Wonderstruck

Hello Ladies,

My friend, Margaret Feinberg [www.margaretfeinberg.com], has a new book and 7-session Bible Study called Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Nearness of God [www.margaretfeinberg.com/wonderstruck] (releasing Christmas Day)—a personal invitation for you to toss back the covers, climb out of bed, and drink in the fullness of life. Wonderstruck [www.margaretfeinberg.com/wonderstruck] will help you:

·         Recognize the presence of God in the midst of your routine

·         Unearth extraordinary moments on ordinary days

·         Develop a renewed passion for God

·         Identify what’s holding you back in prayer

·         Discover joy in knowing you’re wildly loved 

To learn more, watch the Wonderstruck Promo Video, here: https://vimeo.com/53953257

Follow Margaret’s snarky, funny, and inspirational posts on Twitter [www.twitter.com/mafeinberg], Facebook [www.facebook.com/margaretfeinberg], or her blog [www.margaretfeinberg.com]. You can learn more about this great book by visiting www.margaretfeinberg.com/wonderstruck where she’s offering some crazy promos right now with up to $300 of free stuff. I’ve seen the book for as low as $7.57 ($14.99 retail) on Barnes & Noble [http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wonder-struck-margaret-feinberg/1110904808?ean=9781617950889] for all you savvy shoppers. 

So where have you seen the wonder of God in your life?

Forget Your Inhibitions and Worship

 Oct 28, 2012 01:00 am | Anabel Gillham

 

 

 “Earth is crammed with Heaven. Every bush is aflame with the fire of God, but only those who see take off their shoes [and worship]. The rest just pick the berries.” 1

 

Our Bible teacher seemed set on making me feel very “unspiritual”! Now he was talking about worship and when, and how, and where do we worship. My thoughts? Pretty dogmatic, isn’t he? But his probing started the wheels turning in my mind about my own worship experiences.

 

 My searching led me first of all to some people in the Bible. Let’s think about it. Moses definitely had a fantastic worship experience when he met God in the burning bush. Paul had an incredible experience of worship when he met God on the road to Damascus. Samuel marked the very spot with a stone where he had a worship experience with the Lord and named that stone “Ebenezer”. I think Peter might say, “On the morning when I saw the Lord on the shore and I jumped in the water and ran to His side. That was a great experience of worship for me.” Nebuchadnezzar “raised his eyes toward heaven” and worshipped the Lord when his reason returned to him. Very exciting, memorable events, but David journals many times of worship with the Lord as he was just meditating.

 

 We could probably go on and on and find worship experiences from many different people in a lot of different settings. Which brings this question to mind... Why do we anticipate “worshipping” the Lord on Sunday morning as we sing–as though this was the only time during the week when we are free to worship? Worshipping with others is Biblical, wonderful, and very fulfilling, but I see worship as a very intimate thing, unique and personal for each of us. When everyone else is singing and clapping and raising their hands is it all right for me to whisper, “Oh, Lord. I love You. I know You as my compassionate Friend, my constant Companion, the One who never leaves me and understands everything about me. I worship You.” But there’s no raising of the hands, no swaying with the music, no singing, no dancing. Can this be worship for me?

 

 If I were to ask you to give me your definition of worship, what would you say? I would define worship as a personal encounter with God and I think we limit our worship for Him and with Him when we designate a special time set aside for “worship” and have these great expectations for burning bushes, Ebenezer’s, and soaring emotions. He is with us constantly, not only around us but IN us–as close as the air on the outside as we gulp it and take it to the inside! We can’t get away from Him! Every moment spent in His presence can be worship, acknowledging His awesome nature. He and I are together and I am awed being in His presence. Yes, there are special times when He seems closer, more real, more a part of my infinitesimally small world. I love to “worship” the Lord when I’m sitting in the swing out in the screened-in “Summer House”

 

Submitted By – Lynn Moore

 

          A Mother’s Prayers

 

Acts 1:1–14

 

Monica never stopped praying for her son. She had raised Augustine in the Christian faith in their small town in Algeria, but when he was a teenager the family moved to Carthage in North Africa. Possessed of a brilliant intellect and an even stronger will, Augustine rejected his mother’s faith and instead chose a life in pursuit of immorality. In his autobiographical book Confessions, Augustine spoke of his years of debauchery: “Years passed, in which I wallowed in the mire of that deep pit, and the darkness of falsehood . . . All which time that chaste, godly and sober widow . . . ceased not at all hours of her devotions to bewail my case unto You. And her prayers entered into Your presence.”

