I pray that you have had a great week as you have sought hard after the Lord in your lives.
I wanted to update you on my dad. He came through his heart procedure very well on Thursday. They were able to fix the abnormal heart beat and he is home resting this weekend with hopes of returning to work this week. Thanks for your prayers on his behalf.
I have been continuing my reading in “Following God with all your Heart” by Elizabeth George
and I want to share some of the things I have been learning.
Who can we look to as examples of success and power in endeavors for God? People with these characteristics.
People with an unexplainable power in what they did and said.
People with obvious wisdom in their words.
People with clarity and purpose.
People with abundant strength and energy for the task in front of them, whether a daily, monotonous one or a special challenge.
Some of these people include:
Joseph, Daniel, Esther, Ruth, Mary the mother of Jesus and YOU!
When you focus your heart, soul, mind and strength on God and His word, you will experience God’s kind of success. Through His word, God reveals His will for you and gives you the power you need to accomplish the jobs He has for you.
To do this you need to have the following:
The truths of God’s word Must be first and foremost in your mind.
They need to be ruler of your every thought, word and deed. After all the Bible is for you-to edify you. It’s not here to prepare you for ministry and service (although it definitely does) And it’s not here to earn you any kind of award, certificate or recognition for the number of verses you memorize (although that can’t hurt, and certainly can help) No it is here to build you up, to change you, to teach you, to show you God’s will, and to empower you to move forward with courage.
Take care that your focus is in the right place… and on the right Person.
Fix your focus on God…not on your problems. On His commands…not your confusion. On His presence…not your fears.
Serve Him, Trust Him, and Count on Him. You have Gods commands (His will) and God’s presence. What more do you need?
With God as your focus you will be strong and courageous! So let the power and force of God's Word energize you!
My prayer for each of us that we will draw upon God’s power daily as we seek to live out His will for our lives. Remember He lives in each of us!
Praying the week ahead even with all it’s challenges will be used in our lives to grow us more like Jesus.
Blessings,
Deb
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
How to define success
Hi!
Hope you are all having a great week!
Thanks for your prayers for my dad. He is going to have a heart procedure done this Thursday that hopefully will help get him back to feeling better. Please pray for the Dr’s to be able to solve this mystery of what has been going on with him. Pray for my mom as she nurses him back to help. Pray for me not to be anxious as I await the news as I am in Red Cloud. My sister Beth will be with my folks during the procedure and will help over the weekend if they need extra help.
I bought a new book when I was in Colorado a few weeks ago and I’m just getting into it but wanted to share a few things I have already gleaned from it. The book is “Following God with All Your Heart” by Elizabeth George. She is going through Joshua 1:8-9 as she defines what success is from God’s standpoint. One if the first quotes she begins with is by Martin Luther he says, “He who walks according to God’s Word acts wisely and happily, but he who goes according to his own head acts unwisely and to no profit.”
Elizabeth goes on to say “To move forward in your desire to follow God with all your heart, emulate Joshua’s devotion. He loved God, and he loved the book of the law. In Joshua is a very straight forward example of how you can achieve success God’s way. The Lord is showing you where you can find the courage and hope of victory and the wisdom necessary for fulfilling responsibilities. Joshua’s faithfulness to God’s careful instructions reveals the way. If you love God, follow Him, and obey His holy Word, you will be successful in the eyes of God—and that’s all that truly matters.
A believer grows in the knowledge of God and His word.
A believer hides God’s Word in their heart.
A believer carefully thinks on God’s word at all times and in all situations.
A believer carries out God’s word through obedience.
How can you get this success formula operating for you?
Reexamine you life according to the three key components to success; your heart for God’s word, your heart for thinking on God’s word, and your heart for obeying God’s word.
Relinquish how you may have defined success in the past and allow God to redesign your values.
Reflect on your level of obedience. Have you been as careful as you should be in doing what the Bible says?
Realign your practices and values to demonstrate the perspective and level of obedience God desires.
Realize the impact of your obedience. What is God asking you to do? Obeying makes a huge difference, beyond what you can think of or dream of.
Imagine what the world would be like if…
Noah had said, “I don’t do boats.”
