Ever have one of those days?  Weeks?  Months?  Probably not.  Your life is probably one of those perfect lives that go along smoothly, and a blip in the road for you is when you didn’t pack the right chips in your kid’s lunch.

Ah, the easy life.   I envy you.  Your hair is always perfect and your clothes never have wrinkles.  Your food is always on sale, and your car is never low on gas.

Yur speling iss purfekt.

Your job is a dream.

Read no further.  This isn’t for you.  This is for the tangible crowd.  The real women.  The women who actually exist, breathe air and wake up in the morning saying, “What was I suppose to remember last night?”

Where did the view of the perfect Christian life come from?  It wasn’t from watching me, and, no disrespect here, but it probably wasn’t from watching you either.

God pretty much – well, He does guarantee us trouble.  Did that brighten your day?  Knowing that the King of kings, our Heavenly Father who loves each and everyone of us, tells us that it’s going to get bad.

But, wait!  There’s more!  Because Jesus said in John 14:27

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.   (NLT)

That takes care of things, doesn’t it?  It’s rarely that easy.  This is the real world, but knowing that He cares and has this planned out helps me tremendously.

There are going to be bad days, lost jobs, spills, and closing without saving first.  People are going to upset me, and I’m going to upset them.  Accidents will happen, and good intentions will go wrong.  And if I’m looking for the world to make it all better, I’m looking in the wrong direction.  Because He knew all this long before I was born, and He already gave me a gift to help me through it.  His peace.

Oh, I’m still going to need hugs from a good friend to get me by, and if I pass you muttering “momentary light affliction…momentary light affliction…” – you might want to let me go and call me later. 

But when I hold tight to the peace that comes only from Him, it’s easier to take a deep breath and keep going.

If only I could remember where I was going…

Peace!

Barb

Excitement is in the air here at the North Phoenix Vineyard – especially among the ladies – as the date of our Women’s Conference draws near (February 5 & 6).  Along with other gals at our church, I’ve worked the Registration booth for the past couple of weekends, and I’ve been blown away by the amount of women who’ve already registered.  Two hundred and sixty-eight as of last Sunday!

I confer this bonanza to three basic factors:

1.     We long to be touched by God.

2.     We’ve heard great things about our keynote speaker, Eleanor Mumford.

3.     We wanted to take advantage of the price break!  (What girl doesn’t like a good deal?)

And on that last note – if you haven’t registered yet or think it’s too late to do so – I ’d like to share with you a sad little story about something good that almost happened to me many years ago:

Back when Ron and I were newlyweds, money was very tight so we had to be extremely selective about the way we spent it.  Our church had announced an event dedicated just for us girls.  I really wanted to go.  But how could I justify the expense?

Something tug at my heart, saying:  This is important.  Sign up and trust me with the rest. 

It sounded so good and re-assuring, but I didn’t listen.  I figured it was probably my mind playing tricks with me.  After all paying for that event felt more like luxury than a necessity.

So I decided to be “responsible” and without even talking it over with my husband (or God) I decided to pass.

On the day the event began, a sweet sounding song woke me up:  Come away, my beloved.  Come away and spend time with me.  Come away.  The voice was filled with longing, and for some reason it made me sad.

The following Sunday, all the gals at church were buzzing with comments about how “incredible” and “amazing” and “special” the weekend had been.  “And where were you, Ana?” they asked.  “We missed you.”

“I couldn’t make it,” I responded, acting like I didn’t care.  “What was it all about?”

“This year’s theme was Come Away My Beloved,” one of them said, her voice filled with emotion, as if she had just experienced something really good.

Something good I knew I had missed.

I learned a good lesson that day and decided that if God ever extended an invitation to experience Him in a special way, I would seize it and trust Him to provide for it.  The writer of Proverbs 3:5 put it so well, “Trust in the Lord with all your hear, and lean not on your own understanding.”

By sharing my story, I have no intention to guilt-trip you or to advocate being financially irresponsible.  What I hope to do is encourage you not to miss something really good for seemingly right reasons.

Most of us are presently short of cash, time and energy.  Some of you might be new to our church and coming to events like this may seem a bit intimidating.  But if you take this baby step of faith and you register and come the Conference, I guarantee you’ll be glad you did.  Come away, my friends!

I’ll be working the Registration booth this weekend and during the Conference.  (Did you know you can even register at the Conference?)  Come and say hello!  I can’t wait to meet you.

