YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
Don’t forget to vote! Before choosing the Presidential candidate of your choice, pray, seek God’s will, and read His word for direction. Our nation is counting on you!!

Voting is a God-given right. Take advantage of that freedom - it is truly a gift.

Upcoming Retreats
Married Couples Retreat - The next married couples retreat will be held in the Deep Creek Lake area, November 5-7, 2004. We have reserved the North Glade Inn Bed and Breakfast which can accommodate up to 10 couples. We currently have availability for one more couple. If you are interested in attending or know of someone who would like to attend please contact us at 717-738-1596. The theme is “Let’s Begin Again”.

2005 Winter Wonderland Retreat - This retreat has not been scheduled yet. Keep checking our newsletters for the announcement for this retreat.

Article of Interest: The Power of Love
If someone asked you to define the word love what would you say? Some people might say, “love is being affectionate with my spouse or having an intimate relationship with family and friends”.

What do you think God’s definition of love is? That answer can be found in I Corinthians Chapter 13. To go through the entire chapter for this newsletter would require too many pages. Therefore, I have chosen to elaborate on one verse, verse number 5. That verse states, “love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs”. Now I must be honest with you. This verse makes me say “Ouch God, do you really think I can do that?” God’s answer is “Yes”. The Bible tells us “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Only Christ can give us the strength to overcome the temptation to be irritable, selfish or to think about the wrong that someone has done to us. As God’s children, we are to daily follow Jesus by obeying His commands. The world needs to see Christ in each of us. If our lives demonstrate strife, unforgiveness, bitterness, and anger we are doing a poor job at choosing God’s way of showing love. We all make mistakes so there’s no need to feel guilt and shame. However, God requires us to read His word and follow His commands. He will give us the strength we need to change our old ways. Yes, it can be difficult to reach and maybe feel like it just can’t happen, but it can. God gave us His word, His Spirit, and His Son to overcome our sins. If we truly confess our sins to God He is faithful and just to forgive us. God is waiting for each of us to examine ourselves. We do that by reading His word day and night to discover the person He desires us to be. All of us can go before our God and tell Him how badly we messed things up and truly repent. True repentance means saying you are sorry, asking God for help, and showing the world you are set apart by God to be more like Christ. In many cases, you will feel alone because you choose to say no to the world, but if you truly believe that is what God has asked you to do then He will be your strength and the greatest support system you could ever ask for!

Be blessed today and always.

Love, Joan

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The Christian Family Mountain Retreat (CFMR) ministry is a non-profit organization ordained by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our commission is to reach the lost with the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ and, minister to married couples and families in need of healing and restoring what was lost or stolen in their relationships. All donations are tax deductible. Thank you and God bless you!
CFMR’s Staff: Eric and Joan Bair, Joan E. Bair "Gramma Bair", Marcia Bair , Tim and Tina Miceli, Ralph and Sonya Pagan.