Returning from the Desert

Hey there, it has been a really long time since I have written on this site.  Many life changes have occurred, but God is calling me back to this place and I am really excited.  I won't have my partner, Angela, writing with me, but I am confident that the Spirit will speak in and through me to offer encouragement to women all over the world.  If you are interested in joining me on this journey, let me know.  I will again be posting this on the blog and it will post to facebook so you can read it either place.  My goal is to have readers that come here often, ones that come here for guidance and encouragement and others who stop in when they can.  Most of all, I would like to invite new readers and women to have a place to go for prayer, encouragement and truth. 

Blessings to you!

Heather Collver

A Vision

Hello friends.

It has been a while since the last blog from Women of Worship was written. I have been praying for direction and a vision for this group and blog. God works in amazing ways. Thank you for the encouragement and prayers as I wait for direction in this matter. God has opened many doors and has showed me many possibilities that I was not able to see last Fall.
I have had quite a few women who would be interested in writing with me. I have also set up a retreat in Oregon in Lincoln City for Mother's Day weekend and am working on those details. If you are interested in writing, the retreat and/or receiving the blog when I have a clear vision of what topic to write on, please let me know. I am also open to any comments or suggestions you may have. I look forward to hearing from you.
Blessings,
Heather Collver

Saying Goodbye

Dear Friends of Women of Worship,

I am so very thankful for you. The experience of writing and learning through this blog has been life changing. I appreciate that each of you allowed our words to fill your inbox.

There never seems to be a right way to say goodbye. The words that I have valued through this blog for so long are at a loss to me now. I love you all so very much. Your encouragement and hope has been a constant joy to me. I love that we truly become a body of believers coming together to share in His word on a daily basis.

Please keep your prayers with this ministry as Heather will be searching for direction. I am sure that if you are in any way interested in helping her with writing, she would love to talk with you.

In spite of the change in blog, I pray you know that Heather and I love you very much. If you are ever in need of prayer or support please feel that you many contact either of us. Heather is at hcollver@msn.com. Angela is available at angdstolpe@gmail.com

My thoughts and prayers go with this ministry. I am so grateful for my time with you. Thank you.

Angela

Continued Prayers for Healing:
Joanne Adams and her battle with cancer
Ginny Renaud and her battle with cancer
Heather C and her illness.
Kathy L for mental health and to be set free by the blood of Christ.

Salvation

Deliverance from the power or penalty of sin; redemption.

^{Luke 19:9}Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Above all else I pray you know that Jesus desires to sit at your table. Regardless of our reputations may each of us be spurred on by a curiosity in our Savior Jesus. May our curiosity lead to repentance and ultimately salvation.

From the beginning of time, God had a plan to love you. God sent his son to fulfill His promise of deliverance. Jesus sacrificed his life so that you and I could be redeemed.

^{1 John 2: 1}My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ²He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Repentant

Do you think Zaccheaus was happy being a tax collector? Or maybe he had been searching for a reason to change.

Luke 19:⁵ When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." ⁶So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

⁷All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "

⁸But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."

There are so many things in this life that seem good. Zacchaeus was a rich man. In today's society he would be a big corporate CEO with the BMW and 5000 sq ft house. A man that thinks more of his own well being than that of the people.

What is it about Jesus that calls us to turn from our ways? Is it his acceptance and love, his sacrifice or grace? Zacchaeus immediately responded to Jesus with action in his life. Do we respond with the same urgency? Forgiveness is essential but repentant is the thing that drives us to turn around and become a follower of Christ. How do you respond to the grace you have been given?

Curiosity

I wonder what it was that caused Zacchius to be so interested in Jesus. I wonder what he had heard. Maybe he knew of healing, teaching and large groups of people wanting to see the Rabbi named Jesus of Nazareth.

^{Luke 19:1-4 (msg)} Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn't see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.

This picture of Zaccheaus makes me picture my kids at a parade. The excitement that builds as the crowd gathers. Being just short enough that stepping on your toes doesn't even give you enough of a vantage point. You can here the sounds of the parade coming closer. I am sure for Zacchaeus, it was the sound of the crowd getting louder as Jesus was closer to them and they called out their desires for healing and restoration in their lives.

Zacchaeus' curiosity will eventually lead him to places he couldn't have imagined. But, wonder with me for a moment what it was that had built up the excitement in him to begin with. Why did he want to see Jesus?

I wonder if we do that for Christ. Do we create a curiosity about our Savior that is so exciting that someone would climb a tree for just a glimpse of it? I wonder if our lives make people wonder about our God. I wonder if we leave the message of Jesus' reputation so admonishing that even the tax collectors of our society would want to share in a moment of it's glory.

Can our lives create the same excitement as a crowd waiting for the glorifying moment of seeing it's Savior?