I marvel at God’s goodness towards me and at times I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of his love that is expressed in his presence. Recently at small group we sang the song “More than a Friend” by Jeremy Riddle. I’ve sang this song many times but that night the words meant so much to me.

Jesus You’re more than a friend
Jesus You’re more than my heart could ever express
Your love and Your grace never fail me
Your merciful touch always heals me
You bring joy to my soul

What a beautiful truth that throughout all eternity God has been waiting for us to experience His presence. He longs to pour out His love and His grace; His merciful touch and healing and to bring joy to our souls. Psalm 16:11 says,

“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

I admit there are times I have taken God’s presence in my life for granted but throughout the past few weeks I have been reminded of the joy, the healing, the mercy, the love and grace that is found in His presence and it has filled me with joy and caused me to hope. Jesus is more than our friend, He is our joy!

Perhaps you too have at times taken God’s presence for granted in your life. The wonderful truth that God is waiting for us to experience His presence has not changed. Let’s press in together because He is waiting to pour out His love and grace, His mercy and healing and to bring joy to our souls.

From my heart to yours,

DaNetta Fernandez

Praise Him for living.
Praise Him for dying.
Praise Him for enduring.
Praise Him for rising.

Praise Him for not just loving us, but for showing us what love looks like.
Praise Him for seeing our weaknesses and not condemning us.
Praise Him for teaching us that in Him, we can overcome.
Praise Him for breaking in to this dark and sinful world and giving us heaven on earth.

Praise Him for His patience,
His selflessness,
His leadership,
His open arms,
His transcending peace deposited into us upon request,
His miraculous healing power,
His Spirit in and around us,

Praise Him for our completion in Him.
Praise Him for His works then and always.

May our praise reach from our hearts to your ears today Jesus. You are so worthy.

Amen

Healthy Things Grow

 I was reminded the other day of a saying which has meant a lot to me over the years.  “Healthy Things Grow.”

 Have you ever noticed that healthy things grow?  Plants, children, emotional lives, our relationship with God, and our relationship with other people are a few things which come to mind.  If these things are healthy, they are progressing, moving forward, changing, metamorphasizing so to speak.

 Years ago in a pastoral staff meeting, a pastor by the name of James Ryle addressed us with this saying:

 “Healthy things grow

Growing things change.

Change challenges us.

Challenge forces us to trust God.

Trust leads to obedience.

Obedience makes us healthy.

Healthy things grow…”

 As you can see, health is a cycle.  Even in our relationship with God, it seems as soon as we get comfortable, there will inevitably be some change which forces us to trust God in a new way.  I’ve seen it over and over…haven’t you!?

 Let’s say you step out and pray out loud for someone for the first time.  It is scary.  It is change.  (But it also helps you grow spiritually.)  The next thing you know, you’re praying regularly for others.  Before you know it, you’re leading a small group.   It is challenging. Things come up which you have no answer for.  It forces you to trust God and seek Him.

 And then there are those times, when the person in your group does not get healed; the check does not come in the mail; _________(you fill in the blank); and easy answers just don’t come. But we learn to trust God and be obedient to God anyway.  It is healthy.  It is challenging and it forces us to grow.

 We must choose to remember, that even if it is not easy, growth and change can be good.  WE may not see the results till years later.  It may be challenging, but that forces us into the arms of our Father. (Or elsewhere if we make a poor choice)

 Obedience makes us healthy and…..

Healthy things grow!

 May your journey be filled with healthy growing things!

Blessings,

Thora

Do you ever have those times when you’ve been praying for something for a while and then you start to crumble?  “Will He really come through?”  “Is He really going to help me?”

I can tell myself, “Just trust Him.”  But that usually doesn’t work because it bounces off of  the barrier of feelings and doubt.

