Calvary Chapel Newsletter March-April 2014
Content
Calvary Chapel Reno-Sparks
March-April 2014
Precious To God
1 Peter 2:4
Calvary Chapel Reno-Sparks
Fragrant Life Women’s Ministry Newsletter
“Rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God ished, and beloved. Matthew 3:17 says “And and precious” suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well 1 Peter 2:4b pleased.” In the entire universe there was I recently read something said by one of nothing more valuable on which to build than Portraits From Sandie 1 the wealthiest rock stars in the world. On It God’s own son, Jesus Christ. I can’t imagine caught my attention because of the subject anybody rejecting such a prize. matter. He told how he had boarded his tour Praise & Worship 2 The previously mentioned rock star was bus one evening after a concert. After he and not just a man without Jesus, he was a man his crew had driven most of the night they who had willfully rejected Him. It was not Fruit of Her Hands 3 stopped at a diner for a bite to eat. He was the young man who followed all night that he approached by a young man that handed him rejected, it was Jesus himself he rejected. We a gospel track. It said “Jesus saves”. The rock Titus 2 4 have all shared with someone at one time or star asked him where he had come from beanother who has rejected our Lord. It only cause there was nothing for miles around. hurts for a minute yet their pain without the The young man told him that he had been Joyful Books 5 Lord is for eternity (Matt. 25:30). May we following the bus all night just to give him Recipe never lose our compassion for the lost. Our this track., to which the rock star responded precious Jesus was chosen to come and die to the young man with profane insolent lanDevotional 6 for each and every one of them. It might guage. I felt this young man’s pain and rejectake a miracle (but God is in that business) tion as I read this, we have all been there; but but I hope to see that rock star in heaven one Expressions of Love 7 no one has tasted rejection like our Lord Jeday. Why, because he remembered what was sus Christ. printed on the front of the tract, “Jesus “He is despised and rejected by men, A Saves!” Calvary Chapel Info 8 Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Love, Sandie Calendar And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” Isaiah 53:3 was written thousands of OUR DESIRES FOR THE To give opportunity to study the years ago and yet it is still true today. Christ Word of God together that women is, indeed, still rejected by men everywhere. WOMEN’S MINISTRIES ARE: might grow in the grace and Yet this man, so rejected by men, was choknowledge of our Lord Jesus. sen to be the savior of the world, the center To encourage deeper relationships of the church and the foundation on which and spiritual growth for the women To equip women to be lights in their it rests. Christ was chosen by God, selected in the body of Christ. homes, neighborhoods and workby him specifically as the chief cornerstone places reflecting the love of Jesus on which to rear His church. Why, because To provide a place where women Christ to all. He is precious to God. Precious means; of will be encouraged and uplifted to high cost or worth, highly esteemed, cherseek God’s best for their lives.
Inside this issue:
P age 2
Frag ran t Life Wo me n ’ s
P R ECIOUS TO GOD
Praise & Worship
Lamb Of God Twila Paris
Your only Son, no sin to hide But You have sent Him from Your side To walk upon this guilty sod And to become the Lamb of God Your gift of love, they crucified They laughed and scorned Him as He died The humble King, they named a fraud And sacrificed the Lamb of God Oh, Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God I love the holy Lamb of God Oh, wash me in His precious blood My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God I was so lost, I should have died But You have brought me to Your side To be led by Your staff and rod And to be called a lamb of God Oh, Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God I love the holy Lamb of God Oh, wash me in His precious blood My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God
Need You Now
(Plumb)
Oh I need you God, I need you now. Though I walk, Though I walk through the shadows And I, I am so afraid Please stay, please stay right beside me With every single step I take How many times have you heard me cry out? And how many times have you given me strength? How many times have you heard me cry out "God please take this"? How many times have you given me strength to Just keep breathing? Oh I need you God, I need you now. I need you now Oh I need you God, I need you now. I need you now I need you now
Well, everybody's got a story to tell And everybody's got a wound to be healed I want to believe there's beauty here 'Cause oh, I get so tired of holding on I can't let go, I can't move on I want to believe there's meaning here How many times have you heard me cry out "God please take this"? How many times have you given me strength to Just keep breathing? Oh I need you God, I need you now. Standing on a road I didn't plan Wondering how I got to where I am I'm trying to hear that still small voice I'm trying to hear above the noise How many times have you heard me cry out "God please take this"? How many times have you given me strength to Just keep breathing?
P R ECIOUS TO GOD
Frag ran t Life Wo me n ’ s Mini stry
P age 3
Fruit of Her Hands Ministry
Forget-Me-Not to Pray; Caring for Our Missionaries, Through Prayer by Kelly Gardner
“UGH!!! TODAY is so overwhelming” She yells out to an empty room! Her first reaction is to quit, run-away, cry and hide as far away from everything in her life as possible! The anxiety of the moment is pumping through her veins quicker than blood. Critical, critical, critical words pour out of her mind! “ I will never measure up, physically, mentally and spiritually.” she thinks. Her thoughts are out of control and pound relentlessly through her mind until, the dam of welled up tears burst and she is left in a heap on the floor clinging desperately to the very garment of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As she takes a deep breath her anxiety is calmed with reassuring words, “Take each thought captive unto obedience.” She breathes in deeply the Word of God. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-6. As she reads on, she is encouraged through God’s Word to be anxious for nothing! What? How is that possible? Doesn’t God know how long her worry list is?” anxiety. You may want to quit, run-away, cry and hide from everything and everyone, but God wants you to know you are precious and He wants to bring you His peace through Jesus Christ. As our friends Salomon and Rosario prepare to leave to plant a church in Tejaro, Mexico we may not be able to physically travel with them, but we have been given the opportunity to consistently pray for them. It says in Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” So Sisters in Christ, lets not forget to pray. Here are some suggestions to become personally involved in the mission field and to Forget-Me-Not to pray.
