Easter Monday...sitting here with LOTS to ponder this morning!!!
Nothing I love more than a powerful evangelistic Easter message and that's exactly what we got yesterday at Millbrook and the response to salvation is evidence enough that that is why we do what we do!! We spread the simple message of Jesus to everyone we know and we do it boldly and unapologetically.
I love how Eddie brought the message from Acts 17. He compared Paul's audience and enviornment to ours today...and people say the Bible isn't relevant? People and culture have changed very little. I love how Eddie described the city...idols everywhere. Is that not true today?? They may not be statues but they are all over the place and we don't have to look far to see them. An idol is anything that captures our attention and I could be here all day if I started naming those. Even distractions themselves can be idols when we obsess over them instead of giving them to God quickly and let Him handle them. I've had a few idols myself with the name distraction over them. What about sports figures or celebrities we are intoxicated by...their lifestyle, their status, etc. What about sports themselves...since that's a huge part of my life with my boys. We yell for our team to the point of being obnoxious. We yell at refs at the "injustice" we feel against our team yet when it's time to stand up and cheer Jesus or yell about real injustice in the world, we shrink back and talk about not wanting to be a fanatic. Being a fanatic for Him is never wrong!
What about the groups Eddie brought to our attention. The religious group worried about looking good and not so much about growing in Christ-likeness. Or the Epicureans who were all about giving in to whatever made them feel good at the moment. Or the Stoics who were negative and critical. Then the Athenians and foreigners...all about the latest trends and ideas, whatever is in we are all about it. Hmmmmm, and the Bible isn't relevant?? They are all alive and well and living all around us. The question is, where are we in all of this? Which group do we fit best with or find ourself most comfortable around? My prayer is that we would repent, because we have all been in probably all of these groups at some point, and receive the grace and mercy that God pours out as evidenced by the cross and resurrection. It's only a problem when we refuse to see the error of our own ways and dig our heels in refusing to allow God to change us into the likeness of His Son.
Thank you to my husband who boldly proclaims the message of Jesus even when it convicts and not just on Easter!!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Monday Morning Perspective
What a great day at Millbrook yesterday. Awesome crowd came out to worship together, study God's Word through small groups and hear God's Word proclaimed.
I'm loving our time in the book of James. Like Eddie said, it's 108 power packed verses of practical living. My prayer is that each and every verse would impact the way we live. May we hold one another accountable to live out what we are hearing with our ears.
Pass the Test...that was the challenge. We saw once again that God tests us but Satan tempts us and our times of testing can so often lead to seasons of temptation. There is always that temptation to do things our way and not wait on God and so we find ourselves in a state of sin. I loved the illustration of how monkeys are caught because they won't let go of the rice in their hands and so often we hold tightly to things that we want so desperately and before you know it we are caught and hooked. I also loved how Eddie talked about Satan being the expert angler and how he baits the hook that appeals to our desires. He knows us well. For most of us he has spent years watching us and observing what appeals to us and he knows what our weaknesses are and how to get us and yes for many of us "any slimy worm will do". Doesn't that make you hate him all the more!? I loved Eddie's challenge to see behind the hook. Realize the power in the boat to get us to grab the hook and be swept away. The bait gets our attention, it affects our attitudes as we begin to think about it, then the action...we bite. Realizing that taking the bait Satan puts out there for us leads to death but relying on the power of God in our life to overcome those temptations leads to life and He will ALWAYS provide a way out if we look to Him and wait for Him.
I'm so thankful that as we grow in Christ and rely on His power in our life we can have the abundant life He has for us. We don't have to be victims of Satan and his bait. We can be overcomers and live a life of victory. But...to do that we have to grow up, be mature believers and walk the talk.
I'm loving our time in the book of James. Like Eddie said, it's 108 power packed verses of practical living. My prayer is that each and every verse would impact the way we live. May we hold one another accountable to live out what we are hearing with our ears.
Pass the Test...that was the challenge. We saw once again that God tests us but Satan tempts us and our times of testing can so often lead to seasons of temptation. There is always that temptation to do things our way and not wait on God and so we find ourselves in a state of sin. I loved the illustration of how monkeys are caught because they won't let go of the rice in their hands and so often we hold tightly to things that we want so desperately and before you know it we are caught and hooked. I also loved how Eddie talked about Satan being the expert angler and how he baits the hook that appeals to our desires. He knows us well. For most of us he has spent years watching us and observing what appeals to us and he knows what our weaknesses are and how to get us and yes for many of us "any slimy worm will do". Doesn't that make you hate him all the more!? I loved Eddie's challenge to see behind the hook. Realize the power in the boat to get us to grab the hook and be swept away. The bait gets our attention, it affects our attitudes as we begin to think about it, then the action...we bite. Realizing that taking the bait Satan puts out there for us leads to death but relying on the power of God in our life to overcome those temptations leads to life and He will ALWAYS provide a way out if we look to Him and wait for Him.
