Updating FNF ~ 2017

Good morning Ladies ~ We are at the start of another new year 2017 and it is a good time to update everyone what we are doing at “Friends Needing Friends”.  

"Friends Needing Friends" is a special ministry for widows only. This ministry is a sisterhood of ladies selected by God.  I have been asked the following questions many times - "why widows only?" or "I'm divorced, why can't I come?" I will try to answer these questions as simply as I can.

When you divorce your mate, it is a human decision between two people.  The death of a mate is a decision made by God. The true reason for either loss, only God knows.

As director and founder of "FNF" I have witnessed a special compassionate bond between all the ladies.  When a newly widowed person comes to a meeting for the first time, I will introduce the widow to another widow.  Immediately, there is an expression of compassion that no other person can give nor receive. 

 Their eyes meet and in a single glance without saying a word, there is an exchange of understanding and full knowledge of their hurts and feelings.  These feelings are the true meaning of the word "sisterhood". The dictionary's definition of the word "sisterhood" is: "An organization of women with a common interest, as for social, charitable, or female members of a church".

The common interest of "FNF" is from the Bible in 2 Corinthians 1:4 - God comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  Our sisterhood of women is doing exactly what God has directed it to do and who better to help at this time - you guessed it - another widow.

Our sisterhood was founded in June 1988 and has physically and financially supported several other charitable organizations. We have a Teddy Bear ministry where once again we obey God by visiting the sick and the shut-ins. Since 1995, our ladies have delivered hundreds and hundreds of Teddy Bears to the sick and have encouraged the shut-ins with God's love.

 

The past several months, God has led "FNF" to support widows from Kerusomen Gospel Ministries in India, a special Christian Foundation that supports our widow sisters who are in need of food, shelter and medicine. Today we are supporting 18 widows monthly. The past Christmas we supported a large Christmas Party for many of the widows in India and had three drivers bring some of them to celebrate Jesus’ birthday.

 As the saying goes: "Side by side, or miles apart...We are sisters, connected by the heart."

Yes, we have met the dictionary’s description of the word "sisterhood" and yes our ladies have obeyed the LORD by sharing the comfort that God has given to us.

May I further explain to you that "FNF" is a ministry available to widows only; that may or may not attend a church.  There is a desperate need in our society today regarding the widows that we come in contact with.  Our group is a Christian Interdenominational Ministry and we do not urge joining a different church or changing one's religion.

I hope that you will be able to attend our monthly meeting/brunch, which is on the third Monday of each month. We look forward to seeing you there and if you can, invite or bring a widowed friend.

Meeting place:

9301 Jog Road, Boynton Beach, Florida

Time: 10 a.m. - 12 noon

And

Our New Jersey Chapter meets

The Third Monday of each month at 10:00 a.m.

Wedgwood Country Club, Turnersville, N.J.

Mary Lou Tweed is the Director

Friends Needing Friends also started a blog that goes to over 12 different countries with a total of  32,300 hits (as of today.)  Our blog address is: www.friendsneedingfriends.blogspot.com

In June 2017, we be celebrating our 29th Anniversary of FNF in New Jersey and the chapter of FNF in Florida will be celebrating 5 years, February, 2017. WOW! Time flies.

Our Bible verses for all of our meetings is found in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 

For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. (NLT)

God's Blessing in 2017!

Dotti Ackerman
Founder & Director of FNF
Serving the Lord since 1988

 Thank You Lord !

"He Knows My Name" by Tommy Walker

Mary, Did You Know?

Mark Lowry wrote a song a few years ago that has quickly become a holiday favorite entitled, Mary, Did You Know?  It questions whether Mary, the mother of Jesus, knew the true essence of who Jesus really was as the Son of God. There are those who respond with a resounding, “Yes, certainly she knew.” While I think she did understand that she was to be the mother of the Son of God and experienced the wonderment of that, I suggest that she didn’t know all that would be entailed in accepting that awesome task.

  Within a few months after her visit from Gabriel and her impregnation by the Holy Spirit, she felt the harsh looks and was aware of the quickly hushed whispers from members of the strict Jewish community of which she had been a part since birth. I
think her mother-heart broke over and over again as her precious son was ostracized as a child by the kids in the community, not to mention the brutal treatment he received as an adult resulting in his agonizing death by crucifixion. Did she truly know the extent of what she was saying when she told Gabriel, “I am the Lord’s servant.  May it be unto me according to your word,” (Luke 1:38 MEV)?

