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1/14

Spring Cleaning for Your SpiritCleaning is a task most women do in order to maintain a beautiful

home. Some enjoy it and others loathe it. While youre cleaning out clos-ets and sweeping under the furniture, think about this: Spring cleaning,while worth the effort, will only last for a season, but spiritual cleansingcould have an eternal influence. So dont just dust behind the book

shelves, dust off your Bible and get ready for a spiritual spring cleaning.Here are some simple steps:

1. Cleanse Your HeartThe Bible encourages us to draw close to Godand allow our hearts to be cleansed. This is the first step in our spiritualspring cleaning project. We cant clean ourselves. We must draw near toGod and ask Him to do the cleansing. Read Hebrews 10:22.(Have index cardswith the verses printed for the women to read aloud.)

2. Clean Out Your MouthSpiritual cleansing requires deep cleaning. Itis housekeeping that goes beyond what others see and hear. Its a cleans-ing from within. As your heart gets clean, your language should follow.This is not just talking about bad language, but also negative talk andnegative thoughts that contradict the Word of God. This includes thechallenge of not complaining. Read Luke 6:45.

3. Renew Your MindThis is one of the biggest areas of struggle formost of us. We must remove the garbage from our mindsgarbage in,garbage out. We must feed our minds and spirit from the Word of Godinstead of the garbage of this world. Read Romans 12:2.

4. Repent from Hidden SinHidden sin can destroy your life, yourpeace and even your health. The Bible says to confess your sintellsomeone and reach out for help. When your spiritual closets are clean,the heaviness from hidden sin will lift. Read Psalm 32:35.

5. Release UnforgivenessAny sin will weigh you down, but long keptunforgiveness and bitterness is like baggage in the attic you just can'tseem to part with. You are so familiar with it that you dont even realizehow it is hindering your life. Read Ephesians 4:31,32.

6. Include Jesus in Your Daily Life What God wants most from you isa relationship, an intimate friendship. He wants to be involved in the bigand small moments of your life. Open your life, let the light of Godspresence shine into every part and youll have no need for a yearly spir-itual cleaning. Instead experience daily, momentbymoment refreshingof your spirit. Read Psalm 56:13.

We have talked about six areas of our life that may need a spiritual springcleaning. Choose one area that the Lord has spoken to you about anddecide what action step you need to take to rectify it. Make a commitmentto pray about it and ask the Lord to help you change your actions.

Whistle While You Work FellowshipJuly 2010Captain Kimberly SmithEastern Territory

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Movie ClipsShow clips from the

movies Snow White,Cinderella and SleepingBeauty. All of these

princess stories includetidying up the house.

Disney Princess Trivia1. Name all eight Disney princesses.

Belle, Ariel, Cinderella, Mulan,Snow White, Sleeping Beauty,

Jasmine and Pocahontas2. Which princess has red hair? Ariel3. Which princess had to clean up

after seven men? Snow White4. What was Cinderellas original

name? Ella5. What color was the dress the fairies

made for Sleeping Beauty?Blue and Pink6. What did Belle like to do with her

free time? Read7. Who flies on a magic carpet?

Jasmine8. Which princesses are experts at

keeping a beautiful home? SnowWhite, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty

9. Who helps the princesses clean ineach movie? The animals

Princess Musical TriviaThe songs for this game are on the

Disney Princess: The Ultimate Song

Collection CD. Some of the songs arealso available at: http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/music.htm. UTube also hasvideo clips of some of the songs. Theobject is to identify the song title, themovie it came from and who sang it.

1. A Whole New World, Aladdinand Jasmine from Aladdin

2. Under the Sea The red crawfishto Ariel from The Little Mermaid

3. Whistle While You Work,Snow White from Snow White and

the Seven Dwarfs

4. Someday My Prince Will Come,Snow White from Snow White andthe Seven Dwarfs

5. Once Upon A Dream, SleepingBeauty from Sleeping Beauty

A Clean House (True or False)F The average six room house col-lects ten pounds of dust each year.

False; its actually 40 poundsSource: Asthma for Dummies

F Homes with open windows and

screen doors can contain roughly 70%as much pollen as the outdoor envi-ronment. TrueSource: www.asth-macenter.comF House dust is a mixture of materi-

als that can include textile fibers,decomposing insect parts, pet dander,human and animal hair, food left-overs, pollen grains, skin flakes, insu-lation, sand and other organic materi-als. TrueSource: www.dustfree.com

F A typically used mattress can havefrom 100,000 to 10 million dust mites,and 10% of the weight of a twoyearold pillow can be composed ofdead mites and their droppings.

TrueSource: http://www.ehso.com/ehshome/dustmites.phpF Nearly 10,000 dust mites can livein one square yard of carpet.

False; its actually 100,000 dustmitesSource: www.aerias.org


2/14

A Sure FoundationRead Matthew 7:2127.

To understand the parable of the foolish and wise builders we have tounderstand the topography of Israel where Jesus lived. He knew thelandscape, the seasons and how the weather changed the land. In thesummer many of the riverbeds dried up and left sandy soil. In the win-ter, after the September rains had fallen, the empty riverbeds became araging torrent. Anyone looking for a site to build a home would find thesand inviting in the summer, but when the winter rain storms came his

home in the middle of a raging river would be swept away.A contractor understands what makes a building secure and strong or

weak and dangerous. The wise man would know to build his home on arock away from the riverbed. The labor would be more intense and itwould be difficult to cut out a foundation; however, when winter cameand the strong storms raged, the home would remain secure.

We are all builders, planning, preparing and laying the foundation forour life. This parable teaches us the importance of laying a secure foun-dation. Those who do not know the Lord build their lives on a false orinferior foundation. They are heading for destruction just as surely as thefoolish man who built his house on the sand.

To establish a firm foundation we must know Christ as our personalSavior and be obedient to His teachings. We need to dig deep into Gods

Word so that we understand what He would have us do. We must live alife that is upright in His sight. Through faith we must seek His guidancein all the decisions that we make.

When our life is problem free and everything is calm, our foundationdoesnt seem to matter. But when we are facing problems and crises arise,if we dont have a foundation of knowing and trusting God, we find ourlife crashing down around us. But when we rely on Him, we will bevictorious and able to stand firm no matter what life brings our way.By obeying and trusting God we are like building a house on a surefoundation.

Ms. Fix ItEducationJuly 2010Major Alice ScottCentral Territory

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Chix Can FixWomen make up sixty percent of the

people living alone. Today, four timesmore women are heads of householdsthan in previous years. Women are the

fastest growing segment of home buy-ers. They are the driving force behindhardware sales. Women are eagerlyenrolling in doityourself repairclasses at home improvement storesand community colleges. There are anumber of reasons for this trend:

F If you can make the repairs your-self, you save money.

F In years past it was unusual for asingle woman to buy a home andhandle the repairs that come withhome ownership.

