TMP Women's Connections

Winter Bible Studies!

2012-01-17T22:50:00.001-08:00

This one's my favourite. I've done a lot of them, but this one is it.

My favourite, favourite, favourite!

Why is it my favourite?

It's been the most exciting, faith-building, and inspiring of any I've done. And, like I said, I've done a lot of them, by lots of great teachers. In this one, you begin to understand that God has thought of EVERYTHING. The intricacies of His design and the continuity from the Old through the New Testament is unbelievably beautiful and wonderful. God's plan is intentional, eternal, and always points to Jesus-- through the study of the symbolism and the details of the Tabernacle, God reveals this to us.

Don't miss this one!

So, what is it?

Beth Moore's A Woman's Heart, God's Dwelling Place

(this is a newly updated version, if you have the original version, consider grabbing a new copy)

Where can you get it?

Books are available at Save-On at **Country Club** (note new location!) Just ask, they're set aside for us.

There are also a few copies at the Christian bookstore.

You can also order through amazon.ca

When can you start?

Our studies start Monday, February 6th at the Underground

Melanie's Mornings: 9:30-11:45am

Jen's Evenings: 6:30-8:45pm

Eleven weeks of amazing learning and inspiration, where you'll go home every Monday and you can't wait to tell everyone how cool God is.

Fall Bible Studies are HERE!

2011-09-11T07:59:00.000-07:00

So glad you're interested in studying God's Word with us this fall...

Melanie and Jen are facilitating two very faith-building and encouraging studies to help you grow spiritually this season.

Studies start September 19!

Melanie's morning study: Made to Crave, by Lysa TerKeurst

What do you crave?

Is it God, or is something else filling that void? Find out how to change your focus to create a more balanced, God-centered life!

Contact Melanie about book availability

Jen's evening study: Me, Myself, and Lies: A Thought Closet Makeover by Jennifer Rothschild

What's in your thought closet?

Clean out the junk in your thoughts and replace negative thoughts and failures, and replace them with the truth of God's Word!

download the first week of this study here: http://www.jenniferrothschild.com/downloads/Me_MySelf_Lies_Week1.pdf

Books will be available at the Christian bookstore or through www.amazon.ca

SEE YOU THERE!

Spring Bible Studies! May 2!

2011-04-17T10:08:00.001-07:00

Is something holding you back from living a victorious life? Join Melanie in the morning study of Beth Moore's book Breaking Free, and break free from obstacles and live in freedom! 9:15-11:30 Mondays at the Underground. A few books arez available at the Christian bookstore or on amazon.ca.

Ever wonder what the book of Revelation is all about? Does it hold any meaning for us? Join Jen on Monday evenings at 6:30 and find out! Books are optional for this study, but a journal is helpful.

Bible study starts Monday!

2011-01-07T16:41:00.000-08:00

Beloved Disciple, Beth Moore's study of John, the disciple Jesus loved, starts Monday, January 10 at the Underground. Melanie leads Monday mornings @9:30, Jen leads the 6:30 study!

Books have been hard to come by. They are five on order at the Christian bookstore or through amazon.ca (if you're patient, they've been out of stock...) Let me know if you want one of them!

A community event this Friday night

2010-11-17T15:26:00.000-08:00

Here's a copy of an email I was just sent if anyone's interested :)

Just a reminder that the Crossroads Crisis Pregnancy Centre's Silent Auction will be held at Maranatha Centre at 7:00pm on November 19th, at 6553 Portsmouth Road, Nanaimo. This is one block from the Tim Hortons that is in the Canadian Tire mall, (across from Woodgrove Mall). Head out of Tim Horton's parking lot, look across the street and you will see Portsmouth Road within eye shot - 1 block down Portsmouth Road on the right is Maranatha Centre. Maranatha is beside the car dealership.

Admission is free. We have over $23,000. in items to auction off by silent auction. If you have never been before, please join us! This is a lot of fun! This is a great opportunity to purchase Christmas Gifts and Gift Certificates for items that you already have in your budget. We need all the help we can, in bringing friends and family to this event, so that the more than 500 items will be sold. There are large items and small ones, all brand new things, all donated by inviduals and businesses in the community. Would you come out to support the Crossroads Crisis Pregnancy Centre?

Refreshments are donated by Clinton Miller - Royal LePage Parksville (what a guy!!!). Come and have a cup of coffee with us and enjoy yourself, and help the Crossroads Crisis Pregnancy Centre at the same time.

Hope to see you soon!

Bonnie Moody
Executive Director
Crossroads Crisis Pregnancy Centre of Nanaimo
1717b Kerrisdale Road
Nanaimo, B.C.
V9S 1N4
Office: 250-716-1633

Women's Connections Breakfast!

2010-11-07T10:51:00.000-08:00

It's not just the guys who get breakfast!

Join us on November 20th at 9am at URBAN BEET..mmm!

We're going to have a casual breakfast get together just for fun (...and those scones!)

Let us know you're thinking of being there, we want to make sure they save enough seating for us!

Urban Beet is right behind Costco, on Applecross Road.