Did you know the bible prohibits the Christian from worrying about their problems? Instead we are to commit our problems to God in prayer trusting that God will provide according to His will. It says in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be May Our Heavenly Father bless you as you commit to anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and suppraying for Salomon and Rosario and the church in Tejaro, plication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made Mexico with all thanksgiving and joy! know to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Paul tells the Philippians to pray over everything instead of worrying over everything. This verse tells us that God’s peace is what will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Now imagine yourself a missionary in a foreign country and words of discouragement come bombarding within you with every possible thought of inadequacy, doubt and
Pray God will guard their hearts and minds through Christ Philippians 4:7 Pray for strength and courage. Joshua 1:9 Pray for safety and protection. Psalm 4:8 & 2 Thessalonians 3:2 Pray for open doors. Colossians 4:2-3 Pray for them to be a bold witness. Ephesians 6:19 Pray for their ministry and that God’s Word will spread. 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Pray for God’s guidance. Colossians 1:9 Pray for refreshment. Colossians 1:11
P age 4
Frag ran t Life Wo me n ’ s Mini stry
P R ECIOUS TO GOD
Titus 2
His house and it is promised that we, by accepting Jesus as our Lord and personal Savior, will become…are becoming living stones that are being built into this foundation for our future home with God. It is so wonderfully simple that man seems to trip all over this Living stone. It just can’t be….It has to be more complicated than this….There must be some work that I need to do to get there….This is just too easy….How can a lowly servant possibly be my escape from sin? And so the questions and ridiculous reasoning’s go on. But, it is easy and it’s not complicated at all, as the commercial says! God’s perfect and simple plan was nothing like what man would consider and it still stands today.
The Lord Jesus Christ, Our Precious Corner Stone
by Beverly Chong
Also, have you ever wondered how it is that God doesn’t call us to this Living stone when We feel or decide we are ready for Him. Rather, He calls us While considering the scripture for this next newsletter, 1 Peter 2:4 “Coming to Him as to a living way before. He calls and keeps calling while we are caught up in controlling our lives. That small subtle stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God voice, that often times we ignore. We ignore beand precious,” I couldn’t help but to think how wise cause We know what is best for us. We’ve got it all our God is and how He purposefully chose such a simple and truly easy way toward salvation that has under control whether things are working as we plan or not. We’ve got our plans, our purposes to be filled completely baffled man from the beginning. The with the chosen people, things and directions suited world was being annihilated, very much like today, for our taste. Things don’t always go as planned but because of hatred, crime, selfish desires, just comwe are tremendously resourceful and smart, so we plete sin; complete disobedience to God’s word in think, and very determined to make it all work ourevery facet of our lives. Man has always strived to selves. Sound familiar? Yep, and it also sounds like control his own destiny by searching for complete a lot of wasted time and energy as we find ourselves happiness and peace, looking to so called adunfulfilled, unhappy, no peace to be found anywhere, vantages to get ahead, no matter what, and paying just a pathway of circles…continual circles leaving us no mind to how he can get there. Man failed and accomplishing not one cent or quiver to put into our continues to do so. That’s why God chose such a heavenly deposit box! No, my friend! Nothing will way that man would never have considered, and for ever work; nothing will ever bring the complete satismany, still can’t accept the ease of Gods plan in faction, peace and joy than that of which has been sending His own precious Son to die in mans place given to us as a gift, and that is the precious gift of for the purpose of bringing him to salvation, purely by becoming a living stone that God can call precious believing in Jesus as the Son of God and accepting and use toward building His wonderful heavenly this un-thought of way of reconciling himself to God. home of saints, all because we have accepted His God made our Lord Jesus Christ the extremely imSon Jesus, our Savior and Corner stone of God’s portant and Living corner stone of the foundation of foundation for life eternal.
P R ECIOUS TO GOD
Frag ran t Life Wo me n ’ s Mini stry
P age 5
Joyful Books Book Club Ministry
Joyful Books Book Club Ministry will be reading,
“The God Who Sees You”
by Tammy Maltby
loves her for who she is. In The God Who Sees You, she encourages women to look to God when they feel discouraged, forgotten or invisible, and take comfort in the story of Hagar, another woman who faced difficult circumstances and overcame them knowing God's presence was with her. The God Who Sees You also includes an 8week Study Guide for group discussion.” You are welcome to join the Joyful Books Book Club Ministry at anytime. We meet on Wednesday mornings in the Women’s Ministry Room at Calvary Chapel Reno-Sparks from 9:30am10:30am. Won’t you join us this year as we read and discuss books that point us to… “A Woman’s Place In The Heart Of God.”
