Share!

I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice.  And I know that same faith continues strong in you.

2 Timothy 1:5

Who are you sharing your faith with?  At home are you teaching your children and grandchildren the stories and promises found in the bible?  Do you have discussions with your spouse and friends about the great things the Lord is doing in your life?  Timothy was brought up in a divided household.  His father was most likely not a believer but his mother and grandmother were.  They were not afraid to share with Timothy the things they had learned, and the beliefs they had adopted listening to Paul preach.  Had they not, the world would have missed out on a great teacher and friend in Timothy.  We cannot hide our light at home and with the people closest to us.  It is our responsibility to share the good things about Christ in our daily discussions and with our parents, children, siblings, spouses and friends.    

Think back on your own life.  Who was it that shared their faith with you?  How did they impact your faith today? Think on these people and on the impact you are leaving for your loved ones.  God has given us each stories and gifts to share with the people all around us.  What is too good in your life to keep to yourself?  How can you start using the gifts God has given you to help strengthen another's faith?  God can use us to make disciples.  He can use us to encourage new believers.  

This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:6-7

Don't let your flame die.  Fuel that fire!  Get it burning brightly for all your family and friends to see.  Don't be afraid to share your gifts and stories of faith!  

Holy Words

"Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." Isaiah 6:6-7

Isaiah was a prophet of God. He had just seen through a vision, the beauty and holiness of God. In reverent fear, Isaiah expected to die because in seeing God's holiness, Isaiah became more aware of his own sinfulness. As he cried out in fear, a seraphim (angel) touched Isaiah's lips with a hot coal, pronouncing Isaiah's lips as clean and holy. It was not the coal that cleansed Isaiah, rather it was God himself that offered Isaiah cleanliness.

As I read this passage today, I had to think that I too am a woman of unclean lips. When I get upset, I often say things I shouldn't. I repeat things that aren't mine to repeat. I laugh at jokes or comments in which God would find no humor. It is my prayer today that God forgive me for the things I've said or the inappropriate laughter that has passed over my lips.

Ephesians 5:3-4 in the Message Translation says this:
"Though some tongues just love the ease of gossip, Christians have better uses for language than that. Don't talk dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn't fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect."

Dear Lord,
Unwholesome talk is such a part of our culture. We hear it on the radio, see it on TV, witness it in the supermarket and even in the church parking lot. It is my prayer today that you begin a cultural change starting with me. Make me more fully aware of how I talk. When my words are unholy speak to my heart so that I can repent and correct my words. Let my words be praise and thanksgiving! Amen and Amen

Making Tough Decisions

God, investigate my life; 

get all the facts firsthand.

I'm an open book to you;

even from a distance, you know 

what I'm thinking.

You know when I leave and when 

I get back;

I'm never out of your sight.

You know everything I'm going to say

before I start the first sentence. 

I look behind me and you're there,

then up ahead and you're there too-

your reassuring presence,

coming and going.

This is too much, too wonderful-

I can't take it all in!

Psalm 139:1-7 

I'm currently going through a process.  I'm weighing out some facts and making big decisions that will have an impact on my future and the future of others.  I am having difficulty knowing God's plan for my life........taking a break from one good thing to pursue another.  How do we ever know exactly what God is asking of us?  As I have questions for myself, it is clear that my heart is torn, not between good and bad.....light and darkness, but between two good things that will have lasting impact on other people.  As I attempt to say goodbye to one good season of my life I fall into feelings of guilt (which by the way has absolutely no scriptural basis and comes straight from the devil himself) and I start to question whether I am doing the right thing.  What is it that God really wants from me?  Will I make Him mad if I change directions to pursue a dream He has laid on my heart by letting go of another dream that He laid on my heart years earlier?  I can never know, for sure what God is thinking or what His plan is.  I can never fully understand the way He works and the reason behind changing seasons and changing hearts.  I just know that I have a God of patience and second chances.  I have a God who knows my every move before I make it.  He knows the words that will come out of my mouth before I say them.  He knows where I am and what I'm thinking before I do.  God cannot be surprised by my decisions.  He can't be disappointed by what I choose because nothing catches Him off guard.  My God knows every move I will make and so He has planned accordingly.   Obviously there are consequences waiting for me when I make the wrong choice......... when I choose to go against His character and will for my life.  Some will be hard to take and others will gently redirect my life.  But the key is not making the right or wrong choice, the key to God's love and will for us is that He gives us a choice.  He gives us a brain and reasoning skills to make choices that will benefit us and His Kingdom.  When we are walking closely with Him and trying to make do the right thing, whether we choose A or B, may not always matter.  God has a plan for the choices we make, and if we love Him, he promises to make good come from our mistakes and mess-ups.  There is always something for us to learn and ways for us to grow.  Nothing is waisted!  God can use it all if we are willing to let Him.  

