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Saturday, July 9, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Faithful, Abundant, True: Three Lives Going Deeper Still - Join Beth Moore, Kay Arthur, and Priscilla Shirer
Ladies Bible Study - Faithful, Abundant and True
Date: Thursday, April 14th, 2011
Time: 06:30 PM - 08:20 PM
Location: Avenue Worship Center
Faithful, Abundant, True: Three Lives Going Deeper Still - Leader Kit. Join Beth Moore, Kay Arthur, and Priscilla Shirer in a women's Bible study recorded live at the Orlando Deeper Still conference.
* Kay Arthur teaches from basically, the entire book of Hebrews! Hebrews is both an example of God's faithfulness and a challenge to believers to be faithful in difficult times.
* Priscilla Shirer teaches from Ephesians 3:20-21 on God's abundance. A fundamental basis for every believer is the absolute reality that God can do whatever He chooses to do. God's ability empowers our faithfulness.
* Beth Moore teaches on the topic of discernment. In these difficult days it is absolutely essential that we learn to trust the Holy Spirit to enable us to determine what is true and what is false.
While these three women each speak on the distinctive topic the Holy Spirit had lead them to teach, the messages result in a marvelous blend. Kay challenges us to faithfulness in difficult days. Priscilla points to the essential of trust in God's ability, and Beth teaches on how to discern truth from error in these difficult days.
The Member Books are $15.00 Each. Faith Abundant True is a versatile study guide for this Women's Bible study that is a seven-session study. Each teacher provides two weeks of study in a brief format that will take most women 15 to 30 minutes daily. As a bonus, Faithful, Abundant, and True Member Book includes a partnership with HomeLife Magazine in which each of the three speakers' section also includes an article from HomeLife that illustrates faithfulness, abundance, and truth.
Click below to view PROMO VIDEO
http://lifeway.promos.s3.amazonaws.com/Faithful_Abundant_True_Promo_QuicktimeH264.mov
Please arrive early in order to receive your book get snacks, and mingle. This will help things not to get congested and will help us serve you better. We are really looking forward to this new series! We thank you ahead of time for your cooperation and participation. Expect great things!!!!
Thurs Nites are phenomenal, with the some of the most precious women on earth! You will encounter...
Dynamic Worship
In-depth Relevant Teaching
Genuine friendship
And most Important You will Encounter GOD!!
Reminder,CHILDCARE IS AVAILABLE!!!
Going Deeper Still
Terrell
Date: Thursday, April 14th, 2011
Time: 06:30 PM - 08:20 PM
Location: Avenue Worship Center
Faithful, Abundant, True: Three Lives Going Deeper Still - Leader Kit. Join Beth Moore, Kay Arthur, and Priscilla Shirer in a women's Bible study recorded live at the Orlando Deeper Still conference.
* Kay Arthur teaches from basically, the entire book of Hebrews! Hebrews is both an example of God's faithfulness and a challenge to believers to be faithful in difficult times.
* Priscilla Shirer teaches from Ephesians 3:20-21 on God's abundance. A fundamental basis for every believer is the absolute reality that God can do whatever He chooses to do. God's ability empowers our faithfulness.
* Beth Moore teaches on the topic of discernment. In these difficult days it is absolutely essential that we learn to trust the Holy Spirit to enable us to determine what is true and what is false.
While these three women each speak on the distinctive topic the Holy Spirit had lead them to teach, the messages result in a marvelous blend. Kay challenges us to faithfulness in difficult days. Priscilla points to the essential of trust in God's ability, and Beth teaches on how to discern truth from error in these difficult days.
The Member Books are $15.00 Each. Faith Abundant True is a versatile study guide for this Women's Bible study that is a seven-session study. Each teacher provides two weeks of study in a brief format that will take most women 15 to 30 minutes daily. As a bonus, Faithful, Abundant, and True Member Book includes a partnership with HomeLife Magazine in which each of the three speakers' section also includes an article from HomeLife that illustrates faithfulness, abundance, and truth.
Click below to view PROMO VIDEO
http://lifeway.promos.s3.amazonaws.com/Faithful_Abundant_True_Promo_QuicktimeH264.mov
Please arrive early in order to receive your book get snacks, and mingle. This will help things not to get congested and will help us serve you better. We are really looking forward to this new series! We thank you ahead of time for your cooperation and participation. Expect great things!!!!
Thurs Nites are phenomenal, with the some of the most precious women on earth! You will encounter...
Dynamic Worship
In-depth Relevant Teaching
Genuine friendship
And most Important You will Encounter GOD!!
Reminder,CHILDCARE IS AVAILABLE!!!
Going Deeper Still
Terrell
Saturday, February 26, 2011
An Unconditional Promise
Have you ever heard the expression,"Too good to be true"? I am sure that you have and I must tell you that I only know of one thing that is too good to be true BUT IS TRUE, and that is God's precious unconditional love for each one of us. And He longs for an intimate relationship with each one of us as well.
The children of Israel did not even realize how anxious God was to be with them and know them personally. It was not by chance that God led them to the "Mountain of God." At Mount Sinai God met His people with open arms and revealed Himself miraculously. During this study I have thought to myself 'how I long for a miraculous revealing of God in my own life', and it is more evident now than it has ever been before that SO DOES GOD! He wants to reveal Himself miraculously in each of our lives. To think about how God delivered the Israelites from the hands of their enemies, set them out on a journey to reach the wonderful place He promised for them, and then brought them into that place amazes me. It gets me so excited to think about what He has for each one of us! Take some time right now to thank God for what He has delivered you from. I know that in my life, I am so thankful to be delivered from a past in which I did not value myself or others, and I constantly felt as though I was not good enough. I am so thankful to have learned since then that God has already done everything for me through His Unconditional Promise, or the New Covenant.
As I was running through the gym the other day, a song came on my i-pod called "Come to Me." The lyrics are directly taken from Matthew 11:28-29. "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, you will find rest for your soul. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." This has been on my heart since this day a few weeks ago. This scripture reminds me that I do not have to do anything to receive the Unconditional Promise from our sweet God. Thanks to Jesus and everything He did for us on the cross, and what He continues to do for us each and every day.
In Hebrews 8:8-13 we are reminded of that New Covenant. God says that this new covenant is not the same as the old covenant that He made with the fathers of Israel, but the new covenant would be different. He tells us (vs. 10) that He will put His laws on our minds and write them on our hearts, "and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." Praise God! That gives me geese bumps! He calls each one of us His own! But it gets even better! God goes on to say that He will be merciful to our unrighteousness and He will FORGET all of our sins! The next part is what turned my world upside down... (vs. 13) "In that He says, 'A new covenant,' He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is READY TO VANISH AWAY."
Do you know what this means?!?!?!?!? This means that anything from our past, anything that is keeping us from our own land of milk and honey, anything that is keeping us from living a life of abundance is READY TO VANISH AWAY! And that means that we need to let it! If there is anything, anything, anything that is keeping you from living life to the fullest in Christ Jesus our Lord make the choice today to live under the New Covenant and let it vanish away! God's Word tells us in Hebrews 9:13-15, "For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh (old covenant), how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works (our past, present and future troubles) to serve the living God (our land of milk and honey)? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called (all of us) may receive the eternal inheritance."
My sisters, I encourage you to bask in the glory of what God has promised us. This promise to us is unconditional, and it seems to be too good to be true, BUT IS SO TRUE! Praise His name in all that you do this day. He loves you so much and longs for a closeness with you. Let's give that to Him.
Nancy Gammon
The children of Israel did not even realize how anxious God was to be with them and know them personally. It was not by chance that God led them to the "Mountain of God." At Mount Sinai God met His people with open arms and revealed Himself miraculously. During this study I have thought to myself 'how I long for a miraculous revealing of God in my own life', and it is more evident now than it has ever been before that SO DOES GOD! He wants to reveal Himself miraculously in each of our lives. To think about how God delivered the Israelites from the hands of their enemies, set them out on a journey to reach the wonderful place He promised for them, and then brought them into that place amazes me. It gets me so excited to think about what He has for each one of us! Take some time right now to thank God for what He has delivered you from. I know that in my life, I am so thankful to be delivered from a past in which I did not value myself or others, and I constantly felt as though I was not good enough. I am so thankful to have learned since then that God has already done everything for me through His Unconditional Promise, or the New Covenant.
As I was running through the gym the other day, a song came on my i-pod called "Come to Me." The lyrics are directly taken from Matthew 11:28-29. "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, you will find rest for your soul. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." This has been on my heart since this day a few weeks ago. This scripture reminds me that I do not have to do anything to receive the Unconditional Promise from our sweet God. Thanks to Jesus and everything He did for us on the cross, and what He continues to do for us each and every day.
In Hebrews 8:8-13 we are reminded of that New Covenant. God says that this new covenant is not the same as the old covenant that He made with the fathers of Israel, but the new covenant would be different. He tells us (vs. 10) that He will put His laws on our minds and write them on our hearts, "and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." Praise God! That gives me geese bumps! He calls each one of us His own! But it gets even better! God goes on to say that He will be merciful to our unrighteousness and He will FORGET all of our sins! The next part is what turned my world upside down... (vs. 13) "In that He says, 'A new covenant,' He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is READY TO VANISH AWAY."
Do you know what this means?!?!?!?!? This means that anything from our past, anything that is keeping us from our own land of milk and honey, anything that is keeping us from living a life of abundance is READY TO VANISH AWAY! And that means that we need to let it! If there is anything, anything, anything that is keeping you from living life to the fullest in Christ Jesus our Lord make the choice today to live under the New Covenant and let it vanish away! God's Word tells us in Hebrews 9:13-15, "For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh (old covenant), how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works (our past, present and future troubles) to serve the living God (our land of milk and honey)? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called (all of us) may receive the eternal inheritance."
My sisters, I encourage you to bask in the glory of what God has promised us. This promise to us is unconditional, and it seems to be too good to be true, BUT IS SO TRUE! Praise His name in all that you do this day. He loves you so much and longs for a closeness with you. Let's give that to Him.
