Am I Grown Yet?

Am I Grown Yet?

Peggy B.

Spurred on by Pastor Tim’s messages from Galatians, I have been doing a lot of thinking about God’s grace alone in my life. If you’ve not been following them, I highly encourage you to get the CDs and catch up.

What I’ve been thinking about, but haven’t even begun to get a hold of, is how EVERYTHING in my life is by God’s grace; my salvation, my growth, my day to day living. There is nothing I can do to make myself more “Christian” or more mature except walk in His grace.

These wandering thoughts led me to one of those “Ah Ha!” moments we all have in our lives. I tend to struggle with a form of legalism. You know, I have to have a quiet time 6 out of 7 days to be a mature Christian. In order for God to use me I have to….. (You fill in the blank) or “I’ll do _____ as soon as I am mature.”

That’s where the ah ha moment came about. One day God poked my brain to realize that I AM where I am. I don’t need to wait “until” for Him to use me. I don’t have to attain a certain level of Christ likeness to step out. His plan is for me now, exactly where I am. I will NEVER be where I “need” to be or even where I think I “should” be. And He’s never upset with me for where I am (or am not!) This is it! What God wants to use is me; now, in process, warts and all.

The deal is there is no end result this side of Heaven. I’m gonna be “in process” from here on out, and if I wait until, then I will have been useless my entire life. Wow! What a huge burden is lifted off of my shoulders! It is God’s responsibility to use me in the ways He has for me and all I have to do is be available. Woo hoo!!!!! I am free J.

Let’s all be about our Father’s business NOW, not in a year or two. It’s His plan!

Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.

Perfect Peace

Perfect Peace

by Kate Hasson

Just the other day I felt a burden on my shoulders. I didn’t know exactly why, but can see now that it stemmed from a selfish and self-focused heart. I had earlier just received a note in the mail from our adoption agency that our wait for a child could possibly take up to another 12 months. That was hard to hear and discouraging and, among other things, helped put me in a funk.

But, Travis came home from work early! that evening and brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers! His lovely gesture of affection boosted my spirit easily. Such a sweet man...I am blessed!

But what really captured my heart was a verse on a pamphlet that floated out of my bible when I sat down to read before going to bed. It read:

Isaiah 26:3-4 “You will keep him in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”

Wow! How perfect, just what I needed. God’s word gives life, and that evening it gave more life to my soul than the whole day’s worth of trying to suppress odd feelings and even receiving the kind gift from my husband. God and His bountiful word is all I need. Why do I so easily forget? That evening and ever since then I have been filled with His perfect peace. My mind has stayed on Him and He has fulfilled His promise of perfect peace by being my everlasting Rock in whom I can always trust. Hallelujah!

Not by My Might

by Missy Grant

Have you experienced times in your life when you seem to be walking in His paths, but life just keeps tossing you off as if you were a cowgirl on a bucking bronco? I think you know what I mean - you are actively seeking His face through prayer and His word, you are looking to the needs of others ("mom, can you.....mom, will you.....mom, what's for dinner.....mom, I need to be at youth group by...."), you are responding to the needs of good friends, you are being a good employee with your time and talents....You are living life, but constant challenge seems to lurk around every corner. Let me share a story with you.

"Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and roused me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep.

He said to me, "What do you see?" And I said, "I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it;

also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side."

Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me saying, "What are these, my lord?"

So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord."

Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of Grace, grace to it!' " Zechariah 4:1-7

The above story is from the book of Zechariah. In a vision, the Lord is showing His mighty hand. The olive tree represents two offices. The kingly office of of Zerubabbel and the priestly office of Joshua. My Ryrie study bible explains it this way, "Zerubbabel, who is a civil leader, was encouraged by the vision. The temple would be finished by the power of the Holy Spirit' every mountain (obstacle) would be removed. When the top stone was put in place, the people would beseech God for GRACE upon the temple."

Did you catch verse 6 and 7? 'Not by might nor by power...' In other words, not by human effort alone. 'What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain...' The Lord is explaining all obstacles will be removed. The mountain represents obstacles and the plain is the smooth, straight path of the Lord. Is. 40:4 says, "Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain." Is. 42:16 says, "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."

Life with the Lord will have Godly obstacles. It is part of the refining process - that process which removes the impurities in us. Remember, the Lord is making us more Christlike. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that the work will be completed and mountains made like plains. Where are you today? What obstacles are mountains in your path? Stay in His word, be active in prayer, beseech the Lord for grace.

Almighty God, we come to you right now with man made obstacles and some God ordained ones as well. May we seek you and you alone. May we recognize Your mighty hand. Encourage us today, Lord.

Strength in Weakness

Strength in weakness.

Being a mommy is so fun and such a blessing, but sometimes I feel like it is a day-by-day guessing game. So many little decisions to be made. So many big ones, too. If I am tired or stressed these feelings are magnified.

Being a mom has made me much more aware of my weaknesses and my pride. Before I had little ones, I was less aware of my selfishness. After our boys were born I quickly learned that parenting demands sacrifice and selflessness. Of course we sacrifice for our children, because we love them. But our main purpose in sacrificing is to honor the Lord. The beauty is, he gives us the strength to love our children well and covers our sins with grace.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Revelation Through Struggles

by Debbi Weeks

I’m coming off of a difficult week – physically and emotionally demanding. Mexico was uncomfortable to say the least. God chose to say “no” to most of my prayers for the trip – that tends to be discouraging for me. I’m left tired and weary. It’s times like these that I have to remind myself of what I know to be true. I have to preach the gospel to myself or I could stay here for a good long while. So what are the truths that I encourage myself with?

