tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67504670187599691052024-03-13T23:25:03.630-04:00Women Connecting WomenWCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446488213158201523noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-76521104052647261502013-10-07T10:29:00.001-04:002013-10-07T17:13:22.328-04:00New Web AddressLadies, we are excited about our new blog:<br />
Come find us at our new address:<br />
<a href="http://www.christianlifewomenconnect.com/" target="_blank">http://www.ChristianLifeWomenConnect.com</a><br />
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If you are subscribed to this blog, be looking for mail for new subscription.<br />
If not, we'd love for you to go check us out and subscribe.<br />
WCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446488213158201523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-94111840545629442013-09-06T15:15:00.003-04:002013-09-06T15:15:48.303-04:00An Announcement & An Invitation<h3>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We are <b>moving to SATURDAYS</b>!</span></span></h3>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">September 21<sup>st</sup> October 19<sup>th</sup> November 16<sup>th</sup><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">10:00 am – 12:00 pm @ Christian Life Brown Chapel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Childcare for birth-11 with a reservation by the Monday before the event. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Reserve below or call 798-4488. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let’s CELEBRATE 10 years of</span></span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Brush Script MT'; text-align: center;">Connecting</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">as we </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">kick off</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> a brand new season </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">together! <span style="color: orange;"> </span></span></div>
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<o:p> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Saturday, September 21st @ 10am–Noon in Brown Chapel</span></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are so many of you precious ladies that we don’t know. </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>But we <u>want</u> to know you</b>!! </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Your life story is being written every day, but we know from experience that having a <b>cheering section</b> makes the hard days worth it! </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our passion is to <b>inspire, encourage and equip women</b> as we <b>connect our very real life</b> {perfection isn’t allowed} with <b>real faith in Jesus Christ</b>! </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Could you use any of that? </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Then YOU are invited to come <b>find out what WCW is all about</b> & experience the <b>power of connecting</b></span><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">?</span></span><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">FYI: Childcare for all events are provided by paid church staff. Please honor your reservation.
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1aWEQyHEEZZ6vjr-CU7YCAdLVsuh3i18SxskgjNV5F_o/viewform?embedded=true" width="760">Loading...</iframe>WCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446488213158201523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-52353820890192148692013-08-07T10:00:00.000-04:002013-08-07T10:00:00.764-04:00Perfect Love - Abounding Hope: Week 12<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How do we describe that which is perfect?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Miriam Webster defines the word as "</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">being entirely without fault or defect; flawless"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">None of us, born in the flesh to a fallen world, can fully understand or attain perfection. ONLY Jesus, being God on earth, was able to reach that status. What we do see throughout scripture, is God's love, perfected in us.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">"</span>Beloved, <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30594A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>let us love one another, for love is from God, and <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30594B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. <span class="text 1John-4-8" id="en-ESV-30595"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup><sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30595C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>Anyone who does not love does not know God, because <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30595D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup>God is love.</span> <span class="text 1John-4-9" id="en-ESV-30596"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30596E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup>God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.</span> <span class="text 1John-4-10" id="en-ESV-30597"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>In this is love, <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30597F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup>not that we have loved God <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30597G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup>but that he loved us and sent his Son to be <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30597H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup>the propitiation for our sins.</span> <span class="text 1John-4-11" id="en-ESV-30598"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.</span> <span class="text 1John-4-12" id="en-ESV-30599"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup><sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30599I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup>No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30599J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup>his love <em>is perfected in us." </em>I John 4: 7-12</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the kind of love that we must rely on as Christians. This perfect love surpasses aggravation, difficult people, children with bad attitudes, and that most annoying driver that almost made you say a swear-word in traffic. Imagine if God had given up on us when we were any of the above. Instead, his love fills us and allows us to be so much more than we ever were. God gives us value, putting a price on our life (the life of his perfect, precious son.)</span><br />
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<span class="text 1John-4-12" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text 1John-4-12" id="en-ESV-30599">Knowing how much God loves me, stirs up a hope to love others just as much as He loves me. I pray that our love goes before us, showing others that we belong to Him, through our actions.</span></span>Jen Baierlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340378818922176156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-42342731716561969662013-08-02T07:00:00.000-04:002013-08-02T07:00:07.530-04:00Freedom from Fear- Abounding Hope: Week 11<div dir="ltr">
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: x-large; line-height: 115%;">God did not give us a spirit of fear!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A simple, quick search on BibleGateway.com of the word "fear" yields 336 results. Why so much attention to fear? If repetition is any indication, it can be said that the Lord did not want his children to be hindered by fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">"fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Word instructs us not to fear, "don't be afraid", to be free of fear. But how does one operate free of fear? How can you stare down the circumstances and situations that fallen many before you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hold onto God! Hold tight to his Word, trust and believe in the might of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seems simple in theory, but in practice…recognize what makes us fearful. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recognize the conditions and settings that make us fearful, those moments that would seem hopeless, for it is in these moments we must hold tightest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">God wants us to hold to Him so that we can be courageous, secure, hopeful! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God does not want us to be apprehensive, full of dread or terror. We must keep in mind that there is no room for hope if we choose to hold onto fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #351c75;">"And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in the world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear…." 1 John 4:17-18<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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WCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446488213158201523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-80636591770236482922013-07-26T11:52:00.000-04:002013-07-26T15:38:34.706-04:00Seven Questions <h2>
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Celebrating 10 Years of Connecting Women to Jesus & Each Other</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Has it really been that long? Oh yes--yes it has!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And we have all been changed so much in these ten years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We moved from Thursday nights in the basement (fellowship hall) to Monday nights in the Youth Auditorium. We have moved from foyer conversations to the kind of deep talks that usually happen around a kitchen table. We have been moved to tears to learn of her story--the story that we never knew was behind her beautiful face! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Your Mark. . . Get Set. . .Pray (track shoes & pom-poms) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Thrill of Letting Go. (the pink carabiner that might hold your keys :-)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Relentless. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Holding Fast</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are just some of the themes we have had the past 10 years of ministry guiding our hearts to connect to Jesus and to each other. We have shopped together, retreated at the beach, joined in simulcasts with other churches. We have been silly and serious. We have been excited with hope and desperate with disappointment. <b><span style="color: orange;">But always we have been faithful to loving women where they are and cheering them on in their faith journey! </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So now we want to look ahead to the next 10 years. How are we doing and what can we do to improve? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for taking 3 minutes to complete this simple survey. And as always, if you want more information or have more feedback you'd like to give, feel free to email us at womenconnectingwomen {dot} gmail {dot} com. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look out for upcoming news for WCW's BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>if you can't see the survey below, <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FGLXQBB" target="_blank">please click here for the link </a></i></b></span></h4>
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WCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446488213158201523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-56624228781992698272013-07-18T10:50:00.000-04:002013-07-18T10:50:21.354-04:00Abounding Hope: Week 9—The Brink of Hope<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: xx-small;"><strong>July 17, 2013 by Jen Baierl</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Brink of Hope</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week, we see the prophesy begin to unfold for Joseph. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The land is destitute and people are traveling to Egypt for food. Ten of Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt and bow before him, as Joseph had dreamed and told his father and brothers previously. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>“Then he [Joseph] dreamed another dream </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” <sup> </sup>But when</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> that you have dreamed? Shall I and <sup></sup>your mother </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>and your brothers indeed come <sup></sup>to bow ourselves</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> to the ground before you?” <sup> </sup>And <sup></sup>his brothers</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joseph doesn’t let on to them who he is, but instead seems to be harsh to them. This harshness is not out of revenge, but to bring them to repentance and humility. </span><br />
