Where God changes lives through Relationships, Scripture, and Prayer

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common” Acts 2:42-44

Part of living a Christ-centered life is being involved in a small community of people who are committed to each other and the priorities of Scripture. Biblical communities, known as Life Groups, meet midweek to help individuals belong to, discover and live out their part in God’s Kingdom.

Wednesday evenings starting February 1st, at the home of Lynn Webber in North Redondo Beach.  For more information or to join this Women’s Life Group, contact:  Lynn Webber at 310-892-1442 or w_lynn@yahoo.com.

Several months ago, Carolyn Bennett decided to pursue an idea God had planted in her heart.  After enjoying being a part of a ministry called Moms Next at her kids’ school, she felt compelled to bring something similar to moms at King’s Harbor Church.

We have seen the ministry of Mother’s of Preschooler (MOPS) encourage and bless many new mothers with support, spiritual growth, biblical guidance and community for those in this tender stage of life. But many mothers “graduate” from MOPS when their youngest enters Kindergarten leaving them longing for a gathering place where they can exchange ideas, seek guidance and support from other moms in the trenches.

King’s Harbor Church Women in Ministry is pleased to begin a new ministry next week called Moms United where we will focus on every day challenges for moms with kids from ages 5 – 18.  Join us once a month to meet other moms just like you and be spiritually mentored with qualified speakers and conversation.

Come and glean from seasoned mothers and wise women who will be alongside us this Spring serving as table mentors   Anne Cannon who along with her husband Chris has raised 3 kids through ministry, private, public and homeschool is taking leadership of the mentoring process of this ministry.  Robin Heffernan, mother of 3 (one in college, one in middle school and one in elementary school) has made her home a ministry through her kids friends and the ministry of Young Life.  The wonderfully humble Juanita Stucker who is fiercely loyal to her husband Bruce and son Wyatt is fiercely devoted to the things of the Kingdom and is looking forward to encouraging other moms as such.

Moms United will be led by Carolyn Bennett and a steering team including Kathryn Thomas, Cathy Wimburg and Natalie Newhart.  Please register online by clicking here and let us know what topics you are interested in pursuing as we seek God’s direction for the future of this ministry.

Our first meeting will be Thursday February 2^nd from 9:30 to 11:30 in the Sanctuary.  Mark your calendars for the next two meetings this Spring:

March 1
May 10

Limited Children’s Ministry is available for children birth through Pre-Kindergarten by registration only.

For more info, contact Carolyn Bennett at carolyn@eatgoodstuff.com.  To register, click here.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the throne of God.” ~ Hebrews 12:1-2

Last Sunday, we participated in the power of cross by witnessing Jesus setting captives free! For some, He helped us lay aside sin, for others He helped ripped off the weight of shame and condemnation bringing the words “He sent His Son to save… not to condemn” (John 3:16-18) to life.   Let the words soak in you today that Jesus gave His life for YOU and despised the shame you may have gone to Murrieta with… It is finished. He has done it. 

Whether you experienced a breaking off or are still in the process of the weight being chipped away, know you are in a place where you are surrounded not only by a great cloud of witnesses but by women who are in the race with you.  You are being prayed for still.  We want to encourage you to reflect on the weekend and be encouraged to press on as God continues to perfect your faith.  Do not allow the enemy to steal your joy!  If you are not already, surround yourself with a Life Group, a Bible study and be discipled so you can grow in your faith.

Perhaps you are still dealing with something that was touched on at the retreat, a wound that was uncovered or maybe something was ignited in you that you never knew was there.  Please don’t bear that alone and know that remain here to help.  Please contact myself or Lynn Farr if we can be of service to you.

My heart is still full from our time together with our Amazing God as I hope and pray yours is too.  May His love and grace continue to fill you and pour out of you in the weeks ahead!

In His Grace,

See you soon!

