I was so glad to get back to our study on the fruit of the Spirit. Loved the message on faithfulness. It was challenging and encouraging at the same time. I loved the question of "what are you doing with the dash?". I had to fight against spending the rest of the sermon pondering that question but since I have spent much time thinking about that. I must say my dash at times has been spent on wordly things that, as my grandmother used to say, don't amount to a hill of beans. Time wasted, time spent on selfish ambition, laziness, pitty parties, etc. I have a lot of work to do but thank God He doesn't give up on me. My goal is to be faithful in the little things of my day so at the end of the day, as we sang yesterday, I can sign His name to it knowing that I have been true to what He has called me to do.
Another great sermon, can't wait for the next one.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Conference Recap
I know, I know. It's been a while and I promised not to do that, but with all the happenings it just seemed best to stay away from blogging. Don't need my fingers moving faster than my brain. I did promise to recap the Beth Moore minister's wives only weekend so here goes...
First of all just let me say that the entire get-away was FABULOUS!!! Thanks so much for all of the prayers that went up on our behalf. It was all I wanted it to be and more. And let me add EXTREMELY TIMELY. God just has that way of giving us what we need in His perfect time.
We left Friday morning about 7:30 with Bobby Darr driving. Shout out for Bobby for putting up with us and our inability to make up our minds. I'm sure he was so glad to get back to his wife and only have to listen to one woman. I'm sure he's very thankful for his ipod as well. It was a long drive to Nashville but free of any problems and we gained an hour which was awesome. We had time to spare at the hotel to chill and unwind. Friday evening was an incredible service. Travis Cottrell led worship. He's tops by the way. Beth was in rare form. That woman has some energy now. She was as funny as ever and has a way of always saying something related to scripture that I never thought of before. She talked about how to deal with the aggravations of ministry, the good way to deal and the bad way. Over 20 years in ministry I have certainly done much of both. She also shared on the screen the things many wrote to her about on her blog that they thought she should know from ministers wives perspectives...some very funny, others heartbreaking. Check them out if you like on her blog.
Back at the hotel, we gathered in my room to chow down on junk food and chat. I think that's where many women can come together, junk food and talking. We had a ball. I must say just capturing a glimpse of their hearts made me love them even more. They are the best and I hope my church family lets them know how awesome they are. Please love on them and be an encourager to them.
Very little sleep and back at it early Saturday morning. Of course Beth acted as though she had slept 12 hours and had 4 cups of coffee and it was only 8am. She had a challenging message for us twice that morning. We continued the theme of aggravations in ministry: relationships and conflict. She talked about our real enemy not being people and how we needed to fight like a warrior. Giving a blessing in the face of an insult will get us farther with God than returning insults and fighting like girls. She asked us if we really wanted God to speak nicely about us? Boy, I do. After all, God deals with people. Our job is to bend the knee and trust Him and allow Him to get the revenge. We had a great message on our call to live holy lives and being consistent, being real. After all, we will reap what we sow. If we sow, criticism, we will reap it. If we sow anger, that's what we will reap. But if we sow the Spirit, we will reap life. We're called to starve what we want to die and feed what we want to live. Am I doing that every day??? I think one of the things that I brought home with me the most to think about was the part about strongholds. A stronghold is anything that we are preoccupied with. All it takes for a stronghold is to have a mental preoccupation with it. The only weapon for that is the Word. It can be anything from what a particular person thinks of us to an addiction to who's saying what about me. We are called to live a life of freedom and not be bound up in chains. No group more prone to changing chains than religious people. We think some addictions are more acceptable such as unforgiveness, bitterness, gossip. As long as it's not drugs or pornography we think we are o.k. But we are so bound up in other things. I know I don't want to live a life bound to anything that keeps me from living the life Christ has called me to live. I hope that's your prayer as well.
First of all just let me say that the entire get-away was FABULOUS!!! Thanks so much for all of the prayers that went up on our behalf. It was all I wanted it to be and more. And let me add EXTREMELY TIMELY. God just has that way of giving us what we need in His perfect time.
We left Friday morning about 7:30 with Bobby Darr driving. Shout out for Bobby for putting up with us and our inability to make up our minds. I'm sure he was so glad to get back to his wife and only have to listen to one woman. I'm sure he's very thankful for his ipod as well. It was a long drive to Nashville but free of any problems and we gained an hour which was awesome. We had time to spare at the hotel to chill and unwind. Friday evening was an incredible service. Travis Cottrell led worship. He's tops by the way. Beth was in rare form. That woman has some energy now. She was as funny as ever and has a way of always saying something related to scripture that I never thought of before. She talked about how to deal with the aggravations of ministry, the good way to deal and the bad way. Over 20 years in ministry I have certainly done much of both. She also shared on the screen the things many wrote to her about on her blog that they thought she should know from ministers wives perspectives...some very funny, others heartbreaking. Check them out if you like on her blog.
