Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (April 11, 2018)
2A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL APRIL 11, 2018 DEATH NOTICE Wilder — Melville Lyman “Rusty” Wilder Jr. , 66, of Cottage Grove, OR, died March 31. No service is planned. Arrangements by Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel in Cottage Grove. BIRTHS Melissa and Tyler Wells of Cottage Grove welcomed a baby boy on March 29 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center-River- Bend. LeighAnne and Kevin Schrouder of Cottage Grove welcomed a baby girl on March 29 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Cen- ter-RiverBend. Linsey and Jordan Roeder of Cottage Grove welcomed a baby boy on April 3 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center-Riv- erBend. I f someone asked you if you love your life, what would you say? It seems most people would say they don’t love their life. But as believers in Christ, we can learn to love the life we have. I know what it’s like to have a miserable life, and how wonderful it is to live with God’s peace and joy. I remember when God spoke to my heart and told me, “You’re not happy because you’re selfi sh.” It wasn’t easy to hear, but facing that truth helped me surrender my will to God, so He could begin working in me and help me make the chang- es I needed to make. I discovered that the key to loving my life is making love – God’s love – the central theme of my life. God IS love – it’s not just what He does, but who He is. He loves us unconditionally, and when we believe that, it changes us; it makes us confi dent and secure. Knowing you are loved gives you cour- age and boldness to step out and try new things, so you don’t have to be stuck with a negative attitude about life in general, or in a situation you hate. It gives you security that enables you to confront unhealthy re- lationships, knowing you’ll be okay – and even better than before – however things turn out. Here’s how God’s love works in our lives: We receive His love for us, then we see our- selves the way He does and love ourselves in a healthy way, and fi nally, we let His love fl ow through us to others. The goal is to take in the good things God offers us, and then go out in the world and give to others what He has given to us! God wants to give us His love, mercy, grace and forgiveness, and He expects those things to fl ow through us to the people in our world. God created us to be loved and to love others. First John 3:11 says, “This is the message which you [believers] have heard from the beginning [of your relationship with Christ], that we should [unselfi shly] love and seek the best for one another.” That’s real Christianity. If we really get down to it, how much do we really think about what we can do for other people? I’ve learned that when I’m fo- cusing on myself, what I want or how I can get others to do what I want them to do, I am frustrated, easily offended and upset much of the time. I lived this way for many years, and when I became serious about my relationship with God and started studying His Word, I dis- covered it wasn’t the life Jesus died to give me. I also began to see things in my attitude and behavior that weren’t pleasing to God. In my journey to healing and wholeness in my soul, I had to confront pain from things people had done to me…abuse I had endured from my parents and other ways I was mistreated by people. God revealed to me that I couldn’t have unforgiveness in my heart and be right with Him. Forgiving others was not a choice I could make based on my feelings; it was a decision of my will. While the process of forgiveness was hard and painful, I can hon- estly say it was worth it to be free of the anger that was rooted in my soul. I want to encourage you to examine your heart today and determine if you are hold- ing on to a grudge against someone. Pray and ask God to help you see the truth about yourself. If He shows you something, make the choice to forgive, and give it all to Him. Don’t think about what was done to you continually; instead, pray about it and pray for the person who hurt you. Pray that God will bless them with the truth, so they can repent for what they’ve done wrong and be right with Him. If they don’t repent, then just be thankful for the healing God has done in you and move on. Remember that God is love, and the more we love like Him, the better our lives will be. John 3:16 says, “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Be determined to love in your actions, not just your words. Be obedient to God’s Word and trust Him to change your heart as you take steps of faith, following the lead- ing of the Holy Spirit. As you do, you’ll fi nd you’re the happiest you’ve ever been when you’re living to love others! For more on this topic, order Joyce’s three-teaching CD series Keys to Loving Your Journey. You can also contact us to re- ceive our free magazine, Enjoying Everyday Life, by calling (800) 727-9673 or visiting www.joycemeyer.org. Joyce Meyer is a New York Times best- selling author and founder of Joyce Mey- er Ministries, Inc. She has authored more than 100 books, including BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND and LIVING A LIFE YOU LOVE (Hachette). She hosts the Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs, which air on hundreds of stations world- wide. For more information, visit www.joy- cemeyer.org. Please note: The views and opinions ex- pressed throughout this publication and/or website are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily refl ect those of Joyce Meyer Rotary holds district training z å Funeral & Memorial Planning e Funeral & Memorial Planning e Cremation Options e Cremation Options e Monuments & Memorials & e Memorials Cemetery Options e Monuments Cemetery Options Please Celebrate the 4th of July Safely! 123 South 7th, Cottage Grove, Oregon th 123 South 7 , Cottage Grove, Oregon 541-942-0185 •www.smithlundmills.com z www.smithlundmills.com TURNING 65 AND NEED HELP WITH YOUR MEDICARE CHOICES? Call Paul to help simplify the complicated. 541-517-7362 Paul Henrichs ~ Independent Agent coverage4oregon@gmail.com Friends & Family Sale Over 200 Rotarians from Dis- trict 5110 attended the annual district training on Saturday, April 7 with the opportunity to learn more about Rotary, being a Rotarian and how Rotary can make a difference not only in communities, but in the world. Rotarians left with the challenge to “Be the inspiration." TWO DAYS ONLY APRIL 15 & 16 FIND SAVINGS THROUGHOUT THE STORE. 118 Gateway Blvd (Next to Bi-Mart) Cottage Grove • 541-942-7377 Open 7 Days a Week å
