The Parable of the Seeds and The Importance of the Right Gospel

I Corinthians 15:3-4  "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,"

In today's Daily Bible Reading, I read the parable of the sower in Luke 8.  Jesus tells a great crowd of people about how the gospel will only be received correctly by some. Many receive it with JOY, but they fall away.  The Bible teaches that we cannot lose our salvation, so these people were never truly in Christ.  (John 10:28  "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.")  In other words, many who think they are saved, are not. 

There are 4 scenarios.  There are some who don't accept the gospel and trample it.  These are those who are hostile to the gospel and Christian message due to the devil's lies and influence.  (Luke 8:12)Two, there are some who do not have any root.  They take on Christianity to make their life better and then lose heart when there are tests and trials in this life.  (Luke 8:13)  Third, there are some who receive the gospel with joy, but it eventually gets choked out by the pleasures and cares of this life (worldly idols).  God was never truly Lord of their life.  (Luke 8:14)  Finally, there are those who hear the Word and it is planted in good soil.  They are shown to have endurance and to bear much fruit in their lives.  (Luke 8:15)

This should be a scary passage to us all.  It should cause us to examine if we are indeed saved. 

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"  (2 Corinthians 13:5)  Luke 8 is a warning that most people don't receive the gospel correctly.  Three fourths of these people mentioned in the parable are going to appear before God one day and hear, "Depart from me.  I never knew you."  (Matthew 7)  In the illustration in Matthew 7 those who are being cast into Hell have done many good things throughout their life, even claiming the name of God in their lives.  Whether they had a works based social gospel (doing good to others is somehow going to save them) or a gospel missing repentance and sin (just claiming Jesus because of love and His life's "purpose" for them), they have missed the mark.

What gospel "saved" you?  Was it the correct one?  I grew up on one that emphasized God's love, His grace, and the easy task of just inviting Him into my heart.  This is a very popular "gospel."  Unfortunately, it didn't save me.  I didn't understand I was a sinner before a holy God.  My sin had separated me from God and needed a payment.  The gospel I heard led me to continue to live for myself and not really submit, for God was loving and filled with grace, right?  I could keep living my life pseudo obeying and God would forgive me.  I enjoyed doing Christian good works and routines because I got a lot of pats on the back.  The emphasis was on me, rather than God.  I had never repented of living against God and turning from my selfish propensities to submit to God's will and rules. 

The gospel has to tell people that Christ is their Savior from SIN.  I had heard that Jesus died for my sin on the cross, but that was the extent of it, and I didn't personalize that I was a bad person and Christ faced the WRATH that I would have faced as an unsaved individual.  As with me, people have to recognize their need for a Savior before they can gladly submit to Him and trust in His work on the cross to reconcile them to God.  To just tell someone God loves you, is your Savior, and wants to have a relationship with you is only HALF the story and will lead to confusion when life's trials come.  They will wonder eventually, "Why do I need a Savior?" The wrong or incomplete gospel doesn't explain why.  A God who saved you by paying for YOUR sin is a God you can trust wholly when He sovereignly brings trials and pruning into your life.  A God who points to our problem for eternity (sin and Hell) and solves it through Christ is a God you trust and love when this world is full of temporary pain and disappointment.  It isn't about this life or this world that is passing away.  (1 John 2:17, 1 Corinthians 7:31)

For future reference and study, here are some New Testament examples of the Gospel's call to repentance:
Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:14-15, Luke 13:3b, Luke 16:28-30, Luke 24:46-47, Acts 3:19, Acts 11:18b, Acts 17:30-31, 2 Corinthians 7:10, Hebrews 6:1, and 2 Peter 3:9.

Before I was 21, the fruit in my life bore witness against me.  Though I was a "good" kid--I loved those horizontal comparisons to others around me because they made me look pretty stellar comparatively--I had selfish motives for doing good (church, missions, community service, singing in church, youth group, Bible studies) and still bristled when God's will for me didn't follow my desires or plan.  I saw an extended pattern of sin and hardness of heart in college and realized I was hostile to God.  When I was 21, I repented of my sin, submitted to Christ as my Lord and Savior and trusted that HIS work on the cross would save me, not any of my "goodness" and the praise I received from others.  Though I wasn't sinless after that, I did sin LESS, and my motivations turned from myself and my own glory to pleasing my God through thankful obedience. 

Because I was finally in Christ (saved), I bore fruit.  I saw the fruits of the Spirit being matured over time.  I became more gentle, patient, loving, humble and all the other fruits as the Holy Spirit convicted me of sin and gave me the desire and ability to grow in the likeness of Christ.  (Galatians 5)  I still fall short, but I desire to and continue to make progress.  I started reading God's Word regularly to find out what exactly His will was in my life.  I loved others more readily and truly did desire to consider others more significant than me.  (Philippians 2:3)  I wanted to share the gospel and shine God's light rather than figure out how little I could do and still be considered "okay."  (The way I lived often before I was 21)  Seventeen years later, I still obey God's rules and Word more fervently and mourn my sin when I fail.

I urge you today to search if you heard the correct gospel message.  We were created by God.  (Genesis 1:1)  We sinned against our Creator who is Holy and perfect.  (1 Peter 1:15-16) We are separated from Him (Isaiah 59:2) and He is just and MUST give punishment (Hell) for our disobedience to His perfection and righteousness.  (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, Ephesians 2:3))  He is as loving as He is just (1 John 4:8), though, and He sent Christ to live the perfect, obedient life for us and then to die on the cross to pay the penalty we would have had to pay to a just God.  (2 Corinthians 5:21)  This is an undeserved gift--grace.  We do nothing in ourselves to be saved, we can only repent of our sin and trust Christ solved our problem fully and completely.  Then we can be covered by Christ and reconciled to God for all eternity.  This is the only way!  (John 14:6)

Acts 20:21b  "They must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus"

This gospel is clearly and simply stated in a presentable, few minute long clip here.

Praise God for the power of the true gospel and the work He does in saving souls!

