I Heart You

It is not very often that I am in the car all alone.  Usually I am cruising in my minivan, hauling kiddos to and fro. (Don’t be hating on the minivan – automatic sliding doors and stowaway seating, you gotta love it.) Car rides with my girls are a bit like being questioned by the KGB.  I get questions like, “What do groundhogs like to eat?” to “Why does daddy love you?” to “Do prisoners need to eat their fruit in jail?”

One evening though, I had to make a late night run to the store.  The prospect of some quiet alone time in the car was exciting me.  I could listen to whatever I wanted on the radio and not be peppered with questions or try to break up fights from the driver’s seat.  I climbed in and began my drive.  It was a beautiful night and it seemed like I was the only one on the road.

We make it a habit in our household to pray before we go on car trips.  I’m not sure how it started but it is just something we do.  We usually thank God for the day, ask for safety in our travels, and then the kids will throw in their requests.  Sometimes it is for a good day, to see a friend, or thanking God for new shoes.  You never know what is weighing on the heart of a three year old until you tell her it is her turn to pray.

On this night though, I had some things that were resting like a ton of bricks on my mind.  As is our habit, I began to pray while I turned the key in the ignition.  I pulled out of the drive and headed down the street. “Father God, I thank you for this day.  Please keep me safe as I travel this evening.” I whispered out loud.

As I drove to the store, my prayers grew more intense.   I was praying out loud and I was praying feverishly.  I was pouring out my heart to God right there in the front seat of my minivan.  Tears began streaming down my cheeks.  I was releasing every stress, every concern, and every problem from my tight grasp.  I laid them down at the feet of Jesus as I pulled into my parking spot at the store. 

Feeling like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders; I searched for a tissue to wipe my tears.  Then out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of something dark.  “Oh please don’t be stink bug!” I thought as I cringed and focused in on it.  However, to my surprise and great delight, I realized it was a heart!

Something on my windshield was making a heart shadow on my doorframe!  I must say, it was the best shadow I have ever seen.  It was like an “I heart you” message from my Savior!  In that moment, I was reassured that my prayers were heard, that Jesus cried with me, and I didn’t have to wrestle with those things anymore.  I left them in the hands of my Lord. 

In the course of your day, have you taken a moment to get alone with Jesus?  I believe the most powerful and moving times of prayer are when you really quiet yourself and share your entire heart with the Lord.  Cry out to Him.  Let loose and reveal everything.  Nothing you say will surprise Him.  He already knows what is on your mind and is longing to be alone with you.  He wants to comfort you and give you peace. He wants you at your real and raw self.  He wants you to know “I heart you!”

“The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV

 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV 

My special heart shadow!

West Ridge Women Spotlight #4 - Shannon Harsh

Recently I had the pleasure of sitting down with Shannon Harsh.  Shannon joined the West Ridge Women’s Ministry Team a few months ago and has had the excitement of giving “birth” to a latest “addition” to the Women’s Ministry, Encourage!

Shannon and her husband, Doug, live in North Fayette Township.  They are the parents of Haley (9), Gracie (4), and Jacob (2).  They are joyfully expecting the arrival of baby #4, Rebekah, in January.

Due to Doug’s job in the military, their family moves quite often.  They are experts at packing and unpacking, even managing to have pictures up on walls within a couple days of a move.  However, Shannon and her family have lived here for a year and a half so far and she’s hoping they can stay in Pittsburgh a few more years.

Shannon’s story is one a lot of women can relate to.  About ten years ago, before she became a Christian, Shannon was in a very bad and dangerous relationship.  She endured various kinds of abuse from her boyfriend at the time.  It wasn’t until she was seven months pregnant with her daughter, Haley, that she hit rock bottom.  She knew she needed to change her life and the only one who could help her out of her desperate situation was Jesus. 

Once Shannon accepted Jesus as her Savior, her life turned around 180 degrees.  Everything in her life changed.  She left her abusive relationship and bravely began life as a single mother.  With the guidance of her grandparents, she started attending church.  She moved to a different home, got a different car, changed jobs, and began her life all over again.

