Fumc may spice newsletter by Isabella Yosuico

May 2013

Go Girls!

Dress Up in Wisdom “Obey the teachings of your parents, and wear their teachings as you would a lovely hat or a pretty necklace.” —Proverbs 1:8-9 (CEV) Imagine putting on a necklace that flashes the teachings of your parents to the world: “Sit up straight, clean your room, and don’t hit your sister.” What gemstones would represent “Eat your vegetables, don’t be late, and wash your hands”? Okay, that’s all a bit silly, but the point of this verse is to consider how we wear on the outside the teachings we have learned on the inside. The beautiful teachings—the ones that God would call “wisdom.” These may have been taught to us by a parent but also may have come from mentors, grandparents, teachers, and friends. Of course, “eat your vegetables” is wise advice for any spinach-phobic kid, but as an adult, what’s the deeper meaning—the gemstone of God’s wisdom that it represents? If we dig into the Bible, we discover the real beauty of this tidbit of wisdom, that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we are to bring honor to God through our healthy choices (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). A few more hidden gems from the teachings we learned as kids: • Don’t hit your sister. Sometimes people provoke you. Don’t hit back. Love each other…no matter what happens (Romans 12:9-10). • Wash your hands. Life is messy. Guilt, shame, and sorrow can cling to us. Draw near to God to be cleansed (Hebrews 10:22). • Sit up straight. Hardships and struggles can leave us bent over, tired, and worn out. How can we keep our hearts straight with God? Sitting up straight means staying on our knees, where the upright in heart live in light and joy (Psalm 97:11). What are the gems on your “necklace” of wisdom? Dress in that pretty necklace today, and show the beauty of God to the world!

A ministry of: FUMC Berkeley Springs 49 South Green St. Berkeley Springs, WV 25411 304.258.2766 | gofirst.org Pastor Andrew Cooney

THE WORD “Stay focused; do not lose sight of mercy and truth; engrave them on a pendant, and hang it around your neck; meditate on them so they are written upon your heart.” — Proverbs 3:3 (The Voice)

Think About It God desires for us to have mercy and truth worn around our necks and engraved upon our hearts. Pray for God to reveal any untruths you may have been taught, and ask him to engrave them over with the truth of his mercy and love.

May 2013 | Page 2

Spring is Here by Bonnie Weber “The land was filled with seed bearing plants and trees, and their seeds produced plants and trees of like kind. And God saw that it was good. ” (Genesis 1:12). Then came “The Fall” and with it weeds, bugs, and diseases of all kinds into our gardens. From then on man has had to toil and sweat for beauty in his garden. I’m not a Master Gardener, but I found some helpful tips in a book and thought I’d share.  Awesome annual potting mix. Mix 1 part each topsoil, peat moss, vermiculite, and compost in a wheelbarrow, and use it instead of the expensive pre-packaged soil. Store any leftover mix in a closed bag for the next year.  A good tomato tip. When planting seedlings, mix 3 cups of compost, ½ cup powdered non-fat dry milk, ½ cup Epsom salts, 1 Tbsp. baking soda. Sprinkle a handful into each planting hole. For additional defense, sprinkle a little powdered milk on top of spoil and repeat every few weeks throughout the growing season. You can also add 1 teaspoon of sugar in each hole for sweeter fruit.  Here is a fun and practical addition to your garden. Find an old mailbox, paint it and mount it to a post. Then place it in your garden and store tools, gloves, ties or other needs in it. You won’t have to make a trip to your garage or shed when needing to do some light maintenance. For lots more tips you visit on line at: www.jerrybaker.com or ask me and I will look them up for you. “May your flowers bloom where you plant.”

Wisdom for Kids of All Ages Moms—they teach you to talk and walk, and as soon as you get good at it, they tell you to sit down and be quiet! Do you still hear your mom saying, “Share your toys, play nice, and eat your vegetables”? In celebration of Mother’s Day, here are a few more momisms—wisdom for kids of all ages: • Cupcakes are not a breakfast food! • I don’t care who started it, you stop it! • How do you know you don’t like it if you haven’t tasted it? • If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. • Now, say you’re sorry...and mean it! • You don’t always get what you want. It’s a hard lesson, but you might as well learn it now. • You can go out to play...after you’ve done your homework.

May Days With Mother’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, National Teacher’s Day, and Memorial Day, May has many special days to celebrate. But wait, there’s more! Lumpy Rug Day (May 3) A day to appreciate your non-lumpy rug or exchange your lumpy one for a lump-free one. Lost Sock Memorial Day (May 9) A good day to throw away all your unmatched socks and finally accept that the missing one is not coming back. Clean up Your Room Day (May 10) Strategically placed just two days before Mother’s Day; this day also makes a great gift. Dance Like A Chicken Day (May 14) Nobody knows why—but you’re free to do the chicken dance…all day.☺ National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day (May 15) Eat as many as you want. It’s your reward for all the calories you burned dancing like a chicken the day before.

