Monday, December 30, 2013

Can I have a Redo!?!

I am getting more and more sporadic about posting on my blog - we'll just say I am hibernating! (It is winter after all, right!?!)  We had a great Thanksgiving and Christmas with our families.  How about you?  Was this holiday season hectic or relaxing?

This is what it looks like around the Farm here lately!

Todd and F.J., our new calves.
Salty.  She was the only horse that cooperated for pictures!

Coconut, Babe, Susie, & Benny!  We have had them for a few months, but they haven't visited the blog yet.

We were super excited to do a little decorating for Christmas.  It's so exciting!  This picture is of the basketballs and footballs our Home School Co-op purchased for our local Christian Care Center's toy drive.  We used some of the proceeds from a garage sale we had in October.  I am proud of all the kids who helped.  (We might have got carried away when we were adding icicles to the tree! LOL)


So Friday, December 6, was a big day for me.  It was my first time to go to a prison to minister.  I was looking forward to it as much as I was anxious about it.  The unknown is always a little scary.  I am going to write about my experience soon, but let's just say, I will definitely be going back again!


My sister-in-law, Ruth Anne, and I took our girls to see The Whimsical (Seussical the Musical) for the first time.  It was really cute and, as you can see from the picture above, decorated very festive for pictures.

What a great holiday season!

I have had something on my heart for a few weeks.  I keep writing a post about it, then deleting it.  Here is the problem, I hate confrontation with everything that is inside me.  I have a feeling some might see this as confrontational, but I suppose anything could be confrontational because everyone will not agree on everything.  I am simply trying to obey the Holy Spirit, even when I am unsure of the outcome.  I pray this is received that way. 

I have had the opportunity for mothers of young children to ask me for advice about mothering.  Not because I'm good at it (Trust me, I know my failures well!), but because I am very passionate about it.  My greatest desire in life is to please God in my marriage, and raise children who know Jesus Christ as their Savior and know the Word of God.  It seems simple, but I guarantee you it is very hard work!  You have to have vision and determination, because there is a constant pull on your life to be just like the rest of the world.  That road would be so much easier to walk down, because that road is wide.

The thing is, when women have asked me for advice on how to raise children who honor their parents and love God, I have skirted the one thing that I felt like I should really say.  I'd rather avoid confrontation and keep the peace.  Shame on me because the mothers were sincerely seeking advice!  Honestly, if I could go back and redo some conversations, this is more what it would look like.

If you want Godly children who trust that you have their best interest and future at heart, you have to raise them.  Y-O-U!  Not someone else.  Not the television or the gaming system.  Y-O-U!  I mean working day in and day out, putting every bit of effort you have in to helping them form a relationship with the Lord and cultivating a passion for His Word.

Here is a staggering thought: From Kindergarten to 12th grade, a child who attends public school is being taught by someone else for 14,000 hours.  Did you get that?  This gives them thousands of hours being taught a purpose for their life that someone else has come up with.  Our children are immersed in a society that says that education is all that you need in life to succeed, but THAT IS A LIE. 

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.  Acts 4:13

As far as I can tell from scripture, what we need to succeed in life is just to be with Jesus.

Here are some scripture to ponder on.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.


1 Corinthians 11:1
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
(They need to see God's commandments walked out day after day.  Children learn by example.)

Proverbs 23:26
My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

I have many women in my family who are public school teachers that I love and respect.  (As a matter of fact, they are some of my dearest friends!)  I know these women are good at their job and care deeply for their students.  We can agree to disagree about our educational choices, but we do agree on one thing and that is this: not everyone can or will home school.  This is not an attack on public school teachers or anyone who sends their children to school.  This is a suggestion for a mother who may have never thought about this option before.  I WANT TO MAKE THIS POINT VERY CLEAR.  (Keep in mind that this is my response to someone asking for advice.)   

I was listening to a sermon one day on how to disciple your children.  The preacher said that there is a call for Christian women to rethink the outcome of someone else having as much, or in some cases more, influence on your children than you and your husband.  This was very thought provoking to me.  If you are a Christian, who desires with all your heart to gain your child's heart as in Proverbs 23:26, one of the greatest way to do that is to be with them everyday, see their struggles, and help them grow into Godly men and women by training them in the Word of God.

Just to be fair, on the other end of the spectrum, you can have homeschooling parents who don't spend time in the Word with their children daily, or spend time giving them an education or Godly character, and that path is not effective either.  Maybe the parents think they are sheltering their children, but that is not what they need.  They need you to equip them for a life of serving Jesus Christ.   

So to the moms of young children who have asked me what I think I could share with them about raising children, this is my answer.......EMBRACE YOUR PLACE AS A WIFE and AS A MOM.   And, have you ever considered homeschooling?  No one cares more about your children's future than you do! 



Monday, December 9, 2013

Insurance Agents!