FWives whose husbands are servingin the military or traveling withjob related duties find it helpful ifthey know how to make homerepairs.

F Some women are uncomfortablegiving a contractor they dontknow access to their home.

F Having to take off from work towait for a repair service to arrive isoften difficult.

In 1976 Habitat for Humanity Inter-national, a Christian organization,

was founded to provide home owner-ship to lowincome families. Today,fortythree percent of Habitat forHumanity homeowners are womenoverseeing households. To own ahome the woman has to work along-side skilled volunteers. This learningexperience gives them confidenceenabling them to make needed repairsto their homes in the future.

Utilities and Maintenance ListMake a list of utility companies and

vendors phone numbers. If you have

not needed their services, get recom-mendations from friends so they willbe readily available if the need shouldarise. Check the CDROM for a suggest-ed maintenance list.

AppliancesDevelop a file system or large note-

book to keep warranties in one loca-tion. Place the documents in a plasticprotector sleeve. Include informationon the date of purchase, model num-

ber, serial number, handbook and acopy of the purchase receipt.

Home Improvement BooksHome Improvementby Martin Preston

Chix Can Fix by Norma VallyDare to Repairby Julie Sussman andStephanie GalakasTent

GameTool Identity

Place a variety of household tools ona table and have women identify themby name and tell what they are usedfor. Give a prize to the woman whoidentifies the most correctly.

Tool KitIts a good idea to invest in the need-

ed essentials of a good toolbox. Thiscan be done by searching at garage

sales and letting your friends and rel-atives know what items would be wel-come as birthday and Christmas gifts.Check the CDROM for a list of suggest-ed tools.

Program SongsSong # 976, How Firm a Founda-

tion,* Song # 745, On Christ theSolid Rock,* Rock of My Salvationand Jesus is Our Cornerstone.

*The Salvation Army Song Book


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Ms. Fix ItSupplemental Material

Utilities and MaintenanceProviders

Make a list of utility companies andvendors phone numbers so that theyare readily available in an emergency.

1. Electric company2. Gas company3. Water company4. Cable company5. Telephone company6. Cell phone provider7. Plumber8. Waste removal9. Lawn care/snow removal10. Locksmith11. Contractor: roof, siding, windows

and doors, painting, floor, ceilingand walls

12. Handyman13. Furnace: heating and air condi-

tioning14. Garage door company

Tool KitA good tool kit will contain the fol-lowing items:

25 foot measuring tapeScrewdrivers: Flat head, Phillips

head in medium (# 2) and assort-ment of small sizes

Pliers: Assortment of various sizes,needle nose, heavy grooved

(channel lock) pliersWire cutter pliers (small)Flash light16 oz. hammerRubber malletLevel for accurate positioning,

straightening pictures, drillingholes, mounting

Cordless rechargeable drillUtility knife with refillable blade

holder, razor scraperSquare ruler, straight rulerAwl: To set holesPlunger: Toilet and sink

Safety gogglesTool beltAllen wrench setPutty knives 3 inch, 6 inchSmall C clampHand sawHack sawVoltage indicatorChisel,Crowbar,Seat wrench, adjustable wrench,

socket wrenches

Maintenance ChecklistYearly1. Change batteries in smoke alarms2. Gas furnaceprofessional tune up service3. Drain electric water heatershut off fuse box or circuit breaker, flush

out scale, rust and sediment4. Check driveways and walls for cracks, breaks and erosion5. Check fences, gates and retaining walls for condition of structure and

material6. Inspect flashing around chimney, vent stalks and roof edges

7. Check all joints, ceramic tiles and laminated plastic8. Check caulking around sinks, bathtubs and showers

Monthly1. Test smoke alarms2. Inspect fire extinguishers3. Vacuum electric outlets, furnace ducts and baseboards4. Check circuit breakers and fuses

Spring and Fall1. Attic fan: remove leaves and clean debris from louvers, clean fan

blades, lubricate motor and pulley bearings with a drop of oil, checkdrive belt

2. Gas heater: Shut it off, then check exhaust vent and air shutter open-ings for dust and dirt, vacuum air passages

3. Central air conditioner: hose down to remove debris, lint, leaves4. Gutters and downspouts: remove debris and leaves, open water

channels, repair holes and check for excessive rust and that waterdrains away from house

5. Storm windows and doors: check latches, pivots, sealer, loose orworn parts, weather strippingreplace if loose

6. Window: replace screens if torn or broken, replace broken glass7. Foundation walls: check inside and outside for dampness, water

stain, insects8. Bricks and blocks: check for cracked mortar9. Removed debris and leaves from doorways, windows wells, storm

drains10. Paint: check for peeling, mildew11. House trim: check for tightness of fit, damage and decay13. Caulking: check for looseness around windows, doors trim, joints,

inside corners, window trim, foundation wall14. Roof: check for damage or loose shingles or blisters15. Vents and louvers: check air movement, clean screen16. Ceiling: check for cracks and wall joints17. Wiring condition: is it exposed in areas, such as the attic18. Faucets hoses, bibs, commodes: check for valve leaks19. Thermostat: remove dust with soft brush, reset temperature and

humidifier20. Fireplace damper: close/open, clean iron grates21. Chimney: check for loose bricks or stones and deteriorating joints,

worn flue liner, birds nests or other obstructions.

LadderBucketFlat metal file, round metal fileGlues: carpenters wood glue,

white glue

Lubricant sprayWD 40, Goo-Gone (removes sticky substances)

Paint thinnerTapes: duct tape, masking tape,

Teflon tape, paint tapePaint brushesvarious sizes


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How Does Your Garden Grow?Two sisters planted vegetable gardens on the same day. One ignored

her garden but still anticipated that the plants would grow. The other sis-ter worked in her garden on a regular basis. She did everything a goodgardener does. She put cages around the vegetables, staked up the onesthat would grow tall and would need extra support and put netting

around those plants that birds and animals liked to eat. She watered andfertilized the plants so that they would grow strong and healthy.

A number of months went by and the sisters went out to harvest theircrop. The first sister found rotten vegetables, weeds and withered plants.Her garden yielded a very small amount of food. She decided that plant-ing a garden was not worth her time. Her sister, however, picked a bas-ketful of vegetables for many weeks. Both women had planted a garden,but only one had tended hers and realized a bountiful harvest.

Two women made decisions to follow Christ, but the impact of thatdecision on their lives soon became noticeably different. One lived a lifeof selfcenteredness. Although she professed to follow Christ, she didnothing to change the way she lived. The other woman took a differentapproach. She studied the Bible and followed its instructions. She main-

tained a vibrant prayer life and sought Gods will. New characteristicsbegan to develop and God used her to minister to others.

What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with thehungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes onthe shivering illclad, being available to your own families (Isa. 58:7, The

Message). Both of these women planted a spiritual garden, but only onetended it. If we take care of our spiritual garden, we will have plenty tofeed others. If we are careless with it, we will see little spiritual fruit andwe will only have enough for ourselves. How will your spiritual gardencontribute to Gods kingdom this week?

