Past Messages from the Team
2012
Have you ever forgotten who someone was? Recently, I was at lunch with a friend who is a professor at a University. A previous student approached her and they caught up on what had been happening in their lives. After the student left, she shared that she could not recall the student's name and had a vague recollection of her.
Just last week, I was visiting my grandmother who now resides in an Alzheimers care facility. This same grandmother whom I had spent countless hours playing “Tripoley” with, who would help me down from her big fruit tree when I got stuck in it as a child, who took me to the state fair each year. . . she forgot who I was. With great sadness, I continually reminded her of my name and that I was her granddaughter.
Have you ever forgotten who God was? I know I have. I have had amazing experiences of being led by Him and serving Him alongside other believers and worshiping Him. There have been times when His goodness and greatness has overwhelmed me. Yet too many times I find myself in a more complacent place; forgetting that He walked the earth as an actual, historical person who claimed to be God Himself and proved that through His miracles and His resurrection. Forgetting that He took my sin upon Himself and wants nothing more from me than to love Him back. It's no wonder that God tells us to be either hot or cold in our Christian faith. I'm beginning to see that it is impossible to be lukewarm when we fully grasp who He is. I encourage you this year just to read and read and re-read through the book of John to remember who He is. That is one of my resolutions for this coming year. As the life and words of Christ become engrained into our minds and our thoughts, I hope that our passion for Him will be reignited as we remember who He is.
Lisa Gilbert
December 2011
What a great series on apologetics we have had on Wednesday nights. Dave and Aaron have done a spectacular job breaking it down for us. They have given us straight forward and plain-spoken answers for some of the common questions we are faced with regarding our faith.
Wednesday night Bible Study will take a break for the Christmas holidays (beginning December 14) and will resume on January 11, 2012. The Vineyard women’s Bible Study will resume then, also. I’m so excited about the things we will be studying. We’ll spend time in Hebrews (mostly chapters 10-12) looking at some of the men and women listed there who were examples of living “by faith”. We can learn so much from their lives. Then after Easter we will study Habakkuk. It’s a small book packed with big lessons that are as true and applicable today as they were back then.
Please join us. You will be encouraged as you connect and spend time with other women studying the Bible and discovering how God’s truths can be applied to our lives.
Let’s get to know each other! Life is so much better together, don’t you agree?
See you in January.
Have a great Christmas celebrating Emmanuel, God with Us.
Kathy
Fall 2011
Southern California doesn’t provide weather cues to the changing season like other areas of the country but we still sense the change. We enjoy football games (in a variety of venues), changing leaves (in pictures, in silk leaves we buy at Michael’s, and sometimes on the street where you live). We love the chance to wear cozy sweaters (at least in the morning) and the overall knowing that the parade of seasonal events and holidays has begun.
Our church launches its Fall schedule in September, also. I love walking the halls on Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights and seeing all the activity…kids and grownups alike enjoying the start of another year of ministry opportunities.
One of the opportunities I want you to be aware of is our Wednesday night prayer time. The men’s and women’s Bible studies have joined together to pray for our church and its many ministries. What a fantastic time we are having. Prayer is such a critically important part of our spiritual life and I am so grateful we are being given this opportunity to come together each Wednesday night.
Won’t you join us at 6:30 in Room 110? You will be so glad you did!
God bless you!
Kathy
Summer 2011
This summer, the women's ministry team at 1BL is looking forward to introducing our very first, “Summer Mom & Kid Adventures”. We have several outings planned throughout the summer as a way for moms and kids to connect with each other.
As a mom to young kids, I find summertime to be a nice break from the drudgery of homework, school projects, and nights full of running from one place to the next. I'm thankful for the many opportunities my kids will have this summer to gain new skills and experiences like sailing, swimming and knee boarding. My daughter is finally old enough to try her coordination at the high adventure ropes course at Hume Lake. This summer my two oldest are excited about going to summer camp at Forest Home for the first time. Summertime also brings the chance to visit with the numerous family members from Arizona who are trying to escape the torturous heat. I love so much of what the summer brings. I hope you have a lot to look forward to as well.
I'm also gearing up for the days of sibling bickering. Trying to figure out who is at fault and what the consequence should be. The horrible, “I'm bored” statement that will inevitably come. While lazy mornings are nice, I find it is also good to have some structure planned into our days. It seems to alleviate some of the arguing and boredom that would otherwise come. Going to the beach or park is always more fun with friends. It is my hope that in the process of having some fun together, friendships will be deepened and new friendships will be made. This is the reason I felt a desire to start a “Summer Mom & Kid Adventures” schedule for this summer.