Click HERE to see what Jen thinks of those scones.

Bring me your questions!

2010-10-29T16:32:00.001-07:00

Here's a great video about spiritual questions and how valuable small groups are in finding clarity and direction in them... If you're not in one, and you want to be, put a comment in the comment box and we'll connect you!

Bring Me Your Questions from Recycle Your Faith on Vimeo.

Patriarchs Books

2010-09-10T20:32:00.001-07:00

Patriarchs books will be available at the first session :)

Announcing our new fall studies!

2010-08-26T11:53:00.000-07:00

Fall Women's Connections start this September 13th!

This fall, Melanie's morning group will look at healthy Christian living through Boundaries. Henry Cloud's book Boundaries: When to Say Yes, When to Say No to Take Control of Your Life will help you set healthy boundaries in relationships at home, work, and in ministry. This study will run eight weeks. You will need both the book plus the workbook.

Check out the Boundaries book by clicking here! Also, check out Boundaries reviews here.

Jen's evening group will be studying Beth Moore's Bible study, Patriarchs: Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We will look at Genesis 12-50, and study concepts such as blessing, covenant, and promise, as God pursues a relationship with us. We will study the beginnings of God's plan of revelation and redemption. (10 weeks, plus introduction video.)

**new location: the Underground!**

Check out a Patriarchs sample lesson here! And another one here!

Books will be available soon at the Christian bookstore, or through amazon.ca. Amazon.ca offers free shipping if you purchase $39 or more. Two sets of the Boundaries books and workbooks or Three Patriarchs books will get you there, so team up with friends and order together to save a little money! :)

Don't forget to invite a friend! :)

Spring Bible Study!

2010-05-22T08:02:00.000-07:00

We'll begin a five week study of Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear, by Max Lucado beginning May 31 at the Underground, 9:15-11:15, and at Oliver Woods, 6:30-8:30.

Purchase your book at the Christian bookstore, Chapters, or www.amazon.ca... You'll need the book, as well as a journal for answering the discussion questions. Discussion questions are at the end of each chapter, and we'll also be putting up additional questions from the leader's guide here on the blog.

Can't come to the Monday sessions? You can join an online discussion of the study. After the questions are posted each week, you'll be able to respond in the comments section, and be able to read what others post, as well!

Never been to a Bible study before? This one is a great place to start! Been to many Bible studies? You'll be challenged and have a lot of fun, too!

If you can, please have the first three chapters read by our first meeting. (It's super easy reading!)

See you there,

Your Fearless Leaders,

Melanie and Jen :)

Walk FIT!

2010-04-23T12:48:00.000-07:00

Do you want to join our WALK FIT group? We will walk Sunday evenings from 7 pm to 8 or 8:30 depending on our progress, lets start out easy and work up.

My name is Sue Christiaens, some of you may know me but most of you don't. I attend TMP and have been given the opportunity to lead a Walk Fit group for the church. Based on the results of the survey taken at the April Tea YOU said you would like to see the church do more FITNESS & FRIENDSHIP, what better way to do both than joining a walking group!

You don't have to be fit, you don't have to be young, you don't have to run... You just have to come out and have some fun. This group is for all shapes, all sizes and all levels. We can make it what it needs to be to make it work for you.

We will meet at different locations each week or two so we get a variety of scenery, walking distances and levels. I will use the following web site to pick our routes from, you can go on this site and look at the location and directions.

http://www.nanaimoinformation.com/nanaimo-parks.php

The walk fit group will begin on MAY 16, at 7PM.... there will an information session on nutrition and foot care to start us off. So on May 16th we meet at the UNDERGROUND for our 'kick off' or maybe that should be our 'Walk Off' information session...

Mark MAY 16 on your calendars and every Sunday evening at 7PM for the next few months for an opportunity to 'get fit' and for 'friendship'. Feel free to bring a friend as well.

You can contact me anytime if you have Q's: Number is in the Meeting Place Directory.

Fearless by Max Lucado

2010-04-20T18:19:00.000-07:00

Fearless by Max Lucado
Our new study will begin in mid May-stay posted with our program updates each Sunday. Not only are we going to explore the Fearless life, but so are TMP men in morning get-togethers and some of our small groups in the evenings. Go to our TMP website for more information.

Anyone interested in attending the Beth Moore simulcast in Duncan, please let us know in the chat box to see about potential car-pooling. Details are as follows:
New Life Church in Duncan, 9am-2:30pm on Saturday, April 24th. Includes worship, simulcast event and lunch. Go to the New Life website to register.

And a final note, check your inbox for our exciting new Walk Fit connection time from Sue Christaens. If you are not on our mailing list and would like to be, let us know in the Chat box!

This Sunday!

2010-03-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

Monday update

2010-02-03T15:53:00.000-08:00

Can you believe we're three weeks into our study already?!

Have you been reading Romans 4? Click here if you want to read it! (remember to click back though! hee hee) You know what's really being impressed on me, in thinking about Abraham, is that Abraham had to climb that hill not really knowing what would happen. It wasn't till after he started moving that God intervened. Abraham expected the miracle, and God delivered, but not until Abraham had to go for a long walk. Faith.

