Summer M&M

Hey everybody!

A common "remark" made by many M&M'ers is, "I love memorizing verses, but after the semester is done I forget them so quickly!  I wish I could have a better method of reviewing so that they will be more firmly planted in my heart".  Well my friends, have we got a plan for you!

Here's the deal- It will be very casual, a very relaxing time.  We will review verses from Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 and Barb will read us stories, her favorite!  I'm excited to spend as much time as I can listening to sweet Barb before she heads out for Japan, aren't you?  Please share with others who haven't M&M'ed before, they are welcome to join us too.

Dates:  June 11th/12th - July 30th/31st.  We'll break during VBS week because all of you will be volunteering, right? :)

Location:  Jamestown Coffee (donations for room rental appreciated)

Monday Nights - 6:45 - 8pm 

Tuesday Afternoons - 12pm - 1:15pm

See the attached flyer for more info!  Share with friends!  Don't forget to let me know if you plan to attend and if so, whether you prefer Mondays or Tuesdays.

Blessings,

Leslie

Just in case you can attend...

Hi ladies,

April 29th will be a special day. Barb's sister-in-law Sherry (an Online M&M-er) sent her the following info. Scotty Smith is the author of Everyday Prayers 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith that Barb has read from in M&M. Here's a blurb about World Harvest Mission from their website http://www.whm.org/:

AN EVENING WITH WORLD HARVEST MISSION - On April 29th at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts there will be a 7:00pm Reception featuring Speaker Scotty Smith and a performances by acting group ‘Peculiar People.’ Contributions welcome at the event.

(The event will be in Winston-Salem, NC, a three hour drive from Lexington)

World Harvest Mission was organized under the leadership of Dr. Jack Miller, a pastor, evangelist and author. In the late 1970s, the missions-outreach of the congregation he founded and pastored, New Life Presbyterian Church, was spreading beyond that local body. Other church leaders gathered with Dr. Miller to work together in wider ministry. After many informal missions trips to Ireland and Uganda, World Harvest Mission was officially established in 1983.

We just wanted to share this information with you in case you wanted to take a fun road trip for a night of laughter and inspiration!

If you stay in town on April 29th, plan to join us for a Werner Twins Gift Card Shower at LPC! During the 5th Sunday Fellowship meal, we'll be encouraging Liz and Clay with a shower for the twins. Bring a gift card in any amount from Babies-R-Us or Target, some food to share, and your prayers and blessings for the family! 6PM in Tomlin Hall.

Barb and Leslie

M&M.... The End????

Hey Ladies,

I'm so sad that this semester has come to an end, but what a joy it has been M&M'ing with you. Thanks to all who came to the recital this evening. It was such a blessing for me to be able to recite God's Word with you ladies! Several things came up during class so I'll mention them quickly so you can get to Barb's summary.

The links to Barb's quotes are included as well as a link to the store where Brenda found those beautiful pillowcases. I also included a link to the "Seeds" family worship scripture songs. If you haven't already sent me a picture, PLEASE PLEASE do!! :) Have a blessed week.

• Download The Last Class Here
• Task of the Church - Quote
• Learn to Let Go - Quote
• "As for Me and My House" - Christian Gift Store in Pawley's Island
• Seeds - Family Worship - Scripture Songs Everyone Can Enjoy

Well, my sisters, our M&M term "Thy Kingdom Come" has come to an end. In this last class we recited all the verses through #12. The #13 card is your "take home" verse; a parting gift! We won't be able to meditate on this one together.

I did not really share my meditations on the Philippians verses; rather I chose to talk more about the big picture of the Kingdom. I read from the devotional Jesus Calling from March 24 and handed it out on an index card. I also shared from my journal that I've kept since we started wondering if God were calling us back to Japan. I shared it because I thought it might encourage you as you consider "What is MY calling in the Kingdom?" Then we reread our quote cards. I love those quotes! May God speak to you through His Word and through your meditation time as well as our time we've had together.

Thank you, each of you, who have travelled on this journey with me. Some of you have been in every study - all 7 of them, starting in 2009. Wow! Well done! But whether you've been there from the beginning or just joined us in the last couple of weeks, I thank you for your encouragement and sharing your own thoughts on our verses. God has used you in my life, and I thank Him for you.

It will look a little different from here on out, but I look forward to how God will keep us connected and continue to use M&M as an instrument to encourage women to meditate on and memorize His Word.

We are considering a once-a-week get together to review previous verses and have STORYTIME!! We'll keep you posted.

Many, many thanks to you, and a heart full of gratitude to our King,

Barb

Week 12!

Hey Ladies!

I hope you all have had a wonderful week. Barb came over to my house the other night and she wanted me to share my method of memorizing- I have a big blackboard in my kitchen which is right over Emily's highchair. I can read my verse while feeding her or while cooking and it's a very helpful tool. I don't have the prettiest handwriting though...

Here's your quick link and next week's verse...followed by Barb's summary. Enjoy!

