You Want That Purse | Growth Group Refresher

Hey Everyone: 

Just a follow-up note to last night’s meeting.  It was good to see everyone come out, and Alex you were missed! 😊 God has uniquely gifted each of us and It’s wonderful to have everyone’s thoughts and insights on topics that are ever-present today.

This RENOVATE series is such a powerful reminder of how perfectly God formed us, but also how easy it is for the human heart to fall prey to the schemes of the evil one (that old serpent Lucifer). 

During this morning’s quiet hours my thoughts kept going back to the graphic (above) of The Heart.   A heart that rather than being dark and black can “sparkle” for our Lord. My heart; Our hearts.  I love the word “RECLAIM”. 

I was thinking back to this week’s lesson on reclaiming our TRUE resources.  The evil one “lied” in the garden and planted a seed of “discontent” in Eve’s heart.  We all know the end of that story.  Then I thought about how Satan never changes.  He’s not creative at all.  He sows the same sad, stale lies over and over again into fresh young hearts. 

Satan plants tiny seeds of discontent that without proper attention ultimately grow into a great harvest of lust for Power, Sex, and Money.  WoW!  Through this study, I am reminded afresh that with proper attention to the soil of our hearts, we can pluck up those seedlings and uproot the evil ones’ attempts to enslave us.  More than ever, and especially due to this enlightening study, we are empowered to “see” with the spiritual eyes God gives us. Moreover, through the power of God’s gift of His Holy Spirit, we are aware that the “Prince of The Power of the Air” will never stop in his work to OWN US. 

> We have the power to RECLAIM that territory. 
> We have the power to till the soil of our hearts and QUICKLY uproot those stubborn seeds. 
> We have the power through God’s Holy Spirit to so enrich the soil of our hearts that with continued cultivating nothing satan plants will remain to grow into a crisis state.
> We have the power to RECLAIM the peaceful heart given to Adam and Eve in the garden so very long ago. 

Satan will never give up on trying to convince us we need that thing, person, or situation. He will continually throw those arrows of discontent at us. I pray that God’s Holy Spirit continues to inform me/us that we don’t have to live in want; because we all know “What’s Up”!

YOU WANT THOSE SHOES?
YOU WANT THAT SHIRT?
YOU WANT THAT CAR?
YOU WANT THAT PURSE?

Excerpt from Pastor Mike’s Renovate Notes: Happiness is not having what you want, but being content by wanting and giving thanks for what you have. 2 Kings 4:6-7 – The widow had a great want and a great need, and God did a great work. She couldn’t “do it on her own” … God did it for her … she asked, and she received much more than she ever could have expected! WoW.

I love this study.  I hope you do too.  I went to the enemy’s camp, and I “took back” what he stole from me!  Isn’t it exciting to know that the investment of time in a small group can grow Into Big Influencers For God’s Kingdom.

I’m reminded of that old camp song  “Enemy’s Camp”. Click here to hear it! 

In His Precious Time, Angela
Genesis 4:7b – sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you,
but you must rule over it
Proverbs 4:23: Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life

RESOURCES:
Renovate Series Link
(Scroll Down when you get to the page/click on Renovate Workbook
YouTube Link to Sunday Sermons
Pastor Mike’s Podcast

Josh Levi was born on 7 October 1998 in Houston, Texas, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Turning Red (2022)
Voices of 4*Town
4*Town.com

Excerpt from:

Why Turning Red’s Reviews Are So Positive

In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Shi explains the concept of the fictional boy band 4*Town featured in the film. She says it started as a one-liner joke in the original draft of the script before growing into something even bigger, with producer Lindsey Collins describing the goal as creating a new favorite to rival groups like NSYNC and The Backstreet Boys. The band was an amalgamation of everything a tween girl would want from a boy band, to create a situation where attending a concert of theirs would be of “life or death” importance. Check out their quotes below:

Turning Red’s 4*Town Is Even Deeper Than You Realize

Excerpted from: https://www.cbr.com/ – Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell’s musical genius wouldn’t be properly conveyed if the voice actors for the 4*Town members weren’t musically gifted too. Aaron Z., Aaron T., Robaire, Tae Young, and Jesse are voiced by Josh Levi, Topher Ngo, Jordan Fisher, Grayson Villanueva, and Finneas O’Connell himself. https://www.cbr.com/turning-red-4town-little-known-facts/