tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33038841452027650262024-03-05T19:14:19.777-08:00Who Is Your Groom?Seeking to share the truth of God's Word and what He has done in my life and in the lives He brings to me on this side of eternity. To God Be the Glory!Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-37342769182911505922013-12-09T08:25:00.001-08:002013-12-09T08:25:24.154-08:00A Prayer for Grace<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I never claim to be a poet but it's just the outpouring of my heart to my Lord. So no judging allowed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">O, Lord how I desire your grace,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So that I may rest in your steadfast love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I want be confident in your abundant grace,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Your grace that is overflowing and plentiful to me,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But do I allow it to penetrate my list of who I think I must be?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I begin the day thinking that I can achieve it by the efforts of my ways,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But as the day progresses I fall to my knees,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My list cannot hold the weight of my expectations</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Of how this picture of my life should be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But Lord you are the artist who is painting the picture,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My struggle is I want to be the one that paints it instead of Thee.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My prayer is that I may rest in your grace,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That I may enable you to be the Painter of the masterpiece,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A life story that radiates your grace and overflowing love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That is the gift of grace you've given me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A life reflective of resting in your abundant grace,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That is my prayer...because that's exactly where you want me to be.</span><br />
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<br />Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-17712396430773110552012-08-16T09:01:00.003-07:002012-08-16T09:02:44.107-07:00A Letter from Jesus Christ About a year ago I bought the book, A Praying Life, by Paul E. Miller with the hopes of reading it right away. I picked it up several times but it just didn't pull me in. I had one of those "glass half empty days." You know the one, right? Everything irritates you. You decide its best to just keep quite because nothing will come out of your mouth that will edify anyone around you. It was one of those days that I needed to fill my mind and heart with truth. I needed to turn on the water facuet on full blast and leave it on to flood out the lies that kept repeating in my mind. I picked up the book once again and the Lord met me there. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A Letter from Jesus Christ</span></div>
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"I know those moods when you sit there utterly alone, pining, eaten up with unhappiness, in a pure state of grief. You don't move towards me but desperately imagine that everything you have ever done has been utterly lost & forgotten. This near-despair and self-pity are actually a form of pride. What you think was a state of absolute security from which you've fallen was really trusting too much in your own strength and ability....what really ails you is that things simply haven't happened as you expected and wanted.</div>
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In fact I don't want you to rely on your own strength and abilities and plans, but to distrust them and to distrust yourself, and to trust me and no one and nothing else. As long as you rely entirely on yourself, you are bound to come to grief. You still have a most important lesson to learn: your own strength will no more help you stand upright than propping yourself on a broken reed. You must not despair of me. You may hope and trust in be absolutely. My mercy is infinite." John of Landsburg</div>
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Where I need to be is in the arms of Jesus. On my knees praying and relying on Him for all my needs. Nothing will satisfy my soul like the love and grace of Christ. The lover of my soul who died to set me free- my Eternal Groom - Jesus.</div>
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Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-59205674314900276712012-01-16T21:56:00.000-08:002012-01-16T21:56:42.048-08:00Strength & Dignity Are Her Clothing; She Smiles at the FutureI will be honest with you, I've been wanting to blog for a few weeks now but it goes without saying the Lord continues to work in my heart.<br />
A few weeks ago a friend of mine shared the <strong><em><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a></em> </strong>website with me. I will tell you I've been hooked ever since. I love the new recipes, DIY projects and home decor shared on that site, but one day I came across this the posting of <strong>Proverbs 31:25</strong>, <em>"<strong>She is clothed in strength & dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future</strong>."</em> I began to really think about what that meant in my life. Do I reflect that attitude in my heart? To be frankly honest with you, I came up short. I was struggling with being a woman who "<em><strong>laughs without fear of the future</strong>."</em> New American Standard translates it, "<em><strong>she smiles at the future</strong></em>." English Standard Version translates it, "<em><strong>she laughs at the time to come."</strong></em> <br />
I began a word study on "strength" & "dignity" in the Scriptures and I was digging away and looking up verses. <br />
<div align="center"><strong>Prov 118:14 "The Lord is my <em>strength</em> and song"</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>Psalm 18:32 "The God who girds me with <em>strength</em> & makes my way blameless"</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>Psalm 37:39 "But salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>He is their <em>strength</em> in time of trouble.."</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>Psalm 84:5 " How blessed is the man who strength is in You,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>in whose heart are highways to Zion"</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Psalm 73:26 "But God is the strength of my heart & portion forever"</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Dignity; Dignified</em> means </strong>"<strong>quality or state of worthy of"</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>"esteem or respect"</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>I Tim 3:11 "Women must likewise be dignified"</strong><br />
<strong></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Titus 2:3 "Older women likewise are to be <u>reverent ( also means dignified</u>) in their behavior"</strong></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">I will be honest... it has been hard to smile or even laugh at the future lately. Doesn't take much to start to worry. Listen to talk radio. Watch the nightly news and it will put you in a complete outrage of what's happening to this country or the world we live in. For some all you have to do is look at your bank account when your monthly bills are due and "smiling at the future" isn't the emotion that stirs up inside of you. </div><div style="text-align: left;">How do I become this woman who is filled with "strength and dignity" and "smiles at the future." Do I conjure up this strength from my own might? How do I begin to be dignified? These qualities are not anything I can produce. I can try but you will come up short. These qualities are given to me by faith and by the grace of God who works in my heart and in my life. I am strong because Christ gives me His strength. I am dignified because HE gives me the desire to be dignified and the wisdom of His words. I am nothing without Christ. It's His righteousness that I am clothed with not with anything I can produce or fabricate. The main ingredient of this Proverbs 31 woman is that she trusts in her Eternal Groom. She can trust Him because He is Sovereign and He is good. No matter what the balance is in my checking account, whether my children believe or my loved one has cancer doesn't change the character of my good and caring God who is for my good and His glory. I am clothed with <strong>HIS STRENGH</strong> and I am drenched in <strong>HIS DIGNITY</strong> so that I can <strong>SMILE AT THE FUTURE</strong> and rest in His grace.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">"I will rejoice greatly in the Lord,</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">My soul will exult in my God;</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Isaiah 61:10</span></strong></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="center"></div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-13650831485294553402011-11-22T10:41:00.000-08:002011-11-22T12:01:18.482-08:00Evangelist or DisciplerLast month I had the great privilege of going to the NANC (<strong><em>National Association of Nouthetic Counselors) </em></strong>conference in Walnut Creek, California. When you plan to go to a conference you have many expectations of what its going to be like and what you are expecting to get out of it. What always amazes me is that God has a plan for you and your expectations and plans don't always meet up with His. Truly I didn't have a direct agenda or goals in going to this conference but I sat back and saw how God was in the details of it all and was showing me what He wanted me to get out of the conference. It was exactly what I needed to hear to the utmost detail. Again I didn't put much planning on the classes I was attending and it changed as I went along BUT GOD and His Sovereignty shines through all of this through and through.<br />
I've been spending time with a young woman (counseling) who I am not sure if she is saved so I decided at the last minute to attend Stuart Scott's class on "Sharing the Gospel with an Unconverted Counselee." I was familiar with Stuart Scott because he came to my old church to head up the Biblical Counseling Department, but my husband & I were in the process of selling our business and moving to Northern California so we hadn't had the opportunity to be involved in his ministry or hear him speak much. As the session began a story unfolded that was so unexpected for me. He began to share about his children and the concerns and struggles him and his wife had in particular with their daughter. He talked about how as parents our children make professions of faith at young ages and then as parents we embark on disciplining them when in reality they don't completely understand or come to a saving knowledge of Christ. Our children are "Christianized Pagans." They talk the talk but they don't walk the walk. They have no desire or interest to be in God's Word. They love going to church but that's because they're friends are there. They know the truths of the Scripture and can repeat them to you but its apparent that they haven't placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. He said, "You can't disciple the lost!" Stuart shared that his daughter at the age of sixteen came to him sobbing with the confession that she couldn't live the lie anymore and that she wasn't a Christian. He said, "I was so thankful that she knew who she was." That sentence plays back in my thoughts so much since I've heard them. The deep faith and trust in Christ that it takes to say those words. Can I say that when it comes to my own children's salvation? He had to leave the position that he held at the church and so this confession from his daughter had a huge impact on them as a family. Two years later his daughter was headed off to college and he asked her if he could share the gospel with her one last time and she agreed, which leads to the thorough gospel presentation that he put together that he uses with all his counselees and went over with all of us in his NANC class. He talked about how some Christians teach how the outcome of their children's salvation is the parent's responsibility. He said, "what kind of theology is that? SALVATION IS OF THE LORD! God has called some parents to be evangelist their whole lives or God has called them to be evangelist and then disciplers. There are many Christian parents with huge guilt trips because they think they're children's salvation depended on them." <br />
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So I ask you, are you an Evangelist or a Discipler? I ask myself, "am I a evangelist or a discipler?" God confirmed for me again that my role in my children's life is to be an example of Christ's work in me and that my life is to reflect His grace, love and redemptive work in me. To be living it out in profound ways. I need to be preaching the gospel to myself, to them and to others. God does the work in their hearts and lives in them just like He does in me and continues to do the work. There are many who are preaching a different message when it comes to parenting. Others are preaching a method that leads to "works righteousness" and that it ALL depends on what I am doing. This is not what the Bible teaches, nor is it the gospel. Some are even going to the lengths to say that as parents of non-believing children you did not have enough faith in the promises of God and that is the reason your children aren't believers. Yes God calls us to love and lead our children to Christ BUT the lie is the doing on our part of any shape or form is a guarantee to produce godly children. God never guarantees us godly children by raising them a certain way. There are no recipes out there that create godly children. SALVATION IS OF THE LORD! <br />
