why can’t you get good grades like your sister?” “Why don’t you play sports like your cousin?”

Our brains replay the wounding words we hear until we believe them. Those words program us to believe certain things about ourselves. Can you recall any of the “prophecies” that wounding words programmed into you? Perhaps you heard, “You are just like your father.” “You are slower than others.” “You will always fail.” Identifying the wounding words is one of the first steps to break their power over you.

Do you remember wounding another person by your words? Perhaps you did it intentionally. Perhaps the words just slipped out of you mouth. It happened. The truth is that once words leave our mouths, or computers they cannot be taken back. There is no room for retraction in real time or cyber-space. Even when we repent and apologize, the words have made their mark.

As God’s people we are to speak positive words, healing words. The Psalmist prayed and asked God to put a guard over his lips. I like that idea. Also we can pray the following prayer found in Psalm 19. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, oh Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.”

The Holy Spirit, speaking through the writing of Paul in Ephesians 4, gives us this command: “Stop being bitter, angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. Instead be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.”

How will your holidays be different in light of this command? Will you change your words? Will you choose to react differently when you feel wounded? Will you forgive? Romans 12, tells us that we can only act and react differently when we become different. We become new when we allow God to renew our minds. In Psalm 119 the psalmist teaches that we can keep ourselves pure when we meditate on the Word of God.

God’s Word is living and sharper than a two edged sword. Jesus is also called the Word of God. Our hope for happy days is literally found in the Word. Allow God to heal the wounds that separate you from family and friends. Allow God to set a guard over your lips and fill your mouth with positive healing words. Allow The Word of God to renew you, fill you and bless you.

Honor God

I would like to share the following story with you:

Honor God

Hallowed Be Thy Name

After she finished breakfast, Katie rushed to put on her shoes. A new day is always full of wonderful surprises for a little girl. When Katie went outside, she saw that the field behind her house sprouted the most beautiful flowers she had ever seen. They reminded her of the bouquet of flowers their neighbor Molly brought over last week. She remembered how much her mother enjoyed those flowers.

Katie ran into the field and began to pick a bouquet for her mom. Because Katie really wanted to show her mother how much she loved her, she spent all morning trying to find the most beautiful flowers in the field.

Molly stood and stretched. Gardening is hard work, but her beautiful roses were the reward. Everyone loved them and that made her feel good. Molly looked over the fence, into the field behind her house. She spotted Katie Larson playing. When she saw Katie she thought of Marcia. “Marcia loves my roses and she hasn’t felt well. I will take over a bouquet. Perhaps they will cheer her up.”

Molly prepared some of her best roses to take over to her neighbor. An hour later she knocked on the door. Marcia answered. She saw Molly and the roses. She smiled and said, “Oh, Molly, these are absolutely beautiful. Come in and have some iced tea with me.”

The two neighbors sipped their tea and chatted. The morning sipped away. Katie rushed in just as Molly was about to leave. Katie was hot, dirty and sweaty. Her dirty hands grasped a bunch of weeds, a simple bouquet of wild flowers. Katie’s face beamed with the love she felt for her mother. She reached out to give her heart felt expression of love to her mother. The picture suddenly transformed.

Through the eyes of love the hot, dirty and sweaty little girl became a princess. Through the eyes of love the wilting, smelly weeds became the most beautiful bouquet either of the women had ever seen.

Many times our feeble efforts to honor God are like wildflower bouquets offered in love by a dirty, sweaty child. Love, true love transforms them. When our weed bouquets are a heartfelt expression of our love for God, there is nothing more glorious. They are even more wonderful than the angel’s greatest hymns!

“Our Father, Who art in Heaven…” help us to honor Your Name.

This Christmas Season most of you are working hard and producing great things for God. What ever you do, make sure it is an offering of love so that you honor God. You are loved.

Some POW in our WOW

We need some POW for our WOW Initiative. POW stands for “Prayers of Warriors” and we must have our prayer warriors focused on the WOW Initiative if we want it to make a difference. Each division began circulating Prayer Pots by sending them to the corps. Each corps is to keep the Prayer Pot one week before sending it to the next corps. The Prayer Pot looks like a pot being formed by the potter. It has the shape of two hands on it and the words “Thou art the potter” inscribed on the top. The Prayer Pots are also being circulated at the ARC, Crestmont and THQ. The Prayer Pot at THQ sits on the desk of Jean Bauer and is filled with white rose petals. People at THQ and those visiting are encouraged to take a rose petal out of the pot and write the letters WOW. Then they are to take the petal with them to remind them to pray.

