Monthly Archives: January 2015

Encourage Each Other

29 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by in Encouragement, Faith

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Do you have someone who encourages you, someone who helps you be strong in faith?

Paul was eager to get to Rome for some encouragement.

“For I long to see you…that you may be established; that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.”  Romans 1:11-12

We all need encouragement.  When we share how we are learning to trust God, we encourage each other. We help each other become more established in faith.

I received such a special Facebook message from a dear friend last night.  She said, “I know Jesus encourages me but could you please encourage me occasionally?”  My response, “Absolutely!”  I wanted to run right over to her house and give her a hug but I knew we were both already in our jammies and ready for bed.

Look for oppDSCN8260ortunities today to encourage someone. Share a bit of your own faith walk.  It will encourage them.  It will encourage you.

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Needs and Deeds!

23 Friday Jan 2015

Posted by in Compassion, Need

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I want to be fruitful today.

It’s easy to over complicate things.  Over complicating things makes us less likely to do them. Much has been taught in the Christian arena about bearing fruit.  But it’s really quite simple. If you want to be fruitful today, keep your eyes and ears open for a pressing need. And then do something to meet that need. Engage in a good deed.

The need may be big.  The need may be small.  The need may be that of a co-worker, a family member, a child, a neighbor, or even a stranger.

The deed may be big.  The deed may be small.  The deed may be for a co-worker, a family member, a child, a neighbor, or even a stranger.

Needs are everywhere.  If we simply take our eyes off ourselves and look at the faces around us, we will see a need.  And therein lies our opportunity! It may be as simple as speaking a good word to an anxious heart.  It may be as messy as stepping into a crisis.  The more pressing the need, the greater the opportunity!

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When you see the opportunity, ENGAGE!

Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful. Titus 3:14

Aargh! People Do the Dumbest Things!

20 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by in Forgiveness, Love

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The one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.  He must turn away from evil and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it. I Peter 3:10-11

Do you ever want to give someone a piece of your mind?  I do!  Sometimes people just do the dumbest things and I am dying to set them straight! I’m sure that once I get it off my chest, I will feel so much better!

But will I really?  Probably not.

If I want to see good days, I must use my words wisely.  I must hotly pursue peace instead of letting my hot spirit run my mouth.

The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.  Proverbs 17:14

He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.  Proverbs 17:27

Have you ever started a quarrel because you just couldn’t let it go?  And once the floodgate was opened, there was no stopping it. Everyone was drowned in hurt when it was over.

It’s okay to be hot.  Just be hot in the right way.  Control the heat instead of letting the heat control you!

Be hot in love for one another! And stay that way!

Fervently (hotly) love one another from the heart.  I Peter 1:22

Above all, keep fervent (hot) in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.  I Peter 4:8

at-the-crossWhen someone does something dumb to you, choose to forgive them. Choose good. Choose peace. By doing so, your love for them will stay hot!  And you will see good days!

Christ loves you with a fervent love! Love others the way He loves you! John 15:12

Serve With What You Have

19 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by in Rest, Strength

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How are you?  Are you having a good day or a bad day? And how do you determine if it’s a good day or a bad day?

I woke up around 3:30 am this morning and could not go back to sleep.  So I got up and went to work downstairs in my office.  I was able to get a lot done before lunch and felt like I was having a good day.  But then the early morning caught up with me and I felt exhausted.  Consequently, not much was accomplished this afternoon.  So now I don’t feel so great about my day.

What does the Lord think about my day?

…whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. I Peter 4:11

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.  Mark 12:30

Sometimes our strength is limited.  We can be physically or emotionally worn out. Isn’t it great that God does not ask us to serve with strength that we do not have? He simply asks us to serve Him and others with the strength He has supplied. He asks us to love Him with all our strength.

If you’re tired today, why not take this opportunity to sit down, rest and spend some time in His Word? The Lord wants us to come to Him when we are weary so He can give us rest. Matthew 11:28

Calling All Moms and Grandmas! (Part 2)

18 Sunday Jan 2015

Posted by in Children, Faitih, Prayer

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How do we pass on our faith to our children and grandchildren?

As Moms and Grandmas, we want our children to be successful and have meaningful lives.  How do we define success?  How do we define a meaningful life?  1 Timothy 6:17-19 sheds some light on these very important questions. We take hold of real life when we store up treasure in heaven; when we live for things that are eternal; when we live for God and fulfill His unique purpose for our life.  Matthew 6:19-24 

Passing on your faith is so important but it doesn’t depend entirely on you.  You can’t make your children believe.  But you can show them your faith in action.

First, nurture your own relationship with Jesus.  Kindle your own spiritual gift that God gave you when you believed in Him.  By doing so, your faith will remain alive and vibrant.  And your children will see you live out your faith day by day.  This is more powerful than anything you will ever say!

Second, teach your child the Word of God as you go about your day.  Watch for opportunities to share truths about God in a very natural but purposeful way.  Be diligent!

Third, pray for each one of your children.  Pray that they will be receptive to the truth of God’s Word.  Remember you can teach them, but ONLY God can reach them.  

file000507447844Let me encourage you, dear Mom or Grandma, if you have a child or grandchild that has not embraced the idea of faith alone in Christ alone for salvation.  Don’t give up! Keep on loving them unconditionally.  Don’t be a preaching mom, cramming the truth down their throat.  Instead, be a loving praying mom. Pray for special opportunities to share what God is doing in your life. Trust God to reach them!

Calling All Moms and Grandmas!

17 Saturday Jan 2015

Posted by in Faith, Parenting, Purpose

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Moms and Grandmas, do you know how important you are? You play a vital role in the work of God and the spreading of the gospel.  When you’re wiping runny little noses, cleaning up dried on food, and hauling your kids here and there, you may not feel like you are making a difference – but you are. You may feel insignificant – but nothing could be farther from the truth.

