Fellowship—July 2010
Whistle While You Work
Movie Clips
Show clips from the
movies Snow White,
Cinderella and Sleeping
Beauty. All of these
princess stories include
tidying up the house.
Disney Princess Trivia
1. Name all eight Disney princesses.
Belle, Ariel, Cinderella, Mulan,
Snow White, Sleeping Beauty,
2. Which princess has red hair? Ariel
Jasmine and Pocahontas
3. Which princess had to clean up
after seven men?
4. What was Cinderella’s original
Snow White
name?
5. What color was the dress the fairies
Ella
made for Sleeping Beauty?
6. What did Belle like to do with her
Blue and Pink
free time?
7. Who flies on a magic carpet?
Read
8. Which princesses are experts at
Jasmine
keeping a beautiful home? Snow
9. Who helps the princesses clean in
White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty
each movie? The animals
Princess Musical Trivia
The songs for this game are on the
Collection CD. Some of the songs are
Disney Princess: The Ultimate Song
also available at: http://kids.niehs.nih.
gov/music.htm. U–Tube also has
video clips of some of the songs. The
object is to identify the song title, the
movie it came from and who sang it.
1. “A Whole New World,” Aladdin
and Jasmine from “Aladdin”
2. “Under the Sea” The red crawfish
to Ariel from “The Little Mermaid”
3. “Whistle While You Work,”
Snow White from “Snow White and
4. “Someday My Prince Will Come,”
the Seven Dwarfs”
Snow White from “Snow White and
the Seven Dwarfs”
5. “Once Upon A Dream,” Sleeping
Beauty from “Sleeping Beauty”
A Clean House (True or False)
❋ The average six room house col-
lects ten pounds of dust each year.
False; it’s actually 40 pounds—
❋ Homes with open windows and
Source: Asthma for Dummies
Captain Kimberly Smith
Eastern Territory
screen doors can contain roughly 70% ❋ A typically used mattress can have
as much pollen as the outdoor envi- from 100,000 to 10 million dust mites,
ronment. True—Source: www.asth- and 10% of the weight of a two–
year–old pillow can be composed of
❋ House dust is a mixture of materi-
macenter.com
dead mites and their droppings.
als that can include textile fibers,
decomposing insect parts, pet dander,
True—Source: http://www.ehso.com/
human and animal hair, food left- ❋ Nearly 10,000 dust mites can live
ehshome/dustmites.php
overs, pollen grains, skin flakes, insu- in one square yard of carpet.
lation, sand and other organic materi-
als. True—Source: www.dustfree.com
False; it’s actually 100,000 dust
mites—Source: www.aerias.org
Spring Cleaning for Your Spirit
Cleaning is a task most women do in order to maintain a beautiful
home. Some enjoy it and others loathe it. While you’re cleaning out clos-
ets and sweeping under the furniture, think about this: Spring cleaning,
while worth the effort, will only last for a season, but spiritual cleansing
could have an eternal influence. So don’t just dust behind the book
shelves, dust off your Bible and get ready for a spiritual spring cleaning.
Here are some simple steps:
1. Cleanse Your Heart—The Bible encourages us to draw close to God
and allow our hearts to be cleansed. This is the first step in our spiritual
spring cleaning project. We can’t clean ourselves. We must draw near to
God and ask Him to do the cleansing. Read Hebrews 10:22. (Have index cards
with the verses printed for the women to read aloud.)
2. Clean Out Your Mouth—Spiritual cleansing requires deep cleaning. It
is housekeeping that goes beyond what others see and hear. It’s a cleans-
ing from within. As your heart gets clean, your language should follow.
This is not just talking about bad language, but also negative talk and
negative thoughts that contradict the Word of God. This includes the
challenge of not complaining. Read Luke 6:45.
3. Renew Your Mind—This is one of the biggest areas of struggle for
most of us. We must remove the garbage from our minds—garbage in,
garbage out. We must feed our minds and spirit from the Word of God
instead of the garbage of this world. Read Romans 12:2.
4. Repent from Hidden Sin—Hidden sin can destroy your life, your
peace and even your health. The Bible says to confess your sin—tell
someone and reach out for help. When your spiritual closets are clean,
the heaviness from hidden sin will lift. Read Psalm 32:3–5.
5. Release Unforgiveness—Any sin will weigh you down, but long kept
unforgiveness and bitterness is like baggage in the attic you just can't
seem to part with. You are so familiar with it that you don’t even realize
how it is hindering your life. Read Ephesians 4:31,32.
6. Include Jesus in Your Daily Life —What God wants most from you is
a relationship, an intimate friendship. He wants to be involved in the big
and small moments of your life. Open your life, let the light of God’s
presence shine into every part and you’ll have no need for a yearly spir-
itual cleaning. Instead experience daily, moment–by–moment refreshing
of your spirit. Read Psalm 56:13.
We have talked about six areas of our life that may need a spiritual spring
cleaning. Choose one area that the Lord has spoken to you about and
decide what action step you need to take to rectify it. Make a commitment
to pray about it and ask the Lord to help you change your actions.
42
Education—July 2010
Major Alice Scott
Central Territory
Chix Can Fix
Women make up sixty percent of the
people living alone. Today, four times
more women are heads of households
than in previous years. Women are the
fastest growing segment of home buy-
ers. They are the driving force behind
hardware sales. Women are eagerly
enrolling in “do–it–yourself” repair
classes at home improvement stores
and community colleges. There are a
number of reasons for this trend:
❋ If you can make the repairs your-
self, you save money.
❋ In years past it was unusual for a
single woman to buy a home and
handle the repairs that come with
home ownership.
❋ Wives whose husbands are serving
in the military or traveling with
job related duties find it helpful if
they know how to make home
repairs.
❋ Some women are uncomfortable
giving a contractor they don’t
know access to their home.
❋ Having to take off from work to
wait for a repair service to arrive is
often difficult.
In 1976 Habitat for Humanity Inter-
national, a Christian organization,
was founded to provide home owner-
ship to low–income families. Today,
forty–three percent of Habitat for
Humanity homeowners are women
overseeing households. To own a
home the woman has to work along-
side skilled volunteers. This learning
experience gives them confidence
enabling them to make needed repairs
to their homes in the future.
Utilities and Maintenance List
Make a list of utility companies and
vendors’ phone numbers. If you have
not needed their services, get recom-
mendations from friends so they will
be readily available if the need should
arise. Check the CD–ROM for a suggest-
ed maintenance list.
Appliances
Develop a file system or large note-
book to keep warranties in one loca-
tion. Place the documents in a plastic
protector sleeve. Include information
on the date of purchase, model num-
Ms. Fix It
ber, serial number, handbook and a
copy of the purchase receipt.
Home Improvement Books
Home Improvement by Martin Preston
Chix Can Fix by Norma Vally
Dare to Repair by Julie Sussman and
Stephanie Galakas–Tent
sales and letting your friends and rel-
atives know what items would be wel-
Game
come as birthday and Christmas gifts.
Place a variety of household tools on
Tool Identity
a table and have women identify them Check the CD–ROM for a list of suggest-
by name and tell what they are used ed tools.
for. Give a prize to the woman who
identifies the most correctly. Program Songs
Song # 976, “How Firm a Founda-
Tool Kit tion,*” Song # 745, “On Christ the
It’s a good idea to invest in the need- Solid Rock,*” “Rock of My Salvation”
ed essentials of a good toolbox. This and “Jesus is Our Cornerstone.”
can be done by searching at garage *The Salvation Army Song Book
A Sure Foundation
Read Matthew 7:21–27.
To understand the parable of the foolish and wise builders we have to
understand the topography of Israel where Jesus lived. He knew the
landscape, the seasons and how the weather changed the land. In the
summer many of the riverbeds dried up and left sandy soil. In the win-
ter, after the September rains had fallen, the empty riverbeds became a
raging torrent. Anyone looking for a site to build a home would find the
sand inviting in the summer, but when the winter rain storms came his
home in the middle of a raging river would be swept away.
A contractor understands what makes a building secure and strong or
weak and dangerous. The wise man would know to build his home on a
rock away from the riverbed. The labor would be more intense and it
would be difficult to cut out a foundation; however, when winter came
and the strong storms raged, the home would remain secure.
We are all builders, planning, preparing and laying the foundation for
our life. This parable teaches us the importance of laying a secure foun-
dation. Those who do not know the Lord build their lives on a false or
inferior foundation. They are heading for destruction just as surely as the
foolish man who built his house on the sand.
To establish a firm foundation we must know Christ as our personal
Savior and be obedient to His teachings. We need to dig deep into God’s
Word so that we understand what He would have us do. We must live a
life that is upright in His sight. Through faith we must seek His guidance
in all the decisions that we make.
When our life is problem free and everything is calm, our foundation
doesn’t seem to matter. But when we are facing problems and crises arise,
if we don’t have a foundation of knowing and trusting God, we find our
life crashing down around us. But when we rely on Him, we will be
victorious and able to stand firm no matter what life brings our way.
By obeying and trusting God we are like building a house on a sure
foundation.
43
 Ms. Fix It
Supplemental Material
Ladder
Bucket
Utilities and Maintenance

