Women Blog
SWIM Meet
We hope you'll join us for this month's SWIM Meet for a relaxing time of hanging out.
SWIM (Single Women in Ministry)
S - Spritual Growth
W - Words of encouragement
I - Inspiring Others
M - Ministry in Motion
SWIM is an opportunity for women who are single, widowed, or single again, to connect and make new friends. This group is open to women of all ages and will have a monthly SWIM Meet on the 3rd Friday of each month. Each SWIM Meet will include various activities that will allow attendees to connect with other single women with the same interests, hobbies or spiritual passions. Some activities might include - bunko, movie night, study groups, lunch/dinner groups, and volunteer service projects
February Expresso
We've moved Expresso a week early this month since Valentine's Day is the second Tuesday. We hope you'll join us as Phillis Setchell and Amy Bucholtz share their stories of God's work in their lives.
We'll be in the Lower Auditoruim at 7 pm.
Unshaken-January
Funny how God uses whatever stick you are using on someone else to whip you into action yourself. Surrender. That was the point of the message prepared for these women at Topeka Correctional Facility, and I almost hadn’t surrendered myself that day so that I wouldn’t have to make myself vulnerable to women to whom I wanted to appear strong. But God allowed the one mishap our ministry team had that day to get through to me.
A team of eight of us from Topeka Bible Church along with some from Fellowship Bible Church and the Colorado Springs Daughters of Destiny staff had been in the maximum security prison on the night before--Friday December 9th--and then in the central unit in the afternoon Saturday, the 10th. Lots of girls had given their lives to Christ and had worked through some big issues in prayer. Several people on our team took this time to minister in spite of the fact that they were also a crucial part of the first TBC light show run through that weekend.
In the rush to get all of the music equipment back to TBC in time for the evening performance, my binder with speaking notes was mistakenly gathered up and packed away with everything else. It was in the search for that binder in preparation for the evening service at the prison that I realized I had filled my notes with fluffy stories and that God might want to use something a little closer to real life for these women.
I was first drawn into prison ministry by a former inmate I to whom I had offered a ride. Anne poured out her life story as I took her home. The only perceptible connection between her and I was that we’d both lost children. Out of the seven she had conceived, only three were living.
So, though it wasn’t in my notes at all, I told the story of our son’s death in the delivery room at the hands of a professional whom we never took to court despite obvious negligence. My husband and I knew there was no amount of money or censure that could pay the price for the life of our son—only grace would suffice. The outstanding debt of a life screams out to those with empty arms, and our Lord is no exception.
Have you ever been at a birthday or Christmas celebration with empty hands instead of an appropriate gift? Nothing seems to make up for the debt. What a deep, unfathomable debt we have before a living God if we stand before him without offering him an appropriate gift: our entire being. He was slain from the foundation of the world to ransom us (Rev. 13:8). He crafted us purposefully and lovingly in our mother’s womb, only to have us treat our lives as if they belong to us, and not to him. Mark 12:30 says, “Love the Lord your God with all you heart with all your soul with all your mind and with all your strength.” How we will tremble before him on that day if we come with empty hands, only at that point realizing that, even if we recognized Him as God and gave him everything else, if we didn’t give him ourselves, we haven’t got an acceptable gift. He yearns for you, His child, and nothing else you place in his arms can satisfy.
Living the life “unshaken” requires surrender—because Ephesians 4 says that preparation for a life of service matures us so that we will not be “infants tossed back and forth by the waves.” Often when we think of giving ourselves, we think of being willing to die for Christ. But God calls us to be “living sacrifices:” “…I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” This means even in the little everyday things being willing to surrender to Him in every way. And he doesn’t necessarily need to “call” us to service—He made it clear that we are to serve Him, and how we are to do it. (See Romans 12:2)
Lots of ladies came forward during our weekend at the women’s prison. And we experienced God’s presence as women gave their lives to Christ. How many of them understood that by accepting Christ’s free gift, they were giving themselves to Jesus’ words: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me?” His life for ours—the great exchange. Did they understand that accepting Christ is not just saying “the magic words,” but freely offering him the gift of themselves? Please pray for the many who came, and if you have not offered yourself, your whole self to God, do it today. He has been waiting for you with open arms.
Book Club- February
Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo.
Burpo writes a true, detailed account of a 4-year-old boy who slips from consciousness and enters heaven. The account includes things that he had no way of knowing as they had not been mentioned to him in the past.
Book Club will meet for discussion on Tuesday, February 21 at 7pm. Books can be purchased at LifeWay Bookstore. Please register here so we know how many are joining us.
SWIM Meet
Single ladies! Join us at 7 pm in Xenos on January 20th. We'll have food, fun, and fellowship!
Questions? Email Donna at tbcwm.WOW@gmail.com.
One More Chance for a Bible Study
Fee is $12 if enrolled on/before March 18. Late registration will incur a $5.00 additional fee and will not guarantee a book on day 1.
January Expresso
Join us as we kick off a new year of stories. Hear Kacia Ross and Carol Mammoliti share about what God has done in their lives.
January 10, Lower Auditorium at 7pm.
Interested in helping with Expresso? We're always looking for people to bring treats or help greet. Contact tbcwm.Connections@gmail.com if you're interested.
2012 Girl's Getaway
Journey to Joy
a girl's getaway
The Journey to Joy Getaway will take place at the SpringHill Suites in Lawrence, KS on February 24 & 25, 2012.
At Journey to Joy, TBC's own Cori Power will share God's Word through the book of Ruth to encourage you in your faith, help you trust more fully in His ability to meet your every need, and help you know more about His promises for YOU!
Check in anytime after 4pm. Getaway begins at 7pm
Dinner is on your own, but breakfast is provided. Feel free to bring snacks to share on Friday night.
Cost for a 4 person room is $35, 3 person is $44, a 2 person room is $62, and 1 person in a room is $116
Register for the Getaway this Sunday at the Welcome Counter or contact Val Barkley at tbcwm.SpecialEvents@gmail.com.
We also need help with the logistics, registration, decorations and hospitality. If you would like to be a part of this team, email Val Barkley at tbcwm.SpecialEvents@gmail.com.
Third Day Concert
Third Day will be in concert on Thursday, March 22 at the Topeka Performing Arts Center at 7pm. Tickets are $44. If you'd like to go with a group of ladies, please let me know by Saturday, January 14 so we can get tickets ordered. Email me at tbcwm.WOW@gmail.com.
Un-Decorate With Us
Make plans to join us for a quick Un-Decorating of the church on January 8th. The more help we have, the quicker it will go.
Questions, contact Andrea Ellis at tbcwm.grace@gmail.com
Women Blog
Topeka Bible Church Women's Ministry E-Life series