Two years pass by and at Shannon’s new job, she just so happened to meet the man who would be her future husband, Doug!  Shannon says of the day they met, “God told me as soon as I saw him that I was going to marry him.  When I heard that, I just laughed.” But before you know it, the two began going to church together, started dating, followed by an engagement, and were married soon after that.

Fast forward a few years.  After moving to the Pittsburgh area, Shannon and Doug began the search for a church home.  One weekend, while Shannon was away, Doug gave West Ridge a try.  Doug told her he felt like West Ridge was going to be the right place for them.  After Shannon’s visit the following week, she agreed, “It felt like home.”

As the one year anniversary of her first visit to West Ridge approaches, Shannon is very excited to put all of her education, training and life experiences to work in to leading the Encourage ministry. Shannon said, “This is something that I have had on my heart for years.” She actually is hoping that God will grow it into something even bigger down the road, “I’d love to open a house for single, abused moms.”

Encourage will be lead by Shannon and she has three coaches on hand right now to assign to pregnant moms as they enroll in the program.  Each mom will be assigned a coach to walk with them all the way through their pregnancy and delivery.  The moms-to-be will be receiving regular encouragement from their coaches as well as being covered in prayer by them.  All through the pregnancy, coaches will be available to their assigned mom-to be to answer any questions or offer advice.  After their new baby arrives, the new mommas can anticipate being showered with even more blessings such as having meals be delivered to them or baby essentials, like diapers and wipes.

The Encourage team is also equipped for any type of pregnancy as well.  The ministry is prepared and trained to handle such issues as: unplanned pregnancies, single motherhood, miscarriages, and premature births.  Also, Encourage is not limited only to ladies who are members of West Ridge.  “We want to reach out to the community too.” Shannon explains. 

If you are expecting and would like to sign up for the Encourage ministry or if you would like to serve in the ministry alongside Shannon, please email her at: encourage@westridge.cc.

No one escapes a West Ridge Women’s Spotlight interview without answering the Super Six questions…  Here’s what Shannon shared with us:

1. Are you a morning person or night owl?  I’m a morning person, but only because I have to be. I’m in bed by 9:00.  As soon as the kids go down, I’m going down too!
2. What was the last book you read? “Angels Walking” by Karen Kingsbury
3. What is your favorite way to relax? Reading.  I love to read!
4. What would you have for the perfect meal? Jeremiah Fountain’s lasagna. He makes his own noodles. It’s the best I’ve ever had! Oh, and some chocolate!
5. What is your favorite Scripture to meditate on in times of stress? My favorite has always been Jeremiah 29:11. (“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”)
6. What is your favorite thing about West Ridge? It’s family.  I don’t come out of my shell easily and I’ve been able to do that here.  It’s really awesome.

Expect Success

My highschool yearbook

My 20 year high school reunion took place last month. Pause with me for a moment and allow that number sink in.  Two decades.  TWENTY years since I graduated high school!  Now, for some of you reading this, you may think twenty years? Try thirty, forty, or even fifty! And there may be some of you who just have tossed your graduation cap in the air a few months ago.  This milestone, well, for me, it required some time to really take it in and think about.

I did not attend the reunion.  The people that meant the most to me in 1994 were not going to be attending.  I felt that since I still kept in touch with them through Facebook, plunking down a chunk of cash for the reunion to be around a bunch of people I hardly knew 20 years ago wasn’t worth it. Of course that didn’t stop me from checking out the reunion pictures from the “official reunion” Facebook page.  Oh come on, you know you would too!

As I looked at the group picture of everyone in attendance at the reunion, I hardly recognized anyone.  The names sounded familiar but the faces… not so much.  So naturally it was time to dig out the old yearbook! Thankfully it was tucked away in my old bedroom.  When I pulled it out, all those high school memories came flooding back. I scanned the title on the front, “Expect Success”. “Hmm... Really? That’s quite a statement.” I thought.  Twenty years ago, I didn’t expect success.  I just wanted to get out of high school.  I was ready to take my diploma and run out the door.

