Summer Time! By Jodie Montgomery Psalm 130:5 I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope. It’s been a long time ago now, but when I was a young mom, I decided that I needed, like I need daily sustenance, to come to the table of...
Ministry Planning and Pity Parties By Jodie Montgomery To have pity on someone is to show them compassion. The first record of showing “pity” in the Bible is when Pharaoh's daughter opened the basket and saw the baby Moses. Baby Moses was spared death by the pity of his “enemy”. When we have...
Someone Special By Jodie Montgomery We pray for those we love. I’m praying for my friend Nicole. She has been an incredible ministry support to me, faithful for years. She takes initiative, makes things beautiful, and has a great attitude. Her humor adds joy. At one of our leadership celebrations, we gave an...
A Song of Ascents By Jodie Montgomery I like hiking. It is slow, outdoors, and reminds me to keep taking one more step. I like seeking a gorgeous view and having a path before me. Even though I reside in Florida, I like getting to go to a place with elevation. I...
The White Umbrella By Jodie Montgomery So, I read The White Umbrella, the account of some ordinary women establishing Wellspring Living, an organization fighting childhood sexual abuse and exploitation. This was a hard read. The dedication to the book includes this note: “To every girl or woman who has experienced sexual abuse and...
Luke 15 Revisited By Jodie Montgomery I like a good party. What I mean by that is a safe, pretty place filled with dear people and great eats. I like celebration. We celebrate what and who we value. My husband and I have hosted many celebrations for our children and friends. We’ve done...
Happy Easter! By Jodie Montgomery There were several times a year when I tried to get a good picture of the family all together; first day of school, Christmas-in front of the tree, and Easter. I confess that sometimes my battle for the happy photo clouded the celebration of the day. Never...
Summer 2022 Bible Studies The Study of Ephesians, led by Jodie Montgomery and Allison McCoy Dive chapter-by-chapter into this theologically rich letter written by the Apostle Paul while he was in prison. In a divided world, learn how Christ unites His family in love by transforming us from the inside out. Meeting times: ...
Two Stabilizing Truths By Jodie Montgomery I’m continuing to think about those grieving and what Sam Baylis said about God’s comfort as Sam grieves his father’s passing. Sam said that he is encouraged by two main truths: God will take care of you We serve the Risen Lord Sam said that he was...
Big, Little Brother By Jodie Montgomery I am watching my toddler grandson respond to life post addition of baby sister. He was very excited about her arrival. He had been watching his mommy’s tummy for months and the addition of baby sister items to the home. He was anticipating being a big...
The Seed of the Woman By Jodie Montgomery Seminary student Sam Baylis taught His father’s, Dr. Charles Baylis’, group the week of his father’s death. Sam represents his father and his Father well. I was comforted by Sam’s teaching. Sam taught from Psalm 16. He taught about hope that uplifts the grieving. He...
The Sorrow and the Joy, The Joy and the Sorrow By Jodie Montgomery Why did I ever come out of the womb to look at trouble and sorrow, so that my days have been spent in shame? Jeremiah 20:18 Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old...
Starting the Conversation By Jodie Montgomery But we ask you, brothers and sisters, to recognize those who diligently labor among you and are in leadership over you in the Lord, and give you instruction, and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work… 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 Pastor Ken announced...
House Construction 101 By Jodie Montgomery I put the word “frustration” into a Bible app word search so that I could be enlightened by what God’s Word says regarding frustration. Unbelievably, there were no results for my search. I feel abandoned. The only potential listed was Ecclesiastes 7:3 “Sorrow is better than...
Parenting Adult Children – Enough Said By Jodie Montgomery 3 John 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. John, as shepherd, wrote to warn, encourage and pray for believers that he considered to be his “adult children”. We do everything we can to...
A Word to the Moms of Little Ones By Jodie Montgomery Luke 18:16 But Jesus called for the little ones, saying, “Allow the children to come to Me, and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. It is a brave thing to have a child. It...
Parenting Adult Children, Part 6 By Jodie Montgomery I asked someone I really admire if she was reading these blogs and what she thought of the parenting series. She told me that she feels I’m being very general and holding back a bit. I know she is right. Actually, I’ve been holding...
Parenting Adult Children, Part 5 By Jodie Montgomery I remember some parenting advice from when I had toddlers in the home: “At all times there needs to be an adult present, do not count on the two-year-old being the adult.” This was a challenge to me as I realized there were too...
Parenting Adult Children (Good for all relationships), Part 4 By Jodie Montgomery The Scriptures provide guidance for all relationships, especially with our adult children: Ephesians 5:15-21: So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the...
Parenting Adult Children and God’s Lament, Part 3 By Jodie Montgomery Isaiah 1:2 For the LORD has spoken: “Sons I have raised and brought up, but they have revolted against Me. An ox knows its owner, and a donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know, My people do not understand.” God...
Parenting Adult Children (and enjoying most all relationships), Part 2 By Jodie Montgomery As I consider the joys and challenges of parenting adult children, I realize that much of this biblical guidance is vital for any relationship. Having a healthy relationship with anyone requires me being secure in the Lord, not thinking...
Parenting Adult Children, Part 1 by Jodie Montgomery 1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.” It’s not surprising to me that in the context of a...
What I didn’t get for Christmas… By Jodie Montgomery Sometimes I can get pouty at Christmas. As I shop for many, I know I’ve may need to get manipulative to share my wish list with another. I can also long for that Hallmark house in a little city with gorgeous holiday décor...
SPRING 2022 BIBLE STUDY DESCRIPTIONS Monday Evening Options: Amazing Collection, 2/7-5/9, 6:30-8:30 p.m., led by Lyn Casseday, Room E107 Grow in your understanding of how each book of the Bible is part of a bigger story that God is revealing in His word. The Amazing Collection curriculum is designed to take...
Baby Jesus Merry Christmas! Let your anticipation of the celebration of His first coming be directed to His return. He promised a day of judgment and reward. He promised to return and restore all heaven and earth. He still knows our greatest need and cares to address it. We wait in...
Sheep Luke 2:15-20 “When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, ‘Let’s go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and...
Star Luke 2:16; Matthew 2:2 “And they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.” “Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to...
Heavenly Host Luke 2:9-14 “And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for...
Shepherd Luke 2:8 “In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flocks at night.” Sheep cannot survive without a shepherd. Sheep are entirely dependent on the Shepherd. Sheep need someone to not only lead them to safe pasture and water, but also...
To be a disciple of Christ is to intentionally follow Him. To intentionally follow Him, we must develop the spiritual practices and disciplines that Jesus demonstrated to us during His time on earth. The Idlewild Women’s Ministry Live & Learn Series will offer three workshops in January, each...
Manger Luke 2:7 “And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Swaddling is so in style these days. Baby retailers are making big bucks on selling decorative swaddles in all...
Bethlehem Luke 2:4-6 “Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child....
Joseph Luke 2:1-6 “Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own...
The Sunrise Luke 1:67-80 “And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David His...
Baby John the Baptist Luke 1:57-66 “Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her. And it happened that on the...
The Heart Luke 1:46-56 “And Mary said: ‘My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; for behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done...
The Dove Luke 1:35-45 “The angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived...
King David Luke 1:32-33 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Gabriel continues with God’s...
Mary Luke 1:27-31 “…to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you!’ But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering...
Angel Gabriel Luke 1:26 “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth …” I feel like I know Gabriel a little due to so many tellings of the Christmas story through the years. I envision Gabriel as a shoulder-length hair blond...