Quarterly Events

1. Small Groups

Small Groups are starting back up in just a few weeks! If you are interested in leading a Small Group please submit your group at BLV.LIFE by January 26th! And for anyone interested in leading a Small Group for the first time can join us for Small Group Leadership Training February 9th and 16th at 12:30pm!

2. Lovely Lady Tea Party

Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 22, 2025, and join us for an afternoon filled with tea, treats, and delightful fellowship! Bring along your favorite teacup and teapot (if you have one) to make the experience extra special. We also invite you to contribute by bringing a plate of finger foods to share. Let’s celebrate friendship, laughter, and the joy of gathering together over tea.

Word Of Encouragement

Women Of God

One day, as I prepared to attend a prayer meeting that evening, the story of the woman with the alabaster box came to my mind. That night at the prayer meeting, I felt as though I was pressing my way to touch the hem of His garment. As I continued to pray, it seemed as if I had made it all the way to His feet. Now, as I type this, other women from the Bible come to my mind, particularly how desperate they were for a touch from Jesus.

In this letter, I want to talk about two of these women: the woman with the alabaster box and the woman with the issue of blood. There are many stories in the Bible about women, but these two resonate with me deeply.

In Matthew 26, a woman came to Jesus with an alabaster box filled with precious oil and poured it over Him. This occurred before He was betrayed and crucified. The disciples and others present questioned why Jesus did not rebuke her, arguing that the oil could have been sold to benefit others. Instead, Jesus said, "She has done a beautiful thing for me."

Alabaster is a rare, precious stone, similar to white marble, and the ointment inside the box was spikenard, an extremely valuable and expensive substance. Her actions were an act of worship unto the Lord. She did not care what others thought of her.

In Luke 8:43-48, there is the story of a woman with an issue of blood. She had been ill for twelve long years. Throughout her suffering, she sought help from the medical professionals of her time, but none could heal her. During her time of loneliness and struggle, she heard about Jesus and sought Him out. When she found Him, He was surrounded by a crowd pressing in around Him. In her desire to be made whole, she pushed through the crowd, even though she was considered unclean by the standards of that time. She reached out and touched the hem of His robe, believing that if she could just touch it, she would be healed.

As soon as she touched His garment, Jesus stopped and asked, "Who touched me?" His disciples, astonished, said, "There are many people pressing around You. How can You ask who touched You?" But Jesus replied, "No, someone touched me. I felt power flow from me." Knowing she could not hide, the woman stepped forward, fell to her knees, and explained why she had reached out, saying, "It was me. I needed a miracle, and I knew You could heal me." The Lord looked at her and said, "Daughter, your faith has made you whole. Go in peace."

Like these two women, we need to press our way to Jesus. He desires for us to sit at His feet. We must go all the way to His throne room. There is something profound about touching the hem of His garment. We must press our way to Him, no matter what.

When we enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise, when we make our way to His throne room, there is peace, and we can hear His heartbeat. The more we seek Him, the more we will come to know Him.

God desires more than just lip service. He wants us to experience the deep, transformative move of His Spirit. When we press our way into His presence and find that secret place with Him, He will wrap us in His arms.

Take me to that place, Lord, to that secret place where I can be with You. Make me like You and wrap me in Your arms.

When we start seeking God as these two women did and bring Him the praise He desires, when we reach out to touch the hem of His garment, He will meet us there, and we can sit at His feet. We need those moments alone with God, lost in His presence. Simply being close to Him should be our greatest desire.

We must set time aside. We make time for everything else in our lives; why not for Him? Yes, I am speaking to myself too. We need to be lost in His presence and have deep prayer times with Him—not merely bringing a laundry list of requests but offering praises and being so consumed by the Spirit.

Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise, the Spirit also helps our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Move me with Your message once again, Lord. It has been so long since I have been broken within. Take me back to Calvary, where Your message can move me once more.

Women of God, let’s be so lost in His presence.