Last week's homework had a word study portion of it, but I am not sure how many of you were able to complete it. www.biblestudytools.com has a great resource-- word studies using the Strong's dictionary. If you use the King James Version or the New American Standard Bible version, this option is available. Translatable words will appear in blue, and you can click on any of those to learn the Greek/Hebrew word and their definitions. SO much fun!

Have you asked yourself since the video session, are you caught in a cycle of unbelief? Do you believe little because you've seen little, and have you seen little because you believe little?

Keep believing God for a miracle!
Give Him every opportunity through your faith to perform the one you desire!
And, finally....
Don't argue with a Pharisee! :)

Have fun believing Him this week, girls!

What Faith Can Do

2010-01-29T09:39:00.000-08:00

A gem from Monday, week 2's video: "You can never be stronger than the God you perceive."

I heard this song on the radio yesterday, thought it to be like theme music to our study. It's Kutless, "What Faith Can Do" Here's the video with lyrics below:

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it's more than you can take
But you are stronger, stronger than you know

Don't you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do

It doesn't matter what you've heard
Impossible is not a word
It's just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody's scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It'll be alright

Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance (That's what faith can do)
When the world says you can't
It'll tell you that you can!

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do
That's what faith can do!

Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise

I believe God!

2010-01-19T13:01:00.000-08:00

Wow... yesterday was wonderful, and I am so excited about this Bible study! So happy to see all of you who've returned and all of the new faces, too!

I think she asked some challenging questions in the video yesterday:
Is your theology the same as your reality?
Are you a duck swimming in a puddle instead of the pond that's right over the hump?
Do you live in victory or mediocrity?

He wants to bless us. He wants us to arrive in the Promised Land that is our calling.

God desires two things of us: Faith and Sanctification
Our five-statement pledge of faith:
1. God is who He says He is.
2. God can do what He says He can do.
3. I am who God says I am.
4. I can do all things through Christ.
5. God's word is alive and active in me.

Enjoy your week in Him, girls! :)

Happy New Year!

2010-01-07T11:22:00.000-08:00

Hey! Winter session of ladies' bible study begins soon!

~*~*JANUARY 18*~*~

Believing God, by Beth Moore, is a study which promises a fresh explosion of faith!

What a great way to begin a new year.

We are offering morning and evening sessions on Mondays:

mornings at the Underground (underneath the Buzz coffeehouse on Uplands Rd.) 9:15-11:30am

and

evenings at Oliver Woods Rec Centre on Oliver Road 6:30-8:45pm

Books are now available at the book desk of Save-On Foods Woodgrove, about $21

See You There!

Living an exclamation mark life! Monday review~!

2009-09-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

It's National Punctuation Day (http://www.nationalpunctuationday.com/) and I thought that it would be appropriate to encourage you to get living an exclamation mark life! Jesus used the exclamation mark 153 times! (let's see if I can use it that many times in one blog!)

Monday's session was great! We reviewed the elements of the crucified life, and the evening girls got into groups to draw each of the points (see day three of week one homework!)
and the video was amazing.

Hope you're getting into the habit of beginning your days with praise, pouring out confession, pouring out concerns, and then pouring in the Spirit, so as to pour forth the fruit of the Spirit through your day. Spiritual things can be practical! Like she said, it's hard to get to noon not being filled with the Spirit, especially if you have a two-year old! And remember, nothing that sin can give us can outweigh what it takes from us.... give it up, and let God fill those needs instead!

Remember those prayer requests this week, and we'll get those prayer partners out to you soon!
Have a great week in the Word :)
Jen :) (ooh, only used 11 exclamation marks! oh, there's twelve! thirteen! I could go all day....)

Retreat!

2009-09-21T23:46:00.000-07:00

We just found that Qwanoes is holding a Women's Retreat-- And it is coming up very soon! Think we can fill a room with TMP ladies there? Whaddya think? If you're interested, contact Melanie on her email or at tmpwomen@gmail.com!

http://www.qwanoes.ca/retreats/womens/

The books are in! And Monday summary~

2009-09-18T11:52:00.001-07:00

♫ ♪ THE BOOKS ARE IN, ♫ ♪ THE BOOKS ARE IN!! ----> See me (Jen) dancing! The books are in.... ♫ ♪ both the Christian bookstore and Save-On Woodgrove now have our books in stock, just tell them you're a TMP girl for your copy!

What a great introduction we had on Monday, and I am so thrilled that we've all embarked on this great 10 week journey together! Have you been practicing saying the Fruit of the Spirit in sign language? No, me neither... but I will! What a great call to COME FORTH out of fruitless, inside living, to exclamation point living beyond ourselves! I needed that, and boy, I've been doing just that this week. It's been hugely exciting to speak up and speak out (see my blog if you haven't yet this week), and for the encouragement I've had in doing what I couldn't have done on my own power! It's been crazy good, and that's because He is good, all the time.