 

Three hundred years before the birth of Augustine, we can only imagine how another mother labored in prayer for her children. In addition to Jesus, her firstborn, Mary of Nazareth had several other children. And yet their family was spiritually divided. John’s Gospel clearly tells us that “even his own brothers did not believe in him” (John 7:5). The skepticism of her younger sons toward their elder half brother must have pierced Mary’s heart.

 

The black Friday when her oldest son hung on a Roman cross had to be the worst day of Mary’s life. And the Sunday when he rose again was the very best. Among those to whom Christ appeared after his resurrection was his brother James. We don’t need to know the words that passed between them. It’s enough to know that when the disciples and the women gathered to pray in the upper room following Jesus’ ascension into heaven, Mary was among them. And her other sons were with her! Praying. The One they had rejected in life was the One in whom they now placed their faith for eternity.

 

Monica’s prodigal son Augustine became one of the most famously devout fourth-century Christians: the Bishop of Hippo. The Confessions of St. Augustine is a classic of the Christian faith. Mary’s son James became leader of the church in Jerusalem and wrote the New Testament book that bears his name.

 

Do you have children, grandchildren or children whom you love—related to you or not—who have turned away from God? Years may pass without any apparent external change. But heaven hears your loving intercession on their behalf. Take heart! God hears your prayers for your children.

 

Reflection

Speculate on why it wasn’t until the resurrection that Jesus’ brothers believed he was who he said he was.

If you have a prodigal or know a prodigal, how does this devotional offer you hope?

Spend some time praying for those who have walked away from the faith of their mothers. Ask God to hear your prayers and bring the straying children home.

 

Acts 1:14

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

 

Related Readings

Matthew 18:12–14; Luke 15:11–32; 2 Timothy 1:5–7

 

Submitted by Vicki Birch

Fall Bible Studies

Hello Ladies!  

Please be sure to sign up for your Fall Bible Studies after church next Sunday.  We have three great choices and several dates and times to choose from.  Here is a brief description of the studies.  I hope to see you at one!

Tour of Duty will be offered as an E-study so you can complete it in the comfort of your own home and on your time. 

Tour of Duty: Preparing Our Hearts for Deployment - Member Book is a Bible study for Military Wives. Participants will join together with others who have a common thread—husbands who are being or have been deployed. This study helps wives deal with the emotional twists and turns they may not be ready to face. It will point them to God, and participants will learn how to lean on God and not carry so much of the weight that is so often placed on them. These women will learn to practically find their hope in Christ alone.
Military families like to be prepared—they plan, they strategize, they organize. But whether they're active, National Guard, or Reserve, when deployment comes, all the planning in the world can still fail when it comes to their hearts.
Tour Of Duty is an excellent starting point for military wives to get connected with others in the military community who share this common thread. Women facing deployment can learn how to lean on God and come out of it confident in the knowledge that God is with them, He loves them, and He has not abandoned them.



MOTHERHOOD 101. As mothers, we're to train our children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6.) But exactly how do we train our children? And who trains us? Train Up a Mom provides moms with the guidance they need for training themselves in godliness. Drawing on the material she has developed from more than thirty years of raising her own children and ministering to other moms, Vollie Sanders teaches mothers: 1) What it really means to train up a child 2) How to claim God's promises for your children 3) Practical ways to affirm your child's unique personality 4) How to be a godly mother even when your kids aren't turning out as planned 5) How to recognize life experiences as training for motherhood 6) Ways to study your children by comparing them with biblical characters 7) And much more! Ideal for women's groups or small-group Bible studies, Train Up a Mom helps mothers focus on God and entrust Him with the lives of their children.       



Now Available! Beth Moore's Latest Video-Driven Bible StudyBible scholars compare James to the prophet Amos. In other ways James more closely resembles the Book of Proverbs than any New Testament book. Come along with Beth Moore on a journey to get to know both the man and the Book of James. You will never be the same again.
Topics in this study include: joy, hardship, faith, reversal of fortunes for rich and poor, wisdom, gifts from above, single-mindedness, the dangers of the tongue, humility, and prayer. Plus, Beth introduces a 5-tiered study approach that she has never done before.

