Locust Grove Church of Christ Ladies Day 2026

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:01]All right, we got all the kids.

[00:00:07]All right, last but not least, Sister Chenica Hudson. Raise your hand. All right, she is our audiovisisual technician today and she will assist us with our presentations and we are so grateful. All right, so we have a packed program today. So, let's get started.

[00:00:24]Our welcome is going to be by Sister Gloria Robinson. At this time, we'll receive our welcome. Let's open our hearts as she brings us greetings.

[00:00:33]Sister Gloria Robinson. You ready?

[00:00:42]>> Yes, ma'am. Get up. We want We want to see you.

[00:01:01]Good morning, beautiful sisters in Christ.

[00:01:04]>> Good morning.

[00:01:05]>> We are so grateful that you've chosen to be here today. Here in this place of peace, fellowship, and renewal, as we gather for Ladies Day, we come under a theme that speaks directly to the heart of every woman who has ever weathered a storm. And I'm quite sure many of us in our Christian walk have weathered a storm. In Mark 4:39, Jesus stands in the midst of chaos, lifts his voice above the wind, and simply says, "Peace be still >> and the storms obey."

[00:01:43]>> Today we celebrate that same Jesus, the one who calms the waves around us and the waves within us. Now, I don't think you heard what I just said. Amen.

[00:01:56]>> We celebrate that same Jesus >> who calms the storms >> and waves around us >> and within us.

[00:02:07]>> Whether you've arrived with joy, with questions, with burdens or with quiet hopes, you are welcome. You are seen.

[00:02:19]You are loved and you are not alone.

[00:02:23]>> Amen.

[00:02:24]This is a space where storms lose their power. Where hearts can breathe again, >> where faith rises above the waves, where we remember that no matter what we face, we serve a savior who lifts us up above the storm.

[00:02:44]>> Can he do it? Amen.

[00:02:47]>> May today refresh your spirit, strengthen your walk, and remind you of the unshakable peace >> found in Christ Jesus.

[00:02:59]>> Welcome, sisters. Let's rise together above the storm.

[00:03:11]All right, Sister Gloria Robinson.

[00:03:14]We feel uh welcomed and excited you did that. All right. Okay. All right. Now, we're going to have our opening prayer by Sister Lisa May. As she comes, let's quiet our minds and invite God to steady our hearts as we go to him in prayer.

[00:03:31]Sister Lisa.

[00:03:36]Good morning, sisters.

[00:03:37]>> Good morning.

[00:03:39]>> You bow with me.

[00:03:41]>> Heavenly Father, we want to thank you for watching over us last night as we slept. We want to thank you for waking us up to see a day that we've never seen before.

[00:03:53]We want to thank you for putting your arms of protection around us as we made our way to this destination.

[00:04:01]We want to ask you Lord to watch over the speaker >> as she gives the her thoughts and the word from you to help encourage us, motivate us and to help us to be the best woman, Christian, wife, sister, mother, grandmother that we can be.

[00:04:26]But most of all, Lord, we want to thank you >> and we want to praise your name.

[00:04:33]>> We want to thank you >> for allowing us to be the woman that we can be >> because you know, we know that you are the one that help us through all the storms that we have >> so that we can rise above that storm.

[00:04:53]>> Amen.

[00:04:54]Thank you, Father, for this day that everything would go well. That you will be pleased >> in everything that we've done today or everything that we will do today.

[00:05:07]>> Thank you, Father, for just being you.

[00:05:11]>> Thank you for your son dying on the cross.

[00:05:14]>> That we can have an everlasting life.

[00:05:19]>> Yes. that we can have the salvation that we need to see you one day.

[00:05:26]>> Father, watch over us >> as we go through this time. We know we don't know what goes on with inside of our bodies.

[00:05:38]>> Yes.

[00:05:40]>> Strengthen those who are sick.

[00:05:43]>> Strengthen those who are downtrodden. Yes.

[00:05:48]>> Strengthen those who are on their way here to be uplifted by the word from sister Keith.

[00:05:54]>> Lord, continue to watch over her and bless her >> and give her the strength that she needs because she is a powerful woman. She is a woman of God.

[00:06:03]>> That we all love.

[00:06:04]>> That's why we are here to hear her >> because she always embarks >> words of wisdom, encouragement to to us all.

[00:06:14]>> Lord, thank you. We just want to say thank you.

[00:06:16]>> Yes.

[00:06:17]>> In Jesus name. Amen.

[00:06:19]>> Amen.

[00:06:22]>> Amen. Amen.

[00:06:24]>> Thank you, Sister Lisa, for ushering us into God's peace. All right. It's time for our first icebreaker, Pastor Peace.

[00:06:32]And I want to welcome my beautiful assistant, Cadence Thomas. Say hello, Cadence.

[00:06:39]>> Everyone say hello to Cadence. All right, Cadence.

[00:06:47]All right. So, this game requires participation. Okay.

[00:06:53]And Cadence is my helper.

[00:06:57]So, be all right. In just a moment, I'm going to read a poem inspired by our theme. Mark 4:39. Above the storm, peace be still. There's nobody on the front.

[00:07:08]There's nobody going to be in the front room. So, I guess you can start right there and start.

[00:07:14]All right. Each section will have two boats, one green, one blue. So, she's going to give the one to the first. You can start right here. You can give it to queen on this side. And then you're just going to start right here on that one.

[00:07:28]Then you're going to give a boat to the last row in the back for me. There you go. Each section has two boats, one green, one blue. Cadence will place one in the hands of the first sister on the front row. And this course of course is second row front up here.

[00:07:46]All right.

[00:07:47]From there, the boats will travel like gentle waves. The back row boat will move forward row by row. The front row boat will move backward rowby row. When a boat reaches you, simply pass it to the sister beside you. When it reaches the end of your row, let it flow into the next row. No one needs to stand. No one needs to cross the aisle. Each section carries its own current. While the poem is read, your only task is simple. Listen, and pass the piece.

[00:08:17]Don't stop the boats early. Don't hold on to them when the poem slows or softens. Let them move the way peace moves. Steady, calm, unforced. There is one word you're listening for, a word that will bring the boats to rest. That word is stand. Okay. When I reach to a final line of the poem and speak that word, whoever is holding a boat in that exact moment will rise to her feet. And those four sisters, there's going to be two on my left and two on my right, will have a brief moment to offer a word of encouragement, something gentle, something hopeful, a small blessing for every woman here who has weathered a storm, is in a storm, or is learning to rise above one. Because peace is not meant to be still. Peace is meant to travel from heart to heart, from hand to hand, from sister to sister. So take a breath, open your spirit, and as a point begins, let peace move among us like a quiet tide. Remember, when a boat reaches you, simply pass it to the sister beside you. Okay, y'all ready for the point?

[00:09:25]>> All right, listen. When I say the word stand, if you're holding that boat, you're going to stand up and offer us some encouragement.

[00:09:34]All right. All right. There are moments in life when the winds rise without warning.

[00:09:42]When the sky grows heavy. When the waves of responsibility, of grief, of quiet exhaustion begin to climb higher than our strength can reach. And yet in the middle of that trembling boat, in the middle of that trembling heart, Jesus is there. He does not rush. He does not panic. He simply speaks with the authority of the one who shaped the seas themselves. Peace be still. And creation remembers his voice. The winds fold itself like a servant at his feet. The waves smooth out like glass. And the storm that threatened to swallow everything.

[00:10:26]Y'all moving it? I see it moving.

[00:10:28]Suddenly bows to the Savior who commands calm. Now don't go fast because you don't want to say nothing.

[00:10:36]This is peaceful.

[00:10:40]I see you.

[00:10:43]Okay. Um Okay. Sorry. But the miracle is not only in the sea. The miracle is in us because the same Christ who quieted the waters still whispers into the storms we carry. The storms we hide. The storms we press down beneath busy schedules. The storms we pretend are not there. Keep passing it. He speaks to those too. He speaks to the storm inside your chest with the same unwavering authority. Peace be still. And today and today as sisters gathered in his name, we get to share a small echo of that holy calm. I see it moving. We get to pass peace. Not the fragile peace the world gives, but the deep steady. Keep passing it. Soulsearching, anchoring peace that comes from the one who never loses control.

[00:11:37]Keep passing it. Wherever you want to pass it to the front. Pass it to the front. Yeah. Goes to the front. Yes.