<span style="color: #c0504d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Matthew Henry says “God, in his providence, sometimes seems harsh with those he loves, and speaks roughly to those for whom yet he has great mercy in store.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What Joseph wants most is to see his brother, Benjamin. He puts one of his brothers in prison while he is awaiting Benjamin to be brought back. He reassures them, with the words,<span style="color: #c0504d;"> <span style="font-size: medium;">“Do this and live! I reverence <i>and</i> fear God!!!” </span>– Genesis 42:18b</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the brothers travel back to their father, their guilty conscience begins to kick in and they are blaming each other for the harm they caused Joseph. When they reached Jacob, he was troubled. He was frightened of the money found in their sacs, distraught that Joseph was already gone, Simeon was in prison, and now they wanted to take Benjamin. He distrusted his sons and laid the fault on them.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Proverbs 21: 8 “The way of the <b>guilty</b> is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little did Jacob know that the Lord had this all in His hand and was leading him to a place of great HOPE.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Matthew Henry says of Jacob “<em>We often think that to be against us, which is really for us. We are afflicted in body, estate, name, and in our relations; and think all these things are against us, whereas they are really working for us a weight of glory. Thus does the Lord Jesus conceal himself and his favour, thus he rebukes and chastens those for whom he has purposes of love. By sharp corrections and humbling convictions he will break the stoutness and mar the pride of the heart, and bring to true repentance. Yet before sinners fully know him, or taste that he is gracious, he consults their good, and sustains their souls, to wait for him. May we do thus, never yielding to discouragement, determining to seek no other refuge, and humbling ourselves more and more under his mighty hand. In due time he will answer our petitions, and do for us more than we can expect.”</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, Lord, that we may seek no other refuge other than YOU!!</span>WCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446488213158201523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-26944597055129267832013-07-11T16:41:00.001-04:002013-07-11T16:41:06.889-04:00Abounding Hope: Week 8--A Vessel of Hope<div dir="ltr">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When we meet Joseph the stage is immediately set.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"…Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he made him a robe of many colors" – Genesis 37:3</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What could have become a story of hate and revenge instead became one of restoration and hope.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Joseph was not the first to suffer at the hands of his brother, but in this case we see God's continued favor upon his life. From the sparing of Joseph's life forward, God continued to bless him, and even at times using people to <i>position</i> Joseph.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Starting with Reuben, God provides vessels to be used in providing for Joseph.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Even in the most dreadful of circumstances, regardless of the person's motivations, God can use someone to make a way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I'm asking myself what kind of vessel am I. Am I a vessel of hope and encouragement? Or do I allow bitterness and anger to fester and sour hope?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"..there are not only vessels of gold and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of silver, but also wood<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared to every good work…follow righteousness, faith, clarity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart…" –2 Timothy 2:20-22</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Are you willing to let God use you? I think most of us want to be helpful, maybe even hopeful. <b>But are we willing to do what is required of us to be used by God?</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes God can use anyone, any circumstance. But to be an honorable vessel means</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> "</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work</u></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">" (NLT).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thankfully perfection is not a requirement! Even with my flaws God can still fashion a useful vessel. Even if I am still trying to read through the Bible for the 1</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">st</sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> time, even if I haven't memorized every Psalm or perfected Family Devotions, God can still use me and you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Lord, I pray you shape us into the vessels you call for us to be. By your design may we find purpose and hope.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Amen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b><i>Written by Michelle Walker-Alexander</i></b></span></span></div>
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WCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446488213158201523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-59818642895398994092013-07-03T15:32:00.001-04:002013-07-03T15:32:10.380-04:00Abounding Hope:Week 7--Forgiveness Releases Blessings<div dir="ltr">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>"<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">After Job had interceded for his friends, </span><span class="" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: small-caps;">God</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> restored his fortune—</span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and then doubled it!" </span></i></b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Job 42:10 NIV</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After reading all about the sufferings of Job, we delight in the restoration of his fortune and his family. But we like to ignore what God commanded Job to do before His mercy arrived. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God told Job to pray for his friends (Job 42: 8). But these men had done much to wound Job. It is implied that Job's blessing hinged on the prayer he prayed. Once again, Job's faith was demonstrated in forgiving these men. His life revealed the power of these truths:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.984375px;"><b><i>"Until you totally forgive them, you will be in chains yourself. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.984375px;"><b><i>Let them off the hook & actually pray for them! </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.984375px;"><b><i>When you sincerely ask God to truly bless that person,</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.984375px;"><b><i> you pass into the realm of miraculous & supernatural!"</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.984375px;"><b><i>RT Kendall (Total Forgiveness book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Total-Forgiveness-R-T-Kendall/dp/1599791765" target="_blank">here</a> or <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/total-forgiveness-revised-and-updated/r-t-kendall/9781599791760/pd/791760?kw=total%20forgiveness&mt=b&dv=c&event=PPCSRC&p=1018818&gclid=CO6Kge2ElLgCFWho7AodbQ4A1Q" target="_blank">here</a>) </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seeking God's best blessings for those who have wronged us, even done permanent damage to the relationship, requires faith. <b>Faith that says I can trust God even when I can't trust that person. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saying "I can't forgive them or don't have to forgive them"--that is the devil keeping you in bondage & holding you in torment! The devil knows that blessing follows forgiveness and he hates it when God shows love to us. The devil wants to hurt God by poisoning us with unforgiveness. <span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blessing follows faith when we obey God's commands. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.984375px;">And Jesus Christ gives us the most important commands: </span></div>
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<span class="" style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><i><b>"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind". </b></i></span></div>
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<span class="" id="en-CEV-21879" style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><i><b>This is the first and most important commandment.</b></i></span></div>
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<span class="" id="en-CEV-21880" style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><i><b>The second most important commandment is like this one. </b></i></span></div>
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<span class="" style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><i><b>And it is, "Love others as much as you love yourself."</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;">Matthew 22:34-40 </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Contemporary English Version (CEV)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Loving God requires faith. And loving others always involves forgiveness.</b> Think of how often we "let ourselves off the hook" or "chalk it up to a bad day". If we can love ourselves enough to not hold grudges against ourselves, then we must do the same for others. No. matter. what. they. have. done. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few years ago I had to live this message. I had been falsely accused of some pretty horrible things. The person attacked my character, integrity and credibility. But God reminded me that this was not the time to defend myself. It was time to give mercy. Because hurting people, hurt people. So I prayed. I sincerely asked God to overwhelm this person with the amazing grace and love of God. And I asked God to bless them with supernatural provision. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn't easy at first. But each day it got easier and didn't clench my fists as long! {keeping it real!} I could feel a release from the chains that tried to hold me captive! And God's blessing was like the wind in my face on a sunny day's drive with the top down!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large; line-height: 19.984375px;">The gift God has for you can only be released by totally forgiving them from this point forward!" </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.984375px;">RT Kendall</span><span style="color: black;"><b><br /> </b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you need mercy? Do want greater measure of God's blessing?</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Who do you need to forgive? Who do you need to pray to be blessed?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Written by Angela Smith</i></span></div>
