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 When a fellow church member asked me several years ago to volunteer at Care Net Pregnancy Center as a counselor, my first response was “No … I can’t possibly counsel a pregnant teen … I have never even been pregnant … How can I possibly help?” 

My hesitance was reversed when I learned that Care Net provided training for volunteers.  I then realized that if Care Net was willing to take a chance on me, I would be willing to serve.

You see, my serving through Care Net has brought me full circle. I can look back now and see how God has transformed me throughout my walk with Him. How God used my past experiences to shape how I now serve Him.

When I was 17, with no gospel foundation, I took a friend for a pregnancy test.  She was not in a stable relationship, she was young, and she was afraid. But after she tested positive, I, in all my youthful wisdom, I “counseled” my friend to have an abortion. 

By God’s grace, she absolutely could not.  And now, 35 years later, I’ve witnessed my friend’s devotion as a single parent and I am blessed to know her beautiful daughter.

I stand in awe of God’s plan for my friend and for me, knowing this could have been a very different story. 

Care Net has thousands of stories about women and children whom they have loved, served, counseled and stood alongside.  Stories like Jenny’s:

“Jenny” was 15 when she came to Care Net for a pregnancy test.  The test was positive.  While a CN Advocate talked with Jenny about her plans to continue school through the pregnancy, Jenny’s mother arrived at the clinic unexpectedly.  The Advocate assisted Jenny in sharing the news with her mother. 

Despite the mother’s ‘worst nightmare’ fears, our Advocate was able to describe what Jenny and her baby’s future could look like: “In three years, Jenny will be walking across the graduation stage with your 3-year-old grandchild to pick up her diploma; can you picture that?”  After a moment’s pause, Jenny’s mother slowly smiled and said “Yes. I can.” Today, Jenny is continuing her education and continues to benefit from Care Net counseling and resources.  As Jenny’s Advocate told her mother, “Your daughter is NOT going to let this stop her from achieving her goals and dreams; God has a plan and a future for this child.”   

My story is full circle.  From a naïve 17-year-old, full of false wisdom, to a dedicated servant of the Lord, assisting young women to make Godly decisions in the place I was least prepared to.  How has God used YOU where you least expected it? 

For more information about Care Net and volunteer training, please go to http://carenetabq.org/

I will never forget the spring I truly learned about the profound importance of biblical context. It started with a woman who came to see me for counsel. She was terribly depressed because her children were sick and she truly believed it was her fault. It turns out that she thought she didn’t have enough faith! When I tried to clarify, she impatiently said, “You know ‘By His stripes you are healed.’ 1 Peter 2:24.”

So, we looked at the passage, and yes, that was the exact wording. But 1 Peter is not about health at all, it is all about persevering.

That’s when I realized, more than ever, that to understand God’s word you had to understand the context from which it came!

The only way to understand context is by digging deep into God’s word and truly seeking to understand.

You see, there is terrible pain from misapplying and misunderstanding Scripture—

• A person believes that God does not love them because He has not made them wealthy. He has been falsely taught that his prosperity is tied to his faith and is crushed under the burden of trying desperately to have the right amount of faith. He does not know the Lord’s economy (Luke 6:20-23).

• Marriages have been destroyed because a spouse blames the devil instead of acknowledging that it is his or her own sin that is tearing at the fabric of tenderness. This leads to a lack of repentance, confession, reconciliation and restoration.

• A mother blames herself for her child’s sickness because she thinks her faith is not strong enough to heal him, instead of seeking what the Lord may have for the family through the trial (John 9:1-3).

• The most tragic is the one who believes in a nebulous deity, but refuses to worship the real God. He does not know the joy of a saving faith, but simply has the faith of a demon (James 2:19).

A group bible study can be a great place to start seeking to understand! It is my prayer that each of us are in Bible study with one another; that we would persevere and seek to learn His Word and link arms with other believers and to “do” His Word.

If you are someone who desires to read and study the Word, but are not sure how to begin; or if you are someone who is seeking a group to study God’s Word with; we invite you to consider one of MCC’s bible studies or Community Groups. Check out MCC’s Men’s and Women’s ministry pages to see where you might join in! If you or someone else needs or is interested in Biblical Counseling let us know, you are not meant to walk through life alone.

Please persevere in your study of God’s word; for this is the ministry of God’s Word in us -- it is on-going; we are challenged; we are shaped; we are encouraged as we dive into its depths; and we are simultaneously satisfied and yet crave more of Him.

How do you build a bridge?  One piece of steel at a time...
God is truly building a bridge between us, His church, and our community through our Shine partnership with A. Montoya. 

I'd like to present a unique opportunity to add some steel to our bridge by bringing encouragement to our teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week.
What's it like to be a teacher at an APS Title 1 school?

You've got a classroom of around 30 kids...which makes for quite a bit of adventure, quite a bit of laughter, and quite a bit of chaos each day! You've got a few kids that are quite respectful and attentive, as well as a few who have never been in a classroom setting and are still learning how to exist in that environment.  You've got the daily challenge of not only educating your class, but also of finding out whether they're safe at home, have access to breakfast and lunch, and have proper clothing for each day's weather.  Though you take interest in each child's family and greatly value parental involvement, you don't always get much response from them.  The majority of your students' parents will probably not attend parent-teacher conferences.

As A. Montoya's Shine partner, we have a great opportunity to communicate to our teachers that they are seen, heard, and loved.  They need to know that they're not alone in their desire to bring transformation to their community, and that their tireless efforts are not unnoticed. 

To acknowledge one's struggle, to enter into it, and to bring relief...well that sounds a lot like Jesus, doesn't it?

Would you please join us in an effort to encourage our teachers at A. Montoya during the week of May 1st - 5th?  Please stop by the school anytime between 7:45a.m. and 2:15p.m. any day that week to drop off goodies, flowers, cards...anything that you think would bring some joy.

Each and every time we walk through the doors of the school, we add to the bridge God is building between us, His church, and the community! I can't think of a more wonderful construction project!

Click here to learn more about the Shine Initiative.

Years ago, when MCC was supporting the Nij family in Guatemala, I had the opportunity to visit the Morning Glory Christian Academy in San Raymundo, Guatemala. While I was there, they took me to Antigua, which was once the Spanish colonial capital of Central America.  The city has beautiful cathedrals and palaces and is located between three large volcanic peaks.  

I had the added benefit of visiting around the time of Easter. During this time they have a huge celebration involving processions that move through town commemorating Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem, His march up Calvary, and His resurrection. Prior to each of the processions, community members decorate the streets with ornate murals made of sand, colored sawdust, grains, flowers, and leaves.

These amazing creations take hours to prepare and then the procession tramples the murals underfoot and destroy them.

One questions why they would spend so much time just to have the mural destroyed—the artists view this as a simple act of sacrifice and worship.

What simple act of sacrifice might you make on this Easter: invite a friend or family to worship; a word of encouragement; serving one in need; visit a shut in; pray for the lost; bring a heart to worship that is truly centered on our Lord?

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. ~ Romans 12:1