Yesterday I had the privilege, along with the rest of our church family, of being present for the baptism of 2 men in our church. These 2 men have made tremendous leaps in their walk of faith with our God. It has been a pleasure to watch them grow and learn, and to come to this point of obedience through baptism.
Our church feels that the Bible teaches Believer baptism. This is a baptism where once you fully make a conscious decision to accept Jesus' gift of salvation and repent of your sins, you can and should be baptized. Jesus himself was baptized, so we should follow His example. Baptism doesn't guarantee salvation or eternal security, but is a way for us to show the world the outward sign of an inward decision for Jesus. It is telling the world that you wish to be holy (set apart) for God. It's telling the world of your decision to follow Jesus wholeheartedly for the rest of your life. It's symbolizes you as a follower of Jesus.
I take it yesterday that the 2 men being baptized would have had a hard time reading their testimonies, so their wives each read their story for them. This was touching all the way around. The wives were so happy for their husbands as they have prayed for them for years to get right with God. Each one read what their husband penned on the paper with excitement and emotion. As each of them read the testimony, the men, as well as our Pastor, were in the pool. The emotion and love these 3 guys have for each other was humbling. They stood together, cried together, held each other.....a total blessing of godly love and unity right before our eyes.
After the testimonies were read, Pastor said what he needed to and the first man to be baptized was in the middle of pastor and the other man. Both of them held the man in the middle as he went into the water and they helped bring him back up.....symbolizing new life in Jesus. The same was done for the second man. All 3 of them were so in sync with how they held each other and how they helped each other, it is too beautiful for words.....at least for me.
This day was part of an annual outside service we have at our church, but was the first time a baptism was incorporated into the service. It was especially special for me as my family was with me for the whole day, including my husband. My husband is sick a lot, but wanted to be involved in the service for these 2 men. For that, I am grateful to him and to God.
After the service, we shared a picnic together. We as a church family and visitors, laughed, prayed, ate together, played games, helped one another, enjoyed each other company.....I could go on and on. The whole day truly was a blessing from God.
This is a day I'm sure the 2 men and their families will never forget. This time of love and unity is one that will be with all of us at our church for years to come.
Monday, August 29, 2016
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Does God Really Care and Love Me?
Well....these are 2 questions I have struggled with in my own life. Does God really care about me? Does He really love me? We tend to put conditions on these questions as well. If God really cared about me then this or that wouldn't have happened to me.....If God really loved me, this situation wouldn't have been so bad. We can blame Him for alot of misfortune in our life and use it as a way to question His ways or even back out of believing in Him at all. I was one of those people.
I never felt that important to God growing up. I knew there were much more important and smarter people than me in the world, so wondering if God cared was no problem for me to do. I felt He should focus His energy on the ones who were important, and that was not me. I was plain. I was quiet. I didn't understand much. I didn't know how to pray properly. I didn't go to church, nor did I own a Bible.....so God was busy with the ones who were everything I wasn't.....at least I thought so. I did believe in His existence, but had no idea what to do about it.
One day I after an illness (which I later found out was cancer), my parents came home and told me my grandmother had died that day while my brother and I were at school. This was a hard time for me. So....I played the blame game. "If God really cared about me, he wouldn't have let her die". "Why love someone at all if God is just going to take them away just when you need them the most?" "Why would a god take my family from me"? "Now I know He don't love me, or she would be here." These questions rang in my mind for years to come and shaped what path I would regret going down later in my life. The choices I made back then were awful....terrible....lowly.....demeaning.....I could go on and on, but I won't. My mindset was "Well, if God don't care about me, then I won't either."
Looking at my crooked way of thinking, I realize all these questions I had, had nothing to do with God, but everything to do with me. Realizing now that wondering if God cares or loves me is still making it all about ME. Who was I to question a holy God's ways? Who was I to be so selfish? Who was I to play God in my own life? Who was I to reject Him, when He's the one I needed the most? I am glad to say I have come to the other side of the coin, many years ago. I no longer question any of these things and know our God loves and cares for each of us, regardless of circumstances.
Someone influential in my life, told me that to begin to change the heart, it first starts in the mind. So, reading God's Word and letting it sink in our mind, is the first step to changing our heart. Over time, our hearts will soften and we can love God and people the way we were made to.
Some verses that help me know I am cared for and loved -
John 3:16-17 - God loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
Matthew 10:30 - Even the very hairs on your head are numbered
This verse is comforting to me....think about your hair. It grows and falls out everyday, so I'm sure the number of hairs we have changes minute by minute. That's an intricate detail we can't fathom, yet our God knows how many everyone in the world has at any given moment!
Psalm 139:13 - You knit me together in my mother's womb
Psalm 139:17-18 - How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them, were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.
So....God thinks about us more than the number of grains of sand on the earth. Think about all the beaches and the ocean floor and kids' sandboxes. He thinks of us more than all that! Only God can do that.
Ephesians 1:4 - He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Remember...our God made each of us, has purpose for us, loves us more than we could ever imagine, and is there for us, no matter what we have done. He wants us to come to him and repent. He wants our fellowship and love in return. He won't force himself on us, but allows us room to grow and come to Him.
I never felt that important to God growing up. I knew there were much more important and smarter people than me in the world, so wondering if God cared was no problem for me to do. I felt He should focus His energy on the ones who were important, and that was not me. I was plain. I was quiet. I didn't understand much. I didn't know how to pray properly. I didn't go to church, nor did I own a Bible.....so God was busy with the ones who were everything I wasn't.....at least I thought so. I did believe in His existence, but had no idea what to do about it.