Garden Goodness ServiceJuly 2010Captain Candi MarquezSouthern Territory

IntroductionThis service program combines gar-

dening and donating the producegrown to a food pantry. Just as a homegarden can help stretch a home foodpantry, using these three Psprayer,

preparation and participationcanhelp to fill the need in a communityfood pantry.

PrayerBefore starting this project, ask the

Lord what He would have the groupdo in this endeavor. If the corps doesnot have a food pantry, ask Him toreveal who would benefit from theproduce they raise.

PreparationFood Pantry

If the corps has a food pantry, puttogether an information page givinginformation on when the pantrybegan; a list of items needed to fill it;how many families are helped week-ly and how the women can volunteerto help. If this project will benefit acommunity food pantry, ask them toprovide the same information.

Decide if this will be a onetimeproject, or ongoing with seasonalproduce shared with the food pantry.

Home Gardens

Take a survey of the women to ascer-tain how many have a vegetable gar-den or fruit trees at their house.Inquire as to what produce is likely tobe ripe at the time you will be doingthe project and if they would be will-ing to share some of their harvest forthis project.

ParticipationVegetable Gardens

If the corps has suitable land, plant

a vegetable garden to raise producefor a food pantry. If not, some of thewomen might set aside a portion oftheir garden to be used for this pur-pose. As a garden involves a lot of

physical labor, ask other women tolend a hand.

Box GardensEven if you dont have a lot of room,

you can grow plants in pots and con-tainers on a patio, windowsills or inhanging baskets. Following are somebasic instructions:

1. Survey the areas where a box gar-den could be placed and purchasesuitable containers. Observe the sunexposure in these areas, as this willdictate what plants will do well inthat location.

2. Decide what to plant in the contain-ers, keeping in mind the sun expo-sure and planting area. Seek theadvice of an expert from a garden

nursery if you are unsure.

3. Fill the container with a good pot-ting soil, leaving a 2inch space atthe top. Add a half inch of mulchonce the plants are in the pots.

4. Water and fertilize often, especiallyduring hot weather.

Food Pantry DonationThe summer months are often lean

months for the food pantry inventory.Ask the women to donate items forreplenishmentcanned or boxedgoods. Invite the women to volunteertheir time helping in the food pantry.Make a list of the days that theywould be available.

Recipes

Prepare a booklet of simple recipesshowing ways to fix meals with basicingredients and the produce beingdistributed by the food pantry.Include nutritional guidelines andkitchen safety tips.


5/14

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The SolariumRead Nehemiah 8:112

If you research the word solarium on the Internet, it will lead you to

websites that sell a type of patio enclosures for the home. Each companyentices the buyer with phrases like, a solarium is bright and open, theperfect place for a peaceful getaway, and you will benefit from thesuns natural light and warmth. Wonderful images come to mind as youread those advertisements of sitting in a glass enclosure as the sun poursin, reading a good book, with a tall, cool drink by your side. This is theperfect image of comfort and rejuvenation.

There is nothing like sunshine to perk you up and brighten your soul.For ten years we lived just outside of San Francisco and oftentimes Istruggled with the fog and cold days, especially in the summer months.So when it got to be more than I could stand I would get in the car andsearch for the sunshine, which was typically just a few miles down theroad. Before I knew it the warmth of the sun would lift me up and restoremy strength. I thought this is exactly what happens when we search forthe Son (Jesus), for He too lifts us up and restores our strength.

We read in Nehemiah 8:10, The joy of the Lord is your strength. Justas we find rejuvenation from the warmth of the sun, Gods Word remindsus that we find strength from the joy that comes from the Son, JesusChrist.

In Nehemiah 8:8,9 it is recorded that after Ezra the scribe read the Bookof the Law to the people, they began to weep. But He instructed them tocelebrate (verses 9, 10). Psalm 112:1 tells us, Blessed is the man whofears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands. The peoplewere not finding joy in Gods Word, but only sorrow and conviction.While we need to be convicted of our sins in order to confess and repent,we can also find great joy in the Lords forgiveness.

As we bask in Gods solarium today, may we delight in His Word. Maywe experience the joy that comes from the Lord and find strength, peaceand rejuvenation for our souls.

To Ponder or Discuss:Do you delight in Gods Word? That is how we find our joy, and the

strength we need to live out our faith. Warren Weirsbe said, God does-nt give us joy instead of sorrow, or joy in spite of sorrow, but joy in themidst of sorrow. It is not substitution, but transformation.

Close by singing Song #10, Joyful, Joyful, from The Salvation ArmySong Book.

WorshipJuly 2010Captain Lawry SmithWestern Territory

The SettingCreate a solarium environment in

the meeting room. In a corner, prefer-ably by some windows, set out a cou-ple of lounge chairs, several plants

and a small table, with a few books, apitcher of lemonade and glasses on it.

PurposeTo bring women into an attitude of

joy, worship and praise.

Elements of the ProgramPray

Open the program with a time ofprayer. Ask for prayer requests andthen ask several women to offer upprayers to the Lord.

RejoiceSpend some time singing praise and

worship songs. Some suggested songsare: I Will Enter His Gates WithThanksgiving In My Heart, This isthe Day, Lord, We Lift Your Nameon High and Song #184, Praise Him,Praise Him from The Salvation ArmySong Book.

AcknowledgeAsk the women to share brief testi-

monies about what God has done inthe past for them and what He isdoing in their lives today. Or ahead oftime, ask one woman to come pre-pared to give a longer testimony.

InspireWe can find inspiration in Gods

Word.

A Have a sword drill usingScriptures that have the words,praise, joy, rejoicing or worship inthem.Suggested verses for praise are:Psalm 7:17; 9:2; 18:46; 41:13; 47:6.

Verses about joy: Psalm 33:3; 51:12;

71:23; 95:1.A Print these verses on small cards

and place them in a clay pot. Askthe women to select a card andread it to the group. They cankeep the card as a reminder ofGods promises.

A Give each woman a sheet ofpaper with the words Praise,Worship, or Rejoice written onthe top. Ask them to see howmany words they can create using

these letters. The woman whocomes up with the most wordswins a prize.

Supplication

Ask the women to pair up andspend a few moments sharing prayerrequests and praise reports. Theninvite them to pray for one another.

ExpoundExpound on Gods Word in order to

find application and meaning in life. Share the devotional The Solarium.

Living in the Son Light


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On the Jericho RoadThis can be done in the form of a monologue. Have someone sing On the

Jericho Road or use it as background music.

Read Luke 10:2537.

