Hi!
I haven't been on here in a couple of weeks. These past few weeks have been some of the busiest weeks in recent times but also very enjoyable times too!
Two weeks ago we held our annual Palm Sunday Cantata. I have to admit that my heart really wasn't in to being part of this again, but knowing I need to support my pastor hubby who loves working and presenting the gospel in this manner was my reason to get on board.
The Risen Christ with music by Keith and Kristyn Getty really ministered to my heart over the weeks that followed. This year for the first time we had the smallest group of choir members we have ever had. This year we had the fewest number of kids involved in drama, but this year we had a group of people who committed themselves to the practices it involved, we had a group of ministers who went out on faith and spent the money needed to have the drama on video, this year the Red Cloud Opera House offered their building with great sound and a giant screen to this effort free of charge. Who could have done all this but the Lord!
The day of the cantata arrived. The chairs in the opera house were full! I was full of nerves because for the first time in my life except in our local church, I was singing a solo all by myself in public. Something this gal had never felt comfortable or confidant about doing. You know what, The Lord showed up that day. The music ministered to the people, I didn't trip over all the cords in the dark that would have caused me to sail into the grand piano! My voice didn't wobble like my knees were doing and I am so thankful that the Lord challenged me to surrender to Him and be a part of this group that ministered the gospel to our community that day.
The theme of my life for these past few years has seemed to be Surrender.
Surrender to what the Lord wants to do within me, surrender all my hopes and dreams for His, Surrender to His will and not my own.
Today in church, my pastor hubby preached one of the best sermons that I have heard him preach from James chapter two on surrender. He spoke of Abraham and how he had learned to surrender so many times throughout his life. He spoke on how Rahab who was known as a harlot and she surrender her life to God and how in Matt chapter 2 she is mentioned in the lineage of Christ. As I read not only in James chapter 2 but also about both of them in Hebrews chapter 11 I began to see just what the Lord has been doing in me these past few years.
I have learned to surrender my life more and more to His will.
I have learned to surrender my plans for His.
I have learned to surrender my "kids" to Him.
These are just a few areas that I have seen His working in my life. No it doesn't mean that I haven't struggled as He has been teaching me this thing called surrender. No at times I have followed Him kicking and screaming, because I thought my will and my plans were the better idea. I have shed numerous tears over surrendering people to Him because they are not mine, they are His. But little by little He has been showing me what it means to surrender more easily than I have in the past.
A passage in scripture which has really spoken to me as of late is 1 Peter 1:3-9 where it says
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain and inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls."
You see this process of surrender is just another part of the sanctification process in my life.
Having this eternal view in my mind has given me such comfort and peace as I continue on this journey of faith that I surrendered to Christ by asking Him to be my Savior and Lord and declaring myself as a sinner in need of a Savior as a 7 year old girl in a small rural church in Kansas almost 40 years ago! I still have a ways to go because the Lord hasn't called me to my eternal home yet, but which each passing step my hearts desire is to be more and more willing to surrender easily to His will, His ways and His plan.
Are you willing to be surrender to Christ?
Have you put your faith in Christ alone for your salvation, if you haven't you can do that today. '
I would love to pray with you and get you started on your journey of faith.
If you have surrendered to Christ, are you following after Him, are you in love with your savior and are you desiring to say no to yourself and surrender to His ways.
These hard questions but ones that will matter for eternity I believer.
Know that I will be praying for each of you as the Lord brings you to my mind.
Blessings,
Deb
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Coming to a End
Hi!
Last night our ladies Bible Study on Esther came to an end. This study has been one of those life changing studies for me. I needed this study for such a time as this to refocus me on God's purpose for my life. This week as I prepared for this last study I found myself crying. First when I finished the book and secondly when I watch the last DVD. For one like me who doesn't cry easily I knew this had touched my heart and life changing way.
You see it really doesn't matter what we think our life should be. They only one who matters is Christ! He already before the world even existed had a plan drawn up for my life. It doesn't matter what men try to do, it only matters what God is doing. Christ holds my destiny.
I can come to Christ, obediently following his plan or I can try to run, kicking and screaming the other direction, but it the end He will have his way with me. Do I want his way with the blessings it brings or the consequences that my sin brings.
One thing that Beth Moore said really got me to thinking. In a world where we are focused on beauty and self and wanting to defy the process of aging to feel like we have accomplished anything in our lives, the Lord Jesus plan is just the opposite for those who love him. His plan is that we get more beautiful in His time. That inner beauty that can come only through Jesus Christ and what he did for us on that cross. When we enter into his presence these old worn out bodies will be exchange for a glorious body that will never have the affect of sin in it or on it. Can you imagine!! It is my goal to become more beautiful inside so that Jesus will shine on my outside.