One day I after an illness (which I later found out was cancer), my parents came home and told me my grandmother had died that day while my brother and I were at school. This was a hard time for me. So....I played the blame game. "If God really cared about me, he wouldn't have let her die". "Why love someone at all if God is just going to take them away just when you need them the most?" "Why would a god take my family from me"? "Now I know He don't love me, or she would be here." These questions rang in my mind for years to come and shaped what path I would regret going down later in my life. The choices I made back then were awful....terrible....lowly.....demeaning.....I could go on and on, but I won't. My mindset was "Well, if God don't care about me, then I won't either."
Looking at my crooked way of thinking, I realize all these questions I had, had nothing to do with God, but everything to do with me. Realizing now that wondering if God cares or loves me is still making it all about ME. Who was I to question a holy God's ways? Who was I to be so selfish? Who was I to play God in my own life? Who was I to reject Him, when He's the one I needed the most? I am glad to say I have come to the other side of the coin, many years ago. I no longer question any of these things and know our God loves and cares for each of us, regardless of circumstances.
Someone influential in my life, told me that to begin to change the heart, it first starts in the mind. So, reading God's Word and letting it sink in our mind, is the first step to changing our heart. Over time, our hearts will soften and we can love God and people the way we were made to.
Some verses that help me know I am cared for and loved -
John 3:16-17 - God loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
Matthew 10:30 - Even the very hairs on your head are numbered
This verse is comforting to me....think about your hair. It grows and falls out everyday, so I'm sure the number of hairs we have changes minute by minute. That's an intricate detail we can't fathom, yet our God knows how many everyone in the world has at any given moment!
Psalm 139:13 - You knit me together in my mother's womb
Psalm 139:17-18 - How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them, were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.
So....God thinks about us more than the number of grains of sand on the earth. Think about all the beaches and the ocean floor and kids' sandboxes. He thinks of us more than all that! Only God can do that.
Ephesians 1:4 - He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Remember...our God made each of us, has purpose for us, loves us more than we could ever imagine, and is there for us, no matter what we have done. He wants us to come to him and repent. He wants our fellowship and love in return. He won't force himself on us, but allows us room to grow and come to Him.
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Disciplines #8
Control the Tongue - Seems fitting today that I come across this discipline, because today this was a big topic of discussion from my pastor in his sermon. We can do so much damage with our tongues. It's sad because the tongue is so little compared to our liver or lungs.....they are huge in our body and are very important, but the tongue is small, yet can do so much to hurt people.
I had someone ask me not too long ago if it would be beneficial if he was a mute. It seemed his mouth got him in trouble a lot and he figured not being able to talk at all would be a good way to handle himself. What I am seeing all over the Bible are warnings.....words telling us how to live and be someone who glorifies God with all our attributes. Yet....we are made exactly the opposite as to what we are to be living and doing. This makes it a choice and we need to choose to be godly. We need to choose to watch our tongue in what we say to other people.
Today in the message, my pastor went over private and public ways we dishonor each other. Private ones are in gossip and complaining. Public ones can include harsh words, ridicule, sarcasm, insults, and confrontation. Even the best of intentions on any of these in the lists can be hurtful. We are to use healing and loving words to build each other up. We aren't to use our words to tear others down.
Ever find out someone was talking about your behind your back? Ever change how you look at that person when you know what they said about you? This happened to me recently. I am still trying to find the words and how to handle the situation as I want to honor Jesus, yet it could change how I will interact with the person. I will have to watch every word I say and ask the Lord for help in not using that as a reason not to talk to the person. Forgiveness is key.....which is not the problem.....but trust does become an issue after this kind of thing happens.
My pastor asked us today if any of us has ever gossiped about anyone? I am pretty sure I am not alone in answering "yes" to this question. I will admit I have come to not fall into gossip as much as I did in the past. I am now thankful that most people don't share much with me as they know I don't repeat much of what I hear. With me being a weak link in the gossiping process.....I am not an easy target to keep things going. I am usually the last one to hear of things....and I am ok with that. Now, years ago, I was real bad at this. I fed off gossip and sought out people who fed off it too. This created a negative attitude and I wasn't liking who I was becoming in that mess. I had to make some changes in my life as I knew God was not glorified in my way of sinning. (Keep in mind God is never glorified in our sin.....just making a statement).
Looking at James 3, the first 12 verses deal about taming the tongue. James tells us that the tongue is so small yet it can corrupt the whole body. Toxins set in and affect the whole body, spiritually speaking. Saying harsh words, unkind words, gossip, judgement, etc, can corrupt the whole body of Christ and in turn we do not glorify our holy God. We also do not honor each other and it shows the world we are no different than they are. We are to be set apart in how we act and speak and love each other. Then the world will know we are different and want to come to Jesus by our example.
I had someone ask me not too long ago if it would be beneficial if he was a mute. It seemed his mouth got him in trouble a lot and he figured not being able to talk at all would be a good way to handle himself. What I am seeing all over the Bible are warnings.....words telling us how to live and be someone who glorifies God with all our attributes. Yet....we are made exactly the opposite as to what we are to be living and doing. This makes it a choice and we need to choose to be godly. We need to choose to watch our tongue in what we say to other people.
Today in the message, my pastor went over private and public ways we dishonor each other. Private ones are in gossip and complaining. Public ones can include harsh words, ridicule, sarcasm, insults, and confrontation. Even the best of intentions on any of these in the lists can be hurtful. We are to use healing and loving words to build each other up. We aren't to use our words to tear others down.
