BCLR Women's Ministry

What is the Bible?

2012-02-07T05:47:00.003-06:00

This Book is the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation,
the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.
Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding;
its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy.
It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.
It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s character.
Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.
Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.
Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully.
It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.
Follow its precepts and it will lead you to Calvary, to the empty tomb, to a resurrected life in Christ; yes, to glory itself, for eternity.
~Anonymous

Resolve To Be Involved

2012-01-23T05:30:00.003-06:00

By Kim. M.

In my morning quiet times, I follow a reading plan and then often journal what I am learning. This morning I was reading in Matthew 9. I have a friend from another town who is going through a particularly hard time. When I read verse 36, I thought of her. I was moved by how Jesus saw the multitude and felt compassion for them - because they were distressed and downcast like a sheep without a shepherd. And so I journaled my thoughts:

Jesus has compassion for the distressed and downcast -He knows they need a Shepherd - He is the Good Shepherd. In John 10:10-18 and Psalm 23 - The good Shepherd protects His sheep; even to the point of laying His life down for them; He is concerned for His sheep; He knows His sheep and they know Him - it's a relationship. He guards, leads, and feeds His flock; He knows their condition; He provides for what they need - they are not in want. He restores their soul; He guides them in what is right; even in the most difficult of times, they don't have to be afraid - because He is with them; He comforts them. There is hope when He is the Shepherd; SURELY, CERTAINLY - goodness and lovingkindness will follow His sheep all the days of their life and after! It is relationship for NOW and FOREVER when He is our Good Shepherd. Thank You, Lord that I have this forever relationship because You laid down your life to pay for my sin that I might have a relationship with You.

Such good words from the Word… and I thought my quiet time lesson was over. Sometimes though, the Lord surprises me with how quickly He gives me just the place and situation to practice what I am learning.

After my journaling, I opened Facebook to send a message to my hurting friend. When I opened the news feed, I noticed a post from Arkansas Tech to their students. The title caught my attention: "Resolve to Get Involved." I didn’t even read the article, because my mind took an immediate detour and connected that thought with living life in the body of Christ. (I bet Arkansas Tech didn't think God would use them in my quiet time this morning!)

What a challenge those words were to me: Resolved to Get Involved. Sometimes I don’t want to be “involved” any more than I already am. I can be tempted to stay immersed in my own world and my own list of "to dos.” I want to justify my actions or lack thereof by how full my plate already is, or how tired I am, or a hundred other reasons that I could rattle off for you. But because I know the Good Shepherd, I can’t keep the good news to myself. I need to “resolve to get involved” with His flock and with those who don’t know Him! I need to engage in service, to reach out to the needy, to listen to the hurting, to encourage the downcast and distressed, to learn from the Word as it is taught, and to be willing to share the good news with a hurting world.

I don’t believe “involved” means “more busy.” It is much more purposeful than that. Sometimes being “involved” may actually mean slowing things down. It may mean doing less so I can listen more. Or it may mean I need to do more, but just in another place or another way. Being involved may require evaluating what I am doing to see if I am “involved” where God wants me. I need to discover where God would have me serve and then resolve to serve there…with a happy heart.

While my family is certainly to be my priority, so is my extended family - the church. I am to share the good news of a Good Shepherd in word and deed in my home, in my church, and with a hurting world. I KNOW this truth. I know you do, too. But I needed a reminder this morning.

So it is back to my journal...I need to add to my entry: May the Good Shepherd lead me; may I be attentive to His voice through His Word, and may I may RESOLVE TO BE INVOLVED.

Help! Series Book Reviews

2012-01-16T05:30:00.003-06:00

by Deborah H.

Perhaps you’ve noticed a trend lately in Christian literature. In addition to publishing full length books, publishers are also coming out with their new “series” books – publishing shorter, easy-to-read booklets designed to help struggling Christians navigate life’s complicated issues.

Day One Publishing, out of London, England, has come out with what they’re calling the “Living in a Fallen World” series. By the end of February, 2012, there will be 22 booklets in this series. Each one is about 60 pages long, with four short chapters plus a conclusion, followed by personal application projects. Each one boldly proclaims the gospel and would be appropriate to give to unbelievers, even though most are geared toward suffering Christians.

Instead of reviewing all 22 books, I thought I might write a short synopsis of my favorites. Since I have written two books in this series, I’ll begin and end with those.

Help! Someone I Love Has Cancer, by Deborah Howard. This is not especially for those who have struggled with cancer for years. It is written for newly diagnosed patients, those who don’t yet understand the lingo and who need a short, clear tutorial on cancer. The first and last chapters provide the theological comfort and perspective people need when they find that someone they love has cancer. But the middle two chapters are very practical and informative, dealing with the questions of what cancer is, how it spreads, what the stages of cancer are, treatment options, and prognosis. It’s hard to walk along this journey with someone you love, but it is my prayer that this little book can help you along the way.

Help! I’m Drowning in Debt, by Dr. John Temple. For those seeking valuable, practical information about money management, this is a terrific little booklet. Dr. Temple is clear and concise in his analysis of why people get into debt and offers practical, measurable solutions on how they can get out of it. I like the way he uses Scripture in this book, utilizing appropriate verses in their proper context to accentuate the principles he proposes. Whether you’re drowning in debt or just want to learn more about sensibly managing your money, you’ll appreciate this one.

Help! Someone I Love Has Been Abused, by Jim Newheiser. This booklet is sensitively written, not only to those who love someone who has been violated, but for the ones who went through the ordeal themselves. He does a masterful job of coming alongside the abused, then spiritually leading them past the hurt, the loss, the sense of guilt and into freedom. His last chapter says it all: “How Victims can become Overcomers.” I found this book very poignant, with a great use of relevant Scriptural principles.

Help! My Marriage Has Grown Cold, by Rick Thomas. A common heartache among Christian people is that sometimes a union that begins with such warmth and intensity of emotion can drift into an uncomfortable relationship becoming increasingly chilly and unsatisfying. It’s not that you don’t love each other, but that your love has grown cold. Again, this helpful booklet uses Scripture beautifully as the author finds you where you are and helps you rediscover the warmth in your marriage, especially if you actually take advantage of the personal application projects.

Help! I Have Breast Cancer, by Brenda Frields. Whereas my cancer book deals in a clinical way with the issues of cancer, Brenda Frields, a breast cancer survivor herself, takes a more personal approach. I found her warmth, sensitivity, practicality, theological soundness, and writing style very appealing. She doesn’t address breast cancer itself as much as the experience of going through the scary, dark times trying to keep Biblical perspectives in mind. She describes what it takes to demonstrate to a watching world how to maintain a godly attitude even when life gets tough.

Help! My Toddler Rules the House, by Paul & Karen Tautges. As parents of ten children, Paul and Karen know what they’re talking about. In our society, we find too many parents, even in Christian homes, allowing the children to rule their households. Yet God did not give this authority to the kids, but to the parents. This book carefully reminds the reader just who the boss is supposed to be, and describes what that leadership looks like in a peaceful, orderly, God-centered household. Very helpful!

Help! My Spouse Has Been Unfaithful, by Mike Summers. This booklet takes an example of an unfaithful wife and the struggles the husband wrestled with in recognizing and then implementing godly responses to this heartbreaking situation. The author, as counselor, uses the Bible as the source of comfort, pointing out Biblical principles that enabled this husband, and by extension the readers, to overcome the pain of this most intimate betrayal. Not every situation will have the same ending, but every situation can benefit from the application of these Biblical pointers.

Help! Someone I Love Has Alzheimer’s, by Deborah Howard and Judy Howe. I’m treating my books as bookends of these favorites. This one deals with the baffling, frustrating, heart-rending topic of helping someone you love through the battleground of Alzheimer’s disease. In clear, understandable language, it teaches about Alzheimer’s and describes the warning signs and the progression of the disease, as well as providing practical, helpful suggestions for managing the care of a dementia patient. With our aging population, we will see more and more of this devastating illness, so I pray this book will be intensely helpful to all.

The other booklets in the series are helpful, as well, some more than others. And, at $3.50 each, they are inexpensive enough to buy multiples to have on hand as a helpful gift when someone you know is going through tough times.

A couple of the booklets aimed at defeating some sin or other seem to leave the idea that the solution to these problems is salvation, and do not provide much help for believers suffering under the bondage of sin. But most of the others are fine booklets.

The only one I cannot recommend is Help! My Baby Has Died, by Reggie Weems. I did not find this helpful and in some ways the comfort it seeks to provide is not Biblical, and the passages used do not support his claims.

I haven’t read the new booklets due for release in February, but of the existing ones, feel free to ask me about any specific ones in which you are interested.

Here is the complete listing of titles:
Help! Someone I Love Has Cancer, by Deborah Howard
Help! My Baby Has Died, by Reggie Weems
Help! My Spouse Has Been Unfaithful, by Mike Summers
Help! I Have Breast Cancer, by Brenda Frields
Help! My Marriage Has Grown Cold, by Rick Thomas
Help! He’s Struggling with Pornography, by Brian Croft
Help! My Toddler Rules the House, by Paul and Karen Tautges
Help! Someone I Love Has Been Abused, by Jim Newheiser
Help! I Can’t Get Motivated, by Adam Embry
Help! I’m a Single Mom, by Carol Trahan
Help! I’m a Slave to Food, by Shannon McCoy
Help! I’m Confused about Dating, by Joel James
Help! I’m Drowning in Debt, by Dr. John Temple
Help! My Teen is Gay, by Ben Marshall
Help! My Teen is Rebellious, by Dave and Judi Coats
Help! She’s Struggling with Pornography, by Rachel Coyle
Help! I Am Depressed, by Carol Trahan
Help! I’m Living with Terminal Illness, by Reggie Weems
Help! I Feel Ashamed, by Sue Nicewander
Help! I Can’t Submit to My Husband, by Glenda Hotton
Help! Someone I Love has Alzheimer’s, by Deborah Howard and Judy Howe
Help! I Can’t Handle All these Trials, by Joel James
Help! I Can’t Forgive, by Jim Newcomer

The ABC’s of Evil toward Your Husband

2012-01-09T05:30:00.002-06:00

By Jennifer R.

I found this while going through some old files. ~~I have no idea where it came from, so I apologize that I can't give credit where it is due.~~ (EDITED: Since this was published, I found out it was written by Beth Quinn.) However, I thought it would be beneficial for us to examine our hearts and attitudes to make sure we are not doing anything on this list.

The ABC’s of Evil toward Your Husband

“She does him good and not evil all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:12)

A - Act with anger

James 1:20 – “For the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”

B - Be bitter

Hebrews 12:15 – “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.”

C - Compare him to other husbands

Proverbs 31:26 – “She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”

D - Display discontent toward your husband

1 Timothy 6:8 – “If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.”

E - Excessive focus on external beauty

Proverbs 31:30 – “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.”

F - Find fault with your husband

Proverbs 21:9 – “It is better to live in a corner of a roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman.”

G - Gripe

Philippians 2:14 – “Do all things without grumbling or disputing.”

H - Hate housework

Proverbs 31:27 – “She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.”

I - Insist on your own way

Philippians 2:3-4 – “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

J - Justify jealousy

1 Corinthians 13:4 – “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,”

K - Keep a record of wrongs

1 Corinthians 13:5 – “does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,”

L - Love laziness

Proverbs 6:6-8 – “Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest.”

M - Manipulate matters

Psalm 25:21 – “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You.”

N - Nag, nag, nag!

Proverbs 27:15 – “A constant dripping on a day of steady rain and a contentious woman are alike;”

O - Ostracize his family

Matthew 19:19 – “Honor your father and mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

P - Patronize your husband

Ephesians 5:33b – “The wife must see to it that she respects her husband.”

Q - Quit kissing

1 Corinthians 7:3-5 – “The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

R - Resent your husband

Proverbs 21:19 – “It is better to live in a desert land than with a contentious and vexing woman.”

S - Speak sarcastically to your husband

Proverbs 21:23 – “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles.”

T - Tell your husband’s faults to others

1 Corinthians 13:7-8a – “[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”

U - Uncover his sins with an attempt to cover your own!

Matthew 7:3 – “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”

V - Vacillate on your commitment

Matthew 5:37 – “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.”

W - Window shop and want more “stuff!”

Proverbs 19:14 – “House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.”

X - Exasperate your children

Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Y - Yell often!

Proverbs 15:1 – “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Z - Zero hospitality

1 Timothy 3:2 – “An overseer, then, must be … hospitable…”

Helpful Couponing Websites and Laundry Detergent Recipe

2012-01-03T05:30:00.000-06:00

By Gina E.

This is a follow-up to yesterday's post about using coupons to save money on groceries.

Helpful Blogs:

Money Saving Mom – Crystal Paine, believer, wife, mom of three, husband went through law school with NO DEBT. Paid cash for their home near the end of 2009. I love one of the things she said on her blog: couponing doesn’t need to take over your life and eat up your time!
It’s imperative, in seeking to be better home economists, that we value our time as well as our money. It is easy to get so caught up in trying to pinch every penny, that we lose sight of the big picture. We can become so focused on trying to save money that we end up spending hours and hours and hours of time to save a mere few dollars.
(from the post, “Why I Don’t Make Homemade Tortillas”)
Also, check out her series: 31 Days to a Better Grocery Budget.
Common Sense With Money – Mercedes, wife, mom of three, originally from Honduras. This is a great blog to visit if you want to do the “Walgreen’s Game” (combine coupons + register rewards). She also has affiliated with other bloggers who match coupons with ads for the major grocery chains (the only one we have here is Kroger). She also does some Target and WalMart coupon/sale matching.
The Krazy Coupon Lady - This is the coupon organization system I use now (binder with baseball card sleeves). She has a printable PDF for her organization system (in the right sidebar of her site, scroll down until you see “Free Downloads”). Eventually, I’ll reorganize this system to have my coupons in the order of the store where I do the bulk of my grocery shopping; but for now, this works. Also does coupon match-ups and “scenarios” to get the best deal(s).

Store/Manufacturer Websites:

Kroger – Register your Kroger card, load coupons directly to the card (note: ecoupons do NOT double and cannot be combined with paper coupons), some special saving events where you can “play a game” for free grocery items (Deal of the Day currently going on); print paper coupons
Procter & Gamble – Sign-up for coupon booklets (in addition to those that are in the paper), register for “freebies,” get samples
Vocal Point – Procter & Gamble’s viral marketing site – “try and tells”; often receive samples and high value coupons
Kraft First Taste – “Try and tells” from Kraft Foods – samples, coupons for free items or high value coupons
Kashi – Also do “try and tells” some, high value coupons through the mail

Print Coupons at Home:
Note about printing coupons at home: all of the sites below require installing a plug-in to your computer. You will need to read over their privacy policy and decide if you want to do that or not. These plug-ins enable the ability for the manufacturer to set a limit for how many coupons you can print from a given computer (usually 2 per computer). You’ll also want to consider how much ink and paper you’re using by printing coupons at home.

Target – has Target store coupons + manufacturer coupons (usually can’t tell which is which until you print them). Target store coupons CAN BE combined with manufacturer coupons for extra savings. Target also puts coupons on their site for Up&Up (store brand) products.
Coupons.Com – great site for manufacturer coupons
Smart Source – great site for manufacturer coupons
Red Plum – great site for manufacturer coupons

Be aware: very few manufacturers use PDFs for coupons. If you receive an email attachment that is a PDF for a coupon, research it before you print and use it. A great resource is Coupon Information Center (the bar at top right called “counterfeit notifications” is the place to check). 3M Corporation is one of the few companies that does still use PDFs. Also, not all stores will accept internet coupons, and some have limits to what you can use.

A couple of other websites mentioning:

The Grocery Game - Check with Karana for her email address to list her as the person who referred you if you decide to join.
Hot Coupon World – This is a forum that discusses coupons and coupon deals. They also alert people about fraudulent coupons (as does the CIC listed above)

Laundry Detergent Recipe:
From the Duggar Family

4 cups HOT tap water
1 bar Fels-Naptha soap
1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ cup Borax
hot tap water

Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with hot water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap is melted and dissolved. I add the soap in small amounts to keep it from lumping.

Fill a five-gallon bucket half-full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to the top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

The next day, it’s ready to use. Stir (I just stick my arm in) and fill a clean, used laundry soap bottle or other bottle with detergent mixture and water in a 1:1 ratio. (Yes, that 5-gallon bucket is the concentrate…you’ve basically got 10-gallons of laundry detergent.) Gently mix before each use (it will separate) – I just tip the bottle back and forth a couple of times. But, take my advice… make sure the lid to your bottle is screwed on well before you do that!

Optional: you can add essential oils to scent the detergent once the soap has cooled. Use 20-30 drops in a 5-gallon bucket. Be sure to use the oils made for soap.

Top-Load Machine: 5/8 cup per load (approximately 180 loads)
Front-Load Machine: ¼ cup per load (approximately 640 loads)

TipNut has compiled a great list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about homemade laundry detergent here. She addresses HE machines, washing diapers, sensitive skin, etc.

Couponing

2012-01-02T05:30:00.001-06:00

By Gina E.

I am not an “extreme couponer” by any stretch of the imagination. I don’t want to be a shelf-clearing hoarder, but I do want to be a good steward of our family’s household budget as the Lord calls me to be. I’m the average person in this economy looking to make our money stretch as far as I can – as I seek to feed, care for, and clothe four rapidly growing children in addition to a husband with special diet requirements. I want to share with you a couple of ways I’ve found to do that.

I haven’t always been consistent at using coupons. There were many weeks that I threw them away without looking at them…thinking, “It’s all prepared foods, brands I don’t like/won’t use; it’s only 25¢ off a $900 package of toilet paper…” The thought of pairing them with a sale never crossed my mind, and if it happened, I considered it a ‘happy accident’. Then I had a baby. And another. And another. In 35 months I had three children – and a $100/month bill for diapers. Nothing will drive a family to coupons like buying diapers!!

I’m an engineer. I research things to death before I try doing them. So, I started following Money Saving Mom and reading all I could on how to save money using coupons. The frugal blogs are a great source for savings in stores and online. SKIM them because they post A LOT (sometimes 50+ posts a day). I use Google Reader and when I read the frugal blogs, I put them in “list view” so I see post titles. That way I don’t have to scroll through 50 posts about things that I don’t need, don’t want or stores that aren’t near us. Another option is to use a service like The Grocery Game that does all of that for you (for a fee).

So, how did I get started using coupons once I read up on it? First, I had to CLIP the coupons! I only clipped the ones I knew I’d use – but if I didn’t organize them, I knew I wouldn’t use them. Some people use a small accordion file, like a check file. Some use an index card file (Rubbermaid has a photo/media storage box that works well and gives more room than an index card box). Some use a binder with page protectors, some use a binder with baseball card protectors. Initially I used the Rubbermaid photo box with index dividers; but, recently I switched to a binder and baseball card sleeves using Krazy Coupon Lady’s system. There are all sorts of You Tube videos and blog posts that discuss coupon organization systems if you’re interested in it. The main thing is finding what works for you and knowing it may change over time.

Target, Walgreens, and Kroger will allow coupon “stacking”: that means you can use a STORE coupon + a manufacturer coupon for an item. You can get items for a great price – sometimes even free – by coupon stacking. If you don’t have a Kroger card, consider getting one. Yes, it means they track what you buy – but they also send coupons and for every $100 spent, you get 10-cents a gallon off on gas. I get free eggs four times a year from Kroger – sometimes I get other free stuff, too (deli meat, chips, butter). Who can’t use free stuff? Target has printable coupons on their website – some are manufacturer coupons and some are store coupons – and you can’t always tell which is which until you print them. They also include coupons for store brand (Up&Up). Up&Up usually ranks very high in Consumer Reports testing (their laundry detergent beat Tide). I’ve stacked Target and manufacturer coupons in the past to get Shout pre-treater, light bulbs, and toothbrush heads for my Sonicare toothbrush very inexpensively.

I take my coupons with me EVERY TIME I go to the store. And I take them ALL…the whole big binder. There have been times that I’ve happened upon something on clearance or a special markdown and had a coupon for a great deal!! I was in WalMart a month or so ago and they had bottles of Dawn dishwashing liquid in apple and pineapple scents marked down to 50-cents each. I had several 25-cents off coupons in my binder. I got four bottles of dishwashing liquid for $1.00. If I’d only taken the coupons I was planning on using that trip, I’d have missed that deal – and I’d have been kicking myself! (I’ve done that before.)

It’s okay to be brand loyal, but I know I’m not always going to get a great deal or have a coupon. I used to be loyal to Crest toothpaste – until we got 8 tubes of Colgate for 38¢/tube. You know what? My teeth have not fallen out!! However, I’m only going to buy Heinz ketchup - I don’t care how cheap I can get Hunt’s - and my teeth might fall out.

Besides coupons there are a couple of other things I do to save money on our household budget: I buy store brands and I make things at home.

All of us spend a lot of money on toilet paper and laundry detergent. We want clean bottoms and clean clothes. I hate, hate, HATE spending a ton of money on something I’m literally sending down the drain!! I recently decided I wasn’t going to buy name-brand toilet paper for my kids’ bathroom. They waste more toilet paper than they use because I find it all over the floor (unused) and they use it like paper towels. So, I bought Great Value (Wal-Mart brand) Soft & Strong toilet tissue (12 double rolls for less than $7). I discovered that it’s just a soft as Northern or Charmin! If you can get name-brand on sale and/or with a coupon, do it (I got 12 double rolls of Northern for $5.99 last week thanks to the Kroger ad). But if not, don’t be afraid to buy the Great Value Soft & Strong. I promise it’s not sandpaper. And it won’t clog the toilet like Charmin!

Laundry detergent… ugh! $13 for a bottle of soap to wash my clothes?! There are six people in my house. Four of them are little people who can dirty up some clothes in a heart beat. I was spending $60/month on detergent! Um, no thank you!! I started making my own detergent in May, 2010. I’ve made four or five batches of Duggar liquid laundry soap since then and saved a ton of money. You make a five-gallon bucket of detergent that is actually a concentrate. You end up with TEN GALLONS of laundry detergent. It is safe for front-loading machines that call for HE detergent because it is low-sudsing. However, know that using it in an HE machine when your manual says only use HE detergent could void your warranty.

I have not found an acceptable homemade dishwasher detergent – I’ve tried. Everything leaves a film on my glasses and I can’t stand that. So, this is also an area where I stick to a couple of brands. I use Cascade or Finish – whoever has the better coupon. Though I’d also be willing to try Target’s Up&Up brand – I need to check their site for a coupon.

Being good stewards of our household budgets will also allow us to serve others – another thing we are called to do in Scripture. By saving at the grocery store, perhaps we can buy a few extra items and donate them to the church food pantry. Or maybe put the amount saved on a gift card and send it to a struggling family so they can buy milk, meat or other perishables or put gas in their vehicle. Some people use their savings to enable them to give more to the church or missions – whether toward general giving, a gift to the building fund or a Christmas in October gift. Any of these ways to serve others through our grocery savings are a blessing – to both the giver and receiver!

TOMORROW: Helpful Websites & my laundry detergent recipe

The Secret of the Happy Christian

2011-12-31T05:30:00.001-06:00

Believers, if you would have an increase of happiness in Christ’s service, labor every year to grow in grace. Beware of standing still. The holiest men are always the happiest. Let your aim be every year to be more holy–to know more, to feel more, to see more of the fullness of Christ. Do not rest on old grace: do not be content with the degree of Christianity which you have attained. Search the Scriptures more earnestly; pray more fervently; hate sin more; mortify self-will more; become more humble the nearer you draw to your end; seek more direct personal communion with the Lord Jesus; strive to be more like Enoch– daily walking with God; keep your conscience clear of little sins; grieve not the Spirit; avoid arguments and disputes about the lesser matters of religion: lay more firm hold upon those great truths, without which no man can be saved. Remember and practice these things, and you will be more happy.

~ J.C. Ryle

Practical Religion, “Happiness”, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1998], 259.

Practicing Hospitality (Part 2)

2011-12-27T05:30:00.002-06:00

By Lori H.

When I was growing up, there was a family who had a New Year’s Eve party every year. Their home was open to everyone – even the kids. It was wonderful! It is one of my favorite memories. It made me feel special and gave us something to look forward to, so we have done the same thing. Every year we have a New Year’s Eve party – everyone is included, even the kids – especially the kids! It is always fun and laid back. I want everyone to feel at home and welcome. I want to create those memories for my children and their friends. I want people to feel at home in my home. Mi casa es su casa. I love that saying: my house is your house. Seriously, ladies, put it on your calendars: New Year’s Eve party at our home. Bring an appetizer or dessert to share, 7 pm to whenever. Bring the whole family, especially the kids.