You guys, I will be the first to admit, 1994 was not the height of fashion either.  The hair.  The BIG hair. And pegged jeans.  My word. But I digress… Anyhow, I flipped through the first few pages.  I read all the little notes and comments from friends. (Remember "K.I.T."? Keep in touch! Do teenagers even write that kind of stuff anymore? I’m pretty sure they don’t.)  Most the references and little jokes totally escaped me here in 2014.  I had no idea what some of these people were writing about or who they even were! Oh, but there were some precious notes from best friends way back then.  They made me smile and remember some of the fun, fun times we had.

After reading all the notes and comments, I headed to the index to find all the places my picture was.  Let me tell you, my pictures were very few and very far between. My quotes in the yearbook were even sparser.  I began to regret not participating more, not joining clubs or activities. The quotes I did have all pointed to one thing – graduation.  I simply could not wait to exit high school.  The end of my senior year could not come fast enough for me.

For the next few days after reading my yearbook, it haunted me.  I kept going over in my mind all the things I should have done or could have done.  I thought about all the things I missed out on.  I thought about how I had always felt like an outsider.  I remembered the teasing, harassing, and bullying.  I know I am not the only one who took a far staircase to avoid someone in the hall who could ruin your whole day with a few choice words.

Then, once I was really starting to feel bad about “1994 Marcy”, I recalled all the awful choices, mistakes, and dumb stuff I did. I think we can all agree that sometimes teenagers are not the wisest people in the world.  In 1994, I just wanted my life to hurry up and start.  I wasn’t motivated at all and so tired of school that I had no desire to go to college.  I made bad decisions about my future, my time, my friends, and I made especially bad choices about guys.

After about 3 days of high school reminiscing, I actually really disliked “1994 Marcy”.  And then a funny thing happened.  Pastor Mark Simpson visited West Ridge and gave a sermon about regret.  He went through a list of life’s “6 biggest regrets”.  I believe I checked all 6 off. Each one he went through, I would think to myself, “Yep, did that one.  Oh yes, that applies to me.  Oh, there’s another one!”

It’s been my experience though, that God will always find a way to speak to your heart, especially when you are hurting.  Sometimes He speaks right to you, or through His Word, or through another person.  That Sunday morning, God chose to speak to me through the message Mark was delivering. 

After Mark got done talking about the regrets that we may have in our past, he talked about how the only true antidote for regret is repentance.  God reminded me that all those mistakes and bad choices were washed away.  My burden lifted and eyes opened.  All that dislike for “1994 Marcy” melted away. 

When I accepted Jesus as my Savior, my sins were forgiven.  My slate wiped clean.  I repented of my old ways and turned away from them.  Once that happened, my friend, my life was radically different.

Because Jesus is my Savior, I do expect success. 

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NIV)

“He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.” Proverbs 2:7 (NIV)

Ladies, we are always here for you! If you are struggling with something today, be it past regrets or anything at all, please email women@westridge.cc with questions or prayers.  We love you!

Unchained

“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.” 2 Timothy 2:8-9 (NIV) 

When I read that verse a few days ago, the very end of it struck me.  God’s word is not chained.  What a powerful statement.  I immediately thought of my Bible.  My mind drifted to how I love to pick it up and read it.  Whether I’m directed to a verse at church, or from a devotional, or even just randomly, I love to read God’s word!

We are so blessed in this country to have the freedom to own a Bible.  We can read it whenever we want.  Plus we have access to so many different versions and translations. Of course, you can always download an app for your phone or tablet and have super quick access to scripture.  The word of God is not chained.  You can read it out loud or silently to yourself, “share it” on Facebook, teach it to your family, encourage others with it, and even write it on a piece of poster board and hold it up at a sporting event for all to see (John 3:16!).  Well, you get the idea.  The possibilities are endless.

