Women: Support and Power

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
Luke 8.1-3

When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
Esther 4.12-14

Habari za asubuhi.(good morning.) slowly but surely some swahili words and phrases are sinking into my thinking. (i absolutely love it!) it's like waking in the early morning, going outside and breathing in a huge breath of cool, refreshing, clean air. like the rush you get after stretching first thing after climbing out of bed. like opening your eyes to see someone who you've not seen in a long time. like hearing the voice of a friend from your past. like experiencing your first kiss. like discovering you didn't wet yourself during your first rollercoaster ride. like the first time you rode your bike without help. like trusting your dad to catch you when you jump into his arms. like someone pushing you higher and higher as you swing. it feels kinda like that.

so these ladies are following Jesus because He has done something great for them. so why do they continue to follow Him? what draws these ladies to this man? we know a couple things: mary was cured of demons, and joanna was married and had money. but that's not it. we also know that these ladies helped support Jesus and the disciples out of their own means. that the catch. they used their money and resources to support Jesus and his friends. that amazes me, especially joanna. i wonder what her husband thought? i can only imagine how joanna and her husband discussed what she was doing with her time and their money. i'm reminded that people want to give their time and resources to support people and organizations which offer something in return. Jesus had/has a way of moving people to give. i'm relying on that realization as i think of the next year ahead.

let's not forget the famous queen ester. mordecai and the jews were in dire need of a miracle. long story short: some unbelieving official decreed that all jews should dies, and esther was the last ray of hope to overturn to ruling. she was afraid to approach the king with this major request, so mordecai had to send her an 'encouragement' note. the note: you and your family will die if you don't do something. so she rallied the prayer warriors, fasted, and presented her request before the king. he granted her request, allowing the Jews to exist. so i question, what am i to do? what challenges lie ahead, and what type of risk will be involved? who will i need to request help from? who can i call on for prayer support? who will rise up and present a 'encouragement note' to me? am i willing to die if the King doesn't answer my request?

not sure why these two stories keep rolling thru my mind or how they are connected, but they do.

Aba, Baba, mambo yote yawezekana kwako. Tafadhali niondolee kikombe hiki cha mateso. Lakini si kama nitakavyo mimi, bali mapenzi yako yatimizwe. (Marko 14.36) i surrender to You. i will live my life as a child in awe of You.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen
*Cheryl *Earl *Denise

I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
ps. 121:1-2

He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.
ps 107.29

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
ps 147.3

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
heb. 13.8

I Will Lift My Eyes
Written by Bebo Norman and Jason Ingram

God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now
God, be near, calm my fear
And take my doubt

Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in

I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can’t climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

God, my God, let Mercy sing
Her melody over me
God, right here all I bring
Is all of me

‘Cause You are and You were and You will be forever
The Lover I need to save me
‘Cause You fashioned the earth and You hold it together, God
So hold me now

shottie introduced me to this song yesterday. it's pretty much rocking my world.

this verse sums up how i feel today:
"I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me." [job 30.20] it feels like i've made myself vulnerable before God, and all He is doing is standing there - staring at me. i'm uncomforable, trembling... but at least He hasn't looked away. our eyes are searing each other's souls and we both refuse to relinguish our gaze. neither of us are blinking. my eyes are burning from being dried out so long. how long will this last, my God?

Each Day's Need

"May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers. And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day's need, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other. But your hearts must be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time."
Solomon's Prayer of Dedication for the Temple [1 Kings 8.58-61]

where to begin? where to begin? solomon, king of israel who was preceded by david - the man after God's heart... he was the chosen one to build the table, a place for God's name to be revered. tho it was a building, solomon knew that God could not be contained within its walls. (The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain You. How much less this temple I have built! 1 kings 8.27) yet it was built for the people to remember how important God must be to each of them. He was to be the center of their community. He was to be the reason why people lived upright lives and brought sacrifices to this temple.

within the words of solomon's prayer, i can hear the heart of a man who knows his weaknesses. he pray again and again for the people to turn their hearts to the Lord, to be fully committed to Him, to live by His decrees and obey His commands. solomon knew the word of God; God spoke directly to him 2 times already. solomon grew up seeing his father run after God. he wasn't without an example of how to live by the commands of God.

