It's a New Year of opportunity!

Hey ladies! We have some SIGNIFICANT things coming up for you this coming New Year! While we know you can't do it ALL, here's a few things that are coming up that we would love to see your sweet selves at. Don't ever feel pressured to participate in everything, but please prayerfully consider how God may be leading you to be involved. For ALL of it, though, invite, invite, invite! There's a community full of ladies that need encouragement, fellowship, and most of all...Jesus.

New Community Ladies' Bible Study!!

You may sign up here, through the blog comment section, or send an email to aroma@lifesongchurchonline.com and please include your name, address, phone, email, and if you need to utilize the FREE childcare, along with the ages of your children. You pay for your book upon the first day of class, but do not let any inability to purchase the book hinder you from attending! Breakfast will be provided for ladies each morning of Bible study!

"This Night....A Night of Redemption"
Monday, January 25th, 6:30pm
Speaker: Kristin Spehar
Cost: $10
Hostesses are needed NOW!
Email at aroma@lifesongchurchonline.com if you can hostess a table of eight, including yourself in that number.
Hostesses must provide a centerpiece - Themes: Winter, Fresh Start, Redemption, Friendship,
Lights, Twinkle, Blue, White, Snow, etc.
You must also provide a party favor for each attendee at your table.
Paper products will be provided, but you may use your own plates if you so choose...just let us know so we do not purchase plates for your table.
Please provide a TEA and WATER pitcher for your table, along with a coffee carafe.
Each hostess may choose to buy tickets for her entire table, or she must sell tickets and turn in unused tickets and all collected money on a designated date so that any unused tickets may be sold.
You are encouraged to invite guests that do NOT attend LifeSong, or guests you know that are looking for a home church. Most of all, invite guests that need to hear the life-changing message of God's REDEMPTION!
Contact us at aroma@lifesongchurchonline.com for any more info.




Ladies' Retreat 2010
Emerald Pointe Resort, Lake Lanier, GA

Friday, April 16-Sunday, April 18, 2010
Speakers/Worship Leaders: Elizabeth Johnson and Allison Singleton
Click here to view the resort!
Don't miss out on a wonderful time getting to know new friends, and making great memories with old friends! You'll experience a time of worship and teaching that you can take back home to continue you on your journey of being a "missionary where you live, work and play!"
Look for sign-up on Sunday, December 13
Deposits will begin the month of January
Cost:$100-$125 (this includes lodging, all meals except free time Saturday night, and curriculum)
Your free time Saturday will include options to sign up for massages, manis/pedis, trip to the Mall of Georgia, the movies, a huge selection of restaurants and much, much more!
You must work any work schedules out to arrive at the resort by 6pm dinner. The trip takes approximately 2hours and 45min.
Don't miss it!!
Here's what one lady had to say....



"I really stepped 'outside the box' when I signed up to attend my first Ladies' Retreat at LifeSong. To tell you the truth, I wanted in on all of the excitement I saw from the Aroma team and from some of the ladies that had attended before. I had no idea what to expect. I just knew that I wanted what they had. The retreat is a time for ladies of ALL ages to get together...to sing, to share in small groups, to know each other better, and a time for Bible study. If you have any doubts about attending...don't. It will change your life. You will never want to miss another one...I won't!" J. Blackwell

September Announcements

Dinner Mix for Six at Six

It’s Back…

Presented by: Aroma

What is a dinner mix?

This unique twist on dinner allows you a chance to meet and converse with ladies you may or may not know over a wonderful meal.

How does it work?

You register to attend, you meet at the chosen restaurant at 6pm, you draw a card, & that places you with the group you will be dining with. So you never know whom you’ll get a chance to meet. Food, Fun, & Friends!

How do you sign up?

Contact Bonnie Moody by email: bonniebmoody@bellsouth.net

or phone: 864-486-0167. You can also contact any member of the Aroma team.

Just be sure to sign up so arrangements can be made with the restaurant.

The Olive Garden

1498 WO Ezell Blvd
Spartanburg, SC 29301

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

6:00pm

Me, Myself and Lies

by Jennifer Rothschild

A new Bible study begins Monday, October 5! We will meet from 9am-11am for 7 weeks (until November 16th). FREE childcare provided. If you are a LifeSong Partner, you may sign up on our website using the CCB option, OR you may email us at aroma@lifesongchurchonline.com to sign up. If you email, include your name, address, phone number and email address. Also, with both options, please include whether or not you will utilize the childcare available, and if you do, include the names and ages of your children. Cost of the book is $11.95 (checks made payable to LifeSong Church).