Even though the WOW Initiative is an idea designed and promoted by the Territorial Women’s Section and Women’s Ministries in the Western Territory, it is not just a “woman’s thing,” it is a Kingdom thing. It is a promotion to win souls for the Kingdom of God, for The Salvation Army and for the local corps. Salvation Army women’s ministry programs are outcome oriented. They were designed to lead people to Christ (Seeker 1) and help them mature in their Christian life (Seeker 2). Women’s programs were designed to bring families to the corps and add to the Soldier roll. We measure these outcomes.

Here is a celebration report from Major Mariam Rudd for the Cascade division:

Line # 2405 (37) #1 Adult Seekers through Women's Ministries – 65

Line # 2410 (37) #2 Adult Seekers through Women's Ministries – 338 women sought after God's heart in rededication and submission

Line # 3001 Women's Ministries 703 (last year - 688) 25 more women attended WM in 2006

THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STATISTIC OF ALL!

Line #3010 – 47 - new families were brought to the corps through Women's Ministries!

We are praising the Lord for this harvest - CELEBRATE with us and the Corps Officers of the Cascade Division, as we give thanks to the Lord this Thanksgiving Season.

This is just from one division! More reports are coming in to our office of how God used Salvation Army women’s programs to grow His Kingdom.

We can do better with some more POW in our WOW!

Believe in Victory

Catherine Booth wrote, “Soldiers of Christ must believe in victory. Faith in victory is an indispensable condition to successful warfare of any kind. It is universally recognized by generals of killing armies that, if the enthusiasm of expected conquest be destroyed, and their troops imbued with fear and doubt as to the ultimate result, defeat is all but certain. That is equally true with respect to spiritual warfare, and hence the repeated and comprehensive assurance and promises of victory from the great Captain of our salvation.”

The true soldier of Christ, who has the spirit of war and who is abandoned to its interests, has in his soul knowledge of coming victory. He knows it is only a question of time…faith inspires him to hardship…”

The Thanksgiving and Christmas season are upon us and opportunities for service will increase. Some will see this as hardship and others as blessing. All of us must claim victory for the Kingdom of Christ.

As I look for the one, two or more people that Jesus will bring into my life who will be won for His Kingdom this year, I try to greet every opportunity as the one that will open the door and reveal the person or people to whom God has chosen me to be His instrument for their salvation. It has made life somewhat of an adventure. I try to remember this attitude when I wake each day. Will this be the day? I try to remember this attitude when I meet people. Will this be the person? I may be the seed planter, the one who brings water to the seedling or the one that tends the field – I just want to be faithful as I try to win one woman for the Kingdom, for The Salvation Army and for my corps this year.

Do you believe in victory?

Tactics of Spiritual Warfare

Catherine Booth wrote, “Christ’s soldiers must understand the tactics of war. In order to do this, they must make a subject of earnest and prayerful study how to make the most of their time, talents, money or any other resources which God may have placed at their command for the advancement of the Kingdom. They must think and scheme how best to attack the enemy.”

“Think of the time, trouble, skill and money that are expended by great killing armies in planning for stratagem and maneuver in order to surprise and overcome enemies. Some of you will remember reading, in the records of the German and French war of 1870, that the German officers were better acquainted with the geography of France than the French themselves; they knew every road, by-way and field likely to be available for their purposes. Think of the time and trouble that must have been expended in becoming thus familiar with a foreign country, and compare it with the haphazard, rule of thumb kind of way in which spiritual warfare if for the most part conducted.”

WOW! Digest that for a moment as you consider your own efforts lately. I wrote “your own” rather than “our own” because the best actions take place on the field. It is the job of territorial and divisional leaders to cast the vision and set the direction, but if the officers and soldiers on the field don’t take action our prayers and spiritual warfare tactics remain only good or bad ideas.

If I were the enemy of Christ and The Salvation Army, I would look at the strengths and weaknesses of my enemy. The weakness of Christ is found in His human soldiers. The Salvation Army was raised up for a unique mission for Christ. The Salvation Army was raised up to be a part of the universal Church, but to function as and active fighting force for the King of kings. We “do” church because that is the way the believers come together to fellowship, learn and to worship God.

One of my main attacks would be to confuse The Salvation Army and its soldiers about their mission. If I could get them off mission and on to trying to be like every other church, I could weaken them. If I can get them to fight and argue within their ranks, my plan would work even better. If I can get them to disrespect those God has place in authority, I would blind and deafen them to the very people God will use to wake them up and get them back on track.

