A Baby Step

Today I chose to stop and pray every time I went to put a bite of food in my mouth. Don’t laugh when I tell you I did a lot of praying today! A few months ago I started reading “Made to Crave” by Lysa Terkeurst. I put it aside after the first few pages of introduction saying to myself, eh, I’ll read it later (code for: I don’t want to deal with this now).

Last night and then this morning I read through the first four chapters. They are quick to read because the author does a great job of getting straight to the point. I have long known I have an eating issue and have often cried out to God asking Him to take my issue from me. Today I chose to choose God over the preference and habit of my flesh. I would eat when I was hungry but until then I would pray instead.

I know I cannot walk this alone. I am not strong enough to fight this battle of the desire of my flesh with my own flesh. It would be like asking a fox to guard the henhouse! Lysa recommends finding some friends to take this journey with you, emphasizing the importance of support and accountability. I asked a friend who has been working on her own eating issues to please feel free to ask me about what I have eaten and how I am doing on any given day. She has already gone down this road for the last few months and she quickly agreed.

In the 1991, very funny film, “What about Bob?” Bill Murray’s pathetic character strives to overcome an over abundance of fears by taking baby step after baby step. Today was a baby step for me.

With strength from God, the encouragement and insight from Lysa’s book, and a friend for support I am excited and hopeful that He will deliver me from the desires of my flesh as I choose Him moment by moment.

1 John 2:15-16

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world,

the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world-

the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting

of what he has and does - comes not from the Father

but from the world.

Written by Mary M. Wilkins

"The Tongue Is A Fire"

Right now in Central Texas we are experiencing multiple fires that have caused extensive damage. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed as well as thousands of acres of land blackened. There have never been fires such as these ever in the history of Texas.

Every one of these fires started out small, but rapidly spread, creating vast destruction. These fires reminded me of what it says about the tongue in James 3:5-6 "Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell."

The tongue is a small member, but that small member can do much devastation in a very short amount of time. Our tongue can start a fire that can consume, destroy, and damage lifes immensely.


Let us choose to let the words of our mouth be a sweet savor and pleasing to our Father and all those around us.

Blessings,
Sandy Billingham

Salvation

1 Timothy 2:1-6


I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
_____________________________________________________________________

Three times in four brief verses (I Timothy 2:1-,3,4,6 ), God states He has planned for the salvation of all. Since He desires to save all men, they must all be given an opportunity for it. It is very obvious from human experience that very few among all mankind have ever heard the gospel or come to the knowledge of the truth.


Verse 6 also says that Christ is a ransom for all, and this will be testified or witnessed of in due time. The way Paul wrote this shows that the testifying is still future. In other words, many had not heard of Christ's ransom for sin, and Paul indicates that he expected many then living and many yet unborn would also die without hearing of it. But it would be witnessed to all in due time because Jesus Christ is the only name under heaven by which men can be saved.


God's plan, humanly speaking, covers a long time. Like Paul, Peter clearly says that God does not desire anyone to perish. Other scriptures indicate that some will, but it is not God's will that they do so.


The critical factor in these verses is repentance. How can a person repent if he does not have knowledge of the truth, if he does not know the purpose God is working out, of what he should repent, why he should repent, or by what means his sins are forgiven? The overwhelming majority of people who have ever lived on earth fit into this category! These things remain untestified to them.


I Corinthians 15:21-23 adds another important revelation to this mystery. "For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming."
Simply put, God is proceeding according to a plan. All die, but that same all will also be made alive, resurrected in a certain order according to God's plan. Verse 26 reads, "The last enemy that will be destroyed is death"—it has not yet been destroyed! This means that God's plan is still continuing, and in due time the opportunity for salvation will come to all, even though God must resurrect many to that opportunity. Most churches exclude most of this world from salvation because they are not part of their group. Why do people scoff when we point out that God will give all mankind the chance to conform to His image?