This is a community wide Bible study, so invite your friends, neighbors, co-workers, Mom's group buddies...Any lady you can think of!

This Night Recap

I find that I write a lot of things by describing them as, "Words cannot describe...," but really, words cannot describe how amazing last night's This Night was. For me I can only say that I'm not really surprised. God kind of gave me a "head's up" on last night. He kept nudging me to pray, and kept reminding me He was going to do something big. I'm just super glad that it had nothing to do with us. I mean, if you only knew what was going on behind the scenes. We had a food crisis! Everything...OK, almost everything...that could go wrong with our meal just about went wrong. The caterers promised to bring ice, and there was no ice. They forgot the plates. They didn't put cheese on some sandwiches, but gave it to us to do. They didn't put the cheese on salads, gave it to us to do. Lemons had to be put in dishes! Ugh! The "us" was only two of us, and there was NO way we could get everything done in the amount of time we had. Thankfully, several sweet ladies showed up early with eager servant's hearts, or else...well, I just don't want to think about it. I get way frazzled over stuff like that, and quite honestly I had already been getting in a frenzy all day about the little things. Like I said, though, God always works it out. He reminds us - He reminds ME - a lot just who we are serving when we put together something like This Night. We do it for an audience of ONE. Whew! That takes a load off!

I kind of like to replay events over and over in my head after an event and hit the pause button. It is ALWAYS a good thing for me to do because I see just where things make a turn around from no longer being about me/us to being solely about HIM. It's like life. I mean, don't we always have to muddle through the trials (you know...no ice, no plates, no cheese on sandwiches) to realizing that this stuff has absolutely NOTHING to do with what was really about to come!

OK! Hit the pause button. Hit it about 7:20 pm. The meal is over (and let me just say, it was totally great! It all worked out). Turn your chair around and face the front. The music starts. Your heart settles and focuses. Right there you begin to see someone else has taken center stage. No, it's not the worship leader. It's not even the music. It's the Holy Spirit. He comes swooping in and meets with us. Hearts have come into the room that need to just "be still and know that He is God." Lots of ladies have had a really, really bad day. Some don't even know why they are there. God does. He knew it before they were even born. He knew He would draw them to a little something at LifeSong Church called This Night. Little did they, or anyone else know, why they were really there.

Fast forward a little to a woman taking the stage. She's soft spoken...humble...at peace...has a story to tell. She is completely REAL. As she begins to share her life with us - the good and the bad parts - there are ladies in the audience that suddenly see why they are there. "Here's someone that I relate to. She is telling my story." It's as though there are only three people in the room - the speaker, herself, and the Holy Spirit (although she may not realize that part just yet). Here's a lady standing in front telling about a time in her life where there seemed to be zero hope for having a life of joy. She had no hope of having a marriage that would last. Her dream was shattered by divorce. She sank to the depths where she could sink no further. She could only hope to find peace by beginning to go to church with a friend. She fought finding the peace. She REALLY fought finding the peace, but she FOUND the peace! She found the ONE who could give her the only true peace her heart longed for. Little did she know that the spouse from her broken marriage was on his on road to finding peace, but he eventually found it. Here's where the awesome part comes in - the reason for THIS NIGHT to begin with! They both found restoration. It couldn't happen until they both found restoration with God, the Father. Once that happened, they found restoration with each other. They were remarried! How often do you hear that? Try like NEVER! That's not something man-made. That is something God-made. It's the dream come true....the joy she had been searching for, but this time God is in the driver's seat.

We might not have that exact story. We may have had completely different circumstances cause us to lose joy, or to realize that we never had it to begin with! We all have something in our life that needs to be restored. Last night, we were reminded, or maybe even told for the first time, just WHO it is that can restore.

God brought healing last night. We saw a young woman meet Jesus for the first time. We saw another woman very new in her faith realize, once again, how much she needed Jesus. We saw women who walked in the door hurting and without hope realize they truly do have hope. We saw the only ONE who can bring that hope deliver it, yet, once again!

