REMEMBERING MRS. JEAN RATCLIFFE

As most of you are probably aware, Mrs. Jean Ratcliffe went home to be with her Beloved Savior last Sunday. I read a statement recently that said, “No one can argue with a changed life.” When it comes to following God, no one can argue with the fruit that Jean’s life produced. She was a person of passionate prayer, worship, and study of the Word. I never observed an ounce of regret, bitterness, or pride in her life. She lived out the message of the Gospel as well as anyone I have ever known. Her integrity was spotless, her compassion genuine, her relationship with Jesus contagious. When she arrived on that other shore last Sunday, a resounding shout of joy was the first thing she heard; a cry of love that conveyed the passionate love of our Bridegroom King singing over His beloved child. As she opened her eyes, free from the pain and limitations of this life, the Savior gently took her hand in His and said, “Welcome home.”

The purpose of this blog is to encourage others to live a life of faithful obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. Let the life and memory of Jean Ratcliffe be a living epistle that propels you into an intimate relationship with Jesus.

-John Spraker

Homegoing of one of our Saints

The RWC family deeply mourns the passing of one of our most beloved spiritual warriors. Sister Jean Ratcliffe went home to be with her Savior this afternoon. Our heart felt prayers go out to James and her family during this time.

What will I do when life is a roller coaster?

When life seems to be a roller coaster and I feel like things are just not going the way I think they should, one story I usually look to is found in Genesis 37-50. A common story told to children of all ages. A story about a man named Joseph how he was sold into slavery by his own brothers, thrown into prison for something he did not do and later became ruler over Egypt. In this we see a man who could have easily believed that his God had forsaken him. Through every trial Joseph continues to find favor even in the most unfortunate places.

Are you on a roller coaster? How are you reacting to God? Praising Him or questioning Him?

Lets take time today to praise God for his work in us:

Exodus 15:2 The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father's God, and I will exalt him.

Deuteronomy 8:10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you

Psalm 100:1-5

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations

Amen!

- Carolyn Hanneman

God’s Provision

Throughout December, I talked with my two-year-old son about the Christmas story. We covered many topics related to the events surrounding the birth of Christ including God’s provision: Jesus needed a mommy and daddy on earth, so God gave Him Mary and Joseph. The Shepherds needed a Savior, so God sent angels to tell them that Jesus had been born and where to find Him. The Wise Men needed a King so God sent a star to show them the way to Jesus. Mary and Joseph needed a place for Jesus to be born and God gave them a barn. Did you catch that last part? Somehow it just doesn’t seem to fit with the rest. God certainly could have given them a palace or a mansion or at least their own humble home for the birth of Christ, but He didn’t. And yet the truth remains, that He did provide for them and the baby Jesus grew up healthy and whole despite the unsanitary conditions in which he was born.

What do we, as American Christians, expect when we ask God to provide for us. Are we asking for angels, a star, a barn, or something in between? Would we be satisfied with the barn? The American culture has many Biblical ideals we can be thankful for (freedom, generosity, the goal of equality for everyone, etc.), but there are of course many weaknesses as well. Over-indulgence, self-absorption, and greed are the relevant flaws for this particular discussion. Have we even considered breaking free from our culture as far as our standard of living goes? During the Christmas season, I heard so many people say things like, “Well, we probably spent too much, but…”; “Well, I splurged a little, but…”; “Well, I decided to buy something for myself after all that shopping…”; “I ate way too much, but it was just so good.” Our first thought when a problem arises is often, “What can I buy to fix this or make it easier?” How many times have we thought to ourselves, if it just had________, then I would feel good about ________.” (You fill in the blanks.) Why do we expect so much when most of the world has so little? How often do we just rest in the knowledge that God has provided for us richly and that He will always give us what we need?

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].” Any of us who grew up in the midst of American culture have probably been conformed to it without even trying, but we can break free so that our attitudes and expectations, wants and desires become that which is God’s perfect will for us rather than simply a reflection of the world around us. Together let’s renew our minds through the study of God’s Word and change our ideals so that we can be more like our Savior and Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.

-Jenny Greene

The gifts and the Gift Giver...

I am writing this blog entry wearing earplugs and shooting muffs. With the computer in the most traveled room in the house, it is hard to concentrate. The longer I tried to think of a grand theological thesis to make you say, “Man Tim is really able to hear God,” the harder it was to shut out all the goings on of the house. Yes, I was coming along with a great message on “responding to problems not reacting to them.” But the harder I tried to expand upon the topic the more difficult it became. Even now in one room a lonely keyboard is playing “Another day in Paradise”on a continues loop, in another room one girl is playing “run around the room like a crazy person” and the other is drying her hair. The only thing that would make it complete is if Mollie (our newfoundland dog) was nudging my arm wanting attention. Life has a way of bringing focus to our feeble minds. We strive so hard to express the greatness of God that we miss out on the little things that make it all real. Sometimes I put so much into making every word correct in one of these blogs that I make myself crazy. Maybe I need to run around the room a little?

We minister in a body of believers with many talents. Some you can see and others that only come out when no one is looking. Each gift is given so that we can minister to God and the body. From time to time we fall into the trap of seeking to please the body more than God. Whether it is purposeful or not. We all want to know that what we are doing is being appreciated. That we are making a difference, changing lives, or the way people think. Understand that if you are able to function in the gifting that God has given you, there is no need to strive to please any other man. The reality is that our actions have little to do with the gift and a lot to do with the giver of the gift.

Well the house is quiet now, yet I am still wearing the plugs and muffs. I guess it wasn't the noise and commotion that was causing my lack of concentration. Maybe I just needed to quiet my head a little. P.S. I was the one who turned off the keyboard.

- Tim Ratcliff

Keeping our Resolutions...

Happy New Year! Have you made a New Year’s resolution? Many people have. Yet most of them will not fulfill the goal that they set during the first minutes of the new year because they are trying to succeed in their own strength. Human strength has its limits. We grow weary. We lower our standards. We give up. However, in Christ 2010 can be your best year yet. I pray that you will know more and more of Christ’s amazing love for you this year and that you will allow Him to lead you on the amazing journey of life. May the following verses be an encouragement to you.

“I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit--not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength--that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know--far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. “(Ephesians 3:16-20, The Message Bible)

-Anna Spraker