Good Friday: God's Plan

I was listening to the radio this morning and the announcer said that Good Friday is good because all evil combined against Christ, brought Jesus to the cross and then it was overcome.  I disagree with the connotation in part of that statement. 

Yes, evil was overcome at the cross (defeated already at the cross but it will be fully expelled when Christ returns), and, indeed, our payment for the evil and sin we do was paid in full, but evil didn't place Jesus there.  Jesus submitted to the cross and was led there by God the Father.  Yes, God put Jesus on the cross. There is a big difference between understanding Jesus chose the cross in obedience and thinking Jesus was just a victim of the evil in the world, a victim who later overcame it. 

If we think Jesus was a victim, a martyr of bad humanity, then we don't fully grasp His love and sacrifice for us.  In Luke 22:42 He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane,“'Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.'”  Jesus submitted to the Father's will to pour God's wrath upon Him so we would be covered, forgiven, clean, debtless and reconciled in Christ Jesus.  He stepped up to the cross with full knowledge of what He was doing and facing.  It was the plan all along.

He willingly humbled himself for us.  God USED our evil, the taunts and pride of Christ's accusers, for His good plan.  God is sovereign and all powerful.  Evil NEVER had the upperhand or decided the plot in Christ's time on earth.  God has control.  He is the I Am.

God could have long ago wiped us out like in the days of Noah.  God could have erased us and our evil in a single word.  Someday He will indeed judge and cast away sinners--those who do not repent and turn to Christ in faith--to Hell.  In addition, though, because He is just and loving, He had a plan of reconciliation from the beginning.  He was PLEASED to pour His punishment upon His own son for us.  He is kind and good enough to offer LIFE to those who repent and trust in Christ.

Isaiah 53:10-11 says, "Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.

So remember today that Christ was not a helpless victim, a martyr or a powerless man nailed to the cross by sin and evil.  He is God--purposefully come in the form of man--so He could willingly submit to God's wrath and free us.  He chose the cross because He knows He, God, is just.  He knows there is payment for sin and we humans are wicked--all of us.  We are dead in our transgressions.  He chose the cross because His justice is side by side with His love.  He desires that we all may come to repentance and be saved.  We may be raised to life with Christ.  Glory to God!  Praise Him!  Jesus is Lord!

Philippians 2:5-11
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(emphasis mine)

Painting a Picture of Your Son's Future Spouse

I often pray for both my boys to not only come to salvation in Christ, but that they would be wise in their choice of spouse if God leads them to marriage someday.  Like King Lemuel's mom in Proverbs 31, I so greatly desire to point my sons to picking a godly and wise wife.

I realize, as an adult, how much a spouse affects your marriage, ministry and life.  The choice of a good spouse is extremely vital.

I waited 28 years to meet the right spouse and marry him, but, though that was longer than I planned, it was such a blessed wait and fruition.  My spouse is a godly, encouraging, sacrificial and loving leader.  Because of him, I can be busy in ministry with joy, rearing boys in a Biblical manner and grow in my own spiritual maturity.  He protects me from worldly influences that will harm me and slow down my sanctification, and he cheers me on when I am obeying God--all with a huge dose of love and humility.

Of course God has a perfect plan for both my boys--including their choice of spouse, but, even in His sovereignty, He wants me to pray about my requests, instruct my boys in Biblical wisdom and do my best, with the strength and direction of the Holy Spirit, to model righteous behavior of a wife in marriage.

You might ask, "What can I do as a mom?"  Mine are almost 4 and 7.  Isn't it a little early to be thinking about their marriages and spouses?

Not at all!  They are watching and taking mental notes!  How am I modeling how a Christian wife should act and speak?  My boys are at home a lot, and they constantly see how I interact with my husband.  Do I want them to find a wife who acts like I act?  That is a powerful question, and a very important indicator of what they will consider "normal". 

If I am submitting to my husband, helping him in life and ministry, and encouraging him as a helpmate, my sons will see this as the "norm" for what a wife does.  Later in life, if they find themselves spending time with girls who argue constantly, girls who assert prideful authority over them, and girls who concern themselves with her own interests over God's or my boys', they should bristle with the sense that this is not right.  They will realize they need to end that kind of relationship.  That kind of girl should feel "off" and "uncomfortable" to them.

Most importantly, I pray they find it very normal and familiar to find a girl who loves God more than anything--putting her love into action and obedience to Him.  May they seek a Christian not just in title and church attendance, but a Christian in reality--having a changed heart, loving God with her all, bearing fruit in her life, including in how she is interacting with anyone courting or dating her.

I want them to be blessed by finding a girl who behaves like their mom.  Am I living up to the description I list above?  How do I know?

Well, first I need to inspect my time.  Most importantly, is God the center of my life?  Is this apparent in the time I spend in Bible study, prayer, devotions, serving at church, fellowshipping and training my children in the Word?  I KNOW I want my sons to find a wife who puts importance and priority on God and the pursuits of His kingdom.  Am I training them that this is how she should behave and spend her time?

Also, regarding time, am I spending a majority of my time on selfish pursuits--participating in pasttimes often for my own glory or selfish pleasure, spending time with friends to the detriment of my duties and family's needs, shopping excessively to please my vanity, being obsessed with my appearance, or making an idol of my beauty routines--or, rather, am I spending a majority of my time serving God and my family?  Am I counting others more significant as myself as Philippians 2:3-4 commands?

Is my time spent helping my husband with a happy heart?  Do I clean without complaining?  Do I make meals with love, often considering what meal will bless my husband with health and enjoyment?  Do I ask him how I can help him that day with a sincere hope that there is a way I can, even if it means an extra errand?  Do I demonstrate joy in my role as a homemaker and wife? 

Second, I need to inspect my speech.  Am I building up my husband?  Do I portray him as the leader and decision maker to my son?  Do I say things such as, "Daddy works so hard for us.  What a blessing to us!  Let's pray for his day."  "This is a big purchase.  Mommy needs to ask daddy if this is something he wants our family to buy."  Do I apologize when I make a mistake?  "Mommy did not speak the way God wants her to speak.  I should not have complained, or have gossiped, or have lost my temper.  Please forgive me for sinning in my words and actions." 