As you’re preparing today, packing and thinking of what to bring with you, be praying about what you will come home with.  We are praying the weekend would not just be a two day affair but something that will set the course for your year.  We are asking God for big things this weekend and believing He wants to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine in all of our hearts.

If you missed any of our previous emails, you can find them in the previous posts on this blog.

Until tomorrow, we’ll leave you with the lyrics of our hymn for the weekend and pray the Lord will bless you as you reflect on the timeless truths the song writer proclaims.  Drive carefully and we look forward to receiving you tomorrow.

Grace and Peace,

Suzie

    When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:

If Jordan above me shall roll,

No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life

Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,

The sky, not the grave, is our goal;

Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!

Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.

 

Here are some last minute reminders as well as some information you’ll need before our weekend away:

Check in begins at 4pm in the Hospitality Room (located near the main lobby).  We encourage you to carpool with other women, if you need help finding someone to ride with or have room in your car for others, please contact Cherish Steinbach at 310-704-3643 or Steinbach@cox.net.  According to www.mapquest.com, Calvary Chapel Conference Center is about 86 miles from Torrance.  Please allow 2 hours of drive time, keeping Friday traffic in mind and do be sure to park your car on campus for safety reasons.

Should you arrive at the conference center earlier than 4pm, the book store will be open and there is a fabulous coffee house on campus that opens at 3pm.  Dinner will be served at 7pm and our first session begins at 8:15pm.

Below, you will find directions to Calvary Chapel Conference Center.  You can also find a map of the facility and photos of the conference center at www.mhsretreats.com.  You can expect weather conditions to be much like they are here at home.  For up to date forecasts, please visit www.weather.com.

Remember that all the rooms have one set of bed and bath linens provided for you.  But please bring the following:

• Bible
• Pens
• Journal for your solitude time and notes (if you wish)
• Toiletries
• One piece bathing suit & beach towel for the pool and hot springs (facility requirement)
• Clothing and necessary equipment and accessories should you choose to play volleyball or tennis

 The conference center provides bed and bath linens for your room.

 With the exception of water, Calvary Chapel Conference center does not allow food or drink in any of our rooms except the lodge lobbies, dining areas and coffee house.  If you have special circumstances requiring you to bring your own snacks or food, please contact Lynn Farr (310-376-6555 ext. 118 or LynnFarr@kingsharbor.org) ASAP so we can make accommodations for you.

There are a number of choices for free time activities with hope of cultivating community among our women.  The Conference Center has amenities such as a swimming pool, hot springs, tennis courts, library, pool tables and a great book store.

 Finally, for those of you who are retreat “alumni,” you are aware of our tradition of bringing a gift.  This year, you do not need to bring a gift. We are doing something a little different this year to free up some mental and physical shelf space for you prior to the retreat.

 Again, thank you for planning to come.  We are praying that our time will be filled with life-giving conversation, quiet moments with the Savior that will bless your soul along with worship that will give you rest at His feet.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.

 May the Lord bless you as He prepares your heart over the next week.

Directions from the South Bay: Take the 91 freeway east to the 15 freeway south toward San Diego.  Proceed about 40 miles and exit on Murrieta Hot Springs Road.  Turn left on Murrieta Hot Springs Road and proceed about 1.5 miles.  Turn left on Margarita and proceed to the guard shack.

Today, January 6^th is a day known as Epiphany.  It’s a day that many Christians around the world celebrate the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Christ Jesus and the visitation of the Magi (the 3 wise men to the Baby Jesus).

I read this today on a favorite blog:

Epiphany, it means “the manifestation of God.”

Where did the God-Child reveal Himself but in the barn and this is the grace: Our God manifests Himself in our mangers and muck, our mundane and mess.

Ours is the God manifesting Himself in the unlikely and unbearable, in the surprise and the second-chance. The God Who bears the burdens and brings the hope.

And when what we really needs is an Epiphany in all the dark — doesn’t the epiphany begin simply by seeing the light of God everywhere?