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WCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446488213158201523noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-84294210932509253522013-06-26T11:21:00.003-04:002013-06-26T12:21:54.786-04:00Beautiful Battle Book Club Chapter 4<div dir="ltr">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Living the Right Story: Balancing Between Ignorance & Overreaction</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Key Verse: Colossians 2:10 </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">"So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority."</span></b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This chapter deals with some real misconceptions that I personally have battled over time.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have swung from both ends… burying my head in the sand as if there is no spiritual warfare and the extreme of blaming every outburst from my children on an attack from Satan.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As children and daughters of the King, we need to know what is real about spiritual warfare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's look at what the Scripture lays out for us about who Satan is and who God is in comparison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary Demuth has each of these descriptions detailed in the chapter, but I have summarized them here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Satan<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>God</span></b><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Adversary (a wolf preying on a herd of lambs)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jehovah-Rohi<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The Lord is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>our Shepherd)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Slanderer; Accuser; Defamer; False Accuser<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> J</span>ehovah-M'Kaddesh (The Lord who sanctifies)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> J</span>ehovah- Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tempter (this may make us feel alone)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jehovah-Shammah (The Lord is there)</span><span style="text-indent: -4in;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The evil one<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jehovah-Shalom (The Lord is our </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">peace)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Beelzebub (lord of the flies)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jehovah-Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Murderer, destroyer<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jehovah or Yahweh (The Great I AM or Self Existing</span><span style="text-indent: -4in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -4in;">One)</span><span style="text-indent: -4in;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="text-indent: -4in;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b> Jehovah-Jirah (The Lord will provide)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The father of lies<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"The Way, The Truth, and The Life"<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The ruler of the world (the god of this age)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>El-Elyon (The Most<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>High God)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Prince of the air<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>El-Roi (The Strong One who sees)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>El-Olam (The Everlasting God)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Serpent (a dangerous foe)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> J</span>ohovah-Rophe (The Lord who heals)</b></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Sometimes our thoughts on spiritual warfare dance dangerously close to giving Satan more power than he actually has.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">We need to see Satan as he really is: a sniveling defeated enemy</b>" (<a href="http://clicktotweet.com/P0D5b" target="_blank">click to tweet</a>)</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many of us have read <i>Exodus 34:6-7 "Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation" and have been taught that this meant we were passed a curse from our parents or forefather's sins."</i></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i> </i></span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This idea of needing extra prayer for generational curses seems to place Satan's ability to oppress higher than God's ability to atone.</span> </b></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Compare to Exodus 20:6 "But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I personally believed that I was being punished for my parent's sins for a long time, giving Satan more power than God in my life.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I reread this chapter over and over, then fell to my knees in repentance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are my favorite things that Mary DeMuth says in this chapter:</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">JESUS CONQUERED ORIGINAL SIN, WHICH TRUMPED ALL OTHER GENERATIONAL CURSES.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we put more emphasis on the sin of others than on the power of the cross</i>?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We follow a gospel plus nothing</i>.</span></li>
<li><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We don't need Jesus plus special prayers. Or Jesus plus our knowledge of our ancestor's sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></li>
<li><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the truth: we are all under a generational curse – the original sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet Jesus's outrageous act on the cross once and for all frees us from the worst of all curses: sin and death.</span></i></li>
<li><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having a high view of God and a proper theology of Satan helps us live victoriously, not overly scared of Satan's traps, but living in proper fear of a holy, powerful God who loves us and has already secured our deliverance.</span></i></li>
<li><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We must think rightly about God, His power, and His ability to conquer our already-defeated foe.</span></i></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Father made a way to Him through his Son dying on the cross.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We don't have to jump through any kind of hoops to be healed from our forefather's junk.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(It's a good thing, because I'm not sure I could figure out what kind of mess they were into.)</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank Him for it and move on! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Written by Jennifer Baierl</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>WCW Social Media Coordinator</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">June 26, 2013 by <i>Jennifer Baierl</i></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seeking Repentance for a True Hope</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow ladies, can you believe that we are half-way through our study?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am getting so much out of it and I am blessed daily through digging deeper than just reading the verses on the page.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The community that we have truly facilitates a bond that allows growth in our faith and a closeness with the Father.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just last week, Job was humbled by God. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God gave Job a reality check of who He is and who Job was not.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week, we see a repentant Job as he responds to the Lord.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text">"I'm convinced: You can do anything and everything.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text">Nothing and no one can upset your plans.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text">You asked, 'Who is this muddying the water,</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text">ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?'</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text">I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me,</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text">made small talk about wonders way over my head.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text">You told me, 'Listen, and let me do the talking.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text">Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.'</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text">I admit I once lived by rumors of you;</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text">now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears!</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text">I'm sorry—forgive me. I'll never do that again, I promise!</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text">I'll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor</span><span class="text">."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Job 42: 1-6 MSG</span></span></span></span></i></b></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do we sometimes live by rumors of God?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do we only know the God of the Bible, the God who lives inside of others, and performed miracles in the Bible?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have we missed out on the One who LIVES inside of us, the One who speaks life and fashioned every beautiful piece of us?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is HOPE in the living God!</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Confess it, like Job, let God wash you in his forgiveness, and then walk in freedom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." <span style="font-size: x-small;">1 John 1:9 NIV</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We know that Job's friends gave poor counsel.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Job and God both had reason to be angry with them.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God spoke to them about His anger, but He gave them a way to atone for their sins.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He asked them to offer a burnt sacrifice and told them that Job would pray for their wrong doing.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, my heart needed that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I have wronged a friend, or if they have ever wronged me, praying for them is ALWAYS the answer!! God accepted Job's prayer for his friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was abounding hope!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lord, I am overwhelmed by a need to ask you to keep us in check.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>When we want to question your motives or who You are, let us fall with repentant hearts, seeking to serve the REAL you, not just a rumor thereof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen</b>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Written by Jennifer Baierl</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>WCW Social Media Coordinator</i></span></div>
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WCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446488213158201523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-26714769558054478832013-06-20T06:49:00.000-04:002013-06-20T06:49:11.627-04:00Abounding Hope: Week 5--Got Hope?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>June 19, 2013 by <em>Michelle Walker-Alexander</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Got Hope?</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even without the black backdrop most will immediately recognize the popular tag line that has been used to promote everything from milk to vacations. I would guess that many have seen the shirts asking if you "got Jesus?". Sure its a clever line but what's your answer? Do you have hope even when everything that can go wrong has? Or when you can't see how you can possibly face tomorrow?....
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">got hope? This is a question with only one right answer. Thank Heaven YES!
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>"My help comes from The Lord, who made heaven and earth"
</em></strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Psalm 121:2</em></strong>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the span of a few days Job faced loss after loss and yet he continued to stand firm in his knowledge of The Lord. In the face of a relentless wind and a driving rain Job stood his ground. He didn't cower or hide, he didn't plea or beg. Instead Job lives the word, <strong><em>" ...seek God, and to God I would commit my cause.." Job 5:8</em></strong>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How could Job possibly know and believe in the face of such despair? Job knew because he truly knew of God's awesome power! Even as his friend, Elihu spoke of God's majesty, I see Job violently agreeing.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>The continual challenge for us is to stand firm.</strong> To believe even when we want to cry out in defeat. To trust even when we want to run and hide. Know what we know even when what we see is dark and discouraging.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let our hearts mediate on this song-
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Psalm 121
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>I lift up my eyes to the hills.
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>From where does my help come?
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>My help comes from The Lord,
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>who made heaven and earth.
