January 22, 2012 - How can I know if I am filled with the Spirit?

Lesson and class discussion over chapter 11 of Charles Ryrie's book Balancing the Christian Life, led by Holly Lundberg.

What's the worst that could happen

Are you comfortable sharing your faith with people? How about inviting them to church or a Bible Study? If not,I'm right there with you. Is it fear? I really couldn't really tell you. I have actually invited my neighbors and I am still alive. They did not respond badly nor did it result in their coming, but that is beside the point. So why don't I talk about my faith more? More likely it's my nemesis busyness rather than fear that prevents me from sharing my faith, which is even worse.
One day I was talking to a new friend who had adamantly stated over and over to me that she didn't need church. I have no idea what I said because it simply wasn't me saying it but somewhere in the conversation I invited her to come to a church with us the following Sunday. I was really not expecting her to come ( incredible faith I know!) and was really nervous when she showed up. I remember asking for prayer in class that Sunday morning that she would like it. She didn't love it, but it started a conversation. I then invited her to the Ladies Christmas Brunch and she loved that and has come every Christmas since! She did find a church near her house that turned out to be one of our church plants. Neither one of us knew that  at the time. She started attending regularly with her two daughters, eventually joined and has gone on several mission trips along with her daughters.

For some reason, God has chosen to use people to share His good news. The other good news is God who created the universe is able to speak through and use distracted, fearful, people with little faith.

January 15, 2012 - Routine Faithfulness

Lesson and class discussion over chapter 10 of Charles Ryrie's book Balancing the Christian Life, led by Holly Lundberg.

Do Not Lose Heart

Is it just me or is January flying by? The flood gates of everyday life that were being held back for Christmas are now bursting open all around me. New is in, new studies and classes, new TV shows and new wellness programs. The wellness program is interesting, requiring me to keep track of aerobic activity(easy), my fiber and fruit/veg intake (hard), drink 40 oz. of water/day and sleep 7 + hours/ night(impossible)! The last time I slept 7 + hours  I think was back in 1985 before I had children. And I don't think it's possible for me to drink 40 oz. of anything, much less tasteless water. I'm behind already and it's only day 2!

While I like the newness of most things, I do not like the new problems that are also making themselves known. I honestly found myself in danger of losing heart this week and even thinking that God had made a mistake! This is not a good frame of mind to find oneself. While this state is not entirely new to me, it is not my most common state. How happy I was to find that last week's topic in our study, Balancing the Christian Life, actually addressed losing heart. "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day" 2 Cor. 4:16 The Lord taught that we ought always to pray and not to lose heart. He knew we would be prone to lose heart when the going got tough. Paul is such a great example of someone who had every reason to lose heart, suffering much opposition and persecution yet  he remained faithful and even cheerful to the task he had been called. A spiritual person shows persistence, not faintheartedness, in the face of difficulties. He will not give up when the routine begins to grind to his very soul. Rather he will show consistent and persistent faithfulness to the task to which he has been called. As always, the word of God renews my spirit when I read it, the key being when I read it!

I do hope that you are having a fabulous week, if not, take heart! Because of Jesus we have hope and a wonderful promise that God will renew us today.

Sharing this devotion that Bill gave recently at a staff meeting. Great reminder of the importance of  guarding our marriages.

Practical Steps to Protect Your Marriage from Satan’s Attacks

• “Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church – a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring out the best of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor – since they’re already “one” in marriage.” Ephesians 5:25-28
• Married couples in today’s society face incredible challenges.
• Too many of us make our careers more important than our relationship with our spouse.
• Satan enters as a thief.
• Doesn’t announce his arrival
• Comes at our most vulnerable times
• Disguises himself
• Uses clever con jobs, attractive packages, and half-truths to appeal to our flesh
• Gets us to believe the opposite of God’s truth.
• Why is there such a vicious attack on our relationship with our spouse?
• Paul gives us the answer in Ephesians 5
• Marriage is a picture of Christ & the Church
• If Satan can destroy this image, the world will not see the fullness of God’s glory in the domestic realm or in the spiritual realm.
• What can we do to defeat Satan and protect our relationship with our spouse?
• As we begin a new year of ministry, let’s make sure that we have in place safeguards to protect our relationship with our spouse:
• Admit the potential. None of us are immune to the possibility.
• Read & live by Colossians 3 – describes how you can protect your marriage
• Recognize & be honest about the warning signs
• Examine emotional attachments, friendships with opposite sex, thought life, etc.
• Never share personal problems with a member of the opposite sex
• Remember the consequences!
• Practice preventive maintenance.
• Recognize and acknowledge your wife’s importance in your life and career.
• Never travel or have lunch alone with a member of the opposite sex
• Never compare your spouse to another person, either mentally or verbally.
• Continually praise her and accept her for who she is
• Make a monthly checklist of your priorities & discuss with your spouse.
• When priorities are out of order, disorder soon follows in other areas
• Be accountable to someone who will ask you the hard questions.
• Put in place safeguards on your home computer & work computer.
•     Pornography is rendering Christians spiritually impotent.
• Schedule and protect a weekly date with your spouse.
• Keep pictures of your spouse in your office.
• On a regular basis, count your blessings.

Resources:

·         “How To Avoid Adultery”, article written by Karin & Glenn Brown for Faith Christian Fellowship International.

New Year's Resolutions

New Year’s Resolutions- Do you make them? If you make them, do you keep them? I have never been a fan of making them. I mean why bother making resolutions that I already know I will not keep. I think I tried last year to read through the Bible and got hopelessly behind early on. I applaud anyone who has accomplished that monumental feat. I find the whole resolution making concept curious actually. And then I got to thinking, are resolutions even Biblical?  I realize this could purely be justification for failure to keep my one resolution, but here goes. I mean if it was something we really think is important we wouldn’t wait until January 1 to start doing it. Plain and simple, we make time to do the things we want to do. Don’t get me wrong, I am a huge fan of discipline, but apparently not on a year- long commitment basis.  I prefer to live one day at a time and not presume so much on what I think I will accomplish in the coming year. If you had asked me last year what I would be doing at this moment in time, I would not have told you working part- time, blogging for our SBS, planning one daughter’s wedding, navigating middle school again, and preparing to become a grandmother(different daughter), but here I am. God in his mercy gives us days one at a time because he knows how weak we are.  A very humbling verse in Isaiah is, All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. Is 40:6 He compares us to grass, really! That will take you down a notch.  Thankfully, God loves us anyway, a lot, and doesn’t mind taking care of us.  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. Lamentations 3:22-23. He wants us to become like children and depend on him for everything.  I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 Trust me, children do not make resolutions. I think God wants me to look to him every day for my marching orders.  That I can prayerfully do.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past – Poem by C.T Studd

Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

— extra stanza —
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.

-C.T Studd