“When life circumstances become overwhelming--your marriage is in trouble, unemployment has drained your resources, or your children choose not to honor God--it can take a toll on your heart. You may even begin to feel like God has disappeared, leaving you to face your troubles alone. Tammy Maltby faced these feelings in her own life, and found strength in knowing that God did see her, and does see her, and
Mother—Daughter Tea
Saturday, April 12, 2014 10am—12pm
Tea Cookies
1 cup butter 1-3/4 cup powdered sugar divided 1 teaspoon vanilla
Sharing Lives
2002
2 cups flour 1 cup very finely chopped walnuts
While teaching God’s Word, the older women share their lives and experiences with the younger women. This series of classes is for young women ages 17 – 25. Please don’t miss this opportunity to find out what God’s Word teaches on being a woman of God! We will be learning to adore the inner woman through God’s transforming Word and also doing hands-on learning by cooking, cleaning, decorating and much more. Sign-up in the foyer. Sharing Lives Begins Saturday, March 15, 2014, 9:30am – 12:30pm. Cost is $30.00. Please pay when you sign up. Scholarships are available. There are 13 classes total. A complete calendar and detailed flyer is available at the Sharing Lives table in the foyer.
Cream butter, 3/4 cup powdered sugar, and vanilla. Blend in flour and walnuts. Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 325 for 18 minutes or until bottoms are just turning brown. Let cool on cookie sheets for 15 minutes. Roll in remaining powdered sugar while still warm. Cool; roll again. Store in a tightly covered container. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.
P age 6
Frag ran t Life Wo me n ’ s Mini stry
P R ECIOUS TO GOD
Devotional
Accepted In The Beloved
Have you ever felt like you were being rejected by others? Have you ever felt unaccepted by others? These feelings could be true. People may, in fact, reject you and not accept you for whatever reason, but the great thing is; we have a Father in heaven who, once we have received his precious Son, accepts us in the Beloved. He accepts us just the way we are, yet will not leave us the way we are. Our Abba, by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, is changing us, day by day, into His image! Just as Deuteronomy 7:6 said to the Israelites, “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all peoples on the face of the earth”, so does 1 Peter 2:9 say to us, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness to His marvelous light”. salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with jewels”. In Psalm 119:142 we read, “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth”. This robe of righteousness, that we are given when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, is everlasting and cannot be taken away. Our Father sees us clothed in this robe. We are pleasing to Him; we are lovely to Him, because He sees His Son in us”. We also see that He pursues us with grace, surrounds us with favor and honors us with blessings! That is all part of being accepted in the Beloved!
Here is a list of scriptures that share with us a description of what God thinks of us. It is not an exhaustive list, but here are truths, that we as “Precious Princesses of the Most High King”, need to take to heart when the enemy of our We are told in Ephesians 1:4-6, that He chose us in Him, before the souls taunts us with his foundations of the world, that we should be holy and without blame subtle lies about our before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus acceptance and signifiChrist to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the cance with others. The praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the most important thing is Beloved. that God accepts us in “Accepted in the beloved” – This has been one of my life scriptures. His Son. I was raised with two handicapped parents, one with polio who used So the next time you crutches, the other with muscular dystrophy in a wheel chair. When I feel, rejected or unaccepted by others, whether it is true or not, rememwas little I remember people staring at us and I always felt so different ber what your heavenly Father thinks about you. than everyone else. After a while I found myself getting angry as a Isaiah 43:1 says, “But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O child, and every time someone would look at us with the wrong look, I would say, with an angry voice, “What are you looking at?” This was a Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; reaction to protect myself from feeling unaccepted and insecure. I have called you by your name; The Greek word for “accepted” in this passage is charitoō which You are Mine”. means: to make graceful, charming, lovely, agreeable. To pursue with We are a Child of the Most High GOD, a Daughter of the Most High grace, compass with favor, to honor with blessings. King! The next time the enemy comes around with those taunting Our God makes us graceful; He makes us to display Him in our actions. thoughts, remember who your Daddy is and cry out to Him!!! Our God makes us charming; He makes us pleasing to Him and attractive to Him. How is this possible? We know the wretched sinners that Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear we are! Isa 64:6 says: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes righteousness’s are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” But our God does not see us this way. We have been clothed with Christ’s robe of righteous- Simply One of His Precious Daughters, ness! Isaiah 61:10 says, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of Pam Snyder
P R ECIOUS TO GOD
Frag ran t Life Wo me n ’ s Mini stry
P age 7
Expressions of Love
The Joy of Being Chosen & Precious
by Mary Jane Robinette
