Blizzard 2010 - East Coast

I have been out of pocket since last Friday due to the storm that blasted the east coast!  We have over 30 inches of snow in our yard.  The government offices and all schools were closed today including my office. Almost 200,000 people were without power for days and about 50,000 are still in the cold.  Thank the Lord that we have not lost electricity but I feel sad for those families who have been dealing with the inconvenience.

We were not able to have church services Sunday and I am really missing the fellowship! Hoping that we don't have to cancel mentorship this week and the Valentine Social Friday evening.  My boss has been in Florida since last week and couldn't get a flight back to Virginia until today. 

The temps here this morning were in the single digits.  I am so tired of shoveling!  I would like to say that I never want to see another snow flake again but with that comes our forecast for tomorrow and Wednesday - five - ten inches of brand new white snow!!!!! Oh no!!!!

I am so thankful today for God's protection throughout the storm.

Blessings friends

Step Up

I believe that God is calling Christians to step-up to a new level in their relationship with Him.

"Stand at the gate of the Lord's house and there proclaim this message: " 'Hear the word of the Lord.  This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place." Jeremiah 7:2-3

The people followed a worship ritual but maintained a sinful life-style.  It was religion without personal commitment to Christ.  That appears to be happening more and more in the church today and if we are not cautious we can easily do the same. Attending church each time the doors are open, participating in commuion, singing in the choir, leading a mentorship group, teaching Sunday School - all are empty exercises unless we are doing them with the correct motive.

It seems that many Christians today are comfortable and stagnant in their walk with Christ.  Instead of stepping up they are satisfied remaining at the same level year after year after year in their relationship with God.  How can we ever achieve God's purpose and plan for our lives when we are unwilling to sacrifice, commit and obey Him?

Pressures, demands, and overwhelming expectations push in from all sides and absolutely assault our lives.  Some days it seems everyone is demanding something from us.  At some point we may find ourselves rushing through life, attending to the "must do" list, the urgent and what we interpret as necessary.  The important is all too often forgotten.,  Our challenge is not the number of demands or lack of skills when it comes to prioritizing our time, but values - what is truly important to us.

Where is God on our "to do" lists?  Our actions speak much louder than our words.  If we are struggling daily to read our Bibles and spend quality time in prayer with the Lord we have a priority issue.

My desire is to be the best I can be as a woman of God.  If I am going to pursue that goal my priorities on my "to do" list must be God first in all things.

What is God speaking to you today?  Put all aside and obey him.

Blessings friends!

You Are What You Think

"The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel determines the way you act."

~ Rick Warren ~

When I read this statement I can't help to think about all the "sad" Christians who are walking around our workplace, neighborhoods and churches, who are constantly dragging their lips across the carpet. Why? Because they are overburdened with the cares of the world. Life has become overwhelming to them and they have lost their joy in the Lord.

If we think insecure thoughts, we will feel insecure and those around us will recognize our insecurities. If we think we are losers, we will feel like losers and those around us will recognize us as losers. If we think we are defeated, we will feel like we are defeated and those around us will recognize us as being defeated. If we think we are secure in Jesus Christ, saved by the blood of the lamb, pressing towards the prize of heaven, we will feel encouraged and those around us will see us as encourager's. Our attitudes will become contagious and people who know us will want what we have. You are what you think.........

My God is not a loser. He is bigger than anything this world can place upon us. He is our hope. He is our future. He is our encourager and He loves us. He cares about us and He is available to us 24/7. When we feel alone in the middle of the night, God is there. When the enemy speaks words of discouragement into our thoughts, God is there to assure us that we are special. We are His creations and He doesn't make mistakes and He doesn't make junk?

I know I am nothing without Christ. He has made me who I am today. Each day, part of my prayer to Him is, "Lord, may I decrease and you increase." I want to be a light in this dark and hopeless world.

Be encouraged friends. God loves you!

Blessings!

Caution!

Tori, our granddaughter, is a very active and mischievous three year old. Our daughter Brooke is recovering from sinus surgery and yesterday Bobby and I took our grandkids home with us after church. I received a lovely candle melting pot gift for Christmas. I love it and have given clear instructions to Tori and Luke not to touch it because it is very hot. Well.......... yesterday afternoon Tori came into the bathroom, turned on the faucet in the sink, running water over her fingers. A short time later I noticed she had wrapped a wet tissue around her finger. Minutes later I witnessed her dropping the dogs tennis ball into the hot bowl of melted wax!!! Grammy scolded her after making sure her fingers were ok. Of course she cried because Grammy yelled at her...........