Flat metal file, round metal file

Providers
Make a list of utility companies and
vendors’ phone numbers so that they Glues: carpenter’s wood glue, Paint thinner
are readily available in an emergency. white glue Tapes: duct tape, masking tape,
Lubricant spray—WD 40®, Goo- Teflon® tape, paint tape
1. Electric company Gone® (removes sticky substances) Paint brushes—various sizes
2. Gas company
3. Water company
4. Cable company Maintenance Checklist
5. Telephone company Yearly
6. Cell phone provider 1. Change batteries in smoke alarms
7. Plumber 2. Gas furnace—professional tune up service
8. Waste removal 3. Drain electric water heater—shut off fuse box or circuit breaker, flush
9. Lawn care/snow removal out scale, rust and sediment
10. Locksmith 4. Check driveways and walls for cracks, breaks and erosion
11. Contractor: roof, siding, windows 5. Check fences, gates and retaining walls for condition of structure and
and doors, painting, floor, ceiling material
and walls 6. Inspect flashing around chimney, vent stalks and roof edges
12. Handyman 7. Check all joints, ceramic tiles and laminated plastic
13. Furnace: heating and air condi- 8. Check caulking around sinks, bathtubs and showers
tioning Monthly
14. Garage door company 1. Test smoke alarms
2. Inspect fire extinguishers
3. Vacuum electric outlets, furnace ducts and baseboards
Tool Kit
A good tool kit will contain the fol-
4. Check circuit breakers and fuses
lowing items:
25 foot measuring tape Spring and Fall
Screwdrivers: Flat head, Phillips 1. Attic fan: remove leaves and clean debris from louvers, clean fan
head in medium (# 2) and assort- blades, lubricate motor and pulley bearings with a drop of oil, check
ment of small sizes drive belt
Pliers: Assortment of various sizes, 2. Gas heater: Shut it off, then check exhaust vent and air shutter open-
needle nose, heavy grooved ings for dust and dirt, vacuum air passages
(channel lock) pliers 3. Central air conditioner: hose down to remove debris, lint, leaves
Wire cutter pliers (small) 4. Gutters and downspouts: remove debris and leaves, open water
Flash light channels, repair holes and check for excessive rust and that water
16 oz. hammer drains away from house
Rubber mallet 5. Storm windows and doors: check latches, pivots, sealer, loose or
Level for accurate positioning, worn parts, weather stripping—replace if loose
straightening pictures, drilling 6. Window: replace screens if torn or broken, replace broken glass
holes, mounting 7. Foundation walls: check inside and outside for dampness, water
Cordless rechargeable drill stain, insects
Utility knife with refillable blade 8. Bricks and blocks: check for cracked mortar
holder, razor scraper 9. Removed debris and leaves from doorways, windows wells, storm
Square ruler, straight ruler drains
Awl: To set holes 10. Paint: check for peeling, mildew
Plunger: Toilet and sink 11. House trim: check for tightness of fit, damage and decay
Safety goggles 13. Caulking: check for looseness around windows, doors trim, joints,
Tool belt inside corners, window trim, foundation wall
Allen wrench set 14. Roof: check for damage or loose shingles or blisters
Putty knives— 3 inch, 6 inch 15. Vents and louvers: check air movement, clean screen
Small “C” clamp 16. Ceiling: check for cracks and wall joints
Hand saw 17. Wiring condition: is it exposed in areas, such as the attic
Hack saw 18. Faucets hoses, bibs, commodes: check for valve leaks
Voltage indicator 19. Thermostat: remove dust with soft brush, reset temperature and
Chisel, humidifier
Crowbar, 20. Fireplace damper: close/open, clean iron grates
Seat wrench, adjustable wrench, 21. Chimney: check for loose bricks or stones and deteriorating joints,
socket wrenches worn flue liner, birds’ nests or other obstructions.

44

Garden Goodness
a vegetable garden to raise produce
for a food pantry. If not, some of the
women might set aside a portion of
their garden to be used for this pur-
pose. As a garden involves a lot of
physical labor, ask other women to
lend a hand.
Service—July 2010
Captain Candi Marquez
Southern Territory
nursery if you are unsure.
3. Fill the container with a good pot-
ting soil, leaving a 2–inch space at
the top. Add a half inch of mulch
once the plants are in the pots.
4. Water and fertilize often, especially
during hot weather.

