Bladen Charge News

The Community Garden

is providing vegetables to people on Saturday mornings at the thrift store. If you know of someone who needs some food please let Pastor Tim know.

Live Oak Cookbooks are in. Anyone wanting to purchase one can contact Janice Humphreys at 323-9557 or email liveoakrecipes@earthlink.net Cost is $15.00, checks can be made out to Live Oak UMW. Anyone wishing to mail their request and payment can send it to Janice Humphreys, 5859 Mack Simmons Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28312

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Monday was a hot day. I began running that day at 9 a.m., and

managed to run almost half a mile altogether. Before my pregnancy,

I had tried working out off and on for a few years now, and I always would fail at it. I couldn’t figure out why I would fail, especially when there was a time working out was second nature to me. Then on that fateful Monday, that hot, hot morning, I figured out why.

So imagine this—an out-of-shape new mother, pushing a stroller, wearing new sneakers, stocked with plenty of water, and motivation oozing from her very pores. After a proper warm-up, this new mom began to jog for the first time in a very, very long time. I had a marker, about 3/10 of a mile ahead of me, and I began jogging toward it,

pushing the stroller, getting thirsty, and huffing and puffing the entire time. I ran out of steam at 2/10 of a mile, very disappointed in myself. Although no one was holding me responsible, I still felt like I’d let everyone down when I resumed walking.

Then after awhile, I began to jog again. I promised I wouldn’t stop for 2/10 of a mile, since that’s all I could the first time. The first 1/10 went well. Then, as my head began to pound with the heat, I began to fizzle. So I prayed. I said, “Lord, please let me accomplish my goal. I need you. I can’t do this by myself.” So I kept going. With every step, I

tried to compromise with myself (and the Lord) that I could stop and

do better the next day. But the Lord didn’t let me. It was as if He had said, “Carrah, you asked me to help you, now let me.” So I did, and I reached my goal. It was a small goal I had set, but I still didn’t think I could do it. And I wouldn’t have been able to if I hadn’t prayed.

I remembered in that moment that that was how I had gotten in shape

the first time I had, many years ago. I asked God to help me. Then

when He entrusted me with being able to help myself, I no longer

asked him to help me with my workouts; instead, I used the time I

spent working out praying for other things. Prayer worked so well that

I exceeded my goal the first time; I have no doubt that it will work this time as well.

The point of this seemingly self-centered diatribe is to encourage each

of you to pray for what’s important to you. Whether the important

thing is big or small, God is listening. He may not grant it in the way you expect, and He may not grant it in the time you want, He may not grant it at all if He has something better planned, but He will answer

your prayers somehow. Just keep praying. If you’re not in the practice of praying much, well, my friends, it’s a lot like exercise. The more

you do it, the better you become and the easier it gets. Before long, you’ll be in shape with prayer!

Until next time, God bless you all! Submitted by: Carrah Royal

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The Youth Potato / Salad fund raiser at Bethlehem was a wonderful success.

Thanks to the youth for the good food and thanks to the church for supporting their endeavor.

The money will be used to support their trip to Lake Junaluska and their summer mission trips.

If you would like to give donations, see Pastor Tim or any of our Youth Representatives...

Tammy Byrd, Robin Kostszycki, Janet Melvin or Linda Mathis.

The Fundraiser at Lu Mill for Relay for Life was also a wonderful success.

We would like to thank everyone who worked so hard on this event and who gave to support this cause.

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~ If you have not filled out a commitment sheet, please get one and fill out. Not only is it a great tool to know what gifts you have to help the church & community, it also allows us to update records in the office.

If you have any news you would like to share and be posted,

please e-mail to Dee/Robin at rrkml@bladencharge.com