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One2One
...because two are better than one
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What are the deepest places of your desires, disappointments, fears?
Where do you go for wise counsel?
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SNOWFLAKE
CAFE
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Saturday February 25th, 9am-12noon Warm yourself with our Snowflake Café, invigorating workshops, and an inspirational message you won't want to miss. Come and be warmed in Body, Soul & Spirit! Spiritual Encouragement by Lynne Hutzel
Choose Two Workshops: The Daily Word Tech App! - Pilates - Zumba - Food for Life - Intimacy in Marriage - Healthy Skin - Pursuing the Presence of God - Inner Beauty - The Voice and Leading of God - Overwhelmed to Organized - Hand Crafted Journal - Vintage Frame Making - Women's Health Issues - Creative Touches for Hospitality - Warm Delights in Tea Tasting
CLICK HERE to download a description of the workshops.
This is a FREE event, but you need to register so we can plan workshop seating. EMAIL your workshop choices today.
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Mark Your Calendar
Marriage Seminar
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The Blessing Challenge
...seminar with
John Trent
Friday March 23, 7-9pm
Sat., March 24, 9-noon
CLICK HERE for registration form and more details
"In His presence, there is never cause for despair. There may be pain or hurt or sadness, but never despair. Our spouses may not do what they should to restore our marriage to happy, fulfilling relationships. But if we remain faithful to God, pouring out our emotions before Him, renewing our commitment to seek Him, trusting Him to guide us in our responses, then He will sustain us through our trials and provide rich fellowship with Him. There is reason to go on. There is hope. God's grace is sufficient." Dr. Larry Crabb, The Marriage Builder
~~~
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For women of ALL ages:
|  | Jennifer Rothschild bestselling author, teacher and speaker is our featured guest for Mothers & Others
Two identical seatings:
Friday,May 11th 7:00pm
Sat., May 12th 10:00am
Reserved Table Seating.
TICKETS AVAILABLE SATURDAY MAR 17th Main Lobby - 9am - limit of one table per purchase.
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Wonder of LOVE
"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." G.K. Chesterton  ... and isn't it wonder that sparks love? |
John 13:34, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
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Love Expressed
This week I was reminded of love.
God's love.
Expressed in so many ways....
I was moved by a friend's account of God's precious refuge of comfort at a time when, in her incomprehensible grief, God revealed Himself - clearly, vividly, and tangibly.
I felt treasured love from a friend who made me homemade soup (homemade!) and set a fancy table to celebrate friendship. She didn't know that I was emotionally fragile and her gentle spirit ministered to me deeply.
I saw love extended in sacrifice as one of you came to the aid of another who needed help --- and with mercy, have done so every week for more than two years so she can get to Bible study.
I was moved as I heard testimony of God's movement in your life - up front, before a group (with legs and voice shaking) -- sharing about bold steps being taken for God's kingdom, in His Name and in His strength.
I saw with joy one young mom reaching out to another and extending grace to provide for her friend's child in Kids Club, anonymously.
I was humbled by one grandmother reaching out with wise counsel to a young couple on the brink -- with loving yet sincere admonition to 'not check out'.
I was surrounded by love when a small circle of us formed to pray together.
I witnessed the tough love of a mother, holding her child out before The Lord, knowing HE is in control, and surrendering even that.
I was softened by love from the heart of forgiveness, and thankful for it.
I was encouraged by love that arrived from wise counsel... from the words of Scripture, to bring truth and understanding.
I was touched by love when a dear sister shared with her eyes wide - open, expectant, and without fear... that she just wants to be all she can, for one pure and simple purpose, in every day God gives her.
 Love Expressed in everyday, every place ways is God's movement among us. HIS LOVE expressed through words, gentle gestures, acts of kindness and expressions of hope. HIS LOVE expressed through forgiveness, transparency and vulnerability. HIS LOVE shown thru mercy and grace. HIS LOVE demonstrated through the pages of Scripture and in the lives of His people. HIS LOVE is God among us, expressed. 
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LOVE ... game!
I have no idea who is playing in the Super Bowl tomorrow.
Forgive me friends, but my household LOVES tennis. We can name every player and we know the rankings. Yes, we get up at 3:30am to watch the final of the Australian open.
The athletic competition at this level of pro-tennis is so extraordinary, so powerful, and so physical, it's really beyond words. I am humbled by the skill, strength and stamina of these athletes. The recent article in the Wall Street Journal tried to find words express this in Why Tennis Rules the Earth...
I know I'll hear it about the football - I'll hear about all the great plays, the antics of the coaches, the strategy, and even about the favorite commercials. :) And I'll probably even feel a little badly that we're not hosting a party!
But no other sport can move me like tennis. Knowing the athletes must be ready to endure power-hitting rallies, sprinting and darting all over the court for an endless amount of time is remarkable. And it's not just strength, power and endurance... it's finesse, back-spins, drop shots and aces in the midst of a dead heat. There is no half-time to rest. There is no clock that will stop play. There is no guy on the bench who will take over when things get tough. It's one person on the court, ready - willing - set to endure - for as long as it takes.