Here’s another example: I went home with a friend once to help her with her children on the trip. I will never forget how welcome her parents made me feel. Her mom had made us these little welcome baskets filled with lotion, candy, and goodies and placed them on our beds. What an impression that made on me! What an example! Little details like that showed us we were loved, thought of, and prepared for.

Another friend in Northwest Arkansas always opens her home when we need a place to stay. It is usually for a soccer tournament or a Razorback game, but she opens her home up to my whole family – all 8 of us! She cooks for us and includes us in whatever is going on in their lives. She makes us snacks to take to the field, takes time with my children, and loves each of us separately and as a whole. What an example of hospitality she is to me!

Listen to Romans 12:13 : “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” This is a mark of the true Christian.

Did you know that hospitality is required in ministers and elders?

I Timothy 3:2 “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober minded, self controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach…”

And again in Titus 1:8: “but hospitable, a lover of good, self controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.”

Even in widows it is required: (I Timothy 5:10) “And having a reputation for good works, if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.”

Ladies, we can do this. Make hospitality a part of your life. Be known for it. Don’t wait until you have time, money, or a beautiful home. Invite them in. Be kind to strangers, guests, friends, and family. Love them as Jesus would.

When we were first married, we lived in a trailer. It was not big, but we had people in. We sat on the floor when we ran out of seats. We shared what we had. I wanted to be like my mom, like these other women I had watched all my life. Now my home is a bit bigger, but my life is a whole lot crazier, and my house is really never clean. I have 6 kids. Our schedules are crazy. I have to make it a priority to invite folks over. I may have to make a few phone calls and ask for rides to and from practices for kids, because it is important to open my home to others. Let people see that they are important and you are not too busy for them.

Get your kids involved in this (What a great training opportunity!). Teach them to clean, cook and serve. Get your husbands involved. If you are single, ask another friend or two to join you. But love on others, have them in your homes, and make them feel special, loved, and important. Be a vessel for Jesus’ love.

There are several friends who I know make it a point to have a meal in their home a couple of times a month and invite folks they don’t know very well. What an example this is to me; what a ministry to others; what a way to build relationships!

Here are a few excerpts from the book Silent Witness by Georg Andersen:

“No matter what the size of one’s home, it can and should be a welcoming place. Whether a cottage or a mansion, if loving hearts live there, it will show in the family pictures, the old loved books, and the bits and pieces of treasures accumulated through the years….” Ruth Graham (p. xi)

“It has been often said that ‘home is where the heart is.’ Perhaps the better statement is that ‘home reveals where the heart is.’”…. Steve Schall (p. xi)

“Hospitality – eagerly sharing the resources of my home to benefit others” (p.69)

“Nevertheless, these physical components and the thoughts behind them say a lot about the occupants and their activities. Naturally, our homes don’t speak with words per se, but they subtly reveal so much: interests and priorities…the place God has in our lives…our concerns for others…the value that we put on our families…how we spend our time. Thus, our homes become ‘silent witnesses’ to the multifaceted work of God in our lives. St. Francis of Assisi succinctly immortalized this concept: ‘Preach the gospel everywhere; when necessary, use words.’ Words of silent witness are vitally important, for they affect – by either helping or hindering – our work and influence for the Lord.” (p.4)

“Hospitality has a worthy ally in Gentleness. Gentleness is the display of tender care and concern in reaching out to others. What distinguishes a house from a home? All houses have walls and floors, but Gentleness sparks a nurturing and warm atmosphere. Who doesn’t want to come to a home that provides a comfortable refuge?” (p.75)

Let’s practice hospitality, ladies.

Be known as having an open home to friends, families, and even strangers. Hebrew 13:2 says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

Love people where they are. Love the tired mama of little children who needs some adult conversation; love on the lonely; love on the crazy mom of 6 (Me!); love on the newlyweds, the college students, the youth, the guests, the singles, the older couples…everyone needs it.

Be the vessel God uses to encourage someone else and I promise you this: as you pour yourselves into others, you will find that you are the one encouraged, loved, and blessed.

God commands us to be hospitable.

Are you practicing hospitality?

See you on New Years Eve!!!

Practicing Hospitality (Part 1)

2011-12-26T05:30:00.002-06:00

By Lori H.

Let me start off with a question: “Are you practicing hospitality?”

Webster defines hospitality as “generous and kindly treatment of guests.”

We live in the south, ladies – so it should be easy for us, right? We are known for southern hospitality. Do we treat guests and even strangers kindly? We (well, most of us) talk with a slow southern drawl and can say “bless her heart” about everything, but are we truly being hospitable?

I love parties. I love the planning. I love the chaos. I love the preparation. I love working with others. I love the relationships I have made serving with others. You really get to know someone when you work with them. And most of the time I even enjoy the stress of trying to get it all done. My motto is “what really has to get done will get done.” I love making things special for others. This is just how God wired me and I know we are not all wired the same way.

But the question is, “What does God think about hospitality?” The Bible is full of examples of hospitality – with feasts and celebrations, with entertaining strangers, and with taking care of the needs of others. But did you know that hospitality is commanded?

I Peter 4:9 says, “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” Wow, that is pretty straight forward! We are to be stewards of God’s grace, and we are not to complain while doing it.

As a young girl, I watched my mom open our house up over the years to friends, family, missionaries, pastors, and even strangers. She would invite people visiting the church over, and share a meal with them. She would include them as a part of our family. People were always at our house, because she made them feel welcome. I had a wonderful example to watch, to train me, and to emulate. Even when she made mistakes and forgot to turn on the oven, made egg drop ice cream, or burned something, people felt included and a part of the family, and laughed with us. Seriously though, most of the time things ran smoothly and that is because she planned well and always had something ready. As kids, she would always let our friends come over. I thought it was cool and wonderful (and it was), but now I see it was also a tool she was using to get to know my friends and to make sure we were all behaving. We must have created a ton of extra work for her, but she never complained and was always welcoming. I want to be like that. I want to know my kids’ friends and for them to know they are always welcome in our home.

What is the difference between hospitality and entertaining? I read this on a blog and it is so true: “when you entertain, you bring honor and glory to yourself… Showing hospitality brings honor and glory to God.” Don’t get me wrong; it isn’t so much about what you do but about your heart attitude behind it. You can host a lovely dinner that is planned down to the last detail or you can throw something together at the last minute. Either one will work. Just be sure your focus is on bringing glory to God through honoring your guests. Make them feel at home and a part of your family.

The Gift of Gifts

2011-12-25T06:11:00.002-06:00

The following prayer is called "The Gift of Gifts" and is from The Valley of Vision.

O Source of all Good,
What shall I render to Thee for the gift of gifts,
Thine own dear Son, begotten, not created,
my Redeemer, Proxy, Surety, Substitute,
His self-emptying incomprehensible,
His infinity of love beyond the heart's grasp.

Herein is wonder of wonders:
He came below to raise me above,
He was born like me that I might become like Him.

Herein is love;
when I cannot rise to Him He draws near on wings of grace,
to raise me to Himself.

Herein is power;
when Deity and humanity were infinitely apart
He united them in indissoluble unity, the uncreated and the created.

Herein is wisdom;
when I was undone, with no will to return to Him,
and no intellect to devise recovery,
He came, God-incarnate, to save me to the uttermost,
as man to die my death,
to shed satisfying blood on my behalf,
to work out a perfect righteousness for me.

O God, take me in spirit to the watchful shepherds,
and enlarge my mind;
let me hear good tidings of great joy,
and hearing, believe, rejoice, praise, adore,
my conscience bathed in an ocean of repose,
my eyes uplifted to a reconciled Father,
place me with ox, donkey, camel, goat,
to look with them upon my Redeemer's face,
and in Him account myself delivered from sin;
let me with Simeon clasp the new-born Child to my heart,
embrace Him with undying faith,
exulting that He is mine and I am His.

In Him Thou hast given me so much that heaven can give no more.

[Arthur Bennett, ed., The Valley of Vision (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2002), 28-29.]

Mary's Heart of Submission

2011-12-24T05:30:00.003-06:00

By Hannah S.

For many of us, the Christmas story is so familiar that we can sometimes forget the significance of the events that took place. We read of a young woman who was visited by an angel with news that she would bear God’s Son.

The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

We cannot gloss over the impact that this announcement would have on this young girl’s life. In the matter of a moment, Mary’s life was changed forever. Her hopes, plans, and dreams were all of a sudden altered. She was to receive a gift, a gift like no other woman that has ever lived. She was going to birth God in flesh.

Before we move on, we cannot overlook that this gift would also bring hardship. Who would believe that she had not sinned? How would she deal with the rejection and isolation that comes from such a role? The thought of a “normal” Jewish life was gone. Later, as they took Jesus to the temple to be circumcised, Simeon said to Mary:

“Behold this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed - and a sword will pierce even your own soul – to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Mary’s Son was sent to be opposed. She would watch the rejection not only of the Savior but of her son. She would experience greater joy and blessing but also greater sorrow and hardship than other women. Thinking through this has made the way Mary responded incredibly precious to me this Christmas season.

And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.”

Mary had a heart of submission. She did not cling to her own selfish desires for a nice, easy life, but she submitted to a life of blessing and hardship. We do not know if she struggled with this blessing, if she cried out in the night, “Why me?” but we do know that she was well aware of the hardship before her. She would be misunderstood and accused of a crime that she did not commit. Her righteousness would be thought of as evil. She would watch her Son be rejected and crucified, and yet Mary submitted. Mary allowed her reputation to be marred that God might accomplish His will through her. Mary was willing to be used by God.

This heart of submission is easy to read about but hard to live. How many times in my life have I resisted a blessing because it was not in my plan? I have not had the attitude “let it be done to me according to your word.” God forbid, but I want it to be done to me according to my own word. This submission, this willingness of Mary to walk the path before her, trusting God, is a challenge to us all. Do we think of ourselves as bondslaves, at the will and use of our master, or do we demand our own will and rights?

As you see pictures of Mary this Christmas season, don’t let the tranquility of the scene allow your mind to forget what this precious young girl was embracing. As she held the Lord in her arms, she embraced God’s will for her life.

Dear ladies, as we journey through this life together, may we encourage each other to follow the path laid before us with such a heart. What is the Lord asking you to submit to? What mixture of hardships and blessings lay before you? May our hearts embrace with joyful submission the will of the Lord. May we, like Mary, say, “may it be done to me according to your word.”

Cape Cod Salsa

2011-12-20T05:30:00.002-06:00

By Gail H.

We love chips and salsa just about more than anything else. When Scott and Amanda married at Christmas time, Tandy's gift to our family was making this salsa for the reception. Since that time, it has become part of our Christmas tradition. We make it for parties, friends, and family. It is great with chips or poured over cream cheese with some crackers. The red is so pretty for Christmas, and we love the taste.

The only thing that I have never been able to do is get my raisins to chop. It may be due to dull knives. I just buy small ones and put them in whole.

Cape Cod Salsa

2 cups cranberries
14 crushed tomatoes
1 cup tomato puree
3/4 chopped green pepper
3/ 4cup chopped onion
1/2 to 1 cup sugar
1/2 cup white vinegar
2 Jalapeño peppers
2 TBS chopped garlic
3/4 cup raisins
Salt & pepper to taste

Process cranberries to finely chopped. Also chop onion and both peppers to diced finely. Finely chop raisins. Add remaining ingredients. Mix all together, cover, and sit at room temperature overnight. Adjust sugar, vinegar, salt & pepper to taste. Adjust the heat of salsa by adding more jalapenos or Tabasco.

Glow-in-the-Dark

2011-12-19T05:30:00.001-06:00

By Deborah H.

When we first moved into our house eighteen years ago, we had more than a few surprises. One of the more pleasant ones was the fact that in my youngest son’s room the previous owners had stuck glow-in-the-dark constellations on the ceiling. During the day, they absorbed light so that by night there was a soft glow of stars and moon above. There was something soothing about that faint glow.

Repeatedly, in the Scriptures, God gave us commands regarding light: His light. And I can’t help believing that when others see that light in us, they find it comforting and soothing as well. Like those glow-in-the-dark stickers on the ceiling, the light we give off is but a pale reflection of His wonderful, blinding light, but any reflection at all is a good thing.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light,” 2 Peter 2:9. He chose us, drew us out of the darkness of a sinful world, and brought us into the splendor of His glorious light. That, alone, is reason to offer up praises. But He has done so much more. He has lavished us with the riches of His grace, has provided for our needs, and has equipped us to be the means, feeble though we are in our own strength, to reach others still trapped in the darkness. We do that by reflecting His light, His love, and His holiness.

“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life,” Philippians 2:14-16.

You see, we’re not going to blind anyone with our light, but we are to reflect HIS light and will stand out from the darkness in doing so. He has equipped us to shine like glimmering jewels of the night, bedecking the darkness with our warm, soft glow. In a way, His people accessorize the darkness around them like diamonds accessorize any ensemble. His children make the world around them more beautiful – not because WE are so beautiful but because we are to reflect HIS beauty.

My son, Scott, is responsible for this current meditation. He allowed me (or forced me, rather) to listen to a current gospel rapper do a “song” entitled, Let There Be Light. One of the lyrics that caught my ear and has penetrated my heart was, “Glowing in the dark till the Lord return.” I’d never thought about it before, but we are to glow in the dark. That’s what we do when we reflect our Savior’s light.

Ephesians 5:8-9 says, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth).” This verse tells us what it looks like to reflect the light of the Lord. To others, it looks like goodness. It looks like righteousness and is rooted in truth.

In my prayers, I often ask the Lord to make us salt and light in the dark world around us. That’s what I think of when I read, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven,” Matthew 5:14-16.

This Christmas season, my prayer is that we are not distracted by the lights and busyness and gift-buying that surround this time of year, but that we may be mesmerized by the Light of Christ. In our own imperfect ways, let us worship Him and bathe in the illumination of His Being, soaking up as much of it as we can possibly hold. Then, a little like Moses as he came down from Mt. Sinai, when we turn again to face the world, let them see in us a reflection of the One we love. May His light shine from every pore of our being – at Christmas and beyond.

“Glowing in the dark till the Lord return.” ~ Andy Mineo

Christmas Focus

2011-12-15T05:30:00.002-06:00

By Kim W.

"We don't want our conversations with people to center around our new car or curtains." I read this on a blog years ago and this statement resonated with me. I want my conversations to be so much deeper than this... and although there are times we must talk about getting a new car or decorating our home, it should not be the heart beat of our lives... at least I don't want it to be. I hope to be the kind of person who speaks about the Lord and what He has done. I desire to be a woman who builds relationships with others to encourage them in the Lord... to build others in the faith and to grow in my faith through others' help and teaching... to walk alongside others to learn from their wisdom and be teachable in my spirit. I would love for my speech to be seasoned with grace and used by God in other people's lives. I want to be more about learning how God is working in others' lives instead of learning about the latest decorating ideas. I love being a homemaker and I do find joy in serving in my home - preparing meals, making my home a warm and inviting place, etc. - but I pray my priority would be worshiping God with my whole heart and investing in people's lives, loving those around me. I have been convicted lately that I have not been this kind of person.

I have had such a heavy conviction on my heart that I should be more about seeking Christ right now... the moment is NOW... and it seems strange to me to be thinking about the Lord and talking about Him and then be Christmas shopping online the next minute... finding greater joy in that. Does that make sense? It seems this time of year can make me so busy doing and doing that I can easily lose sight of what really matters. We have done all the things we normally do with our children... the Christ centered Christmas activities and all... but sometimes I feel my heart is not engaged in true worship like it should be. There are so many distractions... and I have been guilty of becoming distracted.

So, at Christmas, I have been thinking through some things. We spend a lot of time on temporal things this time of year and I have to admit, I enjoy some of it. Sometimes, though, I feel as if I enjoy it too much or find joy in these earthly treasures that will pass away. I know they will pass away, but I still seem to be enticed by the sparkle and the glitter at times.

Finding joy in the things of this world is a struggle for me...and I am fighting it.

I have found some quotes to help me refocus my heart and mind on the person of Christ. These have been a great reminder to me that Christmas is about celebrating my Savior. It is a holiday celebrating His deity, His magnificence, His glory in all of creation: heaven and earth.

John MacArthur says this in Truth For Today:

This baby who was to be born would be God Himself in human form. If we could condense all the truths of Christmas into only three words, these words would be "God With Us." We tend to focus our attention at Christmas on the infancy of Christ. The greater truth of the holiday is His deity. More astonishing than a baby in the manger is the truth that this promised baby is the omnipotent Creator of the heavens and the earth.

This one is from Joni Eareckson Tada:

On this side of eternity, Christmas is still a promise. Yes, the Savior has come, and with Him peace on earth, but the story is not finished. Yes, there is peace in our hearts, but we long for peace in our world.

Every Christmas is still ‘a turning of the page’ until Jesus returns. Every December 25 marks another year that draws us closer to the fulfillment of the ages, that draws us closer to . . . home.

When we realize that Jesus is the answer to our deepest longing, even Christmas longings, each Advent brings us closer to His glorious return to earth. When we see Him as He is, King of kings and Lord of lords, that will be ‘Christmas’ indeed!

~Joni Eareckson Tada, “A Christmas Longing” in Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus ed. by Nancy Guthrie (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2008), 137.

To live for yourself is to rob yourself of your own humanity. It is only in living for Christ that we actually begin to become what we were meant to be.

~ Paul David Tripp, A Quest for More (Greensboro, NC; New Growth Press, 2007), 100.

Another quote from John MacArthur from Truth For Today:

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

Here's a side to the Christmas story that isn't often told: Those soft little hands, fashioned by the Holy Spirit in Mary's womb, were made so that nails might be driven through them... Jesus was born to die. Don't think I'm trying to put a damper on Your Christmas spirit - far from it. For Jesus' death, though devised and carried out by men with evil intentions, was in no sense a tragedy. In fact, it represents the greatest victory ever.

I pray all of us will find Christ in this Christmas. But this is not just a wishful statement...it will take effort on our part. This world fights for our attention and our own selfish, wicked hearts like it more than we should! I think I see my own wickedness at this time of year more than any other.

God, please forgive me and make my heart more like yours. Amen.

Promises for Fears

2011-12-12T05:30:00.003-06:00

By Karlyn M.

What are you afraid of this morning?

What is the deepest, most gut-wrenching thing you're looking at? The thing you're convinced you won't make it through? The road you're terrified to start down? The situation you think the Lord will not involve Himself with...

King Jehoshaphat was looking at a "great multitude" that was coming to wage war against the Israelites. They were close, and it looked like the slaughter of God's people was imminent.

The king appealed to God with a very courageous and humble prayer, but in the end, all he could say was, "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." God, there is nothing left that I can think of. I have no plans. I have no idea how to conquer this. I can only look to You.

Which is always the right response. The point is this: 2 Chronicles 20 says Jehoshaphat was afraid and without any idea of how he was going to survive this great crisis.

What about you? What is causing you the most fear?

Listen to what God told the king, and hear what God says now to those who love Him:

"Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at [this great horde], for the battle is not yours but God's."

Now YOU fill in the blank.

Are you afraid of your crumbling marriage? Afraid to forgive your spouse ("He'll just do it again! He always does!" [Psssttt... Yes, he will. He's a sinner. And guess what?... So will you. Why else would Jesus say "70 times 7?])

Afraid your child will never trust the Lord for salvation? Afraid of the choices you're starting to see him make?

Afraid you'll never have victory over that secret sin that no one knows about except you and God? And it's eating you up because you continue to fall and it's destroying your communion with the Lord? And you think His mercy and forgiveness has ended and you are lost?

What are you afraid of this morning?

God says: "Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at (IT!), for the battle is not yours but God's." (2 Chron. 20:15) And also: "I have chosen you and not cast you off; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isa. 41:10)

Do as Jehoshaphat did: go immediately, continuously, to the One Who does not want you to fear; tell Him you can't do anything (because you can't); and look to Him only. In Him alone is your victory in what you're fearing most. Obey what He's commanded you to do, and then rest as He conquers.

Originally posted on Karlyn's blog, A Journey of Joy.

Family Traditions - Making Meaningful Memories (Part 2)

2011-12-07T14:39:00.003-06:00

(Editor's Note: I'm SO SORRY! I meant to post this yesterday and I just plain forgot. Oops! Better late than never, right? I was just trying to build the anticipation. )

By Kim M.

Years ago, my friend Libby and I gave a talk at Ozark Conference Center called “Traditions – Tried, True, and New.” We compiled a list from many of our friends on “Everyday and Special Day” family traditions. I have continued to add to this list and want to share it with you to jump start your thinking. Some of the traditions incorporate spiritual truths, some foster family togetherness, and some are just for plain ole family fun and memory making times. Click on the link below to see the list:

Traditions – Tried, True and New

Family Traditions – Making Meaningful Memories (Part 1)

2011-12-05T05:30:00.009-06:00

By Kim M.

Think back to when you were a little girl. What do you remember most about the holiday season? How many specific gifts can you really remember? I remember one gift in particular...I was about 12. It was a bicycle: purple bike, banana seat, tall, curvy handlebars with the sparkly things from the handlebars – a very cool bike. But what I remember most was that mom and dad had hidden the bikes from my sister and me. After all the other presents were opened, mom and dad made up some excuse for Kathy and me to go into our utility room, and there we got the joy of discovering our fashionable, sparkly new bikes. You know, I don’t remember one other present from that Christmas. But it was the way my parents planned for us to discover the gifts and the surprise that had the lasting effect. It is the memories we make with family and the times that we spend together that are what truly have a lasting effect on us.

As we move into what usually proves to be one of the busiest seasons of the year, it is easy to get caught up in the frenzy that comes with shopping, wrapping, baking, hosting, and decorating. Sometimes we can become so busy that we lose the meaning and people in the midst of the all the activity. I want to slow down the pace long enough to challenge us to think about how this season can be different. How can we as women be deliberate and purposeful in our planning so that we can make meaningful memories for our family; memories that promote family togetherness and other-centered service; memories that point us to the faithfulness of our God? How can we use family traditions to facilitate these memories, not just during the holidays, but everyday?

Noel Piper in her book, Treasuring God in Our Traditions, gives us three definitions of traditions:

A tradition is a planned habit with significance.
A tradition is the handing down of information, beliefs, or worldview from one generation to another by word of mouth and by regular repetition of example, of ceremony, of celebration.
For a Christian, tradition is laying up God’s words in our own hearts and passing His words to the next generation.

Traditions are one generation declaring to the next the faithfulness and the
wondrous works of the Lord. Recently, I was reading a book by where the author refers to family traditions as “we always.” I love that phrase! “We always” do breakfast in bed on birthdays. “We always” have a “Happy Birthday, Jesus” cake for Christmas dinner dessert. “We always” bake together as a family at Christmas. When your kids think back someday on your family, what will they remember fondly as the “we always?" Let’s focus on two categories where we can practice traditions or our “we always” with purpose in our families through what I call “Everyday traditions” and “Special Day Traditions.”

First, let’s consider “Everyday traditions.” You are all familiar with Deuteronomy 6: 5-7 where we are instructed to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and might and then to have these words on our heart and to teach them diligently to our children and talk of them when we sit in our house and when we walk by the way and when we lie down and when we rise up. Have you ever thought about the fact that your daily habits and routines can become, as Noel Piper defines it, “a habit with significance” where you can carry out the commands of Deuteronomy 6?

Noel challenges us in her book to think through our daily walking, rising, talking, and going to bed times, and ask the Lord to show us how we can establish habits or traditions with meaning. How can our daily traditions pass on and proclaim God’s Word and faithfulness from one generation to the next?

Here are some ideas to get you thinking:

setting the example by having a regular quiet time (Will your family be able to say “we always” knew mom was having her quiet time and praying for us?)
family devotions
family nights
meal times together
tucking them in times
date night with daddy
having special family recipes or meals
travel time habits – “We always” pray in the car before a trip. Maybe it is singing hymns as you travel? When I was little, “we always” counted windmills as we traveled to south Texas, knowing the more we saw, the closer we were to MamMa and Grandpa’s house.
bath time – a reminder of how God washes our sins away
making Sunday special (Karen Mains has a book by that title with helps)
read aloud time
praying together
keeping a family journal or scrapbook

Let Deuteronomy 6 transform your everyday habits and routines so that they take on a totally new meaning for you. Ask God to give you His vision for family. Think about the things you do every day that can be a tradition with meaning to foster the blessing of family and to point your family to God.

God also established “Special Day” traditions. Think about the ordinance of the Passover Feast for the Israelites in Exodus 12:42. It is a night to be observed for the LORD for having brought them out from the land of Egypt. This night is for the LORD, to be observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations. He also established the Feast of the Unleavened Bread: “Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance,” (Exodus 12:14). Besides the everyday remembrances, God gave special days for remembering.