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<div align="center"><strong>"God doesn't promise our children's salvation in response to our obedience, because He never </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>encourages self-reliance. It would be against God's character to give us a promise that our children will be saved if we raise them in a certain way. That would mean that He was telling us to trust in something other than Christ and His grace & mercy. He would be encouraging us to trust in ourselves, and God never does that. The way of the Lord is always a way of faith - faith in His goodness, mercy and love. Our faith is to be in Him, not in ourselves."</strong></div><div style="text-align: right;"><strong> (Give Them Grace pg.62)</strong></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I did plan on going to Elyse Fitzpatrick's teaching session which was after Stuart Scott's. And the exact words came out of her mouth, "SALVATION IS OF THE LORD!!" Thank you Jesus for being in the details of my everyday life. After the NANC conference is when I began to read "Give Them Grace" and highly recommend every parent no matter if you're an Evangelist or a Discipler to read it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I have one more book to give away on November 27th, 2011 7pm PST. Same rules applied <a href="http://whoisyourgroom.blogspot.com/">follow blog</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Who-Is-Your-Groom/112505705481723">FB</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Whoisyourgroom">Twitter</a>. Repost and/or retweet and receive more entries in the giveaway. I've saved everyone who entered last week as well so you all still have a chance to win as well. Let me know how you've entered in my comments. </div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-50213921305373648892011-11-21T19:36:00.000-08:002011-11-21T19:36:51.145-08:002 Winners for "Give Them Grace" Book GiveawayDrumroll please! Thank you for all the entries, follows, tweets & reposts of the giveaway. The winners for tonight is: <br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sarah Harrison Woodward</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-large;">&</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica Thommarson</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Congrats ladies! I messaged you via Facebook to send me your addresses so I can email you your "Give Them Grace" books. So very excited for you! </div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-37786089601005441492011-11-13T21:50:00.000-08:002011-11-13T21:55:41.418-08:00Are you raising a Pharisee or a Lover of Jesus?Is there a book that you've recently read that has stopped you in your tracks? One that rocks you to the core of your being and makes you rethink your Christian walk and how you live your life?<em><strong> <a href="http://shop.elysefitzpatrick.com/Give-Them-Grace-In-stock-Now-GTG.htm">"Give Them Grace - Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus"</a></strong></em> <em>by Elyse Fitzpatrick & Jessica Thompson</em> is the book that has done that for me recently. It's a must read for every Christian mom & dad. I know that you hear that time and time again but this book will change your perspective not only in the way you interact with your children but it will open up your heart and see how you truly see your Saviour. Do you see him as the Lawgiver and Judge? As the disappointed Father every time you sin? No, He is the God of Grace who loved me even though I was sinner and paid the price for me, not so that I would live perfectly but live in the grace that He's bestowed on me by paying the price of my sin with His perfect life and sacrifice.<br />
This book isn't a "how to" raise godly children. Are you disappointed? It's a book to show you that your children need the gospel not the law. What saved us in our trespasses? Not the law, but His grace! Hallelujah for God's grace. Hallelujah for a Christian parenting book that finally preaches the truth of His grace and not the burden of the law.<br />
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<div align="center"><strong>"Nearly every parenting book you'll read will tell you how to be a successful parent of successful,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>seemingly sinless children. Our modern worship of personal success stories is clearly seen</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>in the number of books that outline the methods for producing spiritual giants. Whether</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>they encourage family-integrated education and worship, public schools, immersing our family in the culture, or moving to a little house on the prairie, being a successful parent and raising</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>successful kids is the only paradigm we seem to be willing to accept. But what if we're measuring </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>success in the wrong way? Could it be that our perception of success isn't God's plan</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>for us or for our family? What if he's going to use our failure and our children's rebellion to make us humble comforters of other sufferers for his glory?" pg.148</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>"Do you hear the underlying message of that best-selling book? Your child's success depends </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>entirely on your ability to communicate to him in the right way. <em>"If we do our job right as parents to instill these values, our kids will be a success at whatever they do! We'll have trophy kids!</em></strong><em> </em><strong>This is the message of every book about parenting that is not rooted in the grace of God demonstrated</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>in the gospel. ..... parenting books are not Christian if their primary message is law. If their</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>message isn't rooted and grounded in the truth that you and your children are deeply sinful</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>yet deeply loved, in reality its nothing more than a glorification of the will and work of the parent.</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Aside from placing a crushing burden of guilt and fear upon the backs of dads and moms, the thought that we can change any one's heart is laughable. Change our children's hearts?</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Only God has the power to change the heart!.....</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>When we make parenting more complex than God has made it, we afflict ourselves with burdens</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>too heavy for us to carry, and we are unintentionally presuming that the good news of the gospel</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>is insufficient." pg 161</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">There isn't a page in this book of mine that isn't highlighted in yellow. These are only some of the quotes that made the ground underneath me move and quake that I walk on daily. If you know me you wouldn't think or even suggest that I am legalistic or struggle with that in my Christian walk but this book really made me examine how I have explained or have been an example of what the gospel is to my children. </div><div align="left">A few weeks ago I was driving my oldest son to school and I asked him, "What makes a person a Christian?" He proceeded to give me a list of things Christians don't do. My worse fear may have come true. Have I raised a Pharisee? Have a raised a rule keeper or a Jesus' lover? I proceeded to tell him that a Christian isn't necessarily a person who goes to church, doesn't cuss, doesn't do drugs, etc. Just because you do those things isn't what makes you a Christian. It's what you love and do you love Christ more than anything and want to live your life for Him is why you do or don't do those things. We go to church because we love Christ and want to worship Him and be with His people. We try to live holy lives because He is holy and we love Him and want to please Him, but doing those things doesn't make us holy or make us right with Him. He has done that already by His death on the cross. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">I want to get this book in parent's hands so I will be doing a book giveaway Sunday, November 20th & Sunday, November 27th. You can enter numerous ways and each one will give you another entry in the giveaway. You can <a href="http://whoisyourgroom.blogspot.com/"> follow my blog</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=294905673863534&set=a.105759409444829.11159.100000323101125&type=1#!/pages/Who-Is-Your-Groom/112505705481723">"like" my Facebook page</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Whoisyourgroom">follow me on Twitter</a>, repost & retweet the giveaway on your pages or blogs. I will keep all entries till we give away both copies of "Give Them Grace" on Nov. 27th. Leave comments on my blog to show me which way you've entered the giveaway. Please include me in your reposts so I can accurately keep track of your entries. </div>I will continue <span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="background-color: white;">to post my favorite quotes of "Give Them Grace" during the duration of the two giveaways.</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-57484397591087749342011-09-04T19:40:00.000-07:002011-09-04T19:40:24.330-07:00I See You Now For Who You Truly AreI can honestly say that the last few years have been the hardest I've experienced but yet if you were to ask me, "What would you do differently?" I don't know if I would do it differently or ask God to change it. It has been the most trying of times but truly the best of times. I can look back the last four years and see God so clearly sustaining, guiding, instructing, stretching, providing His will for my life and my family. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_0vZUQoP-YiXHQ38bv6Nt-mdaj0Imr80raUCqNGQ65dv2N1QjMipALDwagt6kML4Hmlcjgkz4ADqlsLJI5K24o5AnUNhG7ZJ2AGC1x14KFs4BNuPVuMuxKe6lK4j_HDEuT3g1mDztpg/s1600/TrustingGod" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_0vZUQoP-YiXHQ38bv6Nt-mdaj0Imr80raUCqNGQ65dv2N1QjMipALDwagt6kML4Hmlcjgkz4ADqlsLJI5K24o5AnUNhG7ZJ2AGC1x14KFs4BNuPVuMuxKe6lK4j_HDEuT3g1mDztpg/s200/TrustingGod" width="133px" xaa="true" /></a></div>One of the books God used to mightly in my life was <a href="http://www.gbibooks.com/Details.aspx?ID=9781600063053">"Trusting God" by Jerry Bridges</a>. I read this book right after I got married in 1992. What does that tell you about me? I remember it had a huge impact on me to the point that when I wanted to start a Bible study with the young ladies at church that was the book I went for and grabbed. What unfolded was God displaying His magnificent power and beauty of His sovereignity to me in ways that I've never experienced before. As the world as I knew it seemed to be shaking and crumbling around me, God used that book to remind me of who He was. A good and loving God who was in control of every detail of my life who wanted me to trust Him with every aspect of my life even though it might mean that my life as I know it would change completely but it was for my good and His glory. God used that book to show me the idols in my heart. I was trusting in those idols not in Him. At the end of the day, it was my flesh and it was what others thought of me. I learned that my hope was tied to this world instead of the living hope of Jesus Christ. God began to strip me of these idols. It hurt. Hurt so deep that the only way to get out of this deep hole was to look up and say, "all I have is Christ." I am thankful for a loving God who is using everything in my life to refine me into the image of His Son. Who created me, who knows me and loves me that nothing escapes His plan for me. As the ground beneath me was shaking (not literally) acting like Job and asking and questioning why God would allow this in my life. I felt as though God was saying to me, "do you trust me?" Bridges goes through the attributes of God and shows us who God truly is and uses the truths of Scripure to back it up. I am convinced that you cannot know God if you don't believe who the Scriptures says He is. It's not until that you view yourself rightly compared to the God of the Bible that you can completely understand His beauty, splendor and majesty to where you completely surrender your life wholely to Him and be able to say, "yes Lord, I trust you!" Job understood this completely in <strong>Job 42: 1-5</strong><br />
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<div align="center"><strong>"Then Job answered the Lord and said, "I know that You can do all things,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>without knowledge? Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Hear, now, and I will speak;</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>I will ask You, and You instruct me. <em>I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>But now my eye sees You;"</em></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">See Him for who He truly is, the one who holds every detail of your life in His hand. His name is Jesus. </div><br />
<div align="center"></div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-34731833989009525452011-07-31T23:14:00.000-07:002011-07-31T23:14:00.275-07:00What Controls You?There is a reoccurring theme that I can't seem to get away from. Whenever I open the Word of God, there it is illuminating from the pages. When I go to open a book to read, it's popping off the pages. When I hear sermons on the radio it seems to be the message of the preacher as he speaks to me in my car as I am driving. God has me focused on His love. I don't think I've ever had a theme verse, but I would have to say that <strong>2 Corinthians 5: 14</strong> has me hooked.<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><strong>"For the <span style="font-size: large;">love of Christ</span> controls us, because we have concluded this, that one has died for all, there all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The question that keeps going around and around in my thoughts and heart is, <strong><em>does the love of Christ control me? </em></strong>What does control me? What rules me? What motivates me? What brings a smile to my face?<strong> Is it the love of Christ? </strong>Christ's love drove him to the cross. His love for me is why I may live. If I am controlled by Christ's love than I no longer live for myself but for <strong>HIM.</strong> When people meet me or speak with me do they experience the love of Christ? Do my children experience the love of Christ because of me? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>"The secret of the early Christians, the early Protestants, Puritans & Methodists</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>was that they were taught about the love of Christ, and they became filled with a knowledge of it.</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Once a man has the love of Christ in his heart you need not train him to witness; he will do it.</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>He will know the power, the constraint, the motive; everything is already there.</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>It is plain lie to suggest that people who regard this knowledge of the love of Christ as the supreme thing </em></strong><strong><em>are useless, unhealthy mystics. </em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>The servants of God who have most adorned the life and the history of the Christian Church have always been men who have realized that this is the most important thing of all, </em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>and they have spent hours in prayer seeking His face and enjoying His love.</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>The man who knows the love of Christ in his heart can do more in one hour than the busy man </em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>can do in a century. God forbid that we should ever make of activity an end in itself.</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Let us realize that the motive must come first, and that the motive ever be the love of Christ."</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="right" style="text-align: center;">Martin Lloyd-Jones, <em>The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, 253</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I want to sit and bathe in the love of Christ. I don't ever want to leave the foot of the cross that displays His love for me. The wrath of God is no longer for me because I am washed by the blood & love of Christ. Are you controlled by the love of Christ?</div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-19401112880283404942011-07-14T07:41:00.000-07:002011-07-14T07:43:51.008-07:00A Letter From Mary Love - My Dear HeartI first heard of Mary Love's letter to her husband when my family and I were at the <a href="http://www.resolved.org/conference/">Resolved Conference</a> a few weeks back in late June. Rick Holland read her letter within his sermon<span style="color: black;">, <a href="http://www.resolved.org/media/">The Believer's Right Response to Difficulty</a>. I don't think there was a dry eye in the audience, but that's not the reason for me posting her letter is to make you cry. If I were to have a poster child for my blog, other than Jesus Christ, it would be Mary Love. Let me set the scene for you. Mary Love is married to Christopher Love, a brilliant young Welsh preacher. She is 8 months pregnant with their 5th child, two living and two deceased. Her husband, Christopher Love is imprisoned for treason by the English government and as far as she knew to be executed the next morning. These were the last words that she had for her husband. </span><br />