so who has been my example? who has taught me to live by the commands of God? who currently holds me accountable to those lofty standards? where do i get my instruction or discipline? i grew up in a small church in south dakota where people learned to seek the truth thru the word. my youth leader (aka the pastor's wife) took me under her wing and mentored me. she was and remains to be a godly woman, someone i look up to and respect. she helped shape who am i and what i stand for. and my grandma tieman taught me the importance of blessing the food, interceding for the needs of others, and attending services. kimberly was and remains to be my nathan, my discipler. she has a way of knowing when i'm tempted and reprimands me for wandering from the chosen path. denise is a constant reminder that i'm beloved, chosen and worthy of the love of Christ. shottie encouranges me to dig deeper, to express my faith in words and be steadfast. juanita's gives grace and understanding. for these women, i'm eternally grateful.

gracious daddy,
thanks for the friends You've given me. i know each of these women has a vital role in Your kingdom and i'm grateful for what they've given to me. thanks for surrounding me with many people who challenge me to seek You deeper, harder, longer, wider. may You continue to turn my heart toward You. may i continue to learn how to obey your decree and commands and love Your word with all my heart.

'Lord, i am willing
-to receive what You give
-to lack what You withhold
-to reliquish what You take
-to suffer what You inflict
-to be what You require'
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen
*denise, juanita, deena, shottie, kimberly

Idolatrous Commotion

"Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding." "Yes, we will come to you, for you are the LORD our God. Surely the idolatrous commotion on the hills and mountains is a deception; surely in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.

idolatrous commotion. that's how i would describe much of what i see in the world.
idolatrous: the worship of a physical object as a god
commotion: a condition of civil unrest or confusion
we are all searching for satisfaction. we are born with unrest and a desire to have our longings fulfilled. we can thank eve and adam for that one. and we search high and low to find what gives us the most satisfaction.

so what satisfies me? where do i look to be fulfilled? what have i sought after which left me empty and worse off than when i began my search? who do i expect to fulfill my wants? what do i expect of people? where am i most satisfied in my life? what kind of activities bring me the most joy? i realize these are pretty selfish questions, but without asking, how can i know how to help others find what satisfies their needs? what brings the most joy to people? the commotion from the world is deception. surely the Lord, Yahweh, is our salvation - our hope - our satisfaction. and without Him, we are seeking more commotion instead of peace and satisfaction.

Jesus, You are my hope. as i draw close to You, i know You draw close to me. help me to find what satisfies. open my eyes to know what satisfies You the most.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen.

*Courtney * Shottie *Jennifer

Do Not Think...

The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
rom. 13.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
psalm 119.9-11

it's a foreign thought to me that paul had to tell the roman church to refrain from sexual immorality, drunkenness, etc.? i can only imagine what we americans would call that roman church... we think the problems in our churches are bad? i can only imagine my pastor preaching from the pulpit: "people, you need to stop having drunken parties where you end up having sex with one another." that would be the day.

so am i saying that this type of sinful behavior doesn't happen in the church? no, i'm not saying that. i know people who attend church services every sunday, people who struggle with low self-esteem and those who give into peer pressure. sometimes i fall into the catergory. perhaps we need to hear the bold words of paul, 'put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light, and this is what we as the church are going to do to help you along the journey...' i'm guilty of forgetting that last part, "and this is what i'm going to do to help you..." followed up by, 'i'm not going to leave you in the midst of this struggle. together we are going to make it thru."

so what can the church do to better help us along our journey Home? how can the church nuture it's people? (that's been the question on my heart lately.) what can the church do better to get people discussing their daily struggles, instead of feeling guilty of concealing their sin? we all sin - there are none who don't, even tho the people in the church often come across as being 'perfect'. God knows the condition of each of our hearts; we can't conceal our sin from Him.

i'm as guilty as they come about confess my sin to others. (confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. james 5.16) so since paul said to do it, and i'm not doing it, am i sinning by keeping my mouth shut? are we as the church sinning by not offering an environment where people feel comfortable to express their struggles and sins? are we aleinating those who need Jesus?

the psalmist asked a spiritual question, and came up with a 'practical' answer. i'm praying for the same to happen for our church.