Regardless of what you feel about Mary’s foreknowledge as the mother of Jesus, the question remains: What enabled her to endure in quiet humility while observing his cruel and unfair treatment from many sources, but especially by the church leaders she had been brought up to revere? Ladies, it’s the same thing that will keep you strong in your faith when life throws you “curve balls” that seek to undo you.


Mary’s absolute trust in her Heavenly Father was unshakeable and she knew that His ultimate purpose would prevail. His word was his bond.

Most of you reading this are widows. Now, we all know that we will die someday. Even Scripture is very clear about that.  “ . .. it is appointed unto man to die once. . .” (Heb. 9:7 MEV). But, can you honestly say that you were prepared for the death of your spouse? For many of you his death was a shock and for others it came after a period of suffering. Most of you were left reeling and perhaps some of you questioned God. We experience pain, sickness, death, poverty, childlessness, unwanted pregnancies, disappointments with children, financial reversals and other unpleasant occurrences that are a part of the human experience. Being a believer in Jesus Christ as the Son of God doesn’t change that. How do I know? Because God’s Word tells me “In the world you will have tribulation,“  (John 16:33 MEV).  So, what should a Christian woman’s response be to all of these vicissitudes of life?

Let’s look again at the response of Mary to the announcement of Gabriel.  Without consideration to what it would cost her personally, Mary could say with full assurance,

“May it be unto me according to your word,” (Luke 1:38 MEV). In other words, may everything you have said come true.  She had full faith in the words of God spoken through the angel Gabriel. No matter how the particulars played out, Mary was able to ponder each incident and rely with full assurance on the words of God. When Jesus made the announcement that we would have troubles in this life, he knew that it would not be received well. Who wants to be assured that bad times will definitely come? But, he then delivers the good news, “But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33 MEV).

  We, like Mary must believe the words of Christ and have a calm assurance that he is in control no matter what comes our way. Our faith must be rooted in our risen Savior who is the ultimate overcomer.

As women we identify with the mothering aspect of Mary’s role in Jesus’ life. We can feel her humiliation at being considered an immoral young woman, we feel her hurt as her child is mistreated by the neighborhood kids for being a “bastard,” we share her pride when Jesus becomes a rabbi, we understand her confusion over some of his teachings and activities, and we weep with her as he is brutally beaten and crucified. Of course, we also rejoice with her when Jesus is raised from the dead. What unspeakable joy she must have felt, only to realize a short time later that he was going back to his Father and to his true home. But, we don’t read of any disappointment from Mary because by this time in her life she had come to realize that she was simply a vessel chosen by God to be a part of a plan for mankind much larger than her. Living out her reply to Gabriel, “Be it unto me according to your word,” had by now become second nature to her. She willingly waited with the others in the Upper Room for the

infilling of the Holy Spirit and, upon reflection, could see how God’s plan was coming to pass.

 We must do the same, becoming stronger in our faith with each tribulation – no matter the form it takes - and someday we, too, will reflect on our lives and see the hand of God in it all. We do this by maintaining our faith in the words of our Lord. He himself told us, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away,” (Matt. 23:35 MEV).

So as we reflect on the joy of the wonderful Christmas season and look forward to the year, 2017, we are faced with a question concerning our own lives: Do we know what 2017 holds for us? We only know what Jesus told us. We know that in addition to great times, we can expect some tribulation. Perhaps for some that will be sickness, others may face financial reversals, some may make a major move and a change in lifestyle, and others may experience the death of a loved one.

But one fact remains, only God knows what lies ahead for each of us and, if we want to experience true peace of heart and mind, we must remain firm in our faith and trust in Jesus and his Word. Then and only then can we say as Mary did, “ I am the servant of the Lord. May it be it unto me according to your word.”

Message by Shari Hervold

                                                              

"Mary, Did You Know" by Mark Lowry

            

            Have a happy & healthy New Year from all on the FNF Blogg

Dotti Ackerman, Director

           

            

Now To Him Who is Able...