* March 20th, 2012 - Download Lesson

#13 LIFE IN COMMUNITY - HEBREWS 10:23-25

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

~~~~~~~~~

Hi ladies,

Our M&M class on "Thy Kingdom Come" is almost over! Next week is the last class, and it makes me very sad to think it will probably be my last regular class in the States for a while.

BUT I am very happy to tell you that we have decided that you're going to be stuck with me! Even though Dave and I are heading back to Japan when all our support comes in, I am going to continue leading the M&M ministry, with the help of our dear Leslie and several others! I am so happy! I laid it down many times; I kept praying, "Lord I will give this up if it's Your will....I know there are others...I know You want it to continue, and I am willing to totally let go and let others take my place." But time and time again, every time I sought counsel on this, I have only heard "I think you should continue...are you able to?" So, at least for the near future, even as we go to the far East, we're going to use technology and Leslie's gifts and try to make this happen!

Please be praying for M&M: that the Lord would use this simple program to get His living Word in the hands of many women...in other churches here in the States, in Japan, in cyberspace, in ????. In a few weeks I've been asked to share about M&M at a Missionary Women's Coffee sponsored by Missionary Resource Center in Columbia. Imagine missionary wives and single women (who have computer access) able to M&M even when they're struggling with culture shock and the pressures of ministry on foreign soil!

We'll tell you more about it AT OUR M&M PARTY! Thursday, March 29, Brenda Brittingham's Beautiful Basement, 7:00pm. Please come if possible!

This week in our meditation time we focused on 1 Peter 4:7-10, particularly the part "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms." We talked about gifts, and here are the 3 statements I found about gifts in my study Bible:

1. A spiritual gift is an ability to express, celebrate, display, and so communicate Christ in a way that builds up and strengthens the faith of other Christians and enlarges the church.

2. Spiritual gifts may be broadly classified as either abilities of sppech or of loving, practical helpfulness. However much they differ as forms of human activity all are of equal dignity when one properly uses the gift one has.

3. No Christian is without some gift of ministry. It is every believer's responsibility to find, develop, and fully use whatever capacities for service God has given.

Then I read a wonderful story about using our gifts from Tales of the Kingdom by David and Karen Mains called "The Apprentice Juggler".

I pray you will chew well on our next verse and that your "soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food". Sound familiar?

Love,

Barb

Week 11!

Hey Ladies!

I apologize for sending this out a day late, please forgive me! Here's the quick story/links:

Link to this week's lesson

Next Week's Verse:

#11 1 PETER 4:7-10 ADMINISTER GOD’S GRACE

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Enjoy Barb's Summary!

~~~~~~~

Hi dear friends!

We only have TWO (2!!) more classes this term. I can't believe it. It's especially impacting me because it's probably my last class here in the States, with our hope being to leave in August if the Lord brings in pledges of monthly support. I'm already thinking "Couldn't we squeeze one more term in?" But I know we have one more week-long training to do in June, plus tackling the huge project before us of getting our house ready to rent.

ANYWAY, this is supposed to be a summary from this week's M&M class! We looked at almost the entire chapter of 2 Chronicles 20. What a chapter! What an instruction for us as we face the VAST ARMY in our own lives. I encourage you to consider what is the vast army which you face as you meditate on this chapter and verse card. Whatever it is, as you go out to face them, start singing praises as Jehoshaphat appointed the choir to do when they went first, ahead of the army.

If you have the Jesus Storybook Bible, you might want to read the story of Joshua and the Battle of Jericho. There are many parallels with our chapter in 2 Chronicles 20.

Okay, my sisters; don't give up. Persevere! We're almost at the finish line of this class: "THY KINGDOM COME!" Are you praying these verses? Are you praying that His Kingdom will come...soon?

Thanking God for each one of you,

Barb

Week 10!

Good morning, ladies!

I hope that you had a wonderful week chewing on your verses. Here's the quick list o' links- then be sure to read Barb's summary! If you had any trouble with buying/downloading the songs last week, please let me know and I'll be happy to help. :)

• Download Week 10's lesson here
• Click here to read John Piper's "Putting my Daughter to Bed After the Bridge Collapsed"

Next Week's Verse (Don't forget to read all of chapter 20 in 2 Chronicles to prepare your heart for next week):

#10 2 CHRONICLES 20:12ff THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS

“For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” ...This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s...You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you...do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’”

~~~~~~

Hi M&Mers,

This week we were able to quote the first 8 verses of Psalm 63. It's so good! We learned that it's not that our desires are too strong, but actually we are too easily pleased. God put a craving inside us for Himself, but we often turn to other things or people to satisfy that craving instead of Him. This quote really hit me:

"[God] is not proud...He will have us even though we have shown that we prefer everything else to Him."

I think we should memorize this passage too:

Psalm 73:25, 26

Whom have I in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

May God give us the desires of our hearts, and may our hearts be all His.

Love,

Barb

Week 9!

Good evening, fellow M&M'ers! I hope you have had a wonderful week. Here are my quick links and info- stay tuned for Barb's summary below!!

Love,

Leslie

• Download Link for this week's lesson
• iTunes - "Satisfied" by Red Mountain Church
• Amazon - "Satisfied" by Red Mountain Church
• "Satisfied" Sheet Music
• Quick Print Sheet of ALL Verses Week 1 - Week 9

Hi my friends,

We have now M&M-ed 9 (NINE!) verses! Well done! Hooray! Yay! (It's important to rejoice ☺.) This week since we meditated on THIRSTING and FAINTING and LONGING, I shared what Paul Tripp has written about GROANING and "seeking first the Kingdom of God" from his book A Quest for More. I pray that we will prayerfully apply whatever God has been saying to us!

We have one more month to go! Our last classes are on March 27th and 28th. Brenda Brittingham has graciously offered her home as a place to gather for a final M&M party/recital. We'll fellowship together and say or read our verses together. Any M&M-er from any class or online, please try to come if you don't live too far away. We are working on a date and will let you know as soon as possible.

I praise God for you! We are sisters in Christ; family; a community and I have been so blessed by you and your desire and commitment to know your Savior better through His Word.

Happy Meditating on the second part of our passage in Psalm 63 (v.5-8):

#9 PSALM 63:5-8(ESV) “THE ONE MY SOUL SO LONG HAS CRAVED”

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, 
when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. 
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

The title that I wrote for this verse card is from a song called "Satisfied" by Red Mountain Church. The words are so amazing. Here's the sheet music (click here) and a link to purchase/download the song:

Download Link for iTunes

Link for Amazon

Blessings,

Barb