Thankful Thursday

This morning I'm thankful for several things, but the one that is sticking in my mind the most is that we have a great Outreach and Education team at church. Everyone on the team put in a lot of effort to make sure everything was completed in time for the Back to School Bash. No one can do something that big without help. Plus, thanks to the many of the people at church came and helped Saturday night. It is great to have a church made up of people who care and are willing to put that care into action. So thanks everyone, but especially thanks Faye, Robyn, Wayne, Virgil and Pastor Jim.

What Next?

It's that time again. We have to pick our next book to study. Some of these were choices last time, but one is a new book by Mary Kassian, the author we're studying now. Take time to vote in the poll at the top right. Here are your choices.


Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs. Women everywhere marvel at those “good girls” in Scripture–Sarah, Mary, Esther–but on most days, that’s not who they see when they look in the mirror. Most women (if they’re honest) see the selfishness of Sapphira or the deception of Delilah. They catch of glimpse of Jezebel’s take-charge pride or Eve’s disastrous disobedience. Like Bathsheba, Herodias, and the rest, today’s modern woman is surrounded by temptations, exhausted by the demands of daily living, and burdened by her own desires.So what’s a good girl to do? Learn from their lives, says beloved humor writer Liz Curtis Higgs, and by God’s grace, choose a better path. In Bad Girls of the Bible, Higgs offers a unique and clear-sighted approach to understanding those “other women” in Scripture, combining a contemporary retelling of their stories with a solid, verse-by-verse study of their mistakes and what lessons women today can learn from them.
$10.75

Victoriously Frazzled by Cindi Wood - This continuation of The Frazzled Female will help any worn out, burned out, and stressed out woman understand the Spirit God has given her. The goal is to lead women into the presence of God—right in the midst of their “frazzledness.” By doing so, women will gradually pull back from confusion and doubt, from fear and self, and allow God’s Spirit to have His way in their lives.
$9.95


Living Your Life as a Beautiful Offering by Angela Thomas - How can an imperfect life with blemishes and scars reflect back to God a true gratefulness for His love? Jesus knows you are not perfect, but He also knows that you are made perfect in Him, if only you will come and surrender to Him daily. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us His compassionate instruction for everyday living and then wraps His teaching with the promise of His blessing. “Jesus wants us to learn to live in a way that reflects the kingdom of God to the world, to live as a woman with a kingdom heart.” $10..95

Knowing God by Name - A Personal Encounter” by Mary Kassian.
God knows your name. Do you know HIS? God is too big, too magnificent for a single name. Consider this: the God whose many names include Creator, Provider, Ruler, and Redeemer wants you to know Him more intimately. Mary Kassian’s new study Knowing God by Name examines dozens and dozens of names of God. This is much more than a Bible study - it’s a personal encounter with an awesome God.
Do you want to know God better? You will, when you get to know him by name! $11.99

What a weekend!

Thanks to everyone's prayers and the work of God, our Back to School Bash was very successful. On Saturday evening at the park, there were more than 100 kids, plus their parents. I counted 100 kids sitting under the pavillion watching the Combat Team. There were others around in the grass, on the playground, etc. And (drum roll, please) less than 25 of those were our regular kids. So more than 75 kids we didn't know heard about God Saturday night and had an evening of great fun. Their parents heard, too.

Then Sunday morning there was one mother and boy from Saturday night who came to Sunday School and church. And, our own people came and supported. There were about 160 people there! Remember to tell God how awesome He is for helping us touch those people's lives and introduce them to God.

Plus...thank you for praying.

Back to School Bash

Be praying without ceasing for the next 48 hours for the events surrounding our Back 2 School Bash. The Combat Team performed for Valley and Centennial Elementaries today and were absolutely awesome. The kids loved them. And the team invited them all to come see much more tomorrow evening at 5 at Wild Horse Park. Pray they will come. Pray for the team as they perform so they will not be injured. But more importantly, pray that their message of salvation will reach children and adults! Then pray for Sunday morning. We need the people who come Saturday night to come back Sunday...and more to be saved. PRAY.

Also pray for Wayne and Judy as they travel to Michigan to be with their daughter next week. Pray for safe travel for them. Pray for their daughter-in-law Meredith's uncle who is near death and not saved.

Pray for each other.

Double Thursday

Today I'm thankful for Double Thursday at Incredible Pizza. I didn't know it existed until I went in to get a $50 gift card as a prize drawing for the Back 2 School Bash. But because of Double Thursday, the $50 turned into a $100 gift card to give to some lucky child!!

And from Faye...

"I am thankful for all your prayers for the food pantry - Pastor Jim had to tell two people yesterday that we had no food for them. This morning someone made a really amazing donation and WE NOW HAVE 5 BOXES OF FOOD!!! God is so good - He answers prayers, touches hearts to give and help others, and gives us the gift of seeing His grace and awesome power. I am so humbly thankful for His infinite wisdom in using us at the right time and in the right way. I am also thankful for each and everyone of you - please say a prayer tonight for the person who so selflessly gave today - that God may bless them always. "

What are you thankful for today?