The other statement that hit me so profoundly was "God is never more near when we don't see His imprint," So when I go through the trials of life which I don't understand, I can know that God is with me! He will bring me to an understanding of theses trails when I get to heaven, if he doesn't reveal them to me here on earth.
Recently I have been praying that the Lord would show me the whys of my life. It seems like that is all I have had to focus on is "Why Lord?" The Lord knew that this study would change my outlook on the Whys, to help me focus on Him and not my circumstances. Now I can say not why, but how do you want me to use this circumstance in my life to help me and others focus on Him.
So when life gets overwhelming and it will, when trail come and they will, when questions come and they will, let's focus on Jesus, who already has everything worked out for his good and ours.
I think this may be what Paul meant when he wrote he has learned to be content in all circumstances.
Blessings,
Deb
Last night our ladies Bible Study on Esther came to an end. This study has been one of those life changing studies for me. I needed this study for such a time as this to refocus me on God's purpose for my life. This week as I prepared for this last study I found myself crying. First when I finished the book and secondly when I watch the last DVD. For one like me who doesn't cry easily I knew this had touched my heart and life changing way.
You see it really doesn't matter what we think our life should be. They only one who matters is Christ! He already before the world even existed had a plan drawn up for my life. It doesn't matter what men try to do, it only matters what God is doing. Christ holds my destiny.
I can come to Christ, obediently following his plan or I can try to run, kicking and screaming the other direction, but it the end He will have his way with me. Do I want his way with the blessings it brings or the consequences that my sin brings.
One thing that Beth Moore said really got me to thinking. In a world where we are focused on beauty and self and wanting to defy the process of aging to feel like we have accomplished anything in our lives, the Lord Jesus plan is just the opposite for those who love him. His plan is that we get more beautiful in His time. That inner beauty that can come only through Jesus Christ and what he did for us on that cross. When we enter into his presence these old worn out bodies will be exchange for a glorious body that will never have the affect of sin in it or on it. Can you imagine!! It is my goal to become more beautiful inside so that Jesus will shine on my outside.
The other statement that hit me so profoundly was "God is never more near when we don't see His imprint," So when I go through the trials of life which I don't understand, I can know that God is with me! He will bring me to an understanding of theses trails when I get to heaven, if he doesn't reveal them to me here on earth.
Recently I have been praying that the Lord would show me the whys of my life. It seems like that is all I have had to focus on is "Why Lord?" The Lord knew that this study would change my outlook on the Whys, to help me focus on Him and not my circumstances. Now I can say not why, but how do you want me to use this circumstance in my life to help me and others focus on Him.
So when life gets overwhelming and it will, when trail come and they will, when questions come and they will, let's focus on Jesus, who already has everything worked out for his good and ours.
I think this may be what Paul meant when he wrote he has learned to be content in all circumstances.
Blessings,
Deb
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Requests
Hi!
As I have been studying about prayer in my quiet time this past year, many times I have brought prayer requests before the Lord for all kinds of people who I have had involvement in their lives in one way or another. What a privilege for me to bring those requests before the Lord and pray for all kinds of people and circumstances.
As I thought about what to write in my blog this time, the Lord brought to my mind that maybe I should share some of the requests that Jon and I have in our lives at the present time.
So if you would like to bring us before the Lord in prayer we would deeply appreciate it.
1. We have been doing respite care for an 11 year old who started five fires in the matter of two months last fall and it ended with him setting fire to his families home. Because he is underage, it up to his parents to decide what kind of restitution he should do. His parents have chosen to send him to a 18 month Christian Boys ranch that will work with him not only on his behavior but on his heart spiritually also. I know how hard this decision has been for this family, but both Jon and I believe it is the right choice for "J". "J" was having a hard time getting along at home so after much prayer his parents asked if we would keep him until they leave to take him to the ranch. We said yes and are now in our second week with him living with us. Please pray for us as we teach and train and prepare "J" for his departure on March 20th and pray that "J's" heart will be open to what the Lord wants to do in him during his time away.
2. My Mom is having knee replacement surgery on March 17th. I will be traveling to KS to help in her care after she gets home from the hospital for a week. Please pray that I will have a loving heart for my mom as she copes with the pain and the therapy that comes along with knee replacement. Pray also as Jon is home alone and will have a lot on his plate as this is the week before our annual Palm Sunday Cantata that he directs. Pray for my mom's healing as she wants to be able to walk pain free by the end of May as my Dad is taking her to Ireland on a trip.
