A JOURNEY TO HEALINGa mommy meltdownME? A MARTYR?!

A Game of Cat-and-Mouse

THE SOY VEY COUPLE

EDITORIAL:Debbie Morris, Editor-in-Chief

Stephanie Evans, Managing Editor

Stacy Pack, Editorial Director

S. George Thomas, Editor

Joyce Freeman, Editorial Assistant

Gateway Media Ministries, Creative Direction

Katrina Sirmon, Graphic Designer

HOW TO CONTACT STUDIO G:STUDIO G

2121 E Southlake Blvd • Southlake, TX 76092

817.328.1000 • studiogmag.com

4 FromtheEditor by Debbie Morris

5 FindingMe by Kathy Henigan Jimerson

6 GreatExpectations by Joyce Simmons

9 Legacy:BuildingaLifethatLasts by Tammy Kling

11 AmazingAnswer by Lori Rush

12 Home by Margie Grantham

14 ADivineOrderofKosherPekingDuckonBagel by Elena Glassman

15 EmbraceLife by Ryane Nichols-Moates

16 SliceofLife by Barb Stage

17 ALife-ChangingConversationwithGod by Rebecca Wilson

19 ATitusTwoWoman by Jan Grubbs

20 MyLifeisNotMyOwn by Tammy Adams

21 MySpiritualGift by Ethel Azariah

22 It’sAllAboutMe by Irini Fambro

23 Fit4theKingdom by Emily Gilstrap

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CONTENTS

2121 E Southlake Blvd • Southlake, TX 76092Phone: 817.328.1000 • Fax: 817.416.5701

gatewaypeople.com

A JOURNEY TO HEALING

a mommy meltdownME? A MARTYR?!

A Game of Cat-and-MouseTHE SOY VEY COUPLE

Hello Ladies!

Do you remember the cool, crisp days of your childhood when you played schoolyard games like Red

Rover, Freeze Tag and Hide-and-Seek? If you’re anything like me, then recess was the best part of the

school day.

I recently noticed a king in the Bible who also played Hide-and-Seek, and no, it wasn’t David

hiding from Saul. Rather, it was King Saul who tried to hide from God’s anointing, God’s people and

God’s destiny for him. As young men often were in those days, Saul was sent out to find his father’s

donkeys. After awhile, Saul was ready to return empty-handed, but his servant persuaded him to go

ask the prophet Samuel about the location of the missing donkeys.

It all seemed so normal and innocent at the time. But what Saul didn’t know was that God was

ordering his steps and leading him into his destiny. When Samuel met Saul, he anointed Saul the

king of Israel. Amazing, isn’t it? The young man who couldn’t find his father’s donkeys was now the

king! Along with his new title and position, Saul received the Spirit of the Lord as well as a new heart.

After several incredible encounters with God, Saul went back to his family and normal life.

When Samuel called Israel together to anoint Saul as the king before all the people, Saul couldn’t

be found. It seems like Saul would have swaggered into the crowd out of his eagerness for the people

to know he was God’s chosen one. But that’s not how it happened. Saul was hiding

in the baggage or the equipment, or as one translation simply puts it,

Saul was hiding in “the stuff.”

I’ve realized that I, just like Saul, still play Hide-and-Seek.

I know God has called me, and I know He has gifted me with

everything I need. My own insecurities, however, cause me to

want to take refuge in “the stuff” and hide from the destiny

which God has called me to.

I’m sure I am not the only one who tends to play

childish games, so let me encourage you with this thought:

You have a destiny and everything you need to accomplish

it. God has numerous opportunities for you to walk in your

anointing. Don’t be found hanging out around the baggage.

Blessings,

Debbie Morris

Editor-in-Chief

Debbie Morris has been married to Pastor Robert Morris for over twenty-five years. They are blessed with two children at home and one married son. Debbie is the Pastor of Gateway Women’s Ministries and is the Editor-in-Chief of Studio G.

FROMTHEEDITORg

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“God, You must have us confused with someone else!”

My husband, Phil, wasn’t Abraham, and I certainly wasn’t

Sarah; but here we were, packing up our things and moving.

Disguised as “a really good job” and “a golden opportunity,”

nothing about this felt really “good” or “golden.” I packed for weeks,

but I couldn’t pack up all the memories. The day the

U-Haul truck pulled out of our driveway, I could only look back

and cry. Even though my body was in the truck, my heart was still

clinging to the four walls of that house. I had to keep reminding

myself it was only a house—it’s people who make a home.

Phil settled into his new job, the kids made new friends, and

I was left to turn a rundown rented house into a home. Every

morning my family would leave, and I would be faced with a

lonely house and stacks of boxes. I longed to go home and return

to the life I had known. I couldn’t let go, and I couldn’t move

forward. I felt like I was stuck in neutral.

After weeks of grieving, I confided in my best friend and told

her how miserable I was. Two days later, she called me back and

said, “I’ve spent some time praying, and this is what the Lord

keeps saying: ‘Tell her to pray, “Lord, what is Your perspective of me?” ’ ” I pondered her words, feeling almost angry. “That’s it?” I shot back.

“I’m dying over here and that’s the best you can do? What does

that have to do with anything?” Softly but firmly she replied, “I

know what I heard; try it.”

For days I stewed over her words: “Lord, what is Your

perspective of me?” It didn’t make sense; nothing made sense! Life

was turned so upside down, and I felt empty. Down on my knees,

I sobbed, “Lord, what IS your perspective of me? I don’t know

what to do. I’m lonely. Help me please!”For hours I lay on the hardwood floor drained of all emotion.

Drifting in and out of sleep, I began to dream. I pictured our

beautiful house in East Texas and the wisteria which wrapped itself

around the porch columns. The deep purple blooms completely

hid the columns. Suddenly, the vine took on a life of its own as

it began to slowly and almost effortlessly unwrap. Without the

trappings of the vine, the columns were strong and even lovely.

“That is you.” It was like a whisper, yet undeniably clear. I didn’t

move. A presence filled the room.

“You are like those columns. Like the wisteria vine covering and hiding the columns, the trappings of life and the needs and opinions of others have formed who you think you are. These things do not define you; I do.”

I had struggled with my self-worth for a lifetime. At a very

early age, the words and views of others led me to believe I

didn’t measure up. I never seemed to shine or be outstanding at

anything. Over the years, I found value and identity through my

husband’s success and our children’s accomplishments. People in

our community either knew me as Phil’s wife or as the mother

of Traci, Bret and Gay Lynn. Now I felt like I had no identity or

worth; I felt lost.

Mistakenly I thought God had abandoned me; but in reality,

He was finding me.I had nothing to hold on to, but God helped me understand

He was all I really needed. He knew me before others told me who

I was. He knew me before I was even formed.

“Lord, what is your perspective of me?”

I posed that question over twenty years ago, and it has been

life-changing. Over the years, I’ve shared these words with other

hurting people experiencing their own identity crises. These crises

can be brought about through the death of a spouse, the end

of a relationship, a job change or, as it was in my case, moving.