Noel Piper shares a story in her book where a college friend had heard once too often, somebody pontificating that, “Every day should be Mother’s Day,” or “Every day should be as significant as Christmas.” Finally, the student exclaimed, “No! All days are NOT the same! God knows we need ‘especially.’” Noel says, “God appointed special days, such as the Passover, for His people and gave them ceremonies to set those days off from the others. The ceremony of a special day keeps it from slipping away like an ordinary day. We stop and recognize the specialness of an event in large part because of the traditions in which it’s wrapped… our ‘especially’ celebrations anchor us and our children in the harbor of our family, reflecting our true refuge: God.”

I suggest that you sit down with a calendar and think through the year and the holidays and special days that your family celebrates. Choose times that your family will celebrate and consider how you can add special meaning to these special days in your family. Hear me say this: I do NOT want you to feel guilty or to think of this as one more thing to add to your already-too-long “to do” list. It may be that the best thing you can do to make holidays more meaningful in your home is to simplify! Sometimes we need to “do more… better” and sometimes we need to “do less… better.”

Tomorrow: A list of practical ideas to jump start your thinking

The Heart of a Martyr

2011-11-28T05:30:00.001-06:00

By Kim W.

Betty Scott was the daughter of a Presbyterian missionary couple in China. As a ten year old girl, she penned this heartfelt poem about her love for Jesus. Years later, Betty and her husband, John Stam, were serving as missionaries in China, attempting to take the gospel to unsaved people there. The Stams, as well as their 3 month old daughter, Helen Priscilla, fell into the hands of cruel Communists soldiers. These soldiers wanted to make an example of John and Betty Stam, and that is exactly what happened. They were beheaded in Miaosheo on December 8, 1934. Little Helen survived and was raised by her granparents and later adopted by an aunt and uncle.

This poem shows young Betty Stam's utter dependence on God, and perhaps it also shows how God was preparing her heart to give her life for the sake of the gospel. But it is not her faith that we are in awe of...it is the object of her faith, Jesus Christ, that allowed her to endure such suffering of the flesh.

Persecution which results in death is the worst thing that can happen to a believer, but it is also the best thing. After this earthly life, we will be surrounded by God's glory and free from all of sin's effects and influences. Praise be to God!

I CANNOT

I cannot live like Jesus,
Example though He be–
For He was strong and selfless,
And I am tied to ME.
I cannot live like Jesus;
My soul is never free;
My will is strong and stubborn;
My love is weak and wee.
BUT I HAVE ASKED MY JESUS
TO LIVE HIS LIFE IN ME.

I cannot look like Jesus–
More beautiful is He
In soul and eye and stature,
Than sunrise on the sea.
Behold His warm, His tangible,
His dear humanity!
Behold His white perfection
Of purest deity!
YET JESUS CHRIST HAS PROMISED
THAT WE LIKE HIM SHALL BE.

~ Elizabeth Alden Scott Stam, THE FAITH OF BETTY SCOTT STAM IN POEM AND VERSE. Arranged by her parents, Clara and Charles E. Scott. Philadelphia: China Inland Mission, 1938, p. 50.

Suffering in the Flesh and God's AMAZING Grace

2011-11-21T05:30:00.001-06:00

By Kim W.

If anyone is familiar with pain, it is Paul...He chose suffering over silence. He was bold in proclaiming the gospel of Christ because his life had been changed from the inside out. He knew God and wanted others to know the love of God deeply.

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul was heartbroken. He felt betrayed. He loved the church at Corinth so much, but they were following false teachers and believing lies about Paul. He felt deep, profound pain over this. Isn't it true that those we are the closest to can cause the deepest pain, especially in the area of betrayal? Paul, also, was suffering from a thorn in his flesh and he begged God for relief three times in this passage.

So, here is Paul... experiencing deep hurts of suffering for doing what was right, feeling betrayed by a group of people that he dearly loved, and suffering with physical pain with no relief in sight. These are deeply painful life experiences.

When dealing with those we love who are profoundly hurting, who have experienced some of life's hardest trials, who have been hurt by serious and painful betrayals, we certainly need more than a shallow response. We certainly need to show love and patience with them while expressing words of comfort and help. The wonderful news is that God dealt with Paul's hurts with a deep, profound response...a life-changing response. He said, "My grace is sufficient." Wow - what a statement.

John 1:14 says that Jesus was ''full of grace." He was incarnate God--God in the flesh, so He had all the characteristics of God as a man. He was full of grace, but that is not all. John 1:16 tells us that "from His fullness we have all received grace upon grace."

We have all the grace needed:

1) to believe in the first place

2) to put away sin and put on the righteousness of Christ

3) to obey God's Word...to understand it and apply it to our lives

4) to effectively serve Him

5) to worship Him in spirit and in truth

6) to triumph over habitual sin of the past

7) to resist any temptation

8) to endure every kind of suffering, pain, disappointment, and sorrow

It is amazing grace, isn't it?

When Paul asked three times for relief from the thorn, God answered. But not by taking the pain away, because the pain was productive. He didn't remove the trouble, because the trouble was also helpful in Paul's life. He said,"My grace is sufficient." God is going to increase the grace for Paul, so that he can endure. He does that same for us. He gives us His wonderful, amazing grace, so that we may endure.

The word sufficient simply means "it is enough." God's grace is enough for anything that happens in this life.

When we suffer for doing what is right, God is putting His grace on display. A world is watching. As we endure, by God's grace, people will see the greatness of our God and the strength that He gives us. He receives all the glory and we are better off because of the suffering.

J.C. Ryle says this about suffering:

Affliction is one of God's medicines. By it He often teaches lessons which would be learned in no other way. By it He often draws souls away from sin and the world, which would otherwise have perished everlastingly. Health is a great blessing, but sanctified disease is a greater one. Prosperity and worldly comfort are what all naturally desire, but losses and crosses are far better for us, if they lead us to Christ. Thousands at the last day will testify with David, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted." (Psalm 119:71)

Sources:
If God is Good by Randy Alcorn
"How God uses Suffering" (Part 1 and 2) by John MacArthur
Commentary on 1st Peter and 2nd Corinthians- John MacArthur

Thanksgiving Quotes

2011-11-17T05:30:00.000-06:00

How worthy it is to remember former benefits when we come to beg for new. ~Stephen Charnock

We should spend as much time in thanking God for his benefits as we do in asking him for them. ~ Vincent de Paul

Prayer without thanksgiving is like a bird without wings. ~ William Hendriksen

Thanksgiving is good but thanks-living is better. ~ Matthew Henry

Thankless men are like swine feeding on acorns, which, though they fall upon their heads, never make them look up to the tree from which they come. ~ Jean Daille

I fear that what will surprise us most, when we see our Lord, will be the extent of our own ingratitude. ~ E. B. Pusey

It must make the devils themselves marvel to see us able to receive a pardon and a title to everlasting glory with scarcely more than a few cold syllables of gratitude to God. ~ Maurice Roberts

Ingratitude is not only the basest and meanest of sins, but it is the most frequent. ~ Wilton Merle Smith

It is sad when there is nothing for which we feel grateful to God, but it is serious when there is something and we fail to show gratitude, and it is tragic when we are so busy asking for more that we forget to thank him for what we have received. ~ William Still, from The Complete Gathered Gold

Dover, Denver (or Truth is NOT Relative)

2011-11-07T05:30:00.001-06:00

By Jennifer R.

When I was in the fourth grade, we had to memorize the states and capitals. As my dad was quizzing me over the material, he asked me what state’s capital was Dover.

“Denver,” I confidently stated.

“No, Denver is the capital of Colorado. Dover is the capital of Delaware,” he corrected.

For the next several hours, days, and maybe even weeks, there was a fierce debate that would become part of our family folklore.

Clearly, either my teacher had transcribed the information incorrectly on the blackboard or I had transcribed it incorrectly on my paper. (My guess is that the fault was mine since I don’t remember anyone else making the same mistake.) However, try as he might, my dad could not convince me that I was wrong.

He offered to look up the information in an atlas and show it to me. Nope, I wouldn’t be convinced. (What? Did I think he would modify the atlas just for the purpose of misleading me?) He offered to call the airlines and ask them if he could fly to Dover, Denver to prove my error. Nope. (Because clearly the airlines were in cahoots with this conspiracy to make me fail fourth grade geography?) I can’t explain my irrational dogmatic belief that I was right and everyone else was wrong. And I don’t remember how I was finally convinced that I was wrong, but eventually I did learn that Dover is the capital of DELAWARE, not Denver. (And I’ll never forget it, thank you very much.)

My point in telling this story is that there was an absolute truth: Dover was the capital of Delaware and Denver was the capital of Colorado, no matter what I believed about those cities. In this day of relativism, people are prone to say that truth is relative. They say that something may be true “for you” but not true “for them.” (I wonder what the capital of Delaware is for those people?) However, truth is truth. If something is true, it is not dependent on whether you believe it or not. I could forever believe that Dover was the capital of Denver. It wouldn’t make it true.

The way to find out truth is to check a reliable source. For states and capitals, an atlas would be a good example of a reliable source. For life and godliness, the Bible is our infallible source. If God says it, you can believe it because He cannot lie. The Bible may not hold the answer to your every question (the capital of Kansas, for example), but the answers it does hold are 100% reliable.

Let us all resolve to read and study the Word of God more than ever so we can tap into this “information source” and learn real, absolute TRUTH.

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
(John 8:31-32, NKJV)

Re-posted from Jennifer's blog, Reflections.

The Joy of Journaling

2011-10-31T05:30:00.001-05:00

By Hannah S.

When you think of journaling, you may think of writing class or a diary from your younger days. But as I have renewed this discipline in my life, I have found such joy in recording and reflecting on the way God is working in my life.

I can hear the groans as many of you think of journaling as one more item to add to an already busy to-do list. But let me assure you the spiritual discipline of journaling has made my time with the Lord more effective.

First let me clear up some of the misconceptions that I had about journaling. It is often referred to as a spiritual discipline and thus I struggled if I did not journal every day. The burden of adding this to my quiet time was too much for me to handle. I found myself wrongly feeling guilty if I wasn’t making an entry every day. I do think this is a spiritual discipline, but it is not on the level of prayer, reading Scripture, or meditating on God’s word. My journal has actually become a tool that has helped me with these other disciplines, but it is not something that I do every day. There have been seasons of life that my entries are very few. Yet I am so thankful for those entries that capture a snapshot of what the Lord was teaching me.

Now let me move to the benefits of keeping a spiritual journal:

1. Journaling helps me meditate on Scripture.
I began to journal as a way to meditate on Scripture. I had found myself reading Scripture in the morning, and then by early afternoon having a hard time recalling what I had read. So I began to do my Scripture reading with my pen in hand ready to record and reflect on passages from God’s word. I can’t tell you what joy this has brought to my spiritual life! Not only was I thinking deeply about the passages that I was recording but I was also applying them to my own life and circumstances. I was truly meditating on God’s Word as I would make an entry in my journal. Sometimes I would write the passage in my own words. At other times I would record questions that I had about a certain passage. Other times I would use the words of Scripture to cry out to the Lord. There is something about writing and mulling over a passage that helps me to slow down and absorb the truth.

2. Journaling helps with self evaluation.
I found that as I have journaled about events and happenings in my life that I have begun to see patterns of sin that reappear in certain situations. Not only has this helped me to have a plan of resistance in times that I am particularly vulnerable, but it often reveals the idol that is at the root of my sin. As I have expressed my feelings in writing, I can often see the error in my thinking and more clearly see what sins need to be “put off” in my life. When I have taken emotions and thought about what is causing me to feel a certain way, it has helped me to see the root of sin in my life. Journaling has caused me to delve deeply into what my emotions are revealing about my thinking.

3. Journaling helps me control my tongue.
I know that this may sound odd, but hang with me and I will try to explain. The way that I often process information is by talking. As I am talking through my thoughts, I can often see a clearer picture of what needs to be done or what my response should be to a specific situation. This is not how everyone is wired, but I have found true in my life the old saying, “thoughts disentangle themselves when passed through the lips and across the fingertips.” The trouble with processing information in such a manner is that it can often lead to gossip. As I am working through things by talking, I am bringing in someone who is not part of the problem or part of the solution. There are many things and struggles in our lives that do not need to be shared with other people. We need to take these struggles straight to the Lord and not bring others in on the situation. Being able to write about these issues in my life has made my journal a great sounding board. It is a place where I can express what I am really thinking and then discern what is true and what is not. These entries most often turn into prayers of confession and a cry to the Lord to change my heart. Let your journal be the place that you “disentangle your thoughts” and flee from the sin of gossip!

4. Journaling leaves a spiritual heritage.
One of my favorite books is called Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss. One of the reasons that I like this book is because over the pages you see the ups and downs of the main character’s Christian life. It is refreshing to see her weaknesses as well as the victories in her life. As I reflected over the years of this lady’s life I could see progress that brought me encouragement. I pray that someday when one of my daughters or grand children pick up one of my journals that they might be encouraged to see the real struggle of a believer who was battling sin in everyday life. I pray that they will identify with my weaknesses and have hope that God does transform us into His image. At times when progress seems slow, it has been a joy to look back and see how the Lord has grown me in my thinking. A journal gives you a tangible way to see growth in your life.

5. Journaling is a great way to reflect on the goodness of God in my life.
Not only do I record my struggles in my journal but also the blessings from the Lord. Aren’t we all so quick to forget how the Lord has provided for us? We are just like the Israelites as they grumbled their way through the desert. They were caught up in the moment and forgot what great things the Lord had done for them. By recording and reviewing the details of blessings in my life, it has reminded me of God’s goodness and faithfulness in my life. Like the people of the Old Testament set up monuments to the Lord to remember God’s great work in their lives, let your journal be a monument to the way the Lord has provided and cared for you.

I pray that these few thoughts will give you a renewed passion for the discipline of journaling. There is no right or wrong way to journal – make it your own. It is a tool to be used to assist you in your Christian walk, and I pray that you will find joy as you reflect on the goodness of God to mold you into His image.

Click here for a list of journal prompts to help you get started.

Being a Good Listener, Part 4

2011-10-29T05:30:00.002-05:00

Linda A. spoke about being a good listener at a recent Wise Women segment of our Wednesday night Bible study. This is the last of a 4-part series. Click here to read part 1, part 2, and part 3.

In one of Pastor Quinn's sermons, he touched upon gossip. It was one of the most practical ones I'd ever heard. Basically - and this is my paraphrase - he explained how a simple statement of fact can turn into a question which can turn into a judgment. I'll give an example. It has to be a ridiculous one, so that I don't inadvertently tread on any toes!

Let's say a friend has decided to have her house painted blue with red polka dots. Another friend says to you, "Hey, so-and-so has had her house painted blue with red polka dots." Nothing wrong with that, right? It’s an innocuous statement. Here's where it can begin to be gossip. You say, "Gosh - why would she choose those colors?" Still not too bad, but heading downhill. Your friend replies, "Yes, I'd never do that." Uh oh! Now, one of you has decided to judge so-and-so. It would be very easy for the conversation to degenerate into gossip after that, because you'd both be discussing so-and-so's poor choice of house color and feeling smug, because you would never, ever in a million years do such a thing! Do you see how insidious it is? We have to nip it in the bud, and one of the ways to do that is to be slow to speak.

A few weeks ago, Philip De Courcy preached an excellent sermon on the sin of worrying. One very striking way to exacerbate our sin of anxiety is to continually express our worries to others. Sometimes, it's way easier to speak to other humans about it, rather than take it to the One who can give us the strength to endure any trial. I have done this over the years. Kenny would say to me, "Linda, every time you speak about a particular fear or worry, the stronger it becomes in your mind and emotions. You need to stop speaking about it so much, and once you have taken it to the Lord, leave it be." You know, it pays to listen to our husbands. They can sometimes offer excellent advice! Who knew?

The bottom line is that we who have the honor of calling ourselves by the name Christian should "walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been called" (Ephesians 4:1). There should be a definite difference between the world and us. We should be first listeners and then speakers. We should think before we speak. We should remember that "the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart" (Matthew 15:18). We already know from Jeremiah 17:9 that, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; Who can know it?" I said earlier that God gives us the means to change our hearts and set our minds on Him. We ask Him. He's the One who puts in us the desire to change. Then he gives us the tools: His Word, which, as Hebrews 4:12 informs us, is "living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Psalm 119:11 tells us that memorizing God's word will help us keep our minds on Him and turn away from sin: "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could say with David in Psalm 17:3, (without expecting a bolt of lightning to strike us from the sky for our audacity), "You have tried my heart; You have visited me by night; You have tested me and You find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress"?

Being a Good Listener, Part 3

2011-10-28T05:30:00.001-05:00

Linda A. spoke about being a good listener at a recent Wise Women segment of our Wednesday night Bible study. This is part 3 in a 4-part series. You can read part 1 here and part 2 here.

Now, you can't discuss listening attentively without addressing being slow to speak. The two go hand in hand.

The Bible is replete with injunctions to think before we speak.

Psalm 141:3 - Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Proverbs 18:7 - A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Proverbs 10:19 - When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,  But he who restrains his lips is wise.
Proverbs 21:23 - He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles.

and one of my favorites:

Proverbs 17:28 - Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

There are many, many more. Since God found it necessary to instruct us regarding the use of our tongue, it's obviously a problem. He doesn't leave us without the means of rectifying it, though (at least as much as we can on our earthly pilgrimage). All we have to do is ask Him. David implores the Lord in Psalm 51: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 19:14 says, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer." Second Corinthians 10:4-5 remind us that it's not only our own sinful flesh we're fighting but a mighty adversary: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."

So, knowing all of the above, why do Christians speak so much? And it's not just a female problem! Men can be just as loquacious! Many of us speak to fill what we perceive as an awkward silence. Sometimes nervousness can cause excessive chatter. However, I think one of the main reasons for speaking too much and not listening to others is pride. We simply think that what we have to say is more important than what anyone else is saying. If we're in a group setting, we grow irritated if we don't have the opportunity to express our opinion on something. That is the source for a lot of interruptions. The desire to be heard over-rides any consideration of common courtesy.

We live in a very "touchy-feely" society - one in which we're all encouraged to express ourselves and emote! A product of that kind of environment is conversations with way too many personal details. Have you noticed how much information even comparative strangers will give about themselves, their parents, their husbands, kids, etc.? When sitting with a group of friends, we can really reveal way too much. Our rule for speaking about our close family should be the same as the one for speaking about others - if we wouldn't make certain remarks when the subject of those remarks is present, then we shouldn't make them when the subject is not. It doesn't automatically cease to be gossip just because we're speaking about a family member.

Being a Good Listener, Part 2

2011-10-27T05:30:00.002-05:00

Linda A. spoke about being a good listener at a recent Wise Women segment of our Wednesday night Bible study. This is part 2 in a 4-part series. You can read part 1 here.

Years ago, when Steve Lawson was our pastor, we had a couples' retreat. One of the sessions led by Steve was on listening and being courteous to one another. He emphasized that when conversing with another person, we should keep our eyes focused on the speaker's face and not allow ourselves to be distracted by anything else taking place in the same location. Steve practiced what he preached. During a conversation with him, he kept his eyes fixed on you. If someone passed by and gave him a quick "hi" or patted him on the arm, he'd not acknowledge it, but would keep totally focused on whoever was speaking to him. To him, it was very discourteous to the other person for him to look away and smile at someone else or give a quick greeting. Ironically, some people characterized him as being unfriendly and rude! His critics didn't understand his view on listening attentively.

Our courteous listening shouldn't be restricted to other adults. My three-year-old Sunday school kids deserve the same attention from me that I'd accord to someone older. So do our husbands and children!

It used to drive my husband nuts if the phone rang when he was speaking to me, because I'd immediately grab it and answer it! This was before we had caller ID, so I had no clue who was calling. Eventually, (I'm a slow learner!) I realized that it was hurtful for him to think that his conversation wasn't as important as any random phone call. Now, I even resist glancing at the phone to see who's called until he's finished speaking.

When you have several young children - especially if you are also home schooling - you have to be realistic. Of course you want to get down to their eye level and show them they're important enough for you to listen intently to what they have to say. However, some little people are very talkative, and you could spend all day just listening to them! As delightful as that would be, unfortunately, laundry doesn't get done by itself nor any of the other household chores. We have eight children - all of whom have been home schooled. While the current baby was sleeping and the older kids were doing schoolwork on their own, I'd rush around doing the various household chores. Often my preschool kids would toddle behind me, chattering away. Stuart, who is now 17, would say, "Mom, are you listening at me?" It was so cute! As he followed me, I'd call out. "I'm listening!" Now that the cute, wee voices have given way to deep, masculine ones, I still find myself automatically calling out, "I'm listening!" when I hear one of the boys who are still living at home say, "Hey Mom!"

Have you noticed how restful it is to speak to someone who is silent while you speak, only nodding or shaking his or head to acknowledge comprehension? No interruption. No mouth open ready to insert a comment as soon as you draw breath. Just listening attentively to what you are saying. That's how we should all be.

If John 13:5 says "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Then isn't it being other-centered and showing love by courteously giving someone all our attention? Shouldn't we be different from the world? I've always said to our kids that our home should be a place where we can express our fears without mockery and relate others' compliments about us without derision. We have to be a refuge from a fallen and degenerate world. Our Christian family should be the same way. We should be secure in the knowledge that a Christian brother or sister has our best interests in mind and is eager to "rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." (Romans 12:15)

Being a Good Listener, Part 1

2011-10-26T05:30:00.001-05:00

Linda A. spoke about being a good listener at a recent Wise Women segment of our Wednesday night Bible study. Over the next 4 days, we will look at sections of her talk. I hope that breaking it up this way makes it easier for all of you to read about this very timely topic.

I'd like to speak about listening properly to others and being careful about our speech. This has been something that has been on my heart for some time now. James 1:19 tells us to be "quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger." This verse can be interpreted various ways - our vertical relationships with God and our horizontal relationships with each other. I'd like to concentrate on the horizontal relationship tonight.

I began to be convicted a few years ago about my inadequate listening skills. My older daughter Victoria and her husband Ben moved to Auburn, Alabama, 5 years ago to pursue their PhD in English. Since we didn't see each other very much, we spent a lot of time on the phone. I'd be so excited to speak to her that I'd barely let her finish her sentence before I'd rush in and give her all our news. In fact, sometimes I was not even really listening to what she was saying, because I was waiting for a pause so that I could have my turn at speaking. Victoria was very gracious and rarely complained. However, occasionally she'd say, "Mom, I hadn't finished speaking!" Gradually, I began to notice it for myself and determined to change. Needless to say, I'm still a work in progress!

I've noticed that I'm not alone in this rude behavior! In fact, the attentive listener is the exception rather than the rule.

Our inattentiveness can take various forms. I'm listing seven, but I'm sure you can come up with others.

Many of us are just waiting for the other person to pause, so we can speak. We're not really interested in what the other person is saying. We just want to speak ourselves.
We don't even allow the other person to finish his or her sentence. We interrupt and turn the conversation back to ourselves.
We interrupt by saying, "Oh, I know what you mean. You mean…," and then go on to give our point of view about the matter. Funnily enough, when this has happened to me, very rarely has the other person been correct in his or her assumptions. If I'd been allowed to finish my thought, this would have been apparent!
We inject little humorous asides as the person speaks, which is very distracting to the speaker.
We don't focus on the speaker, but look around, scanning the room for familiar faces, waving at others, and sometimes even walking away or turning to speak to someone else, while the other person is still speaking.
We have our cell phone clutched in our hot, little hands and answer texts - or even check our e-mail - while the other person is speaking.
We keep our eyes glued to the TV screen while the other person is speaking.

Do we really believe Galatians 5:13-15: "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’”? If so, then shouldn't we crucify our old flesh, wrench our thoughts away from ourselves for a few minutes, love our neighbor, and focus on what he or she is saying?

Female Friendships

2011-10-24T05:30:00.000-05:00

By Becky A.

Female friendships have been on my mind a lot lately. They are both difficult and refreshing, fulfilling and frustrating.

My thoughts on female friendships have evolved over time and probably will continue to evolve throughout my years. In my early years, I desired female friendships, but found myself a very jealous, competitive friend. With those heart issues, I wasn't very successful at female friendships. Most of my close friends were guys, which wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

As I grew older, got married, and grew in the Lord, I had female friendships, but they were a cheap substitution for a lacking marriage relationship. Wade and I were not close, so I pursued closer friendships with women. Because of the imbalance of these relationships, and the contrast to God's design, my friendships were not godly or sustaining friendships. God wouldn't honor them when I was focused on complaining about my husband, cultivating my own personal interests, and being around people who would meet my needs.

After a time, God began to do a major work in my marriage that brought reconciliation and renewed love for Wade and me. We grew closer. In an over-reaction to the past phase of my relational life, I then began to think that female friendships were unnecessary and "usually sinful." The blame for a bad marriage, I wrongly thought, fell on my female friendships. This, again, was a wrong, unbiblical view of female friendships.