Loving Father,
how can we keep our lives pure? only by living according to Your word. let us seek You with all our hearts; don't let us stray from Your commands. let us hide Your word in our hearts that we might not sin against You. let Your words resound thru our minds throughout the day, beckoning us to be pure. just as You calmed the storm for Your disciples, may You calm the storm raging in our hearts. may You transform Your church to be a place for sinners and the sick. may Your healing flood Your church with abundance. may Your Spirit dwell in our hearts as we go to meet Your children. may You teach us to invest in the lives of others. help us to love our neighbors the way You love us. and help us to love You with a steadfast love. break us of the sin of concealing our sin. bring something into Your church to break us from our arrogance. we are not perfect, not put together. sometimes we are lonely. let us be able to express that to one another. help us to confess our sin to You and to others. teach us how to be listeners and communicators of Your truth. teach me to be able to ask questions which enable others to speak their heart openly and honestly. teach me ways to encourage others to open up with me. shine Your truth thru me.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen.
*Courtney *landra *karensa

wrestling and mercy

When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God. Then David was angry because the Lord's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. David was afraid of God that day and asked, "How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?"
1 chron. 13:9-12

so what's been going on with me? let's see. i've been to vegas and the grand canyon. cue photos guess i've not uploaded too many photos. it was good for my soul to get to spend some time with kimberly. we had some intriguing talks during our 8 hour drive to and fro the 'big hole'. it's good to re-connect with friends, and to spend time in their presence. it's important to see their facial expressions and to hear their voice. since kimberly lives in las vegas, we don't get to spend much time together. about once or twice a year we get to spend a few hours together because of vacation or Stone Mountain Highland Games.

many of our conversations revolved around God, and what He's doing.
+ Kimberly's church has already out-grown their new facility.
- Kimberly feels more disconnected
+ kimberly has a great small group
- kimberly fears being open and honest in small group about what is deeply going on within her - the wrestling with God.

wrestling with God... seems like David had some moments of wrestling when Uzzah was killed because he was attempting to keep the ark from falling off the wagon. 'david was angry.' that's a very bold statement. things didn't go the way that david had intended - he wasn't getting his way. was david out of line to have these feelings? i don't think so. i think it shows the humanness of david, the man after God's own heart. did david sin because of the anger - david decided to drop the ark off at the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite instead of taken it to the City of David? did he miss God's mark? was God upset with David for doing this?

i've been doing some of my own wrestling lately. and tho it feels heavy and exhausting, i know i'm not alone in the fight. i'm not an island, tho the journey is my own.

from 'this journey is my own,' by sara groves:
When I stand before the Lord, I'll be standing alone. This journey is my own. Still I want man's advice, and I need man's approval, but this journey is my own. : Chorus: Why would I want to live for man and pay the highest price? What would it mean to gain the world, only to lose my life? . So much of what I do is to make a good impression. This journey is my own. So much of what I say is to make myself look better. This journey is my own. . Chorus . I have never felt relief like I feel it right now. This journey is my own. 'Cause trying to please the world it was breaking me down, it was breaking me down. . Now I live and I breathe for an audience of one, now I live and I breath for an audience of one. Now I live and I breathe for an audience of one, 'cause I know this journey is my own. . Chorus . You can live for someone else, and it will only bring you pain. I can't even judge myself. Only the Lord can say, "Well done."

Jesus,
tho my heart feels heavy and tired, and my words don't seem to flow gracefully, i'm crying out to You. some of my words to You are weighted and strong. sometimes the road doesn't feel fair or kind. but i'm learning to praise You with gratitude even if You chose not to answer my call today. help me to see Your mercies which come in various ways. thanks for my daily bread, and for friends who are willing to stand in the gap. thanks for grace that falls on weary lands. leed me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil. i'm cling onto this verse, "A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil." (prov. 13.19) i'm clinging to the hope of my longing to be fulfilled. i desire to please You, my God and my King.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen
*Mike *Patsy *Patsy

listening

Therefore I say: Listen to me; I too will tell you what I know. I waited while you spoke, I listened to your reasoning; while you were searching for words, I gave you my full attention.
job 10-12a

'To relate effectively with a wife, a husband, children, friends, or work associates, we must learn to listen. And this requires emotional strength. Listening involves patience, openness, and the desire to understand - highly developed qualities of character. It's so much easier to operate from a low emotional level and to give high-level advice.' -Stephen Covey from 'the 7 habits of highly effective people'

sometime it seems God speaks in a whisper, sometimes He has to use force; in both instances, God speaks with purpose. this quote from stephen covey speak so loudly to me that i can't help but notice. it's nearly as tho Jesus is sitting across my desk in my folding chair, and saying that statement to me. after i read that statement, i set the book down, and continued in conversation with Jesus, since He was already speaking to me.

so what has God spoken to you lately? what have you heard Him say? have you responded to Him with patience, openness, and a desire to understand?