I was traveling home going down from Jerusalem on the Jericho Roadwhen robbers came down from the Moab Mountains. They robbed me ofthe little I had, beat me and left me for dead. The Major came by and see-ing me lying there passed by on the other side. (Not our Major of course!)Then the corps sergeant major passed, but he was so busy thinking aboutgetting the corps building ready and the visitation done that I guess hedidnt see me. Then this fellow from the corps came by. He didnt lookvery important, but he cleaned my wounds, bandaged me up, and gen-tly put me in the back of his car. He drove me to the Holiday Inn nearbyand paid for my room so I could rest. When I could finally get up andwalk around, the hotel clerk told me that my room and food had all beenpaid. Who was that man?

Thats right. He was the Good Samaritan in the story Jesus told. TheMajor wasnt really a Salvation Army officer. When Jesus told the story,he was a priest coming down from Jerusalem. The corps sergeant majorwasnt really a local officer but a Levite who was entrusted with the careof the temple. And the fellow from the corps? Well, he was a Samaritan,a despised half breed because he had mixed Jewish beliefs with falseteachings. But he was the one who stopped and took care of me.

All of us are represented in this story. You might be a very importantperson, with things to take care of but you pass by the people who needyou the most. Or you might be so busy that you cant stop and take careof the ones around you who are wounded. You might be like the hotel

clerk that is willing to care of someone as long as you get something outof it. Or you might be like the homeless in our community, the walkingwounded, weary and excluded from normal society. Im thankful for thestranger who took time to comfort me, to wash and care for my wounds.I want to be like him and help those around me who need a kind wordor a loving touch.

Most of us will go to our beautiful home tonight. Family members wholove us will greet us. But lets remember those who do not dress as hobos,but live the life of homelessness without much choice. They only dreamabout a place to call their own. Lets pray for those who are in this situa-tion and try to find ways to help them.

Hobo Party FellowshipAugust 2010Major Joy EmmonsEastern Territory

PurposeThis program

is designed forfun, fellowshipand outreach to

adults, but byadding a fewc h i l d r e n sgames, it couldeasily be a fam-ily night.

Program IdeasInvitations

Invite those women casually associ-ated with the corps to this program.Ask the women in the womens min-istries group to provide the names andaddresses of friends they would like

to invite. Encourage the women toalso extend a personal invitation.Ahead of time send out the followinginvitation pinned to a scrap of cloth.

A Hobo PartyA patch of cloth, a ragged hat,

Youll be a hobo, as quick as that!Come to our picnic (or supper),

and dont be late.Hobos, you know, dont like to wait!

Date: Time: Place:

RefreshmentServe sandwiches, pickles, potato

chips, cookies and pieces of fruit.Place individual portions in plastic orbrown paper bags. Put the bag in themiddle of a square of fabric. Tie theends together to form a hobos pouch.An alternate suggestion would be toserve Hobo (beef) Stew or soup.

DecorationsMake placemats out of newspaper.

Use chipped bowls from the thriftstore or tin cans that have beenopened with a safety can opener asbowls. Utilize barrels and old chairs as

seating. Make a campfire using sticks,red foil and a battered pot.

GamesA good source for games is the book

Are We Having Fun Yet? by David A.Baxendale, Guardian Books. The fol-lowing are a couple of suggestionsfrom that book.

Give Me a HandoutThe leader goes to each player and

says, Give me a handout. The player

must give a quote, a proverb, a line ofverse, a song or book title containingthe word hand. An answer cant berepeated. If it is, or the person cantthink of an answer, they are out. The

following are some examples:1. Put your hand in the hand of the

Man who stilled the waters. (song)2. A bird in the hand, is worth two in

the bush. (proverb)3. If youre happy and you know it

clap your hands. (song)

Where Did I Camp Last Night?Each player gives a description of

the place where she camped, while theother players try to guess the location.Have some examples ready for thosewho may be willing to participate ifsomeone else begins.

1. Although I was physically in onelocation, I was able to visit manycountries. Epcot Center,

Orlando, Florida2. I was by the Merrimack River,

camped under a canopy. I lookedat the beautiful Gold Dome StateCapital of NH.

Christa McAuliffe Planetarium,Concord, NH


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From the Dumpster to Sacred DutyOn the holiness table in the chapel at the Rockford, Illinois, Adult

Rehabilitation Center sits a wooden prayer box. It is made from beautifulmahogany wood trimmed in Birds Eye Maple. What few people know isthat the box is made of wood that was salvaged from a trash dumpster.The wood was old and marred and seen as no longer useful, so it wastossed in the dumpster. However, when the woodworker saw the woodthat someone else threw away, he saw the beauty and potential that laywithin. He looked past the scratches and marks and saw that the woodcould be made into something even better than it was before. The woodsaved from the trash now has the sacred duty to hold the prayers ofGods people.

We live in a throwaway society. When something no longer seems use-ful or might be in need of some repair work, it often is easier to toss it outand start over with something new. Unfortunately, this attitude carriesover to people as well. If someone makes a mistake, a wrong choice oroffends us in some way, it is easy to write them off. Our world is full ofthrowaway people others want little to do with. We want to make sure

something is done to help the homeless, those in addictions and those onthe fringe of society. But few people look at these individuals and see achild of God, someone who could be used in the Lords work. God does.

When the woodworker looked at the wood, he saw not only its presentcondition but also the potential of what it could become. God does thesame thing with people. He has the ability to look past our current condi-tion to see the beauty within us, and how we can be used for a sacred duty.

Read John 4:142. This portion of Scripture tells the story of the womanat the well. She was one of societys throwaway people. She was a mixedrace Samaritan with a poor reputation due to the many men in her life.Scripture indicates that she went to the well in the middle of the day,probably to avoid the scrutiny of others. Finding Jesus there she wasdoubtless surprised and maybe a bit relieved that He was a traveler who

would not know of her reputation. But Jesus not only saw the parts of herlife that she wanted to hide, He saw within her what she could become.Her life was touched and changed by Jesus and immediately she was putto work in the sacred duty of bringing others to Him. Because of her tes-timony, many others believed in Jesus (verse 39).

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart(1 Sam. 16:7). God looks at people differently than we see them. He looksat us differently than we see ourselves. He doesnt hold our past against usbut transforms us into something new. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Cor. 5:17).

Elite RepeatEducationAugust 2010Captain Karen SalsburyCentral Territory

IntroductionIt does not have to be expensive to

update and refresh a room. This pro-gram challenges us to look at a roomor an item and see what it can become,

not just what it is right now.

DecorationsDo something to make the meeting

room look different. Instead of usingthe overhead lights, use table or floorlamps. Create a centerpiece from someof the ideas below. This will demon-strate how making simple changescan alter the whole look of a room.

Program IdeasThrift Store Visit

Visit a thrift store and challenge

everyone to find something they canrepurpose (use in a different way thanoriginally designed).

Find New UsesBring in some miscellaneous house-

hold items, or ask each person to bringone. Brainstorm new ways each itemcan be used.

