An Open Heaven

In 2008, Graham Cooke prophesied a word over the ministry of Aglow, saying, "A window has opened over this movement...You have an open heaven. This is your inheritance."

What is an open heaven? What do we do with an open heaven if we have one? And how do we keep the heavens open? Come hear our February speaker, Pastor Vannie Harrell.

Outreach Meeting at a Glance

Wednesday, February 2nd at 9:00AM

James River Conference Center, 400 Court Street, Lynchburg
 (click here for directions)
Cost is $10 and includes breakfast
RSVP by Monday, January 31 to Molly Lambert (434) 324-8494, Sharon Proffitt (434) 239-6825 or by email to lyhdayaglow at gmail dot com.

Outreach Meeting Details
Pastor Vannie Harrell ministers alongside her husband as Administrator at Church Alive International in Roanoke. As a prophetic teacher, Vannie will share how God is focused on the open heavens in her ministry and what that might mean for our Lighthouse, and for the Church at large.

Vannie has been actively involved in ministry most of her life, and began preaching at age 14. She represents the third generation of Spirit-filled ministers in her family.

Our Worship

Creative Commons photo on Flickr by Flynn Wynn

By Molly Lambert

Song of Solomon speaks of love and relationship: seeking out the one you long to be with. Picture Jesus romancing his Bride. He longs for us to spend time alone with Him, listening at His gates, learning of His ways and thoughts.

Our worship comes from our relationship with the One who loves unconditionally. No boxes, only freedom to be who He created us to be. Are we searching daily in His Word to behold Him?

Do we wait at the gates of the morning light, just to be with Him? Before the world awakes and all the hustle and bustle begin? Do we worship in the quiet of the moment spent with Him? Do our hearts burn within as we see his face and know Him more?

Psalm 32:7 speaks of our Lord surrounding us with songs of deliverance and shouts. He is our hiding place. He preserves us from trouble and is ever present with us. Are we hiding in Him? If we are, our hearts will become one with His.

No fears, only praise to our God who loves us so much! Praise should be as easy as breathing. Heart to heart communication. Joy expressed from the overflow of our relationship.

Worship will flow out of that relationship. We know Jesus paid our sin debt in full on the cross, a symbol of love and compassion for mankind.

As we worship, we take our new place before the Lord. He inhabits our praise and worship. We exalt Him to His rightful place of authority.

Satan hates our worship. He lost his place before the throne. Satan whispers to us to try to stop our worship. He keeps us busy and burdened down with the cares of life. He says we are unworthy. He keeps our shortcomings before us.

But Jesus has set us free from all of the Accuser's lies.

So now, we exalt our God because He is the only true Deliverer. We acknowledge Him as our Savior. Worship places Jesus in His rightful place on the throne of our hearts. It takes the focus off of us and our troubles and puts Him first. As we focus on Him, our outlook changes.

What we focus on we will worship. So cast all on Him. Let him carry everything for you. So let us worship like David did, freely, with joy. Give it your all, your whole heart. The Lord said David was a man after His heart. Are we?

Give your heart today.

As we begin a new year, make worship your new lifestyle.

Into All the World

What if going into all the world meant traveling slightly more than an hour from home? Could it be possible to reach the nations for Christ by ministering to international students? Josh Fairchild, a Campus Minister at UVA will tell us how he's doing exactly that!

At a Glance
Wednesday, January 5th at 9:00AM
James River Conference Center, 400 Court Street, Lynchburg
(Need directions?)
Cost is $10 and includes breakfast
RSVP by Monday, January 3 to Molly Lambert (434) 324-8494, Shirley Burkholder (434) 385-8037, or by email to Lyhdayaglow at gmail dot com.

Outreach Meeting Details
Our speaker for January is Josh Fairchild. Josh is on staff with Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship on the campus of the University of Virginia. He'll share how God is working in the lives of international students and in his own life.

Josh's focus is on building relationships with international students, thus earning the right to share the love of Jesus. A native of Lynchburg, Josh spends his days at social gatherings, outreach events and ministry administration but admits his most significant work is accomplished in one-on-one discipleship.

What might God say to you about going into all the world?

The Sound of Christmas

Photo on  Flickr by laRuth

What sounds come to mind when you think of Christmas? Sleigh bells, Christmas carols or the Salvation Army ringers?
 
As Christ followers, we are part of the Sound of Christmas. As we worship, we bring His sound to those around us: family and friends, neighbors and to the nations!

Outreach Meeting at a Glance
Monday, December 13th at 6:30PM
Bentley Commons, 1604 Graves Mill Road, Lynchburg
Cost is $11 and includes dinner
RSVP by Friday, December 10 to Molly Lambert (434) 324-8494, Shirley Burkholder (434) 385-8037, or by email.

Outreach Meeting Details
Join us for a combined gathering of women and men from Lynchburg Day and Lynchburg Evening Aglow Lighthouses. Led by a combined worship team, we’ll raise the Sound of Worship, in celebration of the birth of Jesus, Dear Desire of Every Nation!

