Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Fight for Joy - Week 1

Good evening ladies!

 It is my pleasure to welcome you to the first week of M&M!  This post will be the longest one, but please bear with me!  It's important stuff!  First time M&Mers, if you haven't already checked out the "About M&M" page on our website, now's a great time.  Click here :)

 First some items of business - I'd like to give you the links to download your "materials". The audio files include this semester's hymn, "Children of the Living God", as well as Barb reciting each of our verses and our helpful quotes.  Long-time M&Mers know that hearing the verses spoken while in your car or washing dishes, etc. is very helpful for meditation and memorization!  Download these files to your phone/ipod/mp3 player or burn them on a CD- I promise they will help you!

Click Here to download the whole package of files for this semester.  The verses are in two files - the verse cards can be printed on 3.5" x 5"cards.  (Techie Tip: That format is also a good size to view on your mobile device!  Drag the pdf into your iTunes "Books" category and sync it up!)  The other file will let you print the verses on regular 8.5"x11" paper.

This week Barb talks to us about our theme of fighting for joy, and basing this fight on SCRIPTURE, not just some "touchy-feely" concept of what the world says joy should be.  Here are the links for this week!

* YouTube Video - Week 1 - In His Presence There is Joy
* Mp3 Audio File - Week 1 - In His Presence There is Joy
* Week 1 Quote Card:  I Will Meditate
* Watch the YouTube Video of our M&M Party with Barb - August 18th, 2013!
* Download All Verses and Audio for "Fight For Joy"


Our verses to chew on this week:

Benediction Verse:

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Week 1 Verse:

 PSALM 16:11
You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forever more.

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Website:  http://shutthedoor.org
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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Fall M&M.... Are you ready to FIGHT....for joy :) ??

