My 2012 Theme

Being that you haven't heard from me since before the new year began, I'll have to fill you in on the theme I've designated for myself this year (although I'm positive the Lord had much to do with it). It's going to be DISCIPLINE. That's spiritual discipline I'm talking about. It really began in the fall of last year because of a Bible study I've been going through at church, but I'm finding myself going full force this month as I've begun implementing new habits (and a few old habits that I'd gotten lazy about) into my daily routine that help me spend a lot more time in the Bible throughout the day.

I am so excited about the changes the Lord is making in my heart and my mind because I'm choosing to fill my day with His Word. Today I was thinking it over while I pushed my shopping cart through the grocery store. I realized it feels like I got saved all over again. Now, don't get me wrong. Christians are only born again one time. It's just that there's this fervor that has returned, which I haven't had in quite some time. So I guess what I'm experiencing is revival.

If you had asked me a month ago if I thought I needed to be spiritually revived, I would've told you "no". You see, I have daily devotions. I memorize scripture. I'm faithful at attending church. I pray. I even speak passionately about God's Word and righteous living. Still, I can tell you after looking back, I know there was something missing. I've needed more. I've simply needed to take in more of the Word and meditate on it more, and I've needed a bit of heart stirring, as well. I'm praying that the Holy Spirit will keep fanning that flame.

So if you see a girl out there carrying a big banner over her head that says Got Discipline?, it'll be me. And forgive me if I talk too loudly. I'm like my father in that respect. I get louder when I'm excited.

Sin

Last night I taught the lesson at Olympians club, and it was about the shame of sin and its consequences. We need to deal with sin right away, or it will pile up and get way out of hand if we don't repent. It will hurt us, and it will hurt other people.

I was sharing with my group of girls during discipleship time about how I have struggled with sinful thoughts in the last month that God has been dealing with me about, and that I believe I finally surrendered to Him this morning and repented. One of the girls gasped and said, I can't picture you ever sinning. Well, I wish that were the case, but unfortunately I was born with a sin nature along with the rest of mankind. I assured her I do sin. A lot.

On the one hand, I am thankful that my students don't seem to see glaring sin when they watch me. I desire to live as an example for them. Oh, but I know my heart, and it's full of wickedness. The Lord keeps showing me just how wicked. I think if they were to follow me around for just one day, it wouldn't take very long for them to see my ugly.

You see, I'm selfish. I gossip and slander. I love to put myself first. I snap at people. I'm lazy. I love to judge and point out other people's sin. Shall I keep going? I'm a pretty pitiful and hopeless mess, yeah? You too?

Aren't we thankful for Jesus, though? His perfect life, His perfect deeds are now mine. When I took Him as my Savior, He became my substitute both in life and death. He took my sin, and He gave me His righteousness.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.... - Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV)

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  - 1 John 1:9 (NKJV)

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  - 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)

We should let that truth sink in for a bit and praise Him for His wonderful grace.

• Subscribe to my blog by Email or Feed Reader
• Follow me on Twitter

Finding Freedom in Prison

I'm sorry there's no Chat Pack vlog today.  I ran out of time, and I'm not about to whip out the Flip Video at this point in the day. 

Instead, I have something of higher quality for you to view today.  I'd like you to watch this video from Revive Our Hearts, which was something they showed us at the True Woman Conference.  God is using this prison ministry to change women's lives, bringing them freedom even in imprisonment.  It's very moving.

Stacey Smith, who you will see in this video, was one of the workshop speakers at the conference.  I wish you could hear her whole story.  She is a trophy of God's grace. 

You will see the women performing a song in sign language, and that's one of the ways Stacey worships the Lord now.  She said that she had used and abused her body to do so much evil that she wanted to use her body in a way that brought glory to God.  She decided she could learn sign language to minister in music.

I hope this uplifts your spirit and causes you to glory in the Lord because of his healing power.

• Subscribe to my blog by Email or Feed Reader
• Follow me on Twitter

   

True Womanhood: Part 6

This is the sixth installment of a series of posts I will be writing on the book Voices of the True Woman Movement: A Call to the Counter-Revolution by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.  I received a complimentary copy from Revive Our Hearts ministry just for sharing my thoughts on each chapter.

Chapter 6: "Choosing Faith in Season of Change" by Karen Loritts

I'm going to let you in on a little secret.  Ready?  I am a very fearful person.  I'll bet a lot of people don't know that about me, but just ask my parents, my husband, and my best friend.  They could give you an earful about my fear of going new places, meeting new people, trying new activities, and experiencing new things.

I don't know why I'm like this, and I wish I wasn't.  For one thing, I know it's sin, but even beyond that, fear keeps me from living life to the fullest... arms wide open.

