VBS 2009

July 2009 will be the first ever Vacation Bible School in the history of West Omaha Baptist Church. We are very excited to host our first VBS. Many more details will be given as the time draws closer. Right now, we need to start collecting school supplies. Below is a list of items that we need. Each of these items are very inexpensive and if you are able to pick up a piece or two at a time, we would certainly have all we need by the time the end of July rolls around. A box will be under the table in the entry at church. You can collect your items there. Below is a list of things we need.

• Crayons
• Pencils
• Pens
• Erasers
• Glue
• Scissors
• Markers
• Paper
• Stickers
• Construction paper
• Rulers
• Pencil sharpeners
• Colored pencils
• Binders
• Index cards
• Lunch Boxes
• Pencil bags

Devotion - Staying Sweet in a Kitty Litter World

Many of you have asked for the Kitty Litter Cake recipe and the Candy Basket devotion. You will find the list of items you need for the devotion in bold as you read the devotion. You will want to glue or tape some kind of stick to the back of your candy bars ahead of time. Just a thought - popsicle sticks are not long enough. You can always add (or subtract) any other type of candy you find to fit varioius Scriptural characteristics. Have fun and be creative!

Here you go...

Staying Sweet in a Kitty Litter World

Isaiah 5:20

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Circumstances in life are not always as they seem. Example - Vanilla smells sweet, tastes bitter.

Proverbs 20:17

Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

Let's talk kitty litter:

• It stinks
• It's messy
• It's full of disease
• It is valuable to nothing and no one

Our lives can seem like kitty litter, stinky, messy, full of heartache and disease, and seemingly worthless. But God can make our kitty litter lives sweet.

His protection is sweet - Song of Solomon 2:31-3

His call to me is sweet - Song of Solomon 2:14

His rest is sweet - Song of Solomon 5:5

His relationship to me is sweet - Song of Solomon 5:16

He is the Savior that taketh away the sin of the world - John 1:29

So how can we have this sweetness in the midst of our kitty litter?

(At this point, begin filling the basket)

1. Clean your vessel - Matt 23:25, 2 Tim 2:21 (bring out the empty basket to represent your cleaned vessel for the master's use)


2. When you clean your vessel, you must replace the sin with something good and usable/pliable for the master, a good foundation - I Tim 6:19 (fill the basket with foam for the candy arrangement)


3. God must be at the center of your life - Deut 6:5. THREE MUSKATEERS - God the Father, Son, Holy Ghost


4. Don't let sin into your life. Keep your heart pure. And be obedient and do right. The boomerang is going to come back whether your deeds are sinful or pure - Gal 6:7-10. Remember, there is a Payday some day. Remember, there is a payday someday for both evil and good.


5. Keep your heart soft - Hosea 10:12. Keep the ICEBREAKERS handy. Don't let bitterness and hatred control your heart. Heb 12:15


6. Choose your words wisely - Prov 25:11. Keep your mouth KISSABLEs. Don't complain, gossip, criticize, or slander. Good, encouraging words are priceless. Jame 3:9-11


7. Study God's Word and understand it - 2 Tim 2:15. Don't be an AIRHEAD. Know why you believe what you believe. Learn God's Word and his desire for the Christian life. Know how to fight off the temptation of the devil. Eph 6:10-18


8. Handle your life wisely- Matt 10:16. Be wise as serpants and harmless of DOVES. God will give you wisdom in every situation, but you have to ask him for it. James 1:5


9. Be careful of the music you allow into your ears, your heart, and your mind. Ungodly music will rob you of your sweetness - Col 3:16. Pops don't necessirily rock (POPS ROCK). Eph 5:19


10. Read God's Word and pray - Psalm 119:97, I Thes 5:17. We need to commune with God NOW AND LATER.


11. Watch your walk - Eph 5:1. Straighten up and STRIDE right! (gum)


12. It's a fact of life - there are going to be unkind, ugly, hateful people who cross your path. Rom 12:17-19. But dont go into ORBIT about it. Psalm 119:165


13. Win souls to Christ. There are hurting, lost people all around us - John 15:13. Be a LIFESAVER. Matt 28:18-20


14. Don't be a respector of persons - Acts 10:34. In our daily lives, we will meet up with and minister to all kinds of people. But never forget that Mike needs the Lord just as much as Ike (MIKE N IKE). Don't favor one over the other!


