MOPSTalk Zone 22 ~ Eastern PA and NJ: How's Your Fruit?

CONVENTION UPDATE

Ta da! A Convention announcement!
We just signed the papers and we thank you for your prayers as we worked on moving, well, a whole lotta details in just a few days.

Drum roll #1: The Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, FL (Orlando area) was able to welcome us (in the midst of many conventions needing to move).

Drum roll #2: We're able to keep the registration fees the same, so some of you might decide to come early or stay late, and enjoy the Orlando amenities with your friends (or family).

And thanks for all the great ideas of cities! You helped our future dreaming. 'Twould be fun!
And again, it will be great because of Who we'll be with: "Where(ver) two or three (thousand) are gathered in my name, there am I with them." (Mt. 18:20, our year's theme verse with my additions).

Naomi Cramer Overton

Convention Details:
The MOPS International Convention will be at the Gaylord Palms, Kissimmee, FL (Orlando area). Dates will be the same, August 5-7, 2010. Speakers and artists will be the same great lineup — Julie Barnhill, Margaret Feinberg, Donald Miller, Naomi Cramer Overton, Shelly Radic, Go Fish, Mandisa, The Katinas and Richie McDonald.

Convention registration will re-open on Monday, May 17.
The early bird registration deadline will be extended to June 7.
We are working with the Gaylord Opryland for an official letter we can provide to anyone who has already purchased airline tickets to use with airlines to avoid rebooking fees. This letter should assist you in rebooking airline tickets — it will be posted online at www.MOPS.org/convention.
We continue to pray for families and businesses affected by the flooding and we have sent MOPS materials to local MOPS leaders who are distributing supplies in the Nashville area.

MOPS International Convention 2010

August 5-7, 2010
Gaylord Palms, Orlando FL

Check back often for more information!

Your MOPS International Convention Checklist:

Register for Convention (re-opens May 17)
Reserve a room at the hotel (register first!)
Schedule shuttle transportation

Thursday, January 22, 2009

How's Your Fruit?

Something other than my alarm clock awakened me this morning. It was unpleasant... annoying...irritating. It was my daughter.

The instigator: my son. The crime: inequitable distribution of cereal. Why, oh why, must we live in a world of finite resources? It's so unfair!

But that's not my point. My point is, I didn't want to deal with this. I was annoyed, irritated by this meltdown of magnificent proportions. So, I acted swiftly. I yelled at her to go to her room immediately. She did. There. Problem solved.

Well, not so much. After another 20 minutes of tantrum-throwing that I feared would wake our wall-sharing neighbors (I enjoyed a brief reprieve while I brushed my teeth and the running water drowned out her shrieks), I did finally take real action. (And no, I didn't inflict physical punishment -- in case you were wondering.)

Later in the day, after she and her completely innocent and falsely accused brother departed for school, I happened to be reading the words penned by Matthew, the apostle.

In Chapter 13, verse 31, Matthew writes, "Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'" Jesus was talking to Peter, just after he had walked out onto the lake's water in faith, but then allowed doubt and fear to distract him from looking at Jesus.

But did you notice how the verse starts with the word "immediately?" That's what caught my eye this morning. Jesus acted immediately. Even though Peter looked away, Jesus immediately reached out to save him. He didn't hesitate -- wondering if Peter was worth it, pondering His annoyance at Peter's lack of faith, irritated at the inconvenience of it all -- His act of love was immediate.

In an in-the-moment prayer, I asked God, "Why is it so hard to put my faith into action? Why is it so hard to be fruitful? To show love? Patience? Kindness? Gentleness? Faithfulness? How can I do that without hesitation?" (You recognize some of these words as the Fruit of the Spirit, right?)

How is your Fruit? Mine could be better. Jucier. Tastier. More abundant.

The IVP New Testament Commentary says with regard to this passage of Scripture in Matthew, "Jesus is training disciples who will not simply regurgitate his oral teachings but will have the faith to demonstrate his authority in practice as well."

With the training we receive through God's word, God's ministers, and fellow followers of Christ, let's all strive to be better practicers, demonstrators and imitators of our Savior, and give God the glory, great things He has done!

1 comment:

Christy Molnar said...: Hi Lisa!

Thank you so much for sharing that story. It hit home for me and revealed how the Holy Spirit can really work all around us too. I had just discussed at my Women's Bible Study that I seem to struggle with the fruits of the spirit when it comes to my family, particularly my children.

"In an in-the-moment prayer, I asked God, "Why is it so hard to put my faith into action? Why is it so hard to be fruitful? To show love? Patience? Kindness? Gentleness? Faithfulness? How can I do that without hesitation?" (You recognize some of these words as the Fruit of the Spirit, right?)"

I feel like you took the words right out of my mouth. I guess that it is a good first step to recognize the struggle. I think as an adult, I sometimes think I am all done "growing", but God continues to show me that my relationship with him needs daily growth.

Thank you again for sharing,
Christy; 6:28 PM