The Little Things

 

Little things can set our minds on a negative journey:

 

- One bad conversation with a person

- The feeling that we are being judged

- Guilt that we aren’t doing as much as we feel we should be

- Missed expectations or poor results

- The stress associated with a demanding workload or life

 

These thoughts and feelings can cloud our judgment, make us devalue our worth, or even miss out on opportunities to be present among others.

 

Let’s face it, we all have less than best experiences.  But we can’t let our past hold us back from engaging others and making sure we apply a fresh attitude and positive “Christ-Centered” energy to our interpersonal interactions.

 

So, what do we do?

 

First, the next time you have a negative thought cross your mind, acknowledge that it is just a thought.  Treat it like spam mail and send it straight to your mental junk folder.  Then, have a moment of appreciation.  Remind yourself of how God has allowed you to have significant successes and how they shaped you as a person.  It’s important to remember that your most significant successes often can be overshadowed by small moments of self doubt.  Finally, tell yourself that you are living in the present and going to focus on the opportunity right in front of you, which might just be a priority relationship (like a family member), a new project, or a new adventure (or calling) that will help you continue down your path toward “God” success.

 

Being mindful is the practice of removing judgments from your internal dialogue so you can focus on the moment at hand. 

 

God Bless,

 

Vickie Birch

 

Adapted from Leadership Moments by leadstar.

 

 June 10th- Chris Tomlin

June 24th- Third Day

Concerts will take place at Royal Palace Theatre at 7 pm and all concerts are free for park guests.

Book Review-The Corruptible

The Corruptible is the second book in the Night Watchman series, written by Mark Mynheir. This is a funny, fast-paced novel from an author that has been there, serving over 20 years in law enforcement. When you read this it will be the details that jump off of every page that make this world come alive to you. The characters are witty and easy to identify with. It was refreshing to read such a down to earth novel about human nature and the choices we make.

This is the only book in the series that I have had the pleasure to read and I must say that I was able to follow the story plot with ease even though I did not read the one’s leading up to this one. I really enjoy books with a lot of dialogue and that are fast paced, this met both. If you have read any of Nelson Demille’s books and enjoyed them, you will enjoy this book as well. I would recommend this book to you if you want to get lost in a police-crime novel that is chock full of details.

I received this book free from the publisher through the Waterbrook Press book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.



Hello Ladies,

I thought this a great letter to share with you...

Family Peace

My Daughter,

Family is a Gift from Me, but sadly sometimes your greatest fight may be with your family. I want you to remember that no one is perfect. People will say things that hurt you or make you angry. When this happens, I want you to come to Me and pray--then I want you to forgive those who have hurt you just like I forgive you when you make mistakes.

My precious girl, don't let anyone keep you from being kind and strong in your faith. Show love, honor, and respect to your parents and family, and I will bless you with special things I long to give you for obeying Me.

Love,

Your Daddy in Heaven
~

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,
live at peace with everyone."

~Romans 12:18 (NIV)~

________________________________________

from His Princess, Girl Talk with God


by Sheri Rose Shepherd


Read and comment at HisPrincess.com

Community Events



Seal of God by Chad Williams and David Thomas is a must read for all! I had a hard time putting this book down and I highly recommend it to you. I could not put it down due to the amount of graphic detail about SEAL training and my awe for these young men who defend our freedom. More than that, I couldn’t put it down because I saw so much of what we each encounter in our walks with God through Chad and his life. We rebel, we fight back, we go down the wrong path, but God is always there to help us get back on the straight and narrow path.


If you think watching GI Jane or similar movies could show you what SEAL training is like, think again! Read this book and get a closer look at what our most elite fighting force really does go through to earn the reputation and the honor that they have.

If you are in the military, be ready to at times wonder why Chad shares some of the details about training and his team that de does in this book. You may even question if it is ok that he did. I know that I questioned some of his comments and some of the events that he shared about his time in the service. Please keep in mind that for him to truly share his testimony with the world, and for its impact to be real, we each needed to see what it is like to bare the cross that comes with following Jesus.

I received this book from Tyndale for review purposes and I am very glad that I had that opportunity. What an impact this book has made on me and will continue to make on others. Enjoy!