Okay, let's go back to the fact that it's sin.  Do you realize that having fear is not just having fear?  Fear brings friends with it, as Karen Loritts points out in this chapter.  Fear brings with it a variety of nasty things, such as doubt, an inability to think rationally, paralysis, disappointment, despair, and emptiness.

As I went over her list of "fear buddies" I could put a checkmark next to all ten.  I remember a night when my heart was so gripped with fear about a situation. I became angry and yelled at my friend when she was trying to speak truth to me.  My thoughts were so held captive by the object of my fear, that I couldn't even think straight, and all she could do was walk away from me.  Later as I considered how I must have looked to her, I knew I must have had a wild look in my eyes.  At least, that's how it felt in retrospect.

Yeah, that's me.  Quite the picture of Jesus, aren't I?  Um... no.

Alright, so if I truly want to look like Jesus and be a true woman of God, I know I'm going to have to do something about my fear.  I must fight it, and God's Word is the only effective weapon. 

Do you know what the Word tells me?  God is in control.  He loves me.  He is working good for me.  He is being glorified through me.  If I believe God's Word and surrender to Him in light of all of those truths, then I can fight my fears.  I will see the fearful thing from His perspective.

This is something I work at all the time.  I'm not sure if the fight gets any easier, but at least I think I recognize my fear more quickly and work to take wrong thoughts captive. 

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)

A true woman will bring her thoughts under submission to Christ, and when she does, there will be less fear and more peace.  That's where I want to live.

• Subscribe to my blog by Email or Feed Reader
• Follow me on Twitter or Facebook

   

I Won't Let Go

I walked at the park the other day, and the setting was so beautiful.  The sky was blue with little wispy clouds.  There was a nice breeze.  The sun was shining bright and hot. 

On days like that I get energized and inspired, and I think about my relationship with God a lot.  I had my headphones on and listened to all my favorite spiritual tunes, and it helped my mind get set in the right place. 

I thought about how He's changed me so much in the last 5 years.  Not that I was living some immoral life or had some deep, heinous sin prior to that.  But still... just living so much according to how I feel rather than by faith and not having an awareness of God in every aspect of my life is... well... wicked and sinful.

And He's changing me.

I'm just feeling thankful to know who I am in Christ.  To know I live by grace.  To know He gives me new mercy every morning.  To know He knows me to my very core.  And to know I know Him... at least, I know Him better now than I did 5 years ago. 

I don't want to let go of all of this.  Life has been hard these last 6 months, but I don't want to give up.  I want to keep going and pressing forward. 

To whom would I turn, Lord?  For you have the words of eternal life.  I won't let go.

• Subscribe to my blog by Email or Feed Reader
• Follow me on Twitter or Facebook

 

True Womanhood: Part 3

This is the third installment of a series of posts I will be writing on the book Voices of the True Woman Movement by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.  I received a complimentary copy from Revive Our Hearts ministry just for sharing my thoughts on each chapter.

Chapter 3: You've Come a Long Way, Baby!  by Mary Kassian

In this chapter Mary Kassian takes us back through the history of the Feminist Movement.  It was good for me to read up on it because I wasn't aware of what influenced the major swing toward feminism, which pervades our society today.

Basically, women decided they must abandon the Judeo-Christian model of womanhood, and they needed to create their own truth about who they were, who men were, and who God is because they were tired of being treated like second-class citizens.  At least, that's how they perceived themselves to be treated. 

As the movement progressed, women fought the model of submission to gain equality with men and eventually to viewing themselves as better than men.  They desired to remove the gender differences. 

As I read through the background of feminism, I found it so disheartening to see how quickly was the downward slide of values and morals in both women and our society as a whole.  My dad has made the statement that you can measure the morality of a society by the values and morals of its women.  How sad is the state of women in America today, and it is a reflection of how morally depraved we are as a nation.  Women dress provocatively, speak crassly and crudely, and they vie for independence and superiority, seeing no need for men.

But where is God?  Does a woman need Him?  If we throw out the Bible's model of a true woman, there is no room for God.

Quoting Mary on page 68,

As Christians, we must allow God to name Himself, to name His world, and to name male and female.  This belief contains the only hope for getting life right.  The only hope for discovering our true identity and purpose.  The only hope for untangling the gnarled, knotted mess that sin has made of gender and relationships.  The only hope for experiencing ever greater measures of healing and joy.  And above all, the only hope for reflecting and exalting the beauty of the gospel and the glory of God.

There is that phrase again... the glory of God.  You see, that's always the desired end of God and His people.  We can't glorify Him when we're vying for independence and control and trying to make our own rules and determining our own roles.

I rather find that if I'll follow God's ways and set myself to walk out my role as He has established it to be, there is a contentment there.  There is a peace that comes in trusting that God's way is right. 

Why can't we let Christ be our identity?  Not our marriage.  Not our children.  Not our singleness.  Not our career path.  Not our education.  Just be settled on being a woman who loves the Lord with all her heart and obeys His Word, and God will give you a contented heart in whatever season you are in.

• Subscribe to my blog by Email or Feed Reader
• Follow me on Twitter or Facebook
• Join my BlogFrog Community discussion

True Womanhood: Part 2

This is the second installment of a series of posts I will be writing on the book Voices of the True Woman Movement by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.  I received the book as a gift from Revive Our Hearts ministry for the sole purpose of writing my thoughts on each chapter.

Chapter 2:  From Him, Through Him, To Him by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

As I read this chapter I had thoughts and feelings that spread the gamut.  I agree with my head that God's ways are unfathomable, that His wisdom and judgements are so deep we cannot plumb their depths.  His resources never run out, and they will always exceed any need we will ever have.

My heart, though, comes from a different perspective.  My desire to know and understand the why of suffering leaves me reaching for faith.  I try not to question God in His judgements, but when life gets messy and you never imagined in a hundred years that you would be facing such hurt, the questions start coming.

Nancy quotes John Piper, In every situation and circumstance of your life, God is always doing a thousand different things that you cannot see and you do not know (pg. 34).  Can I trust and accept that God is working in ways behind the spiritual curtain that I would never mentally grasp?  Rather than ask God "why?", can I trust that the information He is withholding from me is really to my benefit?  That it may be too difficult for me to take in all the behind-the-scenes details?

It's a choice a person must make.  Either stand in pride, believing I know better than God, or humbly receive from His hand whatever He gives and trust that He knows exactly what He's doing for my good.  I'm afraid I question Him more than I care to admit.

If I want to be a true woman of God, I will see God as everything - my Source, my Sustainer and my purpose for everything.  That means no matter what I face, He is at the center of it, He will sustain me in it, and as I endure faithfully, I bring glory to Him.

Nancy goes on to share three final points:

1.  A true woman lives a God-centered life.

I love the way she describes this...

A true woman is more than a good wife and mother, a loyal friend and daughter.  More than anything else, she is enthralled with the Lord Jesus Christ--the Pearl of great price, the supreme Treasure of life.  He is the center of her universe and her life revolves around Him. (pg. 40)

2.  A true woman trusts God.

That means she accepts God's plan as good.  God's definition of "good" is not typically the same as ours.  Remember, God's judgements are unsearchable.

3.  A true woman says, "Yes, Lord."

A true woman recognizes that her life is not her own.  She lives instead for the glory of God.  His Word, not her world, becomes her compass. (pg. 43)

If I want to be a true woman, my life will revolve around God.  Not my feelings.  Not my understanding of a given situation.  Not what I think I do or do not deserve.  I will be centered on bringing glory to the Father.

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! "For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?" "Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?" For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.  ~Romans 11:33-36 

• Subscribe to my blog by Email or Feed Reader
• Follow me on Twitter or Facebook
• Join my BlogFrog Community discussion

Memory Monday: Isaiah 41:13

When I think of the things I lack in my flesh to obey and accomplish what God would have me to do, two very necessary elements come to mind. Strength and courage.

But I am so weak. I'm weak physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. Oh, sometimes I like to imagine that I'm strong, but I'm not. I'm helpless in and of myself. Do you know how many times I start a prayer by saying, "God, I need you"?

And courage? I've had people tell me they believed me to be so self-confident and able to do anything I set my mind to. If only they knew how fearful I am. I mean, fearful of things that some people would find to be ho-hum, no big deal.

So if strength and courage are not within me, then I'm going to have to find them somewhere else. It's a good thing I know God. He said He would supply those things for me because He is my God. My memory verse for the week speaks of His provision for strength and courage. 

For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.'

~ Isaiah 41:13 (NASB)

I link up with Joanne at The Simple Wife for Memory Monday. Go share your memory verse for the week.

• Subscribe to my blog by Email or Feed Reader
• Follow me on Twitter or Facebook
• Join my BlogFrog Community discussion

 

Heart Idols

Something has been on my mind that I need to talk about today.

 

  

• Subscribe to my blog by Email
• Subscribe to my blog in a Feed Reader
• Follow me on Twitter
• Join my BlogFrog Community discussion

A Story of Overwhelming Grace

Some of you have been asking about my key-note address at the luncheon last Saturday, and I thank those who were praying for me.  I thought I'd take a few minutes and let you know how it went.

The entire experience, from the time I accepted the speaking opportunity until this Sunday after church, was completely overwhelming.  When I was able to step back and finally process all of it, I saw God in it from start to finish.

You have to understand what has been going on in my life behind the scenes for months.  I'm going through a very difficult trial that is a total roller coaster ride of emotions.  In the midst of this, I was working to write notes on being grateful in all circumstances, especially in times of trial.  Talk about being put to the test.

One day I shared with a friend that it felt as if I had nothing to give.  I was feeling so spiritually and emotionally weak.  And then I followed up with the statement, "but I guess that's how it should be."  If I was strong and capable in the whole thing, then I wouldn't need God and it certainly wouldn't be His key-note address.  Little did I realize that I was about to experience God's grace like never before.

On Saturday I felt excited and positive, but as the morning wore on, the feeling turned to apprehension and nerves.  Lunch seemed to drag on.  I just wanted to start speaking.  The anticipation was almost more than I could bear. 

I kept thinking about all the people who said they were praying for me.  I knew I had some cheerleaders out there, and they were pulling for me.  I'm not sure anyone knew it, but I was near tears by the time the ladies were eating dessert.  I can honestly say that's the first time I didn't give a HOOT about cupcakes.  {giggling}

When it was just about time to return to the sanctuary for the speaking portion, one of the deacons who was there as part of the program asked if he could pray with me.  I was surprised but so grateful that someone was sensing the need.

I was introduced.  I walked to the podium.  I got my notes, Bible and materials situated, and then I began to talk.  And just like that, all the nerves melted away, and I spoke freely and boldly.

That in itself was enough for me.  For more than four weeks I had kept wondering how I was actually going to do this while bearing the heavy weight of my trial, but He poured His grace out on me and helped me every step of the way. 

Oh, but there's more.

One by one, ladies came to me and told me how God had used the things I said to convict them.  One lady said it had completed some thoughts for her that she had been just discussing earlier in the morning.  She added that, "God really knows what He's doing."  Other ladies said they really needed to hear what I had to say.

It was all God.  I know it was all Him because I truly felt like I had nothing to give as I compiled my notes.  I couldn't imagine what He would do with the words that I had written down.

I was overwhelmed, and all I could do was bow at His feet.  Thank You, Lord, for abundant grace.

• Subscribe to my blog by Email
• Subscribe to my blog in a Feed Reader
• Follow me on Twitter
• Join my BlogFrog Community discussions

The Chat Pack - Cheer Up!

What?  It's Friday already?  I haven't posted anything in a week.  And I call myself a blogger?  How do y'all put up with me?

Well, anyways... let's get on with the question, shall we?  I'm pulling the card out of the Chat Pack, and it says...

Whenever you are having a bad day, what is the best thing you can do to help cheer yourself up?

Good question for a moody girl, eh?  {wink}  It's true.  I can be moody, and there are a lot of days that I wake up feeling like I have a cloud hanging over my head.  My family thinks I identify most with Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh's mopey donkey friend. 

When mornings start like that I have to get right to praying.  I need to get God's priorities and His truth at the forefront of my thoughts, and prayer is what helps me do that.  As I talk to Him, He starts helping me align my will with His will.  When I remember His care for me and that He is sovereign, it brings comfort and lifts my spirits.

In the last week or so, I've also found that expressing praise and thanksgiving to the Lord helps lift my mood, too.  I've been reading and studying through Nancy Leigh DeMoss' book Choosing Gratitude, and as I've purposely put gratitude into practice it is changing my perspective.  I'm excited about how God is working through that and the possibilities for change that are on the horizon.

Singing is also a mood lifter.  It's not my first response because singing is hard when you've got the blues, but choosing to sing when you don't feel like it is a sacrifice of praise that God is pleased with.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy  ~ Psalm 107:1-2

So what do YOU do to cheer yourself up?

"Yes!"

Think about how often the Lord sets in front of you an opportunity to serve Him, and your answer is "no" because it's either out of your comfort zone or you just don't think you can handle it.  Does it happen a lot?  Have you ever wondered what would happen if you started saying "yes"?

This is something the Lord has been teaching me as of late.  I've always been one to turn down opportunities presented to me with an immediate negative response because it's not my thing or I don't think I could.

But something changed.  I stopped.  I stopped saying "no", and I started saying "maybe... I'll pray about it".  And once I start praying about something, it becomes really hard to say no to God.  Unless there's something hindering my availability, I know He wants me to answer yes.  I've learned I can answer yes because of His super-abundant grace.