So what I’ve been doing lately to get back to trusting Him with whatever I’m praying for is asking myself two questions:  1)  Is He willing? (i.e. Is what I’m praying for in alignment with His will) and 2) Is He able?  The second question is kind of rhetorical because I know He’s able to do anything but it helps me refocus my heart and remember that He really is able.

After answering those two questions I find it helpful to pray it back to Him out loud.  (I believe that praying it out loud helps change the spiritual environment around you.)  “Lord I know You’re willing to ____ and I know You’re able, so I trust You.”

I hope this helps someone today!

Shagufta

Do you know where you are going?

Or where you have been?

Are you even headed in the right direction?

These may seem like ridiculous questions but if you have charted your own path with little or no thought to what God would have you do or where He would have you go….then you may think you know the answers to the questions above…but do you?

“As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”  And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”  To another He said, “Follow Me.”  But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”  And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead.  But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”  Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”

Luke 9: 57- 61

The Lord has been showing me these verses now for several years and each time I would read this section and meditate on it but I would come to the same conclusion, “Lord, I love You and I am surrendered to You.  I don’t know what You are telling me.”

Sort of like the disciples a few verses earlier in Luke where Jesus rebukes James and John for wanting to call down fire on a village of Samaritans for not receiving Jesus. I would probably want to do the same thing.  I can just see James and John sitting around and saying ,  ”What is He talking about?”, “Sometime’s I just don’t get that guy”……Ouch!!

I can be really thick headed and not at all mean to be.  I have often asked the Lord to just tell me in plain English what He wants me to do or where He wants me to go and I will do it.  But will I?

I have missed out on some really great things that the Lord has done and wanted me to be a part of because I lived most of my “former” life without Him.  And it hurts.  That is one of my biggest regrets in life, knowing that He had plans for me that were far better than what I could have dreamed up. Whatever plans He had for me would have been better because His plans for us were created when we were created.  A path with Him, following Him.  Living in and through Him.  “In Him we live and move and have our being” Acts 17:28a

I have told the Lord that I will follow Him, and I’m sure He just shook His head because He knew.  He knew that I would go my own way more times than I can account for.  He has asked me to Follow Him and I have put Him off because I wasn’t ready to give up whatever it was at that particular time.  But again, I said, Lord,  I will follow You!!  And I mean it with all of my heart, but first let me say farewell to those at my home……..

In this tug of war that we play when “following” Jesus and the stages of following but not following because we don’t understand what it really means to follow… He asks another question, “Don’t you trust Me?”.  See, the thing is, it boils down to trust. We could be at the very precipice of soaring with Him, just ready to take off…when we remember that we have to say farewell to those at our home.  And so we turn from the unknown and go back to what we know, our comfort zone.  We procrastinate.  Put it off for another day or another excuse.  Our trust wavers so we choose not to follow.

Thankfully, He meets us where we are at.  He welcomes us back.  With open arms. Each time.  You see there is more than one way to be a prodigal.

“….but while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”

Luke 15:20

Each time He runs to meet us…..while we are still a ways off.  Our Father has set His sights on us with such love.  It’s always love that He has for us.  And He embraces us and He kisses us.  He welcomes us home to that safe place where He can provide and protect and lead us in the only way we should go. With Him!

Will you follow Him?

Love,

Kim

Matthew 28: 18-20

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Whose words are more inspiring than those of Jesus himself? Jesus’ command to his disciples has fired a commission for all of his followers to go out and speak the truth of his saving love, power, and grace to all. With courage his Church seeks out the most remote and abandoned places in search of those who have yet to hear about the love and grace of God. We raise money to go on mission trips, gather food and clothing to feed and clothe the homeless, and orchestrate outreaches to bring hope and awareness to our communities. These are all great and wonderful things that the Church can be proud of.

