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Newsletter 
OPEN HEAVENS FELLOWSHIP SEPTEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13: 5-6 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nancy 7th…… Jim 15th……TJ 25th HAPPY BIRTHDAY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bonnie is now in Olathe, in an apartment of her own. She walks almost without a glitch, if you knew she had a problem you would see it. She is able to do her dishes, fix a bite to eat, change her sheets, and do her own laundry. Thanks be to our Awesome Father, and to the many, many prayers which went up to Him in her behalf. Thanks to OHF and their faithful prayers, every one!! It truly is a miracle of God's grace. He gave the knowledge to the medical people, and was with us every step of the way. Love you all. Geri ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope." Jeremiah 29:11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alpha is Here...Again! Our Fall Alpha Course will begin Tuesday, September 22 at the Best Western Royal Sun Inn at Speedway and Stone. We will again be hanging 1500-2000 door hanger invitations to join us for a free dinner and discussion. Be thinking who you can invite--and start praying for them now. Do something social with them in the next few weeks--and invest in the people that Jesus died for! We will need people to stuff bags after church for the next 2 weeks and for people to go out door to door from Sept. 5-12. Please bring a sack lunch and plan to stay and help us make this the best Alpha ever. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth." Psalm 145:18 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Annual Day of Atonement Prayer Gathering We will engage in a special time of prayer September 19-28. Our nation is in a state of crisis and the world needs the hope that only Jesus can bring. There will be prayer guides available and we are asking that you prayerfully consider how you can enter into this time of prayer and fasting in a way that challenges you. On Sabbath, September 26 we will have a special prayer service and communion. Stay tuned for details. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pastor Jenny Will be Away Pastor Jenny will be spending Sept. 1-12 with her mother who is undergoing a mastectomy for breast cancer. During this time Pastor Jerrold Lawson of New Day will cover for her. Please keep both Jenny and her mother in prayer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We sang a song in church on August 8th. I have to say it was one of the most awesome songs I have heard in awhile. It is up there with “The Revelation Song” in its ability to bring Poppa close to my heart. I am very grateful to Richard, our worship leader, for choosing it. The song is called “My Beautiful God” by Steve Swanson. This song is like cool water on a hot day. The melody has such a sweet and precious sound that it just naturally causes one to move to greater things than this life’s concerns or burdens. This song gives me such peace and it reaches deep within me. I contemplate its’ meaning to my heart and I am amazed at His care for me when He is so …marvelous in our eyes. To share with my Poppa God, my praise for His divine power over my senses, my life fills me with a love and adoration that is greater than I had believed possible. “My Beautiful God” is an opportunity to recognize His greatness in the midst of me; His child. This song gives cause for me to be moved to accolades of joy and worship. My hands rise to the heavens as I inquire; “Poppa, why would You want someone like me? How can You, God of the Universe, love this selfish being; this created being who has hurt Your heart more times than can be counted? What is the reason You continue to call to me when I, I demand my way, while pushing You away?” I give Him all kinds of excuses as to why He should use someone else. I find reasons for not being able to be or do or I downplay His supernatural power that invites me to have faith in Him. There are no reasons good enough when one compares His mercy and grace to the price He paid for us. We are a part of His great plan and He will do in us…”of His good pleasure”. I am led to thank Him for following through with His plans in my life, in spite of me. No wonder we experience such loneliness when we take our eyes off of our Poppa God and we place them on ourselves as we try to replace Him by staying busy so that we don’t have to feel our emptiness without Him. And so, we stand in His presence with this song on our lips and He makes all things clear in His time. I love singing it with my family, those who raise their hearts to Poppa in praise. Poppa God is so awesome!!! He chooses to humble Himself before His own; He loves us so deeply, showing His vulnerability to us. I am awed! There is no greater love that we could ever receive. Jessica ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It is difficult being me; Let alone trying to be someone I'm not." Nancy "The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress and my Deliverer; my God is my Rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my Shield and the Horn of my salvation, my Stronghold." Psalm 18:2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Healing the Wounds of Your Heart By Mark Virkler // Submitted by Jessica I understand the problem of repenting of your anger toward people and even God, and repenting over and over, and yet still feeling angry. This has happened to me also, and here is how God finally healed my anger. At one point in my life I was deeply hurt by an abrupt termination of my job. After six months of anger, I had arthritis pain in my fingers and knees—something I had never experienced before. I recognized that I was destroying my body with the toxins in my spirit. I needed to purify my heart. So I forgave them a hundred times, and I still hated them. Obviously I needed to try another prayer approach, as this one was not working. So I turned to inner healing prayer, which I define as “allowing God to replace the pictures in the art gallery of my mind, removing pictures that do not have Jesus in them, and replacing them with pictures that do have Jesus in them. (Note: Pictures are the language of the heart, and you cannot heal your heart without replacing pictures that contain a lie—Jesus was not present ~ with pictures which contain truth—Jesus was present ministering grace.) The toxic picture in my heart was the three men at the breakfast table in a restaurant, informing me that my position had been terminated in a board meeting the night before and I was to clear out my office that day. This picture was