At The Window

A friend of mine recently sent me an email and I wanted to share the story with all of you. It is entitled "At the Window."

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.

Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes. Later that day, Grandpa asked if the, children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally just smiled and said, "Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help. She whispered again, "Remember the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny Stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."

Thought for the day and everyday thereafter: Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done-and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, doubt, fear, hatred, anger, unforgiveness, bitterness, etc.) - whatever it is, you need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.

The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives you, but He forgets--It is by God's Grace and Mercy that we are saved. Always remember-God is at the window!

"....For you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love." Ne. 9:17b.

How many times do we let the devil mess with our minds? How often do we give him emotional control over us, when we know Christ has abundantly pardoned! Romans 6:6 tells us, "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin -- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin." May you find peace and rest in letting God's wonderful grace be applied to your life. If you are going to be a slave, let it be a love slave to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Would You Help Us with the Food Pantry

We have many in our community who look to us for assistance with groceries.

Matthew 25:35 says, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink..."

Below is a list of items urgently needed for our Food Pantry Ministry.

1. Juice (all kinds)
2. Spaghetti (1 pound packages, please)
3. Spaghetti sauce (all types)
4. Rice (any kind)
5. Canned vegetables (all kinds)
6. Pancake syrup
7. Pancake mix
8. Jelly (grape is good)
9. Peanut butter
10. Hot dog buns
11. Loaves of bread

Bring your items to the kitchen, mark them FOOD PANTRY and leave them on the counter. Carlee Shanks and Sue Brust will take it from there.

Thank you for helping with this vital ministry!

Do any of you identify with this newly diagnosed problem of AAADD?

A friend of mine in Arizona sent me this email message and I wanted to share it with you. She writes, "I have recently been diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D.-Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder."

This is how it goes:

I decide to wash the car, I start toward the garage and notice the mail on the table. Ok, I am going to wash the car, but first I must go through the mail. I lay the car keys down on the desk, discard the junk mail and notice the trash can is full. Ok, I'll just put the bills on my desk and take the trash can out, but since I am going to be near the mailbox anyway, I'll pay these bills first.

Now, where is my checkbook? Oops, there's only one check left in it. My extra checks are in my desk. Oh, there's the Coke I was drinking. I'm going to look for those checks. But first I need to put my Coke further away from the computer, oh, maybe I'll pop it into the fridge to keep it cold for a while.

I head toward the kitchen and my house plants catch my eye, they need watering. I set the Coke on the counter and, uh, oh!! There are my glasses! I was looking for them all morning! I'd better put them away first. I fill a container with water and head for the flower pots....aaaaaagh,! Someone left the TV remote in the kitchen! I'll never think to look in the kitchen for the remote tonight when I want to watch television. I better put this remote back in the family room where it belongs.

I splash some water into the pots and onto the floor, I throw the remote onto the sofa and I head back down the hall trying to figure out what it was I was going to do.

End of Day: The car isn't washed, the bills are not paid, the warm Coke is still sitting on the kitchen counter, the flowers are half watered, the checkbook still has only one check in it, and I cannot find my car keys! When I try to figure out how come nothing got done today, I'm baffled because I KNOW I WAS BUSY ALL DAY LONG!

I realize this is a serious condition and I need to get help, but first I think I better check my email. . . .
Please send this to everyone you know, because I can't remember to whom I've sent this!"

(A little humor, there ?)

Bethel Christian Life Center Student Ministries

CEDAR POINT August 4-6 Sign up and $20 deposit deadline – July 27 Cost $45 plus 4 meals Itinerary Monday 11:30 – Arrive at church 12:00 – Leave for Ohio 6:00 – Arrive at Bellevue (Rec Time includes: Swimming, miniature golf, sand volleyball, indoor gym, video games, etc.) Tuesday 8:00 – Leave for Cedar Point 9:00 – Park opens 11:00p – Park Closes Wednesday 9:00 – Leave for Indiana 3:00 – Arrive back at church

Bethel Christian Life Center presents their annual Vacation Bible School

"Splish-Splash showers of God's Blessings!!'"
Vacation Bible School is coming... July 23 -August 1 Time: 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Would you be able to assist us with much needed craft supplies for our VBS?

Please save the following and bring them to Ginger Smith or Sandy Smith:

1. Clear plastic bottles and lids such as: 24 oz. Pepsi products, 8 oz. Parmesan cheese containers or 18 oZ. Skippy Peanut Butter
plastic jars.
2. Lids to "Private Selection Ice Cream" containers, 1/2 gallon size.
3. 4 oz. Baby food jars and lids
4. Large beads: crystal, wood, or whatever, 3/4 to 1 in. size.

Attention All Bethel Ladies:
Special breakfast meeting for Women of all ages.
When: Sept. 27th
Where: Here
Time: 10:00 a.m.
SpecialSpeaker:
Rose Hinton, from South America
Cost: $5.00

Food for Thought:

Prayer request or gossip?

Perhaps you have experienced moments when a prayer request time turned a different direction and ended up feeling like idle chatter .

Please be sensitive to the prayer needs you hear about and keep them in confidence. There are times when others do not want their needs discussed, they only desire prayer support. We must stay sensitive to the feelings of others, and guard their confidences.

Please use discretion whenever you share a prayer need with others.

Words from Pastor Greg Farmer

Our annual Freedom Celebration Rally will be held on July 6, 2003 at 10:30 a.m.

Our Celebration Choir will be singing in the morning worship service.

Please note: There will not be Sunday school or evening service on July 6th.

Make plans to attend this wonderful family day here at Bethel. There will be food, fun and fellowship immediately following the morning worship hour.

Dress casual bring your friends and family with you and come ready to enjoy a great time with everyone here at Bethel Christian Life Center!!!