There were times during the many decades that have passed by in my life that I thought I was chosen for who I was and what I was. I thought I was special when I earned my place in different events in my life. But never did I envision through all those years that being chosen by God was the biggest event to ever happen in my life. Nothing was of more joyous significance to me. Nothing was greater than accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I can remember when the light bulb went on it my mind and my heart, that soul saving moment when I realized that I was chosen by God. I had lived a life of knowing and loving God, but I didn’t understand until later in my life what it really meant to be chosen by God. There was a gift waiting for me and all I needed to do was come with a contrite heart and accept Jesus into my life as my Lord and Savior. I was God’s chosen child and I heard and answered His call. I can remember at my Baptism when Pastor Tom was speaking with me, I said to him, “I come with prayer on my lips and Jesus in my heart.” I felt alive in Christ and ready to openly profess my faith. It wasn’t a feeling of pride but one of meekness that I was God’s precious one. I was set free and I was ready to serve my God humbly, faithfully, and to walk boldly not being afraid to speak His name. Jesus became my joy and my salvation and I was ready to share that message with others. Being chosen by God is an absolute joy. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Listen, folks, our only hope is to be elect. Did you get that? That's our only hope. So that brings us supreme joy. When I think about the fact that God chose me, that is the supreme joy because I would have no hope of salvation apart from that. I would have no hope if God in His sovereign mercy had not chosen me. What a joyous thought. It fills my heart. Nothing under the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit can make a Christian more holy than the thought that he is chosen. Shall I sin, he says, after God has chosen me? Shall I transgress after such love? Shall I go astray after so much loving kindness and tender mercy? Nay, my God. Since thou hast chosen me, I will love Thee, I will live to Thee, I will give myself to Thee to be Thine forever, solemnly consecrating myself to Thy service," When I meditate about the fact that God chose me that is my greatest joy, because I would have no hope of salvation without the gift of Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. He washed away my sins by the covering of His blood that He shed on the cross. His act of obedience to dying on the cross freed me and all others who believe in Him and what he did for all of us. God knew that man needed a help to be set free from their sins, and so He gave us His only begotten Son to die for all of us. Our sins crucified Jesus Christ. God calls us all His chosen. But only those who listen with spiritual ears and hear the calling from the Holy Spirit are those who come in faith accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Mark 4:9 “And He said to them, He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” As God’s chosen we are to live fruitful lives serving our Lord Jesus Christ. We read it in His Word in 1Peter 2:4 “rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious” Peter tells us that Jesus is the foundation, the cornerstone, who was rejected by men but chosen by God and precious. He also says that we as believers are the living stones, so we are precious to God also. We are precious to God because of what Jesus has done for us. What greater joy than to serve Jesus who is precious in God’s eyes. Our motivation is that we the chosen ones of God who accept Jesus into our hearts will one day have the joy of seeing Him face to face. Serving in faith and spreading the good news of the Gospel is not easy. We can be rejected by man. But the reality that one day we will stand before Jesus Christ should give us the assurance, the courage and hope to stand firm when we are rejected. Our joy here on earth is serving God by living our life righteously. It is by obedience we show we are God’s chosen children and precious to Him. Nothing is greater in our life than knowing we are chosen and precious in God’s eyes. Supreme joy comes from being in love with His precious Son Jesus Christ.
Calvary Chapel Reno-Sparks March-April 2014
March 2014
Sun Mo Tue We Thu Fri Sat 1 2 9 16 23 30 3 10 17 24 31 4 11 18 25 5 12 19 26 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28 8 15 22 29
3,10,17,24,31 5,12,19,26 2nd 9th 5,12,19,26 8th 6,13,20,27 3,10,17,24,31 15th
Women’s Bible Study Joyful Books 9:30am Mission’s Prayer 12:30pm Widow’s Meeting 8:15am Evening Prayer 6pm Fruit of Her Hands 10-2 Morning Prayer 10am Mom’s In Prayer 12pm Sharing Lives Begins
Calvary Chapel Reno-Sparks
220 Edison Way, Reno, NV 89502 (775)856-1110 FAX (775) 856-2031 www.calvarychapelreno.org
Senior Pastor Admin. Pastor Youth Pastor Worship Pastor Mission Pastor Secretary Tom Luitwieler Rob Wolfe Juan Rodriguez Scott Cresta Leonard Sanchez Kim Bowser PRAYER CHAIN ANN-(775)673-1238 EILEEN (775)972-1790
April 2014
Sun Mo Tue We Thu Fri 1 6 13 20 7 14 21 28 8 15 22 29 2 9 16 23 30 3 10 17 24 4 11 18 25 Sat 5 12 19 26
7,14,21,28 2,9,16,23,30 6th 13th 2,9,16,23,30 3,10,17,24 12th
Women’s Bible Study Joyful Books 9:30am Mission’s Prayer 12:30 pm Widow’s Meeting 8:15am Evening Prayer 6pm Morning Prayer 10am Mother Daughter Tea 10am Couples Potluck 6pm
CHURCH OFFICE: (775) 856-1110
27
26th
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED AT CALVARY CHAPEL?
First: Present yourself to God (Romans 12:1) for confirmation that He has planted you in this fellowship. If so, then discover your gifts and God’s calling your life. Second: Study to show yourself approved unto God (2 Timothy 2:15). As you grow in your relationship with God, let Him prepare you for effective service. Third: Be doers of the Word (James 1:22). Commit yourself to the work of Jesus Christ in this fellowship. Get involved as a yielded vessel to God’s guiding anywhere He directs.
