SHINE 2011
It seems like just yesterday, the only way to communicate entailed sitting down and penning a handwritten letter (which, by the way, I still love to do!). Or we had to pick up the phone and call that "special someone".
Don't get me wrong – I'm thankful that technology continues to develop and that we have several methods to stay in touch with one another. However, it seems that we as a human race are drifting further and further apart. We long for connection and compnaionship – yet we find it hard to stick it out through thick and thin. Pain and pressure from every area of life seem to be crowding out the relationships that we hold so dear.
Thanks be to God, there are simple, yet profound, answers to this dilemma in which we find ourselves. CONNECT + COMMUNITY + CAUSE. Connecting with God, sharing Community with one another, and living for a Cause greater than ourselves are truly what keeps us healthy and united!
That's our focus for SHINE 2011! As we embark on our next SHINE decade together, we hope to create an atmosphere that allows you to CONNECT with God in a more inimate and passionate way! Helping to lead us in this pursuit is my dear friend and world renowned speaker, Wendy Treat, and noted author, Dr. Caroline Leaf. Each brings an explosive understanding as women that will empower us to be the strategic women God has called us to be!
Our connection with God is the catalyst for everything that flows out of our lives. Connecting with Him causes us to recognize our need for each other. Through our loss, I simply would not have survived these last two years without the love of my family and friends – without living in COMMUNITY. I am eternally grateful that God designed us to do life together! Life's journey is richer, sweeter, more vibrant and victorious – when we commune with one another. Community fosters belonging, culitvates strenght and nurtures the soul!
Every year at SHINE, we highlight various CAUSES – both local & global – that give us opportunity to pray, bring hope, healing and solutions to God's kids in need across the street and across the globe. We know that as we stay connecected with God, remain in community with one another, and stand behind His cause; we will make a significant love imprint on our world. Isn't that what it's all about? Living to give our lives away in reckless abandon in order to bring Heaven to this glorious earth!
So, with great anticipation, I invite you to join us in Austin, Texas for SHINE 2011 on October 20-22, 2011. We've been praying for you, and tirelessly preparing for this epic adventure we call SHINE! A time of passionate worship, life-altering message and fabulous treats! Get ready for God to bless your socks off & inspire you to SHINE!
All my love,
Laura!
A special note for Moms!
For the first time at SHINE, registration is now available for our SHINEkidz program hosted by Shoreline Children's Ministry! SHINEkidz is a special ministry program designed for both boys and girls ages birth to fifth grade. So, while you are enjoying the SHINE Conference, your children will be at their very own special event. Each child will have their own experience with our unique sessions designed specifically for each age group.
Click here to visit the Shine Conference website
© 2011 by Pastor Laura Koke. All rights reserved.
 Laura and her husband, Rob, are the Senior Pastors of Shoreline Church in Austin, Texas. For 20 years they have raised up the next generation of leaders and created a life giving church that is making a significant impact locally and globally. Laura is a leading voice and advocate for this generation, as well as an accomplished doctor and author. Laura is an authentic, engaging, and compassionate communicator, whose passion to destroy injustice is helping to rescue countless lives and is bringing hope to many. She will inspire you to receive the beautiful love and grace of God that will equip and compel you to share it with everyone around you.
Restore Us To You, O LORD
"Restore us to You, O LORD, that we may be restored; renew our days as of old"
Lamentations 5:21
Renewal is a funny thing. In our Christian walk, many times we can find ourselves dry and weary, looking for significance, meaning or joy, seemingly running on auto pilot. The problem with auto pilot is it robs us of our ability to truly enjoy life, while simultaneously experiencing all God has for us in our relationship with him and his people. Auto pilot opens the door to all sorts of personal upheaval including discouragement, unbelief, or eventually perhaps just plain sin. I have to think the Lord saw that temptation and created a concept for each and every one of us to experience and enjoy: it's the concept of renewal.
