WOW, you make miracles happen! Thank you so much for your very generous donation of personal care items. Our shelves are well-stocked with these very important items that are often forgotten by donors but so important to the recipients.
On a personal note, I had a great time at your event. The women were so welcoming and warm.Thank you again, and God Bless you and your mission.Peace,Mia Moyad, LLMSWPatient Advocate
The Hope Clinic
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Hope Clinic : Thank YOU!
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Grace. Me?
"O what love
No greater love
Grace, how can it be
That in my sin
Yes, even then
He shed His blood for me."
Sitting in my office listening to Kari Jobe singing...
...such stinging words of grace.
It's the day before our 19th CG event. Unbelievable to me.
We weren't sure we'd get through one let alone nineteen!
What a privilege it has been to serve God through the gathering of women (CGgirls) who love Him, who are unsure of Him, who are disappointed in Him, maybe even disappointed in the women you see in the mirror. No matter what you think, the seats of CG are filled with women who fit all of these. You are ALL welcome to CommonGround tomorrow night.
Is that you today? Even if you go to church every Sunday but you know church has turned into a club. Are you wondering how did I get here? Is the path you are now walking heavy with compromise, shame and guilt?
How did a once surrendered heart get so stinkin far from God?
If that's you, please come tomorrow night?. Let the One who knows you (not just the you others see, but the real you) be your Healer. Will you let Him close enough to caress the hair from your eyes, lift your tear stained cheeks upward, and remind you: It's you, It's always been you.
"Yes, even then He shed his blood for me."
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
I exam.
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
Titus 2: 3-5
When I read the scripture above, one woman pops into my mind. My beautiful 81 yr old friend, Diane Hassenrik. Meet Diane:
Don't let those baby blues fool you. She has earned her nickname "Sassy Hassy."
I am so honored to have her in my inner circle of friends who speak into my life. She truly is a Titus 2 woman. With her life experience and heart for God she has alot of wisdom to share. Diane has graced my life with heaps of truth and speaks boldly into my life. I don't know about you, but I need bold sometimes or if I'm being honest most times.
I know when I share what's going on in my life with Diane, her answer will always point me to Christ. And even though I know it will sting a bit, I keep going back to the well to drink because I know it's there that I will always be pointed to Christ.
Recently, while sharing with Diane about a situation in my life -- I paused in hopes to get a little compassion, a little...you know... "awww...I'm sorry!" I knew when she said, "You know what I'm hearing?" I was in trouble.
"I'm hearing a whole lot of "I" and not alot of "God" from you." Boom! Ouch.
She was right. In a world that serves us opportunity after opportunity to make life all about ourselves, we need to do an "I" check from time-to-time. And I was over do for an "I" exam.
How about you?
- Do you find yourself complaining because life isn't going your way?
- Have you made your happiness the sole goal of your life? Instead of asking God what He may want from your life. Walking in God's plan will ultimately lead to abundant joy. (Which trumps happiness )
- Do your conversations have alot of -- "I don't like, I am not, I think, I want, I, I , I , I, I ??????
He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30 (NIV)
Thursday, October 3, 2013
I Didn't Know.
As I continue to walk out my journey towards heaven, I'm learning a lot. Mostly, I'm learning that I have no idea what people are going through. The quote, " Everyone you know is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind to everyone." needs to be sandblasted on my head and heart.
It's true. It's so true.
Did you know that October is National Infant Loss Month? Me neither. "I didn't know."
Well, I'm discovering that many, many, many women DO know. They have been asked to carry a working knowledge of a wound so deep that some days they think they may drown from it. Chances are you have a woman in your sphere of influence that is carrying that wound. In fact, if I was a betting kinda gal, I'd put my money on it.
Just the other day, I was sharing with a volunteer at Connection Church about our next CG outreach: Jack's Day The Giving Project. She mentioned to me that many, many decades ago she gave birth to two stillborn twin daughters. Her confession took me off guard.
"I didn't know. "
So, what do we do with this? We do what we know to do and that's gather on our commonground. God has been so gracious to bless each of our events with an outpouring of His generous spirit. As we walk in unity with one purpose and for ONE LIVING GOD, fantastic God-sized things happen.
CommonGround! This is where you need to be on Friday, October 25th at 7pm. We are going to take God's love from the pews to the pavement. How? We're going to bless and by bless I mean: LOAD, Emily Hughes THE FOUNDER of Jack's Day the Giving Project UP with the following items:
- Disposable Cameras
- Journal
- Votive Holder with Votive
- Purse size Kleenex
Emily will take these items, box them up in pretty boxes and give them to local hospitals in Metro Detroit. In the near future, those boxes will find their way into the trembling hands of broken-hearted women.
Will you be an instrument that God can use? This is a great way to minister to these broken-hearted women and in a real sense, wash them from their foreheads to their feet with a cup of grace, a cup of comfort and a cup of compassion.
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Wednesday, July 3, 2013
July CG event: Worship Leader Announced
We have some really great news... Liz Webb will be our worship leader for the next CG Event, Friday, July 26th at 7pm!
Liz may look familiar to you ... she is a part of our CG Worship Band and has been singing for the majority of her life.
" I've been married for 6 1/2 years to Patrick. Mom of 3 mini CG girls Emma, Ellie and Clara. I have been attending Connection Church (and Tri-City) for nearly 24 years. I have serving on our worship team for 14 years!"
Need a worship night? Yes. Want to gather with women from 30 different area churches? Yes.
Want to Take God's love from the pews to the pavement by bringing: Lip Gloss, Stickers, Composition Notebook, Flip-Flops, and Dove Bar Soap? Yes, we're going to bless 146 girls currently at Vista Maria!
Let's gather together at 7pm on Friday, July 26th - - Join us!