This post is by Jessica Honc!  She is so creative.  I guarantee you this will put a smile on your face!
 
 
TO MY FELLOW INSURANCE AGENTS:

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) 
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Our time on earth is too short to not have a sense of humor. J

I took advantage of the early morning peace today to clean out my wallet.  Soon I discovered that I have been carrying around an expired insurance card.  Oopps.  As I got up from my desk to get a more recent insurance card from my “Insurance Information” binder (I am a little organized), I noticed that my daughter’s goldfish had also expired.  Suddenly all of these puns began running through my head regarding the fact that all of us will eventually “expire”.  Our earthly bodies will someday die & then what?  Well, if you are smart enough to grab the FREE INSURANCE OF JESUS, then you are in the clear.  Your insurance policy will never expire, even after your earthly body is caput!  What a good deal!  I love a good bargain.

Like a good neighbor, JESUS is there. (State Farm)

When Mr. Mayhem / Satan appears, are you in good hands? (AllState)

15 minutes (of accepting the Lord as your Savior) can save you……forever. (Geico)

It’s at times like this, that you can set yourself apart. (MetLife)
Our business is salvation, and our customer is you. (Wellpoint)
Jesus brings peace of mind. (Chubb)
Let Jesus be your rock. (Prudential)
Helping people live an eternity in heaven. (United Health Group)
Here is my thought this Christmas season, we should all become insurance sales people for JESUS.  Now, I know insurance agents can sometimes get a bad rap for being too pushy, so we should keep that in mind while we are trying to sell the policy we currently have.  A good sales person can convince other people that they not only want, but they NEED the policy that is in front of them.  By showing others the light of Jesus that lives in us this holiday season and all year long, we can become the greatest insurance agents ever, and we won’t even have to have a cheesy commercial to do it.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
 

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Pour It Out!


What can I say today?  There is so much on my mind that I am not sure where to start or where to go!  If you see could see in to my brain, you would see the gears working double time.  I am pretty sure they are smokin'!  When my brain is working in overload, it has a hard time focusing on just one thing.  Please, someone else tell me you are like this too!  BUT, I am going to try to focus on one thing that the Lord is teaching me.  Hopefully, I won't chase too many rabbits. (There are no guarantees!)

If you have your Bible handy, grab it and a pen (or highlighter!)  Let's look at Matthew 26:6-13.

And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper,
a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil,
and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table.
But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying,
“Why this waste? 
 For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
10 But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman?
For she has done a good work for Me.
 11 For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. 
 12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. 
 13 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world,
what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

If you write in your Bible, then would you underline or highlight these two key parts: verse 8 and verse 13!  You will want to remember these.

Since my husband and I have led worship together since before we were married over 13 years ago, we have had a long time to study the topic of worship.  Today, I am going to tell you what I think worship is.

WORSHIP IS HOW YOU LIVE OUT YOUR LIFE BEFORE THE LORD!  It is NOT a song.  It is NOT a church service.  It is NOT if you are lifting your hands or bowing your head.  Worship is NOT confined to certain times in the week.  If you are a true worshipper that is described in John 4:23, you understand that worship IS a constant pouring out of your life before Our Awesome God and King!  If you know me well, you know I love corporate worship.....did you read that......I LOVE it.....but, church services are a very small percentage of my worship each week.   

(Just as a side note, I would like to say that our lives should be in a constant state of 'pouring'!  We need to be pouring our lives into others, just as we need someone to pour into our lives.....Titus 2 women!  This is just as important for older women as it is for younger women.)

One of the most important acts of worship a woman can do is to pour out her life for her husband and her children.  People WILL think you are crazy!  Some will even with good intentions, try to convince you that God has given you too many talents and giftings to waste it staying at home with your children.  Some will never understand your devotion to your husband.  They might not understand that it brings you joy to serve him and to honor him!  There are fellow Christians who don't understand this Kingdom vision. They might look at you and think, "Why this waste?"   

Sometimes worship is costly, just like the very costly fragrance oil in the text.  Mostly it is very expensive in the pride department.  Being a wife and mother is a process of constant humbling.  Everyday you understand Paul better when he said in Romans 7:15, " I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate!"  Anybody else ever feel this way?  Everyday I work at not being impatient ONLY to find myself having to swallow my pride (yet again!) and apologizing to my children or my husband for my failures.  The Lord uses this costly perfume for refining and growth.

Something I have come to grasp in the last few years is that God loves worship.  He loves it in song and He loves it in action.  What others see as waste, he sees as beautiful!  Women, when you feel tired and like you are doing this all wrong, you need to remember verse 13.

Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world,
what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

God loves your worship!  It is beautiful to the Creator of the Universe!  The perfume that you pour out day in and day out raising warrior for Christ that you think no one sees, TRUST ME, you have an audience of One!  The meal that you prepared for your family that no one seemed to notice you worked extra hard on, He knows!  The fact that you only had 3 hours of sleep last night because of a fussy baby and still need to do everything you normally do on 8 hours of sleep, God sees your sacrifice of worship, and He knows that you did it for Him and for His kingdom!   

