Worshipful Friday

During the summer we are going to switch up what we do on Fridays! We even changed up the Fun Ideas page to be Fun Fridays!

Last week we introduced our Summer of Love Reading Series. So to get us in the loving mode we are giving you permission to take 'a time out'. (I don't know about you but sometimes I just need someone to tell me it is OK to do that!)

When we worship, we are spending time in a love relationship with God. We have provided some videos today to help you slow down and spend time with him. (Believe me you will not want to miss the last one!)

Allow yourself the time to be loved by Him. To dwell in his presence. To see how BIG a God he is! Experience God's presence and continue to love and be loved as you worship him today.

Read the Whole Email

Phil. 4:6  Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.

I have often marveled at the time I waste worrying about things that never even had the possibility of happening.  Has this ever happened to you? 

I received an email at work telling of an upcoming meeting.  I quickly scanned the email to get the details that I needed.  The email stated that if I was a kindergarten teacher I should be sure to read the entire email so I would know what to bring.  To save time and since I am not a kindergarten teacher, I didn’t think it was necessary for me to read further. 

The day before the meeting the weather had the possibility of turning unexpectedly bad with possible snow accumulation and very high winds.  I worried for a day and a half about what I should do about driving the hour to my meeting. 

I considered calling off.  I called a friend and said I might not be there because of the weather and the very long drive.  I prayed earnestly about what to do.  I decided to go, since I was a part of the team representing the school. 

When I got to work, I found out by chance through talking to another colleague that the meeting was not where I thought it was at all.  If I had read the whole email, I would have seen that they had moved the meeting to a much closer place, only 10 minutes away, and by the way, no snow at all that day! 

God tells us not to worry.  But sometimes it is only through lessons such as this one that we come to realize that the sin of our worry is one that never needs to happen, because God really is in control.

Are there little things in your life that you allow to consume your thoughts so that you worry about them instead of giving them to God?  What might you do to change worrisome thoughts into thoughts that please God?

Lisa

We Will Remember

Memorial Day - a day that begins the summer of activities. Picnics, swimming, graduations, weddings, vacations and all the rest! A fun day with friends & family.

But let us take a moment to remember the reason for this holiday. Let us remember those heros who have given their lives so that we can live in freedom. Freedom to worship our God without fear of imprisonment or persecution. Many in the world do not have that privilege - one we sometimes take for granted. But it cost much to have it.  Let us also take time today remember to pray for the families who have lost a father, mother, son or daughter to protect our freedoms. They have given much for us all.

Let us also remember the one who gave the ultimate sacrifice. A sacrifice so big it would save the world. A father who gave his only son as the sacrifice for all.  A son willing to pay that price.  Let us take time today to thank Him for all he has done for us! The ultimate sacrifice for the ultimate gift.

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.  1 John 4:14

Let us remember...

Linda

Summer of Love

We are going to take a little detour on this Fun Friday & give you a 'sneak peek' at the exciting new summer studies! 

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? 
Isaiah 43:19

One of the tenants of Experiencing God is to see where God is working around us & join him in his work. It's his work not ours that is to lead us!

For 7 years we have being doing the same thing when it comes to Bible studies. Not to say it was bad - quite the opposite! Many women were saved, delivered, healed & grew through those studies. But God is showing us he is doing a new thing! We are seeing women who are not connecting.  Many do not understand the love of Christ or their identity in him. Women who need to be freed from bondage. Others who know God is calling them to reach out to the world with his love.  

So where do you fit in this?  Where is God tugging at your heart?

This summer is a time for you to read & whet your appetite so to speak.

3 reading tracks -6 books. You chose. Pick one track or more if you want. Read some from each series if you want. See where God is moving in your life—how is he speaking to you?

This fall there will not be the ‘regular’ fall bible studies come September. In September we will introduce some books to prepare you for the fall retreat - a continuation of the summer themes. It will be at the Fall Retreat (October 26 & 27) where we will launch the fall studies. Sign up will be at the retreat & the following Sunday (November 4th) @ church.  The setting will be small groups—some in homes, some at church.  A group to help you grow, pray for you and do life with you.  We are going to do books & dig into God's word. The groups will meet from November through April. And we will see what God has planned through it all.  

Hop on over to our Bible Study page for more details.  

Are you ready to join him?  See—He is doing a new thing!

Let the summer of love begin!

Bless or Impress?

Several years ago, I was in a Bible study and the author of the book pointed out that often times we try to impress people instead of blessing them.  Even though I don't remember a ton of other things from that study, that little question "Am I trying to bless, or impress?" has stuck with me.  I am a people-pleaser by nature and there are so many times that I catch myself trying to impress people, instead of blessing them.  Often the Lord convicts me by bringing that little phrase to mind . . . "Bless or impress?"  

When I think about what this means in practical life, a few examples come to mind.  I think the main one is my house.  So often when I have someone over, I want to make everything look perfect.  I want to clean up all the toys, and clear out all the dust bunnies, and wash the stack of dishes from last night's dinner.  I want to have a candle burning so it smells nice, worship music playing in the background, and a plate of freshly baked cookies sitting on the counter.  I want everything to be just right.  Could this bless someone?  Sure, it most definitely could.  But as a mom of 4 kids under the age of 9, can I tell you what blesses me even more when I walk into someone else's house?  When there are toys cluttered all over the floor and dishes on the counter and just a little bit of chaos.  When the kids argue a little (or a lot) and the floor needs to be vacuumed and there is a big pile of laundry waiting to be folded.  Because you know what that tells me?  That I am not alone.  That everything doesn't have to be perfect.  And that someone else understands.

The same could be said about the details of our lives.  Could it bless someone to tell them that everything in life is grand, that things are going well, and that life is full of love and joy and peace?  Yes, it certainly could.  But do you know what blesses me even more?  When someone admits to me that they don't have it altogether, that things are not going as they hoped or expected, that life is just plain hard.  Because as someone who struggles with family and my relationship with the Lord and my sin and so much more, it just blesses me to know that I am not alone.  That I don't have to be perfect.  And that someone else understands.

Life is messy, in more ways than one.  Can I encourage you with something today?  You don't have to be perfect.  If you find yourself trying to impress someone else, think about what might bless them instead.  Your imperfection might be exactly what they need to see.

Stephanie