Ever find out someone was talking about your behind your back? Ever change how you look at that person when you know what they said about you? This happened to me recently. I am still trying to find the words and how to handle the situation as I want to honor Jesus, yet it could change how I will interact with the person. I will have to watch every word I say and ask the Lord for help in not using that as a reason not to talk to the person. Forgiveness is key.....which is not the problem.....but trust does become an issue after this kind of thing happens.
My pastor asked us today if any of us has ever gossiped about anyone? I am pretty sure I am not alone in answering "yes" to this question. I will admit I have come to not fall into gossip as much as I did in the past. I am now thankful that most people don't share much with me as they know I don't repeat much of what I hear. With me being a weak link in the gossiping process.....I am not an easy target to keep things going. I am usually the last one to hear of things....and I am ok with that. Now, years ago, I was real bad at this. I fed off gossip and sought out people who fed off it too. This created a negative attitude and I wasn't liking who I was becoming in that mess. I had to make some changes in my life as I knew God was not glorified in my way of sinning. (Keep in mind God is never glorified in our sin.....just making a statement).
Looking at James 3, the first 12 verses deal about taming the tongue. James tells us that the tongue is so small yet it can corrupt the whole body. Toxins set in and affect the whole body, spiritually speaking. Saying harsh words, unkind words, gossip, judgement, etc, can corrupt the whole body of Christ and in turn we do not glorify our holy God. We also do not honor each other and it shows the world we are no different than they are. We are to be set apart in how we act and speak and love each other. Then the world will know we are different and want to come to Jesus by our example.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Disciplines #7
Bible study - this type of discipline is needed in all of our lives. We need to be spending time with God in His Word. If we don't know what the Bible teaches, how can we live a holy life? How can we know what to believe in? How can we know what to say when people question our faith and ask questions regarding the Bible and God? This is one of the many reasons we need to be in the Word daily.
My husband and I lead a youth group at our church for about 10 years. We saw 3 different sets of teens grow up and become young adults. When our own kids got to be the ages of needing a youth group, we stepped in and led them too. That group had such unity. It was beautiful. When one of the group was hurting, they all hurt. When one had something wonderful happen in their life, they all rejoiced together. They prayed together, hung out together, spent every moment they could with each other. There was no jealousy within the group. We had about 15 faithful kids who would come each week, including our own. We did events and had a meetings on Wednesday night and Sunday morning. My husband was the "fun guy" as he was better at planning and taking them on adventures, and I did most of the teaching. He and I made a great team. I would teach and he would add a story or two from his own life experiences. The kids related well to his stories too. The kids knew we were there for them....anytime.
Usually over the summer months we would cut back on our meeting times because of vacations and such. One week, close to the break, when the kids gathered to a Wednesday night meeting, I knew I had to talk to them. My own relationship with God was messed up as I had allowed too many outside influences to get in the way. I had strayed pretty far off the right path and knew I had to fix it. So, that particular night, I was honest with the group. I told them that I needed to step back as their teacher and work on getting my relationship with God back on track. This was very hard for me to do as I loved those kids, but as I told them that night, for me to be a good teacher for them, I had things to work on.
So....I decided to get serious with God. I sat down and repented of my laziness and my straying and asked God to help me. Yes, I read my Bible, but only to plan lessons for the kids. I was a slacker in that department for the most part. The next step I took was finding a study to do on my own. I found one of my favorite authors was starting a study through the New Testament, reading a chapter a day. She would put notes on the website each day. I began this study with her and took my own notes and compared them to hers. As time went on, I couldn't wait to get up each morning and dig into the Word. It became an addiction to me. I couldn't get enough of it. I can't explain it other than the Holy Spirit was working in a way I'd never experienced before in my life. This study went on for almost a year. It changed my life and how I read my Bible. It changed my outlook on this life in preparation for the next.
It had been told to me years later that parents should never be youth leaders for their own kids. I can agree with that, but at this particular time in our life, we were all our kids had. I wouldn't have traded those days or the relationships we built with all those kids in the group for anything. If I hadn't been in that position at that time, I wouldn't have known of my need for the Word in this very special way. Those kids and our God helped me see that.
As time went on, those kids grew up too, and the need for us to be leading the youth had not been the same. A lot of changes happened at our church during this time as well, so we didn't go back to leading them......however my desire for God and His Word hasn't gone anywhere. I know now that we need to study and learn all we can. We need to learn and apply what we learn to our life. One day we will answer to our God for our life on this earth. I believe that we will answer for how well we knew His Word. What excuses can we give a Holy God for not knowing what the Bible says and living by it? I can't think of any. Be faithful to Him. Let Him use you and study and ask questions when you don't understand. This is a good way to live. :)
Further verses --
2 Timothy 3:16
Colossians 3:16
Psalm 119:11
My husband and I lead a youth group at our church for about 10 years. We saw 3 different sets of teens grow up and become young adults. When our own kids got to be the ages of needing a youth group, we stepped in and led them too. That group had such unity. It was beautiful. When one of the group was hurting, they all hurt. When one had something wonderful happen in their life, they all rejoiced together. They prayed together, hung out together, spent every moment they could with each other. There was no jealousy within the group. We had about 15 faithful kids who would come each week, including our own. We did events and had a meetings on Wednesday night and Sunday morning. My husband was the "fun guy" as he was better at planning and taking them on adventures, and I did most of the teaching. He and I made a great team. I would teach and he would add a story or two from his own life experiences. The kids related well to his stories too. The kids knew we were there for them....anytime.