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>He will not let your foot be moved;
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>he who keeps you will not slumber.
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Behold, he who keeps Israel
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>will neither slumber nor sleep.
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>The Lord is your keeper;
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>The sun shall not strike you by day,
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>nor the moon by night.
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>The Lord will keep you from all evil;
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>he will keep your life.
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>from this time forth and forevermore.
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Would you share how has hope arisen in your heart recently?</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><em>Written by Michelle Walker Alexander</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><em>WCW Social Media Community Group Co-Leader</em></span>WCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446488213158201523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-48335140466669449222013-06-19T19:09:00.000-04:002013-06-19T19:09:28.505-04:00Beautiful Battle Book Club: Chapter 3<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Right Story: God’s Sovereignty The Wrong Story: Our Comfort</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In this chapter, Mary DeMuth states what most of us think about spiritual warfare but are usually afraid to admit out loud.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em></em></strong></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>“In a book about spiritual warfare, you might expect me to talk about God wanting us all to be healthy, wealthy, and perfectly happy—with favorable circumstances awaiting us around every bend of obedience. That the goal of our ardent prayers should be happiness.</em></strong> </span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: Arial;">But sometimes life is plain messy. And Satan isn’t behind every annoyance. It’s simplistic to think that Satan is our only obstacle on this earth, that he throws away our money, attacks us with illnesses, and revokes our prosperity. We forget the devil’s greatest schemes, tempting us to want pleasure, stuff, and achievement more than we want God.”</span></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Often I recognize the devil’s attacks against me, but I fail to fight his long-term goal. If I am honest, I seek victory more than I seek God. And I fight for peace, safety and happiness, rather than pressing into the Presence of my Heavenly Father even more! I find myself worn out from the fight. And usually alone. Loneliness is the only way that I can learn what God is working into or out of my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>“It’s being near to Him even when it looks like He’s forsaken you. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>It’s discipleship. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>It’s learning to have joy in pain. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>That’s the kind of life that stands out in a crazy, needy world. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>Not the kind of faith that guarantees benefit, but one that shines brightly even when life knocks it down.”</em></strong> </span></div>
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<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happiness Addiction</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The Bible says we should welcome trials as our friends. But instead, I have to admit that I, too, have been a happiness addict. But happiness eludes me and I wallow in discontentment. What do I do to break this addiction to “me”? Mary gives these ideas:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Serve somebody</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Addict yourself to heaven (with the reality of heaven & it’s rewards)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Practice being uncomfortable</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Take a Kingdom risk (do something you need God to accomplish—like a missions trip)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Give away your stuff</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Actively rejoice when something is amiss</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Step outside your comfort zone (do what Jesus would do even if it is hard)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Practice self-denial (forgo something you crave)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Study the countercultural beautitudes (upside-down kingdom)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Live the American dream in reverse (save money in order to give it away)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Practice contentment (learn the art of having enough)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Rekindle your belief in God’s sovereignty. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>I embrace the sovereignty of God when I choose to believe the truth that everything that touches my life has His authority behind it. </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And then I worship Him. I declare my faith and hope in the One that I cannot see. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em> <span style="color: #e06666;">“our praise in the midst of pain deals a blow to the Enemy of our souls. It testifies to the angels that God is strong when we are weak and needy. That is the crux of spiritual warfare, to declare to the Enemy and his demons that God is God and we are not.”</span></em></strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">By doing this, we draw closer to God and pronounce that no amount of pleasure, stuff or achievement can satisfy like Him! And the devil runs off in defeat because He couldn’t use us to hurt God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And may we remember that </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">“<strong><em>the purpose of our suffering isn’t to have a great testimony. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>No, trials and struggles and distresses simply help us become more like Jesus. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>More selfless. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>More giving. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>More hope-filled. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>More forgiving. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>More abundant.”</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Written by Angela Smith</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">WCW Director </span></div>
WCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446488213158201523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-43108288799459903622013-06-15T23:43:00.001-04:002013-06-15T23:43:35.918-04:00Update on the Beautiful Battle Book Club<h3>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RECALCULATING</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the word that my GPS says when I missed my turn. And to say that I have missed my turn on this new book club blogging adventure is an understatement!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You see, I just way overcommitted myself for this summer. Usually I take the summer off to refresh and just slow down for a few sweet months with my family. But God put the Abounding Hope Bible study AND the Beautiful Battle book on our hearts for this summer. I believe that God's timing is perfect because He is so faithful to prepare us for what we will face next!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, recalculating means that I am going to adjust to schedule to something a LOT more realistic for you and me both! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead of covering 2 chapters each week (in order to finish this summer), I will be posting about ONE chapter each week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So far, we have covered chapters 1-2. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Monday, June 17th we will pick up with Chapter 3. So if you haven't started reading along with us, you have time to catch up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And thank you for your patience with me. I pray that all of us are learning to find a better pace so that we do things that truly matter!</span></div>
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WCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446488213158201523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-9919745808454666022013-06-15T13:28:00.002-04:002013-06-15T13:28:32.303-04:00Abounding Hope: Week 4--Words of Hope<div dir="ltr">
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<h3>
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Job's Friends</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These three men (Job 2:11-13) traveled a long distance to go comfort their friend who had suffered so very much. They started out doing all the compassionate things friends should do--they grieved with him, they stayed with him and <b>they gave him the gift of silent presence to mourn his circumstances.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But then they started talking. Words began to spill out of them like water rushes over Niagra Falls. They analyzed the situation from their human perspective, seeking to find some explanation for the troubles or trials. Like us, they tried to protect themselves by trying to figure out why Job was going through this horrific tragedy. Somehow, we think that if we can think of a reason for their pain, we sort of insulate ourselves from it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Being a good friend doesn't mean you have all the answers. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Love simply says I am with you!</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And if words are necessary, they are best found in prayer.</span></div>
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<blockquote style="background-image: url(http://www.hellomornings.org/wp-content/themes/outreach/images/blockquote.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: none; line-height: 24px; margin: 5px 5px 20px; padding: 25px 30px 5px 70px;">
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>For my thoughts are not your thoughts,</b></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>For as the heavens are higher than the earth,</b></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>so are my ways higher than your ways</b></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>and my thoughts than your thoughts.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Isaiah 55:8-9</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Words of hope only come as we let the Holy Spirit use our mouths to speak His thoughts.</span></span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">As the old saying goes, "think before you speak", we must determine to choose words that are helpful, gentle and sensitive.<b> </b></span></span><b style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each word should be a gift that inspires one to keep trusting in God! </span></b></div>
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<b style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently I was watching a movie that included this <a href="http://youtu.be/PY5xNe8PrUg" target="_blank">stunning domino sequence</a> set up. When all the dominoes fell down, a spectacular image was revealed. And I realized that our words are just like that. Our words work in conjunction with the words of others! But do our words reveal more of Jesus Christ or do they reveal shackles that hold us hostage to despair? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br />