Nancy Gammon
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Movement
This past weekend services Pastor Dan spoke about movement, that “movement should equal growth”. This brought a question: Did the children of Israel think of the movement they were going through as growth? From all the whining and complaining they did, I’d think not! Why couldn’t the children of Israel see this movement as growth? Was this fish and melon that good? How sweet was it really?
What makes us want to go backwards? Why can’t we just trust God’s leading? He gave the people a clear marker that he was there at all times, we may not have a clear marker that shadows our head, but we have something even better, the Holy Spirit who talks to us on a consistent basis, who guides us, if only we listen. We must choose to cooperate with what we hear, just as the Israelites had to choose to cooperate with their journey.
I’ve been on my own since age 11. Movement to me was change, and change meant growth. Growth WAS going to happen, because I never was going to be complacent in the stage of life I was at. I was going to make things change. As my life situations, places, and even the people in it has changed; I’ve grown into my own Canaan. Looking back, I remember several wilderness periods I’ve gone through. I learned to lean on God in a more intimate way. In the past, while in these wilderness periods; I told God, “I got this!” When the hard things came, “I only need you to help with his particular portion!” When it got really difficult I said, “You can have it, I need you to fix it, I’m done.” But this isn’t good, God wants us to give him ALL of it, EVERYTHING. Why is this so hard? Why can’t we give up the control and let him have it?
My life-changing plan (New Years Resolution) for 2010 was “Total Surrender”. I will tell you, God showed me so many things that I had a tight grip on it was frightening: my children, job, and finances, even my willingness to be healed in areas of my life. Even though I was cooperative, it didn’t feel good to go through that period. At one point I got extremely mad at God. I was mad at myself and then mad at God some more. I had to get over being mad at God and myself so I could move, so I could grow into the person he has called me to be. I wonder if this was the thought pattern of those two that made it into Canaan. Did they say, “This may be hard, but I have an end desire?”
Now, I am comfortable in his leading, I am in complete trust, there has not been a need that has gone unmet. There has not been a situation that has not had the hand of God written all over it. He has orchestrated events and situations that clearly have shown me the “cloud pillar” that’s over my head. I will still say I am not complacent because I believe if I become complacent then I have an opportunity to complain about what I should be doing or where I should be going. I just am now growing with God instead of on my own – God is fighting for me, I am not alone.
My friends; “Let Go and Let God”, He can do it far better than we can; and when he does he loves to show off, let him. Pastor Dan says “Favor Ain’t fair”. He loves to show us that he loves us and truly wants to take care of us. James 4:8 states, “Draw near to God and God will draw dear to you.” Yes, my friends, you have to take the first step. Draw near to him in your time of wilderness so that when you are not in your wilderness you can lean on him then as well. You can then, my friend, have the abundant life God said you are entitled to, just as the Israelites.
~Love and Blessings, Jennifer
What makes us want to go backwards? Why can’t we just trust God’s leading? He gave the people a clear marker that he was there at all times, we may not have a clear marker that shadows our head, but we have something even better, the Holy Spirit who talks to us on a consistent basis, who guides us, if only we listen. We must choose to cooperate with what we hear, just as the Israelites had to choose to cooperate with their journey.
I’ve been on my own since age 11. Movement to me was change, and change meant growth. Growth WAS going to happen, because I never was going to be complacent in the stage of life I was at. I was going to make things change. As my life situations, places, and even the people in it has changed; I’ve grown into my own Canaan. Looking back, I remember several wilderness periods I’ve gone through. I learned to lean on God in a more intimate way. In the past, while in these wilderness periods; I told God, “I got this!” When the hard things came, “I only need you to help with his particular portion!” When it got really difficult I said, “You can have it, I need you to fix it, I’m done.” But this isn’t good, God wants us to give him ALL of it, EVERYTHING. Why is this so hard? Why can’t we give up the control and let him have it?
My life-changing plan (New Years Resolution) for 2010 was “Total Surrender”. I will tell you, God showed me so many things that I had a tight grip on it was frightening: my children, job, and finances, even my willingness to be healed in areas of my life. Even though I was cooperative, it didn’t feel good to go through that period. At one point I got extremely mad at God. I was mad at myself and then mad at God some more. I had to get over being mad at God and myself so I could move, so I could grow into the person he has called me to be. I wonder if this was the thought pattern of those two that made it into Canaan. Did they say, “This may be hard, but I have an end desire?”
Now, I am comfortable in his leading, I am in complete trust, there has not been a need that has gone unmet. There has not been a situation that has not had the hand of God written all over it. He has orchestrated events and situations that clearly have shown me the “cloud pillar” that’s over my head. I will still say I am not complacent because I believe if I become complacent then I have an opportunity to complain about what I should be doing or where I should be going. I just am now growing with God instead of on my own – God is fighting for me, I am not alone.
My friends; “Let Go and Let God”, He can do it far better than we can; and when he does he loves to show off, let him. Pastor Dan says “Favor Ain’t fair”. He loves to show us that he loves us and truly wants to take care of us. James 4:8 states, “Draw near to God and God will draw dear to you.” Yes, my friends, you have to take the first step. Draw near to him in your time of wilderness so that when you are not in your wilderness you can lean on him then as well. You can then, my friend, have the abundant life God said you are entitled to, just as the Israelites.
~Love and Blessings, Jennifer
Monday, February 14, 2011
A BIG God!
I was so encouraged by the Session 3 teaching. I have been going through a major wildnerness time right now and God is making it so the only thing I have to truly count on is Him. He is making everything else fail. He wants us to go to Him for everything.
It seems like a lonely journey in the wilderness, but it is good for us to be forced to look to the only One Who can help us. He is the only One Who can truly and fully satisfy us. Not the things of this world, not even a job, money, not even family. He is the only One who can truly satisfy our every need. The wilderness journey of choosing to obey and trust Him is an opportunity for a miracle and also an opportunity to get to know Him better. :)
I really enjoy this Bible study because it has reminded me that God DOES Really love me through this. He cares about every detail. It's so nice to be reminded how much He loves and cares for us and will take care of us especially when we are more vulnerable to hearing the enemies voice that tells us just the opposite. That is why it is so important to stand firm in faith, trusting and believing God despite the circumstances.
We don't have any reason to fear, even when facing the impossible situation. Our God is an awesome BIG God, bigger than our circumstances! I praise God He is bigger than my circumstances cause they look pretty big (when I'm looking at them)
It seems like a lonely journey in the wilderness, but it is good for us to be forced to look to the only One Who can help us. He is the only One Who can truly and fully satisfy us. Not the things of this world, not even a job, money, not even family. He is the only One who can truly satisfy our every need. The wilderness journey of choosing to obey and trust Him is an opportunity for a miracle and also an opportunity to get to know Him better. :)
I really enjoy this Bible study because it has reminded me that God DOES Really love me through this. He cares about every detail. It's so nice to be reminded how much He loves and cares for us and will take care of us especially when we are more vulnerable to hearing the enemies voice that tells us just the opposite. That is why it is so important to stand firm in faith, trusting and believing God despite the circumstances.
We don't have any reason to fear, even when facing the impossible situation. Our God is an awesome BIG God, bigger than our circumstances! I praise God He is bigger than my circumstances cause they look pretty big (when I'm looking at them)
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Refreshment From God (Week 2, Day 5)
What an interesting week we’ve had, as we finish with Week Two One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land. Author Priscilla Shirer packs muck content in such a short lesson! Today’s lesson is about refreshment from God. In our wilderness journey, God provides. I found it fascinating that God provided 12 wells at Elim….and Israel consisted of 12 tribes. “God gave the weary, thirsty Hebrews exactly what they needed to suit their precise circumstances,” says Priscilla Shirer. Wow, God is so faithful!!!
Priscilla Shirer Quotes
* God knows what’s required to refuel your tank and encourage you in your journey.
* God will refresh us by a river of His provision, He will provide healing places and oases for us.
* Our Father will remain mindful of us, knowing our needs and caring for us in the midst of our journey.
* He will never lead you into a place that will not work toward accomplishing His purpose for you.
Today’s Scripture Verses (NASB)
I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. Isaiah 41:18 (ESV)
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head. Psalm 3:3
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:38
***Final Note***
Please complete the exercise on page 52, writing the verses on an index card for encouragement when things get tough. Carry this with you in your purse.
Meditate on God’s wilderness as an oasis from Psalm 23, filled with still water and green pastures. Place yourself inside this oasis as you meditate.
Following Him
Priscilla Shirer Quotes
* God knows what’s required to refuel your tank and encourage you in your journey.
* God will refresh us by a river of His provision, He will provide healing places and oases for us.
* Our Father will remain mindful of us, knowing our needs and caring for us in the midst of our journey.
* He will never lead you into a place that will not work toward accomplishing His purpose for you.
Today’s Scripture Verses (NASB)
I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. Isaiah 41:18 (ESV)
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head. Psalm 3:3
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:38
***Final Note***
Please complete the exercise on page 52, writing the verses on an index card for encouragement when things get tough. Carry this with you in your purse.
Meditate on God’s wilderness as an oasis from Psalm 23, filled with still water and green pastures. Place yourself inside this oasis as you meditate.
Following Him
Sunday, January 30, 2011
One In A Million
I think secretly that’s the cry of every woman to be one in a million. We all just want to be noticed. Whether it’s by a man, through our careers, etc… whatever that thing is we are getting our affirmation from. We want to be different from the rest, the one who stands out above the crowd as extraordinary and exemplary.
Growing up my parents always told me an analogy. They would say: “In order to be unique you have to separate yourself from the rest of the crowd. You have to be set apart, which is a lonely road, so count the cost. As soon as you do that you will naturally rise above the mediocrity. However, remember that it is easier to be pulled off the ladder than it is for you to pull. someone up” This analogy always seemed to come to mind at moments in my life when I was fed up with being the ‘one in a million’. I was tired of being tired and frustrated with being different. It is difficult to hold onto hope for faith (evidence of things unseen) when the crowd around you is desperately dragging you down.