3. Pray for Hannah. She isn't going to be able to get home this semester because of her schedule. All of us have realized this is the longest period of time that we have ever been apart as a family and we are all missing one another. Jon and I will be traveling out to Frontier after our service on Easter Sunday so we can go to her choir concert on Monday night and then leave on Tuesday to do some business for Village Missions. Pray also that the Lord would show her where she is to be this summer. She has a good job in Scottsbluff, NE but she does desire to be home. We are asking for the Lord's provision in a job for her either here in Red Cloud or Hastings.
4. Pray for our board chairman Jack who is having surgery for his colon cancer on March 26th in Omaha. Because of the extensive surgery they are preforming he will be in the hospital for about two weeks. Pray for Jack and his family as they continue to go through this trail that is set before them.
5. Pray for Jon and I as we have been asked by VM leadership to teach at the upcoming candidate school in Dallas, OR, May 17-21, 2010. Pray as we prepare that we will seek what the Lord wants us to share while covering all the material that we have been assigned. Also pray as we are organizing the mini conference to be held at Rexford, KS in July. We have about 70 people attending this conference with adults and children. It should be a fun time for everyone!
As you can see our lives are very full even with our church responsibilities added to this list.
One thing for sure, life is never boring!
I would love to pray for you if you have something you would like to share with me.
Until the next time.
Blessings,
Deb
As I have been studying about prayer in my quiet time this past year, many times I have brought prayer requests before the Lord for all kinds of people who I have had involvement in their lives in one way or another. What a privilege for me to bring those requests before the Lord and pray for all kinds of people and circumstances.
As I thought about what to write in my blog this time, the Lord brought to my mind that maybe I should share some of the requests that Jon and I have in our lives at the present time.
So if you would like to bring us before the Lord in prayer we would deeply appreciate it.
1. We have been doing respite care for an 11 year old who started five fires in the matter of two months last fall and it ended with him setting fire to his families home. Because he is underage, it up to his parents to decide what kind of restitution he should do. His parents have chosen to send him to a 18 month Christian Boys ranch that will work with him not only on his behavior but on his heart spiritually also. I know how hard this decision has been for this family, but both Jon and I believe it is the right choice for "J". "J" was having a hard time getting along at home so after much prayer his parents asked if we would keep him until they leave to take him to the ranch. We said yes and are now in our second week with him living with us. Please pray for us as we teach and train and prepare "J" for his departure on March 20th and pray that "J's" heart will be open to what the Lord wants to do in him during his time away.
2. My Mom is having knee replacement surgery on March 17th. I will be traveling to KS to help in her care after she gets home from the hospital for a week. Please pray that I will have a loving heart for my mom as she copes with the pain and the therapy that comes along with knee replacement. Pray also as Jon is home alone and will have a lot on his plate as this is the week before our annual Palm Sunday Cantata that he directs. Pray for my mom's healing as she wants to be able to walk pain free by the end of May as my Dad is taking her to Ireland on a trip.
3. Pray for Hannah. She isn't going to be able to get home this semester because of her schedule. All of us have realized this is the longest period of time that we have ever been apart as a family and we are all missing one another. Jon and I will be traveling out to Frontier after our service on Easter Sunday so we can go to her choir concert on Monday night and then leave on Tuesday to do some business for Village Missions. Pray also that the Lord would show her where she is to be this summer. She has a good job in Scottsbluff, NE but she does desire to be home. We are asking for the Lord's provision in a job for her either here in Red Cloud or Hastings.
4. Pray for our board chairman Jack who is having surgery for his colon cancer on March 26th in Omaha. Because of the extensive surgery they are preforming he will be in the hospital for about two weeks. Pray for Jack and his family as they continue to go through this trail that is set before them.
5. Pray for Jon and I as we have been asked by VM leadership to teach at the upcoming candidate school in Dallas, OR, May 17-21, 2010. Pray as we prepare that we will seek what the Lord wants us to share while covering all the material that we have been assigned. Also pray as we are organizing the mini conference to be held at Rexford, KS in July. We have about 70 people attending this conference with adults and children. It should be a fun time for everyone!
As you can see our lives are very full even with our church responsibilities added to this list.
One thing for sure, life is never boring!
I would love to pray for you if you have something you would like to share with me.
Until the next time.
Blessings,
Deb
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Straight Paths and Mature People
Hi! It has been several weeks since I have written anything here. So I thought I would share about what the Lord has been teaching me recently.
Pastor Jon has been preaching through James and it has been such a good study and reminder to me that I should consider it Pure Joy when I go through trials of various kinds, because the testing of my faith develops perseverance!
