Procrastination

For months I've been thinking to myself "I need to update our blog...." Today, I am filled with great shame and humility when I realize I haven't updated it since JUNE! Much has happened since then. God is doing incredible things among the women of our church. I am continually in awe of His power and might, His incredible faithfulness and glory. How He continues to move among us, tearing down walls, transforming our hearts, and binding our lives together. God is good, even when we are not. God is faithful..... He never leaves us, He never fails us....even in the midst of our procrastination.
Let's press in together, seek after Him and find that He's everything we are looking for!

Jennifer

Summertime!

School's out and we are ready for some summer fun! I love to see summer through the eyes of my kids.....sleeping in, swimming pools, waterparks, sleepovers....three months of endless fun! Life has seemed a little overwhelming lately - so full and busy - decisions to make, plans to work through....Yet, today it all faded away as we put on the sunscreen and headed to the pool. I hope you'll take some time to slow down, get out your sunglasses, read a great book, put on your favorite music, and enjoy a great summer day like you did when you were a kid!

Becoming Like Him

I was asked a question this morning - "How are you becoming more like Christ?" It came up in our weekly staff meeting. We were asked to discuss it with a small group at our table. It was such a hard question to answer... Am I becoming more like Christ? I hope so. What am I doing to become more like Christ? Is there any evidence in my life of Christlikeness? Am I really growing to be more like Him?
It just so happens that today is my son's 4th birthday. He's my youngest. It's hard to believe that my baby is now such an incredible little man. He's changed so much over the last 4 years. It is impossible to miss all of the ways that he is growing. He's smart and funny - very clever for such a little guy. He's learning how to relate with people. He's talking more and more. He's grown more understanding, thoughtful, and compassionate. He's becoming more and more aware of all that is going on around him. I'm so proud of this amazing little guy. He's more like His Daddy every day!
But, what about my life? Have I changed over the last 4 years? Could anyone see a difference in me? Do I look more like Christ than I did a few years ago? Am I growing in my knowledge and understanding of His Word? Am I growing in mercy and compassion? Do I show the world who Christ really is? Does His glory shine forth in my life?
I hope so! All I know, is that I'm going to keep seeking Him. I want to dig into His truth and know Him more and more. I want to give Him every part of my heart and mind so that His will can be done in me. I know there is still MUCH growth that needs to happen in me, but I'll keep seeking, keep surrendering, and trust the Lord to transform me into His image. I can't imagine anything more beautiful!
What about you? Are you becoming more like Him? Let's seek Him together, trusting that He will finish the work He has begun in our lives. What a mighty God we serve!

Thank you!

Thank you to all who participated in February's Essence Event. It was a wonderful night of worship, fellowship, and encouragement. We had a great turn out, about 60 women of all ages and backgrounds. Our next Essence event will be in early summer. Be sure to make plans to attend and bring your friends!

Thank you to Melissa Elliott for leading worship. Thank you to Carrie Johnson for her powerful testimony. Thank you to Kristi Clark for the beautiful decorations. Thank you to Christie Noone for the coffee and snacks. Thank you to Marci Blasi for taking care of our children. Thank you to the entire events team who put everything together so beautifully! What a wonderful night!!!

Essence event coming soon!

Essence is coming! Make plans to join us on Thursday evening, February 28th, at 7 PM in the Connection Cafe. This event will have something for everyone - worship, encouragement, an acoustic mini-concert, coffee, fellowship......and so much more. Our topic - "Finding Fulfillment in Christ." You won't want to miss it!

Worship

I was thinking about worship last night. I look forward to going to church every Sunday. I mean really…I do. My husband and I are in a great ABF class, taught by Joe Thomas. He is a phenomenal teacher, so I know I am going to get fed and I don’t just mean coffee and donuts. We are in the South Loge and we hear the praise team practicing while Joe is teaching. I love music. I love praise music. Sometimes I just want to start singing with them right in the middle of class. One problem…I am very inhibited, shy and I guess embarrassed. I love to sing, not that I am very good at it, but I like it. You would probably never know it by my face, that I love to sing and worship, because I probably look mad or unemotional. I don’t mean to…but I’ve been told, “Don’t look like you want to kill somebody, smile!” I do it without realizing it. So, I really want to change that about myself. I want to feel free to worship, raise my hands or close my eyes…but that fear is there…that I will look silly or be the only one standing while everyone is sitting or people are looking at me, judging me. I look over there at Mike Roberts and he’s just going at it. What freedom he has, I admire that. I see other people worshipping and I do not judge them…I admire them. So, what’s the deal? I remember, one Sunday, my mother-in-law was in church with us. She is Church of Christ, which is a much different kind of worship, and it is a small country church. I was really getting into the music and I lifted one of my hands up in praise and then realized what I did. I automatically opened one eye and realized she was there and pulled my hand down. So silly! I know. Why? Why was I so embarrassed? I do not know. I want to work on that this year though. Sometimes I go in church and I feel so dry. I just don’t feel it. My prayer is, “Lord, cleanse me and help me to feel free to worship you.” I feel like I only get one chance a week at corporate worship and I want it to really count. I asked Melissa Elliott to recommend some worship music to play during my quiet time. She gave me stacks of old CD’s the choir uses. I love them. I turn that music on in my home and clean, fold clothes or cook and I truly have a time of uninhibited, fearless, meaningful worship. There are devotionals on these CD’s by Dan Millheim. He definitely has a gift for this, because they are wonderful. I want more, more, more. I even listen to them in my car. I do not feel inhibited or embarrassed then. Surely people can see me…raising my hands, singing at the top of my lungs. Hmmm, that sounds like a funny site to see. Why can’t we just show up on Sunday and not worry about what people think about us? Just come in and be ready to worship. Well, I think it starts at home…before we ever walk out the door. We should start preparing ourselves for time with God, then, being careful what we listen to on the radio or watch on TV that morning. Make a pact with our spouse that we are going to have a smooth morning…that means getting everything ready the night before, so you are not spending 30 minutes looking for your daughter’s shoes the next morning. Everyone agrees that there will be no yelling or negative feelings expressed. I think this could work…I am going to try it…you should too. Next Sunday, I am going to make a special effort to be prayed up and serious about worshipping Him.

Written by: Beth Ashcraft
Wife and mother of two

You Can Understand!

Do you understand God's Word?

When you sit down to read your Bible, are you able to make sense of it all?

Are you able to grasp all that God is teaching you?

I'm going through Beth Moore's A Woman's Heart study. She shared with us a passage in Luke concerning understanding God's Word. It says "Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." Let this be your prayer, "Lord, open my mind that I might understand your Word."
God wants you to understand. He desires to speak to you through His Word. He does not want His will, His plans, to remain a mystery. I'm so grateful that we have gifted teachers among us who can present God's truth to us with great power and conviction; however, one of the greatest things about God's Word is that it is for everyone. You don't need anyone to repackage His truth so that you can understand. God wants to speak to you directly. Should we still sit under the leadership of godly teachers? Yes, God uses people to express His heart. He uses His people to challenge and encourage us. He speaks through His people. But, He doesn't want you to depend on teachers. He wants you to seek Him for yourself. When you seek Him, you'll find Him. Let's continue seeking Him in His Word and asking Him for greater understanding.