Good evening, ladies!
I hope all of you have had a wonderful summer. Personally I've been running around like crazy and I am ACHING to get back to M&Ming. What about you? Can you let me know if you will (or won't) be joining us for the semester starting the week of September 23rd? If you want to opt out this semester, that's no problem, we certainly don't want to spam you. Just let me know and I'll take you off the list. If you will be M&Ming, please feel free to invite friends and family! It's wonderful to have that accountability and you can say your verses to each other. If you're new to M&M, watch this video about "What is M&M?" Click Here... We know you'll love it!
Read this encouraging message from Barb... I look forward to hearing from all of you soon!
~~~~~~~~
Hi Ladies!
It's M&M time again! Will you join me in "The Serious Fight for Joy" series starting the week of September 23rd? During this past year back in Japan I've been struggling and the Lord has been preparing me through the struggle to FIGHT for the joy He gives His children: joy in Him, regardless of circumstances. Here is the invitation that John Piper gave, and I'm making it my invitation to you:
I’m inviting you to join me in fighting for joy in God. It is:
*the fight to let a burden be carried for us.
*the fight to struggle to trust God with the burdens of life.
*the fight for freedom from worry.
*the fight for hope; for peace; and joy which are all threatened by unbelief and doubt about God’s promises
Hope to "see" you soon in cyberspace.
Love,
Barb
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Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Next M&M - September 23rd!



Hello M&M Sisters!

Dave and I have been able to be back in the States for most of August and it's been a great trip - COUNTLESS hugs, time with family, friends, and our home church family.  We’ve had time to relax and enjoy our own culture.    

On Sunday afternoon, August 18, we had our First Annual M&M Gathering (hopefully it's the first of many).  What a blessing it was to me as together we shut the door, read or recited verses, and sang some M&M songs.  I was so charged up by that time together!  THANK YOU to each and every one of you who helped to make it happen, and much praise to the One who is in all things and holds all things together.  For those of you who couldn't come, we videoed the whole thing!  We'll send out an email to let you know when it can be seen on the M&M website.  Thank you Jeff Francis!

As announced at the Gathering, our next term will start on September 23rd.  The theme will be FIGHT FOR JOY.  Back in the fall of 2010 we did "Fight for Joy" but it was not videoed.  It was suggested to me to go back and re-do a theme we've done in the past and get it on video.  Of course it will be different because it will be redone, and some verses taken out and some new ones put in.  Our #1 verse will be: Psalm 16:11 (ESV) You make known to me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.  

I can’t wait to “see” you on the other side of the camera! Send me a picture for my bulletin board if I don’t already have one.

To the King!  To the Kingdom!
Barb 
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Thursday, June 27, 2013

M&M Party on Sunday, August 18th at 4:00pm!

Good afternoon, M&M Family!

I'm so excited to say that our dear friends the Bindewalds will be returning to the States for a visit this fall.  Hooray!  For all of you present or past M&M-ers, whether you live in Lexington or not... If you can make it, we would love to have you join us for an M&M party on Sunday afternoon, August 18th, at 4:00pm.  We will meet in Tomlin Hall at Lexington Presbyterian Church (246 Barr Road, Lexington, SC 29072).

We will "shut the door", sing with the lovely Francis family, and listen to Barb as she gives a testimony of the last year and what God is doing in her life and in Japan.  I know that she has had a pretty intense year and I think it would be a blessing to her and for those who attend as we worship and share together.

We'll have some light refreshments and a wonderful time of fellowship... and PONY RIDES!  OK, no pony rides, but I wanted to make sure you were still reading. :)  I will send out an ecard invitation, but in case you have technical difficulties receiving it, here is your quick invite!!

What:  M&M Party with BARB BINDEWALD!
Where:  Lexington Presbyterian Church, 246 Barr Rd, Lexington SC 29072 (Tomlin Hall)
When:  Sunday, August 18th, 4:00pm

To all who can come, PLEASE DO!  I know it would mean a lot to Barb to see your smiling faces in person, and we'd love to see you too. :)

In Him,

Leslie
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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

M&M Week 9 - I am the Alpha and Omega



Hello ladies :)
 
Barb is so much more eloquent than me so you will enjoy reading her letter below!  In the wake of so much tragedy and sadness, this message is exactly what we need to hear.  Just a couple quick items of business.... Did you know that Dave and Barb are coming back to the US for a short time in AUGUST?!  Barb would like to have an M&M gathering during that time and we would love to have anyone/everyone join us!  We will share dates as soon as we have them.
It has been such a joy meditating and memorizing with you this semester.  I'm sad to see it come to an end, but we should continue to meditate on these precious verses.  Our friend Lisa found a beautiful song that really captures all of the "I AMs" we've been studying.  Click here to watch/listen and click here to read the lyrics.
We love you all!  Please read Barb's summary and message of encouragement below: 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My dear M&M sisters,  
Once again there have been difficult, frightening days for America. I have watched the news and videos from this side of the world and have grieved with you all.  As I meditated on this week's verse, "I am the Alpha and the Omega", God comforted me and reminded me that HE WILL HAVE THE LAST WORD.  "He is the Beginning and the End." During the lesson I quoted John Piper:
"Even if you know you are saved in the raft with the Captain, the lightning and the thunder and the 80 foot waves and darkness and gale winds ought to fill you with shivering awe and a trembling gratitude that you were plucked out of the water. It is no small thing to be alive between the Alpha and the Omega of our Creator." 
Earlier today I saw that my son had posted this picture of our granddaughters.  He entitled it, "HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL".  We have been born again into a living hope.  Ultimately, our God wins.  We win because we're with HIM.  May these truths about our great I AM God keep our hope alive.  It is in our I AM God that "we live and move and have our being."  Worship Him with me and remember: things are NOT as they seem!  "He (Moses) persevered because he saw him who is invisible." 
I have loved M&M-ing with you, dear friends.  Until next time!
Barb


YouTube Video – I am the Alpha and Omega – Lesson #9
Mp3 Audio File – I am the Alpha and Omega – Lesson #9
“I AM”  - Prestonwood Baptist Choir – YouTube Video
“I AM” – PrestonwoodBaptist Choir - Lyrics

Website:  http://shutthedoor.org
Our Facebook Page:  "M&M Ladies" (request access)
Our Podcast Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/m-m-ladies/id494181705
Our Blog:  http://lpcmandm.blogspot.com
REVELATION 21:6
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.”


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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Week 8 - I Am the Vine


Hi everyone!

I can't believe we're this close to the end.  Has this semester been fruitful for you (pun intended)?  :)  This week Barb discusses our last verse in John, where Jesus declares that He is the vine and we are the branches.  We don't have to WORK to be in the vine- we are just in Him, find a "home" in Him, and thus will be nourished through Him.  We can break free from the problems of this world by worshipping him.  Isn't that beautiful?  Barb gives us a quote card from Sarah Young, author of "Jesus Calling", in her latest work entitled "Jesus Today".  I will include it in my quick links below.

Barb stressed the importance of staying in fellowship with other believers and in the church, and how staying plugged in really allows us to be what we were created to be.  I have found that to be very true in my own life and Barb gives a testimony to that as well.

Barb also shared something with us that may be familiar to long-time M&Mers.  John Piper presented a meaningful message on the importance of memorizing scripture, in which he recites 14 minutes worth of memorized scripture himself.  It is very inspiring.  Again, see the quick links below.

Have a wonderful week!  Please share with us through email or on Facebook!

Leslie


Our Website:  http://shutthedoor.org
Our Facebook Page:  "M&M Ladies" (request access)


Next Week's Verse:

I AM THE ALPHA & THE OMEGA
REVELATION 21:6 
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the
End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water
of life.”

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Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Week 7 - I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life


Good evening ladies!

I'm so sorry that my message is coming to you so late in the evening, but at least I'm meeting my Wednesday before midnight deadline :)  I hope that you all had a VERY blessed Easter and a wonderful time in worship of this Savior that we've been learning so much about the last 6 weeks.

I noticed a billboard in Lexington that featured our John 11:25 verse!  Did any of you local ladies notice this?  I know Vicki did because she sent me a picture of it as well.  I love seeing our verses in other places!



Please watch Barb's message to us this week... the Lord was literally moving while she spoke- an actual earthquake!  Crazy, huh??? :)  Watch it to see for yourself!

This week's lesson helps us to dive in to the TRUTH that is Christ Jesus.  We are to take Him at His word.  Like CS Lewis said, we can't just say that Jesus was a good man.  He was either crazy, professing to be the Son of God when he wasn't, or he was a liar (in that he knew better but claimed it anyway), or he was and is exactly who he said he was- the living LORD!  We've attached that quote card from this week's lesson for you.

Please share with us how God is working in your life!  Here are your links, and some pictures for this lesson below:


Our Website:  http://shutthedoor.org
Our Facebook Page:  "M&M Ladies" (request access)


A sculpture on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University:

This photo is from Waynesville, NC:



These are from Japan:



It's time to study our next verse:
JOHN 15:5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

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