Rindy Reeves and Phyllis Brown will relay the Sounds they’ve heard during Aglow Transformation trips to the Philippines, African and beyond. Sounds of:

• Rejoicing as the lost have been found
• Praise as many have experienced healing
• Worship as captives have been set free

We look forward to what God has in store during this time of unity, fellowship and worship. 

A Blessing Not a Brush Off

By Kelli Knight

This morning, in the midst of my time with Jesus, He brought my daughter to my mind (even though she wasn’t the focus of our conversation). One of the things that drives me craziest is her constant pronouncement of her ailments.

When I pick her up from school, somewhere in the course of “how was your day?” is a visit to the school nurse. On weekends there is always an ache, something-in-her-eye, or at the very least a hang-nail all of which could be cause for a prescription for morphine. If I had a nickel for every Band-Aid or bandage I’ve handed out for one of her many medical concerns, we would be a very wealthy family.

This morning God whispered, “Kelli, when she comes to you with a hurt, what she’s really asking for is a blessing.” I’m sad to admit that when my daughter comes to me; my response is usually “Yeah, yeah, what’s your problem now?” This morning, God showed me how inappropriate that response is to the real request, “Mommy, will you bless me?”

God blesses us again and again no matter what we bring to Him…our brokenness, our need for healing…our type “A” personalities, colds and plans for accomplishments. Even if He gives correction, he never brushes us off. He says, “Come to me… and I’ll give you rest,”(Matthew 11:28). “I delight in the details of your life,” (Psalm 37:23 NLT) and “I love you,” (Isaiah 43:4).

In the end, I’m thinking back to my initial prayer time with God. Okay, so maybe my daughter gets a little bit of the drama queen from me. I am overwhelmingly thankful for my Father’s response to my many needs. Today, I determine to hear my precious daughter’s real heart requests…and bestow a blessing, not a brush off.

Through Lime Colored Glasses

By Sharon Proffitt

I just returned from a trip to St. Louis to see my son and daughter in law, on what was perhaps the best visit yet. I can’t say exactly why it was the best visit. Maybe because Justin didn’t have to work the whole time we were there; maybe because we didn’t have to share our time with other parents; maybe just because we knew that it was the last time we would drive to see our kids. They will move to LA in December. On future trips, we'll have to fly.

If you have grown kids you know that a lot of time is spent on the young - teaching, training, and talking them into seeing your point of view. I don’t say this is right, just that it is. I guess we think we can make them like us, if we think that’s a good thing, or make them different from us, if not. We want them to have more than we did, or have better chances than we did….on and on and on. I’m not sure on a scale of 1-10 how successful a parent I was, depends on who you ask, but I’ve realized parenting grown kids requires a change of perspective. I have to put on some new glasses, if you will.

I have four (counting daughters-in-law) great twenty-something kids. I genuinely like them and they seem to enjoy spending time with their dad and me. They have a wealth of knowledge that I don’t have about a lot of things. I see the way they embrace the new world and seem to already master the technology of today. When you’re very computer-challenged you are easily impressed, I know. I learn what I can from them, or just ask them to do some things for me. They give me advice on TVs, computers, cars, and all kinds of services. I rely on them to make good choices. Most of these aren’t major things, but sometimes they can be.

My older son and his wife are parents of the cutest 2 year old in the world. I watch how they parent and nurture and I’m blown away. I see the person that they are molding and she’s amazing to me. Friends say the same things I think. They say how much they appreciate my son, or how insightful he is. These are words that make a parent proud, but the truth is, it’s not about me. He’s just that way. I think he’s someone I can ask for advice on far more than technology. His wife is the most patient teacher I’ve ever had. I’m grateful for all the things that my sons and daughters have to give, and not just to me, but to the world around them.

There are still a lot of things in our kids’ lives that we’d like to see them do differently. They make choices differently than we would. There are so many things we can see that they can’t at this point, but…I have decided to be thankful for the great stuff, enjoying the good times, and learning as much as I can while I have the time with them. I want to speak encouragement and bless them. I want to see them make their difference on this world. I think they are doing a pretty great job!

A change of perspective is good for all of us. Life certainly looks different when I put on my lime colored glasses.

Identity Crisis

Has an abusive relationship given you a false identity?

Hear how the Father's perfect love brings restoration at the next:

Lynchburg Day Aglow Community Lighthouse
Wednesday, November 3, 9AM
Speaker: Pastor Lewis Tucker, Jr.
James River Conference Center, Lynchburg

Pastor Tucker is the author of "Damaged Goods." In his book, Tucker notes many women have been abused by men, but are still willing to put up with any kind of treatment just to keep a man. God thinks you're more than that! We need God in our lives first.

The meeting begins at 9AM and includes a breakfast buffet for $10. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Molly Lambert at (434) 324-8494 or Shirley Burkholder (434) 385-8037, or by email to: LynchburgDayAglow@gmail.com. Payment is required for any reserved meal, unless cancelled by Tuesday noon.

Aglow International is a ministry to women, offering a safe place for fellowship, restoration and destiny. For more information visit www.Aglow.org.