I Don't Want to Gain the Whole World and Lose My Soul

I was listening to Toby Mac's song on the way to the office this morning, Lose My Soul. Wow! What a message! That certainly caused me to have a Big Gulp Gut Check!

It sickens my heart as I look at the world and see people who are living their lives so carelessly. God instructs us to come out from the world and be separate but in churches all over the world we seem to be in a contest to see who can be most like the world and still expect to be recognized as a "church". Compromise has become common and morals and Christian values are "ole fashion" and "out of date".

I recently heard of a pastor in a mega church that tells his congregation (of mostly young families and young adults) that he has a "cuss" jar and places money in it throughout the week each time he says a curse word! What is with that????! What ever happened to Christians pursuing holiness and Godliness? Oh yeah - I forgot - that is not cool anymore and it doesn't bring crowds into our churches. We have become so number conscious that we are willing to compromise and preach watered down, warm and fuzzy sermons so we don't offend anyone for fear they may leave our church. Pulpits are filled with false prophets who are preaching heresy and people are buying into it hook, line and sinker! We don't have time in our busy schedules to read our Bibles and pray so our foundations are weak. When you don't know God's Word it is easy to succumb to compromise. Many of those folks have bought into the lie of deception from the enemy and are clueless as to what being a true Christian is all about.

I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul! NOTHING this world offers is worth missing the opportunity to spend eternity with Jesus Christ. Gaining notoriety, fame and fortune is certainly not worth losing my soul over. My Bible says that few will enter heaven. Unpopular teaching but folks we are living in the last days and fewer and fewer pastors are preaching the truth. Fewer and fewer Christians are willing to stand up for Christ and show the world what Godliness and holiness is all about. People are dying and going to hell and we are sitting back watching the devil win. It is time that we take a stand for what we believe in. SIN separates us from God. 1 Peter 1:16 says, for it is written: "be holy, because I am holy."

I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul......... What about you?

Blessings and hugs!

A Dream List - Why Not?

Many times I have been encouraged to write down my goals and dreams both personal and professional. It is interesting to review those goals and dreams several years later and evaluate your list. Some may be accomplished and others may no longer be important to you.

Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it. (Habakkuk 2:2 KJV)

Writing down our goals and dreams - whether personal or professional - is a great tool for keeping them in front of you. As time passes, it's a great encouragement. When you are going through times like you feel you are going nowhere, your list can remind you of everything that you've accomplished. God is the Author and Finisher of your life.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV). God knows the future, provides our agenda and goes with us as we fulfill his mission, we can have boundless hope.

Maybe today is a good day to review your dream list ...........

Blessings and hugs!

In "other" Words - Faith

This week Denise at Shorty Bears Place is hosting "In other Words" on her blog. Be sure to check out the other ladies comments on this week's quote.

In chapter 5 of the Book of Mark, the woman with the issue of blood had such passion, determination and FAITH that she overcame what seemed to be illogical. Logic said, "There are so many people around Jesus. You cannot possibly get through that crowd." Logic said, "You are ceremonially unclean and cannot go near Christ."

But her faith and passion and determination said, "I can get to Jesus no matter what my situation or circumstance. He will make it right."

A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. For she thought to herself, "If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed." (Mark 5:25-28, NLT).

This woman had suffered enough, and she was determined to get her healing. Her faith led to a release of Christ's power. "Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, 'Who touched my robe?'" (Mark 5:30, NLT). Jesus was not angry with this woman for touching him. He knew she had touched him, but he stopped and asked who did it in order to teach something about faith. Although this woman was healed when she touched him, Jesus said her faith caused the cure. Genuine faith involves action. Faith that isn't put into action is not faith at all.

As Christians, we must demonstrate faith in our lives. God wants to perform an incredible work in each of us but we limit what he can do when we doubt him. He has placed passion in our hearts and we demonstrate a lack of faith when we are not willing to take that first step to pursue that dream and passion.

God selected twelve disciples. He is choosing you and I today. He is calling us to be world changers for the Kingdom of God through our faith in Jesus Christ. He has placed passion and purpose in each of us. When we have faith in Christ nothing will be impossible.

Blessings!

Thankful Thursday - Prayer

I can't imagine living my life without prayer. Prayer is the encouragement to my soul when life becomes confusing, overwhelming and simply doesn't make sense. There is power in prayer even though God doesn't always give us the answer we want. Sometimes God says "No".
Sometimes God says "Slow down". Sometimes God tells us to grow more. And sometimes God gives us the green light to go! I am thankful today for prayer and a God who listens and answers my prayers.

I am thankful for a great group of ladies who faithfully support the "Chocolate and Coffee" Bible study at my home each month.

I am thankful for a committed leadership team in my women's ministry at church.

I am thankful for the results from a recent CT Scan that showed no tumor in my lung.