Blessings on you as you do your studies this week, which will be much easier now that THE BOOKS ARE IN, ♫ ♪ THE BOOKS ARE IN!!! ♫ ♪

BoOkS aRe IN :)

2009-09-16T10:07:00.000-07:00

Well, some of them! At Save-On Woodgrove there are 14 of them now available..,. $21.99. The Christian Bookstore has them still on backorder. If you need the first couple days homework if you are unable to get the book, let me know, and I will get some pages to you until the books come in.

Close, but...

2009-09-10T17:17:00.000-07:00

Well, Save-On Foods called Melanie and told her her book was in... BOOK?? Oops, Well, there was a little mistake in their computer, and only one, not fifteen, were ordered... sorry, Girls!

BUT Hurry!! You could be the ONE!! Hehehehee-- can you just see it, all these girls fighting and tugging over the fruit of the Spirit like a Cabbage Patch Doll in 1983?

Thankfully God is good, and we don't have to fight for the fruit of the Spirit! Just the book. (just kidding... don't do that, either.)

Patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit.

---------------------

In case you weren't sent the email, here's the one that went out last week explaining another fabulous option for the book:

Books are all being ordered! :) They will be available soon, so don't go driving "fruitlessly" across town, because yes, they have no bananas ... The best way, if you want to get a head start, is to download your very own copy of the study Living Beyond Yourself, study of the Fruit of the Spirit, with all the videos, for once again, the low, LOW price of only $23.95US...

Save the trip to the bookstore-- order your Bible study in your jammies if you like... we encourage jammie shopping... (or is it jammy? anyways...) IF you order now, we'll throw in ALL the videos from the study! YES, that's right, folks, you get to watch all, yes, ALL the Beth Moore you can handle... from www.lifeway.com/lby Order now! You know we can't do this all day.... okay, we can.

Balancing Act

2009-09-10T16:35:00.000-07:00

Magi Cooper will be at First Baptist Church, Nanaimo (1650 Waddington St.) on Saturday September 19 from 9:00am to 4:30pm. She will be speaking on finding balance in an unbalanced life. Cost is $20.... Contact their church office for registration: 250-753-0241

Leadership Summit

2009-08-06T10:37:00.000-07:00

Interrupting our little summer hiatus for a quick post---

I hope you all are having a wonderful summer-- we are having a blast!

The Leadership Summit begins today, and I am praying for all of you who are able to attend (I'm not able this year. )

For those of you who are attending, I hope you are taking good notes for the rest of us! I'd love to hear what touched your heart in a way that will affect your roles in leadership. Please place comments of little nuggets of teaching that you've learned at the Summit, and we'll all be blessed!

Happy June!

2009-06-16T19:44:00.000-07:00

Gosh, I guess we haven't written in a while... I suppose I've been disconnected to the connections blog! Hope you've been enjoying the beautiful weather that we've been having. (I have, probably why I haven't been blogging as much lately!)

Monday night we finished our Contagious Joy study. What a wonderful time we've had getting to know each other and getting into the Word of God together! :) If you haven't been to a Bible study before, they're so much fun and so encouraging-- hope you'll join us for the next one!

We will return in the fall with a new study. We'll be doing a Beth Moore study beginning again late September.

In the meantime, we were thinking about a book club... anyone interested? :) Email us!

Spring Has Sprung...

2009-04-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

...And so have our new Spring Bible studies!

We're well underway and we have so much participation in both studies... it's so encouraging to see so many women getting connected with each other, and into studying the Bible and its truths that God offers us to navigate through this crazy ride called life!

I enjoyed the Esther study so much that I couldn't stay away as we offered it for the morning study.... I'm really enjoying it the second time around too... It's Tough Being a Woman in another woman's shadow, we learned last week, and it's tough when beauty is a treatment, too. How can we be truly beautiful? Psalm 90:17 NKJV says, "And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us." All I gotta say to that is: Bring it on, Lord! :)

It's not too late if you are interested to join an online study of Esther! Just contact me at tmpwomen@gmail.com Watch the videos online and have online chat discussions! Cool, eh?

Contagious Joy: We've studied what it looks like to have joyless living, what our lives look like without joy, and how to reclaim the joy of our salvation in our lives. The joy hasn't left us, it just requires a new way of seeing! We've also read about sorrow.... that we have the promise that, though we may be in sorrow, our joy WILL come in the morning! God is full of surprises! :)

Have a great week, girls, and I am praying for you all like crazy!!
Joyfully,
Jen :)

Happy Easter!

2009-04-10T12:28:00.000-07:00

hahaha... when I typed Easter in the title, I typed it "Esther" first! Habit!! :)

Hope you all have a wonderful Easter! New Spring Bible studies are coming April 20! See the side margin for details on them, and I hope that you'll be able to attend!

⁵The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.⁶"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.⁷"Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you." Matthew 28:5-7 NASB

Monday wrap up!

