Summer Session 2009

We are pleased to announce that we will be hosting a Summer session beginning June 16th at Main Post Chapel.

You can contact the Chapel for more information!

Fort Polk PWOC Picnic!

Wednesday 22 April, Hearts@Home is hosting a picnic lunch at Hodges Gardens State Park!

Details:

Where: Hodges Gardens State Park (see directions below)
When: 22 April, 2009 11:00am
Who: Everyone is invited!
How much: Bring your own sack lunch, and admission is $5/adult, free/children 3 and under. Hearts@Home will sponsoring admission for all registered Hearts@Home and their children.

For more info about the gardens, or how to get there, just scroll on down. No need to RSVP - just come on out!

In case of inclement weather - the event will be canceled.







Take Hwy. 171 north. Hodges Gardens State Park is located approximately 20 miles north of Leesville. GPS Coordinates: N 31.36928; W 93.42486.

(information and pictures courtesy of Louisiana State Parks) Over 700 acres of wild and cultivated beauty, Hodges Gardens State Park, located in Sabine Parish, is a unique member of the State Parks system. Originally designed and opened to the public in 1956 by oil and gas businessman A.J. Hodges Sr., the site's gardens consist of a variety of plants and flowers, from a formal rose garden to bushes that colorful Southern standard, the azalea.

The northwest region of Louisiana bears an interesting history, from the Native American tribes to the French and Spanish settlers to the outlaws of the "No Man's Land" that arose following the Louisiana Purchase. Early explorers passed through the area on their way to Mexico and California, a trail now designated as the historic El Camino Real de los Tejas. In the late 19th century, mining operations in the area provided sandstone for the jetties at Port Arthur, Texas. When the quarry was abandoned, the large natural rock formations remained exposed.

The Hodges recognized the potential of the abandoned quarry on the property and planned a scenic garden using the natural rock formations. Flowers were planted on one level above another, creating a terraced effect. Walkways and footbridges throughout the gardens allow the visitor to stroll through an abundance of flora. Water from a 225-acre lake, built in 1954, is pumped from the lake through the gardens to waterfalls, pools, a geyser, fountains and to the watering system before it is recycled back into the lake.

A testament to one family's contribution to the preservation of our land's natural beauty, Hodges Gardens was donated to the State by the A.J. and Nona Trigg Hodges Foundation in 2007.

PWOC Women's Conference

Mark your calendars! Fort Polk PWOC is hosting a women's conference featuring Judy Rossi and Brenda Pace. Save the date of 7 April 2009.

More information to follow!

Bloom Where You're Planted

Fort Polk PWOC always has something to look forward to! One of them is Workshop Day where we take a break from our regularly scheduled Bible studies and spend a longer day together taking workshops and enjoying fellowship and meals. The theme for Workshop Day this year was, "Bloom Where You're Planted". Event organizer Laurie Rivera gave a poignant devotion on the subject which you will find below.

~~
We are talking about blooming where you’re planted; well this certainly fits Ft. Polk, LA. Flowers can only bloom where they’re planted if they have the roots to sustain them.I’m going to reference a few verses, the first being Colossians 2:6-7. And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

When I was a little girl my mom would send my brother and I walking to church. We would go sit in the front with all the other kids whose parents sent them as well. We would cut up and try not to get caught, so I never really applied myself or I should say my heart. I knew I was a sinner and I knew what sin was, but I didn’t know about the personal relationship you could have with Jesus Christ.

So I went on about my life, I prayed every now and then, but only when I needed something. I went off to college still knowing that there was a God, He lived in Heaven and that I could pray-talk to Him.I met this guy and he went to church on Sundays so I went with him. We would sit there, say what we had to say, leave and check the block. We started officially dating and talking about marriage so we found a local Catholic Church because that is what we were brought up in. We took the classes, passed and got married. But throughout this whole time we had no real roots. We were not grounded.

After three years of marriage we decided it was time to start a family. We never opened a Bible in all our days but we were looking for a baby name and being in Korea we didn’t have a lot of resources like 10,000 baby names. My husband happened to have a Bible on his nightstand. We came across the name Caleb and loved it instantly!

So as most of you know we have a son named Caleb! Throughout all this time we were trucking along through life not really knowing our purpose; we were just making it. Then we find out that adding a baby to the life of “just making it” didn’t make it any easier. We continued on this life going downhill fast, but we subconsciously thought, “Ok we’ll have another baby”…. yeah that wasn’t too smart!

