The other day, I drove by a Starbucks on my way back from church. I saw a group of women sitting at one of the outdoor tables. They were sipping their coffee drinks and seemed to be enjoying the pleasant weather and conversation.

Though my vehicle lingered briefly at that intersection, something caught my eye. One of these women was listening intently at her friends. The look on her face told me that she “got” whatever the others were saying.

I think that we all long for that kind of relationship, for someone who “get” us – whether it is a parent, a friend, a boyfriend or a spouse. We need to know that there is someone we can talk to, someone who will understand – even if they don’t necessarily agree with us.

Every week, our church offers us an opportunity to make that kind of connection through a small group. A small group is a great place to find people who understand where we’re at or what we’re going through. And if they don’t, they are willing to offer a listening ear, their friendship and their prayers.

The beauty of small groups is that they are made of people with similar interests and goals. There are groups for us girls; some are just for men; some are for parents; some are for singles, and some for married couples. Some groups focus on a topic, like prayer; some study a book of the Bible, and for some the main focus is building relationships.

This weekend, VC will hold its biannual “Small Group Fair.” Tables will line out throughout the courtyard, advertising the different groups available – some existing, some new.

If you have not yet joined a small group, I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to find the group that’s right for you. During service, ask God to direct your search. And after service, walk around the different tables, and stop at the ones that interest you. Grab flyers and talk to the leaders standing there to get a better feel for what their group is all about.

If several groups appeal to you, feel free to visit them during the following weeks. Eventually, you will find the one in which you feel “at home.”

When you first visit, you might feel a little bit like a stranger. But I guarantee that as you get to know the people in your group and as you worship the Lord together and pray for one another, a very special bond will develop.

And one day, you will see you group nodding intently as they hear what you have to say, and you’ll realize you’ve found a group of friends that really, really “get” you.

Ana

This weekend we had a fantastic guest speaker in Al Ells.
He gave us a wonderful reminder about Grace and how it makes everything work in your life. “God’s Grace is the unmerited favor that enables us to be what God has called us to be and do what He has called us to do.”

It made me reflect on all the past and present  things God has given me Grace for through the years. My hope is that these stories of my life will inspire you in your own circumstances, or be a reminder to you about your own circumstances and how God has moved for you.

When I was 13 years old my parents divorced and it threw me off into a self destructive behavior pattern that lasted for years. I struggled mostly with self worth and an inability to love myself. Divorce in my personal opinion is the single most destructive event a child can go through besides molestation.

Now the Lord has healed my heart  through worship and with tools the bible has given me, I am now enabled to be in a 13 year long marriage to a wonderful, Godly loving man. God has  restored my belief that a healthy loving marriage is possible.

At 22 I became a single mom. I was alone my entire pregnancy.God’s grace for me was so strong during that time that I never hesitated about going through with the pregnancy. Though I had people whom I loved telling me it would ruin my life, and to abort, I knew with no hesitation that the Lord was with me and had called me to have this child, even telling me what a gift he was going to be in my life..

I am now a mother of 4 wonderful young men.That same child, who ended up being raised by the godly loving father he was meant to have, is off on his own, being used to defend those who can not defend themselves, strong in his purpose in life and his own walk with the Lord.
Hebrews 4:16 says, “Grace is the unmerited empowering presence and favor of God that helps in time of need.”
Can you remember a time when you had NO hesitation in doing what needed to be done? Even if at the time you thought there were NO way you could accomplish it?

Take a moment now to thank God for the times in your life when His outpouring of Grace has gotten you through something most would deem unattainable. It is humbling to be reminded that God loves us and wants us to be in an intimate relationship with Him.

Let Him have your load, lay it at His feet and see how the Holy Spirit ministers to and restores you.
Thank you for letting me share my heart! I would love to hear your stories!
Blessings,
Rebecca Turrigiano

25 and Counting…on Mickey

 If you are reading this right now, I am somewhere in the middle of the ocean.  (My kids can tell you which one.  I took geography a long time ago)  If mental images of the  Titanic come to mind, change the picture in your mind to Leonardo Di Caprio wearing Mickey Mouse ears.  (and of course, if you saw the movie, picture Kate Winslet fully clothed.)

 I want to say thanks so much to the members of our church who sent us on this 2 week Disney cruise to celebrate 25 years of pastoring the church.  It has been our pleasure to serve and what a treat this is!  (I’m saying this knowing it will be!  I won’t be doing e-mail or blogging on board.)

