Have you ever been taken by surprise?

My family and I just returned from a 10-day visit to my beautiful country of origin, Guatemala.  We had such an incredible time!  We attended my baby brother’s wedding, spent time with friends and family, and got to eat lots of amazingly delicious meals.

Jealous?  Read on…

One week before we left, my mom asked if I would be willing to speak at her Women’s Bible Study.  Though at the time I felt overwhelmed with work and the trip’s preparations, I agreed to consider her request.  Later I remembered I still had my notes from a teaching I had done last year on the subject of Joy. 

So I packed my clothes, my notes and my courage and I left with my family for Guatemala.

From the moment my feet stepped inside the plane, God’s peace filled my heart to overflow.  My usually neurotic, hyperventilated self was quite tamer, and I found it easier to relax and enjoy all the happiness (and great food!) our visit had to offer.

Wednesday night, the night before my teaching, Evy, the Ministry’s Director called me on the phone to pray for next day’s event.  She felt led to share the following Scripture with me, which touched and encouraged me deeply:

Isaiah 40:31, But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Thursday’s event went great.  I was calm, cool and collected – you girls would’ve been so proud!  (I know my mom was.)  Afterward, during ministry time, the Holy Spirit moved mightily, vividly touching women’s hearts.  I stood in awe, thrilled to see God at work, knowing this had NOTHING to do with me.  It was all Him.

Keep reading girls; there’s more…

So, we were all done with the meeting, hugging and kissing good-bye like the good Latinos we are, when the Ministry’s Director comes to me and tells me she and her husband conduct this Saturday morning radio program and asks me (ME!!!) if I want to be their guest at the program this coming Saturday.

“The microphone will be all yours, Ana,” Evy said easily with a smile, as if being on radio is the as normal as chewing on a tortilla.

Those of you who know me well can attest to the fact that I’m a microphone lover but not the bravest gal in town.  So you can only imagine how tempting, yet scary that invitation was.  I decided to kick fear in the rear, since it rhymes and I love poetry as much as I love the limelight, and I accepted Evy’s invite.  Oh, what an incredible experience that was!

On Sunday, My brother’s wedding ceremony was lovely, very emotional and FUN!  I danced so much, my left hip is still sore (Ron and I need to get out more often).  Even the plane ride back to Arizona was pleasant!  As we drove home from the airport, I shook my head, perplexed by everything that took place during our vacation.

The deal is, the last couple of years had been REALLY hard for my family and me.  We’ve faced lots of changes, in many areas.  And change is seldom easy or pleasant.  For the longest time, I asked the Lord to give me a break.  And then, out of the blue, He dumps this BLESSING on my lap and—even better—I am able to enjoy it!

I am truly in awe of God’s goodness and faithfulness, and I feel renewed and encouraged to keep praying and believing.  He does hear my heart’s cry… and yours.

My oldest son Josh played offensive line on his football team when he was younger. Solid and strong, Josh’s job on the line was to hold the defensive line back long enough for the quarterback to do his job. The offensive line isn’t the most glamorous job on the field, but when they don’t do their job well, everyone is quick to see. Normally, these steadfast men hold firm, protecting their guy.

Sitting at the practices night after night, I noticed a common issue among these novice players on the field. They often stopped blocking too soon. Shouts of “Block ‘til the whistle blows!” filled the sweaty September night, and time and time again the tired players lined back up and tried again.

The boys knew what they were supposed to do, but often gave up when they thought the play was over. Sometimes they gave up because holding back a powerful defensive player was tiring. Unfortunately, the play wasn’t over until the coach or referee blew the whistle. Until that whistle blew, anything could happen.

The parallel to our prayer lives is astounding. Too often, I have given up praying about a concern, believing the play to be over. Perhaps I think God answered “no” when I don’t see an answer in my timeline. Sometimes I see things with human eyes, and give up too soon. I wonder how many times we’ve stopped praying just shy of experiencing healing, freedom from addiction or salvation in someone we love. I’m thankful my family and I never stopped praying about my dad’s salvation. He came to Christ two weeks before he died.

Just as my son learned to block until the whistle blows, may we be encouraged to pray until the trumpet blows, revealing that Jesus has returned to earth. In other words – never give up!

In His Love,
Glynnis
www.glynniswhitwer.com

One of the things that attracted me to the Vineyard movement was the fact that people seemed “real.”  They seemed authentic and not phony.  If you were having a bad day, you didn’t have to say, “Praise God.  Everything is wonderful!”  If you prayed for someone to be healed and they were not healed, you did not try to “hype up” what was happening.  Being “real” is a great value.