Contact the Church Office and Fill Out a Ministry Questionnaire
(775) 856-1110
Helps Ministry: Food Pantry, Meal Ministry Café 2:42 Women’s Greeter’s Women’s Monday Bible Study: 10am & 6:30pm Women’s Conferences, Koinonia’s & Retreats Women’s Wed Evening & Thursday Morning PRAYER Children’s Ministry, Nursery, Childcare Fruit of Her Hands Widows Meeting (Encourage &Prayer) 2nd Sunday of the Month in Café 2:42 8:15 am Mom’s In Prayer Monday’s 12pm. This ministry is for moms who want to get together and pray for their children. We meet on a weekly basis in the 3rd/4th grade classroom. Child care will be shared as needed. Call DiAnn at 972-4264. Fragrant Life Newsletter (Recipes & Devotionals) Contact: Kelly Gardner at 843-0650 Joyful Books Wednesday’s 9:30am
March-April 2014
Precious To God
1 Peter 2:4
Calvary Chapel Reno-Sparks
Fragrant Life Women’s Ministry Newsletter
“Rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God ished, and beloved. Matthew 3:17 says “And and precious” suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well 1 Peter 2:4b pleased.” In the entire universe there was I recently read something said by one of nothing more valuable on which to build than Portraits From Sandie 1 the wealthiest rock stars in the world. On It God’s own son, Jesus Christ. I can’t imagine caught my attention because of the subject anybody rejecting such a prize. matter. He told how he had boarded his tour Praise & Worship 2 The previously mentioned rock star was bus one evening after a concert. After he and not just a man without Jesus, he was a man his crew had driven most of the night they who had willfully rejected Him. It was not Fruit of Her Hands 3 stopped at a diner for a bite to eat. He was the young man who followed all night that he approached by a young man that handed him rejected, it was Jesus himself he rejected. We a gospel track. It said “Jesus saves”. The rock Titus 2 4 have all shared with someone at one time or star asked him where he had come from beanother who has rejected our Lord. It only cause there was nothing for miles around. hurts for a minute yet their pain without the The young man told him that he had been Joyful Books 5 Lord is for eternity (Matt. 25:30). May we following the bus all night just to give him Recipe never lose our compassion for the lost. Our this track., to which the rock star responded precious Jesus was chosen to come and die to the young man with profane insolent lanDevotional 6 for each and every one of them. It might guage. I felt this young man’s pain and rejectake a miracle (but God is in that business) tion as I read this, we have all been there; but but I hope to see that rock star in heaven one Expressions of Love 7 no one has tasted rejection like our Lord Jeday. Why, because he remembered what was sus Christ. printed on the front of the tract, “Jesus “He is despised and rejected by men, A Saves!” Calvary Chapel Info 8 Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Love, Sandie Calendar And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” Isaiah 53:3 was written thousands of OUR DESIRES FOR THE To give opportunity to study the years ago and yet it is still true today. Christ Word of God together that women is, indeed, still rejected by men everywhere. WOMEN’S MINISTRIES ARE: might grow in the grace and Yet this man, so rejected by men, was choknowledge of our Lord Jesus. sen to be the savior of the world, the center To encourage deeper relationships of the church and the foundation on which and spiritual growth for the women To equip women to be lights in their it rests. Christ was chosen by God, selected in the body of Christ. homes, neighborhoods and workby him specifically as the chief cornerstone places reflecting the love of Jesus on which to rear His church. Why, because To provide a place where women Christ to all. He is precious to God. Precious means; of will be encouraged and uplifted to high cost or worth, highly esteemed, cherseek God’s best for their lives.
Inside this issue:
P age 2
Frag ran t Life Wo me n ’ s
P R ECIOUS TO GOD
Praise & Worship
Lamb Of God Twila Paris
Your only Son, no sin to hide But You have sent Him from Your side To walk upon this guilty sod And to become the Lamb of God Your gift of love, they crucified They laughed and scorned Him as He died The humble King, they named a fraud And sacrificed the Lamb of God Oh, Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God I love the holy Lamb of God Oh, wash me in His precious blood My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God I was so lost, I should have died But You have brought me to Your side To be led by Your staff and rod And to be called a lamb of God Oh, Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God I love the holy Lamb of God Oh, wash me in His precious blood My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God
Need You Now
(Plumb)
Oh I need you God, I need you now. Though I walk, Though I walk through the shadows And I, I am so afraid Please stay, please stay right beside me With every single step I take How many times have you heard me cry out? And how many times have you given me strength? How many times have you heard me cry out "God please take this"? How many times have you given me strength to Just keep breathing? Oh I need you God, I need you now. I need you now Oh I need you God, I need you now. I need you now I need you now
Well, everybody's got a story to tell And everybody's got a wound to be healed I want to believe there's beauty here 'Cause oh, I get so tired of holding on I can't let go, I can't move on I want to believe there's meaning here How many times have you heard me cry out "God please take this"? How many times have you given me strength to Just keep breathing? Oh I need you God, I need you now. Standing on a road I didn't plan Wondering how I got to where I am I'm trying to hear that still small voice I'm trying to hear above the noise How many times have you heard me cry out "God please take this"? How many times have you given me strength to Just keep breathing?
P R ECIOUS TO GOD
Frag ran t Life Wo me n ’ s Mini stry
P age 3
Fruit of Her Hands Ministry
Forget-Me-Not to Pray; Caring for Our Missionaries, Through Prayer by Kelly Gardner
“UGH!!! TODAY is so overwhelming” She yells out to an empty room! Her first reaction is to quit, run-away, cry and hide as far away from everything in her life as possible! The anxiety of the moment is pumping through her veins quicker than blood. Critical, critical, critical words pour out of her mind! “ I will never measure up, physically, mentally and spiritually.” she thinks. Her thoughts are out of control and pound relentlessly through her mind until, the dam of welled up tears burst and she is left in a heap on the floor clinging desperately to the very garment of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As she takes a deep breath her anxiety is calmed with reassuring words, “Take each thought captive unto obedience.” She breathes in deeply the Word of God. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-6. As she reads on, she is encouraged through God’s Word to be anxious for nothing! What? How is that possible? Doesn’t God know how long her worry list is?” anxiety. You may want to quit, run-away, cry and hide from everything and everyone, but God wants you to know you are precious and He wants to bring you His peace through Jesus Christ. As our friends Salomon and Rosario prepare to leave to plant a church in Tejaro, Mexico we may not be able to physically travel with them, but we have been given the opportunity to consistently pray for them. It says in Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” So Sisters in Christ, lets not forget to pray. Here are some suggestions to become personally involved in the mission field and to Forget-Me-Not to pray.