David had said, “I don’t do Goliaths.”
Mary had said, “I don’t do virgin births.”
John the Baptist had said, “I don’t do baptisms.”
Paul had said, “I don’t do letters.”
Jesus had said, “I don’t do crosses.”
And what if Joshua had said, “I don’t cross Jordans.”
I pray this gives all of us much to think about as we live for Christ and that we will each be challenged to Live for Jesus more daily in every area of our lives.
Blessings,
Deb
Hope you are all having a great week!
Thanks for your prayers for my dad. He is going to have a heart procedure done this Thursday that hopefully will help get him back to feeling better. Please pray for the Dr’s to be able to solve this mystery of what has been going on with him. Pray for my mom as she nurses him back to help. Pray for me not to be anxious as I await the news as I am in Red Cloud. My sister Beth will be with my folks during the procedure and will help over the weekend if they need extra help.
I bought a new book when I was in Colorado a few weeks ago and I’m just getting into it but wanted to share a few things I have already gleaned from it. The book is “Following God with All Your Heart” by Elizabeth George. She is going through Joshua 1:8-9 as she defines what success is from God’s standpoint. One if the first quotes she begins with is by Martin Luther he says, “He who walks according to God’s Word acts wisely and happily, but he who goes according to his own head acts unwisely and to no profit.”
Elizabeth goes on to say “To move forward in your desire to follow God with all your heart, emulate Joshua’s devotion. He loved God, and he loved the book of the law. In Joshua is a very straight forward example of how you can achieve success God’s way. The Lord is showing you where you can find the courage and hope of victory and the wisdom necessary for fulfilling responsibilities. Joshua’s faithfulness to God’s careful instructions reveals the way. If you love God, follow Him, and obey His holy Word, you will be successful in the eyes of God—and that’s all that truly matters.
A believer grows in the knowledge of God and His word.
A believer hides God’s Word in their heart.
A believer carefully thinks on God’s word at all times and in all situations.
A believer carries out God’s word through obedience.
How can you get this success formula operating for you?
Reexamine you life according to the three key components to success; your heart for God’s word, your heart for thinking on God’s word, and your heart for obeying God’s word.
Relinquish how you may have defined success in the past and allow God to redesign your values.
Reflect on your level of obedience. Have you been as careful as you should be in doing what the Bible says?
Realign your practices and values to demonstrate the perspective and level of obedience God desires.
Realize the impact of your obedience. What is God asking you to do? Obeying makes a huge difference, beyond what you can think of or dream of.
Imagine what the world would be like if…
Noah had said, “I don’t do boats.”
David had said, “I don’t do Goliaths.”
Mary had said, “I don’t do virgin births.”
John the Baptist had said, “I don’t do baptisms.”
Paul had said, “I don’t do letters.”
Jesus had said, “I don’t do crosses.”
And what if Joshua had said, “I don’t cross Jordans.”
I pray this gives all of us much to think about as we live for Christ and that we will each be challenged to Live for Jesus more daily in every area of our lives.
Blessings,
Deb
Sunday, March 15, 2009
God is in control!
Hi!
I have spent the last few days with my mom and dad in Manahttan, KS Mom, Hannah and I attended Women of Faith in Kansas City on Friday and Saturday. What a time of reflection for me as I listened to some of the speakers who challenge my heart. Even a times when my theology didn't line up with some of the speakers the Lord reminded me why it is so important to interpret scripture in its context.
One speaker in particular spoke directly to me as she shared her story about how she always thought she needed to be in control of things in her life. As she poured her heart out honestly in front of 6000 women the Holy Spirit was saying Deb "You have tried to live this way" As she shared that ultimately she had to Let it all go, knowing that the Lord was the one who actually had all control over all things, the Holy Spirit was speaking directly to me about this in my life.
