The Intentional Life
....are you floating?
Beth Moore, in her study of Esther, says "If we're not surrendered to God already that day with our hearts and minds guarded by scripture, we'll more likely react by impulse than by the Holy Spirit".
Scott Allen, Pastor of HomeLife here at CCC, asked us "Can you float in the Christian life? Yes, but it is not advisable." Scott encouraged us, as Beth Moore did, to be intentional in our faith, to take it beyond Sunday morning and our woman's Bible study time into our homes, our work places and our neighborhoods.How can we, as women with over-scheduled lives and multiple responsibilities, make the choice to be intentional? Pray, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you to the choice of living an intentional life. Each morning surrender your day to God and read scripture so that your reactions to whatever life throws at you are guided by the Holy Spirit.How can we incorporate being intentional in our homes into our time in Bible study groups?
Here are a few suggestions. Make a note somewhere (inside cover of the study book, journal page, index card) of something from the video to share at dinner with your family. Or, jot down a Bible verse that spoke to you or that you don't understand and share it with others asking for their input. Children (and husbands for that matter) LOVE to be asked for advice. Write notes of a funny story from your study time to share with a friend at lunch or at work to intentionally open dialog about Jesus in your life.
The intentional part is writing it down !! Trust me, if you don't write it down, you won't remember! Take advantage of the resources and ideas in the new HomePointe Center in the chapel lobby.
Come early to Women's Bible study or stay late and grab some resources to help you be intentional in living out your faith at home. "For this very reason,
make every effort to add to your faith..." - 2 Peter 1:5 [encouragement by Barbara Reed]
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Something different is happening this spring... you
just cannot miss this unique and purposeful event that will be
held during our Spring Celebration Days in April...
SPRING BLING! Tuesday Evening, Apr 20, 7-9pm for
a spring salad buffet, and Wednesday Morning, Apr 21, 9:15-11:30am for a brunch, and Thursday
Morning, April 22,
9:15-11:30am for brunch. Fling your 'bling' - quality and costume jewelry,
scarves and purses that you are no longer using-our way for the first
annual SPRING BLING to benefit Sisters in Service, and TOGETHER let us turn
our finery into jewels of a different kind. Donations are being accepted
immediately through April 19th. You can participate by
donating and shopping: DONATE:
drop off your donations anytime before April 20th at the woman's table
in the main lobby SHOP: Spring Bling will
be held at the beginning and end of our Spring Celebrations, April 20th,
21st and 22nd. Come early for a great selection...linger afterwards to
hunt for some treasures. Questions? Contact Deborah,
610.696.0362 or email women@rootedtogrow.com ~~~~~~ The mission of Sisters in Service is to inform, mobilize
and equip advocates to extend God's love to women and children through
local partnerships in the least reached places of the world. Let's
share some sparkle and refine some gems for this purposeful effort. |
W i s i n g U p
...wherever life happens
3-week Spring Study this May
(FREE --- No Homework)
Bring a friend!
Back by popular demand, we'll be challenged by NEW teachings from Beth Moore on wise living. Join us for 3 weeks in May, for an inspiring teaching from Proverbs that we can apply to every day living.
This is a teaching study by Beth Moore (no homework). It is FREE, but we need you to register so we can plan seating. [Limited childcare available for $10/child/study]
Tuesday Evenings, 7-9pm
May 11, 18, 25
Wednesdays, 9:15-11:15am
May 12, 19, 26
Thursdays, 9:15-11:15am
May 13, 20, 27
Registration will be available online and in person after Easter.
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Spirit to Spirit
...Releasing your faith[encouragement by Linda Slavin]
"The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you." Luke 17(NIV)
Our spiritual journey is to leave behind all doubts and fears and to step out through faith and obedience, to take possession of all that God has provided for us and walk in all He is calling. When we face our circumstances with solid Biblical foundation concerning God's will, our faith will increase. If we are not convinced when circumstances come, our faith will begin to waver, we will begin to worry.
It takes faith to use the blessings God gives - not just faith to get them. Faith to use them. We must step out in faith by keeping our eyes off our circumstances and focusing on His promises and confessing His Word by Honoring Him with the faith He gives.Ask God to increase your faith and believe He will do it.
"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him." Mark 11 (NIV)
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Greetings!
April has arrived! And spring is awakening the earth. Spring
brings such a refreshment in the air - you can smell it and you can feel it.