It took a few years, but God began to convict me of how callous and cold this view was. I was hurting women who thought they were my friends. I still remember one particular email that expressed the pain I had caused. My thinking (and boldly sharing what I thought about friendships) also made women confused. They began to question how they felt about female friendships. I made them seem insignificant by the way I talked about my beliefs. Shame on me! It actually showed my immaturity.

As God convicted me, I began to ask Him to show me how to define my friendships with women from Scripture rather than the self-help books that fill our Christian bookstore shelves. What did He desire them to look like? How could they honor the Lord? It also meant that He started challenging me in two areas: What kind of friend was I? And what kind of friend would enhance my walk with the Lord?

I will tell you that my thinking was still not clear or godly, but God slowly began to show me from His Word how to love the body of Christ. As I read passages like Romans 12:9-21, I Corinthians 13, I John, Proverbs 31, Titus 2, and also about how Jesus treated people while He was on earth in the gospels, I saw a different picture of friendship than I had lived my whole life.

If I am honest -- and I have to be -- I will tell you that I didn't like what I was learning. This love that Christ talked about was hard. I enjoyed serving myself! It would require more from me than I wanted to give. And I will tell you it is still hard for me. Godly love in friendships calls for vulnerability, quick forgiveness, forbearance, acceptance, open and honest communication, ability to seek forgiveness, humility, and selflessness: all areas that my prideful heart struggles with daily. It meant I needed to shut up and listen way more than I ever had. Ouch! I needed a fresh, honest look at who I really was inside, and it was not pretty. But it is also kind of the Lord to continue to show me. Being the loving Father that He is, He desires my holiness and can't leave me in my sin.

Though it was hard, my heart desired to be a godly friend and to honor the Lord in this area, so I began to ask God to change me from the inside out. As He has been changing me, I want to tell you some things He is flushing OUT: pride, anger, control, self-protection, holding grudges, high expectations of others but low expectations of me, lots of opinions (mine!), being overly sensitive......just to name a few. There are many!

There are also things He is trying to GROW within me: meekness, self-denial, others-focus, balance, vulnerability, service, acceptance of others who are different from me, and mutual respect. I have a very long way to go in these areas, but God is very patient and long suffering. He continues to show me where I am failing, but also encourages me to repent and turn back to His plan for loving relationships.

There must be, in my own heart, a deep desire to grow in the Lord and to see my friend grow in Christ. This will mean that I am willing to edify them in the Word, as well as gently speak the truth in love when necessary. If someone coddles me while I am thinking wrongly or in sin, they are not my true friend. True friends desire my spiritual intimacy with the Lord.

We mutually respect each other's life and time. We know our place. We care for each other, but sometimes our time together will not reflect just how much. One of the most important aspects for me is that we hold the friendship loosely. What that means to me is this: there is no room for jealousy. We encourage other friendships. We aren't easily offended. When something happens (or nothing happens for a while), we assume the best. We believe the best about each other.

Seeing how my thinking has changed over the years, I can only believe that it will continue to change as I grow in Christ and in experience with women's friendships. Yet, here is where I find myself now. I believe it is more godly and balanced, but I continue to pray that God will open my eyes to see how I can live with female friends in a way to honor Him.

My heart is full with the friendships that God has given me at this time in my life. I can honestly say that I have several very close, godly friendships, and that encourages my heart. God is growing me and, as He grows me, He is sharing with me the blessing of godly friendships. I am daily grateful!

Lord, may I learn to live with others in the body of Christ as You lived among believers while You were here on earth. It will require less of me and more of You. Please make this true in my life. May my friendships always edify the body of Christ.

This article was excerpted from Becky's blog. Read the entire article here.

Galatians Done's and Do's

2011-10-17T05:30:00.006-05:00

By Jennifer R.

Thabiti Anyabwile recently posted about a session he heard at a conference which summarized the entire book of Galatians. He listed the 29 gospel indicatives (things that are "done") and 13 gospel imperatives (things we are "to do") from the book of Galatians. Since Tim is preaching through this book and many are memorizing it, I thought this list would be helpful for us to review.

29 Indicatives

The gospel is rooted in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:1).

The gospel delivers us from the present evil age to the glory of Christ (Gal. 1:3-5).

There is only one gospel and to desert it is to be damned (Gal. 1:6-9).

The gospel is ours by divine revelation and not human imagination (Gal. 1:10-12).

The gospel is grounded in a gracious election (Gal. 1:15).

The gospel is constantly in danger of being lost and needs to be defended (Gal. 2:4-5).

The gospel that saves Gentiles is the same gospel that saves Jews (Gal. 2:7-9).

There are ethical imperatives that follow the gospel (Gal. 2:11) and no ethnic distinctions in the gospel (Gal. 2:12-14).

The gospel is good news that we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ and not by works of the Law (Gal. 2:15-16).

Through the gospel, we are identified with Christ and His work on the cross (Gal. 2:20).

The love of Christ for sinners is made evident in the gospel (Gal. 2:20).

We receive the Holy Spirit by faith in the Gospel, the same Spirit who justifies and sanctifies (Gal. 3:2-5).

The gospel that saved Abraham in the past is the same gospel that saves us in the present (Gal. 3:7-9).

Relying on good works not only does not save but actually curses (Gal. 3:10-11).

The gospel is the good news that Christ has redeemed us from the curse as our penal substitute (Gal. 3:13-14).

The gospel is rooted in a covenantal promise that precedes the law (Gal. 3:17).

The law is good because it shows us our sin (Gal. 3:19, 21).

The law is good because it is our school teacher who leads us to Christ to be justified by faith (Gal. 3:25-26).

The gospel unites us to Christ where we’re all one in Him–soteriological not ecclesiological (Gal. 3:27-29).

The gospel is grounded in Trinitarian theology (Gal. 4:4-6).

Gospel redemption leads to adoption as a child of the Father (Gal. 4:7).

The gospel gives us a knowledge of God freeing us from rules (Gal. 4:8-11).

Faithful ministers will be passionate for the ministry of the gospel even if it results in anguish and a broken heart (Gal. 4:12-20).

Works-salvation leads to slavery, while Mt. Sinai leads to freedom (Gal. 4:21-31).

To pursue salvation by works obligates us to keep the entire law perfectly (Gal. 5:1-3).

To be justified by works is to fall away from justification by grace through faith (Gal. 5:4-6).

The gospel that saves us also sanctifies us (Gal. 5:7-8).

To preach a false gospel invites judgment and calls for the strongest condemnation from the faithful (Gal. 5:10-12).

The indicative of the gospel naturally leads to the imperatives of the gospel (Gal. 5:13-6:20), which opens onto the imperative section of the letter:

13 Imperatives

We will not indulge and pander to the flesh (Gal. 5:13, 16-21).

In love we will serve others (Gal. 5:13-14).

We will not brutalize one another in word or action (Gal. 5:15).

We will live in the Spirit whom we received when we believed (Gal. 5:22-26).

We will engage in spiritual restoration (Gal. 6:1-2).

We will be humble (Gal. 6:4-5).

We will serve and do our part in the body.

We will bless those who teach us (Gal. 6:6).

We should embrace reaping (Gal. 6:7-8).

We won’t grow weary in well-doing (Gal. 6:9-10).

We will accept persecution for the cross of Christ (Gal. 6:11-13).

We will boast only in Christ and His cross (Gal. 6:14-15).

We will pursue peace, mercy, grace and Christ (Gal. 6:16-20).

A God Thing

2011-10-10T05:30:00.002-05:00

By Deborah H.

In the course of my work as a hospice nurse, I met some great people. A few years ago, I was privileged to meet a lady named Sue and her family. Sue’s father was one of my favorite patients. Sue and her husband asked her parents to move in with them so they could care for her dad as his lung cancer continued to take its toll.

There were difficulties, but Sue remained unflappable -- always patient, calm, thoughtful and kind, content to remain in the background. One day when she walked me to my car, I could see the strain and sorrow in her face. Her dad’s death was looming nearer and there were tensions in some of the relationships in the home. Yet, Sue never complained.

Seeking a way to encourage her, I said, “You’re doing an excellent job, Sue. I’m proud of the way you’re caring for your dad and keeping your cool as things get tougher.” She slowly shook her head. “It’s not me.” With tears misting her clear blue eyes, she told me simply, “It’s a God thing, Deborah.” That simple statement served to encourage me, instead.

It was the first time I’d heard that expression. Since then, it has become one of my favorites. It has a way of encompassing so many ideas and concepts. I find it repeatedly useful in my conversations.

What is a “God thing”? I’ve never heard it defined. But to me, a God thing is any situation or concept which is inexplicable except through the lens of God’s total sovereignty. It could manifest itself as an empowering energy behind extraordinary composure or strength (as in Sue’s case), or in a situation of the indisputable evidence of God’s handiwork. It’s true that everything in our lives is brought about by His sovereignty. In that sense, everything is “a God thing.” But we don’t always see His hand in all things. So when I see Him at work in my life, or the lives of others, I sometimes exclaim, “That’s definitely a God thing.”

Some may perceive this little phrase as trite or irreverent. That’s not how I mean it. I’m certain that’s not how Sue meant it. Instead, it’s short-hand for saying, “Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways. . . . For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen,” (Romans 11:33,36).

That doxology speaks to the wonder and marvel God is. It speaks of His wisdom, majesty and power. It acknowledges His sovereignty in all things. It attributes all acts of goodness and loveliness to Him. It gives Him credit for any circumstance He brings into our lives. It praises His holy Name.

There’s nothing irreverent about saying, “It’s a God thing!” And there are plenty of times when, instead of reciting the whole doxology, I can exclaim this tiny phrase to express my awe.

In her quiet, soft-spoken, unassuming way, Sue attributed her extraordinary composure, peace, kindness and compassion to the Father in four simple words -- “It’s a God thing.”

Once we truly comprehend the truth that “all things” belong to the Lord, it seems we can see His hand in every aspect of our lives. It is through Him that any good comes from us [“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them,” Ephesians 2:10].

It is through Him that our lives are ordered according to His master plan and design [“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose,” Romans 8:28]. Nothing that happens to us is beyond His sovereign control [“And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. . . . and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being,’” Acts 17:25-28].

That may be a mouthful for some—a little too involved for every conversation. But when confronted with God’s empowerment, His intervention, His blessing, the wonder of His created world, even with the trials and sorrows He brings our way, it is sometimes fitting to simply say, in gratitude and amazement, “It‘s a God thing!”

Praying for Others

2011-10-03T05:30:00.003-05:00

By Becky A.

Do you find it hard to pray for others? Do you find yourself using the same phrases over and over again? Does your prayer life seem boring and mundane? Do you struggle to stay focused?

Prayer is hard work. It takes so much concentration and investment to stay engaged. So how can we refresh our times of prayer for others? How can we find new ways to ask the Lord to bless and be with them?

One of the greatest tools to use in praying for others is Scripture itself, in my humble opinion. There are no greater prayers than the ones you will read in God's Word. I find myself drawn to Paul's prayers often, finding them very relevant to anyone's given situation. One of my favorites to pray for others is Ephesians 3:14-21. Go read it. I think you will find yourself wishing someone would pray this for you daily.

Today I found myself reading in John 14-17. We are often told to model our prayers after the official "Lord's Prayer" found in the gospels (Matt 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4). However, I found it so refreshing to read how Jesus Christ Himself prayed for those He was leaving behind! And I found myself praying these things for my family.

Let me share just a few with you:

John 17:3 - That they might KNOW the only true God and Jesus Christ

John 17:8 - That they would receive the Word and understand

John 17:11 - God would keep them

John 17:13 - They may have the joy of Christ FULL in themselves

John 17:15 - God would keep them from the evil one

And that is just a taste. Go check it out for yourself!

Want to pray effectively for your family and others? Pray what Christ prayed. Read and pray through His words to the disciples and to His heavenly Father before He died (John 14-17).

This post originally posted on Becky's blog, A Mission and Ministry at Home.

Creative Gift Ideas, Part 4

2011-10-01T05:30:00.004-05:00

In a recent Wise Women segment on Wednesday evenings, Candy S. presented a great list of creative gift ideas. There were so many, in fact, that we've split them up into several posts. You can see ideas for young children here, ideas for girls and boys here, and ideas for women and men here. Below is the fourth and final group of ideas. (Click on the images to go to the websites with more information.)

For the Home

Disinfectant Wipes Cozy - Measure circumference of container and add 2 inches for overlap and seam allowance. Measure height of label that you’ll be covering and add 1 inch for seam allowance. Hem all edges and sew Velcro to short edges for closure. You can also check out this link for a Mod Podged version and ideas for reuse of the containers:
Tile Coasters
Altered Kitchen Towels

Other ideas—use trims such as rick rack, freezer paper stenciling with fabric paint
Napkins and Ribbon Napkin Rings
Framed Calendar/Menu Board

For the General Public

Thought Bubble Pictures - Trace or draw thought bubble shape onto plywood or MDF and cut out using jigsaw. Paint with black chalkboard paint.
Picture Blocks
Photo/Verse Stand
Make Your Own Notepad - Photocopy design. Cut to size, Stack pages and cardboard backing evenly and weigh down or clip to keep pages steady. Paint top edge with Slick Paint and let dry completely. Add a magnet to back if desired.
Comfort Packs
Gift Card in a Snow Globe

Creative Gift Ideas, Part 3

2011-09-30T05:30:00.004-05:00

In a recent Wise Women segment on Wednesday evenings, Candy S. presented a great list of creative gift ideas. There were so many, in fact, that we've split them up into several posts. Ideas for young children can be found here and ideas for girls and boys can be found here. Below is the third group of ideas. (Click on the images to go to the websites with more information.)

For the Ladies

Jewelry Frames - other ideas…frame chicken wire, a piece of lace fabric, screen, radiator flashing
Wooden Bead Necklace
Ruffled Mug Cozy
Apron/Tote in a Jar - Provide a pattern, material, and notions to complete the project. Place them all in a mason jar and tie a ribbon on top!
Framed Pin Cushion
Sewing Kit in a Jar
Brooch/Shoe Clips & Earrings from Scrapbook Supplies

For the Biggest Boys

BBQ apron and spices — could include tools
Toolbox Gift Card Holder

Creative Gift Ideas, Part 2

2011-09-29T05:30:00.004-05:00

In a recent Wise Women segment on Wednesday evenings, Candy S. presented a great list of creative gift ideas. There were so many, in fact, that we've split them up into several posts. The first group of ideas, for young children, can be found here. Below is the second group of ideas. (Click on the images to go to the websites with more information.)

Girly Gifts

Friendship Bracelet Kits
Headband/Necklace Tree
Ribbon Belt/Bracelets
Pen Pal Kit - Pretty stationary, stamps, nice pens stored in a pretty box
Craft or Kitchen Toolbox - Provide a toolbox, sewing box, tote, etc and help to start a collection of tools for a craft or cooking. Follow each year/event with an addition to that collection.

Something for the Boys

Fort Kit
Invention Box - Suggestions to include (remember to choose items age-appropriate to your recipient): tapes (such as duct, electrical, colored), rope, cardboard, fishing line, Velcro, bulldog clips, rubber bands, socks, buttons, dowels, wooden pieces, paint
Tool Box - Provide a toolbox and some simple starter tools and then add to that collection each year/event.
Bleached T-shirts

Creative Gift Ideas, Part 1

2011-09-28T05:30:00.006-05:00

In a recent Wise Women segment on Wednesday evenings, Candy S. presented a great list of creative gift ideas. There were so many, in fact, that we've split them up into several posts. Here is the first group of ideas, for young children. (Click on the images to go to the websites with more information.)

For the Littlest People

Recorded Storybook - Give a favorite storybook and have a loved one record themselves reading the story.
Animal Washcloths & Towels
Simple Coloring Tote
Wooden Matching Game
2 x 4 Car Blocks
Animal Puzzle Blocks
Story Blocks/Stones
Simple Drawstring Bag
I Spy Bag
Mini Bowling Set - Paint “peg people” wooden shapes and ball; give in a drawstring storage bag
Color Matching Set
Peg People & Clothespin Dolls

Just for fun… add a take-along play house:
Month by Month Onesie Stickers

Being Good Listeners

2011-09-26T05:30:00.001-05:00

By Jennifer R.

Do you ever find yourself having a hard time staying awake or concentrating in church? Does your mind wander during church services to the things you have to do later in the day or the week? Do you find yourself forgetting what the message was about before you get home from church?

We are all busy women with many things going on in our lives. It’s no wonder that we are sometimes distracted in worship services. However, there are some things we can do to be intentional about avoiding the distractions that rob us of getting the most out of the preaching of the Word.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss recently posted an excellent article on How to Get the Most Out of Your Pastor’s Preaching. She included some very practical suggestions for preparing our hearts before the service, for actively participating during the service, and for applying what we’ve learned after the service. I commend this article to all of you, even if you haven’t suffered from distraction during worship services before. We can always excel still more at being attentive listeners during worship.

For homes with small children, another good resource to help you prepare yourself and your family for the Lord’s Day is Day of Delight: Making Sunday the Best Day of the Week by Doorposts, which offers many creative ideas for keeping the Lord’s Day special (and stress-free!) for the whole family.

Book Review: The Organized Heart

2011-09-19T05:30:00.001-05:00

By Hannah S.

Are there really only two kinds of people in the world: those who love to organize and those who don’t? Are you the kind of person who loves to visit the Container Store and has a professional label maker? Or are you one that feels stifled in a room full of neatly packed bins and boxes and prefers to “wing it?” Well, no matter where you fall on the organization spectrum, the book The Organized Heart: A Woman's Guide to Conquering Chaos by Staci Eastin is for you.

This book is different than the many others I have read about being organized. There is nothing about charts, timers, purging, or file folders in this book, and yet I think it has probably been much more effective than others in helping me get to the root of chaos in my life.

I will have to admit, I am one of those crazy women that loves to organize. I cleaned out my freezer the other day and found great joy in looking at the organization of the vegetables and popsicles. But my system is not always implemented, and two weeks from now I will open my freezer and have to dodge the falling ice cream container. Do I need a better system - or maybe a bigger freezer - or maybe I could blame the kids? Even though I love to read about organization, why do I often find myself literally “under the pile?” Why does my family not feel loved when I am on a cleaning kick? Do I value organization more than relationships? These are all questions that I began to ask myself as I read this book.

The Organized Heart begins as Staci Eastin reminds us of how a lack of organization affects our lives. She writes:

Disorganization steals your joy. It causes you to go through your life frazzled and stressed. It causes friction with your husband and makes you snap at your children. It makes you perform your ministry tasks grudgingly. It prevents you
from developing friendships, because you’re always rushing from one task to the
next. You don’t feel like you are doing anything well, let alone to the glory of
God.

Eastin states her purpose as

My goal is not necessarily for you to have a cleaner home or a more manageable schedule – although I certainly hope that is the case. Rather, my hope for this book is that it will help you serve God and your family more effectively, more fruitfully, and with greater peace and joy.

Isn’t this our hearts' desire? Shouldn’t this be the goal for being organized? So what is stopping us? As I read this book, I began to realize that my issue of organization has more to do with a lack of proper motivation than a lack of knowledge. It is an issue of my heart.

Eastin identifies four idols that hinder us from our heart’s desire to serve our family well. They are leisure, busyness, perfectionism, and possessions. Eastin takes each of these items and discusses the particular pitfalls that they cause. As you read, you will begin to see your own tendencies in these areas and realize how they affect your home and those around you. You will see idols in your own heart that are causing chaos in your home. This book has been a great reminder to me that the answer for the disorganization in my life is not more storage bins or a new cleaning system, but it is examining the motivations in my heart and confessing sin. I am confident as I “spring clean” my own heart that my home and family will benefit as well.

It's So Easy

2011-09-12T05:30:00.002-05:00

It's so easy to convince myself
that I have arrived.
It's so easy to swindle myself into believing
that I am righteous.
It's so easy to calm my conscience
by recasting my own history.
It's so easy to make myself feel better
by measuring myself by somebody else.
It's so easy to persuade myself
that my way is the best way.
It's so easy to think
that I'm serving You when I'm really serving me.
It's so easy to judge others
who fail to do what I'm not doing either.
It's so easy to daily hunt
for what I've already been given in Christ.
It's so easy to be more concerned
about the sin of someone else than I am my own.
It's so easy to withhold grace
while I am being showered with grace.
It's so easy to think
that I know more than I know.
It's so easy to fretfully forget
that you are ever with me.
It's so easy to love the world
more than I have loved You.
It's so easy to enthrone myself
in the center of my world.
It's so easy to view myself as poor
when grace has made me rich.
It's so easy to talk myself into feeling okay
about what You say is wrong.
It's so easy to forget
how fundamentally needy I am.
Because these things are so
Natural
Instinctive
Frequent
Common
Normal
Spontaneous
Easy.
There is not a
Situation
Location
Relationship
Circumstance
Moment
where I am free of needing You.
I live in constant need of
the rescue of your grace.
I am so thankful
that your grace is never stronger
than in those moments of
weakness when dangerous things
are all too easy.

~ Re-posted from Paul Tripp's blog

Book Review: When Sinners Say I Do

2011-09-05T05:30:00.000-05:00

By Kim W.

Have you ever looked at your relationship with your husband and blamed any problems that you have on your husband...or have you blamed it all on your marriage? I have heard wives and husbands say they have marriage problems...as if the marriage itself is at fault or the marriage created the problems. Doesn't this way of thinking completely take our own responsibility out of the equation so we can just go on thinking that the problems we have are someone's (our husband's) or something's (our bad marriage's) fault? God wants us to think and see this differently. How do we, as women striving to be godly wives, think Biblically about this? I have found some great help from Dave Harvey's book, When Sinners Say I Do.

Dave Harvey says this:

What if you abandoned the idea that the problems and weaknesses in your marriage are caused by a lack of information, dedication, or communication? What if you saw your problems as they truly are: caused by a war within your own heart?

Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:15-16: "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life."

Dave Harvey continues later in his book with this statement:

We make limp justifications for our sinful behavior, and our marriage conflicts end, at best, in uneasy, partial, negotiated settlements. But once I find 1 Timothy 1:15-16 trustworthy--once I can embrace it with full acceptance--once I know that I am indeed the worst of sinners, then my spouse is no longer my biggest problem: I am. And when I find myself walking in the shoes of the worst of sinners, I will make every effort to grant my spouse the same lavish grace that God granted me.

I think that most of us have the desire for our marriage to look more and more like the picture God wants to display to a lost world...a picture of grace, forgiveness, and true self-sacrificing love. As we seek to embrace this Biblical view and live it out in our marriages, others see the example and God is glorified. But, as Dave Harvey says, “Until sin be bitter, marriage may not be sweet.”

John Owen says there are 2 things that humble the souls of men: "a due consideration of God, and then of ourselves. Of God in His greatness, glory, holiness, power, majesty, and authority; of ourselves in our mean, abject, and sinful condition."

Walking this road of humility is provided by God for us as we give due consideration to who God is and who we truly are. I want to walk this road of humility, don't you?

What Will Make You Happy?

2011-08-31T05:30:00.003-05:00

The possession of the whole world, and all that it contains, will never make a person happy. Its pleasures are false and deceptive. Its riches, rank, and honors, have no power to satisfy the heart. So long as we have not got them they glitter, sparkle, and seem desirable. The moment we have them we find that they are empty bubbles, and cannot make us feel content. And, worst of all, when we possess this world’s good things, to the utmost bound of our desire, we cannot keep them. Death comes in and separates us from all our property forever. Naked we came upon earth, and naked we go forth, and of all our possessions we can carry nothing with us. Such is the world, which occupies the whole attention of thousands! Such is the world, for the sake of which millions are every year destroying their souls!

~ J.C. Ryle

Many men think that when they are troubled and have not got contentment it is because they have but a little in the world, and that if they had more then they should be content. That is just as if a man were hungry, and to satisfy his craving stomach he should gape and hold open his mouth to take in the wind, and then should think that the reason why he is not satisfied is because he has not got enough of the wind. No, the reason is because the thing is not suitable to a craving stomach. Yet there is really the same madness in the world: the wind which a man takes in by gaping will as soon satisfy a craving stomach ready to starve, as all the comforts in the world can satisfy a soul who knows what true happiness means.
...
O poor deulded man! It is not because you have not got enough of it, but because it is not the thing that is proportionable to the immortal soul that God has given you.

~ Jeremiah Burroughs, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, pg. 91

Book Review: Overcoming Perfectionism by Amy Baker

2011-08-29T05:30:00.000-05:00

By Kim W.