Pray In The Battle

I know Lord I don’t always try

And sometimes I don’t even care

I often let the worries of this world

Become a heavy burden to bear

I know at times I do not react

The way that I know I should

Instead my feelings rule my tongue

And I’m often misunderstood

I get so sick of constantly repeating

The same failures day after day

I feel so worn down by the constant battle

Maybe I should give up and ‘Pray’

Does this sound at all familiar?

Are life’s hassles wearing you out?

Do you remember to stop and pray?

So faith can replace your doubt

God never said that it would be easy

But He did say He’d always be there

We need to stop battling on our own

And give it over in prayer

Prayer is so needful in our lives

Constantly, throughout the day

When we are faced with spiritual battles

We should never forget to pray

It’s so important to commit each day

Into the care of the Lord

So we can walk more victoriously

Than how we had walked before

The enemy tries to get a foothold

In every little way he can

We must be aware of his evil tactics

And refuse to give in to his plans

For we have Christ Jesus in our lives

And the power to overcome

As we keep praying and standing firm

All our battles shall be won

© By M.S.Lowndes

Beckon

Welcome to the town of Beckon, where three souls are drawn in a search for answers to questions that at first glance do not seem related. In Beckon, no one is there by chance!
Three separate storylines are interwoven for a surprising conclusion that will leave you thinking about it long after you have finished the book.This is a fast paced read that will be hard for you to put down, and will most likely cause you to read all night long. I thoroughly enjoyed this well written and graphic book as it was easy to visualize everything that the author was describing. Tom Pawlik's writing style is highly unique and entertaining. His imagination leaves us with just enough room to wonder if this could really happen. If you are looking to compare his style before purchasing, I would suggest that his work is similar to Frank Peretti or Ted Dekker. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! I received my copy from Tyndale House for review purposes

Hello Ladies,

Each time that a new post is added to this blog an email is generated to the followers. This makes it easy for you to see what has been posted and never miss a post. What you don't see, unless you go to the site, are all the new site updates, music videos, and other great links. So please be sure to go to the site once in a while to see what you might be missing.

If you ever see a post that you really like be sure to share it with your friends via email, Twitter, or Facebook.

Heart to Heart blog

2012 Winter Jam 2012 Tour Spectacular

Thursday, Mar 15 2012, 7:00 PM

Featuring: Skillet, Sanctus Real, Peter Furler, Kari Jobe, NewSong, Building 429, Group 1 Crew, Dara Maclean, We As Human, For King & Country, Brock Gill, Speaker Nick Hall

Show Time(s): 7:00pm Doors Open: 6:00pm

Scope Arena
201 E Brambleton
Norfolk, VA 23510

Call: 757-664-6464

Title Trakk

If you are looking for a site to find out about new Christian books, music, or movie reviews then you may want to check out TitleTrakk.com. It is a great resource for finding out about the product and the artists.

Enjoy!!

Daily Bible Reading Challenge

What would happen if you read the Bible every day—for an entire year? How would your relationship with God change? How would your life change? You can find out . . . This year, take Nancy Leigh DeMoss’ challenge to read the Bible every day in 2012. We won’t tell you how much to read—just let God speak to you through His Word every day. Because, let’s face it. If you’re not consistently getting solid input from the Word, you’re missing out on God’s best for your life!

Click on the link below to find the site with more information:

click here

Ladies,

I can’t believe we are about to say good bye to January and welcome in February. These next few months are full of ways to help you get Armed and Dangerous. Holding tightly to our goal to help you get armed with God’s word so you become “dangerous” to the world around you, we have a bible study starting in February called When life is Hard by James MacDonald. Check it out at the registration table this Sunday. Childcare will be provided and we look forward to seeing you. We will be offering more bible studies in April including the popular e- study! Look for details coming soon!

We are excited to be able to offer a relationship workshop in March and look forward to the opportunity to address some questions YOU have about relationships. So, if you haven’t turned in your questions, now is the time. Go to the registration table this Sunday and fill out the piece of paper for questions that you may have, so we can start praying over and researching some answers for you. We know how difficult friendships, marriages, family and work relationships can be and we would love to see them grow and prosper for the glory of God. If you know what you would like to ask now, feel free to email me at teresa@sonlightchurch.org.

Ladies, the women’s ministry team and I feel it an honor to help you grow in God’s word and become more like Him every day. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Lastly, if you have a heart to minister to ladies, join us the third Tuesday of every month at the church office. We start at 7pm.

Blessings,
Teresa Bass
Women’s Ministry Leader