Until then,

Ana

http://anastinescorner.blogspot.com/

Hello ladies!  I just got back from a retreat this past week and I wanted to share with you some things the Lord really spoke to me.  I know that our lives can be busy and hectic and sometimes its hard to find time to relax and give your mind a restart.  I was at this point before last week.  My job was hectic, life was calling my name a 1000 times over and the stress was starting to get to me.

When I went to the Vineyard worship leaders retreat, I didn’t know what to expect.  To be honest, I thought  it would be full of activities with statements like “you just need to plug through, keep going and get over it!”  I thought that instead of taking time to refuel and get a  jump start, that it would just come as I served . . . but I was wrong.  They were really concerned with making sure we were getting rest, refreshment and ministry.  That really meant something to me.  I wasn’t expected to do a “dog and pony show,” for lack of a better word, but rather just share  how I was doing, how I was feeling.  They ministered to me and really cared about making sure I got the refreshing I needed.

Now after the week is over, I am left with a new perspective of this ministry I am involved in and still find myself chewing on the things I learned.

I know our lives can bring us to much that we think we can’t handle.  Everyone needs to get away, clear their head and start over.  We can’t do the work of Christ and minister to people without getting filled ourselves.  We need to fill our well and keep it filled so that we have something to give people.

If you are feeling like the stress is too much, please be encouraged and get away, take a small vacation and get some refreshing with the Lord.  He is our provider and can supply us with the fulfillment we need.  Maybe our knees need to be callused and our eyes burning with tears.

As I walked away with new perspective and all brushed up this week, I will continue to keep my well filled and strive to have my life always focused on being with God every day.  For there . . . lies . . . my strength!

Christi Schuman

Ordinary Women…..Extraordinary God!

 We serve an extraordinary God!  He is able to do exceedingly beyond anything we are even able to think of!

 On February 5 and 6, as women, we have a great opportunity to take part in our annual women’s conference with Eleanor Mumford, from London, England.

 May I just say, for the record, what a wonderful person Eleanor is!  She is a joy to be around, is a wonderful communicator, and is great at facilitating ministry time.  I am personally encouraged when I hear her speak and expectant to see God move.  She is very respected both inside and outside the Vineyard movement.

 At the conference, she will help us look at how our amazing God uses ordinary women like us to do extraordinary things!  I am praying this will be time where God will mark our lives in a special way!  I believe it will be refreshing and renewing!  Our own Christi Schuman and Lindsay Smith will be leading worship.  I am excited!

 Registration this weekend at church is still the early price of $17.  We really want women to register early so we can plan well for the event!  (After this weekend, that price will go to $22.)    This is a “smokin” price and even includes snacks! 

 Because I think you will be blessed by her, I am including a link to a talk  Eleanor did at a Women’s Day in England.

 On the link, click on the Women’s Day 08 session 1…….

http://www.swlv.org.uk/downloads/conferences/category/30

 I hope you can come on Feb. 5 and 6.  I think it will be simply extraordinary!

 Blessings!

Thora

Have you ever had that someone in your life who was always smiling no matter what was going on around her? That someone who even when life seemed dark and gray around her it would never quench the light that was shining in her?

I have. I would see her and wonder what is it that makes her such a “SUPERWOMEN”, I know she is a believer with much Faith but how is it that she can stay so focused with all that life was throwing her way?

It was not until that one day when my life appeared to be so hopeless. That day when I knew I tried everything I could to make it through the storm without giving up hope! I was tired and discouraged. It was that day I decided to go to her. I remembered her story and hoped she had some great advice that would help me.

So I visited with her and explained the storm that was going on in my life. I asked her what I could do to help me stay focused even during the storm. I said to her, I have seen you stay so strong even through the storm and I want my Faith to keep me strong like that. How can I be a “SUPERWOMEN” like you?

She smiled and then she laughed. Sweetie she replied, I am so far from being a “SUPERWOMEN” but I do serve a “SUPERGOD!”

She began to teach me about the awesome power of  PRAISE AND PRAYER!! I heard about PRAISE AND PRAYER many times before but never in the way she explained it. She broke it down in plain English and it was then that I understood how her Faith was so strong.

PRAISE AND PRAYER were her weapons! It was not that she always took the right steps in life, or always stayed on the right path. It was not that her vision was always clear while the storm was going on around her. It was definitely not the strength that she felt inside her. All along it was calling out on that powerful name “JESUS” and praising Him no matter how she felt.  