So, you see "words cannot describe" just what This Night was. You almost had to be there. I hope that my attempt to record it (TiVo it, if you will!) adequately portrays that when it is done for an audience of ONE - and mind you, it was tough starting off believing we were doing it for an audience of ONE with all of the distractions - but, when you finally hit that pause button you see that, indeed, God was there all along. You see that lives were changed, challenged and repaired. You see that yes, This Night was truly a night of RESTORATION.

"Me With You" Booksigning by author Kristy Dempsey

"Me With You" author Kristy Dempsey will be at LifeSong on Tuesday, August 11th at 11am. Kristy is a missionary from Brazil who will not only be signing copies of her new book (which will be available for purchase), but will also be sharing a special craft with us. Nursery will be provided for infants and toddlers (if needed), but all children ages 2 yrs - 6th grade are welcome to participate in the craft. Parents who are willing to assist younger children are welcome to bring anyone under 2 yrs.

Don't miss this time where Kristy will be reading her book, "Me With You", as well as signing copies to you personally. If you would like to purchase a copy before coming, you can find the book at Fiction Addiction on Woodruff Rd., area Barnes and Noble, Borders, and you can quick ship from Amazon.com. Cost of book varies from $11-$17.

Please invite your friends from the community, but please let Amy Hickman know if anyone will need to put their younger children in the nursery. This is a community wide event, and a great way to start the Back to School season off by giving your child a timeless book to read.

Contact Amy Hickman at aroma@lifesongchurchonline.com if you have any questions.

This Night...A Night of Restoration

It's time for our next "This Night." If you are interested in being a hostess, please contact Amy Hickman at jeffamy111@netzero.net and sign up. If you are new to LifeSong and want to know more about what exactly "This Night" means, well, let me tell you...

You, as a hostess, will put your creative juices to good use and come up with a table setting for eight persons to enjoy a catered meal. For our August "This Night" all hostesses get to choose their own color scheme, theme, centerpieces, etc. You may want to do a "Back to School" theme, "End of Summer," "Garden Theme," or you may just want to stick to a color theme. You be the designer! You must provide a centerpiece, place cards with your guests names on them, and party favors for eight guests.

That's just the exterior stuff regarding "This Night." Our heartbeat is to use this time as an outreach, so as a hostess we encourage you to purchase the ticket for your guests as a way to minister to them. You are NOT required to do this, but it's a great way to be able to say, "Your ticket is paid for, just come!" Your other option is to sell your tickets to your guests, collecting the money in a provided envelope. REMEMBER to leave a ticket out for yourself, and yes, you are responsible to buy a ticket if you are a hostess. All proceeds go to cover meal costs, honorarium for our speaker and worship leaders, as well as toward a specific ministry, albeit in our community or beyond. We try to give to ministries that reflect the heartbeat of our speaker for the evening.

NOW...here's our info for our August "This Night" :
Theme: "This Night...A Night of Restoration"
When: Monday, August 24th, 6:30pm
Where: LifeSong Church Worship Center
Speaker: Kristie Bentley - Kristie's testimony includes a marriage broken, but restored through her own salvation, as well as that of her husband.
Ticket price: TBA

If you are interested in taking part in a life-changing night, we are asking for 15 hostesses. You may host by yourself, or with a co-host. Just please remember to include yourself in the total number tickets for your table!

If you have any questions, contact Amy Hickman at jeffamy111@netzero, or at 439-2577, or even at aroma@lifesongchurchonline.com. The deadline for hostess sign up is August 2nd, and the deadline for ticket sales is August 16th.

Dinner Mix for Six at Six

DINNER MIX FOR SIX

Presented by: Aroma Women's Ministry

What is a dinner mix?

This unique twist on dinner allows you a chance to meet and converse with ladies you may or may not know over a wonderful meal.

How does it work?

You register to attend, you meet at the chosen restaurant at 6pm, you draw a card & that place you with the group you will be dining with. So you never know whom you'll get a chance to meet!

How do you sign up?

Contact Bonnie Moody by email: bonniebmoody@bellsouth.net or by phone: 864-486-0167. You can also contact any member of the Aroma Team. (Amy Hickman, Barbie George, Ashley Kay, Allison Taylor) Just be sure to sign up so arrangements can be made with the restaurant.

The Great Bay Oyster House

109 E. Poinsett Street

Greer, SC 29651

MONDAY, July 20th @ 6pm

Feel Like Royalty This Summer!