Perseverance is a hard lesson for me. Recently I have just wanted to give up in many areas, but the Lord keeps reminding me at every turn that he wants to develop my faith more and more.
Today in my quiet time I read the following devotional and I thought it was written just for me!
Proverbs 3:6 He will make your paths straight.
The author goes on to write: This isn't a promise for an easy, obstacle-free life. There are rugged mountains to climb and deserts to cross, rivers to ford and jungles to traverse. That's where wisdom comes in.
There is a bonus in this straightening process; for in the straightening of our paths, we too are made straight. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance MUST finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in ANYTHING!!" (James 1:1-2) Struggles can be good for us if we have the wisdom to handle them. "So, if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God." (James 1:5) There you have it: As paths are made straight. people are made mature.
Proverbs 3:6 says "In all your ways acknowledge Him" What does ti mean to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways? It means to live by his Word in every circumstance, in every place we find ourselves.
A father and son were traveling to a city in a far country. The journey would take several days. As they walked over mountain passes and through forests, the boy wanted to explore things. They would enter a meadow, and the boy would want to run to the other side. If they passed a rock outcropping the boy would beg his dad to let him climb it. The boy got bolder and bolder as they journeyed. One day he wanted to go a greater distance off the road that he had ventured. The father agreed that he could, but as the boy started off, he felt a tinge of fear. He asked, "How can I know if I've wandered too far away, Father?
The father smiled and answered, "I'll call your name every few minutes and you answer. You call my name every few minutes, and I'll answer. If you get to a place where you can't hear my voice very well, you've wandered too far.
That is what it looks like to acknowledge the Lord in all of our ways. It is a picture of prayer and the Word of God--his voice calling to us, and our voice calling to him.
Prayer-O dear Father! Speak, for I am listening. And hear me when I pray. Make my paths straight and my life mature.
With all of that said, I am learning that the Lord is still working in my life to mature me in Him. Yes he has grown me up so much these past 40 years since I received him as my Savior at age 7, but he still isn't through with me. The trails, circumstances and crooked paths that I have been experiencing and even rebelling against at times, have been the one thing that the Lord is using to make my paths straight and mature me in Him.
My prayer for each of you is that the Lord is maturing you day by day. That He is taking the trials and circumstances of your life to make your paths straight so that you run to Him and Him alone.
Blessings!
Pastor Jon has been preaching through James and it has been such a good study and reminder to me that I should consider it Pure Joy when I go through trials of various kinds, because the testing of my faith develops perseverance!
Perseverance is a hard lesson for me. Recently I have just wanted to give up in many areas, but the Lord keeps reminding me at every turn that he wants to develop my faith more and more.
Today in my quiet time I read the following devotional and I thought it was written just for me!
Proverbs 3:6 He will make your paths straight.
The author goes on to write: This isn't a promise for an easy, obstacle-free life. There are rugged mountains to climb and deserts to cross, rivers to ford and jungles to traverse. That's where wisdom comes in.
There is a bonus in this straightening process; for in the straightening of our paths, we too are made straight. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance MUST finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in ANYTHING!!" (James 1:1-2) Struggles can be good for us if we have the wisdom to handle them. "So, if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God." (James 1:5) There you have it: As paths are made straight. people are made mature.
Proverbs 3:6 says "In all your ways acknowledge Him" What does ti mean to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways? It means to live by his Word in every circumstance, in every place we find ourselves.
A father and son were traveling to a city in a far country. The journey would take several days. As they walked over mountain passes and through forests, the boy wanted to explore things. They would enter a meadow, and the boy would want to run to the other side. If they passed a rock outcropping the boy would beg his dad to let him climb it. The boy got bolder and bolder as they journeyed. One day he wanted to go a greater distance off the road that he had ventured. The father agreed that he could, but as the boy started off, he felt a tinge of fear. He asked, "How can I know if I've wandered too far away, Father?
The father smiled and answered, "I'll call your name every few minutes and you answer. You call my name every few minutes, and I'll answer. If you get to a place where you can't hear my voice very well, you've wandered too far.
That is what it looks like to acknowledge the Lord in all of our ways. It is a picture of prayer and the Word of God--his voice calling to us, and our voice calling to him.
Prayer-O dear Father! Speak, for I am listening. And hear me when I pray. Make my paths straight and my life mature.
With all of that said, I am learning that the Lord is still working in my life to mature me in Him. Yes he has grown me up so much these past 40 years since I received him as my Savior at age 7, but he still isn't through with me. The trails, circumstances and crooked paths that I have been experiencing and even rebelling against at times, have been the one thing that the Lord is using to make my paths straight and mature me in Him.