Even if you don’t have a lot of room,

Introduction
This service program combines gar-
dening and donating the produce
grown to a food pantry. Just as a home
garden can help stretch a home food
pantry, using these three Ps—prayer,
preparation and participation—can
help to fill the need in a community
food pantry.
Prayer
Before starting this project, ask the
Lord what He would have the group
do in this endeavor. If the corps does
not have a food pantry, ask Him to
reveal who would benefit from the
produce they raise.
Preparation
If the corps has a food pantry, put
Food Pantry
together an information page giving
information on when the pantry
began; a list of items needed to fill it;
how many families are helped week-
ly and how the women can volunteer
to help. If this project will benefit a
community food pantry, ask them to
provide the same information.
Decide if this will be a one–time
project, or on–going with seasonal
produce shared with the food pantry.
Take a survey of the women to ascer-
Home Gardens
tain how many have a vegetable gar-
den or fruit trees at their house.
Inquire as to what produce is likely to
be ripe at the time you will be doing
the project and if they would be will-
ing to share some of their harvest for
this project.
Participation
If the corps has suitable land, plant
Vegetable Gardens
Box Gardens
The summer months are often lean
Food Pantry Donation
you can grow plants in pots and con-
tainers on a patio, windowsills or in months for the food pantry inventory.
hanging baskets. Following are some Ask the women to donate items for
basic instructions: replenishment—canned or boxed
goods. Invite the women to volunteer
1. Survey the areas where a box gar- their time helping in the food pantry.
den could be placed and purchase Make a list of the days that they
suitable containers. Observe the sun would be available.
exposure in these areas, as this will
dictate what plants will do well in
Prepare a booklet of simple recipes
Recipes
that location.
showing ways to fix meals with basic
2. Decide what to plant in the contain- ingredients and the produce being
ers, keeping in mind the sun expo- distributed by the food pantry.
sure and planting area. Seek the Include nutritional guidelines and
advice of an expert from a garden kitchen safety tips.
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Two sisters planted vegetable gardens on the same day. One ignored
her garden but still anticipated that the plants would grow. The other sis-
ter worked in her garden on a regular basis. She did everything a good
gardener does. She put cages around the vegetables, staked up the ones
that would grow tall and would need extra support and put netting
around those plants that birds and animals liked to eat. She watered and
fertilized the plants so that they would grow strong and healthy.
A number of months went by and the sisters went out to harvest their
crop. The first sister found rotten vegetables, weeds and withered plants.
Her garden yielded a very small amount of food. She decided that plant-
ing a garden was not worth her time. Her sister, however, picked a bas-
ketful of vegetables for many weeks. Both women had planted a garden,
but only one had tended hers and realized a bountiful harvest.
Two women made decisions to follow Christ, but the impact of that
decision on their lives soon became noticeably different. One lived a life
of self–centeredness. Although she professed to follow Christ, she did
nothing to change the way she lived. The other woman took a different
approach. She studied the Bible and followed its instructions. She main-
tained a vibrant prayer life and sought God’s will. New characteristics
began to develop and God used her to minister to others.
“What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the
hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on
the shivering ill–clad, being available to your own families” (Isa. 58:7, The
Message). Both of these women planted a spiritual garden, but only one
tended it. If we take care of our spiritual garden, we will have plenty to
feed others. If we are careless with it, we will see little spiritual fruit and
we will only have enough for ourselves. How will your spiritual garden
contribute to God’s kingdom this week?

45
Worship—July 2010
Captain Lawry Smith Living in the Son Light
Western Territory
The Setting
Create a solarium environment in
the meeting room. In a corner, prefer-
ably by some windows, set out a cou-
ple of lounge chairs, several plants
and a small table, with a few books, a
pitcher of lemonade and glasses on it.
Purpose
To bring women into an attitude of
joy, worship and praise.
Elements of the Program
Pray
Open the program with a time of
prayer. Ask for prayer requests and
then ask several women to offer up
prayers to the Lord.
Rejoice
Spend some time singing praise and
worship songs. Some suggested songs
are: “I Will Enter His Gates With
Thanksgiving In My Heart,” “This is
the Day,” “Lord, We Lift Your Name
on High” and Song #184, “Praise Him,
Praise Him” from The Salvation Army
Song Book.
Ask the women to share brief testi-
Acknowledge
monies about what God has done in
the past for them and what He is
doing in their lives today. Or ahead of
time, ask one woman to come pre-
pared to give a longer testimony.
We can find inspiration in God’s
Inspire
Word.
❆ Have a sword drill using
Scriptures that have the words,
praise, joy, rejoicing or worship in
them.
Suggested verses for praise are:
Psalm 7:17; 9:2; 18:46; 41:13; 47:6.
Verses about joy: Psalm 33:3; 51:12;
71:23; 95:1.
❆ Print these verses on small cards
and place them in a clay pot. Ask
the women to select a card and
read it to the group. They can
keep the card as a reminder of
God’s promises.
❆ Give each woman a sheet of
paper with the words “Praise,
Worship, or Rejoice” written on
the top. Ask them to see how
many words they can create using
these letters. The woman who
comes up with the most words
wins a prize.
Ask the women to pair up and
Supplication
spend a few moments sharing prayer
requests and praise reports. Then
invite them to pray for one another.
Expound on God’s Word in order to
Expound
find application and meaning in life. Share the devotional “The Solarium.”
The Solarium
Read Nehemiah 8:1–12
If you research the word “solarium” on the Internet, it will lead you to
websites that sell a type of patio enclosures for the home. Each company
entices the buyer with phrases like, “a solarium is bright and open,” “the
perfect place for a peaceful get–a–way,” and “you will benefit from the
sun’s natural light and warmth.” Wonderful images come to mind as you
read those advertisements of sitting in a glass enclosure as the sun pours
in, reading a good book, with a tall, cool drink by your side. This is the
perfect image of comfort and rejuvenation.
There is nothing like sunshine to perk you up and brighten your soul.
For ten years we lived just outside of San Francisco and oftentimes I
struggled with the fog and cold days, especially in the summer months.
So when it got to be more than I could stand I would get in the car and
search for the sunshine, which was typically just a few miles down the
road. Before I knew it the warmth of the sun would lift me up and restore
my strength. I thought this is exactly what happens when we search for
the Son (Jesus), for He too lifts us up and restores our strength.
We read in Nehemiah 8:10, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Just
as we find rejuvenation from the warmth of the sun, God’s Word reminds
us that we find strength from the joy that comes from the Son, Jesus
Christ.
In Nehemiah 8:8,9 it is recorded that after Ezra the scribe read the Book
of the Law to the people, they began to weep. But He instructed them to
“celebrate” (verses 9, 10). Psalm 112:1 tells us, “Blessed is the man who
fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands.” The people
were not finding joy in God’s Word, but only sorrow and conviction.
While we need to be convicted of our sins in order to confess and repent,
we can also find great joy in the Lord’s forgiveness.
As we bask in God’s solarium today, may we delight in His Word. May
we experience the joy that comes from the Lord and find strength, peace
and rejuvenation for our souls.
To Ponder or Discuss:
Do you delight in God’s Word? That is how we find our joy, and the
strength we need to live out our faith. Warren Weirsbe said, “God does-
n’t give us joy instead of sorrow, or joy in spite of sorrow, but joy in the
midst of sorrow. It is not substitution, but transformation.”
Close by singing Song #10, “Joyful, Joyful,” from The Salvation Army
Song Book.
46