I recently purchased the workbook Overcoming Perfectionism by Amy Baker to go through myself as a summer project. I have known for quite some time that the sin of perfectionism was one I struggle with often. This book is a study guide that asks questions, gives lists, and points to Scripture as the sufficient answer to this attitude of sin that can secretly be harboring in a woman's (or man's) heart. I had no idea how deeply rooted this sin was in my own heart, and some of you may struggle with it as well.

As a young girl, I can remember having feelings of not being good enough... not so much in God's eyes, but in the eyes of other people. I struggled with desiring things, accomplishments, and productivity to validate myself. This weakness in my heart set my sinful nature into a battle of striving for perfection by the world's standards. I wanted to be the best at things, and when I wasn't, I felt devastated and like a failure. When I became a Christian, I knew I had sinned and needed a loving Savior. I wanted to live for Him, but because at this time in my life I did not actually know and see all of my sinful habits, seeking perfectionism still continued on in my heart.

Fast forward to my adult life...I began studying God's Word more and more. As I did, God so graciously showed me how much pride and perfectionism had affected my life. I could give many examples of how this played out in my life, but the reality is that perfectionism can look very different for different people: it could show itself by expecting children to behave perfectly, by demanding and working towards a perfectly clean house all the time, or even by desiring to appear "perfect" spiritually. The list could go on and on. It all comes down to a prideful heart that desires to appear a certain way before men, with little regard to what God thinks.

Amy Baker's workbook is so helpful in revealing our hearts and motives while lining everything up with Scripture. It is a very practical help for those of us who have realized we need God's guidance on how to deal with these attitudes and actions Biblically.

To see if you are dealing with this sin, here are some ways Dr. Baker describes a perfectionist in her book:

This person may always appear very well put together--disciplined, neat, orderly, and thorough...but they can place excessive demands on time and energy for things which may matter little in eternity.
They create extra-Biblical standards for themselves and others, which they insist must be met.
They believe they can never please God.
They view themselves in terms of accomplishments and productivity.
When they fail, they are devastated because they failed - not because God is grieved, but more because they are worried about what others may think of them.
Perfectionists are not willing to be beginners.
There is continual nagging self doubt and regret over lost opportunities and perceived failures.
They mentally review everything said or done in relationships with others looking for a flaw (in themselves).
They get very upset if they make a mistake.
Perfectionists are motivated, not by a desire to please God, but by the fear of failure.

Thankfully, God has given us everything we need through His Word to remedy our sinful hearts! Through this study by Amy Baker, we can see God's true concerns for us...and it is not our perfection.

God is most concerned about:

Our continual growth towards holiness...this helped me a lot. We are always growing and perfection is not attained on this earth. The wonderful thing about this is God is growing us as we strive to please Him, not others.
A repentant heart that is willing to say that yes, we are flawed, and we need Christ's perfection to satisfy God's heart toward us. We must be willing to honestly see and admit our failures, so that we can rely on Christ and His perfect sacrifice on the cross. But we cannot just admit we have failed; we must repent and turn from our sin in response to our love for Christ.
A broken and contrite heart desiring to please God alone
Our obedience to His Word and our integrity before God

I recommend this study guide to anyone who is struggling with sinful perfectionism or anyone that would like to help someone who is struggling with it. It would be a wonderful tool for a mentor to use as a short Bible study to go through with another woman to edify and encourage her in her walk with Christ.

Thanking God for Afflictions

2011-08-24T05:30:00.000-05:00

If we are true Christians, we must not expect everything smooth in our journey to heaven. We must count it no strange thing if we have to endure sicknesses, losses, bereavements, and disappointments, just like other people. Free pardon and full forgiveness, grace by the way and glory to the end – all this our Savior has promised to give. But He has never promised that we shall have no afflictions. He loves us too well to promise that.

By affliction He teaches us many precious lessons, which without it we should never learn. By affliction He shows us our emptiness and weakness, draws us to the throne of grace, purifies our affections, weans us from the world and makes us long for heaven. In the resurrection morning we shall all say, ‘it is good for me that I was afflicted.’ [Psalm 119:71] We shall thank God for every storm.

~ J.C. Ryle

Teaching Our Children to be Thankful for Their Food

2011-08-22T05:30:00.000-05:00

“O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever… Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever” (Ps 136:1 and 25).

The Israelites complained about the food God gave them. There it was, miraculously appearing on the ground every morning, “angels’ food” (Ps. 78:5), free for the gathering. It tasted good. It was good for them. Their loving Father, creator of the universe, provided it for them. But they chose to grumble. “Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.” (Numbers 11:4-6, ESV) Not exactly the epitome of thankfulness, huh?

Sometimes our children don’t like the food God gives them. It appears on the table at meal times. It’s good for them. God has graciously provided it through the labors of their loving father, and it has been prepared by the hands of a devoted mother or other family member. But they choose to complain about it. They may refuse to eat a particular food. They may ask for (or demand) something different. They may spit it out, drop it on the floor, or hide it in their napkins (or pockets…yuck).

Our children reveal ungrateful hearts when they grumble about the food that is given to them. In response, instead of correcting them we are often tempted to:

Tolerate or ignore their complaints.
Manipulate them into eating.
Give in to their complaints or tantrums in order to preserve peace during mealtimes.
Go to the fridge to search for some other food that will please them more.
Allow mid-meal snacks because they are hungry after not eating at meal times.
Grow impatient and angry with the child, and start to do our own complaining about their attitudes.

When we do these things, we are encouraging them to become unthankful children who turn into ungrateful teenagers, and then grumpy, never-satisfied adults. Worse, we are teaching them to not give thanks to God, who is the Provider of all things.

Mealtimes are training opportunities:

Teach your children to give thanks for the food that is placed before them. Pray aloud with them. Teach them to pray aloud. Thank God for the food He has provided, and for the people who have worked to purchase and prepare it.
Teach them to cheerfully eat at least one bite of everything they are served, and to graciously explain when they don’t care for more. Make sure they understand, however, that they may not ask for a different food to replace the food they have chosen not to eat.
Teach them to quietly taste new foods when visiting in others’ homes, and to refrain from comments when they don’t care for something. My step-mom, Vickie, loved to tell the story of my little step-sister objecting to her piece of pumpkin pie at a Thanksgiving dinner at our house many years ago. Vickie was about to quietly insist that Jessica eat at least some of her pie, when my dad caught her eye with a discreet but clearly sympathetic grimace. Later, when I finally had my piece (I was too full to eat it at the meal), I discovered that I had neglected to put the sweetener in with the pumpkin! That was clearly a time when it was good to excuse a child from politely eating what was put before her. The funny part is that my father-in-law had insisted it was the best pumpkin pie he had ever eaten!
Train them to thank the cook, and to compliment them on dishes they especially enjoyed. This should happen at home, as well as when visiting in others’ homes.
Involve your children early in cooking and meal cleanup. Helping prepare and clean up a meal will give them a greater appreciation for the work entailed, and they will also be more interested in eating something they have helped prepare.
Teach them to obey you at all times, including meal times. If they have learned to obey in other areas, they will be less likely to challenge you during meals. When issues do arise during meals, however, deal promptly with them. A spanking for disobedience may be appropriate. Other times, grumblers may learn by cleaning up after the meal, losing the privilege of eating the meal, or taking responsibility for preparing all or part of the next meal. Discipline will ultimately lead to peaceful obedience and a pleasant meal for all.

This post was originally posted on the Doorposts of Your House blog. Go to their website to sign up to receive their blog posts via email.

You're Not

2011-08-17T14:20:00.002-05:00

This great poem/prayer was posted by Paul Tripp on his blog today.

When I'm
Weary and exhausted
You're not.
When I'm
Confused and discouraged
You're not.
When I'm
Fickle and unfaithful
You're not.
When I'm
Doubtful and disheartened
You're not.
When I'm
Fearful and anxious
You're not.
When I'm
Short-sighted and fearful
You're not.
When I'm
Tired and about to quit
You're not.
When I'm
Lacking in hope and love
You're not.
When I'm
Shocked and surprised
You're not.
When I'm
Angrily withholding grace
You're not.
When I'm
Unfaithful to what I've promised
You're not.
When I'm
Selfish and disloyal
You're not.
Oh, Lord of
Faithfulness and grace
I am so thankful
That
In those moments
When I'm
Losing my way
You're not.

~ Paul Tripp

Choosing Our Mental Direction

2011-08-15T05:30:00.001-05:00

By Kim W.

What do we as women focus our hearts and minds on? Are we constantly meditating on God's Word or easily distracted by the things of this world? I can think of many times that I have disobeyed the Lord because I was ignorant of what His Word said. I was thinking about what others thought of me, I was so busy that I didn't even consider God's Word, or I was simply making choices based on what I wanted, not what God wanted. All of these things show a lack of love for His Word... so let's challenge one another to be studying and meditating on what God wants for us, which is only found in Scripture. As we study and meditate on His Truths, we will grow in the Lord and allow God's Word to govern our lives. Our minds will be focused in the right and best direction if we do this.

"Meditation on Scripture is a discipline. We must commit ourselves to be proactive. We must memorize key passages (or carry them on cards) so we can think about them. We must be alert for those times during the day when we can turn our minds to the Word of God, and then we must do it. Even the practice of daily Bible reading is insufficient if we go the rest of the day without meditating on some truths of Scripture. We must choose to meditate instead of thinking about other things or listening to the radio or watching television. We simply have to decide what we want our minds to be influenced by, and take steps accordingly."

~ Jerry Bridges

Sacred

2011-08-12T05:30:00.005-05:00

By Aaron Wilson

It's really not called "The Mom Song," but that's my own name for it, because every time I hear it, I think of my wife - who is, of course, the mom to our four children. And, judging by the tears that fill my eyes when I listen to this song, it's really not just for moms, dads can benefit from it as well.

Sung by Danielle Young (Caedmon's Call), this upbeat song is about seeing the mundane tasks of home life as sacred events. It's about seeing motherhood as worship. This is described throughout the lyrics of the song, as you can read below. But it's most beautifully displayed in the short bridge, where the songwriter seamlessly weaves from a morning wake up call to a child, into a brief burst of praise in the melody of "Holy, Holy, Holy."

After dialing the album, "Overdressed," into my iPod this morning and hearing this song, I prayed along with the line Teach me to run to you like [my children] run to me for every little thing.

So I commend this song to you mothers and homemakers to prompt you to worship God in the midst of laundry and spills and chores and bills and dust bunnies and runny noses.

All of it is sacred.

Sacred

This house is a good mess it’s the proof of life
No way would I trade jobs but I don’t pay overtime
I’ll get to the laundry I don’t know when
I’m saying a prayer tonight cause tomorrow it starts again

Could it be that everything is sacred
And all this time
Everything I’ve dreamed of has been right before my eyes

The children are sleeping but they’re running through my mind
The sun makes them happy and the music makes them unwind
My cup runneth over, I worry about the stain
Teach me to run to you like they run to me for every little thing

Cause everything is sacred
And all this time
Everything I’ve dreamed of has been right before my eyes

When I forget to drink from you I can feel the banks harden
Lord make me like a stream to feed the garden

Wake up little sleeper
The Lord God Almighty
Made your mama keeper
So rise and shine, rise and shine, rise and shine

Cause everything is sacred
And all this time
Everything I’ve dreamed of has been right before my eyes

Words and Music by Randall Goodgame and Andrew Osenga
(c) 2007 House of Mirrors Music (ASCAP) admin. by Simpleville Music, Inc. / 2007 Mighty Molecule Music. (ASCAP) admin by Music Services

Download the song or album on Amazon or iTunes.
Also, check out this 3 minute video clip where Danielle and the band talk about how this song came about.

Around the Blogosphere: List Edition

2011-08-08T05:30:00.000-05:00

By Jennifer R.

It seems there have been a lot of "lists" around the blogosphere lately. Here are some of the more interesting, helpful, and humorous ones I've found.

13 Signs Your Sermon Isn’t Going Well - Mike Wittmer offers up a humorous top-13 list of signs that your sermon isn’t going too well.

100 Ways for Your Family to Make a Difference - Kristen at We are THAT Family composes a list of things you can do to help others.

22 Liberating Truths for Christian Women - True Woman presented these twenty-two liberating truths to wrap your arms and heart around on Independence Day, taken from Nancy Leigh DeMoss’ book, Lies Women Believe: And the Truth That Sets Them Free!

Salsa and Submission - Thabiti Anyabwile's wife shares five lessons on submission gleaned from a conversation about salsa (the dancing variety, not the stuff you eat with tortilla chips).

Encouraging Our Husbands

2011-08-01T05:30:00.004-05:00

By Kim W.

It is so important to encourage our husbands as they work so hard to provide for us, sacrifice for us, and try to love us as Christ loved the church. I am guilty at times of having a heart that says "What about me...what about my needs?" I forget that God wants me to lovingly meet my husband's needs without expecting anything in return. It is very typical in this world for wives, Christians and non-Christians, to criticize or belittle their husbands. I have seen this often...in my extended family, on television, in magazines, and even in some Christian books. I pray we will be women who want to build up our husbands on a daily basis... to tell them and show them by our actions how much we love and appreciate them. If you need help knowing how to do this, Nancy Leigh Demoss has a 30-day challenge on how to love your husband by encouraging him. I have personally found this very helpful to me in my relationship with my husband. It is found here.

Backyard Blessings

2011-07-26T08:30:00.002-05:00

By Hannah S.

This week has been one of overwhelming gratitude. I have been humbled and amazed once again at the power of a body serving together. I was privileged to host a Back Yard Bible Club at our home this week. I have had a few people say “thank you” to me for this service, but let me assure you the blessing was mine. I wanted to share with you a few of the blessings of this week.

First, our family was blessed as we began to promote this event. We went from house to house and knocked on doors, introducing ourselves and telling them about the BYBC. In a society where people often don’t know their neighbors, this event gave us a great “excuse” to broaden our knowledge of our neighborhood. We had neighbors without children loaning us a shade tent and staking our sign at the end of the road. As the week progressed, others would ask me how the “Bible study” was going. These have all been great opportunities to identify with Christ and to begin many new relationships.

The second blessing was the joy of getting to know the children. I can’t describe how thrilling it was to see kids running down the street, eager to come. As the week went on, they continued to come earlier and earlier. I had three different moms express to me that they were amazed that their children were so excited about attending. Our attendance was remarkably consistent and moms were changing previous plans so that their children could attend. What a great reminder to me of how the love of Christ draws people to Him! We did not have a flashy program or over-the-top games, but we had students loving these kids and sharing the love of Christ with them.

Third, as I mentioned earlier, seeing BCLR work together to reach Little Rock for Christ was one of the greatest blessings. I can’t describe the joy of ministering together with the youth that came to my house. Somehow that distinction of youth and adult was lost as we were brothers and sisters in Christ working to share the gospel together. No longer was the distinction in age important as we joined arms with the same mission. The sweetness of seeing two young men sitting on my step sharing Christ with my neighbor brings tears to my eyes.

Thank you, church body, for functioning so well. For all of you who labored behind the scenes packing lunches, buying snacks, printing flyers, providing meals, housing students, etc., you have my utmost appreciation. Many of you did not get to see first hand the incredible impact of this week, but you were faithful to labor behind the scenes – thank you!

To Diane and the amazing office ladies, you have pulled off an incredible feat of administration. Thank you for using your gifts so well.

To the youth, thank you for investing in the lives of others. Thank you for boldly standing for Christ and for giving your all to serve Him. Thank you for having the faith to believe that the Word of God changes lives and then living out that faith. You are a joy to be around! May God reward your efforts.

To George and Jennifer, thank you for your vision and your labor to adequately train our youth.

But most of all thank you to the Lord! He is gracious to allow us to be some small part of His kingdom work. May we as a body continue to bring glory to Him as we serve Him together. To God be the glory!

Book Review: Because He Loves Me

2011-07-25T05:30:00.002-05:00

By Hannah S.

“In your pursuit of godliness, have you left Jesus behind?”

Because He loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick is a book that fits perfectly with our study of Galatians. This book encourages us to focus on the love of Christ displayed at the cross, not just for our salvation, but for living our everyday life as well. So often, as well-taught believers we can slip into thinking that the cross had an impact for our salvation and then the rest of the Christian walk is up to us and our own discipline. Somehow grace becomes something that we need when we sin rather than something that we need to face everyday life. This book is full of Scripture and probing questions to evaluate your personal walk with the Lord.

Fitzpatrick asks:

Where did the ongoing incarnation of Jesus Christ intersect with your life yesterday? We all know that the crucifixion is important for our initial salvation, but what did it mean this morning? Does Calvary inform and warm your heart when you’re waiting in line at the grocery store or hearing bad news from your doctor? Does his sinless life comfort you when you realize that you’ve just sinned in the same way, again? In other words, is He significantly relevant to you in your daily walk with him?

We are aware of our need to change behavior in our lives, but where are we looking to find the power to bring about that change? Outwardly, the answer may seem the same, but are you motivated by the love of God or are you driven by self-effort? Are you reading Scripture looking for something you must do to make yourself holy, or are you reading Scripture seeing the love that has been poured upon us by a holy and righteous God - a love that brings about change in our lives? When we meditate on the cross we are driven not by duty or a desire to be approved by others, but we are driven to holiness by the love that God has shown us. We understand our debt and our inability to change ourselves, and we look to the One who loves us with a love we could never earn.

According to Fitzpatrick:

If you neglect to focus on God’s love for you in Christ, your Christianity will soon be reduced to a program of self-improvement - just one of many methods to help you “get your act together.” And although that might seem like a worthy goal, it isn’t true Christianity at all. True Christianity is not a program of self-improvement; it’s an acknowledgement that something more than self-improvement is needed. What’s needed is death and resurrection: gospel words, gospel constructs, gospel motives, gospel power – a loving Redeemer.

Not only is this book a heart-felt and in-depth reminder of God’s love for you, but it also walks you through how the cross applies to very practical situations. Elyse allows us to peer into the lives of others as she gives counsel and help that is centered on the cross of Christ. She is not advocating the idea that there is no need for discipline in the Christian life, but she is saying that discipline without the cross of Christ is worthless.

Because He Loves Me has been a great joy to me. As I have been reminded of the truth of God’s love for me, I have had to ask myself the question, “In my pursuit of godliness, have I left Jesus behind?” I am sad to say that at times this is true of me. I am often more focused on what I am doing instead of what He is doing. When God’s love fades into the background, I can find the spiritual disciplines dry and dutiful. I am thankful for a book that reminds me that the gospel is good news and it is good news for every day!! I pray that as this truth has deeply touched me (again), I will interpret even the everyday aspects of life through the grid of “because He loves me.”

Ten Questions to Ask to Benefit from a Conference or Special Event

2011-07-18T05:30:00.001-05:00

The following is from Donald Whitney's Ten Questions bulletin insert series. I thought it would be helpful for us after the wonderful evangelism conference we enjoyed this past weekend.

I’ve had the privilege of attending countless conferences and other special events. Some were primarily inspirational, others were mainly instructive, and many were for the purpose of conducting business, hearing reports, and connecting with people. They usually last from half-a-day to several days in length. Afterward, however—regardless of how much I enjoyed myself or how profitable the experience seemed at the time—I often reflect upon the resources I’ve devoted to attendance and wonder if I have benefited from the conference/event as much as I could have. Having invested hours or days of my life in this way, I want to know that it’s been time well spent. To better ensure good stewardship of the opportunity, I have developed these ten questions.

What’s the single most important truth I have learned at this conference/event?

What’s the most important thing in my life that will be different or I will attempt to change as a result of attending this conference/event?

What’s the next step I should take to incorporate this change into my life?

What’s the single most important resource I should acquire at or after this conference/event?

When will I begin to read/listen to/utilize this resource?

Who is one person at this conference/event with whom I should discuss this conference/event?

Who is one person after this conference/event with whom I should discuss something from this conference/event?

Who is the one person at this conference/event I most need to encourage?

Who is someone who has helped to organize or serve at this conference/event who deserves a word of gratitude and would be encouraged to know of the impact of this conference/event in my life?

What’s one thing I should pray about for myself and for others as a result of this conference/event?

Copyright © 2009 Donald S. Whitney. All rights reserved.
For more short, reproducible pieces like this, see
WWW.BIBLICALSPIRITUALITY.ORG

Evangelism Quotes

2011-07-11T05:30:00.006-05:00

By Jennifer R.

In preparation for our conference this weekend, I thought it would be helpful to review a few short, thought-provoking quotes on evangelism.

Evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to get bread. ~ D. T. Niles

Evangelism is the redistribution of spiritual wealth. ~ John Blanchard

In making a person a Christian, God takes a burden off the heart and places another on the shoulders. ~ Anonymous

Christian mission is the only reason for our being on earth. ~ Andrew Murray

The gospel is not a secret to be hoarded but a story to be heralded. ~ Vance Havner

Holy Writ is to be kept not under a bushel, but under men's noses. Its message is to be held forth as diligently as it is held fast. ~ J. I. Packer

If a church does not evangelize it will fossilize. ~ A. W. Pink

The greatest charity in the world is the communication of divine truth to the ignorant. ~ Alexander Maclaren
No candle which God lights was ever meant to burn alone. ~ J. C. Ryle

The highest form of selfishness is that of the man who is content to go to heaven alone. ~ J. C. Ryle

Evangelism is always dangerous, though it is not so dangerous as the lack of evangelism. ~ George Sweazey

We cannot bring the whole world to Christ, but we must bring Christ to the whole world. ~ John Blanchard

Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor. ~ C. H. Spurgeon

Evangelism's highest and ultimate end is not the welfare of men, not even their eternal bliss, but the glorification of God. ~ R. B. Kuiper

If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

Undying Zeal for the Souls of Men

2011-07-05T05:30:00.000-05:00

“I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”
1 Corinthians 9:22

Paul’s great object was not merely to instruct and to improve, but to save. Anything short of this would have disappointed him; he would have men renewed in heart, forgiven, sanctified, in fact, saved. Have our Christian labours been aimed at anything below this great point? Then let us amend our ways, for of what avail will it be at the last great day to have taught and moralized men if they appear before God unsaved? Blood-red will our skirts be if through life we have sought inferior objects, and forgotten that men needed to be saved. Paul knew the ruin of man’s natural state, and did not try to educate him, but to save him; he saw men sinking to hell, and did not talk of refining them, but of saving from the wrath to come. To compass their salvation, he gave himself up with untiring zeal to telling abroad the gospel, to warning and beseeching men to be reconciled to God. His prayers were importunate and his labours incessant. To save souls was his consuming passion, his ambition, his calling. He became a servant to all men, toiling for his race, feeling a woe within him if he preached not the gospel. He laid aside his preferences to prevent prejudice; he submitted his will in things indifferent, and if men would but receive the gospel, he raised no questions about forms or ceremonies: the gospel was the one all-important business with him. If he might save some he would be content. This was the crown for which he strove, the sole and sufficient reward of all his labours and self-denials. Dear reader, have you and I lived to win souls at this noble rate? Are we possessed with the same all-absorbing desire? If not, why not? Jesus died for sinners, cannot we live for them? Where is our tenderness? Where our love to Christ, if we seek not his honour in the salvation of men? O that the Lord would saturate us through and through with an undying zeal for the souls of men.

~ C.H. Spurgeon, from Morning and Evening: Daily Readings (Evening, December 7)

Esther Rap

2011-07-01T05:30:00.000-05:00

On the last night of the summer Bible study on Esther, Karen C. presented a rap that she wrote about the book. The lyrics are below the video. (If you are viewing this in an email or RSS viewer, you may have to click through to the actual post to see the video.)

King Ahasuerus has a banquet as we begin.
He told his gorgeous wife, "I want you to come in."

Disobedient Vashti said, "I don't think so."
To which the king and his counsel said, "Then you gotta go."

"It's time for a new queen, that's how I'll start today.
I choose Esther, who's form and figure make me say, 'Hey!'"

The king loved Esther, more than all the other women.
Her obedience was stellar, and favor she was given.

Mordecai raised her right. She had dignity and honor.
He spoiled an evil plot. It was written by the court reporter.

Enter evil Haman, full of pride, anger, and self-pity.
Who was to pay him homage? Just everyone in the city!

Mordecai stood erect. He would never bow low.
So Haman wrote an edict and built a tall gallows.

Mordecai put on sackcloth and wailed bitterly.
A copy of the edict was given to the queen.

"Gather all the Jews in Susa and fast three days for me.
Then I will go and see if I have favor with the king."

The king held out his scepter, asking, "What is troubling you?"
And after a couple of banquets revealed she was a Jew.

"This wicked Haman has devised a plot!"
The king saw to it that on the gallows he would rot.

Another edict was written, this one by Mordecai,
Telling the Jews to defend themselves, and they had a joyful cry!

From Pur to Purim, God took care of the Jews.
He is working in the shadows, and He'll do the same for you!