We all fall short.  Of course, when we do, we repent and confess our sin before God.  Then we trust He has given us all we need for life and godliness and we pick up tools we need in scripture to make progress, all with the help of the Holy Spirit.  Then our aim is to grow in these areas. 

We have to have a plan--we battle against sin with the help of the Holy Spirit and effort.  Put off any sin and PUT ON righteousness--this is work!  The work doesn't bring us salvation, but it is a natural behavior when one is a new creation in Christ.  Stop watching the questionable TV show and spend the time doing devotions with your boys.  Stop spending the money your husband would rather you didn't spend, and instead of the time you used shopping/spending, serve others with a specific, planned service.  Come up with a specific plan and PRAY about it. 

Realize that you are daily contributing to painting the picture of what your son will consider normal and good in a wife.  If you have girls, you are helping to paint the picture of how they will behave in their own role as a wife.

May the brush strokes I add to the picture today be glorifying to God and a powerful influence in bringing a good and godly wife into my son's life someday.

Love is Kind

We are studying different characteristics of love from I Corinthians 13.  We last broke down the idea that love is patient.  Today we are going to look at the truth that love is kind.

I looked up the definition of kindness.  Google says Kindness is an adjective that means "having or showing a friendly, generous, and considerate nature."

Most of us can think of people in our lives we consider kind.  These are the people that always take the time to make us feel warmly welcomed when we see them.  These are the friends who have us over to their home and give generously of their time, home, money and talents to help others. 

My favorite explanation is that they are considerate.  These are the people who just naturally say, "Excuse me" and open doors and let you go first in line.  In other words, these are the people who put others first, and that certainly is applauded in scripture.

Philippians 2:3-4 says, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

That explains why considerate and kind people love so well.  They are not prideful.  They think about others' needs more than their own.  They consider others as MORE significant than themselves.

That sounds like a love that is like Christ's love for us.  Philippians 2:5-8 goes on to say that Christ exemplifies humble kindness.  "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

How can you exemplify kindness like Christ today?
--How about letting your spouse pick his movie or restaurant for your next outing?
--How about letting that person with a few items move ahead of you in line?
--Maybe you can go strike up a conversation with that girl/co-worker/mom who seems to be isolated or alone at school/work/etc.
--Park far away from the church so someone else can have the better parking spots.
--Volunteer to serve at church so you can minister to the needs of others in your body of believers.
--Write a note of encouragement to someone who ministers to you.

Love is kind. 

Love is Patient

Hi, everyone!  I have been so busy, but life has been awesome!  I really see God teaching me some good things in 2013 so far.  I pray all your New Years have been off to a great start too.

For the next month or so, I am going to dissect I Corinthians 13's love verses and share some thoughts on the characteristics of love.

Here is the entire section: 
I Corinthians 13: 4-8   Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
⁸ Love never ends.

Today's focus is love is patient. 

This is a tough one for me.  I am a multitasking, quick acting, low attention span kind of gal.  To practice patience takes self discipline.

According to Google, the definition of patience is:  The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.  Synonyms of patience are:  endurance, forbearance, and sufferance.

This is why patience is so difficult for us.  It is sacrificial.  It doesn't come naturally.  We put off our feelings and fleshly instincts and, instead, put on and CHOOSE to have empathy, understanding, possible painful waiting, and love toward someone.

This defines God's love for us, does it not?  While we were still putting ourself as god of our lives, while we were enemies of Him, He loved us and sent Christ to die and suffer for our sin and reconcile us to Him.  Then, he patiently waits for those He chooses to respond to this gift of grace and mercy.
 

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

 

God is also patient to deal with our sin.  He wants us to repent and choose obedience.  We know He will be just someday, but He often patiently waits for us in our slow, stupid ability to recognize and stop sinful actions.

 

Romans 2:3-4   Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance

 

Yesterday, at Women's Bible Study at church, our teacher told us that we need to be patient and wait after we lovingly and gently admonish or warn a sister in Christ who is in sin.  We have to pray for her after we talk to her and be there when she needs encouragement and help in stopping her sin.  We might even have to be patient with her if she responds defensively and badly at first.  Love her.  Be patient.  God is patient with us.

 

How can we be patient in love today?

--CHOOSE to extend grace to someone who offends you driving, in line at a store, in a meeting at work, or a friend who puts her foot in her mouth.  Smile and pray for them with love instead of brooding and simmering inside.

--Don't assume the intentions of your husband, friend or children.  Patiently draw them aside and ask them about an issue before you respond in anger or hurt.

--Think of someone who is sinning against you and choose to pray for that person in love and compassion.

--Share the gospel with a non-Christian in your life who you would think, humanly, there is no way God can reach this person.

 

Pray about it.  How can you be loving with patience today? 

Remember, love is patient, and God is our ultimate example of loving us patiently and perfectly.

 

Hostess with the Mostess--or not

December was crazy this year.  I'm  not going to lie.  I hosted a boutique at my home on December 2nd, so that consumed much of the beginning of December.  In mid-December, we were planning a large scale ministry, Christmas celebration for about 250 people.  Last Thursday we decorated, organized and planned to throw a Christmas dinner for 70 people on a ministry's leadership team. 

What great opportunities to be thankful, to serve others and to demonstrate the love of Christ!  That was my goal, but, sadly, I failed miserably at times.

I'm not going to lie and pretend I did all that without sinning.  I had moments of complaining and stress.  In fact, even if we get through an event we are hosting with grace and joy, we have to look at our attitude when we had to run to an overpopulated Costco to pick up food for the event or how we felt when we finish the night and have hours of dishes and clean up to do.  Are we filled with joy, sacrificial love and thanksgiving then?

I was reading 1 Peter 4:9 this morning.  It says it pretty clearly:  "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling."  Wow.  There isn't any room for excuses there.  Thanks, God, for putting that mirror before my, at times, grumbly heart.