(and for denise, i know what you are going to say. 'nobody thinks like you, tanya. maybe the Lord Jesus Christ can figure you out.') or in the lyrics to 'you get me' by zoegirl,
No more tears,
It's a silent ride.
You've broken down all fears,
Cuz you have made an all of me.
You know me better,
Than I know myself.
The key to my security,
Cuz there is no one else,
Who gets me.

Jesus,
Your word has refreshed my soul. tho it's painful to hear the words, i know You're calling me to a deeper understanding of listening. thanks for speaking truth to me. i can't change on my own, Jesus; i need Your help. i need You to teach me how to be open, patient and have a desire to understand what's being communicated. open my heart to hear. and about this low emotional level while offering high-level advice... well, i'm so guilty of this. may Your grace cover me. teach me, Father, how to effectively communicate truth with love. only thru You...
amen
*the miller family *skylar *the buffintons *derrick

go and love and touch in the name of Jesus

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
heb. 13.15-16

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
1 john 4.16

i feel like the rain is falling on me. like the way the earth must feel after a drought. there are so many people in my life who need the rain which i'm basking in. and i'm trying to give them rain, but some people refuse to accept the gift. they'd rather remain in the sun-scorched land, like the plants that wither because they have no root. (matt. 13.6) perhaps my presentation of the rain isn't very appealing, or maybe my motives are divided. deep within me i wish that these people would accept this rain and be refreshed, as i am.

this tatto series that louie has presented throughout the summer was rain for my soul. he said, 'just GO and LOVE and TOUCH in the name of Jesus Christ.' he was referring to the way we are to be the body of Christ to those who need to be touched the most. Jesus made constant examples of the untouchables - to the blind, Jesus smeared mud on their eyes; to the man leprosy, He touched him; to the prostitute, He touched her; to the man with questions, He touched him. how do you fire God up? do this: sing God a song of praise while pouring out your life into those who most need to be touched. in the midst of the pain and hurting, sing Your song to Christ. get over Your own wants, and care for the needs of others - all while singing a song of praise to God. don't grumble when things don't go your way - sing and pray all the more. build others up instead of tearing them down.let others know that we are the Body of Christ thru our unity and love. find what breaks the heart of Christ and do something about it. 'Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.' james 1.27

something in last night's message gripped my heart and it hasn't let me go. i'm drawn to the hope in the words. i.m convinced more than ever before that i want to go to africa; i've been called from darkness into light. (1 peter. 2.9) my prayers are moving from 'God, i really want to go' to 'God, don't let me stay here any longer.'

Jesus,
what an incredible name. You've conquered death and You hold life in Your hands. Your power and might are great. and Your name can fell the enemy. be praised for choosing me to sing a song of praise to You. my heart rejoices that You've rained down upon me with light and hope, love and compassion. as i abide in You, You come and make this heart Your home. it's a joy to know and be known by You. teach me to represent You well. let me offer others some rain in a way which will be pleasing and acceptable. let them see and desire to have what i'm offering. use me as a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world. (mother teresa)
in Jesus Name ~ Amen.
*Leslie *kimberly * Derrick

Honoring God and Wisdom

'Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you.'
exodus 20.24

All this I tested by wisdom and I said, "I am determined to be wise"— but this was beyond me. Whatever wisdom may be, it is far off and most profound— who can discover it? So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.
eccl. 7.23-25

this has been a busy week for me. work has be exceptionally busy, and after work i'm staying with a friend of mine who recently had hip replacement surgery. oh and somehow in the midst of all that, i lost my cell phone for 3 days. last night was a much needed let down - it was game night with some friends; it was a wonderful comic relief to the busyness of life. certainly good for the soul!

so last saturday i was reading exodus 20, the big 10, and stumbled across this verse tacked on the end. Yahweh says, "wherever i cause My Name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you." where has God caused His Name to be honored in my life? what points can i identify as movements of God? what have i done to honor Him - what altars have i constructed for others to see that i worship the Living God? am i looking for Him to make His Name honored in my life? am i giving Him sufficient time? this week i haven't giving Him my time. last week, i was intentionly giving him time everyday... oh to be able to set aside time daily to surrender my life will to His...