Purpose
This program
is designed for
fun, fellowship
and outreach to
adults, but by
adding a few
children’s
games, it could
easily be a fam-
ily night.
Program Ideas
Invite those women casually associ-
Invitations
ated with the corps to this program.
Ask the women in the women’s min-
istries group to provide the names and
addresses of friends they would like
to invite. Encourage the women to
also extend a personal invitation.
Ahead of time send out the following
invitation pinned to a scrap of cloth.
A patch of cloth, a ragged hat,
A Hobo Party
You’ll be a hobo, as quick as that!
Come to our picnic (or supper),
and don’t be late.
Hobos, you know, don’t like to wait!
Date: Time: Place:
Serve sandwiches, pickles, potato
Refreshment
chips, cookies and pieces of fruit.
Place individual portions in plastic or
brown paper bags. Put the bag in the
middle of a square of fabric. Tie the
ends together to form a hobo’s pouch.
An alternate suggestion would be to
serve Hobo (beef) Stew or soup.
Make placemats out of newspaper.
Decorations
Use chipped bowls from the thrift
store or tin cans that have been
opened with a safety can opener as
bowls. Utilize barrels and old chairs as
seating. Make a campfire using sticks,
red foil and a battered pot.
A good source for games is the book
Games
“Are We Having Fun Yet?” by David A.
Baxendale, Guardian Books. The fol-
lowing are a couple of suggestions
from that book.
The leader goes to each player and
Give Me a Handout
says, “Give me a handout.” The player
Fellowship—August 2010
Hobo Party Major Joy Emmons
Eastern Territory
must give a quote, a proverb, a line of the place where she camped, while the
verse, a song or book title containing other players try to guess the location.
the word “hand.” An answer can’t be Have some examples ready for those
repeated. If it is, or the person can’t who may be willing to participate if
think of an answer, they are out. The someone else begins.
following are some examples:
1. Although I was physically in one
1. Put your hand in the hand of the location, I was able to visit many
Man who stilled the waters. (song) countries.
2. A bird in the hand, is worth two in
Epcot Center,
the bush. (proverb) 2. I was by the Merrimack River,
Orlando, Florida
3. If you’re happy and you know it camped under a canopy. I looked
clap your hands. (song) at the beautiful Gold Dome State
Capital of NH.
Christa McAuliffe Planetarium,
Each player gives a description of
Where Did I Camp Last Night?
Concord, NH
On the Jericho Road
This can be done in the form of a monologue. Have someone sing “On the
Jericho Road” or use it as background music.
Read Luke 10:25–37.
I was traveling home going down from Jerusalem on the Jericho Road
when robbers came down from the Moab Mountains. They robbed me of
the little I had, beat me and left me for dead. The Major came by and see-
ing me lying there passed by on the other side. (Not our Major of course!)
Then the corps sergeant major passed, but he was so busy thinking about
getting the corps building ready and the visitation done that I guess he
didn’t see me. Then this fellow from the corps came by. He didn’t look
very important, but he cleaned my wounds, bandaged me up, and gen-
tly put me in the back of his car. He drove me to the Holiday Inn nearby
and paid for my room so I could rest. When I could finally get up and
walk around, the hotel clerk told me that my room and food had all been
paid. Who was that man?
That’s right. He was the Good Samaritan in the story Jesus told. The
Major wasn’t really a Salvation Army officer. When Jesus told the story,
he was a priest coming down from Jerusalem. The corps sergeant major
wasn’t really a local officer but a Levite who was entrusted with the care
of the temple. And the fellow from the corps? Well, he was a Samaritan,
a despised half breed because he had mixed Jewish beliefs with false
teachings. But he was the one who stopped and took care of me.
All of us are represented in this story. You might be a very important
person, with things to take care of but you pass by the people who need
you the most. Or you might be so busy that you can’t stop and take care
of the ones around you who are wounded. You might be like the hotel
clerk that is willing to care of someone as long as you get something out
of it. Or you might be like the homeless in our community, the walking
wounded, weary and excluded from normal society. I’m thankful for the
stranger who took time to comfort me, to wash and care for my wounds.
I want to be like him and help those around me who need a kind word
or a loving touch.
Most of us will go to our beautiful home tonight. Family members who
love us will greet us. But let’s remember those who do not dress as hobos,
but live the life of homelessness without much choice. They only dream
about a place to call their own. Let’s pray for those who are in this situa-
tion and try to find ways to help them.
47
Education—August 2010
Captain Karen Salsbury
Central Territory
Introduction
It does not have to be expensive to
update and refresh a room. This pro-
gram challenges us to look at a room
or an item and see what it can become,
not just what it is right now.
Decorations
Do something to make the meeting
room look different. Instead of using
the overhead lights, use table or floor
lamps. Create a centerpiece from some
of the ideas below. This will demon-
strate how making simple changes
can alter the whole look of a room.
Program Ideas
Visit a thrift store and challenge
Thrift Store Visit
everyone to find something they can
repurpose (use in a different way than
originally designed).
Bring in some miscellaneous house-
Find New Uses
hold items, or ask each person to bring
one. Brainstorm new ways each item
can be used.
Make a pillow from a placemat. Take
Craft Idea
a double–sided placemat and use a
seam ripper to make an opening in the
seam, about 3-4 inches long. Insert
filler into the opening until the place-
mat is full. Stitch the opening closed
and enjoy the new pillow.
Ideas for Repurposing Items
❊ Pillows—In addition to placemats,
pillows can also be made from
old sweaters or from tea towels.
❊ Office Organizer—An old tackle
box with a variety of sections
works well as an office organizer.
❊ Kitchen Organizer—A vintage
apron with pockets can be hung
in a kitchen to help organize lists,
coupons and grocery ads.
❊ Bud Vases—Salt and pepper shak-
ers can be used as bud vases. This
can be a good use for pretty ones
who have lost their mates. Place
one at each setting or a variety on
a tray as a centerpiece.
❊ Candles/Candleholders—
Mismatched or chipped thick
glassware can be used as candle-
holder. Thin ones may break
when the candle is lit. Melt old
Elite Repeat
candles in the microwave and
pour into a container. Purchase
wicks at a craft store and place in
the center of the wax. To hold the
wick in place, tie it to a skewer
and lay across the opening of the
container.
Websites
The following websites offer ideas
❊ Wall Art —A child’s favorite t–shirt for refreshing or repurposing items:
can become a decoration for their
room. Stretch the design over a www.countryhome.com
wooden frame and attach with a www.diyideas.com
staple gun. www.diynetwork.com
From the Dumpster to Sacred Duty
On the holiness table in the chapel at the Rockford, Illinois, Adult
Rehabilitation Center sits a wooden prayer box. It is made from beautiful
mahogany wood trimmed in Bird’s Eye Maple. What few people know is
that the box is made of wood that was salvaged from a trash dumpster.
The wood was old and marred and seen as no longer useful, so it was
tossed in the dumpster. However, when the woodworker saw the wood
that someone else threw away, he saw the beauty and potential that lay
within. He looked past the scratches and marks and saw that the wood
could be made into something even better than it was before. The wood
saved from the trash now has the sacred duty to hold the prayers of
God’s people.
We live in a throwaway society. When something no longer seems use-
ful or might be in need of some repair work, it often is easier to toss it out
and start over with something new. Unfortunately, this attitude carries
over to people as well. If someone makes a mistake, a wrong choice or
offends us in some way, it is easy to write them off. Our world is full of
throwaway people others want little to do with. We want to make sure
something is done to help the homeless, those in addictions and those on
the fringe of society. But few people look at these individuals and see a
child of God, someone who could be used in the Lord’s work. God does.
When the woodworker looked at the wood, he saw not only its present
condition but also the potential of what it could become. God does the
same thing with people. He has the ability to look past our current condi-
tion to see the beauty within us, and how we can be used for a sacred duty.
Read John 4:1–42. This portion of Scripture tells the story of the woman
at the well. She was one of society’s throwaway people. She was a mixed
race Samaritan with a poor reputation due to the many men in her life.
Scripture indicates that she went to the well in the middle of the day,
probably to avoid the scrutiny of others. Finding Jesus there she was
doubtless surprised and maybe a bit relieved that He was a traveler who
would not know of her reputation. But Jesus not only saw the parts of her
life that she wanted to hide, He saw within her what she could become.
Her life was touched and changed by Jesus and immediately she was put
to work in the sacred duty of bringing others to Him. Because of her tes-
timony, many others believed in Jesus (verse 39).
“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart”
(1 Sam. 16:7). God looks at people differently than we see them. He looks
at us differently than we see ourselves. He doesn’t hold our past against us
but transforms us into something new. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Cor. 5:17).
48