Usually over the summer months we would cut back on our meeting times because of vacations and such. One week, close to the break, when the kids gathered to a Wednesday night meeting, I knew I had to talk to them. My own relationship with God was messed up as I had allowed too many outside influences to get in the way. I had strayed pretty far off the right path and knew I had to fix it. So, that particular night, I was honest with the group. I told them that I needed to step back as their teacher and work on getting my relationship with God back on track. This was very hard for me to do as I loved those kids, but as I told them that night, for me to be a good teacher for them, I had things to work on.
So....I decided to get serious with God. I sat down and repented of my laziness and my straying and asked God to help me. Yes, I read my Bible, but only to plan lessons for the kids. I was a slacker in that department for the most part. The next step I took was finding a study to do on my own. I found one of my favorite authors was starting a study through the New Testament, reading a chapter a day. She would put notes on the website each day. I began this study with her and took my own notes and compared them to hers. As time went on, I couldn't wait to get up each morning and dig into the Word. It became an addiction to me. I couldn't get enough of it. I can't explain it other than the Holy Spirit was working in a way I'd never experienced before in my life. This study went on for almost a year. It changed my life and how I read my Bible. It changed my outlook on this life in preparation for the next.
It had been told to me years later that parents should never be youth leaders for their own kids. I can agree with that, but at this particular time in our life, we were all our kids had. I wouldn't have traded those days or the relationships we built with all those kids in the group for anything. If I hadn't been in that position at that time, I wouldn't have known of my need for the Word in this very special way. Those kids and our God helped me see that.
As time went on, those kids grew up too, and the need for us to be leading the youth had not been the same. A lot of changes happened at our church during this time as well, so we didn't go back to leading them......however my desire for God and His Word hasn't gone anywhere. I know now that we need to study and learn all we can. We need to learn and apply what we learn to our life. One day we will answer to our God for our life on this earth. I believe that we will answer for how well we knew His Word. What excuses can we give a Holy God for not knowing what the Bible says and living by it? I can't think of any. Be faithful to Him. Let Him use you and study and ask questions when you don't understand. This is a good way to live. :)
Further verses --
2 Timothy 3:16
Colossians 3:16
Psalm 119:11
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Relationships
Ever put energy into people only to find their motives with you aren't what you expected them to be? That maybe their relationship with you wasn't as genuine as you thought it was? Maybe they were using you for personal gain? Maybe they found an easy target in your generosity to them?
I can say I've been on the receiving end of these types of relationships over my life. I'm not complaining as I put myself in the situations that led to such things. I am one to give people the benefit of the doubt and I am one to look for good in all people. I get told that this is not a good way to look at people around me as they will take advantage of me. Somehow, I know this, yet it doesn't matter. I can't change who I am or what I'm supposed to do for others. However, even though some think I can't tell the difference between someone who wants me around genuinally and someone who wants to use me, I can tell the difference. I just don't let on that I know and keep my guard up, usually without anyone knowing.
I've said before that I love meeting people and talking with them. Yesterday, I was talking to some people who were waiting for a loved one. I admitted to them I better go away from them as I tend to be a "yacker". They laughed but talked to me anyway. We talked about chickens and illness.....a broad spectrum of topics, but it was enjoyable. Now, I just met these people and they seemed genuine in their discussion with me about their life. No one asked for money, no one wanted to come home with me.....which has been asked of me before.....just getting to know someone else in a way I may never have been able to had we not been in the same place at the same time. Will I ever see them again, probably not, but it's ok.
Others I meet, relationships get established. We talk, message, text, hang out now and then.....but even these relationships can go sour even when you put time and energy into it. You could have the best of intentions in being with the person and think everything is going well in the relationship only to find one day things weren't as you thought they were with the person. This too is ok.
I believe we meet people and establish relationships with them because our God wants us to talk to people. He wants us to bring people in close to us and have attachments to them. We are called to share the gospel with people all the time. How can we do that if we don't ever talk to anyone? We have to use good judgement in who we allow closer than others, I guess. I've found this out the hard way over the years, but I didn't let it deter me from meeting and being close with others. I've found that if we let one wrong or failed relationship have a hold on us, and it causes us to withdraw from others, we are not living in the full potential God has for us. We are not doing what He has called us to do. Love Him, love others,and make disciples. If we let people and how they interact with us control our future with others, we are failing our God and His commands for us.
People and situations with them in relationships can be difficult, but at the same time, we grow and learn and can have beautiful relationships with others. A friend shared this verse with me today and wants me to remember it.....Matthew 10:16 - (Jesus talking)....I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
What this verse tells me is to have our guard up when it comes to people. Read them. Find out if they are legit in what they say and do. We have an obligation to spend time with people and love them, but that does not mean we have to be a doormat for them either. Do our part for God and one day He will be glorified in our actions. Remember in the end.....we will only answer to Him for our life and our choices.
I can say I've been on the receiving end of these types of relationships over my life. I'm not complaining as I put myself in the situations that led to such things. I am one to give people the benefit of the doubt and I am one to look for good in all people. I get told that this is not a good way to look at people around me as they will take advantage of me. Somehow, I know this, yet it doesn't matter. I can't change who I am or what I'm supposed to do for others. However, even though some think I can't tell the difference between someone who wants me around genuinally and someone who wants to use me, I can tell the difference. I just don't let on that I know and keep my guard up, usually without anyone knowing.
I've said before that I love meeting people and talking with them. Yesterday, I was talking to some people who were waiting for a loved one. I admitted to them I better go away from them as I tend to be a "yacker". They laughed but talked to me anyway. We talked about chickens and illness.....a broad spectrum of topics, but it was enjoyable. Now, I just met these people and they seemed genuine in their discussion with me about their life. No one asked for money, no one wanted to come home with me.....which has been asked of me before.....just getting to know someone else in a way I may never have been able to had we not been in the same place at the same time. Will I ever see them again, probably not, but it's ok.