a lie because Jesus was nowhere present in it. So in inner healing prayer, I invited Jesus to appear in the picture in my mind, and He did. He was standing there next to the restaurant table, laughing hilariously and slapping His knees with glee. I asked Him what was so funny, and I journaled out His response as His voice came through spontaneous thoughts: “Don’t you know I set this whole thing up? I have told you for two years to leave this job and get on the road and teach Communion With God and you would not go, so I just kicked you out.” He went on to say, “You can see these men as evil, seeking your destruction, or as instruments in My hand, thrusting you into the fulfillment of your destiny. If you see them as evil men you will reap the results of damaged health in soul and body. If you see them as instruments in My hand thrusting you into the fulfillment of your destiny, then you will feel gratitude toward them and your heart and soul and body will be healed. The choice is yours.” Well, I chose the latter picture as I wanted to be healed and move on with my life, which I have been able to do. The arthritis pain went into remission immediately and was gone within a week. I have learned that “A hurt is healed when you can see the gift(s) God has placed in your life through it.” So over the next couple of days, I asked God in my journal to give me a list of all the gifts He had created in my life through my relationship with these people and through this termination of my job. He gave me a list of 6-10 items, which I typed up and posted at eye-level beside my desk so I would be sure to keep my eyes on the gifts rather that reverting back ant looking at them as evil men. I encourage you to use the above process as you work through healing the various painful memories in your heart and mind. It is a wonderful process and it will set you free. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, that spreadeth out its roots by the river, and shall not fear when heat cometh, but its leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit." Jeremiah 17:8 One of the greatest forgotten blessings of living in America is the availability of clean water. Throughout history and even today in many countries, people have risked their lives simply by drinking water because they lacked the knowledge or equipment to make it safe. The health benefits of drinking water are numerous. And yet in America, millions are overweight or suffering from health problems because of excessive consumption of sugary drinks or alcohol. (As taken from "Better Family Living" Daily E-Devotional; Family Life Communications) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have been doing some of my own research as we read "The Seven Pillars of Health". Keep in mind that everyone's experiences are different, but I wanted to share what I have learned so far. Pillar 1-Water During my running out and about Tucson I found out there are several places that sell Reverse Osmosis filtered water (which is mentioned in the book). A couple that I've found are Wal-Mart's own brand of bottled water and Sunflower Market's brand. DASANI water is also Reverse Osmosis and is found just about everywhere. You can find Reverse Osmosis water filter systems in many places. There are too many stores to name that carry them, but be cautious, as the replacement filters can cost more than the unit itself. I've also checked on EBay where their average price is around $60; brand new. Pillar 2-Sleep It is my opinion that people, for the most part, don't know how or when to slow down. It helps me to take naps, even if only for a few minutes. Put your feet up, lay down, stretch out, listen to natural music, and don't talk--be quiet. Pillar 3-Living Food Whether you are on a low budget or have a fair income, food seems to come last on the list of things to pay….tithe, rent, utilities, fuel, and so on usually take up the majority of the income, leaving little for food. Try shopping around at different stores. Some stores have less expensive produce, such as Sunflower Market or Sprouts. Some stores have less expensive frozen and packaged foods such as Wal-Mart. Check out some local meat markets-who get their products from local farms and ranches, they sell fresh meats and cheeses and will cut meats to your specifications. Eating healthy does not need to cost more than unhealthy living. Junk food is actually more expensive. If we make wise choices and eliminate what we shouldn't be eating anyway, there will be money enough for better quality foods--and a better quality life!
My thoughts: First one must tithe. Second, try to make good chooses. Third it will come back to you. Let each of you start your day with an open mind, for there are lessons to be learned. Feel free to contact me, for more information, or research. Nancy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Open Heavens Fellowship Website… It should be easy to remember... openheavensfellowship.com isn't that simple? Take a look! True, it is still a work in progress (aren't we all?), but it looks great! Share this website with everyone you know so they can get to know us!
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"He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth." Daniel 6:27 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES!!! Following are some ideas for Ministry Opportunities that you can participate in or even lead! Please think about them, pray, and contact the person/phone number given! We need EVERYONE! Soundboard; Recording; Computer Visuals: Contact Deni Organize Guest Follow-up: Contact Pastor Jenny Fellowship/Social Events Planner: Contact Lita Prayer Walk Coordinator: Contact Jessica Children's Ministry/Teacher: Contact Cindy What Ministry would you like to start? We'll help you! See Pastor Jenny. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Open Heavens Fellowship Leadership Pastor ... Jenny McBride ... 520-297-5171
OHF Meeting location: 2445 N. Coyote Drive #101, Tucson, AZ 85745 Mailing address: P.O. Box 35848, Tucson, AZ 85704-5848 (**Please do not send mail to the physical address, it does not have a secure mailbox. Please send any mail, letters, cards, or offerings to the P.O. Box. Thank you! **) If you have information for next month's newsletter, please get it to Cindy Heintz at any of the contact information above, before Thursday, September 24th! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Let your requests be made known unto God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
"He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed." Luke 4:18 |
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