If you are in Christ, sisters, I urge you to align your thinking to God's like I am having to do.  It is SO easy to get overwhelmed and stressed, but remember that every imperfect detail is allowed by God to grow us, prune us and test us--even the failed centerpieces, missing guests and parking lot mishaps.  He doesn't want us to have the perfect, Martha Stewart Christmas party.  He wants us to grow into the likeness of Christ Jesus, the Savior we are celebrating.

This was just in time for those of you hosting Christmas Eve or Christmas.  When the turkey burns, someone spills on the couch, guests don't show, or you realize you forgot to buy the butter, just stop and pray.  Thank God for the growing lesson and extend grace and patience because we have been shown much more grace and patience than we are ever asked to give.

Merry Christmas, my fellow hostesses!  Our Savior is born!

Beautiful Decline

Romans 8:18-25
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.  And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

It is getting scarier and scarier to look in the mirror in the morning.  Wrinkles, skin splotches, gray hair--things aren't staying put together the way they were fifteen years ago.  I have daily medicine for my thyroid and vitamins to help keep the germs at bay.  I am reminded often that this physical shell is not going to work forever.  Even with exercise, diet and hard work, we all fade physically.

My husband made the observation that we hit our peak physically in our teens and twenties, and the rest of our lives are a slow (sometimes fast) decline.  Rather than be depressed by this, he pointed out the positive to what God has put in place.  Because we age, we spend most of our wiser years being reminded by God that this earth is temporary, that our world and our bodies are cursed with sin and death, and that we need to focus on eternity and the more important eternal status of our souls. 

Through aging, God motivates us to have faith in Jesus as our Savior.  Our mortality and physical failings should prompt us all the more to know we cannot rely on selves and our good works.  We are incapable and frail.  If we can't keep our health and physical appearance in check, how can we save our souls?  It reminds me of the Matt Redman song, You Alone Can Rescue, that opens, "Who, oh, man, can save himself, his own soul can heal?"  No one.  We can't.  Thankfully, Christ gave us righteousness and paid for our sin on the cross if we repent and have faith in what Jesus did.  Our souls can be saved through Him.

I often think that this fact explains why the world is so obsessed with physical perfection, makeup, cosmetic surgery and youth.  The world does not want to dwell on God, the sin plaguing us all, and the need for a Savior to repair the separation we have from God.  Blemishes, wrinkles, gray hair, extra pounds, and disease are reminders that we die and physically fail because of sin.  We are cursed by sin and separated from our Creator.  Such physical problems remind us we need a relationship with God.  We need a Savior.

Though it is painful and hard to age, as Christians we can find hope in the experience.  We can realize the world is slowly fading away, just like our bodies.  It is a beautiful decline to those in Christ, to those with the promise of Heaven.

Hebrews 6:19-20   "We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."

Christian Encouragement: The authority and validity of the Bible

Our church's Women's Bible Study started up again this week, and it was GOOOOD!  I love our women's ministry director.  She is one of the brainiest people around, but she is full of compassion and grace.  She talked about God's Word and the validity of the Bible and what it says.

I don't know about you, but I am flabbergasted when my non-Christian friends dismiss the Bible as mumbo jumbo for the unintelligent.  If one spends any small amount of time studying the validity of scripture, one realizes that intellect can only lead you to believe in God and the absolute truth of His Word.

People say we are arrogant for believing OUR way is the only way.  Unfortunately, it isn't OUR way.  It is God's way.  He wrote it down in scripture and decided it and our belief is a humble, dependent belief in Him.  Then, people dismiss the Bible as just "another religious book."  If you really take the time to study the historical validity and prophetic truths that have come from scripture, people can't really find a solid argument against scripture.  What it boils down to, ultimately, is that they don't want God as their Creator and authority telling them what is right and wrong.  That is humbling and makes our sinful flesh bristle.  That, however, is where God can step in and soften our hearts, which are hard as stone and slaves to sin without Him. 

Stephanie, our women's director, used Greg Koukl's 5 point finger illustration to help us remember simple arguments for the Bible's accuracy and validity.  It was powerful, and I wanted to share it with you here.  Next time someone dismisses the Bible as just another "religious" book, have these 5 "finger arguments" ready for discussion.

1.  Ring Finger--You wear a marriage ring on your ring finger, which stands for the unity of 2 people--husband and wife.  Use this finger to remind you of the unity of scripture.  Scripture was written over 1,500 years, by 40 authors inspired by the Holy Spirit, on about 3 continents.  Despite this span of time, scripture doesn't disagree.  Though there are obvious points of view and personalities, the difference in authors almost strengthens the fact that the points, laws, prophesies, all agree and fit together like a perfect puzzle.  When people take scripture out of context, they can twist scripture to sound any way they want, but if you read verses in context and entirety, it all is united and in perfect harmony.
Other religious books change over time, have things added or subtracted, or they have parts that contradict.  These are often only written by ONE person and yet it still isn't unified.  The Bible is completely unified despite so many authors and such a long span of time between start to completion.

2. Pinky Finger--P in pinky stands for Prophecy.  The Bible is FULL of prophecy, and this is what God uses to fingerprint scripture as FROM HIM.  He doesn't give VAGUE, mystical prophecies, but he gets EXACT.  He names names and gives dates and lists places that haven't happened yet.  Guess what?  They happen.  People don't study this because it is so irrefutable.  In the Old Testament alone, there are 300 messianic prophesies about Jesus that came to pass.  In Isaiah 44:28 (written about 700 BC), the Bible names the ruler Cyrus by NAME a couple hundred years before he ever ruled (550 BC).  The Bible talks of Cyrus as allowing Jerusalem to be saved and delivered.  In fact, Cyrus was a Persian King who took over Babylon when Babylon held the Jews.  He allowed religious tolerance (unheard of for conquering kingdoms at the time) and even sent the Jews back to Jerusalem to rebuild their city and temple.  You can go today and view the Cyrus Clay which proclaimed all this in Great Britian. 
People might say that Jesus just knew the prophesies about the Messiah from studying the Old Testament and he tried to fulfill them.  Well, here are 3 prophesies he had no control over that came to pass.  Memorize these. 