So today I was put to the test. We attended the early church service at my parents church. My dad had the service area of running the projector for their power point. He was sitting in the back and the rest of us were setting at the front. While I was sitting there towared the end of the service the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart that something wasn't right with my dad. When the service was over we met my dad at the back of the church and he came up and said "I think I need to go to the hospital. Something in my chest just feels funny." So here was my opportunity to practice the principal I had just learned the past two days. Let it all go to God. I calmly asked my dad for the keys to his car so I could drive him to the hospital which is about six blocks away from their church. As they ran tests on him I made a few calls and prayed, knowing that the Lord was in control. When they came back and said they were going to shock his heart back into rhythm. I prayed and asked the Lord to be in charge. And shortly before they were going to do the procedure they came in to talk to my mom and said. His heart went back into rhythm on its own. I stopped and thanked the Lord for his provision and for helping me grow more in the area of trusting him and not holding onto anything. My dad still needs to go through some tests for the Dr's to figure out what they can do to help his heart from coming out of rhythm. My dad at age 70 may choose to continue to carry a full load of work with alot of stress. But you know what! I am OK with that! Because I know that my Lord is in charge over all things and because of this I can just let go!
So as we move ahead in this next week I am focusing on Jesus who is in control. I haven't been home for more than a day since March 3rd. This is the longest time that Jon and I have ever spent apart in twenty years of marriage! I'm not sure what the days ahead hold but I do know who is in control!
Blessings,
Deb
I have spent the last few days with my mom and dad in Manahttan, KS Mom, Hannah and I attended Women of Faith in Kansas City on Friday and Saturday. What a time of reflection for me as I listened to some of the speakers who challenge my heart. Even a times when my theology didn't line up with some of the speakers the Lord reminded me why it is so important to interpret scripture in its context.
One speaker in particular spoke directly to me as she shared her story about how she always thought she needed to be in control of things in her life. As she poured her heart out honestly in front of 6000 women the Holy Spirit was saying Deb "You have tried to live this way" As she shared that ultimately she had to Let it all go, knowing that the Lord was the one who actually had all control over all things, the Holy Spirit was speaking directly to me about this in my life.
So today I was put to the test. We attended the early church service at my parents church. My dad had the service area of running the projector for their power point. He was sitting in the back and the rest of us were setting at the front. While I was sitting there towared the end of the service the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart that something wasn't right with my dad. When the service was over we met my dad at the back of the church and he came up and said "I think I need to go to the hospital. Something in my chest just feels funny." So here was my opportunity to practice the principal I had just learned the past two days. Let it all go to God. I calmly asked my dad for the keys to his car so I could drive him to the hospital which is about six blocks away from their church. As they ran tests on him I made a few calls and prayed, knowing that the Lord was in control. When they came back and said they were going to shock his heart back into rhythm. I prayed and asked the Lord to be in charge. And shortly before they were going to do the procedure they came in to talk to my mom and said. His heart went back into rhythm on its own. I stopped and thanked the Lord for his provision and for helping me grow more in the area of trusting him and not holding onto anything. My dad still needs to go through some tests for the Dr's to figure out what they can do to help his heart from coming out of rhythm. My dad at age 70 may choose to continue to carry a full load of work with alot of stress. But you know what! I am OK with that! Because I know that my Lord is in charge over all things and because of this I can just let go!
So as we move ahead in this next week I am focusing on Jesus who is in control. I haven't been home for more than a day since March 3rd. This is the longest time that Jon and I have ever spent apart in twenty years of marriage! I'm not sure what the days ahead hold but I do know who is in control!
Blessings,
Deb
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Home Again and Gone Again
Well I have just spent the first 11 days of March away from home and now I repack and leave tomorrow for a girls weekend away with my mom and Hannah. We are attending a women's conference together in Kansas City. My prayer is that I will find refreshment in my life from the speakers and the fellowship we share.
Last week while Jon was in CA at The Shepherd's Conference I spent the week with two very dear friends in CO.
At my first friends home we talked non stop, shopped non stop and ate non stop! What sweet fellowship with a goldy woman I had. I am thankful for this friends love for me and for her mentorship in my life the last 13 years.
My second friend is a dear childhood friend. We have a wonderful time remembering our days of growing up together! It is always fun to be with her family on their quiet piece of heaven out on the prarie of eastern CO. We laughed and worked on a couple of projects while talking non stop.
I am so thankful for the godly heritage we share together. Growing up in the same church and sometimes being the only kids with our siblings in church at prayer meeting or Sunday evening service.