I still love this about the Vineyard.  I love that God attracts what seem to be “real women” living “real lives.”  I think this is because we have a “real God!”

The Bible is filled with stories of people who messed up.  David committed adultery and murder. Paul used to persecute Christians.  Miriam spoke out negatively about her brother when she shouldn’t have. Their weaknesses give the rest of us hope that we don’t somehow have to be the perfect Christian. 

God will work in us, through us, and for us.  He works in the lives of ordinary people with weaknesses, flaws and problems.  I think of myself as a very ordinary person.  In high school, I was not a cheerleader or a star athlete.  I was in the marching band.  I grew up in a small town and I don’t have an earth shaking testimony.  I feel like a very ordinary person and I know God loves to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things.  God loves and wants to use all of us.

Jody Kingston, our Children’s pastor, used to be agoraphobic and could hardly leave her home.  Now she is an amazing leader of hundreds of people.  I know many people who had alcoholic parents who have pushed through the baggage of their families to make extraordinary differences in the lives of others.

I encourage you to jump into ministry at the Vineyard.  See how God will take your very real life and your unique circumstances, and what extraordinary things He will do in and through you!

This past Saturday I took my son to an outreach downtown. He was asked to minister to a crowd of hurting people thru a song the Lord had given him. While I listened to my son sing this song “Lord I need your help” tears began to flow from my heart. His voice reached the people as they walked up and down the street. I was amazed to see how the Lord was using this young vessel to call His children to Himself! The crowd gathered around clapping their hands and praising God. Some people came up for prayer while others stood back and listened to the lyrics with their hands lifted to the sky. Although many of them would probbly never walk into a church setting because they were dirty, some drunk, and one appeared to be on drugs; It was awesome to see God take church to the that little street corner. The Lord reminded me that we are the church. The church is not the four walls that surround us on Sunday.God will use anyone who says “here I am Lord send me” even a fourteen year old! People matter to God and they should matter to us. Sometimes we get so comfortable with our lives that we forget to reach out to the poor,the lost, and the hurting. It is so important that we pray for the Lord to give us a heart for His people. We should take time to look for oppurtunities to share about God’s love,mercy,grace, and compassion.God has done so much for us. We all have a story to tell and we never know who needs to hear it. Oh, how good God has been to me!! So,I remember all that He has done for me on this journey, and I look forward to all that He will do still. When is the last time told someone about how good God has been you?

Love,

Eva

We live in economic times we’ve not seen for quite some time, which is kind of  scary. One of the scariest parts is not knowing how my family’s and my needs will be met.  While I have no real idea where our economy is headed, I know someone who does; our Lord Jesus. I have found in any uncertain time the best plan is to trust God. Matthew 6:25-26 says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable then they?”NIV

Did you see that last part? “Are you not much more valuable then they?” Jesus says this to you today, that you are valuable and He will care for you. But you may wonder how that works or think, “What do I need to do?” The answer is a few verses later in Mathew 6:33 which says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”NIV

I have seen this in my own life. I few years ago I found myself in a very tight financial situation. I realized I did not have enough money to pay my bills each month; a very scary situation. I found myself engrossed and focusing on my money problems and hording my money and not giving as freely as I felt God wanted me to. I still gave my tithe to the church but not a penny more. Also, when opportunities to give that weren’t even costly, I would pass. After a while I realized I needed to do all I could to correct my situation, but I also needed to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Part of that was my relationship with Jesus.  Even more for me, was responding to those urging to help when it was not detrimental, and trusting that God would take care of me too.

Another thing I have learned through this process is what is really important and brings joy to me. It’s slightly different for each of us - other than our relationship with Jesus. I have found I really enjoy spending time with family, or friends, watching a good movie with one of my cats on my lap or helping someone with their accounting, personal finances or even taxes. So I would encourage you to use this as a time to evaluate what is worth spending your hard earned money on. Trust God to take care of those needs where we don’t see how it will ever work out. God is bigger than whatever is in your future, and He’s crazy about you!

I’d love to hear what you’ve found is really important in your life and brings you joy.

Blessings,

Susan

As we start a new semester of small groups, it’s easy to get excited. I’ve always loved the start of something new. When I was younger, I started clubs in the neighborhood. I would make up folders for everyone in the club, filled with lined notebook paper so they could take notes at our meetings. I assigned everyone a role, with me always being the president.

I would make up a clubhouse somewhere, and we would start off with a bang. Once there was the Good Deed Club and once there was the Flower Club.