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<div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">My Dear Heart</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><em>July 14, 1651</em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em>Before I write a word further, I beseech thee think not that it is thy wife but a friend now that writes to thee. I hope though hast freely given up thy wife and children to God, who hath said in Jeremiah 49:11, "Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive, and let thy widow trust in me." Thy Maker will be my husband, and a Father to thy children. O that the Lord would keep thee from having one troubled thought for thy relations. I desire freely to give thee up into they Father's hands, and not only look upon it as a crown of glory for thee to die for Christ, but as an honor to me that I should have a husband to leave for Christ.</em></div><div align="center"><em>I dare not speak to thee, nor have a thought within my own heart of my unspeakable loss,but wholly keep my eye fixed upon they inexpressible and inconceivable gain. Thou leavest but a sinful, mortal wife to be everlastingly married to the Lord of glory. Thou leavest but children, brothers, and sisters to go to the Lord Jesus, they eldest Brother. Thou leavest friends on earth to go to the enjoyment of saints and angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect in glory. Thou does but leave earth for heaven and changest a prison for a palace. And if natural affections should begin to arise, I hope that spirit of grace that is within thee will quell them, knowing that all thinks here below are but dung and dross in comparison of those things that are above. I know thou keepest thine eye fixed on the hope of glory, which makes they feet trample on the loss of earth.</em></div><div align="center"><em>My dear, I know God hath not only prepared glory for thee, and thee for it, but I am persuaded that He will sweeten the way for thee to come to the enjoyment of it. When thou are putting on they clothes that morning, O think, "I am putting on my wedding garments to go to </em></div><div align="center"><em>be everlastingly married to my Redeemer."</em></div><div align="center"><em>When the messenger of death comes to thee, let him not seem dreadful to thee, but look on him as a messenger that brings thee tidings of eternal life. When thou goest up the scaffold, think (as thou saidst to me) that it is but thy fiery chariot to carry thee up to thy Father's house.</em></div><div align="center"><em>And when thou layest down they precious head to receive thy Father's stroke, remember what thou saidst to me: Though thy head was severed from thy body, yet in a moment thy soul should be united to they Head, the Lord Jesus, in heaven. And though it may seem something bitter, that by hands of men we are parted a little sooner than otherwise we might have been, yet let us consider that it is the decree and will of our Father, and it will not be long ere </em><em>we shall enjoy </em></div><div align="center"><em>one another in heaven again. </em></div><div align="center"><em>Let us comfort one another with these sayings. Be comforted, my dear heart. It is but a little stroke and thou shalt be there where the weary shall be at rest <span style="background-color: white;">and where</span> the wicked shall cease from troubling. Remember that thou mayest eat thy dinner with bitter herbs, yet thou shalt have a sweet supper with Christ that night. My dear, by what I write unto thee, I do not hereby undertake to teach thee; for these comforts I have received from the Lord by thee. I will write no more, nor trouble thee any further, but commit thee into the arms of God with whom ere long thee and I shall be.</em></div><div align="center"><em>Farewell, my dear, I shall never see thy face more till we both behold the face of the Lord Jesus at that great day. </em></div><div align="right"><em><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mary Love</span></strong></em></div><div align="right"><br />
</div><div align="left">Her letter reveals it all. Christ is her Husband who is her All in All. My prayer is that we may be women, like Mary Love, who don't allow our circumstances to shake up our faith but know that our lives our written out by His Sovereign hand, which results in us to stand on the solid ground of Jesus Christ. At the end of the day, He is our Groom.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><em>"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21</em></strong></div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-57198600938657236532011-05-27T10:24:00.000-07:002011-05-27T10:24:35.004-07:00My Robe That Was Made For MeWho would of ever thought that I would be turning on the heater because I'm cold in late May. Isn't it almost June? Shouldn't summer be almost here. Thunderstorms and downpour of rain with mixed hail has been our forecast in the last week. Two counties over a tornado touch and destroyed some farm buildings. On the news you hear about the devastation in the Southern United States caused by tornadoes where people have lost their homes and loved ones. People are missing and can't be found since the storm.<br />
I remember it as if it was yesterday, I was 23 years old, newly married and my husband and I were serving on junior high staff at our church. We were studying the book of James in our junior high department. I was so excited to be serving, learning and sharing with these young ladies. We'd meet Tuesday nights to go over the lesson that was being taught and preached on Sunday. As leaders we'd use that week to dig deeper into God's Word to prepare to lead our small groups on Sunday. <br />
In that first Sunday's message I was struck with a truth that I still carry with me today.<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><strong><em>James 1: 1-4</em></strong></div><div align="center"><em>"James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes</em></div><div align="center"><em>who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.</em></div><div align="center"><em>Consider it all joy, my brethren, <strong>when</strong> you encounter various trials</em><em>, </em></div><div align="center"><em>knowing that the testing </em><em>of your faith produces endurance.</em></div><div align="center"><em>And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete,</em></div><div align="center"><em>lacking in nothing."</em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">It's one word "when". Our junior high pastor said, "it doesn't say "<em><strong>if </strong>you encounter various trials</em>", it says, "<em><strong>when</strong> you encounter various trials." </em>Which means there is no question about it, trials are coming! </div><div align="left">But yet when they come we act so surprised and shocked. James gives us the warning siren that the tornado is coming and be prepared but when the tornado comes we are shocked as if we never received the warning at all. We don't understand why God would allow it. We question God love, grace and mercy and want to know why. Trials are all around us. You can't say that you don't know anyone who isn't hurting in some way or another whether its financial loss, relationships on the brink of divorce, loved ones struggling or even dying of cancer. It's all around us but we are still shocked and don't understand why. I know in my own depths of my soul and my heart I've had the thought and said, "I didn't sign up for this. Why are you doing this to me Lord?" We knew what Christ was offering. He made it very clear. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>Matthew 10:38-39</strong></div><div align="center"><em>"And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. </em></div><div align="center"><em>He who has found his life will lost it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it."</em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>Luke 9: 23</strong></div><div align="center"><em>"And He was saying to them all, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me,</em></div><div align="center"><em>he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me."</em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">We weren't ever promised a lap of luxury in the Christian life but in the recesses of our minds we must think that. The apostle James tells us why! Why are we destined to have trials? It's the <strong>"testing of our faith."</strong> God wants to conform us to His image (Romans 8:29). How can we be conformed to His image if we are so tied to the things of this world? How can we be conformed to Christ's image if we have earthly wants and desires that still entangle us? (2 Tim 2:3-4) <br />
</div><div align="left">I love, love, love, <a href="http://www.shop.elysefitzpatrick.com/Steadfast-Heart-Experiencing-Gods-Comfort-in-Lifes-Storms-STEAD-BK.htm">Elyse Fitzpatrick's book, <u>A Steadfast Heart.</u></a> I want to share with you some of the encouraging words Elyse shares from the outcome of her trials. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>"He's used our suffering as the means to reveal to us a new understanding about Himself,</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>His great goodness, and our considerable need for a Saviour."</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>'Our trials was fashioned for us by a wise god who knew exactly what kind of suffering</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>we needed. The trials we endure are meant to get at the idolatry, self-love, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>and independent unbelief that God desires to purge from our life.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>They're also meant to cause us to love Jesus Christ more and more, and sometimes</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>they're not discipline at all but rather part of God's mysterious plan to glorify Himself."</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>"Peaceful fruit of righteousness" that is the result of God's perfect plan for us</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>is luscious, and there's only one way to genuinely savor this fruit: through suffering."</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>"We each have a road marked out for us by the Lord. Suffering isn't one-size-fits-all.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>No. He's woven the exact robe that He wants you to wear, and it will fit you perfectly,</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>pinching where it should pinch and comforting where you need it most." </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have a robe that was designed just for me by my Saviour, the lover of my soul. Who wants to refine me into His image and not my own. Who loves me with a love that will not let me go. I pray that as I currently hear the storm sirens warning me a storm is coming that I am assured and know there is nothing that comes my way that isn't from my Lord's sovereign hands. I want to be confident in His love and grace for me, like Daniel, not to be afraid of what's ordained for me but know that God is in it with me. </div><div align="center"></div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-51043282814039979822011-05-09T22:02:00.000-07:002011-05-10T08:32:40.138-07:00Spiritual Mothers - The Goal is Love I haven't been bloggin' as much lately. Life has been rather crazy but in the midst of the craziness I had a great opportunity to share with the women at my church. A mother - daughter team took on the adventure of putting on a Mother - Daughter Tea. I was so bummed at first, being that I am a mother of three boys I didn't think that I would be able to go. An opportunity presented itself and I was able to take two young ladies who I love spending time with to the tea since their mommies were out of town. I was asked to share about what it means to be a "SPIRITUAL MOTHER."<br />
This was really hard for me to prepare. I felt that I could say so much, but I really wanted to focus and get down to the roots of today's topic, "SPIRITUAL MOTHER." I will share, what it is, who does it, what it is not, but most of all the main ingredient. I was not raised in a Christian home so I don't share my faith with my mom, but even though we don't have our faith in common, I've learned a HUGE important thing from her.....LOVE!!!<br />
Love will be our theme today. LOVE is why Christ was to be born! LOVE is what drove Him to the cross! LOVE is why He is alive and LOVE is why we live our lives for Him. LOVE! If love is what motivates Christ for everything He has done, than it should be our motivating force in all that we do as well.<br />
<div align="center"><em>I Timothy 1:5</em></div><div align="center"><em>"But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, and a good conscience</em></div><div align="center"><em>and a sincere faith."</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">John MacArthur comments on this verse, <em>"This is the love of choice and the will, characterized by self denial and self sacrifice for the benefit of others."</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><em> </em>God calls us to LOVE. To love Him and to love others. That is God's will for us, right?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Titus 2: 3-5</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>"Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious, gossips nor</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: red;">to love</span> their husbands,<span style="color: red;"> to love</span> their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home,</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the Word of God will not be dishonored."</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">There is that word again, LOVE! I am suppose to do that, LOVE! It's everywhere in God's Word, LOVE! I know that I was asked to speak to you and convince you, I am sure to persuade you and to encourage you to be SPIRITUAL MOTHERS, but in the same breath I have to ask you, do you love? What do you love? Who do you love? Why do you love? What is it that you love?</div><div style="text-align: left;">What's the answer? Is it Jesus? Are you in love with Jesus?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Women, if you want to attract other women to disciple, be in love with Jesus!</div><div style="text-align: left;">If you want to be attractive to your husbands, be in love with Jesus!</div><div style="text-align: left;">If you want to be admired and loved by your children, be in love with Jesus!</div><div style="text-align: left;">If you want to be a witness to the world, be in love with Jesus!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I am not going to give you a "to-do" list on how to be a SPIRITUAL MOTHER - DISCIPLER, I am going to ask you what's on your love list?</div><div style="text-align: left;">When the things we love or what we are holding so tightly to are loosened from our grips by trials, we are challenged to ask....what do you love? Who do you love? Why do you love? Is it Jesus? </div><div style="text-align: left;">Life and our loves become very crystal clear in the light of eternity, can you take what you love with you?</div><div style="text-align: left;">You are probably sitting there asking yourself "what does this have to do with being a "SPIRITUAL MOTHER?" EVERYTHING!!! If the love of Christ isn't what motivates us in every aspect of our life, how are we any different than any other religion?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u>the goal of our instruction is LOVE</u> - from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Our goal in our instruction is LOVE....we teach so the goal is LOVE, because LOVE produces a love for God which produces a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. If anyone wants to spend time with me, is it because I love JESUS? That should be the only reason!