Friday, September 10, 2010
New Stuff
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Our Daily Bread
"Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel." Philippians 1:12
Why do I love this verse so much? Because it is a reminder that what we experience in life is not always our own. It is for sharing. Isn't it better to know that when we struggle, we do not struggle in vain? To know that the trials, tribulations and blessings of life can serve to further the gospel of and HOLY name of Jesus Christ?!!! This makes me happy! So, share your woes, without grumbling or complaining (Philippians 2:14) of course, in order that the gospel may be advanced. It is one way we fulfill the Great Commission!
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear of you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel." Philippians 1:27
I love this verse because I am using it as my personal challenge for the week. Or should I say FOR LIFE?! Two very powerful words 'WHATEVER happens' requiring me to always behave in a way that would glorify Christ and only draw people to him rather than create a foul taste in their mouths for his Holy name! O God, I am so guilty of not doing this. Forgive me! You see, it is true that for some, I am the only Jesus they see in a day. There is only one Jesus and I should show them the true Savior, not my own twisted version. Remember the old DC Talk album, Jesus Freak? It was in one of the speaking parts the voice says, "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians confessing Jesus with their lips but denying him with their lifestyles." Lord forgive us!
Monday, September 21, 2009
You know that feeling you get when....
Currently Pastor Glen is preaching/teaching a four part series on parenting. Can I get a HALLELUJAH?!? Yesterday was the first sermon in the series and the base text was Deut. 6:1-9. Now, I have to tell you that I know in my head and heart that the Word of God is living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword, dividing spirit and soul (Heb. 4:12) but I gotta tell you, it is so exciting when it really happens, when the Word that is being teached or spoken directly applies to your current situation. When Pastor Glen was reading Deut. 6:2 I had a, well I suppose you would say a breakthrough! Read with me: "so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life."
When I read that scripture there was one great phrase that stuck out to me: enjoy long life. Now anyone that truly knows me knows why that struck a chord deep within me. About ninety percent of the time, I do not enjoy my life as a parent. I have said it aloud, I have written blog posts about it, I have confessed it to God. But I realized that I am not spending enough time as a parent pointing my two beautiful children to God. And as was pointed out in yesterday's sermon, that is our number one priority as a Godly parent, that above feeding, clothing, and sheltering your children. I like the way that Pastor Glen put it: "Our number one priority as parents is to gradually transfer our childrens' dependence away from us and other things and on to God". I am failing at this and that causes a lack of joy in my life and in theirs.
I know that this seems like such a juvenile observation, but for me, it was earth shattering. If I am not daily pointing my children to God, no wonder I have loathed being a parent so. I was letting my number one priority slip. So now my prayer is this that God would repay us the years that (I have allowed) the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25) and show me what it looks like for me (us) to train our children in the way they should go so that when they are old, they will not depart from it (Prov. 22:6). I am full aware that this will require a lot on my part. But I am willing, for the sake of my children, for the sake of my Christ! Just look at these two beautiful reasons:
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Goodness of God
Sometimes we forget just how good God is amidst the constant barrage of sickness, disease, war, murder, etc. that seems to plague every newscast or ticker we see. But I have been reminded today that God is GOOD! Do you know what helped the most? I took time out of my day to meet with God. This is something that has become fewer and far between for me lately, regrettably so. But today, I quieted my mind and opened His Word and let Him speak to me. It was wonderful! I was reading I Corinthians 14 in The Message and I just have to copy verses 1-3 here because it is so powerful and if it can mean as much to anyone else today as it did to me, I wouldn't want you to miss it:
1 Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it—because it does. Give yourselves to the gifts God gives you. Most of all, try to proclaim his truth.2 If you praise him in the private language of tongues, God understands you but no one else does, for you are sharing intimacies just between you and him.3 But when you proclaim his truth in everyday speech, you’re letting others in on the truth so that they can grow and be strong and experience his presence with you.
If you need more examples of God's goodness today, check out this blog: www.unclenchedfists.blogspot.com
Happy Monday!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Long Time
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Cardboard Testimonies
http://www.rhchurch.org/pages/cardboard-testimonies/
I thought about what my piece of cardboard would say and I am still not certain. Though I think a good start would be "ENSLAVED TO BITTERNESS"
"WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS THERE IS FREEDOM"
See, from 2003-2005, I lived in a constant state of bitterness and anger towards my husband because he joined the Army Reserve in March of 2003. I felt abandoned and rejected and boy did I lash out at him and singlehandedly nearly destroyed our marriage. But then God spoke to me through I Corinthians 13, the Love Chapter. I realized that I was saying with my mouth that I loved Brian. But my actions were telling a WHOLE different story. The Word says "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." Wow, was I pounded with the knowledge that I was NOT living out love. With that revelation, I was delivered of my biterness. I won't say that it wasn't a battle from that point on, but knowledge is power, so with that knowledge, I was able to make better choices with my words and my actions. Wow! I hadn't intended to share this much when I began this post, but I suppose there is a reason for everything. What I had intended on sharing was the heaviness that was on my heart for my aunt and uncle today. My uncle is dying. His body is shutting down and has been for some time now, though he has greatly worsened in the last 72 hours. Please pray for comfort and peace for them. We are not praying for healing, because we know healing is coming: the ultimate healing. Not much of an ending to this post, I know. But it is all I have at this point.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Two MORE Pounds
FYI- if you are super interested, there is a ticker at the bottom of my blog that tells how many pounds I have left to lose. I am updating as the scale tells me too :)