Worship With NorthStar All Week Long..........

Ladies,

Wanted to share a link to the Worship Songs by our Worship Band at NorthStar.  They have their own Vimeo link, and you can view ALL the videos by clicking here: http://vimeo.com/channels/northstarworship!!

Here are a few of our favorites:

Northstar Worship-Your Love Never Fails from Northstar Church on Vimeo.

Northstar Worship- At the Cross from Northstar Church on Vimeo.

Northstar Worship- Hosanna from Northstar Church on Vimeo.

A Prayer of Thanks

"My Monday is not a rush from beginning to end, no thrills that some would say are things I need to feel alive.
My tomorrow will be busy in itself and there is much to accomplish, so today I slow down and see what you have made for me to enjoy.
Mmmmm - the smell of a chicken casserole cooking in the oven. My headache gone. A couple of sore muscles that are treasured reminders of a horseback ride with old and new friends. A cool breeze gently blowing thru my lovely sheer cafe' curtains made with love by my friend Sharon. A beautiful walk by the water this morning with my friend Claudia. A time to study your word tonight with lovely ladies at church. My later return home to my sweet Hubs.
My heart hurt that you are tending to, and working in and around, I so I feel you there as well today - gently loving me through it and giving me sweet words of both comfort and wisdom.
I am blessed - just so simply and so sweetly blessed.
I count it ALL joy because each thing shows me your favor and your love.
For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2
You mean then and now, Lord - past and present, Father - ALL is favor, NOW is favor, the GOOD is favor, the HURT is favor, you ARE continually saving me - FAVOR!
Thank you God for the precious gift of this day and everything held within it.
Amen and Amen"


Joyful on the Journey
Marisa

Conversations Coming Soon......

Don't forget to mark your calendars for our next Conversations - Saturday, October 6, 2012.  Its going to be  Great Good, Fun, Door Prizes, and Inspiration you love!  We will get a chance to meet and get to know the women behind the missionary faces of NorthStar!!

Please Register at Connection Point THIS Sunday or visit  http://www.northstarknox.com/#/ministries/women to register online.

 

Hanging On for Dear Life

Today’s Truth
For in Him we live and move and have our being, (Acts 17:28, NIV).
 
Friend to Friend
Steven was just a preschooler when I first taught him to snow ski. The very first day was arduous—for me. I felt like a down-covered workhorse as I lugged two sets of skis in one arm while dragging along Steven with the other. Clunky ski boots, overstuffed mittens, and a hooded snowsuit made it difficult for Steven to maneuver. Add all that to the slippery snow, long lift lines, and a resistant four-year-old, and you have the makings for a windfall of whining in a winter wonderland.

After several failed attempts to teach Steven how to snowplow down the bunny slope with the ski tips pointed inwards, I came up with another idea. I made an A-frame tent with my legs. Then Steven stood in front and between them. He wrapped his arms around my thighs, and off we went! He went where I went.

If I moved right, he moved right. If I moved left, he moved left. His only responsibility was to hang on and relinquish control. And even though he thought he was skiing, in reality he was simply along for the ride.

What a picture of how I want my journey with God to be. I cling to Him, wrap my arms around Him, and move where He moves. If He goes left, I go left. If He goes right, I go right. “But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him,” (1 Corinthians 8:17 TLB).

King David wrote, “I cling to you; your right hand upholds me” (Psalm 63:8). Peterson’s paraphrase says it this way: “I hold onto you for dear life” (MSG). I see Jesus and me. Union. A sudden glory.
So think about how you are going to move about your day? Can you picture yourself clinging to Jesus? I can promise you this…when you cling to Him, He will take you on adventures you never thought possible!
 
Let’s Pray
Lord, I cling to You. I hold on to You for dear life. If You go left, I go left. If You go right, I go right. In You, Lord, I live and move and have my being.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
 
From :Girlfriends in God

When Following Gets Hard

"And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:27 (NIV)

"Follow me on Twitter!" the celebrity said. He promised insider information and witty words all in 140 characters or less. There's no cost to follow; only benefit. And if it's not to your liking, just unfollow him. It only takes a few key strokes and you can move on to the next entertainer.

Several thousand years ago, someone else said, "Follow me." Only He meant something much different.

There was no promise of pithy sayings; no offer of ease with Jesus. Though the entertainment value was high at times, especially when He performed a miracle, He didn't leave it at that. He asked for more from those who followed Him. Apparently Jesus never read any marketing books, because He sure didn't make it look easy.