Craft IdeaMake a pillow from a placemat. Take

a doublesided placemat and use aseam ripper to make an opening in theseam, about 3-4 inches long. Insert

filler into the opening until the place-mat is full. Stitch the opening closedand enjoy the new pillow.

Ideas for Repurposing ItemsE PillowsIn addition to placemats,

pillows can also be made fromold sweaters or from tea towels.

E Office OrganizerAn old tacklebox with a variety of sectionsworks well as an office organizer.

E Kitchen OrganizerA vintageapron with pockets can be hungin a kitchen to help organize lists,

coupons and grocery ads.E Bud VasesSalt and pepper shak-

ers can be used as bud vases. Thiscan be a good use for pretty oneswho have lost their mates. Placeone at each setting or a variety ona tray as a centerpiece.

E Candles/CandleholdersMismatched or chipped thickglassware can be used as candle-holder. Thin ones may breakwhen the candle is lit. Melt old

candles in the microwave andpour into a container. Purchasewicks at a craft store and place inthe center of the wax. To hold thewick in place, tie it to a skewer

and lay across the opening of thecontainer.E Wall Art A childs favorite tshirt

can become a decoration for theirroom. Stretch the design over awooden frame and attach with astaple gun.

WebsitesThe following websites offer ideas

for refreshing or repurposing items:

www.countryhome.comwww.diyideas.comwww.diynetwork.com


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God Created Living CreaturesNot long after the wrath of Hurricane Katrina blew through the gulf

coast of the United States, the few remaining residents began to noticesomethingsilence. Not the kind of quiet that comes from the lack ofindustries running at full power or the lack of traffic noise. The quiet wasfrom the trees and skies. The birds were gone. With all the technology wehave today, satellite radio, cable TV, Internet that connects us to theworld, we still were unable to heed the warnings and get out of the wayof the hurricane. The birds however, knew and moved on. They had onlytheir Godgiven instincts but it was enough.

In looking at the seven days of creation it is interesting that God creat-

ed animals before man. All that man would need to survive was not anafter thought. It was planned and well placed. While man is Godscrowning achievement, the animals placed in his care were created witha purpose. And God blessed them saying, Be fruitful and multiply, andfill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth. So theevening and the morning were the fifth day. And God said, Let the landproduce living creatures (Gen. 1:2224).

God brought the animals before Adam so that he could give themnames. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and toevery beast of the field (Gen. 2:20). The naming of the animals was asymbol of Adams authority over them. Then God said, Let us makeman in Our image, in Our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of thesea and the birds of the air, over livestock, over all the earth, and over allthe creatures that move along the ground (Gen. 2:26). God specificallyindicated that man was to have authority over all of the animals that Hehad created.

Animals are not just here to make our world lovely or to fill it withsounds. God had a purpose for their creation. He gave them instincts sothey could function properly. In having Adam name the animals Godwas letting him know they were important to Him. At no time, even afterthe fall, did God tell Adam that he no longer had dominion over the ani-mals. Mans accountability towards animals continues and we shouldtreat them as God intended. Our responsibility is very real and serious.We should always keep that in mind when dealing with any animals.

In the Dog House ServiceAugust 2010Captain Stacie McWilliamsSouthern Territory

Room Set UpArrange seating by dog lovers and

cat lovers. Invite the women to sitaccording to their pet preference.

RefreshmentsServe animal crackers, doggy bis-

cuits (cookies), nuts, sunflowers seedsand gold fish crackers. Provide waterand milk for the beverage.

SpeakersAnimal Shelter

Call the animal shelter and inquireabout getting a speaker who couldaddress the group on what servicesthey provide, how to adopt an animaland the opportunities to volunteer.Many shelters will bring some ani-mals with them to the meeting. Makesure you inform your group ahead oftime if there are going to be animals assome people may have allergies or afear of certain animals.

VeterinarianInvite a veterinarian to speak on the

importance of keeping family petshealthy. Also, ask them to conduct aquestion and answer session.

Service IdeasAdopt a Shelter

Check with the local animal shelterregarding providing dog and cat foodfor the animals at the shelter. Sharethis information with the women andask them to sign up to help. This is aproject they can do with their childrenand grandchildren.

Foster HomeThe women can provide a foster

home for animals that need care before being adopted. Call the local

shelter or an animal rescue organiza-tion and inquire about their program.

When being sent overseas, manyservice men and women must leavetheir beloved pets and have no one tocare for them. Guardian Angels forSoldiers Pets is a program that allowsindividuals to provide a foster homefor these pets. Check the websitewww.guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org for further information.

Lions ClubContact the Lions Club for informa-

tion on their service dog programLeader Dogs for the Blind. This pro-gram assists the blind in becomingindependent. Check the website

www.leaderdog.org for more infor-mation on this program and how tovolunteer.

Game

Invite everyone to bring a picture oftheir petpast or present. Ask thewomen to match the pet with itsowner.

Door PrizesGive prizes to the women in the fol-lowing categories:! Strangest pet! Largest pet! Smallest pet! Largest number of pets in their

home! Oldest pet


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Quiet Time Produces FruitDo you remember the old commercial, Calgon Take Me Away? I

used to love saying that whenever I got a little overextended or stressedout. I love bubble baths. I lock the door so no one can interrupt me.Slipping into the bubbles and warm water, I relax and shut out the world.I could spend hours in there, but as I am a mother and a wife, the time isalways too short.

How often do we get so busy doing things that we forget to have anyquiet time with God and then our life seems to spiral out of control? Weget upset easily and feel under appreciated. Simple tasks seem monu-mental and we discover that we have lost our joy.

No matter how busy we get, whether it is driving kids to and fromschool, baseball practice, cooking meals, cleaning the house, doing thelaundry and juggling all of these tasks along with a career, we need totake time out to relax and rejuvenate.

Just as taking time for yourself helps you relax, quiet time with Godproduces a healthy relationship with Him, others and ourselves. We readin Galatians 5:2226, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and selfcontrol.Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesushave crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since welive by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not becomeconceited, provoking and envying each other. We need to take time outto refocus our attention on God. To be like Jesus in all we do, we musttake time to focus on His word and let Him speak to us. How can wehave the fruit of the Spirit if we do not spend time with Him?

I have a quote in my Bible that someone shared with me a while ago. Itsays, Are you on fire because of the Lord or burnt out because of your-self? This sums up many of our lives. If we asked ourselves this ques-tion when we feel burnt out, it would make us stop and think about whois in control.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious

thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the wayeverlasting (Ps. 139:2324). Let our prayer today be that we will take timeout of our hectic schedules to have quiet time with God. May we grow inthe fruits of the Spirit and be examples of godly Christian women in allthat we do. Never underestimate what God can do through you. Soinstead of Calgon take me away lets say, God take me away!

To Ponder or Discuss> Where do you like to go for your quiet time with God?> Do you make an appointment with God and keep it?> Are there ways you can build in some quiet moments with God?> Have you used any tools to help you have a quiet time with God?