Pray for Donna C.

Donna will begin a another series of shots in her neck tomorrow at noon. Pray for her during the procedure, but also pray that the shots will give you relief from the pain in her neck. Remember we prayed about this last week and she didn't think she would get to have them for another month or so. But she is getting the first one this week. God answers prayer.

The P-48 Test

In her book, Mary Kassian offers a P-48 Test to make sure we are sowing God's seed or and not other seed. She says Philipians 4:8 provides a filter we can use to judge whether or not the seed is from him. It tests the goodness of your thoughts, believes and words. She suggests that we read that verse, then put our thoughts, believes and words to the Preplant Test.
"P URE: Do I have the right heart motivation? Are my motives pure? Are my thoughts and words holy?
R IGHT: Is this proper and appropriate? Is it in conformity with God's standards and principles? Does it build?
E XCELLENT: Is this of the highest quality? Is it the best--and not just adequate?
P RAISEWORTHY: Is It commendable? Am I proud of the way I am thinking/speaking? More importantly, is God proud of me?
L OVELY: Does it Have a beauty that appeals to the heart? Does it mirror the bgeauty and gentleness of Jesus?
A DMIRABLE: Is it worth of being respected and admired? Would others recommend it?
N OBLE: Is it of the highest moral character and superior quality? Is it great and magnificent? Does it demonstrate my position as a child of the King?
T RUE: Is it free of deceit? Does it agree with the Bible's evaluation of the situation? Does it submit to truth?"

Tell Me What You Think

This?

Or This?

I have narrowed it down to two choices on how I can keep from saying sarcastic things. I can put a zipper on my mouth or I can stick safety pins through my lips. However, I am a little worried that there is some room for movement with the pins. I think I could still utter a few things. But on the other hand, I would have to restrain myself to keep from unzipping the zipper. So, maybe neither way would really work. Do you have a better idea?

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm very thankful for our Girlfriends Bible Study. Last night was an awesome session. Everyone really got into the discussions and I learned a lot from all of you. I appreciate every one of you who take the time to study and then the time to come and participate. I believe God is blessing our group and you are all the reason for that. Thanks to everyone of you for blessing my life.

Pointy Toe Results

Five of you voted on the Pointy Toe Pumps poll. Two of you already have a pair of them and wear them. Bravo for you! But, three of us said "Never in a million years." Personally, I don't want to break an arm or leg, or even my neck, if I wore them and fell. Thanks for participating.

Test Your Soil

Hopefully you've been doing each lesson this week. Have you tested your soil yet? Do you know what kind of soil your heart has? If you have a hard heart, ask God to plow the hardness and soften your heart to be transformed by his Word. If you have a rocky soil heart, count the cost of following Christ and ask God to plow deeper and make your faith real and fruitful. If you have a thorny soil heart, repent from letting the distractions in life keep you from keeping your conversation right. I'm thinking that studying His word at least five days a week like we are in this book, will help us to keep our soil plowed. Prayer will also help. So keep studying his word and praying. Let's get our hearts to the point that our hearts will let our conversations show love and respect.

What's In Your Heart?

Okay. Today's lesson really stabbed me. I know that what I say reflects my attitude and thoughts. But I had not stopped to really consider the part about what I say comes from what is in my heart. I have some repenting to do. I hope somebody else in Girlfriends feels the same way I do, cause I hate being the only one so stepped on! Help me work on me. Pray that I will think more about what my words are doing before I utter them. I'm thinking of the "What's in Your Wallet?" commercials. Change it to What's in Your Heart? Examine your heart and join me in praying that our hearts will be pure and obedient to God.

Thankful Thursday

What am I thankful for today? Well, it's a material thing and I know we should probably be more spiritual than that. But simply put I am very thankful for air conditioning in my home with the 100 + temperatures! I spent time as a child in homes without ac and didn't have a real problem. But, we are so pampered in today's world, that I would hate to live without it. What are you thankful for? Click on comments below and add your note. Have a good Thursday.

Pray for Tomorrow Night

We have our first session on Conversation peace tomorrow night. Let's pray all day tomorrow that we will let God lead us in this study and make a difference in our lives. OK? See you tomorrow night at 6:20

Pointy Toe Pumps

They're back. Pointy Toe Pumps is what they're calling them now. But I can remember wearing them in high school and college, even some after that. Are we really ready to trade in our flip flops for these six-inch pencil-thin heels with the sharp point on the toe? I'm afraid I'd have to have an extra clause on my health insurance policy to cover the broken bones I'd have today if I tried to wear them. How about you? Will you get a pair? Do you already have a pair? Vote in this week's poll and let us know what you'll probably do.