Worship freely without hesitation and without expecting anything in return in the moment, because the Lord is making it known wherever the Gospel is preached, and He is our reward!  Hallelujah! 

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Wedded Wednesday:Let Them Lead


I have written about 4 posts today, deleted them, and started over.  I have a lot of thoughts swimming around in my head and am having a hard time sticking to one subject.  I have really one thing I want to blog about but I have a feeling it might step on a few toes.  I usually avoid controversial issues, but here goes.  Short and straight to the point.
 
Most of you know that Billy Joe has been praying about some decisions he needs to make.  I have had a few women ask me how I feel about it, and then tell me I need to encourage him to do what I think (or feel) he should do.  I do not agree with that.  As a matter of fact, I think that is dangerous ground to tread on. 
 
My husband is a godly man who is wise and steady as a rock.  He is the head of our house PERIOD.  I will not manipulate him or claim to be more spiritual than he is.  The directions the Lord has given me is to "Be still. Be quiet. Wait."  That is what I will do.
 
There is nothing worse to me than Christian women who claim to be godly wives that manipulate and lie to their husband to get their way.  The bad thing about it is that they do it so much, they start to believe that they are doing the right thing.  I have learned that if I truly want to be a blessing to my husband, I need to learn to shut up more. (I'm working on it!  I'd probably be a blessing to everyone if I shut up more! LOL!)   Either He is my spiritual authority, or he isn't.  I believe that he is more than capable of leading my family.  I also know that he is the one held responsible by God for the way he leads, not me.  (And I am thankful to not have that responsibility.)   
 
Proverbs 19:4 says, "Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord."  Prudent means acting with or showing care or thought to the future.  When a wife acts on emotion (or impulse) with no thought to the consequences of her actions or words....SHE IS A FOOL! 
 
I am embarrassed to admit it, but I have been the cause of most of the arguments in the 13 years we have been married.  Most of them were over some stupid thing I had done or said because of an emotion I had.  Emotions are not always to be trusted.  Men are not generally led by emotion.  I believe it is a trait that makes them able to make sound decisions. 
 
If we want to be an "Excellent Wife" as Proverbs 12:4 describes, we must learn to trust our husbands and LET THEM LEAD.             
 
 


Tuesday, November 12, 2013

THIS IS OUR TIME!


THIS IS OUR TIME!  I keep hearing my Pastor say this.....and I BELIEVE HIM!  This is our window of opportunity!  We're alive and breathing!  We have the ability to worship and serve the Lord!

The blog entry from today are notes that I took on a sermon preached by my Pastor, Shannon Kilpatrick, June 3, 2012.  This sermon was very powerful, and I can remember it like it was yesterday.  Like I said, these are just my notes, but I still like to read over them every now and then to remind myself that this is MY TIME!  (It also reminds me how blessed I am to sit under such a Godly man!)

1 Corinthians 16

Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia). 

And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you may send me on my journey, wherever I go.

For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you,
if the Lord permits.

But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. 

For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.


Paul had a window. Verse 9 says for a great and effective door has been opened!  Paul knew he was in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing!

Noah had his window.  He lived in a world where everything had gone wrong-the scriptures say their hearts have continually turned to evil.  His opportunity to came and Noah obeyed.  He built the ark, preached, yet never had a convert.

Moses door opened when he was 80 years old.  It says that he saw a fire and HE TURNED ASIDE-walking through his door!  Moses made every excuse to try to get out of it.  He had a choice to cease the opportunity, and he went.

Think about other great leaders and their windows of opportunity.  Joshua!  Esther!  David!  What about the apostles!?!  Acts 1:4-14 is the story of the door being opened for them!  (Oh to have been there!)

OUR TIME IS NOW!

Revelation 3

14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness,
the Beginning of the creation of God: 
 
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 
 
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,
I will vomit you out of My mouth. 

17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing
’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 
 
 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich;
and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness
may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

 
This is the church dispensation that represents the "NOW"!  Be zealous and repent.  DON'T BE LUKEWARM!  The Laodicean church age is everywhere.  There's no respect for the Ten Commandments or Pastors.  We have an opportunity to have God's presence and anointing everywhere, but we have to be willing to sacrifice.

There are doors the Lord will open for you.  WE MUST BE IN TUNE TO WHAT HE IS DOING! 
1 Corinthians 16:9 says, For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.  I love what my Pastor always says.......The devil always overplays his hand.  Keep your eyes on the one who hold the Door open, and He will take care of the adversary!

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Wedded Wednesday


I have to admit I have really been slacking on my blog.  I didn't even ask anyone to write for Wedded Wednesday...ooopppsss!  So today, I have a video to share with you.  The video is of  3 couples.  Each of them has been married for over 40 years.  This is their marriage advice!  Love it!