[00:11:46]So, as a boat moves from hand to hand, let it be more than a game. Let it be a reminder that peace is not passive. It travels. It touches. It heals. It moves through community like light through stained glass. I see you over here in the back row, but never losing its source. And when the point ends, may the one holding the boat feel the gentle way of Christ's calm resting on them. And may the rest of us feel it too. Because with Christ as our God and anchor, we will rise above the storm and we will stand.

[00:12:33]Who got the boat? Where the boat at?

[00:12:34]Where the boat at? Who got the boat?

[00:12:40]Y'all got the vote. All right. Okay, ladies. I'm coming to you. I need your name, where you're from, and a little bit of peace you want to give us. Okay.

[00:12:51]Thank you, my sister.

[00:12:55]You know, I had a feeling this boat was going to land on me.

[00:13:00]Um, my name is Yolanda Calhoun and I'm a member of the Conjurs Church of Christ in Conjurs, Georgia. Um, my peace comes this morning. This past week, um, I was traveling down Highway 81 and a deer struck my car.

[00:13:24]And I didn't panic. I could have screamed. I could have let go of the wheel, but I knew that God was with me.

[00:13:34]>> And as hard as the impact was from the deer hitting my car, I was not hurt.

[00:13:42]>> My sister was not hurt.

[00:13:45]>> So, we rose above that storm.

[00:13:48]>> Thank you.

[00:13:50]>> Well, thank you. Here you go. Thank you.

[00:13:52]See, you never you get a gift. Thank you so much. All right. Over here. I need your Oh, I know you.

[00:13:58]>> But I still need your name and where you're from. I know you got something to say. Good.

[00:14:04]>> Hello everyone. I'm Michelle Wilcox. I'm a part of the Stone Crest Church of Christ. Uh my sister is Rainy Mills here at Locust Grove. And when I think about Jesus and what he's done for me, I've always tried to listen to my spirit and listen for the peace.

[00:14:31]Um, right now I'm in the midst of building a house. And if you know how that feels from ground up, I need all the peace and Jesus I can get.

[00:14:45]I'm I'm thankful for my family that's standing by me and I'm thankful for my sister. She's allowing us to live with her right now during this storm and she makes it peaceful for us. And so I'm grateful to have family and love in my life. How the Lord has guided my journey. I'm just grateful. And in the words of Wednesday night Bible study that we're studying right now, it's about providence and he already sees. He's already blessed. He's already already made a way for us.

[00:15:23]>> So go at that and know that Jesus is already provided for you. Just remain peaceful amongst your sisters, your brothers, and knowing that he's always got your heart and spirit and your mind and wants it to rest in peace.

[00:15:43]>> Thank you so much. All right, on my left. Okay, beautiful sister. If y'all want to help me out by passing the microphone down to her name, where?

[00:15:56]My name is Sister Katherine Johnson from the Boulder Crest uh Church of Christ.

[00:16:01]And I thank God for my Boulder Crest um members and Miss Katon and everyone here. I hope God bless us all. And I know there's a storm is brewing out there, but God got us. He not going to let us down. And that's one thing we can take today. He always I've been through many storms and he never failed me. He said he will be there until the end with all of us. So, I thank God for bringing all us together today. And I'm going to let the sister had the phone back. And I thank God for everyone in this room.

[00:16:33]Thank.

[00:16:41]All right. Come on, Katie. Y'all, let's give Katie a round of applause. She's been a good helper today. I appreciate you, Cadence. She was volunttoled and volunteered, so I appreciate you.

[00:16:55]I'm Sister Floren Ruffin from the Embry Hill Church of Christ.

[00:16:59]And I thank God for me being here today because I've been through a lot of storm lately.

[00:17:06]Okay.

[00:17:07]>> Oh, okay. My name is Floren Ruff and I'm from the Emery Hill Church of Christ.

[00:17:12]And I've been through a lot of storm lately, but I'm still here.

[00:17:16]>> Thank God for that.

[00:17:19]>> All right.

[00:17:21]Thank you. That wasn't too bad, was it?

[00:17:24]Y'all were just worried about holding that little boat. I don't know what was going on with that. Okay. Well, I want to thank everyone who actually participated passing the boat and our four sisters. Let's give them some round of applause again for their encouraging words.

[00:17:39]All right, song selection is next. We will be now be blessed in song by Sister Yavon Win. May the selection lift our spirits even higher.

[00:17:54]Thank you, Sister Georgia. Good morning, ladies.

[00:17:56]>> Good morning.

[00:17:58]>> I'm Von Win and I have the pleasure to lead you in a few songs. It's when the morning comes and it should be up on Wait until she brings it up. But you all look so beautiful.

[00:18:13]>> It's happy today.

[00:18:16]>> So, we're going to lift our voices like we're happy, right? Amen.

[00:18:19]>> Amen.

[00:18:25]>> When the morning comes.

[00:18:39]>> Okay, I'll have it. Let us sing. Trial is dark on every hand and we cannot understand.

[00:18:49]all the ways that God will lead us to that blessed promised land. But you guide us with desire and we'll follow till we die. We will understand it better by and by. We'll sing and by and >> Lord with the morning and that's when all the saints of our God are gathering home and we will tell the story how we come and we will understand it better by and by. We are often destitute all the things that I demand.

[00:19:55]want a shelter and a food, thirsty hills and bar land, but we're trusting in the Lord and according to his word.

[00:20:14]We will understand it better by and by High and Lord when the morning >> and that's when all the saints of my God are gathering and we are going to tell the story how we overcome and we understand it better by and tempt us unaware and our hearts are made to bleed for this word or deed and we wonder why the test If we try to do our best, but we'll understand it better. By and by, everyone sing it.

[00:21:36]and Lord when the morning and that's when all the saints of our God are gathering and we are going to tell the story how we overcome.

[00:22:02]We will understand it better by and by.

[00:22:14]>> Wow, Von, that was wonderful. Thank you so much. You can sing.

[00:22:21]>> She She can. Okay, up next, Sister Taniah Sims. You ready? Our scripture reading by Sister Taniah Sims. as she reads, "Let the word settle into your heart like an anchor."

[00:22:34]>> Good morning.

[00:22:35]>> Good morning.

[00:22:36]>> The scripture for today's lady's day is Mark 4:39. And he arose, and he rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, "Peace be still." And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

[00:22:50]>> All right. Thank you, Sister Taniah Sims, for grounding us in God's truth. I just wanted to say she came to me and said,"I want to read the scripture."

[00:23:00]>> She's a young person and she wants to do something. So, let's give a round of applause for that.

[00:23:06]I appreciate that, Tania. All right.

[00:23:08]Next, Sister Gloria Kanji is going to have the Will of Numbers. All right, ladies. It's time to bring a little extra fun into our room. We're going to have our first little game, Will of Numbers. Okay, Sister Gloria, we're ready for you.

[00:23:23]>> Hello, ladies.

[00:23:26]Hello ladies.

[00:23:31]>> Good morning and welcome you. I am Gloria Okanji and I am going to do a game called Wheel of Numbers. So how the game works is on your program on the back there should be a number and we're going to spin this wheel.

[00:23:53]And when this wheel stops on your number, I want you to get excited and just jump up AND SAY, "I WON. I WON."

[00:24:03]AND we do have lovely prizes for you.

[00:24:05]And we're going to spin this wheel three times. So you get three chances to be a winner.

[00:24:12]So al together, I want you to say wheel of numbers.

[00:24:17]>> WHEEL OFERS.

[00:24:19]ONE MORE TIME. WHEEL of numbers.

[00:24:24]>> And our engineer back there is going to spin.

[00:24:27]>> Drum roll.

[00:24:36]>> Number 61.

[00:24:39]Who has number 61?

[00:24:42]Uhoh. UHOH.

[00:24:50]Miss Cadence is gonna bring you your gift.

[00:24:54]Look at God. That is wonderful.

[00:24:57]That was a special boat, wasn't it?

[00:25:03]>> ALL RIGHT, SPIN THE WHEEL.

[00:25:05]>> Drum roll.

[00:25:15]>> Number 25.

[00:25:20]GET excited now.

[00:25:31]>> Congratulations.

[00:25:33]>> All right, one more number.

[00:25:34]>> Drum roll.

[00:25:35]>> Drum roll.

