Why Proverbs?

I know many of you have finished up your GEMS season and are just taking a break! I pray you find rest and peace and PASSION to start up again in the fall. If you are still considering attending conference, please sign up NOW! It is going to be amazing! I, for one, am VERY excited about hearing Ray VanderLaan AND about learning more about our new theme for next year. Conference is such a great opportunity to gather ideas for the upcoming year. Please prayerfully considering joining us in Colorado!

If you can't come to conference, your next best thing is our Fall Workshop. This year, we again will be in two different locations, so hopefully one of them will work for you. We will be in Olympia on September 10 and in Quincy on September 17. The workshop registration will hopefully begin at 9:30, a little later than in the past, to allow for travel time. We hope to end around 3:00 in the afternoon so everyone will have ample time to travel home again. If NEITHER of those workshop dates/locations work for you, please talk to me. I may have an additional option available.

To get you started thinking about next year, here's Lenae's devotional from this morning, discovering WHY we are studying this theme next year!

WHY PROVERBS?

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair.

Proverbs 1:1-3

Math is my most challenging subject. More often than not when a new concept was introduced in geometry or algebra and I was stumped, I’d groan to my parents, “Why do I need to learn this? I’ll never use it again in my life!”

For those who may question why it’s important to dedicate a year to studying the book of Proverbs, Solomon, the writer of the book, tells us. Within the first sentence of the first chapter, he lays out the purpose of the book (Proverbs 1:1-3).
Here’s Solomon’s purpose and God’s plan for you and me in the book of Proverbs.

1. To teach us to attain wisdom and discipline for understanding words of insight. We’re not born wise and we don’t automatically or magically become wise when we accept Christ as our Savior. True wisdom only comes from God (Proverbs 9:10). In order to live rightly we need to listen to God’s wisdom, discipline, instruction, and correction. Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise (Proverbs 19:20). It’s a continuous education program as we sit under the teaching of His Word and Spirit.

2. To teach us to acquire a disciplined and prudent life. Our culture calls the prudent killjoys, spoilsports, and wet blankets. It’s God who gives the true definition of being a prude. The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways (Proverbs 14:8a). The prudent make choices based on the knowledge of God and have a God-given understanding of where they are going.

3. To teach us to do what is right and just and fair. Righteousness, justice, and equity are attributes of God that He desires to see in our relationships with one another. Through His wisdom we will understand what is right and just and fair – every good path (Proverbs 2:9). These virtues are evidence of His wisdom at work in our lives.

The book of Proverbs is God’s handbook on how to live rightly. Studying and then habitually choosing to live by the wisdom found in the book of Proverbs will provide life-changing discipleship that will inspire us to walk wisely and live a life that goes beyond the gold.

Wisdom Step: How well have you been listening and obeying God’s advice and instruction in His Word? If a course correction is needed. Be wise and begin today.

The goal of Proverbs is to grow ever closer to the God who is Wisdom. Knowing God is the proper definition of the good life, and the highest goal of the Proverbs-driven life.

Anthony Selvaggio

As we end the "Feed the Fire" theme...

Most of us have participated in GEMS Sunday and are finishing up our GEMS year, or will be doing so within the month. This devotional, from the GEMS Service Center April Newsletter, gives us encouragement to keep that fire burning in our hearts, even when we are on a break from GEMS for the summer!

The Fire Must Be Kept Burning

They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Luke 24:32

In the book of Leviticus God gives instructions to the priests about burnt offerings that still apply to us today. The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out (Leviticus 6:12-13).

What was true for the altar remains true for our hearts: The fire on the altar of our hearts must not go out! Warren W. Wiersbe writes, “Let’s follow the example of the priest and each morning get rid of the old ashes, stir up the fire, and offer a burnt offering to the Lord.”

Daily we must fan into flame the gift of God (2 Timothy 1:6). Our lives are to be living sacrifices that must be kept burning. Therefore, I urge you, brothers (sisters), in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:1-2).

Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu conformed and compromised God’s commands about how offerings were to be sacrificed. They took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command (Leviticus 10:1). How did God respond to their disobedience? Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD (v. 2).

When we conform and compromise God’s commands our hearts become lukewarm. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot, I wish you were either one or the other (Revelation 3:15). How does God respond to our disobedience? So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth (v 16).

Being a children’s ministry volunteer doesn’t necessarily mean that the fire within the altar of our hearts is burning brightly. For example, Children’s Ministry Magazine reported that the average children’s volunteer reads the Bible only once or twice a month when alone. Surely if the priests only attended to the altar’s flame once or twice a month, the flame would die out.

May we daily keep the fire burning so the words of the two believers on the road to Emmaus may be true of us, too. “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32)

PASSION Step: What will you do today to keep the fire stirred and burning within your heart?

Give me the love that leads the way, the faith that nothing can dismay, the hope no disappointments tire, the passion that will burn like fire; Let me not sink to be a clod:

Amy Carmichael, Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.

Get Wisdom Devotion

The theme for the upcoming GEMS season is Get Wisdom: Go beyond the Gold! It’s a theme topic that encourages girls and women to fear God and walk wisely on the highway of the upright. These are the verses that correspond to this theme: Proverbs 9:10 and Proverbs 16:16-17.

GET WISDOM: GO BEYOND THE GOLD!

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!

Proverbs 16:16

Recently I watched a Francis Chan video where he pointed out the difference between knowing God’s Word and obeying it. He used the example of telling his daughter to go clean her room. What if his daughter came to him and said things like, “Hey, dad, I memorized the phrase, ‘Go clean your room.’” Or, “I can say ‘Go clean your room’ in Greek.” Or, “My friends and I are going to get together once a week and study what it means to go clean my room.” Obviously, none of those things matter until she does what she was told – cleans her room!

God tells us in His Word, that it is better to get wisdom than wealth. But is that what we are doing? Are we obeying that command? According to a July 2010 Barna Group report, “No!” There’s been a shift in American’s priorities. Since a 2006 study, Americans (I’m assuming this is true for North America as a whole) have an increased emphasis on “wealth, financial stability, money, professional attainment, success, and paying bills. These types of priorities have nearly doubled over the past four years.” What’s lost ground is the percentage of Americans who say their top priority is family and faith. “Despite the fact that more than three-quarters of adults identify themselves as Christians and nearly nine out of 10 Americans believe in God, matters of ‘faith’ are surprisingly rare when Americans choose their highest priority in life.”

Proverbs 16:16 says, How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! We can memorize that verse, learn it in Greek, study it as counselor teams, and within small groups of girls, but none of those things matter until we do what we’ve been told – go get wisdom!

There’s nothing necessarily wrong with owning things like gold, silver, or other items on our wish list. What God wants us to understand in these verses is that if we must make a choice between getting wisdom or getting things, choose wisdom! It’s the best choice! The things of this world won’t help us walk wisely or give true joy, but wisdom will. Proverbs 8:10-11, Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

What is it that you most desire? If Barna contacted you and asked what your highest priority is today, what would you say? Would your answer be proven or falsified by your choices, credit card receipts, and checkbook register?

Wisdom Step: If getting wealth has trumped getting wisdom in your life, what course correction will you make today?

If you want wisdom, you must “seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures” (Proverbs 2:4). That means work! It means taking time to read, mediate, pray, and put truth into practice.

Warren W. Wiersbe

The Fear of the Lord

Many of you are finishing up your GEMS season and will be celebrating GEMS Sunday in the coming weeks after Easter, if you haven't already. Our "Feed the Fire" theme is coming to a close. I pray it has been exciting for you and your girls!

As you know, Tami & I recently attended a training workshop in Michigan to learn about the new theme (as well as other stuff) so that we can teach it to you at our next fall workshop. The theme is "Get Wisdom: Go Beyond the Gold" and I'm excited because I think there will be many ways you can implement the theme in your club. I hope to learn even more at conference in July!