Did you know the bible prohibits the Christian from worrying about their problems? Instead we are to commit our problems to God in prayer trusting that God will provide according to His will. It says in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be May Our Heavenly Father bless you as you commit to anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and suppraying for Salomon and Rosario and the church in Tejaro, plication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made Mexico with all thanksgiving and joy! know to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Paul tells the Philippians to pray over everything instead of worrying over everything. This verse tells us that God’s peace is what will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Now imagine yourself a missionary in a foreign country and words of discouragement come bombarding within you with every possible thought of inadequacy, doubt and
Pray God will guard their hearts and minds through Christ Philippians 4:7 Pray for strength and courage. Joshua 1:9 Pray for safety and protection. Psalm 4:8 & 2 Thessalonians 3:2 Pray for open doors. Colossians 4:2-3 Pray for them to be a bold witness. Ephesians 6:19 Pray for their ministry and that God’s Word will spread. 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Pray for God’s guidance. Colossians 1:9 Pray for refreshment. Colossians 1:11
P age 4
Frag ran t Life Wo me n ’ s Mini stry
P R ECIOUS TO GOD
Titus 2
His house and it is promised that we, by accepting Jesus as our Lord and personal Savior, will become…are becoming living stones that are being built into this foundation for our future home with God. It is so wonderfully simple that man seems to trip all over this Living stone. It just can’t be….It has to be more complicated than this….There must be some work that I need to do to get there….This is just too easy….How can a lowly servant possibly be my escape from sin? And so the questions and ridiculous reasoning’s go on. But, it is easy and it’s not complicated at all, as the commercial says! God’s perfect and simple plan was nothing like what man would consider and it still stands today.
The Lord Jesus Christ, Our Precious Corner Stone
by Beverly Chong
Also, have you ever wondered how it is that God doesn’t call us to this Living stone when We feel or decide we are ready for Him. Rather, He calls us While considering the scripture for this next newsletter, 1 Peter 2:4 “Coming to Him as to a living way before. He calls and keeps calling while we are caught up in controlling our lives. That small subtle stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God voice, that often times we ignore. We ignore beand precious,” I couldn’t help but to think how wise cause We know what is best for us. We’ve got it all our God is and how He purposefully chose such a simple and truly easy way toward salvation that has under control whether things are working as we plan or not. We’ve got our plans, our purposes to be filled completely baffled man from the beginning. The with the chosen people, things and directions suited world was being annihilated, very much like today, for our taste. Things don’t always go as planned but because of hatred, crime, selfish desires, just comwe are tremendously resourceful and smart, so we plete sin; complete disobedience to God’s word in think, and very determined to make it all work ourevery facet of our lives. Man has always strived to selves. Sound familiar? Yep, and it also sounds like control his own destiny by searching for complete a lot of wasted time and energy as we find ourselves happiness and peace, looking to so called adunfulfilled, unhappy, no peace to be found anywhere, vantages to get ahead, no matter what, and paying just a pathway of circles…continual circles leaving us no mind to how he can get there. Man failed and accomplishing not one cent or quiver to put into our continues to do so. That’s why God chose such a heavenly deposit box! No, my friend! Nothing will way that man would never have considered, and for ever work; nothing will ever bring the complete satismany, still can’t accept the ease of Gods plan in faction, peace and joy than that of which has been sending His own precious Son to die in mans place given to us as a gift, and that is the precious gift of for the purpose of bringing him to salvation, purely by becoming a living stone that God can call precious believing in Jesus as the Son of God and accepting and use toward building His wonderful heavenly this un-thought of way of reconciling himself to God. home of saints, all because we have accepted His God made our Lord Jesus Christ the extremely imSon Jesus, our Savior and Corner stone of God’s portant and Living corner stone of the foundation of foundation for life eternal.
P R ECIOUS TO GOD
Frag ran t Life Wo me n ’ s Mini stry
P age 5
Joyful Books Book Club Ministry
Joyful Books Book Club Ministry will be reading,
“The God Who Sees You”
by Tammy Maltby
loves her for who she is. In The God Who Sees You, she encourages women to look to God when they feel discouraged, forgotten or invisible, and take comfort in the story of Hagar, another woman who faced difficult circumstances and overcame them knowing God's presence was with her. The God Who Sees You also includes an 8week Study Guide for group discussion.” You are welcome to join the Joyful Books Book Club Ministry at anytime. We meet on Wednesday mornings in the Women’s Ministry Room at Calvary Chapel Reno-Sparks from 9:30am10:30am. Won’t you join us this year as we read and discuss books that point us to… “A Woman’s Place In The Heart Of God.”
