NorthStar Announcements!

Ladies - Mark Your Calendars:

• “Faithful Abundant and True” 7 week Bible study will take place this Thursday night at 6:30pm at the Sherrill Campus.

•  “Holiday Conversations” Nov. 12th at Sherrill 9a-11a (Must RSVP at Connection Point).

•  Crafty Crew Day Nov. 12th noon to 4pm at Sherrill. Bring your favorite project and hang out with the gals.

• Beth Moore in Knoxville! Get more information at Connection Point.

Church at the Joe from Northstar Church on Vimeo.

Also, Remember, Church at the Joe’s kickoff is coming next Monday, Nov. 7th 6:30pm. Think about who God would have you invite and help get the word out to the community.

Have a blessed week!!

Be Still.............

I'm Weak!!!

I am weak and I love it! There's so much joy to be found in the truth that I CAN'T will or make things happen. I need help. I need others. I need Jesus.

I find myself in the middle of several journeys right now. During the last few weeks one of my journeys has increased and become very very intense as I try to find and do the right things for my 82 year old Mom and her health and her well being. It's a long fought battle that really has been years in the making. But over the past 5 years it has increasingly intensified into a daily prayer for guidance, timing, wisdom, and really for a miracle. Maybe you know the kind of journey I'm talking about... the kind that's stressful, worrisome, that leaves you fearful, and that can seem to suck the wind from your sails. The kind that can wreck you, and that if goes emotionally unchecked rules your life. The kind that until you finally get the break you've needed, you didn't even fully understand just how never ending the underlying tension of it all was. When just a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel is enough for you to realize that a little further down the road you will learn more about yourself and what the journey has done in your life than you can ever imagine.

BUT there are common threads in the hard journeys if you look for them with expectation that will offer you peace, comfort, and are actually beyond beautiful.
Remember the simple song most of us first learned as a child...
"Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong."

2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

The thread of my weakness, the thread of my need, and oh the power of the strongest thread of all - the scarlet thread of Jesus! The scarlet thread that wraps around me, is interlaced in and through every fiber of my being, that is laid out sacrifically before me to follow as I walk every journey. It's woven into all the threads that make up the tapestry of my life.

"Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong."

I am His child. I am His little one. My weakness IS the perfect platform for Him to work miracles in my life and reveal Himself to the world around me... Oh yes, He loves me.

So I'll shout from the rooftops, on the mountain tops and in the valleys... 'I AM WEAK AND IN NEED OF A SAVIOR LIKE JESUS'!

Joyful on the Journey,
Marisa

27 women at "Faithful Abundant and True" tonight... just think of what great things God can do in the heart of Northstar through this group of women if we run hard after Him!! Thank you to those committed to the next 7 weeks, and if you missed this first night thats ok, pick up a particpants guide at Lifeway stores and join us next Thursday at 6:30pm ready to dig in, its SOOOO good already!

Marisa

Why God Speaks

James 1:23-25

God is not one to speak in generalities. When He whispers from the pages of Scripture or confronts through a friend's words, the Father directly addresses issues in His children's lives. With that in mind, let's look at His three goals for communicating with believers—namely, for us to:
 
1. Comprehend the truth. God wants us to learn His ways and principles, to recognize our own frailty, and to identify the needs of others. He does more than offer this as head knowledge—He makes truth applicable to our lives. For example, the Lord assured Paul that His strength was sufficient to carry the apostle through anything (2 Cor. 12:9). Circumstances taught the apostle that God's Word was true.
 
2. Conform to the truth. Our lives are shaped by our belief system. What we hold as true influences our thinking. In turn, how we think affects our character, conduct, and conversation. God is determined to mold His children into Christlikeness so that they reflect His gospel to the world.
 
3. Communicate the truth. Every child of God is called to make disciples (Matt. 28:19). Believers can know the Lord and walk in His light but still fall short of this expectation. We must share the gospel by sharing God's truth with others and explaining how His words played out in our lives.
 
Notice that each goal builds on the one preceding it. Christians are a light reflecting God's glory to this world. We shine brightly by being attentive to God's voice and following His will. And when someone takes an interest in the source of our light, we are prepared to share the good news of Christ. 


-Devotion by Dr. Charles Stanley

The Cost of Grace

Scripture Reading: Romans 10:9-13

Imagine it's your birthday.  Your friend comes by and gives you a beautifully wrapped gift.  When you open it, it's something you've always wanted!  After the party, you walk your friend to the door and just before he leaves, he says, "Oh, by the way, here's the receipt.  Your gift costs $500.  I'll take cash or a check"  Could you really call what you received a gift?

The same principle applies to salvation.  You don't have to buy it.  Salvation is a gift.  It depends wholly on God's grace.

Ephesians 2:8-9 reads, For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Jesus paid the costs in full for our salvation.  Acts 4:12 says, ". . . there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven . . . by which we must be saved."

-Devotion by Dr. Tony Evans

Is Thing Thing On?

