ChristianMilitaryWives

Are you a member of an inactive FRG? Instead of sitting around, talking about how inactive it is… start some type of support group yourself. I know, it does not sound like a simple task… but, really it is. You will be amazed how many ladies may want to participate in a support group – especially while their husbands are deployed.

Maybe your FRG is active, but you've had a bad experience in the past or you feel a little ackward? I urge you to pray about things, and let the Lord work in you and in those around you.

Jump in there, get involved with other wives in your husbands troop or unit, communicate with other ladies going through the same thing you are going through. You are not always going to hit it off with every single lady in the FRG, but more often than not - you will find at least one new friend.

 

If you are still set against participating in FRG events, there are other ways of meeting military wives and having that great support network you need.  For example, our small groups that are starting up around the country... or maybe your church has a support group for military wives?

If your church offers a support group for military wives, we are more than happy to allow the leader to use our resources here at CMW, and to start a group just for your church members! You can email us and we can make it happen.  info@christianmilitarywives.com

There's nothing in it for us, we are an all volunteer staff just trying to do the right thing. :)

DifferentDream.com is a gathering place for parents of special needs children. Dads and moms in the hospital with seriously or terminally ill kids feel isolated. So do parents whose children live with mental disabilities or chronic illnesses.

If you’re one of those parents, we can help you find answers to questions like:

• Why did God let this happen to our child?
• Where do we find strength to deal with this diagnosis?
• How do we navigate life in the hospital?
• How do we juggle life inside and outside the hospital?
• When we take our chronically ill child home, how will we cope?
• What will life be like if our child dies?
• If our child survives, how do we regain a normal life?

My husband and I asked those questions and many more after our first child, Allen, was born in 1982. A few hours after his delivery, doctors discovered he had a life-threatening birth defect, and he was immediately flown to the University of Nebraska in Omaha for surgery. Two days later, we finally arrived at the neonatal intensive care unit where he was recovering. Seven hundred miles from home, without friends or family, we felt utterly and completely alone.

Allen survived and is an adult now, but our experiences created a deep desire within me to reach out to parents of critically or chronically ill children. That desire was partially realized in September of 2009 when my book A Different Dream for My Child: Meditations for Parents of Critically or Chronically Ill Children was released by Discovery House Publishers.

This website is another way to reach out to parents of really sick kids and offers the following features:

• A resources page with links to helpful websites, organizations, and literature.
• A blog that addresses current topics and lets you add comments, questions, and advice.
• Information about how to order A Different Dream for My Child: Meditations for Parents of Critically or Chronically Ill Children, which addresses many of these topics in greater depth.
• A contact page which lists several ways to connect with me.

No matter how isolated you feel, you are not alone. I invite you to use this site to connect with a community of parents who have embraced a different dream for their children. Maybe they can help you embrace your child’s dream, too.

You are not alone,
Jolene Philo

November 13-15

The Sista Hood Retreat in Fort Fisher, NC is designed to connect women from verious churches and backgrounds, bringing them together to worship our Lord and Savior, grow in our walk and other fellowship with other sisters. 

The cost of the retreat is only $75.  This includes lodging for Friday and Saturday night.  All meals on Saturday are included.  We will not be providing food Friday evening or Sunday morning.

All women are welcome.  Registration is open until October 25.  You may register after October 25, but there will be a $10 late fee.

All questions may be directed to Michele Price.  Michele@micheleprice.net

Come and be blessed!

Retreat speakers are Michele Price and Patti Katter.  All women (military and civilian) are welcome!

I am currently studying the Gospel according to John. It's one of my favorite of the four Gospels because of its deep philosophical roots. John was an intellect, and the use of his words in the first 5 verses of the book shows the depth of his thought:

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning.
 ³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. 

The title or name he uses to place Jesus in these passages is the greek word "Logos." The greeks had used this word since the time of Socrates and before to describe "the Essence" or "the Originator." John boldly takes their language to proclaim to them that he, himself, had met the One and Only Word! 

As humans we can fully comprehend the "man" Jesus. We know he grew tired, he got hungry, he was tempted, he laughed, he cried, he was disappointed, and he faced fear. He prayed. He communed. He observed the Passover. What we struggle with is comprehending the Infinite Christ -- the undiminished Deity that resided here on earth in a man's body. We can only comprehend the finite -- because the finite can not comprehend the infinite. It's OK though because Paul later reminds us that we see dimly in a mirror, but one day we will know Him face to face.

After studying and contemplating those thoughts, I was actually taken back by a much more subtle passage in the first chapter of this marvelous love letter, penned by one who loved Jesus and who was deeply loved by Jesus -- a love letter inspired by the Holy Spirit, and signed with love from the Father. 

It is found later in the first chapter when John (the author of the Gospel) begins to follow Christ himself. He heard John the Baptist declare "Behold the Lamb of God!" John and Andrew immediately began their journey with the Lord. Jesus, knowing he was being followed, turned to both of them and said:

³⁸Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"³⁹"Come," he replied, "and you will see."  So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.

The disciples answered Jesus' question with a question. I don't know about you, but I often do that when I am not quite sure how to answer. 

It sounds like such an easy question, doesn't it? Yet, a man of high intellect like John is bewildered for a moment (or so that's my take on it) when he looks into the face of eternity and is asked by the voice of his Savior "What do you want?" 

This left me pondering how I would answer Jesus' question of me. Claire, What do you want? Would I say "Lord I want safety, security, financial prosperity, friends, love, life, happiness..." Would I call Him "Rabbi" (or teacher) and tell Him that I want feet that will follow Him no matter the cost?  Would I tell Him "Savior, I want You, and anything else is just settling?" 

What would you tell your Savior today? What do you want? 

 

Yesterday while my DH and I were driving to pick Drew up, we spotted a huge rainbow. I have never seen one that vibrant. You could see every color vividly. I looked in awe at the beauty God created. It started us talking. How can anyone say we are not created when they look around? The rainbow is a perfect arc, the way God created it. Do you ever think if it's just the sun reflecting off the raindrops, then why isn't it a "wallbow" ? Why isn't it like a sheet of reflection?? It is an arc....the rain doesn't fall in an arc, it is a sheet of rain. Otherwise we could definately not get soaked as it pours! We could dodge between the drops! :) I know some may try to tell me there is a scientific explanation for the rainbow, there are certain angles, yada.. yada.. yada.. Just like the scientific reasons how we came to be, or how the Red Sea parted for Moses. BLAH!! I KNOW my God created me. I know He created the rainbows. It didn't just happen...

Another thing I've been pondering is, do you think Noah got scared the next time it rained? Do you think he got scared when he took his eyes off the rainbow? We get scared when we take our eyes off God. He promised us He would never leave nor forsake us. But how many times have we failed to see God's rainbow for us?? Sometimes I think of some of the prophets as, I don't know...not perfect, per say. But maybe not having the same battles we do. I know, that's silly, they are human, just like us. Looking at that rainbow elightened me. Noah now seems more real to me, not just a "Super Hero" of the bible. Not just a person in a story.