Encouragement For Women

Due to a move, vacation Bible Study commitment and vacation to Grandma's house - the summer events have been cancelled. To those of you who have joined our Yahoo Group and participated in the R12 series - Thank You! Hopefully we can do more group studies in the Fall... In Christ, E. Garcia

Lesson/Week Eight In March of this year(2010) pastor John McArthur had the following to say to his congregation. “We enter into an undeserved, unearned condition of complete and total forgiveness by the sheer grace of God. That is the model for our forgiveness. We forgive out of grace, not because somebody earned it. We offer forgiveness freely, unconditionally, without restraint, without restriction. And with that offer of forgiveness, we abandon all animosity, all anger, all hatred, all desire for retaliation, all desire for vengeance, all bitterness. And this will guarantee for us a life free from the root of bitterness that it talks about in the book of Hebrews, free from carking anger and hostility that eats away at the joy of the soul. Forgiveness is the most godlike thing you can do. And He is the model. You forgive and you forgive again, and you forgive again, and you forgive again. As we learn from our Lord’s words to Peter, “You forgive seventy times seven, seventy t...

Lesson/Week Seven Pastor Neil Montgomery of New Heart Community Church in McKinleyville, CA exhorted his congregation October 10 th this year by reminding them of the following; We cannot focus on our own abilities, strength and status to accomplish God’s purposes. We must become profoundly aware that only God has the power to win the victory in the battles we face. Gideon is a great example of this truth. When we become so enmeshed in secular culture that we don’t even notice when we adopt ungodly practices- we reap the consequences. The solution: God’s word must be our standard and final authority for life and faith. Be like the Bereans. Make the time for God’s word. We cannot let our desires and impulses begin to rule our lives – rather that place should belong to the Holy Spirit. Samson is a good example of this. We continue in the cycle of spiritual entropy (peace, complacency, sin, pain, ...

Lesson/Week Six Now that you are riding your heart of bitterness (see, this will be an ongoing task) and you are seeking God’s forgiveness so that you will have a heart of forgiveness towards others (we cannot hold onto grudges, bitterness and records of wrongs – and at the same time be forgiven) be prepared for the “pop quizzes”. A quiz is a mini test, to show what you know. The “pop” portion is the unexpected hour at which the quiz arrives for you to prove your knowledge and show how to use it. These quizzes are like the aftershocks of an earthquake. The main test was the first time you faced a similar situation (the “earthquake”) and all the quizzes like aftershocks will follow. Some will be small, yet some will be almost as devastating as the action(s) that first threw you into the “pit of despair and bitterness”. In order to be prepared for the “pop quizzes”/aftershocks of life – you’ve got to be prepared. Once a year many Californians participate in th...

Lesson/Week Five Everyone needs compassion, Love that's never failing; Let mercy fall on me. Everyone needs forgiveness, The kindness of a Savior; The Hope of nations. Savior, He can move the mountains, My God is Mighty to save, He is Mighty to save. (Hillsong United, “Mighty to Save”) Forgiveness is what we all need and forgiveness of our sins is what Jesus offers to us as we claim Him as Saviour and Lord. Forgiveness is also required of us towards others. Most of us have prayed the prayer from Matthew 6:9-13 (or just quoted it from memory during a church service). Now take a close look at verse 12, 14 and 15... 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (emphasis mine). If you are like me you haven’t thought too much about verses 12, 14 and 15. Merriam...

Can you describe your marriage as; un-fulfilling, boring, tiring, draining, painful, disconnected, or difficult? Or do you feel more like a roommate than a lover? If this is your life, that can be very sobering. If you desire to be the wife that God calls you to be, but that is a huge struggle for you - then please consider joining us in this study January 2011. If you'd like to be a part of the Encouragement for Women Community on FB you can join our discussions on this book. You must be a member of Encouragement for Women (public group) and then join the EFW Community (private group). The private group is where we will be posting discussions. If this does not describe your marriage, praise the Lord! After praising Him, please pray for all the women you know and don't know who will be doing this study.

My heart and my soul, I give you control consume me from the inside out Lord.... Let justice and praise become my embrace I wanna know you from the inside out Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame and the cry of my heart is to bring you praise from the inside out Lord my soul cries out.... (Hillsong United)