[00:25:39]Number 60.

[00:25:52]>> Nobody got number 60.

[00:25:57]>> Okay, we're going to spin it again.

[00:26:00]>> Drum roll.

[00:26:01]>> Drum roll.

[00:26:05]>> 72.

[00:26:18]OKAY, congrat next time for you when we do numbers will again.

[00:26:23]>> Thank you ladies.

[00:26:24]>> All right, congratulations to our winners and thank you Sister Gloria Okanji for keeping our spirits bright.

[00:26:31]We will now have the introduction of our guest speaker by Sister Polly Thomas.

[00:26:36]Please read along if you would like. The information will be on the screen.

[00:26:41]>> Thank you, Sister Polly.

[00:26:48]>> Good morning.

[00:26:49]>> Good morning.

[00:26:50]>> Y'all can do better than that. Good morning.

[00:26:52]>> Good morning.

[00:26:54]>> All right. I am sister Thomas and alongside here with my husband I as she serves as the minister here at church of Christ. I have the pleasure and the honor of being a part of this family. Uh this morning I have the privilege to introduce our speaker of the hour.

[00:27:12]Today we honor a life defined by faith, excellence, and unwavering service. A woman whose calling has shaped minds, strengthened families, and uplifted communities for generations.

[00:27:24]Dr. Katon is a devoted educator, servant leader, and woman of faith whose life reflects a deep commitment to learning, leadership, and purposeful living. She is married to her husband, Edward Keaton, a longtime minister, and respected church leader. Together, they've raised two children, Noni Ayana and Jabari Galani, building a family legacy rooted in faith, education, and service. Dr. Dr. Katon is also blessed with a daughter-in-law and two beautiful grandchildren.

[00:27:58]Dr. Katon's education, I'm sorry, Dr. Katon's academic journey reflects perseverance and vision. She earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in mathematics and pursued advanced certifications in education, instructional support, technology, and virtual learning.

[00:28:17]She later completed a doctor of education degree specializing in curriculum, writing, and instruction, demonstrating her passion not only for teaching students, but for strengthening education systems. A retired educator, Dr. Katon devoted Thank you. A retired educator, Dr. Keaton devoted 33 years to teaching mathematics primarily at the high school level. In addition to her classroom work, she served as a mathematics department chair for 25 years, a teacher support specialist for 15 years, and virtual school instructure instructor for five years. Through these roles, she influenced countless students while also mentoring teachers and shaping instructional practices.

[00:29:05]Throughout her career, Dr. Katon was widely recognized for excellence, leadership, and service. She received numerous teaching honors at the school, district, and professional levels along with statewide and national recognition for mathematics excellence. Her impact was so significant that a permanent honor was placed in a high school library to recognize her years of dedicated service and enduring tribute to a career spent investing in others.

[00:29:36]Beyond awards, Dr. Katon's legacy is reflected in her extensive professional service. She contributed to curriculum development and textbook adoption initiatives, served on assessment and teaching writing teams, mentored and supervised mathematic teachers, reviewed instructional materials, coached educators, supported accreditation efforts, and sponsored a national mathematics honor society. She also holds the distinction of being a golden sorar of alpha kappa alpha sorority incorporated future reflect further reflecting her lifelong commitment to scholarship and service in retirement Dr. Katon rem remains deeply engaged in meaningful work. She serves as a speaker for women's programs, seminars, retreats, conferences, lecturesships, and continues developing curriculum for Bible classes and ministry initiatives.

[00:30:34]She also holds leadership roles within her homeowners association and serves as an adviser in women's ministry. One of her most impactful ongoing efforts is a weekly Thursday morning women's Bible class conducted virtually. Established in 2020, this class brings together more than 100 women from across the country to study women of the Bible, fostering spiritual growth, connection, and encouragement among women of all ages.

[00:31:03]Dr. Katon's personal life reflects the values she teaches. She enjoys walking, reading, and spending time in bookstores. She prioritizes physical wellness through consistent movement and spiritual wellness through study, prayer, meditation, worship, journaling, and service.

[00:31:23]Scripture remains scripture scripture remains a guiding force in her life, anchoring her faith, and shaping her daily walk. In every season of life, Dr. Katon has led with wisdom, humility, and purpose. Her legacy is not measured solely by titles earned or honors received, but by lives changed, faith strengthened, and futures shaped. She stands as a powerful example of what it means to serve with excellence, live with intention, and walk boldly in one's calling. Amen.

[00:32:00]>> Ladies, if you would please join me in standing as we welcome our sister in Christ, Dr. Sarah Keaton.

[00:32:40]Uh I Good morning.

[00:32:45]>> Just hearing all this makes me nervous.

[00:32:53]You know, you go through life and you do what God calls you to do and you you wake up one day and it's time for you to stop doing it or to some degree and then somebody writes all this stuff that you did and you're like, "Wow, what a beautiful way to say some things about me." Okay. So, PA, who wrote this?

[00:33:23]Well, give yourself an A right on the top of your head.

[00:33:32]Oh, what a blessing to be anywhere.

[00:33:37]>> Y'all didn't get that picture.

[00:33:39]>> What a blessing to be anywhere.

[00:33:41]>> Anywhere.

[00:33:43]>> And what a blessing to be blessed anyway. Amen.

[00:33:47]>> Because uh as the song says, any way you bless me, Lord, >> I'm going to take it.

[00:33:55]>> They asked me was I going to move around, I said no.

[00:34:02]>> Uh I have been fighting, and I mean fighting with two boxing gloves on, sciatic pain.

[00:34:09]>> And so I've learned how to move and not move.

[00:34:13]So y'all excuse me if I just stand right here >> cuz standing right here I'm okay.

[00:34:21]>> I'm okay. Uh, I do want to say thank you to Sister Pie for uh believing that I could do what she asked.

[00:34:31]>> And then I pray, Lord, let me do it >> cuz I don't know.

[00:34:37]>> But we're going to do our best.

[00:34:39]>> And I want to say thank you for my Boulder sisters. So if you are from Boulderrest, they don't know how to act.

[00:34:52]Brother Marica say he can't take y'all nowhere and I'm gonna confirm that.

[00:34:56]Okay, now stand up.

[00:35:00]Stand if you from Boulder PRAYER and I'm glad you all are here to support me. And uh again I just want to say thank everyone. Uh I did have a Okay, so who's doing the slides?

[00:35:21]I'm trying. I'm new to this.

[00:35:24]>> Okay. All right. So, you knew I'm new because I don't do slides. But when Paula called me and I said, "Oh, no. I don't want to do a slide." And then then I thought ABOUT I SAID, "WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. Maybe I could do two or three."

[00:35:41]So, so, so, uh, we just going to show I think it's the first >> the first two or maybe it's three. How many slides do I have?

[00:35:50]>> I have three slides. So, we just going to show the first two. All right. So, this is just going to help me uh do this because see that mean I got to turn like this. I already told y'all I'm careful how I move.

[00:36:04]So, we going to show y'all these two and then we going to close it down and then we'll come back with the last one way after I have kind of, you know.

[00:36:14]All right. All right. So the the topic is above the storm, a message of calm and courage through faith no matter the turbulence.

[00:36:27]>> So the teacher in me says I got to give you some definitions.

[00:36:32]Uh I'll give them to you somewhere in the lesson. So you mean you got to pay attention somewhere. So, we're going to define storm and storm and turbulence will be probably interchanged. I might be saying storm when I'm saying turbulence. I should be saying turbulence when I should be saying storm, but whatever.

[00:36:50]But y'all know y'all get that point.

[00:36:52]>> And then we're going to define calm, going to define courage, and we're going to define faith >> somewhere in the lesson. So, now you can go to the second slide.

[00:37:05]She said she was new, y'all.

[00:37:08]Somebody tell us slide two.

[00:37:13]>> All right. So then we're going to talk about how faith produces calm and courage.

[00:37:21]Uh faith anchors the heat anchors the heart. Faith reframes the storm. Faith replaces self-confidence with God's confidence. Faith will call you to move before clarity. And then we'll talk about courage. Courage is trusting God even when he seems silent.

[00:37:42]Calm is internal courage. Calm comes from Christ's authority. And calm is meant to quiet your fears. Courage is meant to move your faith. And we need both.

[00:37:56]>> All right. So now you can cut it off and I can turn this way.