2009-03-31T13:10:00.000-07:00

Morning:
Monday's morning study wrapped up yesterday. We're celebrating our completion with coffee upstairs at a big table at the Buzz next week. Hope you'll be there!
This verse came during the video of Esther, but I think it applies to our discussion yesterday:

After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." Nehemiah 4:14

Girls, we gotta remember who is great and awesome, and fight!! All you girls, you have never been so fiercely in my heart and in my prayers as yesterday. I am fighting for you-- I love you all....

Esther Evening: Yes, oh yes, it's tough being a woman.... Tables are turning, though, and it's so good to know that God's turns our tough situations around for us as we trust Him in them...

"When, because of your faith your life too becomes perceptibly different; when your reactions are quite opposite to what the situation seems to call for and your activities can no longer be explained in terms of your personality; that is when your neighborhood will sit up and take notice. In the eyes of the world, it is not our relationship with Jesus Christ that counts; it is our resemblance to Him." (excerpt from The Queen and I)

I want that.

One more week of Esther-- we are meeting at Oliver Woods next week....

G.P. explained!

2009-03-25T15:11:00.001-07:00

I found the answer! :)
Beth Moore, in her videos, has been exclaiming in her Beth-Moorian way, "G.P., are you with me?" We've all been whispering under the video's volume what that could be-- I mean, GirlFriends, is GF after all! G.P. stands for God's Property, and if you've made Him the Lord of your life, then you belong to Him, hence, God's Property :) That's it... carry on, have fun with your homework!

Tuesday Morning :)

2009-03-24T10:21:00.000-07:00

I just love Mondays... not everyone can say that, but I do. I just get such a kick out of Bible study-- getting together with girls and talking about God's goodness over coffee and something chocolate. I mean, what more can you ask for? If you missed this session of studies, join us starting April 20. You don't have to be a scholar. You don't have to know it all already. All you need is the desire to connect with other women over coffee and something chocolate and talk about how great God is... and if you don't know how great God is, that's okay too...come find out! God longs for you to know!

Monday morning's study: Plug in! That means, get involved with others... we're built for relationships, and we're all parts of one body working together. All parts of the body are important-- God has a way of using seemingly the weakest parts for His greatest works.

Monday evening: Destinies have taken a turn! :) Every reversal of destiny begins with a step... and it's tough being a woman who feels responsible for the "how", but girls, God knows how!

It's tough being a woman to balance passion with patience, but God longingly waits with you too for just the right time to bring it to pass.

Study well, pray for each other this week... (morning girls, there's an email for you with those requests) As always, Melanie and I are available to serve you-- if you're in need, just let us know :) Oh, and Donna was baptized on Sunday... yipee! yahoo! Praises to Him :)

Monday update

2009-03-19T08:48:00.000-07:00

Happy March Madness Day! (I know, I am the only one who cares, I am sure.) Hope you're all having a wonderful, restful Spring Break. Here I am with another Monday recap:

Monday morning, we had a small group. Many were missing because of the break, and illnesses, etc (hope you're all feeling better and able to sleep!) and we talked about offloading our stress, chapter 8. Jesus will carry our burdens if we entrust ourselves to him, and yoke ourselves at His side.

Monday evening, Esther girls learned about peripety and chiastic structure in Chapter 6. It was really awesome. Really. You had to be there, I guess. hehheee... They have to do with a hinge-- in Esther's case, and in ours, a hinge that will change the direction of destiny so as to mirror the opposite of what was.

New studies will begin April 20... stay tuned for announcements! :)

Ta'Anit Esther

2009-03-11T07:49:00.000-07:00

FYI for all you Esther students: The fast of Esther, beginning on the 13th of Adar, began on Monday, the 9th of March. Wish I knew that on Monday! Click on the word Wikipedia if you're interested!

Monday in review :)

2009-03-10T18:10:00.000-07:00

SNOW!! Yikes. It was me, Jen, who had the keys and the DVD's for study yesterday morning. I really thought I might have tried to get there, but then got two phone calls saying not to try it. Hence, the 8am cancellation of the 9:15 study. I made a few phone calls in addition to the email, all the while trying to bundle my kids to walk to school which was not canceled. (I don't have the complete phone list for the morning study, just called the ones I could find) Everyone I called was quite thankful for the cancelation, but if you were one who was brave and struggled out there only to find a note on the door, I do apologize and thank you for not sending me a nasty email written in MEAN ALL CAPS LETTERS! (must have been that lesson on forgiveness a couple weeks ago!)

The snow stopped for Esther, and we proceeded after a week off last week. We talked about the importance of knowing when it's time, when it's time to wait, when it's time to wait for someone else's time, and when the meantime is God-time. If we wait upon the LORD we will renew our strength, (Isaiah 40:31) but if we wait upon the thing we're waiting for, our strength gets depleted. We get tired of waiting. So wait upon the LORD! :)

Have a great week, girls, and don't forget about being grateful! Don't know what I am talking about? Click here!

How Grateful I Am......

2009-03-02T11:37:00.001-08:00

We talked this morning in Bible study about discontentment. We're often discontent because our focus is off. We compare our lives with others, and decide that our circumstances dictate our happiness. Instead, we need to focus on the things eternal, the stuff that matters. It's Christ who gives us the strength to be content.