Next weekend we retreat in hopes of enjoying the manifestation of God.  Amazing but true, God often uses people like you and I to make Himself known to others.  As you prepare to retreat, consider, think about and pray… How will He use you?  How will we spur one another on to love and good deeds?

When 250 women gather, you can expect there will be women just like you and some who will be different.  Different places in your relationship with God, maturity, where we’ve come from, how we’ve lived life, how we’ve been loved, how we’ve been wounded and how we see life.  But one thing is for sure.

We are all going because we long for Jesus.  We believe or need to believe He is among us.

Take a few moments after reading this and pray for our time together.  Pray He will be seen through our fellowship, through our serving of one another and heard through the words spoken among us.  Pray that God would give you boldness and courage to minister to other women.  Remember, this is your retreat.

In Him, for You,

Suzie

We are gearing up and really looking forward to our upcoming women’s retreat!  In the next few days you will be receiving some emails to hopefully encourage you and prepare you for our weekend away.  Please know that you are already being prayed for as we anticipate great things from our amazing God.

As you start thinking about the women’s retreat in 7 days, I’d like to remind you about something Pastor Chris proposed last weekend.  He asked us:

1. Would you like to have a more meaningful relationship with the living God?
2. Would you like to have an abiding hope and confidence in the Lord?
3. Would you like to make a difference in the lives of those around you?

I love that our retreats are in January because it’s an opportunity to begin the year with the right perspective.  These are three questions that I have a feeling you are saying “yes” to and it’s our prayer that the retreat will set you off on a track to fulfill these desires.

So, will you please join me in prayer today?  Ask God to show you specifically what it will take to build these three things into your life.

What will it cost you?

What will you gain?

What, if anything will be different if your confidence was more deeply rooted in the Lord and the truth of His word?

Let’s prepare to encourage one another and consider how we can spur one another on to love and good deeds, shall we?

In His grace,

Suzie Lind

Women’s Pastor

King’s Harbor Church

There is no better way to begin the year than by getting away for a couple of days to reflect, worship, be in the Word and among women.  I shared this weekend at church the word that keeps coming to mind is “care.”

We so badly want you to know how much we care for you as a woman…

We care about you being intentional and filled with the sufficiency of Christ.

We care about your ability to take time away from the noise and hectic pace of life to be with Jesus.

We care about you being able to say, “It is well,” and really really mean it with all sincerity of heart.

We care about you connecting with other women not just for fellowship but because we believe every woman needs other women to speak into her life.

We think you may need time alone with the living God… besides in the bathroom.

We know you are busy. We know you take care of many other people and things and need to be filled.  Filled with the Spirit. Filled with the Word. Filled with the joy that comes from being with women.

If you are not a “women’s retreat type of person,” you will be in good company.  We strive to offer you something you can’t get anywhere else, on any other weekend.

If you don’t like being around women who cry… I can’t do anything about that.  But they are often tears of joy, tears of relief… and it’s just water. It won’t hurt you.

The people you leave behind may struggle a bit without you, but it’s okay. They will be okay.  In fact, they will be better off in the long run because you went.

This is your retreat… come, receive, give, pour out to the Lord and be filled up.

Register now by clicking here.  We’ll take your deposit and you can pay the balance later.  If you need help getting there, let us know.

We love you so much that we have this amazing weekend planned for you to come away with us and do something for the sake of your soul.

Care for your soul.

You are always caring for others.  We’ve added to this retreat an element through our work shops and our “One on One” sessions time for you to be proactive about the care of your soul.

Maybe you’re tired of caring for others.

Maybe your story is catching up with you and you don’t know how to let go of the past.

Do you need time to sit and think?  Time to be still? Time to have an uninterrupted conversation?

Someone to pray with for a few minutes?

Time to get in the word?

Time to soak in a hot spring and let the cares of the world be washed away.

Come worship with us. Come rejoice with us.  Come and draw near to Jesus with us.

He cares for you and we are going to try to be like Him.