Hope y'all have a great day!

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Love Letter!


I was reading through some of my favorite homeschooling blogs, and I came across the picture above.  I love this quote!  I immediately thought, "I pray that this is true of my life.  I hope that I give my Lord the freedom to write whatever He wants, not just what I hope to see." 

I hope that I am holding on to my children's unsteady hands, training them to write neatly and with correct form.  The only way I can do that is to exercise this everyday until they are ready to allow the Spirit of God to give them direction for what will be written through their lives.

Our children's character and their belief in our Lord Jesus Christ and His word is seen in how they obey and respect their parents.  If they believe the Word, they will know that even though they don't understand everything about the Word and Faith, if they Honor their Father and Mother, they are serving God.

I have found that when I start seeing a disrespectful attitude start to rear its ugly head, that I need to work on winning back my child's heart.  If they don't respect me, how will they ever learn submission to God or to the others that will have spiritual authority in their lives. 

Parenthood is all about the display of who God is to our children when they are young.  He is authority, but He is also mercy.  He instructs us, yet He blesses us.  He tests our faithfulness by giving us tasks to see if we are ready, and then He also knows when we need to stay in the same place for a little longer.  God is our defender and our protection.

Something that is not tolerated in my house is laziness.  I think that if children get to be lazy when they are young, they will be lazy as adults.  Not only is that hard for those who have to go to work, but more importantly it makes them apathetic in the Kingdom of God.  Lazy people are always waiting to see if someone else will do what is needed.  There is no time for that when the fields are ripe and the laborers are few. (Matt.9:37)  We need people with a desire to work and to do all as unto the Lord. (Col. 3:23)

My prayer is, that as parents, we will begin to see the task of raising our children with such great importance.  If you want your children to be loving and serving Jesus with a passion and zeal when they are adults, you better put the time in now.  Don't let Nick Jr. raise your kids.  Read the Bible to them everyday, and help them memorize scripture.  Don't give them the option to volunteer at church or with mission, use those times as training for the rest of their lives. 

Most importantly, don't try to train your kids to be something you are NOT!  If you don't put God first in your life, your kids won't.  If you don't get planted in a church and be involved in the vision and mission of the church, don't think that your kids will want to, or that they will when they are grown.  If you don't serve others, your children will want to be selfish too.  Be what the Word of God says, live it out before your children, and teach them to do the same!  

Monday, October 28, 2013

Get In Your Place!


Friday night I had a dream that I was sitting on the floor at my Pastor's wife's feet.  (Yes, she happens to be my mother-in-law too, but her role in ministry is significant to my dream.)  There were other ladies who are in leadership in our church sitting there as well.  She was teaching us.  As she would speak, crumbs would fly out of her mouth.  (She wasn't eating while she was talking!)  Each one of us on the floor had a tiny little brush and dust pan.  We would rush, trying to beat any of the other ladies, to get that crumb and put it safely away.  I woke up and thought, "Wow....that was really the dumbest and grossest dream I have ever had!"  Seriously!

That morning, I was reading 1 Kings 19.  In this chapter Elijah was running from Jezebel.  She had threatened to kill him because Elijah had killed somewhere around 450 prophets of Baal.  He went out into the wilderness and found a cave.......pretty much he was having a pity party before the Lord!  Then, we get to verse 11-12.  (I LOVE THESE VERSES!)

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain
before the Lord.”
And behold, the Lord passed by,
and a great and strong wind tore into
 the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord,
but the Lord was not in the wind;
and after the wind an earthquake,
but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 
12 and after the earthquake a fire,
but the Lord was not in the fire;
and after the fire a still small voice.
 
The Lord gives Elijah instruction in that still small voice to go back the way he came, THROUGH THE WILDERNESS, and anoint his successor.  I love that he also told him in verse 18, that indeed Elijah was not alone like he thought.  There were 7,000 in Israel, all whose knees had not bowed to Baal!  God always has a remnant....WE BETTER ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT! 
 
So Elijah, goes out back through the wilderness.  He finds Elisha who is plowing.  GET THIS.....ELISHA IS THE TWELFTH TEAM AND HE IS BEHIND TWELVE OXEN!  That will be significant in a minute.  Elijah passes by him and throws his mantle (or coat or shawl) and Elisha follows him.  Elisha is plowing one minute, then he is becoming successor to one of the greatest prophets who ever lived the next.  Eventually,  Elisha gets a double portion of Elijah's anointing because He won't leave Elijah. (2 Kings 2)  I LOVE ELISHA!

As I was reading this story Saturday morning, I knew what my dream meant as the Holy Spirit gave me revelation.  Those crumbs were Sister Julia's mantle, her words of wisdom, instruction, direction, correction, etc. that she was passing to us who are being raised up to be after her.  We would be wise to gather up as much as possible!  I would say that the majority of women who serve under her would say that we hope we are just like her one day!