You Little Know the Possibilities

2011-06-27T05:30:00.001-05:00

“He first findeth his own brother Simon.”
John 1:41

This case is an excellent pattern of all cases where spiritual life is vigorous. As soon as a man has found Christ, he begins to find others. I will not believe that thou hast tasted of the honey of the gospel if thou canst eat it all thyself. True grace puts an end to all spiritual monopoly. Andrew first found his own brother Simon, and then others. Relationship has a very strong demand upon our first individual efforts. Andrew, thou didst well to begin with Simon. I doubt whether there are not some Christians giving away tracts at other people’s houses who would do well to give away a tract at their own—whether there are not some engaged in works of usefulness abroad who are neglecting their special sphere of usefulness at home. Thou mayst or thou mayst not be called to evangelize the people in any particular locality, but certainly thou art called to see after thine own servants, thine own kinsfolk and acquaintance. Let thy religion begin at home. Many tradesmen export their best commodities—the Christian should not. He should have all his conversation everywhere of the best savour; but let him have a care to put forth the sweetest fruit of spiritual life and testimony in his own family. When Andrew went to find his brother, he little imagined how eminent Simon would become. Simon Peter was worth ten Andrews so far as we can gather from sacred history, and yet Andrew was instrumental in bringing him to Jesus. You may be very deficient in talent yourself, and yet you may be the means of drawing to Christ one who shall become eminent in grace and service. Ah! dear friend, you little know the possibilities which are in you. You may but speak a word to a child, and in that child there may be slumbering a noble heart which shall stir the Christian church in years to come. Andrew has only two talents, but he finds Peter. Go thou and do likewise.

~ C.H. Spurgeon, from Morning and Evening: Daily Readings (Evening, February 19)

Book Review: Practicing Affirmation

2011-06-21T05:30:00.001-05:00

Among yesterday's links from around the Blog-o-Sphere was a link to the True Woman blog about affirmation. Nancy Leigh DeMoss recommended the book Practicing Affirmation: God-Centered Praise of Those Who Are Not God by Sam Crabtree for further reading on the subject. Today, our own Hannah S. shares her thoughts about this excellent book.

If I had seen this book in the Christian bookstore I probably would have passed right by. The misuse of affirmation by the self -esteem movement would have made me skeptical as to its contents. But what caught my eye on the cover of this book was that the forward was by John Piper. Being encouraged and challenged in much of my thinking by John Piper’s writings, I wondered what a biblical study of affirmation might look like. What a joy this book has been to me!

Crabtree begins this book by clarifying what he means by affirmation:

Good affirmations are God centered, pointing to the image of God in a person. The only commendable attributes in people were given to them. Everything is from God, through God, and to God so that in all things – including the commendable qualities in people – He might get the glory.

Practicing Affirmation is a book that calls us to look for the grace of God in other people, and then bring glory to Him by affirming His work.

Just as the heavens are declaring the glory of God, if only we have eyes to see it, when we commend the character of a person, we are also pointing to the glory of God from which that character is derived – if we have eyes to see it.

Don’t miss that little phrase: if we have eyes to see it.

Being able to affirm someone for the grace that you see in their life is not an easy task. You must know people on a level that is deeper than the surface. You must begin to watch and think about people in a whole new light. Instead of focusing on the things that might “bug” you about a person, you begin to look for growth in holiness and desire for goodness in people.

Crabtree describes affirmation as the key to refreshing relationships:

When I speak of affirmations as the key, hear this: It is not the most important aspect of a relationship. For example, in a parenting relationship affirmation is not the most important thing parents will do for their children. There are things like feeding them, inoculating them, teaching them the Bible. But without affirmation, well-fed, well-inoculated, well-instructed children may tune out their parents and their well-intended instruction – especially their instruction.

His practical advice is a refreshing reminder of the power of seeing others as a reflection of God’s grace. This book is full of illustrations and applications that apply to the workplace, to marriage, to parenting, to friendships, and to ministry.
Crabtree says:

I am not talking about mere pep talks, trying to psyche somebody up with feel-happy-stay-happy, you-can-do-anything cheerleading. Our aim is to build up others in Christlikeness as God gives grace, especially affirming the transforming work that God is doing in them as they abide in Christ by faith.

Writing a book on affirmation is no easy task. Crabtree does an excellent job of answering the questions that begin to form in our minds as we think about affirming other people. What about the danger of encouraging someone’s craving for human praise? What about unbelievers who are not being renewed to the image of their Creator? Do we praise them? Does practicing affirmation mean that you are easy on sin? Crabtree thoroughly examines this issue of affirmation and the pitfalls that ensue.

This book has reminded me what a vital place affirmation plays in encouraging others and building them up in the faith. As we grow as a body I believers, I pray that we would bring glory to God by affirming His work in each other.

Around the Blog-o-Sphere

2011-06-20T05:30:00.000-05:00

I thought it would be interesting and helpful from time to time to post some recent links from other blogs and websites. I hope you find some of these useful.

A Lesson on Becoming an Affirmer - True Woman (a ministry of Revive Our Hearts) has a great article with some practical, Biblical tips on intentionally affirming others. And if you enjoy that, Nancy Leigh DeMoss recommends the book Practicing Affirmation by Sam Crabtree as a follow-up.

What Keeps Us from Mission - The Resurgence is beginning a series that ought to be interesting: Ten Things That Keep Us from Mission. Over 10 articles they’ll examine the following reasons: Too busy; Inadequate community support; Uncertainty of beliefs; Negative view of conversion; Loss of free time; Lack of common interests; Fear of condemnation; Fear of corruption; Fear about what to say; Loss of relationship.

The Secret of Fulfillment - Carolyn Mahaney shares the answer she wishes she had given at a conference where a woman asked her, “What do you do for personal fulfillment?”

Motherhood as a Mission Field - Rachel Jankovic at the DesiringGod blog encourages mothers that your labor is not in vain. "If you are a Christian woman who loves the Lord, the gospel is important to you. It is easy to become discouraged, thinking that the work you are doing does not matter much. If you were really doing something for Christ you would be out there, somewhere else, doing it. Even if you have a great perspective on your role in the kingdom, it is easy to lose sight of it in the mismatched socks, in the morning sickness, in the dirty dishes. It is easy to confuse intrigue with value, and begin viewing yourself as the least valuable part of the Church."

God's Unseen Hand

2011-06-16T07:02:00.005-05:00

In our Esther study this past week, we were encouraged to look for God in the book of Esther. Kay Arthur suggested that those who were so inclined could attempt to answer creatively (in song, poetry, or pictures). Diane H. took up this challenge and wrote the beautiful poem below that she shared with the class.

An orphan girl who's left alone.
An uncle cares until she's grown.
Snatched from her home to serve a king
Who picks her out of future queens,
To glorify Your name.

When evil men seek to destroy
Because the righteous steal their joy,
You answer when Your people plead;
Just one life is all You need
To glorify Your name.

Your word is true; You reign supreme,
And no one can complete a scheme.
You always have a remnant near,
Who stand for truth and risk what’s dear
So Your Covenant remains…
And they glorify Your name.

And what could I have offered You?
A shy recluse and worthless, too.
Devoid of knowledge of the truth,
And yet You claimed me in my youth
To glorify Your name.

Where are You when I can't see;
When circumstance rules over me?
You’re working still with silent hand
To orchestrate a master plan
To glorify Your name.

Use Your Words Wisely

2011-06-15T09:29:00.004-05:00

The following is excerpted from The Next Story: Life and Faith after the Digital Explosion by Tim Challies.

While people have always communicated and have probably always wanted to communicate more, what is unique in our time is its sheer dominance. Our ability to communicate is unprecedented in scope, speed, and reach. It is now the dominant paradigm through which we live our lives.

Perhaps, though, amidst all of the chatter we have forgotten that we do not need to communicate all the time. Is it possible that constantly communicating with others is not always good, that it can result in problems even as it offers us amazing benefits?

We know … that our idols are often good things that want to become ultimate things in our lives. Communication with others is just this sort of good thing, a very good thing that can so easily become an ultimate thing – an idol in our hearts.

How can we tell if something has become an idol in our lives? One possible sign of idolatry is when we devote an inordinate amount of time and attention to something, when we feel less than complete without it.

When our words (written or spoken) serve an idol, they try to distract us from what matters most. They encourage us to focus on quantity over quality. Our communication begins to lack substance, and the constant flow of words keeps us from focusing our hearts and minds on the truth. The sheer quantity of words can dilute their power and harden our hearts to the Word of God.

But when words serve God, they draw our hearts to the things that are of greatest importance. Such words are full of meaning and life. They call us out of the shallows and into the depths of knowing God. Our technological advances in communication provide us with opportunities to use words in ways that will honor God, thoughtful words that speak with substance and truth and give life to people made in God’s image.

We live in an age in which words have become a cheap commodity, and much of our communication has become unbearably light, frustratingly anti-intellectual, and devoid of substance. But words still have power. Used wisely, they can draw people and lead them to what matters most. It is still and always the Word that God uses to call His people to Himself.

Pride

2011-06-09T06:39:00.003-05:00

A collection of short quotes on the subject of pride:

Pride is the ruthless, sleepless, unsmiling concentration on the self. ~ C.S. Lewis

Pride is the mask of one's own faults. ~ Anonymous

Pride is a denial of dependence upon God. ~ John Blanchard

The root of pride is saying that we can do without God. ~ James Montgomery Boice

Pride is to character like the attic to the house, the highest part and generally the most empty. ~ Sydney H. Gay

Humility is the ornament of angels and pride the deformity of devils. ~ William Jenkyn

The cure of boasting is to boast in the Lord all the day long. ~ C. H. Spurgeon, from The Complete Gathered Gold

God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves. ~ D. L. Moody

If we are proud of our talents we betray our lack of gratitude to God. ~ John Calvin

The man who clings to his own righteousness is like a man who grasps a millstone to prevent himself from sinking in the flood. ~ C. H. Spurgeon

The devil is content that people should excel in good works, provided he can but make them proud of them. ~ William Law

A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down you can't see something that is above you. ~ C. S. Lewis

Pride thrust proud Nebuchadnezzar out of men's society, proud Saul out of his kingdom, proud Adam out of paradise, proud Haman out of the court and proud Lucifer out of heaven. ~ Thomas Adams

There is no room for God in him who is full of himself. ~ Anonymous

What Will It Matter 100 Years From Now?

2011-05-31T07:00:00.001-05:00

Donald Whitney's book Simplify Your Spiritual Life is composed of 90 2-page chapters, one of which is entitled "Keep a Simple Journal." Here's how it started:

Do you know the first names of any of your great-grandparents? Unless one of your hobbies is genealogy, the answer is probably no. And yet they lived lives as full as ours. They went to school, married, and had children. Most of them worked at their various occupations for decades and played with infants who grew up to become your parents. In all likelihood, your great-grandparents were very much alive less than one hundred years ago. But after all their labors and all the seasons they saw come and go, what awareness is there now that they ever drew a breath? If you, the direct descendant of these eight people, do not even know their names, then it's almost certain that no one else knows them or anything else about them either. They may have lived for eighty years, and not a trace of their lives remains. That's your life in less than one hundred years from today.

What a sobering thought! Don goes on to use this motivation as one of many reasons to keep a journal. It can be an electronic journal (like a blog!), hand-written, or even audio- or video-recorded. You don't have to write in it every day and you don't have to write a long dissertation every time you sit down. Just keep a simple journal to leave some trace of your life.

I have also heard people use this as a motivation for scrapbooking. There are a lot of details we keep in our heads and sometimes those get lost as the years go by. Scrapbooking is a beautiful way to keep those memories alive for future generations. Basically, scrapbooking is just a more colorful form of journaling.

Don sums it up this way:

The simplest way is best. It's the one you're most likely to maintain over a lifetime to build a monument to God's faithfulness. And long after you've made your last entry, it's also the one most likely to introduce your great-grandchildren to your life and faith and to influence them for Christ's sake.

Stuck Like Glue

2011-05-25T08:33:00.003-05:00

Something which is glued to another cannot be taken off, but you must tear it; so it is a sign your heart is glued to the world, that when God would take you off, your heart tears.

~ Jeremiah Burroughs from his excellent book, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

A Faithful Shepherd

2011-05-16T05:51:00.002-05:00

At Lance's farewell service yesterday, Todd Murray presented a song written as his farewell gift to Lance. The chorus is based on Colossians 1:28-29. The lyrics to the song are below.

A Faithful Shepherd

In your strong, convicting preaching
And your clear, consistent teaching
You have been a faithful shepherd to us.
In your public proclamation
And your private consolation
You have been a faithful shepherd to us.

You warned us we could not afford to be naïve
For all our life is driven by the doctrine we believe.
You called us to be discerning,
To keep growing, to keep learning
You have been a faithful shepherd to us.

(Chorus)
And it was Christ you proclaimed to us
Admonishing every man.
And it was Christ you proclaimed to us
Teaching every man with all wisdom.
So that every man could be
Presented in Christ complete.
And for this purpose you labored and strived
By the power God mightily supplied.
For this purpose you toiled, you agonized
So that one day we would stand complete in Christ.

When we fell into temptation
Needing loving confrontation
Still you were a faithful shepherd to us.
In our heartaches and our sighing
In our sickness and our dying
You have been a faithful shepherd to us.

You celebrated all the milestones of our lives -
Sweet conversions, joyful weddings,
And the birth of each new child.
Even when you were rejected
And your own needs were neglected
Still you were a faithful shepherd to us.

(Chorus again)

(c) 2011 by Todd Murray

Book Review: The Bruised Reed

2011-05-12T14:28:00.000-05:00

Richard Sibbes was born in Suffolk in 1577 and started his studies at Cambridge in 1595. He was one of the most influential Puritans in the early seventeenth century and was renowned for his powerful and eloquent preaching. Charles Spurgeon once said of him, "Sibbes never wastes the student's time, he scatters pearls and diamonds with both hands." He wrote many essays and books but he will always be remembered for writing The Bruised Reed. First published in 1630, it has now been reprinted numerous times and has comforted and reassured many a Christian soul. Below is a review of this classic book by our own Debora H.

Like most books written by Puritan writers, this is meaty fare for the truth-hungry appetite of serious Christian readers. Sibbes starts off slowly, in my opinion, and some readers looking for an easier read will be dissuaded if they do not persevere.

Sibbes is not above spiritualizing certain passages, but for the most part, his interpretation of the scriptures is careful and sound. The book is built around a familiar passage, “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth,” (Isaiah 42:1-3).

What encouragement this book is for those of us who are sometimes discouraged by our own sinfulness. How reassuring to meditate on the truths Sibbes expounds in this sensitive, yet powerful, message to us.

I especially appreciated the chapter on “Duties and Discouragements.” And as a student of theodicy, I was greatly interested in his chapter, “Grace Shall Reign,” which points to several passages related to the godly purposes of suffering, which I found extremely encouraging. From a counseling perspective, he repeatedly urged us to treat our suffering, weaker brother with gentleness, as Christ did. But he also treats the reader to his own tenderness as he reminds us that we, too, can be bruised reeds and smoking flax.

In fact, by the end of The Bruised Reed, I felt the excitement of a pep rally as Sibbes, with increasing strength and persuasion, motivates our striving for living more godly lives through the hope we find in Christ, our Lord.

Lessons in Letting Go: One Mom’s Experience (Part 7)

2011-05-08T05:30:00.005-05:00

This is the final part of Wanda’s insights shared in a recent Wise Women segment on how the Lord dealt with her and grew her faith during a time when her and Joe’s only daughter Amy decided to go to China to teach English. Click on these links to read part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, and part 6.

God is still working on me. Even as Amy went back to China in 2005, Joe planned another trip to Burma, Robert went to China over Christmas break for two weeks (I had three family members on the other side of the world in a two week period!), and just as Amy was planning to return home to the states, Robert left for a year of ministry in Hyderabad, India. I have been so blessed to participate in Joe’s, Amy’s and Robert’s overseas ministries.

God did a work in my heart in another way, too, that I must praise Him for. During Amy’s first year in China, everyone wanted to know if we were going to see her. My standard response was, “No, I want her to experience China for this first year by herself and if she goes back a second year, perhaps we can go visit.” My deep heart answer to my closest friends was, “I am scared to death to even think of a trip to China.” I had been dealing with panic attacks, and the idea of being in an airplane for 13 hours was more than I could imagine. Oh, but God is so faithful! He taught me how to deal with those fears and it would take another whole series of blog posts to tell you about that. In April of 2006, Joe and I took a 15-day trip to China that was absolutely amazing. We were able to go to class with Amy and meet her university students (who knew way too much about me and my home from all the pictures and stories Amy shared with them). We were able to sing about God in the classroom and we were able to talk with a young Chinese man about our own marriage and our relationship to God. Later, Dave took this young man, Mark, to church where he bought a Bible and became involved in Bible studies at the university – I trust he will be one of those with us at the throne someday.

If I had to choose one verse that sustained me through these years and continues to do so, it would be Isaiah 26:3-4. In the “Wanda version,” it says:

You will keep in perfect peace, HER whose mind is steadfast, because SHE trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal.

Lessons in Letting Go: One Mom’s Experience (Part 6)

2011-05-07T05:30:00.005-05:00

This is part 6 of Wanda’s insights shared in a recent Wise Women segment on how the Lord dealt with her and grew her faith during a time when her and Joe’s only daughter Amy decided to go to China to teach English. Click on these links to read part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, and part 5.

One of my favorite Psalms that ministered to me during the days that Amy was in China and the time Joe was in Burma was Psalm 34. It helped me to place my focus on God and not my circumstances, my loneliness, or my fears. Psalm 62 also ministered to me.

By the end of February, I had been encouraged by another mission conference at BCLR, and Amy had made the decision to apply for the University Teaching Program in China for the next school year. My prayer was that God would count me worthy of my calling to partnership with Amy (Phil. 1:5; 2 Thes. 1:11; Col. 1:9), and that He would help me to hold tightly to my end of the rope so that one day in glory we would see the results as we gathered around the throne with those from every nation, tribe, people and language (Rev. 7:9).

Amy’s first blog entry as she packed for China was “How Long is a Year?” In June, 2005, I could say how long a year was. It was one year of birthdays; one year of holidays; one year of email, snail mail, phone calls, and instant messaging. My response: “Great is Thy faithfulness, O God, my Father. There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.” To God be the glory.

I had had mostly good days, some weepy days, but overall, it had been a year of growth in the Lord for me. He had taught me so much. He had drawn me so much closer to Himself. He had given me a better view of the desires for His kingdom and His glory and my part in that. And, oh, He had been so faithful! I had learned so much dependence on Him and Him alone. As much as my husband loves me, as much comfort as my sweet neighbor Betty was to me on our morning walks, as much as Thalia (whose daughter Shannon also went overseas) encouraged me with her notes, I had learned that only with God was I able to share my deepest thoughts, feelings, and fears. Others care for Amy and love her, but not with the depth of my mother’s love, and I can only share that with Him who loves her more than I do. As I learned to hold Amy more openly before the Lord, I felt Him drawing me and holding me closer to Himself and loving me as only my heavenly Father can do.

And so ended the first year of Amy’s adventure to China. She did return for a second year. She went to the same city where she had been at the boarding school, but moved across town to teach at a university. Some of you know the rest of the story. Amy was on a team with a family with three children and a single gal and a single guy. That single guy happened to be Dave, a precious, godly man that God brought into Amy’s life and to whom she has been married for almost 4 years now.

The song that Amy chose for her Dad to escort her down the aisle on her wedding day was a song that had a line in it that had been an encouragement to me for the second year she was in China. The song is “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.” There is a line in the song that says, “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do, if with His love He befriend thee.” What marvelous things we had watched the Almighty do these past several years! To God be the glory. I could hardly stand still that day as Amy and Joe walked down the aisle to that music and Dave, who never stopped smiling that day, waited for his bride of God’s own choosing.

Lessons in Letting Go: One Mom’s Experience (Part 5)

2011-05-06T05:30:00.005-05:00

This is part 5 of Wanda’s insights shared in a recent Wise Women segment on how the Lord dealt with her and grew her faith during a time when her and Joe’s only daughter Amy decided to go to China to teach English. Click on these links to read part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4.

One of the hardest days I faced while Amy was in China was February 9, 2005. She had emailed us from Thailand where she was attending the ELIC Annual Conference, and said that she had been thinking a lot about “next year” and wanted us to know there were three openings in the university teaching program at Jingzhou where she had done her summer work. I was not surprised that she was seriously considering a second year in China. However, my emotions got the best of me that day and it was one of the “weepiest” days I had the entire time she was gone. I can look back and laugh now, but it was a hard day. I worked at the church for a while and then decided to go to the mall. I didn’t want to talk to anyone and I didn’t want to be home alone. My car got splattered by some messy concrete water that was spewing from some road construction as I drove to the mall and when I came out of the mall I could not find my car. I thought surely it had been stolen! It took several minutes before I located it – right where I had parked it! I got in the car and cried. I turned my CD player on – probably as loud as it would go, because this was a tendency I had when I was hurting. A MercyMe song came on loud and clear – God’s message to me for the moment.

Another rainy day – I can’t recall having sunshine on my face
And all I feel is pain and all I wanna do is walk out of this place.
But when I am stuck and I can’t move
When I don’t know what I should do
When I wonder if I’ll ever make it through

I gotta keep singing, I gotta keep praising Your Name
You’re the One that’s keeping my heart beating.
I gotta keep singing. I gotta keep praising Your Name
That’s the only way that I find healing.
And can I climb up in Your lap –
I don’t wanna leave. Jesus sing over me.
I don’t want leave. Jesus sing over me.
You’re everything I need. Oh, I gotta keep singing.

Oh, that was just what I needed: a reminder to focus on God. Not my circumstances, not my feelings, but Him and Him alone.

I later learned a verse from Zephaniah 3:17 that perhaps was the idea for this song: “The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing.”

How precious God was to minister to me that day! He showed me that He is the One I have to go to for strength, comfort, and peace. He is everything I need for any situation.

Lessons in Letting Go: One Mom’s Experience (Part 4)

2011-05-05T05:30:00.003-05:00

This is part 4 of Wanda’s insights shared in a recent Wise Women segment on how the Lord dealt with her and grew her faith during a time when her and Joe’s only daughter Amy decided to go to China to teach English. Click on these links to read part 1, part 2, and part 3.

Amy was in California for a week of training before she actually flew to China. We had a lengthy phone conversation on Sunday evening before she was to fly to China on Monday. After that phone call, I confess that I had the biggest cry session you can ever imagine as I began to think of how many miles would soon separate us. (By the way, I never wanted to know the exact number of miles it was from Little Rock to China because as long as I could send emails, mail packages and letters, and talk online and by phone it never felt that far away). The tears that I shed that night were cleansing and comforting, and once again God’s words sustained me and gave me peace and assurance of His love for Amy and for me.

Proverbs 12:25: An anxious heart weighs a man down. I prayed, “Lord I give you my anxious heart.”
Proverbs 14:30: A heart at peace gives life to the body. I asked, “Lord, I ask for Your peace that transcends all understanding.” (Phil. 4:7)
Proverbs 15:13: A happy heart makes the face cheerful. “Lord, I pray to have a happy heart and a cheerful face.”
Proverbs 25:25: Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. Amy was in China for six days before we heard from her. I prayed, “Lord I give my burden, my aching heart to you. I place my faith in You to be the power behind Amy’s trip and the One who is always with her.”

A quote that I read during this time was, “Find joy in this time of new beginnings, for it is truly an incredible moment when we watch our children spread their wings and fly.” Early on in Amy’s adventure, I made a decision. I am NOT going to mope and feel sorry for myself and count the days as they drag by. That would not be trusting and it would not be honoring to God. I was going to commit myself to pursuing what would honor and bring glory to God and continue with my daily activities. Jesus promised in John 10:10 that He had “come to give life and give it abundantly.” I didn’t want to sin by not living the abundant life God had promised with Christ living in me.

Two weeks into Amy’s time in Jingzhou, I wrote, “I am praising God for the peace that He has given me. It is almost scary. I am not weepy, mopey or depressed. I am rejoicing that my daughter is in China. Thank you, God, for the work you have done in my heart.”

Amy participated in the six week summer teaching program in Jingzhou and in August, she moved to Taiyuan, China – a city of 3 million about 6-8 hours west of Beijing. She lived and taught at a Chinese boarding school that had about 3,000 students from kindergarten through high school. She taught English to about 300 third graders.

But God wasn’t finished growing me. My husband Joe was presented with an opportunity to go to Burma. That’s even farther away than China! Yet another opportunity for trusting and obeying on my part. A prayer from a song the choir had sung came to mind: “God help me to trust in You at every turn. Help me to be blind to ME so that I can see what You see and gladly give up my will.” Joe went to Burma that November and Robert and I entertained the 20 family members that showed up for Thanksgiving that year (for a week!).