When Jesus invited Peter and Andrew to follow Him, they walked away from their jobs. Others left family, wealth and possessions. He gently turned one away because the young man wouldn't give up riches. But those that followed gave up their rights in exchange for a relationship with the Messiah.

Following Jesus was an all or nothing invitation. There isn't one example in Scripture where Jesus made an exception. And yet too many times I find myself following Jesus with only part of me. In fact, at times I'd prefer the Twitter version of following Jesus. Quick and entertaining, and done from behind a screen.

When all the spiritual decorations are removed, the truth is I've tried to follow Jesus with only part of me. I consider His invitation, and I'm happy to follow Him with my mind and hands. As a writer, that makes sense to me.I'll follow You Jesus from behind my computer. That's enough, isn't it?

Not really, I hear. I want your heart too. Are you willing to let go of unforgiveness? And your legs need to follow me so I can send you to do My work in the hospital, your neighbor's home and the prisons if need be.

Okay then, I counter. I'll give You my legs when I've got some extra time in my schedule. Can I think about that unforgiveness request?

And yet I know Jesus wants more. He doesn't want a 140-character relationship with me. He doesn't want my obedience a few times a day when I think about it. He doesn't want my convenient offerings of service. Following Jesus means being His shadow ... walking in His footsteps to the leper colony, being a friend of the outcast, facing scorn from the religious community, and standing firm for what is right in spite of the cost. It means following Him in the very essence of who I am: The deep place where I submit my rights to the One who gave them up for me.

When I look at it in that light, I realize once again why I want to follow Jesus fully. He gave up everything for me. How can I do any less?

My footsteps on this earthly journey following Jesus are not always steady and strong. I've stumbled many times. Yet I know that following anyone else offers only temporary peace and joy. Only Jesus leads me from darkness to light, and from death to life. I don't expect I'll find that on Twitter.

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I've tried to follow You part time. It seems I'm always withholding some part of me, especially when it's inconvenient or uncomfortable. Reveal those areas in my heart that I've kept to myself, and help me become a woman who follows You with complete abandon. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Source: http://glynniswhitwer.com/

17 Things You Can Do Today to Make Your Life Easier Tomorrow

We all know from experience what procrastination can do to our lives. If left unchecked, it can make us late, unorganized, stressed out, embarrassed, overtired, broke, and hungry. I know this because I’ve experienced these symptoms myself.

Take this morning for example. I was trying to get the kids breakfast started when I remembered that I had some important paperwork to take care of. It was already over-due, and it had to be done immediately. So I delayed my shower and sat at the dining room table filling out forms that had passed through my hands several times during the past few weeks. Any number of those times I could have sat down and got the papers in order, but because it was something I dislike taking care of I chose to put it off until the very last minute. As a result, I was thirty minutes late for an appointment that was on my calendar a week ago.

If you’re a procrastinator have no fear there’s an anecdote for all of us–it’s called being proactive. “Pro-action” as I like to call it, is preparing for things before they cause us to react. One example would be washing underwear before you run out–that’s always wise! Another might be picking up shampoo when you start running low. Those are are just two examples of proactive things that most of us do on a regular basis without really thinking about it. 

If you start to look around, you’ll probably see things that you would be better off taking care of now than leaving it for later. In fact you’d probably find several. Before you run off and start doing them–I’ll also offer you a list of my own. Here are 17 things that we can do today to make our lives easier tomorrow: 

1. Pray. Women often waste time over-discussing our problems when going to prayer with them is far more effective.
2. Make a double portion of your meal and freeze half for another day.
3. Make school lunches for the next day while you’re cooking dinner. (An idea I got from a reader!)
4. Clean out your purse and organize it.
5. Clean out a junk drawer so you can find things easier.
6. Empty the dishwasher before going to bed.
7. Grab garbage every time you leave your car.
8. Pick up small containers to use for organizing and storage. How many times do you clean up loose items in the pantry like crackers or pasta? Storing them in small containers will save you time and keep them fresh.
9. Make amends where you can.
10. Take care of a difficult or annoying task that you normally put off. Get it over with today and you’ll feel a weight off your shoulder tomorrow.
11. Pay your bills before they are due.
12. Eat well so you’ll have energy tomorrow.
13. Never handle a piece of paper twice. Remember what I did this morning?  Paper work is a huge time-waster. Every single time that paper went through my hands I wasted time with it. Open your bills and pay them immediately. Have school notes? Grab a pen, sign them and put them in your child’s backpack.
14. Go to sleep early so you feel refreshed and productive the next day.
15. Cut veggies up and store them in the fridge so you have healthy snacks on hand. Wash fruit and keep it out on the counter.
16. Fill bottles of water so you can grab one on the run.
17. Take the time to train your children to do a task right. Even if it means standing beside them when they make their bed for the first several times. Having them learn to do it correctly will save you all time in the long run.