Do you know what I've discovered since I started saying yes to the hard things?  After I have been obedient and followed through with the task, I have joy.  Beyond that though, I found that God is faithful and His promise is true.  His grace is sufficient, and His strength is made perfect in my weakness.  I suddenly see just how big He is and that there is no need to fear when I am dependent on Him in order to do the hard things. 

So take it from me... start saying "yes" to the hard things.  You don't want to miss out on the gift of seeing God at work in your life.

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

- 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory....

- Ephesians 3:20-21a (NKJV)

Gratitude

If one of your resolutions for this year is to go deeper in your relationship with the Lord, I would like to recommend reading the book Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.  It is an easy read but plenty to chew on.  It will open your eyes to see how much we grumble and complain, which ought not to be a practice of the Christian.  I don't believe we understand the depth of the sin that is ingratitude.

I want to be more thankful and express it to God out loud and in the hearing of others, so that His name is glorified and His works are known.  I'm going to work at putting that into practice, and I'm asking the Lord to convict me when I've been ungrateful.

That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works.

- Psalm 26:7 (NKJV)

Seeing The Word In Flesh

If you receive updates from Revive Our Hearts on Facebook, then you saw this quote today.  I think it is a beautiful expression of how precious God's Word should be to us and what kind of relationship we can and should have with our Lord Jesus.

“So go on reading it until you can read no longer, and then you will not need the Bible any more, because when your eyes close for the last time in death, and never again read the Word of God in Scripture you will open them to the Word of God in the flesh, that same Jesus of the Bible whom you have known for so long, standing before you to take you for ever to His eternal home.” –Geoffrey Thomas

Will you know Him when you see Him?

Sunday Thankfulness

I just realized that it's the end of the day, and I need to write something if I want to keep my NaBloPoMo commitment. I mean, how could I make it through the entire month, only to miss it on the second to last day of the month? No way! I'm going to finish this thing.

I would like to do a thankfulness bullet list for tonight, seeing as I can probably list several items...

• I'm thankful that my Sunday school class was well behaved today. Truly a blessing!
• I'm thankful for the grace of God that enables me to do hard things.
• I'm thankful that God shows how present and active He is in our lives when the pastor uses several verses in his sermon that I had already been thinking about through the day, and he uses texts that were covered in my Sunday school lesson with my kids.
• I'm thankful that we don't have to remain the same; we can become different in Christ.

I hope everyone had a good and restful weekend. I sure did. It's back to work and routine tomorrow, though. Starbucks sure sounds in order for Monday. See you tomorrow...the last day of NaBloPoMo. Woot!

Nov. 10, Thankful for Bible Study

I am quite blessed in that I have plenty of opportunities to participate in Bible studies through the week. I know it helps me stay focused on spiritual things.

This morning in my quiet time I was in Joshua 23:1-9. Joshua is getting ready to die, and he exhorts Israel one final time to obey God's commands...

Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them, but you shall hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day. (vs. 6-8)

I'm a Christian living in the world amidst darkness, and I have an enemy. Reading, meditating on, and observing to keep the commands of the Lord keeps me from falling to attack and idol worship, and that's why I want to be in Bible study as much as possible. I fall so quickly.

Nov. 6, Thankful I'm Never Alone

I've just gotta make this my thankfulness thing today.

Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. - Psalm 73:25-26

No matter who abandons me or doesn't meet my expectations, God is always there. He will remain, even when all others are gone. He will be my portion...as long as I choose Him to be.

Nov. 5, Thankful for Scripture

I'll be honest. I'm struggling to be thankful today. I wasn't even sure how to write a post when all that's staring me in the face right now are my worries, confusion, fear, and failures. But the Lord did give me something. It's a scripture that speaks to a spiritual need I have.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6

I'm thankful today for the comfort of God's Word.

Nov. 4, Thankful for the Fat

Alright, I know you may laugh at my thankfulness for fat, but I am entirely serious. A few months ago I learned that saturated fat curbs your hunger and keeps you from having insulin spikes. So I started eating bacon and eggs with butter for breakfast. Wow! It makes such a difference to eat a fat full breakfast and be sustained until lunchtime. No more sneaking into Dad's stash in his office to eat a couple fun sized candy bars mid-morning because I'm starving. (By the way, his stash is for the grandkids, not himself.)

So... Thank You, Lord, for the fat. You definitely knew what you were doing when you created it.

Nov. 3, Thankful for Encouragement

I've been discouraged for a couple months about one of my ministries at church. I'm thankful for the couple who stopped by last night to encourage me in that ministry. They brainstormed with me about changes we might make together to help with the issue. What a blessing they are to me to bear my burden, as if it's their struggle too.