May 2013 | Page 3 The Ball & Chain of Comparison by Isabella Yosuico We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. Corinthians 10:12 (NIV) A couple of years ago, an acquaintance of mine got a really choice writing assignment, one I thought was just perfect for me. Sure, I was (kind of) happy for her, but I also felt an unpleasant twinge of jealousy. “What about me?” I thought. “What does she have that I don’t have?” I obsessed about it longer than I would have liked, with conflicting feelings of insecurity and indignant superiority. I felt sooooo tempted to pursue that very writing venue, but couldn’t muster much enthusiasm or inspiration to make it happen…because, I believe, it simply wasn’t God’s path for me. One of the many collateral benefits of spending time with God is heightened spiritual senses, and my antenna quivered with uneasy conviction. To stay on my path without casting sideward glances, no matter how much my neighbor’s path beckons. Another collateral benefit of God-focus: Holy Spirit power to do it, no matter how hard on my flesh. Comparison is a ball and chain—a punishment and a drag in more ways than one!

Is comparison always a bad thing?

Comparison is a punishment and a prison. Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David. 1 Samuel 18:8-9(NIV) Focusing on what God is doing in someone else’s life is miserable. Saul had it bad. After this fateful scene, Saul became obsessed with David, ranting and scheming to destroy him. I can almost feel Saul’s anxious, troubled tension because I’ve tasted it myself. But had Saul been focused on God, he might have remembered that his own fate—and David’s—was already sealed. God has a plan for each one of us, established before time began (Psalm 139:13. Ephesians 2:10). Better to surrender to it, joining its flow, enjoying God’s wind at our backs, than to fight a battle we cannot win.

The Bible is clear that there are virtues to which we can aspire. We may admire qualities in others we hope to develop ourselves or someone may have a skill we’d like to learn. That’s not comparison, that’s wisdom! Over the next few weeks, FUMC will be announcing a Mentoring Program, designed to connect women for accountability, guidance and spiritual growth. And our Fall Retreat will focus on

Comparison is a drag. Letting God Write Your Story. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance Start praying now that God will the race marked out for us. use these two programs to Hebrews 12:1 (NIV) transform lives and help us find ourselves Him. Paul says the race marked out for us, not them. A vivid image! Focusing on another’s race takes us off track and hinders what God is doing in our own life. What if I try to run someone else’s race, one for which I was not designed, destined, driven or equipped? I’m just “kicking against the goads” (Acts 26:14), not only hindering God’s work in and through my life, but harming me—and possibly others—deeply. A waste of time and energy, too! Consult your Personal Coach. Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG) Your Personal Coach knows you intimately, loves you completely and has a plan ideally suited to your unique constellation of talents and experiences (Psalm 139:13. Ephesians 2:10). A good plan (Jer.29:11). The key to discovering God’s good plan is to make him our focus of our pursuits (Psalm 37:23). Yoking ourselves to him not only provides us direction, it alleviates the burden of the ball and chain of comparison, freeing us to enjoy where he has us and others right now.

Prayer: Father, I look around and see people who seem to have what I want or be what I want to be. Please, help me embrace who and where I am, to discern your will for me and to run with confidence the race you’ve set before me alone. In Christ’s name, Amen.

May A Taste of What’s Happening for Women

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UPCOMING: June 1: Trip to Ashcombe Farm (www.ashcombe.com), Mechanicsburg, PA. Contact sfisher@gorfirst.com October 25 to 27: Fall Women’s Retreat 5

9-12pm 6-8pm Stitches ‘n’ Hooks Stitches ‘n’ Hooks Social Hall Social Hall Please bring crochet hooks to share.

20 6:30pm Book Club Sarah’s House 61 Tower Circle 304.443.3030

Please bring crochet hooks to share.

21 22 23 24 Since several ladies couldn’t make it 4/29 at Kim’s and are eager to discuss this book, we’ll have an extra session at Sarah’s to discuss: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows If you haven’t read it, you now have time!

28 31 29 30 BOOK for June: The Light Between Oceans: A Novel by M.L. Stedman You won’t want to miss this page-turner, which begs the question, “Would you do it?”

Women’s Ministry Leadership Team Sarah Fisher, Women’s Ministry Coordinator: sfisher@gofirst.org | 304.258.2766 Denise Bergen Gretchen Close Linda Romano Bonnie Weber Isabella Yosuico Newsletter questions or comments? Contact isabellayosuico@gmail.com.