Grow UP!

This weekend, we had the privilege of participating in the 2014 Walk for Life to raise funds for the Hope Women's Resource Center.  Our team from Freedom Fellowship had a great time!  We love babies, as you can tell from our ever growing nursery.  We think this is a cause worth supporting!

We won this prize for "Team that raised the most money!"

My daughter, Kelanie,  won a door prize!

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you

again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,

for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness,

since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature,

for those who have their powers of discernment

trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews 5:12-14

This past Friday I ate dinner with two of my favorite people - my sister, Amanda, and my close friend, Melissa Powell.  You can never be around Melissa without getting a good word straight from scripture.  She was discussing the fact that Christians need to mature and grow.  We can not be the same today as we were the day we were saved and be effective for the Kingdom of God.  It is all about getting yourself into the Word of God and growing.  AMEN!  Trust me, she could preach it!

This morning I was thinking about our conversation.  The truth of the matter is that a lot of Christians do exactly this.  They are saved........and that is it.  They believe in Christ, but never read and learn the Word for themselves.  They are content to be on spiritual milk supplied to them Sundays and Wednesdays. 

I will be the first to admit that I have been this childish Christian.

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.

When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

1 Corinthians 13:11

I grew up in church.  I knew Bible Stories that I learned in Sunday School.  I memorized a few scriptures like Genesis 1:1, John 3:16, 1 Timothy 4:12, 2 Timothy 1:7, and a few of the verses from the Roman Road.  I tried to start reading the Bible for myself when I was in high school, but my schedule was crazy with all my extracurricular activities and work (My thoughts on this is a whole other post! lol), and it had not yet become a priority.  My reading was sporadic at best.  Didn't I get the Word every Wednesday and twice on Sunday?  Surely I was growing!

Since I got married at 19, I have done countless Beth Moore/Priscilla Shirer/Christine Caine Bible Studies.  I have taken leadership classes at church.  I am an avid reader and read books about Spiritual Growth that has tons of scripture.  I read my Bible if I was studying something specific. And still, I didn't feel like I was growing to a maturity level I should be at for someone who was in leadership and had been saved practically my whole life.

I used the age old excuse that I wasn't educated enough to rightly divide The Word for myself.  I needed someone to teach it to me.  (Hello.....I have the same Holy Spirit as any other saved person.  He is my teacher!  Thank goodness, I know that now.)

It wasn't until about 2-3 years ago, that I became serious, I MEAN SERIOUS, about knowing the Scriptures for myself.  I wanted to know what and why I believe what I believe about everything: marriage, children, abortion, modesty, finances, salvation, baptism, gifts of the spirit, etc.  I became so convicted about what I had let become a part of my beliefs just because I was taught it and never looked it up for myself.  I was amazed how much of my beliefs were solely based on what was the norm or acceptable in the culture.  How scary! 

I have grown up spiritually in the last few years.  I am not easily persuaded to jump on any fad teachings or readily accept just anyone's teachings without lining it up with the Word of God myself. 

 Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,

to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by

every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him

who is the head, into Christ. 

Ephesians 4:13-15 

I am fully persuaded that there is an answer for everything in the Bible.  Now, I do not understand how we (Christians) could look like the world AT ALL.  I do not believe that in 1 Corinthians 9 when Paul says he became all things to all men, he meant that he started dressing like, listening to their music, use their slang, and rearrange what God outlined in the Bible so those people would come into the church.  God's Word gives us clear guidelines for how we should dress, how we should govern our houses and finances, what our priorities should be, how valuable our children are and how we should disciple and discipline them.  You name it, it is in there.

As I have learned to study the Bible, I have learned that I was not created to just live and get through life.  I was made to live life with purpose - to live life intentionally.  I learned my purpose in the Word.

I would like to encourage you, as Melissa encouraged me.  Get in The Word of God!  It is time for the Church to mature from milk to solid food!  We need to GROW UP!  

 

 

 



 

 

Radical Parenting!

What does the world tell us about raising children?  Children need the freedom to become who they want to be no matter if it is immoral.  Children are capable of making lifelong decisions, right!?!  Education will take them anywhere and must be priority.  Discipline of any form destroys children's self esteem.  They must be in every activity possible to feel like they have made accomplishments and so they can find out "who they are".  The list is endless.  When I start thinking about this, I am convinced that it is absolute nonsense.