As a follower of Christ, I also take on the endeavor to share the gospel with those God has put on my path. I see the importance to be a servant to others and offer my time, finances, prayers, and other resources. Yet, I have missed the mark when it comes to do the same for one particular group… my extended family. I often miss calls from my dad, fail to visit sick family members, miss opportunities to welcome new arrivals, and lack the attempt to fellowship and build on our relationships. It is not because I do not love them or because I don’t want to see them, but I often dismiss my behavior with the excuse that I am busy working, being a mom, a wife, and doing God’s work.

God has strategically placed us in our families to be a light to them. I am not sure why I find it more important at times to witness and serve those I do not know, than those who should be closest. I have even found myself praying that God would send others to be a witness in their lives, when God has already chosen me to be that witness.

God has reminded me this week that Jesus’ commission is not only that I seek out those who are outside my own home, but to pursue those closest to me with the same passion that I have been willing to pursue others. I know that I might not be able to do this for all, but it is important to make the time and effort to allow these close relatives to be a part of my life. After all… I might be their only opportunity to see God’s love in action.

Donna Nunez

I’ve been going through a difficult time lately…a bit of a valley.  I won’t go into all the details, but it involves being very ill off and on for the last four weeks, as well as not getting anywhere close to enough sleep.  I am not the best patient when I’m sick and you certainly don’t want to be around me if I haven’t had enough sleep when I’m well, so this period of time has been like a double-whammy for me.  Not to mention I’m in the last trimester of my second pregnancy (which is a HUGE blessing and I’m also blessed to have a 2 year old son keeping my days busy.)  So, adding unbalanced hormones to the mix adds a whole other dimension.  Let’s just say my attitude has not been the best.

This past Tuesday, I was wallowing…I had done what so many times the Holy Spirit has helped me put to a stop when my thoughts start going downward.  Today was different.  I had let my thoughts go downward and didn’t stop it.  I was focusing on being sick and feeling like an inadequate mother.

I finally got my 2 year old changed out of his pajamas at 1:30 that afternoon and we ventured out to play in the backyard.  Just sitting outside in the beautiful spring weather and listening to the birds chirp started to lift my mood.  Then, God sent me a “love note” …a beautiful little green hummingbird flew into our yard and hummed to say hello before flying away.

Then, I received a text message update about a teenager whose father is a dear friend of my sister and brother-in-law.  He is recovering from a gunshot injury.  His parents have been texting updates and they are amazing.  They praise God for every single step of progress their son makes and keep stating the fact that everything in his recovery, including his mere survival of the initial injury is a miracle.  They have been such an inspiration to me (they are handling their MUCH more difficult and painful situation  with such grace) and at the end of every message, they write a scripture verse.  The one on this day was Psalm 103:1-5.

I went and got my Bible and read the passage.  “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.  Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Well, that turned things right around for me!  Thank you, Father, for reminding me when I am tempted to wallow that I am to take my eyes off of myself and my present circumstances and instead focus on you and your eternal blessings.  For this present life is but a wisp of smoke and the gifts from our heavenly father we have to look forward to will last forever.  What a much better thought to focus on!

Melissa

Can I really make a difference?

I asked myself that very question a few weekends ago, when my family joined a group of Christians who went to visit an orphanage in Rocky Point, Mexico.

The team prepared lunch for the kids and the staff at the orphanage.  Afterward, the girls worked at different booths.  Some did face painting, others different games, others crafts, and so on.  The guys went outside and played soccer and basketball with the rest of the kids.

I walked around the different booths looking for a place to help out, but none of these activities seemed like “my thing.” Outside, clouds of dust and the sound of laughter filled the air.  Childhood memories of sprained ankles and broken toenails sustained during eager attempts to play ball with my neighbors kept me from even considering to join in.

I longed to connect with these precious children, but I didn’t know how.

Feeling like I didn’t fit in, I sauntered back inside the building where I noticed that a new booth had opened up.  A young woman from our team had spread dozens of bright-colored bottles of nail polish on the table.  The younger girls waited in line, giddy with excitement, when I sat on the opposite side of the table and asked, “Who wants me to paint her nails?”

