Women's Forum 2018

2017 was a BIG year in my household!  After a couple of years of repeating myself, raising my voice volume level by about 3 decibels (I’m not even sure if that’s allot but I’m sure you get what I mean), cranking up the volume on the TV, my hubby Tom agreed to get his hearing tested.  Sure enough, he’s suffered a significant hearing loss in both ears.  What a relief it was to BOTH of us when the hearing aids came home, were tweaked and NOW the man can HEAR again!  Seriously!  Talk about a quality-of-life improvement – for BOTH of us!

Yes, TOM experienced some frustration because usually by the time he actually HEARD me say something, the pitch of my voice had surpassed ‘irritated’.  But I was also frustrated!  I had important stuff to say and / or ask but I wasn’t getting through to the man!  F.I.N.A.L.L.Y!  THAT little household irritation is gone (for the most part). 

Wouldn’t it be neat if we could simply put a hearing aid in our ear that would allow us to sortof‘put our ear to God’s lips’ and know exactly what He’s saying to us?  Those subtle messages that we wonder, ‘hmmm, could He be asking ME to do THAT?’ or ‘is doing this outside God’s will for my life?’ wouldn’t have to be pondered anymore because we’d KNOW the voice of God when we hear it!  In John 10 Jesus says this:  “My sheep hear my voice and I know them….”  Well, I don’t know about you, dear sisters, but I want to KNOW the voice of my Shepherd and I want HIM to know ME!

If actually hearing the voice of God has seemed like some kind of magic which you’re not privy to or a special gift which you don’t have, you’re in good company!  I imagine most of us have felt that way.  Thankfully, God has given us some great tips when it comes to hearing His voice (because just like I wanted Tom to hear me, TOM WANTED to hear me!)  

This year’s Women’s Forum is entitled “Discerning The Voice Of God”.  It’s presented in video format by Priscilla Schirer.  (Remember Priscilla?  She presented The Armor of God at our last Forum.)  Here’s what Priscilla will teach:

• More deeply understand the Holy Spirit’s role in your life

• Differentiate His voice from imposters’ voices, even from your own

• Glimpse His guidance in your everyday life

• Grow consistently in obedience, surrender, stillness, and humility.

That’s NOT MAGIC, ladies!  That’s what God promises to each of us!  HE wants to be HEARD, to make Himself known to us!  I long for that – how about you?

Join a bunch of other fun, friendly, shy, scared, beautiful gals for six Mondays, beginning January 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in AC3’s auditorium!  If you’re interested in doing the daily lessons, go to LifeWay.com and order a book.  

Wish you could HEAR a drumroll right now!  Guess what?!  There’s CHILDCARE THIS YEAR! If you plan to bring your ‘littles’, please contact Jaime Dodds (jrdodds302@gmail.com) – she’ll make sure we have enough childcare to accommodate all.  (This ‘service’ is a ‘pay as you can’ opportunity – we DON’T want lack of childcare to be a hindrance to your attendance!)

If you have questions, please contact me, Deb Jarnagin at djprov5512@gmail.com or 425-330-6614! 

The Armor of God

Well, it happened again.  Someone recommended something to me (in this case a recipe), telling me how wonderful it is, how much I’d love it.  I tried it and, meah, pft…I’m not so crazy about it.  I was left disappointed, wondering if I should ever trust this person’s opinion again. (It was my sister.  I’ll trust her again!)  Has that ever happened to you?  Someone promises “great things”, “amazing results” or at the very least “a great tastebud hit”, you take their recommendation and are sadly let down? Yeah?  Well, I call what that someone did ‘over-selling’.  And though I really try not to build something up too much at the risk of over-selling – and though I’m risking over-selling now – I simply MUST highly recommend this winter’s Women’s Forum!!  Because I’m convinced what you’ll learn has the potential to change your life.

Here are some of the details:  For seven Mondays, beginning January 11, 2016, we’ll be sharing space as video presenter Priscilla Shirer brings us the study called The Armor of God.  We’ll enjoy some of the typical Forum shenanigans (The Purse Game, door prizes, yummy snacks, discussion time, etc.) from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.  There is a great ‘listeners’ guide’ which will be distributed each week BUT for the first time ever, we’re strongly recommending participants do the daily work presented in the Bible Study Book also.  (Available at Amazon for about $20).  Unfortunately, we don’t have the budget to fund the purchase of these books for everyone, but if your budget allows consider this a great investment.  (Doing the daily work is NOT required – no one will ever know if you do or do not purchase the book.)

I’ve previewed every video session (there are 7) and I am inspired…motivated…compelled to view my enemy in a different way; the armor as not an option, and the victory is secure when I suit up!  I’ve heard about doing battle against the enemy, putting on ‘the armor’, many times.  In fact, I’ve been part of a presentation at Visioncast where this information was shared.  However, in this year’s Women’s Forum video series, I believe the Holy Spirit will work in your life (as He continues to do in mine) to use this material to make a difference!  And I DON’T believe this is an over-sell ☺.

We’ll be set up in the auditorium – as has been our norm in years past.  If you’ve attended before, please consider yourself SO welcome!  If you’ve NEVER ATTENDED a Women’s Forum, please consider this a great expenditure of your time.  The Leadership Team will do all we can to welcome you.  If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.  Deb Jarnagin:  djprov5512@gmail.com or 425-330-6614.

As I’m typing this, many of your faces spring to mind.  Some of you have attended Women’s Forums before.  If you’re in this category, I hope you’ll attend THIS one – if nothing else, just to see if I’ve over-sold it ☺.  If you have NOT attended before, I encourage you to give it a try.  Because, ladies, if EVER we as women specifically, human beings in general, find ourselves in a battle, IT. IS. NOW.  We all know it – violence all around us, moral decline and decay threatening our culture, our families, our lifestyle, our religious freedom and most importantly our spiritual health and well-being.  If EVER we’ve needed to be ‘armed’ and ready to fight for our lives IT. IS. NOW.  If EVER we need to understand what it means to stand against the spirit of darkness, the forces of evil, IT. IS NOW.

So my encouragement to you is this:  as you consider attending this year’s Women’s Forum, hold your expectations about what you’ll experience loosely if you must (‘Will they be ready for me? Will I feel welcome? Will they have the kind of snacks I like?’ etc.) But DO come expecting GREAT THINGS from our God.  When we consider His Word – the promises therein, the life-change promised, His love for His children – is there really such a thing as ‘over-selling’?!  

I hope you can join us!  Blessings!