Circumstances may change, but they don’t change who we are.

Our worth and identity are secure in Christ, because He defines us.

When all else fails, ask the right question; He will answer.

Kathy Henigan Jimerson and her husband, Phil, have been attending Gateway Church since May 2005. She and Phil have been married 40 years and have three grown children (all married) Traci, Bret and Gay Lynn. They also have four grandchildren. Kathy was a counselor for ten years for pregnant/parenting teens in the Grand Prairie School District and still conducts support groups in her home. She shares her gift of encouragement through writing and speaking.

by Kathy Henigan JimersonFindingMe

IwillgivethankstoYou,forIamfearfullyandwonderfullymade…Psalm139:14a(NASB)

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Most couples enter into marriage with totally unrealistic expectations. Upon seeing the

man of her dreams, a woman may think, “He will be my Prince Charming—my romantic

fulfillment—who will bring financial and emotional security into my life. He’ll spend all of his

spare time with me. He will lift me up when I’m down and will cheer for me when I succeed.

He’ll build up my self-image and defend me against the cold, cruel world. He will understand

me like no one ever has before.”

A man, upon setting his sights on his Princess, thinks to himself, “She will be my dream

lover and will cook gourmet meals, raise our children and encourage me. She’ll always be able

to see the light at the end of the tunnel and will only have eyes for me. Whenever I arrive

home after a long day’s work, there will be a meal ready and waiting for me.”

When Prince Charming’s armor begins to rust and the little Princess throws a royal

pout, idealistic expectations tend to take a nose dive down the castle staircase! There are no

perfect people or perfect marriages on this side of heaven, and no one other than yourself

can assume responsibility for your personal happiness. Unrealistic expectations are completely

wrong, and they provide an unreliable foundation for marriage.

Romantic love, the kind of love that sends quivers up your spine and causes you to write

“Mrs. Prince Charming” all over the place, can never be the primary component within a strong

relationship. While feelings are a part of love, they are only a part. Young people grow up

thinking that happiness is only attached to romance. They believe when romance is gone so

is the relationship. In reality, a person who hasn’t found happiness while being single won’t

find happiness through marriage. True happiness comes from God’s Spirit within you and is not

dependent upon your situation or circumstances.

Novels, movies and television seek to tell us that “love is a many-splendored thing,” but

love is actually “a many-splintered thing” with several areas that require nurturing. Only with

the right tools—commitment, a healthy dose of selfless love, an understanding of God’s

Word and a fervent prayer life—can these areas be properly managed. When these tools

aren’t in their proper place, couples easily fall into traps that keep their relationships in

bondage.

Two of the primary traps which

sabotage relationships are unforgiveness and

miscommunication.

UNFORGIVENESSAcid can destroy the vessel used to

hold it. In the same way, unforgiveness

brings destruction into both your personal

life and your relationships. It is an

unattractive garment easily recognizable by

your sadness, sarcasm, criticisms, hateful

looks and unkind actions. Matthew 6:14

(NASB) says, “If you forgive others … your

heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

Forgiveness clothed in love brings peace.

MISCOMMUNICATIONOne hot summer day, Tony, a six-

year-old entrepreneur, set up a lemonade

Great Expectations

by Joyce Simmons

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stand. He placed a sign on his stand that

read: Lemonade | 10¢ | All you can drink.

A man driving past the stand stopped

and gave Tony ten cents for a tall glass of

lemonade. After drinking it heartily, the

man asked for another glass, but to his

surprise Tony said no! The man retorted,

“But your sign says ten cents—all you can

drink!” “That’s right,” replied the boy, “The

sign says ten cents, and that’s all you can

drink!”

What is perfectly clear to one person

may often mean something totally different

to another person. Healthy communication

involves talking about your differences and

airing out your discrepancies in order to

understand each other’s opinions. When

communicating, remember the following

three things:

LEARN TO REALLY LISTENJames 1:19 (KJV) tells us to, “Be swift

to hear.” When someone is talking to

you, be a steady listener. Don’t withdraw,

shut down or start thinking about what

you’re going to say next. Listening may

reveal something which can be used to

disarm anger or correct a misunderstanding.

Everyone has a right to their feelings and

concerns.

Also watch body language. This can

often reveal the root of the problem. Take

into consideration the fact that we learn

our reactions from our family members.

GET YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS IN A WAY THE OTHER PERSON WILL UNDERSTAND

People deal with conflict in different ways.

Screaming or yelling can often turn some

people away, while others may have a hard

time understanding someone who pouts or

withdraws. Before a conflict arises between

you and your spouse, take the time to talk

about how each may possibly react.

Dissolve your arguments so you can resolve them. A conflict that is left unaddressed can often grow into an unnecessary fortress.

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Building a healthy marriage requires

having the heart of a servant. You need to

be willing to listen, to consider how others

think and feel and to work hard to make

things happen.

TALK BEFORE YOU GET TICKEDWhat you communicate on

the outside is usually a direct

byproduct of how you feel on the inside.

Have you ever had a conflict with your

spouse in the morning but then completely

forgot about it as the day continued? Later,

your cheerful homecoming greeting may

have been met with a deep-freeze look

because your spouse was brewing over your

argument all day long as well as every other

fight you’ve ever had!

Dissolve your arguments so you

can resolve them. A conflict that is left

unaddressed can often grow into an

unnecessary fortress. Talk it out between

yourselves. Be positive and focus on

solutions as opposed to problems or

imagined anxieties. To learn how to build

bridges rather than barriers, read

Ephesians 4:25–32. This passage deals with

being truthful, loving, giving, forgiving and

real with each other.

Understand there are consequences to

your actions.

As I conduct workshops and retreats,

the saddest statement I hear time and time

again is, “I wish I would have tried harder

to make our marriage work. At the time, I

thought getting out was the right decision.

But now I’m facing the same problems, and

they’re even more complicated than before

because of my choices. Why didn’t someone

encourage me to hang in there and make it

work? Look at what it’s done to my kids.”

Many marriages perish due to a lack

of knowledge. Work together at identifying

and understanding the tools God has given

you to build a strong relationship. Use those

tools regardless of your feelings. Feelings

come and go, but commitment restores

order and provides a healthy environment

for your children. Learn how to do battle

for your family by knowing God’s Word and

standing firm on His promises. God is on

your side, and He’s waiting to restore the

desires of your heart. Through Him, your

expectations can be greater than you ever

imagined!

Joyce Simmons has been involved in women’s ministry

for over 27 years. She has authored several books

including Shared Joy is Double Joy and Selfless Love.

Joyce, the mother of three and grandmother of six, is

married and lives in Keller, Texas. Her official website is

www.dfmtoday.com.

READER’SPOLL →→ Whatisthebestmarriageadviceyoueverreceived?Expectations are always expected but hardly communicated. And

as you grow, your expectations change. Always talk about them.

