“You don’t know until you ask.”

It’s simple, but so true.

But rarely do we take the time to ask any

questions.                                                                                                                

It doesn’t have to be earth shattering knowledge,

We just don’t ask.

ANYTHING.

We don’t ask a person how they are REALLY doing.

We don’t ask our neighbor about their new car, that’s really cool!

We don’t ask our co-worker about a job they are working on.

We don’t ask our kids what made them laugh during their day.

We don’t ask God for anything—unless we are DESPERATE!

We don’t ask.

Why?

Time, pride, self-reliance, an “I don’t care” or “I already know” spirit, simple indifference.

“You don’t know until you ask.”

Something in the asking process makes us vulnerable. We may come across child-like, or maybe “nosy.” Asking a question usually means we DON’T KNOW something. For some, this is a very scary position; they need to have the control factor of knowing everything (pride). The problem with NOT asking questions is that you REALLY don’t learn, you don’t grow, you don’t mature.

Here are a few encouraging reasons to be a person who asks:

1. A person who asks, gets answer.  Ask and you will receive… (Matthew 7:7)

2. A person who asks, becomes child-like.  At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what You were pleased to do.” (Matthew 11:25-26)

3. A person who asks, receives wisdom (working knowledge!). If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5)

Two quick warnings:

1. Make sure you want to know the answer.

2. When asking questions of God: Ask in Jesus name, and through God’s will for you.

(John 16:24, 1 John 5:14), and Believe God, believe in God!  Ask without doubting His power, love, or knowledge. (James 1:6-7)

Go be child-like!

Go be inquisitive!

Go get wise!

Go ASK!!

In this 40th year of ministry, it has been fun to hear the comments that many of the  graduates of Explorer Girls have shared with us through the years.  As you read some of them, I hope you are encouraged, challenged, and blessed. 

And if nothing else, it should show you how important this ministry is in the lives of the girls.  Thanks for being part of this work throughout these years.  God bless. 

“I have been attending Explorer Girls since I was 3.  I grew up in this ministry.  I learned how to read my Bible.  I was challenged during our Bible times with questions pertaining to everyday life which made me think but always brought me to God’s Word for the answers.  What I appreciated about Explorer Girls was that I was not judged by what I wore, the way I acted, or even by how much I loved Jesus.  Explorer Girls was a safe haven for me.  It was wonderful to be loved and accepted by everyone.  After I graduated high school, I came back as a leader.  I want the girls to know about the incredible Heavenly Father who will never leave them and will always love them.” Ally Grazulis, graduate of Explorer Girls; Camp Staff, leader at Aldan Union.

“My childhood was anything but ordinary.  Everything in my life was changing and it felt like I had no stability, that’s where Explorer Girls came in.  Every Monday was my escape, Explorer Girls was the only thing that was safe to me and it was something I always looked forward to.  The leaders in each age group invested their time and energy into speaking truth into my life.  I know God was working in my heart during those years and I’m thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of such an amazing group.” Jenny Hall, graduate of Explorer Girls.

“Explorer Girls…what can one even say about something that had so many different forms over the years?  There were retreats, where not only did I learn about God, I learned about life from godly women who took time to invest in me.  There were verses we learned each week, which now, as I lead a Bible study for girls at the collegiate level, I find myself recalling, to use as encouragement for those I teach.  There were times that we laughed and times that we cried, but each time I knew that I would learn something about the Lord.  For that I’ll be forever grateful.” Lorraine Dunn, graduate of Explorer Girls.

“Whether it was doing different activities for the awards we were trying to earn, singing songs together, doing a craft, or reading Bible verses, EG’s was a great place to be on Monday nights. Since I went from kindergarten thru 12th grade, it was a privilege to get to know the girls in my group and all of the leaders were wonderful!  Each of them impacted my life and helped me    strengthen my relationship with God.  I hope that EG’s continues at AUC for many years to come so that as many girls as possible can take part in such a wonderful ministry!” Lindsay Phipps, graduate of Explorer Girls, leader at Aldan Union

 

May 30: Plant the seeds in the ground.

June 30: Sprouts are everywhere!

July 30: Everything is flowering or producing!

How did the garden go from seeds to produce?

A gardener goes out to tend it:

There’s a lot of watering involved,

and pulling weeds,

and trimming plants,

and making sure there’s enough sunlight,

and thinning out to make sure there is enough room for growth.

It’s a labor of love!

The gardener knows, with good habits, the seeds will give an abundant crop!

What happens if the seeds get planted, but then are not cared for?

It’s still very possible to get produce, but the outcome is usually less abundant.

It’s very much like the sower and the seed parable (Matthew 13: 1–9):

No water: Dead seeds

Too many weeds: Weak seedlings

Too much sun: Burnt seedlings

No pruning: Out of control seedlings

July 2022: Plant seeds (EG Camp 2022)

Sept – May: Tend the seeds (EG club ministries)

July 2023: Plant more seeds (EG Camp 2023)

We plant seeds every year at camp, and we pray that our girls can get into one of our EG club ministries during the school year so they can be healthy, growing seeds! But many of our campers do not have an EG Ministry club in their area. They basically go all year with NO ONE to help them, to tend their seeds, to water them, the kill the weeds, to be sure they have enough SON-light.

1. How is your “garden”?

Are you growing? Are you allowing God to water you, prune you? Are you getting enough SON-light?

2. What are you doing to be sure others, like our camp girls, are in touch with “The Gardener”?

Are you praying for them, are you reaching out with God’s love and His Word to them?

Are you shining SON-light on them?

“I am the Vine, you are the branches…”—Jesus (John 15:5)

I was listening to the radio this morning and the DJ mentioned that she had read some “advice from a grama.” One of the points was that you should just take “the first step,” toward whatever project or problem you have. 

The “first step” – That’s probably the hardest one to take, at least in my experience.

I look at a job and sometimes feel overwhelmed by the enormity of it. But, if I step back and then take one step at a time, it slowly gets done.

Jesus used steps all throughout His ministry.

Jesus called up to Zacchaeus to step down out of the tree and share a meal with Him.  What a big step that was, inviting Himself to eat with a tax collector/sinner! (Luke 19:1-10) But because of that step Zacchaeus became a believer along with all of his house.

Jesus took a step out of the norm when He spoke to the woman at the well. His first step, through speaking to the woman, led to many believing and being saved. (John 4:39)

By meeting Saul on the road to Damascus, the Lord began Paul’s many steps of ministry (Acts 9:3) to thousands in the churches across their world.

The apostles’ steps took them to many countries, where they preached the Gospel of Jesus to thousands.

First step, step back, step down, step out, one step at time…

Are you ready to take that step? Toward Jesus? He’s waiting.

Editing:  Preparing written material for publication by modifying, or correcting. The process of making changes to a text, deciding what will be removed and what will be kept in.

In my job I do a lot of editing of printed materials; publications, newsletters, curriculum, and devotional materials.

I sometimes feel like I will never get done.  I read, correct, reread, correct, and then do it again until the document is as close to perfect as I can get it.

When you think about it, God does the same thing to us.

He modifies our thought process, He corrects us, He changes our content by removing and adding until He conforms us to become more like the people He wants us to be. Sadly, He sometimes has to do it over, and over again.

God is gracious enough to tackle our mistakes until the day He decides that editing is complete and He takes us home.

Are you ready to be published?

Psalm 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 139:23-24  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Philippians 1:6  And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.