The other thing the Lord showed me in this passage is about being in the place that the Lord has for us, being faithful, and waiting for his timing for our appointments.  If you remember, Elisha was way in the back plowing.  He was in the back of the back of the back....you get it.  A lot of times, Christians want to start out their service in the front.  IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT!  What if Elisha had decided he didn't like plowing that day, or that he wanted to be in the front.  What if he thought man it is too hot, the work is too hard, and I am really meant to be leading these teams instead of dragging in the rear.  If he wouldn't have been "IN PLACE"  he might have missed his opportunity.

God needs us to embrace the place that he has us.  Whether we are Sunday School teachers, clean toilets at the church, organize the food pantry, work in the nursery, serve in Africa as a missionary, or speak to thousands of people about Christ......if it is where God told you to be, he has not forgot about you.  He knows where you are.  He is waiting to see that you will be faithful with a little so he can catapult you to the next level.  Serve him joyfully where you are.  Don't decide that you want to do something else more or decide there are more opportunities at a church down the road.  Don't get angry and think no one recognizes your talent or giftings.  Wait on the Lord!  Don't get out of place!

We will all have our Elisha moments where we will be in the wilderness working and along comes an Elijah to pass on his mantle to us.  Where we step up to the next level in service to our Lord and anointing in our life. 

Believers, I have two things that I encourage you to do today.  First, glean as much wisdom from your spiritual authority as you can.  Accept instruction and correction without anger.  If you don't, you might find yourself displaced instead of in your place because of your anger.  Secondly, GET IN YOUR PLACE!  The body of Christ is one body.  It can not function without every organ, bone, tendon, etc.  Get there!  Be faithful!  Be patient!  The Lord knows when you are ready to go to the next level!      

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Catch Your Breath!

Today's post is by Naomi Chance!  I don't have to brag on her to y'all, because if you know her, you love her as much as I do!  Sometimes I wonder how I am so blessed to be friends with such a giving, caring, compassionate woman of God!  I know, I know....you get it.....I love this lady! 

Naomi Chance


If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath. ~Psalm 34:18 (The Message)
 
Have you ever had a hurt so deep you felt like you couldn’t catch your breath? Have you ever had heartache so brutal you thought you couldn’t possibly make it through another day? I know I have. God’s Word promises over and over to bring healing.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They ARE new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. ~Lamentations 3:22-23

I love, love, love this scripture!! It gives me hope in every storm that comes into my life. He sees ME! My innermost! There isn’t a sorrow felt, a tear shed or a groan uttered that my Jesus doesn’t know about. I will never be consumed by my circumstances!

As a believer I have 2 of the most powerful tools EVER!

#1 is The Word of God!
 
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. ~Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)
The Word cleanses our minds and our hearts. I don’t know about you, but I am a work in progress. He’s changing me from glory to glory every day! My mind and heart need cleansing daily. God’s Word is also POWERFUL! When a trouble comes it is what keeps my eyes fixed on the Savior. If Jesus can use it when being tempted by Satan then so can I!
 
#2 is Prayer
 
And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you. And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him. ~Matthew 6:5-8

Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not about religion….it’s about relationship.”  It is so true. We can SAY we’re a believer all day long but there is so much more to be had.  There is a Savior who wants your all (even in the storms of this life). He wants to take you onto Holy Ground! How can He do that if we don’t know Him or His will for us? A relationship is built on communication and quality time.

Time spent in The Word and prayer is NEVER time wasted…..EVER!

My Pastor says all the time, “Bad things happen to good people.”  Sounds so simple, but how true it is. Life isn't fair. But I am learning to always, always, always remember there is a greater picture I don’t see. Praise Him in your storm! There is a light at the end of the tunnel. You don’t know what He’s preparing for you. He may need you to encourage someone who is going through the same thing one day.
 
Wise men lay up knowledge ~Proverbs 10:15
 
He that gathereth in summer is a wise son ~Proverbs 10:5 

Gather wisdom and knowledge through your heartache. God wants to use you for His mighty glory! He will turn you mourning into dancing! (Psalm 30:11)
 
 

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Wedded Wednesday:Forgive How Many Times?

I asked Melinda Stanton to post for me on Wedded Wednesday, but she has so many great posts on her blog that I am sharing one of those!  If you are interested in working on your marriage, no matter how good or bad it is right now, you will find a lot of great teaching on Melinda's blog, Auntie Em's guide! 

Melinda and Randy Stanton

 Forgive How Many Times?

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21-22
 
Then Jesus begins the parable of the servants who owed money to their master; and the one who owed a huge amount was forgiven the debt; after which he choked and imprisoned someone who owed him a pittance. I’m right there in the cheap seats, cheering when the master called him back in, tortured and imprisoned him till he could repay the original debt. Yeah! You deserve it, jerk!
But then– you know what I’m going to say, don’t you? God whispers. “Ahem…. ahem… I forgave you a huge debt. Remember? Shouldn’t you forgive the pittance that you think you are owed?”
 