–Jessica G.

Marriage is a “full-time” job and you have to work at it all the time.

Just like anything else, you get out of it what you put into it.

Always work at “out blessing” each other.

Never stop laughing together…choose to have fun. –Kristen R.

My favorite line from My Big, Fat Greek Wedding … “Remember, the

husband… he is the head of the house. But the wife… the wife is

the one that turns the head.”

Remember to make time for each other throughout the years so

when your children leave you are left not with an empty nest but

with your best friend. –Kathy O.

To pray with your husband before you go to bed. –Loresha W.

Deal with your issues now. Don’t put them off, they only get bigger

with time. –Karla L.

Mention it once, maybe twice, pray about it.

Argue naked…the argument ends quickly. –Hannah M.

When your husband comes home (after errands, after work, after

a golf game) greet him like he has just returned home from a great

conquest. It is amazing how a good greeting can impact the next

few hours.

Also, once or twice a year, ask what their dreams are (long-term

and short-term) and verbally express your support to help make

those dreams happen. –Aja S.

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YOURPLACEINTHISWORLDNo matter who you are, God has a plan for your life, although

at times it can be difficult to know what it is. Building a legacy

involves deepening your relationship with God and understanding

yourself and your capabilities.

A friend of mine believed her legacy would be to have a baby

and be a stay-at-home mom. When she and her husband were

unable to conceive, she was surprised because she had been so

certain of God’s purpose for her life. My friend and her husband

prayed and sought God’s voice on the matter. They eventually

adopted a beautiful baby boy, and today she’s fulfilling her life’s

purpose as a homeschooling mother.

I know another woman who never had any children. Now that

she’s in her sixties, she understands that God’s purpose for her life

is to have many spiritual children. She works in nursing homes and

helps friends and neighbors whenever they need it. She cooks for

them, counsels them and loves them.

Maxine Clark, the founder and CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop®,

runs a multi-million dollar company listed on the New York Stock

Exchange, but that’s not why she works. She recently shared with

me her own legacy to give back to the world through her business.

On a trip with Oprah Winfrey to Africa, Maxine experienced the

ultimate opportunity of giving back by distributing 40,000 Teddy

Bears to children with AIDS.

WHATWILLYOURLEGACYBE?You don’t have to be the CEO of a company to leave a mark on the

world. You only need to follow three important steps to build a

legacy that lasts.

by Tammy Kling

What’syourlegacy?Areyoulivingapurpose-drivenlife,orareyougoingthroughthemotionswithdaysfilledwithendlessemailsanderrands?Buildingalegacyrequiresprayer,contemplationandplanning.Itmeanssettingasideadayoraweektothinkaboutthestepsyouneedtotaketotransformyourlifeandensurethatyoucreatealegacythatlastsforgenerations.

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STEP1:PrayforGod’swisdomaboutHisplanforyourlife. Ask God to reveal His life-plan for your life. As you pray, use your

own words and terms. Ephesians 6:18a (NIV) instructs us to, “Pray

in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

All too often, we end up following our childhood dreams

without taking time to recalibrate ourselves along the way. It’s easy

to become fixated on a dream, but sometimes our dreams don’t

line up with what God has planned for our lives. What’s your life’s

work? How will people remember you? What imprint will you leave

behind? Seek God and ask Him to give you the answers to those

questions.

STEP2:ListencarefullytowhatGodtellsyou.Makeaplantoliveoutyourdream. Creating a legacy involves taking the time to plan how you want

to live the rest of your life and to figure out what it will take to

accomplish that. Are there things you need to work on? Do you

want to live a healthier life, be more connected to your children or

be more joyful overall? Take a day off from all of your obligations

and think about how you need to live the life you are destined for.

Planning involves listening. Continue listening to God’s voice,

and write a list of the steps you will take. Is it your legacy to be a

parent? Make a note of all the things that need to happen for that

to come about—including taking a vacation with your husband!

Is it your legacy to become a singer and share your vocal talents

with the world? Pray, plan and follow God’s leading, and then write

down the top ten things you’ll need to do to follow your dream.

Your list may include getting a vocal coach, setting aside two

hours every day to practice or joining the praise and worship team.

STEP3:Executebytakingbabystepstowardsyourlegacyeachday,andstayfocusedonit! Once you’ve taken the first two steps, post your action plan in a

visible place! Is it your legacy to build a stronger marriage? What

obligations, commitments or activities detract from that? Your

written plan of action might include a note to “just say no” as a

reminder to stay centered on your husband.

I have my Legacy Plan taped to the bathroom mirror as a

reminder to stay congruent with God’s purposes for my life. It’s

a fairly simple plan, however, when I wake up cranky, my mood

instantly changes once I read, “Thank God for this beautiful family!”

and “Be a better wife and mom.” I know I have to do both each day

to fulfill my own legacy of building a solid, God-centered marriage.

With a little planning and a lot of prayer and listening, you

can live the life you’ve always dreamed of and leave a lasting

impression!

Tammy Kling is an international author, writing coach and a member of Gateway

Church. Her books have been translated in various foreign languages and have been

featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and on Dateline NBC. She

writes with the hope of changing lives through the written word. Her official website

is www.TKling.com.

Studio G is published by the Women’s Ministries of Gateway Church, a nonprofit corporation, Southlake, Texas USA © 2006 Gateway Church. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Studio G has no subscription price and is supported through ministry contributions worldwide. All gifts to this ministry are tax deductible (in countries where this applies). For more information or to order, call 817.552.3612. Internet address: studiogmag.com

Do you have a friend that would love to receive Studio G? Contact Sarah Wronko at, 817.552.3612, or email their name and address to studiog@gatewaypeople.com.

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World peace, an end to poverty, healed

marriages—those things take awhile

to come about. That’s why I never

expected a one-day turnaround on my

prayers, but that’s all it took for God to

rock my little world.

I’m often awake at odd hours

during the night, and I usually take that

time to pray for whomever may be on

my heart. One Friday night in particular,

I was thinking about James. He has

been friends with my husband, Philip,

and me even before we were married.

He was at our wedding and blessing

shower, and he frequently went with

Philip to the driving range. James is a

diabetic, and over the last few years

had started dialysis while waiting for a

kidney transplant. His dialysis center

was near our home, and I would often

see his car there as we drove to church

on Saturday nights. Whenever I saw

James’ car, God would remind me to

pray for him.

After several months, I started

noticing that his car wasn’t there

anymore. As time passed, I grew more

concerned. Was he all right? Had

anything happened to him? We kept

reminding ourselves to call James, but

we never got around to it. So as I lay

awake on this particular Friday night, I

prayed, “God, where is James? Is he OK?

Is he even alive? Please! Bring him to

us!” God heard my prayers that night. In

fact, He already had a plan in action.