I've been chewing on this verse for a few months now. I think I say those words in every email I write! I hope you chew on God's word. There is so much nutrition in His Word for our spirits. His words are sweeter than honey on my mouth! Anyway, back to Ephesians...God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think...Stop! Just stop right there and think about those words! They have such intense meaning! They are so full, yet we often read them, pass right over them, and don't really think about the power that is contained in them. Paul made up that phrase. His knowledge of God, his vast understanding of God in his heart, his personal experiences with God have surpassed words. God is so amazing, awe inspiring, and really at times, just beyond words. So Paul took liberty here and just made up a saying to explain a little deeper who God is. Spurgeon says it this way... "He (God) is able to do so abundantly it exceeds measure and description." That word "able" is the same word used for power when we talk about the resurrection of Jesus. It's dunamai - It's miraculous power! He can do it! He can keep on doing it too! Ok! Ok! What can God do? Well, He's told us so much of what He's already done...   He is able to...        Provide a child for the barren (Abraham/Sarah, Hannah,    Elizabeth, the Shunnamite Woman).  The widow whose oil was multiplied.       Lead 1 small stone slung by 1 small boy right in the head of giant killing him.       Bring the dead to life...Shunnamite's Son, Jaerus' daughter, widow's son, and Lazarus.                Protected Naomi and Ruth on their journey to Naomi’s home town.                 Provided a son for Ruth that would be in the lineage of Jesus.         Feed a multitude using a few fish and loaves.         Provided for the widow of Zarephath.                Endure the beating preceding the cross and then give Himself upon the cross. 1 Cor. 2:5 tells us that our faith should not be in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God. We measure life, circumstances, abilities, things by our own experiences, and then live our lives and make understanding by putting God in that same box. We give Him our attributes thus giving Him our limitations and our measurements, but God is above and beyond all of that. "He abundantly exceeds measure and description."  God did all those things. I've become simple enough that I believe every word in the Bible including the fact that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  So, if He did all those things so many thousands of years ago. He can do so much more! Exceedingly! Abundantly! Above all that I could even imagine or think. Some of those things are beyond my imagination even now. Wouldn't it blow your mind to see some of those things happen?!  Exceedingly abundantly more than we can think or imagine...Because of this praise to God, we can have assurance that God can answer our prayers!  We should never hesitate to offer our deepest request. Jowett says it this way, "What I have asked for is as nothing compared to the ability of my God to give. I've asked for a cupful, and the ocean remains. I've asked for a sunbeam, and the sun abides. My best asking falls immeasurably short of my Father's giving. It's beyond all that we can ask." What are you trusting God for? Ask Him...believe He can do it. Wait and see! Blessings! Message by Pastor Gary Clark, Calvary Church, Turnersville, N.J. 08012 "If Not For The Storm" by Larnell Harris "He Will Carry You" by Lynda Randle Dotti Ackerman, Director of Friends Needing Friends Bogg.

Ruth: Courage and Commitment in Adversity

     There are only two books in the entire Bible named after women.  One of these is the story of Ruth found in the Old Testament.  The book is a simple narrative set in the time of the Judges.  It tells the story of the young Moabite widow, Ruth, who left her home in Moab to accompany her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Bethlehem after the deaths of her father-in-law Elimelech, her husband, Mahlon, and her brother-in-law, Chilion, married to another Moabite woman named Orpah.

     The loss of a husband in ancient Israel and Moab was generally a severe social and economic tragedy.  Because Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth lose all the men in their family, their crisis was particularly harsh.  Not only did it mean that there were no able bodied men to work the land but in ancient Israel the general rule was that the land was connected to the family of the male to whom it had been apportioned.  When all the men of a family died, generally the women were left destitute.  Only a male, the “kinsman redeemer” could purchase land inherited by an Israelite widow.  That kinsman was also required to provide for the remaining widow.  Only then could the land remain the possession of a particular family.

    Like many widows Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth were forced to explore new options for survival after their spouses died.  Naomi learned that food was plentiful in her hometown of Bethlehem and knew about Emilech's land there.  Hoping that surival there would be easier, she and her daughters-in-law prepared for the arduous journey back to Bethlehem.  Soon after the three widows started out, Naomi realized she could not promise an easier life for her two daughters-in-law.   Perhaps it might be in their best interest to return to their own families in Moab. She told both Orpah and Ruth to return home to their families.  Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodby.  Ruth, however, clung to Naomi and uttered this passionate plea:

  

   “Don't urge me to leave you or turn back from you.  Where you go I will go, and where you

      stay I will stay.  Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I

      will die, and there I will be buried.  May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if

      anything but death separates you and me.” (Ruth 1:16,17)

     What prompted Ruth to make such a powerful declaration of love and loyalty?  She had just lost her beloved Mahlon.  Following Naomi meant she would now lose a sister-in-law who had been like a sister to her.  Why did Ruth prefer to go with Naomi instead of remaining in her own country?  Why did she choose to move forward and not backwards?  