There are so many though, who don’t have that luxury.  Around the globe, there are people who are so hungry for Christ that a suitcase full of Bibles is the most precious thing in the world to them.  I recall watching a video not too long ago of a group of Christians all the way across the world receiving Bibles.  At first the scene is loud and a bit chaotic as each person vies for a Bible from the suitcase.  They are not rude or pushing each other but so excited to even touch a Bible that they simply cannot contain themselves.   The camera pans to a man as he gently kisses his copy while on the verge of tears.  Others are also kissing their copies and carefully peeling off the protective plastic.  Then it is very quiet.  Complete silence.  You know why? Because all these people are reading their Bibles.  Remembering that scene, I realized…  Yes, God’s word cannot be chained!

God’s word is living and active.  The Bible says in Isaiah 55:11, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” God’s word is not chained.  How can it be? God tells us that his word will not return void.  It will accomplish whatever God wants it to!

The word of God comforts us during times of stress (Ps. 55:22, Matt. 11:28).  It consoles us as we grieve a loss (Matt. 5:4, Rev. 21:3-4).  It lifts us up when we are feeling defeated (James 4:10).  Scripture can guide us when we don’t know where to go or what to do (Ps. 119:105).  It fills us with peace (John 16:33), joy (Romans 15:13), and hope (Jeremiah 29:11).  Scripture reveals God’s everlasting love and His greatest gift, Jesus (John 3:16).  God’s word is not just a book.  It has survived centuries.  God’s voice, his power, his will for you is throughout scripture.  How could any of that be chained? God cannot be stopped.

So, have you read the Bible today?  I promise you that when you read it, and really sink in to it, God will open your eyes and you will take it all in differently than ever before.  The Holy Spirit will open your heart and God’s word will be written there. When that happens my friends, then God’s word cannot be chained!

A Grand Adventure

I know a bunch of sweet ladies who are expecting babies right now.  In fact, I know so many women who are pregnant, I’m afraid to drink the water around here. I am kidding! 

You know, when you first find out you are expecting a baby you are filled with so much joy and excitement that you almost feel like you are going to burst. Some women see those two pink lines on the pregnancy test and immediately start calling every person they know to share the news with.  Others, are more reserved, savoring this time, holding on to that special secret till they are comfortable sharing the news with family and friends.

Whether you shout your pregnancy news from the mountain tops or calmly spill the beans at the 12 week mark, there is still so much excitement and anticipation early on in pregnancy.  You ponder such questions as: Will the baby be a boy or girl? Wonder if it will have my eyes or hair? Will it love Elvis music as much as I do – oh wait, maybe I’m the only one who pondered that, ha!

While you may be suffering from morning sickness or the need to constantly go to the ladies room, you still look like yourself.  No one would know you were pregnant unless you told them. (Unless you are expecting baby number two, three, four, etc. then your baby bump just pops out immediately!) Being pregnant, especially with your first baby, is new and fresh.  A grand adventure you have only just begun.

Isn’t that similar to how we are when we are new Christians? We accept Christ as our Savior and our lives are instantly different.  You cannot go back to who you were.  After all, you are a new creation (“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Cor. 5:17). Some of us, so on fire for God, we tell anyone and everyone who will listen about Jesus.  While others hold on to this news, this Good News, not quite sure who to share it with or how they will go about this new life, but joyful and excited about this new journey.

By your seventh or eighth month of pregnancy, you feel a bit weary.  You are tired from getting up a bunch of times all through the night for various reasons.  Your back hurts, or your feet are swollen, or a food you once loved and craved is now the grossest thing in the world to you (I’m talking about you potato soup!)  You are excited about the baby’s arrival but you are really hoping these weeks would hurry up and pass already.  You are still you, but not the “you” that you used to be.  Your belly is letting the world know either you are expecting a baby or just swallowed a giant watermelon. Your feet may have gone up a shoe size. Or maybe your once straight hair is now wavy.