The very next day, as our family

was getting ready for church, I heard

my son say, “Mom, there’s someone

at the door. I’ll get it.” Since my son’s

only four years old, I went with him to

the door. As I opened the door, I was

surprised to see an elderly lady with

white hair standing on my porch. She

greeted me with a question, “Are you

Lori?” When I replied that I was, she

said, “I’m James’ mom!”

I was so surprised, I don’t think I

even greeted her. Hoping with all my

heart that James was still was alive, I

immediately asked, “WHERE IS HE?” I

was so happy when she pointed to my

driveway and I saw him sitting in a car

waving to me! I was shaking as I ran out

to the car to talk with him.

It turns out that James had gone

through a terribly rough year since I

had last seen him. First, his dad passed

away. Then, after finally receiving a new

kidney, he lost it due to complications.

In addition, part of his right leg had to

be amputated. Later, James lost control

of the muscles in his face and had to

relearn how to speak and eat. Now he

was back on dialysis while waiting for

another kidney. It had been a tough

year for him, to say the least. But he

was alive, and God had brought him

to us! I was so thankful to be talking

to him face to face. My husband and

I used this God-given encounter as an

opportunity to pray for James and his

mom. Before they left, we got his new

address so we could stay in touch better

in the future.

Godissogood!He hears my prayers in the early hours

of the morning, and He constantly

shows me how real He is. God brought

James to us because He specifically

wants me to continue praying for him,

and I consider it an honor to do so.

From now on, when I’m awakened in

the middle of the night with thoughts

about my family or friends, I will “count

it all joy” and remember God’s amazing

answer to my prayer.

Lori Rush is a Women’s Life Group Leader at Gateway and a stay-at-home mother. She lives in Bedford, Texas, and has been a member of Gateway for three years. Lori, and her husband, Philip, have two sons.

by Lori Rush

AnAmazingAnswer

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by Margie Grantham

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I stood at my kitchen sink looking at the small wooden house in our backyard—the house where I was born. As I gazed out the window, memories flooded my mind. Back then, our little brown house had a big front porch and a red brick chimney. I remember my dad rocking me in a straight chair when I was four years old. He would hide with me under the bed during thunderstorms, and when I was afraid of the dark, he would hold me until I fell asleep. Because the path to the cotton field was a long way for my short legs, I always wanted my dad to carry me—and he always did.I asked myself why my husband, Calvin, had wanted to bring this house from Ringgold, Louisiana, all the way to our backyard in Marshall, Texas. He said that he wanted to restore it, but now I was wondering what was he thinking! Much of the wood had been gnawed away, and the smell of rats lingered in the air. Every window was broken, and the rusted tin roof was twisted upwards. The wood of the interior walls had once been covered with newspapers, posters and calendar pictures that now hung in tattered shreds.

I heard God whisper to me, “This is what man has done to My church …”My heart ached as I thought about how the children of God gnaw away at each other with no regard to the damage being done. God’s Word has been plastered over with sets of rules, programs and doctrines. The stench of judgmental attitudes and unforgiveness permeates the air. God’s promises are distorted, His gifts are denied, His truth is dismissed as myth, and His love has been spurned. His church stands oblivious to its tattered disarray.

“… and I want to put it back together again.”After the restoration process began, Calvin became critically ill. As he recovered in ICU, I considered the unfinished house and asked God, “What about Calvin?”God answered, “Satan will do anything to stop the building of My house.”After a few months, Calvin was able to continue his work on the house, but I was starting to feel the strain of teaching kindergarten. I was tired all over, and my stomach hurt. Test results were reported to me, but I actually heard only a few of the words: “Cancer … ovarian … final stages … we can make you comfortable … we don’t know how long ….”We were in shock. I cried out to God for direction, healing and answers. I know God’s voice, and He was telling me I was going to be OK, but what did that mean? My family, church, friends and women from Gateway Church fasted and prayed for healing and life for my body. Two thousand years ago, Jesus took my penalty and paid the price for my salvation, which included healing. God spoke to our pastor and said, “This is not a sickness unto death, but for the glory of God.” I held on to that promise.

On January 28, 2005, I underwent extensive surgery at M.D. Anderson in Houston and was scheduled to begin chemotherapy the following week. Three days later, Calvin and I celebrated our 46th wedding anniversary in the hospital. That was the night things changed. I had a massive heart attack, and all my organs shut down except my kidneys. The “silver tree” supported 16 bags of medicines that were being pumped into my veins. Wires ran through both sides of my neck to keep my heart beating. The Disease Control Team was called in, and Calvin was told to call the family because I would not live through the night.My family immediately came and praised God for my functioning kidneys. They read scriptures, proclaimed God’s promises and sang praise songs throughout the night. When the doctors gave up, the Great Physician stepped in. I started breathing on my own, stopped bleeding internally, my heart began to beat on its own, my organs began to function, and the infection that had overtaken my body disappeared. I came out of my coma and said, “I’m ready to go home.”A few weeks later, I sat on the sofa and my thoughts turned to the triple bypass surgery I now faced only a month after my cancer surgery. I stared at the old house in our backyard and said, “Lord, what about me?” He answered,“The bride is sick unto death, and only the Father can heal her.”Nine weeks after heart surgery, I began chemotherapy. I was extremely sick for several months, and it seemed endless. I lost my hair, my eyebrows and my eyelashes. During this time, Calvin cradled me and rocked me like a baby. My family, church and friends were Jesus to me. When I couldn’t pray, they prayed for me. And all the while I knew the Father was healing me.

Today, I am cancer free, and my heart is strong. I recognize that my sickness was not just about me. It’s about His church and all those who made the journey with me, knowing that God brought me back from the brink of death to bring Him glory. Therefore, we can have joy in tribulation and suffering because God is bringing healing to the Body of Christ and glory to His Name.The house is still in our backyard, unfinished. It continues to remind me that the Great Physician is still working. My Father still shelters me in the storm and comforts me when I am afraid. When the journey is too long, He still carries me—just as He always has.

Margie Grantham has been a pastor’s wife for 47 years and an elementary school teacher for 39 years. She is the mother of Rebecca Henricks, who attends Gateway Church with her husband Tom. Margie is a frequent speaker at Bible studies, retreats, churches and schools. Margie and her husband, Calvin, are both retired and reside in Marshall, Texas. You can contact Margie at grantham@myfam.com.

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13

People are often amazed by the blend

of my husband, Paul, and me. You could

describe us in a number of ways: the Soy

Vey Couple (oy vey is a Yiddish expression);

When Fried Rice Met Lox; or Matzah Ball

Soup with Wontons. The Lord, with a

sense of humor, put a Jewish boy from

New York and a Chinese girl from Hong

Kong together in union to glorify Him in

spite of our cultural differences.

