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Renewing Your Spirit
I heard someone
say just the other day that it is important to renew your spirit.
They went on to explain that you can do this by meeting with your
fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to worship, doing good, and
getting involved. I had never thought about it before, but after
hearing him say this, I started contemplating it….. the time that I
have the most energy is when I am with God’s people and doing things
that make Him proud! How about you? Test it out! Think of good
things you can do and ways to get involved, and don’t forget to meet
with your family throughout the week (If you are down on your
congregation, have you tried to do anything to make it better? Most
of the time when I am dissatisfied I am looking at the mud instead
of the stars!)! Here are some ways that we have been involved lately
and will be involved in the near future!
LA Mini MAP
Retreat
The Pine Prairie
congregation asked us a while back if they could host a MAP retreat
down in Louisiana for their youth group, then quickly they decided
to open it up to any youth that wanted to come. The weekend ended up
being during Mardi Gras weekend, because LA always has Monday and
Tuesday, which allowed us to have a 5 day long retreat! About 35-40
of us gathered out at CYE (a little slice of heaven somewhere near
DeRidder ;) ) to encourage each other by sharing our individual
stories. It was a wonderful extended weekend that cannot even be
captured in words! We hope that you will attend our retreats as well
as host one of our events in your area!
Pineville
Marriage Seminar
Way back, years
ago at the same church camp Bro. Sonny and I met a girl named Erica
J. She is a wonderful Godly woman. Erica now worships with the
Pineville congregation, and because of our meeting years ago Bro.
Sonny was invited to speak at their congregation for the first time
ever. He shared knowledge of marriage that he acquired over the past
years, especially his own 25 years of marriage, with married couples
(and a few or us single people ;) ) over the weekend. We also were
encouraged and learned from couples that have been happily married
even longer. What an amazing encouraging weekend!
At my stage in
life, I have to say though, meeting and getting to know fellow
brothers and sisters in Christ of the Pineville congregation as well
as surrounding areas was the highlight of my weekend!
Pineville
Youth Day
Sunday of the
weekend we were down in Pineville the congregation planned a youth
day. It was an excellent way to end a perfect weekend! A group from
Pine Prairie (15 youth) drove up to join in on the youth day,
combined with the Pineville youth and some youth from the Jackson
Street congregation made for a nice crowd. Bro. Sonny
reviewed/taught “Acts to the Max.” Judging by the smiles and laughs
in the room, it was obvious that the youth enjoyed it as well as the
adults! Another exciting part of the weekend was seeing the youth
make new friendships with each other!
These events
seemed successful from down here, we hope the Lord thinks the same!
Upcoming
Events!!!!!
**Not
all of these are MAP events!**
Walk 4 Water
(March 13 @ CRC Paragould, AR)
A large
percentage of people around the world have to walk an average of 4
miles to get water. Can you imagine? Kids have to quit school
because they are needed to help get water and it takes hours a day.
So a group in Nashville, TN started an idea called “Walk 4 Water,”
people that are interested in participating get sponsors and then on
an assigned day they all register, turn in their collected
donations, and they walk 4 miles. The money that is collected goes
to Healing Hands International to drill wells. What a wonderful
thing to be a part of! One of the congregations in our community
found out about it, and they are sponsoring one in our area. We are
taking our youth group to go participate. You can visit their
website and maybe sponsor one in your area! (www.walk4water.org)
Ladies’ Retreat
(March 19-21 @ MAP headquarters Paragould, AR)
Don’t forget
ladies! Come get rejuvenated at our first ever MAP sponsored Ladies’
retreat! It will be a blessing to your life! Your presence will be a
blessing to our lives as well! So far the speaker line-up is:
Carolyn S., Brenda L., Judy L., and me. The theme for this year is
going to be “Delighting yourself in the Lord” from Psalm 37:4.
Single’s Retreat
(March 26-28 @ CRYC Paragould, AR)
If you remember
my blog from last October I told you about my experience at the
Single’s Retreat. Well, they have it twice a year, so if you thought
it sounded awesome, then come join us! I will be attending this
retreat again. It was very spiritually uplifting and encouraging. I
was also blessed with the opportunity to make new friends! You can
too! (Remember, single just means not married, it doesn’t matter if
you are in a relationship or not!)
I hope to see you
at some or all of these events!!!!
Remember: Getting
involved can help renew you! So come be renewed!
Love because of
Him!
Cathie
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