And how similar our lives. We face the pace of life at a sprint. We don't get a reliever and despite those who cheer us on the sidelines, ultimately we stand alone on the court of life. Are we equipped and strengthened for the match ahead? David Jeremiah shares some insightful words on being fit - spiritually fit - in his article on Exercising Your Faith.
The reminder we need is as joyful as a brilliant tennis match or a memorable Super Bowl. Spiritual fitness helps us endure the seasons of life that sometimes put us on the sidelines. Spiritual fitness empowers us to come to the aid of others and to be resilient when the battle gets fierce.
Spiritual fitness comes from time with God, time in His Word and time in prayer.
Spiritual fitness builds the muscles and tenders the heart. Let's be fit for all God puts before us. Let's be willing to sweat and lose our breath a bit.
"Exercise daily in God-no spiritual flabbiness please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever" (1 Timothy 4:7-8 The Message).
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 Life gets complicated, crazy busy, and sometimes chaotic -- plan now to join us and Breakaway from your regular routine and come away with us for a weekend of friendship, spiritual challenge and refreshment.
We'll explore our temporary stay in the journey of life, and the opportunity we have as women to be purposeful, equipped, and poised for living wisely and godly lives.
Breakaway, our spring retreat at the beach, is planned for April 20th-22nd at the Atlantic Sands Hotel in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Registration ends February 26th. CLICK HERE to download Breakaway brochure... ~~~ "...we must simplify our lives or lose untold treasures on earth and in eternity. Modern culture is so complex as to make the devotional life all but impossible. The need to find solitude and quietness was never greater than it is today." [AW Tozer] |
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The Art of Giving
- Anonymous Giving... listen for needs others have and try to fill them quietly.
- Take Someone Shopping ... rather than just giving a gift, sharing the time together is special.
- Hiring for Services ... 'commission' a friend to do a special job, and then you are both blessed!
- Foot the Bill ... cover the cost of a college student's books, or surprise someone with a gift certificate for something you know they will need.
- Recycle! ... pass on things you are not using to someone who can.
- Just 'Cuz' Gifts ... giving a gift for no apparent reason creates an expression of love and care, especially when you give in unusual ways.
- Give Yourself ... call a friend and offer to do a chore or errand, just because you want to bless her.
- Give a Smile ... amazing how a smile can transform a room! Share it often.
- Give Laughter ... it's good to share laughter and lots of it... I heard it even helps the abs!
- Give God ... think of someone in your life who needs to hear about how God is moving in your life, and share it with them....TODAY.
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 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.
This month I am moved to express my sincere love for each of you. I love how God puts us together thru the circumstances of our lives... to encourage us, to challenge us, to inspire us, and to help grow us. Thank you for sharing your hearts in meaningful ways, and for expressing endlessly God's love in so many everyday, every place ways!
I welcome the opportunity to connect with you personally, and want to hear from you. Give me a call or email me any time... a difficult question, spiritual concern, fresh idea or suggestion, perhaps a great book to recommend or insight to ponder...anything at all, I'd love to connect.
Louann Rodgers 610.431.0300x109 LKRodgers@comcast.net
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The Women's Ministry of Christ Community Church is here to help you grow spiritually in your relationship with God and to connect purposefully
with others in friendship. ||Women's Ministry||Christ Community Church|| 1190 Phoenixville Pike|| West Chester PA 19380|| 610.431.0300x109|| www.RootedToGrow.com 
"We must practice and become brilliant at receiving the love of God and give it away as quickly as possible, knowing that it is going to come back to us, deeper, bigger, wider and stronger." - Graham Cooke
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Prayer
for this
season,
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May we be strong women;May we be women who acknowledge our power to change, and grow, and be radically alive for God.
May we be healers of wounds and righters of wrongs.
May we weep with those who weep and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.
May we cherish children, embrace the elderly, and empower the poor.
May we pray deeply and teach wisely.
May we be strong and gentle leaders.
May we sing songs of joy and talk down fear.
May You be the only one we fear.
May we, like Mary, believe that what the Lord has said to us will be accomplished.
May we never hesitate to let passions push us, and conviction compel us.
Lord, we are beginning to hear you speak to us. Help us to record what you say so that we might heed your warnings and change our behavior, obey your commands exactly as they were directed to us, be assured that you are still working in the circumstances, and have our faith built up by remembering what you have already done for us!
Because we have studied your Word and learned about your character which has lead us to love you, believe you, and trust you, may we also in turn obey you immediately.
May we shine like stars in a darkened generation, so that others will know that the God of the Universe is "with us".
May we be signs and symbols from the Lord.
May we find ourselves blessed by and awed by the power of El Shadday.
And in the name of Jesus, and by that power, may we change the world.
May we experience you, God and as we do, make us strong women for you.
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-originally adapted from Lynn Hybels "Nice Girls Don't Change the World",
rewritten by Louann Rodgers for a prayer of strength, and edited by Karen Hick thru experiencing God
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