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>I Cor 13:1 " If I speak with tongues of men and of angels but do not have love,</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em> I have become a noisy</em><em>gong or a clangy cymbal."</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">A noisy gong or a clanging cymbal? Is that what I sound like when I speak?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Young women, why do you want to spend time with older woman? Well, she has really obedient children and a really nice home. There is no recipe, just one ingredient - IS SHE IN LOVE WITH JESUS?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Older woman, why do you want to spend time with that younger woman? Well, she really needs to learn how to be modest. Someone needs to talk to her about her clothes. Older woman, IS SHE IN LOVE WITH JESUS? Go after her heart not her clothes. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u>the goal of our instruction is LOVE</u> from a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">If I am in love with Jesus, than I will be modest. If I am in love with Jesus I will be a lover of my husband. If I am in love with Jesus, I will love and instruct my children. Younger women pursue older women who are in love with Jesus! Older women show and be examples to the younger what it is to be in love with Jesus!</div><div style="text-align: left;">I know that I've shared this story before with you. There was a young woman who came back to our church and I just had this desire to get to know her. (Ladies, if you get that urge, listen to it) I asked her to coffee. We went to coffee right away. We spent a couple of hours together talking and getting to know one another. I asked a lot of questions and she told me what she had been up to the last few years. A month later or so, this same young woman was in my small group at our yearly women's prayer retreat. After our first session, this young woman wanted to share her heart with the group. She wanted to say how much she appreciated the fact that when I took her to coffee I actually got to know her and spend time with her. In uncontrollable tears, she said, "that was the first time an older woman ever took her to coffee without having a list of all the things she was doing wrong." </div><div style="text-align: left;">When I die and my faith becomes sight, Jesus is not going to say to me, "you can't come in. you have a feather in your hair!" <strong>Remember ladies, its not what we do, its what we love! Are we in love with Jesus?</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">What does it look like? It could be a weekly meeting and going through a book. Sharing a meal. Having coffee and talking. Encouraging one another to love and good deeds. Texting, writing, or emailing Scripture to one another. Praying for one another. Just hanging out in each other's homes. Living side by side. Listening, loving, crying, hugging, grace, mercy, gentleness, patience. It's getting a phone call from a younger woman in tears, so many she can barely speak. You tell her to come over. I am making dinner for my family, but we'll talk. You get dinner on the table and than go for a walk with her and you listen. You encourage with God's Word, you love on her, and you point her to Christ. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Still today I have "older women" in my life that I have had formal times with, but my most favorite are our informal times....when I watch them from sometimes even from a distance. These are just some of the things I've learned from the "Spiritual Mothers" in my life. One thing they all share, they're in LOVE with JESUS.</div><div style="text-align: center;">- when I wake up in the middle of the night and can't sleep - PRAY!</div><div style="text-align: center;">- when I don't have money to give, open my home and share a meal.</div><div style="text-align: center;">- my home is for ministry</div><div style="text-align: center;">- always wear something soft & silky to bed</div><div style="text-align: center;">- that I can be a strong woman, but still be a submissive woman</div><div style="text-align: center;">- I can have a sense of humor and even snort when I laugh</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's end with <strong>John 21:15-17</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>"So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, </em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>do you love Me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love you.' He said to him, 'Tend My lambs.' He said to him again a second time, 'Simon, son of John,</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>do you love me?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love you.' He said to him,</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>'Shepherd My sheep.' He said to him, the third time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?'</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Peter was grieved because He said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.' Jesus said to him, 'Tend My sheep.'</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">John MacArthur's commentary states, "When Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, he used a word for love that signified total commitment. Peter responded with a word for love that signified his love for Jesus, but not necessarily his total commitment. This was not because he was reluctant to express that greater love, but because he had been disobedient and denied the Lord in the past. He was, perhaps, now reluctant to make a claim of supreme devotion when, in the past, his life did not support such a claim. Jesus pressed home to Peter the need for unswerving devotion by repeatedly asking Peter if he loved Him supremely. The essential message here is that Jesus demands total commitment from His followers. Their love for Him must place Him above their love for all else. Jesus confronted Peter with love because He wanted Peter to lead the apostles, but in order for Peter to be an effective shepherd, his overwhelming drive must exemplify supreme love for his Lord."</div><div style="text-align: left;">I think the coolest thing ever, other than Christ returning, would be this: I walk into Starbucks. I order my drink and as I'm waiting for my coffee I over hear two women talking.....</div><div style="text-align: left;">Have you ever visited FCF? Well let me tell you, all those women there at that church are in love with Jesus! The talk of our town would be that the women of FCF are in love with Jesus! Every single one of us, madly in love with JESUS!</div><br />
<div align="center"></div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-86047574127101456312011-04-13T11:50:00.000-07:002011-04-13T11:50:15.773-07:00Beauty From WithinI was asked a few weeks ago to share with the young ladies in my church about beauty. It was a day where the moms planned to pamper them with mini facials, manicures and pedicures because that's what girls like to do but not without sharing with them what God says about "true beauty."<br />
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<div align="center"><strong>Psalm 139:13-18</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>"For You formed my inward parts,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>You wove me in my mother's womb;</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>I will give thanks to You, for I am</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>fearfully and wonderfully made.</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Wonderful are Your works,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>And my soul knows it very well.</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>My frame was not hidden from You,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>When I was made in secret,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>And in Your book were all written</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>the days that were ordained for me,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>When as yet there was not one of them,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>How vast is the sum of them!</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>If I could count them, they would outnumber the sand.</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>When I awake, I am still with you."</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">What does Psalm 139 say about God? God made me in my mother's womb. Before I was even born He knew me and planned out my days. He is sovereign and in control of every detail of who I am and how long I will be alive on this earth. He designed the color of my hair with the texture and form of my hair (straight or curly). He designed the color of my eyes, my height, my shape, and whether my skin would be light or dark. Psalm 139 tells us that nothing escaped His control of how he created us.</div><div style="text-align: left;">One of the moms shared with me a video of a woman speaking to other women about being content with how God made you. This woman asked if we were to take two different colored dots, red & green dots, and place them on our bodies. We'd take the red dots and place them on the places we don't like about our bodies and than take the green dots and place them on the places we do like about our bodies. What if we would be given an opportunity to meet our God, our creator, and show Him the red dots. Would we show Him all the things we don't like about ourselves?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Isaiah 45:9 " Woe to the one who quarrels with the Maker--An earthenware vessel among</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, "What are you doing?'</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Or the thin you are making say, He has no hands?"</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Isaiah 64:8 "But now , O Lord You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter;</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>And all of us are the work of your hand."</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Job 10:9 "Remember now, that you have made me as clay; Did you not pour me out like milk;</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>And curdle me like cheese; clothe me with skin and flesh,</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>And knit me together with bones and sinews?"</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">When you were taking your pottery class a few weeks, as you were crafting, molding, shaping, carving, and adding all the intricate details of your bowl, vase or pitcher....you had a purpose and or reason for why you made that vessel the way you did? God doesn't make mistakes. He made us for His purposes for my life. </div><div style="text-align: left;">When I was 19 years old I knew the truth but because I had unresolved sin in my life I decided to pursue my own purpose for my life and that was to have a career in "show business" or "Hollywood." I wanted to pursue a career of acting, dancing and singing. After three years of pursuing the ways of the world I finally realized that the truths that the world was feeding me were lies at the core. After three years of being constantly judged for my outward appearance this is the verse the Lord gave me when He brought me back into His fold:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>I Samuel 16:7</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>"Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>stature, because I have rejected him; For God sees not as</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance,</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>but the Lord looks at the heart."</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">God was instructing Samuel the prophet on how to pick out the next king of Israel. Samuel was looking at all the handsome and strong men of Israel and God was instructing him and telling him ....that's not what I am after in a king. I am after his heart for Me!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Deut 6:5 "You shall love the Lord your God with all your <span style="color: red;">heart</span>, with all your soul,</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>and with all your might"</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, </strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>A broken and contrite <span style="color: red;">heart, </span><span style="color: black;">O God you will not despise"</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your <span style="color: red;">heart</span><span style="color: black;"> </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: black;">and do not lean on your own </span></strong><strong>understanding."</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Matthew 6:21 "for where your treasure is, there is your <span style="color: red;">heart</span><span style="color: black;">."</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Psalm 40:8 " I delight to do your will , O my God,</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Your Law is within my <span style="color: red;">heart</span><span style="color: black;">."</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in <span style="color: red;">heart</span><span style="color: black;">, for they shall see God."</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I could share so many more verses regarding the heart but I think we can see from these verses and others is that God is about our <span style="color: red;">hearts? </span><span style="color: black;">One more verse to share....</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">I Peter 3: 3-4</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>"Do not let your beauty be that outward adorning of arranging the hair,</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>of wearing gold, or of putting on fine apparel;</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>but let it be the hidden person of the <span style="color: red;">heart, </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: black;">with the incorruptible ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit,</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>which is very precious in the sight of God."</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As I dug deep into God's Word I realized that this verse is specifically speaking to married women and women who are married to non believers, but even that being said I still think that we can apply it to all women. The context of the book of I Peter is written to Christians. Christians who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ. Peter is sharing with these Christians how to endure in their suffering. He tells slaves to be submissive to their masters in the previous chapters and than tells these same Christians to be submissive to the government or authority placed above them. Peter begins Chapter 3 of I Peter telling wives to be submissive to their husbands. This can apply to single women with the fact that we all have authority placed above us. Our parents, teachers, coaches, employers, pastors/elders....the list goes on and on. How does God want us to respond as Christian women? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>"but let it be the<span style="color: red;"> hidden person of the heart</span>,</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>with the <span style="color: red;">incorruptible ornament</span> of a <span style="color: red;">gentle and quiet spirit</span>,</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>which</strong> <strong>is very precious in the sight of God."</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Does this verse mean we don't wear make-up? Does this verse mean we don't wear jewelry? Does this mean we don't do our hair? NO!!!! It means that God wants us to be more concerned about our <span style="color: red;">HEARTS!