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1 A P R - J U N T H E A L A B A S T E R N E W S M A T T 2 6 : 7 A W O M A N C A M E T O H I M H A V I N G A N A L A B A S T E R F L A S K O F V E R Y C O S T L Y F R A G R A N T O I L, A N D S H E P O U R E D I T O N H I S H E A D A S H E S A T A T T H E T A B L E. W I L L Y O U S T I L L L O V E M E I F I D O N T P E R F O R M? This year the theme for the Women of Excellence ministry is Extravagant Love. This means that we are asked and encouraged to study, practice and adopt a life style of love. The monthly fellowships will focus on this topic and pretty much most of what the ministry will teach will, in some way, address love. That is love towards God, each other and ourselves not the world! As with anything when we make a commitment to God, He takes it seriously and begins to show us our shortcomings and downfalls and starts the correction process. So was the case with me when I asked Him to teach me about love. I would like to share it with you should you have the same challenges. Table of Content 1-2 Would You Still Love Me. 3 Staying Connected 4 Flyer: In My Sister s Closet 5 Flyer: Women s Advance 6 King Of My Heart - Poem by Janet Cervantes 7 Devotional It is Christ... (Charles Oswald) 8 Everyday With The Bible 9 Fun and Enjoyable Recipes The teaching for me took a deeper dive one day as I was watching my daughter skate in a rink filled with children of different age groups. Most of the parents, like myself, were there to encourage and support their kids to do better, to pay attention and to achieve higher levels, to win competitions and just to do better. Something inside alerted me that perhaps we are raising performers and not wellrounded individuals. We are perhaps safeguarding our kids by training them to always do better and to win. I remembered all the times that I was on my daughter s case for not performing well in this or that area, deep inside fearing that her lack of performance will hurt her in the future. As I was praying later on, asking God for the same old request that had been on the table and wondering if He was even listening, He answered. The reply was, Will you still love me if I don t perform? Would I love and trust God if He never answered my prayers? Would I love Him and consider Him good? Would you? It was hard to accept that while with all my strength I had fought and stood against religiosity, I was actually practicing it unknowingly. In some twisted way my faith was entangled with God s performance in my life. Somehow in the midst of living the 21st century life in the most wonderful country in the world where freedom is its cornerstone, I saw myself and many others caught in the prison of performance -based love and acceptance. While so many of us try so hard to be good we forget the fact that He actually loved us when we were pretty wicked. (Continued =>) Page: 1

2 A P R - J U N T H E A L A B A S T E R N E W S M A T T 2 6 : 7 A W O M A N C A M E T O H I M H A V I N G A N A L A B A S T E R F L A S K O F V E R Y C O S T L Y F R A G R A N T O I L, A N D S H E P O U R E D I T O N H I S H E A D A S H E S A T A T T H E T A B L E. W I L L Y O U S T I L L L O V E M E I F I D O N T P E R F O R M? ( C O N T I N U E D ) Love suffers long and is kind Love does not envy Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up Does not behave rudely Does not seek its own Is not provoked Thinks no evil Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth Bears all things Believes all things Hopes all things Endures all things Love never fails (1 Cor 13:4-8) Let me clarify that working hard to produce correct results and being efficient and productive in our labor is a must, the Bible says Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men.. (Col 3:23 Amp). The danger is when we have our identity tied in the work and when we do it out of fear or self preservation wanting to gain man s approval or to secure our place in the world. I was convicted that while I was looking at life with critical eyes, judging, evaluating and assessing myself and others with a performance-based measurement, I was not ready to give or receive true love. For so many of us who come from a background of abuse, neglect, rejection and heartbreak, it is difficult to accept that bad things didn t happen because we were bad and being good doesn t mean we have to always perform well. The apostle Paul writes, There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Rom 8:1-3). I challenge myself and invite those of you who like to join me to think of love in a different way. First, to believe that it exists and second, to accept that as broken as we may be, we are loved by God and capable of loving each other. Thus allowing God to pour His love into us so we can pass it on to others. The apostle Paul says,...if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God's love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody). (1 Cor 13:2 Amp) Many Blessings, Farinaz Bina Page: 2

