w3 FALL STUDY BELIEVING GOD:EXPERIENCING A FRESH EXPLOSION OF FAITH
CLICK TO SEE WHAT THIS STUDY IS ALL ABOUT AND TO HEAR WHAT OTHER CROSSROADERS ARE SAYING
Do You Know HOW to Believe God? Do You Believe in God or do you Believe God? The upcoming study “Believing God “ by Beth Moore invites you to ‘experience a fresh explosion of faith’ as you spend time with Him. Wether you are a new Christ follower or you have been one as long as you can remember, God wants you to take that next step to a deeper, closer, relationship with Him. W3 invites you to take that step with us! FALL STUDY BEGINS SEPTEMBER 3RD IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA AT THE CFC! SIGN UP AT THE WHC AND BRING A FRIEND OR 2 OR 3…!!!
Coming Out
I’m coming out of hiding. It has been months since I have blogged. I guess it has just been on the bottom of my priorities. Funny thing with priorities that it happens this way. So, here’s an update:
After 7 months of being on “the plan,” I have been maintaining my current weight since May. As I woman, I would love to lose the last 5 pounds, but I am happy with my loss and know that by exercising every day I have created a great habit. Hence, the lack of time to spend BLOGGING.
My friend, Cat, got a different job shift so we haven’t been walking together. For about a month I walked in the evenings with my other friend, but she just moved to another state. So, this past week, I have been walking with my ipod and have recently begun listening to Andy Stanley’s podcasts. Phenomenal. This man is a great speaker who has the ability to share God’s principles in such a way that makes me want to listen again and again. I will share more later, but if you haven’t listened to podcasts before, check it out. During the summer months, I may not have time to sit down and do a Bible study, but walking and hearing a sermon is really my thing.
My marriage is being tested lately and so another reason I am not blogging as much. I have been engrossed with literature about how to become a more mature Christian and loving wife. I have so much to learn and much more to practice, but I am really starting to appreciate being a woman and wife. Created in God’s image, we are the female attributes of God. WOW! Not only is God a caring, loving, nurturing God, He is also a multi-tasker, and all those things men think are annoying about us, like, fashion. God looks at the trees and says, “this season in the fall the colors are browns, reds, yellows, but in the springs it will be pastels.” Amazing that we get our sense of style from our creator. And then I remember, Oh, God also has male characteristics that I must learn to appreciate my man for because he was created in the image of God as well. I just am starting this process, but it is amazing.
Summer Shorts for women was my sabbatical. I found reason to take a much needed rest from ministry and focus on the above things. I feel like change is imminent and yet I do not know in what capacity. I have applied to several new career opportunities and am searching for what it is I am supposed to be doing. If you know what it is, please let me know. Perhaps your ears and eyes are more tuned in than mine!! Or perhaps I am waiting in God’s timing. In that case, I will wait.
Believing God by Beth Moore is our next women’s Bible Study for the fall! Beth wrote this study several years ago for an online audience and let me tell you that it has captured my attention. I am more ready to receive this Bible Study than any other that I have taken. It is not about learning about WHO God is or WHAT has happened in the Bible, this is personal. This is about taking the written word and applying it directly to your life. Do you want to know HOW to believe God and not only believe IN Him? Then, you must join us in this study. September 3, 2008 at 6:30pm is our introductory night at the CFC. It is an 11 week study and is created for you to be able to actually see God work in your life every single day! Girls, this is exactly what is needed for your relationship with God to go to the next level. If your prayer life is short, if you spend a little bit of time in your Bible, if you want it to be different, then get on board. Sign up at the WHC beginning August 17. If you want to sign up now, email me — srplato@yahoo.com. I’d be glad to start a conversation with you about it. If you choose to help in any area of W3 this fall, zip an email off to me as well. We are always looking for volunteers who want to be apart of what God is doing in the lives of women at Crossroads.
Ok, I guess you might have had enough of me and wish I would go back into hiding. But, I am back and hope you will let me know you are too! Hit reply and tell me you want me to continue. Or send any thoughts you have. Let me know you are out there and listening.
In His Name, JESUS!
Sunshine
W3 CHIC night!
