Life-Transforming Walk with God

In this week we are going to see “Praying for a Life-Transforming Walk with God”. Have you ever noticed sometimes when we pray is for God to change circumstances-people around us? God wants to changes and transforms us first before anything or anyone around us. 

“When I allow God to transform my heart, mind, and attitudes, I began to see my life and my circumstances from His point of view. As I adopt the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5), God teaches me how to pray and what to pray for so my perspective and outlook on life can be radically transformed.” Stormie Omartian

The key truths of this lesson:

• Even thought we can never fully understand God, we can draw near to Him and know Him.

“Who can measure the wealth and wisdom and knowledge of God? Who can understand his decisions or explain what he does?” Romans 11:33

• No matter how broken we are, God is able and ready to restore and renew us. 

“Wash me with hyssop until I am clean

and whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7

• We can draw near to God by spending time with Him, asking Him to cleanse our hearts and help us understand His Word. 

“If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts. But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and his message isn't in our hearts.” 1 John 1:8-10

Verse to remember:

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." James 4:8a

It is every Friday at 10:30 am. Childcare provided.

Hope to see you there!

Love,

Carla

The Power of a Praying Woman

12.02.11

 Every time I got to spend time with all of you ladies to go deep into the Word of God I have a blast and we grow spiritually. 

Last week we prayed and it is so indescribable the way God can work in our life when we pray because we are showing God we depend on Him for everything. We also are relying on him when we pray. I just enjoying talking to my Heavenly Father and I sure enjoyed last Friday when we got together to pray for church, us, our families , and so many more things.  I encouraged you to not miss one week and to invited others. 


This coming week we are going to see "Praying to Become All God Made Me to Be" and I want you to keep in mind the following things:

• God has a purpose for your life that can be found only by drawing near to Him.
• God can radically transform your life when you place your faith in Jesus Christ.
• Drawing near to God each day in prayer and Bible study is essential to experience His peace and power.

A verse to remember:


"Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive" Matthew 21:22

I am looking forward to see you all this Friday and don't forget our Ladies Christmas Party is that same night at 6:30pm it is going to be a lot of fun. Contact Shonece for more info about Friday night.

Please keep praying for healing for my mother-in-law Janey Sparks.


Love, 
Carla

Worship on The Way

Hey ladies, 

This past Friday we were studying Psalm 120, 121, 122. Beth challenged us to comprise Psalm 121 in our memory during the following six weeks in our Bible study.

The emphasis this past Friday was psalms are songs attributed to God the Father and Christ the son. In our worship time it is important that we sing with our spirit and mind engaged in adoration to God. As Paul says 1 Corinthians 14:15: “I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.” 

Sometimes there is so much in our mind that we are singing but being indifferent in our adoration to God. I have to say anytime I caught myself thinking about everything and nothing while I am worshiping in our Sunday services. I immediately turn my thoughts to adore God. I don’t want to miss the best opportunity in the week to let him know how much I love Him. 

I hope to see you on Friday at 10:30am

Love, 

Carla

"Stepping Up"

09.16.2011

Hey girls,


I am so excited to start this new Bible Study with all of you. We are going to study from Psalm 120 to 134 during the next seven weeks.


If you have your book don't forget to start to work in your workbooks there is no doubt in my mind that God is going to speak to you very clearly. 


During this week take time to memorize Psalm 121. This Friday we check who was able to memorize this Psalm. 


Praying for a new level of intimacy with God through this study for all of us!


Also please pray because somebody broke into the church and stole the TV we use for the Wednesday and Friday Connection Groups and the Children's ministry. Pray for protection over the church that this does not happen again. We know that "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them." Psalm 34:7-8


I am looking forward to see you all this Friday. 


Love you all, 
Carla

A Women After God's Own Heart

Women's Connection Group- 08.12.11

I can’t believe in this past ten weeks we have had two baby showers for two ladies of our connection group Carly and Rachel.

We are done with “A Women After God’s Own Heart” Bible study. I hope it was a blessing for you and God spoke to your heart in a tangible way. I know He did in my heart. This Friday we have a picnic. Please text or inbox me if you are coming. 

