Is it Any Wonder?

The wonder of Christmas! The eyes of an innocent child as he looks with wonder at the lights on the tree. The voice of the Grandfather who reads the story of Christ's birth to a captive audience who has heard it year after year, yet with wonder each time! The laughter of children catching snowflakes on their tongues and with such wonder as they capture a glimpse of each unique design right before it melts away. The wonder of Mary as she pondered God's word in heart that she would bring forth the Savior of the world!

Is it any wonder? God revealed Himself to us since the beginning of time. He appeared to men of old in the form of fire, in a gentle whisper, as an angel. The Bible is so supernaturally woven together that how could we ever wonder if it is real? God predicted every detail of His great rescue plan in His Word and fulfills each one as His plan continues to unfold.

Any wonder becomes real as one day man experienced the presence of God in the flesh. Can you imagine the wonder that filled the shepherds' hearts as they beheld their King lying in a manger? Oh, the wonder of God's love that He would send His only Son to earth as a baby. That His plan was for His beloved Son to live among humanity with the intent to one day sacrifice Him for the sins of all mankind!

Our wonder turns to reality as we believe in His presence today. He is real! He is here! He is with us! His Holy Spirit indwells those who believe that He died for our sins, was buried, and that He rose again! That is the Gospel of Christ, and it becomes power to everyone who believes! (Romans 1:16)

Is it any wonder that our Sovereign God chose such a marvelous rescue plan?
Is it any wonder that the very God who created us loves us enough to sacrifice His only Son for us?
Is it any wonder that we cannot comprehend God's ways?
Is it any wonder that God wants to have a relationship with His children?
Is it any wonder that God left us a comforter whe He left the earth?
Is it any wonder that He requires such simple faith to believe and be saved?
Is it any wonder that we God is preparing a place for us?
Is it any wonder that He will reign forever as our eternal King?

May the wonder of this Christmas turn to belief as you ponder God's great love for you! May you be blessed anew with His wonder!

Revival is the Hinge on our Heart's Door!

Have you ever tried to open a passageway that doesn't have a door on it? Maybe it's a large boulder rolled in front of a cavelike opening in a mountain. You struggle...you heave...you work to make it happen! It could be a sliding door that just gets jammed up with frequent use...maybe off track a bit...maybe grime and dirt is keeping it from opening freely. It could be a trap door that is hidden in a bookcase...containing valuable things...locked with a secret code.

Our human hearts can have boulders rolled acros their entrances. They can have the dirt of the world keeping them from opening to God's holy touch. They can be jammed up, off track, or even locked with a code that we are unwilling to share with others. We hide things away that we want to protect...our valuables...our silly little idols that we cherish so!

When Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock" (Revelation 3:20) I believe that He stands at a door that has a hinge on it. A door that swings freely to usher His presence into your life. A door that is easy to open from the inside. A door that welcomes the person and love of Jesus, our Savior and Lord!

Revival is the hinge on the door of our hearts! It swings wide to usher the Word of the living God into our hearts, to transform us from the inside out! His Word is fresh and new each day...let the hinge swing freely...let the truth release you from your chains and reignite a passion for Christ that you have never known before.

Let Revival begin in my heart, O God. Let revival begin in Des Moines at Valley Church this month. May the presence of your Holy Spirit rock your Sanctuary!

Sanctuary...A Time to be Released & Reignited!

Sanctuary Revival was like heart surgery. Our Great Physician and Healer began to do repair work by skillfully revealing our diseased hearts. Then He gently took His blade of truth and began to cut away the damaged...the affected areas that were destroying our lives. For some, He took out a heart of stone, and replaced it with a new heart...a heart of flesh that began pumping life back into a dead body...a complete heart transplant!

Praise God for revival and renewal! Praise Him for His gentle mercy and His unending grace! Praise Him for His unfailing love! Praise Him that He brought revival to your heart to make you strong and whole again...so that you could accomplish His purposes and be used to bring Him glory!