      It is true that Naomi and Ruth were both grief-stricken widows.  However, Naomi's trip back to Bethlehem signified a trip home to her people, family and friends who shared her faith in the loving and merciful God.  Ruth, on the other hand, was venturing into the unknown.  She was leaving her own kin, her homeland and all its customs including its gods behind her.  What was the source of the young widow's courage and commitment to travel with Naomi from Moab to Bethlehem?

     Someone once said that our real journey in life is interior.  It is what motivates us from within that determines our choices, colors our decisions, and reveals our character.  In Ruth's passionate plea above it is apparent that more than loyalty to her beloved mother-in-law prompted her to insist on accompanying Naomi to Bethlehem.   She said, “your people will be my people and your God will be my God.”  Not only did Ruth love Naomi. She had also come to accept Yahweh as the one true God she wanted to follow.  Her courage and strong resolve to move forward resulted because she had placed her faith in God and trusted Him with her life.

     So often suffering and grief test us at our core.  They test not only our faith, but also our commitment and purpose.  Sometimes they test our obedience and reveal the attitudes of our heart, our very character.  Does God notice if we “pass” those tests?  Did He notice Ruth and give her favor once she arrived in Bethlehem?  To answer that question we must turn to the remaining three chapters of the narrative.

       Once Ruth and Naomi arrived in Bethlehem they sought shelter and food.  Fortunately, (or “providentially”), they arrived in Bethlehem at the start of the barley harvest.  Ruth immediately asked Naomi's permission to go out to the field and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes she might find favor.  Notice that Ruth's demeanor is both respectful and humble...first toward Naomi but also toward God. 

     In I Samuel 16:7 the Lord taught Samuel that man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.  Proverbs 31: 30 warns that “charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”  To understand Ruth we need to examine her heart.  But how do we recognize someone's heart or motives?  How does Ruth's own story reveal her heart?  Examining Ruth's words and behavior toward others reveal her motives and character.

      Let's consider what happens in the remaining chapters of the book which bears her name.  It just so happened (again “providence”) that Ruth began gleaning in a field owned by Naomi's kinsman, Boaz.  Very soon Boaz noticed Ruth and inquired about her.  Boaz had noticed that Ruth worked steadily without taking a break.  He learned what she had done for Naomi, her mother-in-law.  He was told she was a Moabitess, a foreigner.  Ruth's behavior and character qualities interested Boaz more than Ruth's nationality.

      Boaz promptly bestowed his favor on Ruth.  He protected her.  He directed her to glean only in his field. He warned his men not to touch her.  He verbally praised her for what she had done for Naomi.  He placed her next to him when they ate.  Lastly, he provided for both of them by giving her food to take home to Naomi.

     When Ruth acknowledged Boaz's favor her response revealed an attitude of humility.  First, she asked, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me, a foreigner?”  Later she said, “May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord.  You have given me comfort and have spoken kindly to your servant---though I do not have the standing of one of your servant girls.” 

       Ruth's attitude is one of submission and gratitude toward Boaz and toward God.  Could Ruth's demeanor...her gentleness, her attitude of respect, her humility, and her soft words have a lesson for us?  Many years later in Psalms, David wrote “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, you God, will not despise.” 

     Eventually Boaz purchased the land owned by Emilech after a closer relative refused to buy it because it meant he would have to take care of Ruth as well.   Boaz admired Ruth's character and while he could own the land he also wanted to make this woman his wife.  Later their son, Obed, was born. 

   What is significant about that fact is that Obed is the grandfather of David from whose line Jesus Christ our Messiah was born.  Yes, from the lineage of the foreigner, Ruth and Boaz our own Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ was born! 

     Ruth had passed the test of adversity.  She received God's favor because she understood the importance of the interior life.  She couldn't change the events of her life but she could learn to walk in faith humbly with God and trust Him for her future.  She could protect the attitudes of her heart.

     Did Ruth also model for her son Obed the character qualities of courage, commitment, and humility evident in her behavior and words in the narrative which bears her name?  Did Obed eventually teach and model those same attitudes of the heart for his grandson David?   We may not have actual evidence of that from Scripture.  However, we do have the assurance that God will never leave us or forsake us (Deut. 31:6) just as He did not leave or forsake a young humble widow from Moab named Ruth.

Message by a new member of our Blog Team Cindy Thomas