Growing in Grace

Wednesday Links 9/21/11

2011-09-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

A mix of items this week:

Pastor Mark blogs about women and ministry.

Wishing I were in Minneapolis this week, attending this conference, but thankful they'll be streaming the sessions...

Need some perspective on the trials you're facing? Carolyn Mahaney gives some good tips over at girltalk...

Two songs from Mandisa that have been ministering to me this week... The Truth About Me and Good Morning (just makes me happy - any time of day!)

When Life is Hard

2011-09-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

This has been another hard year... there's no other way to describe it... seems like one challenge after another. There's been joy in the journey - but the journey's been hard...

The last hard year like this was 2007... A year of ups and downs (maybe that's what makes it hard... the ups AND downs?)

To highlight 2007:

Two adorable nephews, born 3 months apart
Dad had a heart attack in May
... and a big stroke in July
Which was followed, a day later, by a fire in the shop building / apartment on the farm.
The four of us daughters spent the summer rotating trips to Iowa
A farm auction over Labor Day - the Lord blessed us...
Moving Dad from the farm to town...
A marriage wrought apart...
Changes in plans... dreams...

2011 is shaping up to be that kind of year as well... but you know what? God is faithful through it all. And I don't know about you, but sometimes, these are the year's I grow the most... because I have to cling desperately to the Cross. The hope I have in an eternal future keeps me taking one step after another... trusting that He is indeed, working all things together for His glory - for His plan...

And so, this year, filled with the bumpy turbulance of life - it holds promise too... that's why I press on... fighting the good fight... not considering the trials of this life as anything more than the mist they are... I hope you know this hope too.

Wednesday links 9/14/11

2011-09-14T06:54:00.000-07:00

Here are some things that caught my eye this week...

Since I'm leading a Made to Crave Bible study, Mandisa caught my eye with her tweets this week, and especially this blog post on why she continues to weigh. I've been listening to her music this week, and have been really encouraged by True Beauty and What if We Were Real. Beautiful lyrics.

Sarah Bubar writes over at CBMW about how to avoid the pitfalls of the "Bad Girls in Church History"... and that's not bad, as in good... rather, bad as in poor choices...

A $10 two-day beach conference? Check out (in)RL brought to us by the (in)courage gals.

Just out of curiosity, who do you follow on Twitter? Anyone who really lifts you up with their posts?

Wednesday Links - on Thursday 9/8/11

2011-09-08T11:47:00.000-07:00

Yep - it's been that kind of week... tres busy... lots happening!

Here are some links that caught my eye and made me think this week... enjoy!

Ever notice how we tend to think about what is in front of us? Is it true about friends? Check out this post...

Have you ever prayed for some blessing, then been annoyed by it later? See what Steven Furtick has to say about when our blessings become curses.

Walk by FAITH not feelings.

Here's how to guard yourself against induction into the "Bad Girls of the Church" club.

That's all for this week... next week, I'll try to get Wednesday links up on Wednesday!

Wednesday Links 8/31/11

2011-08-31T15:22:00.000-07:00

Have you ever rushed through something, leaving a wake of destruction in your path? Check out this beautiful post When You Need to Say You're Sorry over at Getting Down With Jesus.

Feeling harassed by your to-do list and like life is flashing by? See Ann VosKamp's remedy on How to Get the Most out of a Day.

We've been talking a lot about our hearts lately... in Sunday school, in the sermons and even at small group! I'm also reading John Flavel's Keeping the Heart. So naturally, this article on Biblical mandate for heart change caught my attention. The title gives a clue: As we See Him We Become Like Him.

Ever wonder if you really are a Christian? Check out a few litmus tests here.

Fitness update

2011-08-30T14:48:00.000-07:00

So, it's been a while since I posted about fitness. Let's just say, I got a bit off track this summer. Time to get back on the wagon!!

So, today, for giggles, I did a fitness test. It's been a while since the last one. In fact, I had to search through the blog to find my old results. So, here were today's numbers... not too bad:

1 mile run: 9:10
Full Situps (in 1 minute) - 35
Pushups (in 1 minutes) - 19 on my toes 8 on my knees
Hover - 1:46
Wallsit - 3:33

Definitely haven't been doing enough pushups. I did those last today and was a bit out of steam too...

So - my other fun fitness update is that I'm facilitating a "Made to Crave" Bible study for PWOC. This study addresses less of the "how-to's" of fitness, health and diet, and looks more at what causes us to "want" food more than God. Lysa TerKeurst, the author, will also be our main speaker for the PWOC regional conference this fall. Also just found out that Laura Story will be leading worship! I'm excited!! I'm even thinking about giving up my Gamecock football ticket that weekend. (If you know me, you know that is SERIOUS!!) But, it is the Florida game - so I might have to come back early!

Memory Stones

2011-08-25T08:18:00.000-07:00

Joshua 24:26-27
And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. And Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God."

Wednesday Links

2011-08-24T16:17:00.000-07:00

Here are a few links to articles that caught my eye this week:

How to Avoid Marrying the Wrong Christian Guy

Are you feeling broken? See what Ann Voskamp has to say about it at AHolyExperience.

Good Soil

2011-08-22T08:15:00.000-07:00

Mark 4:8
And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.

Whirling Days

2011-08-19T11:22:00.000-07:00

Can you feel it? The summer days, slow and lazy (there were a few!) - are coming to an end... already - I feel the hustle and bustle of fall upon me... and I gasp for breath - feeling already out of control!

Bible studies ramping up, alongside the normal activities - the frenzy of back-to-school in the air - mama's letting go or gearing up - an anticipation of what is to come... and I g-a-s-p for air...

Remembering... reminding... The LORD is my strength...

I must set my mind on the things ABOVE...

And as I breathe truth in and speak it out... my heart calms... my breathing steadies... and I slow to hear His voice.

Quietly, I listen... yes Master? BE STILL and KNOW that I AM GOD...

Wednesday Links

2011-08-17T09:01:00.000-07:00

I've found myself asking this question lately - and coming to the same conclusion as Melissa Taylor: Is God Enough?

Want to get your craft on? I've had a blast downloading free fonts from fonts.com

Reading The Help or going to see the movie? Check out one review... It's our September book club book - and we're going to see the movie this Thursday!

If you are looking for good books to read... follow me on Pinterest... I've got boards for our book club books, my summer reading, and books worth reading. These lists get updated everytime I finish a book!

Glimpses of Glory - Iowa edition pt 1

2011-08-16T18:53:00.000-07:00

My House That Lies in Ruins

2011-08-15T14:10:00.000-07:00

Here is the church
   Here is the steeple
       Open the doors
              Here are the people!

Do you remember that little song with hand motions from when you were a child? (do they still teach it?!) There is a deeper truth than people being IN the church - people ARE the church. Not bricks and mortar; not whizbang technology; not hip contemporary Christian music; not programs... but PEOPLE!

At the end of the Day, it will be people that spend eternity with the Lord.

In his book, Don't Waste Your Life, John Piper quotes a sign that hung in his mother's kitchen:

Only one life,

T'will soon be past -

Only what's done for Christ will last.

When we talk of "building the church" what does that really mean? What does it look like? I can't help but think it is deeply rooted in the two commands that Christ - the Master Carpenter - gave us: love God and love others.

I have to ask myself - how well have I heard the heartbeat of the Carpenter? Would I, like the returned Babylonian exiles, stand accused:

"Because of My house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house."

~ Haggai 1:9c

Whose blueprint am I following?

My life is busy - but have I been following the Master's plan or have I been building my own house? Have I been doing a quick-flip "Designed to Sell" makeover, or the deep renovation work needed in my heart?

"We live in a culture in which the interest and desires of the individual take precedence over those of a community. As a result, a high percentage of people want to achieve spiritual growth without losing their independence to a church or to [a biblical community]... there is no way you will be able to grow spiritually apart from a deep involvement in a community of other believers. You can't live the Christian life without a band of Christian friends, without a family of believers in which you find a place." [T. Keller ~ The Prodigal God]

I confess - I am quite American... so stinkin' independent! So me! I want to renovate in private - on my own time and according to my own agenda. I don't need your help, thank you very much.

How not biblical. We are called to community. As believers, we are parts of a Body. Not ever intended for independent operation.

Today, I am seeking to hear the Carpenter's voice... His plans, His instructions for the Body... and I am thankful for those who are doing the same.

Glimpses of Glory - Iowa edition pt 2

2011-08-12T18:56:00.000-07:00

Wednesday links

2011-08-10T14:08:00.000-07:00

Need to forgive your parents? Check out Ann Voskamp's post at A Holy Experience.

Need to forgive yourself? Check out Jennifer Dukes Lee's post at Gettin' Down With Jesus.

Feeling discouraged? See what Rene Swope has to share over at Proverbs 31.

Glimpses of Glory in the Neighborhood

2011-08-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

Perfectly Joined Together

2011-08-05T18:58:00.000-07:00

Have you ever NOT followed a recipe or a formula requiring exact measurements or ingredients? When I was in the eighth grade, our family planned a camping trip with our chaplain's family. Preparations were made - including food - and I was in charge of making the Snickerdoodle cookies...

Things were rolling along fine in my baking adventure until I came to one ingredient: Cream of tartar. "What a weird thing to put in cookies," I thought as I pulled the tartar sauce from the fridge. The cookies were baked and camping commenced.

Somewhere along the way we had a conversation about cream of tartar - I think it was when my chaplain bit into his Snickerdoodle and found a bit of pickle. Not exactly your normal Snickerdoodle ingredient... You can bet I'm well aware of what cream of tartar IS these days!

When God composed the Body of Christ - His church - the Bride of Christ - He mixed together a perfect recipe. (1 Cor. 12:18) "God has so composed the body" (1 Cor. 12:24b) to blend together and work as one. "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." (1 Cor 12:27)

This past weekend, as women gathered together retreating from our lives for the advancement of the gospel in our hearts - we talked community.

Not programs and longer to-do lists - but community - connecting together person to person. And we all thought long and hard about Paul's words in 1 Corinthians:

18 But as it is, nGod arranged the members in the body, each one of them, oas he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts,1 yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, pall rejoice together.

We confessed and repented of our disdain for the weaker parts... our aversion of the hard personalities in the Body... We thought hard on how each person was knit into our body for God's purposes, plans and His glory.

What would happen if each person in teh Body of Christ leaned in a bit... started better loving and caring for the rest of the Body? Would they know we are Christians by our love?

Glimpses of Glory - Delightful Flowers

2011-08-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

Rising Above Our Circumstances

2011-08-02T19:03:00.000-07:00

Just to summarize the key points of the first two blogs, in case you may have forgotten… (or didn’t read them):

· God (the LORD – Yahweh) is the source and focus of our joy

· Joy is NOT based in circumstances

· Joy is NOT a synonym for happiness – although - neither does it preclude happiness

· We are commanded to be joyful – in all circumstances

Jesus spoke a fair amount about joy… in fact, at the last supper, He gave the eleven disciples some pertinent information as to how to have “full joy”. In John 15:1-12, Jesus points out three evidences of believers, which are linked to this joy:

1. They will bear fruit – and they will be pruned. Pruning is an interesting thing – because it is NOT just clipping away dead parts. In fact, it occurs in spring when vines are flowering. Fast-growing shoots are clipped, so they won’t grow too quickly, long shoots are clipped so they don’t break in the wind; some flowers or fruit are removed so that the remaining fruit will be of better quality, and “suckers” are removed so that the strength of the vine is not weakened. As believers, the fruit that we will bear is described by Paul in Galatians 5:22: love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. It is important to note that this fruit glorifies God – NOT worldly success.

2. The second identifier of a believer is that they will ABIDE in Christ. You cannot bear this fruit on your own or in your own strength. Christ says this in vs. 4-5. The ONLY way to bear this fruit is to abide in Him. Abide means to remain or continue in Him. So, if you are trusting in a prayer you prayed at some point in your life… you might want to reconsider… we must ABIDE in Him. Some ideas on how that “looks”: prayer, Bible study, fellowship with believers.

3. The third identifying trait of a believer is that they obey God’s commands. Again, Jesus gives direction on this in vs. 9-10 when He tells us that He loves His bride and that we are to abide in His love by keeping His commandments. Then, in vs. 12 He gives us one of the two commands: Love one another. (The other is to love God.) As I pondered this – I thought – “wow… what if Jesus were to return today and the litmus test of belief was the way believers loved one another?” Our churches are in a sad state of affairs – because it seems like we “love” more like the world than the love Paul describes in 1 Cor. 13. I am challenged to love more self-sacrificially by these words.

Jesus didn’t just come up with this list to burden us with more to do or to create a works-based salvation. Salvation is a work of grace – a free gift. These things can ONLY be done by one who has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who has come to help us. But – these are a good test for us to see where we are abiding… and for those who are abiding – we rest in the knowledge that we have an eternal inheritance – and that knowledge causes our joy to be full! (v. 11) In John 16:11, Jesus says, “I have said these things to keep you from falling away”. In other words – they are boundary markers – if you go outside this – it gives cause to question your allegiances.

Jesus knew this wouldn’t be easy – and if you are like me, you are thinking – “Well, this is all great, but HOW do I do this?” We learn a lot – get “head knowledge” – but how do we move it to our heart, so that the next time our circumstances are overwhelming us, we can remember to “consider it all joy”?