My prayer for each of you is that the Lord is maturing you day by day. That He is taking the trials and circumstances of your life to make your paths straight so that you run to Him and Him alone.
Blessings!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
These Things Remain...
Hi~
This weekend I attended a Women's conference with a dear friend of mine.
The conference was entitled Spaghetti for the Soul. I wasn't sure just what to expect but I knew if Kathy Troccoli was on the list of speakers, I would at least enjoy her music. She is one of my favorite Christian artists because she writes her songs from the depths of her being.
I had never heard of Ellie Lafaro before, but the moment she began speaking she had my attention. She opened by saying "I don't know why you came here today." You may have been a capital C christian for along time, but I hope you will go home today challenged and encouraged." That really got my attention. So many times when you have walked with the Lord for as long as I have you wonder if you have heard it all at women's conferences. O I knew I would laugh! How could I keep from it as these two Italian born women bantered back and forth from everything from Child Birth to Menopause!! Very funny stuff!! I was ROFL (Rolling on the floor laughing) actually I was sitting on my chair trying not to roll of onto the floor laughing!!
But when the laughing ceased and the Word of the Lord was presented, the Holy Spirit took over and began showing me why I had left home for a day away from the pressures of life and ministry. The Lord once again wanted to speak to my heart. One of the fist things the Holy Spirit said to me was "Don't let where I am today, be where I stay."
When my life is said and done, How do I want to be remember? A loving wife, a great mom, a caring mentor... All those things would be wonderful but scripture tells me that only three things will remain and that is Faith, Hope and Love.
You see faith is rooted in the past. I need to look back and see what the Lord has done. I need to tell the storm I am facing right now, how big My God is! Christ gives me the faith I need daily and all I have to do is receive it from him. Romans 1:17 tells me that the righteous live by faith. Faith is necessary to walk with the Lord, because without it, it is impossible to please him. (Hebrews 11:6) Faith, saved me, it gives me peace and it helps me to persevere and grow when I am led into the valleys in my life. Do I want to be remembered as those Bible saints of Hebrews chapter 11? YES I DO!!!!!!
Hope is our future! It is what God will do! Did you know that Hope has a name. His name is Jesus! All the things that seem to bind me up here on earth I should consider as grave clothes and they need to come off so I can live in freedom. Someday they will!!! That is my hope!!! Hope never leaves! My earthly view is to have the Fairy Tale in life, but Jesus is the only one who can satisfy. I was made for another world!! Often I interpret pain as the absence of God working in my life. He is never closer than when I feel pain. God is writing my story and sometimes I am slamming the book on His hands. Feelings and Circumstances don't make his promises null and void! Until we admit that we are stuck! He can't change us. The question is "What do I think that Christ won't give me"? I need to hold onto hope! This is my responsibility. God never wastes our pain. God will use my story and orchestrate my pain for His Glory!!! You see that Christ in me is the Hope of Glory!
God's love is infinite, eternal and secure! Most of us were raised I love you if.... Or I will love you when... His love is not like earthy love. Part of our loving God is that we should be expectant of what the Lord is going to do in our lives. He loves me!!!! The speaker said we should get out of bed praising God and saying, "Lord I am reporting to duty today." That is the great legacy we have in the cross that as Christians we can ask the Lord to show us how and what to do each step of this journey of life. We need to love ourselves as God see us. God values each and every life. Because he loves me. I need to engage in the culture he has placed me. The speaker challenged us that if everyone in your circle of influence is a Christian, then you are not engaging the world the Lord wants us to win for him. Really made me look at who in my life is not a believer and how I can be a better influence for Christ to them. She also challenged me that every believer needs a Paul in their life. Someone who has mentored you. I can say I cherish the Paul's the Lord has placed in my life. One is a second mother to me, the other has been a godly example of a Pastor's wife and the third Paul in my life taught me so much in the area of prayer. The speaker also challenged me that we should always have a Timothy in our lives. Someone who you are mentoring. I am so glad the Lord has provided and continues to provide young adults who I can poor my life into, sharing how the Lord has been with me as I have grown up in the faith. You may be saying, but.... Remember God qualifies the call. I don't have to worry about all the logistics, I have to just be available. I need to Love others as Christ would. I was challenged by this chiastic structure (those of you who have studied the Beth Moore's Esther Study will understand) You can give without loving but you can't love without giving! What can I do for others who cannot repay me!
This weekend I attended a Women's conference with a dear friend of mine.
