Here’s my first Women’s Bible Study blog entry!
My idea is to supply notes from each week for those who are unable to attend or miss references.

Our mission statement, if you will, is:

“Building relationships of support & encouragement while drawing closer to our loving Lord.”

Our verse of inspiration:  Exodus 17:11-13

We are going through “Women of Faith, Infinite Grace the Devotional” (you can purchase it online if you want your own copy).  We will not necessarily be going through it in order and there will never be homework.

Devotional

This week was chapter 2 “A God Like This” with accompanying scripture Psalm 139.
Focusing on how God knows us, all we’ve done and will do, and yet He still chose to create us, and Jesus die for us.

Other scriptures within the devotional:

• Romans 8:1
• Psalm 24:1 (NKJV)

Ending prayer:

Father God, in the name of Your Son, Jesus, the grace giver,
please search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and
know my anxieties.  And see if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.  Amen

This Week

Our focus, Philippians 4:4-8.  Focusing on Jesus, all He’s done and who He is, we can move forward and serve, not on our strength but His.  Let’s stop focusing on ourselves: our mistakes, regrets & limitations (it’s paralyzing)!  God, our heavenly Father, sees us through Jesus, not our guilt-ridden-memory glasses.  I can do all things through Christ!

We discussed a lot about forgiveness.  We have to forgive so that God can forgive us, and if He can forgive US, we can forgive.  Give it to God!  Let go!  He is just!

Journaling is a big part of our meetings:

With journaling my hope is that each one of us will be able to express ourselves in our own way and through journaling both our prayers & praises will begin to flow & we, each, will be able to see our own individual journey with the Lord unfold.

The songs from this week were:

• “Open Me” by Shawn McDonald
• “When I Think About The Lord” by Shane & Shane

May God bless you!
With His love,

Rebecca

The word fan is defined as “an enthusiastic admirer.”  We’re all fans of different things; many of us are sports fans. We watch the games. We cheer on the team. Some of us own the jerseys of our favorite players. We understand the concept of being a fan of sports. That is not all bad, it can be fun and good. The concern is that our church has the potential to very easily become a stadium full of fans of Jesus.

When you look in the Bible, you see that Jesus never cared about having fans. He said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Jesus was looking for disciples, that is, completely. committed. followers.

not a fan. is a six week message series starting Super Bowl Sunday, February 5th.  This experience is a compelling story that will get you thinking and talking. Each Sunday the Encounter service messages will follow the theme, in addition a Tuesday night study group with six episodes of a compelling story of a man and his journey from fan to follower.  Get more information in the lobby or by contacting the office at Family Life Church.

February is a Fun month, full of Love! I hope you are already thinking of special ways you can show your kids this month how much you love them.

We want to keep you updated monthly on what is happening with your children:

Jellyfish & Turtles: (Toddler/Preschool classes) this February, will be learning all about Jesus, with special lessons on Jesus healing the blind man, and Jesus feeding 5,000! They will be amazed as they learn who Jesus is! February 12th, they are invited to show their love for their friends by bringing Valentines – as the theme will be “God 2 wants us to love Him and to love others.” Remember to doing a number of creative “messy” projects!

Starfish (K & 1st), Seahorses (2nd & 3rd), and Dolphins (4th & 5th) will spend February studying about the man who built his house upon the “Rock,” and why they shouldn’t worry….these will be great life lessons they will not want to miss! They, too, will have a special “Valentine day” Feb. 12th – they are welcome to bring special notes for their friends, please make sure Everyone is included! A list will be sent home. Also, please remember the “Fun work” that is sent home twice a month for you, as parents or care giver to be able to re-­‐emphasize the lessons they are learning, and be a part of that fun experience! They will receive a paper to fill out with your signature, and if returned, their name will be put in a drawing (end of each month) for a “Kidz Ice cream Date” with the Creative Kidz team!

Special Event this month is: Valentine Date night Feb. 10th, 6-­‐10 p.m., a time for you as parents to get away and spend some quality time together while your children make wonderful memories and some new friends. Dinner is provided… and there will be crafts, games and a movie! So be sure to sign up in the lobby by Feb. 5th! If you have wee ones, 0-­‐3 years old… please let us know-­‐ we’d love to have them join us as well, but need to be able to plan in advance for their comfort and care.

As always we LOVE that you share your children with us on Sundays. We are doing our best to make this a fun environment where they can learn God’s word on a level that they can understand! If ever you have questions, concerns, or ideas please don’t hesitate to grab a friendly Kidz volunteer!

Enjoy your month of LOVE!

Tami
www.myflc.org/kids

This year, 2012 we are going to focus our attention on the POSSIBLE!

This year could be that kind of year for you.  What if you put this truth in front of whatever you face?  Your health problems… with God everything is possible.  Your relationships… with God everything is possible.  Your finances… with God everything is possible.  Your ____________… with God everything is possible.

This will impact our faith… this will change everything! We will stand on this promise for 2012 because God makes it POSSIBLE!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” - Ephesians 3:20-21

Join us at Family Life Church as we fast and pray for 21 days in January 2012.  We will be joining churches from coast to coast in Awakening. Resources are available on types of fasts at the info booth at FLC.  We will fast from January 9th – 29th and then celebrate what God has done on Sunday, January 29th.

Something new we have added this year are Wednesday night midweek services with Daren Lindley (January 1th – 18th – 25th) at 7:00 PM.  Don’t miss these dynamic sessions with Daren focused on prayer.  This is a New Testament fasting time to set apart a period of time and see Jesus in a fresh and new way in 2012.  Join the adventure!  Pray about participating with us…for more info and fasting resources visit the Awakening website at http://www.awake21.org.

Why should I fast?

• Are you in need of healing or a miracle?
• Do you need the touch of God in your life?
• Is there a dream inside you that only He can make possible?
• Are you in need of a fresh encounter with Jesus?
• Do you desire a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus?
• Are you ready to have greater sensitivity to the desires of God?
• Do you want to grow in your understanding of prayer?
• Is there a friend or loved one that needs salvation?
• Do you desire to know God’s will for your life?

Resources

• Fasting Guide (PDF, 363 KB)
• Devotional (PDF, 13 MB)