STAY

Everything

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:53:00 +0000

I've always loved this video - it moves me to tears every single time I watch it. Someone sent it to me again this morning and I thought I would share it with you. It reminds me of so many young people out there just fighting the world. Actually, it reminds me of a much younger self. Come to think of it... some days it reminds me of a not so younger self.

Clarity

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:00:00 +0000

First of all, thank you so much for my presents! I was very surprised and grateful for the beautiful plate but mostly for your precious sweet words on my cards. What a blessing you are to me!!! I will cherish them.

Because I did not want to take too much time away from others in sharing, I don't know that I made myself completely clear with what I shared today.

So, for those of you not there and for those of you confused, let me explain what I meant more thoroughly here.

Two years ago, the position for leading Seeds was open. I had just stepped down from being the MOPS coordinator. I rested for a couple months but really wanted to remain some part of the Women's Ministry at Hope and also be in leadership. So, I prayed - quickly - and jumped right into the position.

Shortly after I took the position, I started to question whether I heard God correctly and if I had jumped too quickly into something that he was not calling me to do but rather something I wanted to do out of obligation or pride.

So, this was about 2 or 3 months into leading that I started to look for a way out. Not because of my time with any of you but because of doubt in myself to handle the job. I prayed, wrote in my journal and shared all the reasons with God why I was not the right person.

Basically, I was scared. I was following in some footsteps of women that had been walking with the Lord for a long time. They were bible teachers, mentors, prayer warriors.

I was a fairly new Christian who had only been in ministry for about 2 years. What could I possibly offer to this group (you) of ladies? I convinced myself that I didn't have much.

Well, I never felt God give me the go to step out of my position from Seeds (until now). As a matter of fact, I felt him clearly saying - "Quit whining and do your job."

Well, maybe not in those words but I finally realized that if I was not called to serve somewhere else then I needed to glorify God in the position I was in.

So, that is what I did. I stopped worrying so much about being all wrapped up in my little kingdom and started focusing on God's kingdom. I started praying that God take the fear away and not the position.

"When we are optimistic about the future, we find the energy to create it." - Erwin McManus, Soul Cravings

Suddenly, leading Seeds and coaching small group leaders changed for me because my perspective changed. With last year's Fall kick-off, I found a new confidence and strength that only came from giving myself over to God. Giving up my insecurities and fears and leaning into God's all-sufficient being( 2 Cor 1:9). Turning away from the dark lies that the enemy would love for me to believe and toward the bright light of a God that loves me. To believe the truth he has written for me. For you.

I'm pretty sure now that it was all part of God's plan and my initial jump was me following his lead.
Often that is how God and I dance.
He says "Jump!"
I do.
I FREAK OUT.
He calms.
I freak out some more.
He shows up over and over again until finally I give it over to him and let him lead.

As I wrap up this position, it is so I can take yet another position that I feel greatly under-qualified for. I have found myself again asking God, " Are you sure I'm the right one?"

I've jumped. I'm freaking out. He is calming. I have no choice but to give it over to God and let him lead me again. On paper - my resume, so to speak says that I am under-qualified. But you see, I am qualified through Him! The old saying, He doesn't call the equipped, he equips the called - it's true! Exodus 40:15, Colossians 1:12 NASB, NIV or my favorite translation of this verse in the Message...

...It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us. Colossians 1:12

The passage that I referred to today was 2 Corinthians 3:1-6 . One of my pastors read this to me the other day and I was reminded that our "resume" is not about our education or our background necessarily but how we share the life changing message of Jesus Christ. As Christ-Followers , we are all qualified in this way. Just share what Jesus has done in your life with others.

I'm know that God has used me to touch people's lives. I'm pretty sure that he has used me to help grow leaders and to help people realize their gifts. What an honor! I just want him to use me some more. I never ever want to say, "I'm just too busy to be serving right now. " Going back to that same passage in 2 Corinthians - I don't say this to boast, just as Paul did not mean to boast, but to say that without God and without what I have to tell you about my Jesus -- my gifts would just amount to nothing.

I also spoke of some events that took place in my life this past year that have been difficult. Thank you for your concern. I have shared the situation with many trusted friends and have been working through it with them and God. God is faithful and good and like only he can do - he has taken these yucky situations and is making good of them.