Another tactic would be to get these human soldiers involved in doing good. I would keep them busy so that they do not have time to grow spiritually and listen to the High Commander about what He wants them to do. (Just in case the High Commander does get through to some of His soldiers, I would make it hard for them to change or if they do make the change make others think of them as extreme.)

As the enemy of Christ, I would do everything I could to fill His soldiers with anger and bitterness. I would make them angry at their leaders, their people, and themselves. They would spew this infection and spread it to others. Oh, yes, it is easier to infect others with anger and bitter spirits than to infect them with passion for doing the will of the High Commander. I would make it part of their “culture” to talk about each other and to put down their leaders. I would make the leaders harsh and appear to be ego centered rather than Christ Centered.

As the enemy of Christ, I would marginalize people and programs that have the most potential. I would put words like these in the thoughts and mouths of people: “Oh, it is just the young people.” “Oh, it is just programming for women.” (Ha! That is my favorite one. As long as the enemy can keep God’s soldiers from realizing the potential of women for the Kingdom, that potential will not be harnessed, equipped and mobilized for the Kingdom. Women would not be brought into help with youth programs, raise money for God’s projects, help build the corps and change the community.) “If you don’t get the men, you won’t get the family.” (Hope they give up because if they “just” get the children or “just” get the women they have been working and they have won someone away from hell.)

As the enemy of Christ, I would do a bang up job. As a soldier of Christ I need to take the time and energy to think about the strategy of the enemy and figure out how to counter act and fight that strategy.

Catherine Booth wrote, “Think of the time and trouble that must have been expended in becoming thus familiar with a foreign country, and compare it with the haphazard, rule of thumb kind of way in which spiritual warfare if for the most part conducted.” What is your strategy for Winning One Woman for Christ, The Salvation Army and your corps this year?

Here is an interesting formula shared by Commissioner Gwen Luttrell that she got from Shirley Green:

2 x 2 = 4

4 x 4 = 16

16 x 16 = 256

256 x 256 = 65,536

65,536 x 65,536 = 4,294,967,296

If each Christian won just one person every year, in five years we could go from 2 to 4.3 billion

WOW we could win our world if we all would just win one woman each year. Just one! (You can also win men, girls and boys. Just win some one for Christ!)

Where's the Heat?

Occasionally my gas dryer malfunctions. I faithfully place items that need to dry in the dryer set the time and hit the start button. The dryer begins to turn and I think all is well. It looks and sounds like it is working. I go off to work on other projects. After a while, it dawns on me that I have not heard the buzzer warn me that the clothes are dry and that the dryer is still running. When I investigate, I discover that the heating element never turned on and that the sensor still knows the clothes are wet. The electricity has done its job to turn the drum, but the gas did not do its job to heat the drum. My reaction is not pretty, especially when I have a lot of clothes to wash and only a little time. “Where’s the heat?” (The repairman thinks it its fixed now, something was out of balance with the way the dryer was drawing air.)

You can guess where I am going with this – can’t you?

Catherine Booth spoke these words in her sermon about Christianity and the Real Warfare. “Soldiers of Christ must me abandoned to the ware. They must be thoroughly committed to God’s side; there can be no neutrals in this war. When a soldier enlists in the Queen’s army, he ceases to be his own property, becoming the property of his country. He goes where he is sent, standing at any post to which he is assigned, even if it be at the cannon’s mouth. He gives up the ways and comforts of civilians, and goes forth with his life in his hand, obedient to the will of his sovereign. If I understand it, that is what Jesus Christ demands of every one of His soldiers and nothing else.”

That would be and example of a red hot soldier.

So here is the part that really set my mind in whirl, “Someone may ask, ‘but we cannot all be ministers, or missionaries, or officers in The Salvation Army. Must we not attend to the avocations of this life, and work for the bread which perishes for our family and ourselves?’ Certainly, but the great end in all we do must be the promotion of the Kingdom. A man may work in order that he may eat, but he must eat to live, not to himself or for the promotion of his own purposes, but for his King…if his heart is really set on this, he will, when work is done gladly lay aside (his work tools) for the sword of the Spirit, and for the conflict with (sin.) Instead of spending his evenings in ease…will spend what would have been his leisure hours (for the cause of the Kingdom.)” I believe in balance of all things so when I read these words, I have to question if I have fallen into a 9 to 5 type of officership. (It is a hazard of not being on the frontlines.) Of course anytime the opportunity presents itself by way of encounter at the store, a phone call, or prompting to action by the Holy Spirit, I obey. I must confess that my “home body” temperament places me in the comfort of my home once I leave the office or finish shopping. Once again, I have great convictions about balance. There have been too many people, (officers, soldiers and employees of The Salvation Army), who have not allowed God to balance their time and the person and their loved ones have suffered for that omission no matter how much good they thought was accomplished. However the question begs to be asked, is the leisure time been balanced? Does the TV or the computer get more time than God’s work? Each of us has to work that out as we journey and fight for God.