Finish reading this article at Auntie Em's Guide!
 
 

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Your Light Shall Break Forth!

 Where in the world has the last week gone to?  I have been a busy little bee.....but trust me, I have loved every single minute of it. (Well, except maybe the part I made 2 trips to the girls' dentist office an hour away!)  Anyway!  It's a fantabulous Tuesday afternoon and I am loving the weather!  I have a big pot of stew simmering on the stove and just a bit of time to spend with you before I have to get back on the road again to head to guitar/piano lessons.

This morning, the girls and I volunteered at the Hope Women's Resource Clinic.  We worked in the "Boutique" organizing and sorting baby clothes, blanket, and bottles.  They gave us a tour of the whole facility, and we got to meet all the staff.  They were beyond wonderful!  I just can't wait to go back.  As time will allow, I hope that maybe I will be able to become more a part of what they do there.  I was invited to come and train to do some one-on-one counseling, so hopefully after the first of the year I can. There are so many opportunities for volunteers there!  The picture below was taken with my phone, so it is terrible quality, but you can still see how excited my girls were just to be there!

 
Tomorrow morning, we were invited to lead worship for the Chapel service at First Baptist Academy.  There is something so sincere about watching little ones worship Jesus!  They don't know how to fake it or put on a show!  Eeeekkkk!  Busy, Busy, Busy!   
 
An update on the fundraiser (bake sale) that Naomi Chance and I did for Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes.......wait for it..............we raised $515.00.  Wow!  I would just like to say THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who ordered our baked goodies and donated to this great cause.  There is nothing more moving than watching the videos of children opening their shoe boxes and getting to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I will try to remember to post pictures of our finished boxes on here. (And yes, just typing that, I started crying!  Thank you again!)
 
So today, in my time with the Lord, I read Isaiah 58.  Do you have a few more minutes to spend with me?  I hope so!
 
Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?


Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?


Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.
“If you take away the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

10 If you extend your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the afflicted soul,
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
 
11 The Lord will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

12 Those from among you
Shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
 
This is what I am learning: If you want to move the heart of our Great God, become an advocate for justice and mercy.  If you want righteousness to go before you and the GLORY of the LORD to follow, be His hands and feet on this earth to those in need.  When you are saved, God has taken up residence inside of you.....thank you Holy Spirit!  If you stir up the Holy Spirit inside you, a little bit of service to God is never enough.  You start getting hungry for more.  You want to be in action.  Your life, your things, your time becomes easy to sacrifice when you are following hard after Him!
 
I want to be like the woman in Matthew 26 with the Alabaster Jar, the costly perfume, that she willingly poured out all over Jesus!  The disciples saw waste, but oh, Jesus saw love and worship from a sincere and grateful heart.
 
May my life be like that perfume as I pour it out before my Savior!  May no possession be more valuable than Him.  God let my heart be willing to make any sacrifice that will bring me closer to your feet.  Oh God, guide me continually and satisfy my soul.  Let the Light of Christ break forth like the morning every where I go! 

Father, increase your power and anointing on those who follow hard after You because with You, all things are possible.

 

 

Thursday, October 17, 2013

That's My King!


Happy Thursday, my friends!  Have I told you lately how very thankful I am for each one of you!?!  I have about 2 seconds to blog because I have a crazy day ahead of me!  Naomi and I are baking this morning, all of my girls have dentist appointments this afternoon, then Ladies Fellowship tonight at 6!  I love my CRAZY, BUSY life!

This morning I was reading one of my favorite scripture passages!  It is so good it's worth sharing no matter how many of y'all know it by memory.

  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, being in the form of God, did not consider it
robbery to be equal with God,
 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the
form of a bondservant,
and coming in the likeness of men. 
And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself and
became obedient to the point of death,
even the death of the cross. 
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him
and given Him the name which is above every name, 
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
of those in heaven, and of those on earth,
and of those under the earth, 
 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord, to the glory of God the Father
Philippians 2:5-11 NKJV
 
 
That's My King!
 
 
I pray that each of us have the opportunity to share the Good News with someone today!  May the Holy Spirit fill us with all boldness to fulfill the Great Commission!


Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Wedded Wednesday:My Lover-My Friend!

Today's post is by Josie Mathis.  Josie has been married to her husband, Michael, for 10 years.  Together, they Pastor the Jr. High Student Ministry.  Josie also sings on the Praise Team!  I love, love, love both of these wonderful people.  (I am pretty sure Josie gives the best hugs and it is always right when you need one!)  As a side note, you can read Michael's blog at Life is Sweet!  And I almost forgot, they are the co-owners of Mathis Family Farms.....THE BEST HONEY IN TEXAS!  If you haven't tried any yet, you are missing out.
Michael and Josie Mathis

Since I was asked to write, last week, for Wedded Wednesday, I have thought of a mirad of marital aspects. I told Tera I wanted to pray about what God would have me say, and I have, though my own mind continued to try to come up with a plan of its own. Lol. I must say, I find this is how most of my writings are. I plan for one idea and the Holy Spirit takes a different approach. So here goes...