What I don’t remember is those clubs lasting more than a week. Now that was partly because I was soon on to the next project. But it was mostly, I’m sure, because my friends and little sister got tired of me always being the boss. I had lots to learn about leadership, but back then, I was happy to start something new and be in charge.

I have great intentions, but follow through has been a weak point of mine. Jesus, on the other hand, modeled finishing well. The passage in John chapter 4 tells about Jesus speaking with the woman at the well. After Jesus’ time in the village, the disciples rejoined Him and urged Him to eat. Jesus replied by telling them He had food they didn’t know about. He added that it was do the will of God and to finish His work.

We know from reading the gospels that Jesus finished God’s work in spite of hardship, persecution, physical torture and an agonizing death. We have eternal life because Jesus finished well. We have the opportunity to finish well when God calls us to obey. Here’s an example of finishing well.

Let’s say you get a call from a friend whose beloved husband has just passed away. Here are three ways you can respond to this tragedy in your friend’s life.

The first is good. You can send her a card, letting her know you are praying for her. You can attend the funeral.

The second is better. You can do the above, but you also offer to watch your friend’s children, and you organize a week’s worth of meals.

The third exemplifies finishing well. You can do all of the above, but you also offer to help your friend when she has to sort through her husband’s clothes and belongings. You go with her to the mortuary or to meet with the pastor to plan his funeral. In a few months when everyone else has moved on with their lives, you remember your hurting friend and you connect with her throughout the coming years.

It’s hard to finish well. Life goes on. Other demands arise on your time. You get bored with your current responsibilities. Things get tough.

Yet God calls us to finish well, and Jesus modeled it. Sometimes finishing well means getting your hands dirty in life. Sometimes it means walking through someone else’s valley of the shadow of death. But finishing well always means pleasing the Lord with your commitment and obedience. At the start of this new small group semester, may we all “finish well” in our commitments and in our relationships with others.

In Christ’s love,
Glynnis

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.” John 4:34

That is what was on the top of my son’s head.   It looked horrible.  I could show you a picture, but we were taking our camera in to see how much it would cost to fix, when Luke fell from a stool all the way to the floor and cut his head on a bottom shelf at the Ritz camera store. There was so much blood that Luke and our daughter Zoe both began crying loudly.  I was gasping and trying to tell my husband that I thought his head looked flatter in the back than normal (without Luke hearing).  My husband was trying to get all of us to “dial down” and to press towels on the back of Luke’s head in order to stop the bleeding.  We went to a close Urgent Care facility and they sent us to a children’s hospital. A few hours later, Luke was sporting what will probably be quite a scar on his head.  Maybe his hair will completely cover it—which would be great—unless he ends up being one of those guys who shaves his head and I’ll probably always feel guilty every time I see that scar.

When Luke was in the emergency room with two nurses holding him down while the doctor cleaned the wound and put in the staples, he was crying out to me, “Mommy.  Help me.  Mommy, help me!”  I was crying too.  It made me think how horrible it would have been for God the Father to see the torment Christ went through on the cross—the beatings, the lashes, the effort to breathe while nailed to the cross. How could you even see your own son like that!?  That makes me cry too.  God has been through so much!

This I know.  We have a God who sees us through.  He is there for us and hurts with us when we hurt.  He is a good father.

Here at the Vineyard, we are real women living everyday life with a real God to help us, and I know I couldn’t make it without Him.  Life is just too complex.

Bless you as you live this day! (And remember not to let you children sit on stools in cameras stores.)

 Thora

Since this past weekend was the small group fair, I have been reflecting on memories of small groups I’ve been a part of at Vineyard North Phoenix. Small groups are one thing I love about our church. There are so many different kinds to choose from and times to meet. Over the years here I’ve been a part of a number of groups and have made many dear friends. I’ve also had the opportunity to serve as a leader.

When I first came to the Vineyard I was a little intimidated by how “together” everyone seemed to be and on top of their walk with Jesus. But I was also intrigued and challenged by it. So when a friend invited me to a Women’s Care group, I went. I really enjoyed it and was drawn to the closeness the ladies seemed to have with each other. I really experienced the presence of God in the group. I decided attending one group twice a month wasn’t enough, so I joined a second Women’s Care group that met on the other two weeks. I loved both of the groups. But it was in this second group that God began to show me something amazing about leaders. They aren’t perfect! And it’s ok to share that with your group. I had been a leader in my previous church and I thought I could never be good enough to be a leader here. After all, I didn’t have it all together. One week my leader shared she was struggling with something and would like prayer. I don’t recall the details but it seems it wasn’t a huge thing. Wow! She wasn’t perfect and she admitted it to us. That was new to me. What a different approach from trying to appear as if you are perfect on the outside, but crying inside. I began to realize I didn’t have to be perfect to be a leader. It was and is about having my heart in the right place and pursuing Jesus.