"When you came to Christ, you were 'circumcised,' but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision - the cutting away of your sinful nature." Colossians 2:11 NLT

Do you have a thirst to grower deeper in your intimacy with our Savior? His presence will fill you in His Sanctuary as you meet with Him in His Word, through worship and reflection. He will give you the enablement to be released from your chains, and to be reignited for the cause of Christ!

Join us for a short six week summer Bible Study beginning June 15th. We will have a morning and evening group for women of all ages on Tuesdays, as well as a special group for college age women on Wednesday evenings at the home of Cindy and Ashley Quick.

Just $5 for the weekly study guide - please email brendapeitzman@gmail.com to register, or to recieve more information!

Trash the Veil!

A beautiful May afternoon in May...white roses, candles, family and friends gathered together, ready to capture the moment the bride enters the sanctuary to meet her groom. Ushered in with praise and worship...in awe of God's amazing grace! The bride...adorned in sparkling sequins and fully clothed in white...a glistening diamond on her left hand as a token and pledge of her beloved...her head covered by a veil only to be lifted by her groom!

Cleaning up after the glorious celebration, we found the veil wadded in a sack of garbage along with the clutter of the reception and trappings of the day. What a picture of the veil that lies over our hearts, covering our hardened minds, blinding us so that we cannot understand truth! But then...we turn to our groom and He lifts the veil...it is taken away...we can see Him face to face! Only He can lift the veil of sin and guilt...of darkness and evil...of fear and insecurity.

NOW we can see Him and reflect His glory and perfect image! NOW there is freedom and liberty! NOW we are transformed into His likeness, beholding as in a mirror the glorious image of the Lord, with ever increasing glory! NOW, with unveiled faces, we are being changed into His image, the image of the only true and Holy One! We, the bride, the church of Christ, reflecting His glorious image!

"But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." II Corinthians 3:16-18 NIV

NOW we can live unveiled...in freedom...transformed into His image...no longer covered by the veil of sin and guilt. The veil is lifted...it's gone...trash the veil!

Summit Sanctuary...He Came!

God told us that He would come, and He did! Chains were broken, lives were healed, eyes were opened, and Christ was revealed! His presence filled His Sanctuary through the meditation, worship, and praise of the only true God...the maker of the heavens...the Almighty One! Mighty prayer warriors went before us and God was victorious! We were blessed by each woman who shared their story of God's redeeming love and mighty power of restoration! We were blessed as so many teams of women used their God given gifts to serve as the body of Christ to bring glory to Him!

"I have said what I will do and I will do it!" Isaiah 46:11
Why do we ever doubt or question what He says He will do?

"The Lord's voice will roar from Zion (His Sanctuary) and thunder from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth will shake. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a strong fortress for the people of Israel. Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, live in Zion, my holy mountain." Joel 3:16-17a

He shook the foundation of His Sanctuary at Summit...He came down and touched hearts...He did what He said He would do! May this be just the beginning of revival in the hearts of His women!

Have you seen Him?

Reading from the gospels this morning about the resurrection of our Lord captivated me once again about the stunning revelation that Jesus had conquered death's dark tomb. He was alive! Oh, to have been Mary Magdalene and the other Mary as they went to visit the tomb that morning. To approach the tomb in the stillness of the early morning as the morning sun began to dawn, grieving and sad...not understanding why their Savior had left them in this gruesome, agonizing way...weeping, clinging to one onther, and so shattered by their loss.

Then suddenly there was a great earthquake! The fear that must have gripped their whole being! Just three days earlier, the earth shook and rocks split apart as the Savior breathed His last breath. And now again? What could be happening? But then the Lord came down from heaven and appeared to them. His face shone like lightning and His robe was as a brilliant white. The guards who saw Him fainted!

But, Jesus spoke to her...He said "Mary!" Immediately she knew His voice as he called out her name. It was the voice that had offered forgiveness to her soul, the voice that she grew to love, the voice that she would recognize above any other. She didn't faint at His presence, or run away in fear because she knew Him. She fell at His feet...the same feet that were annointed with her oil and washed with her own hair. It seemed like just yesterday...how could this be? She clung to Him and she worshipped Him.

