Do we really need Him?

Today has been a crazy day! The kids are starting to get a little restless after having a whole week out of school. My three year old is completely out of sorts. There's been so much activity and extra attention the last few days, that we're all a little exhausted and trying to settle back into a "normal routine." As one more tantrum raged on and on today, I thought of how desperately we, as women, need the Lord. We need Him intimately and personally, in a way that is real and tangible. We need His peace, we need His strength, we need His calming presence in our lives. We need His wisdom, we need His creativity, we need His stability throughout all of the ups and downs we face.
Is it important for women to know the Lord? To know His Word, to cling to His truth? Absolutely! I've spoken with several hurting women this week. Women struggling with relationships, with finances, with motherhood... Unfortunately, life is not easy. Even life with Christ. It's not easy to pursue purity and holiness in a less than holy world. It's not easy to deal with broken relationships and betrayal. It's not easy to love, serve, respect, and submit to husbands who are imperfect and will sometimes make mistakes. It's not easy to trust the Lord when money is too tight, jobs are hard to find, and we just can't understand His plan. And, as I've experienced today - it's not easy to bring up godly children - to love and serve our families with kindness and patience in the midst of screaming tantrums, potty training, and absolute chaos!
Do women really need the Lord? Yes. Not just for salvation. But, for daily strength, daily peace, daily rest, daily fulfillment. He is our life. He is our peace. Let's keep running to Him! Seek Him daily. Dig into His Word - memorize it, write it on your heart and your mind. Cling to His truth, His hope, His strength. Peace isn't found in seeking Him once, it's found in abiding in Him daily. As we continue seeking Him - His presence becomes more and more real, more and more tangible in our lives.
Yes, we need Him. As we seek Him, He's promised to be all that we need.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Pinkerton family! Wishing you a peaceful, joyful Christmas season. It is my hope and prayer that we can all slow down a little, and enjoy the Presence of the Lord this Christmas. As the Bible says, "Be still and know that He is God."

Don't miss Him in the busyness of the season. Don't let family, or presents, or Santa distract from the message of Christ. Let us not be so focused on this baby in the manger, that we lose sight of the very real, very present Savior who lives within us. He's no longer a baby. He's a Mighty King who gave everything to set you free - to make you whole. Let us celebrate Him this season! Let us adore Him. Let us run to Him. Let us rest in Him. Let us give Him our hearts, give Him our lives ... find fullness and completeness in Him this Christmas!

With love,
Kai, Jennifer
Emily, Abby, and Jake Pinkerton

Food Pantry

Our next Food Pantry distribution day is this Saturday, December 22nd. Our food pantry is designed to serve families in need in our church and community. Last month, we provided food (including a full turkey dinner) to over 70 families. We expect to feed a large number of families this month as well.

This is one of my favorite outreaches of Harvest church. People come through our doors each month needing food, but this provides us with an opportunity to share the love and grace of Christ to those in our area. We would love for you to be a part!

Please join us Friday night from 7-9 pm to get set up. Or on Saturday from 7:30-12 for distribution. We meet at the church in the fellowship hall. You are welcome to bring the whole family. This is a great opportunity for your children to get involved with serving others. I've found that it adds some much needed perspective to a busy holiday season. Hope to see you there!

What a wonderful evening!

We would all love to hear your thoughts about the Christmas dinner. Please post a comment and share the things that you loved, and the things that you might like to see done differently. If you have pictures that you would like to share, e-mail them to me at jpinkerton@theharvestchurch.org and we'll try to get them posted.

It was a great night! Thank you to all who attended. And if you missed it, be sure to join us next year! There is much more to come! Isn't God good?

Transition

Transitions are never easy. Although change can be very exciting, it is usually followed by a period of transition. Transitions are times of adjustment, adaptation, a little uncertainty.... times of reflecting on the old, and dreaming of the new.... times for shaping expectations, casting vision, and stepping out on faith. The last few months have certainly been a time of transition for me personally and for the women's ministry as a whole. (I've been a stay at home mom for the last 8 years - so going back to work, even part-time, has been a transition.)

Within this time of transition, the Lord has shown Himself faithful. He always does! He is our constant in the midst of change, our stability when things are uncertain. He's bringing great enthusiasm, and great vision...sparking new interest, and calling women to new areas of service and ministry. I am excited about all that He has for the women of our church. As we move through this period of transition, now is the time for YOU to get involved. I would love to hear your thoughts, your dreams, your visions about what women's ministry should be. I would love to know the giftings and callings that God has placed upon your heart.

How I would love for you to join with me as we serve the women of our church! Please contact me at jpinkerton@theharvestchurch.org, and let's set up a time to get together and dream about how you can be a part of all that God is doing within the body of Harvest Church.

Psalm 63: 1-5

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you."

Enjoy the Lord's Presence today!

Seek Him.

His love is better than life!

He alone can satisfy you.