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">God made us and when He made us women He knew that we'd enjoy styling our hair, wearing make up and wearing nice clothes but He also knew that these things would distract us from what is more important - </span><span style="color: red;">HIM and OUR HEARTS toward HIM!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Elizabeth George says in her study on the book of Esther....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>"Beauty - It's refreshing to be reminded of God's standards for true beauty.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Faith and character - not external appearances - are what's important to God.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>He cares about your heart - not your hair, or your facial features, or your figure.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Is yours a heart that finds favor with Him?"</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">What condition does God want my heart to be? "gentle & quiet" Does that mean I whisper when I talk?</div><div style="text-align: left;">NO!!! The tone of my voice or volume is not necessarily an indicator or equal the condition of my heart. So what does "gentle and quiet" mean?</div><div style="text-align: left;">(Excerpt from I Peter study from Elizabeth George) ....As eighteenth-century theologian and teacher J.A. Bengel puts it, ....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>"Gentle (or meek)</strong> has to do with the condition of the mind and the heart,</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>means not creating disturbances, has to do with affections and feelings.</em>"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>"Quiet </strong>has to do with a tranquility arising from within,</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>causing no disturbance to others, means bearing with tranquility the disturbances</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>caused by others. Applies to words, countenance, and actions."</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">How do we respond when we are asked to do something by our parents that we really don't want to do? How do we respond when we are told no? How do we respond to trials? Or suffering? Whether is physical or mental suffering?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Chuck Swindoll says, "even in the 'silent' category, we are never to pout, sulk, scheme, bargain, coerce, or humiliate." Swindoll concludes with this thought, "women who use this strategy are not trusting God to change their husbands' lives. They're trusting in themselves."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I Peter 3:4 says, its a "<strong>incorruptible</strong> ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit"...some would translate <strong>"imperishable." </strong>What does "incorruptible" or "imperishable" mean? It won't decay or rot. Our outer bodies with decay as we get older, right? But what about our <span style="color: red;">heart</span><span style="color: black;">? Our hearts will last forever but our appearance will decay. What is God telling us? He wants us to spend more time adorning our </span><span style="color: red;">hearts </span><span style="color: black;"> than our appearance. With that in mind, how much time do you spend getting ready in the morning verses spending time in God's Word adorning your heart?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Elizabeth George writes in her book on I Peter:</strong> <em>"As a parting thought on this</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>topic that is so vital to being a woman after God's own heart, consider these words</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>by Bible scholar Dr. John MacArthur: 'Here [here in gentle and quiet spirit]</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>is beauty that never decays, as the outward body does, Gentle is actually</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>'meek or humble' and 'quiet' describes the character of her action and reaction </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>to her husband and life in general. Such is precious no only to her husband,</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>but also to God."</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I am <strong>not </strong>saying, do not wear make-up, jewelry or do your hair. What <strong>I am saying is be more concerned and spend more time about the condition of your heart before God and others God has placed in your life</strong> <strong>than your appearance. </strong>Let's not use the world's or man's standards for beauty, which is corruptible, but use God's standard for beauty, which is the condition of my heart toward Him and others.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Proverbs 31:30</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>But a woman who fears the Lord,</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>she shall be praised."</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-67081328815775021622011-01-31T22:56:00.000-08:002011-01-31T22:56:00.187-08:00We Are Different But the Same....My husband's cousin said to me a few weeks ago that they loved how my three boys were so different and how we allowed them to be different. They appreciated how my husband and I "celebrated" their differences. The following week someone else not even previe to the previous conversation or related made the same observation, "how different my three boys were and how they admired that about our family.<br />
I was actually taken back by the comments. In reality, I've always known that they are different from one another but I always thought everyones' kids were, right? <br />
I have a "mighty hunter." I have a "farmer." And last but not least our "athlete." I don't know if "celebrate" is the word to describe how we raised them, but I do remember when my oldest was little and he didn't understand why is brother wasn't like him. I shared with him that God made us all different for a reason. First of all, it would be so boring if we were all the same but also that God made us different so we all had different roles and jobs in this life. God made farmers so non-farmers like myself can go to the store and purchase their products. I am grateful that I gave birth to a "farmer" so I can reap the benefits of the garden he's grown. I can't grow anything green.<br />
I had the awesome privledge of speaking to the women of our church at our yearly prayer retreat. Before I began with what God had laid on my heart for our time together I shared with them that God had made me a "passionate" person and not to misunderstand my passion for judgement but that it was just how God made me. One of the ladies later shared with me how she has a granddaughter who is very passionate and realized that day that God made her that way, different than they other family members.<br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><em>Romans 12: 4 -13</em></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>"For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually member one of another.</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>accordingly; if prohecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation;</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"><em> he who gives, with liberality;</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>he who leads, with diligence, he who shows mercy with cheerfulness. Let love be without</em></span><span style="font-size: large;"><em>hypocrisy. </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love;</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>give perference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit,</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality."</em></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">I was 18 when I made a profession of faith. I knew I needed a Saviour to save me from my sin. I strived to dress, act and do like a "young Christian woman" should dress, act and do. I struggled with my sin and I struggled with the "whys" in my life. I didn't understand why He did why He did. I struggled to be conformed to the image of a "Christain woman". I struggled with my will over His will for my life.</div><div align="left">I left the church within the year of my profession of faith.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Three years later I rededicated my life to Christ. I had no more "whys" because now I knew my need for my Saviour and my Lord. I no longer asked why because I saw His Soverign Hand in my life. I knew that He needed to do the transforming work in me, not me. He put women in my life who showed me His grace. He showed me through the example of these women ....that I can snort when I laugh because He gave me my sense of humor.....when I have nothing in my pockets to give I can open my home and serve Him by serving others .....I can be a strong woman but also a submissive wife.....that becoming a believer doesn't mean that I have no joy in my life but instead my face lights up with the "joy that surpasses all understanding" no matter what my day entails.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">God made us all different to display His glory in us, not for our own glory. It's what He's doing in my life to change me. It's His work in me, not my work in me. I don't have to conform to the image of a "Christian woman"....because when He saved me He made me a woman who wants and desires to be "Christ-like". He is conforming me to the image of Christ. Thank you Jesus for your grace.</div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-78199173509659928182011-01-24T15:44:00.000-08:002011-01-24T15:44:22.173-08:00Winners of the "Comforts from the Cross" Giveaway<span class="messageBody">Sorry it took me awhile ....didn't realize what a crazy week the 11th would be (my husband's birthday) and followed by a trip out of town. I decided to give away two books because of the overwhelming response to the giveaway. If you layered the reposting it gave you extra layers to the "giveaway"...so drum roll please! BONNIE & GRIG are the two winners of the giveaway!</span><br />
<span class="messageBody">I really was overwhelmed by the positive comments and responses. Thank you to everyone who participated. </span><br />
<span class="messageBody"> More giveaways coming in the next few weeks and months to come!</span>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-55570438622228591912011-01-04T16:33:00.000-08:002011-01-04T16:33:28.196-08:00"Comforts From the Cross" GiveawayI am a newbie to blogging, if you couldn't tell, but one thing I've noticed in my own bloggin' endeavors is that there are "giveaways" from time to time for visiting or commenting on your blog. I've decided to do the same.....so I am giving away a book close to my heart, <a href="http://shop.elysefitzpatrick.com/Books_c2.htm"><strong>Comforts from the Cross</strong></a> by Elyse Fitzpatrick. I've read this book and will continue to read it throughout my life. It truly is what it says, there are 31 small chapters designated to take you to the foot of the cross in daily increments. Each chapter,even though only a few pages in length, takes you to the cross in ways you have never contemplated your Saviour and what He has done for His beloved. I have given this book to friends as gifts and they would agree how much it has blessed their soul. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>If you become a "follower" of my blog - you will be entered for the giveaway.</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>If you leave a comment on my blog - you will be entered for the giveaway.</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>If you repost the giveaway on your Facebook and/or Twitter - you will be entered for the giveaway (Make sure to tag me on your repost).</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><strong>I will announce the </strong>"<strong>giveaway" winner on January 11th, 2011.</strong></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"></div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-38426028708321469852011-01-02T21:43:00.000-08:002011-01-02T21:58:40.860-08:00What Would the Movie Say?We tend to watch old movies in our home. AMC or Turner Classics is a channel we watch quite frequently. A movie we watched this week was, <u>The Comic</u>, with Dick Van Dyke as the main character Billy Bright. The movie opens up at the funeral of the main character and the main character is the narrator for the movie. Billy Bright takes you through his life and ends again at his funeral. It ended up being a very sad movie. He returns to the end regretting the course of his life and the choices he made. He was a very selfish man and only lived to gratified himself. He ended up dying alone and with nothing left after all his selfish ambitions. I think Billy Bright would agree with King Solomon, "Its all vanity!"<br />
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If there was a movie of your life, what would the movie say about who you are? Would it reveal what you love and strive for? If you were to play it back in your mind, is it regretful or joyful?<br />
There is a movie playing currently that people are watching. Believers and unbelievers are watching how your story plays out "live". What do they see? What would they say? What do believers say about you? What are you characterized for? <br />
Apostle Paul commended the Thessalonian church by saying, "constantly bearing in mind <em><span style="color: red;">your work of faith</span></em> and<em><span style="color: red;"> labor of love</span></em> and <em><span style="color: red;">steadfast of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ</span></em> in the presence of our God and Father," (1 Thessalonians 1:3). <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Are we known for our <em>work of faith</em>?</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Is <em>our labor of love </em>active ingredient in our relationships? </strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Are we characterized for our<em> steadfast hope in Christ</em>?</strong></div><br />
Would believers and unbelievers alike say.....<br />
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<div align="center"><strong><em>"how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come."</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>I Thessalonians 1:9-10</em></strong></div><div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: center;">What will the movie critics say about the movie of your life when it comes to an end? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Jonathon Edward's Resolutions</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>#6 "Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live."</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong> #7 "Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do,</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong> if it were the last hour of my life."</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">May we all live with the Audience of One all to the glory of God!</div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-50293768837316056242010-12-12T16:54:00.000-08:002011-01-02T20:13:51.241-08:00Fear of the LordI am in the middle of reading Edward T. Welch's book, <u>"When People are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man."</u> In Chapter 7, which is called, "Grow in the Lord," brings us to the prophet Isaiah. Welch writes, <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>" While Job's class in the fear of the Lord was not specifically targeted to the fear of other people, God's instruction to the prophet Isaiah certainly was. When Isaiah was called by God, he was given a message that guaranteed he would be rejected and physically threatened by others (Isaiah 6:9-14). There were going to be daily opportunities for him to fear man rather than God. As a result, it was essential for him to have the fear of the Lord absolutely branded into his heart, <span style="color: red;">because the person who fears God fears nothing else."</span></em></div><br />