In the Dog House
Room Set Up
Arrange seating by dog lovers and
cat lovers. Invite the women to sit
according to their pet preference.
Refreshments
Serve animal crackers, doggy bis-
cuits (cookies), nuts, sunflowers seeds
and gold fish crackers. Provide water
and milk for the beverage.
Speakers
Call the animal shelter and inquire
Animal Shelter
about getting a speaker who could
address the group on what services
they provide, how to adopt an animal
and the opportunities to volunteer.
Many shelters will bring some ani-
mals with them to the meeting. Make
sure you inform your group ahead of
time if there are going to be animals as
some people may have allergies or a
fear of certain animals.
Invite a veterinarian to speak on the
Veterinarian
importance of keeping family pets
healthy. Also, ask them to conduct a
question and answer session.
Service Ideas
Check with the local animal shelter
Adopt a Shelter
regarding providing dog and cat food
for the animals at the shelter. Share
this information with the women and
ask them to sign up to help. This is a
project they can do with their children
and grandchildren.
The women can provide a foster
Foster Home
home for animals that need care
before being adopted. Call the local
Service—August 2010
Captain Stacie McWilliams
Southern Territory
shelter or an animal rescue organiza- www.leaderdog.org for more infor-
tion and inquire about their program. mation on this program and how to
volunteer.
When being sent overseas, many
service men and women must leave
their beloved pets and have no one to
Game
Invite everyone to bring a picture of
care for them. Guardian Angels for their pet—past or present. Ask the
Soldier’s Pets is a program that allows women to match the pet with its
individuals to provide a foster home owner.
for these pets. Check the website
www.guardianangelsforsoldierspet. Door Prizes
org for further information. Give prizes to the women in the fol-
lowing categories:
✦ Strangest pet
Contact the Lions Club for informa-
Lions Club
✦ Largest pet
tion on their service dog program ✦ Smallest pet
Leader Dogs for the Blind. This pro- ✦ Largest number of pets in their
gram assists the blind in becoming home
independent. Check the website ✦ Oldest pet
God Created Living Creatures
Not long after the wrath of Hurricane Katrina blew through the gulf
coast of the United States, the few remaining residents began to notice
something—silence. Not the kind of quiet that comes from the lack of
industries running at full power or the lack of traffic noise. The quiet was
from the trees and skies. The birds were gone. With all the technology we
have today, satellite radio, cable TV, Internet that connects us to the
world, we still were unable to heed the warnings and get out of the way
of the hurricane. The birds however, knew and moved on. They had only
their God–given instincts but it was enough.
In looking at the seven days of creation it is interesting that God creat-
ed animals before man. All that man would need to survive was not an
after thought. It was planned and well placed. While man is God’s
crowning achievement, the animals placed in his care were created with
a purpose. “And God blessed them saying, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and
fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.’ So the
evening and the morning were the fifth day. And God said, ‘Let the land
produce living creatures …’” (Gen. 1:22–24).
God brought the animals before Adam so that he could give them
names. “So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to
every beast of the field” (Gen. 2:20). The naming of the animals was a
symbol of Adam’s authority over them. “Then God said, ‘Let us make
man in Our image, in Our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the
sea and the birds of the air, over livestock, over all the earth, and over all
the creatures that move along the ground’” (Gen. 2:26). God specifically
indicated that man was to have authority over all of the animals that He
had created.
Animals are not just here to make our world lovely or to fill it with
sounds. God had a purpose for their creation. He gave them instincts so
they could function properly. In having Adam name the animals God
was letting him know they were important to Him. At no time, even after
the fall, did God tell Adam that he no longer had dominion over the ani-
mals. Man’s accountability towards animals continues and we should
treat them as God intended. Our responsibility is very real and serious.
We should always keep that in mind when dealing with any animals.
49
Worship—August 2010
Major Pam Markham Garden of My Heart
Western Territory
Setting the Mood
Hold this program at the home of
one of the women who has a beautiful
garden. Decorate the tables with gar-
dening tools, seed packets and small
flowerpots filled with colorful flow-
ers. Have a small tabletop fountain
running for the sound effect and to
help create a calm, restful atmosphere.
Refreshments
Serve a fruit buffet with a variety of
dipping sauces. Serve fruit flavored
iced tea topped with frozen fruit for
the beverage.
Favors
Tie Scripture verses to seed packets
with raffia or ribbon. Put fruit candies
or a fruit scented candle in a small
terra cotta pot. Tie a Scripture verse
with ribbon around the pot and place
at each setting.
Program Ideas
Invite the women to share creative
Sharing
ideas for spending quiet time with
God. This could be especially helpful
to young mothers who have limited
time for themselves.
Have the women look up the follow-
Sword Drill
ing Scripture verses having to do
with fruit of the Spirit: 1 John 4:7–8,
Ephesians 2:14, Psalm 16:11, 2 Peter
3:15, Lamentations 3:23, Jeremiah 2:2,
Romans 11:22, Philippians 4:5, Gala-
tians 5:23.
Games
Cover 12 seed packets so that the
This Seed Will Produce
description and pictures of the plants
are hidden. Open the packages so that
the women can see the seeds. Ask the
women to identify what plant will be
produced when the seeds are planted.
Show different kinds of fruit that the
What Fruit Am I?
women may not be familiar with.
Have them guess what they are and
how they think they will taste. Cut the
fruit into small pieces so the women
can taste them.
Helpful Websites
www.creativeladiesministry.com
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeduca-
tion.com—this website lets you create
puzzle games based on various
themes.
Songs
Chorus #77, “Let the Beauty of
Jesus,”*
Chorus #61,“Come Beautiful Christ,”*
Chorus #102,“Spirit of Love,” * “Whisper a Prayer In the Morning”
Chorus #117, “Faith Is The Victory,”* *The Salvation Army Song Book
Quiet Time Produces Fruit
Do you remember the old commercial, “Calgon® Take Me Away?” I
used to love saying that whenever I got a little overextended or stressed
out. I love bubble baths. I lock the door so no one can interrupt me.
Slipping into the bubbles and warm water, I relax and shut out the world.
I could spend hours in there, but as I am a mother and a wife, the time is
always too short.
How often do we get so busy doing things that we forget to have any
quiet time with God and then our life seems to spiral out of control? We
get upset easily and feel under appreciated. Simple tasks seem monu-
mental and we discover that we have lost our joy.
No matter how busy we get, whether it is driving kids to and from
school, baseball practice, cooking meals, cleaning the house, doing the
laundry and juggling all of these tasks along with a career, we need to
take time out to relax and rejuvenate.
Just as taking time for yourself helps you relax, quiet time with God
produces a healthy relationship with Him, others and ourselves. We read
in Galatians 5:22–26, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self–control.
Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus
have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we
live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become
conceited, provoking and envying each other.” We need to take time out
to refocus our attention on God. To be like Jesus in all we do, we must
take time to focus on His word and let Him speak to us. How can we
have the fruit of the Spirit if we do not spend time with Him?
I have a quote in my Bible that someone shared with me a while ago. It
says, “Are you on fire because of the Lord or burnt out because of your-
self?” This sums up many of our lives. If we asked ourselves this ques-
tion when we feel burnt out, it would make us stop and think about who
is in control.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious
thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting” (Ps. 139:23–24). Let our prayer today be that we will take time
out of our hectic schedules to have quiet time with God. May we grow in
the fruits of the Spirit and be examples of godly Christian women in all
that we do. Never underestimate what God can do through you. So
instead of “Calgon® take me away” let’s say, “God take me away!”
❃ Where do you like to go for your quiet time with God?
To Ponder or Discuss
❃ Do you make an appointment with God and keep it?
❃ Are there ways you can build in some quiet moments with God?
❃ Have you used any tools to help you have a quiet time with God?
50