Zachariah 9:9  This verse talks about Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey and how the people would receive him well.  This foresaw the triumphal entry.  Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey.  People laid down palm branches yelling "Hosanna!"  God, save us!  Though Jesus could have purposely found a donkey, he couldn't have controlled how hundreds of people would receive him entering into the city.

Micah 5:2--Jesus is born in Bethlehem.  Bethlehem is a tiny city.  The likelihood of being born there is small, even back then.  We know the story.  The census happens and brings Joseph and Mary back to Joseph's hometown.  She has the baby in a manger.  Christ could have no control over where or how he was born.  This was prophecy fulfilled.

Isaiah 53:9--Isaiah 53 is all about Christ's crucifixion.  This specific verse talks about how Christ would be in the grave of the wicked.  He was killed on a cross between two thieves.  Then the verse says he would be put in the grave of a rich man.  A rich man, Joseph of Aramathea, buys Christ's body from Pilot and buries him in his private tomb.  Again, these are circumstances Christ couldn't control.  They were spelled out way ahead of time.  Isaiah 53 has tons of specifics--his bones wouldn't be broken (the legs were broken of the still alive thieves on the side of him), he wouldn't speak out against those hurting him like a lamb to slaughter, he would be pierced in his side (a sword was thrust into him).

These are great prophesies to know and memorize because they are revealed as historical fact with many witnesses and accounts and they are things Jesus couldn't formulate himself.

Many scholars studied these prophesies and said, "Well, these parts of Isaiah must have been written after Christ.  They couldn't come to terms with the exactness of the prophesies and the historical data that pointed to the facts that they happened!"  That idea lasted until the 1940's when we discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls.  The first book pulled out of the cave?  Isaiah in entirety.  It is dated to 200 B.C. by archeologists.

3.  Middle/Big Finger--This finger should remind us that the Bible talks about BIG topics like life and death.  Many religions talk about  philosophical stuff.  Karma.  Be kind.  Love nature.  The Bible gets down and dirty with specific topics--death, life, love, murder, hate, hell, Heaven, God, creation, judgment, sin. . . It doesn't use vague cookie fortune type quips to fill its pages.

4.  Pointer Finger/Index Finger--The Bible is a historical index.  It is reliable.  Archeologists can only agree that the Bible is historically accurate.  People and places are authenticated.  It doesn't have any error.  Historians and archeologists actually find information IN the Bible that helps them understand discoveries. 

5.  Thumb.  The emperors in Rome would decide a gladiator's fate with a thumb up (life) or thumb down (death).  The gladiator's life was affected and changed by one finger.  The thumb should remind us that the Bible changes and affects lives.  It is active and sharper than a two edged sword.  It is a fragrance of life to Christians or a stench of death to those who reject God.

I hope this helps you remember a visual to have apologetic discussions with others when discussing the Bible.  I recommend The Case for Christ for further reading.  A great book discussing the huge gaps and scientific lies in evolution is Bones of Contention. 

Thanks for reading through a deeper post today.  I pray this truly will be a helpful tool when evangelizing.

Ministry Kickoff Night and Wisdom Theme

Our Tablescapes for our Wisdom Night Kickoff.  We had 31 tables . . .

For those of you who read my blog regularly, you know that my hubby and I co-lead a marriage ministry, Thrive, at our church, Compass Bible Church.  I posted recently that I was doing a "school" theme for the night, since our year's theme is the "Wisdom books" of the Bible--Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon.

We had our first meeting this week in a bigger, fellowship-hall type of room our church acquired for growing ministries like ours, which was good, as we had about 275 people attending.  We meet every Thursday evening.  I can't wait to see what God does in lives and marriages this year!

As you look at the pics, you can see why I can't be a full time, daily blogger/crafter.  It would be impossible.  I'm a wife and mommy and ministry leader at church first.  Blogging and selling scripture signs are my awesome part time hobbies, and I am thankful to God for the blessing they are and the amazing, supportive readers and customers God brings me!

Excited for Thrive and all the couples coming this year!

Our color theme was yellow, apple red and black.  I had some red frames, so I wrote on black cardstock in chalk and made fake "chalkboard" verses for the entry table. . .

My hubby (standing) running a game with our co-leaders in the ministry, the Gilmores (Scott is sitting).

The church provides family dinners for everyone before the study starts, and the kids go to AWANA and Kid's Club (Sunday School classes) while we meet for our study.

Entering Thrive

Here is a messy view of the tables--Pinterest copied pencil vases with flowers, polka dot ribbon and matching polka dot wrapping paper, table "runners", and stacked Bibles.

Another fun family enjoying dinner and a shot of the centerpieces

Welcome table

Lindsey (shown here) and her husband (not shown) are our activities leads.  She helped me decorate for the night.

We start with worship

My hubby emceeing the night

Thrive's overseeing pastor, Mike Elliott, our church's Men's and Family Pastor

Playing a "wisdom trivia game" to see which small group wins and gets the cushy conference room for their small group breakout sessions.

That's me handing out ice cream for dessert.  I'm always near the treats!

Our AV/Tech team running all the video, sound and power point in the back

I used my Silhouette to cut out "Wisdom" and attached them to paper fans.

We can't wait to dig into the wisdom books and start applying more of God's Word into our marriages and lives.  Join me in praying for this amazing ministry and the work God is doing!

First Days of School and My First Morning Alone

My kids both started school today.  It was a day of firsts--first day of Micah going to school at all (he is in preschool 2 days a week), Carter starting first grade, and my first morning alone due to school schedules in 7 years.  I always think of "lasts" when "firsts" hit.  There is a great poem about "lasts" out there by Karen Kingsbury called, "Let Me Hold You Longer. . ."  Get tissues.  For real--go grab some if you have littles who started school this week. 

I am ready to hand my kids to God's will and to teach them independence.  I'm not trying to keep them from growing, but I sure do want to cherish every first and last along the way.  They are a treasured blessing from God.

Let Me Hold You Longera poem by Karen Kingsbury

Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts;
First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst.
But one day you will move away and leave to me your past
And I will be left thinking of a lifetime of your lasts.