3 S T A Y I N G C O N N E C T E D B Y W O M E N S L E A D E R S H I P Practical Living The Annual Fashion Makeover Event!! Sis. Ruby East Sis. Anita Hubbard Save the Date! Witness fashion that is made over through God s Vessels of Honor Sis. Mignon Mozley Sis. Sandra Benson Contact: Anita Hubbard - anita.hubbard@ihg.com Ruby East - ruby.convers@bingham.com on July 16, 2011 * More information to follow * Phone: Ruby East Anita Hubbard The Annual In My Sister s Closet Event!! Koininia Club Sis. Janet Cervantes Date: Apr 30, 2011; 9:00 am 11:00 am (Ch 9 - End) Location: Min Kathryn Simmons House Sis. Tina Womack Date: Every 3rd Saturday at 8:30 am Location: The Well Multi-Purpose Room Contact: Min. Kathryn Simmons Welcome Committee Sis. Jennifer Peterson 7602 Coral Way, Dublin, Ca. Contact: Janet 2believejc@att.net Monthly Fellowship Date: May 21, 2011 Location: The Well Church Multipurpose Room Donations: Last 2 Sundays in April and 1st Sunday in May. Volunteers: Contact Janet Cervantes for volunteer much needed opportunities *** See Flyer next page for details *** Book Social - Extended Schedule Book: Me and My Big Mouth, Joyce Meyer We will finish Joyce Meyer's book "Me and My Big Mouth". Those who haven't read the book please come join us anyway! Our next book is The Shelter of the Most High by Francis Frangipane. We will read and review chapters 1-4 on June 25th All are welcome and we would love to see you! Don't miss this wonderful opportunity for a time of fellowship and blessing. Are you wanting to spend more time getting to know other women of God, but feel like you are always passing each other by in between services? Come join us for a special time of fellowship with your sisters in Christ while enjoying a continental breakfast, a powerful time of worship and the life-changing Word of the Lord. You will truly be blessed by the move of the Holy Spirit as He ministers through our worship and the Word. We hope to see you there! The Welcome Committee is responsible for contacting all new women members and welcoming them to the Well family and the Women of Excellence ministry. This will also be an opportunity for us to find out how we can serve you better and meet your needs. The Welcome Committee will be your starting point to get connected and stay connected. Page: 3

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5 2011 Women's Advance Extravagant Love Poured Out A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35 Date: Friday, October 14 16, 2011 Location: San Jose Double Tree Hotel 2050 Gateway Place Cost: San Jose, CA Registration Fees: Single Occupancy - $300 Double Occupancy - $200 Triple Occupancy - $180 Quadruple Occupancy - $160 ** Includes conference, hotel accommodations & meals. Discounted Parking available. CARPOOLING RECOMMENDED. Online Registration Begins June 1, 2011 Registration fees will be paid online using credit, debit or gift cards in a single payment. START SAVING TODAY!! Contact Shurvone Wright, Advance Coordinator, with any questions by at womens.advance@live.com Page: 5

6 K I N G O F M Y H E A R T P OEM BY JANET CERVANTES The Light of the world came to me Said if I believed He would set me free I gave Him my all, just as I am He became King of my heart in His glorious plan You ve given me ears to hear and eyes to see Just how wonderful You are to me Nothing compares to Your great majesty Savior of the world and a Friend to me You are Son of God, Son of Man Beautiful Redeemer, the great I Am Lover of my soul, Lifter of my head King of my heart, my Daily Bread How can I tell You how precious You are How can I sing about the beauty You bring No words can describe the love I feel inside Bless You, my Lord, for giving me Your life You ve given me ears to hear, eyes to see Just how wonderful You are to me Nothing compares to Your great majesty Savior of the world and a Friend to me Page: 6