[00:38:02]All right. So, our scripture is Mark 4:39.

[00:38:07]Somebody tell her she can put whatever else up there she like except number three. Mark 4:39 says, "He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, peace >> be still."

[00:38:27]And I know when we read that we say peace be still. But I don't think Jesus said it like that.

[00:38:34]>> I think he said peace and then he said be still >> and the wind ceased and there was a great storm, great calm. So we're starting with the word calm. Get your pencil and your paper out cuz the teaching me says I might give you a quiz at the end.

[00:38:55]Y'all are passing it. You You gonna have it. So I I define calm as inner stillness rooted in confidence in God's sovereignty.

[00:39:07]Calm is not the absence of trouble, >> but the presence of trust.

[00:39:16]Calms comes from having an intimate relationship with God.

[00:39:21]You probably won't be calm if you don't get to know God.

[00:39:26]>> So some of the scriptures that you can write down and reference later, Psalms 46 and10, Isaiah 26 and3, which is one of my favorites, John 14:27, and Philippians 4:7.

[00:39:47]And all those scriptures will help you with calm.

[00:39:53]Courage is faithfulness and the presence of fear.

[00:40:00]Courage is the decision to move forward in obedience despite the risk, the uncertainty or the opposition.

[00:40:11]Courage is faith put into action.

[00:40:17]But get this, courage does not deny the fear.

[00:40:24]>> It overcomes it through trust.

[00:40:28]So you might not want to pray not to be afraid cuz that's going to happen.

[00:40:34]>> That's just the way life is. God gave you emotions and you don't get rid of the emotions.

[00:40:39]>> They're going to come. You just have to learn how to deal with them.

[00:40:42]Curry says, "I'm going to trust God to do his will, even if I have to start by doing it by shaking in my boots."

[00:40:53]>> Cuz see, sometimes we think if I got courage, I'm not supposed to be scared.

[00:40:57]>> Oh, you going to be scared, >> but you can still do it.

[00:41:03]>> Even though you are scared while you are doing it.

[00:41:08]>> So that's your courage.

[00:41:11]Faith is trusting God so deeply.

[00:41:15]>> Yes.

[00:41:15]>> I know y'all going to Hebrews 11:1 and that's okay. Go ahead.

[00:41:20]>> But I say it's trusting God so deeply that it shapes how you think, how you live, how you act even when you are swinging in the wind.

[00:41:34]>> Uh they mentioned that uh I teach a Thursday morning class uh via Zoom.

[00:41:39]We've been doing it since April 16, 2020. Thanks to Donna Fman who gave me the courage.

[00:41:48]She said, "We need a lady's class."

[00:41:51]And then she said, "You need to teach it."

[00:41:57]And being the obedient person that I am, I said, "Yes, ma'am."

[00:42:03]And off we went.

[00:42:05]But that was faith and courage because it was during a time when my faith was way down. I told my husband, I said, "I feel like I'm swinging in the wind and I don't know where I'm going to swing to."

[00:42:20]But that class and her suggestion anchored me >> and I'm trusting that it anchored some other people who decided to join.

[00:42:30]>> Yes. Yes.

[00:42:31]>> So those are our definitions for calm, courage and and faith. And so let's look at uh how faith produces the calm >> because all of us probably want to be calm, don't we?

[00:42:52]>> Faith anchors the heart in God's character.

[00:42:58]Calm flows from believing who God is.

[00:43:03]And I need to say that again because we we think we know who God is >> because we kind of look at God as you know this is the person that just give me the young lady says well I don't need to pray tonight.

[00:43:16]And I said why? She said I don't need nothing.

[00:43:20]>> So I need I don't need nothing today so I don't need to pray. And sometimes that's how we are.

[00:43:26]We we really have to get to know who God really is, >> what his character, how he works, and how he takes care of us. Um, and that will only happen if you study, study, study, study, and study some more.

[00:43:47]And sometimes we don't like that. We just want somebody to tell us, tell us, tell us, tell us.

[00:43:52]>> And we're not listening, listening, listening, listening.

[00:43:56]But faith steadies the mind on God's faithfulness, on his goodness, on his grace, on his mercy. Cuz when trust increases and when faith increases, and you can write this down on your mirror somewhere, when faith increases, anxiety decreases.

[00:44:22]>> And I had to tell that to myself. Cuz I'm one of those people, as my husband said, I can make a mountain out of a mohill because I keep digging up dirt.

[00:44:33]I, you know, I I can take it all over the place, all the whatifs. But when trust and faith increases, anxiety decreases.

[00:44:47]And it's not because the circumstances changed.

[00:44:51]It's because your belief in God outweighs all the other stuff.

[00:44:57]>> And I know it can be like a roller coaster. Sometimes it can be up, sometimes it can be down, but the most time it levels out.

[00:45:04]>> It levels out. So, one of the verses that I say quite often that I write almost every day is Isaiah 26:3.

[00:45:15]And it says, "You will keep me in perfect peace >> whose mind is stayed on me."

[00:45:21]>> And so on those nights when I can't go to sleep, that's the verse I quote over and over and over again and the next thing I know the alarm is going off or the sun is through the window. I've gone to sleep because God kept me in perfect peace. So how faith produces calm? One way is faith anchors the heart in God's character.

[00:45:48]The second way is faith reframes the storm.

[00:45:54]Faith does not deny the danger because if the lion is coming for you, >> believing he won't come ain't going to stop him.

[00:46:02]He's still coming. Now you might look at him different but he's still coming.

[00:46:08]Faith does not deny danger. It redefineses the significance of the danger cuz problems.

[00:46:19]The way you look at them can become your purpose.

[00:46:25]I want you to think of the lens of a camera. When you change the lens, the scene doesn't change.

[00:46:34]what you see does.

[00:46:38]>> And think of faith as those lens.

[00:46:41]It brings God's perspective into focus.

[00:46:48]Here's another example. Faith is like an umbrella in the rain.

[00:46:54]It doesn't stop the rain, >> but it changes what happens when you walk through it. right?

[00:47:02]>> You don't get wet.

[00:47:05]>> So faith reframes the storm.

[00:47:12]And all of those are ways that it's going to produce some calm because you'll feel better if it's raining and you got your umbrella, don't you?

[00:47:20]>> You just step high right on out there in it.

[00:47:23]>> But if you don't have the umbrella, you're frantic and you're running.

[00:47:26]You're trying to get it. So there's there's no calm.

[00:47:29]Faith also produces courage.

[00:47:33]It replaces self-confidence, which I think I got a whole lot of, with God's confidence.

[00:47:42]Faith produces courage because it gives you the power or it gives me the power to move in spite of fear.

[00:47:51]And remember, I said it does not replace the fear of the unknown. You can still be scared and still have courage.

[00:48:01]>> It's the confidence you have that gets you moving because I'm trusting God and not myself.

[00:48:09]>> Cuz when you think about David and Goliath, David didn't say, "Well, the giant not here."

[00:48:17]He knew the giant was there, but he believed he had a God that was what? Bigger than the giant.

[00:48:26]And it was not in those five stones.

[00:48:29]It was God.

[00:48:33]>> Faith moves before clarity and gives us the courage to take the first step.

[00:48:42]You climb a mountain one step at a time.

[00:48:47]You have to believe that once you take the first one, God will help you take the next one and the next one and the next one and the next one. Think about Joshua and the Jordan River >> in Joshua 3. The water didn't part until they stepped in. It >> make you just want to do it now.

[00:49:13]Uh, but see, some of us are, some of you all are like me.

[00:49:18]You want everything to make sense.

[00:49:22]>> I even got a t-shirt that says, "Make it make sense."

[00:49:26]I wanted to make sense. I wanted to line up right and then I'm going to do it.

[00:49:34]But I am learning.

[00:49:37]I have missed many blessings >> and many lessons >> trying to fix it >> before God said, "Go do it. I'll fix it."

[00:49:49]>> See, if God is telling you to do it, >> you don't need clarity.

[00:49:56]>> If God is telling you to do it, you don't need clarity. You need direction.

[00:50:04]Just go do what God says >> and do like I'm learning to do. Stop asking God. Now, some people said, "Well, you know, it's okay to ask questions."

[00:50:17]>> That's what got us in trouble in the beginning.

[00:50:21]When Satan did what? Ask Eve that question.