I'm so thankful that as we grow in Christ and rely on His power in our life we can have the abundant life He has for us. We don't have to be victims of Satan and his bait. We can be overcomers and live a life of victory. But...to do that we have to grow up, be mature believers and walk the talk.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Spring Break, much needed
The countdown to spring break begins right after the kids go back to school in January after the Christmas break. It's different than it used to be, this year we actually had 3 spring breaks under the roof. Chrissie had a week and she and Michael got to come for a few days of her break. That was great because it had been so long since we had time with them. Stephen and Jessica had a different week. Jess was in and out enjoying her time off and Stephen actually got a few days of his away from baseball to come home. These days I'm grateful for what I get. John finally had his last week. He got the first part of the week at home then we headed to Columbia for a tournament in Blythewood. This year we actually got to spend our spring break tournament time in the city as a team and it was so much better than going back and forth. We won the tournament, go TBREDS, and John got tournament MVP, go John...a great week!
Vacations are sweet, even mini ones. Being away with our baseball family is great. Vacation is all about being with family and getting away from the day to day. I had more than a few people say to me they bet we couldn't vacation without talking ministry stuff...well we did it. Trust me, we have plenty of other stuff to make conversation over...life is big. I can talk Jesus and the scriptures all day but shop talk sometimes has to cease for a time. I don't know how some do it without an outlet. It's a must for us. For us to be able to get away with our friends and just be one of the ball players parents, is super sweet. They let us be us and we love them for it. Dinners with them without work talk and laughing our heads off at stuff that probably others wouldn't see as funny and tear up as we think about all the years these boys have played together and the memories that go along with that...that's hard to beat stuff and a change of pace we long for. For most of us, it's more than just a game. It's years of memories and friendships and bonding. Caring for each other through losses, not game losses, but life losses...deaths in the family, sickness in the family, hurts along life's way. Watching the boys grow up so much and in so many ways. Seeing the older ones take to the younger ones and the younger ones learning and looking up to the older ones. I don't know, maybe this isn't true everywhere on every team with everyone but it's definitely been true for us. They are an outlet we love and need. And our boys have learned MUCH from playing a team sport that I pray stays with them through life.
A few pics...enjoy...
Vacations are sweet, even mini ones. Being away with our baseball family is great. Vacation is all about being with family and getting away from the day to day. I had more than a few people say to me they bet we couldn't vacation without talking ministry stuff...well we did it. Trust me, we have plenty of other stuff to make conversation over...life is big. I can talk Jesus and the scriptures all day but shop talk sometimes has to cease for a time. I don't know how some do it without an outlet. It's a must for us. For us to be able to get away with our friends and just be one of the ball players parents, is super sweet. They let us be us and we love them for it. Dinners with them without work talk and laughing our heads off at stuff that probably others wouldn't see as funny and tear up as we think about all the years these boys have played together and the memories that go along with that...that's hard to beat stuff and a change of pace we long for. For most of us, it's more than just a game. It's years of memories and friendships and bonding. Caring for each other through losses, not game losses, but life losses...deaths in the family, sickness in the family, hurts along life's way. Watching the boys grow up so much and in so many ways. Seeing the older ones take to the younger ones and the younger ones learning and looking up to the older ones. I don't know, maybe this isn't true everywhere on every team with everyone but it's definitely been true for us. They are an outlet we love and need. And our boys have learned MUCH from playing a team sport that I pray stays with them through life.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Monday Morning Perspective
Yep, I knew James was going to be good!! What an awesome start to the book. My husband brought a power-packed message. How timely is our God?!
Eddie gave us a great intro to James and a preview to what we will be running into in this book and then we took a dive into the first four verses.
I loved our 2nd section on Trouble has a function. Count it ALL JOY!! Put trouble in the profit column as we weigh our troubles. Oh, the call to stand firm again as we face our troubles and those things and people who trouble us. The fires that come, come to burn away anything and everything that is not genuine. I love that. Genuine faith is all that matters and if it takes the fire to burn away the fake in me, I'm all for it. My prayer is that in the midst of it I will stand firm and be obedient to whatever He calls me to do and be. Eddie has always said that it's when we get squeezed that we see what's on the inside, how true is that? I don't believe we can really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure. It's easy to be kind to others when things are going well, but can we be kind when others are treating us unfairly? God is about making us mature, growing us up in Him. One of the things I've noticed, is how quickly some people come to our defense when we are being unjustly treated. Of course some hide in the weeds to see how it will all turn out but many stand up and defend to the point that we don't even have to defend ourselves. I love that about the body of Christ. May we all be quick to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ and help them through their troubled times. May we never be the ones adding to their trouble.
James is going to pack a punch. It's not for the shallow or for those who try to avoid conviction. I'm not surprised that so many don't like James, he's a tell it like it is man.
Eddie gave us a great intro to James and a preview to what we will be running into in this book and then we took a dive into the first four verses.