Jesus must have comforted Mary with His reassuring words, "Don't be afraid, dear Mary...go tell others that I am alive!" The women were frightened as they left the tomb, yet as they ran, they kept remembering the words of their Savior, "Do not fear". As Mary's fear was overcome with great joy, she exclaimed to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord!" Yes, she had just seen Jesus!

Soon Jesus appeared to His disciples in Galilee, just as He said He would do. When they saw Him, they too, worshipped Him. Did they fall at His feet in humble adoration? Did they stand in awe and amazement and disbelief that what He had promised had just come true? Did they exalt His name as they praised their risen Savior? Maybe all of these, yet the account recorded for us says, "but some of them doubted!"

Have you seen Jesus...heard Him call out your name...recognized His voice...seen His radiant glory...grasped His feet in worship? Maybe you are still running in fear...maybe you are one of those who is still doubting...maybe you are struggling in disbelief of His presence.

I pray that you have the heart of Mary Magdalene who had met her Savior...who had been forgiven so much, therefore loved Him so much. Mary didn't understand what was happening in her grief and in the fright of the moment, but she knew Him...she loved Him...she trusted Him! She remembered what He had told her would happen...and she had just seen her Jesus again! What joy replaced her fear!

Have you seen Jesus? He is alive and you can trust His promises in your grief, in your doubting moments, in the confusion of your world. Run to Him...worship Him...go tell others of His marvelous grace and His unfailing love!

Deliverance!

Deliverance! What a blessed thought to be delivered from past struggles or guilt, current daily struggles, and even from fear of future struggles! As women we are entangled with past, present and future issues that can bog us down. As I think back over the Beth Moore study of Esther, I am reminded of deliverance – God will move the mountain – He is mighty to save! He has put each one of us here on earth for such a time as this – how are you using this time? What is He calling you to do for His glory?

The prince of the power of the air wants to hold us back from God’s deliverance. Satan uses discouragement, defeat, failure, fear and greed to hold us captive to his deceptive ways. He speaks lies into our minds and threatens to unravel the very core of who we are in Christ – we are saved and redeemed! We have been rescued from everything that this earth wants to weigh us down with, and we are free to serve Him and bring glory to God alone!

As this Easter season begins, ask the Lord to bring about the newness of the presence His Holy Spirit in your life. The blood of Christ’s death has covered your sins and separated them as far as the east is from the west - wiped out and erased them forever – you are a new creation!

Be thankful and joyful in what Christ has set you free from. The stone is rolled away and He’s alive – living through His Spirit in you! Nothing could be more liberating and bring you true satisfaction. The world offers false hopes and dreams, false gods that will crumble and burn up when our Messiah returns for those who have believed and proclaimed Him as Lord. He has come to deliver you and He’s alive!

Luke 15 is another vivid picture of this new life in that of the prodigal son. When the son finally came to his senses and returned home, filled with love and compassion the father ran out to meet him and embraced him and kissed him! What a picture of God's pursuing and welcoming love for us when we wander or even scatter from His presence. Then his father said, 'Quick! Bring the finest robe and put a ring on his finger...we must celebrate! For this son of mine who was dead has now returned to life. He was lost, but now hs is found. Let the party begin!'

Are you celebrating God's redemptive love for you this season? His love for you is beyond comprehension, and He has showered you with everything that is His! Let the party begin...celebrate who you are through His righteousness!

"You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross." Colossians 2:13, 14 NLT

Chains...what are yours?

Do you ever feel like you are dragging around the chains of the world? Maybe you really don't! Maybe life is so good that you don't feel the chains, or even know that they are there! For most of us, however, the chains are wrapped around us tightly, holding us captive, and choking the very life out of us!