[00:50:24]Then she gonna try to answer. Now look, sometimes you just might need to just do what they say.

[00:50:35]>> And we might need to teach that to our children.

[00:50:39]>> I know we think they need to know why.

[00:50:43]>> They might not.

[00:50:45]>> Sometimes they just might need to trust you >> and do what you say.

[00:50:50]Amen.

[00:50:52]>> Uh but what's amazing as I studied this lesson that it was titled a message of calm and courage.

[00:51:00]>> It just wasn't calm and it just was not courage. It was calm and courage. But as I studied, I found out that they coexist.

[00:51:10]>> And we just talked about how faith produces both.

[00:51:14]>> Faith produces calm so we don't panic.

[00:51:18]most of us because some of us still panic but we'll get there.

[00:51:25]Uh we can realize that God is in control and that's a that's easier said than done.

[00:51:35]>> Um there's a lot of things that I'm learning to do because I finally figured out I can't control it now when I get on a plane.

[00:51:49]I have less anxiety cuz I can't control it.

[00:51:55]>> Uh, and that's probably some other thing that you do that you know you just can't control. You just have to accept it.

[00:52:03]>> Calm is meant to quiet your fear. I didn't say get rid of it.

[00:52:10]Calm is meant to quiet your fear.

[00:52:14]Courage is meant to move your faith.

[00:52:17]That's why you need both of them >> because I can be quieted in my fear and sitting not doing what God has asked me to do.

[00:52:27]>> So you want to quietly move or have a quiet spirit as you move.

[00:52:34]So I said all that to say now we're going to get to the scripture. All right. So what is happening in this scripture? Let's go back and read it. It says, "And he arose." And I said, "Well, he stood up.

[00:52:48]He stood up and he rebuked the wind and said to the sea, peace, be still." And the wind ceased. And there was a great calm.

[00:52:59]So what I see in this scripture is that the disciples were in a violent storm.

[00:53:06]They ex these were experienced fishermen, but they were overwhelmed with fear.

[00:53:14]But what I realized, they didn't try to maneuver around the storm like Sarah Keaton would do.

[00:53:22]They didn't say, "Well, we going to ride it out."

[00:53:26]They didn't ask each other now, "Why are we in this storm?"

[00:53:31]And they didn't give up.

[00:53:34]I think what they realized was that they couldn't stop the storm.

[00:53:39]>> But guess what? They knew who could.

[00:53:48]So they said, "Well, >> we'll wake up Jesus."

[00:53:54]>> Now, you might not have to wake up Jesus.

[00:53:57]>> You might need to be the one to wake up.

[00:54:01]You might need to be the one to wake up to Jesus cuz he's looking.

[00:54:07]So they wake up Jesus and they say, "Teacher, don't you care that we are perishing?"

[00:54:19]But it was not about Jesus.

[00:54:25]It was more about his authority to do what they were asking him to do.

[00:54:35]I think what they realized is they they couldn't control the turbulence in the storm, but they could trust the one who could.

[00:54:43]>> Cuz somebody says, "What?

[00:54:46]I may not be able to handle my storm, >> but I know who can."

[00:54:51]>> So what Jesus does, he just speaks. And I I thought that was kind of, you know, because if it was me, if somebody was coming to me and they said, "Well, you know, you I need you to do this." First thing I would be questioning them like, you know, "Why you calling me?

[00:55:07]I'm sleep. Don't wake me up."

[00:55:12]You know, you pat him and say, "Okay, let's just ride this out because, you know, I'm I'm I'm with, you know, cuz we would just pat our child and say, "Okay, baby, it's going to be all right."

[00:55:22]>> But he didn't try. Jesus didn't try to explain this to them. He doesn't tell them what they should have done or they should not have done.

[00:55:32]What's also ironic is that he doesn't immediately comfort their emotions.

[00:55:41]>> He doesn't tell them that it's going to be okay.

[00:55:47]>> He simply speaks to the storm.

[00:55:56]and the storm obeys.

[00:56:00]>> So, I don't know. Maybe we don't need to be telling explaining to Jesus what Susie is doing >> to us.

[00:56:09]Maybe we just need to ask him to handle whatever's going on.

[00:56:18]He exposed their fear and revealed his authority and power.

[00:56:23]>> He just said, "Peace be still."

[00:56:28]>> I I don't know if I get that.

[00:56:31]>> I have to keep saying it to myself.

[00:56:34]>> What Jesus knows is and that for many of us when a storm is raging outside, >> we have a storm going on inside.

[00:56:50]And he stopped the storm outside as well as inside.

[00:57:00]Mark 4:39 shows that calm courage is not the absence of storm but presence of the faith and the one who has the authority over them.

[00:57:14]Because see what the real issue in this verse is really not about the storm.

[00:57:22]>> I think it's about who the disciples believe >> was in the storm with them.

[00:57:32]>> Because no matter where we are, Jesus is there.

[00:57:40]He He know He knows >> because he's in the storm with us.

[00:57:50]>> What it means to be above the turbulence.

[00:57:53]>> It means your perspective and your response are anchored higher than the chaos.

[00:58:01]Stop watching the chaos and look up.

[00:58:05]It reflects a posture of trust.

[00:58:08]Whereas the circumstances no longer dictate your behavior. She did this to me, therefore I'm going to do this to her.

[00:58:17]>> They didn't. Therefore, I am.

[00:58:20]>> You responding to the circumstances.

[00:58:23]>> You got to get above those.

[00:58:25]>> And that that's hard cuz see, I just want to say I'm getting you back.

[00:58:32]And then I get real religious and I say, "Let me pray for God to get him back."

[00:58:40]Like, "God going to do what I say."

[00:58:44]Now, he may get him back and he may not.

[00:58:49]And then some of us, y'all know y'all like me.

[00:58:54]Y'all say, "Well, God, you didn't get them good enough."

[00:58:57]They they back doing the same thing again.

[00:59:01]And now I got now I got to forgive them.

[00:59:03]And I you know you you got to rise above all that stuff.

[00:59:09]>> Uh someone said to me and y'all have to listen to this real close.

[00:59:17]When there's the when the devil is in them I won't use another word cuz they this person said hell. I won't say that.

[00:59:23]When the devil is in them, you got to love the devil out of them. Now y'all put y'all put the other word in there.

[00:59:30]Okay.

[00:59:34]Uh, travelers represent pressures we face daily. Conflict, uncertainty, grief, deadlines, health concern, financial strain, grown children, and and I thought it would stop at grown children, but she had gone to the grandchildren.

[00:59:52]They could be a headache, too.

[00:59:56]But being above all of that, you have to choose faith.

[01:00:03]>> You have to choose faith despite the fear.

[01:00:06]You have to choose truth over your emotions and obedience over an impulse.

[01:00:14]>> And one of the things that you really have to do, which is difficult for most of us, you have to separate the issue >> from the behavior.

[01:00:25]or from the person >> because sometimes we attack the person and the issue is still there.

[01:00:33]>> That's why when it comes up again, you didn't forget it. It's still there.

[01:00:39]So, uh what it means to be above the turbulence. And you can put this last screen up here.

[01:00:48]What it means to be above the turbulence. Here she comes.

[01:01:04]All right. And I said practice practice the discipline of spiritual elevation. Get higher >> way above it. Some of it some of you just have to keep pushing yourself pushing yourself to get above it. And I said practice because when you practice, sometimes you get it right and sometimes you don't.

[01:01:27]But keep practicing it. Choose faith in spite of the fear. Even if you got a shake, doing it. If you got a cry, doing it. If it needs to be done, do it.

[01:01:41]>> Truth over emotions. Don't let them take over. If you're angry, don't let the anger take over.

[01:01:47]If you are happy, don't let the happy take over. And I'm serious about that.

[01:01:52]Either one, because you need to rely on truth.

[01:01:56]>> Obedience over impulse.

[01:01:59]>> Oy God.

[01:02:02]>> Even when you want to knock them out, >> even when you want to give them a back hand, >> even when you want to.

[01:02:12]The word starts with a C. The word starts with a C. that some of us church people say we don't do, but I know we do. Even when you want to do that, pause before reacting.

[01:02:28]>> Uh when my children were smaller and I would be and then I would have to stop and my son used to always say, "Go ahead, say it, mama. Go ahead."