We grew up 8,000 miles apart in

two of the world’s largest cities, yet we

are alike in so many ways. Both of our

maternal grandmothers are incredible

cooks. During our childhoods, both would

go to the market every day and pick out

which chicken they wanted butchered,

even though each knew how to do it

themselves. While waiting to be picked up

by his mother after school, Paul enjoyed

eating kosher pickles and egg cream from

Eli at the neighborhood candy store. As for

myself, I liked getting fish meatballs and

soy milk from the vendors on the street

near my apartment building. Both of us

lived in high-rise buildings. He was on the

fourth floor; I was on the twelfth. We

both remember the days when power for

the elevators would go out and we would

have to climb the stairs. Chinese people

have often been called “the Jews of the

Orient.” We both come from cultures that

love to eat. Chinese people are known to

eat just about everything under the sun,

and food is always a must-have on all

Jewish Holy Feasts, except for Yom Kippur.

Chinese and Jews are found virtually

everywhere in the world. Most of them

are entrepreneurial, and they strive to

prosper their own communities by buying

and selling to one another. Both the

Chinese and Jewish civilizations have over

four thousand years of history.

Much of it is glorious,

but both have

had shameful

times as well.

Our cultures

are also

patriarchal-

based societies, and yet, mothers and

grandmothers are very much respected. It

has often been said, “If man is the head

of the household, then woman is the neck

which turns it.”

Surprisingly, there are many other

Chinese Jews besides our own children.

While many countries were turning the

Jews away during World Wars I and II,

China was one of the first countries to

open her borders to the Jews. There are

large communities of Chinese Jews today

in Kaifeng, China, where they still read

from the Torah and keep the Sabbath and

other Jewish Holy Days. It’s humorous

that my mom is so proud to have a Jewish

son-in-law. She even went to her pastor

once and said, “Pastor, you’ve read a lot

about the Jews, God’s chosen people, in

the Bible, but have you actually seen one?

Well, let me introduce my son-in-law to

you.”

Of course, we also deal with the

stereotypes of our cultures. Paul teasingly

says that I am the only Chinese girl he

knows that doesn’t know Kung Fu, and

I tell him that he’s the only Jewish man

I know who is a chef and not a doctor.

If you only knew how many times I’ve

been at a salon or doctor’s office and

people have asked me if I’m related to

Dr. Glassman in Dallas or wherever we

happened to be living at the time. People

have admired Paul for having a Chinese

wife because they assume that I cook,

clean and am always submissive, but then

Paul has to tell them that he didn’t marry

a “typical Chinese woman.”

There have also been many “ah-ha!”

moments throughout our marriage. There

was the time when it dawned on me

that my father-in-law’s name is Sol and

he had named his Jewish son Paul. When

my husband Paul became a believer, his

life was changed forever, and God used

him to lead his family to the Lord. It

reminded me of the apostle whose name

was changed from Saul to Paul and whose

life was changed forever when he met

the Lord on his way to Damascus. There

was another amazing time when we went

by Elena Glassman

A Divine Order of Kosher Peking Duck on Bagel

God brought us, Jew and Gentile,

together to glorify Him.

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embrace lifeby Ryane Nichols-Moates

My Failed Attempt to Look Classy My maintenance man was coming over one morning, and I decided that I

wanted to look a little more decent than I usually do. So rather than wearing

the scroungy sweatsuit, slippers and baseball cap that I typically sport when he

has come in the past, I fixed my hair and put on a casual, coordinating outfit

with matching shoes. I thought to myself, “Today I’m going to look a little more

put together than the frumpy housewife image I usually portray.” As we walked

from room to room talking about maintenance issues, I carried my 10-month-old

daughter, Willow, on my hip because she had a bad cold. Before he was about to

leave, we took one last look at a maintenance issue in the bathroom, and I caught

a glance of myself in the mirror. I saw that my daughter had wiped her face on

my shirt leaving a big streak of snot across my chest! I laughed out loud and

thought to myself, “So much for attempting to look like a classy mom. I guess I’ll

have to stick with the frumpy housewife look for now!”

candy-coated prioritiesAt the beginning of the year, the Gateway Church family made a commitment to

spend forty days praying and fasting. One of the things I gave up was chocolate.

During that time, my four-year-old daughter, Olivia, offered me an M&M which I

declined. When she asked me why, I told her that I wasn’t going to eat chocolate

for forty days in order to get closer to God. She promptly replied, “Well, I’m going

to get closer to God, too, but I’m still going to eat chocolate!”

Have Mercy! As I was eating my breakfast one morning, I heard the garbage truck pull up

outside. Because we were now well into December, the sound was an instant

reminder that I needed to get a rotten pumpkin onto the truck as soon as

possible. Since I had forgotten to take it out to the curb until now, I ran out to

meet the truck doing its pickup across the street. I noticed that it had already

finished picking up the trash from my side of the street, so this was quickly

turning into an urgent situation. I must have been quite a sight standing in the

street in my jammies, holding a rotten pumpkin in the drizzling cold rain. When I

asked the guy if he could take my pumpkin, he said, “No.” I was kind of puzzled as

to why he wouldn’t have mercy on me, so I asked, “Would it be OK if I just throw

it on the truck myself?” Again the man replied, “No.” Not understanding what kind

of policy he was following, I began to grow a little miffed until he said, “This is

the recycle truck.”

Ryane Nichols-Moates had a fulfilling career as an Occupational Therapist for 12 years. She is now delighted to be a stay-at-home mom and finds great joy in her husband of 15 years, John, and two precious girls: Olivia who is 4 years old and Willow who is 2 years old. Her motto for life is: Embrace Life with Passion!

to a Messianic Synagogue and the rabbi

prayed with Paul’s parents, who were in

their late 70s, for their salvation. Paul’s

mother, Millie, interrupted the rabbi five

or six times during the prayer saying, “I

want to make sure we are praying to the

God of Israel. He is the only God I believe

in.” We kept reassuring her that we were

praying to the same God—the God of

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. At the same

time, her husband was saying, “It’s OK. I

believe in this God you are praying to. Just

go on.” I stood there crying joyful tears

and laughing at the same time because the

situation was both moving and humorous.

I entered into my marriage knowing

that Paul had not yet accepted the Lord.

Our marriage was what one might call a

“missionary marriage.” I just knew that I

could bring my husband to the Lord. Little

did I know how my faith would be tested

before I saw my prayers answered. During

the time when I was struggling with my

faith, I was reminded that “the stronger

the struggle, the bigger the triumph.” With

a struggle as tremendous as mine, I knew a

huge triumph would come after my many

tears. God brought us, Jew and Gentile,

together to glorify Him. When Paul

received the Lord’s gift of salvation three

years ago, we had a “hallelujah moment.”

Another Jew had come to know the Lord,

and the angels rejoiced. Paul couldn’t stop

sharing Yeshua with everyone around him,

even when others considered him to be a

Jew who had turned into a “judgmental,

close-minded Christian.”

Paul and I are still growing spiritually

in our walk with the Lord. Looking back

on our journey gives us so much hope and

encouragement for the future. Our life

story has taught me that no matter how

hopeless life may seem at the moment,

God is still in control, and He has the

perfect plan. Just stay faithful and trust in

our King. Buckle up, enjoy the ride, and

watch with anticipation as He unfolds each

new chapter in your life.