My Lover - My Friend 

People marry for various reasons be it attraction, money, to get out of a bad situation, loneliness, and hopefully love. I married my best friend! And oh what a wonderful friend indeed! I am reminded of Song of Solomon-
 
The watchmen stopped me as they made their rounds, and I asked,
“Have you seen the one I love?”
Then scarcely had I left them when I found my love!
I caught and held him tightly...  
(Song of Songs 3:3, 4 NLT)
 
Michael and I have been married for 10 years and I can't imagine a sweeter friendship. I hold tightly to our friendship and the treasure God has given me.
 
Some wise women have taught me over the years, and this stays with me... Do not forsake your husband for the needs of others, including your children; because when you are old it is his love and friendship that will be with you.
 
How does one treat a friend? To have a friend you must spend time with one another, share interests, invest in one another. Friends support each other through good times, bad times, and all things in between. If we want our relationship with our husband to be strong we must nurture it. What are some ways to nurture that relationship, that Friendship?  I will share some of my own experience. 
 
As most, if not all, of you know, I have a very loud personality. However, my sweet husband, is quite mild mannered for the most part. In keeping with Tera's comments from last week- Do not think in any way that means he is not strong or does not have an opinion. He is most definitely assertive and strong willed when necessary. However, as his helper- and yes his friend, it is my responsibility and Joy to help him in any way I can. I believe as a wife we do have great power of persuasion in our husbands decisions, because they love us and cherish our opinions. But as their friend, we must not take advantage of that love and trust.
 
I know with my girlfriends, if I am shopping and see some treasure that reminds me of them, I'll buy it for a surprise for them. Why should we do any less for our best friend? I know we women like getting the little extras, but so do our men. (Even though some don't admit it! Lol) 
 
So I challenge you, find ways to show your husband how very special he is to you, especially in those times he is working extra hard for you and your family. Sometimes it is just the smallest kindness such as a little extra treat in their lunch, having their work clothes clean (and not still in the dryer- haha!), or maybe fixing their favorite dinner.
 
Most of all seek the one your heart loves! Continue daily, striving to win his heart again and anew. Be his best friend!! 
 
Of course I could go on forever,  but I leave you with this... Let this be Your testimony with Your best friend...
 
(Song of Songs 5:16 NLT)
His mouth is sweetness itself; he is desirable in every way.
Such, O women of Jerusalem, is my lover, my friend.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

The Persecuted Church


Last night, I was reading an article about the U.S. Army telling troops that American Family Association should be classified as a "domestic hate group".  This basically means that to them, people who hold to Biblical Christian values and "Traditional family values" fall under the same category as the K.K.K., Black Panthers, and Islamic extremists.  Is anyone really surprised that under this Administration we are seeing this?

You will not find this post to be all about politics, I promise.  First of all, I am not near intelligent enough to debate politics.  Secondly, I have one passion and His Name is Jesus!  He governs everything anyway!  I don't need to wait and see how this unfolds because I know the end of the story.....JESUS WINS!

The thing I want to talk about is the fact that I saw someone post on Facebook that the Church in America is under such persecution.  REALLY?  Apparently, the "American Church" has no idea what persecution looks like. 



In the world, there are approximately 60-65 restricted countries/states.  This means that these places have a government restriction on the Gospel of Jesus Christ being shared.  Of the 60-65, 2 of them are in Mexico and 2 are in South America.  The rest are found in the eastern hemisphere.  THE CHURCH IN THESE PLACES ARE BEING PERSECUTED.  What might that look like?  Believers are being skinned alive, burned alive, tortured, and made to watch their spouses and children tortured and killed.  If they are lucky to escape with their life, they are left with no shelter and no belongings.  Most of these believers meet in what is called secret church.  Most of them walk for hours in the middle of the night to meet in a secluded place to hear someone share the precious Words of the Gospel.  Some of these secret churches are lucky to have a Bible, while others have one page of the gospel that they tore out of a Bible before it was burned.  Real people smuggle in Bibles and provision to help the persecuted church.  There are people martyred every day!

These believers have made up their mind that at all cost they will not deny their Savior.  They are my heroes!  They can read the words of Paul and actually know what he was going through. 

I see a line in the sand for the American Church.  For far too long, Christianity has cost us hardly anything.  We have churches on every corner.  Some of them are much like attending a concert and listening to a feel good "talk" so we can have our "Best Life Now."  Very few believers are ever made fun of, much less persecuted, for their belief because the evidence is not there to prove that they might actually be a Christian.  It is time for the church to rise up in boldness and say, "No matter the cost, I will proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ." 