Perhaps this was the case with the Israelites. They left Egypt dancing in the streets, more than conquerors through their God who had made a way for them out of captivity, and somewhere between stepping out of their comfort zone and actually making it to the promise land they lost hope for faith. Oh how many times have I also done that. It is similar to their story of continual whining and complaining in the midst of the road to freedom and think to myself ‘what nincompoops!’ As a kid when I read the story I always wondered how God kept from shooting them all with lightning bolts (and I actually still do… good thing I’m not God!). I was challenged this past week to hold back my stone of judgment. To instead examine myself but better yet have God do it (because let’s face it, I can be slightly biased most of the time). “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” ~Psalms 139:23-24
We are on a journey too. We are on the path of everlasting life. We too, like the Israelites, have been set free from our captivity and are making it to our ‘promise land’: Heaven. The Israelites were doing great until it got a little uncomfortable and then they looked back. As Priscilla said in the teaching this past week: “Are we still hanging out in the old places?... Rid yourself of every sin and hindrance… You can not do what you’ve always done and expect different results.” For me, the ‘old places’ are as simple as mindsets. Friends are rather important also. Whoever is around you has the power to influence you. Make sure the closest people surrounding you are affecting you towards your goal.
Out of the two million Israelites who set out on the journey, only two overcame their old mindsets, didn’t let the people around them drag them down, and stepped into victory. That’s one in a million… and let’s be honest: that’s not very good odds. But before discouragement sets in, examine the amazing thing that sets us apart from the Israelites: Jesus Christ. He came and died for ME. He came and died for YOU. Just that one person was enough for us.
So hey, we’re already one in a million to Him. :) Through Him we can see this journey to its completion. “Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by what its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live in overwhelming victory through Christ, who loved us.” ~Romans 8:12-13;37
This week I challenge you to get to the point where you’re ready for everything you’ve seen, been told, heard about, and/or believe in your heart. Go with God someplace quiet and examine yourself. Grab a journal and write down the things that need to be purged from your heart that could potentially hinder your journey. And remember: nothing is worth holding back.
Let’s begin our journey. Let’s be one in a million.
~Jenee'
Growing up my parents always told me an analogy. They would say: “In order to be unique you have to separate yourself from the rest of the crowd. You have to be set apart, which is a lonely road, so count the cost. As soon as you do that you will naturally rise above the mediocrity. However, remember that it is easier to be pulled off the ladder than it is for you to pull. someone up” This analogy always seemed to come to mind at moments in my life when I was fed up with being the ‘one in a million’. I was tired of being tired and frustrated with being different. It is difficult to hold onto hope for faith (evidence of things unseen) when the crowd around you is desperately dragging you down.
Perhaps this was the case with the Israelites. They left Egypt dancing in the streets, more than conquerors through their God who had made a way for them out of captivity, and somewhere between stepping out of their comfort zone and actually making it to the promise land they lost hope for faith. Oh how many times have I also done that. It is similar to their story of continual whining and complaining in the midst of the road to freedom and think to myself ‘what nincompoops!’ As a kid when I read the story I always wondered how God kept from shooting them all with lightning bolts (and I actually still do… good thing I’m not God!). I was challenged this past week to hold back my stone of judgment. To instead examine myself but better yet have God do it (because let’s face it, I can be slightly biased most of the time). “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” ~Psalms 139:23-24
We are on a journey too. We are on the path of everlasting life. We too, like the Israelites, have been set free from our captivity and are making it to our ‘promise land’: Heaven. The Israelites were doing great until it got a little uncomfortable and then they looked back. As Priscilla said in the teaching this past week: “Are we still hanging out in the old places?... Rid yourself of every sin and hindrance… You can not do what you’ve always done and expect different results.” For me, the ‘old places’ are as simple as mindsets. Friends are rather important also. Whoever is around you has the power to influence you. Make sure the closest people surrounding you are affecting you towards your goal.
Out of the two million Israelites who set out on the journey, only two overcame their old mindsets, didn’t let the people around them drag them down, and stepped into victory. That’s one in a million… and let’s be honest: that’s not very good odds. But before discouragement sets in, examine the amazing thing that sets us apart from the Israelites: Jesus Christ. He came and died for ME. He came and died for YOU. Just that one person was enough for us.
So hey, we’re already one in a million to Him. :) Through Him we can see this journey to its completion. “Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by what its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live in overwhelming victory through Christ, who loved us.” ~Romans 8:12-13;37
This week I challenge you to get to the point where you’re ready for everything you’ve seen, been told, heard about, and/or believe in your heart. Go with God someplace quiet and examine yourself. Grab a journal and write down the things that need to be purged from your heart that could potentially hinder your journey. And remember: nothing is worth holding back.
Let’s begin our journey. Let’s be one in a million.
~Jenee'
Saturday, January 22, 2011
ONE IN A MILLION
Priscilla Shirer’s “One in a Million- 8 week study
Dates: January 27th, 2011 – Thurs evenings 6:30 – 8:15 pm
Join Priscilla Shirer on an exploration of the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness in her newest Bible study, One in a Million. Shirer encourages participants to fully engage in the abundant life God has waiting for those who will allow Him to take the lead in daily living. One in a Million is an opportunity for you to experience your deliverance from strongholds, to conquer your wilderness living, and to claim your God-given inheritance.
Please arrive early in order to receive your book get snacks, and mingle. This will help things not to get congested and will help us serve you better. We are really looking forward to this new series! We thank you ahead of time for your cooperation and participation. Expect great things!!!!
Thurs Nites are phenomenal, with the some of the most precious women on earth! You will encounter...
**Dynamic Worship
**In-depth Relevant Teaching
**Genuine friendships
***And most Important You will Encounter GOD!!
This Year its time we invest where it counts! You owe it to yourself to go Deeper Still in God's Word!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Falling in love with the Father
I have really enjoyed the Jonah Bible Study. It has helped me to see that when my life is interrupted it's really God's way of protecting me and helping me prepare for something greater.
Last year, I was separated from my husband. It has been one of the hardest things I've ever gone through. But through this experience, it has caused me to draw closer to God, much closer than if this hadn't happened. I am truly blessed and thankful for being able to spend more TIME getting to know God the Father more intimately which is more valuable to me than being married.
He is the prize and treasure my heart longs for and I am kissing this painful road that brings me straight to Him.
I'm not totally sure how my situation is going to end up, but one thing I'm so grateful for, God will never leave me or forsake me. As He becomes the true desire of my heart, everything else in my life falls into place.
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall me added unto you.
Falling in love with the Father,
Elizabeth :)
Last year, I was separated from my husband. It has been one of the hardest things I've ever gone through. But through this experience, it has caused me to draw closer to God, much closer than if this hadn't happened. I am truly blessed and thankful for being able to spend more TIME getting to know God the Father more intimately which is more valuable to me than being married.
He is the prize and treasure my heart longs for and I am kissing this painful road that brings me straight to Him.
I'm not totally sure how my situation is going to end up, but one thing I'm so grateful for, God will never leave me or forsake me. As He becomes the true desire of my heart, everything else in my life falls into place.
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall me added unto you.
Falling in love with the Father,
Elizabeth :)
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Going with God
The path of rebellion is one I have traveled too many times. My first major trip down this road was at 15, when my life was going just fine, and I decided to mess it up by getting on drugs. When I was caught red-handed and disciplined for it, it was all His fault. I was sober and realizing just how much I had jeopardized with my actions for the last year, and I was mad at Him. How could He let this start and continue for so long? How could He let me get caught instead of just getting me out of it without any one having to find out? I was angry, confused and alone. All of my friends from church had washed their hands of me and the one friend that I would have had left was the one that I had followed into the drugs in the first place. My parents weren’t letting me anywhere near her.
It took me a while, but I realized that I had to suffer the consequences to learn my lesson. It is by His grace that I even walked away from that season in my life. I was never in it alone, but I was making my own decisions and there was nothing he could do to stop that except let me get caught. The longer it went unnoticed, the deeper I was falling. It was obviously not going to end by me just walking away, so He interrupted my life and truly caused a divine intervention. Once I was able to accept that, it was easy to agree with Him, and I never looked back.
My next major trip down the road was when I was almost 17. I had been dating a guy from church that I loved. I was renewed and happy and this was where I wanted to be. His parents didn’t want him dating, so we kept it quiet. I see now that that was probably my first step towards the road, but at the time it seemed like we could justify going against what his parents wanted. This went on for a few months and then they found a letter he had written me. In it he wrote something about wanting to kiss me, and his parents freaked out. They knew about my past and they met with me and my mom and told us that they were worried I was going to lead him down the wrong path and that I was to have no further contact with him. That really affected me. Here I was thinking that my life was changed and I was forgiven, but they were using my past against me. I was confused. I got home and messaged him on the computer. He wrote back and said he agreed with his parents and we shouldn’t talk any more. That was the end of my first love. It sent me spiraling down. I didn’t blame God this time because I knew that He had forgiven me, but now I was blaming my loves parents. It was their fault that he didn’t want to talk to me any more. They had convinced him I was some evil woman and now my life was ruined. It had nothing to do with the fact that we had been sneaking around for the last 6 months, rebelling against his parents. This was just them trying to make me miserable. I know now that this interruption was to get us out of the rebellion before it went too far. My love was ready to listen but I wasn’t. I was angry and chose to ‘sit, soak and be sour’ as Priscilla said in day 1 of week 3.
A few months went by and I started at a new school and met a boy. He was troubled, but a decent guy and he liked me. And, he was allowed to date. I quickly decided that what I needed to do was bring him to church so my love could see us together and realize that he wanted me back. It was brilliant. We went to TNT together and the new guy had actually gone to elementary school with a few of my friends so he blended right in. When I saw my love, I put on the biggest fake smile and stood right next to the new guy. The look on his face when he saw us was exactly what I had expected. This was it. Tonight I would get an IM from him and everything would go back to normal. Instead, he had my best friend come tell me that it was ridiculous and petty for me to do that and that it hurt his feelings but it didn’t change anything. He didn’t IM me again for almost 4 years after that, and we still to this day haven’t talked face to face. It’s been 9 years.