Here's our assignment in conquering discontent, counting your blessings!
Daily post three things (different ones each day) that you are grateful for. We're going to do this for four weeks, and we'll recognize all the little things that God is doing in our lives daily, those things to be thankful for, realizing what we have, not focusing on what we lack. (No comparing your list with others, that would lead to discontent!! hehehe... We will rejoice with those who rejoice instead!) Click the word COMMENTS at the end of the post. If you have trouble posting, email us at tmpwomen@gmail.com and we will post for you.

Feel free to participate in this exercise whether or not you attend the morning study! :)

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. --Philippians 4:11-13

Marching forward....

2009-03-02T07:43:00.000-08:00

There we go, a new background :) Happy March, everyone!

Just reminding Esther girls to have a great week off, catch up on that homework, and see you on the 9th for lesson 5.

Daylight savings time starts next Saturday night, so move those clocks ahead an hour--don't be an hour late for church on Sunday morning!

Miracle of the Moment

2009-02-26T10:22:00.000-08:00

Hey Ladies! Well, I thought I might change the background to a more seasonally appropriate one, but then we've had all this snow! This background's staying up for a few more days, at least!

Here's the song again that I played the other night at the Esther study, the song from Day 5, week 4 homework... It's been in my brain all week :)
Enjoy!

Enjoy the snow everyone, and the miracle of the moment!

This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

What a Monday! :)

2009-02-24T08:20:00.000-08:00

The weekly Monday recap:

Monday morning we had a house full!

Five kids outside the Underground board room door all having fun and playing while their Mommies learned and shared and connected with other fantastic women. Big thanks to Lauren K. for babysitting!

Monday morning's Smart Thing #6: Accept Yourself! What a topic... we talked all about our self-images, what and who has shaped that. Then we compared it to what God says about us to be true. The truth: We are His masterpieces, He created us with the dignity of a free will, and God paid dearly for the mere possibility for a relationship with us.

Monday Evening:

Man, the video was AWESOME!!!! I say that every week because they are, but this time I really mean it. If you've ever been afraid of something, this session's for you. "You can be brave even though you've had an entire history of chickendom." --Beth Moore.

Session #4: Fear not-- Take courage!!

"You may be one brave decision away from the most important decision in your entire path."

She had us do an exercise in facing fear. IF____, then _____ . You know how we do that... what if_____???

IF stands for I Fear_____, then ______. Fill in the blank with God will take care of me.

So, IF____, then GOD. We have to take courage... it's not something we do ourselves, but it's something that God gives us.

If you're not in the study or if you missed it, I highly recommend you download it from www.lifeway.com/women. Esther's Session 4, If you remain silent. The viewer guide is also available online if you want to take notes.

Just a reminder that the Esther study will not meet next week, March 2. We'll be back on the 9th....and we'll have our study on April 6 at Oliver Woods, not at Wendy's, as we'd originally planned. We do have the room rented that night!

Tuesday morning :)

2009-02-17T09:42:00.000-08:00

Tuesday mornings are awesome. Mondays have been spent with all you girls talking, laughing, and passing the Kleenex over all the things God has done for us, is doing, and will do yet still, and it's fun on Tuesdays to go over it all in my brain, resulting usually in a blog or two, either here or over at Jen jots... (stay tuned! I've been mentally blogging all night thanks to too much tiramisu cappuccino at Bible study last night!) Plus, I love cracking the beginning of the week's homework after watching Beth get all excited about what's about to be revealed to us!

Monday morning, our topic: forgiveness. Donna Carter defined it, "true forgiveness is the miracle that results when the human will is empowered by divine love." We decided that forgiveness can only be a God thing, that Christ's example of forgiving those who sent Him to die on the cross is both an example in doing forgiveness, and a measuring stick on which to gain a little perspective about how much we've been wronged.

Monday night: a little gem from Beth Moore-- "God's time is your prime!" You didn't miss the boat, it's not too late to fulfill your destiny. God's timed it right, and though it doesn't look right to you, it looks perfect to God. I don't know about you, but I needed to hear that.

Study well this week, ladies... I am praying you enjoy some sweet moments with your Saviour...

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T18:34:00.000-08:00

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3

Monday study recap:

2009-02-06T09:55:00.000-08:00

Hey all :)

Esther had the week off, hope you're studying, and loving it as much as me.... reminder to all studies to keep lifting each other up in prayer and encouraging each other!

Monday's morning study.... control!

It's been a learning experience this week at least for me, that's for sure! God's been showing example after example in my days how little control I really have over my circumstances, and how much He is in control...and that's so good! :) He does it so much better.

I loved how Donna Carter said that we have a parade view of life, we just see what is next in line. We can't see around the corner, but God has a bird's eye view of it all and can see the big picture.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 NASB

Reminder for Esther Girls :)

2009-02-01T16:45:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that the Esther study will not meet tomorrow, Monday, February 2! We'll discuss week 2's homework on the 9th of February! I'll miss you! Have a great week....

