Go Dark. Be Light.

Bible in 90 Days Update!

2009-08-03T08:19:00.000-07:00

Well, we have reached the halfway point! How many of you are still with me? If you have fallen behind, just jump in and join us today…we’re on day 45.

I love reading the Psalms and how effortlessly David pours out his praises and sorrows to God.

I so relate to the struggles of feeling alone and abandoned, and the need to be rescued, then in the next breath shouting for joy in knowing who my Savior and Redeemer is and that He is ever present.

Blessings of God's Love,
Shelly Juskiewicz, Pastor to Women
Women's Website

Our Last “Be Light” together!

2009-08-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

This past Thursday was our last day to go out and be light together! It was a blessing to go to the Long Beach VA Hospital…we were able to visit with many vets and staff! We thanked them for their service and let them know how much we appreciated them. They in turn thanked us for thanking them and for showing our appreciation by coming to visit and spend time with them. We were able to hand out The Book of John and cards which they were happily received. All the donated books we collected were left for them, too. God blessed us with a great day and allowed us the opportunity to be (His) light!!

BLESSINGS of God's Light
Shelly Juskiewicz, Pastor of Women
Women's Website

Be. Light. Thursday - 7/23, Balboa Island

2009-07-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

Join us this Thursday as we go to Balboa Island to be light!

What: Walk around the island, meet, greet and pray with people.

Time: Meet in Mariners Chapel parking lot by 9:15am – leave at 9:30am sharp. Meet together at Starbucks: 226 Marine Drive by 10am.

Children are welcome to attend!

Blessings of God's Love,
Shelly Juskiewicz, Pastor to Women
Women's Website

Be. Light. Thursday - 7/16, Minnie Street

2009-07-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

Join us this Thursday as we go to Minnie Street to be light!

We have 15 women signed up to attend a cooking demonstration. We’ll show them how to prepare a meal and then send them home with the ingredients needed to make it for their families. For those who enjoy planting flowers…they have requested we bring and plant geraniums.

Bring your children or invite a friend…to be light with you!

7/16 – Be Light – Minnie Street

What: Cooking demonstration for 15 women or planting flowers outside the Center.

Time: Meet in Mariners Chapel parking lot by 9:15am – leave at 9:30am sharp

Bring: See list of ingredients needed to send home with each woman and/or bring geraniums to plant (gardening tools needed)
Please bring the following items in a grocery bag:

6 chicken breasts
Small bottle soy sauce
Small bottle lime juice
Small bottle honey
Small bottle rice wine vinegar
1 jalapeno
1 small red onion
1 large red onion
4 zucchini
1 bag white rice

Please RSVP to Janel by Wednesday, July 15 and let us know whether you will bring the list of grocery items and/or geraniums, so that we can plan accordingly. Thank you!

July Schedule of Be. Light. Events
7/23 - Balboa Island - Walk Balboa Island and Be. Light. by praying for the community.
7/30 - VA Hospital - Visit vets and Be. Light. by spending time with them.

Bible in 90 Days! Day 23...

2009-07-08T09:50:00.000-07:00

Wow! We are on Day 23! I love reading the Old Testament. I love reading about the lives of those that went before us. The stories of David’s life have always been a favorite of mine.

What wonderful reminders of the impact a life lived centered on God can make. David was not perfect, but his heart always sought after God. David knew the power of God and the difference it makes in the way you live your life. God was with David, but David’s life was not always easy.

I find as I talk with more and more people right now, they seek after the blessings of God more than the presence of God in their circumstances. I pray that we would be women seeking the presence of God in our circumstances and be blessed by His presence, rather than seeking the material blessings that we naively believe will satisfy.

I hope you are with us on this journey….if you are behind, just skip to where we are and join in!

BLESSINGS

Shelly Juskiewicz, Pastor to Women

Women's Website

UPDATED! July Schedule

2009-07-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

July Schedule

7/9 - Donate PJs and/or go to Casa Teresa @ Orange Circle

7/16 - Minnie Street/Blackaby

7/23 - Balboa Island, Prayer Walk around the island

7/30 - VA Hospital, bring homebaked cookies or sugar-free cookies to share and used books to donate for reading material. (Bring: Homemade cookies or sugar-free cookies to share and used books to be donated for reading material).

Check the blog often for details...

For specific questions, contact Janel, 949.854.7030 x314.

BLESSINGS!!

