Simple, yet Saturated

This morning, in our family devotions, we memorized 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, which was in Pastor's sermon on Sunday. "Test everything. Hold on to what is good. Avoid every kind of evil." Those imperative commands seem rather simple when stated...straight forward- to the point. But, even though it is a simple passage to memorize- it is saturated with truth! We ran out of time discussing the implications behind each of these commands (and my husband even started pulling out the Greek!) One of the parts in our discussion that intrigued me the most was when my husband mentioned what the Greek New Testament said about verse 22. In the Greek it reads, "From the appearance of every kind of evil avoid/abstain." Did you catch that?! Avoid even the APPEARANCE of evil...Paul is warning us to not even play with fire- don't even go near it! It reminded me of the verse, Ephesians 5:3, "But among you there must not be even a HINT of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people." Not even a HINT! Through Paul, God is warning us to steer clear of anything that is not good...anything that doesn't fall under the Philippians 4:8 list- true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy. Good passage to chew and digest, huh?! Lord, we pray- help us to test everything. Hold on to what is good. And, to avoid every kind and every appearance of evil. In the powerful Name of Jesus, Amen.

Humbled by Steadfast Love

Have you ever been humbled? I'm not necessarily talking about the kind of humility that comes after a spell of selfish pride. But, the kind of humility that is a result of grasping how much God loves you. Recently, my family and I went back to my hometown of 20 years to visit relatives and dear friends at my home church. We had a fabulous time of food, fellowship, food, fun, food, and (did I mention there was food?). It was wonderful to see folks come out to celebrate my new marriage and show their overwhelming support. That was just it...it was overwhelming...in such an amazing, God-kind of way. There were people from my home church, who were well into their nineties that made a point to come and see my family and I. I grew up in this church for 20 years, from the nursery to the college and career class. And every passing year of my childhood, I would smile and hug the adults of my church...yet, I oftentimes (to my disadvantage) failed to truly get to know them...to hear their stories...to learn from their wisdom. During this last trip, however, I had the chance to talk with two amazing women from my church...two women that I saw every single Sunday since I was 3 years old...two women that faithfully served in our church...two women who have prayed for me since I was a little girl...two women that appeared to be "behind the scenes" in my life, but were actually apart of the "great cloud of witnesses" in my personal walk with the Lord. God humbled me as I heard some of their life stories for the very first time- their stories of faith, their pursuit of God, their perseverance through hardship, and their genuine love for Jesus. To think that all of those years had past and I had never took the time to really KNOW them. And, to think that these women had been faithfully praying for me, caring for me, and loving me. I was truly humbled by God's amazing grace...channeled through these precious saints and daughters of the King.
Lord, may I have such an impact on the next generation...continue to humble me with Your love.

Stayed Upon Jehovah...

This morning, I was studying about true peace...that comes from the Holy Spirit. Beth Moore, the writer of a book I am going through right now, wrote the lyrics to an old hymn. A hymn that I sang countless times growing up in my home church. I have the melodies, notes, and rhythms down to a tee, but the words...well, that is a different story. I never really took the time to meditate on those words penned by Frances R. Havergal in 1874. Wow! What a picture of true peace! Listen to these words:

Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace
Over all victorious in its bright increase
Perfect, yet if floweth fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed Hand,
Never foe can follow, Never traitor stand
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry, touch the Spirit there.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Son of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

CHORUS:
Stayed upon Jehovah, Hearts are fully blest;
Finding as He promised, Perfect peace and rest.

Freedom with commands

The other day, my fiance was reading a familiar Psalm to me...Psalm 119. (Yes, and if you know your Bible trivia, it is the longest chapter in the Bible!) I've read all of those words before, but as I listened one struck me in particular. "I run in the path of Your commands, for You have set my heart free" (32). Usually, commands and freedom don't get grouped together as synonymous. In today's culture, freedom means that you are free from structure, rules, commands, etc. But, in God's Word, this type of "freedom" is really bondage that leads to destruction. If we follow God's commands, which are set before us in His Word, we do not have to fear punishment, bad consequences, and wrath. We can run freely, within the path that God has set before us...one of love, joy, and peace. Live in righteousness...Obey His Word...Enjoy freedom.

the crucified life (galatians 2:20)

I just started doing Beth Moore's Bible study, Living Beyond Yourself. The past couple of days, I've been digging deep into Galatians 2:20- "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me." Beth gave us 10 characteristics of a crucified life. I have been pouring over these recently, and I would like to share them with you.
1. Few will understand
2. Must abandon your own will and agenda
3. Your intimate spiritual companions will be few
4. Intense times of aloneness with God is required
5. You will be constantly on the witness stand
6. You must go "outside the camp"
7. There will be times that your dignity is "forfeited"
8. You must forego your rights
9. You must accept that death is painful
10. Because He was forsaken, you will never be
Lord, I want to know You and the power of Your resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in Your sufferings, becoming like You in Your death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:10-11)!

when ministry happens

Luke 5:15-16 “But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.”
Jesus was at the start of His ministry…momentum was picking up…people were hearing about Him, seeking Him, and were amazed by Him. Don’t stop now! Keep going! Full speed ahead! Right?!?
Have you ever been in that situation? …when the ministry you are involved with is taking off and great things are happening! You are starting to see fruit, and you are reaping a harvest from where you have sown seed. As a result, you wake hours before the rooster, and you burn the midnight oil at night. You are busy perfecting your ministry and doing your ministry! Hmmmm… this sounds well and good, but it is not YOUR ministry…it is GOD’S ministry! Because of that, we need to quiet ourselves before Him and seek His direction. Even when we see that things are going well, we CANNOT neglect our time with the Originator of the ministry and the Lord of all. It is through time with Him that we are refueled, redirected, and refreshed.
We must follow the example of Jesus… “He would withdraw to desolate places and pray” (vs. 16). Even when His ministry was booming, He stopped and spent time with His Father. THAT is when true ministry happens- GOD’S ministry!

some good sayings...

"Just Do It." "Where's the Beef?" "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there." "Taste the rainbow." Yes...we've all heard these before- slogans, advertisements, sayings. There are also some good sayings that I have found to be encouraging in my Christian walk. I thought I would mention them today- kind of a simple blog, but one that, hopefully, will stick with you. Here are some of the sayings that have been on my mind lately:
"Forget yourself for others, and others will not forget you."
"Trade the TRIVIAL for the ETERNAL."
"Go to the THRONE before you go to the PHONE."
hmmm...good thoughts...