Need some GAL TIME? Need a few laughs ….a hug from an old friend….or want to make a New friend?
Passion and Prayer
This Wednesday W3 will be meeting with the rest of the Crossroads family in the CFC auditorium to view the “Passion of the Christ” and to pray for our community to be impacted during this holiday season. Please use your complimentary ticket and come or contact the church office at 266.1919 to get one and come at 6:30pm at the auditorium.
Hope your Bible Study is going well. Comment here with questions or thoughts or concerns….
In His Name, Sunshine
Opportunities
Opportunities are available at every step we take.
In two weeks, Crossroads is taking the opportunity as a church body to view “The Passion of the Christ” and have a time of corporate prayer for the upcoming Easter holiday season. We are hoping to impact the community and the most surefire way to do that is to pray, pray, pray for them. If you care to join us, please stop by the WHC on Sunday to get your free ticket to reserve your seat, because only 700 people will be allowed due to fire regulations. If you are in Motherwise or A Woman’s Heart this season, there will be NO CLASS Wednesday, March 19 so we may support this event. The event is 6:30pm-9pm in the CFC auditorium.
Another opportunity is to serve the community by serving their children during the Easter holiday. Crossroads is having 4 identical experiences for Easter; Saturday, March 22 at 4pm and 5:30pm and Sunday, March 23 at 9:30am and 11am! Each experience will have opportunities for us to serve the children. How else can we impact the 2500 people we hope will attend? Of course this means you might have to volunteer 1 more hour that week. That’s ok because God says we are the Light of this world, we are to show our fruit that we bear. If you are interested in this opportunity and can spare your time, please email your name and phone number to srplato@yahoo.com and I will sign you up!
Thank you God for letting us live in a country that allows us to pray, worship and proclaim your name! You are holy, worthy and magnificent. Thank you in advance for the abundance of volunteers that you will have prepared for service on Easter, and the families of those who do not yet know you but will soon come to meet you through Easter weekend at Crossroads. In Jesus’ name, Amen
You have an opportunity to write a short prayer of thanks to God right here. Just click on the comments button and type away!
Sunshine
W3 Book Club this Saturday!
The W3 Book Club will meet this Saturday, February 9, at Karen Pender’s home in Adrian from 10am-noon. We’re going to discuss the book Sacred Influence by Gary Thomas. It’s been a very informative read!! How refreshing to get a man’s view of what a woman can do for a man! I’ve been married almost 33 years, and I still learned TONS about how to improve my relationship with my husband! This will be a discussion filled with insight and laughter, I’m sure!! RSVP to Shirley Bordine by email: sbordine@bf.umich.edu When you RSVP, ask for directions to Karen’s if you need them. Below is a list of the books we are reading and discussing over the next several months! You can find these books at many local book stores, or online at Christian Book Distributors (.com) or Amazon (.com). Please join us!!
W3’s A Woman’s Heart
Girls,
It’s time for the launch of “A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place”!! This study begins this week at Crossroads.
The Wednesday Night group will meet this Wednesday, January 30th at 6:30pm-8:30pm in Founder’s Hall of the Christian Family Center. If you have signed up, we are excited to see you there. If you have not signed up but would still like to come, show up and we will get you registered and you can purchase a book for $16! REMEMBER, Doors will open at 6:15pm, so come early, get registered and begin hanging out right away. We have a fun evening planned with worship, prayer, orientation and an introductory video with Beth Moore! Don’t be late….
Our Thursday morning group begins this week too! Thursday, January 31 at 9:30am-11:30am at Vicky P.’s home in Onsted. If you have signed up for this time, great! If you haven’t and need the address and directions, please email me at srplato@yahoo.com. Books will be available for those who still have to purchase books.
Don’t miss out on this awesome opportunity to grow closer to God, draw closer to other women and make new or renew relationships!! In the words of Beth Moore from her promotional video, “This is gonna be so fun, this is gonna be so fun, this is gonna be so fun!”
See you there!!
Sunshine
Diet is GOOD!
Hello Readers,
I told you the last time I blogged how sad I was that the new diet left me without cheese and ice cream. It makes me sad. Actually though, I have broke down and officially joined the online WW, so I can get some better information and correct planning. It is not REALLY a diet, but a plan for a lifestyle change and I like it.