[01:02:41]And I want to tell him, "Baby, you don't want mama to go ahead and say it. You really don't you you don't want mama said you want her to kind of rub on your shoulder cuz she might go up a little higher and catch you right about here and do a little something to you. So pause before reacting. Sometimes you might need to count to 10 or sometime you might see need to say a little prayer. And sometimes when uh this person that I ride to worship with sometimes when he's driving so fast and he said, "Why you quiet?" I said, "Y'all know what I'm talking about."

[01:03:17]Uh he said, "Why you not saying anything?" I said, "Cuz I can't pray and talk at the same time.

[01:03:24]I'm praying that you slow this car up.

[01:03:27]Reframe the situation. Look at it differently. Get the lens and look at it differently. separate the storms or the turtles from the person or the behavior.

[01:03:38]Sometimes we just we hit the person so hard >> that we forget about the situation that we're dealing with. And that's hard to do because if somebody has hurt me, all I'm worried about is you did it.

[01:03:54]>> I'm not concerned about the pain. I'm worried about you. You did it to me >> when you know it may not have been intentional. It could have been something else. It could have been a whole lot of different things.

[01:04:05]>> Uh, pray instead of spiraling.

[01:04:08]Don't do like Sister Keith and dig up enough dirt to make a mole heel out of it. Okay?

[01:04:14]>> Start praying and pray before it happens >> because you want to be prepared for the storm, not wait until the storm get here to start doing something. Understand that it is more about calm center calming you down your spirit than the circumstances. Because the circumstances, if it's happening, it's not going anywhere. I told y'all if the lion is coming, he coming. He not going to turn around cuz you praying or whatever you're doing, he may come on and get you. He may not be as bad, but he may still come. The travelers may rage below, but your spirit remains steady above it.

[01:04:53]Oh, that probably wasn't on there.

[01:04:55]That's why I told y'all don't do those things. So, here's the message. Calm and courage work together.

[01:05:03]>> Calm steads the heart and reminds us that God is in control.

[01:05:10]>> Courage moves the feet, saying, "Therefore, I will obey."

[01:05:17]In this scripture, Jesus models both. He is calm in the song cuz he could have come out ranting and raving. Why y'all waking me up?

[01:05:28]Like I would say, I'm trying to get my wrist.

[01:05:31]He acts with authority and courage. Calm and courage are the outcomes of faith.

[01:05:37]Faith does not eliminate storms or fear.

[01:05:41]Faith steadys your heart and strengthens your will.

[01:05:46]And so I want to leave you with something that I wrote.

[01:05:52]>> Uh I kind of I've gotten into this thing of writing monologues and so I thought I'd write a monologue about it. So here's what I said. I used to think peace and calm meant the storm had to stop. I really did.

[01:06:08]That calm only came when everything settled. When the waves lay down. When the wind went quiet, when life finally made sense, >> I thought if I could just fix it, >> then I would have the control, I could hold everything together and then I would have calm.

[01:06:34]That didn't work.

[01:06:37]But life has a way of teaching you something totally different. Storm don't always ask permission.

[01:06:46]>> They show up uninvited, >> loud, relentless, overwhelming, >> and downright nasty.

[01:06:58]And I have learned out of these X plus years, I don't have the power to stop them.

[01:07:11]I can't control every outcome.

[01:07:14]>> I can't silence every fear.

[01:07:17]>> I can't steady every wave.

[01:07:21]But what I have also learned, God didn't give me that kind of power.

[01:07:30]Because there is a place not where the storm disappears but where I rise above it.

[01:07:42]>> A beautiful theme for today.

[01:07:44]>> I rise above the noise, above the fear, above the chaos.

[01:07:51]Not because I'm strong, >> but because my faith anchors me in the one who is strong.

[01:08:00]>> There is a calm that doesn't come from quiet circumstances.

[01:08:07]I know we think when the storm start raging outside that we are calm inside.

[01:08:13]You're really not.

[01:08:15]>> You're only calm when God settles your heart.

[01:08:19]A heart that says, "Even if the wind raids, I trust God.

[01:08:25]>> Even if I don't understand, I trust God.

[01:08:29]>> Even if nothing changes, >> I trust God.

[01:08:36]>> Even if that diagnosis says something that I don't want it to say, >> I still have to trust God.

[01:08:49]That's where courage is born. Not in the absence of fear, but in the decision to stand anyway, >> to move forward anyway, to believe anyway >> because courage is not going to come roaring like a loun.

[01:09:08]Sometimes it just simply says take the next step.

[01:09:14]When your hands are shaking, when your knees are knocking, when everybody said don't do it, >> if God is saying do it, >> you do it.

[01:09:27]>> Because in that moment, something inside of you will shift.

[01:09:36]>> The storm may still be around, but it no longer rules you.

[01:09:43]Fear doesn't get the final words.

[01:09:47]Uncertainty doesn't get control.

[01:09:52]And right after that, here comes faith.

[01:09:58]It rises and we realize we don't have to calm the storm. Let it rage.

[01:10:06]Let whatever the doctor say, let him say it.

[01:10:10]Let whatever those children are doing, those adult children, y'all know we can't control those. As my granddaughter says, I'm grown grown grandmama.

[01:10:23]And I says, grown grown granddaughter, I'm not putting no more gas in your car.

[01:10:32]Ain't you grown enough to buy your own gas?

[01:10:36]Ain't you grown enough to have some extra in your savings account when you want your nails done?

[01:10:43]>> But faith says I don't have to calm the storm. I can let it rage >> because I just have to stay connected to the one who can.

[01:10:56]>> See, there is no busy signal on God's >> when you call him. He's not busy. not too busy for you or me.

[01:11:09]>> And he's going to answer >> every time.

[01:11:15]>> He is not like me. He does not have you on silence where it says send you over to voicemail >> and then I can do delete and block.

[01:11:31]God not like that.

[01:11:34]Now, he may not answer you when you call, but he will answer you when he knows you need the answer.

[01:11:45]>> So, I say to you, lift your eyes higher.

[01:11:50]above what you feel >> and even above what you can see.

[01:11:55]>> Above what you cannot control, >> find something stronger than the storm.

[01:12:06]>> Find a peace that holds you steady and a courage that says, "Let's go and do what God says."

[01:12:15]Because God sees. God knows. And whatever he does going to be okay >> even if it's not what we want >> because when Hagar was out there in that wilderness >> and God said go back >> see the Sarah Hagar I I keep talking about myself >> cuz the Sarah hey God would say wait a minute God DON'T YOU KNOW I'M GOING BACK OVER THERE the lady don't like me I'd already had a baby from her husband first. She don't like me. I don't like her.

[01:12:55]And the man, he's the richest person I know. And he sent me just with a swig of water >> and enough for just a week.

[01:13:04]>> He could have given me a whole lot more than that cuz I had everything, all that stuff. And now you want me to go back?

[01:13:13]>> But you know what she did?

[01:13:16]>> She went back. Cuz what we >> learned >> later >> that she was safer >> back there than she was in the wilderness.

[01:13:31]>> But she probably didn't realize that.

[01:13:34]So what it means to live above the storm, not untouched by life turbulence, but unshaken in the middle of it.

[01:13:48]Because when faith leaves, and I have to keep saying this, and I'm not just saying it to you, I'm saying it to myself >> because it is always a practice.

[01:13:59]>> We going to be practicing and practicing and practicing because you are not going to get a diploma on life. You're not going to graduate and say, "Okay, I'm done now. I can go do what I want to do." It don't happen like that. You got to keep practicing every day until God says, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

[01:14:21]>> So when faith leads, just know that calm, steady the heart and courage will help you to move.

[01:14:31]No matter how fierce the storm becomes, practice, >> practice, practice >> and you will rise above the storm.

[01:14:44]And that's all I got.

[01:15:04]>> Let's give Sister Katon another round of appreciation for that powerful, timely message.

[01:15:11]Thank you.

[01:15:11]>> I know many of us received exactly what we needed. I know I did as she was on my street a few times. I can say that now I feel empowered to continue to rise above the storm. Thank you so much. Thank you, Sister Katon. We will now be lifted in another song. Let's welcome back Sister Win. All sisters, please stand for the this last song selection. We are rising above the storm. So, please stand. Thank you. Amen. And we've been uplifted.

[01:15:43]Thank >> go everybody. We'll be happy over there.