Lessons in Letting Go: One Mom’s Experience (Part 3)

2011-05-04T05:30:00.003-05:00

This is part 3 of Wanda’s insights shared in a recent Wise Women segment on how the Lord dealt with her and grew her faith during a time when her and Joe’s only daughter Amy decided to go to China to teach English. You can read part 1 here and part 2 here.

In early May, Amy received her summer assignment to Jingzhou, China, where she would be for six weeks. I wrote, “Knowing a specific place makes it more real, the heartache deeper, but the willingness and the faith in You (God) stronger as I feel weaker and more dependent on You to help me through these days. A year is a long time as Amy said the last night she was home, but then she added, “Mom, I have to go.” And with God’s promises, I said, “Go with my blessing.”

At the end of May, after graduation, our youngest child, Robert, left for nine weeks to attend Student Mobilization’s summer program, KALEO, in Colorado. I wrote in my journal,

Years of loving, training, disciplining, and prayer have lead to this day – a day to let go, to turn loose, to strengthen MY faith – as I let Robert go into the world. God help me to let go gracefully; help me to love with long (apron) strings. Help me to continue to encourage and love him as a man and to realize that You love him more than I do, that You are always there for him. God, keep him dependent on You, grow him up this summer into a man of God, ready to face the challenges of the world in a way that will bring honor and glory to Your Name and help him to focus on what is important. Help him to focus on the Master and see himself as the vessel you have chosen to use for Your glory.

By the end of May, Amy was within $500 of raising the funds she needed for her year in China! I was reminded of Philippians 4:19, “My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory.”

Finally, departure day arrived: June 21, 2004. Amy was 23 years old. My feeling that day? Joy and delight, aching and sadness. How do you feel both? Joy and delight knowing God has called her and she is exercising obedience and I am exercising trust and obedience. Aching because she is precious to me as my only daughter. My prayer that day? “God she is yours. Protect her, love her, guide her, bring her home safely all in accordance with Your will. To God be the glory.”

Lessons in Letting Go: One Mom’s Experience (Part 2)

2011-05-03T05:30:00.003-05:00

This is part 2 of Wanda’s insights shared in a recent Wise Women segment on how the Lord dealt with her and grew her faith during a time when her and Joe’s only daughter Amy decided to go to China to teach English. You can read part 1 here.

So now my confidence was given a real boost, but what happened when real life set in and the time was approaching for her to leave? The test of my resolve to remain steadfast in my trust in God was sure to come. Here are some thoughts that I wrote down during the days after the missions conference regarding letting her go:

I do not want to be a hindrance to God’s work in Amy’s life or my own. If I love Amy more than God, I am not pleasing Him. Matthew 10:37-39 tells me that God should be my first love and ultimate priority. Verse 37b says, “Anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” I prayed verse 39b for Amy and myself: “Whoever finds his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Amy had been raised in a church that believed in, taught, and sought participation in world missions. We had sent Amy on every youth mission trip. I could not be a hypocrite now and say to her, “Oh we didn’t mean we wanted you to be a missionary.”

God is in China, too, as well as in Little Rock. I can’t be in both places but He can. He promised in Matthew 28:19-20, “I am with you always.” He can and He will sustain and keep her there and me here in Little Rock. It was always a comfort to me to look into the night sky and know that the same moon that shines here shines in China, too, and the God of creation who hangs the sun, moon and starts in place is surrounding my daughter with His love and grace wherever she is.

Finances: that was a lot of money to raise in a few months for a year in China. At least it looked like a lot to me! But it was a drop in the bucket to God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He gloriously showed us that He was in control in the area of finances, too.

The bottom line on these three thoughts was this: Go to the mission field because God has blessed you with the opportunity to align yourself with His purposes. And these words of comfort came to me:

His hope, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

Well, I began to sink one day about two months after the missions conference. It was two months before Amy’s departure in mid-April. Baseball season was extended because Little Rock Christian kept winning games, and Robert was graduating in May. I was trying to complete a kindergarten-12th grade scrapbook before Robert’s graduation, help Amy with all the China prep (papers, physicals, immunizations, finding long underwear, packing, etc.), and plan a wedding reception for 500 people with tons of food for Shannon’s wedding. The overwhelming flood had hit! God was so faithful and I just praise Him for what He taught me that day. Several times I placed a phone call to a friend to discuss my panicked feelings and seek her advice on getting someone else to be in charge of the reception. She never answered her phone, so I just got in my car and left for Robert’s baseball game. As I was driving, I began singing a Christmas song that I had learned years ago:

Rest, the Lord is near, refuse to fear, enjoy His love.
Trust, His mighty power fills every hour of all your days.
There is no need for needless worry with such a Savior.
You have no cause to ever doubt,
His perfect Word still reassures in any trial.

Rest, the Lord is there, lift up your prayer, for He is strong.
Trust, He’ll bring release and perfect peace will calm your mind.

Then 1 John 4:18 came to mind: “Perfect love casts out fear.” In spite of my reaching out to a friend instead of Christ first, He graciously came to me with His love and gentle reminder that I was to rest in Him. My overwhelmed mind became a mind of peace as God revealed Himself to me as the best friend I would have to walk through this new journey of life with me. An old hymn says it this way:

Can you find a friend so faithful,
Who will all your sorrows share?
Jesus knows your every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Lessons in Letting Go: One Mom’s Experience (Part 1)

2011-05-02T05:30:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, Wanda shared some insights in a Wise Women segment of our Wednesday night Bible study on how the Lord dealt with her and grew her faith during a time when her and Joe’s only daughter Amy decided to go to China to teach English. This week we will post portions of her talk each day in a series of blog posts.

When Amy first approached us with the idea of wanting to go to China to teach English, I suppose fear and apprehension were my first thoughts. However, as I look back over journal entries for those two years Amy was in China, I see how the Lord grew my faith and trust in Him and how He alone was my sole source of comfort and strength. I have heard Amy say, “I think my mom grew a lot more than I did while I was in China.”

I don’t believe “letting go” is a natural tendency for a mother. It is apparently something each mom must learn to do and it is probably different with each child. I know when our oldest son Matthew said he wanted to move out on his own, I said, “YES!” He had been working an evening shift, was coming home at midnight, cooking breakfast, and staying up watching TV for hours. Of course, I was hearing and smelling everything that he was doing. I was glad he was ready to be on his own. With Amy, it was different. She was my shy child. She would make her younger brother Robert go into McDonald’s with her after school so he could place the order and pay. When she was old enough to drive, she would take Robert to the gas station with her so he could go in and pay for the gas (in the days before debit cards). She lived in the dorm at college, but came home every weekend for two years. She was content to be at home with her parents on Friday and Saturday nights. And now she wanted to go to China!!

After having attended two summer sessions of KALEO and a semester of Perspectives on World Missions, Amy decided that God was directing her to apply to ELIC (English Language Institute/China) to teach English in China. Two events occurred that spring helped me to grow in my trust in God’s will for Amy’s life. First, Amy volunteered to help edit a book that a friend was writing on missions (Amy is a graphic artist/designer.). She told him, “My mom will be glad to do the typing, because she types really fast.” Little did I know the impact that typing would have on me as I typed pages regarding being a disciple of Christ and giving our lives in service to Him.

The second event was the BCLR Missions Conference. Our main speaker that year was Conrad Mbewe of Zambia, and his topic was “Partnership in the Gospel” from Philippians 1:5-6. At that conference, I gained a new perspective on the vision for missions and a confidence in my heart that I could willingly give up my rights as Amy’s mom, to allow her to go wherever God desired her to go and to do what God would have her do, knowing that He would never send her anywhere that His grace would not sustain her. I knew there would be days when I wouldn’t feel this confidence. My prayer those days would be that God would keep me from sinning by having a weakening of my faith, but would instead, as is spoken of Abraham in Romans 4:20, “yet he did not waiver through unbelief regarding the promises of God but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.”

My new mission was to have a partnership in the gospel with Amy as she took the Good News to China. Conrad spoke of William Carey and his words to the people in England as he left to go to India. He told them, “I’m going down into the mine; I want you to be faithful holding the rope.” The person in the mine (India or China) is dependent on my support. I become a vital component of the work of missions through prayer, giving, and being faithful to persevere and hold tightly to my end of the rope no matter what is happening at the other end. To me it meant planning months ahead to make sure that Christmas box, that birthday box, that Easter box, those popcorn balls (Yes – I did send popcorn balls to China!), etc. arrived on time. It meant being up early to chat online (with a 13-hour time difference). It meant never, ever getting used to the idea that she was in China lest I become complacent and let go of the rope. As a visual reminder to Amy, I actually sent her a piece of rope in the mail – one end was labeled “Little Rock” and one end was labeled “Taiyuan.”

Recipe: Whole Wheat Bread

2011-04-26T05:30:00.002-05:00

This is the fourth and final bread recipe from Ramona's recent Wise Women segment.

Whole Wheat Bread - Bosch

2/3 cup honey
2/3 cup oil
6 cups water , warm
3 tablespoons yeast
2 tablespoons salt
14-16 cups fresh whole wheat flour
3 tablespoons dough enhancer
You can use 1/2 cup vital wheat gluten instead of dough enhancer.

Combine the warm water, yeast, and 2 cups of fresh whole wheat flour in a large mixing bowl. Allow to sponge for 15 minutes. Add the honey, oil, dough enhancer, salt and 10-14 cups of additional flour until the dough begins to clean the sides of the mixing bowl. Do not allow the dough to get too stiff (too dry). Dough should be smooth and elastic. It is a common mistake for the beginning baker to add too much flour. Mix for about 4-5 minutes.

Form the dough into 5 loaves. Allow to rise in a slightly warmed oven or other warm place until doubled in size (about 30 minutes).

Bake loaves for 25-30 minutes in a 350° oven. Bread is cooked through when it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom, and when the top and sides are golden brown.

Recipe: Pizza Dough

2011-04-25T05:30:00.000-05:00

This is the third bread recipe from Ramona's recent Wise Women segment.

Pizza Dough

1 package active yeast
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 cups flour , all purpose
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in water, let stand for 5 minutes. Add oil and salt. Stir in flour, a cup at a time, to form soft dough. Turn onto floured board; knead until smooth and elastic, about 2-3 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Punch dough down and divide in half. On a floured surface roll to fit pizza pan. Add toppings and bake at 400° for 25-30 minutes. Use a mixer with dough hooks and no kneading is required! (My whole wheat recipe says 450 for 20 minutes. Add 1 1/2 Tbsp. wheat gluten when using ww).

Recipe: Oat Dinner Rolls

2011-04-22T05:30:00.002-05:00

This is the second bread recipe from Ramona's recent Wise Women segment.

Oat Dinner Rolls

2 1/3 cups water , divided
1 cup quick cooking oats
2/3 cup brown sugar , packed
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 (1/4-ounce) packets active yeast
5 1/2 cups flour
In a saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Stir in oats reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 1 minute. Stir in brown sugar, butter, salt and remaining water. Transfer to a mixing bowl let stand until mixture reaches 110-115 degrees. Stir in yeast. Add 3 cups flour beat well. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl turn once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch dough down shape into 24 rolls. Place on greased baking sheets (rolls should not be touching). Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan and cool on wire racks.

Saf yeast: 2 pkgs (1/4 ounce each) of yeast is equal to 5 tsp. of SAF yeast.

Recipe: Ramona's Yeast Rolls

2011-04-21T06:19:00.006-05:00

Ramona B. spoke on making bread in a recent Wise Women segment. Because her family loves any kind of homemade bread, she uses her bread making as a way to encourage her family and make them feel special.

Ramona plans to have a bread-baking day at church (after school is out) to help anyone who wants to learn how to make bread. She will use the Oat Dinner Rolls Recipe (posted tomorrow) to begin learning how to make yeast bread. This is the first bread recipe she taught her girls to make. If you are interested in participating in the bread-baking day, contact Ramona.

Even if you don't want to make bread, Ramona suggested that everyone consider doing something for someone in the next weekto encourage them. (It does not have to be making bread.)

We will be posting Ramona's bread recipes here for the next few days.

Bonnie's Rolls

1 cup hot water
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening
2 eggs
6 cups flour
2 packages yeast
1 cup warm water to dissolve yeast in

Melt sugar and shortening in hot water, add salt. When this is lukewarm, put in a bowl and add eggs and dissolved yeast. Add flour, 3 cups at a time, measuring then sifting. Put in a large bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and set in the refrigerator for at least 45 minutes. When ready to use, put on a floured counter. Press with your hand to about a 1/2-inch thickness. Cut with a biscuit cutter. Take each circle and dip half in butter. Fold in half (fold a little more than half so it will not unfold while rising)and put in a greased pan. Let rise for 30-60 minutes. Bake at 325-350° for 25-30 minutes. Butter the top when you take out of oven. Tupperware's large green bowl is perfect for doubled recipe.

1 package of yeast is equal to 2½ teaspoons.

Treasures of the Heart and Home Event

2011-04-14T05:47:00.001-05:00

Treasures of the Heart & Home is a time of fun seminars presented by fellow BCLR women. Seminar leaders teach homemaking skills or address contemporary issues facing Christian women to enhance each woman’s ability to serve her home, church, and community. This year’s event will also include a brunch fellowship in between sessions. You won’t want to miss this fun and informative event!

Saturday, April 30th from 9:00am to 12:00pm

We’ll have brunch at 9am and then you may choose two of the three sessions listed below to attend. All three sessions will be offered at both 10am & 11am.

Session One ~ Jill Claxton

Life Outside our Comfort Zones

Learning how God teaches us and our response to being in places in which we don’t feel comfortable (overseas, difficult children, letting go of older children, health problems, marriage problems, ministering to difficult people, etc.)

Session Two ~ Jennifer Lawson

That I Might Know Him

The desire to know Christ in a deep and intimate way is the heartbeat of every true believer. Yet, if we are honest with ourselves, this heart beat has an irregular pattern. Too often passivity settles in and we find ourselves neglecting the very things which clearly draw us to Christ. In this study, we will look at the common pitfalls and hindrances that keep us from knowing Christ more intimately and discuss practical ways to avoid those stumbling blocks. We will also explore ways to enhance our quiet times, and by God’s grace, increase our appetite for Christ so that ultimately we might persevere in our quest to know Him more.

Session Three ~ Deborah Howard

Parenting Your Parents

How to care for those growing old who’ve so faithfully cared for you growing up.

Click here to register for the event.

The Three R's: Why Christians Sing

2011-04-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

Christians sing together during corporate worship gatherings. Colossians 3:16-17 helps us understand why. Paul tells us that worshiping God together in song is meant to deepen the relationships we enjoy through the gospel. This happens in three ways (or three R’s):

1. Singing helps us remember God’s Word.

Paul says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly…singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” The “word of Christ” mostly likely means the word about Christ, or the gospel. Songs whose lyrics expound on the person, work, and glory of Christ tend to stay with us long after we’ve forgotten the main points of the sermon.

2. Singing helps us respond to God’s grace.

While no one is exactly sure what “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” refers to, we can at least infer some kind of variety in our singing. No singular musical style captures either the manifold glories of God or the appropriate responses from his people.

We’re also told to sing with “thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Singing is meant to be a whole-hearted activity. Emotionless singing is an oxymoron. God gave us singing to combine objective truth with thankfulness, doctrine with devotion, and intellect with emotion.

3. Singing helps us reflect God’s glory.

Doing “everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,” implies bringing God glory. Worshiping God together in song glorifies God for at least three reasons. First, it expresses the unity Christ died to bring us. Second, because all three persons of the Trinity sing (Zeph. 3:17; Heb. 2:12; Eph. 5:18-19). Finally, it anticipates the song of heaven when we’ll have unlimited time to sing, clearer minds to perceive God’s perfections, and glorified bodies that don’t grow weary.

Worshiping God in song isn’t simply a nice idea or only for musically gifted people. The question is not, “Has God given me a voice?” but “Has God given me a song?”

If you trust in the finished work of Christ, the answer is clear: Yes!

So remember His Word, respond to His grace, and reflect on His glory.

This article is reposted from the DesiringGod blog. You can see the original post here. It was written by Bob Kauflin who is a pastor, songwriter, worship leader, and author of Worship Matters. Bob serves as the Director of Worship Development for Sovereign Grace Ministries and blogs at www.worshipmatters.com. He and his wife, Julie, have 6 children and an ever growing number of grandchildren.

Teaching Girls About Modesty

2011-04-01T05:30:00.000-05:00

Modesty is not something you can buy on a hanger and put on your child. Modesty comes from a heart that is submissive to God and to His commands and purposes, including God’s purpose for covering the body in clothing. Since it is God who covered the nakedness of the body as a result of our sin, we should not be surprised to see our sinful hearts (or our children’s) struggle with His requirements. Help your children see their struggle with sin. Don’t wait for the sin to grow and seize them, leading them into dangerous consequences. You know where the path of sin leads! Help them come to know their sinful selves and to know God’s grace and mercy. Modesty will become her standard as God works in her life.

Click here to see Carol G.'s helpful hints on teaching modesty to girls from her recent Wise Women segment.

Loving and Encouraging One Another (Part 2)

2011-03-29T05:20:00.005-05:00

The following is the second part of an excellent talk that Linda A. gave at a recent "Wise Women" segment on Wednesday nights. You can read Part 1 here, which examines some basic ways we can love and encourage one another.

Now, what about the rest? A sudden phone call that someone needs a babysitter, driven to the doctor, just wants to talk for an indefinite amount of time...........you supply the rest. What do you do? Your initial inclination is to say "yes" to everything! I don't have the perfect answer, because there isn't one. We each have to examine our own lives and the demands made upon us already. If you're a homeschooling mother, you often receive calls like that, because people know you're home and assume you're available. They forget that you're educating your children, and that's a full time job. If it's an emergency, of course, you help a friend out by babysitting or driving her somewhere, or spending time with her. However, you can't make it a regular habit or your own children will suffer. If you're not teaching them, then nobody else is. Ultimately, you're abdicating your responsibility to them.

Whatever our situation in life: single, married, married with small children, married with older kids, empty nesters, or widowed, we are unique. We can't compare ourselves to others, even if they appear to be similarly situated. We all have different levels of stamina, different family relationships, and different demands on our time.... If you are able to involve yourself in various areas of ministry without causing your family to suffer, then that is great. However, please don't judge someone else who appears to be in a similar situation to yourself and doesn't get as involved as you do. Contrarily, please don't beat yourself up by thinking you're somehow inadequate, because you're not doing as much as your friend.

This is my encouragement to you - and to myself! We do need to love each other in word and deed. We need to examine our lives and our different commitments. If we have no time left to help someone else, then that's a problem. However, as long as we are honestly desiring to help each other and endeavoring to meet other's needs without detriment to our own health or families, then we have no need to feel guilty. We are not God. He is! He'll put different people and situations on our hearts at different times, and it should become apparent what He would have us do.

Now, there's another way we can show love to the body and that is by not taking offense if one of our needs is not being met. Our church used to have a reputation for being cold. It was said that we knew the Word but we didn't love one another. Unfortunately, I've heard that a few times recently - mainly by those who no longer attend here. That is so very sad that anyone would feel that way. I've thought about it a lot and sought the Lord about it. Here is what I think.

If we truly deny ourselves and love others more than ourselves, then we would only think the best of others and extend grace to them. For example, you say "hello" to someone and they walk on by. Instead of thinking that they're ignoring you, give them grace and assume that they didn't see you or were preoccupied. Perhaps you've been in hospital and very few people from the church came to visit, or you've recently lost a loved one and you didn't receive many condolence cards or - you supply the need. You continually read "thank-you's" in the bulletin for all the cards, visits, meals, etc. accorded to other people who have been ill, lost a loved one, etc. You begin to think that you're not considered as important as they are. This is your opportunity to extend grace and love. Do you remember to send a card to everyone who has been ill or has lost a loved one? Do you make time to visit everyone who is in hospital? When you see people at church, do you remember every single person who has recently lost a loved one? If you're like me, then the answer is "no."

It's unfair to put expectations on others. Our hope is in the Lord - not in each other. The sad truth is that we will always let each other down. Our responsibility is to do what we know we should be doing - not police everybody else! It's kind of like what they say about a marriage relationship - the husband and wife each giving 100%. We should do our best to give our 100% in our relationship with Christ, whether other believers are doing it or not. We shouldn't keep score!

We should also remember that when we do what is right, we're not doing anything extra. We shouldn't expect a reward. Everything should point back to God (Matt. 5:16 "Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven." ) We shouldn't expect recognition or thanks. (Matt. 6:1 -4 "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. … but when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.")

I have a funny anecdote about that. When Miss Billie Kirkpatrick was still alive, a few of us would take turns going over to visit and clean her house a wee bit. She had over thirteen cats at one point, so it was quite a monumental job trying to keep her house sanitary! :) Anyway, one of my friends, Sandy, was faithful to go over every week and clean Billie's house as thoroughly as she could. I would visit too, but my visits were much more leisurely - a quick flick of a duster here and there - and then I'd sit down to pet the cats and chat with Miss Billie. Billie would get our names mixed-up and would always call Sandy "Linda." While Sandy was diligently scrubbing the base boards and mopping the floor, she'd hear Miss Billie on the phone saying, "Oh yes, Linda is over here visiting and cleaning my house." Poor Sandy! She did all the work and I got all the credit! It was a salutary lesson that our good deeds have to be to the glory of God! Fortunately, Sandy had the right attitude.

One last thing: when someone who is experiencing a painful situation comes to you, please, please, please, DO NOT say "I know how you feel." Erase that from your vocabulary! It doesn't help at all and is only turning the conversation back onto you. It's not about you. It's about this other person who is in pain. Even if you have experienced something very similar, your reaction may have been totally different. We need to remember that God has made us all unique. Someone who is in pain needs to be allowed to express her own emotions. There's a tendency to say that someone is "handling something well" if they don't actually articulate the pain they're experiencing but instead speak in elevated terms of it all being God's will. Of course, that is the bottom line. It is God's will. We know that. However, we need to allow someone to speak about the pain they feel without feeling that we're judging them for a lack of faith and trust in God. If you've been in this church for any time at all, of course you've been taught that nothing happens outside of God's control. However, some people have to walk very dark paths. They need to know that we understand the depths of their despair, hurt for them, and are earnestly praying for them. Later on, if they begin to indulge in self pity, then we can gently speak to them of God's sovereignty.

To summarize, we are commanded to love and serve one another. If we have no desire to do that, then we should be concerned. However, we need to examine our own situations and assess exactly what we are capable of doing. We must not and should not compare ourselves to each other - whether favorably or unfavorably. We also must remember that we are supposed to crucify our own flesh - not our loved ones'!

It's quite easy to run off and minister to someone else, leaving our husband, children, or other family members to fend for themselves. I remember years ago, a lady speaking about her mother. Her mother wasn't a Christian but loved to minister to others. She was very well respected and renowned in her small town for being the one to bring meals when someone had just had a baby, or was sick, or had experienced the loss of a loved one. However, while she was taking delicious meals to others, do you know what her husband and children were eating? Sandwiches! We have to have balance. God has given each of us our own set of responsibilities. They have to take priority.

As I said, I don't have the answers. There are some things we can definitely do and should do them without excusing ourselves. There are other things that we may be able to do. I think God puts certain people on our hearts. If we're honest with ourselves, we know who they are. God will arrange our circumstances to enable us to minister to them.

What an honor and privilege that a Holy God would speak to our hearts and use us for His glory! In Him be all glory and honor forever and ever, amen!

If you would like to download a PDF version of this entire talk, you can find it here.

Loving and Encouraging One Another (Part 1)

2011-03-28T05:20:00.001-05:00

The following is an excellent talk that Linda A. gave at a recent "Wise Women" segment on Wednesday nights. Since it is quite long, we will post this in 2 parts.

When I first read the e-mail to the elders' and deacons' wives asking us to choose a topic on which to speak at the Ladies' Bible Study on Wednesday nights, my first reaction was "I don't think so!" I know there are many gifted ladies in our church, and I felt that I didn't have anything of "import to impart", as they say! However, there have been various ideas - notions - observations – questions - hovering on the periphery of my thoughts for a while now. I felt as though the Lord was gathering that whole amorphous mass into an articulate whole that I can share with you. I may provoke more questions than answers, but we can help each other, can't we?

I asked if I could speak on encouragement, but a more accurate title would be "Serving and loving one another, prioritizing our time, and not feeling guilty when we can't meet every need."

I want to say at the outset that there is nothing in us that wants to do good - it all comes from the Lord. Any desire to read the Bible, to pray, to be unselfish, generous, kind - none of these things is within us. It's all God. Even the good that unbelievers do is because of common grace. I also want to say that when you are pointing a finger at others, you are pointing three fingers back at yourself. I am speaking to myself even more than I am speaking to you!