The last time that I held a bottle to your baby lips
The last time that I lifted you and held you on my hip,
The last night when you woke up crying,
Needing to be walked,
When last you crawled up with your blanket
Wanting to be rocked.

The last time when you ran to me still small enough to hold
The last time when you said you'd marry me when you grew old.

Precious simple moments and bright flashes from your past
Would I have held on longer if I'd known they were your last?
Our last adventure to the park, your final midday nap
The last time when you wore your favorite faded baseball cap.

Your last few hours of kindergarten, last days of first grade,
Your last at bat in Little League, last colored picture made.
I never said goodbye to all your yesterdays long past
So what about tomorrow? Will I recognize your lasts?

The last time that you catch a frog in that old backyard pond
The last that you ran barefoot across our fresh-cut lawn
Silly, scattered moments and bright flashes from your past
I keep on taking pictures, never quite sure of your last.

The last time that I comb your hair or stop a pillow fight,
The last time that I tuck you in and pray with you at night.
The last time when we cuddled with a book just me and you,
The last time you jump in our bed and sleep between us two.

The last piano lesson, the last vacation to the lake
Your last few weeks of middle school, last soccer goal you make.
I look ahead and dream of days that haven't come to pass
But as I do I sometimes miss today's sweet precious lasts.

The last time that I help you with a math or spelling test
The last time when I shout that "Yes! Your room is still a mess!"
The last time that you need me for a ride from here to there
The last time that you spend the night with your old tattered bear.

My life keeps moving faster, stealing precious days that pass
I want to hold on longer, want to recognize your lasts.
The last thing that you need my help with, details of a dance,
And the last time that you asked me for advice about romance.

The last time that you talked to me about your hopes and dreams
The last time that you wear a jersey for your high school team.
I've watched you grow and barely noticed seasons as they pass
If I could freeze the hands of time, I'd hold onto your lasts.

For come some bright fall morning, you'll be going far away
College life will beckon in a brilliant sort of way
One last hug, one last goodbye, one quick and hurried kiss,
One last time to understand just how much you'll be missed.

I'll watch you leave and think how fast our time together passed
So let me hold on longer, God, to every precious last.

Little Thank You

I LOVE giving little thank yous and unexpected encouragements.  Whether it is daily notes and doodles on my kids' lunch napkins, texts or notes of love to my hubby, or little gifts of thought, it makes me really happy to do those little things.  It not only is a joy to others, but it blesses me tremendously--probably WAY more than them!  Every time I do something like this, I think, "I need to do this MORE often!"  I can get my kids involved with projects too--always looking for a way to teach them gratitude and thoughtfulness to their daddy, their teachers, their Sunday School teachers or their friends.

We are having about 70 leaders over to our house in a couple of days to have dinner and train for our upcoming year of ministry in our church marriage ministry.  These couples do SO much discipling and give up tons of free time to serve in ministry.  I wanted to have cost effective, cute little notes of thanks scattered around the tables at the training.  It is the little things that add up into big things!  A continual attitude of support, thankfulness and encouragement are so helpful when people are volunteering and serving. 

I bought little clear goodie bags at Party City= 50 for 1.99
I got 2 bags of mini Mounds and 2 bags of York Peppermint Patties= about 3.00 each bag
I bought 10 pages of scrapbook paper for .45 cents each
Finally, using my Silhouette (you could easily print a regular Word Doc and use scissors) I cut out the labels.

Do you have anyone that needs a "sweet", little note of thanks?  If you are only giving away a couple, you can use larger clear bags or cut the top off a sandwich bag and use full size candy bars.

Have fun blessing someone!

The assembly line of goodies. . .

God's Sovereignty and My Kid's Class Placement

This morning I was reading that famous verse in I Samuel 16:7 " But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'"

The context of this verse is that Samuel, the prophet, is looking for God's annointed king of Israel in the family of Jesse.  God has sent him there to annoint the next king.  Samuel looks with hope at the taller, older, impressive looking brothers, but God tells him to keep looking.  He finally gets to David, the young, ruddy, unimpressive "youth" of the family.  He is the one God has chosen.  He was to be a man after God's own heart.  He was God's annointed who would lead Israel.

There are many eternal truths in this passage:  We need to care more about our holiness and sanctification than our physical appearance or popularity.  We need to look more closely at Christians in light of their character, not their outward trendiness or popularity.  We need to seek God's will in matters, and not make judgments on what appears to be by society's standards or our limited assumptions.

The last point is a hard one, but it is one that has been on my mind as the beginning of the school year looms. 

In our nearby school districts, parents are asked not to make teacher requests and each grade level in the public schools has multiple classrooms.

Every year I am tempted to be anxious about my son's teacher placement.  Who will be his teacher?  Who will he have in his class?  The temptation is to worry, worry, worry.  Right away, I always realize it is a perfect example of God asking me to trust Him.  I see the outward "appearance" of the situation, but God knows all the angles and ramifications. 

God loves me and my son, and His sovereign plan will put my son in the class where he needs to be--especially if I take the time to PRAY about it.  He might not have the popular, "fun", demonstrative teacher.  He might have the almost all girl class (last year), but there is a reason.  God isn't concerned with the parents' views or gossip concerning the teacher.  He sees the whole picture and puts my son exactly where he needs to be for God's will and plan to unfold in his life.

This doesn't mean I am inactive.  If there were a big issue, of course, God wants me to use my wisdom and step in to speak up for my son.  However, such an instance is going to be few and far between with class placement.  I need to make sure it is a valid reason for intervening and not just a preference or opinion.

I was a teacher for nine years.  I am not ignorant that each grade level has a favorite teacher or teachers.  I am also not ignorant that certain personalities don't always click.  One of my favorite students might have a teacher the next year who doesn't find his humor charming or her artistic doodling on everything a blooming gift.  I might get a student that was cherished the year before and who I find disruptive.  Teachers do their best and try to love every child, but there will be challenges with 30 personalities in the room.  We are all different.  There is no perfect teacher for every student, just as there is no perfect student.