WorshipAugust 2010Major Pam MarkhamWestern Territory

Setting the MoodHold this program at the home of

one of the women who has a beautifulgarden. Decorate the tables with gar-dening tools, seed packets and small

flowerpots filled with colorful flow-ers. Have a small tabletop fountainrunning for the sound effect and tohelp create a calm, restful atmosphere.

RefreshmentsServe a fruit buffet with a variety of

dipping sauces. Serve fruit flavorediced tea topped with frozen fruit forthe beverage.

FavorsTie Scripture verses to seed packets

with raffia or ribbon. Put fruit candiesor a fruit scented candle in a smallterra cotta pot. Tie a Scripture versewith ribbon around the pot and placeat each setting.

Program IdeasSharing

Invite the women to share creativeideas for spending quiet time withGod. This could be especially helpfulto young mothers who have limitedtime for themselves.

Sword DrillHave the women look up the follow-

ing Scripture verses having to dowith fruit of the Spirit: 1 John 4:78,Ephesians 2:14, Psalm 16:11, 2 Peter3:15, Lamentations 3:23, Jeremiah 2:2,Romans 11:22, Philippians 4:5, Gala-tians 5:23.

GamesThis Seed Will Produce

Cover 12 seed packets so that thedescription and pictures of the plantsare hidden. Open the packages so thatthe women can see the seeds. Ask thewomen to identify what plant will beproduced when the seeds are planted.

What Fruit Am I?Show different kinds of fruit that the

women may not be familiar with.Have them guess what they are andhow they think they will taste. Cut thefruit into small pieces so the womencan taste them.

Helpful Websiteswww.creativeladiesministry.comhttp://puzzlemaker.discoveryeduca-

tion.comthis website lets you createpuzzle games based on variousthemes.

SongsChorus #77, Let the Beauty ofJesus,*Chorus #61,Come Beautiful Christ,*Chorus #102,Spirit of Love, *Chorus #117, Faith Is The Victory,*

Whisper a Prayer In the Morning*The Salvation Army Song Book

Garden of My Heart


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Whats Your Fragrance?Whats your favorite fragrance? Is it an expensive perfume that some-

one gave you as a gift and that you treasure? Is it the scent from a specialcandle? Is there a fragrance that brings back childhood memories, likebrownies or hot bread fresh from the oven? Or maybe it is the fragrancefrom a certain flower, like a rose. Fragrances and aromas are all aroundus, in our homes, in the stores, bakeries and at the perfume counter. Salespeople want to share samples with you as you walk by.

Once when our family was traveling, we crossed the border into Maineand our young son shouted out, Open the windows, I want to smellMaine! He wanted to smell the pine trees and the ocean. Certain fra-grances and aromas often remind us of happy memories. In our home wehave candles in most rooms and enjoy the various fragrances. When wewalk into our office building on Wednesday mornings, it is filled with thearoma of homemade cookies, reminding us that its cookie day and some-thing delicious is waiting.

Read Luke 7:3638. This story about the woman anointing Jesus feetwith her tears and perfume is a pure love story, one that is deep andheartfelt. The perfume from the alabaster jar filled the room with fra-grance. It was an offering from her heart, a valuable possession. She gaveJesus her best and lavished her love on Him. She demonstrated her devo-tion and in turn He poured out grace as fragrant as any perfume. Whatis in your alabaster jar? What can you give Jesus?

Read the poem by Major Carole Bate about this incident. You will find it on theCDROM.

What will you give Jesus? God gave His Son out of loveextravagant,lavish, lifechanging love. May we fall at the feet of Jesus and express ourlove and receive His mercy. He is truly worthy of the best we have tooffer Him. May our lives and our homes be fragrant vessels for Him. Maywe give the fragrance of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness and selfcontrol (Gal. 1:10) to those in our homeand those we come in contact with daily. May the fragrance of our livesglorify God.

Whats Your Fragrance? FellowshipSeptember 2010Major Sylvia GroffEastern Territory

The History of PerfumeAsk one of the women to give a

report on the history of perfume. Thereare helpful websites on the Internet orcheck for books at the library.

SpeakersInvite someone to share with the

group how to make candles or per-fumed soap.

GamesI Spy With My Little Eye

Have the women make a list of itemsin the home that have a fragranceusing each letter of the alphabet.

Whats in Your Purse?Ask the women to look in their purse

for items with a fragrance: perfume, lip-stick, gum, Life Savers , nail polish,polish remover, toothpaste, handcream, candy, mint flavored toothpicks.

Fruit of the SpiritPut the following fruit in a bowl:

CherriesredApplesredBananas yellowLimes greenApples greenCoconutwhiteBlueberriesblueOrangesorangePeachespeach

Invite the women to choose theirfavorite fruit and then finish the fol-lowing statements. Ask them to sharetheir answers with the group.

Red cherries or appleshave pitsand seeds. Sometime I see red andloose my selfcontrol when someone_____________________________.

Yellow bananasrepresent a zest forlife. I find my greatest joy to be____________.

Green limesmix well with a lot ofthings just like a peaceful spirit. Thething that brings the greatest peace inmy life is __________________.

Green applesa natural, serenecolor, even and balanced like patience.I lose my patience when _________.

White coconutpurity and kind-ness? A little kindness goes a longway. I try to teach kindness to my chil-dren by _______________.

Blueberrieshave delicate skin.They are sweet and gentle. I desire tobe a gentle person because _______.

Orangeshave many layers andsections that represent a woman aswife, mother, daughter, friend. TheLord has been faithful in helping mein all areas of my life by _________.

Peachesare fuzzy representingwarmth and goodness. I believe the

goodness of a person is displayedby_________.

Fragrance ProfileWhats the right perfume for you?

There are many sites on the Internet tohelp answer this question. Here arethree examples:

http://quiz.ivillage.com/beauty/tests/fragrance.htmhttp://www.shoppinglifestyle.com/quiz/fragrancepersonalityhttp://www.care2.com/greenliving/quiz-your-fragrance-profile.html

RefreshmentsServe freshly baked cookies or quick

breads. The object is to have the itemsbaking during the program so that thearoma fills the meeting room.

Additional Ideas

Check the CDROM for other ideas.


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Whats Your Fragrance?Supplemental Material

Craft IdeaEasy Potpourri Ivy Bowl

Supplies Needed

4 3/4" Ivy Bowl (round flutedneck)9" Tulle circleRubber bandPotpourriRibbon and adornments

Instructions? Wash and remove the stickers

from the ivy bowl and drycompletely.

? Fill the bowl 3/4 of the waywith potpourri.

? Place the tulle circle on top of

the ivy bowl opening.? Secure with the rubber band.? Adjust the gathers so that circle

is evenly placed on the open-ing.

? Cut a 24" piece of ribbon orbraiding. Tie it around the ivybowl opening.

