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Women's Center for Ministry Newsletter
August 2018
In this issue:
-A Message from the Birds 
  an article by Sandy Snavely

-Stressed Out? 
  an article by Poppy Smith
- REVIVE 2018 Registration Opens on August 22nd!
  See links below to register!

- Save the Date: IGNITE the Wonder!
  March 2nd, 2019!
A Message from the Birds!
by Sandy Snavely
Who can truly make sense of life? One day we're racing through our days breathlessly checking off our lists and accomplishing things that leave us feeling like champions in a race against mediocrity. The next day we wake up feeling cranky and wondering why our bodies resist the rising of a new day. And that's how I'm feeling today; resistant, reflective, and just plain moody. So if you don't mind, I think I'd just like to breathe in the aroma of my latte and tell you a story about birds. Because, it's summer. And the birds are singing.

 

It happened one morning in Sicily. Bud had already climbed out of bed in search of coffee. I found him standing, with cup in hand, on the veranda outside our room. "Listen, Sandy". I listened. And to my amazement I heard the sound of a thousand birds singing loudly from one of the trees nearby. Honestly, there was so much life in that tree that if the birds decided to all flap their wings at the same time I think the whole tree would have risen up with them.

 

And there's my lesson for today as I'm sitting here watching the sun wake up. Birds are fragile little creatures; death stalks them before they even have time to crack the shell on life. And as soon as they're ready to wing their way out of their cozy nests they find themselves thrust into a world where friends turn fickle all for the love of a worm. Every waking moment of their lives is spent learning how to escape the claws of their natural predators, how to avoid flying into their own reflections as they pass by a clean window, and when to run away from a fight that's doomed to end badly. Some never make it back to the tree and many who do, return only by the skin of their beak. Yet, once the sun has settled in for the evening ...
 

 No matter what happened the day before,

the birds still wake up singing.

 

So there it is!  A picture punctuated with lessons and accentuated with hope. I'll list the lessons that speak loudest to me today, but feel free to add your own - it's not a contest, just a contemplation of life as we know it.  

 
1. Keep your bad list short and your good list long.
2. Don't become so preoccupied with your own reflection that you break your neck trying to maintain it.
3. When friends fail you, when your heart's been slashed by the claws of betrayal, when it seems that nothing is going well for you today...fly home, rest your voice, and wake up singing. The sun will come up tomorrow - thank you Annie!
 

Now, go and enjoy the rest of your summer! 

Sandy Snavely paints pictures with words and turns them into stories that matter. Her works include short stories, Bible Studies, poetry, and her first book, Called to Rebellion-The Key to a Single Hearted Love for Christ. As a speaker, both nationally and internationally, Sandy has gained a deep understanding of the needs of the human heart-to be seen, known, and loved. A retired radio talk show host, Sandy and her husband, Bud, live in Gresham, Oregon. Together they have two adult children, two grandchildren, and two neurotic cats.
Stressed Out?
by Poppy Smith

Does life feel like a pile of overstuffed suitcases about to burst apart?

Are you spinning too many plates in the air?

Do you have fingers in too many pies?

With fall calendars filling up are you starting to wonder how you’ll manage?

Whether we call it the stressed out life, the over-stuffed life, or “this is a crazy life,” continuous and unrelenting stress is not good for anyone.

Taking care of YOU is an essential part of reducing the damaging effects of stress. Proven stress relievers include exercise, sleep, naps, time with friends, hugs, gratitude, quiet time, and changing your focus to “whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy” (Philippians 4:8).

A Google search on “STRESS” will lead you to countless websites and articles with well-researched information.

But does God have something to say about this area of life that affects us all?

Long before “mindfulness” became the buzz word and proclaimed as the answer to every problem, Scripture tells us to be mindful of God, His grace and mercy, and His ways in our lives. “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds." (Psalm 77:11).
 
When I REMEMBER--I calm down.  I’m reassured He’s in control, He hasn’t called me to do everything, and the world won’t collapse if I choose to alter my pace of life.
When I MEDITATE--chew over, dwell on and absorb God’s perspective about what’s happening in my life--something amazing happens inside of me. Instead of being stressed, anxious, and irritable, I get a taste of what the Psalmist experienced as a result of spending time with God: My soul becomes “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not whither.” (Psalm 1:2-3).

This passage in the Psalms is just the opposite of the stressed out, over-stuffed life that leaves me pressured, exhausted, and spiritually dry.

How about you? Are you living a stressed out life?
If so, check out these helpful questions I ask myself: 
  • Where’s my stress coming from? Identify the sources.
  • How is it affecting me? Be specific: physical impact, emotional, spiritual.
  • How is it affecting others I care about or am responsible for?
  • Analyze: What is driving me? What’s behind why I live like this and make these choices?
  • Ask: Am I willing to make needed changes as the Lord speaks to me?
Don’t overwhelm yourself—pray, choose two steps you can take immediately, and keep asking God what steps you need to take to live a “well-watered” and sane life.
 
Poppy Smith inspires women to thrive spiritually, emotionally, and personally. She is a former BSF teacher with a Masters in Spiritual Formation, an international speaker, and award-winning author. To follow Poppy’s blog and ministry, visit www.poppysmith.com  
REVIVE Registration Opens August 22nd: 
Revive the Wonder of the Gospel
Registration for Fall 2018 Revive opens August 22nd! 

Vancouver Revive:
Keynote: Bethany Allen
November 2nd, 2018 /// 8:50am-12:30pm
Laurelwood Baptist Church, 17015 NE 6th Street, Vancouver, WA 98684
Click to Register for Vancouver REVIVE
Portland Revive:
Keynote: Bethany Allen
November 16th, 2018 /// 8:50a,-12:30pm
River West Church, 2000 Country Club Road, Lake Oswego, OR 97034
Click to Register for Portland REVIVE
Save the Date: IGNITE the Wonder!
Ladies! Save the Date for our Spring 2019 Ignite event! 

Keynote: Karen Howells
March 2nd, 2019 /// 8:15am-4:15pm
Greater Portland Bible Church, 2374 SW Vermont Street, Portland, OR 97219
Contact us! We'd love to hear from you!

Women's Center for Ministry at Western Seminary

Phyllis Bennett, Director
Amanda Zentz, Administrative Assistant
Email: wcm@westernseminary.edu
Phone: 503.517.1931
Fax: 503.517.1889

5511 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Portland, OR 97215

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The opinions expressed by the various authors in this newsletter do not necessarily represent those of Western Seminary. We provide information on an as-is basis. We make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this blog, nor will we be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use.
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