We will meet at the church at 10:00am and then we go to the park in case you don’t know where the park is. If you do I’ll meet you at 10:30am. 

We are taking a three weeks break and then on Sept 16 we are meeting back I’ll send you more info on the new Bible study. Any lady that you think would like to come to the new Bible Study invite them. 

This past week we studied very simple biblical truths:

* Our priorities determine our success, our fulfillment, and our legacy. What do you believe the priorities of the Proverbs 31 women? 

*Just as God showers His love on us, we should express His love to others.

*We should do acts of kindness to anyone in need, especially members of our church.

*A women after God's own heart sees every day as an opportunity to give others. 

*A women after God's own heart set goals, spends time with God daily, and stays available for God's service in every season of life. 

Love, 

Carla 

A Heart for Service

07.29.11- Women's Connection Group

The great thing about our connections groups is our discussion time. It allows us to share our heart , personal experiences, and testimonies with one another. 

One of the questions for us, this past Friday, was “at the end of your life , how do you want to be remembered?” We don’t think about that because we are young women however we all have pretty good answers. For some it is being remembered for community service or for some it is to being remembered as a good family woman.

This past week we studied “A Heart for Service”.

*God blesses and assists those who seek to grow in faith and serve Him.

(Hebrews 11:7-40)

*Setting goals and God-centered priorities increases our rate of spiritual growth. 

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty” Prov. 21:5 

*God prepares us before He enlist us to serve Him. We have examples in the Bible of  people like Noah, Abraham, Joseph, and Simeon how God prepare them before accomplishing His mission in their lives. 

*Women who love and  serve God make an enduring impact on the Kingdom of God. The Bible gives us shining examples of women who fulfilled God’s design for service. 

• Dorcas- Acts 9:36-41
• Lydia- Acts 16:11-40, 40
• Priscilla- Acts 18:1-3, 18-19; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19
• Phoebe- Romans 16:1-2

*God gives every believer at least one spiritual gift to edify and build His church.

  Here are some questions that will help to discover your gift. 

• What service do you do within your church that brings you the most joy?
• What do you do within your church that people say blesses them the most?
• What do you do within your church that energizes rather that exhausts you?
• What do you do within your church that best reveals Christ’s love in you?

This Friday we are going to have a Diaper and Wipes Shower for Rachel after our Bible Study. I hope you all can make it.

Don’t forget to bring something to eat. 

See you on Friday at 10:30 am. 

Love,

Carla

A Heart for Spiritual Growth

Connection Group - 07.22.11

This past Friday we studied A Heart for Spiritual Growth “The power of maturing in  every area of life”. Elizabeth George shared five principles with us:

1.The foundation of spiritual growth is knowing and following Jesus Christ. 

  Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

     “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:21-27

2.-True wisdom comes from regularly spending time studying God’s Word. 

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,
   for the ears of the wise seek it out. Proverbs 18:15

3.-Our physical condition either enhances or limits our availability to serve God. We have studied the need to get up early for Bible study and prayer and the need to work fitness and exercise into your busy schedule. Do you think all this is too much or a needed message? 

4.-Daily attention to spiritual growth increases our effectiveness in serving God.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

5.-Spiritual growth enhances our relationships inside and outside the church. 

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.  Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 

1 Thessalonians 5:12-15

This Friday at 10:30 am we would be studying “A Heart for Service”. I hope to see you all there.

A Heart For Your Home

Connection Group- 07.15.11

 These weeks are flying by! I am so thankful with God for what we've been learning. 

 We have a new mom-to-be, Rachel, in our connection group. I also found out that Casey is pregnant. I am very happy to know them and to be praying for them as they go through this beautiful time in their lives. 

 A couple weeks ago I went to visit Carly and her new baby. She is recovering quickly and the baby is a cutie pie. 

Carly, Baby Ryder and Carla

This past Friday in our discussion time we all agreed that the "mom-wife" is the heart of the home-family.

Elizabeth George shared: A women can build her home with godly wisdom or tear it down with foolishness. 