As we were driving home yesterday after Jon flew back into Denver, I just thanked the Lord for the privilege of having these goldy women friends in my life. Even though we don't live close by each other and we don't see each other but maybe once a year it is so special to just pick up where we left off and encourage, exhort, cry and share our lives with one another. For me it is like a little glimpse of what heaven will be like. Sweet fellowship!
My prayer for you is that you will look into your own life and see who the Lord may have put there for such a time as this. Remember friendship was God's idea!
Hope you have a wonderful week seeking Him!
Deb
Last week while Jon was in CA at The Shepherd's Conference I spent the week with two very dear friends in CO.
At my first friends home we talked non stop, shopped non stop and ate non stop! What sweet fellowship with a goldy woman I had. I am thankful for this friends love for me and for her mentorship in my life the last 13 years.
My second friend is a dear childhood friend. We have a wonderful time remembering our days of growing up together! It is always fun to be with her family on their quiet piece of heaven out on the prarie of eastern CO. We laughed and worked on a couple of projects while talking non stop.
I am so thankful for the godly heritage we share together. Growing up in the same church and sometimes being the only kids with our siblings in church at prayer meeting or Sunday evening service.
As we were driving home yesterday after Jon flew back into Denver, I just thanked the Lord for the privilege of having these goldy women friends in my life. Even though we don't live close by each other and we don't see each other but maybe once a year it is so special to just pick up where we left off and encourage, exhort, cry and share our lives with one another. For me it is like a little glimpse of what heaven will be like. Sweet fellowship!
My prayer for you is that you will look into your own life and see who the Lord may have put there for such a time as this. Remember friendship was God's idea!
Hope you have a wonderful week seeking Him!
Deb
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Please be in Prayer
Hi!
Praying that you have seen Jesus in a new and wonderful way this week.
Our week has been filled with what could be viewed as obstacles. Some are small and some were big and that is why I would like to share the following message with you and ask you to pray.
We would ask that you would be in prayer as we watch the Lord work in our lives and the lives of those served by Village Missions.
From Brian Weschler, Executive Director of Village Missions
Every morning our staff at our Village Missions’ office has devotions and prayer. Today, February 27, we read in Oswald Chamber’s devotion: “The thing that approaches the very limits of His power is the very thing we as disciples of Jesus ought to believe He will do.” Village Missions has entered a time of believing Jesus for something that stretches our faith.
Stonecroft Ministries notified us recently that financial support for Village Missions will end effective March 31, 2009. This will result in a loss of income to Village Missions of $40,000 per month. The giving from Stonecroft Canada to Village Missions Canada remains unchanged at this point.
Our mission has enjoyed a “family” relationship with Stonecroft since our founding in 1948. Helen Duff Baugh, founder of Stonecroft Ministries and Rev. Walter Duff Jr., founder of Village Missions, brother and sister, both had a deep burden for country churches and reaching country people with the Gospel. For many years Village Missions was the project of Stonecroft Ministries, providing extensive prayer and financial support to Village Missions and to Village Missionaries. Village Missions could never have affected so many communities and lives for Jesus Christ without the support of Stonecroft. You can read more about the history of Village Missions at this link.
Stonecroft has decided to focus its efforts and resources on “encouraging and equipping women to impact their communities with the Gospel so that women and their families not only know Christ, but share Him with others.” We will be praying that the Lord will bless those efforts and provide the needed resources for them to fulfill that vision.
Village Missions, as the Lord provides, will continue its calling to keep country churches alive. The need is great. North America, and especially rural North America, is an increasingly needy mission field. Churches in rural areas are closing throughout our land. Broken lives bear grim testimony to the despair of trying to live life without Jesus Christ.
The opportunities are great. I have seen the hope of Jesus Christ brought to community after community through the ministry of Village Missions. We send a dedicated couple to a church that asks for our help. We provide salary and other forms of support so that our Village Missionary can devote his full energy to “Preaching the Word and loving the people.” People come to Christ, their lives are changed, and even the community is transformed. The people of Helix, OR learned this when Village Missions sent a dedicated couple to live in their town.