Here are some practical ways to do this:

· Express spiritual affections based on TRUTHS of God

o About His character

o About His Word

o About His doings

· By being content

· By words – prayer, praise, psalms

· By attitude & countenance (smile once in a while)

· By tears of joy – (ie) crying when someone professes faith

· By silent thought – rejoicing in our heart

· By remembering the things God has done in our lives

· By laughter of joy –see 2 Sam. 6:14-16 – where the ark is returned and David and the people are dancing, shouting and singing!

· Cultivate a heart of joy

o Digging for “gold” – looking for the good in hard circumstances

o 5 Things I’m Thankful for…

· Train yourself to be alert to the many reasons FOR rejoicing. We can get so bogged down with the details of life that we MISS opportunity to rejoice. Be looking and listening to what people are telling you about what God is doing in their lives. Watch carefully for answers to your prayers…

A recent example of the last bullet point… last week, our internet suddenly and inexplicably quit working. It was a day when I had a fairly tight schedule, and none of the normal trouble-shooting techniques were working. So, I called the internet provider… which turned out to be unhelpful. In frustration, I unplugged everything and dashed off to our Ladies Bible study at church, trying to refocus my mind on my role in that. On the way home, I thought, “I haven’t even prayed about this!” And so, I asked the Lord to forgive me for not turning to Him immediately – for being independent and trying to always be self-sufficient… and then I asked Him to help me with this situation. (I depend on the internet heavily – as I telecommute).

When I walked in the door, wondering what the next step was and how much of the next day might be consumed with trouble-shooting, my sister said, “I just plugged everything back in about 5 minutes ago [the SAME time I was praying], and the internet came up!” A worldly response to that would be to list out some technical reason… “Oh, it just needed unplugged for a while to reset”… But a God-honoring response was to say, “That was exactly when I asked the Lord to intervene – ISN’T HE GOOD???” He was answering my prayer, even as I prayed it… and it is my hope that I will remember that lesson, and RUN to Him with ALL the details of my life… because He is BIG enough, powerful enough, WHATEVER enough to handle them! To HIM be the honor and glory and praise – FOREVER! He is worthy! And in HIM is our joy complete!

Glimpses of Glory - Victory Ranch part 2

2011-08-01T19:49:00.000-07:00

Peaceful strolls uncover treasures captured by lense...

since I've been posting on joy...

2011-07-31T16:31:00.000-07:00

Couldn't resist sharing this from Faith Blogs:

What robs you of joy?

2011-07-29T18:56:00.000-07:00

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4, ESV)

These verses perplex many Christians - because when the tough times come: a tragic accident that takes a spouse; cancer that robs a child of his life; daily trials that wear us down - we wonder why on earth James would tell us to consider this all joy?

As I mentioned in my earlier post, this is a joy that only comes from the Lord, and it is based on our position in Christ. Far too often, when the trials of life come, we say, "Why Me??" and then grit our teeth and think if we some how hunker down and stoically bear through the hard times, we will somehow return to a state of happiness.

We think our hard circumstances rob us of joy. But this is contrary to what the Bible teaches. James tells us to count the trials as joy. Why? Because it tests our faith and produces maturity. As a believer - your joy is already there - it is the knowledge that this world is not your home - you are merely passing through to your REAL home… which is your eternal inheritance in heaven. This perseverance is a mark of maturity - an affirmation that you are, indeed, growing in Christ. How we respond to trials reveals a great deal about where we find our treasure… because a believer takes hope in what is to come, and does not despair over the losses of this world. THIS isn't the prize!

So, if you aren't experiencing this joy, then here are some questions to ask yourself:

The first question to ask is, have I truly been born again? Being religious won't get you through trials with joy. It is only when you have cried out to Jesus – recognizing that your own efforts will never be enough to merit an eternal relationship with God – when you have repented and turned and trusted in Christ alone – only then will you even be able to tap into joy.
Some of you might be saying – YES, I know that I am born again – and at one point, I was tapped into that joy- but something has happened… and I don't know how to get back to it. The next question is: where is your focus? Are you focused and tapped into Christ or are you consumed with yourself? Am I consumed with myself – am I consumed with the daily demands of this life? Or, am I delighting myself in HIM! Am I keeping an eternal perspective? I am seeking to know Him and be known by Him?
Satan seeks to steal our joy. One of his many subtle tricks is to keep us focused on ourselves and too busy to spend time with the One who ALONE can satisfy the desires of our heart. And he especially likes to use "religious" stuff to do this.
Another thing that will rob you of joy is dissatisfaction. We need to ask ourselves, am I joyless because I think I deserve more than what is currently mine? For example – as a single woman, I can get wrapped up in a pity party that I am not married. As married people, we can get wrapped up in "I don't have children yet" – or I wish my spouse were more like that person… or a multitude of other things. What breeds discontent in your heart?
This is one of the dangers of the health and wealth gospel that is prevalent these days… which says, God is going to give us a trouble-free life on this earth. But James does not say IF you face trials – he says WHEN. In other words – you WILL have trials – of all shapes and sizes. But not just to have trials. They have purpose… they mature us in our faith… and we don't get joy when we make it through them – the joy is already ours.
This is a perspective issue. If you are focused on yourself and the trial – it's going to be a miserable experience. Remember – we are striving for our eternal inheritance – which, by the way, is beyond our wildest imaginations.
Trials will come – it's our focus and response that indicate where our heart finds delight. When trials come is our response "woe is me" or is it, "God is good!"?

4. Another reason you might be lacking joy is if you are being controlled by your feelings. Philippians 4:4 says – REJOICE in the Lord always – again, I say REJOICE. Ask yourself – what is TRUE in this situation? You may not always FEEL like rejoicing – but as a believer, the fact that you have been redeemed is reason enough to wake up praising and rejoicing!
We must learn to CONTROL our feelings. The only way to do that is to practice right thinking. Phil. 4:8 says "Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy – think on THESE things" (NIV).
I don't know if any of you have ever suffered from depression – but I have had 3 bouts with it – all in my 20's – and God be praised – not at all in the past 10 years. Many times depression comes from a downward spiral in our thoughts… if we can catch this early on – we can avoid the downward spiral. (Now, I'm not talking about depression that comes from chemical imbalance… which is not the cause of depression for most of us…)
There are two steps that I take and recommend, if you are feeling "down":

Check for any known sin issues – I know at least one of my depressions was brought on by me being in sin… I literally became sin-sick. If you know of sin in your life – name it – (ie) confess it – and then repent (turn from it – stop it!
Recite TRUTH – about who God is – what He desires for and from His children… remind yourself of where your treasure is. One thing others (and I) have found to be helpful is to keep index cards with relevant verses – and when that depression seems lurking – recite truth. Break out those index cards and get your thinking back on track and your focus back on the source of joy.

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

Before the Throne of God

Glimpses of Glory - Summer Delights

2011-07-28T18:00:00.000-07:00

Joy Notes

2011-07-27T18:55:00.000-07:00

I'm teaching on Joy again - and thought I'd repost some thoughts on the topic from a while back...

Recently, I had an opportunity to teach on joy. This is the first of three meditations based on those teachings…

Usually, when people define joy, they think about happiness and it is usually tied to pleasant circumstances. But, the Bible paints a different picture. In Ecclesiastes, the author says time and again that the pleasures of this world are vanity… in other words, they are empty - pointless - they do not satisfy. And yet - so many folks think their joy is somehow tied to those very things. Actually, there is often joy in temporal things - but that joy is fleeting. It does not satisfy.

True joy comes from the Lord. It is a supernatural joy that non-believers can NOT access. Joy means to rejoice or be glad - to delight in something. It is a "delight in life that runs deeper than pain or pleasure." It is a quality of life and NOT a fleeting emotion. Joy is ground in God Himself and flows from Him. (see Rom. 15:13)Believers can have eternal joy because it is based in the eternal inheritance that we have from the Lord.

Peter tells the believers in 1 Peter (1:1-9) that they can be joyful despite their circumstances because God, in His great mercy, has caused the believers to be born again to a living hope through Christ. AND, He has given us an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, will not fade away and that is reserved for us in heaven! This is great cause for rejoicing!

We were created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Did you catch that? Enjoy Him. Find our joy IN HIM. He is the source of joy. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. (Ps. 37:4) Joy is the proper response to the character of God and the work of Jesus Christ. As believers, it is our JOY that sets us apart. When trials come, and they do, do we act despondent like the rest of the world? Or, do we rejoice, knowing that the trials test your faith?

Really this is a perspective issue. Is the focus on us or Him? If it is on us, we will quickly run out of joy. If the focus is on HIM - He is the power source. Jesus said that this inheritance (eternal life) is "like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." (Matt. 13:44) Why - because "in His presence there is fullness of joy" (Ps. 16:11) and all who take refuge in Him rejoice! (Ps. 5:11)

True Joy comes from:

True knowledge and right-thinking about Christ.
From our position in Christ.
From abiding in Christ.
From the Holy Spirit living in us.

The Bible's Emergency Numbers

2011-07-27T18:50:00.000-07:00

Need help? Try these numbers:

When in sorrow…..call John 14
When people fail you…..call Psalm 27
If you want to be fruitful…..call John 15
When you have sinned…..call Psalm 51
When you worry…..call Matthew 6:19-34

When you are in danger…..call Psalm 91
When God seems far away…..call Pslam 139
When your faith needs stirring…..call Hebrews 11
When you are lonely and fearful…..call Psalm 23
When you grow bitter and critical…..call I Corinthians 13
For Paul’s secret to happiness…..call Colossians 3:12-17
For understanding of Christianity…..call II Corinthians 5:5-19

When you feel down and out.....call Romans 8:31
When you want peace and rest…..call Matthew 1:25-30
When the world seems bigger than God…..call Psalm 90
When you want Christian assurance…..call Romans 8:1-30
When you leave home for labor or travel…..call Psalm 121
When your prayers grow narrow or selfish…..call Psalm 67
For a great invention/opportunity…..call Isaiah 55

When you want courage for a task….call Joshua 1
When you need to get along with others…..call Romans 12
When you think of investments and returns…..call Mark 10
If you are depressed…..call Psalm 27
If your pocket book is empty…..call Psalm 37
If you are losing confidence in people…..call I Corinthians 13
If people seem unkind…..call John 15
If discouraged about your work…..call Psalm 126
If you find the world growing small and yourself great…..call Psalm 19

For dealing with fear…..call Psalm 34:7
For security…..Psalm 121:3
For assurance…..Mark 8:35

Links

2011-07-26T07:42:00.000-07:00

A few good posts, I thought I'd pass along...

From Ann Voskamp on Patience:
Why is it so Hard to be Patient?

From Jennifer Dukes Lee on Guilt:
How to Let Go of the Guilt and Really Live Again

Were you introduced to pornography by a parent? From Hermenutics blog:
My Father was a Porn Addict

I'm memorizing Colossians with my co-worker Cathy... we just started, want to join us? Here's a link to the Scripture cards, reading to print out:
Colossians in a Year

Glimpses of Glory - Victory Ranch edition

2011-07-25T19:46:00.000-07:00

Some sights around the ranch...

Glimpses of Glory

2011-07-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

This little guy had a ball bathing on top of the rubbermaid container...

Glimpses of Glory - What grows in Mom's backyard

2011-07-18T09:32:00.000-07:00

Batching

2011-07-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

I think I'll be trying this technique out... next week! :)

Pomodoro technique - cheat sheet
Free Pomodoro technique book (pdf)

The All-Good

2011-07-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

Have you ever notice that God is "good" when things are going our way, and we question His goodness, when things haven't gone according to plan... ahem... our plan.

I've been thinking about this alot lately... spurred on by Ann VosKamp's amazing book One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are. I've been following her lead, and looking for His goodness in every situation... and you know what? It's getting easier to find... I have always loved sleuthing (brought about my early infatuation with Nancy Drew and Trixie Beldon, I'm sure) - but this sleuthing is more rewarding.

These glimpses of glory found in the strangest of places... seeing His goodness despite what looks "bad" to me... trusting Him to sort out the details.

My Abba is good to reinforce this lesson... even today at lunch, as I pulled out The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers, (spurred on by a recent link to a prayer guide for this book) - the prayer was entitled, The All-Good. Allow me to share a few tastes of this delicious morsel:

Thou art all my good in times of peace,

my only support in days of trouble,

my one sufficiency when life shall end.

Help me to see how good Thy will is in all,

and even when it crosses mine

teach me to be pleased with it...

Thou bottomless fountain of all good,

I give myself to Thee out of love,

for all I have or own is thine,

my goods, family, church, self,

to do with as Thou wilt,

to honour Thyself by me, and by all mine.

If it be consistent with Thy eternal counsels,

the purpose of Thy grace,

and the great ends of Thy glory,

then bestow upon me the blessings of Thy comforts;

If not,let me resign myself to Thy wiser determinations.

That is manna... sent down from heaven to feast upon!

Glimpses of Glory... Alabama edition part 2

2011-07-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Is something missing?

2011-07-10T20:26:00.000-07:00

Do you feel that? The empty spot that aches to be filled? With what do you try to fill it? When it gnaws like an empty belly, what do you turn to for satisfaction?

In the wee hours of the morning, I lay pondering choices made - and why a daughter of the Kind would settle for cheap imitation... when I have access to the riches of the Most High King... What is it that could allure Eve to settle for the one fruit God had forbidden, when she had access to the rest of the garden?

O Foolish Heart! Why are you so quick to choose the lesser thing? IN the still of the night, I heard His voice... the One who created me... Who formed me and knows everything about me...

"Precious daughter - I bought you with a price - and expensive and precious price - My Son. Do not settle for satisfaction from cheap imitations. That empty spot you seek to fill from so many sources was designed for ME. Seek ME first. I know your every need - your deepest longings. Trust ME. I along can fill that aching void - not food, not pleasure, not people. You can try to numb it away or stuff it full of substitutes - but the pains will only increase. My child, come rest in ME."

Grace perplexes this performance-weary child. How can He love me after these foolish choices? And yet - Amazing Grace! Like the Apostle Paul - I do not do the things I want to do - and am lured to do those things I don't want to do... like a dog returning to eat its own vomit, while a bowl of top rate canine delights goes untouched.

In his book, Weight of Glory and Other Addresses, C.S. Lewis describes how we are often "like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." How often have I settled for mud pies because I was too impatient? The journey seemed too long or too hard... such foolishness!

If I really understood the value and the preciousness of the gift - would I not press on toward it? Would not the counterfeit lose its attractiveness?

O restless soul, stop with the junk already! Father - help me to hear and obey Your voice.. to wait on Your provision; Your plan; to trust You to fill the longings of my heart!

Glimpses of Glory... Alabama edition part 1

2011-07-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Glimpses of Glory... Colorado edition

2011-06-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

Are YoU in the WaiTinG RoOm of Life?

2011-06-30T08:23:00.000-07:00

Reposting from GirlTalk...

"Waiting on God isn't about the suspension of meaning and purpose. It's part of the meaning and purpose that God has brought into my life. Waiting on God isn't to be viewed as an obstruction in the way of the plan. Waiting is an essential part of the plan. For the child of God, waiting isn't simply about what I'll receive at the end of my wait. No, waiting is much more purposeful, efficient, and practical than that. Waiting is fundamentally about what I'll become as I wait. God is using the wait to do in and through me exactly what He's promised. Through the wait He's changing me. By means of the wait He's altering the fabric of my thoughts and desires. Through the wait He's causing me to see and experience new things about Him and His kingdom. And all of this sharpens me, enabling me to be a more useful tool in His redemptive hands" (emphasis mine). Paul Tripp

Glimpses of Glory

2011-06-29T19:20:00.000-07:00

Training my eye to see God's glory...

What do you think on?

2011-06-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

I have been learning much from my sister in Christ, Ann Voskamp... it started when my friend Jennifer started guest blogging at Ann's blog, A Holy Experience. Jennifer introduced me to Ann's book, One Thousand Gifts, which has been an amazing journey into grace for me...

Today, Ann has posted about her late mother-in-law's Scripture memory... it is a sweet story - but also a great challenge... the title is "Maybe the Most Important Thing You Can Do for Your Faith". Click the link and see what she has to say - and you can also link to several great resources.

Soul Metabolism

2011-06-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

It doesn't take long in the diet and exercise world to hear someone mention your metabolism. Theories abound, but the general idea is that the higher it is, the better you burn calories and the faster you lose weight.

In my recent adventure as a "Biggest Loser", we learned many tips and ideas to rev up our metabolism. The two main items were:
1) Exercise to build more muscle
2) Eat smaller, balanced meals on a more frequent basis

Recently, I was talking with a friend who has four children and lives on a farm with 4 horses, 3 dogs, 3 cats and 2 dozen or more chickens. You may not have a full appreciation of the work involved in that scenario, but I know from experience that there is little time for rest on a farm. And that's without four kids!

Since I hear from women on a regular basis how they just don't have time to fit in a quiet time, I asked my farm friend how she fits it in... I mean, if anyone were to have an excuse, it would be her! Already, I'd seen the basket of books in the bathroom... devotionals with bits of wisdom and glory - but surely she was feeding on more than that!

Sure enough - like our plan to keep our metabolism moving, my farm sister practices multiple spiritual feedings in a day. She may not have time to sit down and gorge on a feast, but a devotion in the morning; a sermon or Scripture on CD mid day; radio Bible teaching on the commute to pick up children from school; praise music on the way home; Bible reading and study before bed.

Like our eating plan, her spiritual diet includes multiple small meals throughout the day. Sounds like a good plan for all of us! Would you benefit from spiritual manna throughout the day? I know I would!

"But how?" you might be asking? Just as you might plan your eating for a diet, it may require some additional discipline in the beginning... planning your spiritual menu for the week, until the routine is established.

Have ideas? How do you keep your spiritual metabolism revved up during the day? What are sources for spiritual nourishment, and how are you strengthening your spiritual muscles?

Stained and Ruined

2011-05-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

I've heard far too many stories about sexual abuse... the wreckage it leaves behind is devastating. Women live under the weight of what has been done to them, many times feeling guilty and thinking that it was somehow their fault.

The gals over at Proverbs31.org had this post on their blog - and I thought it was worth sharing... God is a Redeemer - and their is no one too far gone!

Modesty in our Attire

2011-04-26T16:27:00.000-07:00

Linking over to a an article from the gals at Girl Talk on Fashion and Following the Savior. Too often, I think we give too little thought as to how our attire impacts our brothers... Ladies - let us not be the cause of our brother's stumbling... nor sin in how we dress (and I'm not talking about a fashion police issue!)

Life as a Biggest Loser - Grand Finale

2011-04-22T18:51:00.000-07:00

Final Pink Team Challenge:
Run 1/2 mile downhill -
Push Suburban with Trainer perched on roof, UPHILL back from whence you came...

I'm not going to lie - it was hard. BUT - it was also fun. I know - sick, right? There is something to be said for teamwork in action though.

So many lessons learned on this little 12-week journey. 16 pounds gone - that's good. Cannot even begin to explain how much better I feel. But, it's not just the weight loss. In fact, that's just an nice bonus.

When I started this journey - I had three goals in mind:
1) Improve my health to reduce risk for stroke and heart disease (lovely family heritage)
2) Figure out how to incorporate exercise into an already jam-packed schedule.
3) Lose weight

One lesson I learned was that there is a difference between "I can't" and "I choose not to". Too often, I have said "I can't" when I really meant, "I choose not to". In learning to set boundaries, it is important to distinguish between the two. The other side of that coin is the many times we fulfill our own prophecy. We say we can't and in turn, predict our reality. Henry Ford once said, "Whether you think you can or think you can't, either way you are right." So true.

Another lesson learned is that we do not all have the same priorities - and that's ok. What I choose to do or not do, however, is based on my priorities. Occassionally, this causes conflict. Conflict is ok. Sometimes, it's even healthy!

As a person who lives with too little margin in her life (you know, that extra time that allows for the unexpected or some spontaneity) - I'm realizing how unhealthy my overly scheduled lifestyle really is. Adding in exercise has been more than taxing on my schedule. That being said, it has been so worth the battle to make it happen.

Two things that ease the pain for me... positive people and good music. Tremendously thankful for both!

The Numbers Tell the Story - My Life as a Biggest Loser update!

2011-03-22T18:07:00.000-07:00

Starting Week 9 of the journey - and the proof is in the numbers... but I'm not just talking about the scale. I'm only down 12 pounds in 8 weeks. BUT - today we did our fitness test. The fitness test is comprised of several components: a one mile run, full sit-ups, push-ups, hover (think push-up stance - except resting on your elbows - for as long as you can), AND a wall-sit.

The first week of the challenge, here were my results:
Walk/Run 1 mile - 12:40 (min:sec)
Push-ups in 1 min- 18 on my toes 12 on my knees
Full-ups in 1 min - 36
Wall-sit - 1:38
Hover - 1:07

Today - here were my numbers:

Walk/Run 1 mile - 9:04 (min:sec)

Push-ups in 1 min- 30 on my toes 5 on my knees
Full-ups in 1 min - 37
Wall-sit -3:15
Hover -2 min

Not too shabby!! So - we are in the final four weeks. I have a few goals:

Lose 8 pounds
Eat clean
Keep learning how to make this work long-term

The past couple weeks have been tough. I hit a plateau and the scale didn't move for almost 2.5 weeks. It was such a mental challenge to press on doing what I knew I was supposed to do and trust the process. About a week ago, the scale started moving again!

What makes me a little nervous is life after group workouts. The camaraderie and accountability push and challenge me. But - that's four weeks from now!

Food for thought

2011-03-10T11:26:00.001-08:00

Pride is eager to take credit while humility always gives credit where credit is due!

Walking in Darkness

2011-03-09T12:56:00.001-08:00

Worth passing along… from the gals at Girltalk… our path isn't lit to the end – and sometimes it's even hard to see the next step…

Andrea

"Are we really being guided as we thought? How do we know we're on the right track? Is there any such destination as the place we think we're going to? Here faith simply has to suspend judgment on what God is doing. Faith does not know why, but it knows why it trusts God who knows why. We do not trust God because he guides us; we trust God and then we are guided, which means that we can trust God even when we do not seem to be guided. Faith may be in the dark about guidance, but it is never in the dark about God. What God is doing may be a mystery, but who God is is not." Os Guinness, God in the Dark: The Assurance of Faith Beyond a Shadow of Doubt, p.176.

"Behold, I go forward, but he is not there,
and backward, but I do not perceive him;
on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;
he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.
But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
My foot has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have not turned aside."
Job 23:8-11

"Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God." Is. 50:1

"Behold, I go forward, but he is not there,
and backward, but I do not perceive him;
on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;
he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.
But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
My foot has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have not turned aside."
Job 23:8-11

"Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God." Is. 50:1

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When God Breaks Your Heart

2011-03-07T08:45:00.001-08:00

Another great post from the gals at Girls Gone Wise… good stuff to remember! ~ Andrea

There it was glaring out from the computer screen. The words I never thought I would see. I had been so confident in how God had directed me. For a moment I could not breathe. "We regret to inform you that…" I couldn't read the rest of the email. The tears suddenly gushing down my face had obscured my vision. The email shattered my dreams. My heart, that desired so badly to serve God in this particular way, crumbled into pieces.

I could not understand how this had happened. I prayed so hard. I prayed all of the right things "… God, Your will be done. God, give me a desire for the choice you want me to make, and take away all desires for the other options. God, confirm this if it is your will. God, shut the doors that I do not need to enter. God, I want this badly, but I want you more … " He took away my desires for every option but one. He confirmed over and over again that this was what He had for me. He closed every door and window except for this one.

And then he closed this one.

What do you do when God breaks your heart?

The pain was so great that I couldn't bear it alone. Somehow I found myself driving, brushing away tears as they clung to the edge of my sunglasses. Swallowing sobs, I tried to concentrate on driving, but my only thought was, "Oh God, what now?"

I ended up at the home of a lifelong friend. "Why," I asked angrily, "Does God tell you something and then all of a sudden change his mind?"

"God is truth." She said, opening her Bible. "Everything God tells you is truth. Remember, He sees things different than you do. 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD.'" (Isaiah 55:8)

Why does God break our heart?

1. Because our hearts lead us astray.

I am a planner, a card-carrying member of the list-bound masses. We are very goal oriented…. It is how we make it through the day. So when God gives us a future goal, we work toward that point as if our life depended on it (because we think it does). And somewhere along the way, the goal can become our god. And God becomes an afterthought that we occasionally ask to bless our efforts. And just like that, our hearts have led us astray. "The heart is deceitful…who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

2. Because God is a jealous God.

Often, the goal becomes our God. We make it into an idol and organize our life in worship to it. Whether it is a relationship, career path, academic degree, status symbol, or to-do list we are determined to complete, when that goal becomes the ruling authority in our lives, it is an idol. And God is a jealous God. He wants to be number one in our hearts and lives. Because He is God – that is His right. That goal or list may be your security blanket, but it is powerless to save you from the sentence of your own sin. "You shall have no other gods before me…for I the Lord your God am a jealous God." (Exodus 20:3-5)

3. Because God loves us.

In breaking our hearts, God is rescuing us from ourselves. God breaks our hearts, not to hurt us or because He enjoys our pain – no! God breaks our hearts when we have become so focused on some goal, rather than on Him. He breaks our heart because it is the only way He can save us from ourselves. He breaks our heart because it is the only way to remove a dream that is not His best for His daughter. "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Prov. 16:9)

4. Because God is seeking a relationship.

In my limited human understanding, it seemed like God had lied. Yet Scripture makes it clear that God is incapable of lying and that everything God said is true.

So had I heard wrong? Had I misunderstood God for all these years? No…and Yes.

When I finally stopped crying, I remembered that God had set me on this path, but had not promised the endpoint. In my itty-bitty human mind, taking a path only had one outcome….reaching the goal. But God is not bound by my small-mindedness. He guided me to work toward the goal, but He never promised I would achieve it, I just assumed… "For my thoughts are not your thoughts… declares the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8) Many times God may lead us down a certain path toward an unknown door. We, of course, are focused solely on the door at the end of the journey. When we reach the end, we may find that the door is locked. God did not lie. We may be distracted by the human goal, but God was leading us toward an eternal goal – a closer relationship with Him.

Then how are we supposed to plan?

Does this mean that plans are evil and we cannot make lists?

No. It means we should not structure our lives in worship of the "Almighty List." It means never setting a goal above God in our hearts. It means we are to make plans in humility, submitting every hope, dream and earthly goal to the Lordship of Christ. We must hold the things of this earth loosely. Our only immovable goal should be God Himself. (James 4:13-16)

What do you do when God breaks your heart?

When God breaks your heart….hand Him the pieces.

Because He is good and trustworthy and He will always do the best thing. God is good, and even though my dream was dead, my heart rested securely in the arms of my Savior. Looking back, I see now that God had to break my heart to remove that dream so that He could guide me to a far better dream. God was acting in my best interest, even thought it hurt. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart." (Prov. 3:5-6)

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Gaining clarity on women's roles, part II

2011-03-03T13:46:00.000-08:00

Great article that I'm reposting from the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood...

CBMW » Gaining clarity on women's roles, part II

My Life as a Biggest Loser - pt. 4

2011-03-01T11:36:00.000-08:00

Ever feel like you eat the same thing over and over? It can be helpful... you know what the calorie and nutrition content is - so it's easy to eat without having to think a lot about it.

On the other hand, if you're like me - variety is the spice of life! So, while I can eat four or even five meals a day that look much like what I ate yesterday - I'm always on the lookout for meals that meet our BL food guidelines.

This week, I tried out a new recipe on the two wonderful CIU students who partner with me for ministry on Monday nights. (Yes, they work for food! haha!) We all agreed that this recipe was a keeper! I found the recipe for Chicken-Sweet Potato Stir-Fry in my January Prevention Magazine. You can access the recipe here. It's heart healthy, low-sodium and gluten-free!

Bon appetit!

My Life as a Biggest Loser - pt 3

2011-02-17T18:14:00.000-08:00

We are in the home stretch of the last week before our first weigh in... and it has been a grueling week. Three 5am workouts, several 2 or 3-a-day workouts... it's a ripe recipe for grumbling, let me tell you!

So, it's interesting that I "just happen" to be reading through the Old Testament description of Israel's dessert years. Wow - they sure could grumble! "We don't like manna! We want meat! Egypt was better! Why'd God bring us out here to die? Moses stinks! Are we there yet?!" And the list goes on... and I think, "Boy, they sure were a bunch of whiners..."

But guess what? At 5am, I look and sound a lot like an Israelite! "Why do we have to come so early? MORE squats? I need Icy Hot. My knee hurts. Five more??? I'm tired. Are we done yet?" What is it about our species that makes us look back to times of slavery and prefer it to the hard times of breaking free? I WANT to lose weight and be in shape - just like those Israelites wanted to be in the Promised Land. So what's all the whining about?

"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect." Leviticus 26:13

You Can’t Marry Mr. Darcy!

2011-02-14T04:56:00.001-08:00

Reposting another great article from Girls Gone Wise…

At sixteen, you think you have it all figured out. I did! I knew exactly what kind of man I was going to marry. Taking every male in every Jane Austen novel I've ever read and throwing in a few verses, I had come up with every "standard" needed in my future husband. But in my naivety, I had fashioned a man that didn't exist, that couldn't exist, namely because Mr. Darcy was neither biblical nor real.

But shouldn't we have standards? Where do we find the balance between being as picky as Tyra and dating every bad breath that asks us out? What's the difference between having ideals and having standards?

Ideals put God in a box and you above God.

When what his favorite TV show is or what his height is affects what type of guy you're willing to date, you've successfully derailed what God could potentially do in your life and placed Him in a box. The God of the universe, who created you (Psalm 139:13), who intimately knows everything about you (Psalm 139:1-3), who knows something as inconsequential as how many hairs are on your head (Matthew 10:29-31), knows what's best for you, His daughter.

But ideals fashioned after movie characters, Jane Austen novels, or even someone great like a father, can tie the hands of God in your life and block out a truly great dating relationship. There are character traits that you may not even realize you need; character traits that God in His divine knowledge knows about and has orchestrated. Ideals can stunt this, because they cause us to cross off any guy that comes around, simply because he's not the "ideal." When you have certain criteria set in stone for your future husband, you've assumed the position of God's authority in your life.

Standards keep you anchored to the Word, trusting in the Lord, and in a state of prayer.

One of the biggest differences between ideals and standards is focus. While your ideals keep you locked on celebrity news and focused on so much of the outward appearances, your standards can keep you fastened to and guided by God's Word.

The Bible is your source of evaluation. Characteristics describing a godly man taken from Scripture create the questions to ask about the guy you are dating, or even thinking about dating. There is a huge element of trusting God that comes into play when a woman is ready to burn The List. We must remember that God knows us better than we know ourselves (Psalm 139:1-4). He's looking out for our best interests (Romans 8:28-29).

Ideals are often things we hide behind in an effort to protect ourselves.

Some of us may cringe at this, because it's exactly why we have these ridiculous ideals…they serve as a shield behind which to hide. For some of you, that 70 foot wall around your heart you call "standards" is your crutch, your safeguard, your first line of defense. But what you don't realize is that you are isolating yourself, not protecting yourself. And you're potentially missing out on what God wants to do for you.

Standards allow safety in the dating scene.

Having biblically-based standards in dating is your best option for protecting your heart from devastation.

Because much of the journey is based on prayer, guidance of the Holy Spirit, and wisdom from Scripture you can have confidence that as God is leading you into the relationship, He's also safeguarding your heart. Even if you don't end up as husband and wife, there can be some amazing lessons learned from dating biblically.

So where do you go from here? Am I suggesting that you date the next guy that asks you out? No. But a balance needs to be found. How do we formulate these standards if we can't base them off of Chris Pine and his dreamy eyes?

1. Keep it simple.

Standards should not be long and exhaustive; instead keep it short. Keeping your standards short does a few things for you. First, it leaves room for growth in both of your lives. Secondly, keeping it short allows you to memorize your standards, and memorized standards allow you to think clearly when Dreamy McDreamerson gives you that wink.

2. Keep it biblical.

Having a portion of Scripture that coincides with each standard not only legitimizes the importance of that standard, but also anchors it to the very thing that should be guiding your life. Keeping your standards biblically-based allows you to evaluate him by basing them on something tangible and not your emotions.

3. Keep it in prayer.

The power of prayer is of utmost importance when it comes to navigating through the labyrinth of dating. It's essential in developing your standards, as well as in keeping them. Since dating eventually leads to marriage, it leads to one of the biggest decisions of your life. It should take priority in your prayer life.

Valentine's Day is here, and unless you plan on developing a time warp that can shuttle you into the world of Pemberley, I very much doubt you'll be dating the ideal Mr. Darcy. You could, however, be dating biblically and dating someone who fits godly standards.

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If American Evangelicals are Stingy, It is Because They Attend Churches that are Even Stingier

2011-02-05T06:36:00.001-08:00

Wow – here's something to think on! Reposting this article by Eric Foley from Transformational Giving…

Andrea

Christianity Today posted its annual beat-down article on Christian stinginess this week, lambasting evangelical Christians for giving just 4% of their income to churches (compared to their even stingier mainline counterparts, who give just 2.43%, according to the latest empty tomb, inc. research).

The article quotes Ron Sider as being particularly scathing in his denouncement:

For Christians in the richest nation in history to be giving only 2.43 percent of their income to their churches is not just stinginess, it is biblical disobedience—blatant sin. We have become so seduced by the pervasive consumerism and materialism of our culture that we hardly notice the ghastly disjunction between our incredible wealth and the agonizing poverty in the world. Over the last 40 years, American Christians (as we have grown progressively richer) have given a smaller and smaller percent of our growing income to the ministries of our churches. Such behavior flatly contradicts what the Bible teaches about God, justice, and wealth. We should be giving not 2.4 percent but 10 percent, 15 percent, even 25 to 35 percent or more to kingdom work. Most of us could give 20 percent and not be close to poverty."

True, that. And yet none of the commentators in the story posit a connection between the purported stinginess of Christians and the graph on overseas mission giving by denomination that appears in the same CT issue. That chart shows how much of each denominational dollar received goes to missions:

Christian and Missionary Alliance: 11 cents
Church of the Nazarene: 6 cents
Southern Baptists: 2 cents
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod: 1 cent
…and so on

Terry Austin from Generous Church notes that "ninety-seven percent of all money that people give to the church is spent on the people who give it."

Why would stingy churches and stingy denominations be producing generous Christians?

No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.
–Jesus, from Luke 6:43-44

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My Life as a Biggest Loser - Pt. 2

2011-02-05T05:43:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been a part of something that just drew you in? Immediately felt connected to something that was bigger than yourself? As a Christian - that's how I feel about the Body of Christ. No matter where I go - I have family. There is a camradery and a kinship that comes from striving toward the same goal.

My Biggest Loser journey is a bit like that! Everywhere I look, I see spiritual analagies of how the body of Christ is meant to operate. In fact, there have been several times when it seemed the Church could stand to learn a few things from the Biggest Loser approach... here is one example:

Team Pink - "Before" Picture

Overweight, out-of-shape people tend to stay away from the gym. Why? Because gyms are filled with "fit and healthy" people - and that's intimidating. Makes me think of people that I know who are spiritually out of shape that won't grace the premise of a church. The BL program makes a safe environment for the unhealthy to come learn about being healthy. And NOT by plopping us among all healthy people and expecting us to figure it out. Instead, we are on teams of other folks who are at the same place, but with seasoned trainers who guide us and help us. The closest to this idea in churches that I've seen is the small group format. Especially when there is a small group that is a "starter group"... One that focuses on the basics.

That's what Lisa and Kaaren do each week for Team Pink. We learn things - some of us already know some of the information - but we practice what we know and keep adding to it. When we are "ahead", we encourage those who lag behind... When we are "behind", we lean on those who are strong.

Oh, how I'd love to see this same thing taking place more frequently in our churches. Somewhere along the way, we started believing the lie that Faith is a personal, private matter. We've been shamed into keeping our mouths shut about it. But the Body of Believers was always meant to be a group activity. "For the body does not consist of one member but of many... God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose." (1 Cor. 12:14, 20)

Spiritual Fitness tip du jour

2011-02-03T09:27:00.000-08:00

Part of abiding in Christ is staying connected to Him through His Word... but when you read your Bible each day - don't just breeze through the passage, with the end goal of "checking the box." Instead, take time to look at the passage... ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and to help you understand what you are reading.
Also, ask questions such as:

I wonder why they did that?
How would that look in my life?
Is there a command in this passage I need to follow?
Are there things in my life that I am doing or thinking that don't line up with what God's Word says?
What does this passage tell me about the character of God?

Some have found it helpful to journal as they read... capturing key thoughts and answers to the questions above. God desires relationship with us - and this process helps us to interact with God through prayer. Seek the Lord with all your heart and you will find Him!

My Life as a Biggest Loser... part 1

2011-01-28T10:41:00.000-08:00

What was your favorite Christmas present? Are you still using it? (I'm still a little jealous of all of you who got Kindles!!)

One of my favorite gifts this year was the gift of health... my dear friends, the Rue's, talked me into joining a program they had just finished - a local "Biggest Loser" group fitness plan. It was part of my Christmas gift, if I took them up on the offer... so I took the plunge and made the commitment! And it has been a WONDERFUL decision.

Those of you who have known me for a while know that my dad has had some pretty serious health issues in the past few years... heart attacks, strokes, he takes blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds, type 2 diabetes meds, and the list goes on... Maybe it was entering my 40's - maybe it was watching the Rue's get so healthy... maybe it was something else - but I realized it wasn't going to be any different until my attitude changed. So, here I am - a week into the journey - and it has been GREAT!

First - I have a wonderful trainer! Lisa is passionate about what she does - and she is encouraging and motivating. Next - I have a fabulous team! My email traffic has picked up this past week, but in a way I don't mind at all... people checking in to see if anyone wants to join them at the gym; making encouraging comments; and just fun banter (what, when do our six pack abs show up?? Not week one??) Being an extravert - this has been wonderful for me!

Our first week - actually only five days - and our team weighed in 53.6 pounds lighter! I'm down 2.8 - which seemed like not so much, when the person who weighed before me lost 7 pounds - but really? What other week would I be disappointed in losing almost 3 pounds? Perspective.

Am I sore - ummm - yes! but not in a "I can't move" sort of way... my body is getting stronger already. And that addresses another issue that I've been thinking about... as a follower of Jesus Christ, my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I am called to be a good steward of my temple... and yet, I was shoveling way to much junk... using food as a comfort, hobby, social outlet, etc. Now, we are being taught to fuel our bodies. It feels good!

If you'd like to read more about the program, click here. The teams are up, with our total starting weight. Soon, there will be team photos of our "before"... and eventually, there will be "after" pics too!

Stay tuned for more!

New Year's Resolutions

2011-01-10T11:16:00.000-08:00

This Christmas, I received a card from the Cadence Women's Advisory Counsel. Enclosed in the card was a poem (author unknown) that our Founder's wife - Nettie Miller - included in her first prayer card. As 2011 begins - I thought it was fitting to share this poem and strive toward it...

My Goal is God Himself

My goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace

Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God;

'Tis His to lead me there - not mine, but His -

At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.

So faith abounds forward to its goal in God,

And love can trust her Lord to lead her there;

Upheld by Him, my soul is following hard

Till God hath fully fulfilled my deepest prayer.

No matter if the way be sometimes dark,

No matter though the cost be oft-times great,

He knoweth how I best shall reach the mark,

The way that leads to Him must needs be strait.

One thing I know, I cannot say Him nay;

One thing I do, I press towards my Lord;

My God my glory here, from day to day.

And in the glory there my great Reward.

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of Him in 2011.

Approvaholics Anonymous

2011-01-07T13:15:00.000-08:00

As an approvaholic, this post from Girls Gone Wise hit close! Just on the off-chance any of my readers are also approvaholics… read on! J

Andrea

by Katie McCoy

Hi. My name is Katie, and I'm an approvaholic. (This is the part where you say, "Hi, Katie") For many of us, the need for approval is as strong and insatiable as an addiction. While you may not call yourself an approval addict, perhaps you're known as a people-pleaser, someone who will go to great lengths to keep everyone happy with them. But if we belong to Christ, the Bible says that we cannot live to please both people and God: "For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ" (Gal. 1:10, also check out Acts 5:29)
The culture will tell you that the best way to break from your people-pleasing path is to reclaim the real you! Take control of your life. Learn to say "no." Indulge in the things that you want to do and "just do you." (Sound familiar?) Ironically, an approvaholic may seem like they're working for God and others, but the heart-motivation is often about their emotional security, their reputation, and their standing in the eyes of others. It's not about God's glory and obeying His Word; it's about their own glory and others' opinions.
An Approvaholic confuses pleasing people with honoring God.
Many of us can relate to Martha, who resentfully took on all the work she considered so important. She was so focused on getting things done the "right way" and meeting a perceived expectation that she almost missed her one real priority of knowing Jesus more and learning from Him (Luke 10:38-42). While what she was busy doing was not wrong in itself, as Jesus told her it wasn't the one thing that was needed.
An Approvaholic seeks to validate the leading of God with the opinions of others.
The Apostle Paul probably had good reason to feel the need for validation. Before his own conversion, he was one of the early Church's greatest enemies. In one life-changing encounter with Christ, the very people he was working to destroy became his peers. But unlike an approval addict, he didn't seek the confirmation of other believers to validate what God had made clear to him. "But when it pleased God…to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me" (Galatians 1:15-17). He acted in obedience upon what God had said, without needing the approval or agreement of other people.
An Approvaholic views the opportunity to serve God as an opportunity to gain personal praise.
Judges 11 tells us the tragic story of Jephthah. Motivated by gaining the respect and approval of those that had mistreated him, he made a rash vow to the Lord that revealed his own heart: "If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering." (Judges 11:30-31). For Jephthah, and for the approval addict, the motivation for success wasn't for God's glory, it was for his own ("If You will deliver…into my hands). This is the same attitude that Paul spoke of in his letter to the Philippians when he said that, "Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife…from selfish ambition, not sincerely" (v. 15-16). For the Approvaholic who thirsts for people's high opinions, even good and godly things can be distorted for self-centered motives.
An Approvaholic's self-worth is based on their performance and motivated by pride.
At the heart of a woman who is afraid of disappointing others is the belief that she can make everyone happy with her. Underneath the fear of saying no, letting someone down or falling short of a goal, is the lie that she can fulfill people's expectations, do things the right way or achieve outer perfection. In fact, when we boil it down to the condition of the heart, feeding the approval addiction is just another modern-day idol.
Perhaps you've been working for good and godly things but have been motivated by a desire other than serving the Lord. God desires "truth in the innermost parts" more than a well-executed sacrifice (Psalm 51:6, 16-17). Maybe you've been accepting every extra responsibility out of the belief that you're the only person capable of fulfilling it, and forgetting that God is the one who qualifies all of us to serve Him. "Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant," (2 Cor. 3:5-6).
So how can we overcome our addiction to approval? It begins when we humble ourselves and realize how incapable we are of perfection and how unworthy we are of praise. Ephesians 1 says that before the world was even made every believer was chosen and accepted in Christ. And because He chose You, you were made right with and accepted by God because of Christ's work on the cross (Rom. 8:30-31). It never has, or will have, anything to do with your performance. You did nothing and can do nothing to gain his approval. Your Heavenly Father chose to set His love on you. That's it - and that's grace!
God is far more pleased with an obedient heart that fears Him than the pretense of having it all together. When you start living to please your Heavenly Father rather than the of the approval of others, your time, your priorities and your heart-motivation will start lining up with His will. You may not be able to meet others' expectations, but you will be honoring God.
You don't have to be an Approvaholic. You don't have to live in fear of being rejected, being punished, making a mistake or not living up to some perceived expectation. The same One that has already purchased your approval before your only Judge is the very One who said, "My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:30). And in Him, you are completely – and already – accepted.

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God Reminded Me Today That I'm Rich

2011-01-06T19:32:00.000-08:00

Just before Christmas break – the 120^th gals and I did a Bible study on poverty… saw this today from Make it Transformational (link at bottom) – and wanted to share…

Andrea

Feed: Make It Transformational
Posted on: Thursday, January 06, 2011 3:01 AM
Author: Make It Transformational
Subject: God Reminded Me Today That I'm Rich

I went to Globalrichlist.com and discovered that I'm the 43,497,897 richest person in the world. Even more specific, I'm in the top 0.72% of the world's population when it comes to wealth. By American standards, though, I don't feel rich. I live a modest life with my wife and three children; I drive a ten year old minivan that recently needed major repairs (thanks, Brake Masters! I think…); and my family, like yours, is forced to stick tightly to a monthly budget in order to make our life work.

But that's the problem - we look at ourselves "by American standards." There's a whole other world out there. The other day I told my son that 93% of people in the world do not have a car. He responded, "Dad, what are you talking about? Every family in the world has two cars." His American standard worldview (even though we only have one car).

Here are some words from Globalrichlist.com…

Every year [Americans] gaze enviously at the lists of the richest people in world wondering what it would be like to have that sort of cash. But where would you sit on one of those lists? Here's your chance to find out. We [Americans] are obsessed with wealth. But we gauge how rich we are by looking upwards at those who have more than us. This makes us feel poor.

We [at Globalrichlist] wanted to do something which would help people understand, in real terms, where they stand globally, and make us realize that, in fact, most of us (who are able to view this web page) are in the privileged minority.

We want people to feel rich. And give some of their extra money to a worthwhile charity. How do you feel about that? Richer and ready to give some of your newly found wealth to those who need it most? It's not hard - just slip your hand in your pocket and pull out something special. Many people's lives could be happier if you donated just one hour's salary.

$8 could buy you 15 organic apples - OR 25 fruit trees for farmers in Honduras to grow and sell fruit at their local market.

$30 could buy you an ER DVD Boxset - OR a First Aid kit for a village in Haiti.

$73 could buy you a new mobile phone - OR a new mobile health clinic to care for AIDS orphans in Uganda.

$2400 could buy you a High Definition TV - OR schooling for an entire generation of school children in an Angolan village.

I have to be honest, seeing that I'm in the top 0.72% of the world's population when it comes to wealth has messed me up a little. I need to give this more thought and figure what God wants me to do in 2011. I give to my church and to worthy causes - and feel good about it. At the end of the day, however, I spend the majority of my money (the money that God has blessed me with) on my life.

Jesus came and lived the most generous life possible, and I believe His followers (of which I am one) are called to live the same way. What does this mean for us? After reading this post, please comment. I would love to hear more from God through you.

Blessings on your 2011!

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I'm A Two-Bit Dud ... and Smiling Ear-to-Ear!

2010-12-29T08:21:00.001-08:00

From my friend Jennifer over at Getting Down with Jesus (http://gettingdownwithJesus.blogspot.com) – a great thought for all us perfectionists!!

Andrea

____________________________________________________________

For two years straight, I didn't smile with an open mouth. More accurately, I tried not to.

I had a mouthful of crooked, crowded teeth. Imagine a picket fence rearranged by a wildly errant bicyclist -- or a Mack truck. That's what my teeth looked like. Or that's what I thought anyhow.

I had postponed orthodontic care for years, because in my heightened state of teenage self-awareness, braces seemed even more unattractive than crooked teeth. I didn't want to trade in my picket fence for barbed-wire. That's what we perfectionists do in America, The Land of Just-So. We weigh our options, deciding which one -- in the end -- will make us look best.

By my junior year of high school, I gave in. Which meant that I would be wearing braces for my senior pictures. Which meant that I would, under no circumstances, open my mouth to smile for the photographer.

(Though, somehow, I had no trouble wearing three-inch tall bangs and acid-wash jeans.)

For as long as I can remember, I've been a high-achieving, approval-seeking people pleaser.

Back in sixth-grade, I first hear the word "perfectionist." My English teacher wrote me a note that served as a harbinger.

"You have a perfectionist quality in you that I so often see as a great asset," she wrote. "Beware of it, however, and try to always view things with an open mind. After all, there will always be tomorrow."

Trouble was, I wanted to be the best TODAY.

Try, try, try as I might, I never felt I was the best at anything. That's what perfectionists in this practice-makes-perfect culture do. We race past the goal of achieving excellence, in a vain search for being number-one.

Truth is, I've never been a superstar anything. There's always been a better writer, a better student, a better cook, a better adjunct journalism professor.

Not-Good-Enough can shackle. It can keep a perfectionist sidelined, with her lips pursed tight so no one sees the crooked mess she really is. Our just-right mantra is this: "If I can't do it right, then I won't do it at all."

But in the midst of my own "I-can't," I have been learning the art of "Oh, yes He can."

Perfection is so yesterday.

I guess you could say I'm in recovery. I'm not cured, but I'm letting go -- shedding perfection like a 1980s hairdo.

For years, friends of mine have picked a word to define their year. Just one single word.

For the first time ever, I've got mine. For 2011, my word is this: Imperfect.

Roget's synonyms for the word "imperfect" sting hard. I typed the word into the online thesaurus. Up popped these words:

Below par.
Broken.
Damaged.
Defective.
Disfigured.
A schlocky, two-bit dud.

Oh yeah, Roget?

Well, get this: My Creator sees imperfect,
flawed,
broken
me,
and He declares me good. Very good.

It's almost 2011. This recovering perfectionist is clinging to a God capable of delivering her from the curse of Not-Good-Enough.

In Christ, I am free to be me.

I am still going to do my best, because God wants us to be people of excellence for His glory.

But when I fall short of perfection (and I know I will) I'm going to laugh at myself more, cut myself some slack, and risk falling flat on my face (or flat on my back) in the name of adventure.

And I am going to put on some big, bug-eyed glasses -- and maybe even a pair of cheesy acid-wash jeans. I'm going to open my mouth wide, throw my arms wildly to the sky and I'm going to SMILE.

(Mom and Dad -- Thanks for the paying the ortho bills.)

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
-- Galatians 1:10

Each Wednesday, I join Ann Voskamp for her Walk With Him Wednesday series. This Wednesday, she asks us to name the New Year. What's your word?

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Sexual Purity Means Using Protection

2010-11-29T05:51:00.001-08:00

Well said! Another great post from Girls Gone Wise...

Andrea

When it comes to premarital sex what are you told today? Everyone says, "Just make sure you use protection." God says the same thing, but for completely different reasons, in completely different ways. The world tells you to use protection so when you choose to have sex you won't suffer the physical consequences, like pregnancy or disease. But God's protection is different. It isn't a pill you take the morning after or in a box you buy at Wal-Mart. So what is God method of protection? It's sexual purity. His protection saves your body and your heart.
1. Preserves Your Holiness.
God can only be in the presence of holiness and purity that's why God says be holy and act as He does (1 Pet. 1:13). When people look at you, they should see your holy Dad. Sexual immorality, which is improper for God's children(1 Cor. 6:13, 18, 20; Eph. 5), blurs your resemblance of God. So when you say, "God, I'm going to ignore your commands and my boyfriend and I are going to do what we want," you reject Him and sin against your own body (1 Thess. 4:3-8), you reject holiness. God commands purity because it's best for you and makes you more like Him.
2. Protects Your Reputation and the Gospel's
The women in Titus taught the younger women how to be godly, to live in such a way that no one could say anything bad about them or Scripture (Titus 2:4-5). Self-control and purity are traits of a godly woman, a woman set apart for Christ. She loves God so much that she would rather live a holy, pure life than give in to temptations that only promise temporary pleasure. She wants to preserve her reputation, but more than anything, wants to uphold God's.
Live in such a way that's above reproach so there's not even a whiff of sexual immorality in your life. If that means a couple is never alone but God's temple is honored (1 Cor.6:19), so be it! If that means always keeping a door open if you're in each other's rooms but the Gospel is not maligned because of that, so be it! If that means waiting to kiss or hold hands for months after dating but no one can accuse you of any immorality, but instead they want to know your Lord and Savior, then so be it! What it comes down to is, which do you love more: yourself or Christ?
3. Protects Your Brother in Christ
Matt. 5:28 commands men to not check out women. I used to think that guys were SUPPOSED to check out girls, it was natural for them. But Christ says it's the same as committing adultery. So what does that have to do with us?
If you knew you could save someone in your family from heartache and trouble, would you try as hard as you could to do so? Why wouldn't you do the same for your spiritual brother? The guy you date, if he's a Christian, is your brother in Christ. You can protect him by not purposefully dressing in a way that he'll want to check you out. A daughter of the King doesn't intentionally want guys to check her out but cares for her brother by dressing in a way that glorifies God.
You also protect your brother when you act in way that does not cause him to stumble sexually. He could be pressuring you to do certain things and you are going along with him, or you could be pressuring him. Either way you're not protecting him and you're not protecting his future wife. You don't know for sure if you both are meant to be together, but you do know he has a future wife. So live in such a way that protects everyone.
4. Preserves Yourself for Your Intended Spouse
His left hand is under my head and his right hand embraces me. O daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so pleases. – Song of Sol. 8:3-4
His left hand is under her head? His right hand embraces her? This bride in Song of Songs is now with her beloved, her husband. In a way, he's snuggling her as his wife. She knows the joy of having been pure and the beauty of God's intended plan. So she begs her sisters not to awaken love until it (God) desires, after marriage.
God does only good to His children. When He says, "Do not awaken love until it so desires, flee and avoid sexual immorality," God is saying, "I have something beautiful and wonderful intended for you, if you'll follow my ways and stay pure. The way I intended sex is only truly enjoyable within marriage." He will NEVER withhold good from you, and if you trust God He'll lead you down the right path and take care of you.
For my husband, he waited 8 years to kiss his future wife because he knew that every girl he dated was someone's wife, but he didn't know if they were going to be his wife. He didn't want to kiss another man's wife. So when we started dating, he waited six months, until God made it clear that I was going his wife, to kiss me. He saved that and never regretted it, but we've both regretted anything we did that didn't preserve us for each other.
5. Protects Your Future Marriage
The consequences of pre-marriage sexual experiences carry over into marriage and you'll have to deal with them. They don't go away once you're married. The past partners and experiences will come into your relationship with your husband. There'll be insecurities on both sides: "Am I good enough? Is she comparing me to them?"
The world tells you, "You need to see if you're compatible sexually. They might be the one, so go ahead." But God says, "Trust me, I have someone for you and when you marry that person you won't regret saving yourself. If you don't, when you finally marry, you'll have wished with everything in you that you had waited and kept your marriage bed undefiled (Heb. 13:4)." A wise person once told me, "You'll never regret taking it slow in relationships, but you'll always regret going too fast."
God laid out a plan in Scripture and gave you the tools to protect yourself for sexual purity. Do you trust Him when He says, "Wait!"? If you've doubted His plan before and given into temptation, you probably know the pain it brings. God is saying to you, "Come back and I will comfort you. It's never too late." There's always forgiveness with the Lord, no matter what you've done in your past. You can't out-sin His grace. If you haven't strayed from God's will in this area, stay strong! You will never regret it! God isn't a liar; He is complete goodness, so trust His plan!

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Mr. Right or Mr. Right In Front of You?

2010-11-18T11:17:00.001-08:00

Another great post from the gals over at Girls Gone Wise…

Andrea

Sometimes, being single is not easy.

There is so much pressure to pair up and live happily ever after.

The world views singleness as a problem. On every TV channel, there are ads targeting the single crowd telling them that they would be happier in a relationship. An array of romantic comedies and emotional tales of true love leave single girls pulling out their hair and screaming, "Where is the one?!!"

And for the single woman who really does want to be married, it is easy to get discouraged. In case you haven't noticed – there are a lot of strange guys out there. And turning to lost friends from work for companionship, rather than enduring the loneliness of one more Friday night eating a Lean Cuisine with Ben and Jerry can be convenient. Why wait for God's Mr. Right when Mr. Right-in-front-of-you is sitting in the next office? He doesn't have any major vices, he seems like an all around good guy. So what if he's not only a CEO in work, but a CEO in church…as in "Christmas and Easter Only"? At least he is sort of spiritual and seeking…..something?

So what?

The Bible is what.

God is very clear on this subject of close relationships between believers and unbelievers. 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers." This verse applies to all types of relationships with non-Christians, but there is only one relationship that if "yoked" with an unbeliever, cannot be undone. … Marriage.

So, what does Paul mean by unequally yoked? The expression "unequally yoked" comes from Leviticus 19:19 and Deuteronomy 22:10, where it means "mismatched." It's talking about the yoking of two animals of very different sizes and temperaments to walk at the same pace and to act as one in the same work. It will never happen – the animals are just too different! In this passage, Paul is warning the Corinthians against compromising their witness to the world. He emphasizes avoiding any action that would cause believers to link up with the world, which includes marriage.

You may think that the "lost, but so amazing" guy you are dating is the only one who really "gets" you. But if you do not have Christ in common, you have no foundation for a relationship. In the next few verses (2 Corinthians 6:14-16), Paul links unbelievers with lawlessness, darkness and even Satan himself. He is emphasizing the difference between those who do know Christ as Savior and those who do not. Ultimately, the two have nothing in common. And any believing wife married to an unsaved man will attest to this fact.

You may think that there is no harm in dating the new super-cute non-Christian guy in your life, but the Bible says otherwise. In 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1, Paul quotes four verses from the Old Testament to explain why it is so important that we not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. "For we are the temple of the living God…" Remember how holy God considered the Temple back in the Old Testament? People could not enter into the Holy of Holies for fear of death! God's Spirit literally dwelt in the Temple. Paul applies that same standard of holiness to the believers at Corinth, who were a part of the new temple of God. It is because they are the temple of God, they should not be unequally yoked with unbelievers . Paul is not saying that believers should withdraw from culture, but that in their pursuit of holiness they should break any ties with the world that would compromise the holiness of God's temple, including close friendships, business partnerships, peer groups, dating relationships, and yes, even marriage.

God is not being cruel by commanding you to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. He is calling you to live a holy life and He is trying to protect you, His daughter, from a great deal of heartache. The most important thing in your life - your Jesus – is foolishness to a unbeliever. (1 Corinthians 1:22-25).

Paul is saying that as a believer, your primary influences should be believers. Your best friends, your advisors, your dates, and especially the man you marry should know your Jesus! It is tempting to settle for a great lost guy over the socially-awkward stalker in the single's ministry or being alone for another Friday night. But it doesn't matter how sweet, handsome or dynamic the guy is – if he is lost then he is NOT God's will for you.

God is not punishing you with singleness. God loves you (John 3:16). For some women, God's best for them is to be married earlier, so that they can learn important lessons about God through marriage. For other women, God's best for them is keeping them single for a time, so they can learn those same lessons through singleness. Singleness is not a problem to be fixed! Singleness is a season of life where we can focus solely on God. The Bible says that it is God's will that everyone be single for a time and some be single forever – and those are blessed! (1 Cor. 7:32-35)

You can choose to be obedient and single for as long as God wants or you can disobey and date/marry the next cute lost guy who walks across your path.

Who will it be? God's Mr. Right or the world's Mr. Right-in-front-of-you?

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Protestant Women of the Chapel International

2010-11-15T06:52:00.000-08:00

PWOC is an organization I've known about for quite some time - through friends and through Cadence women. This past weekend, I was privileged to be a part of the international conference, where women from around the world gathered together to spend time in worship and study of the Word. Words cannot describe the experience.

As women (and some men, as there were quite a few chaplains there also) of all sizes, shapes and colors gathered together, I experienced a taste of what I imagine heaven might be like. It was simply amazing. And the Holy Spirit was moving amongst us! You could feel the presence of the Lord!

Priscilla Shirer was the keynote speaker - and she delivered several impactful messages (you may hear more about those later! I'm still processing!!) Another challenging message was delivered by Chaplain (General Major) Doug Carver. In discussing the suicide rates, he mentioned three contributing factors:

"Dear John" letters - or relationship issues
Fear of public shame - (ie) if someone knows they are about to be "caught" for something shameful they have done
Isolation - feeling alone

We have an Army that is tired and weary, and a marketplace that is increasingly hostile toward the Gospel - and the Church is strangely quiet. Ch. Carver challenged us with five ways to be salt and light to the military:

Pray - there is much power in prayer - be lifting up the military and their leaders.
Proclaim life (not death) - the media already lets us know about all the evil that is in this world - let's speak words of life and encouragement - words of hope!
Promote honor - live your life in a way that glorifies the Lord - be holy and humble.
Have a passion for souls... don't just see those around you as a bunch of people - but as souls that either face eternity with God or eternal separation from Him. Share the gospel!
Make worship a priority. Take time to spend with the Lord - both individually and corporately.

Stay tuned for more... and pictures! :) Be blessed - and be salt and light!

Search Me Know Me

2010-11-01T19:32:00.000-07:00

This is a great song of self-examination and confession based on Psalm 51 and Psalm 139:23-24.

Amazed by Desperation Band

2010-11-01T19:20:00.000-07:00

This is one of the songs we'll be singing at the PWOC conference in Dallas - simple words - but they wash over my soul... I wake up singing this song - and it plays in my heart all day long...

The Superwoman Complex- The Godless Proverbs 31 Woman

2010-11-01T07:50:00.000-07:00

Ouch – this one steps on my toes a bit! Guilty, far too often!! Thanks to the Girls Gone Wise blog for another great post! (in a season where I AM trying to not be superwoman!)

Superwoman complex: A woman's desire to be excellent at all her roles (leader, professional, mother, wife, etc.), that often leads to psychological stress or an expectation of being a Superwoman that can and should do everything.

If you look this term up in the dictionary, you'll find my picture next to it. I didn't realize I fit into this category until a few months ago. I was new to marriage, taking summer school, cooking dinner 3-4 times a week, working out every day, involved in church ministry, working 40 hours a week, reading 200 pages a day for class, trying to be a friend, daughter, and the perfect wife. I was exhausted and didn't even have kids yet! But after working 10 hours one Saturday afternoon, I finally broke down.

Why was I so upset, so exhausted? My husband was well fed, the house was clean, I was making good grades, and church ministry was going well. It seemed like I was doing what the Proverbs 31 woman is supposed to do, so why was I breaking down? What's wrong with being Superwoman?

1. Superwoman is Too Busy for God.

At the end of every day being "Superwoman," I was exhausted and needed a good night's sleep to be able to save the day again. I told God, "I'm too busy for you. I have to do everything tomorrow and need my sleep so I can't read your Word." The way God was going to speak to me and bring me peace, contentment, and joy was what I was rejecting. Scripture breathes life into our souls and I was becoming spiritually and physically exhausted without it.

The Proverbs 31 woman is refreshed daily, speaks with wisdom, and is exemplary because she seeks the source of all wisdom and faithful instruction….God. (Prov. 31:24). I was doomed for failure as Superwoman because I didn't have the one thing that would revive my soul everyday (Ps. 19:7). Rather than trying to be Superwoman, I needed to be more like the Proverbs 31 woman, seeking the Lord and His Word, which brings light to the eyes and joy to the heart (Ps.19:8).

2. Superwoman Thinks She Can Save the Day.

When you try to be a superhero, there's no room for God to save the day. I thought I could do it all on my own and, foolishly, I thought I didn't need God's help. I was the controller of my life, not God. When He is not your center, when He is not in control, your life will not be peaceful or successful (Prov. 3:5-6).

If you're trying to be Superwoman, you will eventually fail and break down (Prov. 14:12), but when God is in control, there is peace and rest. I was putting my trust in myself which seems pretty stupid when I think about it, because I'm a sinful, simpleton of a woman. Why was I trusting in that kind of person when I have a Savior who is perfect (Ps. 18:30), loving, strong, in control of the entire world and wants to do good for me (Deut. 30:16, Ps. 37:4-5)? That's who I want to save the day!

3. Superwoman Tries to Be Perfect.

A lot of Christian women think of the Proverbs 31 woman as a type of Superwoman. She's Susie-homemaker, smart, good with money, can sew, and her husband and children think she's the best. She's perfect!

God requires His daughters to be like that, right? Aren't all those things in Scripture? They are and God does want them from us but there's a big difference between Superwoman and the Proverbs 31 woman. The difference is: God.

You can do all the actions of the Proverbs 31 woman but if your heart isn't God-centered then you're just a Superwoman destined to fail. God knows that only He and His Son, Jesus Christ are perfect, so why are we trying to be perfect in every area? Is it so you'll appear to be the most talented girl in the dorm, the best wife in your small group, or the most desirable single woman? Unfortunately, I've been guilty of all these "Me"-driven motives. The Superwoman complex is centered on: Self.

God does not value outward perfection, awards, or praises from man like we do. The only thing God requires is that we seek Him and fear Him, like the Proverbs 31 woman (Prov. 31:30). God doesn't call us to be Superwomen; he calls us to be godly women.

When you put your long to-do lists and full schedules on His shoulders the burden is much lighter because He's carrying it for you (Matt. 11:28). He knows you can't handle the weight of being Superwoman. You'll collapse under it, like I did.

If you have been like the Proverbs 31 woman, putting everything in God's hands, thank you! You've been an example to your sisters and we need more women like you. I pray I become more like you and less like Superwoman.

So let's all take off the cape and let God save the day!

Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy With God in the Busyness of Life

2010-10-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

This book has been on my shelf for quite a while... half read, I might add. (That is not unusual for me... I am a bigtime reader, and usually have several books going at once... sometimes a book gets set down, in favor of another, and then I forget to "resume".)

At any rate, I was recently studying the passage of Scripture where Jesus is at Martha's house - and Mary is sitting at His feet listening, and Mary is "worried and anxious about many things". But Mary has chosen the "one thing that is needed" - the "better part".

I wonder - how often are we worried and anxious about many things - rather than choosing the one thing that is needed? Beloved - focus on Christ - He is that ONE thing... He will ensure that what you need to do gets done, and if you rest in Him, your burden will be light...

Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy With God in the Busyness of Life

Calling All the Single Ladies!

2010-10-25T18:36:00.001-07:00

For all you single gals out there (ok, all US single gals!) – here's one to read!!

Andrea

by Sarah Bubar

Status: Single

That's what my Facebook profile says. Like a large banner stamped across my homepage: I. Am. Single. The holidays are just around the corner with February soon following. It's the time of the year when even shopping heightens my awareness to the fact that I am single. Now, the end of the year approaches and still brings with it an idea that something is missing from my life.

But is it?

The Lord has done His work in my life in this area and true heart-contentment has finally settled my heart, but even still, I find there are twinges of dissatisfaction that tell me I'm still without. When those feelings arise, I must remember what the Lord taught me. There are 4 myths in regards to singleness that, even in my 30's, I'm still having to adjust in my heart.

MYTH #1: I'll be happy if I'm married because I won't be alone anymore. I used to think that marriage would be the cure-all for the loneliness blues. The life of the Samaritan woman in John 4 taught me that marriage does not equal happiness. This woman had been married five times already and she wasn't any closer to happiness than she was before. This temporary happiness was why she again found herself in another senseless relationship. Then she met Jesus, a man who cared for her, not just for what she could do for him. How often have we dated someone or been in a relationship with someone solely based on how it made us feel? But the truth is that our fulfillment and true happiness comes through our relationship with Christ. Just like the Samaritan woman I will never be truly happy with my life, no matter the status, unless I am happy in my relationship with Christ.

MYTH #2: I'll feel complete if I'm married. I'll have accomplished something with my life. Can women accomplish something great in life single? What about Ruth? She is the model of the Proverbs 31 woman, and yet the crux of her written story covers the time in her life when she wasn't married. Consider "modern day" single women like Amy Carmichael, Lottie Moon, Sophie Muller, Carolyn McCulley, and Nancy Leigh De Moss. When God calls a woman to do something, He equips her to do His calling, regardless of her marital status. The truth is that completeness is found only in Christ! Ephesians 1 tells us that God has blessed me with every spiritual blessing in Christ (vs. 3). Even before Creation, He chose me to be holy and blameless and He lavishes me with grace (vs. 4, 8).

MYTH #3: It must be God's will for me to get married because I want it so badly. I believed this one for years! I kept praying and praying, expecting God to take that desire for marriage away. It wasn't until a couple of years ago that the Lord really hit me over the head with this truth: In light of eternity, it doesn't matter if I enter Heaven married or single. The only thing that will matter is what I've done for Christ! Scripture contains scores of verses talking about God's will. In almost every circumstance (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 6:6; 1 Thess. 4:3, 5:18; 1 Peter 2:15, 4:2) God's will is about my character not my marital status; God is more concerned about who I should be than who I should be with.

MYTH #4: If I never get married, it must be a punishment of some kind. I've lost count the number of times I've confessed sins to God in hopes that my singleness wasn't a punishment for them. I've questioned God's love for me because He wouldn't give me what I wanted. I have seen the root of jealousy grow within my deceived heart because God was fulfilling the dreams of friends around me while I stood there – single! Like a child throwing a tantrum, I have watched myself clutching onto relationships that God was weeding from my life. But the truth is, if you delight yourself in the Lord, your desires will change – or at least be put in perspective! Psalm 37:4's promise to "Delight yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart." can often be misused. It's not a magical equation for getting what we want. But it is the key to being truly fulfilled as I find my satisfaction in God and in my relationship with Him. As I delight myself in Him, my desires change to God's desires and what He wants for my life.

If you are like me, these truths are going to be something that you need to work through, to process. It's not just going to happen overnight. And just when you think you've got it, February will show up on your calendar. Don't be discouraged. I know the process; but I also know the peace. Allow God to lead you through both.

The Seeming Oppression of Biblical Womanhood, Part II

2010-10-21T10:14:00.001-07:00

Here is the second part of Kim's blog on complementarianism…

We obey His commands out of a deep love for Him – because He first loved us. "Beloved, let us love on another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God." We love because He put His love in us, and we know the love of the Father. Author and counselor Elyse Fitzpatrick encourages us with this, "How often do you contemplate God's love for you? I don't mean His love for His chosen ones in general, I mean His love for you personally, a woman made in His image. Do you remember that He chose you out before the foundation of the world? Do you see that your name is eternally inscribed upon the palms of His hands? Do you revel in the compelling love that provides what you needed before you were even aware of your needs? Dear sisters, since God loves us so much, surely we ought to love our husbands." (Helper by Design, 129).

The greatest display of that love is the Gospel – the good news that Christ died on a cross on our behalf. Christ died in our place. We couldn't not have died because the guild penalty would not have been covered. But, Christ was our perfect sacrifice.

And our adherence to the laws of God, especially in this light of biblical womanhood, have a great reach for the gospel. Carolyn Mahaney puts it this way, "The commands found in Titus 2 have been given to us for an all-important reason that transcends time and culture. That reason is the gospel of Jesus Christ. These virtues are not about our personal fulfillment or individual preference. They are required for the sake of unbelievers – so that those who are lost might come to know our Savior." (Feminine Appeal, 26).

If complementarianism seems oppressive, it is the result of sin in the world, not the laws and rules of God in and of themselves. Sin has distorted everything. Three ways I see that sin affects complementarianism is: our own drive toward perfectionism, sinful ruling of man (abuse, tyranny, not loving their wives as Christ loved the church), or legalism (thinking our good behavior will enable our right standing with our Savior). None of these lie at the foundation of complementarianism. All of them lie in the root of sin. Remember, when the roles of men and women were established was in the pre-fall Garden of Eden, not a post-fall Eden. Beth Impson chimes in with "The Fall left us with sin natures, part of which include man's tendency to lord power over the woman in his life and woman's tendency to desire inappropriate control and independence. Redemption in Christ frees us from the power of sin but fleshly patterns and worldly influences can confuse our daily walk and our understanding of the masculine and feminine natures God has given us." (Called to Womanhood, 121)
Three take-aways:
1. If single female: pursue Christ. Pursue His Word and how you are to live out your faith, your love of God, and your femininity.
2. If married female: pursue Christ. Don't become discouraged. Love God, love the God who made you exactly who you are, serve as to the Lord.
3. If single males: Encourage your sisters in Christ with the Word – not with man-made laws. Don't expect them to be perfect, none of us are (and women, this goes for you looking for Mr. Right as well, don't expect perfection.)
4. If husbands: love your wives as Christ loved the church, encourage her as your wife. She will not be like someone else's wife – and expectations can be oppressive. Talk about these, open lines of communication, not accusation or disappointment.
All (women): live out the truths of Complementarianism (Ephesians 5,1 Peter 3, Titus 2, etc) in light of the Gospel – not the oppression of a sinful society.

View article...

The Seeming Oppression of Biblical Womanhood, Part I

2010-10-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

Kim Davidson over at the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, blogging on submission - perhaps the most misunderstood topic for women seeking to follow God's plan for marriage... I recommend taking a few minutes to read what she has to say on the matter - click the link below...

CBMW » The Seeming Oppression of Biblical Womanhood, Part I

Avodah and Roaring Lambs

2010-10-15T07:24:00.001-07:00

Reposting from my friend Jennifer over at Getting Down With Jesus – this is GREAT stuff to be thinking on… how can you glorify God with your life – in whatever you do?

Andrea

I steer into the campus parking lot, see eight students with notebooks waiting in the grass for me.

I glance at the clock: 3:41 p.m. I was due here a minute ago.

The one student who interrupts me during class lectures, ... he lectures me now.

"Why the hold-up?" he scolds, jumps to his feet before the others. He asks his question one more time, then adds: "You're late."

He has a book in his hand, raises it over his head like an exclamation point.

I pretend I don't hear him.

I wave students into cars, instruct them to follow me to City Hall. I've been teaching my students how news reporters cover meetings. I figure the best way to learn, is to do. So today, we're covering a city council meeting.

The student who scolded me takes the passenger seat ... in my car.

I pull seatbelt, latch. He slips his book on the armrest between us.

I turn my head, catch his eye. He smiles.

"I promised you," he says, then wags a finger. "Now, ... don't forget: I need that back by the end of the semester."

The book is Roaring Lambs by Bob Briner. And Bryan has written his own name in the front cover of the well-worn book, in case his absent-minded professor forgets who loaned it.

***

The student told me about the book two days earlier.

I was at the front of the classroom, praying -- because that is the way I start class. (I teach journalism at a Christian college.) I pray for words, for journalists, for newsmakers. That day, I also prayed this:

"Father, we don't always do work that looks sacred. We live in a secular world, where we cover council meetings, fires, tornadoes. But we are called to be a holy people. And Lord, even if the work doesn't have a Jesus Label slapped on it, remind us that it is, indeed, holy. And remind us that we do our work for Your glory, not our own."

I barely whisper the amen, when Bryan is speaking, finger punching the air.

"Professor," he says. "I have a book you need to read."

***

On the way to the Council meeting, he sets the book between us.

"Thank you, Bryan. I'll be sure to return it."

Good, he says. He tells me he's convinced we can do our work in the world, even if it doesn't have the Jesus Label slapped on it -- just like I'd prayed two days earlier.

I nod, steer west toward City Hall.

"Bryan?" I ask. "Have you heard of this word? It's spelled A-V-O-D-A-H. Avodah. It's a Hebrew words that means both work and worship. I'm just crazy about that word."

"Can you imagine it?" My voice is rising now. I'm the one punching the air with my forefinger. "Our work isn't just work. It's worship, too. Covering a City Council meeting? That can be worship if we do it well, if we do it for God's glory!"

He says he's never heard the word Avodah, but he nods. Because he already knows.

***

Meeting adjourns. I take students home, tuck my own girls in bed, open the Roaring Lambs.

Briner writes about a Christian subculture. He says we often write songs and books and stories for Christians, but sometimes exclude the world. He asks how we can really be salt for the world if we're not doing some work outside a Christian ghetto. How can we be world-changers if we're only writing our stories and our songs for people who think and believe like we do?

He asserts that Christians have fled from culture-shaping arenas of art and entertainment ... and journalism. Now, to be clear, I love things with the Jesus Label on it. I favor Christian music, read mostly books on Christian living. Even my blog bears His name.

But I can't get over the question on the front page of the book: "Do you have as many close friends outside the church as within?"

I lean over these pages, hear them roar, and I whisper the word twice more: Avodah. Avodah. I want to live an Avodah life.

I finish the last chapter. Close the book. I'll take it back to Bryan on Tuesday. And I'll thank God for the kid in the front row who was bold enough to roar.

Photo: Quote plaque at Laity Lodge in Texas.

RELATED ARTICLES on Avodah:

"Do You Feel Broken and Fragmented?" by Ann Voskamp at The High Calling. She also writes of Avodah here, at Holy Experience.

"Six Days Shalt Thou ... Worship?" by Marcus Goodyear at Good Word Editing.

"Why Work is Holy" by Dave Williamson at The High Calling.

True Woman 2010, Day 1: A True Womans Picture

2010-10-15T04:45:00.001-07:00

From my friends over at the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood – good stuff from Nancy Leigh DeMoss…

Andrea

The answers were varied, troubling and illustrated a deep confusion within the culture over a fundamental question: What is true womanhood?

Revive Our Hearts Ministries canvassed women on the streets of Fort Worth, Texas, asking that very question, in preparation for its True Woman 2010 conference that began last night in the city and continues through Saturday.

It wasn't pretty.

One woman defined a true women as "somebody who is strong and independent, who knows who she is and what she wants." Another woman deferred to relativism, saying the epitome of true womanhood is different for every woman. One interviewee said a true woman is a person who "has a job and is able to take care of herself" and basically doesn't need help or input from anyone else, particularly a man. Still another said a true woman "at her best displays all the best qualities of humankind." One interviewee expressed confusion over the identity and existence of God and his relationship to gender and yet another said of women, "God put us on the earth to create life. Other than that, we really have no purpose, do we?" Ouch. Finally, one younger woman came much nearer to hitting the biblical bullseye, defining true womanhood embodied by "a woman who takes care of her children and her home."

On the opening night of True Woman 2010 Thursday night at the Fort Worth Convention Center, conference founder Nancy Leigh DeMoss gave a beautiful, biblical, counter-cultural definition of true womanhood in couplets, contrasting a Gospel-entranced woman with one whose priorities are rooted in the world. Her text was Titus 2:

"Our lives are supposed to be counter-cultural. The world is supposed to be able to look at us and see a massive difference, see that our lives are characterized by things like love, purity, self-control, truthfulness, submissiveness, well-ordered family relationships. We are expected to be a living demonstration of the Gospel, to make the Gospel believable…Here in Titus 2:3-5, you see how a Christian woman is to reflect or illustrate the Gospel…Let's walk through it and also consider what it might look like if a woman is not walking in a way that is grounded in the truth and is not living out the Gospel.

"In verse 1, we see that a Christian woman bases her life on sound doctrine, the truth, the Word of God. But a woman whose life is not informed or shaped by the Gospel is going to minimize the importance of doctrine, will ignore or disregard it and that woman's life is going to based on beliefs that are not true, that are not sound.

"The older woman's life that is characterized by the Gospel is to model godliness and spiritual maturity. They are to be intentional about passing the baton, about investing the Gospel, the faith in the next generation, intentional about discipling and mentoring the next generation. But what if the Gospel does not inform our lives? Older people are free to pursue their own dreams, their own pleasures, to retire, to have the easy life, to live their own way. They've paid their dues and they want to spend the rest of their lives seeing the USA or traveling or doing hobbies or taking it easy. But that is not a lifestyle that is informed by the Gospel.

"Older women whose lives have been shaped by the Gospel are to be reverent in behavior. A woman whose life has not been shaped by the Gospel is going to be secular, coarse, or vulgar. Woman whose lives have been shaped by the Gospel are not slanderers, they are to speak the truth, to speak words that build up, [not] to have loose lips and wound others with our words.

"The woman whose life has been built on sound doctrine is going to have a temperate lifestyle. But the woman for whom the Gospel or sound doctrine doesn't matter is going to be self-indulgent, substance abuse, eating disorders, who live for senses, live for pleasure to medicate her emotional pain.

"A woman whose life is shaped by the Gospel will teach what is good. She will train younger women. What happens in a model where the Gospel doesn't speak into our lives? We devalue what older people have to offer. We make them feel useless or marginalized and younger women are left adrift to fend for themselves and so many of them, sadly, don't make it, they end up shipwrecked.

"We see that for the Gospel informed woman, the younger women are to love their husbands. They are to value marriage. They are to be covenant keepers, even when it's hard, when it hurts, when it seems so difficult. But in the climate where the Gospel doesn't inform the way we live, women will resent their husbands, they will dishonor them, neglect them, leave them and this is where we have the divorce culture, disposable marriages.

"The Gospel-informed woman will love her children. She will love motherhood. She will value having children according to the will and plan of God and will be intentional about shaping their lives for Christ. But in a mindset that is not informed by the Gospel, women are discouraged from having children in the first place. And when they do have them, they either abuse them or spoil them or perhaps let others raise them, they are not intentional about discipling them to be followers of Christ.

"A woman whose life is informed by the Gospel will be self-controlled…This state of mind is what helps us to curb fleshly desires and it results in practicing self-control in every areas of our lives: our tongue, our habits, our sexuality, every area. But a woman who is not controlled by sound doctrine has no self-control. She's out of control in her spending habits, her use of time. She will be impetuous, impulsive, whatever she thinks, she just says it, her mind is not a saved, sound mind.

"A woman's life who is controlled by the Gospel will be pure and modest vs. sexual promiscuity. She will value the home, she will have a heart for the home and her focus, her priorities will involve the home. Where the Gospel doesn't have a say, we devalue homemaking. Hospitality has become a thing of the past. Our homes are in a state of chaos. We are yanking a woman out of the home and elevating the work they do above the work they could be doing in and for their homes."

View article...

Tomato Basil Soup

2010-10-11T12:52:00.001-07:00

This looked really yummy – and I was hoping they'd post the recipe – they did! Love those gals over at Girltalk!

Andrea

So many of you asked for the Tomato Basil Soup from Janelle's 52home picture the other day, so here it is. Enjoy!

La Madeline's Tomato Basil Soup

4 cups canned crushed tomatoes
12 fresh basil leaves
1 cup heavy cream
1 stick (1/4 lb) of sweet unsalted butter
Salt to taste
¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper

Simmer tomatoes in saucepan for 30 minutes. Puree, with the basil leaves, in small batches, in blender or food processor. Return to saucepan and add cream, butter, salt and pepper while stirring over low heat. Garnish with basil leaves and serve with your favorite bread.

View article...

Pumpkiny Goodness

2010-10-11T12:09:00.000-07:00

So - sometime last fall, my friend Paula blogged about these A-MAZING Pumpkin muffins... I came across the recipe recently - and decided to make them for Bible study and class tomorrow... Hope there are some left!!! YUMMY!! Click on the following link for a picture and a copy of the recipe!
Enjoy!!

My Little Schoolhouse: Pumpkiny Goodness

Why Women Love Jerks : Girls Gone Wise

2010-09-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

Oh ladies - this is a gem of an article... have you loved a "jerk"? I know that I foolishly have... if I only I'd known these things before! This is a great list of things to consider... and my favorite line in the article might just be, "Great guys who love Jesus don't cheat on their women. PERIOD."

Read more by clicking the link below...

Why Women Love Jerks : Girls Gone Wise

Fixing the Negative Self-Talk

2010-09-27T06:40:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, I attended a women's day retreat on the power of words (hoping to blog a bit more about that soon) - but this article from Jillian Michaels hit on one of the topics - and that is our self talk... this article doesn't come from a Christian perspective, necessarily, but I think Jill hits on some key points. Be careful what you tell yourself... you just might believe it!

Fixing the Negative Self-Talk

A Review on Eat Love Pray

2010-09-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

Be careful what you feed your brain... a few good thoughts about a popular book and movie...

"Eat Love Pray Review"

Preparing for Mr. Right - part 3

2010-09-07T03:30:00.000-07:00

Here is another installment of this series... enjoy! (Click link below)

CBMW » She Does Him Good (even before she meets him), Part III

Things that make you go "hmmmm"

2010-09-07T03:18:00.000-07:00

This article came to my inbox today - and I thought it had a fair amount to "chew on" - in terms of commitment vs. surrender. Click on the link below and see if you don't find it so...

Why I’m Not a Committed Christian

Preparing for Mr. Right - part 2

2010-09-03T06:08:00.000-07:00

Click on the link below to see part two of this series...

CBMW » She Does Him Good (even before she meets him), Part II

Preparing for Mr. Right

2010-09-01T13:31:00.000-07:00

Hey Single Gals -

If you have a desire to be married - how are you preparing to be a godly wife? This blog has some good thoughts on how we can be using our time as single women to prepare for marriage - should that be the Lord's plan for us. Click the following link to read more.

CBMW » She Does Him Good (Even Before She Meets Him), Part I

Despising the Day of Small Things

2010-08-23T19:02:00.000-07:00

A little over a month ago, I headed off with a group of around 20 women to "retreat" to the mountains near Ashville, NC. It wasn't much cooler than Columbia, but enough so that you could actually sit outside for a while! As usual, it was a power-packed weekend filled with the Word, fellowship and food!

The time away was based on a passage from Zechariah 4:6-10. The key verse is verse 10 ~ "For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel."

To catch you up on the Scripture - these are the Israelites who started rebuilding the Temple about 15 years prior to this. We know from Haggai 1:4-6, that they've been busy building up their own houses, eating and drinking, spending money and working. In the meantime, the Temple sits unfinished, a foundation not even noticed. What a powerful picture of how easily we can become distracted from the work of God in our lives - distracted by our daily doings...

One of the questions posed to us for further consideration was this:
"How do you monitor/guard changes in your life in order to make sure they are from God?"

Have you substituted your own plans, setting aside what God has called you to do? Is He your one pure and holy passion, your magnificent obsession?

52life

2010-08-12T18:24:00.000-07:00

52life

2010-08-09T18:22:00.001-07:00

52life

2010-08-06T16:02:00.000-07:00

52life

2010-08-05T12:53:00.000-07:00

MIA for the summer?

2010-08-04T17:11:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe how quickly the summer is passing by! I haven't had much time to think, much less blog... but it has all been good. In fact - I'm working on pulling together some highlights of thoughts from the summer - conference sessions I've attended, a women's retreat - good stuff!

Can't remember if I've mentioned before - but this summer I have been feasting on biography audios by John Piper. Each year, for their pastor's conference, Piper highlights a Christian "great" and gives a talk. He's covered those such as CS Lewis, John Owen, John Calvin, Athanasius, William Wilburforce and many others. They are incredible! I find them interesting and challenging - and they make me want to run the race with endurance and press on with all that I have. If you are interested, click here and then scroll down until you get to the section "Biographies on Christian biography". They have all been great!

So - stay tuned for more - and I will be blogging on a more regular basis again.
Grace and Peace to you, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Andrea

52life

2010-08-03T15:01:00.001-07:00

Birthday flowers!

Do you feel ugly?

2010-07-30T06:59:00.000-07:00

My friend Jennifer is blogging about our one-of-a-kind uniqueness today - check out her blog and be encouraged! Click on "Do you feel ugly" to jump over to her blog.

52life

2010-05-30T07:50:00.001-07:00

little league!

Another Creative Quiet Time: Praise Music!

2010-05-18T05:36:00.000-07:00

Read Ps. 100:2

Create a playlist in itunes (or "player" of choice) with your favorite praise music. Google the lyrics to create a songbook so you can sing along. Meditate on the words.

Here are a few amazing songs to consider:
In Christ Alone
Indescribable
How Great Thou Art
How Great is Our God
Great is Thy Faithfulness

52life

2010-05-08T06:08:00.001-07:00

9:08am

52life

2010-05-07T13:39:00.001-07:00

52life

2010-05-03T16:15:00.001-07:00

52life

2010-05-02T13:30:00.001-07:00

52life

2010-05-01T15:45:00.001-07:00

52life

2010-04-29T14:44:00.000-07:00

Can a Single Woman be Friends with a Married Man? Part 3

2010-04-28T14:27:00.000-07:00

So, does that mean I can’t be friends with ANY married man?

No, it does not mean that. But, as always, we must check our hearts in every situation. If you feel any inkling of interest in that particular man, you must be VERY careful. Set boundaries to guard your heart and to keep yourself and your brother from stumbling.

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) – Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

It is far too easy to covet, to be deceived and to fall into a trap. David is a perfect example of how quickly we can fall into sin. (2 Samuel 11) David was where he shouldn’t have been (home, rather than war) – and he quickly fell into one sin after another – justifying himself all along the way.

Remember, we must think on what is TRUE (Philippians 4:8). God’s Word clearly tells us that marriage is sacred – and we must treat it that way. He knows the desires of your heart, and He knows what is good and right and true. We must, as single women, trust Him to provide our needs, and not go looking to fill the gaps and holes in our lives with what looks good to us. Ephesians 6:10-18 reminds us:

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, making supplication for all the saints…

52life

2010-04-27T14:44:00.000-07:00

Can a Single Woman be Friends with a Married Man? Part 2

2010-04-26T14:24:00.000-07:00

But what if he is an unbeliever? Can’t I share Christ with him?

Beloved, check the motive of your heart. Are you truly concerned that he knows Christ, or are you creating justification for a continued relationship with him?

Hebrews 13:4 says: Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

Marriage is holy and sanctified – set apart and consecrated. You do not want to play any part in a man straying from his wife. Don’t be blinded by desperation. Desperation will lie to us – will fool our heart into thinking we are doing something for all the right reasons. But, as Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us,

                                        The heart is deceitful above all things,
                                              and desperately sick;
                                                  who can understand it?

Why would you want to be friends with a man who does not honor his marriage? What is your real intent? James warns us again about the deceit of our hearts in 1:13-14:

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul tells us, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” God always provides a way out – take it!

We are warned numerous times against playing any part in any other person stumbling:

Jesus said in Matthew 18:7 - “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!”

Mark 14:38 - Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 - Abstain from every form of evil.

Roman 14:21 - It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. [emphasis mine]

If you really want to help this man with his relationship with God, do the following:

1) Ask some godly people to pray for him

2) Ask your pastor, or some other solid Christian man to reach out to him.

This protects you from being further deceived, and if the Lord is truly drawing him unto Himself, then he will be receptive to your pastor or friend.

52life

2010-04-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

52life

2010-04-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

Growing in Grace

Wednesday Links 9/21/11

When Life is Hard

Wednesday links 9/14/11

Wednesday Links - on Thursday 9/8/11

Wednesday Links 8/31/11

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Memory Stones

Wednesday Links

Good Soil

Whirling Days

Wednesday Links

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My House That Lies in Ruins

Glimpses of Glory - Iowa edition pt 2

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since I've been posting on joy...

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My Life as a Biggest Loser - pt 3

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My Life as a Biggest Loser - Pt. 2

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I'm A Two-Bit Dud ... and Smiling Ear-to-Ear!

Sexual Purity Means Using Protection

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Search Me Know Me

Amazed by Desperation Band

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The Seeming Oppression of Biblical Womanhood, Part I

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Tomato Basil Soup

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