I'm hoping this summer will lead to new and deepened friendships, where we have the opportunity to support and encourage one another. Hopefully you will click on the “Summer Mom & Kid Adventures” schedule and join us. The outings are meant to be casual and to include everyone. Feel free to invite neighbors or friends of your own. If you have any questions related to a specific outing, a name and contact phone number is listed on the schedule. The schedule is a collaborative effort from several 1BL moms. I am always happy to help answer questions as well and can be reached at (562) 706-2758.
We're looking forward to a great summer together!
Lisa Gilbert
Spring 2011
The Women’s Ministry Team here at 1BL is excited about the Spring event on May 14, “Lighten Up: Discovering Joy in Everyday Moments.”
The thought behind the theme includes two aspects of “lighten up.”
One is that we live in intensely busy times and it’s important to take time to relax, de-stress, laugh, and unwind. We aren’t meant to keep a frenetic pace ongoing. God calls us to cast our cares on Him, go to Him for rest when we are labored and heavy laden, receive His peace in exchange for our anxiety. He wants us full of His joy! (The Portuguese translation for the word “joy” is “peace dancing.” I love that!) A study that measured laughter revealed that babies laugh up to 300 times a day and that diminishes to nearly 3 times a day by the time people are over 50. Now I’m sure we are on the high end of that scale but somewhere between childhood and adulthood we lose some of our ability to enjoy life! “A merry heart is good medicine.” Prov. 15:13
The second thought is that we who know Jesus are called to be light in a dark world. Joy is something that a dark world just does not understand. The sustained and deep joy we experience as children of the Kingdom is completely confusing to those who haven’t met Jesus yet. Because of Jesus we have the “light of life”…abundant and fully engaged. We can shine our lights and share our joy in a dark, lost world of people who desperately need Him.
In keeping with those thoughts, we have planned a wonderful morning that will give you opportunities to get to know other women in an atmosphere of fun and relaxation. And Stephanie Edwards is the perfect person to focus our hearts and minds in a humorous and heartfelt way on things eternal. We are so excited to have her with us.
I want to encourage you to attend this event. Give yourself the gift of a morning that will allow you time to enjoy yourself in an atmosphere of fun and encouragement. Let me also challenge you to think of women in your life who need the same thing. This is a perfect opportunity to invite neighbors, co-workers, friends and family who may not know Jesus in a personal, life-changing way. What better way to get to know Him? They will be introduced to a group of women who, with them, will enjoy a time of fun, laughter, and good food. They will also hear Stephanie share, in her unique and engaging way, what it means to know and love Jesus Christ.
We look forward to seeing you (with your friends) on May 14!
Kathy Eldridge
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Summer 2011
On May 14, over 250 women attended our Women’s Ministry event “Lighten Up: Finding Joy in Everyday Moments.” It was a wonderful morning spent together. Stephanie Edwards brought a challenging and heartfelt message in such an honest and down-to-earth way that I believe we all went away with a renewed sense of joy. Jesus Christ is truly the center of her life and she lives what she believes. There are CDs of her message available in the church office for $2. Call Kathy at (562)420-1471 ext. 146.
The Vineyard Women’s Bible Study finished for the year last Wednesday. What a great group of ladies. Our final study was Psalm 1 “Which Path Will You Choose?” As children of God, we are challenged to walk righteously and follow the path God lays out for us. God wants His Word to be our delight and for us to meditate on it day and night. Meditation involves memorization and we were challenged to make it a part of our devotion to God’s Word. The last verse of Psalm 1 is “For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked will perish”. God cares for and knows the way of His beloved children and always watches over us.
In keeping with that thought, we looked at Psalm 139, a worshipful description of God’s intimate care for His children written by King David. Throughout the Psalm, he personalizes the impact of God’s attributes on his own life—His Omniscience (He knows and sees everything), Omnipresence (He is everywhere at all times), and Omnipotence (He is all powerful). David’s response is our response—humility and commitment to live for God always. Verses 23-24 are a deep cry to God for ongoing purity and humility. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” That’s the path we choose if we are to live godly lives!
We were challenged to memorize Psalm 139 this summer as a way to “hide God’s Word in our hearts” and delight in His Word by being able to meditate on it anytime. You won’t always have a Bible in your lap. Tucking God’s word into your heart will serve you well in those quiet moments of wakefulness in the middle of the night or while driving your car. God’s Spirit will bring to your mind those things you have hidden in your heart and give you insight into God’s Truths as you think about them anytime—day or night.
Take the challenge with me. Memorize Psalm 139 this summer. Put copies of it in your purse, your car, and anywhere else you may have a moment to meditate and memorize. Enlist the help of your friends, spouse, children, or grandkids. Memorize it together. Make it a meaningful summer project. Let us be amazed at what God’s Spirit will teach us as we incorporate the wonderful truth of God’s Word into our everyday lives!
Have a great summer!
Kathy Eldridge