Years ago Hudson Taylor said, “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.” I truly believe that God will supply the needs for the important ministry of Village Missions.
From Deb: For the past 5 1/2 years my pastor husband Jon and I have been teaching Hudson Taylors concept to our church people here in Red Cloud and now it is time to practice this concept that we have preached about more daily in our own lives. We do believe that the Lord will provide for His work. We aren't worried about facing a layoff or loss of job, because when you work for Him your work is never done. Please be in prayer for the National Board of Village Missions and our leadership as they begin to make decisions beginning tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM PST that will affect the lives of missionaries, churches and communities. We believe that the Lord still has work for the ministry of Village Missions and all of us will be stretched and our faith grown as we watch him provide for his people.
We so appreciate the many of you who help us through prayer and financial support. We wouldn't be able to serve here in Red Cloud without you partnering with us is this ministry.
Blessings,
Deb
Praying that you have seen Jesus in a new and wonderful way this week.
Our week has been filled with what could be viewed as obstacles. Some are small and some were big and that is why I would like to share the following message with you and ask you to pray.
We would ask that you would be in prayer as we watch the Lord work in our lives and the lives of those served by Village Missions.
From Brian Weschler, Executive Director of Village Missions
Every morning our staff at our Village Missions’ office has devotions and prayer. Today, February 27, we read in Oswald Chamber’s devotion: “The thing that approaches the very limits of His power is the very thing we as disciples of Jesus ought to believe He will do.” Village Missions has entered a time of believing Jesus for something that stretches our faith.
Stonecroft Ministries notified us recently that financial support for Village Missions will end effective March 31, 2009. This will result in a loss of income to Village Missions of $40,000 per month. The giving from Stonecroft Canada to Village Missions Canada remains unchanged at this point.
Our mission has enjoyed a “family” relationship with Stonecroft since our founding in 1948. Helen Duff Baugh, founder of Stonecroft Ministries and Rev. Walter Duff Jr., founder of Village Missions, brother and sister, both had a deep burden for country churches and reaching country people with the Gospel. For many years Village Missions was the project of Stonecroft Ministries, providing extensive prayer and financial support to Village Missions and to Village Missionaries. Village Missions could never have affected so many communities and lives for Jesus Christ without the support of Stonecroft. You can read more about the history of Village Missions at this link.
Stonecroft has decided to focus its efforts and resources on “encouraging and equipping women to impact their communities with the Gospel so that women and their families not only know Christ, but share Him with others.” We will be praying that the Lord will bless those efforts and provide the needed resources for them to fulfill that vision.
Village Missions, as the Lord provides, will continue its calling to keep country churches alive. The need is great. North America, and especially rural North America, is an increasingly needy mission field. Churches in rural areas are closing throughout our land. Broken lives bear grim testimony to the despair of trying to live life without Jesus Christ.
The opportunities are great. I have seen the hope of Jesus Christ brought to community after community through the ministry of Village Missions. We send a dedicated couple to a church that asks for our help. We provide salary and other forms of support so that our Village Missionary can devote his full energy to “Preaching the Word and loving the people.” People come to Christ, their lives are changed, and even the community is transformed. The people of Helix, OR learned this when Village Missions sent a dedicated couple to live in their town.
Years ago Hudson Taylor said, “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.” I truly believe that God will supply the needs for the important ministry of Village Missions.
From Deb: For the past 5 1/2 years my pastor husband Jon and I have been teaching Hudson Taylors concept to our church people here in Red Cloud and now it is time to practice this concept that we have preached about more daily in our own lives. We do believe that the Lord will provide for His work. We aren't worried about facing a layoff or loss of job, because when you work for Him your work is never done. Please be in prayer for the National Board of Village Missions and our leadership as they begin to make decisions beginning tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM PST that will affect the lives of missionaries, churches and communities. We believe that the Lord still has work for the ministry of Village Missions and all of us will be stretched and our faith grown as we watch him provide for his people.
We so appreciate the many of you who help us through prayer and financial support. We wouldn't be able to serve here in Red Cloud without you partnering with us is this ministry.
Blessings,
Deb
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