[01:15:48]I know we all want to get there.

[01:15:51]>> All right. All have it. Let us sing.

[01:15:54]There's a happy land of promise over in the grave beyond where the earth shall soon the glory share where the soul of men shall enter and live on forever.

[01:16:15]Everybody will be happy over there and every Everybody will be happy.

[01:16:30]>> Well, they will be happy over >> and we will shout and sing.

[01:16:46]Everybody will be happy over there.

[01:16:54]There the ransom of all ages will be sing in that land where no one ever knows and the Christians of all nations will join in the triump song. Everybody will be happy over the day.

[01:17:26]>> And everybody will be happy >> will and will be happy over the day. And we will shout and sing God's praise. Everybody might be happy over there.

[01:18:01]There we'll meet the one who saved us and who kept us by his grace and who brought us to that so bright and fair.

[01:18:18]We will praise his name forever.

[01:18:22]As we look upon his face, everybody will be happy. over there.

[01:18:34]>> Everybody, >> everybody will be happy.

[01:18:43]>> Will be happy.

[01:18:49]over there.

[01:18:52]>> And we will shout and sing.

[01:19:01]Everybody will be happy.

[01:19:15]>> Thank you again, Sister Win, for blessing us in song. Your voice truly ministers.

[01:19:21]I appreciate you so much. At this time, we will hear reflections from Sister Celia Tilman. May her words encourage us as we continue to meditate on today's theme.

[01:19:46]>> Well, Sarah, you have done a remarkable job.

[01:20:00]>> Before you got here, >> reflection above the storm, peace be 4:39.

[01:20:15]You know before I wrote this reflection I had so much to write something said calm down they were not making this was a reflection but it's so wonderful to rise above the storm and many of us are still rising Now Jesus calms a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee with words. We heard that peace be still.

[01:20:54]This phrase points out finding inner peace and faith during life trials in our lives.

[01:21:05]And remembering, listen ladies, remembering however that nothing goes unnoticed by him when we are overwhelmed with the cares of this world.

[01:21:19]>> Like Jesus calm the wind and the waves.

[01:21:22]He can calm the storm that rage with us within us today.

[01:21:28]Sarah brought that out so remarkably.

[01:21:32]>> Jesus has power over nature.

[01:21:35]fear >> and inner toil.

[01:21:40]>> He is that peace that goes beyond human understanding.

[01:21:45]>> Philippians 4:7, you mention that s.

[01:21:49]There are many of us that have faced fear at one time or the other. You might not want to admit it, but we have. Amen.

[01:21:57]>> West defines fear as an unpleasant often strong emotion >> caused by anticipation or awareness of danger which brings about a survival a survival response.

[01:22:14]However, when we read the word of God, I said when we read the word of God, we learn that there is a godly gift.

[01:22:23]>> Yes.

[01:22:24]which describes a respect and deep insight for God.

[01:22:31]It recognized his holiness, power, and love that leads to wisdom, >> faith, obedience.

[01:22:46]Hey, obedience >> and a life that bring us closer to him.

[01:22:54]King David said on one occasion, "Praise the Lord and bless the man that fearth the Lord >> and delightth greatly in his commandments."

[01:23:09]Psalms 112 and verse one.

[01:23:13]I remember reading an article by Amy Summers and when I read that I oh my goodness through life stormy watch she said and I quote if I were stranded in the middle of a raging stream she said I wouldn't appreciate a person on the bank yelling don't be afraid Hey, you will be all right.

[01:23:46]Now, what in the world? You on the bank and you don't be afraid. That's like many of us today. Oh, it is well. I That's my word. It is well.

[01:23:57]But I mean that. It is well to me.

[01:24:02]I'm suffering >> but I can't do anything about it unless God deemed himself to come in my life >> and calm me down.

[01:24:13]>> If those words she said now Amy said that if those words were spoken by a professional rescuer however I would be comforted knowing someone completely adequate to handle my frightened situation.

[01:24:32]was with me.

[01:24:35]Yes, ladies, the Lord is fully able and qualified >> to tell us not to fear >> because all power is in his hands.

[01:24:48]>> And we shouldn't doubt his sovereignty and power.

[01:24:53]The disciples feared for their lives when they were on the boat with Jesus.

[01:25:04]They were afraid because of the storm.

[01:25:08]Master, do you not care that we are perishing?

[01:25:14]Jesus replied, why are you so fearful?

[01:25:19]>> How is it that you have no faith? He said he didn't say little faith. He said no faith.

[01:25:26]Mark 4 and4 the disciples absent of faith was exposed.

[01:25:34]It was exposed. A lot of time we are exposed when we think we got it all together.

[01:25:42]They were exposed by Jesus when they panic and feared for their lives. Many time we feel for our lives when we are going through trials and torment.

[01:25:53]>> The Bible teaches us to count it all joy when we fall into various temptations.

[01:25:59]>> And knowing that the trying of our faith, the trying of our faith does what?

[01:26:06]>> Work at patience.

[01:26:09]>> James chapter 1 verse 2 through three.

[01:26:14]It also let us see hardship as an opportunity to gain spiritual growth and drawing closer to God through faith and obedience.

[01:26:31]Jesus has empathy.

[01:26:34]That word means having compassion. But it shows that I know what I'm talking about because I've gone through that myself.

[01:26:47]Put yourselves in the place where another is having impity for us who are suffering because he took our infirmities and bore our sickness.

[01:27:05]Matthews chapter 8 and verse 17.

[01:27:09]He is uh he learned obedience by the things he what group of ladies by the things he suffered.

[01:27:19]Hebrews 5 and8 Jesus not only cares for our spiritual bodies but he cares for our sin sick souls.

[01:27:30]He also want us to know that there is nothing I mean nothing to fear but we can rise above the storm if our full trust is anchored in him. I wrote a poem for the reflection and it made me think about who Jesus is.

[01:27:56]Jesus is that quiet voice >> within that give give peace to fallen men.

[01:28:05]Yes.

[01:28:07]With understanding and wisdom he possess to free all men from fear and loneliness.

[01:28:17]He is that quiet storm that commands with authority and domain releasing strongholds of sin and shame.

[01:28:31]>> Jesus is the just one from burdens he can lift from light from the lighthouse.

[01:28:39]He directs lost souls from distant shore. And he is that peace forever more.

[01:28:48]Jesus is our provider when all else fails. He is that living water that runs deep within the well.

[01:28:59]He is the bread of life that feeds our troubled soul and gives strength to face Satan blinded foes.

[01:29:09]That means the God of this world. 2 Corinthians 4:4.

[01:29:15]Jesus is a source of light to our darkened path to see the enemy ahead without fear or dread.

[01:29:26]This mean turns darkness to light.

[01:29:29]Psalms 18 and 28.

[01:29:32]Jesus is the wind that caused the birds to fly above the storm for safety they rely.

[01:29:42]He is the rain that falls when the earth is dry.

[01:29:47]And he is our savior who reigns on high.

[01:29:51]Mhm.

[01:29:52]>> Jesus is THE GIFT OF ALL gifts that came from heaven above and set captive free with the shedding of his blood and with eternal love.

[01:30:07]This poem was written by the author Celia C. Tilman. Rising above the sky.

[01:30:23]I had to have this because my heart >> and I just work work and I love the flowers up here >> and that's where I've been and help a little bit inside but I work so hard on the outside for the flowers.

[01:30:46]So, I had to get the came this morning.

[01:30:58]>> All right. Thank you, Sister T. That's what we call her here at the Grove.

[01:31:01]Sister T. We love our sister T. For sharing from your heart with the wisdom and insight that we appreciate and value. Thank you so much.

[01:31:10]>> All right, Sister Glorio Kanji. Ladies, it's time for our second round and the last round of Will of Number. So, get your programs ready.

[01:31:21]>> All right, we're ready for you, Sister Gloria.

[01:31:26]>> Hello, ladies.

[01:31:29]>> Sister Katon, thank you.

[01:31:35]this week storm, all of this, all the ladies and the work. Oh my goodness, I needed you in my ear this morning to calm that storm.

[01:31:52]Cuz I was riding here this morning and I looked at the time and said, "Oh my god, in the kitchen, you know, it's my love and I'm just saying um I was running late." I said, "Oh my god." and I couldn't keep it together. I needed you in my ear this morning. So, thank you.