“If you've ever felt inadequate, threatened, or pushed into situations that seemed overpowering, this is the study for you. Just as it was tough being a woman in Esther's day, it's tough today. This portion of God's Word contains treasures to aid us in our hurried, harried, and pressured lives.” (pause music before watching trailer)




Hey Ladies! Here's your opportunity to be a part of one of the most exciting, challenging and wonderful Bible studies I've been a part of lately! Here's your opportunity to get to know Queen Esther! This summer, beginning Sunday, June 7 and ending Sunday, August 2, we will be offering Esther by Beth Moore. We have had such a positive response from our Community Bible study, and seen so many lives impacted by this study, it is being made available to those of you that were not able to attend during the day. Even if you have taken it these last six weeks, and you want to take it again, keep your book in tow and come join us!

FREE Childcare will be provided, but you must sign up for it so we know how many kids to expect from week to week. Even if you think that your child/children may only need the childcare once in the duration of the study, we still need to know.

So, here's the details....

What? Esther by Beth Moore
When? Sunday, June 7th-August 2nd
Time? 5:30pm-7:30pm
Cost? $14.95/book
Who? ANY LADIES...invite your friends, family, co-workers (just make sure you sign them up)
Where? LifeSong Worship Center

Sign up Sunday, May 17-Sunday, May 30

Guest Blogger for a Day

Jeff had Aroma visit over at his blog today. Check it out....

Time is Tickin' Away

Well, before you know it, retreat will be here and 41 of us will be headed to Pigeon Forge, TN for some girl time together. The Aroma Team is so ready to host you for a great weekend of worship and time in the Word!

Please remember that your balance for the trip MUST BE paid off this Sunday, April 19th. All of you should have received a reminder notice by email, facebook, or word of mouth in regards to how much you have left to pay. Please make every effort to get this turned into Barbie George on Sunday. She has done a fabulous job making sure we have our payments turned in so we'll have all of this squared away before we go!

If you did not get your retreat letter by hand from Amy, please let her know. This letter contains all the info you need before you pack and you don't want to miss it. You need to already have arranged with your jobs to be able to be off, or leave early, Friday, the 24th because cars and the church van will pull out promptly at 2pm that day to head up to Tennessee.

If you are not attending retreat with us, please make sure you see this opportunity to get together with other women at LifeSong this Sunday, the 19th. We want you to come and be a part of our Tea Party, but you need to sign up so that we know how many to tell the Tea Parlor will be coming.

If you have any questions about retreat, or our day at The Broken Teapot, comment to this post, or ask any Aroma Team member.

It's Tough Being a Woman!

Can I hear an "Amen" to this post's title? I mean, really! Have you ever had a day go by that you haven't thought, "Why can't my life just be easy?" I think that all the time. Why can't the clothes wash themselves? Why can't my husband read my mind? Why, oh why, must I have cramps? Why can't I balance everything? Why does it seem like everyday is like the day before it? Does ANYONE see all that I'm doing? Hey, we could really write a book here, but every situation would lead us back to point "A". It is TOUGH being a woman! And if we're being really honest, it's one of those things that we don't even like to voice that we're feeling because, after all, aren't we supposed to have it all together? There's often a lot of shame that goes along with saying we don't have it all together - that we can't get it all done. Well, we can't get it all done and have make-up and a great outfit on, too. There's not enough time to look good, smell good, eat "good" (pardon my grammar) and do good! So, once again, we're back where we started - feeling like it's tough being a woman. Guess what, though! There's a wonderful thing called HOPE! I find great promise in that, don't you. It's kind of like that really bad day with the kids and your husband comes in and saves the day just by coming home and giving you a break, adult conversation and may even give the kids a bath

...well, unless your husband just doesn't have a clue how hard you have it all day and comes in and props his feet up and watches you manage it all without really paying any attention at all! :)

Scratch that last part of that sentence and hold on to the visual of your husband coming in to save the day. I don't know about you, but I have HOPE for tomorrow when I find relief at the end of a long day. I actually find myself thinking, "Hey, I can do this thing! I can wake up again tomorrow." Don't you love moments like that? Don't you love the hope that getting away for a Girls Night Out gives you? The hope that locking yourself in the bathroom and counting to "10" brings? The cuddle time with your toddler over a really great read? It's in the story of our lives that we live the.... story of our lives. It's the searching for hope that we find it...right in the person of Christ! Let me tell you what I heard in my Bible study yesterday, said by Beth Moore. She pointed out that "God will not fulfill our destiny without us!" That causes me to want to soar, people! What about you? There's no room for giving up here. No room for pulling the "failure card." There's plain, simple, yet gloriously wonderful - HOPE!