Speaking of conference, are you coming to the 2011 conference in Colorado in July? It's not too late to sign up! It would be amazing to have a huge turnout from Area 3 and to experience the blessings of conference together! If you are wondering about signing up, let me know and I can help you out. I have a list of all the counselors from our Area who are registered, if you are looking for a roommate or anything.

Next year's theme will begin with trying to gather an understanding of the fear of the Lord. It says in Proverbs 9:10 that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." I think this is something that as counselors we will need to consider and study before we begin to explain it to our girls at GEMS. The following devotional is from Lenae Bulthuis, GEMS training manager, and is about this concept of the fear of the Lord. Let the Scriptures and thoughts begin to prepare your hearts.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 9:10

On July 8, 1741 in Enfield, Connecticut, American theologian Jonathan Edwards preached the sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” I was in middle school when it was first introduced to me and I sat wide-eyed at the imagery of the fierceness of God’s wrath. I closed my eyes as our teacher talked about the dreadful pit and the lake of burning brimstone. I opened them again to watch my instructor hold an imaginary spider on a slender thread above a raging fire as he quoted Edwards. “The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you . . . it is nothing but His hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment. Oh, sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in.”

As I considered my personal peril, my heart sprinted into my loving Heavenly Father’s arms. I didn’t want to think on God’s burning anger. Instead I fixed my mind on the warmth of His grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness.

Looking back, I now realize that I mentally closed the door to the phrase, “the fear of the LORD.” Scripture and the Spirit have convicted me that we are not entitled to pick and choose who God is. He is both loving Heavenly Father and sovereign, righteous judge.

God is holy and perfect, almighty and absolute, and we must approach Him in a manner that is worthy of His name. To fear Him encapsulates a shrinking back in recognition of the holiness, power, and autonomy of God and a drawing close in awe, reverence, and worship. We don’t fear to be in His presence as much as we fear to be out of it!

Sadly, Romans 3:18 accurately describes our culture today. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Psalm 36 repeats the lament, I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked; There is no fear of God before their eyes. In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they have ceased to be wise and to do good (vs. 1-3, TNIV).

In neglecting to fear God and His judgment, the world has gone wild instead of wise. Studies indicate there is little difference between how Christians make major decisions and live day-to-day when compared to secular society.

Now is the time for us to get wisdom and it begins by rightly understanding and living out what it means to fear the LORD.

Wisdom Step: Do a Bible word study on “the fear of the LORD.” Ask God to let that reverential fear keep you from sin and help you get wisdom.

Until you fear God and have a deep desire to follow Him you won’t care much about wisdom.

Jan Boone

ACTS Training

Hello dear counselors! I am in Michigan, having just finished up my ACTS training to prepare for the 2011-2012 GEMS year! I know it's hard to think about next year because you're finishing up this year and working on GEMS Sunday and all that. I just wanted you to know that Tami & I enjoyed our training, learned lots, and that we are praying for you as you finish up this year. May God grant you energy and PASSION in abundance for the remainder of your GEMS year.

I personally would love to connect with the Club Coordinators that are in my part of WA state - maybe Mount Vernon and northward to start with? Anyone interested in getting together for breakfast or coffee to close out the year? Or would it be better to meet in the summer after a bit of a break and then join together to share ideas for the upcoming year? Please feel free to comment or shoot me an email and let me know what you think.

Tami & I are also praying that more of you will be able to come to the conference in Denver in July. It is NOT TOO LATE to register! We'd love to have you there and it is an awesome experience that you will not regret! Let me know if you're still interested!!

As we all finish up our GEMS season and the theme of "Feed the Fire", let's be intentional about praying for all the GEMS clubs in our area and for our own clubs. Pray for energy for counselors, good attitudes for the girls, and that our hearts will remain on fire for Jesus throughout the summer.

Lastly, a huge THANK YOU to all of the counselors in Area 3 for your commitment and dedication to GEMS Girls Clubs and to your girls. Your relationship with those girls is helping them build their relationship with Jesus Christ and that is a gift for eternity. Thank you.