Grandma Lois and mother Eunice had sincere faith.  They had the kind of faith that was real.  They not only talked about their faith but they demonstrated it in their every day life. 2 Timothy 1:5

And they taught their little Timothy the Scripture. They knew Scripture was able to give little Timothy the wisdom that would lead him to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. They knew Scripture would make him adequate (complete) and equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15-17

At some point in time, Timothy, like his Grandma Lois and mother Eunice, also came to have sincere faith.  He became convinced of the things he had been taught as a child. His faith became his own. And he went on to become an evangelist, spreading the gospel of Christ. 2 Timothy 3:14

file0001431778413Mom, you are important. Grandma, you are important.  God has positioned both of you right where you are – a position of utmost importance. He has given you the very children and grandchildren that He wants you to influence.  He wants you to pass your faith on to those He has entrusted into your care.

So how do we pass on faith?  Let’s talk more about this tomorrow.

Sometimes I’m Afraid It Will Never Happen

16 Friday Jan 2015

Posted by in Faith, Gospel, Loved Ones

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I have loved ones who do not enjoy a personal relationship with Jesus. I have shared the good news with them – the news that Jesus came to reconcile every person to Himself by paying the ransom for all sin on the cross; the good news that Jesus wants to have a personal vibrant ongoing relationship with them. The good news that faith is the only thing required to enter into such a relationship.  I Timothy 2:3-6

But sadly, they do not believe it.  And I want them to believe it so badly. Sometimes I’m afraid they will never believe it. And that’s where faith comes into play.

First and foremost, I choose to believe that God loves my loved ones – even more than I do. Secondly, I choose to believe that God is eager to reach them – even more than I am. Thirdly, I choose to believe that God is able to reach them – because only He can.

God encourages us by giving us the apostle Paul as a demonstration of His perfect patience with those who are not yet believers.  When the time was right, God reached out and grabbed Paul. And Paul saw the light. Paul went from being a blasphemer to being a believer.  He went from being a persecutor to being a preacher. I Timothy 1:15-16

So keep on praying for your loved ones.  Keep on trusting God to reach them as only He can.  If you’ve already shared the truth with themfile000551198693 (1), shut up and love them as Christ has loved you. Trust God to reach them in His own time and in His own way.  Take hope in the fact that God is able to do abundantly above all we ask or think.

I’m Sick of Praying About This

15 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by in Prayer, Rest

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Are you in a situation that requires prayer but you just don’t know how to pray about it?  Or maybe you’ve been praying about something so long, you just don’t have anything else to say.  That’s okay.

Take comfort knowing that the Holy Spirit is praying right along beside you.  He intercedes for you with groanings too deep for words.  He intercedes for you according to the will of God. And if that isn’t enough, Christ Jesus is also interceding for you at the right hand of God.  Romans 8:26-27, 34

Rest, knowing God hears all our prayers.  Rest, knowing you don’t have to have all the answers. Rest, knowing God will cause all things to work together for good, even if you fall short.  Rest, knowing God will use these times to conform you to the image of His Son. Rest, knowing God is for you and will freely give you what is best. Rest, knowing nothing will ever separate you from His love.  Romans 8:28-39

Rest, He’s got it!

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Home Alone? Really?

14 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by in God's Word; Bible, Thoughts, Truth, Words

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Do you ever talk to yourself, silently or out loud?  I know I do.  I tell myself stuff all the time.  Just last night I heard myself say, “I’m home alone”.  And then I heard myself say, “No your’e not!  That’s ridiculous!  God is here with you.  And further more, you’re not even home yet. Heaven is your home.”  I just started laughing. God’s truth is so much better than mine – for so many reasons!

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Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.  Psalm 19:14

I need time in God’s Word every day.  I need Him to renew my mind so I can align my ideas and self-talk with His truth.  I see my life and my circumstances differently when I see it through His truth.

After my ‘Aha moment’ last night, I no longer felt alone.  Instead, I felt comforted as I rested in the fact that God is always with me.  And when I thought about heaven as my home, my ‘joy radar’ started going crazy!  Won’t it be wonderful when we get to heaven?  No more tears, no more separation from loved ones, no more sin, no more death, eternity with our Savior.

So let’s be careful how we talk to ourselves.  Let’s dwell on things worthy of praise.  Phiippians 4:8

Parenting is Challenging

13 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by in Parenting, Wisdom

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My niece posed a question on Facebook last week about whether or not parents should force their teen to attend church.  On another occasion, my daughter expressed how difficult it is for moms to figure out how much to get involved in because there is no longer a norm. So how do we figure it out?

One of my deepest regrets is how I parented.  I thought I knew how. But I was naive. I thought if my kids knew about God that would be enough.  I was wrong.

Being a homeschooling mother of three children, a pastor’s wife, and a piano teacher, I was busy!  Somewhere along the way, Bible reading became more of a duty than a pleasure.  Consequently, it became easier and easier to miss a day without spending time in His Word. Somewhere along the way, I became independent instead of more dependent on God and His wisdom.

I love speaking on parenting.  There is so much I would love to share, especially with young moms.  But the length of this blog does not permit it.  So for now, just let me say, seek God’s wisdom every day.  He alone knows your heart. He alone knows your kids’ hearts.  You need His insight.

Wisdom has built her house, … She has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; She has also set her table; … she calls from the tops of the heights of the city: “Come, eat of my food and drink of the wine i have mixed.  Forsake your folly and live, and proceed in the way of understanding.”  Proverbs 9:1-6 

The table is all set; the food is prepared; the invitation has been given to you. What are you waiting for?

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