“When life circumstances become overwhelming--your marriage is in trouble, unemployment has drained your resources, or your children choose not to honor God--it can take a toll on your heart. You may even begin to feel like God has disappeared, leaving you to face your troubles alone. Tammy Maltby faced these feelings in her own life, and found strength in knowing that God did see her, and does see her, and
Mother—Daughter Tea
Saturday, April 12, 2014 10am—12pm
Tea Cookies
1 cup butter 1-3/4 cup powdered sugar divided 1 teaspoon vanilla
Sharing Lives
2002
2 cups flour 1 cup very finely chopped walnuts
While teaching God’s Word, the older women share their lives and experiences with the younger women. This series of classes is for young women ages 17 – 25. Please don’t miss this opportunity to find out what God’s Word teaches on being a woman of God! We will be learning to adore the inner woman through God’s transforming Word and also doing hands-on learning by cooking, cleaning, decorating and much more. Sign-up in the foyer. Sharing Lives Begins Saturday, March 15, 2014, 9:30am – 12:30pm. Cost is $30.00. Please pay when you sign up. Scholarships are available. There are 13 classes total. A complete calendar and detailed flyer is available at the Sharing Lives table in the foyer.
Cream butter, 3/4 cup powdered sugar, and vanilla. Blend in flour and walnuts. Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 325 for 18 minutes or until bottoms are just turning brown. Let cool on cookie sheets for 15 minutes. Roll in remaining powdered sugar while still warm. Cool; roll again. Store in a tightly covered container. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.
P age 6
Frag ran t Life Wo me n ’ s Mini stry
P R ECIOUS TO GOD
Devotional
Accepted In The Beloved
Have you ever felt like you were being rejected by others? Have you ever felt unaccepted by others? These feelings could be true. People may, in fact, reject you and not accept you for whatever reason, but the great thing is; we have a Father in heaven who, once we have received his precious Son, accepts us in the Beloved. He accepts us just the way we are, yet will not leave us the way we are. Our Abba, by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, is changing us, day by day, into His image! Just as Deuteronomy 7:6 said to the Israelites, “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all peoples on the face of the earth”, so does 1 Peter 2:9 say to us, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness to His marvelous light”. salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with jewels”. In Psalm 119:142 we read, “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth”. This robe of righteousness, that we are given when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, is everlasting and cannot be taken away. Our Father sees us clothed in this robe. We are pleasing to Him; we are lovely to Him, because He sees His Son in us”. We also see that He pursues us with grace, surrounds us with favor and honors us with blessings! That is all part of being accepted in the Beloved!
Here is a list of scriptures that share with us a description of what God thinks of us. It is not an exhaustive list, but here are truths, that we as “Precious Princesses of the Most High King”, need to take to heart when the enemy of our We are told in Ephesians 1:4-6, that He chose us in Him, before the souls taunts us with his foundations of the world, that we should be holy and without blame subtle lies about our before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus acceptance and signifiChrist to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the cance with others. The praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the most important thing is Beloved. that God accepts us in “Accepted in the beloved” – This has been one of my life scriptures. His Son. I was raised with two handicapped parents, one with polio who used So the next time you crutches, the other with muscular dystrophy in a wheel chair. When I feel, rejected or unaccepted by others, whether it is true or not, rememwas little I remember people staring at us and I always felt so different ber what your heavenly Father thinks about you. than everyone else. After a while I found myself getting angry as a Isaiah 43:1 says, “But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O child, and every time someone would look at us with the wrong look, I would say, with an angry voice, “What are you looking at?” This was a Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; reaction to protect myself from feeling unaccepted and insecure. I have called you by your name; The Greek word for “accepted” in this passage is charitoō which You are Mine”. means: to make graceful, charming, lovely, agreeable. To pursue with We are a Child of the Most High GOD, a Daughter of the Most High grace, compass with favor, to honor with blessings. King! The next time the enemy comes around with those taunting Our God makes us graceful; He makes us to display Him in our actions. thoughts, remember who your Daddy is and cry out to Him!!! Our God makes us charming; He makes us pleasing to Him and attractive to Him. How is this possible? We know the wretched sinners that Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear we are! Isa 64:6 says: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes righteousness’s are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” But our God does not see us this way. We have been clothed with Christ’s robe of righteous- Simply One of His Precious Daughters, ness! Isaiah 61:10 says, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of Pam Snyder
P R ECIOUS TO GOD
Frag ran t Life Wo me n ’ s Mini stry
P age 7
Expressions of Love
The Joy of Being Chosen & Precious
by Mary Jane Robinette