</span></span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); color: #e06666;"><b><i>Don't live any longer the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you. And you will agree that what he wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NIRV)</i></b></span></span></blockquote>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every day that we spend time reading the Bible, praying & learning God's ways, we are fulfilling God's promise to make us a new creation! And our relationships will be full of the grace and hope of our Heavenly Father! In the end, we will say with Job, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br />
</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); color: red;"><b>Have you been given word gifts of hope? Tell us about it in the comments below.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); color: red;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); color: red;"><i>Written by Angela Smith</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); color: red;"><i>WCW Director</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">June 5, 2013 by <i>Jennifer Baierl</i></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We begin our study this week watching Job suffer greatly through terrible sores all over his body.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Satan was certain that Job would curse God if he were to suffer physically.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What we see instead, is that Job is wise in saying "</span><span class="text" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive disaster?" (Job 2: 10)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span> </span><span class="text" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">… But God already knew this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows our every thought before we speak them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<b><i><span class="text" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Even before a word is on my tongue,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="text" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">behold, O </span><span class="small-caps" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span></i></b><span class="text" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>, you know it altogether." </b></i></span></div>
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<span class="text" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Psalm 139:4</i></span></div>
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<span class="text" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He made me, you, and Job!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are beautifully crafted by His hand and there is nothing that escapes him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entire chapter of Psalm 139 describes how God knew us in the hidden depths of our mother's wombs, even before that, when we were still just part of the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think of what it is like to be known down to my very fiber, knowing that I don't know myself that well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does this all relate to Job?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because God knew that He could trust Job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew that Job's integrity was upright and that even under affliction, he would not curse God.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text Ps-139-13" id="en-ESV-16253" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">For you <span style="font-size: 0.65em;"><span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-16253P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)"></span></span>formed my inward parts;</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-13" style="position: relative;">you <span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-16253Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></span>knitted me together in my mother's womb.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="text Ps-139-14" id="en-ESV-16254" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;"> </span>I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="text Ps-139-14" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-16254R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)"></span>Wonderful are your works; m</span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-139-14" style="position: relative;">y soul knows it very well. </span></span></span></i></b></blockquote>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-139-14" style="position: relative;">Psalms 139:13-14 ESV</span></span> </span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we are suffering, do we suffer in silence?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do we cry out to the Lord, thinking He doesn't hear us?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do we cry to our girlfriends or our spouse?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or do we go to the Lord, believing in His word, knowing that He cares for us and has our best interest at heart?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We cannot go anywhere that the Lord is not aware of our comings and goings, or aware of our desires.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He knows that we are suffering and longs to hear the cries of our hearts.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>"I will cry to God Most High, Who performs on my behalf and rewards me</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b> [Who brings to pass His purposes for me and surely completes them]!" </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b> Psalm 57:2 AMP</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lessons I learned this week:</span></h3>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Job was faithful even after losing his family, his fortune, and being stricken with physical affliction.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are NEVER out of the presence of the Lord, no matter what pit we think we're in!</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Psalm 139:7)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are NEVER forgotten by the Lord, no matter how long you have been seeking an answer! (Psalm 139: 3)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God hears our EVERY plea and cry to him, but may not choose to act on our timing.</span></li>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Watching Job suffer so greatly sometimes diminishes my suffering when I look back, but I know that it's suffering, none the less.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Do you have an example of suffering where you relied on the Lord to navigate your days no matter what His answer?</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Written by Jennifer Baierl</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>WCW Social Media Coordinator</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">May 29, 2013 <i>by Michelle Walker-Alexander</i></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Job is a man "...that was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned from evil" (Job 1:1 ESV). So a question for many might be, why Job? What can Job teach us about hope?<br /><br />I think the beauty of God's Word is that He provides us all with lessons or instructions on how to live our lives. In His infinite wisdom, The Lord as provided us with a history of relationship. This week as we meet Job, we are immediately told that he is a righteous, obedient man who loses much of what he values in just a few moments. In the midst of his storm Job "....fell to the ground and worshipped".<br /><br />This week's study has revealed two critical truths:</span><br />
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<li><b>Job could praise God through any circumstance because he praised God in every circumstance.</b> Job was able to praise in the face of his profound loss, because he was a man that lived in a committed relationship with God. As a result of his relationship with God, Job was practiced, ready and able to communicate with the Father.</li>
<li><b>Living a hope filled life will not always be a pretty life.</b> Living hope is so much more than being hopeful. I can be hopeful for a nice sunny day when I'm planning a day beach but I reach for a different place, a deeper faith when the heavy rains are unleashed and turbulent winds toss me to and fro. To truly walk in hope and trust in God is to be in relationship with Him though every circumstance, every situation at every opportunity. </li>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May we follow the example of Job, by always cultivating our relationship with God so that we may live a life of abounding hope.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><i>Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you. </i></b></span></span></div>
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<b style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Psalm 33:22</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Written by Michelle Walker-Alexander</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>WCW Social Media Community Group Co-Leader </i></span>
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<strong style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chapter 2--</span></strong><strong style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Satan’s Story: Understanding the Enemy Who Cowers and Towers</span></strong></h2>
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<strong style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 NIV </span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This chapter is so very important and full of profoundly important details. It proved right something that I have said for a long time. <span style="line-height: 1.42em;">"I can handle anything as long as I know what I am dealing with".</span> And Mary DeMuth did an incredible job of laying all the proverbial cards on the table regarding Satan's history and his ambition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With that in mind, I am mindful that there are many who might be reading this blog series on <b><u>Beautiful Battle</u></b> but are not actually reading the book along with us. So today I am including more quotes than I originally intended so that we can all be reinforced with truth. Truth about who Satan was & how he became what he is today. I believe this is so very important because too often we have believed the lie that Satan is the antithesis of God, and thus have given him authority that is equal to God’s. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2028&version=NIV" target="_blank">Ezekiel 28:2, 12-17</a> is the best Biblical description of Lucifer who became known as Satan. </span></div>
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<strong style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are a few of my favorite quotes from this chapter.</span></strong></div>
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<strong style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Once Upon a Time</span></strong></div>
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<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>But something shifted in a hiccup of a moment. A slight reorientation of the gaze from God's splendor to his own. Every day the amount of time spent gazing at God ebbed in light of Satan’s newfound affection for himself, his beauty, his power. He may have reasoned, Surely there is a place in this kingdom for more than one God. <strong style="line-height: 1.42em;">He sowed discontent</strong> among other angelic servants, plotting to set up his own kingdom where the servants would follow him, revere him, extol his beauty.</i></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><strong style="line-height: 1.42em;">Pleasure. Stuff. Achievement.</strong> <strong style="line-height: 1.42em;">Satan craved pleasure outside of what God provided</strong>. He saw himself as worthy of worship, and he prided himself on his ability to be like God. Since there can be only one true God, and because Satan is merely a created being incapable of creation, God’s loving act was to banish him and his cohorts. </i></span></div>