Am I spinning the drum without heat? Am I using up resources without results because something is wrong with the spiritual heat element in my life?

WOW Christianity and the Real Warfare

Catherine Booth wrote, “Christ’s Soldiers must be imbued with the spirit of the war. Love to the King and concern for His interests must be the master passion of the soul. Without this, all outward effort, even that which springs from a sense of duty, will fail. The hardship and suffering involved in spiritual warfare are too great for any motive but that of love. The image and glory of Christ must be engraven on the heart of every faithful soldier of Christ.”

“It must be the all subduing passion of the soldier’s life to bring the reign of Jesus Christ over all the hearts and souls of men. A little child who has this spirit will subjugate others to his King, while the most talented, learned and active without it will accomplish comparatively little. If the hearts of the Christians of this generation were inspired with this spirit and set on winning the world for God, we would soon see nations shaken to their center, and millions of souls translated into the Kingdom.”

This was the spirit of the early Salvationists. They changed their world. Dear God can you give us this kind of commitment and passion for the souls in our sphere of influence? Help us model it from leadership so that it may be caught by every soldier. Win One Woman. Win Our World.

At the Aggressive Christianity conference, General John Gowans gave the last address and during the altar call gave his most powerful message of the weekend. As he gave the altar call, a man who was obviously from the streets came forward and asked if he could speak to the General. General Gowans replied, “Yes, certainly. After I finish here, I will meet with you.” The man asked where and General pointed to a place and said, “I will talk with you there.” We watched and waited for the sign for rescue, but he turned the altar call over to someone else and went to speak with the man. He came back to his seat and grabbed his water bottle and went back and gave it to the man. They talked and prayed together. General Gowans could have passed the man off to any of us who were waiting to step in so that he could go and pray with other people. The General’s care and concern for the soul of this man spoke volumes and word has come back of the power in that message.

In Alaska, Major Sherry Tollerud was convicted to share her personal WOW goals and efforts with her women. She wrote, “It was hard to do. I did not want them to think I was bragging. I wanted to set an example.” God has been working in my life as a territorial leader. Sometimes my life can be so sheltered from opportunities to share my witness so I have to ask God to help me be sensitive to His leading. I have asked Him to make me more aware to the opportunities I have to share His love. I pray for my neighbors and when I fly I pray for the flight crew and the passengers. Occasionally I even get a chance to share a witness. I have four family members on my prayer “hit” list. The other day while we were in a restaurant, I caught the smile of a waitress from another table. Before I left I thanked her for her lovely smile. She took my hand and squeezed it and said, thank you for what The Salvation Army does.” We did not have time for more, so I can only guess that she came through one of our programs and God had placed me there to give her encouragement that day. I am so glad I was looking for a divine appointment and caught her eye. Sometimes you plant seeds, sometimes you water seeds, sometimes you get to harvest fruit, and sometimes you are tending the vines.

Our sincere hope is that the WOW Initiative is making a difference for the Kingdom of God, for The Salvation Army, for your corps and in Women’s Ministries. It won’t make a difference unless you choose to use it as a reminder that the passion of every Salvation Army soldier is to Win Our World for Jesus Sake. It happens on person at a time. So plant those seeds, water them, harvest them and tend the vines. Be faithful and have a passion for souls.

WOW Southwest!

Congratulations to the Southwest Division for increasing more than 2,000 in the yearly attendance as indicated by the year end health summary.

You are on the grow!

Reminder What's WOW About?

WOW is a multi - part promotion. The first part is the WOW Initiative. The work done on the field in this next year and beyond. The second is a Territorial WOW Celebration Luncheon planned for June 9, 2007. A third part will include the divisionally planned Celebrations. Corps and ARC Units can also have their own celebrations.

What will we celebrate? Women and their family and friends who come to Christ. Women who grow in their commitment to the King of Kings. We will celebrate new members of Women's ministries programs, increase in attendance and new programs began.

To do this at the June 9, 2007 event we will use the months of October to March to monitor the activity, but divisions and corps should wait until at least a year has passed to see the greater outcomes and progress.