Notice God in the Ordinary

Another Notice God in the Ordinary devotional from the GEMS Service Center!! I love this one!

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13

During the dark days of the judges, we might be tempted to think that God was not at work. Not so! Just check out these amazing God sightings from the book of Ruth

Fact: When Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi arrived in Bethlehem the barley harvest was beginning. Knowing the poor and alien were permitted to glean in the fields during the harvest (Leviticus 19:9-10), Ruth asked Naomi if she could pick up grain behind anyone who showed her favor(Ruth 2:2).

God sighting: Of all the available places to harvest in Bethlehem, God directed her to the field belonging to Boaz, a relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech (Ruth 2:3).

Fact: Ruth hoped to pick up leftover grain (Ruth 2:2).

God sighting: Ruth not only received leftover grain on her first day on the job, Boaz provided her a meal so large that she ate all she wanted and had some left over (Ruth 2:14), plus Boaz gave orders to his men, “Even if she gathers among the sheaves, don’t embarrass her. Rather, pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her” (Ruth 2:15-16).

Fact: When Noami told Ruth to wash, perfume herself, put on her best clothes, and go to the threshing floor at night to uncover Boaz’s feet and lie down, as a foreigner she could’ve rejected what may have seemed risky and odd advice (Ruth 2:3-5).

God sighting: Ruth listened and obeyed Noami who was older, wiser, and understood Israelite custom and law. Her obedience resulted in Boaz’s continued favor. He gave her six measures of barley and promised that in the morning he would go to the town gate to seek to redeem her (Ruth 3:13-15).

Fact: Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. She gave birth to a son (Ruth 4:13).

God sighting: Boaz and Ruth’s son was named Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David, in the genealogy of the Savior, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-17)!

Fact: God sightings are not unique to Ruth’s story. The same is true for you and me! If we want to find God in our story we must look for Him with all our heart (Jeremiah 29:13).

God sighting: Your turn. Where do you see Him in your story today? Feed the fire by being on watch for God in all places, at all times by noticing Him in the ordinary.

PASSION Step: The book of Ruth has more God-sightings. Read it and count how many you can find!

People see God every day. They just do not recognize Him.

L. James Harvey

Notice God in the Ordinary

Tonight at GEMS I led a devotional about Noticing God in the Ordinary, the last discipline in our PASSION acronym that helps fuel the fire in our hearts for God. I used the Object Lesson book that GEMS publishes every year that coordinates with the theme, and combined it with some materials from the "Threading the Theme Throughout the Year" workshop. I showed the girls some animal tracks and we talked about how even though we can't see the animals, we can see where they were by the tracks and signs that they leave behind. We talked about signs that the girls themselves leave behind so that their mom knows they've been there..clothes left on the bathroom floor after their shower, mud tracked in from the farm in the back hallway, etc. We also talked about other, non-physical signs, that they might leave behind...such as their kindness towards a mean girl at school, etc. Then we talked about how God gives us signs that He is there, so that even though we can't see Him physically, we can know for certain that He is with us. We mentioned the Bible...nature...kindnesses of strangers...all sorts of things.

I then gave each girl a cut-out shape of a highway road sign and asked them to write in some way that they have "Noticed God in the Ordinary" - a sign of God's presence to them. It was amazing. It was humbling. It was a blessing to read what all the girls wrote. Girls wrote about when someone from church brought them a meal, the sunset, the frost crystals they saw this morning, answered prayer, their mom's life changing for the better because of God...all kinds of things.

The most touching for me was what my 10 year old daughter wrote. She wrote a couple things, but one was "When my teacher called to see if I was okay." She had had a rough day at school. Her teacher had noticed. And my daughter noticed that her teacher noticed. And that was a sign of God's presence to her. How thankful I am for that teacher. And how humbled I am to be reminded that those girls (both my daughters and my GEMS) are watching. They are watching me in order to notice God.

Oh Lord, that I might be a sign of your presence to a child. I am not worthy. It must all come from You.