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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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Week 6 - I am the Resurrection

Hi Ladies!

 Hope you're having a great week in preparation for Easter.  I was just saying last week how when God wants us to see something, He gives it to us in more than one way.  We read the "Jesus Storybook Bible" to Emily every night (one or two stories at a time) and when we finish it we just start it over again and again.  It just so happened that we fell on the Easter story this week which was neat timing.  Apparently Barb had this on her heart as well and shared them with us in the beautiful way that she always does!

 Lisa Cole saw that Amazon currently has the Jesus Storybook Bible on sale in the Kindle store for 1.99!  That is a DEAL, people!  Click Here to go there. (Let's take a minute to give a round of applause to our dear friend Lisa who labors tirelessly to edit and publish Barb's videos- Yay Lisa!)  
Barb took this picture of a Japanese Graveyard.  What a reminder that when Jesus was in that tomb, He was as dead as death could be.  Sometimes it's hard to grasp that part, but how much more miraculous does that make His RESURRECTION?



 Don't forget that we will be taking a week off this upcoming week, the week after Easter.  That means you have an extra "free" week to meditate and memorize. :)

 Please share how things are going.  My friend Phyllis had a lovely story about her devotion last week that she shared with us on Facebook.  Thank you Phyllis!

 And now for your links:
Our Website:  http://shutthedoor.org
Our Facebook Page:  "M&M Ladies" (request access)

It's time to study our next verse:
JOHN 14:6“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except throughme.”


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Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Week 5 - "I am the Good Shepherd"

Hi Ladies!

 How has M&M been for you this week?  I'll be honest, I let life get the best of me this week and I didn't spend very much time meditating on my verses and even less time memorizing, but listening to Barb's message convicted me and encouraged me.  I want to KNOW Him more, and to know Him I need to spend time with him, not because I need to but because I want to.  He is GOOD.

 Isn't it interesting how when God wants you to see something He puts it in front of you more than once?  Lisa and Barb recommended that we include a link to Fernando Ortega's "Good Shepherd" as it was beautiful and appropriate for this week.  Then, my Mom had heard the same song mentioned by our pastor Clay Werner and recommended we share it with our ladies as well.  Point taken!  Please enjoy this beautiful song in whatever format suits you best:

 * Amazon
* iTunes
* YouTube
* Lyrics

 Barb also refers to a helpful updated "prompter" card in her message this week, so download it by clicking here!

 Without further delay, I will leave you with our quick links for this week's lesson!


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


It's time to study our next verse:

#5 I AM THE RESURRECTION JOHN 11:25,26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”


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