The conference was entitled Spaghetti for the Soul. I wasn't sure just what to expect but I knew if Kathy Troccoli was on the list of speakers, I would at least enjoy her music. She is one of my favorite Christian artists because she writes her songs from the depths of her being.
I had never heard of Ellie Lafaro before, but the moment she began speaking she had my attention. She opened by saying "I don't know why you came here today." You may have been a capital C christian for along time, but I hope you will go home today challenged and encouraged." That really got my attention. So many times when you have walked with the Lord for as long as I have you wonder if you have heard it all at women's conferences. O I knew I would laugh! How could I keep from it as these two Italian born women bantered back and forth from everything from Child Birth to Menopause!! Very funny stuff!! I was ROFL (Rolling on the floor laughing) actually I was sitting on my chair trying not to roll of onto the floor laughing!!
But when the laughing ceased and the Word of the Lord was presented, the Holy Spirit took over and began showing me why I had left home for a day away from the pressures of life and ministry. The Lord once again wanted to speak to my heart. One of the fist things the Holy Spirit said to me was "Don't let where I am today, be where I stay."
When my life is said and done, How do I want to be remember? A loving wife, a great mom, a caring mentor... All those things would be wonderful but scripture tells me that only three things will remain and that is Faith, Hope and Love.
You see faith is rooted in the past. I need to look back and see what the Lord has done. I need to tell the storm I am facing right now, how big My God is! Christ gives me the faith I need daily and all I have to do is receive it from him. Romans 1:17 tells me that the righteous live by faith. Faith is necessary to walk with the Lord, because without it, it is impossible to please him. (Hebrews 11:6) Faith, saved me, it gives me peace and it helps me to persevere and grow when I am led into the valleys in my life. Do I want to be remembered as those Bible saints of Hebrews chapter 11? YES I DO!!!!!!
Hope is our future! It is what God will do! Did you know that Hope has a name. His name is Jesus! All the things that seem to bind me up here on earth I should consider as grave clothes and they need to come off so I can live in freedom. Someday they will!!! That is my hope!!! Hope never leaves! My earthly view is to have the Fairy Tale in life, but Jesus is the only one who can satisfy. I was made for another world!! Often I interpret pain as the absence of God working in my life. He is never closer than when I feel pain. God is writing my story and sometimes I am slamming the book on His hands. Feelings and Circumstances don't make his promises null and void! Until we admit that we are stuck! He can't change us. The question is "What do I think that Christ won't give me"? I need to hold onto hope! This is my responsibility. God never wastes our pain. God will use my story and orchestrate my pain for His Glory!!! You see that Christ in me is the Hope of Glory!
God's love is infinite, eternal and secure! Most of us were raised I love you if.... Or I will love you when... His love is not like earthy love. Part of our loving God is that we should be expectant of what the Lord is going to do in our lives. He loves me!!!! The speaker said we should get out of bed praising God and saying, "Lord I am reporting to duty today." That is the great legacy we have in the cross that as Christians we can ask the Lord to show us how and what to do each step of this journey of life. We need to love ourselves as God see us. God values each and every life. Because he loves me. I need to engage in the culture he has placed me. The speaker challenged us that if everyone in your circle of influence is a Christian, then you are not engaging the world the Lord wants us to win for him. Really made me look at who in my life is not a believer and how I can be a better influence for Christ to them. She also challenged me that every believer needs a Paul in their life. Someone who has mentored you. I can say I cherish the Paul's the Lord has placed in my life. One is a second mother to me, the other has been a godly example of a Pastor's wife and the third Paul in my life taught me so much in the area of prayer. The speaker also challenged me that we should always have a Timothy in our lives. Someone who you are mentoring. I am so glad the Lord has provided and continues to provide young adults who I can poor my life into, sharing how the Lord has been with me as I have grown up in the faith. You may be saying, but.... Remember God qualifies the call. I don't have to worry about all the logistics, I have to just be available. I need to Love others as Christ would. I was challenged by this chiastic structure (those of you who have studied the Beth Moore's Esther Study will understand) You can give without loving but you can't love without giving! What can I do for others who cannot repay me!
We ended the day with the challenge of God's love for us. God has a gracious love. God has a victorious love. We must be filling up daily on God's word. That is how we will know that God Love us. It is written as a love story in His book the Bible. The speaker asked "What are we eating on?" I must contineu to be a woman of the Word!
I have written all of this to say I am so glad that I took the time to attend this conference. As much as I just wanted to go and get away from the busyness that so often overtakes me, and to be with friend and mentor of in my life, the Lord took me away for the day so that I would listen to His voice and to refocus my thoughts on Him and the things that really matter and will last for eternity. Faith, Hope and Love.