She taught me to believe that He was at work in me and around me even when I did not see it or feel it. I learned the power of laying my worries before Him and asking for His mighty intervention to break through!

I was determined to see the good in life and not be blinded by my own fears, wants and doubts. I continued to ask God for His truth to be reveled in every situation. I learned my identity in Christ. Most importantly I continued to praise Him even during the storm!

Have you made PRAISE and PRAYER an important part of your life?

“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 

With Love,

Eva

Hello everyone, I am new to this blog and am excited to be a part of it.  I believe it will stretch me in many ways, as well as help me learn new things about others.  Please enjoy as you read.

What is it about shopping for a new pair of shoes? Or perhaps looking for an exciting  new restaurant or even the search to find new music to jam out to?  I often find myself searching around at stores or  online to find that one thing I do not have, or an item that will bring something different into my life.  Why do we sometimes want new things so badly?

This being a new year, many of us just want change.  We want a better outcome in some part of our lives  . . .  or we just want it different from last year.

I know for some, last year would be labeled as a year to forget, a year that didn’t happen. Maybe you tried to find that pair of shoes or a new pair of pants to make this year seem to start on the right foot . . . but what seems to be missing?  How long did the “New” feeling last or do you still fear that this year will somehow end up like last year?  Those new shoes didn’t go very far, did they?  I know for me, new things always make me feel better . . . for the time being.

But when I’m by myself in the quiet, the haunting thoughts start flooding in and sweat builds out through my pores.  I realize that if I had no control over the things that happened, what makes me think that this year would be any different?  Feelings of being inadequate and not able to “measure up” fill my heart.  But in a flash I realize I have I forgotten something.  In a quick simple moment I realized that my focus had turned from God (my sole provider) to myself and what I thought would bring me some sort of happiness.

I suddenly blast the worship music through my head thinking that somehow the spirit of God will flood in and bring me comfort.  But I’m left feeling the same . . . He’s not there in the melody mixed with the rhyming of words and a thick hard beat.  Or the drowning tones on the white and black keys.

No . . . He’s hidden in the quiet of my soul.  The very place that I invited Him in a long time ago. Then I remember that He is with me wherever I go, whatever happens to me, ready to embrace me when I turn to Him.

Sometimes the brush, the over grown landscape in our hearts make it hard to find Him, but . . . He is right where we left Him.  This year can be trouble, this year can hand us crap in a nice package . . . but let us remember GOD is with us!

I know that I will continue to have these moments when I need to make the choice to choose God for my comfort, and the change I long for, rather than something new to buy.  If I just search deep and look inside He, GOD, is right there when I need Him.  And perhaps what I was really wanting in the first place was Him.

Happy New Year!!
Christi Schuman

Here is a little about me: I am a girl who has been in church her whole life, with her own struggles like anyone else, in search for God. I love writing and making songs, mostly about my life and what I am going through. I have been playing music for years now and am currently leading worship at Vineyard Church. I love being artsy and creative, helps me deal with the little demons in life that throw fire balls in my sails.

Please open up and share your thoughts, maybe the torture in your own mind, when released, can give you some freedom!

If you wanna read my personal blog click Here

Almost everyone I know wants to make a difference … in their own lives, in the lives of those around them and beyond.

But how?

 How can we make a difference when we are overwhelmed with life’s problems, tripped up by challenges and some days, just happy to make it through?

 I started thinking about some of the things I have personally done that have a made a difference in my life, and what others have done for me. Here in random order are some ways to make a difference right where you are today:

1.  Invest in your own God-given talents, abilities and strengths.  God’s calling on your own life is just as valid an investment as any mission venture you might give to.  This might mean taking classes, purchasing a better computer, taking a trip or spending time developing a skill. 
2. Finish what you start.     This applies to everything, from putting away clean laundry to a big project.
3. Write thank you notes.
4. Ask someone else for their opinion.  Wise counsel benefits you, and shows you value the other person.
5. Surprise someone with their favorite drink.   (Starbucks Gingerbread Latte for me)
6. Remember birthdays and anniversaries –   Remembering the difficult ones may mean even more to people.
7. Buy pizza for some teenagers just because.
8. Share God’s Word with people who are hurting.
9. Ask about people’s children.
10. Don’t offer your opinion right away in a conversation.
11. Be generous with encouragement and praise.
12. Keep your promises.
13. Admit when you are wrong.
14. Bring someone flowers from your garden in a tin can (recycle).
15. Pray about little things, and then tell someone when God answers.

