Monday Morning Perspective

Dare to be different---a challenge for Christians of all ages I believe. Yesterday I left our student sunday school teachers meeting at the same time that the 9:00 service was letting out. I got caught up going in the opposite direction of everyone else. It was tough trying to get by and get to where I was going when everyone else was moving opposite of me and coming at me. I thought of that as I sat through the sermon, how tough it is in life to be going in a direction that is not the norm. As Christians we are called to be different and at the same time influence and impact others without being obnoxious and turning them off. It's always a struggle to feel like you are fitting in just enough to gain others trust to be able to influence them for Christ, yet not so much that we compromise. I don't believe that that is a struggle only for teens. I think we all struggle a certain amount with that. We are called to be holy in ALL we do, from the way we talk to the places we go to how we dress and how we deal with relationships. It seems overwhelming at times and something we can definitely not do apart from the Holy Spirit. I am so thankful for Peter and this epistle he wrote and I am thankful for a husband who preaches it with such passion and boldness.

My Mom

This is a special shout out to my mom. I think she's the greatest mom anyone could have. I have always tried to implement things in my life that she exemplified and seemed to be so natural for her. My mom was a working mom and I will never understand how she did so much and held down a 40 hour a week job. She was always an early riser, I mean like 4am riser. She always started her day with prayer and her Bible time. She would be ready when we got up, would bring breakfast to us and take us to school. She would work all day and come home and cook dinner. And when I say she cooked dinner, I mean she cooked...meat, vegies, bread. We didn't eat out except maybe Friday or Saturday evening. She spent Saturday mornings cleaning the house so we could have Sat. afternoon and evenings for whatever we wanted to do. I never ever remember her missing a game I cheered in. She made all of my basketball games. She was always there for my brother's sporting events. She was incredibly involved in our lives. She definitely knew where we were and who we were with. She was active in her sunday school class and was always taking meals to people. I am amazed by her. She has a servant's heart that I can only long for and her hospitality was never lacking. She sang in the choir and taught children's choir. I do have to say that even with all of this, it's the character things that she demanded from us that I am most grateful for. She demanded that we always give our best, that we do for others, that we speak the truth and work hard, that we never quit and we put family first. She taught us the discipline of prayer and the need for worship. She taught us to love the Lord and trust Him even when things looked very bleak. She taught us to trust Christ and have faith. She was the greatest cheerleader I had when I chose to stay home with my children and pour my life into them. She has always been my biggest encourager to keep on keeping on through baby years, teen years and now young adult years with my children. She was my husband's greatest defender when I complained and reminded me of how fortunate I was to have a godly husband who loved me and loved the Lord even more.
Mom, I will be forever grateful for you and indebted to you for the things that you taught me and continue to teach me not only in words but in action. Thank you for the good, the bad, and the ugly because God has used all of it to teach me and shape me and discipline me. Thanks most of all for believing in me and pushing me. Most of all, thank you to you and Dad for leading me to Jesus who truly is the love of my life and to whom I owe it all. I love you more than you can believe.

Monday Morning Perspective

We began our journey through IPeter yesterday and I am so excited about this study. I love IPeter. It is so full of truths that we can easily apply to our everyday life and I love that. I hope you left the service yesterday encouraged, I know I did.
Some points I loved:
-Discouragement is contagious. Lord, help me not to be one of those people who spread discouragement.
-We must be born again!!!
-Our trials have a life span. AMEN!!!!
-Our inheritance is kept by God Himself.
-We are saved by grace and it is kept by grace.
-My favorite---God doesn't write in pencil. YES!!!!
Fabulous sermon! Awesome music! Don't stop believin'!!!!!