There were days, I did not know how to go on. If I ever felt like quitting before, I definitely did during these times. But I kept serving just one step at a time - just like Su said today - the path right in front of you lit up to take just the next step.

My lesson learned here?
Life will never slow down.
It will seldom be easy.
Serve your amazing God now.
Use the gifts he has given you to further His kingdom right here on Earth - now.
Don't know what you gifts are? Find out.
Try this, try that.
Just serve HIM.
You will figure it out.
You will grow in your relationship with him and you WILL be blessed.

I want you to know that I have been truly blessed by watching you each grow, growing with you and your friendship. I will miss you very much!

Too Busy?

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:36:00 +0000

We watched Rob Bell in a Nooma video called Shells this past week.

If you click HERE you can download the entire video for $2.99.

It is really good stuff. I promise.

Love is Here

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:31:00 +0000

Love Is Here -click here to listen

Love Is Here
Mike Donehey, Jason Jamison, Jason Ingram, Phillip LaRue, Drew Middleton

“‘Love is Here’ is a song that was written in response to frustration of just hearing kid after kid after kid and adult after adult after adult just saying, ‘You know I would know that God loves me if...’ Fill in the blank with whatever, but we run a dangerous game if we start asking God to prove things that he’s already proven. Romans 5:8 says God demonstrates present tense, his love, in how, while we are still sinners Christ died, past tense, died for us and basically with that verse he’s saying, ‘Look God is proving his love for you today.’ Christ died on the cross and our responsibility is to simply fix our eyes on Jesus. Love is here. Everything we are longing for, whether we would say it this way or not, is really Jesus. Our hearts are made for him and are hearts are restless until they rest in him. That’s what St. Augustine said, so that song is just a call to anyone everywhere that the thing you want is here in the name of Jesus.”

Come to the waters
You who thirst and you’ll thirst no more
Come to the Father
You who work and you’ll work no more

All you who labor in vain
And to the broken and shamed

Love is here
Love is now
Love is pouring from His hands from His brow
Love is near it satisfies
Streams of mercy flowing from His side
Cause Love is here

Come to the treasure
You who search and you’ll search no more
Come to the lover
You who want and you’ll want no more

All you who labor in vain
And to the broken and shamed

And to the bruised and fallen
Captives bound and brokenhearted
He is the Lord, He is the Lord
By His stripes He’s paid our ransom
From His wounds we drink salvation
He is the Lord, He is the Lord

© 2008 Essential Tunes / West Main Music / Formerly Music (SESAC) All rights admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC (SESAC). / Peertunes, Ltd. (SESAC) / Grange Hill Music (SESAC) / Windsor Way Music (SESAC). Grange Hill Music and Windsor Way Music administered by Peertunes, Ltd. / Phillip LaRue Publishing Designee (ASCAP) / Drew Middleton (BMI)

He's Alive!

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 12:19:00 +0000

Luke 24 (New International Version)

Luke 24

The Resurrection

¹On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. ²They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " ⁸Then they remembered his words.

⁹When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. ¹⁰It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. ¹²Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

On the Road to Emmaus

¹³Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles^a]">[a] from Jerusalem. ¹⁴They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶but they were kept from recognizing him.

¹⁷He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

¹⁹"What things?" he asked.

"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. ²²In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

²⁵He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶Did not the Christ^b]">[b] have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" ²⁷And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

²⁸As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. ²⁹But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

³⁰When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³²They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

³³They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." ³⁵Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

³⁶While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."

³⁷They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."

⁴⁰When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" ⁴²They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³and he took it and ate it in their presence.

⁴⁴He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

⁴⁵Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

The Ascension

⁵⁰When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. ⁵¹While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. ⁵²Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. ⁵³And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

You can also finish reading about the resurrection in Luke 16 by clicking HERE.
Or John 20 HERE

Happy Easter Ladies! I hope this day that we celebrate our Lord and Savior's resurrection is a day of peace for you and full of blessings with family and friends. What a glorious day!

Good Friday

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:58:00 +0000

Mark 15 (New International Version)

Mark 15

Jesus Before Pilate

¹Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

²"Are you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate.
"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.

³The chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴So again Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of."

⁵But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

⁶Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. ⁷A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. ⁸The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

⁹"Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate, ¹⁰knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. ¹¹But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

¹²"What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them.

¹³"Crucify him!" they shouted.