You may be wearing your Beautiful Chains proudly for all to see. Your hard work has paid off, after all...so why not show others how capable you are? Eventually the security you put in your accomplishments and achievements will crumble, and your life will come crashing down around you! Suddenly you realize it's not all about you...suddenly you realize that you can't make it on your own...suddenly you will cling to the only One who can rescue you! "But even if you soar as high as eagles and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you crashing down, says the Lord." Obadiah 1:4 NLT

Paper Chains can be wrapped around you, yet so light that you don't even know they are there! They are kind of fun to have whisping around your neck and shoulders as they blow with every breeze of life. As you go for every whim and wish, you continue to add links that you don't even notice! Greed, self absorption, over indulgence...chains, really? Yes, the trappings and glitter of the world are so fleeting...they are but a vapor! "Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols!" Jeremiah 2:11 NLT

Are you in bondage to relationships in your life? Yokes of Bondage will drain us...put us into captivity...and render us useless! We thrive on relationships, but people pull us, need us, use us, and can eventually choke out our purpose here on earth. We were created to give glory to God...to make HIM known to all people! When we make ourselves vulnerable to activity without listening to God each day, we will find ourselves spinning our wheels and exhausted from trying to please everyone and do everything. God's Word tells us to "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10 NLT

I pray that you will never know the pain and the weight of Heavy Shackles. God allows hardship to come into our lives through His permissive will. Uninvited by you, yet He can turn it around and use it for His glory! His promises are the only thing that will sustain you and carry you in your darkest hour. "Remember your promise to me; it is my only hope. Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles." Psalm 119:49,50 NLT
What is the 'why me' of your life right now? Are you a prisoner to the trials of your life? Do you feel hopeless and alone? Then cry out to God! He knows your deepest pain, and He will come to your rescue. He will give you strength and hope for any problem. Run to His strong tower...His name has power...may it be your shelter in the stormy hours!

God will free you from any oppression. He will rescue you from the captivity of the world. He will snap any and every chain that has it's grip on you!
"Lord, help! They cried in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; He snapped their chains." Psalm 107:13,14 NLT

Scary Stuff!

I don't know about you, but I am a pretty big chicken and can get freaked out pretty easily (my family can testify to that!) Maybe that is why the book of Revelation has been one that I have stayed away from until recently. There is some pretty scary stuff in that book, and even scarier when you see the verse from Nehemiah 9:8b NLT that says "And you have done what you promised, for you are always true to your word."

Those middle chapters of Revelation would scare anyone into believing in God, one would think. But God is not a a God who wants to scare us into a relationship with Himself...He wants to LOVE us into that intimate relationship! He wants to warn us of the Day of Judgement because He has ransomed us from that kind of punishment. He loved us so much that He sent His son as that payment for all of the wrong we have done, would do, and yes, are doing today!
"For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God." Revelation 5:9b NLT

The Spirit of God says, Come! Let anyone who is thirsty, come...let anyone who desires to drink freely from the water of life, come! Here is the promise to ANYONE who will come...
"The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let anyone who hears this say, "Come." Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life." Revelation 22:17 NLT
"To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars - their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur." Revelation 21:6b-8 NLT


What did He tell the people of His churches?
I know all the things you do...Come back to Me...Do the works you did when you first loved me...Hold firmly to what you first heard and believed...Don't be afraid...Hold tightly to what you have...Repent and turn to Me!

Think it's too late? Never...not until you take your last breath here on earth! Think you have to change first? No...just come, and He will change you from the inside out! Your heart will be renewed as He takes up residence inside of you through His Holy Spirit.
"I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me." Revelation 3:8 NLT

Just come...He is waiting for you to invite Him in!
"Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne." Revelation 3:20,21 NLT

Scary? You bet it is if you read about what is going to happen to those who do not believe His Word and act upon its truth! But no, so comforting to know that He is just waiting for you to open the door of your heart!

"And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new! Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true." Rev. 21:5 NLT

When did you know you loved him?

Our oldest daughter, Jodi, is getting married in May! Yes, what a blessed time to be celebrating the anticipation of marraige with her. Plans for the big day, bridal showers, and girl talks just made up a whirlwind kind of special week together.

At each of the three bridal showers, there was a time for Jodi to share "her love story". How fun to see the excitement on her face, hear the joy in her voice, and be amused at her sweet answers. I thank God for bringing His gift of a Godly man into her life who will soon become her husband! At each shower, someone asked her the question...when did you know that you loved Regi? As she told the story of her love for him, she was radiant with obvious passion for her groom. She knew exactly when that defining moment of true love began. The turning point that defined or changed their relationship from friendly to fun...from casual to serious...from passive to passionate.