Elena Glassman is married to Paul, and they have two children, Matthew and Mollie. They have been attending Gateway Church for two years.

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SliceLifeof

Everyday Sweet PotatoesThese potatoes are easy and can change the complexion of any meal. They offer a different flavor that even kids love.

4 to 6 sweet potatoes

1/2 cup butter

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup sugar

Peal, cut and boil potatoes until tender. Place in bowl and whip just

as you would to make regular mashed potatoes. Add butter, vanilla

and sugar and mix. Serve.

Barb Stage is a wife and full-time working mom of two boys. She has been a member of Gateway Church for 1½ years and is a Women’s Life Group Apprentice.

by Barb Stage

Festive Sweet PotatoesSpruce up everyday sweet potatoes for a holiday treat.

In addition to the sweet potato, butter, vanilla

and sugar mix, add 2 eggs. Put in oven-safe

dish and bake for 15 minutes at 350º. Top with crumbles

(recipe below) and bake until browned.

Crumbles (mix together with fork)1/3 cup butter

1 cup finely chopped pecans

1 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup flour

I sometimes put this in two dishes and freeze one for later, reserving half the crumbles as well.

WhyStudioG?The title, Studio G, was inspired by Psalm 144:12 which is a prayer asking God, “… that our daughters may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style.” The name reminds us that we, as Christian women, are in God’s studio as unfinished works of art. Studio G is committed to reminding us of the ways of the Master Sculptor as He continues to fashion us into “women of palace style.” In His studio we discover who we were created to be and we come to realize our true worth.

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16

I walk away. I hate this. I hate me!

Spittin’ mad.

Bitterly disappointed.

Grievously sad.

Lord, when are you gonna change him?

Cruel words I don’t mean.

Defensive. Critical.

Cold shoulder.

Pout, pout, pout.

I hear my God loud and clear:

“Do you want to be known to your

husband and children as Rebecca

‘irritable, prickly, grouchy, hormonal’

Wilson? Is that who I created you to be?”

I gasp! WHAT???? Absolutely NOT!!!!!

“ ‘Come to Me, all you who labor and are

heavy-laden and overburdened, and I

will cause you to rest. [I will ease and

relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My

yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I

am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in

heart, and you will find rest (relief and

ease and refreshment and recreation

and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My

yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not

harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but

comfortable, gracious, and pleasant),

and My burden is light and easy to be

A Life-Changing Conversation With Godby Rebecca Wilson

borne’ (Matthew 11:28-30, AMP). Come

to Me with your true emotions, but

stop the complaints. Tell Me about your

anger, sadness, hatred, disappointment.

Be brutally honest about your emotions;

grieve loss that stems from unrealistic

dreams and unfulfilled needs.”

No way! Good Christian girls don’t hate and

get angry.

“Oh, OK, they just act awful. Is that it

Rebecca?”

Yep, I should’ve known. It’s me that needs

to change, isn’t it?

OK, no complaining. Just honesty.

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Lord, I’m afraid to admit my emotions—to You

… to me. They are dark. Sharing them with You

would be like throwing up all over You!

A vision instantly appears in my mind:

I throw up all over my Jesus’ feet and nail-

scarred ankles. He bends down and, like a

mother cleaning up after her child, scoops

up my disgusting bile into His strong arms.

He stands up and amazingly the disgusting

bile turns into many, many precious jewels.

“Sweet one, when you come to Me with the darkest part of your soul, then I count it as precious jewels—treasure in heaven!

It’s when you ‘let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind)’ by coming to Me with it that I can implement transformation in your soul so that you can ‘become useful and helpful and kind to one

another, tenderhearted (compassionate,

understanding, loving-hearted),

forgiving one another [readily and

freely], as God in Christ forgave you’ ”

(Ephesians 4:31–32, AMP).

What a trade! What an exchange! My “yuck”

for Your healing.

I want to be Rebecca “kind, gentle,

tenderhearted, joyful” Wilson. Lord, I want

Your character and Your fruit in me.

“ ‘The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me …

to console those who mourn in Zion, to

give them beauty for ashes, the oil of

joy for mourning, the garment of praise

for the spirit of heaviness; that they

may be called trees of righteousness, the

planting of the Lord, that He may be

glorified’ ” (Isaiah 61:1–3, NKJV).

I don’t understand Your ways, Lord. I’m

sorry for all that is coming out, but I’m

really glad I can be real and honest with You

and with myself. Who would’ve thought I’d

have so much treasure in heaven? I certainly

never thought treasure would look like this!

Beauty for ashes.

What a deal!

Go figure.

Ability to be the person that God created.

A cleansed heart.

Bitterness gone.

Forgiveness.

Intimacy with You.

“ ‘I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh’ ” (Galatians 5:16, NKJV).

Thank You Lord!

You are truly amazing.

Thank You for loving me.

Because of You, I have love and

can also give it.

I love YOU!

Rebecca Wilson is the Associate Pastor of Pastoral Care at Gateway Church. She is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Rebecca and her husband, Dick, have been married for more than 30 years and have two adult sons, a wonderful daughter-in-law and three grandchildren.

By an act of my will, I choose to submit my emotions and the offense to the Lord.

Luke 22:39–46

I will acknowledge to God my true thoughts and feelings. In doing so, He gives validation

and empathy but also exposes lies and reveals truth. Matthew 11:28–30; Psalm 51:6; Psalm 142

I will repent and take personal responsibility for my actions. Acts 3:19; Psalm 51:1–9

I will forgive—myself, God and others. Matthew 6:9–16; Luke 17:3–4

I will rule out demonic attack by doing spiritual warfare. James 4:7; Jude 9

I will actively receive a heart cleansing from the Lord and then an infilling of His Holy Spirit.

Psalm 51:10–17

I will walk in the Spirit by exhibiting His fruit to others. Galatians 5:14–26; 2 Timothy 2:22–26

Intimacy with God + A Submitted Will & Emotions = Godly Character

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1�

I used to think all there was to being a Christian was just

reading the Bible, praying and going to church. I soon found

out that being a Christian wasn’t at all what I thought it would

be. By the age of 24, I came to a place of desperation in my life,

and I made a covenant relationship with Jesus by accepting Him

as my Lord and Savior.

Yet, even as I began attending Bible studies and listening

to my friends talk, there was something missing. How did they

know so much about life and walking daily with Him? I would

read the Bible and see the words, but they didn’t tell me how to

daily minister to my husband or how to raise godly children. All I

found were instructions on being submissive and using a rod to

discipline, and that wasn’t very appealing to me.

After praying for direction one day, I received a call from

our pastor’s wife, Lois Marie Freeman. Because we lived across

the street from the church and had a key, we often received

calls from the pastor and his wife when people were locked out

of the church. Yet this day was different; Lois Marie wanted

to meet with me. Chills of fear shot through my body. My first

thought was, “What did I do?” But knowing this precious lady, I

knew there was no reason for my fear.