 A trans-Atlantic (Ok, now I remember which ocean it is) cruise is a great deal as far as Disney cruises go!  So we loaded up the family and headed to Barcelona to catch the ship.  Ask me after we get back if it is a good idea to travel overseas on a plane with two seven-year-olds.  Luke actually turns 7 on the day we arrive in Barcelona.

 We told our kids this is the trip of a life time. Alas, they really don’t have a grid for how nice this is. (They will when they have kids.)

 Our kids are excited to “speak Spanish” with people in Spain. (They take Spanish in school so they kind of think they actually speak Spanish.)  They do speak better Spanish than I do(which would basically be none) and you should hear Luke roll his r’s.  His accent is amazing.

 Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

Now, off to look for Mickey!

 Love,

Thora

My family and I have been blessed to be part of The Vineyard for the last seven years. During that time I marvel at the many friends we’ve made through our small groups and the volunteer outreaches we’ve been part of.

Both my husband and I grew up in households where church and “religion” were more a duty rather than a way of life. We attended weekly services in our starched Sunday best because it was expected of us.  Church attendance was more punishment than privilege.

I’m not going to lie to you – I dreaded going to church as a child and quite frankly understood very little about the rituals and the scary organ music.

Once I became an adult I sampled many different types of churches – some that I liked and some that scared the bejeebers out of me. I’ve been around the religious block a time or two and I know the difference between a “religious church” and one that’s a Bible-based follower of Christ.

When we visited The Vineyard seven years ago we were looking for a church home – some place we could plug in to and become a part of.

Our previous church home of 18 years in downtown Phoenix was changing and for us, church started to have that obligation feel.  The 35 minute drive added to the weekly ”punishment”  – especially in the long hot summer months with three whiny complaining kids.

With a move to a new house in 2004 we decided the timing was right to start fresh with a new church.  We made a list of churches in the Peoria and Glendale area to visit. I had seen an ad in a local paper the year before about the opening of the Vineyard’s new sanctuary and boasting that The Vineyard had a coffee bar.

I don’t drink coffee (I’m a Diet Coke caffeine junkie) but something about the idea of being able to drink anything in the sanctuary appealed to me. It made the church sound “homey” and welcoming which was quite unlike anything I was used to. (As a child I used to get the look if I so much as raised my voice in church.)

After our first visit to The Vineyard, we liked the church so much we didn’t want to look anywhere else. The combination of the music, the teaching and the warm welcome we felt from all the people made us feel so at home we decided to become members. And yeah, seeing people walk in with their Bibles and their coffee or Diet Coke made me feel like I was part of a family that all shared the same love for the Word of God, Jesus Christ and a good jolt of morning caffeine.

Being part of the building of the new sanctuary (with caffeine cup holders in the seats) makes us love being part of something bigger.  We belong to a family and that’s a privilege we never take for granted!

CONGRATULATIONS Brian and Thora on your 25th anniversary! You’ve built a wonderful family at The Vineyard that we are proud to be part of!

Blessings in Christ,
Kathy
www.kathkurlin.com

Do you ever face a situation that makes you feel utterly powerless?

When girls with a hero complex (like me) see a need, we feel an irresistible urge to don our red cape and fly in to save the day. Few things are more frustrating to us than seeing a problem and feeling like there is nothing we can do to solve it.

All around us, we witness people who are ill and suffering; those who are about to lose their home, their job, or their marriage; parents whose kids have addictions or have walked away from the faith; friends whose hearts are broken.

And we ask ourselves, What can I do for them? How can I help?

But, at times, we simply can’t.

Discouraged, we give into despair and forget that we still have a secret weapon left – one more powerful than our good deeds or heroic intentions.

It’s called prayer.

So we mumble an almost apologetic, “I’ll be praying for you,” as if we had nothing better to offer. As if it were the least we could do to help.

“The least I can do is pray. The most I can do is pray,” says radio host Dr. Randy Carlson in his program Intentional Living.

So true.

I learned that truth a few years ago, during our Women’s Evening Bible Study. At the end of one of our sessions, this wannabe-hero-girl met a woman whose problems and suffering were so severe, she was at the edge of suicide. Overwhelmed by her painful story, I felt there was absolutely nothing I could do for this lady. So I began to pray for her – out of pity to be honest. We cried together, hugged each other, and then we went home.

I figured this would be the last time I would ever see her.

Months later, a beautiful woman approached me after Bible Study. She looked radiant. Something about her seemed familiar, but I didn’t think I knew her. She said, “You prayed for me last year. Back then, I felt like I couldn’t go on living, so I had made up my mind. I was going to put an end to the pain.

