“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. … Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control;” 2 Peter 1:3,5-6a

Contact Us:

Amy Porter WM Leader 620-9262

Laura Lockwood Bible Studies 622-8139

Colleen Lohrenz Philippians 620-4755

Rhonda Frederick Gideon 627-0771

Amy Johnson One Thousand 282-2428

Suzanne Dickenson Book Readers 844-4267

Cathy Slater Prayer & Wonderstruck 623-4729

Connie Bryson

The Promise 282-2428

Jennifer Ward Walk Across 870-925-0198

Tracy Meeker Spec. Events 479-883-6912

September 2013 Newsletter

2350 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901 501-624-3345

A Note from… Amy Por ter

A Prayer for this season … Laura Lockwood

Dear Father, As we start this new school year and are planning our busy schedules, please help us to place you first. I am so thankful for the privilege of being able to read and study your Word. I am in awe to realize that this blessing is the fruit of prayers of women from hundreds of years ago, who were denied schooling to learn to read, and who did not have your word readily accessible to them. Thank you for progress. Thank you for teachers. Thank you for the Bible. Thank you for Women's Ministry Bible studies and a church that is so sup-portive. That you for the leaders and facilitators that generously give their time and resources. I

pray that you will be with the wom-en of our church. Please spur them on to have a rich relationship with you and to be dedicated to serving you. I pray that you will be with the Bible studies this fall. You already know the women that will be involved, and I pray for re-newed and deeper relationships with you and with each other. Thank you for the blessings that will come from the study of your Word, and help us to be better wives, mothers, sisters, and friends. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen

The kids are back at school and our schedules are full again. We enjoy lots of opportunities for learn-ing and acquiring knowledge whether it’s mathe-matics, horseback riding, ballet or Bible study.

Knowing and believing is just the beginning for our discipleship. James 2:19 says, “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deed is useless?” Discipleship is a process of learning and practicing.

The knowledge of the Scriptures is the most valua-ble knowledge we could ever acquire. It puts us in a position where we must respond to God’s calling on our lives. We are called to true repentance for our sins because we evaluate our heart condition by our knowledge of God’s word. “For the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and atti-tudes of the heart.” The knowledge of God should cut us deeply and change us at our very core.

God is at work in our church! On Wednesday nights during the school year, I teach 3rd and 4th grade girls with a couple of other ladies in our children’s minis-try. In the past we averaged about 20 girls. This past Wednesday night, we had 40 girls! 40! God is at work in these tender young hearts. Our women’s ministry studies start soon and we have three new leaders leading Bible Studies. We didn’t even have to ask—they volunteered. God is at work in the lives of our women! A women’s ministry disciple-ship team began recently with 20 women, ranging in age from 20’s to 80’s. God is forming strong rela-tionships in our church to help us encourage and love one another! Our church seems to be growing and changing. Praise the Lord!

Father, we know there are seasons of growth and change in ministry. Help us to embrace this season. Father, we thank you for your word and the knowledge you give to us in scripture. Help us to not only study your word but let it change our lives so that others can see you in us. Amen

SEPTEMBER 2013 NEWSLETTER

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“Add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; … ”

Fall Bible Studies Come to learn “...the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15

Tuesday Morning:

Philippians: Joy of the Lord (Precepts); 9:30—11:45 am; Fellowship Hall; Begins Sept 10. Colleen

Lohrenz (620-4755) How do I live the Christian life joyfully regardless of people or circumstances? What is the

purpose of suffering and the Christian perspective on death? Do I have "the mind of Christ"? Discover true, deep-

down joy in your life that the world cannot take away! Small groups AND teaching session.

Wednesday Evening:

“One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp. 5:45—7:30 pm; Room 3023; Begins Sept 18. Amy John-

son (282-2428) “As I was listening to John's sermon on Sunday I couldn't help but get excited about our upcoming "One

Thousand Gifts" fall bible study. John talked about framing moments of praise in our life and taking the time to thank God for

each individual blessing. That is the exact purpose of this book! We will take on the life-changing discipline of journaling

God's gifts as we write our blessings down, express them in words, notice them, and celebrate each one. This attitude of grat-

itude will change the lenses of our eyes and help us see Jesus more clearly everyday. Come join us!”

Thursday Morning:

“Reasonable Faith” 9:30—11:30 am; Room 131; led by Bill Newton. Begins Sept. 12.

“Gideon: Your Weakness. God’s Strength.” by Priscilla Shirer. 9:30—11:30 am; Room 129; Begins

Sept. 12. Rhonda Frederick (627-0771) “Welcome to those women who come to study Gideon. We will also

be studying portions in the Book of Judges.”

Book Readers Club. 9:30—10:30 am; Room 124; Led by Suzanne Dickenson and Rosemary

Long. Begins Sept. 12.

Sunday:

“The Promise: How God works all things together for good.” by Robert Morgan.

WM Class I led by Connie Bryson, 9:30—10:30 am, Room 226 Begins August 4

“Wonderstruck: Awaken to the nearness of God” by Margaret Feinberg.

WM Class II led by Cathy Slater, 9:30—10:30 am, Room 2010. Begins Sept. 22.

“Walk Across the Room” by Bill Hybels. 5:00—6:00 pm; Room 124; Led by Jennifer Ward. Begins

Sept. 15.

We provide childcare for all of our WM Bible studies. In order to make the best possible arrangements

for you and your children, please register or call the Bible study leader about your needs.

Sign-up sheets are out in the Women’s Ministry area of the church foyer.