7/16 – Be Light – Minnie Street

2009-07-06T10:04:00.000-07:00

We will be meeting 15 women at Minnie Street to demonstrate how to prepare a Chicken dish (Chicken Breasts with Pineapple-Red Onion Relish). Then we will give them the ingredients to prepare it at home.

For those who prefer to plant flowers, we will be planting geraniums outside.

Bible in 90 Days - Judges!

2009-07-02T16:49:00.000-07:00

Wow! Can you believe we are already in the book of Judges?

The book of Judges is one of my favorite books…it reminds me of who we are today.

We seek God, we obey, and then we fall into the trap (comfort) of disobedience or partial obedience.

Why does partial obedience make us think everything will be okay? We begin comparing and compromising with the world around us and do what we think makes the most sense. Why is it that God is so clear with the children of Israel and with what He expects, yet they cannot seem to do it? To answer that question, I simply look in the mirror.

So far in our reading I am overwhelmed with God’s patience and love for us and the clarity with which He guides us and directs us.

What about you? What has God impressed upon your heart?

BLESSINGS of God's Love,
Shelly Juskiewicz, Pastor to Women
Women's Website

UPDATED! Be. Light. Thursdays. - July Schedule

2009-07-01T14:33:00.000-07:00

July Schedule

7/9 - Donate PJs and/or go to Casa Teresa @ Orange Circle

7/16 - Minnie Street/Blackaby

7/23 - Balboa Island, Prayer Walk around the island

Check the blog often for details...

BLESSINGS!!

7/9 - Be. Light. Thursdays - Visit Casa Teresa in Orange

2009-06-30T16:01:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 9 – Visit Casa Teresa in Orange

Meet in Chapel parking lot by 9a-9:20a to pray. Leave at 9:30am SHARP!

Visit Casa Teresa in Orange (home for unwed pregnant girls) to pray for them and love them and then have any early lunch in Orange Circle where we will pray for our waiter/waitress.

Bring: A new pair of pajama’s for girls (need is usually for XL or L…some M), slippers and/or flip flops (XL or L). Pajama’s are given to each girl when she arrives…so the need is continual.

Please call Janel, 949.854.7030 x314 for address and directions.

UPDATE: BE. LIGHT. THURSDAY - 7/2 VA HOSPITAL IN LONG BEACH

2009-06-25T14:13:00.000-07:00

Be Light Thursday - 7/2 – VA Hospital in Long Beach

Arrive between 9-9:15am. Will leave at 9:30am SHARP!
RSVP to Janel at joja@marinerschurch.org if you will attend – please tell what baked good you will bring (sugar or sugar free) and specify quantity.

Caravan over to the Long Beach VA Hospital to visit with vets.
We’ll thank them for their service and offer to pray for them and leave them with a baked good.

Please note: Many of the vets are diabetic, please label your baked goods that are sugar-free. When offering them a treat, we will need to ask if they are diabetic.

Children are welcome to join us! (Certain areas will be restricted depending on the child’s age) The vets love to see children!!

Should you want to meet us there, it is suggested that you use the onsite Valet service (no charge/no tipping) and ask Shuttle driver to take you to “Voluntary Services, Building 50”. We have a group appointment between 10:00-10:15a, so we’ll meet and go in together.

VA Long Beach Medical Center and Directions
Address:
5901 E. 7th Street
Long Beach
CA, 90822
Phone Number (562) 826-8000

Directions

From 405 Freeway:

From I-405, San Diego Fwy (North), merge and continue (West) on SR-22 [Garden Grove Fwy]. Turn off onto Ramp, bear Right (west) onto 7th St. VA Long Beach will be on your right hand side.

From 55 Freeway:

Merge onto SR-22, Garden Grove Fwy. Continue West. Turn off onto Ramp, bear Right (west) onto 7th St. VA Long Beach will be on your right hand side.

From 5 Freeway: [ south side ]:

From the I-5, San Diego Fwy merge onto "Toll Road" - SR-73 [San Joaquin Hills Trans Corridor] (North). Turn off onto Ramp and merge onto I-405, San Diego Fwy. Continue West onto SR-22 [Garden Grove Fwy]. Turn off onto Ramp, bear Right (west) onto 7th St. VA Long Beach will be on your right hand side.

VACATION & BIBLE IN 90 DAYS

2009-06-24T10:50:00.000-07:00

90 Day Bible reading on my vacation...I have sat on the patio each morning with my coffee and 90 Day Bible reading. We are on day 9 and are 9/10s of the way through Leviticus. I am always amazed at the depth and detail that God uses to communicate to us.

