This Week @ MOPS ~ 10.14.2014

Our Speaker

 Our speaker for the morning was Kellie Kelbaugh.  Kellie and her husband’s first child Katelyn Renne had a stroke in the womb but was able to recover.   Tragically she died after a car crash when she was almost 9 months old in January of 2006.  Kellie and Stephen chose to have their precious daughter’s organs donated.  They committed to make their marriage stronger through this tragedy and their faith grew as they tried to understand and trust God’s plan. 

Madelyn was born in May 2007 and brought much joy and healing to their house. 

Kellie was pregnant again a short time later with a baby boy, Stephen Cole.  In October 2009, after not feeling him move and the doctor unable to find a heartbeat, Kellie delivered Cole at 32 weeks into the hands of Jesus.  In this season of grief she was tested again and learned to take her thoughts of anger captive.  It was a different grief than losing Katelyn as she was the only one who had known Cole. 

Shortly after she lost Cole, Kellie was able to meet the little boy who had been given Katelyn’s heart.  She was able to feel her daughter’s heart beating.

By God’s grace, Kellie delivered Ava on Valentine’s Day 2011. 

Kellie says she knows without a shadow of doubt that she will see Katelyn and Cole again in Heaven and that she don't have to worry about their salvation.  Through her trials she says she can honestly say that she loves the Lord so much more and is even more thankful the Lord Jesus died for us.  Easter has become even more meaningful as she realized she didn't give her children willingly but God willingly gave Jesus for our sins.  She says she is not a superwoman and didn’t didn't make it through alone.  She relied on Scripture and the stories of Job, Moses, David, Paul and the thorn in his flesh, and Jesus. 

It’s difficult to understand why a loving God allows such suffering but He says in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

She shared that in Psalm 22, David felt abandon but chose to obey; there are 4 practical things when can learn:

1. Remind yourself of God's character - list attributes of God.

2. Review God's faithfulness in your life - journal blessings to see how they far outweigh hard things.

3. Recall who you are in Christ and what you were before Him

4. Have patience and know God has a plan.

Kellie relies on God's sovereignty.  Whatever we may face God will work it out in us and bring it under His control.  No matter your trouble, only God can give a divine and powerful comfort that comes from the depths of His character.  Focus on sovereignty and faithfulness we can face any storm and turn ashes into beauty.

Some other verses Kellie mentioned:

 Isaiah 61:1-3

Psalm 46:1

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

 Suzanne Weldy shared about a new branch of the Grief Share ministry for those who have experienced miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, still birth, and infant death.  Grief Share is a 13 week Christ centered grief support group/seminar that includes discussion and videos featuring well-known pastors and leaders with years of experience in grief recovery. When a baby is lost through a miscarriage, most mothers (and fathers) need to be given permission to grieve.  Too often, well-meaning individuals minimize the loss - as if, somehow, the fact that the child was never carried to term makes him or her unimportant or far less important.  Yet the grief and sense of loss can be just as strong and prolonged as with the death of an older child or other relative.
Crossroads is able to have like kind loss groups and meets on Thursday nights from 6:30 to 8:30pm in the North Entrance of the church (back side). 
For more information go to http://www.crossroads.org/grief.

 For our craft, we made these adorable pumpkins from scrapbook paper. 
Thanks for all your hard work, Allison!

A few other notes...

We have begun our Fall fundraiser with Yankee Candle.
More specific information coming in a separate post!

We will have a special raffle at our December meeting!  You can "earn" entries into the raffle by inviting friends to MOPS: one entry for a friend visiting and 4 additional entries into the raffle if that mom registers for MOPS and pays her dues. It doesn't have to just be a friend; it could be moms you meet at the park, library, or anywhere!  We will have business cards to you soon to help them invite friends and get out our information.

We have a spot on our Leadership Team helping with A/V during meetings.  Please email here for more information and join us for our next Leadership meeting on November 4th.
 

If you haven't done so already, please pay your dues. There is a $24.95 MOPS International fee, and local dues are collected in the fall and the spring ($50 each) to cover child care, craft and other expenses.  You can pay online with a card at http://crossroads.org/mops (click "Register") as well as with exact cash or check made out to Crossroads MOPS at our next meeting.
Please don't let finances get in the way of joining something incredible. We have scholarships readily available. Please email here for more information.  

Many thanks to Merritt Jones with Wildtree, our sponsor for the week and a former MOPS mom!  Wildtree is an exciting direct-sales company whose all natural gourmet culinary blends, infused Grapeseed oils, dressings and sauces are sold through home Tasting parties.

919-457-2288

merritt.wildtree@gmail.com

http://www.mywildtree.com/MERRITT/