? Adorn with a floral pick, bead-ed tassel or decoration of yourchoice.

Submitted by Charlene Scheibner

GamesThe Sniff Game

Put a group of items that have astrong aroma in containers so thatthey cant be seen. Pass them aroundand ask everyone to identify them bytheir smell. Include items that wouldnot be considered to have a pleasantaroma such as onion, blue cheese andgarlic.

Candle FragranceGive each woman a fragrant candle.

They must sniff their candle and say

the first thing that comes to theirmind. The object is not to identify thefragrance but rather to state what thefragrance brings to mind.

For example: This apple fragrancereminds me of homemade apple piefrom my grandmothers kitchen. En-courage the women to elaborate ontheir sentence and tell the group abouttheir memories of their grandmotherand her baking.

My Offering

I broke my alabaster jarAt the feet of Jesus.

The fragrance of my offeringFilled the room.

My tears mixed with rich perfume.I wept and bowed

In gratitude.

Broken and poured outI freely worshipped.

Broken and poured outBy my own hands.

Driven by the Holy SpiritsPrompting.Giving all

To the Son of Man.

My heart was in that jar.All my hopes.

All my dreams.My future was sealed

In my small vessel,My offering.

Only One is worthy.Only One is Holy.

He gave His all for me.Sacrificial Living.

At the feet of Jesus.Broken,

Yet freely offeredTo the One who set me free!

My heartWas in that jar.

All of my hopesAnd all of my dreams.My future was sealedIn that small vessel.

My offering.

Carole Bate


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What Do You See In the Mirror?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.There is a saying, Of all the things I wear, my expression is the most

important. We read in 1 Peter 3:3, 4, Your beauty should not come fromoutward adornment Instead it should be that of your inner self, theunfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth inGods sight. What do you see when you look in the mirror? What does

your expression say about you? Do you look happy or sad? Are youangry or content? What are you wearing? Does it make you feel goodabout yourself? Often what we wear reflects how we see ourselves.

Beauty is only skin deep.What do others see when they look at us? First Peter 3:1 suggests that

when others look at us they may be won over without words by thebehavior when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Takea thoughtful look at how others see you. Does that reflection cause youto wink, wince, weep or wonder? What we wear should complementwho we are on the inside. But who we are is more important than whatwe wear.

Beauty and the beast.What should you avoid? Sometimes people are good and they do just

what they should. But, the very same people who are good sometimesare the very same people who are bad sometimes. Its true. Its the samefor me and for you.~ Mr. Fred Rogers. Even if you are blemish free, havea terrific hairstyle, or are wearing the most incredible outfit, you cannever look attractive when youre acting like a beast. If your attitude,words, or actions pounce on someone without restraint, they cut to theheart and can cause substantial damage. Consider how you can tame thebeast in you when it wants to rear its ugly head. Turn from evil anddo good seek peace and pursue it 1 (Pet. 3:11).

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.Who do you want to be like? For it is impossible to be in the presence

of Jesus and not be changed ~ Joanna Weaver. My heart says of you,Seek His face! Your face, Lord, I will seek (Ps. 27:8). The ugliness of our

lives can be buried in the warm embrace of Christ. What a beautifultransformation can be made as we begin looking not only at our ownlives, but also at the lives of others through the eyes of Christ. There is achorus that we sing that says, Open my eyes, Lord, I want to see Jesus,to reach out and touch Him and say that I love Him. Open my ears, Lordand help me to listen. Open my eyes, Lord, I want to see Jesus.

The next time you look in the mirror, look beyond what you see to whatis possible. Seek to reflect His beauty, a beauty beyond description, abeauty that never fades. Lord, may Your light be the sparkle of life andbeauty in our eyes. Let all without and all within be pure as Thou artpure.

Mirror, Mirror On the WallEducationSeptember 2010Major Valerie McDowellCentral Territory

Back to BackAsk the women to pair up and sit

back to back. Without looking theymust answer questions about theirpartners physical appearancecolor

of hair, eyes, clothing, shoes, jewelryand makeup.

My StyleBreak the women into small groups

and have them answer the followingquestions:

1. If you had a gift certificate to buyfive outfits from any store in theworld, where would you go toshop?

2. If you could go back to the timewhen you really loved your

clothes, when would that be andwhy?3. What clothing item, accessory or

hairstyle have you received themost compliments on?

4. Who do you know with a flair fordressing just right? Why do youadmire her style?

Whats Her Style?Place a selection of magazines or cat-

alogues advertising clothing on eachtable. Have the women cut out pic-tures that best describe someone else

in the group by completing the sen-tences below.

1. If I were to dress (Mary) accordingto what I consider to be her currentstyle, I would choose

2. If I were to dress (Mary) accord-ing to the style I think shed lookfabulous in, I would choose

Whats In Your Closet?Have the women bring in some

clothing items that they havent wornfor awhile. They could be outdated,too large, too small, too outrageous ortoo uncomfortable. Have them discusswhy theyre still holding on to an itemby answering the following questions:

1. Do I love it?2. Do I feel comfortable in it?3. What does this outfit do for me?4. Will I miss it if I give it away?5. Can someone else get use out of it?

If they decide they no longer want

the item, they can offer it to anothermember or place it in a bag to be sentto the ARC.

Accessories

Invite a couple of the women whohave a flair for accessorizing demon-strate how to change the look of anoutfit by changing the accessories.


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HospitalityRalph Waldo Emerson offered this thought about hospitality, There is

no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatterjoy, and not pain, around us. Tis good to give a stranger a meal, or anights lodging. Tis better to be hospitable to his good meaning andthought, and give courage to a companion. We must be as courteous to aman as we are a picture, which we are willing to give the advantage of agood light.

Hospitality is defined as the act of friendship shown a visitor. In the

ancient Near East it was tightly bound up in customs and practices whichall were expected to observe. The process of receiving outsiders andchanging them from strangers to guests differed from entertaining fami-ly and friends.

Have you ever considered that hospitality begins even before you openyour front door? Have you thought about the impact the landscapearound your home may have on your testimony? Does the outside ofyour house display a credible witness to those who pass by? Do otherssee it as your idol, a source of pride, or at the other extreme, as anunkempt or slothful area covered with garbage and old toys?

As you anticipate being hospitable, consider the initial reception yourguests feel, beginning with the entryway to your home. When there is anaesthetically pleasing front lawn, the real estate industry says the area

has curb appeal. With proper planning that concept can initiate a grace-ful transition from the hectic, busy world to a sense of warmth and wel-come waiting inside. With merely garden gloves and a broom you canstart the process of creating an environment that will welcome strangers.

While we want the outside of our homes to have curb appeal, it is moreimportant for our hearts and attitudes to display Jesus appeal. Wewant others to see the love of the Lord in our life by the way we treatthem and in the way that we offer hospitality. Share with Gods peoplewho are in need. Practice hospitality (Rom. 12:12). Entertaining focuseson the host, while hospitality focuses on the guests. Their needs are theprime concern whether its for a nourishing meal, a place to stay or sim-ply someone to lend a listening ear.

