MARILYN'S MOMENT

www.mdickson@fumcr.com                   

            Jaquelyn Mitchard, newly widowed when she was in her early 30’s and with three young sons, took a huge risk.  Instead of getting a job, being careful with her money, she decided to act on a dream she had for herself.  She wrote a novel.  Now the chances of becoming a successful first time author is not high,  but her book “The Deep End of the Ocean” became the first of Oprah Winfrey’s book club selections.  The rest, as they say, is history. 

            Now in her 50’s her 8^th novel has just been released.  She remarried when she was in her mid 40’s to a man 12 years younger than she.  They adopted two daughters and then had another son via surrogacy.   I tell you her story because it shows a couple of lessons for we who watch and wonder what living faith is about. 

            God calls us to be risk takers, to listen to our life dreams, to discover possible and practical ways to make dreams become a reality.  Taking the sure route and expecting the way to be easy never seems to be how life is fulfilled for those who place their trust in God and God’s ways.

            Mitchard states that age is not an issue.  In her words, “age is more a barometer than a thermometer, determining not so much what we do but what it will take to make it happen.”  So if God has a dream for humanity, how do we play a part?  What is our role as God’s people?

            Mitchard uses a helpful image for me.  Once when she was doing an article for a magazine in Italy, she saw a woman, who was very elderly pushing a wheelbarrow up the side of a mountain. “When I get discouraged,” she said, “I often see that Tuscan woman, lifting her hand to blow me a kiss when she was on the steepest curve.”  She looked strong and happy.  The wheelbarrow was full of flowers that were beautiful.”

            Can you see God throwing you kisses when the path of life is tough and steep?  I hope so.  God believes in us, loves us and truly wants what is best  and that which is beautiful for us.  We get to choose what we need to do to make that happen.  See you in church or on the way.  Marilyn

2007 UPCOMING EVENTS

 DIVORCE RECOVERY (see box)

Next group will meet in September 2008

Sign Up on line at SignUsUp on website

Ph.church 972.235.8385

email mdickson@fumcr.com or 972.996.0111

2008 ANNUAL SINGLES RETREAT 

 Lake Texoma's Prothro Center

  September 26-28, 2008,  

  email mdickson@fumcr.com

LUNCH  BUNCH   

You are welcome - visitors and members alike.  Location listed in Church school classes weekly.  Every Sunday and meet there after the 11:00 church service.  The locations change weekly and your children (any age) are always welcome. 

 SPAN -Single Parent Action Network

 A support group for Single Parents - through dinner meetings (third Mondays) and networking this group addresses the needs of single parent families struggling with limited time and resources.  Call SUE HARDIN the week before the dinner at 972.562.8128 See the SPAN page.

OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES

Habitat Homes, Body and Soul, Network Food Bank, Hands on Opportunites. Contact John Buehner, 972-567-1366 or jbuehner64@sbcglobal.net

Young Adult, College Age and Senior Adult Ministries have their own pages.

DIVORCE RECOVERY SEMINAR
Tuesdays for 8 WEEKS (note the extended session)

Next session: 
September 23 - November 11, 2008

For anyone who is divorced or divorcing

$40.00 includes all materials and childcare if pre-registered. Some scholarships

Extra brochures in church office or
print registration brochure (pdf format, 74k)