These stories of my life were really brought to my attention on day 3 of week 2 in the devotional. Priscilla talked about the bad choices we make that lead us down a path we never thought we’d take. The bad decision to follow an older and ‘cooler‘ friend led me down a path of drugs and emptiness. The decision to secretly date my love led to me being hurt which led to the worse decision to use the new guy against him. And when that didn’t work out, I was left clinging to the new guy because I just needed someone there. The new guy became my worst decision ever made and 4 years later I was fighting my way out of a terrible relationship with him.
In week 3, she talks about the 4 principles. The Blame Game, Man Overboard, Agreeing with God and Going with God. The blame game was hard for me at first. I never wanted to blame myself, I wanted to blame God for letting these things happen to me. It wasn’t until I was willing to accept God’s discipline (man overboard) that I was able to blame myself for the things that had happened. When I was able to look at His discipline as a sign of love instead of conviction, it was easier for me to understand that it was never His fault to begin with.
Agreeing with God can be a challenge for me as well. I agree with Him on just about everything, but some things I just don’t get. There are things that I will feel like I need to do but they just seem impossible and I will sit and argue with Him about it like I think that I am going to convince Him that I’m right. Then I read what Priscilla wrote on page 69 in the devotional - “It doesn’t necessarily require that your feelings have changed about what God is asking you to do. Repentance means you are willing, despite those feelings, to put it aside and stop traveling the wrong way. The effectiveness of our confession is not negated because of misplaced feelings. Many times God calls us to choose to walk by faith, and our feelings follow along in time.” Ouch. That pretty much cancels out all my ‘impossible’ excuses. I have to choose to walk by faith. The world is constantly reminding us of every bad thing there is. If I have to choose to listen to that, then why wouldn’t I have to choose to not listen to it and instead walk by faith? If every decision is a choice of faith, then every excuse I make to avoid God’s decision is a choice to rebel. It always starts as a small choice that leads to a big path of destruction. I know this all to well.
The last principle is Going with God. This seems to be the hardest one, but it should be the easiest. He wants only the best for us. He has good intentions, and we should be more than willing to follow His ways. Priscilla says on page 73 - “Likewise, we must be willing to obey the small details along the pathway to obedience to the Lord as well.” She also talks about letting go. I have a hard time letting go. Whether it’s friends, ideas, arguments or things, I want to cling to them. I am learning that part of my ‘obeying the small details’ is letting go of things that are holding me back. If I hold on to old friends, I will never make the new stronger friends I keep saying I want. If I hold on to my old ideas, I will never make room for the new ones that God has for me.
I pray that this study is opening your heart to all the wonderful things that He has in store for you. No matter what has happened in your past, you are completely forgiven and renewed. There was a time when I thought I would never be good enough for God again. Now I serve in the children’s ministry and at TNLN, both of which I volunteered for on a whim. I have a husband who loves the Lord. I have made some amazing new friends at church and I hope to make even more. 9 years ago I felt defeated. Today I am strong in the Lord. I still have work to do, and I still mess up on a daily basis, but I am confident in His love for me. My testimony is story after story of interruptions that turned out to be miraculous divine interventions. Without them, I don’t know where I would be. Thank God for a second chance.
It took me a while, but I realized that I had to suffer the consequences to learn my lesson. It is by His grace that I even walked away from that season in my life. I was never in it alone, but I was making my own decisions and there was nothing he could do to stop that except let me get caught. The longer it went unnoticed, the deeper I was falling. It was obviously not going to end by me just walking away, so He interrupted my life and truly caused a divine intervention. Once I was able to accept that, it was easy to agree with Him, and I never looked back.
My next major trip down the road was when I was almost 17. I had been dating a guy from church that I loved. I was renewed and happy and this was where I wanted to be. His parents didn’t want him dating, so we kept it quiet. I see now that that was probably my first step towards the road, but at the time it seemed like we could justify going against what his parents wanted. This went on for a few months and then they found a letter he had written me. In it he wrote something about wanting to kiss me, and his parents freaked out. They knew about my past and they met with me and my mom and told us that they were worried I was going to lead him down the wrong path and that I was to have no further contact with him. That really affected me. Here I was thinking that my life was changed and I was forgiven, but they were using my past against me. I was confused. I got home and messaged him on the computer. He wrote back and said he agreed with his parents and we shouldn’t talk any more. That was the end of my first love. It sent me spiraling down. I didn’t blame God this time because I knew that He had forgiven me, but now I was blaming my loves parents. It was their fault that he didn’t want to talk to me any more. They had convinced him I was some evil woman and now my life was ruined. It had nothing to do with the fact that we had been sneaking around for the last 6 months, rebelling against his parents. This was just them trying to make me miserable. I know now that this interruption was to get us out of the rebellion before it went too far. My love was ready to listen but I wasn’t. I was angry and chose to ‘sit, soak and be sour’ as Priscilla said in day 1 of week 3.
A few months went by and I started at a new school and met a boy. He was troubled, but a decent guy and he liked me. And, he was allowed to date. I quickly decided that what I needed to do was bring him to church so my love could see us together and realize that he wanted me back. It was brilliant. We went to TNT together and the new guy had actually gone to elementary school with a few of my friends so he blended right in. When I saw my love, I put on the biggest fake smile and stood right next to the new guy. The look on his face when he saw us was exactly what I had expected. This was it. Tonight I would get an IM from him and everything would go back to normal. Instead, he had my best friend come tell me that it was ridiculous and petty for me to do that and that it hurt his feelings but it didn’t change anything. He didn’t IM me again for almost 4 years after that, and we still to this day haven’t talked face to face. It’s been 9 years.
These stories of my life were really brought to my attention on day 3 of week 2 in the devotional. Priscilla talked about the bad choices we make that lead us down a path we never thought we’d take. The bad decision to follow an older and ‘cooler‘ friend led me down a path of drugs and emptiness. The decision to secretly date my love led to me being hurt which led to the worse decision to use the new guy against him. And when that didn’t work out, I was left clinging to the new guy because I just needed someone there. The new guy became my worst decision ever made and 4 years later I was fighting my way out of a terrible relationship with him.
In week 3, she talks about the 4 principles. The Blame Game, Man Overboard, Agreeing with God and Going with God. The blame game was hard for me at first. I never wanted to blame myself, I wanted to blame God for letting these things happen to me. It wasn’t until I was willing to accept God’s discipline (man overboard) that I was able to blame myself for the things that had happened. When I was able to look at His discipline as a sign of love instead of conviction, it was easier for me to understand that it was never His fault to begin with.
Agreeing with God can be a challenge for me as well. I agree with Him on just about everything, but some things I just don’t get. There are things that I will feel like I need to do but they just seem impossible and I will sit and argue with Him about it like I think that I am going to convince Him that I’m right. Then I read what Priscilla wrote on page 69 in the devotional - “It doesn’t necessarily require that your feelings have changed about what God is asking you to do. Repentance means you are willing, despite those feelings, to put it aside and stop traveling the wrong way. The effectiveness of our confession is not negated because of misplaced feelings. Many times God calls us to choose to walk by faith, and our feelings follow along in time.” Ouch. That pretty much cancels out all my ‘impossible’ excuses. I have to choose to walk by faith. The world is constantly reminding us of every bad thing there is. If I have to choose to listen to that, then why wouldn’t I have to choose to not listen to it and instead walk by faith? If every decision is a choice of faith, then every excuse I make to avoid God’s decision is a choice to rebel. It always starts as a small choice that leads to a big path of destruction. I know this all to well.
The last principle is Going with God. This seems to be the hardest one, but it should be the easiest. He wants only the best for us. He has good intentions, and we should be more than willing to follow His ways. Priscilla says on page 73 - “Likewise, we must be willing to obey the small details along the pathway to obedience to the Lord as well.” She also talks about letting go. I have a hard time letting go. Whether it’s friends, ideas, arguments or things, I want to cling to them. I am learning that part of my ‘obeying the small details’ is letting go of things that are holding me back. If I hold on to old friends, I will never make the new stronger friends I keep saying I want. If I hold on to my old ideas, I will never make room for the new ones that God has for me.
I pray that this study is opening your heart to all the wonderful things that He has in store for you. No matter what has happened in your past, you are completely forgiven and renewed. There was a time when I thought I would never be good enough for God again. Now I serve in the children’s ministry and at TNLN, both of which I volunteered for on a whim. I have a husband who loves the Lord. I have made some amazing new friends at church and I hope to make even more. 9 years ago I felt defeated. Today I am strong in the Lord. I still have work to do, and I still mess up on a daily basis, but I am confident in His love for me. My testimony is story after story of interruptions that turned out to be miraculous divine interventions. Without them, I don’t know where I would be. Thank God for a second chance.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Divine Intervention
I sometimes wonder what I will write about in the blog for TNLN all though I don’t know why because God always has a plan for me. I love all the studies we have done and I am so thankful that I started going to the ladies Thursday night group. I always get something wonderful from the group even if I didn’t finish my homework or not. Like Kim says we can go back and do it again if we need to God has a time for us. I learned the name Jonah Navigating a Life Interrupted. It made me laugh because anyone who knows my family would say that is for them a Life Interrupted.
My life was interrupted when I was 21 at the loss of my mother right before my wedding. I have had a marriage a divorce and another marriage but I truly found God during all of this. I changed churches in Memphis was baptized and became on fire for God. I know I didn’t always listen when he was talking to me and to this day I still find this to be true. Our human nature makes us want to believe we can do it ourselves when in reality you must have God in your life. This would be the start of my life interrupted.
I think about how we ended up in Fl. We moved to Fl through some friends it was not planned out by us. We came for a visit and left after a week went to Memphis had a yard sale closed our business and moved to FL. We have now been here for 16 years. In 16 years we have moved over 10 times. We had the loss of jobs, injuries to me from a car accident. Yes my life changed forever as did my family but we were alive. When you hear you must take it easy not over do you have these limitations for the rest of your life. You now have a condition that there is no cure for but I say by His stripes I am healed. The Dr.’s say positive thinking will help you a lot but in the mean time you must do everything we say and hopefully you will live a good life. Limitations must be followed take the medications, exercise in the way we show you. Life interrupted … I think God is still speaking to me to me but I am not always listening to him.