As I pondered this question following Jodi's story, I thought of my relationship with Christ, and a defining moment in my love for Him. "When did I know that I really loved Him?" There WAS a defining moment. A time when I was overwhelmed with the love and the grace of God. A time when I saw the holiness of God. A time when I was ruined by the conviction of my sins. A time when He alone became my sufficiency. A time when I saw the King, the Lord of Heaven's Armies! That is when I knew that I loved Him!

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven's Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory...Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven." Isaiah 6:3,7b NLT

Jesus knew of that kind of love from a sinful woman. A woman whom the Pharisees labeled unfit to even come near Jesus, much less touch him! There was a defining moment when she kneeled in humility at her Savior's feet. When she washed His feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. When she kissed His feet and annointed them with her expensive perfume. How disgusted it must have made the Pharisees to see this!

Yet, Jesus turned to Simon and said, "I tell you, her sins - and they are many - have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love. Then Jesus said to the woman, 'Your sins are forgiven." Luke 7:47,48 NLT

When did you know that you loved Him? There must be a defining moment of knowing that you love Him...the Almighty God of the universe...that same God as your Savior and your Lord, Jesus Christ! Jesus, who saw your sins, but loved you in spite of them and covered them with His righteousness! Jesus, who has forgiven you much! Then in complete humility and in a defining moment of your love for Him...throwing yourself at His feet...I just wanna be that woman!

Sanctuary at Summit Church in Florida!

The team at Summit Church in Ft Myers and Naples, Florida are so excited to see God touch the hearts of women at "SANCTUARY" on April 9 & 10, 2010! As you come together for a time of worship to the Almighty God, and listen to stories of women who are transparent and "real"...you will be blessed and inspired. Drama, worship, and God's Word will impact you in a fresh and revitalizing way! A dynamic team of prayer warriors is already praying FOR YOU! God is already at work in our hearts, and we believe He is preparing the hearts of His women who will be in His Sanctuary. You will laugh, cry, reflect, and wonder at the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. "SANCTUARY" is an experience that will be different than other retreats that you have been to. His Spirit will be present...He has promised that, and we believe it! May you come...expect to be renewed by the power of Holy Spirit of God!

"...But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." First Corinthians 6:11 NLT

To register online, copy and paste the link below:
http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e2rsqj002f2bdcd0

Looking forward to meeting you in sunny Florida!

God is Awesome in His Sanctuary!

"The Lord gives the word, and a great army bings the good news...God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people." Psalm 68:11,35 NLT

He gives the word...at His command...at the blast of His breath! Chains can be broken...lives can be set free! Are you listening? Have you stood in His presence recently? Have you caught even a glimpse of His holiness?

God invites you in...to experience His holiness...to be in awe of our Almighty God! Do you need power or strength to make it through the day? Then trust in His promises...know that He delights in you!

"He led me to a place of safety; He rescued me because He delights in me." Psalm 18:19 NLT

Need some R & R?

Sanctuary is a place to rest and relax...to laugh...to listen to women share their hearts...and most importantly, to let God reveal Himself to you. God wants to hold your heart again and to breathe new life into you!

God's promises to you are so amazing, and His Word is the only place to seek true refuge, restoration, and reassurance. God has created you for a very special purpose and He has given you very unique gifts and abilities, but He desires that you bring Him glory...that you live for the cause of Jesus Christ alone! He will use your abilities to accomplish His work here on earth, and He will use you to draw others close to Himself through his unfailing love.

It is such an exciting journey with our Lord as you begin to know Him intimately and surrender yourself to Him. God is looking down from His heavenly sanctuary to hear the groans of those in captivity...those imprisoned by this life. He wants to release you from anything that has its grip on you. He will listen to your deepest cries and He will never reject you!

May this Sanctuary be a time to return to your first love, Jesus Christ, and to rejoice as a new creation through His righteousness. May it be a time to listen to God...to wait on Him...to seek His face! God is calling His people back and He will give them a firm place in His holy Sanctuary - relief from their bondage. He has not deserted or abandoned you, dear friend. Know that He has brought you to this place today...to give you a place to revive and renew!