Others I meet, relationships get established. We talk, message, text, hang out now and then.....but even these relationships can go sour even when you put time and energy into it. You could have the best of intentions in being with the person and think everything is going well in the relationship only to find one day things weren't as you thought they were with the person. This too is ok.
I believe we meet people and establish relationships with them because our God wants us to talk to people. He wants us to bring people in close to us and have attachments to them. We are called to share the gospel with people all the time. How can we do that if we don't ever talk to anyone? We have to use good judgement in who we allow closer than others, I guess. I've found this out the hard way over the years, but I didn't let it deter me from meeting and being close with others. I've found that if we let one wrong or failed relationship have a hold on us, and it causes us to withdraw from others, we are not living in the full potential God has for us. We are not doing what He has called us to do. Love Him, love others,and make disciples. If we let people and how they interact with us control our future with others, we are failing our God and His commands for us.
People and situations with them in relationships can be difficult, but at the same time, we grow and learn and can have beautiful relationships with others. A friend shared this verse with me today and wants me to remember it.....Matthew 10:16 - (Jesus talking)....I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
What this verse tells me is to have our guard up when it comes to people. Read them. Find out if they are legit in what they say and do. We have an obligation to spend time with people and love them, but that does not mean we have to be a doormat for them either. Do our part for God and one day He will be glorified in our actions. Remember in the end.....we will only answer to Him for our life and our choices.
Sunday, August 7, 2016
END
Everything in this life has an ending point. Not all of it is in a negative way, but ending is inevitable. When I think about my life, a few things come to mind.....
Childhood ends....
Being a single person ends.....
Being without children ends......
Jobs end.....
Owning certain cars ends.....
Living in the same house ends.....
School ends......
Band practices end.....
Living with parents ends.....
Our life before Christ ends.....
Our life on this earth ends.....
One story comes to mind also.....about a year into our marriage, my husband and I bought a mobile home, in a mobile home park. I had never lived in a trailer, but was ok with the idea. We bought a 14x70 single wide trailer with 3 bedrooms from my mother in law. She was getting remarried after the death of my husband's father, and needed to sell.....so we bought it. We lived there for 7 years. Our kids were really small back then, so the space wasn't an issue until they started to grow. 3 kids in a small area wasn't working too well. So, we decided to put our little place on the market. Actually we did this 3 times before we got a buyer. We prayed and let the results and our outcome to God in the whole thing, so when we didn't sell it, we knew the timing wasn't right.....yet. One day, a couple came along and wanted to buy it and move in ASAP. We had no where to go or any home even picked out yet, but the Lord was faithful in taking us to our new home. A brick semi-detached.....in another school district, but our 2 kids in school at the time were ok with the switch. Elementary school isn't as hard to adjust to change, I guess. The night before settlement, I had a flood of emotion come over me. Everything we owned was in a truck, except a change of clothes and an air mattress. I remember sitting with my husband in our little kitchen crying....asking him what happens if we don't like the new house? What happens if we hate it and can never return to this little house we loved so much? I accepted Christ in the kitchen of this place. Our youngest child was the only kid brought home from the hospital to this house. Our neighbors in the park were like family. We had great times in that trailer, but it was time to move on. My husband assured me that we would be ok and love the new house just as much as this one we were leaving. I trusted him and got myself together....haha. The next day we had our settlement and moved to the new house. We were just fine in that new house and adjusted well to our new surroundings. God had his hand in all of our adventures in selling and buying the new home. The point of this story is that even though our time in that little trailer had ended, something wonderful was just beginning.
With every end is a new beginning. Everything I listed is true in that it ends, but something always begins. If my childhood didn't end at some point, I wouldn't have got married, or had a family. If I didn't quit a certain job, I wouldn't have a job I love now. If I wouldn't have accepted Jesus in the kitchen of my trailer, I wouldn't know the love of my Savior and be destined for hell. All these beginnings are wonderful.
What about your "ends"? Do you have great beginnings once things ended in your life? What about the end of this life on earth? That's the final end to our physical life and the beginning of our eternal life. Do you know who you serve and love? Do you know who you will spend eternity with? Do you realize the decision you make today for or against Jesus has the only impact on your eternity? Do you realize Jesus is waiting for you with open arms?
The Bible tells us that all the days ordained (given) to us were written in your book before one of them came to be.....Psalm 139:16
Job 14:5 says that man's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and set limits he cannot exceed.
What both of these verses tell us is that our days were numbered before we were born and nothing we do can add to the time we are destined to have on this earth.
God has full control of the universe. He knows everything and is in everything.
With that being said, there is no time like NOW to get right with God. Don't have an ending without a beautiful beginning.
John 3:16-17 - check it out!!
Childhood ends....
Being a single person ends.....
Being without children ends......
Jobs end.....
Owning certain cars ends.....
Living in the same house ends.....
School ends......
Band practices end.....
Living with parents ends.....
Our life before Christ ends.....
Our life on this earth ends.....