I loved our 2nd section on Trouble has a function. Count it ALL JOY!! Put trouble in the profit column as we weigh our troubles. Oh, the call to stand firm again as we face our troubles and those things and people who trouble us. The fires that come, come to burn away anything and everything that is not genuine. I love that. Genuine faith is all that matters and if it takes the fire to burn away the fake in me, I'm all for it. My prayer is that in the midst of it I will stand firm and be obedient to whatever He calls me to do and be. Eddie has always said that it's when we get squeezed that we see what's on the inside, how true is that? I don't believe we can really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure. It's easy to be kind to others when things are going well, but can we be kind when others are treating us unfairly? God is about making us mature, growing us up in Him. One of the things I've noticed, is how quickly some people come to our defense when we are being unjustly treated. Of course some hide in the weeds to see how it will all turn out but many stand up and defend to the point that we don't even have to defend ourselves. I love that about the body of Christ. May we all be quick to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ and help them through their troubled times. May we never be the ones adding to their trouble.
James is going to pack a punch. It's not for the shallow or for those who try to avoid conviction. I'm not surprised that so many don't like James, he's a tell it like it is man.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Hurts abound but God is good
I got up early this Saturday morning. The hubby is out of town and there are two sleeping kids upstairs. All is quiet at least for now. I am extra thankful for my man this morning. I strolled outside to get the paper, in the cold! I made my own pot of coffee! Those are two things Eddie always does and I missed it. Sounds like little things, they are, but it's the little things that I usually take for granted and rarely thank him for. It's those little things I realize that make me the happiest. I don't need expensive gifts or trips, just my paper and coffee and someone sitting there to start the day with. Not just anyone of course!!
I had a horrible nightmare last night. I hate nightmares! Details of it aren't important and I'm not big on analyzing dreams but that one left me thinking. It did involve a church on one side, a small run down neighborhood on the other, our students from church, gunshots, protection for us all. Kinda wierd I know but in light of a lot of stuff not only for us but others, some we know, some we just read about, it makes sense to me if only me.
I'm reminded so often of the story of Stephen and his persecutors. I love to compare their angry faces and gnashing of teeth with Stephen's face that glowed and his sense of calm in the storm. I follow a lot of ministers and ministries on twitter. They're kind of like mini devotions throughout the day and they also show me how there are plenty of people suffering all around us...some in ministry, some not. We see the suffering of those in Japan, Haiti and around the world with natural disasters, wars, economic woes. Anonymous emails to us are so trivial. It is hard to believe a person hates us that much or that we have that much power over their emotions. However Jesus warned us all that we would be hated because of Him so I'm not sure why we are so surprised by it. I read of those being shot at on a daily basis by friendly "christian" fire and sit across the table from others as they talk about it and it's hard to think of anything other than Lord come quickly. Can I just take a moment to encourage anyone who will let me on this Saturday morning? My Dad always said God takes care of His own. That's not a specific verse but it's definitely a principle that runs throughout the Word. He will bring judgment and justice in His time for whatever you are going through. My heart aches for those with health issues and those whose children are not living how they were raised. It aches for kids who talk of parents who are living in rebellion and living according to the desires of the flesh. What a broken world but what a great God. Nothing goes unnoticed by Him and nothing will go unjudged. I love Him so. He really is our only hope, our only strength, our only source of peace and thankfully He really is all we need.
My Saturday plans have done a 360 but that's ok. He is Lord of our schedules as well. This day takes me to Sumter and that's not so bad. Praying for friends and their wedding today, praying for another fighting illness and some kids having a blast at Carowinds. Love to all.
I'm reminded so often of the story of Stephen and his persecutors. I love to compare their angry faces and gnashing of teeth with Stephen's face that glowed and his sense of calm in the storm. I follow a lot of ministers and ministries on twitter. They're kind of like mini devotions throughout the day and they also show me how there are plenty of people suffering all around us...some in ministry, some not. We see the suffering of those in Japan, Haiti and around the world with natural disasters, wars, economic woes. Anonymous emails to us are so trivial. It is hard to believe a person hates us that much or that we have that much power over their emotions. However Jesus warned us all that we would be hated because of Him so I'm not sure why we are so surprised by it. I read of those being shot at on a daily basis by friendly "christian" fire and sit across the table from others as they talk about it and it's hard to think of anything other than Lord come quickly. Can I just take a moment to encourage anyone who will let me on this Saturday morning? My Dad always said God takes care of His own. That's not a specific verse but it's definitely a principle that runs throughout the Word. He will bring judgment and justice in His time for whatever you are going through. My heart aches for those with health issues and those whose children are not living how they were raised. It aches for kids who talk of parents who are living in rebellion and living according to the desires of the flesh. What a broken world but what a great God. Nothing goes unnoticed by Him and nothing will go unjudged. I love Him so. He really is our only hope, our only strength, our only source of peace and thankfully He really is all we need.
My Saturday plans have done a 360 but that's ok. He is Lord of our schedules as well. This day takes me to Sumter and that's not so bad. Praying for friends and their wedding today, praying for another fighting illness and some kids having a blast at Carowinds. Love to all.
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