Oh that we would have the courage to say, " For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Phil. 1:21)  Get these words in the context they were written.  Paul was in prison in Rome.  (His first Roman imprisonment.)  He wasn't sitting in a McDonalds eating a Big Mac with his favorite soda or preaching to a large congregation in a state of the art, Billion dollar building.   

Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come
and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit,
with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 
28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition,
but to you of salvation, and that from God. 
29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him,
but also to suffer for His sake,
  30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me. 
Philippians 1:27-30 

If you are interested in learning more about the Persecuted church, check out Voice of the Martyrs and Open Doors International


 

Monday, October 14, 2013

Slave or Heir?


Yesterday morning, someone at church said to me, "Something has changed about you.  When you lead worship, you are different."  They are right.  Something has changed.  My perspective has shifted.  I used to serve God like I was always walking on egg shells.  I thought that I might make one wrong move and He would lift the anointing off my life and not use me for His kingdom.  I had a "slave" mentality. 

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the
Spirit of His Son into your hearts,
crying out, “Abba, Father!”   
Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son,
and if a son,
then an heir of God through Christ.
Galatians 4:6-7 NKJV
 
This is the shift: I am an heir, a child of God.  He is my Father and He loves me with the fiercest of loves.  He pursued me, in my sin and selfishness, because He knit me together in my mother's womb for the purpose of fellowship with Him.  The very God who spoke ALL THINGS into being lives right inside of me.  HE IS RIGHT HERE INSIDE OF ME!  I belong to Him!  He is my Father! 
 
I was thinking about this last night.  If you have children, you will relate.  Everything I have, my children thinks it belongs to them also.  That would explain why, even though my girls each have their own hairbrush, MINE is always missing.  My pillows, earrings, and socks seem to be fair game around here!  Do I share?  Yes!  Why?  Because these little beauties running around here aren't strangers, THEY ARE MINE.  THEY BELONG TO ME.  If I have something good, I share with them.  There is nothing that I own, no ability that I have, that holds any value that can be compared to the value of my children.  I will do whatever it takes to make sure their needs are met.  I make every effort within my ability to make sure that they know that I love them.  God, our Father, is like this, except His love is higher than any mountain, deeper than any ocean, unconditional, and far reaching beyond what our human minds can ever comprehend.  All the good things that He has, we can have it.  We get to share with him because he is our Daddy!
 
God doesn't use certain people because they won the Holy Ghost ticket.  He uses people because their eyes have shifted off of what they can't do, and on to their Father who holds the power to make all things possible.  The desires of their heart are taken over by the desires of the God who rules their heart.  Their limited vision is enlarged because the Father sees and knows all things, and they talk to Him all day long.  The Word of God is alive in them because the very one who inspired it, is in them as they read it, giving understanding and life.  If we want to be like these people, we have to grasp this.  All of God, all of His presence that we want to experience on the earth, all boldness, anointing, gifting, and strength is there for us to have!  We just need to step into our roles as Sons and Daughters of the King of the Kingdom.   
 
My prayer today is that we will see ourselves as God intended us to. We are heirs, sons and daughter, of the King who has already conquered death, hell, and the grave!  We are royalty!  We have Destiny! We have been set free..........................It is time for us to shake History!
 
   
 
     

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Thankful Day Giveaway!


Tuesday morning, my girls and I were doing school when we heard a knock at the door.  It was a precious lady from our church, Mrs. Virginia Gray.  (She is a widow and so special to us.  As a matter of fact, we live on her parents old homestead.)  She said that every Tuesday is her "Thankful Day!"  She brought us some Monkey bread just to tell us she was thankful for us.  Seriously, I almost cried.  So kind and considerate!  I thought it was pretty interesting seeing as just that morning I had been talking about James 1:27 and how WE should be taking care of widows, and here she was blessing us!

Kera, Kat, and Kelanie about to eat up the monkey bread!

So today is Thankful day.  I am thankful to God for salvation and mercy.  I am thankful for the many blessings in my life.  I am thankful for the many people in my life.  I am thankful that you spend time with me everyday!  LET'S HAVE A GIVEAWAY!!!!  I just want to tell you that everything in this giveaway was donated to me by Dale and Naomi Chance (aren't they the best EVER!)!  The prizes are below.

You can not tell by the pic, but this book is really thick.  It is collection of Naomi's favorite recipes that they
had printed and bound just for you.  They are yummy.
I could not make this picture turn to save my life!  Sorry I am computer illiterate.
Anyway, this is a beautiful wall cross with PS. 46:10 on it!

This is a cupcake recipe book with 500 recipes and a Sharing Plate.
All you have to do is follow the directions on the Rafflecopter to enter.  The giveaway ends tonight at midnight! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!  Ephesians 5:20