Frazzled

This word has come up a number of times in conversations this past week. We feel frazzled ... when our babies our screaming, when things aren't going the way we planned, when there's one more project at work, or one more problem to solve..... sometimes it all feels like too much to carry on our own and we feel "frazzled"! Unfortunatly this is all too common for many of us. Very seldom do we get a break. Life rarely slows down.

One of the most persistant prayers of my life is that I will have the peace and power of God in the midst of my everyday "frazzled-ness". I'm learning to run to Him - to cling to Him - with not only the major things of life, but with the everyday "nothings" of life. I'm learning that not only does He see all of the details of my life, but He cares about every detail - from the major to the mundane. He promises to never leave me alone or forsake me. He promises to strengthen and equip me for all that He's planned and purposed in my life. He promises me rest and peace if I will run to Him and lay all of my burdens before Him.

I believe these promises apply even to all of the silly details of life that leave me frazzled - piles of dishes and laundry, my baby screaming in Walmart, another spot on the carpet or tear in the couch, lack of resources, lack of patience.... I believe they apply to all of our lives.....Let us remember when life gives us more than we can carry on our own - we don't have to! Our Lord wants to carry it for us! Let's run to Him, cling to Him, lay it all before Him and find peace and rest!

A Night of Elegance

This Sunday is the last day to purchase your ticket for the Christmas Dinner. I hope that you all will make plans to attend. To be completely honest, the Christmas Dinner is a little out of my comfort zone. I'm not really a very fancy person - more of a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. I prefer living rooms over ballrooms, and a good burger or mexican fiesta over a gourmet meal. However, it's good for all of us to get away and enjoy a night of elegance once in a while. A night to be pampered, to be encouraged, to be reminded of who we are in Christ... I believe we all need to be reminded that we are significant, valuable, loved... that we are daughters of the King of all the Universe. Not so that we will be plastic or high and mighty...but, so that we can love and serve others out of the fullness, the confidence that we have in Christ.

I hope you will all join me for the Christmas Dinner on Sunday, December 16th as we enjoy a little taste of elegance. For those of you who love to dress up, by all means - go all out! For those who are a little more casual - that's okay too. We certainly don't have to be fancy. If you would like to attend, but just don't have the resources right now, there are a number of tickets that have already been paid for just waiting to be used. There is no shame in accepting a scholarship ticket - I have attended events in the past on scholarship myself. If you are not sure about the location, or prefer not to drive, just sign up for the shuttle that will transport us from the church to the ballroom. The Christmas Dinner will be a night of beauty, of fellowship, of encouragment, and of inspiration. I look forward to seeing you there!

Share it!

Do you know Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? If so, at sometime in your life there was a person who had the courage to share their faith with you. Maybe it was your family, a friend, a Sunday school teacher, a neighbor...Most of us came to Christ as a result of a personal relationship at some point in our lives - not necessarily a great sermon or Bible study. If you've received the gift of salvation, if you've experienced the joy of the Lord's Presence, the abundance of walking daily with the Lord.....are you willing to share this gift with others? I pray that we will begin to have a passion for people - a passion for them to know Christ, a passion for them to go deep with Christ, a passion for them to surrender all and find fullness and the abundance of Christ. Let us be broken over sin and willing to reach out to share the love and grace of Christ. At Harvest, our pastor has asked us to be intentional about sharing our faith with others. He's asked that we commit to pray for one person every day (pray for 1 person, for 1 minute, at 1:00 every day this month). Let's all commit, not only to pray, but to begin to look for opportunities to share Christ with the world around us. I can't wait to hear the testimonies of all that God will do when we are intentional about sharing this treasure with others!

What about YOU? Do you know the abundance of walking with the Lord daily? Have you experienced the joy of the Lord's Presence? Is there a fullness and satisfaction in your life that comes only from an intimate, passionate relationship with a personal Lord and Savior? Some of us are holding on to a faith that we knew as a child, but that has not been real to us in a long, long time. There's no power, no joy, no peace, no assurance or fulfillment. If this is you, it's time to run back to the Lord. Surrender your life fully and completely to a God who loves you and has great plans for you. There is fullness and purpose in the Lord - let's enjoy it completely and share it with those around us!

Relevance

Is the Bible relevant to our lives today? Is it applicable, does it really make a difference?... Is our women's ministry relevant? Are we talking about and dealing with the things that truly matter in the lives of women- the real struggles, joys, hardships, and passions in our lives? This morning I read a passage in Hebrews, one of my favorites, that talks about the very topic of relevance. Hebrews 4:12 says "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joint and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." God's Word is not only relevant, it is alive and active. It is applicable in every part of your life. It penetrates the deepest recesses of your heart and mind, and applies to your every thought and action. God will speak to YOU through His Word - speak to you where you are today, speak to your deepest thoughts and fears, speak to your most desperate needs and longings. As we learn to dig into the Word of God for ourselves, we find that it is absolutely relevant to every part of life - our relationships, our jobs, our thoughts and feelings, our hurts, our hopes.... As we learn to talk openly and honestly about our lives and the relevance of God's Word within them - our lives, our churches, and our ministries become real and relevant. I love to hear women sharing the "real stuff" of life. We need so much more of that...Let's learn to apply God's life-changing Word to our real, honest, every day lives and then share it with one another.