Yesterday was the start of a great journey with about 40 ladies from all over our community as we began to dig into the book of Esther. It's a call for hope. It's a call for fulfilling our destinies with Christ. It's a call for allowing Him the honor of writing our life's story.

I know that many of you would like to participate in this Bible study. Well, you can! You can pray for each lady in the morning study. You can pray intentionally that she will find hope in her Maker. You, by doing that, will make a huge investment in her life! You'll give her hope!

My prayer is that this study will be available to you that cannot attend right now, and my hope is that it will be sooner, rather than later. It is already one of those, "you just can't miss this" moments. So, pray with me that we will all be on this journey together - whether it be through actually attending now, or praying for those who are attending now. Either way, you are sure to receive a blessing.
Go live today like you've never lived before! Live like you have HOPE!

Spring Tea at The Broken Teapot

Please mark your calendars for a special Sunday afternoon out with Aroma. Please look for sign up sheet in foyer at LifeSong, or you may sign up here in the comment section of this post. Feel free to invite a friend from the community to come and enjoy some time out with other ladies.

Ladies Spring Tea

Sunday, April 19, 2009

2:30pm

Cost: $10 (Tea & Dessert)

A Little bit of This and A Lot of That...

It is such an exciting time to be in Aroma Women's Ministry. Sometimes I struggle with deciding whether or not enough stuff is going on, but then I look around and see relationships that are being formed and transformed at Aroma events, and I have to stop and say, "Thank you, Lord." In the midst of busy woman lives, He is still blessing us with a foundation of relationships. If you have not been able to be a part of Aroma up to this point, let me assure you, Aroma is in no way intended to be perceived as exclusive. You are wanted and you are needed! Take some time out to spend with us and get to know other women at LifeSong. We want to know YOU!

Take a look at some upcoming reminders and events we have planned for you. If you see anything you are interested in being a part of, or helping with, let us know. Also, we are always open to new ideas, so if you have been a part of something that you would like to see happening in Aroma, we want to know that, too!

Ladies' Retreat 2009 - The Chocolate Boutique
- If you have not paid the last deposit of $15 that was due on March 22, please give that to Barbie George this Sunday before we go out to invest in our community.
-Also, ANYONE attending needs to meet in the front of the worship center on Sunday prior to 10:27 am to receive a very important letter, detailing what to bring, directions for traveling, and other very important info regarding retreat. If you cannot be there early, make sure you see Amy Hickman before we go out into the community on Sunday and get your letter.

This Sunday is last Sunday to sign up for Esther Bible study by Beth Moore. This is a COMMUNITY focused, Ladies ONLY study, so please invite your neighbors, friends and family in the area to attend. We need your name on a sign up sheet in order to know how many books to buy. You may register by writing to aroma@lifesongchurchonline.com and include your name, address (email and snail mail), phone numbers, and PLEASE indicate whether or not you will need childcare. We will collect money for books at our first meeting on April 6th. For additional info, please read post prior to this one.
If anyone you know, or you yourself, is interested in serving those women in the study by helping provide childcare, please see Amy Hickman immediately! We need about three people to help us with that service. You must have gone through our required background check before keeping any children

Volunteers needed to stuff Easter Eggs for April 4th Easter Egg Hunt! All ladies are asked to meet at church at 5:30pm on Sunday, March 29th, to help get this done. See an Aroma Team member for additional info.

Coming soon in Aroma:
This Night...A Night of Worship in the Summer - coming in July! If you are interested in being a hostess, contact Amy Hickman, or any member of Aroma team.

"Me With You" author, Kristy Dempsey, will be at LifeSong for a Moms/Kids Morning Out on Tuesday, August 11th. Kristy is the cousin of Amy Hickman and serves as a missionary in Brazil. Kristy will spend the morning with us doing a book signing, special craft, as well as share about her life as a missionary in Brazil. Copies of her book, "Me With You" will be available at that time. Check out her book on Amazon.com.
All parents will be touched by this heartwarming story. Make plans to attend this special day before your children return to school after summer break! Ages infant - 6th grade are invited to attend!

New Community Wide Ladies Only Bible Study!