“But when you prayed for me that evening, a spark of hope ignited in my heart. I realized God had the power to change my life and my circumstances. I believed. And He did!” she told me, with the brightest smile.

Witnessing her miracle made me realize that I, too, was in need of one. My heart needed to believe again. And I had to be reminded that a hero girl must never forget that the least she can do might be the greatest thing she can ever do for a friend in need.

Ana
http://anastinescorner.blogspot.com/

Eat Pray Love

I recently saw a movie that got me thinking.  Though parts of it were not consistent with the Word of God, something in my soul resonated with the general theme of Eat Pray Love, the Elizabeth Gilbert book, turned movie.  The movie conveys a profound, yet simple concept:  healthy balance!

The story uncovers the importance of first caring for one’s self, which is to say one’s physical needs. Thus, eat!  It’s more than just putting food in the mouth.  Caring for ourselves physically, such as getting enough rest, nutrition, and relaxation, is the foundation for a balanced and God-honoring life.  First Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, whom you have received from God? … So use every part of your body to give glory back to God.”

After physical needs are met, next are the spiritual. Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke about the Good Samaritan who met the physical needs of his fellow man, rather than simply offering up a prayer.  He knew that a person couldn’t be ready for the spiritual when his physical needs go unmet. How can one hunger and thirst for righteousness, when physical hunger dominates his thoughts?

The Bible speaks to living a balanced life.  It’s important to take time to feed the body, feed the soul, and then once that self-love is fulfilled, extend that love to others.  While the Gilbert book uses the word “love” to encapsulate a romantic love, I saw this as an imperative to love others as I love myself. Treating myself with respect, love and healthy balance (boundaries) so that I am then in a position to give more fully to others, is consistent with the word of God. When asked by the Pharisees what the greatest command is, Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (or, as you unconditionally love yourself). All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

In the movie, Elizabeth Gilbert is able to regain her appetite for both food and life as she recovers from divorce and depression.  In doing so, she finds herself attaining healthy balance.  I am enthralled with the idea of balance in my life, as this is where I find inner peace.   I am at peace when my life reflects a balance of work, eating (nourishment) joy, and pleasure – not solely fleshly pleasure, but pleasure in the simple things of life.

The movie did not speak to the attainment of riches but rather attainment of inner peace and true contentment. For the lovers of Christ, this speaks to inner healing, inner filling, and turning to God for spiritual relationship.  Once God has filled us, then we are able to give true Christian love and service to brothers and sisters.

Jesus modeled a balanced life.  We find examples of Him taking time to eat, to get alone and pray.  But He also took time to celebrate life with others.  His first miracle was performed at a wedding feast with His friends.  There is simple wisdom found in Eat Pray Love, as we care for our bodies, nourish our souls, and serve others with the love of Christ.

Christina Trifanoff

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  (Genesis 1:1)

God created.  With a word He placed everything we see into being.  He created us from the outside-in.  God established the Law for His people to follow.  Knowing they couldn’t.  Hoping that they … uh … we …  would see the divide between them.    Hoping that instead of trying harder to follow the rules, we would desperately seek His help. 

But we didn’t.

So God sent Jesus.  The apostle John put it this way:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.   Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. …

 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”    (John 1:1-5, 14)

When it didn’t work to change the world from the outside-in, God decided to change it from the inside-out. 

In Genesis, God “created” and in the form of Jesus, God “became.”

Are we still trying to change from the outside-in?  Are we hoping that by changing our behavior we can change our hearts?

It didn’t work for the Israelites and it won’t work for us.  The only way to effect lasting change in our lives is to allow God to change us from the inside-out.

Transformation always happens from the inside-out.

What are you struggling with today?  Perhaps it’s time to focus on what’s happening on the inside.

Just some thoughts for a September day.

In His Love,

Glynnis

You know the times where everything is going crappy in our lives and you can’t seem to see the end? It’s in those times that we cry out to the Lord and ask for Him to move, to break through and give us a release. Every bad day, every time life gives us something we weren’t expecting, we call on the “Bad Day Jesus”. “Oh God, can you help me with this? Can you deliver me from this? When will you move? When will you come?” I know that in my stress and turmoil, I cry out to Him and ask for Him to break through. Sometimes I wonder if I have made Him JUST the Bad Day Jesus. Don’t get me wrong, I think its good to cry to Him when we are broken, but what would happen if we cry out to Him in our good days too? What if instead of asking to be released from whatever we’re going through we ask for Him to teach us something new or that His will would be done in this?