Welch takes us to <strong>Isaiah 6: 1-8</strong><br />
<div align="center"><strong>"In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above him, each having</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>'Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>The whole earth is full of His glory.'</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke, Then I said,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>"Woe is me, for I am ruined!</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Because I am a man of unclean lips,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>And I live among a people of unclean lips;</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>For my eyes have seen the King the Lord of hosts.'</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, 'Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.'</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I. Send me! He said , 'Go, and tell this people."</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">Welch continues by saying,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>"Then Isaiah did what anybody would do in such a situation. He forgot about himself and offered</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>himself as a servant to the living God. His fear of the Lord expressed by reverential obedience.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>This is one of the great blessings of the fear of the Lord. We think less often about ourselves.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: red;">When a heart is being filled with the greatness of God,</span> </em><em><span style="color: red;">there is less room for the question,</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: red;">"What are people going to think of me?"...........</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: red;">If you have been in the presence of the almighty God, everything that once controlled </span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: red;">both have less power."</span></em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">Welch ends this section by saying,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>"Such awe attracts you to God; it does not repel or leave you feeling shame. It makes you want to come to him and know him. <span style="color: red;">When the fear of the Lord matures in you, Christ becomes irresistible."</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">I don't know about you but I want to be a fearless person for Christ like Isaiah. I have said and will continue to say to my King like I told Him back in June 2008, "</span><strong>Here am I. Send me!"</strong></div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-13144711674391185202010-11-22T22:44:00.000-08:002010-11-22T22:44:19.462-08:00What Brings You Comfort?Have you ever been in a cave? We went to the Shasta Caverns several years ago as a family. It was quite an experience, but yet a little scary. It's a little scary when you have the tendency to be claustrophobic. I've toured inside of a mine shaft as well. The deeper inside the shaft the darker it gets and the light from outside dims and seems farther and farther away.<br />
Have you ever felt as if you're inside an emotional dark cave? You see the light. You know the path that leads to the light but no matter what you do, you can't seem to make any progress to the light? You're in emotional despair. If one more thing were to happen your cup would runneth over. <br />
It was one of those days and it felt like I was in an emotional dark cave. So much was being thrown at me and I had decisions to make that weighed my heart and soul. Some of the decisions were being made for me but not necessarily the ones that I would of chosen or selected for my life. You know the truth and you seek the truth but its not giving you the answer YOU want. In this emotional state I actually told someone, "I wish God would speak to me. I wish the sky would open up and He would speak to me and tell me what to do."<br />
Hours later at home when I was beginning to get ready for bed I glanced over at my nightstand and started looking at the stack of books that I have there. I have several stacks. Each stack has a different level of reading priority. As I glanced over the books (I read 3-4 books at one time...I am a glutton for punishment) they just didn't seem to fit where I was. I knew I had to study for that <span style="background-color: white;">week's</span> Bible study but I was in my cave. I saw <a href="http://elysefitzpatrick.com/">Elyse Fitzpatrick's</a> book, <a href="http://elysefitzpatrick.com/Elyse_s_Books.html">"Steadfast Love"</a> in one of my stacks. I didn't really know what it was about but I grabbed it only because nothing else in my current reading stack seemed to fit the emotional dark cave I was in. As I opened the pages and began to read, His grace became so apparent to me. The words coming off the page were as if I was the one writing them.<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Psalm 57</span></div><div align="center"><em>Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge;</em></div><div align="center"><em>in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,</em></div><div align="center"><em>till the storms of destruction pass by.</em></div><div align="center"><em>I cry out to God Most High,</em></div><div align="center"><em>to God who fulfills His purpose for me.</em></div><div align="center"><em>He will send from heaven and save me;</em></div><div align="center"><em>he will put to shame him who tramples on me.</em></div><div align="center"><em>God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!</em></div><div align="center"><em>My soul is in the midst of lions;</em></div><div align="center"><em>I lie down amid fiery beasts-</em></div><div align="center"><em>the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,</em></div><div align="center"><em>whose tongues are sharp words.</em></div><div align="center"><em>Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!</em></div><div align="center"><em>Let your glory be over all the earth!</em></div><div align="center"><em>They set a net for my steps;</em></div><div align="center"><em>my soul was bowed down.</em></div><div align="center"><em>They dug a pit in my way,</em></div><div align="center"><em>but they have fallen into it themselves.</em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em>My heart is steadfast, O God,</em></div><div align="center"><em>my heart is steadfast!</em></div><div align="center"><em>I will sing and make melody!</em></div><div align="center"><em>Awake, my glory!</em></div><div align="center"><em>Awake, O harp and lyre!</em></div><div align="center"><em>I will awake the dawn!</em></div><div align="center"><em>I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;</em></div><div align="center"><em>I will sing praises to you among the nations.</em></div><div align="center"><em>For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,</em></div><div align="center"><em>your faithfulness to the clouds.</em></div><div align="center"><em>Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!</em></div><div align="center"><em>Let your glory be over all the earth!</em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">David wrote this Psalm Elyse's describes, as 'he was running for his life, </div><div align="center">hiding in a wilderness, in a cave.'</div><div align="center"><br />
</div>His grace came pouring out of the pages and onto my soul. It was as if this book was written for me and only me. As I put down the book and opened up my Bible study book, in the opening page was<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> Psalm 57:2,<em> "I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me." </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The sky opened up and the light shined right on my me and He spoke to me. I asked for Him to speak and He did, right from His Word. He knew exactly how to comfort me in the midst of my storm and pour out His grace. He is in the boat with me in the midst of the storm (Mark 4:35-41).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Elyse takes us to the <a href="http://www.reformed.org/documents/index.html?mainframe=http://www.reformed.org/documents/heidelberg.html">Heidelberg Catechism</a> - <br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Question 1</span>. What is thy only comfort in life and death? <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Answer:</span> That I with body and soul, both in life and death, (a) am not my own, (b) but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; (c) who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, (d) and delivered me from all the power of the devil; (e) and so preserves me (f) that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; (g) yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, (h) and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, (i) and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. (j)<br />
<br />
This is what gives me comfort. This is what sheds light and grace on my soul.<br />
What brings you comfort?</div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-40116159911005547392010-10-06T21:59:00.000-07:002010-11-02T22:03:10.467-07:00God's RecipeI love recipes! No really...I seriously do. Recipes saved me when I was first married. I had no idea how to cook so I began with Hamburger Helper and I evolved to recipes. I know how to follow directions well. As we'd spend time with friends and share a meal I would ask for their recipes or ask, "how did you make that?"<br /><br />I began to venture out and cut out recipes out of magazines that would look and sound good. I loved trying new recipes on friends who would come over for dinner. We'd have friends over and my hubby would ask, "what are you making?" I'd share the fact that I was making a new recipe. The look on his face would be classic. Shock and freight is the mixture I would see on his face. Little did my husband know at that time, I follow directions well.<br /><br />The last few weeks I've been overwhelmed with this reoccurring message that I see, hear and experience in my Christian life and in the lives I interact with. Do we look at your faith and walk with the Lord like a "recipe"? Is there a list of "ingredients" that you put apply to your life that you feel will result in godliness, righteousness and/or to be pleasing to God? Does this ingredient give you an end result that is pleasing to God? Maybe you don't see it in your life but you look at others from a far and believe if you do the same as they do, this "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">ingredient</span>" will give you the result that you're seeking for your Christian life.<br /><br />I remember being in a parenting class with my husband when our first son was under a year old. This parenting class was to prepare us for toddler life. The teachers were talking about the everyday items around the house that you should or not should not allow your children to play with so that when you'd be in someone <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">else's</span> home your child wouldn't think it was a toy. The teachers recommend that you as parents needed to decide what those items were for our individual <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">families</span> because we all would have different preferences. A young father raised his hand and asked, "do you have a list of items for us?" The teachers reiterated that each family needed to figure that out for their family because it's different for each family. The struggle on his face was evident. He wanted a list!<br /><br />Our flesh fights and yearns for a list of "ingredients" that guarantee us assurance with our God. If we just do these things and apply these actions we are right with God and assured acceptance from Him. This is a lie.<br /><br />One of the boy's friends was over recently and he asked me a question that lead me to recite to him <em><strong>Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one can boast."</strong></em> It hit me like a ton of bricks...the word "grace" came alive. "Grace" is an undeserved gift; free gift. I can't do anything to gain or attain my faith. Its a free gift from God. No works! I said, NO works I can do. No ingredient or action I apply to my life will obtain faith or favor. It's all God and none of me. That's because so I can't boast or breed pride.<br /><br /><strong><em>Matthew 22:36 40 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two depend all the Law and the Prophets."</em></strong><br /><br />The Pharisees knew Scripture. They were under the assumption that they had their spiritual life in order and were right with God. They had long list of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">ingredients</span> that they did and applied everyday but God's recipe wasn't about the ingredients they applied, it was about their hearts. It was about what their hearts yearned and loved. What do you love? What consumes your heart? Love for God? Love for people?<br /><br />My pastor has been in Romans on Sunday mornings and I continue to see how God used the Law to show the Israelites their need for the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE because they couldn't keep the Law. God doesn't care about what you do....He cares about what you love and is it HIM!? If you love Him what you do follows and it produces godliness. Doing doesn't produce godliness, loving the Creator and who He is in Christ with all your heart, mind, soul and strength does.<br /><br /><em>John MacArthur</em> says this in his message, <em>"The Glory of the Lord",</em> "In the temple and in the tabernacle, there were no seats. You read the description of the tabernacle, you read the description of the temple, there were no seats nowhere. Why? Because a priest never finished and so he never sat down. Sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice by the millions and they never sat down because it never ever was a finished work. Jesus made one sacrifice and when it was finished He sat down. He sat down. It was over. There was nothing more to do. He finished and sat down. <strong>Hebrews 10:12</strong>, what a great verse, <strong><em>'But this man....that is Christ...after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God</em></strong>.' He sat down because HE was finished."<br /><br />Sister, no need to work any longer. Christ finished the work. God doesn't need our work. He completed it on the cross. What He wants is our hearts. What He wants is your life. What He wants is ALL of your love. Be consumed with what you love more than Him, not what you do for Him. Your love for Him will consume what you do for Him.Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-57604716584472606102010-09-25T08:19:00.000-07:002010-09-25T09:36:40.717-07:00Whom Do I Fear?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yJ6PVl6__IV1dW5VX_TCPBKqBbIz6ogkX1MtPVbqeA5qJ2yi6WoqxYWIopu99zXbOWBnPj6GNndmp86Ba7COeQq7hkHtgK4HOeD9iiTQngcw89kZG8M3RMCTBo3wV5stft3dQnMWkmc/s1600/Dutch-boat-in-a-storm-153698078.jpeg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 157px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520887773916538130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yJ6PVl6__IV1dW5VX_TCPBKqBbIz6ogkX1MtPVbqeA5qJ2yi6WoqxYWIopu99zXbOWBnPj6GNndmp86Ba7COeQq7hkHtgK4HOeD9iiTQngcw89kZG8M3RMCTBo3wV5stft3dQnMWkmc/s320/Dutch-boat-in-a-storm-153698078.jpeg" /></a><br /><div>I have been blessed with the ability to work anywhere as long as I have my laptop and a phone. A printer and a fax helps as well but not always necessary. </div><br /><div>Earlier this week, I sat at my dining room table staring at my inbox, three consecutive emails came through that would deliver the news that the three of my files that I have been working on were no longer viable deals which would result in no income for my family for the following month. As each email hit and I opened, the anxiousness and fear began to well up in the pit of my stomach. I could feel the fear moving its way up inch by inch up from my stomach into my throat. I felt the need to throw up, but I didn't. As quickly as I received those emails I received another email from a fellow Christian blogger who just posted a blog on "Fear." I couldn't open the blog post fast enough. Thinking to myself, "I need this right now, Help me Lord! Because I'm beginning to spiral into the pit of fear and worry!"