How many times does God scold us through the conviction of the Holy Spirit because we are doing something, thinking something, or watching something that we know we should not be a part of? Tori knew the melted wax pot was off limits but she could not avoid the temptation of playing in it. Many times weak Christians react the same way to sin. When we are not prayed up and are slacking in our devotional time with Christ, we become welcome mats for satan. The temptations often times become more than we can resist.
The adult Sunday School class that I teach has been studying Jerry Bridges books on Godliness and Holiness. I have realized that there is so much more to becoming Christlike. I feel such urgency in my spirit to learn more, read more, pray more and allow God to mold me into a stronger Christian throughout this year. God has a plan for each of us but giving into temptation only hinders what God wants to do in our lives.

The lesson for today.................Stay away from those hot melting pots! Blessings friends!

Enlarge Our Territory Lord!

To ask God for a blessing is to ask for all God has for us. We are to use those blessings to benefit the body of Christ.

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request 1 Chronicles 4: 9-10 (NIV).

Many years ago a man went into the office of a well known CEO of a major company. The man was requesting some assistance for missionary work. He asked the CEO for $10,000 for a particular project. The CEO had a very disappointed expression on his face. The man asked him if there was a problem and the CEO proceeded to tell him he was prepared to write a check for $100,000! The CEO told the man that he was disappointed he had asked for something so small.We serve a great and awesome God and by faith we need to think large when we pray.

We should pray that God will give us greater opportunities than we have ever had before. Ask Him to increase your influence. Ask Him to open huge doors that no one can close. Pray that God will give you bigger dreams and visions for your future. May we never come to a place in our walk with Christ that we settle for less than the best. Ask God to take you places you have never been before. To give you greater faith and greater power in your Christian life. Pray that God will continually make a way where there just doesn't seem to be a way.

Ask God today to enlarge your territory. Make yourself available. That's all He needs to get started - your availability. If we can make ourselves available to Him, God will make amazing things happen through the greasy, grimy, filthy mess of our lives. God will deliver the priceless, pure, wonderful message of Jesus through the flawed, failed fabric of our lives.

Dear Jesus, we pray today that you would increase our territory! Give us a vision and the will and the capacity to grow in faith everywhere you lead us. Shape us to be flexible in the work and quick to react to changing needs. May we be generous with our time, our resources and the Spirit. Help us to be open to all and to reflect Godliness in all areas of our lives. May we be courageous to grow and to go as you lead each of us according to your will. Make us aware of the people you have so carefully placed in our paths. Lord, make us ambitious to win them ALL, that no one would go through life without the hope and love you offer. God make us assertive and fearless in our spiritual warfare to see lives totally and completely changed. Oh God, enlarge our territory!

Blessings!

Refuse to be Average

"Refuse to be average. Let your heart soar as high as it will." Aiden Wilson Tozer

The dictionary defines the word "average" as typical, common and ordinary. Those words definitely identify what I choose not to be as a Christian!

Rev. 3: 15-16, (NIV) "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

Lukewarm water makes a disgusting drink. The church in Laodicea had become lukewarm and distasteful and repugnant. The believers didn't take a stand for anything, indifference had led to idleness. By neglecting to do anything for Christ, the church had become hardened and self-satisfied, and it was destroying itself. There is nothing more disgusting than a halfhearted, in-name-only Christian who is self-sufficient. As Christians we should never settle for following God halfway or accept to be average for the Kingdom of God. Allow Christ to ignite your faith!

Typically we don't settle for being "average" in any other area of our lives. We don't intentionally participate in sports competitions to lose. We don't step onto the golf course with the thought of losing the game. We don't go to work each day with the attitude and mindset of being ordinary. If so, we may be surprised when it is time for the annual salary review and we receive a zero pay increase for the upcoming year! We don't expect our pastor to preach an ordinary or average sermon on Sunday mornings. And we will not be satisfied for a long period of time if our church is typical church as usual. We expect more than average in most areas of our lives.

God also expects more than average from you and I. Mediocrity. complacency, ordinary, and average has no place in God's Kingdom. If we are truly sold out and on fire for the Kingdom of God how can we possibly justify average as part of our DNA as a Christian? Jesus certainly was everything but average when He walked on this earth.