Scripture tells us that we are to show hospitality to strangers. Keep on

loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for byso doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it(Heb.13:1, 2). When is the last time you invited someone that you do notknow well into your home? Do you feel that you cant be hospitablebecause you dont have the room, or that your home is not nice enough?There are many people who would enjoy spending time in your home nomatter the size. Do you know a single person or an older couple whosefamily doesnt live near them? They would probably enjoy an evening ofconversation and a simple meal in your home. Hospitality means mak-ing other people feel welcome and in that way showing them the love ofthe Lord in your life.

Curb Appeal ServiceSeptember 2010Captain Liz WilsonSouthern Territory

IntroductionFirst impressions are lasting. A clut-

tered, unkempt appearance indicatesa lack of interest and care. The appear-ance of a wellkept house says wel-come. Our service projects will givethe opportunity to show the love of Jesus through our landscaping andcare for the things God has created.

Service Projects1. Corps PropertyTake a survey of

the outside of the corps building. Howdoes it look? Do the planting areasneed weeding? Do they need newplants? Plan a Saturday event tospruce up the landscape around thecorps building. Women who are notable to participate can help by con-tributing to the purchase of plants forthis project.

2. Seniors GardenCheck with theseniors in the corps to see if there aresome who could use a helping hand

with their garden or raking leaves. Puttogether a group who could give oneSaturday morning for this project.

3. Community GardenIf the corpsproperty has a portion of land suitablefor a community garden, the womensministries group could sponsors thisproject. Go door to door in the neigh-borhood and see who is interested inworking in a garden and receiving ashare of the crops. The focus of thisproject is not just to grow vegetablesbut to get to know the people in the

neighborhood and introduce them tothe Lord in a nonthreatening manner.

A Productive GardenPlant six rows of peas:

a. P_________ (Jas. 1:4 and Jas.5:7,8)b. P_________ (Gal. 6:9)c. P_________ (Luke 18:1)d. P_________ (Matt 5:9)e. P_________ (Heb. 13:15)

Plant five rows of lettuce:

a. Let us be_________ (1 Cor. 15:58)b. Let us be_________ (Ps. 95:2)c. Let us be__________(Zech. 8:16)d. Let us be_________ (Prov. 17:17)e. Let us be_________ (1 John 4:7,8)

Plant three rows of squash:a. Squash__________ (Prov. 26:20)

b. Squash__________ (Matt 7:15)c. Squash__________ (Isa 32:29)

Always plant turnipsa. Turn up for churchb. Turn up with a smilec. Turn up with a new idead. Turn up with determination


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Cluttered ClosetsWorshipSeptember 2010Captain Laura FentonWestern Territory

DecorationsDecorate using various sizes of plas-

tic containers filled with items typical-ly found hidden in closets.

Service ProjectOrganize a cleaning day at the corps

paying particular attention to the clos-ets and kitchen cabinets that often getoverlooked.

Program IdeasSpeaker

Invite a professional organizer tospeak to the group about the best wayto organize closets. Check ahead oftime regarding any fees they charge.

Closet OrganizationAsk a couple of the women to bring

a report to the group on closet organi-zation. There are many Internet sitesand magazine articles that can helpthem in preparing this presentation.

Group Discussion1. What items do you have great diffi-

culty throwing away? (books andmagazines youve read, clothesthat dont fit)

2. What do you do with these items?

3. What suggestions does the grouphave in dealing with this problem?

4. Share one organizational tip with

the group that has worked for you.5. What things clutter up your spiri-

tual life and stop you from beingthe Christian you desire to be?

6. As a Christian, we say that Christlives in us. Have you given Himaccess to all areas of your life orare there dark closets whereyouve stashed all those thingsthat you dont want anyone toknow about?

Clean It OutIts time for true confessions. Do you have a closet in your house or

even a drawer where you hide your clutter? Its the one where you hideall the items that you dont have any use for but you are not ready to

throw away. So you push and stuff it away until the closet wont hold anymore. It ensures the rest of your house looks neat and orderly, but if any-one looked into that clutter closet they would find a big surprise.

Read Galatians 6:110. The Apostle Paul wrote to Christians exhortingthem to help fellow believers. If someone is caught in a sin, you who arespiritual should restore him gently (verse 1). He doesnt tell us to beatthem up, but to gently and lovingly pick them up. He goes on to indicate,But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted (verses 2). We canthelp others if there is sin in our heart. Sin harbored in the heart is clutterthat disables us and causes us to fall and makes us useless to the Lord.

Jesus told His disciples Do unto others as you would have them do toyou (Luke 6:31). Too often, because of the distracting clutter in our lives,we walk by others without helping. We either pretend we dont see them

or worse, stop and shake our finger at them. How quickly we forget thatonce we were under the clutter of our guilt and shame, longing and pray-ing for someone to help us to our feet again. We should keep in mind thatevery inch we reach down to pick someone else up, is an inch from whichweve fallen and been picked up ourselves.

Paul tells us to support fellow Christians by helping them carry theirburdens. He does not tell us to carry the person or to assume their bur-dens, For each one should carry his own load (verse 5). But we do needto come along beside them as no one should try to carry their load alone.We all need help sometimes. If we help a fellow believer, their loadbecomes lighter and allows them to stand up straighter. When we gethome from the grocery store, it is so much easier when a family memberhelps to carry the bags inside. The task is so much easier when it is

shared. This same principle applies when helping someone carry theirburdens in life.

God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows (verse 7). Wewouldnt plant tomato plants expecting to harvest bell peppers! Howthen, can we sow seeds of sarcasm, misery and regret only to expect aharvest of sincerity, joy, and fulfillment? If we sow good seeds that pleaseGod, then when the time is right, we will reap a harvest of eternal life.Seeds do not mature immediately. They take time, work and nurture. Weshould not get frustrated or give up on our fellow Christians if they arenot acting as we think they should, but continue to support and upholdthem in prayer. Paul challenged the Galatians and he challenges us tokeep on doing good and to trust God for the results. If we are obedient toChrist, and our motive is pure, then we can expect to share in the harvest.

In order to achieve a good harvest, we must surrender alleven thesecret placesto Christ. Until we do, were like the clutter closets in ourhouses. On the outside we look neat and put together, but if anyone looksinto the closet of our heart, they would find a big surprise for darknessand chaos reign there.

Its time to clean house by throwing open the door of the closet of ourheart. Let the light of Gods love shine into even the darkest of corners.Hand over the mess and clutter to Him. Let Him sweep your heart cleanand make it like new. Instead of chaos, let Him reign in your heart. Thenyou can begin to do good to all people (verse 10) and receive that boun-tiful harvest Paul wrote about in Galatians. Happy cleaning!

bh - 4th quarter

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