One story comes to mind also.....about a year into our marriage, my husband and I bought a mobile home, in a mobile home park. I had never lived in a trailer, but was ok with the idea. We bought a 14x70 single wide trailer with 3 bedrooms from my mother in law. She was getting remarried after the death of my husband's father, and needed to sell.....so we bought it. We lived there for 7 years. Our kids were really small back then, so the space wasn't an issue until they started to grow. 3 kids in a small area wasn't working too well. So, we decided to put our little place on the market. Actually we did this 3 times before we got a buyer. We prayed and let the results and our outcome to God in the whole thing, so when we didn't sell it, we knew the timing wasn't right.....yet. One day, a couple came along and wanted to buy it and move in ASAP. We had no where to go or any home even picked out yet, but the Lord was faithful in taking us to our new home. A brick semi-detached.....in another school district, but our 2 kids in school at the time were ok with the switch. Elementary school isn't as hard to adjust to change, I guess. The night before settlement, I had a flood of emotion come over me. Everything we owned was in a truck, except a change of clothes and an air mattress. I remember sitting with my husband in our little kitchen crying....asking him what happens if we don't like the new house? What happens if we hate it and can never return to this little house we loved so much? I accepted Christ in the kitchen of this place. Our youngest child was the only kid brought home from the hospital to this house. Our neighbors in the park were like family. We had great times in that trailer, but it was time to move on. My husband assured me that we would be ok and love the new house just as much as this one we were leaving. I trusted him and got myself together....haha. The next day we had our settlement and moved to the new house. We were just fine in that new house and adjusted well to our new surroundings. God had his hand in all of our adventures in selling and buying the new home. The point of this story is that even though our time in that little trailer had ended, something wonderful was just beginning.
With every end is a new beginning. Everything I listed is true in that it ends, but something always begins. If my childhood didn't end at some point, I wouldn't have got married, or had a family. If I didn't quit a certain job, I wouldn't have a job I love now. If I wouldn't have accepted Jesus in the kitchen of my trailer, I wouldn't know the love of my Savior and be destined for hell. All these beginnings are wonderful.
What about your "ends"? Do you have great beginnings once things ended in your life? What about the end of this life on earth? That's the final end to our physical life and the beginning of our eternal life. Do you know who you serve and love? Do you know who you will spend eternity with? Do you realize the decision you make today for or against Jesus has the only impact on your eternity? Do you realize Jesus is waiting for you with open arms?
The Bible tells us that all the days ordained (given) to us were written in your book before one of them came to be.....Psalm 139:16
Job 14:5 says that man's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and set limits he cannot exceed.
What both of these verses tell us is that our days were numbered before we were born and nothing we do can add to the time we are destined to have on this earth.
God has full control of the universe. He knows everything and is in everything.
With that being said, there is no time like NOW to get right with God. Don't have an ending without a beautiful beginning.
John 3:16-17 - check it out!!
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Disciplines #6
UNITY - I love this word. It means we are all one....united together. Everyone on the same page and have a common bond. That bond within the church is Jesus. We all love and adore our Savior and delight in Him as well as each other. We all live in harmony with the desire to be one in Jesus.
When I think of unity 2 things come to my mind. First, In my job (and I know I go on and on about it), we have unity when a serious situation comes in.....like a cardiac arrest. When I was in housekeeping, I would clean the rooms around the arrest and just stand in awe of how everyone pulled together for the good of the patient. No one competed with the other to do anything. Everyone knew their role and just did what they needed to. Now, I am on the other side in the middle of the arrest, and I have my part to do in the patient's care, as well as the others. We all know who is doing what. No one competes with anyone and the unity displayed for the best interest of the patient is something I will always remember. There is no arrogance between the doctors or nurses or techs.....just working as one body to help the patient. This is amazing to me.
The second thing that comes to mind is my church family. The unity we have is somewhat the same as my work family. We pray for each other, and worship together. We know each other. When someone is struggling, or in need, we all pull together for them. The Bible tells us in John 17:21 that we are to be the body of Jesus on this earth so the world can know and believe in Jesus.
Having unity and love among fellow believers is a way the world will know who we belong to and recognize Jesus.
Ephesians 4:4-6 tells us that we are one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all, and in all.
These are amazing texts. This is telling us that we were never called into the Christian life to carry it out alone. We were never meant to be a lone wolf and serve Christ by ourselves. We are to be unified in a body of believers to build each other up and hold each other accountable. We are called to be like Jesus. Some friends and I have been adventuring out to meet new people and ask if we can lift them up in prayer. This has been a very encouraging thing for me. Meeting new people is always fun for me and when they respond in wanting prayer, it lets us know the door is opened for further connections with them. We go as a small group. We work together. We know the other ones strengths and go along with it. No competition, we just have Jesus as the focus and let God do the work through the ones he puts in our path. Maybe others will join us in this mission?
In closing.....Psalm 133:1 says that it is good and pleasant when brothers (and sisters in Christ) dwell in unity. Good and pleasant. This is a discipline that is close to me. Unity is something we can work at together. It is a command by God to be unified in our life with Him and other believers. Amen.
When I think of unity 2 things come to my mind. First, In my job (and I know I go on and on about it), we have unity when a serious situation comes in.....like a cardiac arrest. When I was in housekeeping, I would clean the rooms around the arrest and just stand in awe of how everyone pulled together for the good of the patient. No one competed with the other to do anything. Everyone knew their role and just did what they needed to. Now, I am on the other side in the middle of the arrest, and I have my part to do in the patient's care, as well as the others. We all know who is doing what. No one competes with anyone and the unity displayed for the best interest of the patient is something I will always remember. There is no arrogance between the doctors or nurses or techs.....just working as one body to help the patient. This is amazing to me.
The second thing that comes to mind is my church family. The unity we have is somewhat the same as my work family. We pray for each other, and worship together. We know each other. When someone is struggling, or in need, we all pull together for them. The Bible tells us in John 17:21 that we are to be the body of Jesus on this earth so the world can know and believe in Jesus.