I weighed in tonight after 3 weeks of this plan and I have lost 4 pounds! YEAH! That is about 30% of my goal and I am ecstatic. I haven’t yet done well on the exercise. 
My goal is to exercise 3-4 times a week and so far it has been once a week. Looks like I have something more to work on.
I have asked my husband to consider buying us an elliptical machine. He is considering. We haven’t come to a firm conclusion, but I would say that he is leaning heavily in favor for it.
One more thing before I go… Just a reminder to our Crossroaders: Night of Praise is this Wednesday at 6:30pm in the Auditorium. Hope you will consider attending and spending a couple hours devoted to praising God and being fed the Word of God. I will save you a seat if you leave a reply for me to. Come hear what He has to say to you!!!
Sunshine
W3 Book Club
Like to read?? Join the W3 Book Club and read with us, then join in a stimulating discussion about the book we’ve read for the month! We will meet the Second Saturday of every month at Karen Pender’s home in Adrian from 10am-noon. RSVP each month to Shirley Bordine by email: sbordine@bf.umich.edu When you RSVP, ask for directions to Karen’s if you need them. Below is a list of the books we are reading and discussing over the next several months! You can find these books at many local book stores, or online at Christian Book Distributors (.com) or Amazon (.com).
Feb 9 Sacred Influence by Gary Thomas
March 8 Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down (book 2) by Neta Jackson
April12 Dangerous Surrender by Kay Warren
May 10 Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Real (book 3) by Neta Jackson
June 14 Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
July 12 Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Tough (book 4) by Neta Jackson
w3 FLIP ‘YOUR’ HEART
FLIP ‘YOUR’ HEART!
W3’s Fall study, “Breaking Free” concluded Nov 28th with a night of celebration capped off by a time of sharing by participants, personal reflection, worship and a symbolic ceremony of “making the great exchange” –trading areas of personal bondage for Freedom in Christ. One by one former ‘captives’ took issues such as unbelief, unforgiveness, and pride to the foot of the Cross and exchanged them for the Truth . Then after a time of awesome worship, many shared areas where God worked in their hearts and lives through the study to begin healing from past hurts or gained insight to present problems. Others spoke of a growing love for and intimacy in their relationship with God because of the daily homework time and weekly video teaching. New, and deeper connections were made with other women of Crossroads through the weekly discussion and answered prayer in their lives and the lives of the others. Yet this study was just a few steps on our faith journey. We were challenged to realize why in-depth Bible study and spending time in prayer is crucial to our walk with Christ and to determine what our next step in that walk should be.
FLIP “YOUR” HEART
And speaking of next steps have you seen “Flip that House” yet? Its one of the most popular reality shows on cable TV. The premise is irresistible. An investor purchases a run down, dilapidated house that is filled with trash; it requires major renovation to be sellable to potential buyers.. The investor (within their budget) personally cleans up, renovates and transforms the house into a home that reflects their vision of what the house can be –making it like new, so that it can be placed back on the market to earn a profit. In the real estate world, this is known as ‘flipping’. In God’s economy it is known as His ultimate plan for you and me.
God wants to flip your heart –He spared no expense to purchase it, giving His own Son to pay for it’s clean up and renovation. Now He desires to transform it into His dwelling place by taking you to a place of relationship that is closer and more personal and making it a place to reveal His love and Glory to the world around you–and in the process to draw others into relationship with Him as well.
Regardless of where you are taking your next step from, W3 invites you to take it by joining us for our winter study: “A Woman’s Heart, God’s Dwelling Place” an 11 week, interactive, in-depth Bible Study by Beth Moore that combines video teaching and small group discussion.
The study begins on Jan 30th (p.m.) or Jan 31st (a.m.) Choose between Wednesday evenings at the CFC in our NEW LOCATION:FOUNDERS HALL 6:30-: 30 p.m. or Thursday Mornings in the Onsted Area at Vicky P’s home 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Cost: $16.00 which includes the study book.
Sign up under the flipping sign in the Grand Lobby. See you there!
