Quiz Day 2
Did you all enjoy the quiz this week. I loved it. It really showed me where I am in need of trusting and believing God more. I got the majors down, like the gospels are always true and God loves me unconditionally, but do I always recite scripture when I pray? Let me know what you thought about the quiz. Did you see an area where you struggle or an area you really believe him and were surprised by either????
Sunshine
Welcome Hudson Bloggers
I just wanted to open a thread for our bloggers who are taking the “He Speaks to Me” by Priscilla Shirer Study that Martha has graciously started tonight in Hudson. You all are in for a great word of God from her. She is a dynamic, powerful and spirit led teacher and I am praying for you as you are joining in fellowship with God and with each other.
I hope you will choose to use this blog to deepen your relationships with God, each other and those who are doing other studies. Praise the Lord that He works it out so no one is separated from Him.
Believing God participants, please comment and welcome our sisters to this site as well.
Sunshine
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
Desks for sale
There are two L-shaped darker wood office desks. Built by steelcase, very beautiful, slightly worn. They are $150.00 a piece.
Also there is a lighter wood computer desk, very nice for a bedroom or an office for $100.00. It has 3 drawers on the left and a larger door on the right, plus a shelf unit on top of the desk. It is about 60 inches long and 22 inches wide. We put one in our son’s room and he loves it. He uses it for homework and computer work.
If anyone is interested please call Kyle at 517-403-5179 or Ellen at 517-265-9653.
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
WW journey keeps going and going…
I have kept up! I am not a statistic of those who make a new year resolution and quit in a couple weeks. My quest for a healthy lifestyle continues.
I have lost a grand total of 13.5 pounds since January 5!! I haven’t bought new jeans yet, but I tried some on and fit (although quite snugly 
) into 3 sizes smaller than what I started, but my loose fitting jeans are just gonna have to work for now… I reached my 10% goal and am going for 15%, why not?!
The best part is I did most of this weight loss by diet… And now I am finally working in the exercise. At first I walked at the mall with my girlfriend a couple times a week, but she has since moved to Florida, so my walking buddy is gone! But, I now have broke out my old THE FIRM video tapes to do strength training and aerobic exercise. I have worked out 60 minutes at least 3 times a week for the last 2 weeks… I think that is a good start!
The bad part about all this is… My sagging skin. HELLO!? I am still in my twenties, I am supposed to have taut, wrinkle free skin. My belly looks like a 100 year old ladies face! I guess the bikini I was hoping to get into is out of the question…. But, I suppose that is the evidence of my dear son… He leaves a ’stretchmark’ on my life!
Thanks for your support and for those who are noticing my weight loss. I challenge you to a quest for health! PS… I found some great ice cream treats that are full of fiber so it makes up for the sugar! But, I haven’t figured out how to get the cheese in daily.
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
Challenging Question
Does a person have to have the gift of tongues as evidence that they have received the Holy Spirit and have been saved?
A person pointed out to me that the Bible makes reference to when John baptized the disciples with water and then at Pentecost they were baptized with the Holy Spirit and evidence of the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues… They were not to preach or do their ministry work until they were baptized with the holy spirit.
Mark 16:17, Acts 2:4, Acts 10:46-48 all speak of this but I am confused…. Anyone interested in explaining this. Provide Bible references please…
Sunshine
Choices
Life is full of them. It seems we have to choose between everything. What will I wear each day? Which route to work will I take? Who will I email first? When will I take my lunch break? Will I do my Bible Study lesson tonight or wait til tomorrow?
I don’t know about you but I don’t like making decisions. I tend to default to my husband as much as possible and let him help me with great decisions, like where will we eat for dinner on our date night? He usually decides and I agree. It’s not that I don’t like making the decisions, I just don’t like the consequences of the decisions I make. I am fearful that I might make the “wrong” decision. Thus, poor consequences.
As a leader type, I am forced to make decisions on a regular basis that affect others. It’s not easy and I sometimes get it wrong, but I default most of those to the Lord. I pray for His guidance and His leading and hope that I hear Him when I follow through with my decisions.
At this moment I am deciding on what to eat for dinner. For those that read this blog, you know I am following the WW plan and have lost 10 pounds in 7 weeks! Woo-hoo!! But, it has not been easy. What is has done is forced me to make “healthy” decisions most of the time. Except last night when I went with a friend to Frosty Boy. And my stomach is paying the consequences for it now…
I think I will choose to eat a small salad for dinner. Or sweet peas and chicken. Or tuna helper… Or…. AGHHHHHHH! The choices are too much for me.
Anything you have trouble with choosing?
Sunshine
Week 3 “A Woman’s Heart”
Last night at Bible Study was soooo nice! I loved it. Most of the ladies showed up, there was sharing at every table and looked to me like genuine laughter and connections were formed. All because we were being introduced to God in the wilderness! This is exactly what Bible Study is to be about. Community and Friendship while we grow closer to the LORD! Praise God that He is Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who Provides….
I hope you had as great a time as I did. The video was pretty amazing too. I really liked when Beth talked about her friend who lost a child and Beth saying to God, there is no way I could endure that. And God reminding her that His Grace and Mercy is dependent upon our circumstance. In essence, He was telling her, No, you couldn’t endure that now because I have not supplied that much grace to you, because your circumstance does not need it at this moment.
I think it is wonderful that we don’t have to endure other people’s “stuff”. For those that know me, I lost my only son two years ago 5 days after birth and God’s grace sustained and sustains me. I could endure it because God gave me what I need. But, I have a friend right now who’s husband is out of work and they sold their home and have two weeks to move out and don’t know where God is sending them. She has been trusting the Lord, but has called me for spiritual support on occasion. The other day, she said, I don’t know why I am complaining to you. You have endured so much more than I have. And I told her, I wouldn’t trade situations at all. There is a reason God gives us our “stuff” and he supplies exactly what we need to get through it. I KNOW I cannot endure what she is going through. I am way too much a planner and I would be broken. Isn’t this funny? And does anyone else know what I am talking about?
What did you like most from Bible Study this week? What questions do you have from the homework? Do you have a story to share?
Click on the comments button and share. Don’t be shy. This is another “table” discussion if you will… Let’s work this community! Others are waiting for you to be the ‘first’ one…
Sunshine