 That’s my list for today.  I’d love to hear how someone has made a difference to you.

In His Love,

Glynnis

Word for the year……….

 For many years, I have prayed about and come up with a “word for the year”.  Yes, I do also write goals for the year!  However, besides Bible reading, when the going gets tough and life is so hectic you can’t remember if you already took your morning vitamin or not,  remembering “one word” is about all I can realistically hang on to some days.

 In the past, I have had words such as “purpose,” or perspective,  “When I get  into a “situation” during the course of the year—by this I  mean one of those times when I am overwhelmed, underwhelmed, very tired, very hurt, quite sad, exceedingly glad, or worried— I think of my “word.”  I might ask myself something like, “OK, what is the best perspective in this particular situation for the long haul?” 

“What is the perspective of the other person?”

“What is the worst thing that can happen?”

Or,

“Does this project I am thinking of taking on fit with my life purposes?  Or am I taking it on because of guilt or trying to please someone?”

“What is the purpose of this project?”

“Does volunteering at my child’s school fit with my life purposes?” (It does.)

“Does accepting to also work on the PTA fit with my life purpose?” (It does not.)

“Am I living my life on purpose, or am I letting others set my agenda for me?”

 For 2010, after praying, I have chosen the word, “Present.”  Ana Stine talked about this in one of our blogs and I have also been impacted by some Brennan Manning books dealing with this topic.  I do really want to live in the present. 

 I don’t want to keep looking back and mulling over the past. (Mistakes, problems, things I wish I would have said, things I wish I wouldn’t have said….)  I don’t want to look to the future and not enjoy and notice what is happing right now because I am pre-occupied with what will be happening tomorrow or the next day (or the next year).

 God, help me live in the present!  I want to enjoy the now.  I want to notice what is right in front of me.  I want to laugh with my children and listen about Transformer toys and fish, and frogs.

 Enjoy the present!

 Blessings,

Thora

 Would anyone else like to share a word for the year they have chosen?

Happy New Years!!!

It’s amazing how fast time flies. I can’t believe 2009 is already gone!

As i look back at all the memories of 2009 the good and the bad…I can’t help but rejoice in all that God has done for my family and I. Through the laughter and through the tears He never left our side!

Each year i sit before the Lord on New Years Day and I make a list of what I would like to accomplish before the year is over again. I think of all the things I was unable to finish the prior year and all the new things I want to do this year.

When I woke up on January 1, 2010 for the first time in a long time, I  did something a little different…

I sat outside wanting to spend time with God for just a little while. I had no pen or paper, and I had no ideas for what I wanted to accomplish this year. Instead I just closed my eyes and sat still. I had no words for God, no prayer request, and no expectations.

It was as if I took a little nap in the lap of my Father! Not that I had any great revelation… but I felt such a peace. I had no worries and I did not feel like I needed to have a great plan for 2010. All that mattered at that moment was being held by my Abba!

When I opened my eyes I thought to myself -I don’t want a to do list for 2010! I don’t want an Eva list to accomplish. I want one thing and only one thing…to do the will of my Father!

I want to be able to live one day at a time knowing that I did all that He had on His to do list for me! I want my life to be fruitful not busy but fruitful! I want new fruit I don’t want to settle for the fruit showing now… i want more!! I want to go deeper, I want to grow closer to Him, I want to see more lives changed, I want to see more people delivered and set free! I want more of HIM!!!

I think so many times we get comfortable with our lives and we forget that there is so much more that God wants for us! So much more He wants to do in us and through us! We get so caught up in the outward appearance of our lives that we forget to search our hearts.

If I am honest with myself I know that there were many things that I did in 2009 that I was not proud of. I am thankful that my God is not finished with me yet and He never gives up on me!

“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance,but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1Samuel 16:7

We have all been given another year, another chance to “get it right”. Have you taken the time to look into your heart and find those things that need to be surrendered to God. Those heart issues that you need to make right before Him?

“Life like a mirror, never gives back more than we put into it”

What do you see in your mirror? Is it all that God wants for you? We can totally be ourselves with God. He knows us inside and out-after all, He made us! It’s never to late to do His will!

Eva