Dear God, help me to trust this love you have for me.  I want to believe that you will not be disappointed in my choices as I try to follow your will for me.  When I make mistakes show me the way to fix it, when I get off course, show me the way back to you.  Lord, I want nothing more than to live with you, and for you, the rest of my days on earth.  As I make choices with this brain you gave me know that my heart is seeking the right things and my mind is fixed on doing your will.  Amen  

Freed to Serve!

 It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then? Galatians 5:13-15 MSG

Jesus did not free us to live a life of serving our flesh. Freedom in Christ isn't freedom to do whatever we want, but rather He frees us so that we aren't slaves to our old selfish nature any longer. He frees us to look out for the interests of others: seeing that they know his unconditional love, seeing that they have food on their tables and friendship for the unloved and unloveable. Christ's freedom is freedom to live for Him and be his hands and feet. It's freedom to laugh at simple things and smile because we are loved by Him. He frees us from our old thoughts and habits. He frees us to be who he created to be.... LIKE HIM! The longer we walk with Christ the more we should look like him. Our hearts should break for those who are broken. Our tears should fall for the ones who are hurting and can't find relief. Our feet should rush in to help the widow and the one whose spouse left them alone and rejected. Our hands should reach out to offer love and support to the single parent or the parent whose child is rebelling and lost. Freedom in Christ is freedom to leave this world behind and live a life of serving and giving. 

Sunday Scripture

You groped your way through the murk once, but no longer. You're out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true- these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what pleases Christ, and then do it! Ephesians 5:8-10 MSG

Sing Along Saturday

I woke up from a very vivd dream that immediately put today's song on my mind.  In my dream, without giving you all the details, I was part of a group of people fighting for God.  We were standing on His promises and preserving His Word in a world of people who just didn't believe anymore.  We made people mad by the things we said and believed and we lost some good friends in the process.  People looked at us as though we were aliens and didn't want to believe a word we spoke.  Some people joined us but others walked away.  And hasn't that been the case since time began?  God and especially His son, Jesus, have been at the center of controversy for years and years.  There are those who live their life completely for God, others who could care less, and then a million others who don't know where they stand.  With all the things happening in the world today, it is time to stand by our God and share His Good News with the people around us.  It is time to step up to the plate and show people who we live for.  It is time to look different!  No more joining forces with society and worldly standards.  It's time to take back our lives and our homes!  

Courageous is a song with very meaningful words asking men to stand up and take back their role as leaders in their homes.  And even though it is addressed to men, there is no reason women can't do the same.  It is meant to inspire all christian men and women to be courageous.  To make tough decisions for themselves and their families that go against what the world says.  It is calling us all to be courageous God seekers and followers.  

Be inspired today with this song!  Sing it as an offering to God as you go about your day.  Seek this courage!  Make a decision to join the battle!

Courageous by Casting Crowns  

Trials Grow Our Faith

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4, NIV).

It's hard to understand why trials come, but this verse assures us that God is watching and knows what we are facing. He will never allow a circumstance, large or small, that he can't use to increase our faith. If life were just a piece of cake, we wouldn't need a strong faith. If nothing ever went wrong, we would become proud and not need to depend on the Lord. However, he created us to love and enjoy us. He also created us so we could choose to love and enjoy him! Our trials should draw us nearer to him. They should teach us to persevere in our faith, continually seeking him so that we develop greater character and a deeper faith. 

Dear Lord,
The trials of this life often catch us off guard. I pray that if this is a time of calm in our life that we are continuing to dig deep in your word and learning your promises. I pray that we are preparing for a day of battle by knowing your truths and resting in your arms so that when trials come, you are easy to find because we are so close to you. You promise to carry us through trials and use them for our good. I am so thankful that you are a God who keeps his promises! Amen