Having unity and love among fellow believers is a way the world will know who we belong to and recognize Jesus.
Ephesians 4:4-6 tells us that we are one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all, and in all.
These are amazing texts. This is telling us that we were never called into the Christian life to carry it out alone. We were never meant to be a lone wolf and serve Christ by ourselves. We are to be unified in a body of believers to build each other up and hold each other accountable. We are called to be like Jesus. Some friends and I have been adventuring out to meet new people and ask if we can lift them up in prayer. This has been a very encouraging thing for me. Meeting new people is always fun for me and when they respond in wanting prayer, it lets us know the door is opened for further connections with them. We go as a small group. We work together. We know the other ones strengths and go along with it. No competition, we just have Jesus as the focus and let God do the work through the ones he puts in our path. Maybe others will join us in this mission?
In closing.....Psalm 133:1 says that it is good and pleasant when brothers (and sisters in Christ) dwell in unity. Good and pleasant. This is a discipline that is close to me. Unity is something we can work at together. It is a command by God to be unified in our life with Him and other believers. Amen.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
DIsciplines #5
Accountability Partner - This is a Christian person who you would be totally honest with at all times. This person would know of your struggles, sin, temptations, and shame. This person would point you back to Christ in a godly, caring way. This person would not get caught up in the sin with you, but rather hold you accountable for your actions. What does this look like? And how is holding someone accountable different than judging someone?
I've had a few people in my life that call me out on my messes. At the time they acknowledge my sin and mess, they tell me about it and it hurts. It feels awful at the time. This is not pleasant. This is accountability. This is someone loving me enough to set me straight. Sin leads us away from God. Sometimes the sin is so pleasurable and subtle, we don't realize we are being mislead down the wrong path.....until it's too late. What happens when we are lead astray? We fall and hurt our witness for Jesus. This makes me sad. An accountability partner can help me not get too far from my Father. The key to a good relationship with an accountability partner is an open and honest one. Being able to share secrets and struggles with another you trust is wonderful, but that person has to be let in to be able to do what they have to to keep you straight. If you won't share with the person, there is no point. They are not mind readers and don't have secret access to God on your behalf. They need information that only you can give. Then the hard work can begin.
I had a friend once that I thought was a good enough Christian friend to me, that I could tell things to and hold her accountable. In turn I wanted her to do the same for me. However, when it came down to it, when I recognized she was not on the right track, I told her about it. I did this in a loving way of course and asked her to do the same for me as I wanted someone to look out for me too. She didn't accept this as a good thing. She accepted it as a "judgement" and wasn't too happy with what I was saying or why I was saying it. I tried to explain that once we make a profession of faith in Jesus, get baptized, and become a member of a local church, we are obligated to watch and help each other stay on track. This is not judging in a way she thought. This was love. Me loving her enough to help her stay in fellowship with our God. Me loving her more than myself to help her. Me looking out for her best interest in Christian love and accountability. All this was misunderstood......so I backed off and didn't say anything anymore.
I've had a few instances of times where I was dead wrong in how I acted toward people in my church family. I got called out on this a few times by people looking out for me. People loving me enough to tell me and help me get straight with God. People who know what it's like to get off the path and how to get back on. See....when we choose to sin and feel we don't need anyone to help us, we are being arrogant. There is no place for arrogance in the Christian life. We think we don't need anyone and "only God can judge me". This is true. In the end God will judge us, but for me, I would rather someone tell me I'm screwing up in this life and get right with a holy God BEFORE my judgement day comes. The judgement he hands out isn't roses and rainbows.....if you know what I mean. My good elder friend at church reminded me the other day that all sin needs confessed and repented of.....daily, sometimes hourly. To do this....go to 1 John 1:9. "If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness". Confess and repent. Simple as that. Having someone help us do this is amazing and just what our God wants us to do. We were never meant to go through this life alone. We need each other. We need each other to stay straight. We need accountability. We are to be in a Christian community of believers so we can all hold each other accountable.
Further verses - James 5:16
Galatians 6:1-2
Hebrews 3:13
I've had a few people in my life that call me out on my messes. At the time they acknowledge my sin and mess, they tell me about it and it hurts. It feels awful at the time. This is not pleasant. This is accountability. This is someone loving me enough to set me straight. Sin leads us away from God. Sometimes the sin is so pleasurable and subtle, we don't realize we are being mislead down the wrong path.....until it's too late. What happens when we are lead astray? We fall and hurt our witness for Jesus. This makes me sad. An accountability partner can help me not get too far from my Father. The key to a good relationship with an accountability partner is an open and honest one. Being able to share secrets and struggles with another you trust is wonderful, but that person has to be let in to be able to do what they have to to keep you straight. If you won't share with the person, there is no point. They are not mind readers and don't have secret access to God on your behalf. They need information that only you can give. Then the hard work can begin.
I had a friend once that I thought was a good enough Christian friend to me, that I could tell things to and hold her accountable. In turn I wanted her to do the same for me. However, when it came down to it, when I recognized she was not on the right track, I told her about it. I did this in a loving way of course and asked her to do the same for me as I wanted someone to look out for me too. She didn't accept this as a good thing. She accepted it as a "judgement" and wasn't too happy with what I was saying or why I was saying it. I tried to explain that once we make a profession of faith in Jesus, get baptized, and become a member of a local church, we are obligated to watch and help each other stay on track. This is not judging in a way she thought. This was love. Me loving her enough to help her stay in fellowship with our God. Me loving her more than myself to help her. Me looking out for her best interest in Christian love and accountability. All this was misunderstood......so I backed off and didn't say anything anymore.