God has equipped us with many gifts and talents. He is calling us to fulfill His will for the Kingdom. I don't believe being average will accomplish the task. He equips us to do His will if we totally surrender our lives to Him and choose to be obedient to His calling. If we have managed to accomplish great things for the Lord, passion reminds us that there is yet more to be accomplished. Phil. 3:14 tells us that we are to press on toward the goal to win the prize.

Paul says that his goal is to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all Christ has in mind for him. This goal absorbs all Paul's energy. This is an excellent example for us. We should not allow anything to take our eyes off our goal of knowing Christ and completing His will for our lives. With the single-mindedness of an athlete in training, we must lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective and more than average Christians.

Matthew 22:37, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." You are to love God with how much of your heart - how much of your soul - how much of your mind? All of it. Every last tidbit. God does not want your complacency. He wants you to crave passion for the things of God. What if Jesus was complacent? What about your salvation? We have a Savior who loves us. He went to the cross for us with passion. He wasn't complacent about what He was supposed to do for us. Why should we be complacent or average about our commitment to Him?

Dear Jesus, remove the blinders from our eyes so that we can see those things that are holding us back from doing what you have called us to do. Help us God to be above average for the Kingdom of God. May the Holy Spirit give us boldness to preach the truth and demonstrate Godliness in all areas of our lives. Help us Lord to give the devil a good ole' kick in the comfort seat! Lord, mold us into the people we need to be to further your Kingdom.

Let's go friends! God has an awesome plan. Let's pursue excellence and soar as high as God will take us. The journey is exciting!

Blessings!

Search My Heart Lord

Do you know that each of us possess "sinful attitudes" in our hearts? Those attitudes are responsible for robbing joy from our lives? Do you realize that "sinful attitudes" is viewed by God on the same level as sin committed in our lives?

I am teaching a study about "Godliness" in Sunday School and one of the topics discussed was "Joy" along with the stumbling blocks that hinder joy in our lives. The most common stumbling block is sin and sinful attitudes of the heart. How many of us truly examine our hearts daily seeking to find anything that may hinder our walk with Christ? When we look in the mirrors at ourselves each day we don't see the same person everyone else sees. Sometimes it is very easy to ignore the areas of our lives which need attention. It is easier to focus on the weaknesses of others.

Sin is obvious in other's lives. All of us know that murder, adultery, lying, stealing, gossiping, etc. are obvious sins. But, what about those sinful attitudes of the heart that we don't readily want to admit exist in us? Critical spirits, hate, jealousy, envy, pride, etc. I would like to elaborate today on critical spirits. What exactly is a critical spirit? A "critical spirit" is an obsessive attitude of criticism and fault-finding, which seeks to tear others down - not the same thing as what is sometimes called "constructive criticism." The only criticism that is ever constructive is that which is expressed in love to "build up," not to tear down- it is always expressed face-to-face, never behind their back. The person with a critical spirit usually dwells on the negative, seeks for flaws rather than good.

We all need to be cautious that an unmerciful, fault finding critical spirit does not take residence in us. As Christians our goal should be to demonstrate mercy, kindness, love and forgiveness to others especially when they fail. I want to represent a Christian who people will run to when they mess up and not run from. When people's weaknesses come to light I want them to know that they can come to me for prayer and will be received with love and not judgement. I don't want to be a person who condemns the weaknesses or the failures of others.

We must be careful that we are not pointing fingers accusingly or shunning sinners. We cannot excuse the sin in their lives but we must be an understanding, compassionate and merciful Christian who will extend a helping hand to those who have fallen. God's abundant mercy in my own life permits me to walk in freedom, peace and joy. If I refuse to express that mercy to others, but instead have a critical attitude toward them, I will forfeit these things. We have a tendency to exaggerate the errors and failing of others while we tend to minimize our own weaknesses and failures.

My prayer today is that God will help me to examine my own heart and to search for anything that may hinder my relationship with Him. I want to be a Christian who helps others and not hurt. I want to always see the good in other people and not look for faults. There are many folks in the Christian world today who make it their business to study the faults of others! If we focus on our own iniquities and strive to correct those, we certainly would have plenty to do.

Psalm 129:23 (NIV)

Search me, O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

A note in a Caribbean Airline Travel Guide read, "Just in case you find any mistakes in this magazine, please remember they were put there for a purpose. We try to offer something for everyone. Some people are always looking for mistakes." Let's not be those who are always looking for mistakes and dwelling on the negative. As Christians, we need to guard our hearts and attitudes and be cautious that we don't possess a critical spirit.

Blessings and love to you today friends!

