A man by the name of Bob Rowland and his daughter Cynthia Rowland McClure wrote a book called Strangers in the Pew, Do you know us? He is a member of our church, and a very well respected man.

This is what is written on the back of the book.

This book calls for church leaders to reach out and involve hurting members, who for the most part, have been forced to the periphery of the Church's fellowship and activities.

These strangers in the pew feel neglected, overlooked and marginalized. They are the first to give up and drop out.

God calls leader to "Defend the cause of the weak and maintain the rights of the poor and the needy." Ps. 82:3

This is a good book, I'm not done yet but it leaves me thinking.

There is a homeless man that goes to our church, not all the time he comes and goes, and we can see his hurt. What about the members that are there every week, they look pretty, and well dressed, are they hurting? Just because they look perfect on the outside they may well be hurting inside. Are they a stranger to us? Do they need our prayers, our help? Are our lives to busy to take the time to ask someone how they are, but actually wait there until they tell us. I am so guilty of this, I ask someone how they are but in passing. I need to be still, I need to listen. This is not just the preachers job it all of ours,I think to many people put all the responsibility on the preacher and not enough on all the other 200 or 2000 people sitting in the pews. Cynthia Rowland McClure, had Bulima she was hurting, did the people on the pews know she was in such pain? After she went to many hospitals for help and received the help she needed, she then was diagnosed with breast cancer that ended up taking her life about 5 years ago. Do people in the pews know Bobs pain over the loss of his daughter? Is a stranger sitting next to you on the pew? Do they need your prayers?

I'm so sorry this was a long post, I hope you had your seat belts on. This has been on my heart and I wanted to share this book with you.

God Bless,

Ginger

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When I read my Bible I enjoy reading the introduction to the book that I'm about to read. Yesterday morning before work I read Ecclesiastes and the introduction said this in the New International Version.

Ecclesiastes studies the meaning of life. The "Teacher" looks at wisdom, pleasure, work, power, riches, religion, and other things. All of these have some value and are useful in the proper time and place, but they have lasting value only if God is at the center of man's life. Reverence and respect for God and a real devotion in serving God are the most important in making life have meaning. Without God, the "Teacher" says, "everthing" is meaningless"

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did.

Blessings,

Ginger

My prayer life has been so strong this week, so many of you have been on my heart. These scriptures came to my mind and I wanted to share it today.

Ephesians 6:10-20

The Armor of God

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Our best friends that live next door to us will be moving this weekend. We have had some wonderful times together and have built a friendship that does not happen very often. We will

be helping them move and will be gone most of Saturday and Sunday so it may be late Sunday afternoon when I will be able to read every ones post. I am looking forward to reading each and everyone and maybe even some new people will join in.

God Bless,

Ginger

This is the new color below. It is growing on me. I think it brings so much warmth to the home. She wanted the Mediterranean look, I think she got the look. I enjoy seeing this pretty house when I go outside. For me I don't use much color at all, I'm a white and tan kinda girl, but for some reason I think this looks so nice. Maybe it's because of all the excitement the new owner has. She loves her new home and is always trying to do special things with it.

Proverbs 3 5-6

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

These scriptures have been on my mind all week so I wanted to share them with you. They have helped me so much in the past, and I pray that they will help me in the future as well.

I wanted to let every one know what I'm doing. When we need prayers and ask for prayers sometimes my mind don't always remember all the names, even if it is just two names. I have a journal that I'm going to be using to write the names in so I can remember everyone who ask for prayers. I want to reassure you that when you ask for prayers I will be prayer for you.

Blessings,

Ginger

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