That time in pregnancy reminds me so much of valleys we sometimes face in our daily Christian walk.  We are still excited about Christ but some of that “newness” has worn off.  We love the Lord but sometimes we allow the trials of daily life to take our focus off of Jesus.  We make some changes in our life that will more align us with our faith but there may be some unpleasant, even painful consequences to that. 

While those nine months of pregnancy (ok, really more like ten months, about 80 percent of women deliver their babies sometime between 37 and 42 weeks) pass by, you are busy preparing.  You set up the baby’s room, get advice from other moms, read child rearing books, and pack the all important hospital bag (your own slippers, don’t leave home without them).

Isn’t that true of how we go about living our lives as Christian women? We are preparing for eternity in heaven:  Attending a church and making it your home, reading your Bible consistently, maintaining communication with God through a vibrant prayer life, and enjoying the fellowship of other Christian women.

I have to tell you that I have learned so much about the Lord and grown in my faith by having strong, Christian ladies around me.  They have taught me and encouraged me in so many ways.  If you are missing this in your life right now, please pray for God to open this door for you and bring it to you.  You weren’t meant to live life on your own.

Then, just when you think you really can’t handle being pregnant one more day, when you feel you have truly had enough.  You feel like your belly just can’t stretch anymore and you wonder if you will ever fit in to your favorite jeans again.  When you reach that point when you just want this baby to come out, you go another week and blow past your due date. 

But…  Finally the big day arrives! You deliver your baby! And then!  Then my friend, everything you thought you knew about being a mother, all flies out the window. 

It’s different and awesome and wonderfully better than you ever could have imagined!

That’s what I believe it will be like when we go and meet Jesus face to face.  You have waited and waited.  You have pondered, thought, daydreamed about what this would be like.  You’ve endured trials, troubles, and tribulations.  You have finished the race as Paul says. (“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7). You see the nail scarred hands of Jesus, and then…  Then my friend, everything you thought you knew about being a Christian, all flies out the window.

 It’s different and awesome and wonderfully better than you ever could have imagined!

The Lies Our Hearts Believe

“No one will ever love you the way I do.” Ladies, has a guy ever laid that line on you? If you have ever heard those words, did it make your heart skip a beat? Did a wave of panic overcome you, scared at the thought of being alone?

My younger sister and I were catching up the other day.  She was filling me in on the ups and downs of being a single, thirty-something woman.  Relationships are tough to establish these days.  And once you find yourself in one, sometimes they can be even tougher to maintain.  Often, you are just so happy to not be alone anymore, that you will compromise or stick around even when it may not be the healthiest of situations.

My sister’s stories reminded me of a lie that took hold of my heart for a brief time, long ago. I was not the best at relationships in the past.  I was awful at them. I seemed to always pick Mr. Wrong.  More often than not, I would pick Mr. Very Wrong.  I was drawn to controlling, manipulative men.  I stayed in relationships long past when I should have bailed.  There was a part of me that was afraid to be alone and another part of me that just wanted to be loved.  It didn’t matter if the “love” or attention I was getting was unhealthy or not.

Near the end of one of those unhealthy relationships, I actually had my boyfriend at the time say to me, “No one will ever love you the way I do.” For a millisecond, my heart stopped.  I had a life of loneliness flash before my eyes.  I allowed that lie to take hold.  My heart believed it.  Even after I finally ended the relationship, that lie still stuck with me.  After every bad date I had, those words would hit me all over again.

Not long after that relationship ended, I got saved.  I accepted Jesus as my Savior and my whole world changed.  My outlook on life and love was different.  That’s when I realized, my ex-boyfriend’s words, were in a way, true!

No one will ever love me the way he did.  Jesus loves me more!  Jesus loves me better!  Jesus loves me in a way no person on this earth could ever love me.  The love our Savior has for us is pure, true, and perfect.  Christ’s love for us is wide, long, high, and deep (Ephesians 3:18). 

So now I ask you, what lie (or lies) is your heart believing today? Have you been told you aren’t smart enough? What about not pretty enough? Were you told, like me, that no one would ever love you like a certain person does? How about, I can’t do this or that because of my past?  God can’t use someone like me.