In "other" Words - God's Blessings

Thank you for the privilege of hosting IOW today.

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways.  2 Corinthians 9:9 (MSG)

Many people are experiencing financial difficulties in this current economy. Many have lost their homes and many families have been forced to live in shelters. Desperate times produce desperate people with no hope. I receive numerous emails weekly asking for prayer regarding financial struggles and what appear to be hopeless situations.

Have you ever been in a situation that seemed quite hopeless? Have you ever been desperate?

I read the following this week and found it was so appropriate for this post.
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the six million who will not survive this week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death, you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.
If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy.

2 Kings 4 tells the story of a woman in a very difficult situation, but God offered a solution for her. He did a miracle through a prophet. God had a plan even in a hopeless situation. Even when there seemed to be absolutely no way He offered a solution. He poured blessings upon this woman and her sons and He is still doing that for you and I today.

The scripture tells us that the wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves."

Elisha was concerned for this poor woman and asked her what he could do to help. Her situation seemed hopeless until she saw Prophet Elisha. She cried out to him, not because she believed Elisha could give her money because prophets were not rich. But in her times, prophets were spokesmen for God. Her late husband was a prophet, so she wanted to seek God’s help. She wanted to ask God for answers to her problem.

Elisha looked at her and said, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house.” God had a plan and He revealed it to Elisha. Elisha convinced the woman to examine her own resources. He asked her what she had in her house.

God creates something out of nothing. He brings hope to the hopeless. He blesses beyond measure.

When Elisha asked the woman what she had she told him nothing but a little oil. Elisha instructed her to go to the neighbors and collect empty jars. And he told her not to ask for a few.

The passage tells us that the woman left Elisha, shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring.

The woman and her sons collected jars from their neighbors, pouring oil into them from their one pot. The oil was probably olive oil and was used for cooking, for lamps, and for fuel. The oil stopped pouring only when they ran out of containers. The number of jars they gathered was an indication of their faith. God’s provision was as large as their faith and willingness to obey. Beware of limiting God’s blessings by a lack of faith and obedience. The woman had faith that God had a plan. She just had a little oil in a small jar, and God used it to solve her big problem.

Look how God blessed them. The woman and her sons trusted God and He helped them, not only to pay the debts but more.

Years ago, in a former pastorate, our finances were very limited. Some weeks we only had a few dollars after paying our bills. Our children were both in high school and we learned quickly how to be very frugal with our income. I remember one week in particular when we had $5 after we paid our bills. I prayed continuously that week asking God to please help us. As I walked to the mail box that week, I discovered a card from a dear friend and a check for $100. I wept as I walked back to the parsonage, ashamed of myself that I had doubted God’s provision for our family.

God has blessed our ministry beyond measure over the years. He always shows up in the midst of the storm. Even when life just does not make sense God brings hope. His blessings are abundant and amazing.

If you are in a mess today, feeling hopeless and helpless, then know God has a plan. Blessings are missed because we fail to put God’s purpose, priorities and plans first.

Blessings!

Listening For God's Voice

I can honestly admit I have never heard the audible voice of God speaking to me but I have felt God speaking to my heart many times. Sometimes I was even tempted to ignore it but the Holy Spirit would not allow that to happen. God penetrated my heart and there was no peace until I acted upon His instruction. Ever been there?


The story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19: 11-19, reminds us that God doesn't only reveal Himself in powerful, miraculous ways. Elijah knew that the sound of gentle whisper was God's voice. To look for God only in something big like rallies, churches, conferences, or highly visible leaders, may cause us to miss Him. God is often found gently whispering in the quietness of a humbled heart.

Are you listening for God? Step back from the noise and activity of your busy life and listen humbly and quietly for His guidance. It may come when you least expect it.

Blessings

In "other" Words - Whiners or Winners

Karen at In Love W.I.T.H. Jesus is hosting IOW today.  She has selected an awesome and challenging quote.  Check out her blog for other comments about this topic.

How we respond to difficulties will determine whether we are a winner or a whiner.  One of Satan's first temptations when our life appears to be on hold like Joseph is to temp us to live by feelings instead of faith.  Michael Youssef

 We can either invest our lives in this New Year,  living for God, or waste our lives living for ourselves.  We can choose to be winners in the game of life, or whiners!

Whiners choose to live their lives in a pit of worry.  They always look at the negative in every situation and immediately focus on the absolute scenario regarding the circumstance before them.  The attitude of a whiner is everything but encouraging and people tend to shy away from these folks.  They consistently put their own needs above the needs of others. They feel the world owes them everything. They lack trust and faith in Jesus Christ and are a welcome mat for the enemy.