I looked at week 1 I didn’t get through with all my homework but then Kim says even if you didn’t finish it you can go back and do it whenever. You will get something from it no matter when you read it. I think often this is how life is sometimes you miss part of it but if you slow down and stop and listen you will get what it was God was trying to show you. So an interruption can be a challenge but in the end there is a reward. Whenever you let Jesus take over you get rewarded but our human nature seems to be yes I know God but and it is that but…. that leads us into trouble at times.
So in my lifetime I have dealt with both happiness and sadness. Life and death my marriage started out with sadness due to the loss of my mom and it was a hard battle for us challenges, interruptions. Raising a family trying to listen to God but finding ourselves not always doing what we knew he wanted us to do. Life becoming interrupted due to job changes, medical and health issues, financial problems our life is Interrupted. This study really draws into me. Am I really listening to God or am I just running from him most of the time.
When I saw the week 2 was about Jonah running I thought wow I have been there. We stopped and listened finally after Mark took a job that was the lowest pay he has ever had. It was hard physical labor for very little money. Then God said are you listening now you can have the job you were wanting once the interruption came and you returned to me and listened. Mark was hired in with the temporary staffing company for the job. He was promoted within 2 weeks. Then another promotion they realized he had more than just a staff person. He had another department request him and move him up the ladder. He was told you will get hired permanently into the company. Then we had to wait and Mark became frustrated at one time even looked at other jobs. We both knew this is where God wanted him right now. Then it happened he was hired in and the benefits kicked in. Great health insurance covers everything which is amazing. We all needed things done but the cost of medical was hard for us. The savings we get now is wonderful. His hours lowered down for better pay. Yes our Life had been interrupted but for a good reason it was just hard to see it at the time. We did get an interruption with this promotion pay period is only 2 times a month. Of course his hiring in caused us to have to wait 2 weeks for a pay check when we had been used to every week this was not in the budget but we did get through it and pay day is this Tuesday. We called companies and changed our billing dates and it is working out well.
The one thing that interrupts my life personally is a person God has in my life. She is sweet but also very depressing at the same time. She suffers from mental issues yet God puts her in my life. I have tried to run and hide from her but he puts her back in my life. She wants to be my friend no matter what. We had one riff but that too passed. She calls me when she needs advice or when she needs someone to listen she is a complainer a lot and very negative at times. After spending time with her I become negative too so I try to step back for awhile but then God brings and interruption and I know it means I must call or visit her. She has been struggling with a decision to run from her church a new pastor, changes and not being happy. She called me the first week of class and tells me she was watching Joyce and she said stop and act like a Christian quit your complaining about how bad your life is put on a smile and share God with someone. That no matter where you are God has you there to show someone God’s love even if the person claims they are a Christian maybe their life has been interrupted. She asked me do you think this was for me. I said yes I do. Then at class that night I hear God puts you somewhere because you might be the one person who can share with them his love. It may seem like life is full of interruptions to you. You being somewhere at a certain time can change a life of another. This was like a conformation for me to her you need to stay where you are. I called her up and said I have a word for you. It was just what we both needed to hear. It showed me that God has me in a place even if I am trying to run the interruption is to cause me to stop and take notice to where I am and what I am doing with my life and if I have God in it or am I running on my own full of confusion and sin. When we are interrupted it is to give us a prospective on where we are and where we are going with God or against him. The next time your Life is interrupted breathe it in because at the end of a day God is waiting for you…….
My life was interrupted when I was 21 at the loss of my mother right before my wedding. I have had a marriage a divorce and another marriage but I truly found God during all of this. I changed churches in Memphis was baptized and became on fire for God. I know I didn’t always listen when he was talking to me and to this day I still find this to be true. Our human nature makes us want to believe we can do it ourselves when in reality you must have God in your life. This would be the start of my life interrupted.
I think about how we ended up in Fl. We moved to Fl through some friends it was not planned out by us. We came for a visit and left after a week went to Memphis had a yard sale closed our business and moved to FL. We have now been here for 16 years. In 16 years we have moved over 10 times. We had the loss of jobs, injuries to me from a car accident. Yes my life changed forever as did my family but we were alive. When you hear you must take it easy not over do you have these limitations for the rest of your life. You now have a condition that there is no cure for but I say by His stripes I am healed. The Dr.’s say positive thinking will help you a lot but in the mean time you must do everything we say and hopefully you will live a good life. Limitations must be followed take the medications, exercise in the way we show you. Life interrupted … I think God is still speaking to me to me but I am not always listening to him.
I looked at week 1 I didn’t get through with all my homework but then Kim says even if you didn’t finish it you can go back and do it whenever. You will get something from it no matter when you read it. I think often this is how life is sometimes you miss part of it but if you slow down and stop and listen you will get what it was God was trying to show you. So an interruption can be a challenge but in the end there is a reward. Whenever you let Jesus take over you get rewarded but our human nature seems to be yes I know God but and it is that but…. that leads us into trouble at times.
So in my lifetime I have dealt with both happiness and sadness. Life and death my marriage started out with sadness due to the loss of my mom and it was a hard battle for us challenges, interruptions. Raising a family trying to listen to God but finding ourselves not always doing what we knew he wanted us to do. Life becoming interrupted due to job changes, medical and health issues, financial problems our life is Interrupted. This study really draws into me. Am I really listening to God or am I just running from him most of the time.
When I saw the week 2 was about Jonah running I thought wow I have been there. We stopped and listened finally after Mark took a job that was the lowest pay he has ever had. It was hard physical labor for very little money. Then God said are you listening now you can have the job you were wanting once the interruption came and you returned to me and listened. Mark was hired in with the temporary staffing company for the job. He was promoted within 2 weeks. Then another promotion they realized he had more than just a staff person. He had another department request him and move him up the ladder. He was told you will get hired permanently into the company. Then we had to wait and Mark became frustrated at one time even looked at other jobs. We both knew this is where God wanted him right now. Then it happened he was hired in and the benefits kicked in. Great health insurance covers everything which is amazing. We all needed things done but the cost of medical was hard for us. The savings we get now is wonderful. His hours lowered down for better pay. Yes our Life had been interrupted but for a good reason it was just hard to see it at the time. We did get an interruption with this promotion pay period is only 2 times a month. Of course his hiring in caused us to have to wait 2 weeks for a pay check when we had been used to every week this was not in the budget but we did get through it and pay day is this Tuesday. We called companies and changed our billing dates and it is working out well.
The one thing that interrupts my life personally is a person God has in my life. She is sweet but also very depressing at the same time. She suffers from mental issues yet God puts her in my life. I have tried to run and hide from her but he puts her back in my life. She wants to be my friend no matter what. We had one riff but that too passed. She calls me when she needs advice or when she needs someone to listen she is a complainer a lot and very negative at times. After spending time with her I become negative too so I try to step back for awhile but then God brings and interruption and I know it means I must call or visit her. She has been struggling with a decision to run from her church a new pastor, changes and not being happy. She called me the first week of class and tells me she was watching Joyce and she said stop and act like a Christian quit your complaining about how bad your life is put on a smile and share God with someone. That no matter where you are God has you there to show someone God’s love even if the person claims they are a Christian maybe their life has been interrupted. She asked me do you think this was for me. I said yes I do. Then at class that night I hear God puts you somewhere because you might be the one person who can share with them his love. It may seem like life is full of interruptions to you. You being somewhere at a certain time can change a life of another. This was like a conformation for me to her you need to stay where you are. I called her up and said I have a word for you. It was just what we both needed to hear. It showed me that God has me in a place even if I am trying to run the interruption is to cause me to stop and take notice to where I am and what I am doing with my life and if I have God in it or am I running on my own full of confusion and sin. When we are interrupted it is to give us a prospective on where we are and where we are going with God or against him. The next time your Life is interrupted breathe it in because at the end of a day God is waiting for you…….
Saturday, August 14, 2010
I Am Jonah
Week one of Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted by Priscilla Shirer, there are many thoughts that we are left with and a few challenges to propel us forward. In day one, she points out that there is a great difference between an interruption and a Divine Intervention. When we view something as unimportant, or at the very least, less important than what we are doing, it will be an interruption. When we see the importance of the task and the person, it is a Divine Intervention. Too often we either ignore them or outright run from them. But why run? When we are uncomfortable, we run. When His plans do not suit us, we run. When we want something different, we run. When we are afraid, we run. But we are running from God’s awesome presence and power. This changes the perspective doesn’t it? We are no longer running from something we don’t want to do, but we are running from the power of God. We do it because as humans, we tend to forget that God can do anything, and we do not need to look at things from our standpoint. When God is the one in charge, it will get done!!!
Priscilla Shirer Quotes
* Jonah was the only prophet who ever ran from God.
* It is an esteemed opportunity to participate in Kingdom purposes.
* Make sure your life writes a story worth reading.
* Your story starts with God.
This Week’s Scripture Verses-
Everything God does is right— the trademark on all his works is love. Psalm 145:17 Message
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving, That which I have vowed I will pay; Salvation is from the LORD.” Jonah 2:9
Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it. Luke 11:28
Pray that the study of Jonah will profoundly affect your life.
I look forward to navigating the next 6 weeks with you all:)
Priscilla Shirer Quotes
* Jonah was the only prophet who ever ran from God.
* It is an esteemed opportunity to participate in Kingdom purposes.
* Make sure your life writes a story worth reading.
* Your story starts with God.
This Week’s Scripture Verses-
Everything God does is right— the trademark on all his works is love. Psalm 145:17 Message
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving, That which I have vowed I will pay; Salvation is from the LORD.” Jonah 2:9
Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it. Luke 11:28
Pray that the study of Jonah will profoundly affect your life.
I look forward to navigating the next 6 weeks with you all:)
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Listening For God
“You... don't have to do a thing
Just simply be with me and let those things go
'Cause they can wait another minute
Wait... this moment is too sweet
Would you please stay here with Me
And love on Me a little longer
I'd love to be with you a little longer
'Cause I'm in love with you” *
This song perfectly depicts God’s love for us. We don’t have to do anything for Him, just be with Him. Let all the things of the world go, your busy schedule, Facebook (yes, we’re all guilty of this) and spend time listening for His words of wisdom and revelation. You can distinguish God’s voice by pressing into Him (week 4 viewer guide).