¹⁴"Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"

¹⁵Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

¹⁶The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. ¹⁷They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. ¹⁸And they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!" ¹⁹Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. ²⁰And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

The Crucifixion

²¹A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. ²²They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). ²³Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. ²⁴And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.

²⁵It was the third hour when they crucified him. ²⁶The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. ²⁷They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left.^a]">[a] ²⁹Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, ³⁰come down from the cross and save yourself!"

³¹In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! ³²Let this Christ,^b]">[b] this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus

³³At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. ³⁴And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"^c]">[c]

³⁵When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah."

³⁶One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said.

³⁷With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

³⁸The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. ³⁹And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and^d]">[d] saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son^e]">[e] of God!"

⁴⁰Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. ⁴¹In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

The Burial of Jesus

⁴²It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, ⁴³Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. ⁴⁴Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. ⁴⁵When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. ⁴⁶So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. ⁴⁷Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

It Might Be Hope

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:16:00 +0000

March 22 is World Water Day

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:47:00 +0000

Today is World Water Day and YouTube chose the video by Charity: Water from the Central African Republic as it's featured video today. Check it out. Help them out.

CHILDCARE & Study Begins Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:50:00 +0000

If you have not registered for childcare and you will need childcare for our next session, please do so TODAY.

You MUST be pre-registered to receive childcare. Remember, that if you show up on Tuesday and are not registered that you will have to fill out a complete registration form before you will be allowed to drop off your children. Also, there is always a slight possibility that there will not be enough workers if we do not know about your children. So, please please please - register your kids asap if you have not done so already.

Contact Juley at juleys@gethope.net or 532-0620

We will start our next study this coming Tuesday, March 24. It is an introduction day. You can pick up your study guide then. They are $15.

If you need scholarship money for the childcare or book, please contact me immediately.

Thanks and have a blessed weekend!

Retreat Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:47:00 +0000

Beach Retreat Schedule

Friday 4/17/09

4:00 PM -- 5:00 PM......... Registration in the Mezzanine 2

5:00 PM --10:00 PM......... Meeting in the Ballroom

Saturday 4/18/09

6:30 AM -- 9:00 AM......... Breakfast Buffet in the Restaurant

9:00 AM -- 12:00 PM......... Meeting in the ballroom

12:00 PM -- 6:00 PM......... Free time

6:00 PM -- 9:30 PM......... Meeting in the ballroom

Sunday 4/19/09

6:30 AM -- 9:00 AM......... Breakfast Buffet in the Restaurant

9:00 AM -- 12:00 PM......... Meeting in the Ballroom

Please Make Note....

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:37:00 +0000

Books for the next study will be on sale Tuesday, March 24 - $15 each
Childcare registration OPEN and needed ASAP - your leader has the form, I can email it to you or you can pick it up tomorrow.
WOH t-shirts on sale: - $10 each. They are very cool!!
Retreat registration open and on sale tomorrow - $55
First day of next study is March 24

Deeper Still Conference In Greensboro

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:49:00 +0000

Deeper Still is coming to Greensboro, NC in July. What an excellent time for your small groups to get together and travel to this event. We will just be finishing our study with these three ladies and we will be taking a break during the month of July.

Please click the following link for all the information you will need for this event.

Deeper Still Conference

Give me Jesus

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 04:21:00 +0000

Johnny The Bagger

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:15:00 +0000

Where is the fun in all of this?

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:14:00 +0000

If you have been around Hope for long and been in a small group you have no doubt heart the phrase

"LIVE/LOVE/LEARN"

In small groups at Hope, the goal is for you to be transformed by the word of God through Community.

LEARN: We do this first by learning through specific studies: the author of a study guides us through a certain passage of scripture or book/s of the bible and we learn the history of that particular story, what it meant then and what it means to us now. Hopefully, we learn to apply this to our life.

LOVE: We also do this by coming together each week to hear what is on one another's hearts. We share our prayer requests, our trials and our praises. We walk along each other as life ebbs and flows. Maybe sharing how the Lord got us through a similar situation or just simply helping one another hand something over to Jesus.

LIVE: We serve together in many ways. This can be taking a new mom or a sick friend a meal. Taking her kids for an afternoon while she has some peace. Helping her find her way around a new town. Maybe even cleaning someone's house or taking her to the doctor if she is too sick to do so herself.

We also do service projects together. The New Bern House, making blankets for little babies, collecting money to send to the Ukraine, sponsoring children - so many.