Back at the hotel, we gathered in my room to chow down on junk food and chat. I think that's where many women can come together, junk food and talking. We had a ball. I must say just capturing a glimpse of their hearts made me love them even more. They are the best and I hope my church family lets them know how awesome they are. Please love on them and be an encourager to them.
Very little sleep and back at it early Saturday morning. Of course Beth acted as though she had slept 12 hours and had 4 cups of coffee and it was only 8am. She had a challenging message for us twice that morning. We continued the theme of aggravations in ministry: relationships and conflict. She talked about our real enemy not being people and how we needed to fight like a warrior. Giving a blessing in the face of an insult will get us farther with God than returning insults and fighting like girls. She asked us if we really wanted God to speak nicely about us? Boy, I do. After all, God deals with people. Our job is to bend the knee and trust Him and allow Him to get the revenge. We had a great message on our call to live holy lives and being consistent, being real. After all, we will reap what we sow. If we sow, criticism, we will reap it. If we sow anger, that's what we will reap. But if we sow the Spirit, we will reap life. We're called to starve what we want to die and feed what we want to live. Am I doing that every day??? I think one of the things that I brought home with me the most to think about was the part about strongholds. A stronghold is anything that we are preoccupied with. All it takes for a stronghold is to have a mental preoccupation with it. The only weapon for that is the Word. It can be anything from what a particular person thinks of us to an addiction to who's saying what about me. We are called to live a life of freedom and not be bound up in chains. No group more prone to changing chains than religious people. We think some addictions are more acceptable such as unforgiveness, bitterness, gossip. As long as it's not drugs or pornography we think we are o.k. But we are so bound up in other things. I know I don't want to live a life bound to anything that keeps me from living the life Christ has called me to live. I hope that's your prayer as well.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Monday Morning Perspective
Was yesterday an awesome worship experience or what? Our Elevate band led us in worship and just let me say, they rocked. I am so proud of each of them for using their musical gifts for worship to our Lord. I certainly felt freedom to worship and felt the Holy Spirit among us. I hope you did if you were there.
I know I say it every week, but what a fabulous message. It was one of the best messages and most convicting I think I have heard on missions. I know I need much more of a burden than I have. I need to shed more tears over the lost not only around the world but down the streeet. I know when Eddie talked about what are we willing to do and how far are we willing to go for the lost, I was very convicted. Paul was willing to give up his salvation!!! I can promise you that alone makes me wrestle with how much I love others outside my family. Eddie pointing out that it's not really about how much we love others, but how much we love Jesus really made me ponder some things in my life. It showed me that I have a long way to go in my relationship with Him and He will take care of my love for others. I have to say one of the things that has always bothered me, is that some people I know seem all about GOING on mission trips yet don't seem to do missions in their own home or school or job or neighborhood. When Jesus gave the commission to go, He started with Jerusalem not around the world. I would just love to see some of us INCLUDING MYSELF love and share with those around us before we venture out to the uttermost parts of the world.
I cannot close this without saying that my heart is broken over the tragedy at First Baptist Maryville, Ill. yesterday. Let's lift that church family and pastor's family before the Lord. Chrissie sent me a text when I was leaving our service yesterday about what had happened. I started thinking about the service I just left and what I was experiencing at the same time that this was going on in another worship service. God have mercy on us all. Our schools and churches are no longer safe places as they used to be. Praise God that I KNOW the Lord is in control even when everything seems to be so out of control. He is still God in the midst of chaos and craziness and nothing takes Him by surprise.
I know I say it every week, but what a fabulous message. It was one of the best messages and most convicting I think I have heard on missions. I know I need much more of a burden than I have. I need to shed more tears over the lost not only around the world but down the streeet. I know when Eddie talked about what are we willing to do and how far are we willing to go for the lost, I was very convicted. Paul was willing to give up his salvation!!! I can promise you that alone makes me wrestle with how much I love others outside my family. Eddie pointing out that it's not really about how much we love others, but how much we love Jesus really made me ponder some things in my life. It showed me that I have a long way to go in my relationship with Him and He will take care of my love for others. I have to say one of the things that has always bothered me, is that some people I know seem all about GOING on mission trips yet don't seem to do missions in their own home or school or job or neighborhood. When Jesus gave the commission to go, He started with Jerusalem not around the world. I would just love to see some of us INCLUDING MYSELF love and share with those around us before we venture out to the uttermost parts of the world.
I cannot close this without saying that my heart is broken over the tragedy at First Baptist Maryville, Ill. yesterday. Let's lift that church family and pastor's family before the Lord. Chrissie sent me a text when I was leaving our service yesterday about what had happened. I started thinking about the service I just left and what I was experiencing at the same time that this was going on in another worship service. God have mercy on us all. Our schools and churches are no longer safe places as they used to be. Praise God that I KNOW the Lord is in control even when everything seems to be so out of control. He is still God in the midst of chaos and craziness and nothing takes Him by surprise.
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