Little did I know that God was trying to pursue me. A friend invited me to church and my husband was TDY to NTC and I knew we needed something so I went. I completely didn’t have a clue as to what they were talking about and left more confused than when I went, but fortunately my friend loved me and God enough to share the Gospel!You see, I didn’t have any roots to anything, nor did I have the seed Jesus talks about in Luke 8:13. The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation

I knew I wanted to live a good life because I didn’t want to end up like some of my family members but I really hadn’t planted or rooted myself in anything other than just trying to get by. By this time my husband and I were still struggling, so I was desperate and God would not leave me alone. Later on I figured out that was one of His promises to His people, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” I thought about Him at home, at work, wherever I was. I felt this heaviness on my heart that I jut couldn’t shake. So I went to my friend’s house one night and she led me in a prayer that would change my life and my family’s life forever!My husband later revealed to me that he was saved at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting when he was 17. I asked him,"Why didn’t you ever tell me?" but God had a plan in all of it and He would use it for His glory.

As I said in the beginning, flowers need to have roots, and in good soil. From their roots they receive the nourishment they need. They also need the sun for light to be built up to grow. Some flowers look a little droopy when they haven’t had food or the light they need. When these things are given to them they perk up and seem as though they’re looking at the sun saying, “Here I am shine down on me!" The Lord is to be our light and we should be holding up our head looking to heaven ready to receive Him (The Son) shining down on us. You see, in hard times I fell into temptation with sin. Because if any seeds were sowed in my upbringing they fell by the way side. When God plants His seed, which is His Word, and we allow it to take root deep in our hearts; we want to bloom. We want to be built up.

So I challenge you to search in who or where you have your roots planted.

~~

Spring Semester Classes Fort Polk PWOC

Kickoff and sign up is January 13, 2009

• Our Spring Semester will offer 5 classes on Tuesday mornings:

o Raising Responsive Children
o Boundaries
o First Place for Health
o Esther
o Fruit of the Spirit-joy,peace

We will also offer a parenting study on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-7:00

Watchcare is provided.

Available Board Positions

Hearts@Home

Outreach

Fort Polk PWOC Closing Program

December 16, 2008 we celebrated the end of the fall semester and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We began the program in the lovely sanctuary of the Main Post Chapel. The room was filled with the sounds of angels singing of the coming of the Lord. Not only did the Praise Team present us with 3 separate worship sets, but there were also several specials plugged in throughout the morning. Most poignant and moving was the testimony given by Theresa Eastham in which she challenged us to search what gifts we can bring to our King.



From there we moved into the activity room for food, fellowship and fun! We were presented with lovely compact mirrors that we could be reminded that WE are the best gift we can offer our King. Each table was adopted by a different person/team to be decorated and during lunch the ladies voted on which was their favorite. As you can see, they were ALL gorgeous!


This is the table that received the most votes....


Thank you to our Historian, Janet Salut for contributing today's pictures.

Fort Polk PWOC is now on break as we gear up for the Kickoff of our Spring semester on January 13th, 2009. We will soon be posting the studies that will be offered in the upcoming season. May God bless your holiday season richly and may we all remember to look toward the manger - not for our gifts, but for the GREATEST gift - Jesus Christ.

Prayer For International Conference - 13 November 2008

Pray for every woman attending conference to enter this conference with praise.

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100

Prayer For International Conference - 12 November 2008

Pray for all the women attending conference to leave reflecting the glory of the LORD.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18

Prayer For International Conference - 11 November 2008

Pray for the outgoing International board to arise and shine as they leave conference.

Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
Isaiah 60:1

Prayer for International Conference - 10 November 2008

Pray for the incoming International board to be fully equipped for the 2 years ahead.

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-13

Prayer For International Conference - 09 November 2008

Pray for God’s continued direction within PWOC International. Observe the Global Day of Prayer with Voice of the Marytrs

Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
Psalm 127:1

Prayer For International Conference - 08 November 2008

Pray for travel mercies for those coming to conference.

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.
Psalm 121

Prayer For International Conference - 07 November 2008

Pray for us to increase in prayer as a global ministry.

Pray Without Ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 2:17

Prayer For International Conference - 06 November 2008

Pray for God to be heard at conference and that nothing would hinder His will.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6

Prayer For International Conference - 05 November 2008

Pray for our husbands and our children to be blessed while we are away.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:3-6

Prayer For International Conference - 04 November 2008

Pray for the peace of all households affected by our conference.

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.
2 Thessalonians 3:16

Prayer For International Conference - 03 November 2008

Pray for all the women who need to hear a special word from God at the conference.

The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

Prayer For International Conference - 02 November 2008

Pray for God’s Spirit to be within us at the conference.

“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
Ezekiel 36:27

Prayer For International Conference - 01 November 2008

Pray for God’s Spirit to be within us at the conference.

“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
Ezekiel 36:27