“If you've ever felt inadequate, threatened, or pushed into situations that seemed overpowering, this is the study for you. Just as it was tough being a woman in Esther's day, it's tough today. This portion of God's Word contains treasures to aid us in our hurried, harried, and pressured lives.”

Come join us for a Community-wide Ladies’ Only Bible study, sponsored by
Aroma Women’s Ministry at LifeSong Church
12481 Greenville Hwy
Lyman, SC 29365

Monday, April 6th – Monday, June 8th

^{9Am – 11Am}

(Childcare is provided for children infant-5 years old; will be provided for older children for June 8^th since school will be out) Please note on your registration if you will need childcare

Cost of book - $14.95 (to be paid at first class)

To register, call LifeSong Church at 439-2602, or email your information to aroma@lifesongchurchonline.com

Invite your friends, family, co-workers!

Scripture Memory

If you are not already doing this, read this and join now. We are on our fifth verse and it is never too late to join in. God has personally led me to study verses on spiritual warfare and overcoming the enemy. Ask Him to personally challenge you and begin now to learn the Word like you never have before! Let us know if you join. Aroma is not doing this as a part of LifeSong Church, but it is done through Living Proof Ministries, also known as a ministry of Beth Moore, so you need to sign up on her blog to participate. Let us know, though, here at Aroma if you take on this scripture memory challenge so we can encourage one another!

24:7 Moms OUT AND ABOUT ACTIVITY

Please come and join us on Wednesday, March 11th from 10am-12pm at Monkey Joe's in Spartanburg (Beside Barnes and Noble on W.O. Ezell Blvd) for our
Out and About Activity for Moms and Children.

Please sign up on the sign-up sheet located on the Aroma table in the foyer of the Worship Center, or contact Ashley Kay. You may also comment here in the comments section of our Aroma blog to sign up. We MUST have a number of those planning to attend.
Prices: Group of 10 or more price will decrease from $8.99 to $6.99 for children over 2.
For children 2 and under, jump price will be $5.50

Don't miss this opportunity to come and meet moms just like you, as well as give your child an opportunity for a fun-filled morning! Invite your friends, too (make sure you include their names on the sign-up sheet).
Hope to see you there!

On My Mind...

So yesterday I woke up and was like, "Life sure has been smooth lately." Oh my word, mistake number one! I should have known better than to think such a thing, because, most certainly, what happens? We usually eat those words with a big, fat spoon! I wouldn't necessarily say that I had to eat them in the worst of ways, but God sure did deal with my heart. I was feeling pretty prideful, I have to admit. I have kind of had the mindset that I am finally at a place that I want to be. I really don't care what anyone else does anymore. I feel pretty much at ease with all I have on my plate right now - no more of that feeling that I should be doing more because that is what everyone expects of me. I don't care about not being included on everything, which if you've read my blog long enough, I really struggle with feeling left out. I also have felt like I've finally been the wife and mom I had lost a while back. I was just feeling all nice and proud of myself. Well, that was until yesterday...

Jeff has been preaching messages the past few weeks on our Passions. The series has been great, and really, if I had to pick, last week's message was my favorite, but it was this week's message that got me shaking...well, jumping....out of my comfort zone. It was one of those times that before I went in the doors of our church yesterday that I was already feeling that God was trying to get my attention. He was calmly whispering to me, "Don't get comfortable." I didn't realize the full impact of the words until Jeff's message yesterday. He preached on the Passions of the Church. In a nutshell, it dealt with our expectations. For those of you who read this that may not know me personally, I am generally a person with high expectations. I can't stand being around people, even, that can't dream big, or see past their nice little boxes to live in comfortably. I am a dreamer. My dreams rarely disappoint either. I dreamed of a godly man to marry. God answered. I dreamed of being a mother. God SURE did answer (four girls!!). I dreamed of leading women to love their husbands, families, themselves, etc. God has answered time and time again. And THAT, right there, is where I feel him tugging to answer me again. It's time to up the ante. It's time to kick it up a notch. I have not lowered my expectations for this area of ministry, but they have just remained like this --------------------------- consistent. I do NOT want to be consistent here. I want to see women's lives changed and marriages/homes walk in victory. God has called me to do that. To talk about it here seems so serious, but really the journey is loaded with fun and fellowship. It is true, though, it is loaded with a lot of deep stuff, too. That is where the last part of Jeff's message comes in. We, the Church, should be a place of Healing. We need to be restoring lives, looking past the junk itself, to the possibility of deliverance. We need to stop talking about what people are doing, or NOT doing, and begin to wrap a arm around them and hold them up. I have these expectations, people, but I, like you, am content to remain stagnant and unmoving. Well, not today. Today I choose to live in the possibilities that this day, and the days after, will be mindblowing...lifechanging! I don't even like to be all serious here on my blog, but I will not remain shallow here, either. God deals with me all the time and I don't tell a soul, thus leaving God and me the only ones in the know. Well, now you know. Know you can extend a hand of accountability to me. Know you can pray for BIG things to happen in my life, as I pray happen in yours. God doesn't want us walking to the same Ho-hum drum. He wants us "jumping, leaping and praising Him." He wants us dancing the dance of our lives today! Which music are you going to choose?