Encouragement - we all need it. It can give us strength to continue a difficult task. It can spur us on to new endeavors. It can transform a gloomy, grudging attitude into one of thankfulness. In Hebrews 10: 24-25, it says "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." In 1 John 3:14, it says "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death." In 1 John 3:18, it says, "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."

There are many, many other verses instructing us to love and serve one another, but you get the point: if we have the honor of calling ourselves by the name Christian, then we should subdue this old flesh, and seek others' good and not our own.

The problem is that there are so many needs, aren't there? On any given Sunday, you can read in the church bulletin that there is a need for nursery workers, Sunday school teachers, AWANA leaders, youth workers, IFO friendship partners, STEP mentors, and volunteers to answer the phone in the church office. That's only the church itself. Individuals need someone to watch their children, drive them to doctor appointments, cook meals, clean house, call them regularly and devote time to listening to their concerns. The list goes on and on. Now, what do you do? You want to serve. After all, we are God's hands and feet on this earth, aren't we?

However, it's pretty obvious that there is no way one person can be involved in so many areas. So, what is a Christian woman to do?

There is one thing every single one of us can do and you know exactly what that is: PRAY. Pray specifically. Use the church prayer list. It's updated every week, so you can pray intelligently.

We can let others know we're praying for them and ask how the current situation is going. I will tell you that that is an enormous encouragement when you are going through a trial. I remember when Kenny had leukemia back in 1994. He had to go through chemo treatments and be hospitalized for almost a week, every month for over a year. His blood counts would plummet, making him susceptible to infection. I had a friend who was not only faithful to pray but also kept up with exactly where he was in his chemo cycle. She would say things like, "He had chemo last week didn't he, so how is he feeling right now?" I cannot tell you how encouraging that was to me. It really showed she cared.

So, we should not only pray for each other, but we should pray intelligently.

We can send cards of encouragement. (That kind of goes along with letting someone know you're praying for them.) Referring back to the leukemia, Kenny and I received tons of encouraging cards initially. However, there were a couple of ladies who would continue to send "praying for you" cards for several years. When the chemo treatments stopped, there was a very high chance of his losing his remission. Their cards would usually arrive when I was feeling discouraged. It was a precious reminder of our Lord's care for us.

We can call to encourage someone and let her know that we are praying and care about her situation. I like to make phone calls when I'm walking my dog. At home, I really don't have much time to spend on the phone. I think that goes for most of us.

Most of us can make extra meals to take to someone. Even if we're living on a small income, we could supply bread to go with someone else's meal or a small dessert. We have to cook anyway, so why not just make extra? Now, I say that as though I find it very easy. I will tell you I don't! Not because I don't want to make a meal for someone else but because I'm always worried that they won't like it. I have a standard casserole type dish that I take. Since I don't eat meat, I don't have a clue what it tastes like, but my family likes it. If I have to take a second meal, I panic!!! (Just kidding! I take taco soup.) Bottom line: making a meal for someone else should not be a huge sacrifice.

We can look for ways to serve while we are at church. There is always a need for nursery workers. In an ideal situation, no mothers of babies and young children should ever have to serve in the nursery or pre-school. When you have several children, you can spend a lot of time back in the nursery and hardly ever receive spiritual food.

Tomorrow we will look at other ways we can serve and examine our motivation for serving and our attitudes about serving and being served.

The Secret of a Happy Mother (Part 4)

2011-03-24T05:30:00.004-05:00

This is the fourth post in a 4-part series. Click here to read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

Looking one last time at 1 Tim. 2:15:

But women will be saved through childbearing – if they continue in faith, love, and holiness.

Holiness means to be set apart for God’s use. This is the job of a mother: to be used by God. Mothers and fathers get to be the ones to point their children to God!

Deuteronomy tells parents to:

Teach your children about God as you teach them about God’s creation
Teach them all the time – whenever you are with them
Teach them to obey
Teach them about sin and salvation (God will do the saving, but you get to be the evangelist! If you try to save your child – you will not be a happy mother – because you can’t do it.)

Do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

God made children with the need to have instruction and boundaries. God is the law-giver – we needed instructions. Mothers, if you fail to do your job of instructing your children, they will be frustrated, and it will be your fault. When giving instruction, tell your child specifically what you want them to do and how to do it. Then let them practice obeying. This takes time but is so helpful.

If you don’t obey Ephesians 6:4, then Proverbs 29:15 awaits …

A child left to himself disgraces his mother.

This is not the way to be a happy mother. This is the way to be the mother we so easily can find – the angry, self-focused mother we see in the world - the frustrated mother who doesn’t know God and of His plan for her sanctification through raising children. The real difference between the two mothers is their focus. The happy mother is God-focused, knowing God, and that his plans for her sanctification are for her good. The unhappy mother is self-focused and concerned with her circumstances only.

God is so good to have given us the body of Christ – our church body – to help us. Our church is full of ladies who have either gone before you in this task of mothering, will walk through it with you, or will begin after you are past it, and you will find yourself being the ‘older lady’ who knows the secret! Listen to the older ladies who have gone before you and have proven God’s word faithful and true. Follow their examples of continuing in faith, love, and holiness, and you too will be a happy mother of children.

Click here to download a PDF version of all 4 parts in this series.

The Secret of a Happy Mother (Part 3)

2011-03-23T05:30:00.002-05:00

This is the third post in a 4-part series. Click here to read Part 1 and Part 2.

Looking again at 1 Timothy 2:15:

But women will be saved through childbearing – if they continue in faith, love, and holiness.

A mother’s love will grow as she matures in her faith. The classic verse on love is 1 Cor. 13:4-7.

Love is patient - 777 thousand diapers later
Love is kind - when they constantly ask, “Why, Mommy?”
Love does not envy – other people’s “perfect children”
Love does not boast and is not proud – in your child’s accomplishments
Love is not rude – when having to use the Mommy Voice
Love is not self-seeking
Love is not easily angered – when sinned against
Love keeps not record of wrongs, does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

When a mother focuses on loving her husband and children like this love in 1 Cor. 13:4-7, she will be a happy mother as she sees God working this love in her according to His plan.

There are many things that creep into a woman’s life and, if allowed to grow, can take over and become regretful obstacles to her pursuit of love. They really are Enemies of Love: busyness, laziness, disorganization, obsessiveness, and wrong thinking.

These enemies need to be replaced by Friends of Love: routines, organization, realistic expectations, humor (sometimes it’s funny to run out of diapers – but not all the time), rest, and margin (leave time for the unexpected to happen).

Enemies of love become slave drivers, making it hard for mothers to respond in love. Friends of love serve women in their quest to be happy mothers.

Tomorrow we will look at a mother's holiness.

The Secret of a Happy Mother (Part 2)

2011-03-22T05:30:00.003-05:00

This is the second part in a 4-part series. You can read Part 1 here.

First we will look at a mother’s faith.

It takes faith to believe God’s promises – especially when things aren’t going as you thought or wanted or had hoped.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear God and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7)

A mother needs to trust that what God brings into her life is good for her and part of His plan to sanctify her. Some days of motherhood are such joy and blessing: days of celebration or the “perfect routine” day. Other days are upsetting and challenging: days full of discipline, crying, rebellion, or disappointments. Our responses to these days become the opportunity God has to show us our sin. Sins of pride and boasting, sins of anger, despair, or envy….all manner of sin will surface in a mother. But a mother of faith, a God-focused mother, will remember to rejoice in this – we can turn and repent and find forgiveness from God again and again. And in time, we can find victory over various sinful habits.

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)

The humility of a dependent, trusting, and unpretentious child is what the end result of our sanctification looks like. As a mother holds and does everything for her newborn baby, this helpless and trusting baby is the picture of how we must trust God.

It takes faith to see past where you are now. There are seasons in life, and seasons in raising children. Some seasons seem to last forever, like the pregnant season, the diaper season, or the car seat and runny nose season. But like all things, they do fade into new seasons. Wait on the Lord as you are in each season, trust that He is perfectly working out all things for your good. Practice being content with where God has you in life, and be thankful for the work He is doing in you during each season.

Tomorrow we will look at a mother's love.

The Secret of a Happy Mother (Part 1)

2011-03-21T05:30:00.003-05:00

This week, we are reprinting a devotion that Carol G. gave at a recent baby shower. Since it is quite long, we are dividing it into 4 parts.

He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children.
(Psalm 113:9)

Have you noticed how rare it is to find a truly happy mother? Almost anywhere, such as in Wal-Mart, you can find frustrated mothers, fearful mothers, fed-up mothers, hurried mothers, stressed-out mothers, or pre-occupied, prideful, impatient, harsh, jealous, arguing, angry, self-focused mothers. We can all act like this at times, but to be characterized as a happy mother is what every mother wants.

So, what makes for a happy mother of children? For surely we all want to be happy mothers. Is there a secret to being a happy mother? A double-latte from Starbucks? The perfect paper towel? The perfect house? Mr. Clean for the perfect house? The perfect baby? A better diaper? The perfect husband? Maybe Dr. Phil can help? What about the Nanny? Maybe she has all the answers? The world will try to sell you a million things that supposedly will make you a happy mother.

Notice from Psalm 113:9 that it is God who settles or establishes the happy mother of children. It is God Himself who makes the mother happy. A mother who knows God and knows God’s ways (or purposes or plans) will be able to be a happy mother, regardless of her circumstances.

There is a strange verse in Scripture that actually tells us what God’s plan is for women who become mothers.

But women will be saved through childbearing – if they continue in faith, love, and holiness. (1 Timothy 2:15)

This verse sounds strange because it uses the word “saved.” “Saved” here doesn’t mean “actual salvation,” but it means “continuing salvation” or sanctification. We know that sanctification is the process of becoming more like Christ. So this verse says that motherhood is an opportunity for spiritual growth. Children become tools in God’s hand to sanctify mothers.

So how does understanding this strange verse and God’s plan help a woman to be a happy mother? It should serve as a warning for her to be prepared to struggle with sin - her own sin. Now, this might not sound right to you: that the way to make a mother happy is to tell her to expect a struggle with sin. But the rest of the verse tells how the mother can overcome the sin struggle and be sanctified. It says for her to continue in faith, love, and holiness.

Tomorrow we will look at the first of these: faith.

25 Ways to Pursue Joy in Christ

2011-03-18T05:00:00.001-05:00

God promises his children joy, and many times he fills us with it without our asking. But at other times, especially when we go through trials, we must fight for it. Much of the battle lies in fighting to believe God’s word.

For some the battle for joy is much harder than others. Some must deal with their own tendencies to being downcast. Depression and hard, long, sad afflictions can make Jesus’ joy seem beyond reach. Yet God’s word says it’s his intent to give us his joy both in this life and especially in the next. So here are some ways to pursue joy in Christ:

Praise God for the cross: for his mercy and grace in saving you.

Thank him for all his spiritual benefits: forgiveness, adoption, the Word, spiritual gifts, the church.

Ask Jesus to fill you with his own joy (John 15:11).

Thank him for his steadfast love that never ceases.

Thank God for your temporal blessings: your spouse, kids, health, sight, food, strength, home, computer and coffee.

Praise God for his attributes: his greatness, sovereignty, goodness, love, wisdom and power.

Praise Jesus for being a compassionate high priest who intercedes for you.

Thank him for all the specific good he is producing in you through trials: patience, perseverance, and faith.

Thank God for his past faithfulness.

Give to the kingdom.

Give to the poor.

Serve others (Philippians 1:25).

Don’t dwell on whether you are joyful or not. Try to forget yourself.

Thank the Lord that he is making you like Christ.

Seek God’s presence in prayer (Psalm 16.11; Psalm 43.4).

Read the Word – it produces joy (Psalm 119.111; Jeremiah 15:16).

Thank God that he will never turn away from doing good to you (Jeremiah 32:40).

Ask others to pray for God to fill you with joy.

Ask the Holy Spirit to produce the fruit of joy in you.

Confess your sins to God and ask him to restore the joy of your salvation (Psalm 51:12).

Memorize God’s promises to give you joy and ask him to fulfill them (John 16:24; Romans 14:17; 15:13; Psalm 4:7; 30:5; 68:3; 97:11; 126:6).

Consider others who have it much worse than you.

Pray for others who are suffering.

Contemplate the joys of heaven and the world to come.

Read John Piper’s book, When I Don’t Desire God: How to Fight for Joy

Written by Mark Altrogge, reposted from The Blazing Center blog (HT: Challies).

A Parable of Fishless Fishermen

2011-03-11T05:00:00.001-06:00

This "Parable of Fishless Fishermen" by John M. Drescher was used in a sermon illustration during our recent missions conference. If you were unable to attend, you can listen to the sermon here.

Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen. And lo, there were many fish in the waters all around. In fact, the whole area was surrounded by streams and lakes filled with fish. And the fish were hungry.

Week after week, month after month, and year after year these who called themselves fishermen met in meetings and talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish, and how they might go about fishing. Year after year they carefully defined what fishing means, defended fishing as an occupation, and declared that fishing is always to be a primary task of fishermen.

Continually they searched for new and better methods of fishing and for new and better definitions of fishing. Further, they said, “The fishing industry exists by fishing as fire exists by burning.” They loved slogans such as “Fishing is the task of every fisherman,” and “Every fisherman is a fisher,” and “A fisherman’s outpost for every fisherman’s club.” They sponsored special meetings called “Fishermen’s Campaigns” and “The Month for Fishermen to Fish.” They sponsored costly nationwide and worldwide congresses to discuss fishing, to promote fishing, and hear about all the ways of fishing, such as the new fishing equipment, fish calls, and whether any new bait was discovered.

These fishermen built large, beautiful buildings called “Fishing Headquarters.” The plea was that everyone should be a fisherman and every fisherman should fish. One thing they didn’t do, however—they didn’t fish.

In addition to meeting regularly, they organized a board to send out fishermen to other places where there were many fish. All the fishermen seemed to agree that what was needed was a board which could challenge fishermen to be faithful in fishing. The board was formed by those who had the great vision and courage to speak about fishing, to define fishing, and to promote the idea of fishing in faraway streams and lakes where many other fish of different colors lived.

Also, the board hired staffs and appointed committees and held many meetings to define fishing, to defend fishing, and to decide what new streams should be thought about. But the staff and committee members did not fish. Large, elaborate, and expensive training centers were built whose original and primary purpose was to teach fishermen how to fish. Over the years, courses were offered on the needs of fish, the nature of fish, where to find fish, the psychological reactions of fish, and how to approach and feed fish. Those who taught had doctorates in fishology. But the teachers did not fish. They only taught fishing. Year after year, after tedious training, many were graduated and were given fishing licenses. They were sent to do full-time fishing, some to distant waters that were filled with fish.

Some spent much study and travel to learn the history of fishing and to see faraway places where the founding fathers did great fishing in the centuries past. They lauded the faithful fishermen of years before who handed down the idea of fishing.

Further, the fishermen built large printing houses to publish fishing guides. Presses were kept busy day and night to produce materials solely devoted to fishing methods, equipment, and programs to arrange and to encourage meetings to talk about fishing. A speakers’ bureau was also provided to schedule special speakers on the subject of fishing.

Many who felt the call to be fishermen responded. They were commissioned and sent to fish. But like fishermen back home, they never fished. Like the fishermen back home, they engaged in all kinds of other occupations. They built power plants to pump water for fish, and tractors to plow new waterways. They made all kinds of equipment to travel here and there to look at fish hatcheries. Some also said they wanted to be part of the fishing party, but they felt called to furnish fishing equipment. Other felt their job was to relate to the fish in a good way so the fish would know the difference between good and bad fishermen. Others felt that simply letting the fish know they were nice, land-loving neighbors and how loving and kind they were was enough.

After one stirring meeting on “The Necessity for Fishing,” one young fellow left the meeting and went fishing. The next day he reported he had caught two outstanding fish. He was honored for his excellent catch and scheduled to visit all the big meetings possible to tell how he did it. So he quit his fishing in order to have time to tell about the experience to the other fishermen. He was also placed on the Fishermen’s General Board as a person having considerable experience.

Now it’s true that many of the fishermen sacrificed and put up with all kinds of difficulties. Some lived near the water and bore the smell of dead fish every day. They received the ridicule of some who made fun of their fishermen’s clubs and the fact that they claimed to be fishermen yet never fished. They wondered about those who felt it was of little use to attend the weekly meetings to talk about fishing. After all, were they not following the Master who said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men?”

Imagine how hurt some were when one day a person suggested that those who didn’t catch fish were really not fishermen, no matter how much they claimed to be. Yet it did sound correct. Is a person a fisherman if year after year he never catches a fish? Is one following if he isn’t fishing?

This article is from the God Squad. www.godsquad.com © 2001 Campus Crusade for Christ International. Permission granted to copy for personal or ministry use provided this credit line is included and content remains unchanged. gswebmaster@uscm.org

What are you doing to catch fish?

Using Our Homes for Hospitality

2011-03-08T08:00:00.000-06:00

Below is the outline from Gail H.'s recent Wise Women segment on "Using Our Homes for Hospitality"

Reflect on the Biblical definition of hospitality.
- Entertains strangers
- Fond of guests
- Hospitable/friendly

Remind yourself that all are to be involved in showing hospitality.
- Laymen
  Romans 12:13 “contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”
  
  I Peter 4:8-9 “Above all keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint.”
- Leaders
  I Timothy 3:2 “An overseer, then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.”
  
  Titus 1:8 “but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self
  controlled.”

Regard former saints who have modeled hospitality.
- Old Testament examples
  1. Abraham (Genesis 18:1-8)
  2. Lot (Genesis 19:1-3)
  3. The Proverbs 31 Woman (Proverbs 31:23)
- New Testament examples
  1. Mary & Martha (Luke 10:40-41; John 12:1-3)
  2. Zaccheaus (Luke 19:1-10)
  3. Lydia (Acts 16: 14-15; 40)

Reject common excuses that preempt hospitality.
- “My home/apartment is too small.”
- “That’s not my gift. Someone else can do it.”
- “I am single.”
- “I don’t have much money or fine dishes.”
- “Everything is not in perfect order.”
- “Everything is in perfect order and they’ll mess it up.”
- “I’m afraid.”

Resolve to be hospitable.
- Intentionally plan strategic hospitality. (Seek your husband’s direction.)
- Make a simple meal and decorate a simple but pretty table.
- Be ready and willing to offer hospitality unexpectedly.
- Look for ways to make it a time of true Kononia instead of a social event.

Rejoice in the reward of extending hospitality.
- Realize personal pleasure in loving others. (Proverbs 31:18a)
- Recognize your service in reaching the lost. (John 13:35)
- Return glory to God for the commendation received. (Proverbs 31:23;29-30)

8 Purposes for Trials

2011-03-03T16:47:00.005-06:00

From John MacArthur's sermon "The Purpose of Trials":

1)Trials reveal to you and me the strength or lack of faith...so that we can move along the path to greater strength. They reveal what is in our hearts...that our faith is weak and we need to trust God more.

2) Trials come to humble us.

3) They wean us from wordly things. During a trial we see the utter inability for *things* to solve any problem or even provide any real resource or comfort.

4) The trials call us to an eternal hope...heaven becomes sweeter than ever.

5) They reveal what we truly love. Was there anything more dear to Abraham than Isaac? He was willing to give up what he loved.

6) Trials teach us to value the blessing of God. In the midst of a trial, we obey and are blessed. Psalm 63:3 tells us that God's lovingkindess is the best thing there is. We truly learn to believe this when going through a trial or testing.

7) Suffering helps us to help others in their suffering.

8) Trials develop enduring strength for greater usefulness. The worth of a soldier is never known in times of peace. It is in times of war that we see what is inside a man. The more you are strengthened, the more useful to God's kingdom you become.

To Your Name Alone

2011-02-06T15:57:00.003-06:00

God is adequate...we are not. It is only by His grace that we can do His will. So may all the glory be unto His Name forever and ever!
Not to us, but to Your name alone
Be all the glory, the glory, forever
For Your faithfulness and steadfast love
Receive the glory, the glory belongs to You

All that we’ve accomplished, You have done for us
And any fruit we harvest is a gift from Your hand
We are only jars of clay that hold a priceless treasure
And we exist to bring You pleasure, O God

Not to us, but to Your name alone
Be all the glory, the glory, forever
For Your faithfulness and steadfast love
Receive the glory, the glory belongs to You

Only by Your mercy can we come to You
Though we deserved Your judgment You have called us by name
So we glory in the cross of Christ that made us Yours forever
That joined our lives together to sing

Not to us, but to Your name alone
Be all the glory, the glory, forever
For Your faithfulness and steadfast love
Receive the glory, the glory belongs to You

~Bob Kauflin

Helping Picky Eaters to Learn to Eat Well (Without Fighting)

2011-02-04T08:00:00.006-06:00

Below are some helpful tips on helping picky eaters learn to eat well, presented by Diane in a recent Wise Women segment. Much of this material was obtained from her daughter, Marcie.

Teaching kids to eat well takes planning. It’s an effort on everyone’s part.

Serve very, very small portions of their sized bites of each item (like 2 bites for a two year old or 3 bites for a 3-4 year old.) That way they accomplish something and attain a definite goal.

Do not allow your child to get down until they eat it. Discipline them if time elapses and they refuse to take a bite – they must make an effort to start. Let some time go by, give one warning, and then administer discipline.

Do this every single meal; every snack; even if it’s ice cream!

Your children should always be permitted to have more when all of the food on their plate is gone. After a second helping of one food, they have to choose another item (in other words, they are not permitted to fill up on rolls.)

Have set times for eating (snacks included). Have a meal of some sort every 3 hours or so… 7 am breakfast; 10 am snack; 12 noon lunch; 3 pm snack; 6 pm dinner.

Usually when they graze (ask for food in between meals), it’s because they’re bored. If you offer healthy food they don’t want it.

For younger kids especially (9 – 18 months): To get them to like a specific food, serve it daily for awhile. For older kids (3 or 4 years old): When you serve a lot of vegetables, they will develop a taste for vegetables in general.

Dressings are OK, such as ranch dressing for dipping vegetables; but the rule is they don’t get more when they eat it up (when they lick the dressing off the carrot stick).

The following is from The Mayo Clinic:

Respect your child's appetite — or lack of one
Young children tend to eat only when they're hungry. If your child isn't hungry, don't force a meal or snack. Likewise, don't bribe or force your child to clean his or her plate. This may only ignite — or reinforce — a power struggle over food.

Stick to the routine
Serve meals and snacks at about the same times every day. Nix juice, milk and snacks for at least one hour before meals. If your child comes to the table hungry, he or she may be more motivated to eat.

Be patient with new foods
Young children often touch or smell new foods, and may even put tiny bits in their mouths and then take them back out again. Your child may need repeated exposure to a new food before he or she takes the first bite. Encourage your child by talking about a food's color, shape, aroma and texture — not whether it tastes good.

Make it fun
Serve broccoli and other veggies with a favorite dip or sauce. Cut foods into various shapes with cookie cutters. Offer breakfast foods for dinner.

Recruit your child's help
At the grocery store, ask your child to help you select fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods. Don't buy anything that you don't want your child to eat. At home, encourage your child to help you rinse veggies, stir batter or set the table.

Set a good example
If you eat a variety of healthy foods, your child is more likely to follow suit.

Be sneaky
Add chopped broccoli or green peppers to spaghetti sauce, top cereal with fruit slices, or mix grated zucchini and carrots into casseroles and soups.

Minimize distractions
Turn off the television during meals, and don't allow books or toys at the table.

Don't offer dessert as a reward
Withholding dessert sends the message that dessert is the best food, which may only increase your child's desire for sweets. You might select one or two nights a week as dessert nights, and skip dessert the rest of the week — or redefine dessert as fruit, yogurt or other healthy choices.

Don't be a short order cook
Preparing a separate meal for your child after he or she rejects the original meal may encourage your child's picky eating. Keep serving your child healthy choices until they become familiar and preferred.

Knowing Your Husband

2011-01-28T08:00:00.001-06:00

Many of you attended Shelia's recent bridal shower where Beth presented her with a notebook of worksheets and encouraging ideas to help her love her husband better. Below are links to all of those pages in case you want to make a notebook of your own.

“ . . . Encouraging the young women to love their husbands.”
(Titus 2:4)

Simply Service Area of Interest Survey

2011-01-21T16:57:00.000-06:00

And let our people learn to engage in good deeds and meet pressing needs, so that they may not be unfruitful.
(Titus 3:14)

An outworking of our Christian faith is to use our abilities and gifts in service for others. The Simply Service ministry consists of four areas where groups of women with similar gifts and skills work together to respond to needs in the body. If you would like to use your gifts to serve the body of BCLR, please take a moment to fill out the Simply Service Area of Interest Form.