I am thankful for what God is doing in our church. He is so faithful!

Lori is hosting Thankful Thursday this week. See what other ladies are thankful for today.

Blessings!

God Is Asking Us To Use Whatever Is In Our Hands

This is a post from three years ago but it certainly is applicable today.

God is calling us to be Great for Him in 2009. He will never ask us to go where He has not provided the means to assist us. He will never call us to do a work without completely equipping us to be successful in accomplishing the task.

In Exodus, chapter 4, Moses is involved in a discussion with God regarding his suitability to represent the Israelites.

"What if they do not believe me or listen to me?"
he asks God. "What is that in your hand?" the Lord
replies. "A staff,", Moses says.

Then God tells Moses to throw the staff on the ground, and when he does, it immediately becomes a serpent. God gave Moses the ability to use whatever was in his hand at the moment to demonstrate not Moses' power, but God's power!

A shepherd's staff was commonly a three-to-six-foot wooden rod with a curved hook at the top. The shepherd used it for walking, guiding his sheep, killing snakes, and many other tasks. Still, it was just a stick. But God used the simple shepherd's rod Moses carried to teach him an important lesson. God sometimes takes joy in using ordinary things for extraordinary purposes. What are the ordinary things in your life - your voice, a pen, a musical instrument? While it is easy to assume God can use only special skills, you must not hinder His use of the everyday contributions you can make. Little did Moses imagine the power his simple staff would yield when it became the rod of God.

What's in your hand that God wants to use for this New Year? Is it a wooden spoon? Bake a cake or cookies and take to a neighbor or a shut-in. Is it a steering wheel? Volunteer to drive an extra carpool or take an elderly person to the doctor. Whatever is in your hand, God can use it for His glory. He has blessed us with many talents and gifts. How can He use you to further the Kingdom of God?

Blessings!

Expecting great things in the House today! I am excited about what God is doing!

Don't Wimp Out on Jesus

Wimpy Christians Are Welcome Mats for Satan!

Can you remember when you were in elementary and junior high school, there always seemed to be at least one bully in the class? He or she seemed to always attach themselves to the most wimpy kid in the class, and of course, they would be the target for the abuse the entire school year. Their wimpy attitude invited the bully to target and ridicule them. The bully would make their life absolutely miserable that school year.

Satan chooses to operate in the same manner. When we are not intentional about serving Christ and making Him our first priority satan selects us for his attack. He becomes our personal bully. You see, a Christian who is lacking quality prayer and devotional time with the Lord is setting themselves up for defeat. When we are not reading our Bibles and equipping ourselves for what the enemy is planning to punch us with, we become WIMPS FOR JESUS. When challenges come knocking at our doors we wimp out because we have nothing to stand on. Our foundation is very weak and unstable and the bully wins. Our power punch is nonexistent and we no longer have what it takes to knock satan out of the fighting ring.

This is a fresh new year with a multitude of opportunities and challenges. We have choices to make. Will you be intentional in ALL areas of your life serving Christ with your entire being or are you choosing to WIMP OUT ON JESUS and become that wimp satan will devour? I shared with my leadership mentoring group of ladies last night that I am going to be intentional this year in growing in the things of Christ. God has so much for His children to accomplish and it cannot be completed if we are lazy about serving Him.

God is the God of the impossible. He can do anything, anywhere at anytime. We limit what He can do in our own lives because of our small thinking. Let's rally together and stand up for Christ this year and be intentional about serving Him. Don't allow satan to bully you. He is the wimp and I know exactly who will take care of him!

Blessings to you!

Awesome Prayer

Someone sent this to me today via email and I wanted to share it. It is an awesome prayer!

I understood God to say,
'You need a miracle tomorrow'
so here goes...Prov. 29:25

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day,
I thank You for my being able to see
and to hear this morning.
I'm blessed because You are
a forgiving God and
an understanding God.
You have done so much for me
and You keep on blessing me.

Forgive me this day for everything
I have done, said or thought
that was not pleasing to you.I ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please keep me safe
from all danger and harm.
Help me to start this day
with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.
Let me make the best of each and every day
to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind
that I can accept all things.
Let me not whine and whimper
over things I have no control over.
And give me the best response
when I'm pushed beyond my limits.
I know that when I can't pray,
You listen to my heart.

Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be
a blessing to others.
Keep me strong that I may help the weak...
Keep me uplifted that I may have
words of encouragement for others.

I pray for those that are lost
and can't find their way.
I pray for those that are misjudged
and misunderstood.
I pray for those who
don't know You intimately.
I pray for those that don't believe.
But I thank You that I believe
that God changes people and
God changes things.

I pray for all my sisters and brothers.
For each and every family member
in their households.
I pray for peace, love and joy
in their homes; that they are out of debt
and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this
knows there is no problem, circumstance,
or situation greater than God.
Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.
I pray that these words be received
into the hearts of every eye that sees it
in Jesus' name. Amen!