Butterfly Treehouse

When it came time to make lists for Christmas presents this past year, my daughter, Avery, wasted no time. She knew exactly what she wanted. Her list was very specific. This is not the norm for my third child. She takes 15 minutes to decide which candy she would like from the check-out line at the grocery store (much to the dismay of those waiting in line behind us), so having her return her list to me so fast made me know she had already been doing some serious thinking. At the top of her list I read "Butterfly Treehouse." What? I had never heard of it. I was impressed that she could write Butterfly Treehouse.

Allow me to digress... this is also my child that would practice writing random words when she was learning to first write, using anything from copying books to magazines. One day she brought me a piece of paper saying "Bud Light." Needless to say, I was a little taken off guard...shocked, nonetheless. Where in the world would she learn to write something like that? I walked in the kitchen to find a grocery store flier open to, you guessed it, an advertisement for Bud Light! From that point on, I was a little more observant of how Avery was practicing her writing.

Ok, back to the Treehouse...It was really all I heard about for weeks, but Santa didn't know where to get one, and happened to mention the dilemma to Aunt Missy, who promptly replied, "Let me take care of that for you." Santa, not thinking clearly - not thinking about the brownie points that would be won for her favor from Avery - replied, "OK, great! That would be special for you to give her."

So, for the last few weeks, we've been growing butterflies at our house. We had to order caterpillars to come in the mail. Really! I ordered caterpillars in the mail...paid $3 for 'em even! They arrived in a cup that looked suspiciously like a "sample" cup at the Dr.'s office, if you catch my drift, so fittingly enough, we put them in the bathroom because they have to grow in the dark, cool room. Anyone that came to our house was pretty much grossed out - Aunt Missy included. She had issues going in there with caterpillars looking at her. Whatever!
It became a daily ritual for Avery to come home and check on them, watching the different stages of growth.
One day she proudly proclaimed, "Mom, Dad, they have grown their crystals!" That'd be chrysalis for all you science fans! They were really very neat to watch.

Well, a couple of days ago, guess what happened? We had transferred the caterpillars in their chrysalis to the actual Butterfly Treehouse, and low and behold, we had real butterflies people! It was amazing! To be brutally honest, though, it was also...well, also...ummm....GROSS! Things are shed, gross colors come off. It was really disgusting. Something so beautiful and ladylike could be so yucky to watch become that way. Thus, the point of this story. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." It is just like us. We go through a lot of "yuck" in becoming like Christ. He takes us, gross and all, and makes something lovely and wonderful out of us. I am rejoicing in that today. I have been purging some old stuff out of my house, reorganizing, getting rid of a lot of stuff that is holding me back from living in freedom. It is amazing how crowded our lives get, but thankfully there's hope to see a new day, a new start.


Don't know what it will take for you today. Maybe you need a good dose of cleaning out...please, don't let your mind wander here. Get rid of some stuff that is hindering you. Make a decision today to do whatever it takes to walk the path God has for you.