I think that sometimes we can place Him in the spot of just being our “bad day Jesus”. It’s very easy to cry for help when we need it . . . but what about when we are having a great day, do we cry to Him still and ask for Him to move in our lives? Do we ask Him to work through us however He pleases? Do we ask for His will to be done? I know sometimes I don’t. I forget so much to ask Him to move me, use me, teach me, let His kingdom come into my life and spread out among others.

This has come to my attention a lot recently partly cause I have been having to learn it. I just started working a couple of weeks ago since being out of work for almost 4 months. It was a real stretching time for me. I had to learn to count on the Lord and ask for guidance and strength not to just fall apart when I thought it was all crashing down. When all else is lost, He needed to be my stronghold, my firm foundation where I could not be shaken.

I need to keep giving Him my heart and all that is within me. Everything that I hope for to change needs to be placed on the rock of my salvation in order for me to live. My life has to be a daily surrender to the hand of God, otherwise I start doing it all myself and mess everything up. The devil likes it when we take out lives into our own hands cause then he has something to play with . . . but we must remember . . . He (meaning Jesus) is for us. He is there to help us when we get lost. But also, He is there when we are content and have peace in our lives and He deserves to be our “Great Day Jesus”.

Listen to the song below, its a great song that has been ministering to me and hopefully you as well.

Cheers!!

We have now been a church for 25 years.   It is amazing to see what God does with obedient people.

 When I think about all of the changes over the years, it truly is miraculous what God has done here.

 Building a large church wasn’t what we were trying to do when we started this church 25 years ago!

 We had no idea that our church would ever have several thousand people attending it every single weekend! 

 Twenty-five years ago, we had no idea that hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people would commit their lives to follow Jesus Christ here at Vineyard Church of North Phoenix!

 We had no idea that thousands more people would rededicate their lives to Jesus Christ here.

 Twenty-five years ago, we had no idea that over 3,000 people would be water baptized here at Vineyard Church of North Phoenix!

 Truth be told, 25 years ago, we often felt like we didn’t know what we were doing.  But God has been so good to us.  He is so faithful!  He amazes me.

 Sometimes, we still don’t really know what we’re doing!  But God has been very good to us and He knows what He is doing!

 I want to thank everyone who has been a part of changing so many lives over the years.  All of us are better than one of us, and God has done a great job.

 I think of how we started with a small closet of compassion “goods” and how God has multiplied that over the years.  He keeps blowing away my expectations…in a good way.

 I’m excited to see what the next 25 will bring!  God will bless your obedience too! (in ways beyond what you can  imagine)

Bless you Great Big!

Love,

Thora

I love baptism. Doesn’t everybody?

As I look through the camera lens I see the smiles, the tears, maybe a little uncertainty. Some close their eyes and some don’t. People pray over them, then immerse them in water. And there is a change.

You see it every time. There is a…freeing, a victory, a difference.

The smiles get a little bit bigger, the eyes a little wider. More tears. There are hugs, from family and friends cheering them on to show their support for this major and, often, first step in declaring their life for Christ.

Amazing! These people are making a change in their lives, and I can see it right in front of me. I zoom in close. Focus. Wade for a better angle. And while I’m doing that, there are three other people getting baptized at the same time.

It’s a miracle.

How many miracles do we get to see? Miracles of healing, restoration and lives changed. We want to be in on it somehow. This is great! Sharing in someone else’s triumph even if it’s only for a moment, and we are grateful that they let us partake.

These miracles happen around us all the time. We see some and miss some. We can’t share in them all. But sometimes we stop looking altogether. Do we want miracles so big that we don’t look at the small? Are we looking for miracles in others and miss the miracle happening to us? Do we think miracles don’t happen anymore?

Jesus told us differently. That anyone who has faith in Him will do what He has been doing. (John 14:12) Expect miracles! Expect to be a part of them. Pray, act, listen, watch.

The miracle of my own baptism was incredible. Surrounded by friends, I remember the feeling of anticipation. There was about to be a miracle in my life, and it was so near. The water closed over my head, and I came back up. The most amazing feeling of joy filled my heart! There was a change! That old me washed away and something new was starting. That day the miracle was me. Someone zoomed in, focused, and waded for a better angle. People watched as a life was changed.

We want to be there for the miracle. Even if the miracle isn’t ours, it’s ours to see.

Peace!

Barb