I've had a few instances of times where I was dead wrong in how I acted toward people in my church family. I got called out on this a few times by people looking out for me. People loving me enough to tell me and help me get straight with God. People who know what it's like to get off the path and how to get back on. See....when we choose to sin and feel we don't need anyone to help us, we are being arrogant. There is no place for arrogance in the Christian life. We think we don't need anyone and "only God can judge me". This is true. In the end God will judge us, but for me, I would rather someone tell me I'm screwing up in this life and get right with a holy God BEFORE my judgement day comes. The judgement he hands out isn't roses and rainbows.....if you know what I mean. My good elder friend at church reminded me the other day that all sin needs confessed and repented of.....daily, sometimes hourly. To do this....go to 1 John 1:9. "If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness". Confess and repent. Simple as that. Having someone help us do this is amazing and just what our God wants us to do. We were never meant to go through this life alone. We need each other. We need each other to stay straight. We need accountability. We are to be in a Christian community of believers so we can all hold each other accountable.
Further verses - James 5:16
Galatians 6:1-2
Hebrews 3:13
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Disciplines #4
Simplicity - What do we know about simplicity? Well, if you are like me, I have to look up a lot of words, then process the meanings, then think about them in relevancy to my life.......the dictionary has become my friend. :)
So this word basically means to be simple, to simplify, to make things easy to understand. I'm all about that because my brain only understands "simple" a lot of the time anyway. In the past two weeks I have managed to have a stick fall on my head and run into a stationary item on a wall. So, if I keep taking hits to my head, simple has to be the way to go.
This discipline is for us to "uncomplicate and untangle my life so I can focus on what really matters. Learning to live simply prepares us for our last breath and gives us freedom to live here and now." (This is quoted from the book I borrowed quite awhile ago). So what is this definition saying? And how does it compare to the dictionary? Let me think about this.
Philippians 4:11-12 - Paul is telling the church of Phillipi that he has learned to be content with little and with much, whatever the circumstances. So, living simply is just that. Being content with what we have at the moment. You never know when it will be taken from you, so to put a lot of effort into owning "things" in this life maybe not worth the effort. I have lived this one out personally in the past few years, so I can relate to this statement.
Matthew 6:19-21 - Jesus tells us Himself NOT to store up treasures here on this earth, but to store treasures in heaven. What this means is we should not get caught up in owning a lot of "things", but to focus on building our "heavenly treasures" instead. Those things are.....making disciples, praying, telling people the gospel, being kind, practicing the "fruits of the Spirit", holding true to the Bible, reading and studying the Word,.....all these things build our heavenly treasures and they are worth so much more than the earthly ones we have. Yes we need a roof over our head, food to eat, clothes to wear, cars to drive.....I'm just saying all the "extra" things we take for granted may not be as necessary as we think they are.
So, how does living simply prepare us for our last breath? Well.....I think of it this way. I am around death more than I like to admit. I've been with people when they take their last breath, and this makes me wonder now what they have in their life that will be passed on to the rest of the family? Do they have any family? How will the family carry on without them? Did they store up treasures in heaven? Or, do they own nothing as maybe they were homeless? This is something to think about now in reading about this discipline. Leaving a legacy for your kids/family is important, but a legacy doesn't have to be in material things. It should be in our character, our well being, our life. This really spoke to me today. Putting things in perspective isn't always easy to handle.....but so worth it when we can do something about it.
So this word basically means to be simple, to simplify, to make things easy to understand. I'm all about that because my brain only understands "simple" a lot of the time anyway. In the past two weeks I have managed to have a stick fall on my head and run into a stationary item on a wall. So, if I keep taking hits to my head, simple has to be the way to go.
This discipline is for us to "uncomplicate and untangle my life so I can focus on what really matters. Learning to live simply prepares us for our last breath and gives us freedom to live here and now." (This is quoted from the book I borrowed quite awhile ago). So what is this definition saying? And how does it compare to the dictionary? Let me think about this.
Philippians 4:11-12 - Paul is telling the church of Phillipi that he has learned to be content with little and with much, whatever the circumstances. So, living simply is just that. Being content with what we have at the moment. You never know when it will be taken from you, so to put a lot of effort into owning "things" in this life maybe not worth the effort. I have lived this one out personally in the past few years, so I can relate to this statement.
Matthew 6:19-21 - Jesus tells us Himself NOT to store up treasures here on this earth, but to store treasures in heaven. What this means is we should not get caught up in owning a lot of "things", but to focus on building our "heavenly treasures" instead. Those things are.....making disciples, praying, telling people the gospel, being kind, practicing the "fruits of the Spirit", holding true to the Bible, reading and studying the Word,.....all these things build our heavenly treasures and they are worth so much more than the earthly ones we have. Yes we need a roof over our head, food to eat, clothes to wear, cars to drive.....I'm just saying all the "extra" things we take for granted may not be as necessary as we think they are.
So, how does living simply prepare us for our last breath? Well.....I think of it this way. I am around death more than I like to admit. I've been with people when they take their last breath, and this makes me wonder now what they have in their life that will be passed on to the rest of the family? Do they have any family? How will the family carry on without them? Did they store up treasures in heaven? Or, do they own nothing as maybe they were homeless? This is something to think about now in reading about this discipline. Leaving a legacy for your kids/family is important, but a legacy doesn't have to be in material things. It should be in our character, our well being, our life. This really spoke to me today. Putting things in perspective isn't always easy to handle.....but so worth it when we can do something about it.
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