David knew it when he penned one of his most quintessential Psalms:
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Psalm 51:10
Make no mistake about it; our God is a God of renewal. He also said in Isaiah 40:31 that He can and will "renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." He's a specialist in renewal. From our marriages to our health, to other significant relationships, to our courage and hope, He is forever a "Renewer" of what both he and we hold dear.
A note to those who are in a situation where perhaps renewal is not possible; From loss to divorce to a litany of other situations, sometimes renewal is not possible, safe or even healthy. But alas, renewal is still possible in our hearts. Many times our spirit can be damaged by certain unhealthy situations or relationships, yet the Lord seeks to renew a steadfast, or "Right spirit" within us. Perhaps it's through exercising forgiveness or maybe even letting go. But we can rest in the fact that the Lord completely knows us to the core, and He knows what we need better than we do. We can trust Him to renew what needs to be renewed in our lives today.
I pray renewal finds you today. I pray it rises up inside of you today encouraging you to find hope, healing, restoration and courage to find more of His love.
More from Tony Fetchel at Affair Recovery
© 2011 by Tony Fetchel. All rights reserved.
 Tony Fetchel and his wife Jodi currently serve as the young adult Pastors at Shoreline. After spending over 10 years in the ministry as a pastor, Tony and Jodi were forced to take a much needed break to preserve their marriage and family. Now, over 6 years later, they have experienced an overwhelming sense of renewal and restoration, paving the way to reenter the ministry at Shoreline Church. Tony and Jodi have three children, Nathan age 11, Macy age 10 and Zachary age 6, who also love to call Shoreline home.
Monthly Devotional
Seeing God In The Mirror?
Are not two small birds sold for a very small piece of money? And yet not one of the birds falls to the earth without your Father knowing it. God knows how many hairs you have on your head. So do not be afraid. You are more important than many small birds.
Matthew 10:29-31 [New Life Version]
Kjerstin Gruys is a 20-something PhD student getting married within the year. While in the middle of pre-wedding preparations, she caught herself becoming so obsessed with her image that she vowed to go ONE FULL YEAR without looking in a mirror. On Day 143 of her project she posted a blog titled "Mirror-less AND Makeup-Free Monday," where for the first time (in spite of being mirror-less for over four months) she planned to go out into the world without makeup. The blog detailed her fears – how she viewed herself without makeup, and how she felt others viewed her. She writes "It will be a very public, and (in my opinion) a fairly important day. So I'm scared. To be honest, leaving the house without any makeup scares me more than my earlier fears of leaving the house with poorly applied makeup!"
A day without mirrors may sound very scary, but nowhere near as scary as a day without God's love. The Bible says that we are very important to God. We were made in His image. Yet when most of us look in the mirror, all we see are inadequacies. Can you imagine God sitting in the mirror, picking Himself apart, wondering about large thighs or flat hair? No? Of course, not! We are each fearfully and wonderfully made! Meaning we can rest assured that the Lord is not worrying about freckles, hair extensions, or other imperfections. He has made each of us for a deeper purpose that He wants us to live passionately. He tells us not to let small things get in the way of that purpose.
Reflection: Are you letting the small things (like what you see in the mirror) interfere with living your purpose? If you lived in a world without mirrors (real or imagined), what more would you be able to do?
Prayer: Thank you Lord for the peace of knowing that you are taking care of the "small things" in my life. Help me to see what you see in me, and guide me as I follow your path towards my purpose. When I feel insecure, wrap me in your loving confidence. You are all that I need. Amen.
Additional Scriptures: Psalm 139:14, Jeremiah 29:11, 1 Peter 3:3-4
More from Alyassia Taylor
Click here to read Shoreline's statement of faith
© 2011 by Alyassia Taylor. All rights reserved.
 Alyassia Taylor (Aly) has been a member of Shoreline for a little more than a year. During that time, she has begun living her Passion and Purpose for helping teen parents and founded the Teen Parent Mentor Network of Austin. Aly is also a recreational blogger, documenting her spiritual journey as a single mom in her blog No Ordinary Lemonade.
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