15. Some people are just NERDS. But we must reach out to them, too.


16. It is easy to be close to the HOT TAMALES and the SUGAR DADDYS. But leaving Mike N Ike and the Nerds behind, making fun, mocking them, will rob you of your blessing and your testimony. Remember - we are to go into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in.


17. Whether they are ROLOS or SLIM JIMS, all sinners and need a Savior.


18. Do good for others. A little show of kindness goes a long ways - Prov 3:27. Go on a shopping SPREE for others. Most people will respond with a melted heart to your kindness.


19. However, there are those who are EXTREME (gum). It will take EXTRA kindness on your part to win them over and demonstrate the love of Christ. Eph 4:32

CONCLUSSION:

It is possible to be sweet in a kitty litter world. Things don't have to be as they seem. (take a bite of the kitty litter cake). God can turn bitter into sweet if we let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom. Start with your life - build your house upon a firm foundation, and God will change your life to sweetness and the lives of others through you - one bitter life at a time. (During the conclussion, you can add some fillers between candy like shiny tissue paper glued to a stick or curly ribbon on a stick)

Kitty Litter Cake Recipe:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Kitty-Litter-Cake/Detail.aspx

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
1 (18.25 ounce) package German chocolate cake mix
1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix
2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (12 ounce) package vanilla sandwich cookies
3 drops green food coloring
1 (12 ounce) package tootsie rolls

DIRECTIONS
Prepare cake mixes and bake according to package directions (any size pan).
Prepare pudding according to package directions and chill until ready to assemble.
Crumble sandwich cookies in small batches in a food processor, scraping often. Set aside all but 1/4 cup. To the 1/4 cup add a few drops of green food coloring and mix.
When cakes are cooled to room temperature, crumble them into a large bowl. Toss with 1/2 of the remaining cookie crumbs, and the chilled pudding. You probably won't need all of the pudding, you want the cake to be just moist, not soggy.
Line kitty litter box with the kitty litter liner. Put cake mixture into box.
Put half of the unwrapped tootsie rolls in a microwave safe dish and heat until softened. Shape the ends so that they are no longer blunt, and curve the tootsie rolls slightly. Bury tootsie rolls randomly in the cake and sprinkle with half of the remaining cookie crumbs. Sprinkle a small amount of the green colored cookie crumbs lightly over the top.
Heat 3 or 4 of the tootsie rolls in the microwave until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the cake and sprinkle lightly with some of the green cookie crumbs. Heat the remaining tootsie rolls until pliable and shape as before. Spread all but one randomly over top of cake mixture. Sprinkle with any remaining cookie crumbs. Hang the remaining tootsie roll over side of litter box and sprinkle with a few green cookie crumbs. Serve with the pooper scooper.

Ladies' Retreat

Bloom Where You're Planted

Bible Baptist Temple
St. Joseph, MO
April 17-18

$25 registration fee

(Due by March 15th)
Please make checks payable to WOBC.

We will write one check to Bible Baptist Temple

The specs -
We will probably be leaving the church on Friday around 2. We will have an absolute time by the first of March.

Registration will begin at 5:30 and will include sub sandwiches. Services begin at 7. Following the service, we will either grab a bite to eat or go back to the hotel to begin the slumber party!

There will be 5 sessions on Saturday. Four of the speakers will share their testimonies of how God allowed circumstances in their lives, how they trusted Him, and through His grace, "Bloomed Where They Were Planted." Anita Couser lost her husband unexpectedly. Carlene Smith had planned to follow her husband to the mission field, but he left her with 5 children to raise. Sindy Brown had a child who was born healthy, but now suffers from complications from tic fever. Glenda Williams is a godly lady who followed her husband to plant a church in St. Joseph, MO, and then into evangelism. Pastor Bill Marshall will be the final speaker.

Due to limited seating, we need to get registrations in as soon as possible. Please let me know as soon as you are positive you can attend. Refunds will only be provided if a 2-week notice is given. Late registration is $30 and it is possible you will not be able to sit with the rest of our group, although they will do all they can to keep us together.

If you have a child, there is no nursery for this event. However, some of the ladies have decided that they will take their infant with them and those ladies will take turns watching the children at the hotel so that they can participate in the majority of the services. If you are one of those with a child, please let me know so we can coordinate this effort better.