Spring is a precious, spectacular time filled with bold colors, vibrant winds, and amazing growth. Spring awakens in us a new vision of hope
and renewal. I pray your spirits are feeling that same refreshment as we listen for God's
stirring each day. Pondering and praying about this new season brings some
excitement too ... anticipation for all God is doing and what He will continue to
do!  "Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone."- Zechariah 10:1
"The seasons are what a symphony ought to be: four perfect movements in harmony with each other."
- unknown author
"That God once loved a garden we learn in Holy writ.
And seeing gardens in the Spring I well can credit it."
- Winifred Mary Letts
"And you will be like a well watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."
- Isaiah 58:11b
~~~~~~
Welcome! The
Garden Post
is designed to share news, connections and information specifically for
women, offer
spiritual encouragement and insight, and provide resources for wise
living.
I
welcome the opportunity to connect with you and want to hear from you. Email me any
time with a question or suggestion.
I'm
thankful for the gifts of friendship. Do you
think about the unique role you have as a woman in your home, your
community? Do you have a question about your faith? About God?
Let's connect today...
Louann Rodgers ~ lkrodgers@comcast.net ~ RootedToGrow.com
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A t t h e f o o t o f t h e c r o s s
....p o n d e r i n g E a s t e r
 In the breezes of early spring we stand at the foot
of
the cross. We stand at the foot of the cross and
stand
before God. The dust of the cross catches our eyes
but the blood of the cross covers us... fully covers us.
Our complete covering. Radical. Astonishing.
Profound.
Linger in the quiet moments that God calls you to during this holy week. I am reminded of one of my grandmother's favorite hymns, that speaks to the drawing of God's heart to ours, "I come to the garden alone,while the dew is still on the roses.And the voice I hear falling on my ear,The Son of God discloses.And He walks with me and He talks with me,and He tells me I am His own,And the Joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known."
Tarry a bit. Tarry and ponder and pray. Don't let school schedules, demands of family and your own personal travels take you away from quiet reflection of this profound truth: ...that the God of creation sent His only Son to die for us, so that we, undeserving,
might be saved and have eternal life. (John 3:16)~~~~~~
Come and join us as we worship and
celebrate the joy
in Easter Worship, Sunday: 8:00am - 9:30am - 11:00am~~~~~~
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L o v e O u t L o u d
...taking to heart God's greatest gift
 We are delighted to welcome
Nicole Johnson, nationally acclaimed author, performer and speaker to this year's Mothers & Others
Offered at two seatings:
Friday, May 7th, 7:00pm
Satuday, May 8th, 9:30am This
annual spring evening is an intergenerational event, designed for all
ladies...from young teens to the wisest among us. Come and enjoy
desserts, music, friendship, gifts and encouragement. Tickets will be available Saturday, April 10th, 9-11am and Sunday, April 11th, 12noon-1pmand then during Bible Study and on Sundays in the Main Lobby. First weekend sales limited to 10 tickets per purchase. $12 for reserved table seating. Questions? call 610.431.0300x109 or email women@rootedtogrow.com |
W h a t E a s t e r M e a n s
"....come and see the place where He lay..."
 "Some years ago a newspaper editor telephoned and asked me to tell him in a few words what Easter means to me. My testimony was this: Easter means Christ to me. It means Christ in His kingly splendor, Christ in His serene glory, Christ in His gracious condescension. This is because Christ Easter is the return of Christ from inflicted violence, from induced death, from imprisonment in a tomb. Easter is Christ triumphant over all that sin and death and man could could do to Him... Easter means life. Christ defeated death in order that life in Him might always live. And it is life that we want, life in Christ. Whether we put it into words or not, our constant thought is 'Life, more life, always more and more life.' We want life in ourselves, in our loved ones, in our friends, the kind of life that cannot be diminished, the kind of life that always expands. Easter is Christ's victory over all that would restrict, deny, and strangle life. 'For me to live is Christ.' That is Easter." -Raymond Lindquist
"He is not here, He is risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay." Matthew 28:6
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Crown Ministries:
Journey to True Financial Freedom
April 24th Seminar at Christ Community Church
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
 Join Crown's popular one-day seminar combines biblical principles of money management with practical application in a fast-paced format.
$25/per single, $50/couple. Plus $8 lunch. Child care provided for a nominal charge. Register online or find out more at the table in the lobby on the four Sundays prior to the event.
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Christ Community Church is hosting a
Blood Drive - Friday, April 16th
between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Lobby
For your convenience appointments can be made by:
Signing up online
or sign up after worship services in Lobby on Sundays,
before Women's Bible Study on April 6, April 7, or April 8
Not sure if you can donate?
Check out Donor Eligibility Guidelines
or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE - Option 4 - for Medical Questions
Want tips on how to have a good donation experience?
Click here to learn more. |
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