Darlene Schacht
www.timewarpwife.com 

What Does God Look LIke?

 

 

I love passages in scripture where we see a glimpse of God’s glory. I like to just ponder his glory and attempt to imagine what it must be like to be in heaven with God. Meditating on these passages spur my prayer life to repentance and to remember that when I pray I have access to a HUGE God!

 

So the next time you pray, I want to encourage you first to ponder these verses in Ezekiel and then go before his throne with your confessions, praises and prayer requests. I think it might just change your prayer life!

In Ezekiel 1:25-28, Ezekiel writes: “Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood with lowered wings(when you have a minute read about these angels that surround the throne in chapter 1 – they are magnificent!). Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell face down.”

Does that not stir your soul! Wow! Who is this God we serve – can we even imagine how awesome he truly is???
 

Trust and rest in this Almighty God’s arms. This is my prayer for the Good Morning Girls today:

” To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and foreveer more! Amen.” Jude 24

Walk with the King!

From Women Living Well

I Want To Be Sure of You

“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh," he whispered.
"Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw, "I just wanted to be sure of you."”

That's exactly how I feel some times. Some days I just want to be sure. Of those around me that I love, and of their love for me. I will awake with a need to know that they are really IN my life. I sometimes need to be assured that they see me.

Some days, I feel this way about God too. My heart just needs reassurance He is there. I will find myself with a desperate desire to know that He's ALL IN, that He is for me, that He loves me, and that He sees me.

Do you ever feel that way? Like you just want to place your hand in some ones and know that yes, you are here, and find comfort like Pooh and Piglet?

Write these verses that mean so much to me on your heart for those days that come...

You are the God who sees me. Genesis 16:13

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. Psalm 139:1

The LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. Psalm 33:18

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. Psalm 139:18

The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. Jeremiah 1:4-5

Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Isaiah 49:15-16

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:16-21

Rest assured... He knows, He loves, He keeps, He sees!

Joyful on the Journey
Marisa

4 Steps to Staying Beautiful in the Morning Rush

It’s September-the time when the buzzing of the alarm clock comes altogether too early. You roll out of bed, grab some coffee, brush your teeth. The kids might be old enough to dress themselves, but one of them has lost their shoe, and the other is sitting on the floor half-dressed.

It’s likely that you might go into full mom-mode, and throw on some sweats and a hat just to make it out the door.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way; you can still look presentable even when you’re in a crush for time!

Here are a few easy ways to stay cute when facing the morning rush:

1. Get prepped the night before.
Getting ready for the day is so much easier when you don’t have to think about it. Do all your planning the night before, and you’ll save yourself a headache in the morning. We can get all dressed in two minutes once we’ve picked out the clothes, right?

If you’re just dropping the kids off at school, there’s no need to get all gussied up. You can look well-dressed in a simple button-up with jeans like this:

2. Find a cute hairstyle that you can do in five minutes or less.
Throw it in a cute bun, or leave it down- you don’t have to cover up your lovely mane if you’re in a rush! You can save time by washing and drying your hair before bedtime.


3. Keep the makeup simple. Some girls do a full-face every morning, and some don’t wear makeup at all. Whether you want to do more or less, you can look fresh-faced and ready for the day in five minutes or less.

4. Start the day with prayer.
Even if you don’t have time for devotions, you can still pray before your day starts! God doesn’t place time limits on prayer. You can lift up a prayer to Him before your feet hit the floor, while you shower, or even as you put your makeup on!

Each morning we start with prayer and relying on God will go so much better than the one we try to manage on our own. We have a Father who cares for us and brings us peace in the midst of the most chaotic morning!

And even more, a woman who loves Jesus has more beauty than any clothing or makeup could ever provide: Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30

q: How do you balance the morning rush?

This entry was by Roo Magazine!  

How Wisdom Works

The reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom . . . —Psalm 111:10

Proverbs 2:1-5 gives us great insight into the way wisdom works and into the value of making the effort to seek wisdom in life.

My Son…if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God.

This passage encourages us to seek wisdom as diligently as we pursue other things in life and to understand that the reverential fear of the Lord is essential to a living a wise life.

