Rescue from Lo Debar

ICF Ladies Newsletter
May/June 2012
Encouraging and Empowering Women
Encouraging and Empowering Today’s Women
Rescue from Lo Debar
by Kelly Langston
Captured in 2 Samuel is a story that speaks of God’s
boundless, restorative love for individuals living with a
disability. It’s a message that reminds us that we are never
forgotten by God:
He was a child of extraordinary promise and unlimited
potential. Highly favored, he was a boy born into wealth
and unparalleled privilege. The grandchild of a king, his
father Jonathan lifted him high in royal hands and gave
him a warrior’s name, “Meribbaal,” meaning “He who
resists the idol Baal.”
Ladies Calendar:
May 6 – Ladies Retreat EarlyRegistration fee due: $35
May 7th – Prayer in homes. Church
open for prayer from 7-8:30pm
May 27th – Last Day to Register!
Please reserve your hotel room by
May 20
Can’t Wait for 2012 Ladies Retreat!!
In one day, a life of promise turned into a life of disability
and shattered dreams. It happened in the boy’s fifth year.
That day, as recounted in 1 Chronicles 10, King Saul and
his sons battled the Philistines on Mount Gilboa. One by
one Saul’s sons fell—each struck down by the Philistine
army. When enemy archers spotted King Saul in retreat,
they shot the king. Saul’s rule had ended and David would
be the new king.
Continued next page
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You are valued, remembered
and loved beyond measure!
The boy’s caregiver knew the boy was in
danger. With King David on the throne,
members of Saul’s family would surely be put to
death— the customary way to prevent rebellion.
Quickly, she snatched the child into her arms
and ran outside. They needed to find refuge— a
place of safety and obscurity– and there was
little time!
She didn’t see the stone that caught her foot as
she ran. All she saw was the boy flying out of
her arms and into the dusty air, strangely
suspended for what seemed like an eternity
before falling to the ground. She yanked herself
up and stumbled to him, grasping him in her
arms again. The boy’s legs were strangely bent.
They fled to a forgotten town with an ugly name:
“Lo Debar,” or “a place of no pasture, no
communication, no words.” Meribbaal, disabled
by the fall, would never be the same. In Lo
Debar, the great promise of his early years
faded into memory and he was given a new
name: “Mephibosheth,” or “he who scatters
shame.”
Lo Debar. A place of no communication. Silent,
alone. Ever been there?
Had the story ended there, I might have
stayed in Lo Debar with Mephibosheth
forever. But God did not leave Mephibosheth
in Lo Debar, and He will not leave us there
today! 2 Samuel Chapter 9 continues the
story:
Years later, David remembered a promise
made long ago with his friend Jonathan (See
1 Samuel 20:14-15)
Remembering the promise David asks, “Is
anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I
want to show God’s kindness to them.”
A servant of Saul’s household replied, “One of
Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in
both feet.” So King David sent for
Mephibosheth, bringing him back from Lo
Debar. When Mephibosheth came before the
king, he bowed low in fear of King David.
“Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show
kindness to you because of my promise to
your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the
property that once belonged to your
grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with
me at the king’s table!”
God did not forget Mephibosheth, and even
today, God knows where you are.
You are valued, remembered and loved
beyond measure!
From that day on Mephibosheth ate regularly
at David’s table, "like one of the king’s own
sons.” Because of Jonathan, Mephibosheth
was remembered and restored to a place of
honor. Because of Christ, we are remembered
by God and restored to communion with Him.
Restored to a place of honor and favor.
Rescued from loneliness. We have been
rescued from a place of no communication
with God and restored to a seat at the King’s
table.
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they
might feel after him, and find him, though he
be not far from every one of us” (Acts
17:27).