What’s Your Fragrance?
The History of Perfume
Ask one of the women to give a
report on the history of perfume. There
are helpful websites on the Internet or
check for books at the library.
Speakers
Invite someone to share with the
group how to make candles or per-
fumed soap.
Games
Have the women make a list of items
I Spy With My Little Eye
Green apples—a natural, serene
color, even and balanced like patience.
I lose my patience when _________.
White coconut—purity and kind-
ness? A little kindness goes a long
way. I try to teach kindness to my chil-
dren by _______________.
Blueberries—have delicate skin.
They are sweet and gentle. I desire to
be a gentle person because _______.
Oranges—have many layers and
sections that represent a woman as
wife, mother, daughter, friend. The
Lord has been faithful in helping me
in all areas of my life by _________.
Peaches—are fuzzy representing
warmth and goodness. I believe the
goodness of a person is displayed
by_________.
Fellowship—September 2010
Major Sylvia Groff
Eastern Territory
Fragrance Profile
What’s the right perfume for you?
There are many sites on the Internet to
help answer this question. Here are
three examples:
http://quiz.ivillage.com/beauty/tests/
fragrance.htm
http://www.shoppinglifestyle.com/quiz/
fragrancepersonality
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/quiz-
your-fragrance-profile.html
Refreshments
Serve freshly baked cookies or quick
breads. The object is to have the items
baking during the program so that the
aroma fills the meeting room.
Additional Ideas
Check the CD–ROM for other ideas.

in the home that have a fragrance

using each letter of the alphabet. What’s Your Fragrance?
What’s your favorite fragrance? Is it an expensive perfume that some-
Ask the women to look in their purse one gave you as a gift and that you treasure? Is it the scent from a special
What’s in Your Purse?

for items with a fragrance: perfume, lip-
stick, gum, Life Savers®, nail polish,
polish remover, toothpaste, hand
cream, candy, mint flavored toothpicks.
Fruit of the Spirit
Put the following fruit in a bowl:
Cherries—red
Apples—red
Bananas— yellow
Limes— green
Apples— green
Coconut—white
Blueberries—blue
Oranges—orange
Peaches—peach
Invite the women to choose their
favorite fruit and then finish the fol-
lowing statements. Ask them to share
their answers with the group.
Red cherries or apples—have pits
and seeds. Sometime I see red and
loose my self–control when someone
_____________________________.
Yellow bananas—represent a zest for
life. I find my greatest joy to be
____________.
Green limes—mix well with a lot of
things just like a peaceful spirit. The
thing that brings the greatest peace in
my life is __________________.
candle? Is there a fragrance that brings back childhood memories, like
brownies or hot bread fresh from the oven? Or maybe it is the fragrance
from a certain flower, like a rose. Fragrances and aromas are all around
us, in our homes, in the stores, bakeries and at the perfume counter. Sales
people want to share samples with you as you walk by.
Once when our family was traveling, we crossed the border into Maine
and our young son shouted out, “Open the windows, I want to smell
Maine!” He wanted to smell the pine trees and the ocean. Certain fra-
grances and aromas often remind us of happy memories. In our home we
have candles in most rooms and enjoy the various fragrances. When we
walk into our office building on Wednesday mornings, it is filled with the
aroma of homemade cookies, reminding us that it’s cookie day and some-
thing delicious is waiting.
Read Luke 7:36–38. This story about the woman anointing Jesus’ feet
with her tears and perfume is a pure love story, one that is deep and
heartfelt. The perfume from the alabaster jar filled the room with fra-
grance. It was an offering from her heart, a valuable possession. She gave
Jesus her best and lavished her love on Him. She demonstrated her devo-
tion and in turn He poured out grace as fragrant as any perfume. What
is in your alabaster jar? What can you give Jesus?
Read the poem by Major Carole Bate about this incident. You will find it on the
CD–ROM.
What will you give Jesus? God gave His Son out of love—extravagant,
lavish, life–changing love. May we fall at the feet of Jesus and express our
love and receive His mercy. He is truly worthy of the best we have to
offer Him. May our lives and our homes be fragrant vessels for Him. May
we give the fragrance of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self–control (Gal. 1:10) to those in our home
and those we come in contact with daily. May the fragrance of our lives
glorify God.

