Rapt

Sitting outside Dairy Queen in the pouring rain watching a first “date” is where I began writing this evening.  The young woman sitting to the left and the young man to the right are enjoying one another’s company. She giggles, he smiles.  They eat their sweet treat while getting to know each other. Oblivious to the world around them.

Rain pounding on the van roof reminds me that I need to write, to write, to write!  The subject: Identity in Christ. Some kind of identity in Christ I’m displaying spying on this young couple.  I think back to the time I became a seeker. I longed to sit with Him.  The desire to talk about Him was infectious. Smiling was all I could do when thinking of the next afforded time to rest and read more about Him.  I couldn’t take my eyes off Him. Getting to know Jesus is like…dating. Don’t know if that is hubris to say, but I can’t help but make that connection sitting here tonight.    

It is unfortunate, but as with dating, infatuation begins to wane.  Becoming preoccupied with life, filled schedules, dropping off kid 1 here-kid 2 there, meeting after meeting, laundry, cooking, laundry, cleaning, laundry (I have two teen girls, is it obvious?) becomes the norm.  Time for facing Him, looking into His loving eyes, time standing so still nothing, and no one to interrupt rapt devotion; that time slips away under the guise of “Busy”.

Remembering back to my first Women’s Retreat, I was more concerned about what I would pack than what I would experience.  The Homestead is an amazing gift on the outskirts of Snohomish. The rolling hills, luscious flowers, and landscape are breath taking.  The staff take care of visitors with delectable meals, warm smiles, and spacious grounds to wander.

On one such wander I found a tree growing up an around a rusted truck.  Time had worn away every part of the once useful vehicle. Nature’s crude art sculpture among the foliage growing up, around, through; consumed it bit by bit, year after year.  When contemplating the busy tasks of parenting, working, and obligations, that rusted-out truck comes to mind. Unspecified time taken for our restoration can be like nature’s determination to take back, break down, and eventually devour back into the earth.  

Gazing upon the couple, future comes to mind.  Where will she be in 10 years? Balancing life, I imagine in her own way.  My sincere hope is she makes time for restoration in the midst her “Busy”. Identity in Christ doesn’t mean that Christian’s have it all together and display all attributes of Christ. It does mean we constantly pursue Jesus and long to be with Him, our captivated eyes fixed upon Him. Scheduling time for that type of restoration is crucial.     

AC3 Women’s Retreat is coming up May 18-20.  I’m putting aside the laundry, assigning cooking to hubby, and taking restorative time to meet up with Jesus again.  Each retreat attended I have found rejuvenation, revival, an opportunity to face Jesus, look into His eyes, and remember to whom I belong.  

The date is over.  Here they come. “How was ice cream?” I ask my daughter, my once little girl.  Her smile says it all.

For more information about AC3's Women's Retreat, visit our event on Facebook, or contact Trina Perry at mtperry02@yahoo.com

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!

Woman 2 Woman

By Guest Blogger: Deb Jarnagin

CALLING ALL LADIES….to this Fall’s Woman to Woman Bible Study!  I’ve finished enough of the videos, completed enough of the study to know THIS one is really going to ring your bell, scratch an itch, stop you in your tracks -- pick your metaphor!  It will meet a need!  Our study is called “Brave:  Honest Questions Women Ask” by Angela Thomas.  Yeah, I hadn’t heard of her either but she proves to be a great teacher who will take us into God’s Word as we pursue the answers to six questions.   Here are the questions:  I Am Worn Out; I Am Suffering a Thorn; I Am Undisciplined; I Am Trembling Inside; I Am Invisible; I Am Broken.  Ever ask yourself any of these?  Yeah, I thought so.  Me too! 

I think/hope you’ll find the ‘format’ for our Women to Woman gatherings to be comfortable, warm and community-building.  It’s just a bunch of gals, sharing a room, sometimes some yummy treats and a Bible study experience that brings us closer to each other and closer to God.  Ask around – I think you’ll find that some really deep friendships have been formed through our ‘shared experience’ at our Woman to Woman groups.  And YOU are so welcome!

Here are always some FAQs:

Q #1:  Do I HAVE to have the study guide to participate?

A #1:  Nope!  Some gals might find it priced outside their budget. (It’s about $20, available at Amazon – you’ll want it for the first week if you’re purchasing it.)  Others might think they don’t have the time to do the ‘work’.   Though you don’t HAVE to do the study guide, I recommend it!  Each lesson is broken up into 5 SHORT lessons (one a day for 5 days, for example) – easily do-able and VERY connected to the video we’ll see each week!

Q #2:  If I can’t commit to coming EVERY week, can I come at all?

A #2:  ABSOLUTELY!  Women are busy people!  Schedule conflicts shouldn’t prohibit you from attending when you can!  Each week’s topic ‘stands alone’.

Q #3:  Can I bring my kids – is there childcare?

A #3:  This group is for adults only.  We’ve made no accommodation for children and the venue (the Conference Room in the office building) is not set up for a play area for ‘the littles’.  Sorry.

Hopefully, those answers provided what you need to make a decision about attending.  If not, please DON’T HESITATE to give me (Deb Jarnagin) a call (360-659-5503) or shoot me an email (djprov5512@gmail.com).   Or if you’d just like to be reassured that YOU WILL FIT IN and have a good time, give me a holler.  I’d love to hear from you.

Before I sign off, let me share with you details:

            When:  7 Mondays, beginning October 12, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

            Where:  In the Church Office Building Conference Room

What to bring:  Your Bible, your study guide (if you purchase one), a notepad and pen.

I just can’t wait to see you!  I’m praying for you!