I quickly dressed and waited for her arrival. As I opened

the door, she greeted me with a reassuring smile. When we sat

down to drink our tea, she asked me if I had ever heard about

mentoring. I thought to myself, “Oh no, here’s another Christian term I’m not familiar with.” I knew what mentoring meant in

the area of business, but I didn’t have any idea what it meant

within the Christian realm. Could it be the same thing? I always

thought you just learned about the Christian life as you went

along. At least that’s how I had always tried to do it. Lois Marie

explained that she had been watching me at the Bible studies.

She noticed I had been taking in all I could while also asking

many questions about life. My questions weren’t

interrupting the teaching,

but she saw my

frustrations

and knew

that I

needed

answers

to

questions

that were

basic to

everyone else.

My hopes

began to rise.

Maybe this

precious, godly woman would take time out of her busy schedule

to mentor me. Then I heard these words: “If you want me to, it

would be a pleasure to mentor you.” With tears in my eyes and

joy in my heart, I answered with a hearty “yes!” Beginning that

day, Lois Marie took me under her wing and began the mentoring

process in my life.

Little did I know that we would soon move away and my

time with her would come to an end. The discouragement I

felt was overwhelming, but the Father had a bigger picture for

my life. Soon after we settled in to our new home, we found

a wonderful church to attend and quickly made new friends.

One of the ladies I befriended was only a few years older than

me, but she was so wise in the Lord. It wasn’t long before she

offered to mentor me.

Time passed, and my husband and I were eventually asked

to plant a church. My friend and I both knew my time of

mentoring had come to an end. It was now my turn to give

back what I had learned. The responsibility of being a mentor

seemed impossible to me, but isn’t it just like the Lord to

provide an opportunity to depend on Him? And what a blessing

it was to begin the process with a younger woman. Yes, it took

time, but the blessings far outweighed the time issue. Now it’s

an encouragement to be introduced as a spiritual mom.

For me, mentoring will never stop. I am honored to mentor

other women while still being mentored in areas of my life. I

never want it to be said of me that I had so much imparted into

my life, but because of time, I selfishly kept a seeking young

woman from experiencing freedom in areas of her life where she

has had struggles.

Rise up women! Live out the life and instructions of

Titus 2. To whom much has been given, much is required. Allow

the generations to come and be equipped. What we have

been given must be built upon and passed down to the next

generation. I want to be a part of an older generation that is

proud of the generation taking my place. Are you up to the

challenge?

Jan Grubbs serves as the Associate Pastor of Women’s Groups at Gateway Church. She has been involved with teaching, equipping and mentoring women for over twenty years. Jan and her husband, George, are founding members of Gateway. They have been married over 36 years and have two married children, Heidi Evans and George Grubbs, III.

Rise up women!…What we have been given must be built upon and passed down to the next generation.

by Jan GrubbsA Titus Two Woman

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My Life is Not My OwnOne day, not too long ago, it hit me—my life is not my own. What’s more,

my stuff isn’t even my own. In fact, who am I kidding? With three small boys,

NOTHING in this house is my own! If I ever leave my warm muffin to answer the

phone, I’m bound to come back and find that someone has either eaten the top

off completely or else they have licked it, decided they didn’t like the flavor and

returned it to my plate with a new, shiny and slimy muffin topping.

When I sit down to read my favorite magazine, I usually find that someone

has ripped out all the pages with animals on them in order to play “scotch-tape

safari.”

My three little men routinely spill my Diet Coke® or drink it all while I’m

putting laundry away. They fill my bathroom sink with water and Hot Wheels

for a “car wash.” They pick all the chocolate chips out of the one cookie I’ve set

aside for myself, and they lick the salt off my french fries.

One morning, I opened up my Bible to have my quiet time, and I saw

that someone had lovingly made a bookmark for me (with lots of glue and

glitter) and placed it inside my Bible (while the glue was still wet) somewhere

around the book of Ephesians. The glittery, gluey bookmark was securely

stuck to the tissue-thin pages of the Bible my parents had given me as a

high school graduation gift 15 years before. It was ruined. Just like my

favorite topiary tree that had been used as a bowling pin and my cell

phone that had been accidentally flung on the tile floor at the McDonalds®

Playland, my Bible was completely ruined. And yes, I admit it—I cried. I

cried like a three-year-old and then proceeded to yell at my sons.

“Leave my stuff alone!!!” I demanded. “You guys either break, destroy

or eat everything I have!” By this time, my arms were waving about wildly.

“I can’t have anything nice in this house!!!”

As I gradually calmed down from my frustration, my sweet sons just

sat and stared at me, a little astonished at my outburst. “Mommy guilt”

quickly settled around me like a heavy, scratchy blanket.

I dropped to my knees, hugging my boys close and asking them to

forgive me. “I love you, boys,” I told them. “I’m so sorry.” As I said this,

the Lord spoke to me ever so sweetly:

“Of course your life is not your own, child. And your stuff isn’t your own either. Don’t hold so tightly to the things of this world. Instead, hold tightly to Me. I alone give you the things that have eternal value—your life, the lives of your children, My Son, salvation for you and for your children.”

“Oh, and one more thing …” Yes, Lord?

“… I love you, daughter.”

Tammy Adams is a member of Gateway Church and has been married to Chris for 12 years. They have three busy, bouncing boys: Davis, Gabe and Trent.

by Tammy Adams

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19–21 (NIV)

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Me? A potential martyr?! I had no

idea how, but according to the gift

placement survey I filled out during a

Discovery class at Gateway, martyrdom is

one of my primary spiritual gifts.

I have never come across any mention of

the spiritual gift of martyrdom in the Bible nor in

any of the numerous spiritual gifts questionnaires

I’ve filled out over the years. However, I did know

that, after Jesus’ ascension to Heaven, God gave the

Holy Spirit as a gift to empower believers in living the

Christian life. With that understanding, simply living a

genuine Christian life makes any believer a potential martyr.

While I was contemplating the meaning of martyrdom, I

discovered a number of books by Ted Dekker from the Martyr’s Song Series, and I began to understand that martyrdom can

often be synonymous with suffering for the kingdom of God.

These books helped me realize that not every martyr dies and

many martyrs often don’t know what’s happening to them or

even realize that they are being martyrs. However, there is one

common thread: Each person’s martyrdom results in allowing

others to see God.

This whole concept of being a living martyr caused me to

reflect on my life and determine whether I’ve actually used this

spiritual gift. I considered the

most difficult aspects of my

life and realized that I had

thoroughly submitted those

areas to God long ago.

When my children were

six and three, I became a

widow. Although I wanted to remarry, I chose to obey God’s

leading and earn a college degree. I followed His leading again

when I went to India with my children and taught there for

seven years. I am still single, and my daughters are now grown

and married. Raising children without a husband was definitely

difficult, yet whenever I reached my wit’s end, God would come

through in meaningful ways as the Husband to the widow and

the Father to the fatherless.