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Rescate de Lo Debar
por Kelly Langston
Capturado en 2 Samuel es una historia que habla del amor ilimitado y reconstituyente
de Dios para individuos que viven con una incapacidad. Es un mensaje que nos
recuerda que nosotros nunca somos olvidados por Dios:
Fue un niño de promesa extraordinaria y potencial ilimitado. Sumamente favorecido,
fue un chico nacido en la riqueza y privilegio incomparable. El nieto de un rey, su padre
Jonathan lo levantó alto en manos reales y le dio el nombre de un guerrero,
"Meribbaal," significando "quien resiste el ídolo Baal".
En un día, una vida de promesa se volvió una vida de incapacidad y sueños
quebrantados. Sucedió en el año quinto de chico. Ese día, como recordado en 1
Crónicas 10, el Rey Saul y sus hijos combatieron a las personas ignorantes en el Monte
Gilboa. Uno por uno, los hijos de el Rey Saul se cayó—cada fulminó por el ejército
filisteo. Cuando arqueros enemigos marcaron Rey Saul en la retirada, ellos dispararon
al rey. El reinado de Saul había terminado y David sería el nuevo rey.
El cuidador del chico supo que el chico corrió peligro. Con Rey David en el trono, los
miembros de la familia de Saul serían puestos sin duda a la muerte— la manera de
costumbre para prevenir rebelión. Rápidamente, arrebató al niño en sus armamentos y
corrió afuera. ¡Debieron encontrar refugio— un lugar de seguridad y oscuridad– y había
poco tiempo!
Ella no vio la piedra que agarró el pie como corrió. Todo lo que ella vio fue que el
chico que volo fuera de sus brazos y en el aire polvoriento, extrañamente suspendido
para lo que pareció una eternidad antes de caerse al suelo. Se tiró arriba y tropezó con
él, agarrándole en sus brazos otra vez. Las piernas del chico fueron dobladas
extrañamente.
Huyeron a un pueblo olvidado con un nombre feo: "Lo Debar," o "un lugar de ningún
pasto, ninguna comunicación, ningunas palabra". Meribbaal, incapacitado por la
caída, nunca sería el mismo. En Lo Debar, la gran promesa de sus años tempranos
apagados en la memoria y él fueron dados un nuevo nombre: "Mephiboset," o "quien
dispersa la vergüenza".
Lo Debar. Un lugar sin ninguna comunicación. Silencioso, sólo. ¿Has estado allí?
Si la historia terminaria allí, yo quizás hubiera permanecido en Lo Debar con Mephiboset
para siempre. ¡Pero Dios no termino con Mephiboset en Lo Debar, y El no terminara con
nosotros hoy! 2 Capítulo de Samuel 9 continúa la historia:
¿Años más tarde, David recordó una promesa hecha hace mucho tiempo con su
amigo Jonathan (Vea 1 Samuel 20:14-15)
Recordando la promesa David pregunta, "Es cualquiera todavía vivo de la familia de
Saul? Si eso es el caso, yo quiero mostrar la bondad de Dios a ellos".
Un sirviente de la casa de Saul contestó, "uno de los hijos de Jonathan está
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todavía vivo. Es paralizado en ambos pies". Entonces el Rey David llamó a Mephiboset,
devolviendole de Lo Debar. Cuando Mephiboset vino antes del rey, él hizo una
reverencia profunda en el temor de Rey David. ¡No "tenga miedo"! dijo David. "Quiero
mostrar la bondad a ti a causa de mi promesa a tu padre, Jonathan. ¡Te daré la
propiedad que le perteneció una vez a tu abuelo Saul, y tu comerás aquí conmigo en
la mesa del rey"!
Dios no se olvidó de Mephiboset, e incluso hoy, Dios sabe donde usted es. ¡Es valorado,
es recordado y es adorado enormemente! De ese día en Mephibosheth comió
regularmente en la mesa de David, "como uno de los hijos propios de rey". A causa de
Jonathan, Mephiboset fue recordado y fue restaurado a un lugar de honor. A causa de
Cristo, nosotros tambien somos recordados por Dios y restaurados a la comunión con El.