51
 What’s Your Fragrance?
Supplemental Material
Craft Idea
Easy Potpourri Ivy Bowl

4 3/4" Ivy Bowl (round fluted

Supplies Needed

neck)
9" Tulle circle
Rubber band
Potpourri
Ribbon and adornments My Offering
I broke my alabaster jar
❄ Wash and remove the stickers At the feet of Jesus.
Instructions

from the ivy bowl and dry The fragrance of my offering

completely. Filled the room.
❄ Fill the bowl 3/4 of the way My tears mixed with rich perfume.
with potpourri. I wept and bowed
❄ Place the tulle circle on top of In gratitude.
the ivy bowl opening.
❄ Secure with the rubber band.
❄ Adjust the gathers so that circle
Broken and poured out
is evenly placed on the open- I freely worshipped.
ing. Broken and poured out
❄ Cut a 24" piece of ribbon or By my own hands.
braiding. Tie it around the ivy Driven by the Holy Spirit’s
bowl opening. Prompting.
❄ Adorn with a floral pick, bead- Giving all
ed tassel or decoration of your To the Son of Man.
choice.
Submitted by Charlene Scheibner My heart was in that jar.
All my hopes.
All my dreams.
Games My future was sealed
In my small vessel,
Put a group of items that have a
The Sniff Game
My offering.
strong aroma in containers so that
they can’t be seen. Pass them around
and ask everyone to identify them by Only One is worthy.
their smell. Include items that would Only One is Holy.
not be considered to have a pleasant He gave His all for me.
aroma such as onion, blue cheese and Sacrificial Living.
garlic. At the feet of Jesus.
Broken,
Give each woman a fragrant candle. Yet freely offered
Candle Fragrance

They must sniff their candle and say To the One who set me free!
the first thing that comes to their
mind. The object is not to identify the My heart
fragrance but rather to state what the Was in that jar.
fragrance brings to mind. All of my hopes
For example: “This apple fragrance And all of my dreams.
reminds me of homemade apple pie My future was sealed
from my grandmother’s kitchen.” En- In that small vessel.
courage the women to elaborate on My offering.
their sentence and tell the group about
—Carole Bate
their memories of their grandmother
and her baking.

52
Education—September 2010
Major Valerie McDowell
Central Territory
Back to Back
Ask the women to pair up and sit
back to back. Without looking they
must answer questions about their
partner’s physical appearance—color
of hair, eyes, clothing, shoes, jewelry
and makeup.
My Style
Break the women into small groups
and have them answer the following
questions:
1. If you had a gift certificate to buy
five outfits from any store in the
world, where would you go to
shop?
2. If you could go back to the time
when you really loved your
clothes, when would that be and
why?
3. What clothing item, accessory or
hairstyle have you received the
most compliments on?
4. Who do you know with a flair for
dressing just right? Why do you
admire her style?
What’s Her Style?
Place a selection of magazines or cat-
alogues advertising clothing on each
table. Have the women cut out pic-
tures that best describe someone else
in the group by completing the sen-
tences below.
1. If I were to dress (Mary) according
to what I consider to be her current
style, I would choose …
2. If I were to dress (Mary) accord-
ing to the style I think she’d look
fabulous in, I would choose …
What’s In Your Closet?
Have the women bring in some
clothing items that they haven’t worn
for awhile. They could be outdated,
too large, too small, too outrageous or
too uncomfortable. Have them discuss
why they’re still holding on to an item
by answering the following questions:
1. Do I love it?
2. Do I feel comfortable in it?
3. What does this outfit do for me?
4. Will I miss it if I give it away?
5. Can someone else get use out of it?
If they decide they no longer want
Mirror, Mirror On the Wall
the item, they can offer it to another
member or place it in a bag to be sent
to the ARC.
Accessories
Invite a couple of the women who
have a flair for accessorizing demon-
strate how to change the look of an
outfit by changing the accessories.
What Do You See In the Mirror?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
There is a saying, “Of all the things I wear, my expression is the most
important.” We read in 1 Peter 3:3, 4, “Your beauty should not come from
outward adornment … Instead it should be that of your inner self, the
unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in
God’s sight.” What do you see when you look in the mirror? What does
your expression say about you? Do you look happy or sad? Are you
angry or content? What are you wearing? Does it make you feel good
about yourself? Often what we wear reflects how we see ourselves.
What do others see when they look at us? First Peter 3:1 suggests that
Beauty is only skin deep.
when others look at us “… they may be won over without words by the
behavior … when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.” Take
a thoughtful look at how others see you. Does that reflection cause you
to wink, wince, weep or wonder? What we wear should complement
who we are on the inside. But who we are is more important than what
we wear.
What should you avoid? “Sometimes people are good and they do just
Beauty and the beast.
what they should. But, the very same people who are good sometimes
are the very same people who are bad sometimes. It’s true. It’s the same
for me and for you.”~ Mr. Fred Rogers. Even if you are blemish free, have
a terrific hairstyle, or are wearing the most incredible outfit, you can
never look attractive when you’re acting like a beast. If your attitude,
words, or actions pounce on someone without restraint, they cut to the
heart and can cause substantial damage. Consider how you can tame the
beast in you when it wants to rear its ugly head. “… Turn from evil and
do good … seek peace and pursue it” 1 (Pet. 3:11).
Who do you want to be like? “For it is impossible to be in the presence
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.
of Jesus and not be changed” ~ Joanna Weaver. “My heart says of you,
‘Seek His face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek” (Ps. 27:8). The ugliness of our
lives can be buried in the warm embrace of Christ. What a beautiful
transformation can be made as we begin looking not only at our own
lives, but also at the lives of others through the eyes of Christ. There is a
chorus that we sing that says, “Open my eyes, Lord, I want to see Jesus,
to reach out and touch Him and say that I love Him. Open my ears, Lord
and help me to listen. Open my eyes, Lord, I want to see Jesus.”
The next time you look in the mirror, look beyond what you see to what
is possible. Seek to reflect His beauty, a beauty beyond description, a
beauty that never fades. Lord, may Your light be the sparkle of life and
beauty in our eyes. Let all without and all within be pure as Thou art
pure.
53

Curb Appeal
a. Let us be_________ (1 Cor. 15:58)
b. Let us be_________ (Ps. 95:2)
c. Let us be__________(Zech. 8:16)
d. Let us be_________ (Prov. 17:17)
Always plant turnips
e. Let us be_________ (1 John 4:7,8)
a. Squash__________ (Prov. 26:20)
Plant three rows of squash:
Service—September 2010
Captain Liz Wilson
Southern Territory
b. Squash__________ (Matt 7:1–5)
c. Squash__________ (Isa 32:2–9)
a. Turn up for church
b. Turn up with a smile
c. Turn up with a new idea
d. Turn up with determination