Why is listening and following through on what He asks so challenging? As we read the Levitical laws, we can see they were given to protect the people and keep them safe from disease. They were given to help them remember who their God is. The New Testament is written the same way for us. Here is hoping we can cling more to God and His ways, and less to the systems of the world.

Shelly, Pastor to Women
Women's Website

BIBLE IN 90 DAYS

2009-06-24T10:15:00.000-07:00

Ok, so we made it to day 5 and we are in Exodus! I love reading the story of Moses every time. It shows so much of God’s love for us and His patience for us. As I looked at the dialogue between Moses and God before Moses returns to meet with the Pharaoh, I observed how God uses many different ways to reveal Himself to us. My favorite verses are Exodus 14:13-14 “Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still.” How easy is it to read these words, type these words, speak these words…yet how challenging it is to live these words! MY challenge for today is to not be afraid, but to be courageous, stand firm and know that God will fight for me. All I need to do is be still.

What about you?

Blessings,
Shelly Juskiewicz, Pastor to Women
Women's Website

VBS Be. Light. Thursday - 6/25

2009-06-19T16:39:00.000-07:00

Join us this Thursday, 6/25/09!

***Please note: Thursday is Water Day at VBS and we can be used to help around the waterslides so wear something you won’t mind getting wet (maybe shorts, t-shirts and flip flops).***

Where: Meet at Mariners Church Chapel Parking Lot

Time: 9:30A

Why: It’s VBS week and we’re going to be light by praying over the campus, activities, children, families, staff and volunteers. One way we can be sure to help is with campus safety out on the lawn, by the lake and by the creek. We can also be available as needed in other areas.

Please note: Children will not be able to participate in any of the VBS activities, since registration is closed. Thank you for considering this before planning to attend with them.

Have questions, contact Janel, 949.854.7030 x314

Blessings!!
Women's Ministries

Be. Light. Thursday - Minnie St. & CPK

2009-06-19T11:26:00.000-07:00

What a day! We left Minnie Street and when we all got to CPK, amazingly they sat us almost instantly even though the place was PACKED!

As we were being served and getting everything we needed I was able to just pray solo for a bit and kind of take it all in just looking at our waitress Alanna, doing everything possible to please us. All I kept thinking was poor girl. She has a full day ahead of her, the lunch rush hasn’t even hit. I wondered what her life was like. Before we started eating Terry wanted to say grace, so she kindly and respectfully asked Alanna if we could pray for her for anything in particular going on in her life or work. Alanna said "Okay, but can you make it really fast?!" then she knelt down right in between us and we all just bowed our heads as Terry prayed. By no means was it FAST..it was this very detailed prayer asking the Lord to bless Alanna in her life, work, mind, spirit, walk with the Lord, and so on...oh, and to please bless our food so it may nourish our bodies and thank you for providing. Amen! HA!! I LOVED IT!!!! She did not allow Alanna to "speed up" her prayer...so, so, soooo GOD!

Alanna thanked us and left. Then shortly after came Vladimir to refill our water. He only came to my side, so I asked him kind of on the fly, if he had family at home and he said yes. I asked him if I could pray for him in any specific way and he said with a puzzled look "Yes, and for my work, too!" So I assured him that by the next refill we would have prayed for him. When he came back he told us he has little children and asked us to please pray for them, too. Then each time our eyes met, he smiled a big smile!!!

It was a great day…just how God planned it to be!!

Jo

Serve Core Team Leader

Women's Ministries

Today begins...Read the Bible in 90 Days with Me!

2009-06-15T13:49:00.001-07:00

Ok…off and reading. I read day 1 of our Bible reading while waiting in the orthodontist office for my son to get his braces put on.

I so enjoyed reading about creation, Noah and Abraham.

Why is it that only a few of the men we read about today “walked with God”? It is such a great reminder of the sin-filled nature we are all born with.

I want to believe that children of God-fearing parents would pass down a legacy of relationship with God. Yet, we all have a free will and choice in how we will live.

Maybe it is just me, but I am continually disappointed to read about Eve and Sarai and the choices they made…did find comfort in seeing that Adam was standing next to Eve when she ate of the fruit and that Abram asked Sarai to lie and say he was her sister out of fear. I guess we all fall short in one way or another…

Blessings,
Shelly, Pastor to Women
Women's Website
90 Bible Reading Schedule

Diaper Drive

2009-06-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

I started the morning like every other day, praying to God about the day and wondering what it was He was going to do. What an exciting day we had as we prepared for 69 families to come and have brunch with us and receive a supply of diapers and baby wipes for their children!