Restaurado a un lugar de honor y favor. Rescatado de la soledad. Hemos sido
rescatados de un lugar de ninguna comunicación con Dios y restaurados a un asiento
en la mesa del Rey.
La Paciencia
By Luz Cintron (Mar. 2012)
La paciencia es una ciencia
y un tema digno de estudio
una disciplina incluso
que nos entrena en la espera.
El que espera desespera
si la paciencia no guia
pierde la vision que dicta
la esperanza de la entrega.
Sin vision que nos proteja
el corazon se derrama
pierde su norte y alcanza
solo el miedo de la espera.
Queda mirando las huellas
de lo que ha acontecido
sin encontrar el camino
que lo llamo hacia esta senda.
Y aunque entregado se encuentra
al miedo y las ansiedades
no es la entrega lo que vale
sino hacia donde nos lleva.
La paciencia es una guia
que nos toma de la mano
como ciegos va a guiarnos
y nos devuelve la vista.
Llenos los ojos de vida
nos sostiene el horizonte
nos aploma en los dolores
con la esperanza que anima.
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El paciente dictamina
su victoria en el ocaso
pues la esperanza le anima
y le organiza los pasos.
Alli donde se quebranta
alli donde pierde todo
el paciente encuentra el modo
de perseverar la marcha.
Perseverando ahi alcanza
a reversar su fortuna
el que persevera triunfa
porque aprende la templanza.
El dolor nunca quebranta
la senda de su destino
porque templa su dominio
y establece su esperanza.
Es entonces que uno alcanza
a comprender las verdades
que la paciencia es la clave
donde El Amor nos avanza.
Si el Senor es una puerta
la paciencia es una llave
que introduce al que la halle
al costado de la espera.
Y en esa espera es que encuentra
abierto alli en Su Costado
camino y vida centrados,
proposito y recompensa.
Pre-Registración - $35 (
Mayo 6)
Registración - $45 (Mayo
27th)
Un solo dia - $25
Hotel - $95 mas impuestos
Penny’s Page
The Other Side of the Coin
As a young child, I had trouble telling the difference between coins by looking at their
backs, because they seemed to looked alike to me. The side with the heads didn’t
confuse me, as the faces looked different.
Life’s problems are similar to that dilemma. Our view of the situation is framed by our
perspective of it.
Athletes are often encouraged to “get your head into the game” to focus on their skills,
the strategies of a changing playing field and how best to confront them. They are
encouraged to leave personal situations in the locker room and focus on the game. Our
view is similarly confined by where our “head” is by how we are viewing our current
circumstances. Just as coins have two sides, possibilities come often as the flip side of
problems.
I was recently comforting a friend along these very lines. As we discussed her harrowing
situation, I had opportunity to relate an event in life where my viewpoint was changed
dramatically, and I was allowed to see the providence and goodness of God in an
unhappy moment.
We were loading the trunk of the car with suitcases, preparing to leave on a trip. At the
last instant, my husband threw in an extra spare tire. Then, with a frown, he picked up and
threw in another tire; it wasn’t even mounted on a rim. I was secretly amused by this, as I
knew he had already carefully prepared the car for the trip.
About halfway through the trip we had a flat tire. No problem! We pulled off the
highway, changed the tire and resumed our trip. Less than five miles later, we had
another flat tire! This time, we limped off the road very slowly, to a gas station.
Unfortunately, they didn't do the type of servicing, and they directed us to a station down
the road.
My father took one of the flats and began rolling it away. I looked at the other nasty tire
and at my new, white skirt. Well, I began rolling the tire towards the bridge as my father
had done but the tire kept rolling away, so I finally had to pick it up. I trudged dirty,
sweaty, tired and angry off the bridge and towards the service station. Just as I was
thinking some pretty harsh things about the people of that town, a man ran out of the
motel I was passing and thrust his keys towards me. “Take my truck.” He led me to a
brand new pickup truck, tossed the tire in the back, unlocked the front, “I’m the
bartender in the motel, just bring it back when you are done”.