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<strong style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. God Fashions the Earth</span></strong></div>
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<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Satan saw God’s deep affection for this man, this woman, his anger ignited. He might not be able to compete with this all-powerful Creator God, but he could maim and mar the Creator’s new love. </span></em></li>
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>His (Satan's) tactic became deception and lies and his three fallbacks. Pleasure. Stuff. Achievement. So he slithered to the woman, whispered in her ear that God withheld pleasure. . . <strong style="line-height: 1.42em;">He made her crave something outside of God’s stated provision.</strong> He portrayed God’s goodness as restriction, practically parading the fruit before her as evidence that God had no intention of making her happy, taunting her with achievement-oriented words, words about being like God, understanding the nature of good and evil. <strong style="line-height: 1.42em;">he deceived her until she not only wanted the forbidden fruit, but also believed she needed it</strong>.</i></span></li>
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>In that moment, he heard God’s groan—an agony that made Satan smile. So that’s all it takes, he thought. Mess with God’s crowning achievement, and you hurt Him.</i></span></li>
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<strong style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. God Sends His Son</span></strong></div>
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<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Satan threw his entire arsenal at Christ during his foray on earth. In recorded history to that point, no one engaged and cast out as many demons as Jesus did during His three years of ministry on the earth. Yet He employed no tactics or gimmicks in doing so. Jesus’s exorcisms were swift and clean. It’s fascinating to study the words of demons in response to Jesus. They present the most astute, compelling theology, forced to tell the truth about Jesus every time He calls them out.</i></span></li>
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<strong style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Truth To Never Forget about Satan</span></strong></h3>
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<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The god of this world seeks to subvert the message of God. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)</i></span></span></li>
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>It is important to note that Satan is in no way God's equal. He is finite. He is created. He is uncreative. <strong style="line-height: 1.42em;">He can’t be everywhere; therefore it’s important not to say “Satan’s tempting me,” as he can only be in one physical place at a time</strong>. . . <strong style="line-height: 1.42em;">He is not all-knowing. He is not all-powerful.</strong> Though he roars a huge show, his ultimate position is below the blood of Jesus. He cannot stand beneath the power of the cross of the risen Christ.</i></span></span></li>
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Since he creates nothing and can only counterfeit or destroy what God creates, <strong style="line-height: 1.42em;">his best weapons are to tell lies about God’s creation and incite you to believe those lies.</strong></i></span></li>
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<span style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And he loves to tackle new believers with his seeming favorite sin: pride. “An elder must not be a new believer,” Paul cautioned in his letter to Timothy, “because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall” (1 Timothy 3:6).</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>One of Satan’s names is Destroyer. Nothing delights Satan more than tearing down what God builds. <strong style="line-height: 1.42em;">Satan does destroy. And one way he does that is to de-story us (to rework the letters a bit). He wants to rob us of the victorious story we long to share with a sin-weary world. My friend Malcolm puts it: “We insult Jesus when we live defeated lives.” And we cower to Satan when we allow him to write our stories.</strong></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.42em;">There is just so much in this chapter! But </span><span style="line-height: 1.42em;">I believe the primary issue here is <strong style="line-height: 1.42em;">our response to who he is/is not and his tactics.</strong> </span>This last quote is a BIG DEAL. Do you remember what Revelation 12:11 says?<b><span style="color: #cc0000;"> "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony (story)!"</span></b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we recognize that "Satan's biggest foe is not you or me by ourselves; it's our collective body as the church. AND when we stop taking every attack personally and simply acknowledge that <span style="line-height: 1.42em;">Satan </span><span style="line-height: 1.42em;">accuses the church day and night, we will regain our footing! You and I are The Church, and he is terrified of what will happen if we start moving forward. So just grasp this truth: If you’ve ever felt condemned, unworthy, shamed, dirty, stupid, or deeply embarrassed, chances are Satan had some sort of hand in it." </span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Let us heed this Scripture as we leave today. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>“Stay alert!” warns Peter. “Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. </i></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. </i></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. </i></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are” </i></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>(1 Peter 5:8-9)</b></span></blockquote>
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<strong style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reflection questions</span></strong></div>
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<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you agree with Mary that pride is Satan’s favorite sin? Why or why not?</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What does Peter suggest to do about the devil in 1 Peter 5:8-9?</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What does it mean to say that Satan wants to “de-story” us?</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.42em;">Why should we not overly worry about Satan’s plans?</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Determine to keep moving in obedience, remaining faithful to My call on you. So much more is at stake than you know right now. I will reveal in time. Keep my word in your heart and let me strengthen you. I will not forsake you during this trial." </b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(a word Holy Spirit spoke to my heart in March 2013) </span></b></span></span></div>
WCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446488213158201523noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-34998329387120081502013-05-22T16:49:00.000-04:002013-05-22T16:49:18.390-04:00Abounding Hope: Week 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/RiqV6XMo3fmaV4-4Fk3c9wJn82uKhbfbKm6QDr2EtsRQigT-7KVLSnQaiY83IA1c5G7Jjvn-KctRWwOqKS_6YgsICvjUVwlb-mVylg5XcHnJAXvToECtYESVFaNdGcXFaqRvKw" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/RiqV6XMo3fmaV4-4Fk3c9wJn82uKhbfbKm6QDr2EtsRQigT-7KVLSnQaiY83IA1c5G7Jjvn-KctRWwOqKS_6YgsICvjUVwlb-mVylg5XcHnJAXvToECtYESVFaNdGcXFaqRvKw" width="253" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Desperate for Hope</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know that all of us have some situation, some relationship, some unknown that aims to steal our hope. The level of desperation might vary but the power of hope is pushing many of us to a new level of pursuit. Pursuit of the giver of Hope. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"May the God of hope</b></span> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> fill you with all joy and peace in</b></span> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>believing, so that by the power of the</b></span> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Holy Spirit you may abound in hope" </b></span> </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Romans 15:13</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The word abound is defined as <i><u>to be rich or well supplied; to occur or exist in great quantities</u></i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How do we obtain this kind of hope?</span><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Living Hope</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Jesus Christ, through his resurrection from the dead, provides for us the living (abounding) hope. There are many who seek hope--but any hope outside of Christ is simply counterfeit! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The Reformation Study Bible has this to say about hope: “</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">In the Bible, hope is not uncertainty or wishful thinking, but a confident expectation of future blessing based on facts and promises. “Living” indicates the undying and permanent character of this hope</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">.”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Through Jesus we can know that what God promises are true and will never change!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope Requires Faith</span></h3>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"We are being guarded by His power through our faith! It's like a full circle. If we didn't have the trials, we wouldn't have as much faith. With the faith we cannot see how much He is protecting/guarding us. Without the protection, we couldn't make it through those trials." Emily B.</b></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #222222;">Faith comes by hearing (reading aloud) the Word of God. So let's dig into our Bible to find Truth that silences the lies, calms the fears, heals the sick and wounded. We can be confident that hope will begin to well up in our hearts!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>We'd love to chat with you. . .</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> comment & tell us<b><i> in what situations or struggles could you use some hope?</i></b> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348057873l/11760422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348057873l/11760422.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go grab your book, Beautiful Battle--A Woman's Guide to Spiritual Warfare (paperback or electronic) and let’s get started! <br />
We will be praying for you and can’t wait to see what God does as we dialogue in community over this book. We would love for you to use this journal to aide you in your growth as a mom and to foster space where you may interact with the living God!</span><br />
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<h4>
<strong style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our Reading Schedule (<a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7BLWexfdMEqQUJ4ZjN3T0tXVUE/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">download here</a></span></strong><strong style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">) </span></strong></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plan to read the chapter by the date listed. We’ll start discussing that chapter on the date listed in the schedule. We have chosen to be realistic and only focus on two chapters per week – because the reality is that this is all we will have time to digest, especially if you are involved in another Bible Study.</span><br />
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<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MAY 21: Kick Off & Chapter 1</span></b></li>