10 Smart Things will meet as usual :)

Weekly Update!

2009-01-29T10:28:00.000-08:00

Hey Girls!! :)
I am so excited to announce a third Bible study happening... God's SO good. (if it would let me underline that twelve times, I would have!) :) Thursday nights, 10 Smart Things, with Ilona leading, starting this evening. Contact tmpwomen@gmail.com for details. And, Ilona, we're praying for a crazily blessed night for you all!

I hope you're enjoying Bible study as much as I am!
Some things we learned from Monday:
10 Smart Things: "The way the story ends depends on what you tell yourself in that moment. Telling yourself the objective truth enables you to manage your emotions."

Esther: "You cannot amputate your history from your destiny."

Just a reminder to keep on encouraging each other, enjoy your homework, and keep those prayer requests on your heart this week!

There's a few things that are new to the blog... If you want to be emailed posts as they are posted, sign up at tmpwomen@gmail.com and we'll set you up. Also, you can subscribe to posts if you're on Google Reader or something similar. Just go to "subscribe" at the margin on the right.
In addition, I put the link to Lifeway under the Links section for the Beth Moore resources I keep referring to in study.

Bible studies!

2009-01-20T10:28:00.001-08:00

Wow... what a great turnout for both studies yesterday! It's so exciting seeing so many women with a desire to know Him!

Some gems I picked up from yesterday (I went to both. I couldn't help myself, I so love Bible study!):
From Donna Carter's 10 Things: Negative space is as important as filled space; it serves in creating order and rest and focus for the other things.

From Beth Moore's Esther: He's got the whole world in His hands. Why do we think He doesn't have our whole world in His hands?

If you missed yesterday, it's not too late to get involved... just email us, tmpwomen@gmail.com
and let us know!

Oops!

2009-01-15T09:48:00.000-08:00

I've been falsely advertising the morning study! The real title to the book is:

Ten Smart Things Women Can Do to Build a Better Life.

A much friendlier title than the one I advertised, I must say! I hope you'll join Melanie this Monday at the Underground!

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”- John 8:31-32

Monday Morning Study

2009-01-09T16:05:00.000-08:00

Our Winter/Spring Study will take us down an entirely new path! Canadian speaker/writer, Donna Carter, has penned 10 Smart things women can do to build a better life. What a mouthful and yet who isn’t drawn to the promise of a better life?The course will help us discover valuable tools to help us successfully navigate our day-to day existence. Real-life topics to do with emotions (got any!?), relationships and stress are covered off, among others, with thought-provoking reference to the bible and the power of a transformational relationship with the God who created us and wants us to live life to the fullest.
You will be provided with a Participant’s Guide to be used during our video discussion times, 9:15-11:15 am at the Underground at the cost of $5.00. While there are no homework requirements, this may be a great time to launch in to daily reading of your bible, just like you have always wanted to do!
Please register at the Connections table in the lobby at church or contact Melanie at contactmel@shaw.ca.
Our opening celebration will be held on Sunday, January 18th. All details TBA!

--Melanie

Freshly squeezed

2009-01-08T12:41:00.000-08:00

January 8, 2009

I'm double posting this entry from my blog, www.jenjotsthoughtsat.blogspot.com, as I thought it might encourage you today to join one of our studies coming up, or maybe just prompt you to dust off your bible :)

I didn't realize as a kid that not everyone in the world can walk outside their back door in the bright warm morning January sunshine, pick oranges, and juice them to have with breakfast. I thought that was completely normal and insignificant. I know much better now! Trying to teach my kids about California life here this week, I took Keelin and a couple brown Trader Joe's grocery bags out to the yard in search of a great glass of juice. There's absolutely nothing better than real freshly squeezed juice.

We filled our bags with about twenty some-odd oranges and took them inside to juice. We halved them and pressed them onto the citrus juicer. Keelin stuck her finger at one point into the stream of juice from the machine, and said the juice was a bit "sourish."

We poured our glasses of juice. Keelin's first taste prompted her to ask if we could put sugar in it. WHAT?!!??! To suggest such a thing!! Broke my heart! I think it's my fault in a way. At home we buy less expensive Minute Maid from frozen concentrate. Making juice at home in Canada involves opening the can and adding three cans of water. That's even if we buy real juice. Often we have orange punch, which has very little if any orange juice in it, along with other juices mixed in, or completely artificially flavored.

How often do we settle for cheaper artificial or watered down versions of the real thing? Does it happen so often the fake starts to taste more real than the true?

The truth, the real stuff, is sometimes hard to come by, and costs more, but seek it out.... it's amazing!

O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Psalm 34:8

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T11:54:00.000-08:00

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

January's studies!

2008-12-15T07:07:00.000-08:00

Monday Mornings: Melanie will be leading 10 Smart Things Every Woman Should Know! :)

And as for Monday Evenings: I've been taking your feedback very seriously! Thank you to all those who've emailed and left comments on the blog about our next Bible study adventure. I have tried to accomodate your requests for "deep", "Bible study", "current", and "light homework" (the last one, hard to find, by the way!)