Fel lowship Events

First Baptist Church of Hot Springs, Women’s Ministry • 623-3345 • www.womensministry-fbchs.org

Summer Fun

WM Monthly Prayer Group

Friday, September 6 (next October 4)

9:45-11:00 am in the Prayer Room

Contact Cathy Slater 623-4729

Women’s Ministry Teams Meeting

September 15; 1:00 pm

Amy’s house: 200 Dino, Hot Springs

Contact Amy Porter 620-9262

Agenda: Updates on ministries

2014 Budgets

Discuss first section of “Sticky Teams”

Women on Mission

Thursday, September 26

10:00 to 11:30 Room 219

Contact Wanda Thorp 623-5608

Comfort in Christ

First Thursday of the Month

Room 2020 at 4:00 pm

Rhonda Frederick 627-0771

Save the Date

Evening of Grace December 5, 2013

Missions

First Welcome Pool Party

RISE Ministry

WMU

125 years!

First Baptist Church of Hot Springs

Women’s Ministry

Fall Kick Off!

Sunday, September 8

in the church foyer

Leaders will be available with information about all of the new

studies and many of our ministries. They will answer your

questions and you can sign up. Bible study books will be avail-

able for purchase.

Contact Tracy Meeker (479-883-6912) or Laura Lockwood

(622-8139) for more information, See you there!

Fruit of the Spirit —Self-Control by Col leen Lohrenz

Page 4

Our interview this month is with Sharon King. She has spent some time thinking about how preparation, instruction, and practice leads to being appropriately self-controlled in difficult situations.

Our church has enjoyed Sharon’s music training in the choir and orchestra. She is talented but also instructed. “I majored in piano and I hated playing from memory. I had to perform at least once each semester in a type of recital. The Dean gave a talk the week before one of these performances about how a performer should handle a situation in which they forgot their music. I was scheduled to perform a Chopin Polo-naise. In my world of ‘memory paranoia’, Chopin was particularly hard to memorize. At the appointed time I took my place at the piano and began to play. I got about two lines into the music and my memory just left me. I did exactly as the dean had instructed—apologized to the audience and announced that I would begin again. Same thing happened again and I repeated the process. The third time I mercifully made it through. I bowed to the polite applause, walked off the stage, straight to my car and went home for the weekend—totally hu-miliated. When I came back on Monday I was met with multiple comments of “oh, we thought you did that on purpose to il-lustrate the point the Dean made in class.” Wow! When all the musical preparation I had done failed me, the words the dean spoke the week before carried me through!”

Sharon is professionally trained as a para-medic and is now Clinical Manager for LifeNet here in Hot Springs. This position makes her responsible for Quality Improve-ment and the continuing education for the LifeNet staff. I asked Sharon to think about how advance training and preparation lead to her company’s quality response in a cri-sis.

“The street paramedics are responsible for the health and well-being of others in their times of crisis. The need for emergency care, by its nature, cannot be scheduled, so paramedics have to be ready to roll within minutes of receiving the call for help. There are times when the call is miles away

and if we have been told the nature of the call there is a little time to think about a plan on the way to the call. Other times someone just walks up to one of our sta-tions or the call is two blocks away and we go from being asleep at 0300 to being face-to-face with a patient in dis-tress in less than 5 minutes.”

“Paramedics first have to complete Emergency Medi-cal Technician Training. This is a one semester course followed by pass-ing a National Registry Exam. They then are eligible to apply for paramedic school which is a full year of additional training including clinical time in the hospital and internship on the ambulance. They then have to pass a National Registry Test. Our license is good for two years and in that time period we are required to attend 72 hours of continuing education and maintain current CPR and Advanced Life Support certification. In order to respond to emer-gencies, not only does the paramedic need the classroom training and knowledge but they must have practiced these skills enough so that, in an emergency the cor-rect response comes automatically.”

How has God worked in you to develop the Spiritual fruit of self-control?

“When you identify yourself as a Chris-tian—not just someone who occasionally goes to church but a true believer—it car-ries with it a great responsibility. The idea that Jesus went back to be with the Father and left us to represent Him here on earth is pretty scary. Self-control is a lifelong quest, as are all things spiritual. When I was a teenager and young adult I cringed when I was told that I couldn’t do certain things or act certain ways because of the “influence” it would have on others. God has brought me along to the point that, not only do I realize that it’s not all about me and what I want, but I sincerely want to represent God on earth the way He wants to be represented. Now when I’m short or impatient in my dealings with clerks at the story, co-workers, family members or even

other drivers on the road, I feel so ashamed of what they must think of the Jesus whose teachings I say I am following. When I’m able to stop my inappropriate remarks or actions in time I say a quick thank you to God. When I slip, I try to immediately ask for forgiveness from God and make things right when I can.

I’m definitely a work in progress on self-control but through good pastoring, Sunday School and Bible study, devotions, and lots of prayer, God keeps calling me to Him-self. I am so amazed that He can love and teach us even when we are slow learners. As in the care I give my patients as a para-medic, I have to make the proper prepara-tions in my knowledge and skills and then I have to stay focused on the goal. If I let myself become distracted from the goal of self-control to represent Jesus well, I will be like Peter when he took his eyes of Jesus as he was walking on the water to meet Him during the storm. With God’s help, I will keep my eyes on the prize.”

Peter wrote, “His divine power has given us eve-rything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control …” (2 Peter 1:3-6)

Read more from Sharon on our web site.

Sharon King at work