Even though I knew that truth in my head, it was still hard to practice. A few years later I was reminded of this again after I had become a small group leader and was still trying to be the “perfect leader”. Something had happened, and I knew I needed to ask my Care Group to pray for me. I prefaced what I said with something like, “I don’t want you guys to think I’m not perfect but…” And a lady in the group; a dear friend said “Susan we all know you’re not perfect.” I was shocked. I thought I had done a good job of pretending to be perfect and having it all together. I had been found out. Well, God used that experience to open up my heart. I knew I wanted to always be open and transparent with my group. I know I’m not perfect and don’t even try to be. I do my best to follow God’s leading and get prayer when I need it from my group or other friends. I still fail at times but I know my heart is in the right place and growing closer and more open to Him every day. The truth is, the “perfect” small group leader is simply an imperfect person, following a perfect God.

Blessings,

Susan

The other day a young friend taught me a lesson, a good and valuable lesson.  Two weeks earlier, she had shared with me how discouraged and overwhelmed she was feeling.   Trying to juggle her career with a new baby, the financial responsibilities of the home she and her husband had just purchased, plus a very stressful situation regarding her extended family left her feeling depressed, tired and weighed down.

I had been thinking about my friend, so I decided to give her a call.  Much to my delight, she sounded happy and upbeat—just like her old self—even though circumstances hadn’t changed one bit. 

“You know, Ana,” she said on the phone, “after we prayed the other day, I felt so much better.  I was reminded that my emotions work like a thermometer.  When I am at peace, I am ok.  But when my emotions are high and seem out of control, something else is wrong.  And it has little to do with my circumstances.  So I have to ask myself, ‘What is really going on here?’  The culprit is usually my heart.”

This is so true!  When my heart is not in the right place, I can’t seem to handle whatever life throws my way.  And like a ship without oars, my heart tends to drift away when I neglect my relationship with God.

I had called to encourage my friend, but instead she encouraged me.  So now, when I start feeling restless, impatient, irritable or disheartened, her words shed light on my feelings.  My emotions are my heart’s thermometer!  

It takes courage to ask oneself, What does this emotional “fever” reflect?   A lack of trust or perhaps misplaced trust?  Emotional or physical fatigue?  Not enough time spent alone with God or in His Word?

Whatever the answer, I’ve decided to heed to it.  I want the Lord—not my emotions—to rule and to have their way in my life.

Ana

Some of you might know that I’m a backup singer on the worship band.  I used to sing only at the 8:30 service, but you’ve probably noticed that the bands now rotate.  So you’ll see me every third Sunday (unless I’m on vacation or speaking somewhere)

Most singers don’t dream about doing backup vocals.  Neither did I.  As a child, I was the one pretending a hairbrush was a microphone, singing with my favorite band playing on the record album, and imaging the day they would call me on stage and introduce me as their new lead singer.   That was my dream.  Not doing backup harmonies.

It’s amazing how God redirected my life.  Now, I wouldn’t trade my place in the shadows of the stage for the promise of a record contract.  Why?  It’s in the role of a backup singer that I’ve learned spiritual lessons that have impacted my life far beyond a 20-minute worship segment on Sunday morning.

When we lead worship, I’m always listening to the leader’s voice, and then choosing the right note to create harmony.  Where the leader’s voice goes, mine follows.  On the occasion the leader ad-libs at the last minute, and deviates from the melody, my job is to stop singing until I can find the right harmony.  If I insisted on singing the notes I believe I “should” be singing, I’d create disharmony that would distract the congregation from their worship.

As a backup singer, I am not to draw attention to myself.  It’s not the time to try out a fancy new vocal move, or add some dramatic vibrato.  Harmony is not the lead, it’s the soft support that should enhance the leader’s voice, and allow those singing to follow the leader, not me.

That’s what God is calling me to do in my personal life too.  I’m to listen to the quiet voice of God speaking to me through the Scriptures and prayer, and then to choose to live my life in harmony to that voice.  I am not to live a life that draws attention to myself as someone worthy of following.  But instead to live so that others are drawn to Christ. 

I’ve learned a lot from being a backup singer.  Being alert to what God is doing in and around me, then choosing to bring harmony rather than discord, is a valuable lesson.

In His Love,

Glynnis

Visit my blog at www.GlynnisWhitwer.com