February 23 - Small Group News!

I love this time of year!  The weather in Arizona is beautiful, great for long walks and outdoor activities.  But if you're like me, the computer still pulls you in every night!  LOL

This week we will be finishing the month of February with Tamar, daughter-in-law of Judah.

Driven by one overwhelming need, she sacrificed her reputation and nearly her life to achieve her goals.

Tamar's story can be found in Genesis 38

Let's chat about these questions tonight at 8 PM:

1. Onan was supposed to father children through Tamar for his brother, Er.  This is the same act as that of the "kinsman-redeemer" found in the book of Ruth. The closest of kin was to father a child to carry on the line of the deceased husband. Although the act may seem offensive to us today, what do you think God's purpose was for devising such a plan?
2. What do you think of Judah's response to the news that Tamar was pregnant (38:24)? Was it a double standard for him to condemn her actions but not his own?  Do such double standards still exist today?How? Are they as common as they were, say, ten or twenty years ago?
3. The story of Tamar is a difficult one to digest.  There is simply no way to assimilate what she did with our current way of thinking.  Why would such a story ever be included in the inspired Scriptures?
4. How has God worked good out of the bad things that have happened to you or to someone you know?

UPCOMING EVENTS:

The Vineyard's Small Group Fair is right around the corner and I'm looking for volunteers to help 'man' the booth.  You can volunteer for either Saturday or Sunday; before and after services.  The dates of the fair are March 7 & 8.  

What will you be doing?  Greeting people and advertising our Online Small Group!  Once I've got my volunteers I will go over what needs to be done!  Please let me know if you are available no later than March 2.  

Thanks so much!  

If you’re reading this on the Blog and not in your email box, and would like to join Small Group, follow these instructions…

• REGISTER your email to get Small Group updates!  Look to the top right of the Blog, put your email in, and don’t forget to ‘activate’ your registration through the link that will be emailed to you by Feedburner.
• JOIN SMALL GROUP by going to the Join Small Group tab and follow the instructions found there.

February 16 - Small Group News!

Hello there!

Monday's are the best night of the week because I get to spend it with such a fabulous group of ladies like you! So far we've had some great discussions, and tonight's promises to follow the same route!  

Join me tonight at 8 PM as we discuss...

Capable of both strong and enduring love, she was a faithful mother and wife.  Manipulated by her father, she became jealous of her sister, with whom, it seems, she never reconciled.  

Her story can be found in Genesis 29-35

We will be discussing the following questions:

1. Leah is an unparalleled example of God's willingness to give "beauty" for "ashes" (see Isaiah 6;1-3). How has God worked this way in your life? How has he worked this way in the lives of your friends or relatives?
2. In Genesis 29:32-34, Leah expresses her desire for Jacob's affection, an affection she knew she didn't have. In your own words, describe how Leah probably felt and acted toward Jacob.  What do you think Jacob's reaction was?
3. Have you ever felt unloved by your husband, your parents, or someone else?  How did you feel and act?  What is your only possible source of comfort when you desperately want a love you don't have?
4. Leah had full life with many sons and wealth. However, she is best known for what she didn't have: the love of her husband. God noticed what she did have but also what she lacked.  What one thing do you want to learn from Leah and from her God?

UPCOMING EVENTS:

The Vineyard's Small Group Fair is right around the corner and I'm looking for volunteers to help 'man' the booth.  You can volunteer for either Saturday or Sunday; before and after services.  The dates of the fair are March 7 & 8.  

What will you be doing?  Greeting people and advertising our Online Small Group!  Once I've got my volunteers I will go over what needs to be done!  Please let me know if you are available no later than March 2.  

Thanks so much!  ~ Kathy

If you’re reading this on the Blog and not in your email box, and would like to join Small Group, follow these instructions…

• REGISTER your email to get Small Group updates!  Look to the top right of the Blog, put your email in, and don’t forget to ‘activate’ your registration through the link that will be emailed to you by Feedburner.
• JOIN SMALL GROUP by going to the Join Small Group tab and follow the instructions found there.

February 9 - Small Group News!

Welcome to another beautiful Monday!

Tonight we will be discussing...

Manipulated by her father, she had little say over her own life circumstances and relationships.  But rather than dealing creatively with a difficult situation, she behaved like a perpetual victim, responding to sin with yet more sin, making things worse by competing with her sister and deceiving her father in return.

Her story can be found in Genesis 29-35

Join Authentic Living Ministries tonight at 8 PM as we discuss the following questions:

1. How do you think most women would respond to the situation in which Rachel found herself (29:30)?  How would you respond?
2. Discontentment is an insidious thing, trapping us into thinking that which was enough is no longer enough, and that which was satisfying is no longer satisfying.  Do you ever feel discontent because you don't "have it all"?  What can you do to resist such sentiments?
3. Genesis 31 describes how Rachel stole her father's idols and then hid them.  When have you been in a situation that caused you to lie or cheat to protect yourself or someone else?  Describe it.  What could/should you have done differently?
4. It's one of the paradoxes of life, revealed here in this tragic story of Rachel's death, that what we most want from life we often can only gain by giving up something else that's equally important to us.  Can you think of an instance in your own life in which gaining something you wanted required giving up something else?  Explain.

See you tonight!

Blessings,

Kathy

If you’re reading this on the Blog and not in your email box, and would like to join Small Group, follow these instructions…

• REGISTER your email to get Small Group updates!  Look to the top right of the Blog, put your email in, and don’t forget to ‘activate’ your registration through the link that will be emailed to you by Feedburner.
• JOIN SMALL GROUP by going to the Join Small Group tab and follow the instructions found there.

February 2 - Small Group News

Happy February Ladies!

Please join us on Monday, February 2 at 8 PM as we discuss...

Rebekah...Hard working and generous, her faith was so great that she left her home forever to marry a man she had never seen or met.  Yet she played favorites with her sons and failed to trust God fully for the promise He had made.

Her story can be found in Genesis 24-26




We will be discussing the following questions:

1. In Genesis 24:58 we see that just 3 words changed Rebekah's life forever.  How would you react if God called you away from home and family?  What would have to happen to make you obey?
2. Verse 28 expresses one of the saddest thoughts about parenting found in the Bible.  Describe how you think their parents' favoritism affected Jacob and Esau and their relationship?
3. Why do you think Rebekah resorted to trickery to gain the promise given to her when she was pregnant?  In what ways are you similar?  Different? 
4. Do you think that Rebekah regretted her decision?  Have you ever regretted a decision?  How did you deal with it?

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Don't forget, for those of us in the Glendale, AZ area, the Vineyards' annual Women's Conference is coming on February 6-7.  You can sign up online, here:  Restoring Eve: God's Purpose for Women

See you tonight at 8!

Blessings,

Kathy

If you’re reading this on the Blog and not in your email box, and would like to join Small Group, follow these instructions…

• REGISTER your email to get Small Group updates!  Look to the top right of the Blog, put your email in, and don’t forget to ‘activate’ your registration through the link that will be emailed to you by Feedburner.
• JOIN SMALL GROUP by going to the Join Small Group tab and follow the instructions found there.