· God is a good God and He always has my best interests in mind. He gives good gifts. Mark 10:18; Matthew 7:11

· God has a plan and it is good. Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28

· God cares about me. I Peter 5:6-8

· I do not suffer needlessly, but God uses everything. Psalm 126:5-6; 2 Corinthians 1:5; James 1:3

· God’s perspective is different than my perspective and because He sees the whole picture His view is far greater. Isaiah 55:8-9

I’m still processing through Mexico and trusting God to reveal to me what He would have me learn from the trip. I don’t want to waste this past week.

P.S. One of the families that we built for was changed at the last minute – that was the family my team built for. We built a home for Daniel (the husband and father), Miriam (the wife and mother) and Daniella (their 2 year old daughter). I’m sure I’ll be telling you more about them in the future. Please pray for their salvation as I’m pretty sure they don’t know Christ as their Savior.

Father God, I praise You that You know the beginning from the end. I praise You for omniscience in knowing all things.

I confess that I lack faith when things don’t turn out the way I think they should! And, I confess the arrogance of that!

Thank You for You have a good plan for my time in Mexico and for all the times when we suffer. Thank You that You will use all things for our good.

Lord, please give me eyes to see what You would have me learn from this trip.

In Christ’s Name, Amen

Truths from a Tot

Peggy B.

Sometimes God teaches us lessons in unexpected ways! Sometimes those lessons are humbling. I was walking with a friend the other day and was reminded of this story from my life. I thought of you!

When our daughter Bethany was little (maybe 4-ish, she’s 19 now), I was snitching a piece of chocolate. (Why is everything about chocolate?!) It was close to dinner time, and I definitely didn’t want to spoil her dinner, so I snitched a piece when I thought she wasn’t looking! Of course, she wandered in with ‘what do you have in your mouth mommy?’’ Good mommy that I am, I told her something (which I have conveniently forgotten after these many years) but I DID NOT tell her it was chocolate.

When she walked up close to me, she could smell it on my breath and I was caught. You know what bothered her the most? She was bothered that I’d lied to her. Since I’d been caught, I had to confess and ask her forgiveness. Talk about feeling humbled…WOW.

Life went on and I completely forgot about the incident. It wasn’t too long before something came up to which I replied ‘’I would never lie to you!’’. You guessed it, she chimed up with, ‘’but you did before!’’ Ugh! What an unexpected chastisement. I remember feeling that ‘’I’M THE WORST MOTHER IN THE WORLD’’ feeling. Of course I explained to her that we all sin and that I had asked God to forgive me after I asked her, and that I had promised Him that I wouldn’t do it again.

Over the years there were several times that I was blessed with the “but mom you did before” response, the last time she was in high school! Wow, sin has a long half-life doesn’t it? Even though I have not lied to her since, not only does she remember it, but I believe it shook her faith in me.

Retelling that story started me thinking again about integrity. God wants our words to be truth, our dealings with others to be upright and our thoughts to be pure. When we choose not to be obedient, there is a cost. We can’t know in advance what the cost will be or who it will affect, but sin always comes with a cost!

I was reminded of Psalm 19:14:

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

I want to encourage you to consider the words of your mouth and the thoughts of your heart. Ask yourself “Do I live with integrity before everyone with whom I come in contact?” There’s no such thing as a white lie, or a partial truth. There is no such thing as being mostly honest. God asks for our best! I want to give Him that!

Lord, my desire is to live a life of integrity so that I can bring glory to you. Prompt my heart when I am tempted, for any reason, to lapse into sin. Please continue to use other people to challenge and encourage me in this area. Amen

I'm Not a Morning Person

by Sue Donaldson

I’m not a morning person . . .

Just ask my husband who borders on annoying with his chirpy, “So, what’s on the agenda today?!”

I’m not a morning person . . . but, I do love certain things about mornings. Once I’m up and relatively mobile, I love a strong cup of French Roast, my red Pottery Barn robe, and time alone in my window chair before the kids get up. (Mothers of young children, don’t despair, this too will be you someday – and when it happens, you may borrow my robe.)

Another great thing about mornings is breakfast with friends. Look what I got at Gwen’s at the Arbors garage sale last Saturday?! Yet another cookbook – but who could resist that title? (And what a garage sale morning! So many driveways, so little time!! Of course, it was 100 degrees by 8:30 am – even hard for me to keep tramping from bargain to bargain. You must come by my garage and see my real deals – can’t wait to show Mark – he will be so excited, I just know! Maybe I’ll wait til morning to show him.)

Mornings that include breakfast with friends must please God especially since He gets so tickled when we gather round with those we love (or, will love soon), and eat what’s good for soul and body. I’ll check out this lovely new cookbook – gently worn only – and let you know what I find. Or, call, and we’ll taste what I find.

In case you’ve been slow to wake yet today, here’s some great morning soul food--God must love mornings:

“The Lord’s compassions never fail; they are new every morning.” (Lamentations3:22,23)

“In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.” (Psalm 5:3)

And, my personal favorite I prayed every morning in college: “Cause me to hear Thy loving kindness in the morning, for in Thee do I trust. Cause me to know wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto Thee.” (Psalm 143:8)

Choose one to pray all day. Morning person or not, we can “lift our souls” to the One Who made mornings. Enjoy your day~