This study has really shown me that to be able to really hear and discern God’s voice, you have to be close to Him. I really like the steps to discerning God’s voice that Priscilla laid out for us (week 1):
1. Expect to hear it – How can you expect to be able to hear God’s voice if you’re not expecting it?
2. Wait patiently for it- Wait patiently, God speaks to us and reveals stuff to us in His timing, not ours
3. Plan to obey it- If you have no intentions of obeying God’s voice, then why listen for it?
4. Listen for it- How can you expect a phone call, but then not listen for it when it rings, this works the same way with God
5. Have faith in it- Mark 11:22 “Have faith in God," Jesus answered. Have faith in what you hear from God, don’t be a ‘Doubting Thomas’
This study has also shown me that ‘the Holy Spirit works in our hearts, the hearts of others, and in the events of our lives to point us in His direction. He uses all these things to cause us to hear and heed his voice’ (week 3 day 1). There is no such thing as a coincidence, everything happens for a reason. Be sure to listen to others and what they have to say, whether it’s sermons, radio shows, Priscilla Shirer or even friends; God may reveal something through them for you. God also uses events in our lives to reveal His word to us. Even something as simple as a red light so you hear a few words from the pastor on the radio or something as big as no cell phones or electricity so you can focus on God and look to Him for your provisions. Let me make it clear that God doesn’t make these events happen to us, he allows them to happen and then uses them to better our walk with Him.
So, with that said and done, keep your ears open and be listening for God! :)
Just simply be with me and let those things go
'Cause they can wait another minute
Wait... this moment is too sweet
Would you please stay here with Me
And love on Me a little longer
I'd love to be with you a little longer
'Cause I'm in love with you” *
This song perfectly depicts God’s love for us. We don’t have to do anything for Him, just be with Him. Let all the things of the world go, your busy schedule, Facebook (yes, we’re all guilty of this) and spend time listening for His words of wisdom and revelation. You can distinguish God’s voice by pressing into Him (week 4 viewer guide).
This study has really shown me that to be able to really hear and discern God’s voice, you have to be close to Him. I really like the steps to discerning God’s voice that Priscilla laid out for us (week 1):
1. Expect to hear it – How can you expect to be able to hear God’s voice if you’re not expecting it?
2. Wait patiently for it- Wait patiently, God speaks to us and reveals stuff to us in His timing, not ours
3. Plan to obey it- If you have no intentions of obeying God’s voice, then why listen for it?
4. Listen for it- How can you expect a phone call, but then not listen for it when it rings, this works the same way with God
5. Have faith in it- Mark 11:22 “Have faith in God," Jesus answered. Have faith in what you hear from God, don’t be a ‘Doubting Thomas’
This study has also shown me that ‘the Holy Spirit works in our hearts, the hearts of others, and in the events of our lives to point us in His direction. He uses all these things to cause us to hear and heed his voice’ (week 3 day 1). There is no such thing as a coincidence, everything happens for a reason. Be sure to listen to others and what they have to say, whether it’s sermons, radio shows, Priscilla Shirer or even friends; God may reveal something through them for you. God also uses events in our lives to reveal His word to us. Even something as simple as a red light so you hear a few words from the pastor on the radio or something as big as no cell phones or electricity so you can focus on God and look to Him for your provisions. Let me make it clear that God doesn’t make these events happen to us, he allows them to happen and then uses them to better our walk with Him.
So, with that said and done, keep your ears open and be listening for God! :)
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
He Speaks to Me
When I heard that we were doing a study called Discerning the Voice of God, I was excited. I have been a believer all my life, and I could swear to you that I've never heard God speak directly to me. I could also swear to you that I was the only person that felt this way. Thankfully, Terrell (and Priscilla in the first video) said that she has women tell her that all the time. Ok, so I don't feel so weird now, but that still doesn't change the fact that it bothers me. I pray. I talk to God. I believe for breakthrough. I have post-it's all over the house with Bible verses and encouraging words written on them. I go to church, I read my Bible, and I am even attempting to break out of my shell and meet more women who can encourage me and help me. All of that and it still isn't happening.
If you ask just about anyone who knows me, they will tell you I am stubborn and opinionated. I am usually too eager to share whatever it is on my mind. My thinking has been as long as what I'm saying is the truth, what can it hurt? But as I move along in life, I am beginning to realize that having that attitude has gotten me nowhere fast. Sure, my friends like to hear me talk, or at least they pretend to, but what about God?
Thinking back to different times when I've felt the power of God, it has always come through someone else. When I finally got out of a secretly bad relationship, it was because God told 2 special people in my life to call me and make me speak the truth. When I was undecided about the relationship with my now husband, God spoke to me through a special woman in our church and solidified my decision to get serious about my future. When it was my turn to write the blog for our last study, I had it all written out and was feeling pretty good about it, and then Beth spoke about claiming our pasts and I instantly knew that I was supposed to write something different. These situations prove to me that He is listening and He wants me to hear Him. I am the one doing something wrong.
In the first video of this new study, one of the first things Priscilla said was if you aren't anticipating and expecting to hear God speak to you, you will never be listening. Wow. It suddenly all made sense. Yes, I talk to God, but I always want to hear His answer on my time. I am so busy complaining and worrying and begging for Him to do something that I never stop and say God, what do you have to say to me today? What do You want for me?
We are only 2 weeks in to this new study and I am so excited to hear all the things that He has been trying to tell me. I have spent so much time wondering why things haven't gone my way, and all along it's been because I wouldn't stop talking! So, while I have yet to hear Him and know that it's Him, I have finally gotten it through my stubborn head that He is always talking, and now it's my turn to listen.
If you ask just about anyone who knows me, they will tell you I am stubborn and opinionated. I am usually too eager to share whatever it is on my mind. My thinking has been as long as what I'm saying is the truth, what can it hurt? But as I move along in life, I am beginning to realize that having that attitude has gotten me nowhere fast. Sure, my friends like to hear me talk, or at least they pretend to, but what about God?
Thinking back to different times when I've felt the power of God, it has always come through someone else. When I finally got out of a secretly bad relationship, it was because God told 2 special people in my life to call me and make me speak the truth. When I was undecided about the relationship with my now husband, God spoke to me through a special woman in our church and solidified my decision to get serious about my future. When it was my turn to write the blog for our last study, I had it all written out and was feeling pretty good about it, and then Beth spoke about claiming our pasts and I instantly knew that I was supposed to write something different. These situations prove to me that He is listening and He wants me to hear Him. I am the one doing something wrong.
In the first video of this new study, one of the first things Priscilla said was if you aren't anticipating and expecting to hear God speak to you, you will never be listening. Wow. It suddenly all made sense. Yes, I talk to God, but I always want to hear His answer on my time. I am so busy complaining and worrying and begging for Him to do something that I never stop and say God, what do you have to say to me today? What do You want for me?
We are only 2 weeks in to this new study and I am so excited to hear all the things that He has been trying to tell me. I have spent so much time wondering why things haven't gone my way, and all along it's been because I wouldn't stop talking! So, while I have yet to hear Him and know that it's Him, I have finally gotten it through my stubborn head that He is always talking, and now it's my turn to listen.
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Discipline of Hearing
Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops —Matthew 10:27
Sometimes God puts us through the experience and discipline of darkness to teach us to hear and obey Him. Song birds are taught to sing in the dark, and God puts us into “the shadow of His hand” until we learn to hear Him (Isaiah 49:2 ). “Whatever I tell you in the dark. . .”— pay attention when God puts you into darkness, and keep your mouth closed while you are there. Are you in the dark right now in your circumstances, or in your life with God? If so, then remain quiet. If you open your mouth in the dark, you will speak while in the wrong mood— darkness is the time to listen. Don’t talk to other people about it; don’t read books to find out the reason for the darkness; just listen and obey. If you talk to other people, you cannot hear what God is saying. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else once you are back in the light.
After every time of darkness, we should experience a mixture of delight and humiliation. If there is only delight, I question whether we have really heard God at all. We should experience delight for having heard God speak, but mostly humiliation for having taken so long to hear Him! Then we will exclaim, “How slow I have been to listen and understand what God has been telling me!” And yet God has been saying it for days and even weeks. But once you hear Him, He gives you the gift of humiliation, which brings a softness of heart— a gift that will always cause you to listen to God now.
Sometimes God puts us through the experience and discipline of darkness to teach us to hear and obey Him. Song birds are taught to sing in the dark, and God puts us into “the shadow of His hand” until we learn to hear Him (Isaiah 49:2 ). “Whatever I tell you in the dark. . .”— pay attention when God puts you into darkness, and keep your mouth closed while you are there. Are you in the dark right now in your circumstances, or in your life with God? If so, then remain quiet. If you open your mouth in the dark, you will speak while in the wrong mood— darkness is the time to listen. Don’t talk to other people about it; don’t read books to find out the reason for the darkness; just listen and obey. If you talk to other people, you cannot hear what God is saying. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else once you are back in the light.
After every time of darkness, we should experience a mixture of delight and humiliation. If there is only delight, I question whether we have really heard God at all. We should experience delight for having heard God speak, but mostly humiliation for having taken so long to hear Him! Then we will exclaim, “How slow I have been to listen and understand what God has been telling me!” And yet God has been saying it for days and even weeks. But once you hear Him, He gives you the gift of humiliation, which brings a softness of heart— a gift that will always cause you to listen to God now.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Sandpaper People
Sandpaper People
By
Mary Southerland
Every day, we face the daunting challenge of getting along with the people who are part of our lives. Some of them make it easy and some don’t. Some are kind and gentle, encouraging and replenishing while others absolutely drive us to the brink of insanity and beyond. I fully realize that it might shock and dishearten you to realize that the roughest sandpaper person in your life may very well be living right under your own roof. The only possibility more disturbing is that we are sandpaper people. Understanding that at one time or another we can all be abrasive is an important admission in the quest to effectively deal with difficult relationships. However, there are those people who live in abrasive mode, day in and day out. I call them “Sandpaper People.”