As Christians, there is constant spiritiual warfare around us.  If Satan can discouarge and distract us he wins. When we choose to waste valuable time focusing on things that really don't matter instead of things that can further the Kingdom of God we become great whiners who cannot do anything positive to influence others for Christ. 

"Let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us." Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)

I want to be known for a consistent commitment to Christ.  One who has a positive impact on those around me.  One who is known for following Christ with my whole heart and encouraging others to follow Him as well.  I want to be known as a winner for the Kingdom of God. 

This is a New Year with a new beginning.  We cannot change our past but God has forgiven us for those things we may not be proud of.  He has equipped us with all that we need to conquer the obstacles the enemy places in our paths.  God loves us and He has an awesome purpose and plan for each of us.  I am not willing to waste God's precious time by listening to the discouraging, intimidating nonsense from the enemy.  My goal is to be a winner for Christ.  My hope and confidence is in the cross of Jesus Christ.  He is my everything.  I choose to be a WINNER!  What about you?

Blessings!

Respecting Each Other's Attributes

Maybe one of today's worst reactions is a self-destructive tendency that needs to be checked as a hypocritical, judgmental attitude that tears down in order to build oneself up. Jesus is not giving a blanket statement to be naive toward others in Matthew 7: 1-5. He is not telling us to overlook wrong behavior just for the sake of tolerance. Jesus knew that the Pharisees dominated the religious landscape of His day with their judgmental attitudes. Today His words of warning against judging are even more needed in a world of angry, critical, destructive and cynical thinking.

Some people make judging others their specialty. According to some century-old church records, a congregation in a small Midwestern town in the United States appointed two officers in the church and gave them the titles of "Pointer" and "Beaner". They each had a special responsibility during the Sunday sermons.

The duty of Pointer was to call out the names of those in the congregation who needed to take particular note of the sermon. Beaner's task was to sit in the choir loft with a bean shooter and awaken drowsy attenders with a well-aimed bean. Who would want to attend that church???

Jesus warned about the danger of pointing out the faults of others. He said people with planks in their eyes should not attempt to remove specks out of other people's eyes. He challenged his hearers to choose humility rather than hypocrisy by always applying the truth to themselves before noting the faults in others.

Jesus knew that our speech reveals the true underlying beliefs, attitudes and motivations of our being. If people are judgmental and unforgiving they reveal a prideful Pharisaical attitude that is displeasing to God. Do not associate with such people who are given to anger and constant gossip or you will become like them.

I recently read an article identifying groups of people in the business world by generational labels. Labels such as "Baby Boomers", "Gen X", "Gen Y", and "Millennial". These type of labels immediately stereotype opinions of work behavior and work ethic. Instead of appreciating their individual attributes that each brings to the table we tend to look at these people through the lens of generational labels.

Don't we do the very same thing in our churches today? We look at, (judge) others and form opinions about each individual when they don't measure up to the standards we have set for them as Christians. We tend to think other Christians should think and act just like we do. When we criticise others because they are not doing everything exactly as we think they should as Christians, we are merely focusing on ourselves. Each person brings their own strengths and weaknesses. We need to learn to give people the benefit of the doubt. Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, excellent and admirable, think on these things. Look more at the 50% of the jar that is full and positive instead of the 50% that is negative or empty.

We should never judge motives of another person because we are not walking in their shoes. Respect them. God has wired each of us in a very unique way. Look for opportunities to reach out to those who may be struggling in their walk with the Lord. Come alongside them as a friend and offer a word of encouragement. Instead of condemning them pray for them daily. Show them God's love.

Blessings!

Good Morning Girlfriends! God has blessed us with a new year filled to overflowing with new opportunities. I pray that you, your family and your ministry will be blessed beyond measure. I pray that you will be refreshed and renewed today as you seek God for those new possibilities this year. I pray that God will bless you as you minister to others and speak into their lives. Don't forget that we serve a great big God and nothing is impossible with Him! Don't allow the devil to discourage you. God is bigger than anything he can throw in our path.


Thank you for being a part of Chocolate and Coffee and for encouraging me throughout 2009. You are a blessing in my life. We truly need one another and I sincerely appreciate you and what you do for the Kingdom of God.


I pray abundant blessings upon you today. I love and appreciate you. You are very special and God loves you and has an awesome plan for your life.


Hugs,
Debbie