For every book that tells you how to do one of these ideas, you will find another that contradicts it.  There is much confusion in the world over the best way to raise children to be healthy, "well adjusted" adults.  That confusion has infiltrated the churches, but it doesn't have to be that way. 

We don't have to try to chase these ideas to figure out the best way to raise our children.  The best book for child training has nothing that can contradict it.  The Bible is infallible.  Its words are proven through the ages.  This guide will never steer you wrong!

I heard it said my whole life that Christians need to read their Bible every day, but I knew few who actually did.  As an adult, I began to take on this wonderful task.  I love the Word of God.  It is life and breath!  The more I read, the more I love it.  Sister Linda Gilmore and I were talking at the Ladies Retreat.  She told me how much she loves reading the Bible and how she would have never made it through such hard times without it.  I told her that some days it is like eating chocolate cake.....it is just that good, and I can't get enough!    

A few years ago, I was convicted that I did not work very hard to instill a love for the Word of God in my children.  We went to church every time the doors were open.  We home school, so Bible stories and scripture are in their daily school work.  THIS WAS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH.  I did nothing to encourage them to have their own time with Our Savior everyday or take time to teach them to pray.  Maybe we think our kids will figure out how to do these things when they are grown.  Why do we allow them to miss out on years of precious time with Jesus and His Word?  

If we are to train our children, we must become instructors of scripture to them daily.  No matter your educational preferences, reading the Bible to your children is not an option.  (Well, it shouldn't be anyways!)  Memorizing scripture is just as important as reading it.  Psalm 119:11 says I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

We must not base our ideas of parenting on what others are doing around us, even if they are Christians.  Use scripture and trust the Holy Spirit to guide you.  If we are to be radical in our parenting, and to be intentional in raising Godly children, we must know what else The Word of God would say about this great task.   
         
Ephesians 6:4   Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.   

         

We must be reminded that we do not discipline out of anger or for the sake of making a child do what we want them to do.  We disciple, correct, and instruct our children so they will know what God wants them to do.  We are the Lord's tool to train the next generation of warriors.

 

 

Proverbs 29:15  The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.   

 

The small window of time we have with our kids goes by so quickly.  The sad thing is that most parents realize this all too late.  Technology and entertainment are no replacement for time spent with parents.         

Deuteronomy 6:7   You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.   

 

Diligence is defined as having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties.  If you read the whole text it is referring to teaching scripture to your children and to love the Lord with all our heart and strength!  A radical parent takes every care to nurture a child's relationship, as well as their own, with Jesus and with the Word of God.           

Proverbs 13:24   Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.   

         

Proverbs 29:17   Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.   

         

Proverbs 22:15   Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.   

   

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible says this about Proverbs 22:15. That is, sin, the greatest of all folly; this is naturally in the heart of man; it is in the heart of a child, it is in him from his infancy; it is bound in his heart, it is rooted and riveted in him, being conceived in sin, and shapen in iniquity; it is what cleaves close to him, and he has a strong affection for and desire after: the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth, ( Genesis 8:21 ) ; so that he is not easily brought off of sin, or becomes wise; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him; the rod used by parents, for the correction of sin and folly, is a means of making children wise, and of restraining the folly that is bound up in them; and of reclaiming them from those sinful ways, which the folly of their hearts leads them to, and so in some measure of driving it far from them.       

Psalm 127:3-5   Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Above all, we must remember that our children are a reward for us.  They are a blessing.  If we want them to be a blessing to others, we must train them in the way they should go!

 

Radical Prayer

It is my honor to have Sister Etta Rose as a guest writer today.  There are not enough words to tell you how much love and respect I have for her and her husband, Bro. Ken.  Bro. Ken serves as Executive Pastor at our church and together, Ken and Etta handle all the finances.  Mrs. Etta is also over our Ladies Intercessors Group that meets weekly to pray.  I have been to some of these meetings and I am telling you, the Presence of God is so strong!  There is something absolutely beautiful about the faith Mrs. Etta has that through prayer, God can and will do anything! 

 

Bro. Ken and Sis. Etta Rose

Tera asked me to write something about Prayer....RADICAL PRAYER!  My first thoughts were no way not me.....however....

I looked up the word radical & it means ...thorough; extreme.  Hmmm....thorough or extreme prayer! That sounds exciting and it stirs my soul.  So here I am doing what I thought I couldn't do....

A love for prayer and intercession is something that the Holy Spirit has placed in my spirit.
It was important to Jesus so it should be important to us!  I love to praise & I love to pray! The two go hand in hand.