Sandpaper people come in all shapes, sizes and colors and sometimes they are us! We try to change them, run from them, ignore them and even take a stab at fixing them. If only it were that simple. It rarely is.
When it comes to these problematical relationships, I have good news and bad news. The bad news is - there will always be sandpaper people in our lives. The good news is that difficult relationships are no exception to the fact that God’s word is relevant and powerful enough to meet every need – including the ability and wisdom to deal with those people who rub us the wrong way. By making the choice to love as God loves, we can turn these sandpaper people into velvet people and in the process, learn how to love the unlovable, just as God loves us. It is crucial to note that these relationship principles are rooted in and flow from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When our relationship with God is right, every other relationship in life has the potential to be right.
Sandpaper people need to be loved but wrongly believe that in order to experience love they must first be lovable. The opposite is true and foreign to the way a sandpaper person thinks. We must first be loved in order to be lovable. Because of this faulty pattern of thinking, a sandpaper person will look for love in all the wrong places, demanding it instead of simply accepting it. Their abrasive behavior, a desperate attempt to hold emotional hostages until the ransom of love is paid, drives away the very ones who would give them the love they seek. We grow impatient with their futility. But in God’s eyes, impatience is a love problem.
A heart satiated with love leaves no room for impatience. When we are filled with love, little will irritate us, not even the abrasive behavior of sandpaper people. But when we are filled with anger, almost everything will irritate us, especially the behavior of sandpaper people. “Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” (Ephesians 4:2 NLT) “Making allowance for each other’s faults” means we are to handle relationships in a way that makes room for their inevitable faults.
When our children became teenagers, we soon realized that a new plan for their allowances was needed. Dan and I were tired of being asked for money by two teenagers who enjoyed the privilege of a regular and generous allowance. There seemed to be confusion about what their allowances should cover as opposed to those expenses that would fall under the responsibility of parental funding. For example, our son, Jered, would fill up his truck with gas and then drive my car. Our daughter, Danna, would buy a new pair of shoes and then need money for a movie since she had spent her “very own money” for a staple item like shoes, clearly a purchase that should be made by a parent. It was obvious that a new plan was badly needed, even though Jered and Danna seemed content with the plan in place. We sat down with each child to list what their allowances would cover, encouraging them to budget their money while setting aside part of each allowance for the special things they wanted to buy. The result was a clear plan of how much money they would receive and an exact list of what it was to cover. The confusion and frustration disappeared because the right plan was in place.
God’s plan for dealing with sandpaper people includes an “emotional allowance”, setting aside part of our emotional energy to cover their faults and allow for their weaknesses – which is the right plan. In other words, we are supposed to “admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak and be patient with all men”. (1 Thessalonians 5:14 NAS) Sandpaper people are unruly, meaning that they are frequently careless or out of line in their behavior. The word “unruly” applies to soldiers who refuse to follow orders, insisting on doing things their own way. Sound familiar? It is the motto of every respectable sandpaper person. Patience lovingly corrects and points out the right way.
Sandpaper people tend to give up easily, feeding the failure that has become a familiar companion, training their feeble hearts to despair while persuading their fragile spirits to quit. Patience comforts these hard-to love people, refusing to give up on them when everyone else has walked away. The “weak” ones are those who are weak in their faith – the baby Christians. New believers awkwardly stumble through their first steps into the world of Christianity and are often perceived to be “rough around the edges”. Patience not only reassures these frightened little lambs that they belong but also offers to walk with them until they grow stronger and their path is sure.
His name was Sam. I fell in love with him the first time I saw him. I was standing at the door of my second grade classroom, anxiously waiting to greet the thirty students who had been assigned to me for nine whole months of instruction. Though Sam was smaller than the other children, he walked with the earned confidence of one who has seen more than he should have seen at such a young age. What he lacked in size, he more than made up for in personality and attitude. He was a blatant flirt, and I was a goner the minute he gazed up at me with strikingly blue eyes that tripped my heart, while flashing two cavernous dimples that captured it.
I will never forget the pain in his words. “My name is Sam. I am dumb and stupid and I can’t do anything right. I get mad real easy and like to break things. I just thought you ought to know.” It only took a few minutes for Sam to begin what I suspected was his usual attempt to prove his words true as he swept through the quickly filling classroom, destruction in his hands. Papers were ripped and tossed aside. Children shrank away from his now scowling face, fear in their eyes. When the little girl laughed, Sam thought she was laughing at him and knocked her to the floor. I had seen enough. Taking him by the arm, I marched him out of the room and down the hall. He was not surprised or particularly concerned. It was all very familiar; but what came next wasn’t.
Looking for a place to sit, I stopped in front of a bench and, much to my own surprise, instinctively pulled this precious little man into my arms and held onto him for dear life. “Sam, it is wrong to tell a lie,” I whispered. Stunned, he drew back to ask, “What do you mean? I didn’t tell no lie.” Cupping his freckled face in my hands, I whispered, “Yes, you did. You said you were dumb and stupid and couldn’t do anything right. That is a lie. I don’t know who told you that and I don’t care. It’s not true – is it, Sam?” His eyes filled with tears – and a tiny ray of hope appeared in their depths. It was enough. Slowly, Sam shook his head, a watery smile creeping across his now softening face. “Nope. I reckon it ain’t if you say so.” I smiled back, “Well, I say so. Now why don’t you be my assistant today and help me pass out papers.” Together, we walked back to the classroom and to a new beginning for one little sandpaper person.
That year I taught Sam and he taught me. I am not certain who learned the most but this I do know - the more we love, the more patience we will have; and the more patience we have, the more we will love. I often wonder just how many “Sams” are waiting for someone – anyone – who will choose to unleash the power of patience and by doing so unleash the power of love as well.
By
Mary Southerland
Every day, we face the daunting challenge of getting along with the people who are part of our lives. Some of them make it easy and some don’t. Some are kind and gentle, encouraging and replenishing while others absolutely drive us to the brink of insanity and beyond. I fully realize that it might shock and dishearten you to realize that the roughest sandpaper person in your life may very well be living right under your own roof. The only possibility more disturbing is that we are sandpaper people. Understanding that at one time or another we can all be abrasive is an important admission in the quest to effectively deal with difficult relationships. However, there are those people who live in abrasive mode, day in and day out. I call them “Sandpaper People.”
Sandpaper people come in all shapes, sizes and colors and sometimes they are us! We try to change them, run from them, ignore them and even take a stab at fixing them. If only it were that simple. It rarely is.
When it comes to these problematical relationships, I have good news and bad news. The bad news is - there will always be sandpaper people in our lives. The good news is that difficult relationships are no exception to the fact that God’s word is relevant and powerful enough to meet every need – including the ability and wisdom to deal with those people who rub us the wrong way. By making the choice to love as God loves, we can turn these sandpaper people into velvet people and in the process, learn how to love the unlovable, just as God loves us. It is crucial to note that these relationship principles are rooted in and flow from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When our relationship with God is right, every other relationship in life has the potential to be right.
Sandpaper people need to be loved but wrongly believe that in order to experience love they must first be lovable. The opposite is true and foreign to the way a sandpaper person thinks. We must first be loved in order to be lovable. Because of this faulty pattern of thinking, a sandpaper person will look for love in all the wrong places, demanding it instead of simply accepting it. Their abrasive behavior, a desperate attempt to hold emotional hostages until the ransom of love is paid, drives away the very ones who would give them the love they seek. We grow impatient with their futility. But in God’s eyes, impatience is a love problem.
A heart satiated with love leaves no room for impatience. When we are filled with love, little will irritate us, not even the abrasive behavior of sandpaper people. But when we are filled with anger, almost everything will irritate us, especially the behavior of sandpaper people. “Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” (Ephesians 4:2 NLT) “Making allowance for each other’s faults” means we are to handle relationships in a way that makes room for their inevitable faults.
When our children became teenagers, we soon realized that a new plan for their allowances was needed. Dan and I were tired of being asked for money by two teenagers who enjoyed the privilege of a regular and generous allowance. There seemed to be confusion about what their allowances should cover as opposed to those expenses that would fall under the responsibility of parental funding. For example, our son, Jered, would fill up his truck with gas and then drive my car. Our daughter, Danna, would buy a new pair of shoes and then need money for a movie since she had spent her “very own money” for a staple item like shoes, clearly a purchase that should be made by a parent. It was obvious that a new plan was badly needed, even though Jered and Danna seemed content with the plan in place. We sat down with each child to list what their allowances would cover, encouraging them to budget their money while setting aside part of each allowance for the special things they wanted to buy. The result was a clear plan of how much money they would receive and an exact list of what it was to cover. The confusion and frustration disappeared because the right plan was in place.
God’s plan for dealing with sandpaper people includes an “emotional allowance”, setting aside part of our emotional energy to cover their faults and allow for their weaknesses – which is the right plan. In other words, we are supposed to “admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak and be patient with all men”. (1 Thessalonians 5:14 NAS) Sandpaper people are unruly, meaning that they are frequently careless or out of line in their behavior. The word “unruly” applies to soldiers who refuse to follow orders, insisting on doing things their own way. Sound familiar? It is the motto of every respectable sandpaper person. Patience lovingly corrects and points out the right way.
Sandpaper people tend to give up easily, feeding the failure that has become a familiar companion, training their feeble hearts to despair while persuading their fragile spirits to quit. Patience comforts these hard-to love people, refusing to give up on them when everyone else has walked away. The “weak” ones are those who are weak in their faith – the baby Christians. New believers awkwardly stumble through their first steps into the world of Christianity and are often perceived to be “rough around the edges”. Patience not only reassures these frightened little lambs that they belong but also offers to walk with them until they grow stronger and their path is sure.
His name was Sam. I fell in love with him the first time I saw him. I was standing at the door of my second grade classroom, anxiously waiting to greet the thirty students who had been assigned to me for nine whole months of instruction. Though Sam was smaller than the other children, he walked with the earned confidence of one who has seen more than he should have seen at such a young age. What he lacked in size, he more than made up for in personality and attitude. He was a blatant flirt, and I was a goner the minute he gazed up at me with strikingly blue eyes that tripped my heart, while flashing two cavernous dimples that captured it.
