GC Women's Ministries Newsletter January 2002
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Editorial . . .Prayer - Conversation with Jesus | |
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Ruthie Jacobsen Prayer Ministries Coordinator North America Division |
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My dear friend, Ione Richardson, has blessed me with her quiet, loving influence.
An interesting statement in Desire of Ages says that when we walk and talk with Jesus, we can be surrounded with an atmosphere of light and peace. That's Ione. I've spent many hours with Ione over the last 15 years, and amazingly, I have never seen her once without that "atmosphere of light and peace." She has a deep joy that is obvious. Where does it come from? Is it available to you and me?
Yes!! Ione has daily conversations with Jesus. She spends quality time every day, first thing in the morning, with Him. She takes His word and hungrily asks His Spirit to apply it to her needy heart. She gives her mind over to the Holy Spirit and His Word "dwells in her richly" (Col. 3:16).
She listens to His voice and then often rewrites that message from Scripture, paraphrasing it in her own words. When her daughter, Kari, was away at college, Ione sent her 31 of these special paraphrases - one for each day of the month. She called them "Bouquets" because she discovered such beauty and lasting fragrance there. Later, she compiled these and many more into a little booklet and now others have been inspired by her method and discoveries.
God's conversations with Moses were direct, frequent, and powerful. I believe He still wants that same opportunity to speak to you and me and to be that involved in our lives.
Listen to His voice from Dan.11:32: "I want you to know Me intimately, so I can make you strong and able to do bold and daring things for my glory."
Ione's paraphrase of 1 John 4:18-20 has this personal message - "You need not fear me for I love you dearly and your love will be perfected as you trust My love and as you share it with others."
Every day His mercies, His treasures, are new. What a personal God we serve!
What a privilege to talk with Him and to sense that His heart is communicating directly with yours.
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Fill My Cup Lord! International Women's Day of Prayer is set for March 2, 2002. The theme for this year is "Fill My Cup Lord" and has been authored by Hepzibah Kore and Louise Driver. This
is a special day for prayer emphasis in Women's Ministries. The
two areas of prayer focus are: Women's Ministries leaders at the
local church level and three of our division leaders: Inter-American
Division, Waveney Martinborough; South Pacific Division, Joy Butler;
and Southern Asia Division, Hepzibah Kore. You can access this material
on our web page at http://wm.gc.adventist.org or |