This kind of awe toward God is the first step toward wisdom; without it, we will never be wise. When I use the words reverential fear, I do not mean we should be afraid of God, but I do mean we should have great respect for Him and treat Him with honor. The reverential fear and awe of God means that we know God is mighty and that He means what He says, that He can do anything He wants to, anytime He wants to, to anybody He wants to, and no one on earth can stop Him.

If we are going to relate to God in reverential fear, as the Bible instructs, we will understand that we need to love, honor and obey Him. We will be blessed with wisdom if we do. 

Love God Today: “Lord, give me the kind of reverential fear of You that is the beginning of wisdom.”

---

From the book Love Out Loud by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2011 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

If God is For Us

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord…With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.” (2 Timothy 1:7-8, NLT)

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a country where you weren’t free? Maybe where you’re not free to drive to see family members, free to speak your mind or free to worship in the way that you want?  Personally speaking, it’s hard for me to imagine what it would be like to not have a copy of God’s Word, to not be able to call a friend and talk about how I’m struggling in my relationship with God or to freely write what is on my heart.

As I see what is happening all around the world, the unrest in so many countries, the earthquakes and tsunamis, I have to admit my heart trembles. I sometimes wonder if my world will drastically change one day.  I ask myself these questions, “Will I someday experience what many Christians in other countries around the world experience?” “Will being persecuted for my faith mean more than just losing my job or being criticized for believing in God?”  “Will I be sentenced to jail or have my family stripped away from me?”

With all these questions, I have one more: Will I be as resilient in my faith during those hard times as I am now in everyday life? Will I be able to stand strong in the face of danger? I have come to the conclusion that these questions can actually open a doorway for fear to completely consume me. Going back to the drawing board, I want to see what God says about fear.

In 2 Timothy 1:7-8 God says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love and of self-discipline.” When we give into fear and allow it to consume us we are giving power to the enemy. The reality is that God has given us everything we need to stand strong and to face whatever comes our way! So how do we do this in the face of overwhelming circumstances and fear? We do this by turning our hearts back to Him.

When I experience fear, heartache or worry in my life, He wants me to give it to Him and to claim His power and love. An analogy that comes to mind is a person trying to cross a swinging rope bridge. In order to get to the other side this person needs to keep his or her eyes fixed on the other side. This person doesn’t allow him or herself to look down to the gorge below. It is the same for us as we walk through this life; we need to fix our eyes on Him the author and finisher of our faith so we remain victorious in Him.

If God’s Word is true (and I believe it is) then He will give me what I need when the time arises. I don’t have to live in fear or worry of tomorrow, because He promises to be with me. He promises to give me His strength and His power to meet whatever will come my way.  We have nothing to fear. It’s just like what the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8: 31: “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

Dear Lord, Thank-You that I don’t ever have to fear anything in life—even suffering. I trust that You are always with me and that You never leave me or forsake me. I thank-You Lord that nothing is too big for You and that nothing is impossible with You. When I face seemingly impossible situations and fear tries to influence my heart and mind—I say no in Jesus Name! I will not fear because You are with me. Thank-You that Your perfect love drives out all fear. In Jesus Name, Amen

Question: What kinds of fears do you need to submit to the Lord today?

Source: http://powertochange.com/blogposts/author/khuseby/

New Bible Studies Open Sign up NOW!

Join us on Monday nights to study "The Law of Love: Lessons from the Pages of Deuteronomy" by Beth Moore starting Sept 10th at 6:30pm for 6 weeks

Stuck? Wandering? Looking for your promised land? Asking, ‘what’s the point?’ Deuteronomy 6:23 reminds us that, “He brought us in from there...to lead us in.” This new Bible study is a lecture series offering an overview of the book of Deuteronomy.

Join us for Tuesday night sessions beginning Sept 11th  OR maybe the sessions on Thursday mornings at 9am starting Sept 20th for Angela Thomas' "Brave: Honest Questions Women Ask" will fit your schedule better.
It takes a brave woman to ask these questions and dig into these topics alongside other believers. We've all got insecurities, flaws, and struggles that we re afraid to address. But if we can be brave enough to raise the questions, God will answer us. You've got questions. God s got answers. Be brave. Ask.

Space is limited to 14 in each session to encourage connecting and time for discussion each week - so sign up quickly! Get details on these studies, getting your participant guides, information on childcare and sign up now at http://northstarknox.com/#/ministries/women
More studies are on the way so be watching this blog, our web site and your info guides each Sunday at church