So, as a parent, I need to let go of the gossip and popularity contest concerning the teachers.  When I get my son's class assignment, I need to trust God has sovereignly and lovingly placed him under that teacher's care for the year ahead.  It might be to grow him academically, it might be to have him make a certain friendship, it might be to teach him self control in a less "creative" classroom environment, it might be to PROTECT him from a bad influence in another class, it might be to grow my trust and patience, it might be so our family can minister to that teacher during a difficult year.  We don't know.  But we are called to trust.

We are also to realize no school year will be perfect.  All teachers have bad days.  All kids misbehave sometimes.  All classrooms will have some behavior issues.  All teachers have strengths and weaknesses.  Be humble.  Be realistic.  Be dependent on God for strength to traverse the year with righteousness.

So, Christian women, as the school year begins and we all go find out our child's teacher, don't fret or worry about being in the "right" class.  Pray about it ahead of time.  Ask God to put your child in the right class--one that lines up with God's will, not the chitter chatter of the PTA moms.  Don't let the gossip or feedback from other parents get you down.  Smile and thank God for caring about every detail--right down to the teacher your child will have.  Then go meet your teacher and tell him or her that you are thankful God assigned them to your child for the year ahead.

Philippians 4:6-7  "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Women in the Word Wednesday: Change

I hate change.  I don't know of very many people who love it.  We have had some change in our lives lately with jobs, friend relocations, kids' routines/needs, etc. 

Why do we hate change?  I think it is mostly selfish. . .

*We don't like to take the time to re-establish relationships or make new ones
*We dislike a new routine, which upsets our ongoing schedule and challenges our priorities
*We will miss the constant support and encouragement we have from relationships that change in location or situation
*We like being comfortable and knowing what to expect
*We fear trials or difficult situations that might arise with change
*We don't fully trust God with our plans

That last point is the main problem if we are Christians, and we all struggle with this.  The top five are issues, but the foundation of the problem is that we don't completely trust God and accept that He knows best.  We think what we want is best, and what our flesh wants is comfort and ease.

If we look at examples in the Bible, God often stretches His children with change and unknown circumstances or trials.  From Genesis to Revelation, we are called to trust as God sovereignly orchestrates change and direction.  Ask Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Mary, Jesus, Peter, the disciples, or Paul, just to name a few. 

If you are facing change today, think about it with an eternal perspective.  Know, if you are a Christian, it comes directly from God's hand and has been lovingly and sovereignly assigned to you.  It is often not easy, but he gives us tools of peace, comfort and much grace in the stretching process.  Trust with joy and a firm grasp of God's faithfulness.

He is growing you in the likeness of your Savior, Christ Jesus.  What could be more beautiful and good?

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Women in the Word Wednesday: Sensitivity to Sin

My oldest has an extreme sensitivity to hair on his skin.  Haircuts are quite an ordeal.  We cut his hair at home with the TV distracting him.  He is old enough that he tries to keep his tears under control, but it is hard for him.  After the haircut, he has an immediate bath, and then we transfer him from the bath to the shower to scrub and wash off any stray hairs the bath missed.  We towel him off well, followed by lotion to soothe his skin, which indeed has little red bumps of irritation blanketing it from the short exposure to hairs during the haircut.  After lotion, we end with a good dusting of baby powder, brushing off any stubborn stray hairs that escaped the rest of the process.

If that weren't thorough enough, he refuses a hair cape during the haircut, so he wears onek of his larger T-shirts during the haircut.  After each haircut, I wash the shirt a couple of times and then stick it in the back of his closet.  If for some reason we accidentally pull out a "haircut" shirt for him to wear to bed, he tells me within thirty seconds that his shirt is "itchy" without even realizing it was indeed used during his last haircut.

Today was haircut day, and I thought again about how extremely sensitive he is to hair on his skin.  During my quiet time, I thought of that analogy with our sin.  When we are seeking God's will, praying, meditating on scripture, regularly reading His Word, and really seeking please God, we are sensitive to sin--we can be as sensitive to it as my son is to his haircuts.  We immediately regret impatient thoughts or wince at resentment that we might allow to creep into our heart.  The slightest sin can irritate us and get our attention.  We stay away from situations that tempt us to sin the way my son steers clear of even the shirts from his haircuts. The Holy Spirit steers us away from unrighteousness as we seek to listen to Him and do His will.

When we are neglecting quiet time, enveloping all our time with worldly distractions, and trying to tiptoe into gray areas and slippery slopes with which we feel conviction, we dull our sensitivity to sin.  We get spiritually lazy.  We get too comfortable with sins such as unkind words, laziness, lack of contentedness, selfish thoughts, or prideful behavior. 

We have to put on our spiritual armor each day and use the tools God gives us to fight our flesh.  Sin shouldn't feel comfortable to a Christian woman.  It should cause us much uncomfort and irritation.

I pray that I can rely on God, pursue holiness and be as spiritually sensitive to sin as my little buddy is to his haircuts.

Ephesians 6:10-18 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance,"

Women in the Word Wednesday: Purposeful Acts of Kindness

We have all heard of "random acts of kindness."  I love the idea behind extending kindness to strangers and in unexpected ways--paying for the person behind you at the drive thru, sticking change in someone's parking meter for them, etc., especially if you can share God in the act of kindness.  However, I also am a BIG fan of planning out kind acts and following through on those plans.  God is a fan of that too.  Hebrews 10:24-25 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."

If God asks me to consider, or think about, how I can stir up others to love and kindness, I KNOW He wants me to do the same in my own life.  Galatians 6:10 says, "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." 

Be purposeful in kindness to people today, especially to brothers and sisters in Christ.  My husband and I, though it seems quite uncreative, SCHEDULE time into our weeks to have people for dinner, to visit others in need, etc.  We even budget and plan for giving to people in financial need.  In fact, we are so busy, that if we didn't plan and be purposeful, we would fall short of what we could do.  Even in planning, I know we miss opportunities and get lazy.

