Women's Meeting: Like a Well-Watered Garden

By Darlene Yoder, Meyersdale, Pennsylvania; homemaker; Oak Dale Mennonite Church

As women arrived for the Women's Fellowship meeting, anticipating the theme "Gardens of our Lives," they were pleasantly surprised to be greeted by a stage transformed into a garden complete with a white picket fence, vine covered trellis, birdbath, and a variety of plants and flowers. After Linda Kling and a local worship team led in worship, Glenda Knepp shared on "The Garden of Eden: Fellowship with the Creator." The defining quality of that first garden was the Presence of God. The same Creator God is still wooing people into an intimate love relationship with Himself. Our part in the process of intimacy involves "framing" our experiences through God's eyes, "looking" for God through His Word, and "centering" our lives solidly on Jesus.

"Working With the Gardener: Fruitfulness" was Joan Mill's topic. Jesus teaches us that producing fruit involves submitting to the process for future abundance (pruning) and abiding in Him. Do not strain to bear fruit, but rest in Him and He will produce a bumper crop.

In the afternoon, Velma Swartz spoke on "The Garden of Gethsemane: Death and Victory." Jesus came to give us victory-even over death. Many kinds of pain and loss in this life need to be grieved in order to find healing. Only as we surrender to God in the middle of that grief can we find "resurrection moments" and new growth.

Joan Benderoth from India and Shirley Miller from the Middle East enriched the day with glimpses of their lives on the mission field. Other testimonies, followed by corporate prayer, strengthened the feeling of sisterhood.

Perhaps Isaiah 58:11 best summarizes the day of refreshment, "The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden. . ."

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