I am praying that the Lord will speak to each of you and show you His wonderful, but sometimes painful and challenging story that He is writing on your life.
Blessings,
Deb
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Spiritual Renewal
Hi!
Just this morning I said to Jon, "I will never ever pray for colder weather again, because the Lord has provided that just for me her in Red Cloud this winter." You see I love the colder weather especially since it kills all the outdoor allergies that I suffer from. I love the white glistening of snow, I love wearing layers upon layers of clothes to stay warm, I love drinking hot tea and curling up with a good book. This is usually my time of year, but this year has been different. I am longing for the sun to shine like it is today after almost a whole month of gray sky. I am longing for what spring brings with its newness! I am wanting a spiritual renewal to begin in me again.
This past weekend our church hosted an Attachment Adoption Seminar for families within our community who are struggling with kids that have never attached to anyone. I came away with a whole new awareness of what some of these dear friends go through every day of their lives.
God created us to be children that bond and attach to our mother, father, caregivers... Just like He created us to bond to Him as His children. So often because of circumstances this does not happen at birth like it should. A child is born with an illness or a parent has a illness or issue that causes them not to hold, rock, look into their babies eyes... all the things that are to come so naturally in parenting. It isn't per say any ones fault, but when attachment doesn't happen naturally then it is so hard to make it happen in a person's life.
Looking at this from a spiritual view point in relationship to attaching to a Savior has given me so much new insight into situations that have happened within my own life. Attaching to my Savior involves being with Him daily, hearing Him speak to me from His Word the Bible and in prayer,
looking into the eyes of a loving Savior and focusing just on Him and not all the things that distract me.
As I shared earlier the Lord has been using a situation within my own life to mold me to be more like Him. I have no answers, but I know He does. The Lord cares so much about me and about what is going on that He won't let me just brush it aside. He has decided it is time for me to deal with this situation with His help.
This past weekend, the teaching I received helped me so much. Sometimes we bond to others who have no idea how to bond to us. It has given me freedom from guilt that the enemy has showered upon me as I have continually blamed myself for what happened in this situation. And now I am feeling the freedom to love other people who may not respond and that comes only from Christ .
As I thought about what I said to Jon about the weather, I also know that I won't stop praying for this situation because God already has a plan and for His purposes He has allowed me to be involved.
My prayer for you this week is to open your heart to Christ and let Him direct each step that you take on this journey towards Heaven as a believer. I often have to remind myself that Heaven is still awaiting!
An old song chorus says it so well. O Rejoice in the Lord, He makes no mistakes, He knowest the end of each path that I take, but when I am tried and purified. I SHALL come forth as GOLD~
Blessings
Just this morning I said to Jon, "I will never ever pray for colder weather again, because the Lord has provided that just for me her in Red Cloud this winter." You see I love the colder weather especially since it kills all the outdoor allergies that I suffer from. I love the white glistening of snow, I love wearing layers upon layers of clothes to stay warm, I love drinking hot tea and curling up with a good book. This is usually my time of year, but this year has been different. I am longing for the sun to shine like it is today after almost a whole month of gray sky. I am longing for what spring brings with its newness! I am wanting a spiritual renewal to begin in me again.
This past weekend our church hosted an Attachment Adoption Seminar for families within our community who are struggling with kids that have never attached to anyone. I came away with a whole new awareness of what some of these dear friends go through every day of their lives.
God created us to be children that bond and attach to our mother, father, caregivers... Just like He created us to bond to Him as His children. So often because of circumstances this does not happen at birth like it should. A child is born with an illness or a parent has a illness or issue that causes them not to hold, rock, look into their babies eyes... all the things that are to come so naturally in parenting. It isn't per say any ones fault, but when attachment doesn't happen naturally then it is so hard to make it happen in a person's life.
Looking at this from a spiritual view point in relationship to attaching to a Savior has given me so much new insight into situations that have happened within my own life. Attaching to my Savior involves being with Him daily, hearing Him speak to me from His Word the Bible and in prayer,
looking into the eyes of a loving Savior and focusing just on Him and not all the things that distract me.
As I shared earlier the Lord has been using a situation within my own life to mold me to be more like Him. I have no answers, but I know He does. The Lord cares so much about me and about what is going on that He won't let me just brush it aside. He has decided it is time for me to deal with this situation with His help.
This past weekend, the teaching I received helped me so much. Sometimes we bond to others who have no idea how to bond to us. It has given me freedom from guilt that the enemy has showered upon me as I have continually blamed myself for what happened in this situation. And now I am feeling the freedom to love other people who may not respond and that comes only from Christ .