</div><br /><div>As I began to read the blog, I grabbed my Bible and look up the Scripture references given. </div><br /><div>I opened up to <strong>Mark 4: 35 - 41</strong>........<br /></div><div align="center"><strong>"On that day, when evening came, He said to them, 'Let us go over to the other </strong><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>side.' Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was;</strong><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, </strong><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>and the waves were</strong><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus </strong><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him,</strong><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>'Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?' </strong><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>And He got up and rebuked the wind</strong><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>and said to the sea, 'Hush, be still.' And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, 'Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?' They</strong><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>became very much afraid and said to one another,</strong><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>'Who then is this, that even the wind</strong><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>and the sea obey Him?"</strong><br /></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><br /><div align="left"><strong>Romans 15:4</strong> says,</div><br /><div align="center"><strong>"For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."</strong></div><br /><div align="left">I was transposed into the pages of my Bible and God showed me that I was just like the disciples. I was fearful as the waves of the storm were coming over the sides of the boat. I began to fear the threats of this world. I'm not alone! Jesus is with me in the boat, why do I fear? I fear because He's not doing anything to stop the waves from crushing down on me! Why Lord are you doing this? My inner voice is screaming this as my mouth keeps silent. To perfect your faith. Trust me Jesus is saying. But I trust in my flesh, but He wants me to trust in Him. Not when I want the storm to stop but when He is ready to stop the storm from crashing onto me. The Creator who has the ability to calm the sea is in the boat with me and I am fearful of what mere man can do to me?<br /></div><div align="center"><strong>Matthew 10:28</strong><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>"Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."</strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong>Romans 8: 35 </strong><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>"Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?</strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong>v.37-39 "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."</strong></div><br /><div align="left">I've been reading, studying and leading a group of ladies through the book, "Trusting God" by Jerry Bridges. My boat is being rocked and in the danger of possibly being tipped over but I will not fear because I am <strong>HIS</strong> and <strong>HE is MINE</strong>. I will not fear because nothing can separate me from my <strong>SAVIOR, LORD JESUS</strong>. I will not fear man but I will fear <strong>GOD</strong>. And whatever storm that comes is to build my <strong>FAITH in HIM not in my flesh</strong>...and it will prepare me for the day when my <strong>FAITH</strong> will become <strong>SIGHT</strong> and I will be made <strong>COMPLETE</strong>. Thank you <strong>JESUS</strong>!</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-91941419852820290022010-08-31T19:43:00.000-07:002010-09-01T12:59:35.921-07:00In the Desert.....What does your desert look like? I think our deserts may look different but I have a feeling that our deserts are quite the same.<br /><br />I've often thought about Moses and how he spent 40 years in the desert in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Midian</span> before the Lord called him to his ministry of leading the Israelites out of Egypt.<br /><br />Moses lived in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Pharaoh's</span> digs for 40 years. He lived in the lap of luxury for his first forty years of life. He was at the top of his game. Was it enough for him? Acts 7:23 tells us, "But when he was approaching the age of forty it entered his mind to visit his brethren the sons of Israel." Was he curious how life was on the other side? Did they know or have something that he was missing as a prince of Egypt? His excursion lead to the death of an Egyptian by his own hands. (Exodus 2:15) He tasted injustice in the life of an Israelite and intervened. He had a heart even than for his people. He yearned for justice but it ended in a way that wasn't in his plan.....so he ran. He ran into the desert and fled from his life that he knew. Escaping the consequences of his actions. He was able to start anew. His life looked and felt very different from what he knew to be true in Egypt. His fresh start on life was at the bottom of the totem pole as a shepherd in the desert. Not a shepherd of his own flock but even a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">notch</span> lower working as a shepherd watching someone <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">elses</span> flock.<br /><br />I don't know first hand what its like to be a shepherd in the desert outside of Egypt but I can imagine what it might of been....long hot days and frigid cold nights alone. Watching, waiting, on guard for predators, decision making that effects your flock.....but the loudest and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">prominent</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">occurrences</span> is the long periods of time of silence on the outside but how you hear your thoughts arguing with your heart in the inside.<br /><br />We all experience time in the desert. Whether you like to admit it or not. Like I said before, all our deserts may look different but I think they all are the same. It's what we do and think about when we're in the desert that determines how we come out. What do you feed yourself when you're in the desert? Do you feed yourself TRUTH or do you feed yourself the lies of your thoughts and regrets? The times in the desert are barren and no where else to run but to dig deep into your heart and see what is there. You figure out that you have nothing and nothing to give but yourself which is your soul. You can look back and remember the high life and live the life of regret or you can look around and see how God carried you there to the desert to meet Him. His glory is there in the desert. Do you see it?<br /><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:180%;">Jeremiah 17: 5-10</span></em><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>"Thus says the Lord,</strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong>Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind</strong><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>And makes flesh his strength,</strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong>And whose heart turns away from the Lord.</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>For he will be like a bush in the desert</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>And will not see when prosperity comes,</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness,</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>A land of salt without inhabitant.</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>And whose trust is the Lord.</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>For he will be like a tree planted by the water,</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>That extends its roots by a stream</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>And will not fear when the heat comes,</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>But its leaves will be green,</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>And it will not be anxious in a year of drought</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Nor cease to yield fruit."</strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><br /><div align="left">Numbers 12: 3 tells us that "Moses was very humble , more than any man who was on the face of the earth." Living in the desert for forty years, I can imagine being there can do that to you, but only if you feed yourself the TRUTH. It was in the desolate desert that God was able to get Mose's to be quiet and still. He was able reveal to him his idols and bring him to the depths of his heart and humble him so that Moses could see His glory.</div><br /><div align="left">I think of our brother Job. After all he went through and wrestled with, it wasn't till God responded and told him who He truly was. At that point, Job was able to say, "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; there I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes (Job 42:5-6)." After forty years in the desert Moses came out the most humble man on earth. He was able to see God's glory and live, but most of all he was used by His King for HIS GLORY and HIS GLORY alone.</div><br /><div align="left">I don't know about you....BUT I don't want to be the bush in the desert that lives in stony waste. I don't want to miss out on seeing HIS GLORY when its before me. I want to be the tree that is green and yields fruit even in the year of drought. To be that tree I need to TRUST when I am sitting in the desert because and realize that God brought me there to rid me of the idols that I held so dear so through the time of drought I can rid the idols from my heart so that I can see HIS GLORY instead.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">What do you see in the desert of your life and heart? Are you the tree or the bush?</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><div align="left"></div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-53342566402974507202010-08-04T15:33:00.000-07:002010-08-06T14:15:08.633-07:00Undefiled Religion<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8XZhaicvgBWJbydKhujsOF3cJKD3QxFrBw0fAAHFXLLsbG3zhEulB4X3hnNdyBVAl1ltYzvWOO0BbwlzhbvfhXAGf-KB-eTJmatqkvbQwtRDBXSk2cxDli8X4yJYRfejkxrQE5dQDbV0/s1600/Safina3.bmp"><span style="font-size:+0;"></span><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502371670324341474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8XZhaicvgBWJbydKhujsOF3cJKD3QxFrBw0fAAHFXLLsbG3zhEulB4X3hnNdyBVAl1ltYzvWOO0BbwlzhbvfhXAGf-KB-eTJmatqkvbQwtRDBXSk2cxDli8X4yJYRfejkxrQE5dQDbV0/s320/Safina3.bmp" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PVF4QAt-bykx9yMXqC4tmEC-XghXxVbT3P-yiDx9CAeJqKT-Nx89LcBzIvlf8BjJpRfPHuEpNfyXL7IO5VJ_jmQfOHYO0A68vPiokALuyaf0k6u-cNCFKoumiJLMnncPYAuVWMJtmE4/s1600/Safina2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502371671287596946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PVF4QAt-bykx9yMXqC4tmEC-XghXxVbT3P-yiDx9CAeJqKT-Nx89LcBzIvlf8BjJpRfPHuEpNfyXL7IO5VJ_jmQfOHYO0A68vPiokALuyaf0k6u-cNCFKoumiJLMnncPYAuVWMJtmE4/s320/Safina2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I am mother of three boys. If you count my husband that's four boys. I'm smiling. Are you smiling? My boys have asked for a little sister throughout the years. As they grow older or should I say...as my husband and I grow older they're asking for a little sister via adoption. Our friends have adopted a little girl from Haiti after the devastating earthquake that occurred there. Since than the boys have beg for us to do the same. </div><div><div>My friend <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Shanley</span> left for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bombo</span>, Africa on a mission type of trip to help Align Ministries with their blog, website and social media. Their desire was to bring the local needs of the people of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bombo</span> to the world via the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Internet</span> and social media so that the people of Bombo, Africa who are in need may be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sponsored</span> by others. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Shanley</span> has gone to Africa before and had an idea of what to expect when she arrived but her <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">expectations</span> didn't come close to the reality of what is truly going on in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bombo</span>, Africa.</div><div>My only way of communicating with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Shanley</span> were her daily posts to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span>. Earlier in the week I woke up to a post of hers <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">basically</span> saying that she was discouraged because she met an eleven year old little girl who suffers with AIDS. Both of her parents have died with AIDS and she is being raised by her grandmother. She travels an hour each way by foot to go to school where they beat her for poor grades and/or lack of payment for her schooling. She has to travel 3 hours by foot each way to pick up her medication for her AIDS. She has sores all over her skin from the disease. Without hesitation I responded that I would <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sponsor</span> her. All my boys are without disease. I can't imagine this little girl suffering with a disease that had nothing to do with her but yet she is called to suffer with it.<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Shanley</span> was brought to tears on how quickly someone responded to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sponsor</span> this little girl. I quickly had questions too. Can I get a picture of her? Can we write letters to her? I want her to know that she's not alone and that someone does care. Not just me but Jesus cares! I was told that I cannot communicate with her. They want the locals to know that their needs are being provided by the local church in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bombo</span> not by some American. I will be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sponsoring</span> her through Align Ministries.<br />One of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Shanley's</span> observations of being in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bombo</span> is that the believer's faith is so basic. "Childlike" would be an appropriate word for it. They believe in the simple terms of faith. They just <strong>BELIEVE.</strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Matthew 18: 1- 5</span></strong> </div><br /><p align="center"><strong>"At the time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who than is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, "Truly I say to you unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. "Whoever than humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;"</strong><br /></p><br /><p align="left">Whether you are a believer or not, what hill are you willing to die on to make your point OR why you believe or more importantly why don't you believe? God calls you to <strong>"humble"</strong> yourself. What does that mean to humble yourself? Definition of humble - <em>"to lower your pride or arrogance; to reduce your self sufficiently of; to make meek and submissive."