So, though it was not unanimous, and I do apologize for that (but stay tuned, it's upcoming!), here's what I've come up with:
http://www.emedialink.com/view_video.php?viewkey=28e61124e13181db7774

Yes, it's Esther! Beth Moore's newest study, just out last month... and it looks great! Don't panic-- I think she's toned down the homework, too! See for yourself:

sample lesson:
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_wmn_esther_sample.pdf

description from http://www.lifeway.com/:
Beth Moore’s newest Bible study is Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman. Going up against heavyweights bent on her destruction, Esther trusted God and landed a blow that saved her people. The Old Testament story of Esther is a profile in courage and contains many modern parallels for today's woman. Esther's destiny can be yours as you know more deeply the God who is in your corner.

Join Beth in an in-depth and very personal examination of this great story of threat and deliverance. She peels back the layers of history and shows how very contemporary and applicable the story of Esther is to our lives. If you've ever felt inadequate, threatened, or pushed into situations that seemed overpowering, this is the study for you. Just as it was tough being a woman in Esther's day, it's tough today. This portion of God's Word contains treasures to aid us in our hurried, harried, and pressured lives.

Since Oliver Woods is booked the first Monday of every month, we'll skip that week as a week to digest, catch up, or reflect on the material... hopefully that will make it even easier, considering our lives are hurried, harried, and pressured!

Hope you'll join me Monday nights in January!
Jen :)

Snow cancellations

2008-12-14T07:37:00.000-08:00

Hey girls, church is cancelled today, along with our party at Ilona's...
Thank you Ilona for your hospitality!

Stay warm and cozy at home today :)

Anna's Stepping Up Poem :)

2008-12-07T15:08:00.000-08:00

Look how God's working in us, girls! Stepping Up has definitely encouraged the psalmists in us :) Anna Giesbrecht read us a wonderful poem last week that she'd written about the study we've just finished and I asked if I could post it on the blog. Enjoy!

We're starting two new studies in January...if you missed Stepping Up, I hope you'll join us in the New Year!

Our six week sessions have come and gone
Look at all that God has done!

We've cried, laughed and loved each other,
Came out to study despite the weather.

We're all on a journey destined for heaven,
Step by step we're heading there, all of us seven.

Jen, our leader is such a joy,
Teaching us lessons to employ.

My friends you all are, including Bubbles,
Praying for each other with all our troubles.

It's been great fun, we hate to part,
But we'll keep in touch if we're at all smart.

We've learned to lean on God and pray,
Memorizing scriptures day by day.

We say them, work them and pray them.
Each moment of the day, clinging to Jesus hem.

Remembering we are not stuck;
Our power's within; believe not in luck.

But if in case you do feel stuck,
Call one of us, we'll pray you through.

You'll find relief, I bet you a buck.
God's word says so, yes, it's true.

Details for Bible Study/Christmas Celebration

2008-12-03T10:36:00.001-08:00

More details for the gathering at Ilona's house:
Sunday, December 14, at 1:30.

We'll be celebrating potluck style. There will be a sign-up sheet on the Connections table at church this Sunday, so be sure to check it out and let Ilona know what you'll be bringing.

Also, we will have an ornament exchange. If you'd like to participate, please bring an ornament, either one you've made or purchased, that you'd like to give away :)

And since it's Christmas, we'll be making some yummy Christmas treats there, too!

I'm adding a map to Ilona's house (as soon as I figure out how to do it!) So when the word map becomes a link, you'll be able to click on it, and we'll have a few printed out on the Connections table too. :)

hey girls! :)

2008-12-01T10:50:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the new blog!

Oh, wasn't Stepping Up awesome?!

Can you believe it's December already? Christmas! YAY!

Ilona has graciously offered her home for our Stepping Up/Christmas celebration on December 14... Can't wait to see you all there!

Melanie and I are doing some planning for January, getting some dates finalized for new Women's Bible Studies beginning in the New Year...

I have a couple of questions, if I could have your feedback (click COMMENTS at the end of the post, not the envelope, but the word COMMENTS) and let me know what you'd like to see. Melanie's planning a morning study of 10 Smart Things Every Woman Should Know. (I don't know or do any of these smart things, so that disqualifies me from teaching them-- hahaha... no, just wanting to offer an alternate study! But I am undecided!)

Questions for you evening Bible studiers:

1. Beth Moore, or not Beth Moore, that's the question! :) I want us to study God's Word, and your study feedback said that you like her and the fact that it's Bible study.

2. If so Beth Moore, will you be ready for the homework in the coming New Year? I was not able to look at the Esther book of Beth Moore today when I went to the bookstore, but I looked at her study of John, The Beloved Disciple, and it looked a little lighter than Stepping Up or David, though I could be wrong!

3-6. What about reading the Max Lucado book, A Cast of Characters, and doing the discussion questions at the back of the chapters? It looked good, but is it too light? Not enough Bible reading? (and there's no video for this.) I LOVED the book He Chose the Nails, and there's a workbook and DVD for it, too... but have you all read this one?

Let me know!

Jen :)