Kindness doesn't always have to be a sudden emotional rush or in the moment decision.  Kindness can be planned and purposeful.  There is a place for both kinds of kindness, and we tend to rest on those "in the moment" opportunities, getting lazy with any effort to be the hands and feet of Christ to those around us. 

What kindness can you extend today?

Women in the Word Wednesday: Strength in Weakness

I love the story of David and Goliath.  It is so often told by people the way we would read Goldilocks to our kids, but we have to pause and remember that this TRUE, BIBLICAL account happened.  Small, young David stood up to a mighty, GIANT warrior with complete faith in God and what he could do with the unequitable situation.  David knew God loved to take unfavorable circumstances and turn them into a success for His clear honor and glory.  His faith and trust in God was strong from a young age.

We too can practice trust in God when circumstances don't seem to be in our favor, but God is calling us to have faith in Him and trust there is a reason for what He allows in our lives.

Yesterday I had Micah's speech IEP.  He has severe delays in articulation but is actually high average in language expression and reception.  In other words, he talks all the time and also understands what is said to him, but he is having problems pronouncing the words clearly.  He is very hard to understand--even for Ryan and I who hear Micahnese all the time.  They aren't sure if it is a disconnect between mind and motor control in his mouth or if he is just needing to strengthen muscles to get some sounds he is missing.  Time will give us a better picture.

I am completely confident that this weakness of Micah's is all in God's perfect plan.  God can use this in Micah's life for so many reasons.  It could be to give Micah humility, it could be to have one of Micah's speech teachers come to repentance and faith through God using us in his or her life, it could be to grow ME in trust or humility, it could be to grow me in empathy toward families with any special education needs (I was a teacher prior to kids), it could be to show Micah that any success he has later in life is controlled and chosen completely by his Creator, or it could be to bring Micah, somehow, to salvation.  Maybe it is merely to remind us this world is flawed and failing--to have us keep an eternal hope and perspective.  These are all guesses or ideas.  We don't know, but I am confident I don't need to know but, rather, to trust.  God is sovereign in Micah's "weakness."

Wouldn't that be something if Micah was a teaching pastor someday, speaking from the stage with clear, articulate instruction from God's Word?  Who knows?  Perhaps God will allow speech to always be a struggle for Micah.  I can't control the circumstances, but I can be obedient to trust in God's plan.  God is able to allow and then overthrow any difficult circumstance.  Even if He allows the weakness to continue, as with Paul's "thorn", there is a sovereign reason.  What is your current Goliath?  Are you trusting God to be sovereign and omnipotent in every circumstance?

II Corinthians 12:7-10   "So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Women in the Word Wednesday: Second Fiddle

I was reading a small devotional* from John MacArthur the other day about humility.  He used the example of Andrew, which made me ponder church service.  Andrew was Simon Peter's brother, and we all know that Peter was an outspoken and take charge guy.  Many of us can describe Peter's personality and even quote many of his conversations with Jesus.  Because of this, Andrew often played second fiddle to his brother.  He is even described as "Simon Peter's brother" in the Bible.  (John 1:40)

However, we know that Andrew ran to tell Peter about Christ when he first encountered Jesus.  He wasn't interested in keeping the glory or discovery for himself, despite knowing his brother, Peter, would probably take center stage in any future endeavors for Christ.  Andrew had a true Philippians 2:3-4 heart--considering others better than himself. 

All of us have different gifts--some to be teachers and leaders, highly visible to others, and some to be the steady, hardworking servant behind the scenes.  Andrew was content and joyful to be the quiet follower, working hard alongside more visible and outspoken disciples.  Church tradition says that he was sharing the gospel and pleading with others to come to Christ even as he was crucified and martyred, hanging two days on an "X" shaped cross.  His eyes were off of himself, even at the end.

Where does God have you serving?  Are you one of the visible conductors in your church body, or are you quietly serving in a much less noticeable, but just as important, position?  Do you ever struggle with the desire for the glory that comes from men?  Confess any sin in this area and be encouraged!  Remember that a seemingly "second fiddle," Christian servant here on earth carries great reward and prominence in Heaven.  God values humility and contentment in our hearts as we turn all praise and sacrifice into glory for Him!

*John Macarthur's "Drawing Near" devotional, Crossway Books

It is Well with My Soul

Last week wasn't an easy one.  Almost two weeks ago, I was at a baby shower celebrating a friend's baby that would be here in late May.  It is her second and her first boy.   What a blessing!
Five days later, she held that little boy, stillborn, in her arms.  We went from celebrating and rejoicing to mourning and grieving with our friend.  It was very hard, and many of us had days of tears and sadness.

She and her husband have shown amazing strength in God throughout this trial.  They have been breathing in God's promises in scripture and leaning fully on God and the support He is sending through friends and family.  They are actually facing the grief with honesty AND praise to God for His comfort and peace through such an experience. 

As I traversed my own grief, which is nothing like the mom and dad's, I realize, I thought of the hymn "It is Well with My Soul."  This hymn was written by Horatio Spafford as he was crossing the Atlantic Ocean from America to England.  There is a story, though.

Horatio had sent his daughters and wife ahead of him to England while he did some business in America.  He had recently suffered some financial losses and trials, and he needed to stay and wrap up some loose ends.  The boat with his family was wrecked and sank, and his wife was the only survivor of his family.

As he suffered heavy grief, he went on a boat himself to join his grieving wife in England.  The boat on which he was a passenger stopped in the ocean for remembrance at the EXACT spot where his daughters were lost in the sea.  He was able to write the hymn right there as he poured out his heart to God and put his grief into an eternal perspective.

We too can learn from Horatio's example.  Though the world is falling apart at the seams, and sometimes it feels as if nothing is right, we can rejoice that our eternity is secure in Christ if we are Christians.  The trials of this world are intense, but they are temporary.  Praise God for the hope of our future in Heaven and His promise of comfort, peace and wisdom as we face the trials of this world.

Romans 8:18  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

It is Well with My Soul

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Refrain: It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: If Jordan above me shall roll, No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait, The sky, not the grave, is our goal; Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord! Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul! And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul.