Curriculum Review

I am taking a moment to review a curriculum we are trying out for our Homeschool.  Over the next month, I'll post honest reviews of this particular curriculum.  Here is the official disclaimer.

I've been invited to try Time4Learning's online education program in exchange for an honest review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so come back and read about my experience! For more information, try their lesson demos or find out how to write your own curriculum review.

No Excuses!

I wonder how your Bible reading has been going? It's confession time. Mine has suffered greatly! Life is too busy these days, yeesh! But I knew myself well. That is why I planned to do it at least 3 times this year. I figure by the end of the year, I'll at least have read through the Bible one whole time.

We just finished our missions conference at my church and I was greatly convicted over many things. But one recurring theme God has been bringing to my heart over the past 6 months is that American Christians have no excuse for not reading and studying their Bibles. So many countries have cultures where, in addition to not having the Bible in their language, they will be dis-owned by their families or even killed for following Christ. We have such luxuries in Western civilization with regard to our religious freedom. Why are we wasting it? Why aren't we trying to protect it? Why aren't we telling everyone we talk to about the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Tough questions, I know. And I know they're tough because I've been wrestling with them through conviction in my own heart for months. How about you? Am I the only one? Be encouraged, beloved readers!

I Want to Know Him

It's 2011. Aren't we supposed to be living in space and traveling around in floating vehicles by now? Funny how some things don't change as much as you dream they will, isn't it? There is one thing that never changes, however. And that's God. But because of Him, we can change - drastically. And for that, I'm ever grateful.

A friend of mine got me thinking that this really could be the year that Christ returns. Regardless of your current relationship- or lack of relationship- with the Father, wouldn't you like to know Him if 2011 is the year He calls His Church home? I know I would like to know Him so much more. Just imagine with me for a moment that Christ returns and you must face your Lord. Wouldn't it be nice if we recognized Him?

Friends, we can know Him. All we need to know is contained in one book. Through reading, really reading, the Bible we can know every thing God intended us to know about Him, His character, His love, His grace, His glory . . . everything! I am issuing a challenge to all my readers, Facebook friends and anyone else who would like to come along. I plan to read the Bible completely through at least 3 times this year. I am using this 90-day plan. Won't you join me? I already have 4 committed friends who've decided to put God first this year. Where does He fit into your life? Is He first? Or just an afterthought?

Now, some reading suggestions. I recommend that you read from a thought-for-thought translation rather than a word-for-word translation. This is a suggestion, not a rule. Some very read-able thought-for-thought translations are New International Version (NIV), English Standard Version (ESV), and New Living Translation (NLT). The website I am referencing is a King James Version (KJV) website. KJV is a word-for-word translation. Two more great word-for-word translations are Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) and New American Standard Bible (NASB). HCSB and NASB are both more modern English wording. The reason I make this suggestion is for read-ability. I believe that word-for-word translations are the best for studying but thought-for-thought are the best for a reading period. It takes about 30-45 minutes a day to read the Bible in 90 days, so you're going to want something that will make sense to you and something that you can comprehend and retain.

The most crucial component to any reading plan is prayer. Before you even open your Bible, pray that the Lord will open your heart and mind to receive what you are about to read and that you will retain much. The power of prayer is a subject that I must cover in another post. Suffice it to say for now that you will not get anything out of your readings without the power of the Holy Spirit. And prayer is the key that unlocks that power.

Please comment below if you are planning to read along with us. We will begin Monday, January 10th. As always, I pray you were blessed and encouraged by today's post.

More Godly Women

I have a rare quiet few moments in my home and I'm taking advantage of it! I am going to continue on my quest to honor the Godly women in my life. Read through the descriptions of my Inspirational Influences and see if you have these women in your life.

Inspirational Influence #4 - The One With Wisdom

This is actually a description of two precious women in my life. I have two that I call immediately when I'm seeking Godly counsel on any matter. I think it's important to have women in your life that are of all different age groups. But it's crucial to have older women as a regular part of your life who have been there, done that and can help you figure out how to do something - or how not to do something. Wisdom can be attained at a very young age, but there is no substitution for age and life experience. These precious women also tell me, every single time, what I need to hear - whether I want to hear it or not. That's the measure of Godly wise counsel. If you are seeking counsel from those who will "tickle your ears" as Paul said, you are seeking the absolute wrong counsel. I pray every woman has at least one example of this in her life.

Inspirational Influence #5 - The One Who Perseveres

This incredible woman has been through some particularly tough times, yet is completely steadfast and incredibly encouraging. No matter what God allows in her life to refine her, she hangs on to Him and draws strength from Him alone and perseveres. He is her Rock, her Strong Tower and her Shelter. She just trusts Him, no matter what - and no matter how hard it is. If I can have even an ounce of her resolve and dedication, I will consider myself blessed.

Inspirational Influence #6 - The One Who Laughs

Being the 'class clown' that I am, this could easily describe me - but I have a friend who is just fun, no matter what. I believe with all my heart that if God created us in His image as He said He did, then He has a sense of humor and, as a result, gave us one. How on earth can we face some of the things we must face without a sense of humor? This friend is someone who I always receive a smile and fun moment from. She's got an incredible perspective on this crazy world we live in, and she embraces life with an outlook that few others possess. I am simply happy when I'm with her and I'm thankful she's my friend.

My quiet moment has come to an abrupt, brutal end, so I must go be mommy to my incredible boys. I hope reading this has blessed you and made you ponder the incredible women God has put in your life. And if you're in a season of your life where you feel like you don't have these examples, but need them, take it to the Lord, sweet one. Ask Him to give you these relationships and to give you the courage to cultivate them. He is faithful and He designed us to need relationship with others. He will provide if you simply ask.

Innocent Before Him

I want to continue to honor the Godly women in my life, but I'm taking a brief detour today. I am in the midst of studying the book of Daniel. I just finished Chapter 6. I wonder how many of you were taught (or assumed), as I did, that Daniel was a young man in this chapter? This is the chapter where Daniel is thrown into the lions' den.

If you're like me, you pictured a young man going to that room in his house and kneeling 3 times a day to the Most High God. You pictured a young man being framed by the satraps and commissioners so that he would no longer hold the king's favor. But do you realize that Daniel was about 81 years old during this chapter? I didn't know this until I was studying this time. Isn't it exciting how God always shows us something fresh when we turn to His Word?

As I was thinking about Daniel's age at this point in his very faithful life, I started thinking of my own relationship with God. Would I have the steadfast faith that Daniel and even Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego had? If you believe as I do that everything contained in the Bible is about a real event that involved real people, this should cause some self-reflection. These aren't fairy tales from some long-ago time about make-believe people. These were real, flesh and blood men and women of God that were put to the test and found faithful. If that doesn't make you shout 'Glory!' you better check your pulse, honey!

The phrase 'Dare to be a Daniel' takes on a whole new meaning when you realize that he's 81 facing those lions, doesn't it? Would you be that steadfast and true? Would you be "found innocent before Him" as verse 22 says? O fellow disciple, I want to be able to answer these questions with a hearty YES! Don't you?

Godly Women

I've been thinking quite a bit lately about all the incredible women God has given me the pleasure of knowing in my adult life. I'm going to dedicate this entry (and maybe some future ones - there are quite a few) to honoring these women in my life. I will not give them names, but rather, descriptions of the roles they play in my life. I'm going to call them my Inspirational Influences.

Inspirational Influence #1 - The One Who Prays

While this title could fit just about every woman on my list, because, to be Godly one must be in consistent prayer, there is one who simply prays - no matter what. And her prayers are like a sweet fragrance that fills your senses. When you are blessed with the opportunity to pray with her, you can almost feel Jesus' feet as you are bowed before them. There are no fancy words, no profound statements, she simply talks to the Lord like she knows Him.

Inspirational Influence #2 - The One Who Suffers

I have one dear friend who always seems to have one crisis or another in her midst. Yet she is the most humble, inspiring, encouraging woman I know. She certainly could be classified as 'The One Who Prays,' but I see her as so much more. In 1 Peter 4:12-16, we are told not to be surprised by our suffering, but to "rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ." This wonderful woman of God lives this principle before my eyes every day. And she truly counts it a privilege to get to suffer with Christ. What an incredible perspective to have!

Inspirational Influence #3 - The One who Weeps

Have you ever met someone who seems to be overly-sensitive and cries at, well, everything? That is my next influence. This precious woman of God cries at movies, commercials, weddings, birthdays, communion, music, and anything else that touches her. She cries when she's happy, sad, grieving, rejoicing, angry and depressed. She just cries. As someone who barely ever cries, I used to consider this particular gift a curse. But as I've come to know more about who God is, I've learned that crying is, indeed, a gift. This dear woman has a capacity to feel another's pain like no one I've ever known. She has compassion that runs deep and she really sees people through the eyes of Jesus.

Have you ever wondered why John 11:35 "Jesus wept" is so short? That's the only time in the entire Bible that we see Him grieve and we're given two words worth of insight into the moment. Having had the delight to know this sweet woman, I think I might have some idea why God was so brief in this verse. Crying with someone is so much more powerful than crying for them. To have that sort of compassion is to get a small taste of the love Jesus must have felt for all humankind while on Earth. Not everyone can handle that sort of gift. I know I can't.

That's it for now. Beloved, if you know someone in your life like those I've described, go thank God for allowing you the sheer grace to have them in your reach. Then tell her how much you love her.

Blessings.

Going Home Again

Please forgive me for the heaviness of my last post. I had a rare moment where I got caught up in statistics and facts. Don't fear. It probably won't happen more than once a year or so.

Over the past year, God has been teaching me that the only place a believer can truly be comfortable is wherever He is leading us. But therein lies the rub. It's an easy thing to say you want to follow Jesus. It is a far more complicated thing to actually know where He's leading you.

I had a chance to "go home again" in a way today and it was a frightening, unsettling, bizarre, yet completely wonderful experience. Ever been there? Thomas Wolfe once said "You can't go home again." I think he was right. And wrong.

Let me explain. If "home" to you is the way things used to be then, no, you probably can't go home again. Because circumstances and people are constantly changing. And if you go back to whatever it was - church, hometown, old relationship - with the expectation that things will be exactly the same, you will be very disappointed. Expectations are what cause us disappointment. One of the greatest truths I have come to know as a disciple of Christ is that the only thing that never changes is God Himself. And if you have expectations of any human you will, at some point, be completely disappointed.

But I must disagree with Wolfe at the same time I agree with him. Sometimes you must go home again. I discovered today that, indeed, things were not the same. Additionally, there were loose ends that I left unraveling everywhere in my heart. I needed to go home to realize this. I could have spent the rest of my life pushing those issues down in my heart, but they would be no more healed than they were when I left. And it's not within human power to mold my heart. That's a work that must be done by God alone. But sometimes you need to be in the thing to accept that fact.

God is bigger than any past experience you or I have. He can handle it and He's waiting for you to let Him. Because you didn't go through it without His knowledge and permission in the first place. Let Him handle it. If you don't think He can - you just might need to remember that God is who He says He is. I know it's a lesson of which I am reminded regularly.

Bibles, Bibles Everywhere!

I just want to share with you how blessed I am to have the living, active Word of the God of the Universe in my hands daily. Do you realize, according to this study there are 350,000,000 people who don't even have the Bible in their language? Do you know how blessed you are if you live in the United States where - not only do we have the Bible in our own language - we have over 23 translations of it in our language!

Unfortunately, American Christians are wasting this precious gift. Studies like this one show a disgraceful amount of Bible knowledge among those of us who call ourselves Christians. It goes so far as to state, shamefully for Christians, that "level of education was the best predictor of religious knowledge." This makes me sad for two reasons. First, "religion" is not what God seeks from us. A personal relationship with the God of Heaven is what He desires. Secondly, with such abundant access to God's Word, why do people of other faiths know more about what we believe than we do?

Let's examine my first point a little further. Make no mistake, God created us for His pleasure. He desires relationship and communication with us. He asks us to acknowledge the fact that we're helpless in our sinful state, turn from our sin, and follow Him. Allowing Him to be Lord of our lives. Simply stated, He wants us to desire to know Him. That means reading His Word and having conversation with Him every day. He does all the work, we just have to realize who He is and accept Him into our lives.

What I said above was simply stated, but not necessarily simple. Please do not mistake my message for one that promises ease, wealth and success once you start following the Lord. That is almost never the case. The road is narrow and it is downright hard on this earth. But trust me, the benefits far outweigh the cost. To be able to walk alongside the God who created heaven and earth both now and for all eternity is worth any cost I might face on this crazy planet!

On to my second point from above. With all the access American Christians have to the Bible, please explain to me why we're so woefully Bible illiterate. We have absolutely no excuse. Dear one, if you are a professing Christian and you have to blow the dust off your Bible before you leave for Sunday morning church, shame on you! Let me say that again - shame on you and shame on me for having periods of time where I've let God lose His place of priority in my life.

As disciples of Christ, we should be yearning to know more. Simply picking up our Bibles, opening them, and devoting some real time to the Lord will bless you more than you imagined. God has given us a counselor within us to teach us what He wants us to know from every single passage in Scripture. That counselor is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God in us. If we thought more about the fact that God is within us daily, I'll bet we'd crack open that precious book more often. There are a myriad assortment of resources to help you study your Bible. But much can come from simply reading, then sitting at the throne for awhile asking the Lord what He wants to teach you about Himself. If you choose to go deeper, I recommend this method for truly learning what the Scripture says rather than taking someone else's word for it.

I hope this post has challenged you as much as I was challenged while doing the research. One final thought. If you are a professing Christian but have no desire to learn more about your Lord, that should raise an alarm for you. Take that concern to the Lord and reason it out with Him. Be sure of your salvation, then follow Christ with vigor. Eternity awaits you. Don't trust in "I hope so" or "I think so." Be encouraged, disciple!

Clearly NOT a Yellow Brick Road

I've discovered that blogging is about as random as journaling is for me. Looks like it's been almost four months since I've had something profound enough to share on my mind. Trust me, I use the term profound very loosely.

So how have YOU been? I've been wrestling with many things in my heart concerning the Lord lately. I wish I could tell you I'm coming to you with incredible insight and clarity and God has just laid my path out for me so clearly I feel like Dorothy on the yellow brick road. But, the God of heaven and earth is simply not that clear most of the time.

And it's in those times that I've found God does the coolest work. You see, I'm not a naturally patient person - ask my husband, kids or mother. But I doubt many of us are because we're so hopelessly human. I like to have my answers my way and right now, thank you very much. And it would be really helpful if you'd just wrap them all up in a neat little bow, so I can be sure to know exactly where to find them.

But God in His sovereignty has MUCH bigger plans. You see, before He ever formed the earth He knew you and me. He knew that I would prefer to not have to wait too long for an answer and that I would trust way more in my plan B than I did Him. So He's given me one opportunity after another to learn to trust Him more. And it's in those waiting times that He teaches me the lessons I remember most. God doesn't just grab a ladle of grace and serve all the grace we need for our entire lives on earth in one big bowl. He gives us little teaspoons at a time. Each day we must go to Him and ask for the grace, strength, peace, you fill in the blank to make it through that minute, hour and day. Then the next day, we get to petition Him one more time.

God does this for us and for His pleasure. He knew that if He gave me all I needed and said "here, child, now don't spend it all in one place" that I'd screw up in two major ways. Number one - I'd waste my portion before I ever made it to my last day. And number two - I would never seek God's face because I'd think I didn't need Him anymore. God desires relationship and because He made us in His image, we need relationship, too. Who better to have a close, intimate relationship with than the one who holds everything in His hands??

These are the thoughts that have been encouraging me lately, and I hope they encourage you, too, sweet child of the King! I'd love to hear your personal comments on how God has blessed you by simply wanting a relationship with you. Leave a comment below and be encouraged!

Change You can take to Heaven's Bank

Wow, where do I start? First, I'll start by saying God is Faithful. I've been traveling along my journey in quietness with Him over the past few months. Many small changes have occurred in my life that have amounted to bigger blessings with Him. Isn't it interesting how God is constantly shaping, molding, pruning and making us just a little bit more like Him every minute of the day? And let me tell you, I am no easy vessel to mold!

Since my last post, I've fallen more deeply in love with my second-born. A strong-willed child that was very hard for me to love the first two years of his life. I can almost hear the gasp exiting your mouth right now as you read that sentence. But how are we to let God heal us if we're not honest with Him? And how is He to use us to touch others if we're pretending everything's okay when, clearly, they are not? So, since I know without a doubt that there are other moms and dads who've struggled to love or even like a child, I come to you with painful honesty. And I'm here to tell you - you're not alone and God IS Faithful and True and will answer your cry for help. You need only ask Him.

It took me awhile to see all the wonderful qualities in my incredibly frustrating child. And I felt horribly guilty because I didn't just adore my own child like I was "supposed" to. (Funny how society is very quick to tell us what to do, but falls woefully short of solutions to accomplish those insurmountable tasks, isn't it?) I'll just set you free from that load of bondage right now. Guilt is a tool from the pit of hell and Satan will use it against you in a mighty way - if you let him. Yes, I said let him. Satan has no power over a believer that we haven't first given him. (2 Corinthians 10:2-5)

I prayed for the first two years of my little one's life for God to change him. I knew I couldn't deal with a child "like that" for the rest of my life. I knew I would end up in the psychiatric ward at the local hospital. But then, through a wonderful message by a faithful member of our church, God revealed something to me. My son wasn't changing and I was just beating my head against a wall for nothing. God had answered my prayers and I hadn't even noticed. The answer was "No, child - this is for your good." And it is. God is changing me. And I am learning to accept the things that aren't changing and get my strength from the Lord.

That's change you can count on! God NEVER lets you down.

How Mad are You?

This post will be more of a rant than an actual post, I'm afraid. Lately I have been seeing so many stories put forth by the media that, as a Christian, just plain MAKE ME MAD! How has the average Christian become so, well, average? We are called to go against the tide to stand up for our Lord. Yet, most frequently, there's absolutely no difference between a person who calls themselves a Christian and one who completely denies Christ - except for where they spend their Sunday mornings (in bed or at "church"). Most "churches" these days have no reflection of the picture of God's Church as laid out in Acts Chapter 2.

I confess, until recently, I was as guilty as the next hypocrite. I went to a building to "do church" and was completely clueless what God's design for His church actually was. I thought "doing stuff" for God showed my love for Him and if I could just serve enough, God would know how I felt about Him. Sadly, I was dead wrong - spiritually dead. And I was tired.

The prevailing message in Christianity today is about "service." But the arrow is being pointed at either serving the wrong way - or, probably more specifically - serving the wrong One. True service to our Lord is not something we do, it's something we are. We don't serve the Lord to get something from Him. He's not our genie in a bottle. We serve Him out of our sheer love and devotion to Him for who He is not what He's done.

Certainly, we should praise Him for the good in our lives. But if we never receive one more blessing, we should serve Him simply because He's Lord. Period. I am jealous for a fresh awakening of the Church today. The Bride needs to be ever ready for the Bridegroom. And we need to add as many to the Kingdom as possible on the way. I am utterly convicted to share Jesus more. Every interaction I have with another human is an opportunity to reflect Christ and witness to His Gospel. I wonder - how many opportunities have I wasted? Maybe instead of getting mad at the media, I could get mad at Satan (the real enemy) enough to do something about it. Like share the Gospel with a lost soul. What a revolutionary thought.

Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes

My life has been reeling with activity the past few months. So I have grossly neglected my blog. Here's to new beginnings!

Lately, everywhere I turn I am presented with a message on prayer posture. So I thought I'd invite you to share in my conviction. :) There are many postures from which to choose when praying - standing, sitting, kneeling, lying face-down. There are also many things to do with your eyes. Close them, look down, look up. For me, it depends on the nature of the prayer how I present myself before the Almighty Throne.

I might sit with another brother or sister, holding hands or with my hand on their shoulder, head bowed, eyes closed for intercessory matters. I might kneel for burdensome matters that are heavy on my heart, bowed head and closed eyes. Sometimes the bowing needs to take place at an altar so you can leave the matter there symbolically. (There's just nothing like a sweet time at the altar, is there?) There are times when it's appropriate to stand, hands raised, with open eyes in praise and adoration, unashamed and expecting the Lord's presence.

Then, there are times when no prayer posture will do but to lie flat on the floor, face-down and REALLY do business with the Lord. Sometimes we simply cannot humble ourselves enough to make the particular request we wish to make. Or sometimes we need such a healing or cleansing from Jehovah that we must prostrate ourselves to avoid distraction and pride.

No matter your posture, prayer is key to a healthy relationship with the Father. All these postures represent a heart condition and all of them are needed. So often in my Faith Walk I have neglected to kneel or lie down out of laziness or pride. And in those times when I know my Father is leading me to take a specific position, yet I refuse, I also know I have missed the great blessing God was holding out for me. Did it change the effectiveness of my prayer? Perhaps. Perhaps not. But I know in my heart I could have received more from the Lord should I have obeyed Him in such a simple thing as my prayer posture.

I love the Lord with all my heart. I want the absolute best He has to offer me. Oh, that I might not get in His way with my pride or neglect. I'm not suggesting we be legalistic and have a planned position for each type of prayer we speak. But I am imploring you to walk closely enough with the Lord to hear Him whisper to you "Darlin' you need to bow right here" or "Child, fall on your face about this one."

What about you, saint? Have you missed an opportunity to honor your Lord with your prayer posture? It's certainly something I've been mulling over this week. Be blessed, sweet one!

Service from the Heart

As I continue to read through the book I mentioned in my last entry, "Fresh Power", I find more and more to equip me for my new service in church leadership. We have recently started attending a very small, very intriguing church. My husband and I felt a definite call to leave our comfort zone of a large, well-established church with all the programs and activities one could ever want. We felt God was calling us to a place with very little to offer us. Instead of seeking to have our needs met, we are seeking to fill empty places in a church that needs us . . . desperately.

God called every believer to service. We are all to find a place within our churches, buckle down, and serve. Period. Regardless of whether our needs are met (only God truly knows what we actually need anyway), our feelings get hurt, or we "feel like it." (Which can entail a myriad of objections in itself). So why is it the modern western culture (read: United States) attitude to seek out a church for what it can do for me? I wonder how many of us are actually reading our Bibles? Because if we were, we would know that Jesus came to serve not to be served (Mark Chapter 10). Aren't we then, as followers of Christ, supposed to follow in His footsteps and serve? How can we justify such selfishness?

Allow me to share a few excerpts from this incredible book I am studying: "But just as there are people who watch from the bleachers and never know the challenge on the court, we have millions of churchgoers who sit in pews every week without entering the game." Later in the chapter, Pastor Cymbala goes on to say of the leaders of the Antioch church "These men were not sitting in a boardroom making strategic charts on a whiteboard. They were not huddled around their computers working on spreadsheets. Instead, they were having a time of worship, praise and prayer, all intensified by periods of fasting." Then he goes on to describe what I heard a good friend recently call a "Martha" type church (compared to a "Mary" type). "... if we are always busy working, doing, talking, handing out materials, and fielding phone calls, we miss the chances to listen and get our ears tuned to his voice. These men in Antioch quieted down enough to hear something from heaven. Samuel Chadwick said in the early 1900s, 'The church that multiplies committees and neglects prayer may be fussy, noisy, enterprising, but it labors in vain and spends its strength for naught. It is possible to excel in mechanics and fail in dynamics. There is an abundance of machinery; what is wanting is power.' "

Where has the power gone in our churches today? May I suggest to you that the power is within the people. It is called the Holy Spirit. But we're too busy, prideful and selfish to even realize our power source is completely cut off by our slothfulness and selfishness. I'm not sure about you, but I'm weary of the "me first" mentality in today's Christian culture. What happened to "God first" ? Brothers and sisters, I'm certain, based on authority of Scripture, that when our priority comes back to balance - God first - we will see revival in our nation. But it has to start within each believer's heart.

Saint, please know, that when I ask you this, I am including myself - where is God in your heart? This is a question I must ask myself daily. I hope you will too.

Unity = Effective Christianity

Over the past few years, I have been so burdened for unity in the Body of Christ that I can hardly contain it. I'm reading an excellent book right now that, coupled with my personal Bible reading, is making me even more jealous for the unity to which we are called. The book is "Fresh Power" by Jim Cymbala. This is the fourth book I've read by this particular author and each one has challenged me and encouraged me in ways I never imagined a book could.

Yesterday, as I studied Colossians, it paralleled and magnified some things I was reading in the book. In an effort to bring this subject to light in the name of Jesus, I want to share with you what I am learning.

In Colossians 3:13, we read "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as memebers of one body you were called to peace. " A little earlier, in verse 11, Paul states "Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all." (emphasis added in both quotes). The Lord is clearly telling us to leave all pretenses, prejudices and preferences in the Name of Jesus to work together as one body for His Kingdom. God is not concerned with the name on the door of your church building or the number of people attending. He is concerned with the Holy Spirit filling each person in His body across the nations so we have the Power to do His work, unified, with one goal - to reach people - both the lost and believers in need of restoration and encouragement - and change their lives in Jesus' name!

Brothers and Sisters, unify, for Christ's sake!! Have a loving attitude and a heart for people. See them through Jesus' eyes. Status, race, denomination, wealth, poverty, talent - God is the giver of those gifts and He only sees a heart - not a color, pocketbook or skill. We will never be blessed with the fullness of the Holy Spirit in our corporate gatherings with division and strife. In the aforementioned book, Pastor Cymbala says it this way "We are busy expending energy to move ahead, but we go nowhere in the end. At the same time that we beckon the Spirit to 'come' through our praying and preaching, our slander, backbiting and division yell at him to 'go away'. "

Do we want to be effective for Christ or do we want to merely plod along in the same mediocre existence we are currently experiencing? I'm not sure about you, but I want to hold hands with my Brothers and Sisters and kick Satan not only to the curb, but to the darkness in which he belongs. In order to bind him up and start becoming more effective as a Body, we must unify. Satan's first attempt to destroy us is to keep us from becoming a child of the King. When that fails, he uses every force of darkness he can to create ineffective witness for Christ so that no one else is influenced positively enough by us to want what we have. This is the current climate of Christianity today. Such ineffectiveness that the world looks at us and says "why do I want that - they're no different than me?" Is that really the impression of Christianity we want displayed?

Not me! Arm yourself with the full armor of God with me. Put your work boots on and let's get a little dirty for the Kingdom's sake! Look at your fellow believers regardless of denomination, race or status - regardless of how they look, smell or speak - and say "Let's do this thing for Jesus' sake!!" That's effective Christianity. And it's a pleasing offering to our Lord and King.

The Greatest Power

I'm on vacation right now and there's really no better time to take a few minutes to write than when you're in the presence of the Almighty and His creation like I am today. I am at the beach and I never feel more close to God than I do when I'm looking at His ocean. What a magnificent display of His glory and power! The ocean is a complex machine. It holds the potential to ignite romance, inspire worship and soothe. But the same ocean has the power to smooth hard surfaces, erode beaches and destroy entire cities. But aren't we thankful that the ocean can do nothing without the direct consent of its Creator? Much like us. And, Praise God, very much like our enemy the Devil!!

Think about it! For all your struggles with Satan, remember, he is not allowed to touch one hair on your precious head without the direct consent of God. NOTHING happens without God allowing it!! If you are struggling in a battle with the greatest enemy, remember this. God has a work to do in you, precious one. And Satan is being used of God to complete that work. Wonder what the "father of all lies" would think of that one? Believer, he knows! Rest assured, Satan might have a big head, but even he knows that God is God and there is none like him. His agenda is to take as many humans down with him as possible.

Be encouraged, saint! Stand up and fight the fight on the winning side, then rejoice with your Commander - God Himself. There is no greater power.

God's economy

As my personal study of Acts continues, I have found even more that I simply must share with you. I can hardly think of anything else than what the Lord has shown me today.

I am visiting my parents out of town. My dad loves Fox News and watches it almost exclusive to anything else on TV, save Judge Judy. Judge Judy drives me nuts (sorry, Dad) but I can handle Fox News. If you have to watch news - which I make a habit of not doing (too depressing) - I guess Fox is the best choice. I digress.

The most hot topic on any news channel right now is the Healthcare Reform that President Obama is trying to implement. I will never use this blog as a political platform for my personal opinions. Those are between you and the Lord. I only mention what's being reported currently because it related so much to my study in Acts, that I've been convicted and prayerful ever since.

Regardless of your political view, the Bible never changes. There are truths and principles in there that can change your day, your life and your world. How can you reading the Bible change the world you might ask. Allow me to submit one very real possibility. You read your Bible and are changed by the holy conviction you receive. Then you share it with someone else, who then pursues their own search and receives life-changing revelation. Then they share it and so on and so forth. So I decided to share what I've learned in the hopes that you'll share, then the people you meet will share. I am very weary of mediocre Christianity.

Now, on to what I read that relates so poignantly to today's world and our current issues. In Acts Chapter 4 verse 32, then verses 34-35 we get an explanation of how life was supposed to be and how the body of Christ is supposed to act. Acts 4:32, 34-35: "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet and it was distributed to anyone as he had need." Now there's a welfare system for you. God's system. God's economy.

It states clearly here that God's plan to feed the hungry and clothe the needy was for the church to care for them. Under the direction and counsel of the church, everyone had what they needed. I fear what I am saying here might be misconstrued. Please understand that I am taking no political side here. Instead, I am asking - what has happened to Christians today? When did we become so greedy that we started thinking "this is mine" rather than "this is God's"? Please know that there is no condemnation in this questioning because I am the first who needed to repent of this particular selfishness. Where did we, as Christians, lose the desire to give freely, joyfully and sacrificially so that God may use the gifts with which He blessed us to bless others even more?

It's no wonder circumstances have become what they are in the world. Christians have forgotten or possibly simply ignored the teachings of God's Word and decided to make their own rules. There is no plan other than God's plan. Because of our slothfulness in stewardship, we have allowed government to step in and fill the gap we have left. Our responsibility is to study the Word, to know the Word and to live the Word. Why are we sitting idly by when we have the answers from God in a precious love story He wrote just to us? I challenge us (myself included) to read His Word with abandon. Like our lives depend on it. Because they do. Then drop to your knees and pray. Pray like you've never prayed before and let's show this world what a truly faithful, obedient Christian can do to effect change.

Who we REALLY are

Really, I'm trying to update this blog more frequently. I promise. Tomorrow is a new day, I suppose. Bear with me.

Today, my Bible study had me in Romans 4 and a couple things struck me while I read it. Particularly, 2 verses within the chapter. I'll share both of them with you today and I hope it blesses you like it blessed me. It blessed my socks off, as I often like to say.

First, in verse 17, it states - "the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were." There's so much in that one half-verse that I can hardly get my thoughts to my fingers before another one comes full-steam ahead behind it! "The God who gives life to the dead" - do you know a dead person who needs a little life? How about a dead marriage? How about a dead friendship? And let's just be honest, I'm sure we all know a dead church that could use some life! It says right here, smack in the middle of Romans 4 that God is the giver of life! So why don't we just ask for it?

Then there's the portion of that verse that says "and calls things that are not as though they were." Will someone please shout Glory! with me???!! The context of this portion is that Abraham had righteousness credited to him by faith - - alone. Not circumcision, not position, not breeding, but faith only. Faith in the only One worth entrusting faith to. God Almighty, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom we are heirs to the throne by our simple faith. Hallelujah, someone needs to shout right now! Maybe run a little or dance, or sing or kneel?

I'm going to borrow on this verse for a minute and take it just a little farther. This is what God spoke to me, personally through this portion of this verse. Yes, the verse is talking about our righteousness credited to us simply because we believe. And that in and of itself is a miraculous work. But, even more than that, I believe that God calls us not only who we are in Him as though we already were, but what we are in Him as well. Let me give an example. God looks at a young couple just getting married who have no idea what God will do with their lives. He knows that He is going to call them to be missionaries for Him in ten years, but His time for their calling hasn't yet come. Regardless, when God sees that couple, I believe He says to Himself, there's my missionary couple. Because He calls things that are not as though they were. Do you see what I mean? Dear one, what has He called you to that has not yet come to fruition? Remember, He already calls you what, in the earthly realm, you are not. Mercy, I wish I could be there to see your face as this dawns upon you afresh like it did me. I've been praising Him all day!!

Finally, in verse 21, it states "being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." So many times I fail God by not trusting in His power to do exactly what He's promised. I trust for others. I can believe it for them, but when it comes to myself, it's a completely different story. This was a reminder for me (and God has to remind me often), to walk like I am fully persuaded that God has power to do [exactly] what He has promised. Praise the Lord! He is worthy. He is mighty and He holds more power than my mind can even fathom. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

Holy Joy - David Dances

I'm singing a song as a guest singer today that causes some controversy among my more conservative brothers and sisters in the Lord. It's titled "David Did Dance". And oh, how David did dance. And in a holy way, pleasing to the Lord. I've spent much time studying the passage of scripture in 2 Samuel Chapter 6 where this event is detailed in the past. But today I re-visited it for a refresher before I sing a song about it. I always want to be completely in line with the Word before I ever utter the words in my heart of any song I plan to sing.

