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Reflections Magazine - March Feature Article |
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A Lesson in My Garden
by
Stephanie Suber
I was thrilled when I found the bird’s nest snuggled in the pot
with my Boston fern. “I am going to be able to teach
Alexander all kinds of things about nature,” I thought,
looking at the light blue eggs.
I did not realize that I would be the one learning the lesson.
We watched daily for any sign of movement from the eggs. We
carefully watered around the nest so we wouldn’t disturb
it. We anxiously awaited the return of the mother and
the birth of the baby birds. Sadly, she never came back.
After we realized the mother had abandoned her eggs, we
lost interest.
Months went by and we became occupied with swimming parties, camp
meetings, and summer guests. I forgot all about the nest
until I looked out my window one day at the end of
summer.
My fern was looking beautiful! It was huge, with long, green
leaves—except on one side. The nest! I immediately went
outside to survey the damage. The eggs still looked
sweet and innocent. Everything was the same on the
outside. Yet—something was different. I tried to pull
the nest out but couldn’t. That nest had rooted itself
so deeply into the fertile soil that nothing was going
to dislodge it. Not wanting to risk harming the roots of
my fern, I left the nest alone.
The moral of the story? Think about your own life for a moment. Is
there something that started out so innocent yet ended
up doing irreparable damage to you? Maybe you chose to
forget about it being there; you were too busy with
other things. It did not show on the outside, anyway, so
nobody else knew. Did it grow so strong and root so deep
that when you finally realized the effect it was having
on you, it was too late? Are you like my fern that is
permanently damaged and stunted in its growth?
Are you harboring a grudge that will one day become so big and
complicated that you won’t have any way of getting rid
of it? Or is it a sin that looked so small, so gray at
first, but can end up causing eternal damage to your
soul? Is there any bitterness taking root in your life?
Did you know that “unforgiveness” is not in the
dictionary? When we say we have “unforgiveness” in our
hearts, it is really just plain old bitterness.
What takes root in our lives is what will grow and produce fruit.
Any bitterness, sin, lust, or greed that is deeply
rooted inside will show up in our daily actions. Take
the time, right now, to search your heart. It may hurt,
but try your best to uproot anything that is slowly and
surely causing devastation to your soul.
I hope I have learned my lesson well. Mama never old me everything
I could learn from the birds and bees.
“See to it that … no bitter root grows up to cause
trouble and defile many” (Hebrews 12:15, NIV).
Stephanie is the wife of Jonathan Suber, pastor of First
Pentecostal Church, Bogalusa, Louisiana. This article is
excerpted from her book, Growing in God’s Garden,
available through Pentecostal Publishing House.
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NOW
& THEN...30 Years of Service |
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From the President
January 2004
CONGRATULATIONS ON 30 YEARS OF SERVICE!
Gwyn Oakes has served Ladies Ministries for thirty years. In the Arkansas District, she served as Ladies Auxiliary secretary for one year and Ladies Auxiliary president for nineteen. She was then elected to national Ladies Auxiliary (now Ladies Ministries) president, an office she has filled for ten years. At the recent General Conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Sister Oakes was re-elected to a sixth two-year term.
Under Sister Oakes’ leadership, Ladies Ministries has developed several new ministries. Women of Worth (WOW) ministers in particular to the widows of our deceased ministers—to help them realize that they are still a vital part of the kingdom of God, to help them through their grieving period, and to assure them that they are “Women of Worth” to the general body of the United Pentecostal Church.
Daughters of Zion (DOZ) is a focused prayer ministry committed to the spiritual preservation of this generation and beyond, and the spiritual restoration of previous generations. Committed women join together on the first Monday of each month and pray focused prayer for their children and the children of the local church and community.
The More to Life Bible study series, written by women for women and designed with the needs of women in mind, was developed under the direction of Sister Oakes and the Women of the Word Commission. Reflections magazine was enlarged from sixteen to twenty-four pages, and subscriptions continue to increase.
Gwyn Oakes is a member of the United Pentecostal Church of Bald Knob, Arkansas, a church that her husband, L. G. Oakes, pioneered. Her ministry as a teacher, writer, and Ladies Ministries leader has included extensive travel to North American churches and those in foreign countries. She serves as chair for the Women of the Word Commission, and is a member of the Family Relationship Commission as well as the Superintendent’s Commission on Global Evangelism. She also serves on the World Network of Prayer committee, and is a board member of the Lighthouse Ranch for Boys. She has four children and three grandchildren.
© Gwyn Oakes 2003 |
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More To Life is equipping women with the literature necessary to teach friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family members.
Helping women to learn more of God's Word and His plan for salvation
Providing additional tools for Christian growth on a special website devoted just to ladies. http://www.moretolife.info
More to Life introduces a new Bible Study series designed with the needs of women in mind.
Begin your study with Book 1, Finding God's Favor, which gives foundational truths of the plan of salvation and how to bring God's favor into your life.
Two additional study books will lead the student farther into God's Word and strengthen her commitment to the truths she has studied.
Purchase More to Life materials today!
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More to Life Ladies Ministries Conference
Kentucky Internation Convention Center
Louisville, Kentucky
Watch for Further Details |
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