(with all those questions in the previous paragraph, i feel like i'm writing a bible study!!!!)

oh the importance of 'selah' - pause and calmly consider.

and last night before my head hit the pillow at midnight... my eyes fell upon these verses about wisdom. when i was younger, mostly in middle school when my faith was developing in leaps in bounds, i remember earnestly praying for wisdom. i remember reading verses in Proverbs about how important it is to have wisdom. i would get on my knees next to my bed and meditate and pray for God to bestow wisdom upon me. i still find myself praying for wisdom often, perhaps not quite as earnestly, (the old age symptoms of knowing wisdom comes with time and age are setting in.) this verse about desiring to 'turn my mind to understand, to investiage and to search out wisdom,' still grabs my attention.

if i had wisdom when i was given my first credit card, i would not be in this debt now. if i had demonstrated wisdom with my sexuality, i would not have had to confess as often as i did... and still do. but i don't feel God let me down or didn't answer my prayers for wisdom. He answered in more ways that i could have asked. when i asked for wisdom, He strengthened my faith, gave me 'proof' that He exists, opened doors for me to experience the work of the gospel. also, my grades in elementary school were average, in middle school and high school they were above average, and some how i managed to graduate with honors. that has to be some form of wisdom...

so what can i do to pursue wisdom? what can i do t oturn my mind to understand and investigate wisdom?

Jesus,
may You in Your abundant grace give me wisdom. if it pleases You, give me ears and eyes to recognize where You are causing Your Name to be honored. may i have all that is needed to build an altar where my humble sacrifice may be may given unto You. and may this humble sacrifice be pleasing in Your sight, worthy of Your Name and honor.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen
*Melody *Cathy *Glenn

Waiting in Expectation

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
psalm 5.3

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
psalm 37.7

If you remain in Me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
john 15.7

i want some answers. i want to see some things change. i want some direction. i want to know this "energy, which so powerfully works in me" (col. 1:29). i want to see people come to know Jesus as their savior, life coach, redeemer, and friend. i want children in foreign countries to have enough food and water to sustain them. i want our ad council to be on fire for Jesus, and to take risks - to move from worrying about if we have enough money to challenging God to move on behalf of the poor and needy in pickens county. i want many things.

so what sacrifice am i willing to make in order for these things to come to pass? that is the question in my heart these days. what am i willing to do in order for others to know Jesus? when will i tell others of the life God has breathed into me? am i willing to give up food? am i willing to reach out to the needy, offering my time, talents and money? am i willing to find someone who needs to be loved? am i willing to speak up in a crowd? am i giving all i have to give on behalf of others? am i storing up things for myself on earth or in heaven? am i still enough to hear Jesus calling me from ordinary living into a life which takes risks? are my requests to God self-centered? am i living out purpose or lacking purpose? how is it that a precious flower can give me so much joy and a heart filled with gratitude?

Father,
i'm seeking You. You hold time in Your hand. You allow flowers to spring from the earth to give You glory and praise. let me do the same; let my heart resound with 'amens' and 'hallelujahs'. for my brother, i ask for redemption. for my parents, i request peace. for denise, humility. for shottie, wisdom. for brandon, compassion. for steven, self-control. for jerry, strenght. for tricia, truth. for juanita, patience. for patsy, gentleness. for amanda, hope. for kevin, perseverance. for cindy, love. for becca, knowledge. for glenn, will-power. for valerie, kindness.
Thru Jesus my requests are made known ~ Amen.
*Derrick *Marcus *Derek

where's hope?

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
lam. 3.21-26

last sunday's message was about hope. what i got from it was about how our hope lies in Jesus Christ, and that hope gives us strength to persevere. and this perseverance isn't only for our benefit, but for the benefit of others who should to know Hope. last night i attended 7:22. (go there and watch it!) the message was about being light to the world which will cause others to desire to know the Light. seems to be a connection: to know this Hope and Light.

Louie Giglio is a gifted, godly speaker. it's amazing how God uses Louie to speak truth into a thristy generation. and it's even more amazing how those who are thristy are filled when God moves. last night was a perfect example. louie began with the scripture, lev. 19.1-2, "The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy." somehow from there he launched into eph. 5:8-9, "Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)." from an illustration of being whole to a lamp shining in the darkness, God moved thru the Church last night.

after the service, shottie and i had a good conversation. it was refreshing to re-connnect with her. i chalk the credit to Jesus for this refreshment. it's good to have friends, especially those who can relay their thoughts of what God is doing in their lives. that encourages my heart, along with my drive to shine more light.