As I thought about what I said to Jon about the weather, I also know that I won't stop praying for this situation because God already has a plan and for His purposes He has allowed me to be involved.
My prayer for you this week is to open your heart to Christ and let Him direct each step that you take on this journey towards Heaven as a believer. I often have to remind myself that Heaven is still awaiting!
An old song chorus says it so well. O Rejoice in the Lord, He makes no mistakes, He knowest the end of each path that I take, but when I am tried and purified. I SHALL come forth as GOLD~
Blessings
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Half way through
I can't believe we are half way through January. Time flies and life continues on with its ebbs and flows until we blink and another year will be complete. My thoughts lately is that we are one day closer to the Lord's return and that gives me joy to think about the time of His return. It also makes me think about all those people around me that don't know Jesus. Oh they know his name and may even use it from time to time but they don't have the HOPE of heaven that only comes when you accept what He did on the cross to pay the price of yours and my sin. My heart aches for friends and even family who don't know Jesus in a personal way. I guess if I could some up what I want to be remembered for is that I would be a living Jesus to those around me, imperfect as I am, that they might see Him through my witness and my life.
I finally was able to see the movie "The Blind Side" tonight, as I sat there watching it I was reminded of times when the Lord has brought someone into my life to pour out His love into. Sometimes is has been for a brief time and at other times for an extended period of time, but each time it was of His leading. Only Jesus can bring the people across my path that need that kind of love. Over the years I have been in the ministry alongside my hubby the Lord has brought so many individuals with varying personalities and backgrounds, for me to be a living Jesus to, they all are seeking something that only Jesus can give them.
I think back to how He has brought each of our kids across our path at just the time He had planned. I can remember each time that the Lord birthed each of them in my heart. Although some times the pouring out has involved pain and suffering, I am reminded how much Jesus suffered for me. Other times there has been so much joy to share and I am reminded how Christ rejoices over me! He gives me the opportunity to love and to give and to pray knowing that He has a plan for each of them.
Last week I shared I have been reading "Praying for your Adult Children" by Stormie Omartian.
The chapter I have read this week has emphasized that the most important way to pray for them is to ask God to pour out His Spirit upon them and pray that they will welcome an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in their lives. I have to keep in mind that God can do far more for them than I can ever do and I must ask Him to speak to their hearts by the power of His Holy Spirit. My job is to pray and God's job it to answer!
This is also what I need to do with all those that come across my path during my lifetime. Prayer is the best way for me to be a living Jesus to them.
So who do you need to be a living Jesus to today? Could it be the lonely neighbor who needs to be encouraged, a lost relative who needs the saving knowledge of Jesus in their lives, a child who is pondering the Lord's will in their lives... I encourage you today to be that person who leads them closer to Jesus.
Praying your week will be filled with the Lord's Blessings,
Deb
I finally was able to see the movie "The Blind Side" tonight, as I sat there watching it I was reminded of times when the Lord has brought someone into my life to pour out His love into. Sometimes is has been for a brief time and at other times for an extended period of time, but each time it was of His leading. Only Jesus can bring the people across my path that need that kind of love. Over the years I have been in the ministry alongside my hubby the Lord has brought so many individuals with varying personalities and backgrounds, for me to be a living Jesus to, they all are seeking something that only Jesus can give them.
I think back to how He has brought each of our kids across our path at just the time He had planned. I can remember each time that the Lord birthed each of them in my heart. Although some times the pouring out has involved pain and suffering, I am reminded how much Jesus suffered for me. Other times there has been so much joy to share and I am reminded how Christ rejoices over me! He gives me the opportunity to love and to give and to pray knowing that He has a plan for each of them.
Last week I shared I have been reading "Praying for your Adult Children" by Stormie Omartian.
The chapter I have read this week has emphasized that the most important way to pray for them is to ask God to pour out His Spirit upon them and pray that they will welcome an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in their lives. I have to keep in mind that God can do far more for them than I can ever do and I must ask Him to speak to their hearts by the power of His Holy Spirit. My job is to pray and God's job it to answer!
This is also what I need to do with all those that come across my path during my lifetime. Prayer is the best way for me to be a living Jesus to them.
So who do you need to be a living Jesus to today? Could it be the lonely neighbor who needs to be encouraged, a lost relative who needs the saving knowledge of Jesus in their lives, a child who is pondering the Lord's will in their lives... I encourage you today to be that person who leads them closer to Jesus.
Praying your week will be filled with the Lord's Blessings,
Deb
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