Loving Well

Ummm...sound familiar? If you went on Aroma's Ladies' retreat last year, this will be very familiar to you. Has it stuck with you? Have you been reminded of it from time to time? I love the message of the title because it is timeless. There are some things that just don't get old. For me, it's the laughter of my children, the smell of honeysuckle, certain songs or holding hands with my husband when we go out on a date. It's the Word and the "never gets old message" it shares each time I open it, hear it preached or incorporated into song. The message of the Gospel is Love. It's because of that love that God sent His Son, Jesus, to save us through His very own death. The day it gets old is the day I need a good old slap in the face! It is through God's love that we learn to love well. I have firsthand witnessed this message penetrate some of your hearts. I have seen this love change you and motivate you to love more and love more better (I would correct my kids for saying it that way, but hey...it fits here!). I am convinced that we have complicated the message of love to others. We have taken away the beauty of its simplicity and even cheapened it with strings attached and conditions. We have forgotten the little things that caused us to love in the first place and become too busy, too self involved and too serious! Today, I encourage you to take time to realize the little things, those special little somethings, that mean love to you. I have a feeling that you will find that when we return to that first Love (our Father), you'll see the little things that show love much clearer. It's then we'll love well, love hard and love strong. And, the great news is, it doesn't stop there, because when we do those things, we'll see prayers answered, hearts mended, marriages rebuilt, new relationships established, churches grow, families stronger, and the list goes on and on. Determine today to allow God to teach you to love well. Ask Him to remind you of commitments you made - maybe at retreat last year - to love well, and if you are falling somewhat short, don't give up...dig your heels in the ground and get to it!
I pray as you ladies prepare to go on retreat this year that you are already allowing God to soften your hearts for what He has to show you. You are going for a reason. You may not know it yet, but this time can be the start of something really big in your life. Write down what you think He's laying on your heart so you can write down when He answers your prayer for those things whether it be on retreat, or after we return. God will answer your prayers. We are excited to take this journey with you. If you need us to pray for you, please let us know!

Retreat Money Due Sunday!

Update...If you did not pay your retreat deposit of $35 on Sunday, you may either drop it by the office between the hours of 9:30-1:30, or you may give to Barbie George next Sunday, 25th. Thanks for your cooperation!

If you have signed up for Ladies' Retreat in April, your first deposit of $35 is due on Sunday, the 18th. Please make sure that you give your money to Barbie George by this date. We have broken down payments for you so you can have your $100 paid the day we leave for retreat. Here is your payment schedule:
January 18 - $35
February 22 - $25
March 22 - $25
April 19th - $15
**You must have your balanced paid before traveling to the cabin on April 24th.

***In the event you have to cancel, your balance must be paid off OR you must find your own replacement.
****You are, of course, welcome to pay entire balance off at any time, but please give it to Barbie George as she will be in charge of collecting all monies.

Thanks so much for your cooperation in making our retreat a fun and smooth one! Can't wait to go!

Thankfulness

Just a quick THANK YOU to everyone that helped make This Night such an impactful night. From hostesses to servers, from speakers/singers to those who attended, last night was hopefully "a Night of New Beginnings" for many of you. I truly believe that God is challenging us all to look more intently for Him in each and every detail of our days. There are opportunities and circumstances each and every day that stare us right in the face and we just walk on by. Hopefully, last night was a renewal for you...a recommitment to decisions made, and most of all a "step on your toes" challenge to maybe get rid of whatever it is that is tying you down and keeping you from wholeheartedly and unabashedly serving God to the fullest!
Thanks so much to Heather Cassidy for her willingness to share something - for the first time in public- with us that would challenge us, but would also be a time in her own life to take what circumstance God allowed to occur in her life and use it for good in your life. You may not fully grasp the depth of how incredible it was that she was even standing up there before us at ALL! She was a miracle standing before us, and yet God puts them before us each day and we don't even see it. So, I challenge you today to go beyond what YOU see, and see what GOD sees.
Let's hear your comments and testimonies about THIS NIGHT. What did God speak to your heart about?

This Night

"This Night....A Night of New Beginnings"
Monday, January 12 - 6:30pm
Speaker: Heather Cassidy, teacher from Lyman Elementary
Music: Shannon Foster
Menu:
Chicken and Bacon Alfredo
Italian Salad
Broccoli
Bread
Cheesecake in Raspberry Sauce
Tickets: $10

If you haven't gotten your ticket yet, you may contact one of these hostesses, or you may buy on Sunday, January 11 at LifeSong before and after the 10:27 service:
Amy Hickman/Bonnie Moody
Barbie George/ Beva Bailey
Eulala Pace
Allison Taylor
Brenda George
Kim Hall/Jennifer Stephens
Kim Adam/Missi May
Donna Black
Misty Fogel/Jackie McAbee
Sheldon Pettigrew
Brandi Cole
Jane Blackwell
Lynn Lyda
Amanda Patton
Laura Miller