We will make arrangements for the hotels at our March ladies meeting. If you are not able to attend, please let me know if you want to share a room with 1 other lady or 4 to a room. The cost for the hotels is around $79 (not including tax) and includes a full, complimentary breakfast. More information on the hotel to follow.

Lunch will also be provided on Saturday at the church.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call or e-mail me. Be in prayer for this great meeting! God used last year's meeting to meet the spiritual needs of all 6 of us who attended. I look forward to a great attendance this year and a wonderful time of fellowship with one another!

Missions Conference Basket Blings

These gifts can be brought at any time. Check back as we update the information.
The Ritchies

• Nuts


• Trail Mix


• Beef Jerky


• Banana Chips/Dried Fruit


• Fruit Snacks


• Wipes


• Hand Sanitizer


• Gum/Mints


• Slipper Socks


• Pretty Berets/Clips for Mary and for 4-year-old daughter

Missions Conference 2009

May 20-24, 2009
WOBCs First Annual Missions Conference
See and Hear Their Cry


We are excitedly anticipating the first ever missions conference at West Omaha Baptist Church, and we want to give our missionaries RED CARPET treatment! Here are a few of the plans we've got up our sleeve...

We want to shower them with gifts! If we start bringing items now, we can do a little at a time and have a great collection by May. I have a post with some gift card ideas entitled "Missions Conference Gift Cards." There you will find a monthly list of gift cards to bring throughout each month. Large and small quantities are equally appreciated.

I will soon have a post entitled "Basket Blings." Each missionary family will be presented a basket of treasures. Within those baskets will be special items particular to each family's needs. Some of those items will be small, inexpensive gifts while others will be more costly. Again, all sacrficies are appreciated!

Keep in mind that our missionaries are sacrificing their lives for the Lord. Any small amount of sacrifice on our part is really for the cause of furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ and fulfilling the Great Commission as a church. When we care for our missionaries as the New Testament churches cared for the Apostle Paul, we are taking part in the ministry of our missionaries, and souls for Christ are added to our account in heaven. Don't miss out on your opportunity!

If you have any questions or suggestions, please don't hesitate to e-mail me or give me a ring! Let's honor hour missionaries like royalty.

We will also have a Ladies Luncheon on Saturday, May 23rd after morning Soulwinning. You won't want to miss this great time of fellowship and hearing from our missionary wives, so try to set aside the time to join us. More details TBA.

Missions Conference Gift Cards

February - Electronic Dining
This month, bring gift cards to universal restaurants. You can bring them to me any time throughout the month of February. Here are some suggestions:

• Subway


• McDonalds


• Cracker Barrel


• Burger King


• Wendy's


• IHOP


• Pizza Hut


• Taco Bell


• Olive Garden

March - WalMart & Target Gift Cards

April - Money for the wives. Mary likes to shop at JCPenney's. I will find out what Mrs. Halsey's favorite department store is. Once the money is designated, I will purchase the gift cards with the total sum.

• Mrs. Ritchie - JCPenney's


• Mrs. Halsey - TBD

May - Missionary Wives Spending Spree Gift Cards

• Bath & Body Works


• Yankee Candle


• Amazon.com


• Starbucks gift cards

February 2009 LFM

Tuesday, February 3rd was the 1-year anniversary of our Ladies Fellowship Meetings! In this first ever meeting pictured to the left, Mrs. Ruegg, a pastor's wife from Seward, NE (just northwest of Lincoln) and her 3 daughters joines us for the meeting. Mrs. Ruegg presented a devotion from God's Word and encouraged us to draw closer to God. There were also five ladies from WOBC at the meeting.


Now one year later, we continue to hold our monthly LFM on the first Tuesday of each month. This Tuesday we had 13 ladies in attendance and had a wonderful Valentine's-style meeting. Thanks Wendy for the great decorations! And thanks to all of the creative chefs for the terrific food. We had lots of red and pink foods and even heart-shaped quesadillas.

Next month's meeting theme is "Springing into Spring." I can't wait to see what kind of foods you conjure up for March. Bring cameras. I think we'll want visual proof of the ideas - however far reaching they might be.


Debbie Chamberlain shared a wonderful devotion with us - "Being Sweet in a Kitty Litter World." Tomorrow I will have pictures uploaded and the notes from the devotion.



If you have not been able to join us for our LFMs, we hope you can attend the March meeting! Until then...