The little girls dismissed the offer.  “No, no.  ¡Ella, ella!” they’d say, pointing at the pretty blond from our team.

Thanks a lot! I muttered, feeling defeated and rejected.  Then one of the young teens from the orphanage tapped me on the shoulder.  “Would you do my nails?” she asked shyly.  I felt like I had gone from zero to hero!  I was now in business!

Much to my surprise, as soon as I began to work on this girl’s nails, a second line began to form behind me.  But my “customers” were the older girls in the orphanage.  I wondered why they would be attracted to me and not by the novelty of the pretty American. (If you don’t know me, I should tell you I’m as Hispanic-looking as it gets.)

“They want a mother’s touch,” a voice told me.

Emotion and gratitude filled me. “What is your name?” I asked the girl whose hand I was holding in mine.  And that was all it took.  She, as well as the rest of the girls that visited my booth, talked to me incessantly like any other teenager would to a beloved aunt or godmother.  As I applied the nail polish and gave them quick glances so that they’d know I was listening, I prayed for these girls, that they would feel God’s touch through mine and His love through my prayers and this minute act of service.

On May 5^th, you and I will have an opportunity to express God’s love to other women with our small acts of service during Spa Day – a VCNP outreach to single moms.

For years, I’d thought I couldn’t participate in this event because I wasn’t a cosmetologist or an aesthetician.  This time around, however, I found out that this is a misconception.  Though we still need professionals, anyone can help!  All we need to do is be willing to serve (and attend a volunteer meeting at the end of April.)

If you would like more information about this great event, please contact Rebecca Turrigiano at rturrigiano@vcfnp.com or click on this link: http://vineyardnorthphoenix.com/story/680  We still need many volunteers!

Come and make a difference!

Ana

Be Thankful for the Small Things

Too often I am looking for BIG THINGS to happen.  Great  things.  Amazing things.  What I sometimes overlook are the little things that happen all around me that I take for granted!

I’m thankful for coffee in the morning.

I am thankful for the smell of Cinnabon in the mall.

I’m thankful for my husband and children.  (This is in no way a small thing, but I do think I take it for granted too often.)

I am thankful for that person who called me back.

I am thankful for gorgeous weather that brings out neighbors at night.

I am thankful my kids can dress themselves and feed themselves.

I am thankful for that person who opened the door for me.

I am thankful for peanut butter and ice cream…and real butter.

I am thankful for my Mom’s peach pie.

I am thankful for elastic waste pants.

I am thankful… that I could go on and on about things I am thankful for.

What are some things you are thankful for today?

Giving Thanks,

Thora

Last month I wrote about my issues with fear.  I’ve listened to messages on fear in the past but none seemed to help me.  Last week I heard a two part message on overcoming fear by a woman named Peggy Joyce Ruth and I was delivered of the fear that I walked around with for years!

In her message she said that fear enters when our trust in God breaks down.  Taking in and dwelling on a thought that questions God’s character causes you to lose trust.

She made four main points in her message on overcoming fear.

1)  Fear is sin.  She referenced the last part of Romans 14:23.  “For whatever is not from faith is sin” (NKJV).

2)  Don’t concentrate on not being fearful of something.  Concentrate on the fact that God is with you and He’s helping you.  “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand”  (Isaiah 41:10, NKJV).

3)  Exchange fear pictures for faith pictures.  Counter whatever fearful thing you’re picturing in your mind with a promise from God’s word.  Fear pictures are a ploy by satan to get you to resort to Plan B.  (Plan A is God.)
Peggy also said that fear brings on that which you fear.  I assume that’s because you’re actually putting your faith in fear.  “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me” (Job 3:25, NKJV).

4)  Focus on God’s perfect love.  God’s perfect love means we have nothing to fear.

If you want to listen to her message (Overcoming Fear) it’s at this link: http://www.peggyjoyceruth.org/Teachings.html

Shagufta