Here are some potions of the above-mentioned passage: 2 Samuel 6:14 "David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might". Now, I could park right there on the "with all his might" section, but I'll save that for another day. My focus is to be in a later nugget tucked in this passage. A little further down and you'll see it. David's wife Michal was disgusted by his public display of affection for the Lord and you can imagine she had a few words to say about it. Let's focus on David's response to the opposition. Get your own Bible to see that it's there and underline it so you can reference it when you're fighting that endless battle against the enemy. 2 Samuel 6:21-22 "It was before the Lord who chose me rahter than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord's people Israel - I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this and I will be humiliated by my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor."

If I were saying this today to someone, it would sound something like this: "God knew me and chose me anyway. I can't contain my joy over that. Sometimes, you just gotta move so you can let the joy out! It does not matter what you or anyone else thinks. It only matters that God sees my heart and knows that I am worshipping him."

Brother or sister in Christ, when we truly understand what Christ has done for us. When we truly get it, our joy will not be contained either. Dancing might not be your form of expression. For some it's a raised hand during worship music. For many it's a bowed knee. For some it's just a smile and for others it's tears. However you feel comfortable expressing your joy, just express it for the Lord's sake! Show Him how you feel. And let others be blessed by your expression. Because they will, dear one. Joy is contagious.

Enjoy this video to encourage and uplift you. Keep on dancin'!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAmk7UAgPFI

Warnings and Obedience

First, I must apologize for not updating this blog as frequently as I should. We have had some major changes in our lives lately and I've gotten a little bogged down with daily living. God has worked in our lives recently in ways I would have never imagined. I am amazed at how He chooses to bless us regardless of how poorly we've handled our lives.

We moved last week. My one year old has discovered the joy of climbing and finds our moving boxes utterly delightful objects on which to practice his new skill. What is most entertaining is the way, despite countless warnings from his parents who know what's best, he will climb to the top of a box only to realize that he doesn't quite know how to get down. He then commences to sit down and cry until one of us finally has mercy and rescues the pitiful thing.

This reminded me of a picture of my life following the Lord. Throughout His Word and through Holy Spirit leading, I am warned of dangerous areas that I should avoid. Yet, human nature and my sheer stubbornness causes me to explore the territory despite the obvious warnings. Then I get myself in a mess that I have no clue how to get out of. In hindsight I sit down and wallow in my self-pity, knowing I did something completely out of the Lord's will and completely disobedient. I have no option but to sit down and cry out to the Lord until He has mercy on me and rescues me -- yet again.

As I grow in the Lord, the same mistakes are made less often and I learn from my past experience. Just as a baby will eventually learn that some heights are simply dangerous, children of the Lord eventually learn how to heed His warnings and not tread choppy waters. But until that time, we can know that according to I John 1:9, when "we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." So when I do mess up (and I know I will, for I am human), I have confidence in the redeeming power of my Savior to hear me when I repent and give me a fresh start.

Just to be clear, this does not mean that I have license to do whatever I wish and then ask forgiveness later. God will not be mocked. But if I keep a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and ask for revelation about any unconfessed sin, I know my God is faithful to give me that revelation. Grace does not replace our responsibility to be obedient. Obedience is always the shortest distance to God's will and the most blessed path to take.

I am thankful that God will never give up on me. Because I have given Him good reason. But, just as I want to bless my children, my Heavenly Father wants to bless me. Praise His Name, I'm a child of the King!

Making Plans

Wow, May 11th was quite awhile ago!  I have been a little slack with this blog over the past couple weeks.  Our lives have been very eventful lately and just sitting down for quiet time with God has been a struggle.  But I just have to share with you what I learned from my Master yesterday!

I was reading 2 Corinthians 1:12 - 2:4.  We have a few pretty major decisions we are currently praying about and a verse in this passage leaped off the page at me (isn't it exciting when that happens?).  It was in Chaper 1, verse 17.  "When I planned this, did I do it lightly?  Or do I make my plans in a worldy manner so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, yes" and "No, no"?"

So I examined myself and found that most often, I make my plans lightly, in a worldy manner, saying "Yes, yes" and "No, no" in the same breath.  Frequently, I allow myself to just float an flit about being tossed by every breeze that comes my way.  But in this Scripture, God has called and is calling me to put some thought and, more importantly, prayer behind my plans.  Because, let's be honest, they're His plans to begin with.  And make no mistake.  He will have His plans carried out, whether we are immediately obedient or not.  

Mere humans are the ones who make things difficult on themselves.  Am I suggesting that a Christian's life is all sunshine and roses?  Absolutely not!  But if we are joyously obedient at the beginning of our decision-making process, we experience peace, understanding and assurance throughout the entire process.  

So my challenge to myself and you, dear readers, is this.  Test decisions against the Word of God.  Then pray for clarity, understanding and assurance that the decision is the correct one.  Once I receive that revelation, walk confidently in the knowledge that I made the right decision and - here's the key - do not allow myself to be tossed by the first breeze that comes my way.  Expect winds and storms and be steadfast and unmoveable in my faith.