7 ... I T I S C H R I S T... W H O A L S O M A K E S I N T E R S E S S I O N F O R U S T H E S P I R I T M A K E S I N T E R S E S S I O N F O R T H E S A I N T S... R O M A N S 8 : 3 4, 2 7 BY OSWALD CHAMBERS - M Y UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST APR 1ST. Do we need any more arguments than these to become intercessors-that Christ always lives to make intercession (Hebrews 7:25), and that the Holy Spirit makes intercession for the saints? Are we living in such a relationship with others that we do the work of intercession as a result of being the children of God who are taught by His Spirit? We should take a look at our current circumstances. Do crises which affect us or others in our home, business, country, or elsewhere, seem to be crushing in on us? Are we being pushed out of the presence of God and left with no time for worship? If so, we must put a stop to such distractions and get into such a living relationship with God that our relationship with others is maintained through the work of intercession, where God works His miracles. Beware of getting ahead of God by your very desire to do His will. We run ahead of Him in a thousand and one activities, becoming so burdened with people and problems that we don t worship God, and we fail to intercede. If a burden and its resulting pressure come upon us while we are not in an attitude of worship, it will only produce a hardness toward God and despair in our own souls. God continually introduces us to people in whom we have no interest, and unless we are worshiping God the natural tendency is to be heartless toward them. We give them a quick verse of Scripture, like jabbing them with a spear, or leave them with a hurried, uncaring word of counsel before we go. A heartless Christian must be a terrible grief to our Lord. Are our lives in the proper place so that we may participate in the intercession of our Lord and the Holy Spirit? Page: 7

8 E V E R Y D A Y W I T H T H E W O R D 1 C O R I N T H I A N 1 3 ( A M P ) 1 IF I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such [a] as is inspired by God's love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers ( [b] the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God's love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody). 3 Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or [c] in order that I may glory, but have not love (God's love in me), I gain nothing. 4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. 5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. 7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. 9 For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect). 10 But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded). 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside. 12 For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as [e] in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand [f] fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been [g] fully and clearly known and understood [ [h] by God]. 13 And so faith, hope, love abide [faith--conviction and belief respecting man's relation to God and divine things; hope--joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love--true affection for God and man, growing out of God's love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love 8 Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy ( [d] the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].. Page: 8

9 F U N A N D E N J O Y A B L E R E C I P E Bon Appetite! Slow Cooker Squash Stew A recipe by Food Network Kitchen Cook Time: 10 Min (8 hr cooking) Yield: 4 Servings Raisin Pecan Oatmeal Cookies A recipe by Ina Garten Cook Time: 25 min Yield: Servings Ingredients: 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 medium onion, thinly sliced 2 cloves garlic, sliced 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 1/2 cups dried chickpeas, rinsed 1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into large pieces 1 bunch Swiss chard, leaves and stems separated and roughly chopped 1 piece parmesan cheese rind, plus grated parmesan for topping (optional) Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper Crusty bread and/or lemon wedges, for serving Directions: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft and golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and red pepper flakes and cook 1 minute. Stir in 1/2 cup water, scraping up any browned bits. Transfer the contents of the skillet to a 6-quart slow cooker. Add the chickpeas, squash, chard stems (not the leaves), the parmesan rind, if using, 2 teaspoons salt and 7 cups water to the slow cooker. Stir, then cover and cook on low, 8 hours. Just before serving, lift the lid and stir in the chard leaves; cover and continue cooking 10 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and stir to slightly break up the squash. Discard the Parmesan rind, if used. Ladle the stew into bowls; top with the grated parmesan, if desired, and serve with bread and/or lemon wedges Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups pecans 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup dark brown sugar, lightly packed 1 cup granulated sugar 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon kosher salt 3 cups old-fashioned oatmeal 1 1/2 cups raisins Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the pecans on a sheet pan and bake for 5 minutes, until crisp. Set aside to cool. Chop very coarsely. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. With the mixer on low, add the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla. Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt together into a medium bowl. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Add the oats, raisins, and pecans and mix just until combined. Using a small ice-cream scoop or a tablespoon, drop 2-inch mounds of dough onto sheet pans lined with parchment paper. Flatten slightly with a damp hand. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned. Transfer the cookies to a baking rack and cool completely. Page: 9