February 29, 2012

Greetings, Cohort!

It is an auspicious day – 2-29-12, so on this Leap Year day I am bringing you all a warm greeting. It is also a snow day for most of us, the only one really of this funny winter, so that also makes this day special. I hope you make the most of the really nice snowman snow if you can!

I have been working on Lenten devotionals for my R&BT website the last 3 weeks, trying to get some ahead so I can concentrate on school stuff. It won’t be long and April 20th will be upon us, so I am trying to put the ingredients together for an awesome time together - Unit Retreat 1-3!

I am really excited about our UR 1-3 workshop time around church history. Not everyone loves history, but it really gets my blood jumpin’. Especially as a woman I have seen the inestimable value of knowing the history of the church. If I would just look around me in the present day without a knowledge of what women have contributed in the past, I would not have any confidence in my calling at all. But as I have dug into the history of the Christian church, I have been able to see women working side by side with men in every age, exercising every gift God promised to all believers.

I will not be majoring on women in history during the UR 1-3 Church History Workshop, but I will briefly tell you about 2 special independent studies I did during my seminary days that highlighted some women’s contributions to the church.

David Tyvoll will be presenting a workshop on Biblical Stewardship on Saturday, April 21. He will give us  a much needed foundation for understanding how God wants us to treat money and other resources he entrusts to us. Be sure to read “The Treasure Principle” in preparation for David’s workshop. Another really great book Steve and I like is by Robert Morris called “A Blessed Life”. It is a wonderful testimony of how God honors us when we honor him with the first fruits of what he gives to us.

“Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10.

I have some ideas about enhancing the Systematic Theology presentation this time that I think you will find very helpful and informative.

You are prayed for regularly, and lovingly. God has a plan and purpose for your life, especially as it touches our school. He is bringing much fruit to you and me because we are pressing in to know him better.

My day just got to be more special because of a visiting troop of ROBINS! There must have been 15-20 in my trees and bushes! WOOHOO! SPRING IS ON THE WAY!

Love and Hugs,
Joan Tyvoll