Ladies, as a collective group we are doing all of this really well. I am excited to see the growth and transformation in many of you and experience it for myself.

What I want to talk about here is this....

Are you ladies having FUN????

When is the last time your group got together for dinner? Bowling? Shopping? A movie? A park date with the kids? Or without the kids? :)

I can hear you laughing in your small groups on Tuesday so I know that you are having fun there. I just think that having fun with each other outside of your time in small group is vitally important to how you bond with each other.

So, I want to encourage you today to make a plan with your small group to get together outside of Tuesday morning for something completely fun. I totally understand how busy each of us are and that this is actually not the easiest thing to do. It may be that only half of you make it this time and the other half next time and that's okay.

But please, just take the time. Make the time for each other. You will be so glad you did!

Here are some fantastic opportunities coming up in March and April:

Bunco Night!

Women of Hope Beach Retreat (scholarships are available!)

Women's Breakfast and Mini-Seminar

You can find out all about these events and more at Women Of Hope.com

Women's Link - UPDATED

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Women's Link is all fixed! You can now subscribe to Women's Link to receive messages about ALL events related to the Women of Hope. Retreats, service projects, social events and more! Be sure to sign up. See below for more directions.

Want to be in the know with what is happening at Hope for women? Want to know where to direct new women at Hope?

One great place is Women's Link.

Formally known as the ListServ, it is a way to sign up to receive emails from the Women of Hope to keep you in the know of news and events such as Women's Breakfasts, retreats, conferences, fun get togethers, small group news and prayers.

What exactly is a ListServ?

I am so glad you asked!!!!

It is some techy term for an email distribution list. And since it is confusing and too techy for some to really understand we renamed it Women's Link.

Basically, you sign up to receive news and emails from the Women of Hope. This way you can stay connected to what is happening with our community of women at Hope Community Church.

Make sure you don't miss out and sign up today!

Either click here or copy and paste this address in your web browser.
WofH-subscribe@gethope.net

Put SUBSCRIBE in the subject line and send. You will start to receive emails from Women's Link.

We are also on Facebook. If you are on facebook, email me and I will send you an invitation or you can just find us. Women of Hope Facebook Group.

Stay connected!

Some Seeds Blog Tips

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:16:00 +0000

I had a question about these email messages that you receive and thought the rest of you could benefit from the answer.

The question is why the reader could not see the sidebar that I mentioned in my last email regarding the Spring schedule.

When you subscribe to a website or blog what you receive is a feed or an email message in your inbox. That is how you most likely are viewing this message or as it is called in the blog world, a post.

In order to see everything else on that site, such as the sidebar which includes the upcoming calendar and events, you need to click on the title of the blog, Seeds, or the title of the post.

For instance, the title of this post is Some Seeds Blog Tips. If you move your cursor over that title it should actually be a link that you can click on.

You will then be redirected to the Seeds Blog and be able to view the whole site. Which is so pretty and has a lot of information for you on it!

Once you are on the site - the sidebar is located on the Right Side of the blog.

A blog is a web log of events that are happening in someone's life. In this case I am posting videos, news and stories that relate to Seeds so be sure to scroll down to catch up on those.

Also, some items like, Bible Gateway and Blue Letter Bible are at the bottom of the page. This way you can look up scripture quickly and easily. I also have other fun links on the page. Be sure to scroll down the site to see everything.

You are able to leave comments on any post that come directly to me and others can see. If you have something you want to share, please do so. If you have a question, I would love to help you out.

Email me at kbunten@nc.rr.com if you have any more questions.

Happy Day,
Janel

If We are the Body

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:36:00 +0000

I heard this song yesterday and it reminded me that as I get so busy in my own life, I often forget to reach out to others in a real way.

I think we might listen to this song and naturally assume it is a stranger that we are to reach out to. Of course, Jesus calls us to do this, but I wonder if more often it is not the woman I'm sitting next to each week in small group or the one I wave to in my neighborhood each morning as I rush out.

I can tell you from experience that sometimes you can sit among a group of people for months, even years and still feel like you don't have a friend you can count on. Many women come in to a group and just live on the fray of that group. Watching and just waiting for someone to reach out to them in a meaningful way.

Will you reach out today?

And if someone reaches out, will you receive them?