</em> Being stripped of everything you hold dear will make you experience humility quickly. Humility in any form will teach you what you hold close or better yet what you <strong>TRUST. </strong>What have you lost that you will fight with all your might to win it back? When events or situations in your life aren't going the way you thought or liked, what are you most upset about? That is where you will find your first love, what you trust and what you hope in. Who or what is it? Do you know? Why do we complicate life with all our STUFF? If you were in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bombo</span>, Africa living in a hut with no food and riddled with sores all over your body with a disease given to you by your parents who are no longer are with you....what would you hold dear? Would you be able to say, "I love God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength?" They do. What do they have that we don't? An undefiled religion? They have nothing to give BUT their soul. What will it take for us to give up our idols and just humble ourselves to <strong>BELIEVE </strong>with "childlike" faith?<br />The next day I received a picture of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">Safina</span>. She is so beautiful. We will more than likely never meet or know each other. Her picture will be in my home like there are of my boys. I will provide her with support but also my love & prayers. All she knows is that the church is providing for her....BUT I know she's the little girl God gave me to take care for. My daughter ...<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">SAFINA</span>.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="left"></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="left"></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="left"></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="left"></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><br /><br /><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-8733499492629879352010-07-12T20:18:00.000-07:002010-07-12T22:17:46.325-07:00I AM A SLAVEIt was like any other weekday morning, we all loaded up into car and I headed off to drop my three boys off at school. I don't know if they ever remembered a time when we didn't listen to one of my favorite pastors on the radio as we drove to school each morning. They just always knew that the radio dial was off limits in the morning.<br /><br />As we all climbed in at 8am and backed out of the driveway we found out the topic of the series of the week, "Marriage, Divorce & Remarriage." This morning sermon began in the book of Hosea. Hosea wasn't an Old Testament book that I knew very much about nor did I ever really hear anyone preach out of this Old Testament book. It instantly captured my interested to hear about Hosea and how this related to marriage, divorce & remarriage.<br /><br />Hosea was a prophet. Hosea's ministry was from 755 - 710 B.C. His career spanned the last 6 kings of Israel. God called Hosea to marry <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gomer</span>.<br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><strong>"When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, 'Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and <em>have </em>children of harlotry;.....So he went and took <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gomer</span> the daughter of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Diblaim</span>, and she conceived and bore him a son. And the Lord said to him, "Name him <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Jezreel</span>; </strong><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>(Hosea 1: 2-4)</strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong>Then she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said to him, Name Her Lo-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">ruhamah</span>, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I would ever forgive them. But I will have compassion on the house of Judah and deliver them by the Lord their God, and will not deliver them by bow, sword, battle, horses or horsemen." When she weaned Lo-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">ruhamah</span>, she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the Lord said, 'Name him <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Loammi</span>, for you are not my people and I am not your God." (Hosea 1:6-9)</strong></div><br /><div align="left">I couldn't believe what I was hearing. God had called this prophet to marry a woman who God knew and foretold possibly to Hosea that she would be an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">adulteress</span> and not be faithful to him. In either case, Hosea obeyed his God unselfishly without complaint knowing the outcome that awaited him. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gomer</span> left her husband and family and pursued her desires and idols that ruled her heart. She pursued what she believed would satisfy her. We don't know how <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gomer</span> got to to this point in detail but I am sure of this, in the beginnings of her pursuits I am sure she never thought she'd end up at a slave auction.</div><div align="left">God calls Hosea to pursue his estranged wife and buy her back for 15 shekels of silver and 1 1/2 homers of barley. The total may have equaled 30 pieces of silver which what was the price paid for a common slave. </div><div align="left">I thought about several people who I wish could hear this message about forgiveness to repair their marriages. I thought about a couple of ladies I knew at church who were struggling with husband who had committed <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">adultery</span>. I thought of a good friend who left her husband and children to live out her desires ....if only her husband could love her like Hosea did and forgive her and take her back.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I dropped the boys off and said my goodbyes. As I drove back home and I began to process what I was hearing. It hit me and it hit me hard. I made a sharp right turn and it came to me as if someone had just flipped a switch and a light turned on!</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">This story wasn't only about marriage, remarriage and divorce or was it also about how God loved and pursued an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">idolatrous</span> Israel....this was about ME! Yes! It's about me and what Christ did for ME! It all makes sense now.....</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Before I was a Christian I was a slave....a slave to my sin and my desires. I was just like the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">adulterous</span> Israel and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gomer</span>,pursing the idols of my heart. When I came to my end with nothing to bring or offer, Christ bought me back. He didn't buy me with silver shekels. Christ bought me back with His blood. He sacrificed His life for ME! He obeyed God to the point of death for His beloved, because of His love for ME! God gave us the beautiful picture of unconditional love of Hosea to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gomer</span>....<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sacrificial</span> and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">selfless</span> .... to point us the the ultimate selfless love & sacrifice of His son, Jesus.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><strong>"But thanks be to God that though you were slaves to sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Romans 7: 17-18</strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>"For when you were slaves to sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed. For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Romans 7:20-23</strong></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I cannot look at this portrait without thinking of Gomer. What was she thinking when she stood there being sold as a slave. Her pursuits and desires lead her to this place. Gomer believed the lie that we all believed when we allowed the lies of this world to skew our vision of the truth. When we believe fulfilling our fleshly desires will satisfy us but we wake up continually empty. When we think this place, person or thing will fulfill us ....I just want to try one more time. </div><div align="left">I was created for my Groom and He and only He is the only one that can satisfy my soul. </div><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="center"></div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-39351744392202864372010-04-15T10:10:00.000-07:002010-04-15T11:36:31.356-07:00Relationships - Live With Them or Without Them?There is a saying, "Can't live with them and you can't live without them." Men & Women can say this about each other can't they? In reality, we can easily say that about all relationships. As I walk in faith God is continually showing me the idols of my heart.<br />I am an only child and from a young age relationship/friendships have always been very important to me. I vividly remember as a young girl that I would put friends first before anything else in my life.<br />When relationships are good and enjoyable we can say, "can't live without them!" But when they are not going so good is when we say, "can't live with them!" I began reading <strong>Paul David Tripp's</strong> book,<strong> "Relationship - A Mess Worth Making", </strong>several weeks ago when I could easily say that I could live with them. As I began reading God was faithful to stir my pot of life and my relationships to show me where my relationships were in the priority list of life. I'm pretty sure we can all say that in all our relationships we will have some degree of disappointments. Tripp writes, "<em> It is clear to you that no relationship ever delivers what you dreamt it could. Your fantasy collides with reality, and reality bites</em>!" Tripp takes the old cliche' and says it this way, <em>"Some of our deepest and most painful hurts have been in relationships. There are times when we wish we could live alone and other times when we are glad we don't."</em><br /><br />What I am learning is that I put too much stock in my earthly relationships to dictate my daily emotions or temperature of my attitude. Tripp says, <em>"in the messiness of relationships is that our hearts are revealed, our weaknesses are exposed, and we start coming to the end of ourselves. Only when this happens do we reach out for the help God alone can provide. Weak and needy people finding their hope in Christ's grace are what mark a mature relationship." </em>Tripp continues with, <em>"the very thing we would naturally seek to avoid is what God has chosen to use to make us more like HIM."</em><br /><br />This is the part of the book that hit me to the core....<br /><div align="center"><br /><em>"Each of us is tempted to make relationships the end rather than the means. The primary relationship Adam and Eve were intended to enjoy was their relationship with God. This vertical communion with God would provide the foundation for the horizontal community they were to have with each other. Everything God made pointed Adam and Eve to the primacy of their relationship with Him. All of creation was to function as an arrow pointing to God. But in our sin we tend to treat people and creation as more important. The very things God created to reveal His glory become instead the glory we desire. This is where we see, with C.S. Lewis, that our desires are too weak, not too strong. We settle for the relationships when they were meant to point us to the perfect relational satisfaction found only with God. The irony is that when we reverse the order and elevate creation above Creator, we destroy the relationships God intended - and would have enabled - us to enjoy</em>." </div><div align="center"><br />A few years back I renewed my purpose and told God that He was enough. Since than He has been faithful and merciful with me to use the circumstances in my life to show me and purify me so that I can truthfully and honestly say with a pure heart say, "Lord you are enough!"<br /></div><div align="center">I know the Psalmist who wrote Psalm 73 knew exactly what I meant and felt...<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Psalm 73: 25-26</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong> "Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.<br /><br /></strong>Are your relationships there to serve you? Or to serve HIM? May we all be able to say like the Psalmist, "besides GOD, I desire nothing on earth."</div>Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3303884145202765026.post-17575875182417220202010-04-02T09:07:00.000-07:002010-04-02T10:06:31.983-07:00Which Thief Are You?The last few days I've been reflecting on the words that Jesus spoke just before he died, "It is Finished!" In that reflection I realize and came across the conversation with the two thieves that are being crucified with Him.<br /><strong>Luke 23: 33-43</strong><br /><em>"When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, 'Father, forgive them; for they don not know what they are doing.' And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, 'He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.' The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, and saying, 'If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!' Now there was also an inscription above Him, "This IS THE KING OF THE JEWS." <br />One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, 'Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!' But the other answered, and rebuking him said, 'Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.' And he was saying, 'Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!' And He said to him, 'Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.'"</em><br /><br />I don't know exactly when or how but the older I get I realize how much less its me in my faith and more God. I realize how much of a sinner I am and how much I don't deserve the gift of salvation which drives me to my knees in humility and make me thank God for the price He paid on the cross for my sins so that I may have eternal life. In other gospels it depicts that both criminals are hurling abuses at Christ. Its commentated that the one began with abuse and after time realized who he was being crucified next to... "God". I have had years to come to this realization when one of the thieves came to this conclusion within hours to realize his depravity and his need for a Saviour.<br /><br />The two thieves are examples for us of two different types of people in the world. The unbeliever who is blind to their their sin. Who hurls accusations at God with anger of why their life has turned out the way it has and for God to take them out of their dreadful situation ("Save yourself and us!")even though it was a consequence of their sinful life. <br /><br />Than we have the other person who realizes that when they compare their life next to God's that they are a sinner in need of a Saviour and with only the sacrifice of the Saviour will they inherit eternal life.<br /><br />Being that today is Good Friday, the day Christ was crucified, may we be reflective as we go into the Easter weekend that it wouldn't be just a time of eating chocolate bunnies and coloring hard boiled eggs BUT it would be a time of reflection of what Christ did for you so that He can say to you, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."<br /><br />Which thief are you?Geldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066032929339953692noreply@blogger.com1