Introduction
First impressions are lasting. A clut-
tered, unkempt appearance indicates
a lack of interest and care. The appear-
ance of a well–kept house says wel-
come. Our service projects will give
the opportunity to show the love of
Jesus through our landscaping and
care for the things God has created.
Service Projects
1. Corps Property—Take a survey of
the outside of the corps building. How
does it look? Do the planting areas
need weeding? Do they need new
plants? Plan a Saturday event to
spruce up the landscape around the
corps building. Women who are not
able to participate can help by con-
tributing to the purchase of plants for
this project.
2. Senior’s Garden—Check with the
seniors in the corps to see if there are
some who could use a helping hand
with their garden or raking leaves. Put
together a group who could give one
Saturday morning for this project.
3. Community Garden—If the corps
property has a portion of land suitable
for a community garden, the women’s
ministries group could sponsors this
project. Go door to door in the neigh-
borhood and see who is interested in
working in a garden and receiving a
share of the crops. The focus of this
project is not just to grow vegetables
but to get to know the people in the
neighborhood and introduce them to
the Lord in a non–threatening manner.
A Productive Garden
a. P_________ (Jas. 1:4 and Jas.5:7,8)
Plant six rows of peas:
b. P_________ (Gal. 6:9)
c. P_________ (Luke 18:1)
d. P_________ (Matt 5:9)
e. P_________ (Heb. 13:15)
Plant five rows of lettuce:
Hospitality
Ralph Waldo Emerson offered this thought about hospitality, “There is
no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatter
joy, and not pain, around us. ‘Tis good to give a stranger a meal, or a
night’s lodging. ‘Tis better to be hospitable to his good meaning and
thought, and give courage to a companion. We must be as courteous to a
man as we are a picture, which we are willing to give the advantage of a
good light.”
Hospitality is defined as “the act of friendship shown a visitor.” In the
ancient Near East it was tightly bound up in customs and practices which
all were expected to observe. The process of receiving outsiders and
changing them from strangers to guests differed from entertaining fami-
ly and friends.
Have you ever considered that hospitality begins even before you open
your front door? Have you thought about the impact the landscape
around your home may have on your testimony? Does the outside of
your house display a credible witness to those who pass by? Do others
see it as your idol, a source of pride, or at the other extreme, as an
unkempt or slothful area covered with garbage and old toys?
As you anticipate being hospitable, consider the initial reception your
guests feel, beginning with the entryway to your home. When there is an
aesthetically pleasing front lawn, the real estate industry says the area
has curb appeal. With proper planning that concept can initiate a grace-
ful transition from the hectic, busy world to a sense of warmth and wel-
come waiting inside. With merely garden gloves and a broom you can
start the process of creating an environment that will welcome strangers.
While we want the outside of our homes to have curb appeal, it is more
important for our hearts and attitudes to display “Jesus appeal.” We
want others to see the love of the Lord in our life by the way we treat
them and in the way that we offer hospitality. “Share with God’s people
who are in need. Practice hospitality” (Rom. 12:12). Entertaining focuses
on the host, while hospitality focuses on the guests. Their needs are the
prime concern whether it’s for a nourishing meal, a place to stay or sim-
ply someone to lend a listening ear.
Scripture tells us that we are to show hospitality to strangers. “Keep on
loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by
so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it”
(Heb.13:1, 2). When is the last time you invited someone that you do not
know well into your home? Do you feel that you can’t be hospitable
because you don’t have the room, or that your home is not nice enough?
There are many people who would enjoy spending time in your home no
matter the size. Do you know a single person or an older couple whose
family doesn’t live near them? They would probably enjoy an evening of
conversation and a simple meal in your home. Hospitality means mak-
ing other people feel welcome and in that way showing them the love of
the Lord in your life.

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Worship—September 2010
Captain Laura Fenton
Western Territory
Decorations
Decorate using various sizes of plas-
tic containers filled with items typical-
ly found hidden in closets.
Service Project
Organize a cleaning day at the corps
paying particular attention to the clos-
ets and kitchen cabinets that often get
overlooked.
Program Ideas
Invite a professional organizer to
Speaker
speak to the group about the best way
to organize closets. Check ahead of
time regarding any fees they charge.
Ask a couple of the women to bring
Closet Organization
a report to the group on closet organi-
zation. There are many Internet sites
and magazine articles that can help
them in preparing this presentation.
1. What items do you have great diffi-
Group Discussion
culty throwing away? (books and
magazines you’ve read, clothes
that don’t fit)
2. What do you do with these items?
3. What suggestions does the group
have in dealing with this problem?
4. Share one organizational tip with
the group that has worked for you.
5. What things clutter up your spiri-
tual life and stop you from being
the Christian you desire to be?
6. As a Christian, we say that Christ
lives in us. Have you given Him
access to all areas of your life or
are there dark closets where
you’ve stashed all those things
that you don’t want anyone to
know about?
Cluttered Closets
Clean It Out
It’s time for true confessions. Do you have a closet in your house or
even a drawer where you hide your clutter? It’s the one where you hide
all the items that you don’t have any use for but you are not ready to
throw away. So you push and stuff it away until the closet won’t hold any
more. It ensures the rest of your house looks neat and orderly, but if any-
one looked into that clutter closet they would find a big surprise.
Read Galatians 6:1–10. The Apostle Paul wrote to Christians exhorting
them to help fellow believers. “If someone is caught in a sin, you who are
spiritual should restore him gently” (verse 1). He doesn’t tell us to beat
them up, but to gently and lovingly pick them up. He goes on to indicate,
“But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted” (verses 2). We can’t
help others if there is sin in our heart. Sin harbored in the heart is clutter
that disables us and causes us to fall and makes us useless to the Lord.
Jesus told His disciples “Do unto others as you would have them do to
you” (Luke 6:31). Too often, because of the distracting clutter in our lives,
we walk by others without helping. We either pretend we don’t see them
or worse, stop and shake our finger at them. How quickly we forget that
once we were under the clutter of our guilt and shame, longing and pray-
ing for someone to help us to our feet again. We should keep in mind that
every inch we reach down to pick someone else up, is an inch from which
we’ve fallen and been picked up ourselves.
Paul tells us to support fellow Christians by helping them carry their
burdens. He does not tell us to carry the person or to assume their bur-
dens, “For each one should carry his own load” (verse 5). But we do need
to come along beside them as no one should try to carry their load alone.
We all need help sometimes. If we help a fellow believer, their load
becomes lighter and allows them to stand up straighter. When we get
home from the grocery store, it is so much easier when a family member
helps to carry the bags inside. The task is so much easier when it is
shared. This same principle applies when helping someone carry their
burdens in life.
“God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (verse 7). We
wouldn’t plant tomato plants expecting to harvest bell peppers! How
then, can we sow seeds of sarcasm, misery and regret only to expect a
harvest of sincerity, joy, and fulfillment? If we sow good seeds that please
God, then when the time is right, we will reap a harvest of eternal life.
Seeds do not mature immediately. They take time, work and nurture. We
should not get frustrated or give up on our fellow Christians if they are
not acting as we think they should, but continue to support and uphold
them in prayer. Paul challenged the Galatians and he challenges us to
keep on doing good and to trust God for the results. If we are obedient to
Christ, and our motive is pure, then we can expect to share in the harvest.
In order to achieve a good harvest, we must surrender all—even the
secret places—to Christ. Until we do, we’re like the clutter closets in our
houses. On the outside we look neat and put together, but if anyone looks
into the closet of our heart, they would find a big surprise for darkness
and chaos reign there.
It’s time to clean house by throwing open the door of the closet of our
heart. Let the light of God’s love shine into even the darkest of corners.
Hand over the mess and clutter to Him. Let Him sweep your heart clean
and make it like new. Instead of chaos, let Him reign in your heart. Then
you can begin to “do good to all people” (verse 10) and receive that boun-
tiful harvest Paul wrote about in Galatians. Happy cleaning!
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