[01:32:11]>> So, ladies, round two.

[01:32:14]>> All right. Wheel of Numbers. LET'S GO.

[01:32:18]WHEEL OF NUMBERS.

[01:32:22]>> ALL RIGHT. SO, if you weren't here on the first Wheel of Numbers on your program at the bottom there is going to be a number on the back and we're gonna spin this.

[01:32:37]Let's go. We're going to spin this wheel.

[01:32:41]>> I NEED YOU TO JUMP UP AND SAY 42.

[01:32:46]>> DRUM ROLL. NUMBER 42, JIA. YAY.

[01:32:50]>> NOW, what's going on now?

[01:32:56]You got to keep standing so she can see who gets the prize.

[01:33:04]>> Boulder's first lady, >> number 43.

[01:33:18]>> All right.

[01:33:24]She'll be back. She'll be back.

[01:33:35]>> All right, DRUM ROLL.

[01:33:36]>> DRUM ROLL.

[01:33:37]>> LAST AND FINAL PRIZE.

[01:33:45]>> 85.

[01:33:57]And those are all of the prizes, ladies.

[01:34:01]>> Thank you.

[01:34:05]Thank you so much, Sister Gloria. We will now have our special recognition presented by Sister Polly Thomas. We are grateful for every sister who serves and supports us here at the Locust Grove Church of Christ.

[01:34:20]How y'all feeling?

[01:34:22]>> All right. Okay. So, we're gonna start with um the recognition first.

[01:34:31]>> Sister King, can you join me up here, please?

[01:34:48]I can bring the first out.

[01:34:59]>> All right. So, we wanted to say thank you for joining us today. We got you a plaque.

[01:35:12]With appreciation, Ladies Day, April 25th, 2026, Locus Church of Christ, Mark 439, Above the Storm.

[01:35:28]The next one.

[01:35:43]>> Another gift. We got her. Awesome that we saw.

[01:35:59]And our last we got your bouquet.

[01:36:27]MONDAY.

[01:36:58]I just wanted to show you Okay. Um, so I wanted to give um this day definitely would not have been possible if it was not for a group of ladies that saw the vision, that heard my vision and rallied behind me and did everything that they could to make this day special for you all. And from the bottom of my heart, I just want to say thank you to the ladies of Locust Grove Church of Christ. Um, if I had to do it all over again, I would pick the same team for sure.

[01:37:53]Um, our registration committee, could you all stand so we can acknowledge you all?

[01:38:04]>> Wait, our food committee, could you stand so we can acknowledge you all?

[01:38:17]>> Our hospitality committee, make sure you wave so we can SEE YOU ALL.

[01:38:27]OUR PROGRAM COMMITTEE.

[01:38:35]>> Our decorations committee. Could you all stand?

[01:38:44]>> Our setup and cleanup committee.

[01:38:53]our photography and videography committee, >> our gifts and appreciation committee.

[01:39:08]>> OUR CHILD CARE COMMITTEE, >> WE LOVE THE KIDS.

[01:39:15]and our publicity and promotion committee. Although she's not here, she's a soldier. She's in Washington right now. She's not here. But everything that you got on Facebook, she was responsible for sending out to everyone. So, let's get our hand. That's my sister Teresa brought her in.

[01:39:32]And every lady, every lady of the Locust Grove Church of Christ, please stand up.

[01:39:36]Please stand up. You all please give them a round of applause for everything.

[01:39:48]Thank you all. Um, uh, we wanted to do roll call. First, for all the visitors, all the visitors who, um, are not in the body of Christ, who's not a Church of Christ member, please stand so we can acknowledge you all.

[01:40:05]>> We are so honored to have you all here.

[01:40:10]Now, we going to do a roll call. Let's see who congregation can get the hype.

[01:40:13]Okay, getting the hype now. Let's see.

[01:40:16]Let's see.

[01:40:17]Count Church of Christ, >> Christ Church of Christ, >> Stone Crest Church of Christ, >> College Park Church of Christ, Oak Church of Christ, Morland Avenue Church of Christ, >> Rock Springs Road Church of Christ, >> Jackson Church of Christ, South Lake Church of Christ, Rock Springs Road Church of Christ, the Glaze Duke Church of Christ, Riverdale Church of Christ Church of CHRIST Church of Christ.

[01:42:04]Chapel Hill Church of Christ, >> Shannon Church of Christ, >> Manchester Church of Christ, >> Emory Hills Church of Christ, >> Preston Street CHURCH OF CHRIST, GAINS A CHURCH OF CHRIST, Fville Church of Christ, >> Pal Springs Church of Christ, Coconut Grove Church of Christ.

[01:43:00]>> All right.

[01:43:05]Jonesboro Church of Christ.

[01:43:12]>> Now, okay, so I kind of saved the best for last.

[01:43:24]>> So, >> you got Southside Church.

[01:43:28]>> I'm I DIDN'T FORGET YOU. SOUTHSIDE CHURCH IS THERE ANY CHURCH OF CHRIST THAT I MISSED? I'm >> um CHURCH OF CHRIST.

[01:43:44]>> VERY CHURCH.

[01:43:49]Anybody else?

[01:43:52]All right. Now, I'm saving the best for last. Now, the House got to show out.

[01:43:57]Y'all in our house, y'all, we got to show out now. On three. When I say three, I want to hear it. Y'all hear me?

[01:44:07]I want the brothers to hear it outside in the parking lot. One, two, three. LOC.

[01:44:32]ALRIGHTY.

[01:44:39]>> Thank you, Sister Polly, for honoring those who pour into this work and for the sisters who travel to spend the day with us. We are so grateful. Now, if you are able, all sisters of the grove, please come to the front of the sanctuary at this time. If you're a member here at Luckers Grove Church to Christ and you're able, please come to the front at this time.

[01:45:05]Now, the food committee is working in the back, so they're not able to come, but if you attend Locust Grove Church of Christ and you're a member here, please come to the front. Please come to the front.

[01:45:20]Please come to the front. The front. the front.

[01:45:30]I need Polly to Yeah, I need Polly to get out in front.

[01:45:42]All right, here we go.

[01:45:48]>> Good morning, ladies.

[01:45:52]>> Sister Polly.

[01:45:54]your husband and the ladies of church Christ. I want to thank you for your diligence, your dedication, your mentorship, your prayers, and all the hard work that you put in for this event.

[01:46:09]>> Right. So, we want to present you with a BOUQUET and your card.

[01:46:22]And we just want to thank you for everything, >> for being such a great leader.

[01:46:32]>> All right, ladies. We're going to get our picture taken on the count of three.

[01:46:36]So, smile for Sister April back there.

[01:46:40]One. Can we scoot in some more? All around. Come on. We We love each other.

[01:46:44]Come on.

[01:46:46]>> Yeah. Today, every day. Come on, The Grove. Scoot in. All right. On the count of three. One, two, three.

[01:46:58]>> Thank you.

[01:47:01]All right. Thank you, sisters.

[01:47:06]To close out our program, we will be led in prayer by Sister Queen Thomas. May this prayer and everything we receive today continue to bless us.

[01:47:19]Thank you, Queen.

[01:47:22]Good morning.

[01:47:23]>> Morning.

[01:47:25]>> Let us pray.

[01:47:26]>> Dear Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you for our lives, health, and our strength. I pray that you forgive us of any sins, whether it was word, thought, or deed. Thank you for allowing us to come together as sisters and receive encouragement from one another. I pray that something was said to those that aren't saved, and they might ask, "What?

[01:47:41]What must I do to be saved?" Thank you for allowing Sister Ke to come bring an inspirational message. I pray that everybody will return to their destination safely without any hurt, harm, or danger. Thank you for the food that is prepared and bless the hands that prepared it. Thank you and we love you. Jesus name I pray. Amen.

[01:47:59]>> All right, sisters, that concludes our program. We have a wonderful lunch behind us in the fellowship hall. I just have a special request. Okay, if you are a seasoned sister or you need some extra time, please go ahead and go back behind us now.

[01:48:16]The hospitality committee will help escort you behind us. And also, if you would like your picture taken, we have a photo booth. We have professional photography by April May.

[01:48:27]We will take your picture, we will get it to you.

[01:48:32]If you want to go ahead and eat, you can go ahead and make your way next door. If you want to take pictures, they'll be available right now. Thank you all so much.