For example, there was one point in time when my nine-

year-old daughter would have frequent temper tantrums for

no reason whatsoever. I didn’t know what to do except tell my

Husband and her Father that I had done all I could and it was

His turn now. From that moment on, there weren’t any more

tantrums. Glory to God!

Single moms, students and missionaries are commonly

known to experience financial struggles, and I was certainly not

the exception to that. There were times of suffering, but God

told me to live by faith and never ask others for money because

He was my source. On one occasion, I returned to India with

only $50 in my pocket and no certainty of when I’d have more.

Even though I had to walk

everywhere for a while and

not eat much, God used

Indian sources to provide

all of my essentials until

my next check from the US

arrived several months later.

What is amazing is that I had never received financial gifts from

within India before that time, and I have never received any

since!

I guess I do have the gift of martyrdom and I’ve used it on

many occasions. Reflecting back on my life so far has helped me

see that the key to using the gift of martyrdom lies in being

submissive to God—whether living or dying.

Ethel Azariah is a former missionary and a retired ESL instructor. She participates in global prayer meetings, is a member of a Women’s Life Group and is involved in Freedom Ministries at Gateway Church.

by Ethel Azariah

MySpiritualGift

“AndhewhodoesnottakeuphiscrossandfollowMe[cleavesteadfastlytoMe,conformingwholly

toMyexampleinlivingand,ifneedbe,indyingalso]isnotworthyofMe.”Matthew 10:38, AMP

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You’ve got to love the old Tom and Jerry cartoons. I know that’s not a very profound

thought to start off with, but think about

this scenario for a moment. You have a

typical cat, Tom, chasing a typical mouse,

Jerry, in order to eat him. That was the

plot, storyline and basis for every show! Yet

somehow Tom never catches Jerry, because

we all know if he had, Tom and Jerry would

be over. Every episode, Tom almost catches

his prey, but Jerry always gets out in time.

All this happens in a half-hour segment

without a single word.

I love being pursued. I know that

statement makes it seem like I enjoy

playing games, but that’s not what I mean.

When you’re being pursued, you are the

sole object of someone’s attention. (Oh, did

I forget to mention I also like attention?)

A real pursuit takes time. It takes effort

and calculation. It proves that you’re worth

it. Why do you think the Road Runner let

Wile E. Coyote get so close to catching

him? The Road Runner and Jerry always had

a smirk on their faces as their shows would

end with them free from the clutches of

their pursuers. They enjoyed the pursuit, or

more accurately, they liked being pursued.

Few people truly like the pursuit

itself. Sure some love the challenge of

the game, but only if there’s a definite

possibility that they will obtain the object

of their pursuit. Who wants to pursue the

impossible or chase after something which

has the potential to really fail? God does.

IT’S ALL ABOUT ME!

by Irini Fambro

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ByEmilyGilstrap

FIT4THEKINGDOM

At least I know He has with me. It’s odd to

actually discover that God is pursuing you.

All along, I have felt like I was on a pursuit

to figure Him out. I thought I was on a

journey to explain all the mysteries and

to make God into exactly what I wanted

Him to be. Honestly, that pursuit ended

up becoming more about what I wanted

than about Him—the One I was originally

pursuing. Looking back, I now realize

that all my actions were merely responses

to His pursuit. I was only answering His

beckoning. He created me. He chose me

even before I decided to choose Him. He

sent His Son to bring me back to Him. Are

you noticing Who’s doing all the pursuing?

God is.

Jesus tells us in Revelation 3:20 (NIV),

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.

If anyone hears My voice and opens the

door, I will come in and eat with him, and

he with Me.” God wants me. He’s running

after me. He’s pursuing me. The world has

ingrained in us the desire to pursue, obtain

and achieve, and yet, we see here that

God follows a different economy.

What a relief! God is pursuing me,

because He wants to spend time with me.

He is pursuing me, because He wants to

know me so that I can know Him. He’s not

making all of these gestures so He can put

me up on a trophy shelf or forget about

me once He has conquered me. He’s doing

it because He wants to dine with me. He is

pursuing me for me!

It feels so good to be pursued by

God. Knowing that I’m wanted, desired

and sought after allows me to relax and

breathe a sigh of relief. Just the thought of

it changes how I wake up every morning.

No longer do I drag myself into the day; I

now pursue each day in the same way that

God pursues me—tenderly, patiently and

persistently.

Irini Fambro, an ordained pastor through the

Wesleyan Church, is passionate about preaching,

teaching and writing. She has been married to

her high school sweetheart, Kenneth, for seven

wonderful years and is the mother of three-

year-old Kalila. Irini and her family feel like God

providentially led them to find, join and love

Gateway Church.

NUTSYou’ve probably heard people say, “You shouldn’t eat nuts because they’re high in

fat.” That idea comes from the outdated view that “all fats are bad.” We now know

that while animal fats can contribute to heart disease, healthy fats, as found in

nuts, actually reduce the risk of heart attack and promote health in a variety of

ways. Nuts are a rich source of essential fatty acids (EFAs). A primary function of

EFAs is the production of prostaglandins which regulate body functions such as

heart rate, blood pressure, blood clotting and fertility conception and which also

play a role in immune function by regulating inflammation and encouraging the

body to fight infection. Fetuses and breast-fed infants also require an adequate

supply of EFAs through their mother’s dietary intake. Although nuts are high in

fat, it’s mostly unsaturated fat which has a beneficial effect on health.

• Studies have shown that almonds and walnuts can have a beneficial effect

on blood cholesterol levels.

• The protein in nuts is high in arginine, a precursor to nitric oxide, which

is important because it helps to keep blood vessels relaxed and open and

helps to prevent clotting.

• Walnuts, in particular, are high in alpha-linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid

that protects the heart and circulation. Various studies have shown that

this fat reduces the risk of heart disease and fatal arrhythmias.

• Because they are good sources of dietary fiber, magnesium, copper,

folic acid, vegetable protein, potassium and vitamin E, nuts can also be

important for the health of your heart.

Nuts provide a satiety which is especially important for those wishing to

reduce overall body fat. As hunger is satisfied, the tendency to binge on high

carbohydrate sweets is minimized. Because they are calorie dense, it’s important

to put the brakes on and not eat an entire jar full of nuts. For optimal health,

enjoy a daily variety of nuts and seeds: walnuts, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, filberts,

almonds, cashews, peanuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flax seed and

unhydrogenated nut butters such as peanut butter, almond butter and tahini. Add

nuts to salads, stir fry and desserts. A healthy goal to shoot for is one ounce of

nuts each day.

Emily Gilstrap, a former All-American gymnast, has a Masters degree in Adult Fitness Management and over 23 years experience in the Health & Fitness industry. She is an adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University and is married to Matthew, Gateway’s Director of Security.

Excerpt taken from “Fit 4 the Kingdom” Wellness Newsletter.

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