New Schedule and Spring Study

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 03:44:00 +0000

Hello ladies,

Please note the updated schedule in the sidebar.
Our next study will be:

Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed - A Study of David

"Taped at the 2007 Deeper Still event, three women explored their lives and the life of David. Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed: A Study of David contains the audio and video portions of the Deeper Still conference featuring Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, and Kay Arthur.

You’ll laugh with them, cry with them, and learn to love God with them. These authors' messages are divided into three segments, two lessons each. Each segment focuses on the life of David at a different stage of his life: as a young man (by Priscilla Shirer), as a middle-aged man (by Beth Moore), and as a man facing the final third of his life (by Kay Arthur)."

Update on CAR generators

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:23:00 +0000

From Jeff Shaeffer....

Update on Africa: The generators have been released and are on the way to the C.A.R. Mike and the gang arrived at their site and did everything they could to set it up so that when the generators arrive they just have to plug them in. Unfortunately they will not be there to see it all come together. Thank you for your prayers!

Prayer Now, Please

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:36:00 +0000

Please Pray TODAY.

Our team in the CAR needs your prayer right now.

Just a recap for those of you that don't go to Hope...

In 2008, our church raised funds to dig 10 wells which provide enough clean water for 5,000 people. (Read more about how clean water can change lives HERE.) Not to mention, sponsoring hundreds of orphans so they can have homes, food and an education.

So, this year in addition to more funds for wells, a company in which a church member is involved has donated three very powerful generators. They will provide much needed power to the orphan care center, radio station, offices of ICDI and the base camp for the drillers.

The generators have been stuck in a container in port for months. Very frustrating.

They need these generators to be released and delivered to them TODAY. That is one of the main reasons they are on this trip so that they can get them all set up. So, they just need lots of prayer.

The team is excited about the children and the work that has been done so far. They are also tired and frustrated over these containers. Please pray for them!

Here is the link to their blog. Please go there and leave them an encouraging word.

Thanks a bunch, ladies!
Janel

Hope for C.A.R and other Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:48:00 +0000

Please be praying for our team in the Central African Republic. Pray for their families and for the people of C.A.R.

Follow Pastor Mike, Karl and the team from Hope at this blog they have set up. Please leave them comments of encouragement and prayer. They will love hearing from you!

Go HERE to read the updates or click the box above.

Remember we are spending time praying for our pastors wives and families the next 6 weeks.

Laura Lee (Mike Lee, Senior Pastor)
Kara Patchin (Dave Patchin, Executive Pastor)
Sandy Roberts (Joe Roberts, Young Adults Pastor)
Myra Ellis (Steve Ellis, Discipleship Pastor)
Beth Darr (Donnie Darr, Missions and Care Pastor)
Jen Hankins (Chris Hankins, Middle School Pastor)
Laura Peters (Donnie Peters, High School Pastor)
Siobhan Moraski (Karl Moraski, Worship Director)

If you would like to write a note of encouragement to one of these ladies and bring it next Tuesday, I will make sure it is mailed to them.

SAVE THE DATE

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:48:00 +0000

Women of Hope Beach Retreat
Avista Resort
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
April 17-19, 2009

The retreat will be very affordable and a great time for your groups to get away with each other.
The rooms are really like condos so you spend some quality time with your groups.

I went last year and it is a very nice time to spend with other women from Hope Community Church.

Don't go to Hope? That's okay. We had many women on our retreat last year that attend other churches or don't attend church at all. We want you to come with us and will make sure you are connected with other women!

Rick Warren's Inaugural Invocation

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:54:00 +0000

Let us pray.

Almighty God, our Father, everything we see and everything we can’t see exists because of you alone. It all comes from you. It all belongs to you. It all exists for your glory.

History is your story. The Scripture tells us, “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God. The Lord is One.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.

Now, today, we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time. We celebrate a hingepoint of history with the inauguration of our first African American president of the United States. We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where the son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.

Give to our new President, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity. Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.

Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans, united not by race, or religion, or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all. When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you, forgive us. When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone, forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve, forgive us. And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes, even when we differ.

Help us to share, to serve and to seek the common good of all. May all people of goodwill today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet. And may we never forget that one day all nations and all people will stand accountable before you. We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.

I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life, Yeshua, Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus, who taught us to pray:

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

original post: http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctpolitics/2009/01/rick_warrens_in.html

The Generous Wife

noreply@blogger.com (The Buntens) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:29:00 +0000

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The Generous Wife