The Holy Spirit is our teacher.  We are to allow him complete & total access to all that we are & all that we do.  When we are saved, we are not our own anymore. We belong to The Lord!
 

"Ye are bought with a price; be not ye

the servants of men."

1 Corinthians 7:23

So that means, our prayers are not our own either!

Ask The Lord to teach you to pray for the needs that touch His heart and to expand our prayer borders!  There are so many needs that it can seem a bit overwhelming for us, but the word says "He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we could think or ask." Ephesians 3:20

I have had to learn to get beyond praying just for me & mine.  They are important to me & they are important to the Lord, but He wants us to pray for so much more!  Our families, our communities, our nation need Jesus! We need revival in our land....

Jesus died on the cross for our sins, so that we could have the gift of salvation.  It is because of Him, and Him alone, there is hope for all of us!  He has given us the Power & the authority to go boldly before the throne of grace & lay our petitions before him.  These petitions are our prayers.

As the bride of Christ we have a call to prayer.  There is a big difference between a prayer life and a life of prayer.

What an honor & privilege it is to serve someone by praying for them.  We go before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords on their behalf...how awesome is that!!!

As we ask the Holy Spirit to pray through us & to show us how to pray, He does!  Sometimes, it is a quiet prayer, sometimes, it is a prayer that has no words, just tears or it might even be loud.  We have to trust The Lord with all of our prayers and remember that the results of these prayers are always up to The Lord!

"Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray,

and Cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice."

Psalm 55:17

There is power in prayer!  EXTREME prayer, with EXTREME power!  If we are crying out for a soul to be saved, shouldn't we be willing to go to the extreme?  If there is a need, shouldn't we be THOROUGH when we pray?  If we are crying out for one of our own family, there will be some sincere prayers lifted up, maybe even with tears.  The prayers will be EXTREME.  They will be THOROUGH as we cry out to our mighty God.  That's how we are to pray for for others.

I am praying that the Holy Spirit will teach us all to pray prayers that touch the heart of Jesus on behalf of others.  That our prayers will become RADICAL and that with our RADICAL prayers, there will be EXTREME power released bringing forth EXTREME, THOROUGH victories in our families, our communities and across our nation!

 " Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,

will draw all men unto me."

John 12:32

It says, He will draw ALL men if we will lift Him up.  That means the lost, the sick, the broken hearted, the bound up.....all men means ALL men!

Lift Jesus up...then watch and see what a mighty God we serve!

Week of Radical

A couple of weeks ago I did a post about being radical.  It was one of the most viewed posts here.  I have to think it is because Christian people are ready and hungry for something that is "more than this".  We read Acts 2 and it stirs us to want more than just church as usual.  We read Revelation 4, and it stirs our heart to reach deeper into worship.  We turn our Bibles to James 1:27 and read what the Bible defines as pure, undefiled religion, and we know we are called to do more than fill a spot on pew each week.  Digging into the Word brings life to Christians that otherwise would be stale and stagnant. 

When I read about Paul, I know that know that no mission God calls me to will be too hard, and there will be no trial I will have to face alone.  When I read about Jesus, I become fully aware of the magnificent act that transpired on the cross and how beautiful grace and mercy is.  I, also, know that if I want to do "greater things" (John 14:12) that Jesus talked about, I better get even more radical!  If I want to be like Jesus, I have to know Jesus.  I get revelation of Him through His Word. 

Radical- a person who advocates thorough and complete reform; an activist; revolutionary; reaching; wide-ranging

The theme to this whole week is going to be R-A-D-I-C-A-L!  Radical parenting, radical marriages (Wedded Wednesday), radical homemaking (Food with Friends!), and Radical Prayer.  In my life, this just means I am going to become even more revolutionary to make sure these things that I do, parenting, marriage, etc., line up more with the Bible than with the world's view of what they should look like.

Have you ever heard of Jefferson Bethke?  If you have, you have probably seen the video below.  If not, I hope you enjoy.

If you are reading by email or mobile device and can not view this video, check it out on YouTube.  It is titled Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus by Jefferson Bethke.

What do you think?  Here is something else to ponder on. 

How true is this statement!?!  If we want to not just play church, we have to know Jesus, know His heart towards people, know what stirred Him to compassion and what made Him angry.  If we are going to be RADICAL, we must get in the Word of God.  We must ask for a fresh revelation of WHO JESUS IS!  When we truly see Jesus, WE WILL BE LIKE HIM! (1 John 3:2)