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being back live on the radio. I have been blessed to be able to do this with a few different people since what was my fulltime gig ended back on Dec 31st. And each and everytime I realize what a precious opportunity God has provided me once again, even if it's only temporary.
To experience connecting so intimately in such a public way is an incredible mystery to me. I always wonder about whoever He has led to be listening at just that time... what are they going through, what do they need, what one thing may ring true for them, or least make them begin to consider thinking differently about either their situation or that of someone they love? This amazes me.
I remember wondering at times in the past while sharing something in my life, when immediate feedback didn't come, "is this thing on"?

I suppose God feels that way with me quite a bit.

My friend Jenny and I talked yesterday about how sometimes a dream isn't seen fulfilled as we hoped, and how sometimes the waiting seems to bring an answer of 'no' to the prayer you have spent so much time on your knees for. We talked about how we should respond to that. Leaninging in, resting not stressing, positioning ourselves to be ready to receive the next thing He gives us, being all in wherever He has us at the moment, and worshipping Him while we wait.

As I drove home I begin to imagine sometimes God is surely behind His own microphone at times, tapping it with His finger, and looking at me saying "Is this thing even on? Child, do you not hear what I'm desperately trying to tell you? Why can't you be quiet long enough to hear the answer I am offering you in this moment? I have a direction, a path, why won't you pay attention?

"You have seen many things, but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing." Isaiah 42:20


In my car on Magnolia Avenue I began sensing Him speaking deep things to my heart. "How often while I'm trying to do something in your life are you so fixated on what you feel you need most from me that you miss much more important miracles I am trying to work through you? While your heart only see's the muck and mire of your deep fears, I may be offering you more vision than you can imagine. Daughter, you are sometimes so focused on YOUR biggest question that you totally miss MY timeliest answer for what I think is more important".

"My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures." Prov. 2:1-4

It demands action from me - listen, tune my ears, concentrate, ask, search, seek.

If I am tuned in to His spirit, really listening (talking with Him, not at Him), seeking Him in everything around me, then I wont miss anything He is doing or requiring of me to reach HIS next step.

I constantly need to check to make sure I'm not selfishly placing those blinders on again. The ones that cause my vision to become so tunnel shaped I miss HIS bigger vision for my life right now.
And that there is no such thing as 'too frequent' when it comes to getting my hearing checked :)

Hello? Is this thing on?

Marisa
Chick Chat with Marisa

Show the Blessings

And the grace (unmerited favor and blessing) of our Lord [actually] flowed out superabundantly and beyond measure for me, accompanied by faith and love that are [to be realized] in Christ Jesus.
—1 Timothy 1:14

God wants to bless you today. You may feel that you shouldn't have nice things, but let God balance your thinking when it comes to His blessings. He will help you understand what you should have and what you shouldn't have. God blesses you so that you will be a blessing to others.

When God provides for you, it offers hope to unbelievers that He is faithful to provide for those who serve Him. You are an ambassador for Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:20); expect His provision today, and don't hide His blessings when they come.


From the book Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2003 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Warner Faith. All rights reserved.

Lots of Fun Stuff......Mark Your Calendars

The Ladies Ministry at NorthStar has a lot of Fun Activities planned over the next few weeks.  Take a look below, and learn how you can get involved with the Ladies of NorthStar.  

1. NEW BIBLE STUDY - Thursday Nights - Faithful, Abundant, True NOW STARTING OCT 27TH

Check Out this Video about the new Series:

#2 - Ladies Fun Day - Enjoy an afternoon at the Cruze Family Farm, enjoying the Corn Maze, Picking out your favorite pumpkin, finding fall decor, and making your way through the incredible Corn Maze.

#3 - Beth Moore is Coming to Knoxville!!!   And, NorthStar is Reserving Tickets to see her next August.  Sign-ups & Tickets can be purchased from Connection Point beginning in December.  More details coming soon!!

#4 - Conversations is Back on November 12th with a special holiday edition that you must RSVP for, followed by another Crafty Crew Day!  Check out the details below!! 

Don't forget to stop by Connection Point and get more details on all the events.  If you have questions, leave us a comment or send us an email (women@northstarknox.com)


Have a great weekend!!

Ladies Corn Maze Day!

Ladies of Northstar - Let's meet at the "Cruze Farm Corn Maze" off Thorngrove Pike in East Knox County on Saturday Oct 22nd at 1pm to enjoy a few hours of Fall fun! Admission is only $3 to do the maze, then we can also visit the pumpkin patch to buy some fall decorations, some homemade ice cream, and other goodies too! Pick up directions/info this Sunday at Connection Point (Race for the Cure ends at 11:30am that same day, that way you can do both if you're already signed up for that)

Marisa

Newest Bible Study Starts Oct 20th!

Ladies , let's take our Bible study deeper with "Faithful, Abundant, True" with KayArthur, Priscilla Shirer, and Beth Moore!
Join us as we unpack the rich teaching from these women through Scripture and personal application starting Thursday nights Oct 20th at 6:30pm! So register at Connection Point starting this Sunday and pick up a particpants guide at local Lifeway Christian Bookstores.

Childcare will be available but you must reserve each week no later than Wednesday morning at 11am before eash weeks session.

Marisa

Lets Kick off the Week with WORSHIP!!

O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker [in reverent praise and supplication]. Psalm 95: 6 (AMP)