I want to encourage you right now... that lie that has settled in your heart, release it. It is a lie. You are the apple of God's eye!  You are smart, beautiful, talented, and God most certainly can use you!  Don’t forget that God does not call the equipped; He equips those He has called!

Open up your heart to Jesus.  He knows your hurts.  He knows what lies are holding you down or keeping you back.  Allow Him to open your eyes and see the TRUTH!  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32).

“Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame.  Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.  You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.  For your Maker is your husband — the Lord Almighty is his name — the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.” Isaiah 54:4-5 (NIV)

Ladies, we love you and are here for you! Please email women@westridge.cc with questions or prayers.  

The Ordinary

Not too long ago, I got a bill in the mail from my friendly, neighborhood cable provider.  I opened the bill expecting my payment amount to be a certain figure but my eyes bulged and jaw dropped when I saw that the amount I was expecting and the amount my bill actually was were vastly different!  Once I cleared the sweat from my brow, I analyzed my statement.  Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But then I saw it.  My special “plan” rate had expired and I was now being charged the regular price.

Do you have those moments of craziness in your brain like me?  I suddenly started running through scenarios in my head of how to fix the problem.  Switch providers? Skimp back on services? Or gulp; get rid of cable all together?!  I knew I needed to call my cable provider but I dread making those kinds of phone calls.  I usually end up on hold for a long time while my kids scream in the background, or I am connected with someone I have a hard time understanding, or I get disconnected, or ALL three!

Now, this was not a life or death situation.  Nor was it a dire circumstance.  If I really had to get rid of cable, I believe I could do it.  (Now, my husband on the other hand, would have some serious issues with that, especially during football and hockey season!) So this problem/issue wasn’t really something that most people would deem “prayer worthy”.  It was just one of those run of the mill, ordinary issues we face in our day to day lives.

I was all set to start dialing my phone when I remembered; God cares about our day to day problems.  He cares about our “ordinary”.  He wants to be invited in to our everyday situations, no matter how commonplace they might be.

I decided to do just that.  I am not ashamed to admit, I prayed about my phone call to the cable company. Why not? God knows me. He saw me get all frazzled by my bill. He knows what is important to me (staying within my budget and having a happy husband!).  Why not bring this issue to Him in prayer?

So, I prayed.  I thanked God for His great provision.  I told Him that this bill was not going to fit into my family’s budget.  I prayed for great favor with whoever I spoke with on the other end of the phone.  I requested that that person and I would be able to understand each other and communicate well.  I prayed that God would keep me from getting nervous while explaining my situation.  Then I asked God to give me the right words to say.

I finished my prayer, picked up the phone and dialed the number.  I was fully expecting at least a five minute wait filled with “hold music” containing the saxophone and various hits from the eighties (How did Gloria Estefan and her Miami Sound Machine make it to every hold-music station’s rotation?!). My palms were getting a bit sweaty as I held my statement, scanning it up and down.

I was pretty surprised when the customer service rep took my call just a few seconds after it connected.  I was thrilled when the very nice woman on the other end of the line, patiently listened as I explained the reason for my call.  I was shocked when she told me she would be able to help me stay within my budget and actually save an additional $10 per month! By the time our phone call ended I was smiling with joy as she told me to go enjoy my afternoon with my kiddos.

You see, God cares about what you care about.  God’s love for His children is vast yet intricate enough that He pays attention to you every single moment of every single day. There is not a minute, not a second, that you are not in God’s line of sight. He knows even those “little things” that are a part of your life.  He knows you inside and out.  That means He knows too, what causes you stress and what puts a smile on your face.

My challenge to you today is this; make it a point to talk to God today. Talk to Him more than once.  Pray about the big things and the little things.  All those small things add up to make your whole day.  God cares, and not only does He care but He wants you to invite Him into your day. I promise you it will make a difference.  If not in your situation, then in you and your perspective about that situation.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7