I know for many of us, getting into the Word of God can be intimidating - we don't know where to start, we don't know what to read, we're not sure we really understand. If this is where you find yourself, please send me an e-mail (jpinkerton@theharvestchurch.org). Let's put together a few small groups to really get into the Bible together - to learn how to read it and apply it in our lives. God's Word will be powerful, insightful, life-giving, life-changing, strengthening, challenging, and equipping... more than relevant in your life!

How do I post a comment?

As it turns out, posting comments has been a little confusing, but I think we are figuring it out! If you would like to post a comment, click on the work "comments" underneath the posting. This will give you the opportunity to post your comment. You do not have to have a google account - anyone can make a comment. You can even comment anonymously if you would like.

If you click on the white envelope, this allows you to send this link to a friend, but it does not post your comment on the blog.

I hope this helps make it a little easier. I am so excited that so many of you are ready to join in the conversation. I think we'll have great fun with this!

Women's Life Groups

I remember the first time that we visited Harvest. It was December of 2000. We visited an ABF class our very first week - we were anxious to get plugged in! We were warmly greeted and felt right at home. Dan and Amy McCollum made sure we knew where to sit in service, and then invited us to join them for lunch after church. Our very first week at Harvest, I was invited to a life group for women on Tuesday night, and a playgroup for young moms on Friday morning. Instantly connected! I see a great need for more life groups for women. We need more opportunities to connect with women on an intimate level. I love ABF classes, yet they still lack some of the intimacy and in-depth study that can be found in a life group. Of course, I realize that we are all very busy. But, I don't believe that life groups are intended to make our lives busier,... but fuller, more connected, supported, encouraged. I would love to hear your thoughts and testimonies concerning life groups. Please contact me if you would like to be a part of a life group, or even if you would like to lead one - I would be more than happy to get you all of the resources that you would need!

Are you hungry?

I have a horrible habit of overeating at Thanksgiving - all the time really, but especially at Thanksgiving. I know I am not the only one. As our family gets together, we all bring our favorite foods to share - besides the traditional feasts, we bring chips and dips, salty snacks, and scrumptious desserts. We find ourselves eating all of the time! It's sad that as dinner time approaches, we are still stuffed from our all-day snacking....but, we fill our plates once again just because the clock says it's time to eat. We surround ourselves with delicious food, and we never allow ourselves to get hungry!....I find this is true of our spiritual lives as well. There is a verse in Psalms that says "In his pride the wicked does not seek Him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God." (Ps. 10:4) So the question is, are you hungry? Do you allow room for God in your life, or are you constantly stuffing yourself full with so many other things, that there is no more hunger - no room for God? I believe it's time for us to slow down a little. Let go of all of the stuff of the world - all of the stuff that fills us up, but never really satisfies. And allow ourselves to hunger - to hunger for more of God. He is the only thing that will satisfy and fulfill. One of my favorite passages is Psalm 42:1, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Where can I go and meet with God?" It is my prayer today that we will all hunger and thirst - not for more food, but for Almighty God. Ask Him for a greater hunger. Take time to seek Him. Get alone and meet with Him. Taste and see that He is good!

Why blogging?

Why not?? I've recently discovered the world of blogging. My sister in law is an "avid blogger." I love checking out her blog site to see what is going on in her world, to see pictures of my nephews, to check up on my brother, and hear about all of the craziness and fun of her life. Just recently I was given a book called "The Blogging Church." I loved the idea of being able to share all of the happenings of the women of our church in an easy, fun, accessable format - what a great way to bring technology into our church! I believe that this is a place to share information and encouragement in a candid, authentic, "real" way. Some days we may want to announce an upcoming event...other days we'll want to share a short devotional or insight into God's truth....sometimes there will be fun pictures to post, or stories to tell...we may even want to review a great book, CD, or movie. Let's just share all that's going on among the women of our church! God is doing great things - let's stay connected and share all that He is doing in our lives!! Feel free to join in the conversation and share your comments about each post.

What is radiant living?

How I long for women everywhere to experience the fullness of living in the center of God's will! There is nothing more beautiful, more radiant, than a woman fully surrendered to the Lord and filled completely with His Presence. For in the Presence of the Lord, there is peace, joy, light, life, and great beauty- all of the things we're looking for. It is my hope that we will seek Him together - go deep in the Word of God - and find that He is everything we want - everything we need! Let's explore the power and relevance of God's truth to penetrate and satisfy every area of our lives. God is so good and life with Him is more abundant, more fulfilling, more complete than any kind of life we could imagine!... Scripture tells us that God desires to reveal His glory through His people - that He desires to let His light shine is us. It is my desire that when others look at me, when others look at us as the women of Harvest church, that they would no longer see us - but that they would see the radiance of our Lord - His glory, His life, His light. I am excited about exploring this truth together... helping one another to seek the Lord with everything in us and live completely the pleasing, abundant life that God intends for us!