It has been a long time since I bought diapers. My heart was touched by the women who bought diapers to be given away, who have never had children, but wanted to be a part of what we were doing.

I forgot how expensive diapers were. The people who came were so kind and it was such a pleasure to let God use us to bless them. The pictures engraved in my mind are of the woman we sent home with a care package of food even though her husband was sure they did not need anything. She saw the love of Jesus poured out lavishly as Nancy helped her gather up some food to take home. Her husband left a beautiful thank you note thanking everyone and letting us know we would never know how much it meant to them. Tony and Jessyca, from the story I shared yesterday about the little boy that did not get a birthday party, left with a bag filled with gifts, a target gift card and cupcakes for a party. The mom who brought these items has a little boy the same age and knew she needed to do it. I was surprised by the women who came who already were a part of our church. I was surprised by the number of people who want to come back and go to church this weekend. For some of us today it was easy to be a light, for some of us today was a different experience, but for all it was a day where we lived the gospel of Jesus Christ rather than just study it!

Next week…join us in the café at 9:30a. Glean your cupboards of food so we can make food boxes for families in need within our church who are part of the Economic Life Support Ministry, supporting those who have lost their jobs or are struggling with the current economy. Afterwards we will go to lunch at CPK in Irvine and ask the God to use us to bless our waiters and waitresses as we ask them how we can pray for them.

Blessing of Light,

Shelly Juskiewicz, Pastor to Women
Women's Website

Be. Light. Thursdays!!

2009-06-10T13:03:00.000-07:00

Wow! God is amazing! We are reaching out to be a light in our community tomorrow, 6/11, by hosting a Diaper Giveaway and the stories have already started coming in! I cannot wait to see all that God does!

We posted an ad on Craigslist.com looking for families with little ones in need of diapers and received many responses. As of now we have 49 families coming because they need diapers. We will serve them lunch and let them know how much they are loved.

I have forgotten how expensive diapers are and the hardship they bring to a tight budget. I am praying that these families see Jesus and feel His love through us. Below is just one letter we have received. Take a moment to read it.

Be the light…share your story with us!
Blessings of Jesus to you,
Shelly Juskiewicz, Pastor to Women
Women's Website

"I feel so blessed right now. The Lord works in ways that are sometimes hard to understand; just when you think you’re at the bottom and can go no further, The Lord picks you up, shakes the dust off you, nudges your shoulder and tells you to move on! He sends blessings into our lives in all different forms; whether it is good health, beautiful healthy children, good friends, food in our mouths, and OF COURSE people like you!

"May 13th was our son Angel's 4th birthday...not a penny to our name right now and believe it or not, I was upset because I did not know what to do for his birthday. My Daughter Taylor said, "Mom...can we put a candle in a banana and sing to Angel? I laughed, and said, "No Taylor, I don't want to bring any more attention to his birthday than we have to right now. We will celebrate when we can..and we will". I knew we were not going to have a party or go anywhere, but I at least wanted to acknowledge his birthday and have a cake, but again, no money.

Here we are on Craigslist and again the Lord works in mysterious ways!

We have a 1 year old daughter, Gianna, and we needed diapers and wet wipes and maybe a food box. May & June have been quite challenging, so this will GREATLY HELP!

Thank you so much,
Jessyca Molina & Tony Jackson"

WHAT EXACTLY IS GO DARK???

2009-06-03T15:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Ladies -

Okay, it’s time for the count down!

Many of you are ready to jump into this summer’s opportunity to read the Bible in 90 days with me. We will begin on June 15, (waiting for my Bible study to finish on the 11th). You can use the reading guide that I'll soon have posted on our Women’s website or purchase a “90 Day Bible” in the Global bookstore for $8.99.

I like using the Bible that’s designed for the reading plan, but it’s up to you. Remember that reading these 12 pages a day will take you about the same time it would take to watch one sitcom on TV or the time it would take to peruse your favorite magazines!

I know we can do this!!!

We’ll be blogging about our daily readings and the ways God is using us to be a light in our community, so please join in on the fun.

As we read we will be transformed by the power of His Word, and as we trust and obey, He will bring it to life in our lives. This is going to be great!!

Blessings,
Shelly Juskiewicz
Pastor to Women