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May 23: Chapter 2 </span></b></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After you have read all of Chapter 1, take time to complete the Reflection Questions below. The reflection questions are a great way to help process what you’ve read and apply it to your life. Don’t skip these. They are an important of the learning process. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please share favorite quotes, Scriptures, and “a-ha” moments from Chapter 1 in the comment section over the next few days.</span></div>
<h3>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chapter 1--Our Story: The Gaping Hole and Freedom</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.42em;"><strong style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Key Verse: Jeremiah 2:13 NIV</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.42em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-2-13" id="en-NIV-18979" style="line-height: 1.42em;">“My people have committed two sins:</span><br />
<span class="text Jer-2-13" style="line-height: 1.42em;">They have forsaken me, </span><span class="indent-1" style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span class="text Jer-2-13" style="line-height: 1.42em;">the spring of living water,</span></span><br />
<span class="text Jer-2-13" style="line-height: 1.42em;">and have dug their own cisterns, </span><span class="indent-1" style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span class="text Jer-2-13" style="line-height: 1.42em;">broken cisterns that cannot hold water."</span></span></span></span></div>
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<b style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are a few of my favorite quotes from this chapter.</span></b></div>
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<strong style="line-height: 1.42em;"><em style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Defining Gaping Holes</span></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"As long as I allow the gaping hole to remain, I will continue to struggle with this sin, this gnawing need. </em><em style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">What does this have to do with spiritual warfare? Everything. </em><em style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Because our raw woundedness is the primary opening the enemy uses to attack our souls. Our own bent toward filling the gaping hole will continue to lead us to darker and more insidious situations as we claw at significance. Obsessions form. Hiding becomes our way of life. Addictions flourish. If we do not deal with our deficits truthfully in the light, Satan's darkness may be our lot. And in that darkness, we start believing his terrible lies." </em></span></div>
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<strong style="line-height: 1.42em;"><em style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. We Are the Woman at the Well</span></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"That's where spiritual warfare begins--leaving our own methods of filling our gaping holes at the well and allowing Jesus to fill every thirsty, needy place with His Living Water. </em><em style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">And yet we struggle. . . Finding full satisfaction in Christ is the beginning of the spiritual warfare journey, but its not the entirety of it." </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> 3.</b> <strong style="line-height: 1.42em;"><em style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Dance</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <em style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"Spiritual warfare has more to do with the state of your heart before a holy God than a list of things to do or avoid. It involves interaction,sometimes confusion, falling down, getting back up. It involves your willingness to look foolish, to take crazy steps, to trust God's voice. While there are principles to kow and practice, it's your ability to trust in God's power and authority that will bring about the victorious life." </em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="line-height: 1.42em;">REFLECTION QUESTIONS:</strong> </span></div>
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<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How does the enemy use our gaping hole against us?</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What lies in the list on page 14 do you struggle with?</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is your gaping hole? What is the only solution for your gaping hole?</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.42em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What are Satan’s main tactics? How does he try to use your gaping hole against you?</span></strong></li>
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What does Jesus mean in John 7:37-38?</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 1.42em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How does Revelation 12:11 tell you to live? How can testimonies be powerful? How can they further God’s kingdom?</span></li>
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WCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446488213158201523noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-27426355224634732022013-05-14T06:30:00.000-04:002013-06-19T19:15:47.077-04:00BEAUTIFUL BATTLE Book Club<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Warfare…hell…demons…I’m just trying to drive my kids to school and stay on top of the laundry.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What does any of that have to do with me?</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With passion and strength, Mary DeMuth brings balance and insight to the often murky realm of spiritual warfare. As you embrace the abundant life to which God calls his daughters, she’ll tell you why your voice matters for eternity. <b>And on the darkest days, you’ll know that spiritual warfare is about bowing before the Creator, not cowering before the devil. It’s about finding freedom and beauty in the midst of devastation. </b>It’s about the power of God to heal our hearts, to move mountains, to intercede when we’re weary. It’s about crucifixion and a defiant, glorious resurrection." Mary DeMuth, Author of Beautiful Battle</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God has been putting this book before me for months and kept reminding me of the Scripture in Esther 4:14</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">"For if you remain silent </span><sup class="crossreference" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-12777I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">at this time, relief</span><sup class="crossreference" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-12777J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> and deliverance</span><sup class="crossreference" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-12777K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> for the Jews (your people) will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this</b>?" (ephasis added)</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The days we are in are truly dark and the Enemy is working very hard to intimidate us with fear and anxiety. But God has not given us a spirit of fear, but rather He has given us power to overcome the evil in this world! <i>Beautiful Battle is a must-read for every woman. Mary DeMuth artfully explains the reality of spiritual warfare in easy to understand terms teaching us to claim the victory that is ours in Christ without inciting fear or minimizing the realities of Satan’s work in this world. She gently and confidently reminds us of the ever important truth that God is bigger."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Book Club: We will cover 2 chapters per week (ideally) and a brief overview & discussion questions will be posted here on Tuesdays & Thursdays.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="color: red;">Purchase your book <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/beautiful-battle-womans-guide-spiritual-warfare/mary-demuth/9780736943802/pd/943802" target="_blank">here</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Battle-Womans-Spiritual-Warfare/dp/0736943803" target="_blank">here</a></span></b>. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>It is our hope that you will grab a few friends & read through this book & discuss it in a small group format! It might very well be the best gift you could give them--the power to be free from fear & draw closer to the power of Christ's Resurrection.</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<br />WCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446488213158201523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-42046453530319773942013-05-12T22:48:00.000-04:002013-05-20T14:07:27.144-04:00Abounding Hope Bible Study <h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer Online Connect Group</span></h3>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">REGISTRATION: May 13-18, 2013 (see form below)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer Session: May 20-August 16th</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bible Study Materials: </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Abounding-Quench-Bible-Series-ebook/dp/B00B1AYDN8" target="_blank">Abounding Hope</a></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> by Katie Orr & Lara Williams </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Our studies are designed with the busy woman in mind and can be completed in 15 minutes, while leaving room for digging deeper if you have time</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will also have a weekly Abounding Hope post here on the blog, for extra encouragement. Anyone is welcome to join in this 13 week study even if you are not taking the HelloMornings challenge! Just grab your copy of Abounding Hope (available as a </span><a href="http://quenchbible.com/bible-studies/hope/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">PDF download</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> or on </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B1AYDN8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B1AYDN8&linkCode=as2&tag=quenchbible-20" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Kindle</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">) and join us back here on the blog every Wednesday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Week 1: What is Hope?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Week 2: A Portrait of Hope Abounding: Job</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Week 3: How to Suffer Well</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Week 4: Choosing Words Which Offer Hope</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Week 5: How Hope Can Arise</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Week 6: The Turn Around</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Week 7: Blessing Follows Faith</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Week 8: Trials are Temporary</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Week 9: The Hope of Joseph</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Week 10: The Sovereign Lord</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Week 11: Fear Has No Place</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Week 12: Immeasurable Love</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Week 13: Abounding Hope</span></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="700" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/embeddedform?formkey=dFZHaWQ2YTNkYjJvLWpLeDV6ZHhkYmc6MQ" width="760">Loading...</iframe><br />WCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446488213158201523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-50864591920502858132013-03-18T12:40:00.001-04:002013-03-18T12:40:25.804-04:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>March 18, 2013 @ONE event </b></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>7:00-9:00pm</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (is 2 hours together ever enough time?) {wink, wink}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Brown Chapel @ Christian Life Church</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Childcare 6:45 - 9:15</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You Will Be Glad You Did"</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 19.984375px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever been tempted to escape your real life & all that is mundane for something that is more exciting & fun? Are you just weary or disappointed in all that it takes to do this life you find yourself in? You are not the only one. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 19.984375px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Come join us as we seek the grace of our Heavenly Father & get rescued out of the sea of guilt! Let's discover how to embrace & engage with the life God we have. . .the very real daily life that brings God glory & us great pleasure! You will be glad you did (and so with your family, friends!) </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 19.984375px;">In keeping with our theme for this year of "I WILL SHINE", our verse for tonight is:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 19.984375px;"> "</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 19.984375px;">She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong. She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night." </span></b></span><b style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 19.984375px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Proverbs 31:17-18 NASB) </span></span></b></blockquote>