Jesus
my thought are all over this place today. thanks for giving me these few minutes to focus on You. You are holy, and i desire that holiness. show me where i'm messing up. guide me into a deeper whole-ness. let my life be light in the darkness, just like the lamp on the stand. help me to get away from the bowl. You are the hope of glory and the light that shines in the darkness. in You there is no darkness, for darkness is as light to You. expose the deeds of darkness in my life - help me to confess to my friends for support. as i wait for Your salvation, have me always remember that You are compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love.
in Jesus' holy Name ~ Amen
*Philip *Donna *Louie

Letter to Tim

I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.
1 tim. 5:21

The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.
1 tim. 5:24-25

i wonder what type of person timothy was. when paul wrote him this letter, he must have been under some pretty stong pressure to change the ways of those around him. these commands from paul drive a nail directly into the heart.

if someone were to say, 'i charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism,' i think i may feel pretty intimidated. that type of confrontation normally doesn't sit well with me. there's just something about someone commanding me to do something. i'm ok when asked to do something, but when someone commands me to do something - normally my defenses go up and i'm up for a fight. i suppose that's a confession about failing to be submissive and to keep quiet (as also commanded in the book of first timothy.)

to do nothing out of favoritism... what does that mean? we all have favorite friends and we treat them differently than we do strangers. before this passage paul was referring to young widows who should be encouraged to marry should they feel the impulse. after this the passage speaks about drinking wine, instead of plain water. so this verse about partiality and favoritism sort of seems out of place. but it is out of place enough that it caught my attention. and made me think about how i treat certain people, and how i don't treat certain people whom i don't know as well. 'be fair' may be a way a saying what paul is trying to relay.

then comes this verse about sins and good and bad deeds. when i see this verse played out in my minds eye, i envision people either pushing or pulling a large, black box. their sins are either in front of them or behind them. either way, every person has sin - not one person is without his or her box.

denise and i had the priviledge of moving some furniture this morning. sometimes i was leading backwards, sometimes i was on the backside. one particular upright closet was difficult to move because of the height. so as we moved this large closet, we would only go as far as my legs could extent. without me pushing, denise couldn't pull it. also, without her pulling it, i could barely move it an inch. together we could move the closet, but apart we couldn't succeed. sometimes we push; sometimes we pull.

so which way do you see yourself right now? the one who has their sin ahead of them, or the type who carry their sin behind? and what can we do for others to help them to move their sin? perhaps that could be a good question to ask someone who desires to mentor someone. it's not just a matter of bringing to light the sin, it's a matter of guiding that person along the journey, away from the sin. and how many of us are willing to take the time to do that?

Jesus,
this post went in a completely different direction than i first intended. guess You had a different plan for me. so as i think about the illustration of pushing or pulling my sin, which way do i come across to others? do i have a good front, but the darkness eventually shows it's ugly face? Your word says that we should confess our sin to one another and pray together. that's the kicker. finding that someone willing to guide us away from the sin which entangles our souls. may You help me to be trusting of the friends You've given me - those who would be willing to guide me and stand by my side thru good, the bad, and the ugly of life. may You receive the praise for the friends whom You've blessed upon me. may Your truth expel the darkness, my black box. help me to be open with You about what's going on within me. forgive me for having a quick tongue and an anal retentive, critical spirit at times. may You open my eyes to see when this sin is shining thru so we can deal with it. with Your help, i know the box will move.
in Jesus Name ~ amen.
*mom *kimberly *robin

Holy Living

It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
1 thes. 4:3-7

I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground.
lev. 11:44

during my lunch hour today i began to think about holiness. and how if we truly realized how holy we are expected to be, we would probably take more effort to clean up our thoughts lives, mouths, and the way our body language speaks volumes of what's going on within our souls. holy from webster.com has some pretty standard definitions. strong's #38 speaks of consecration, purification, and sanctification of heart and life. so now we all know what is involved in being holy.

but to dig deeper, sanctification of heart and life seems like a might extensive overhaul. seems like that reaches the depths of who we are, or perhaps maybe even deeper than who we are. perhaps it reaches to who we are in Christ and where we are going. that's the part i'm looking forward to, because getting there is often painful, annoying, and exhausting.