I was speechless. God sent me help, “better late than never”, I mused. But a God that
can send help could have sent it sooner, or could have prevented the flat tire. “Why
didn’t He?” In another mile or so I had my answer. A huge accident had happened and
we missed it. By the time we passed it was being cleared. There was my answer.
Many times we are not permitted to see the other side of the coin. We are expected to
be patient, trust God and believe Him. We rarely get a definitive answer to our persistent
“Why?”. No matter our circumstances, our point of view, or where our “head is”, God IS
good, He DOES love us, and He IS working in our lives. - PLH
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Brandy’s Page
Reasons To Be Debt Free
Debt presumes on the
future. When people commit
themselves to payments over
a period of time, they are
presuming that there will be no
pay reductions, no loss of job,
and no unexpected expenses.
That is an improbable
assumption (see Proverbs
27:1).
Debt lowers future
standards of living. Money
that is borrowed today must be
repaid over time along with
interest, which means that
those things purchased with
credit will cost more
“tomorrow” than they did
today. Therefore, the standard
of living will have to be
adjusted to compensate for the
added expenses
Debt focuses on façade
decisions rather than reallife decisions. Debt
encourages people to make
decisions based on whether
they can afford a monthly
payment, rather than on
whether they can afford the
total cost of the item. It makes
it easy to say yes to low
monthly payments while
ignoring the real cost of items.
Debt leaves people at the
mercy of the power of
compound interest. If
consumers pay the minimum
monthly payment on a $1,000
debt at 19.8 percent rate of
interest and never charge
anything else on that account,
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it will take eight (8) years to
pay back the $1,000 and they
will pay $2,023 for the
privilege of charging $1,000.
Debt could delay God’s
plan. God said that He would
provide for His people’s
needs. Debt allows needs to
be met now, from a means
other than through God’s
provision. Debt provides
instant gratification, at the
expense of financial freedom,
rather than waiting on God’s
perfect plan and His perfect
timing.
Debt clouds the line that
separates wants, desires,
and needs. Needs are
necessary purchases such as
food, clothing, shelter, medical
coverage, transportation, and
others. Wants involve choices
about quality of goods.
Discount shopping versus
specialty shopping, lobster
versus chicken, or a new car
versus a good used car, and
so on. Desires are those
things that can be purchased
only after all other obligations
are met and only if there are
left over funds available to
purchase them. Debt allows
desires to become wants and
wants to become needs.
Debt encourages impulse
buying and overspending.
The chief financial officer of a
national credit card company
said that consumers spend on
the average of 25 to 30
percent more when they
charge than if they purchase
with a check or cash.
Debt teaches children that
the world’s method of
managing money is normal.
Debt causes children to have a
casual regard for using credit
cards, obtaining loans and
mortgages, and keeping vows to
pay the bills. For this reason, we
have children who have
graduated from college by
borrowing for education
expenses and living to the limit
of their credit cards. They have
never considered paying cash
for transportation or anything
else and have begun adult life
with so much debt that they have
to work for years just to pay it
off.
Conclusion - Debt-free living is
still God’s plan for His people
today. The blessings of
becoming debt free go far
beyond the financial area. They
extend to the spiritual and
material realms as well. The
effects of financial bondage on a
marriage relationship can be
devastating. Currently 50% of
failed marriages is due to
financial incompatibility.
Therefore, it is to all Christians’
advantage to strive to become
debt free.
(Crown Financial Ministries)
I remember my mother’s prayers and they
have always followed me. They have clung
to me all my life. – Abraham Lincoln
A Special Note To my mom:
Carol Ashcraft,
Mom, thank you for your godly example
and character. Thank you for your
untiring sacrifice and commitment. Your
prayers and hard work are paying off,
mom! Love you much! Your daughter!
One Flaw In Women
Submitted by Beth Rexford
Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they
think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what
makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their
family and friends.
Women have vital things to say
and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.
