First Baptist Church of Vineland, NJ

Welcoming, Witnessing & Winning for the Kingdom of God

LINDA

While a car load of us women-folk were having dinner after the completion of the retreat, we started chatting about what the Women of Faith conference meant personally to each of us.  Five women, five different points of view, all of us on a walk with Christ, but at five different points along the way.

After we discussed our feelings, we started talking about what we might say to the congregation this morning.  We are all excited.   We all want to share our points of view. 

As we left the diner and were driving home, an idea literally popped into my heard.  I confidently, almost cockily, stated to the others. "I know exactly what I am gonna do."  They all pressed for details, but the only thing I told them was that I might just give a visual illustration and not say a thing.  (Anyone who knows me knows that for me to keep my mouth shut is nothing short of a miracle!)  I figured that if someone wants to know what these visual illustrations mean, they could see me after the service.  The girls said, "That is such a cop-out!!"  Maybe yes, maybe no...

Before I give my illustration, please know that the title of this conference was "Outrageous Joy."  Please remember that I have children, I have worked with some of the children here in the church and that we are called upon to be children unto God the Father.  After seeing this, if you think I am just a little out there, outrageous or child-like that's fine with me.

If you asked a small child to draw a person, this is what you might see. 

O     A circle for the head
l    A straight line for the body
^     An inverted "V" for the legs.

I asked myself, "If I were going to build that figure,what would it look like?"  What I came up with is a bubble wand.   You see the head, body and you can hold onto the legs.

We all know the Bible tells us that once we receive Jesus into our hearts, we are born again and filled with the Holy Spirit.  (Dip the wand into bubble solution.)

The Holy Spirit is so awesome that you can't contain it.  It's bigger than any one person.  God's Spirit is in you and flows through you.  So you have to let it manifest itself in actions and in deeds.  (Blow some bubbles!)

Being an example to others helps them to catch the Spirit.  (Catch a bubble back on your bubble wand.)

God's love for us is eternal.  He will never leave us.  His grace and His love keep on giving.  (Blow some more bubbles.  Go ahead, it's fun!)

As the prayers and praises go up, the answers and the blessings come down.  (Just like the bubbles do.)

Picture two separate bubbles joining to form one larger one.  This reminds us that fellowship with other Christians is necessary.   It deepens faith and commitment to Christ.  (Try this if you are a bubble acrobat!)

Finally, it's okay to let loose, lay back and have fun!  Be free to love yourself as you are and love others as they are.  Enjoy the good times and take comfort in the fact that during the bad, His Spirit is in you and He will see you through.

(Webmaster's Note: Yes, bubbles were really blown at the pulpit during this presentation!!)

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