There were times during the many decades that have passed by in my life that I thought I was chosen for who I was and what I was. I thought I was special when I earned my place in different events in my life. But never did I envision through all those years that being chosen by God was the biggest event to ever happen in my life. Nothing was of more joyous significance to me. Nothing was greater than accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I can remember when the light bulb went on it my mind and my heart, that soul saving moment when I realized that I was chosen by God. I had lived a life of knowing and loving God, but I didn’t understand until later in my life what it really meant to be chosen by God. There was a gift waiting for me and all I needed to do was come with a contrite heart and accept Jesus into my life as my Lord and Savior. I was God’s chosen child and I heard and answered His call. I can remember at my Baptism when Pastor Tom was speaking with me, I said to him, “I come with prayer on my lips and Jesus in my heart.” I felt alive in Christ and ready to openly profess my faith. It wasn’t a feeling of pride but one of meekness that I was God’s precious one. I was set free and I was ready to serve my God humbly, faithfully, and to walk boldly not being afraid to speak His name. Jesus became my joy and my salvation and I was ready to share that message with others. Being chosen by God is an absolute joy. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Listen, folks, our only hope is to be elect. Did you get that? That's our only hope. So that brings us supreme joy. When I think about the fact that God chose me, that is the supreme joy because I would have no hope of salvation apart from that. I would have no hope if God in His sovereign mercy had not chosen me. What a joyous thought. It fills my heart. Nothing under the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit can make a Christian more holy than the thought that he is chosen. Shall I sin, he says, after God has chosen me? Shall I transgress after such love? Shall I go astray after so much loving kindness and tender mercy? Nay, my God. Since thou hast chosen me, I will love Thee, I will live to Thee, I will give myself to Thee to be Thine forever, solemnly consecrating myself to Thy service," When I meditate about the fact that God chose me that is my greatest joy, because I would have no hope of salvation without the gift of Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. He washed away my sins by the covering of His blood that He shed on the cross. His act of obedience to dying on the cross freed me and all others who believe in Him and what he did for all of us. God knew that man needed a help to be set free from their sins, and so He gave us His only begotten Son to die for all of us. Our sins crucified Jesus Christ. God calls us all His chosen. But only those who listen with spiritual ears and hear the calling from the Holy Spirit are those who come in faith accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Mark 4:9 “And He said to them, He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” As God’s chosen we are to live fruitful lives serving our Lord Jesus Christ. We read it in His Word in 1Peter 2:4 “rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious” Peter tells us that Jesus is the foundation, the cornerstone, who was rejected by men but chosen by God and precious. He also says that we as believers are the living stones, so we are precious to God also. We are precious to God because of what Jesus has done for us. What greater joy than to serve Jesus who is precious in God’s eyes. Our motivation is that we the chosen ones of God who accept Jesus into our hearts will one day have the joy of seeing Him face to face. Serving in faith and spreading the good news of the Gospel is not easy. We can be rejected by man. But the reality that one day we will stand before Jesus Christ should give us the assurance, the courage and hope to stand firm when we are rejected. Our joy here on earth is serving God by living our life righteously. It is by obedience we show we are God’s chosen children and precious to Him. Nothing is greater in our life than knowing we are chosen and precious in God’s eyes. Supreme joy comes from being in love with His precious Son Jesus Christ.
Calvary Chapel Reno-Sparks March-April 2014
March 2014
Sun Mo Tue We Thu Fri Sat 1 2 9 16 23 30 3 10 17 24 31 4 11 18 25 5 12 19 26 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28 8 15 22 29
3,10,17,24,31 5,12,19,26 2nd 9th 5,12,19,26 8th 6,13,20,27 3,10,17,24,31 15th
Women’s Bible Study Joyful Books 9:30am Mission’s Prayer 12:30pm Widow’s Meeting 8:15am Evening Prayer 6pm Fruit of Her Hands 10-2 Morning Prayer 10am Mom’s In Prayer 12pm Sharing Lives Begins
Calvary Chapel Reno-Sparks
220 Edison Way, Reno, NV 89502 (775)856-1110 FAX (775) 856-2031 www.calvarychapelreno.org
Senior Pastor Admin. Pastor Youth Pastor Worship Pastor Mission Pastor Secretary Tom Luitwieler Rob Wolfe Juan Rodriguez Scott Cresta Leonard Sanchez Kim Bowser PRAYER CHAIN ANN-(775)673-1238 EILEEN (775)972-1790
April 2014
Sun Mo Tue We Thu Fri 1 6 13 20 7 14 21 28 8 15 22 29 2 9 16 23 30 3 10 17 24 4 11 18 25 Sat 5 12 19 26
7,14,21,28 2,9,16,23,30 6th 13th 2,9,16,23,30 3,10,17,24 12th
Women’s Bible Study Joyful Books 9:30am Mission’s Prayer 12:30 pm Widow’s Meeting 8:15am Evening Prayer 6pm Morning Prayer 10am Mother Daughter Tea 10am Couples Potluck 6pm
CHURCH OFFICE: (775) 856-1110
27
26th
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED AT CALVARY CHAPEL?
First: Present yourself to God (Romans 12:1) for confirmation that He has planted you in this fellowship. If so, then discover your gifts and God’s calling your life. Second: Study to show yourself approved unto God (2 Timothy 2:15). As you grow in your relationship with God, let Him prepare you for effective service. Third: Be doers of the Word (James 1:22). Commit yourself to the work of Jesus Christ in this fellowship. Get involved as a yielded vessel to God’s guiding anywhere He directs.
Contact the Church Office and Fill Out a Ministry Questionnaire
(775) 856-1110
Helps Ministry: Food Pantry, Meal Ministry Café 2:42 Women’s Greeter’s Women’s Monday Bible Study: 10am & 6:30pm Women’s Conferences, Koinonia’s & Retreats Women’s Wed Evening & Thursday Morning PRAYER Children’s Ministry, Nursery, Childcare Fruit of Her Hands Widows Meeting (Encourage &Prayer) 2nd Sunday of the Month in Café 2:42 8:15 am Mom’s In Prayer Monday’s 12pm. This ministry is for moms who want to get together and pray for their children. We meet on a weekly basis in the 3rd/4th grade classroom. Child care will be shared as needed. Call DiAnn at 972-4264. Fragrant Life Newsletter (Recipes & Devotionals) Contact: Kelly Gardner at 843-0650 Joyful Books Wednesday’s 9:30am