Focus

Sometimes no matter how hard we try, it seems that we just cannot focus on the things in life that should be most important to us.

Here's a little quiz ......

1. When life gets crazy, does your alone time with God tend to get pushed near the bottom of the priority list?

2. When you attempt to focus on something do you find that you are easily distracted?
3. Would you identify yourself as a worrier?

4. Do you ever have a "self" pity party?

5. Do you find yourself easily angered by others?

6. Do you easily find fault with others?

7. Do you find yourself questioning if God really cares about you and your purpose for life?

Have you ever considered that what we think is important God often considers a distraction? How many times have we put off our time with God to tend to other business we thought was more important?

Think on these common myths that we have all come to believe from time to time:

1. Busy equals important. (God won't ask us on judgement day if we have been busy.)

2. Someone wins the rat race. (God is not interested in what we do. He is interested in who we are in Christ.)

3. Hurrying will buy us additional time. (Do we fill the extra time with more stuff?)

4. "Down time" is just wasted time. (Why did God institute the Sabbath?)

The ultimate tragedy of our busy lives is the very same thing Martha faced in the Bible. She was offered the opportunity to sit at Jesus' feet but she was distracted. Was her desire to serve Jesus the problem? Absolutely not! Martha was fretting over the huge dinner she was preparing. She wasn't focused.

"Are you at that corner of life where you do not know which way to turn? Then, for goodness sake, sit down. Sit at Jesus' feet. Look in His word and see what He has to say. It will help you with your housework. It will make you a better dishwasher. It will help you sweep the floors cleaner. You will dig a better ditch, mow a better lawn, and study your lesson better. Your work at the office will be easier, and you will be able to drive your car better. Just take time to sit at the feet of Jesus." J. Vernon McGee

I want to focus on Christ in 2009 and all that He has planned for my life. In the busyness of life it is easy for our lives to become unfocused and distracted. Let's be intentional this year as we focus on Christ and allow Him to mold us into the women of God He is calling us to be.

Blessings and hugs!

Oh, That Rotten Fruit

My grandchildren love fruit. Especially Luke. Almost every time he visits I can expect him to ask Grammy to wash, peel and slice an apple for him. Fruit doesn't have a chance to become rotten in my house.

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to join you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (Luke 7: 15-20 NIV)

Have you ever given much thought to false prophets? What exactly are they? There seems to be persistent chatter these days about false prophets preaching false sermons in the last days. Maybe you know some of them. Preachers not teaching truth. But what about other false prophets? Is it possible that people in our congregations can also be false prophets without being a preacher? Don't bail out on me. I have a point I want to make.

It seems that people in churches all over the world are constantly stirring the pot of discontentment. These same people profess to be Christians but behind the scenes they are nothing more than wolves in sheep's clothing. They dress the part. They somewhat act the part but they certainly don't live the part. And most of all they bear totally rotten, stinky fruit. Am I being cruel? Absolutely not! I am merely being honest. You are familiar with the ones I am speaking of. They are nice to your face but look out when you disappear!

I am sick to death of Christians, or those who profess all over town they are Christians, constantly spreading negative comments about everything in the church. Consistently finding fault with everything and everyone. Constantly bashing the pastor and/or his wife. Threatening to leave the church week after week after week. No real reason other than discontentment. Could it be they are discontent because the fruit in their lives is soft and squishy, stinky and rotten? Is it possible that their relationship with Christ is also rotten?

The devil uses Christians and non-Christians to accomplish his work. The constant undercurrent in the church is not a positive thing. Church is not about you and it isn't about me. Church is about Jesus Christ. People become anxious when it isn't all about them. They wear their feelings on their sleeves and when something doesn't go exactly as planned BAM! It is ridiculous and I am tired of adults acting like a bunch of preschoolers. How in the world can we expect God to do great and awesome things in our lives? All we can think about is how someone didn't ask me to do something so I am going to pout or someone didn't look at me at the right time so my feelings are hurt. Me, me, me.... it is all about me..... No it isn't about ME. It needs to be about HIM.

Rotten folks produce rotten fruit. Christians who are sold out for the Kingdom of God do not produce rotten fruit. Christians who put Christ first in all areas of their lives do not produce rotten fruit. A fruit tree that is properly cared for produces beautiful fruit.

We have been given an opportunity to do something incredible for the Kingdom of God this year. I challenge you to focus on God and what He wants for your life in 2009. Are you discontent? If so, seek God's face and ask Him to show you what you need to do in your own life to produce good fruit this year. Ask Him for a "gut check inventory" and then be willing to do something about it. Pruning is not an easy process but the results can be outstanding.

Happy New Year! Blessings and hugs!