Jesus,
in my limited understanding, i believe that You've called me to live a holy life. and only thru Your Holy Spirit am i capable of calling myself holy and worthy to enter into Your presence. thanks for rescuing me from the darkness and unrighteousness. You are the source of my strength and holiness. so i fall before You and beg to be filled with Your Presence. i want to live a holy life. i want to be transformed from my ordinary thinking, into thoughts which glorify You. cleanse me with hyssop, and i will be clean. do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. You do not delight in sacrifice, or i would bring it. i am all i have to offer. i am the sacrifice, a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. thanks for accepting me just the way i am. and thanks for not allowing me to remain the same.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen
*Gail *Mike *Flora

Binding the Word

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
deut. 11.18-19

back on the bandwagon... of memorizing the Word. this is one of those disciplines which comes and goes for me. for awhile, i'll be very disciplined and memorize each day. but then something comes along which looks more entertaining, perhaps less challenging and i'll fall away. and then like an alarm clock, i'll be reminded of how i miss it, and how i love it when my thoughts focus on the words of life. so i'm currently at the point where my heart is longing to memorize again. so i'm going to begin by refreshing the verses and chapters which are already in my mind and heart: Psalm 139, 19, and 51. then i'll move on. i would really like to one day memorize colossians, but that's a ways down the trail.

Jesus,
again my heart is missing something; missing the closeness of having Your truth run thru my mind. i confess that i've fallen from this discipline. thanks for drawing this to my attention, and for giving me the perseverance to open my mind and heart to listen intently to Your Word. i can hear my professor from college say there are ways get into Your Word: hear, read, study, memorize, meditate. forgive me for falling away. i long to be near again. i trust that Your grace is sufficient, and You'll be my stamina to draw from the well, even when my feelings do not desire it. Your death on the cross made a way for us to connect intimately, and i want to be close with You. thanks for loving me enough to take my place.
thru Jesus'
*Denise *kevin *Philip

God, Our Sanctuary

Therefore say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.'
ezek. 11.16

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh is to enter my sanctuary, not even the foreigners who live among the Israelites.
ezek. 44.9

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts.
1 cor. 7.19

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

gal 5.6

sometimes the Bible confuses me. more specifically, Jesus confuses me. He changed things up, but did not do away with the old. He fulfilled the Law, but did not abolish it. (matt. 5.17) so that means the old law is still in effect, along with the new transformation thru the Spirit. sometimes that feels like a war in my soul.

i love reading and studying the bible. it amazes me how Jesus came to rescue us from the rule of satan. and Jesus's life is proof of God's immense love for us. and i believe that Jesus was all God and all man. and He changed up the thinking of the disciples and some of the rulers of the temple and government. and He still changes the thinking of those who seek Him.

the mental picture of God being our sanctuary comforts me. but my definition of sanctuary is probably different than the israelites definition. so these foreigners who were living within the community of the chosen people could not enter into the sacred temple. but then Jesus comes - and states the He is the new high priest. so does that eliminate the heirachy of the church. over and over we read about the different members having equally important positions. and several times in the new testament, we can find verses referring to circumcision having no meaning, except for circumcision of heart. and even in the old testament, some verses comment about that. again, it's coming back to the condition of our hearts.

i've been calling myself a Christian for 18 years. some of those early years tested my faith in pretty strong ways. along the journey, i've fallen into some pretty serious sin. and today i still deal with those actions. my mind often refers back to that life. and growing up in the household which i grew up wasn't always the easiest life. perhaps from an outside view it looked like the good life, but within the walls our our house was some tremendous dissension. through all those struggles, God had a way of offering His hand of grace. i've learned first hand that His grace is sufficient for all sin: past, present and future.

Amazing God,
tho my understanding is limited, i know You are great. i'm not sure if you are changing, but i do know that You have been the same yesterday, today and forever. and tho i don't understand the culture of the israelites and their understanding of 'sanctuary', i grasp the concept of You being my sanctuary. and i understand why it matters most to express ourselves by loving You and others. help me to love the way You love - and to be rid of this critical spirit. help me to pray for those who are different than me. give me a heart of compassion to see past their petty facade, and see their hearts. may You, Holy Spirit, open a way for me to speak Your love at my workplace.
in Jesus' Holy Name ~ Amen
*mom + dad *sam *emma