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WCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446488213158201523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-5420588133452110922013-01-31T16:23:00.000-05:002013-02-04T11:31:44.081-05:00UPDATED Winter 2013 Community Groups<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently I have been writing & speaking a lot about circles. Specifically doing life in circles instead of rows.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Circles bring us face to face with each other. Circles create a place to be authentic. Circles are where life is no longer filled with loneliness and lies but sisterhood and truth! </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, which circle will you find your place? There are several to choose from that will fit your location & schedule. So go ahead and click on the group that you prefer & tell them you are going to finally experience life in circles! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">UNGLUED by Lysa TerKeurst </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(RSS & email readers, <b><a href="http://youtu.be/PgTRhaHglqs" target="_blank">click here to watch the video</a></b>)</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">IRMO: Angela Smith</span></b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mondays, February 11th--April 1st <span style="font-size: x-small;">(except for 2/25 and 3/18 which are @ONE event dates)</span></span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LEXINGTON (29073): Jen Baierl</span></b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tuesdays, February 12th -- March 19th</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6:30-8:00 pm</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">STUCK by Jennie Allen</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(RSS & email readers, </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://youtu.be/KMzh11pVQ2g" target="_blank">click here to watch the video</a></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">)</span>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LEXINGTON (29072): Jenny Steele</b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sundays, February 10th -- March 17th</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6:00--7:30 pm</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These groups will meet to watch a short DVD & then discuss the book by the same title.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can purchase your books at local bookstores <span style="font-size: x-small;">(they will not be available at the church bookstore) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Maximum size of groups is 12 so sign up now by completing the simple form below.</b> They will email you all the details you will need to get started!</span></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1i0oUXwFlIvuRXyhtc7a7hkk2z-Y7AsaMM_p3jvLgrBM/viewform?embedded=true" width="760">Loading...</iframe>WCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446488213158201523noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6750467018759969105.post-73074365860719785382013-01-24T11:20:00.000-05:002013-01-24T11:20:09.404-05:00January 2013 @ONE Event<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4drvzN1kWK0/UFyYTFAIyQI/AAAAAAAAAAM/GCXFVEi4AG4/s320/I+Will+SHINE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4drvzN1kWK0/UFyYTFAIyQI/AAAAAAAAAAM/GCXFVEi4AG4/s320/I+Will+SHINE.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">January 28th, 2013</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7:00-9:00 pm </span></div>
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Christian Life Church in the Brown Chapel</div>
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"The Rescue Light of the Holy Spirit "</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the days when life feels like it is falling apart. When marriage to "him" feels anything but blissful. And when motherhood is so much <b>harder</b> than I ever imagined. When work seems impossible. When my prayers seem to never reach heaven. THAT is when we need to be rescued from the darkness that is closing in around us!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Come join the conversation about how the Holy Spirit shines the Light of Hope & Truth in the midst of the messiness of life! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;"> Real women. </span></b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Real life. Real faith. </span></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </span></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="776" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/embeddedform?formkey=dFowNVBKYUNpUkNsRy1vS01aYUIyRFE6MQ" width="760"></iframe></h4>
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Some set New Year's Resolutions. Other's give up something in the New Year. Other's skip out on all the potential for failure at that new thing. But a friend of mine gave a brand new perspective. </div>
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<strong><a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2013/01/how-to-begin-new-habits-free-daily-planner/" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">"A habit is what we wear. A habit is the way we wear our days.</span></i></a></strong></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2013/01/how-to-begin-new-habits-free-daily-planner/" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>Wear new habits and your life gets a makeover.</strong><strong></strong></span></i></a></blockquote>
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<strong><a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2013/01/how-to-begin-new-habits-free-daily-planner/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Consistently do things at the same time everyday and find yourself a new person.</i>" </span></a></strong><strong style="color: black; font-weight: 400 !important;"> </strong></blockquote>
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<strong style="color: black; font-weight: 400 !important;">Ann Voskamp--author of One Thousand Gifts and A Holy Experience blog</strong></blockquote>
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There are many habits we should wear. <i>But none so important as studying God by studying His Word</i>. </div>
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<b>It is more than going to church. It is <i>being</i> the church. Not in rows but in circles.</b> Circles where God is revealed through the holy embracing the every day. In tender conversation of the new, the true, the powerful. </div>
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And we believe that habits happen easier and last longer when formed in circles. Yes, Circles are for you! To know and be known. To belong to the family of God. And we have a place just for you. <br />
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Online Community Groups are just one of the CIRCLES we will have for you this year. (more details on other circle-making opportunities coming soon!)</div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">WINTER SESSION Online COMMUNITY GROUPS</span></b></h3>
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<b>REGISTER NOW for the new session.<span style="color: #222222;"> </span></b><span style="color: #222222;">(if you are continuing in your same group as Fall 2012, no need to register again. But if you want to change groups, registration is needed. There is a limit of 15 per group)</span></div>
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<b>START Monday, January 14th</b><span style="color: #222222;">--it is an 8 week session (we can do anything for 8 weeks, right!)</span></div>
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<b>BIBLE STUDY</b><b>:</b><span style="color: #222222;"> we will be using a resource done by </span><a href="http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/2012/12/winter-session-enrollment-starts-today/" target="_blank"><span style="color: cyan;">Good Morning Girls</span></a><span style="color: #222222;"> (an online Bible study group) called </span><b><span style="color: orange;"><a href="http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Living-Like-Jesus-Luke-eBook.pdf" target="_blank">LIVING LIKE JESUS: Leaving our Comforts & Walking in Faith</a>.</span><span style="color: cyan;"> </span><span style="color: cyan;"> </span></b><b style="color: #222222;">It will cover Luke 1-8.</b><span style="color: #222222;"> (see the link below). In this study we will follow a reading guide through the Scriptures in Luke. Then we will use the SOAP format to dig a little deeper & respond to the passage that day. If this is new to you, see below for the explanation. If you want to just follow the study per your group leader's posts, then you don't need anything. But if you want the resource to print up or load to your Kindle or iBooks or other pdf apps, then </span><b><a href="http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Living-Like-Jesus-Luke-eBook.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: cyan;">click here</span></a></b><span style="color: #222222;"> to download the study. </span></div>
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">CHOOSE YOUR GROUP</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">: (register below)</span></div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><b>EMAIL COMMUNITY GROUP</b> (if you are still interested) will continue a <b>TUES & THURS format</b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><b>Facebook group </b>for WCWConnect is a <b>DAILY conversation</b> </li>
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<b>GET READY TO WEAR THIS NEW HABIT & GIVE YOUR LIFE A MAKEOVER! </b><br />
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See you Monday, January 14th! (all groups will post early in the mornings but you join in the conversation at a time that you can commit to!)<br />
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Let me leave you with one thought.<br />
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Perfection Isn’t The Goal, Faithfulness Is.</h2>
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<b>written by Angela Smith for WCWConnect blog post New Habits for a New Year.
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