I will never forget the pain in his words. “My name is Sam. I am dumb and stupid and I can’t do anything right. I get mad real easy and like to break things. I just thought you ought to know.” It only took a few minutes for Sam to begin what I suspected was his usual attempt to prove his words true as he swept through the quickly filling classroom, destruction in his hands. Papers were ripped and tossed aside. Children shrank away from his now scowling face, fear in their eyes. When the little girl laughed, Sam thought she was laughing at him and knocked her to the floor. I had seen enough. Taking him by the arm, I marched him out of the room and down the hall. He was not surprised or particularly concerned. It was all very familiar; but what came next wasn’t.
Looking for a place to sit, I stopped in front of a bench and, much to my own surprise, instinctively pulled this precious little man into my arms and held onto him for dear life. “Sam, it is wrong to tell a lie,” I whispered. Stunned, he drew back to ask, “What do you mean? I didn’t tell no lie.” Cupping his freckled face in my hands, I whispered, “Yes, you did. You said you were dumb and stupid and couldn’t do anything right. That is a lie. I don’t know who told you that and I don’t care. It’s not true – is it, Sam?” His eyes filled with tears – and a tiny ray of hope appeared in their depths. It was enough. Slowly, Sam shook his head, a watery smile creeping across his now softening face. “Nope. I reckon it ain’t if you say so.” I smiled back, “Well, I say so. Now why don’t you be my assistant today and help me pass out papers.” Together, we walked back to the classroom and to a new beginning for one little sandpaper person.
That year I taught Sam and he taught me. I am not certain who learned the most but this I do know - the more we love, the more patience we will have; and the more patience we have, the more we will love. I often wonder just how many “Sams” are waiting for someone – anyone – who will choose to unleash the power of patience and by doing so unleash the power of love as well.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Anointed Transformed and Redeemed
I have made a lot of mistakes and bad decisions. I have walked away from church and distanced myself from God more than once. At 15, I decided to be a rebel. This went on for a little over a year and then I got caught. After about 6 months of only leaving the house for church and school, I was back on track. I was back in church, serving at TNT again and had managed to keep a few of my friends in the process. Of course the enemy couldn't let that last. A situation happened that left me feeling unworthy and unwanted. Instead of pressing in, I pulled back and allowed the devil to convince me that I wasn't good enough any more. I was damaged goods.
At this point, I decided to run my own life. If I was going to get hurt anyways, I might as well be doing it my way. I moved in with a non-believer boyfriend and spent the next 4 years in an unhealthy relationship. By the end I was miserable and knew I had to get out. I started going to church again on Sundays and just started praying for the right words and the right time. One day, my dad called and said I was on his heart and the Lord told him to call. I knew immediately, and told him everything that had been going on. About 2 minutes after that call, a friend from school called and said "the Lord told me to call you". I told her what had just happened and we prayed. The next call was to my boyfriend and I told him I would have his stuff packed and waiting for him that night. I haven't looked back and 5 years later, I am happily married to an awesome man who loves Jesus.
Sometimes when I think about my past, it's hard for me to comprehend how much God loves me. Why, after everything I've done? Beth's words last Thursday really opened my eyes. The things of my past were allowed to happen so that He could redeem me from them. It is only by His grace that I'm even here to have a testimony. Pastor Ray said on Wednesday that the Lord is wildly, recklessly and incautiously in love with us, and that we have been perfected forever, not just until the next time we sin. I was already perfected, even in the midst of my imperfect past, and finally after 10 years, I am claiming it.
The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm. Exodus 14:14 NLT
P.S. While I was typing this, Take You Back by Jeremy Camp started playing on iTunes. It's the little things!!
At this point, I decided to run my own life. If I was going to get hurt anyways, I might as well be doing it my way. I moved in with a non-believer boyfriend and spent the next 4 years in an unhealthy relationship. By the end I was miserable and knew I had to get out. I started going to church again on Sundays and just started praying for the right words and the right time. One day, my dad called and said I was on his heart and the Lord told him to call. I knew immediately, and told him everything that had been going on. About 2 minutes after that call, a friend from school called and said "the Lord told me to call you". I told her what had just happened and we prayed. The next call was to my boyfriend and I told him I would have his stuff packed and waiting for him that night. I haven't looked back and 5 years later, I am happily married to an awesome man who loves Jesus.
Sometimes when I think about my past, it's hard for me to comprehend how much God loves me. Why, after everything I've done? Beth's words last Thursday really opened my eyes. The things of my past were allowed to happen so that He could redeem me from them. It is only by His grace that I'm even here to have a testimony. Pastor Ray said on Wednesday that the Lord is wildly, recklessly and incautiously in love with us, and that we have been perfected forever, not just until the next time we sin. I was already perfected, even in the midst of my imperfect past, and finally after 10 years, I am claiming it.
The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm. Exodus 14:14 NLT
P.S. While I was typing this, Take You Back by Jeremy Camp started playing on iTunes. It's the little things!!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Will You Go Out Without Knowing?
He went out, not knowing where he was going —Hebrews 11:8
Have you ever "gone out" in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, "What do you expect to do?" You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to "go out" in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don’t know what God is going to do next. Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to "go out," building your confidence in God. ". . . do not worry about your life . . . nor about the body . . ." (Luke 12:22). In other words, don’t worry about the things that concerned you before you did "go out."
Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do— He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you "go out" in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?
Believe God is always the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him. Then think how unnecessary and disrespectful worry is! Let the attitude of your life be a continual willingness to "go out" in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus. You must learn to "go out" through your convictions, creeds, or experiences until you come to the point in your faith where there is nothing between yourself and God.
Have you ever "gone out" in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, "What do you expect to do?" You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to "go out" in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don’t know what God is going to do next. Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to "go out," building your confidence in God. ". . . do not worry about your life . . . nor about the body . . ." (Luke 12:22). In other words, don’t worry about the things that concerned you before you did "go out."
Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do— He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you "go out" in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?
Believe God is always the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him. Then think how unnecessary and disrespectful worry is! Let the attitude of your life be a continual willingness to "go out" in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus. You must learn to "go out" through your convictions, creeds, or experiences until you come to the point in your faith where there is nothing between yourself and God.
Monday, February 15, 2010
As for me and my Household
The lessons from The Inheritance have really been touching me.
The last two weeks this keeps coming to me.
7 Years
Since starting this new study God keeps saying 7 years to me. That is how long it has been since my accident that totally changed my family and me. It changed us physically, emotionally and financially. I found myself and my family angry alot. We have been waiting for the lawsuit to settle yet they continue to put it off. We have been told the longer they wait to pay then they hope we will settle for less. Is this right no but is it the way of the carnal man yes. Then Beth says last week we cheat ourselves holding on to our carnal self. She is so right we have been waiting for 7 years and yet God has a much bigger inheritance for my family than this carnal thing. I have listened to Dr.'s tell me there is no cure for my condition and I will get worse. I have let these words take over me at times and for that I ask God to forgive me. I am healed.
I was reading Psalm 16 David's prayers revealed his trust in and reliance upon God, both in his life and his life to come. This type of trust in God should inspire all Christians. I find that when I am experiencing a challenge or frustrating moment I must stop and listen for God to speak to me. I have stopped over the weekend and read Psalms 16 and 17. This is something God showed me He already knows the "big picture" of my life.
Deuteronomy 29:29 "There are secrets the Lord your God has not revealed to us."
I have let my carnal self take over and forget that God is in control and I try to control what is going on in my life. I realize I say one thing but often do another.
Proverbs 3:5 It tells me God is so trustworthy that I should lean my confidence on Him, not leaning on my own understanding. God has proven how much His love can be trusted by sending Christ, His son to die for us.
I have been stopping and spending 30 minutes with the Lord at least once a day. God can change my life, day and mood. I can pour out my heart and God listens.
At Thursday night class she said when you look at your life, which do you see trouble or opportunity? Develop an eye to see God's blessing even in your darkest hour.
My family has recieved blessings a new job, healing reports from Dr.'s, gained a son in law, scholarships for sports and a van given to us.
As for me and my family we are claiming back out inheritance that was promised to us by God for my family. We are taking back what was given to us by God.
Psalm 16:5-6 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.
The last two weeks this keeps coming to me.
7 Years
Since starting this new study God keeps saying 7 years to me. That is how long it has been since my accident that totally changed my family and me. It changed us physically, emotionally and financially. I found myself and my family angry alot. We have been waiting for the lawsuit to settle yet they continue to put it off. We have been told the longer they wait to pay then they hope we will settle for less. Is this right no but is it the way of the carnal man yes. Then Beth says last week we cheat ourselves holding on to our carnal self. She is so right we have been waiting for 7 years and yet God has a much bigger inheritance for my family than this carnal thing. I have listened to Dr.'s tell me there is no cure for my condition and I will get worse. I have let these words take over me at times and for that I ask God to forgive me. I am healed.
I was reading Psalm 16 David's prayers revealed his trust in and reliance upon God, both in his life and his life to come. This type of trust in God should inspire all Christians. I find that when I am experiencing a challenge or frustrating moment I must stop and listen for God to speak to me. I have stopped over the weekend and read Psalms 16 and 17. This is something God showed me He already knows the "big picture" of my life.
Deuteronomy 29:29 "There are secrets the Lord your God has not revealed to us."
I have let my carnal self take over and forget that God is in control and I try to control what is going on in my life. I realize I say one thing but often do another.
Proverbs 3:5 It tells me God is so trustworthy that I should lean my confidence on Him, not leaning on my own understanding. God has proven how much His love can be trusted by sending Christ, His son to die for us.
I have been stopping and spending 30 minutes with the Lord at least once a day. God can change my life, day and mood. I can pour out my heart and God listens.
At Thursday night class she said when you look at your life, which do you see trouble or opportunity? Develop an eye to see God's blessing even in your darkest hour.
My family has recieved blessings a new job, healing reports from Dr.'s, gained a son in law, scholarships for sports and a van given to us.
As for me and my family we are claiming back out inheritance that was promised to us by God for my family. We are taking back what was given to us by God.
Psalm 16:5-6 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.
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