Salvation Army Women’s Ministries programs are outcome based. Measuring the outcome of our work will help indicate the effectiveness of those programs. Therefore we will continue to emphasize, measure, and celebrate the success of the following:

Fundamental Purposes:

Seekers added

Soldiers and Adherents added

Families Linked to Corps

New Members added to Home League

New Participants added to Outreach Groups

Attendance Increase

Forty-four and more meetings held

44 Home League Meetings (Required in WM Guidelines)

Outreach Group Meetings (Expected of every corps)

We are not giving any new reports for the corps, we will expect them to use the planning and report tools they have been given. There will be a new report for DHQ - The report asking for which people and programs they want to highlight at the Territorial Celebration.

Perhaps the women of a corps will realize how many lost opportunities pass through their doors at Christmas. In October, the will meet weekly to plan and pray. They will pray and ask God which women they should target. Shall they have a ministry to the grandmothers and aunts raising grandchildren and nieces? Shall they reach out to the single moms?

They will plan how to invite the target group of women, they will plan the events and what kinds of things they will do to interest the women to come. They will plan follow up events to invite the women to return. Will the events be monthly or weekly?

Then the women will pray some more. Pray and ask God to bless their efforts with success. The women will pray some more and ask God to help them grow in their own spiritual lives. They will take leadership positions and help the corps advance in the Salvation War.

Perhaps one woman will get the vision about winning women for Christ and her efforts will change a community. WOW!

If You Want It, It's Yours

It’s Yours!

In your heart of hearts are you a trifle weary,

Is there part of you your better self deplores?

Do you want the power to be a better person?

If you want it--it's yours!

Chorus

If you want it--it's yours!

If you want it--it's yours!

Do you want the power to be a better person?

If you want it--it's yours!

Is your mind mixed up and are your thoughts in turmoil?

Are you tired of fighting, are you sick of wars?

Would you like some peace instead of inner conflict?

If you want it--it's yours!

Are you somewhat sad and wish that you were happy?

Real contentment has a special set of laws;

Joy is not for sale, it's only found in Jesus;

If you want it--it's yours!

Words: John Gowans

Music John Larsson

Just recently we were at officers’ councils and General John Gowans was the speaker. He told us that he felt this song did not belong in the song book of The Salvation Army. It is not that he does not like the song. He feels it was great for the musical because of the context of the musical. He explained that as he wrote the words his mind went back to his youth when he went to carnivals and county fairs. The patter of the sales people would go something like this: “I have something really valuable to sell you. It is worth (fill in the blank), but for half it’s value I will sell it to you today. If you want it, (the salesperson would tap it or rattle it twice) it’s yours.” John Gowans saw the words of this song being presented by a super salesperson sharing the most valuable gif of all.

Guess what? That makes me love the song even more! The words are so profound. They describe the state many of us find ourselves. How many of us have felt sick and tired of being sick and tired? How many have felt the way verses one and two describe a person? I wonder how many of us have sung these words or even enjoyed the experience of being a part of the musical for which the song was written. How many wish this was more than a set of words or a song from an upbeat musical.

Look again at these words from verse three the song, “Real contentment has a special set of laws, Joy is not for sale, it’s only found in Jesus. If you want it, it’s yours.” Paul wrote these inspired words in the book of Philippians (4:11-14) “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.” (NLT)

Contentment, joy, peace and power have a “certain set of laws.” The first law, the first step is to receive Jesus Christ as Saviour. Only Jesus can cancel the debt of sin and set us free from its bondage. This relationship with Jesus is more than a fire insurance policy. It is a life insurance policy or maybe better said an abundant life assurance policy.

Can it be as simple as asking for it? “If you want it, it’s yours.” If it is that simple why aren’t more Christians experiencing the joy, peace, power and contentment promised? “I have the secret of contentment in every situation…I can do everything God asks me to do with the help of Jesus, who gives me the strength and power I need.”

The secret of contentment is not a lobotomy that leaves us without an awareness of reality. The secret is submission to the will of God and complete trust in Him regardless of the circumstances of reality. Or to put it in the words from another song, trust and obey. We have to trust Jesus our Saviour to also be Jesus our Lord, the Ruler of our lives. Then we have access to that power that enables us to face the realities of our lives.

Sounds good in theory, but what about when things really go crazy in my life. As a Salvation Army officer and soldier, I must contend with changes and turmoil caused by moves, Christmas, and the people in my life. Not much different than most people since we all have challenges and changes thrown into our lives that could rob us of contentment, joy, and peace. Is it so simple as trusting the One who is making the offer. Through His Holy Spirit, Jesus whispers and shouts, “if you want it, it’s yours. I paid the price.”

So when the challenges and changes come, help us remember to look to Jesus for contentment, joy and peace. Tap into the power and abundance of all Jesus offers. “If you want it, it’s yours.”

Debora Bell, Lt. Colonel

The Salvation Army