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May
Birthdays:
Sandra Moreno – 5/4
Clara Santow – 5/4
Chasya Enriquez – 5/7
Christine Olague – 5/16
Barb Vondras – 5/22
Saharai Malagon – 5/25
Angela Gonzalez – 5/27
Melanie Moore – 5/29
Edna Alvarez – 5/30
June
Birthdays:
Yeni Aguillar – 6/6
Rosario Casillas – 6/6
Marti Hannon – 6/8
Leticia Garcia – 6/9
Naomi Irizarry – 6/12
Miriam Rios – 6/16
Jennifer Rodriguez –
6/19
Zugey Trullijo – 6/21
Tianna Strong – 6/25
Happy Mother’s
Day to all ICF
Mother’s and
Mentor’s! You are
Special!
S’mores Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
Recipe from Picky Palate
Submitted by Angela Gonzalez
2 sticks (8 ounces) softened butter
1 cup granulated sugar
¾ cup packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
3½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
24 graham cracker quarters or 12 full sheets
separated at perforations
3 Hershey Bars, broken into rows of 3 bars
12 large marshmallows cut in half
lengthwise
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a
large baking sheet with parchment or a silpat
liner.
2. In a stand or electric mixer, beat the butter
and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs
and vanilla. Beat until well combined.
3. Place flour, salt and baking soda into a
bowl; mix to combine then add slowly to
wet ingredients along with the chocolate
chips.
4. Layer a graham cracker quarter with 3
Hershey chocolate squares and 2
marshmallow halves. Close with another
graham cracker.
5. Top s’more with a large scoop of cookie
dough. Place in hands and place another
large scoop on bottom then front and back
sides as needed. Form dough around
s’mores. It is much easier than it sounds,
just make sure your dough is around room
temperature, and make one big disc shape.
Pinch off excess dough if you have too
much.
6. Place large cookies onto prepared baking
sheet and bake for 15-17 minutes or until
edges are golden and centers are cooked
through. Let cool for 10 minutes before
transferring to cooling rack. or serving plate.
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Romans 1:23
We do not take wood or stones and make idols. We do not pray
to statues or prepare food for idols to eat. It is not with our
hands but with our imaginations that we carve out little gods to
worship. Just like those who carve out idols with their hands,
we make little gods out of our fear and ignorance. Our
fundamental problem is that we imagine a God that comes out
of our human experience. We imagine God to be like the people
we have known in our lives. If we have been raised with
impossible expectations, we may find ourselves worshipping the
god-of-impossible-expectations. If we have been neglected, we
may find ourselves in the service of the god-who-does-not-care.
Since these gods do not respond to us when we call, we work
harder and harder to please them. We try to be good. We try to
be religious. But, we can never do enough. In this way we trade
the 'glory of the immortal God' for the very dysfunctional
images which arise from our experiences with 'mortal men'.
The good news is that God is not the way we expect. The one
true God, the immortal God, is a glorious God. God is a
compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in love and
mercy.
HOPE Ministry
(Healing Our Painful Experiences)
2nd Sat. of month 11am-1pm
May 12 – Holistic Health
June 24 – Hope Fundraiser
Chicago Bike Hike $25ea.
(Hope gets 10% )
Lord, you can see how I cling to my little gods. I have tried so
hard to please them. But, they are harsh and abusive. I cannot
please them, but I can't seem to get rid of them either. They
are awful little gods, but they are all I know.
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I have grown accustomed to them.
I have adapted my expectations to match their
smallness.
I am weary to death of the gods who come from shame,
Lord.
I long to worship you, God of Grace. I long to worship
You.
You are the God of Glory.
Give me eyes to see you more clearly today.
Give me a heart that hopes in you.
Amen.
Copyright Dale and Juanita Ryan
Encouraging and Empowering Today’s Women
International Christian Fellowship . 9146 Lincoln Avenue . Brookfield, IL 60513
(708)387–9009 www.chicagoonfire.com