The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. Proverbs 14:1

God expects women to watch over and guard their homes.

She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Proverbs 31:27 (New Living Translation)

By learning and applying biblical truth, women can manage themselves and their home to the glory of God. 

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15 

Women are to keep their homes as places of rest, joy, and provision.

Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting--and conflict. Proverbs 17:1 

How can we do it? Understanding our roles in the home and developing a plan that help us carry out our roles effectively. It is a blessing to be a wife and mom and we have the capability of making  our home our little haven. 

I hope to see you on Friday at 10:30 am.

Love,
Carla

A Heart For Your Children

Connection Group 07.08.11

I am really excited for the things we have learned this past six weeks. We have four weeks left and we are done with this Bible study. So many valuable lessons we have learned. Something we got to know is the Bible is convicting, convincing, converting to all who accept its message and believe in Jesus Christ. 

All the different topics we have seen this past six weeks are biblical and applicable to our lives. Last Friday we saw “A Heart for Your Children”. Our ministry as godly women do not start at church but at home teaching our kids His Word and nurturing their faith. 

 “So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

The second principle that Elizabeth George shared with us is a mother is to teach her children practical wisdom. God expects mothers to teach their children how to live to please Him.

“She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].” Proverbs 31:26

A mother is to dedicate her children to the Lord for His purpose and to love her children even when parenting is difficult.

God provides encouragement through His Word and grace through His Spirit to mothers who nurture a heart for their children. 

Next week we are going to see “A Heart for Your Home”. I hope to see you all. At the end of this Bible Study I was thinking we could do a picnic in the park. Let me know if you like the idea. 

Love, 

Carla

A Heart for Your Husband

Connection Group 07.01.11

I love the lesson we saw this past Friday. There are blessings when we are obedient to God's Word. Of course we should not be obedient to God for His blessings but because we love Him.  

We learned that God created men and women in His own image with the same capabilities as Genesis 1:27 said:  "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."

In the marriage God has called to very uniques roles to husband and wife. 

 For the wife one of the most significant roles is that of helper to her husband.  God created the woman to complement the men. We complete them. 

"So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found." Genesis 2:20 

The next one we learned is God expects wives to submit to their husbands. Submission is not humiliation. We submit to our husbands because we love them. Nobody force us to do it. "What does it mean to submit? It means to bend, to fit him, to suit him, to fit with his life or plans, to adapt to his way, to subordinate yourself to him and his leadership. It means "no resistance"" Humbleness is part of the Christian character and submission is a decision we make. 

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything."Ephesians 5:21-22

God expects wife to respect their husbands understanding that their husbands are not perfect but human. If we see something that he needs to change we should pray about it.  But remember God may change them or God may change us. 

"However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." Ephesians 5:33

A wife is to love her husband. To be her husband's closest and most loyal friend. God refers also to the older women are to teach the young women to love their husbands. 

"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children,  to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." Titus 2:3-5

Nurturing her heart for her husband is possible when a wife knows and applies God's Word in daily living. Girls there is something I have experience when I seek God and apply His Word everyday and that is peace and confidence in my marriage and in all the areas of my life.

Sure I am praying for all of you and this Friday we are going to see "A Heart for Your Children"

Love, 

Carla

A Heart For Discipline

Connection Group - 06.24.11

Hey ladies,

This past week Elizabeth George shared some amazing biblical truths for our life. In our discussion time some of you said when you spend time with the lord in your day: “Your day goes  smoothly” and “when a door closes then you know God did not want you going in that direction”.

Here are the things we learned:

Daily Discipline: Faithful attention to spiritual disciplines(Like praying, Bible reading, and meditating on God’s Word) puts believers in a position to experience God’s richest blessings. In Luke 2:36-38 we see the example of Anna a woman after the heart of God.  

What plan have you developed to become more disciplined in prayer and Bible study?

Daily Time: Finding daily time with God in prayer and Bible study requires personal sacrifice. Romans 12:1-2

One key to finding daily time with God is simplifying your life. What steps have you taken this week to simplify your schedule and reduce the demands on your time?

Daily Walk: Walking daily with Christ transforms our values, decisions and behavior. 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

How does the Lord help you to stay in step with Him throughout the day?

Daily Desire: Studying God’s Word helps us identify and curtail those selfish desired that lead to trouble. 1 Peter 2:1-3

What help does the Lord provide so we can manage our selfishness and submit to His way of life?

Daily Commitment:  God commands us to commit to Him all that we are and all that we have. 

As you look at your life- everything you have and you are- what parts of your life are most difficult to release to God? 

This next week we are going to see “A Heart for Your Husband” What does the Bible has to say to us wives?  I hope you are preparing your heart to see what God has to say   to your lives. 

Love,

Carla 

A Heart for Passion in Prayer

Connection Group- 06.17.11

Ladies,

This past Friday we learned "a passionate prayer life transforms everything"and more blessings that comes from a great prayer life.

- The Blessing of Greater Confidence in Decision Making: We can have confidence in our decisions when we make prayer an important part of daily life.

 What role if any does prayer play in your decisions?

-The Blessing of Greater Contentment: Selfish desires rob us of contentment and damage relationships with others. Contentment is gained by orienting ourselves to the ways of God and allowing Him to reorder our priorities and values.

What aspects of our day tend to make us discontent with life? Why prayer is a pathway to greater contentment?

- The Blessing of Greater Ministry though Prayer: Praying for others, known as intercessory prayer, is powerful, effective ministry.

How did others' prayers for you help you through difficult times?

- More Blessings:  The more we realize our utter dependence on God, the more we will be blessed through prayer.

Too often we don't realize we are dependent upon God until we are in a crisis and have nowhere else to turn. What, if anything, reminds you of dependence on God during an average day?

I hope to see you all on Friday at 10:30 am.

Love,
Carla

A Heart for Blessing in Prayer

Connection Group - 06.10.11

We are very excited for Carly and for her baby on the way! This past Friday we brought refreshments and gifts to celebrated the new addition to the Jeffers's family.

Before Carly opened her gifts and we all had a great time of fellowship.

In our study we learned that anyone who seeks God earnestly will find Him and hear from Him.

" But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 4:29

The three great blessings that comes from praying continually are:

1.-The Blessing of Greater Faith: Faith in God increases as we abide in Christ, we pray often and see God respond to our prayers.

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." 1 John 5:14-15 

2.-The Blessing of Greater Peace:  By keeping close to the Lord in prayer, we can experience His peace regardless of the circumstance around us.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. " John 14:26

3.-The Blessing of Greater Purity: Prayer is an important avenue to greater purity as we confess our sins(very important), seek God's forgiveness, and make amends to those we have sinned against.

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."1 John 1:8-9

As believers God commanded us to pray throughout the day in any circumstance at any time.

"pray continually" 1Thessalonians 5:17

I hope to see you all on Friday at 10:30 am and I hope you have the chance to work in your workbooks. We are in Week 2.

Love,
Carla

A Heart for God's Word

Connection Group-06.03.11

Our connection group started back last Friday and my prayer is that God will speak to your life through this Bible study and answer any prayer requests you may have. 


Our introductory lesson "A Heart For God's Word" emphasizes how important it is to spend time in the Word of God every day. Our devotional time should be a source of strength, guidance and refreshment.


Elizabeth George shared two ways a women can draw near to God's heart. 


1.Develop the habit of drawing near to God: refuse to miss a day to spend time in the Word of God. Check your calendar every day after you spend that quality time studying the Bible and think about what you read? Even if it is only one verse that impacts you that is a great start!


2. Design a personal time for drawing near to God: the when and where is important. Choose a place and time when you can have your quite time. I know it is difficult with little kids around but not impossible. At least 10 to 15 minutes, something is better that nothing. 


I hope you prepare your hearts for the next lesson "A Heart for Blessing in Prayer" We will see how important prayer is in our life and the blessing that comes from praying. 


So I hope to see you on Friday@ 10:30am. 




Love, 
Carla