(If you left click on the graphic it will pop up in a larger size so that you can read it.)

submitted by : Annie

Take Up Your Mat and Walk

“…”Get up! Pick up your mat and walk!” “

John 5:8b

Many times in my life, before I really knew the power of Christ in my life, I would pray (sort of) for the Lord to change the all of things that I saw as the obstacles to my happiness.

“If only she was nicer to me.” “If only he would just be honest and faithful to me.” “If they could just act right..!” –Then my life would be better. I would have more confidence. I would be successful. I would really be happy! As soon as those people changed, or just left my little part of the world, my whole life would be better.

But even when everything around me changed, I was still seeing the same problems. Or the problems that I had got worse. Why weren’t things better? I was a nice person, when I wanted to be. I worked hard, most of the time and was a pretty obedient daughter. Why did it always seem that everyone else’s lives were happier than mine? Well there were for the bad break-ups and divorces that left many of my friends as single parents. And there were also the sickness, death, job loss and other struggles that I saw around me. Still everybody else was Happy! Weren’t they?

Thankfully, as I learn more about myself through reading and studying God’s Word; I have come to realize that being happy isn’t the point, and like Dorothy in the” Wizard of Oz”, I had always held the key to how my life was lived. I could choose to participate in one of God’s greatest miracles. I could willingly ask Him to change me! And as I felt Him work in me, I began to feel a joy that was far more that I ever imagined.

As I read the many miracles that Christ performed during his time on this earth, there are three things that I saw happening.

1- Someone asked for help.
2- Jesus told them what to do.
3- They obeyed and experienced the miracle!

What are we doing when we ask for the Lord to help us? Do we pray and then sit and wait to see what He will do? Or are we keeping watch and listening for His instructions, so we can obey everything He is telling us to do?

I may never be the woman that I used to think I was supposed to be, but I can become a better woman than I am; as long as I remember that I have to be the one to, pick up my mat and walk!

Lynda Kinnard
Written 8/10/2011

LABOR AND REST

Sunday 9/4/11

LABOR AND REST

We take the first Monday in September off from work for a holiday that honors working. Seems odd. Not everyone gets the day off, but for those who do, it is often a day to relax, maybe have a cookout with family or friends, etc. Many see work as a chore, something we must suffer through. It is because of our sinfulness that working has become difficult for many.

... “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” Genesis 3:17-19 NIV

Some wonder how taking an extra day off is honoring our ability to work. But it can be a time to get extra rest. We remember that God wants us to rest from our work on a regular basis. But his rest is different. First, he wants us to honor him on "the day of rest", the Sabbath.

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20:8-11 NIV

But he also wants to give us regular rest from our burdens and worries. He wants us to know that he has it all handled, that we are to do what we have the ability to do but to leave the results to him.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 NIV

Our God is so loving, he even knows we need rest and renewal. May you be refreshed in God's arms today.

written by Jan Andersen

The Heavy Load

I heard someone say, “It makes you wonder, ‘Just how heavy was the cross?’” She said this in response to hearing of the heavy load some of us must carry. I remember it was 8 years ago about this time of the year. She was referring to my niece, my brother-in-law, and his wife.

As for me, my children are healthy. They’ve never suffered abuse or trauma. They have a mother and a father who love them. Some may see us and say that our burden is light, yet still every day I must ask Jesus to take my burden and give me His yoke.

Even without extra hardship, taking care of a family is a heavy load. I have 4 children; one adult daughter living at home and 3 boys, a teenager, a preteen and one who is still a little one. I realize that over the years there are few days that have gone by with no tears being shed on my part.

I believe that parenting is one of the most unselfish acts. It is losing your life willingly for the sake of others who need you. They’ve all been challenging children in their own ways, some more than others and they seem to rotate days so that there is never a break. On my own, my limits don’t stretch very far. Very often the devil will speak lies to me, “All of your hard work isn’t even putting a dent in the job. He’s never going to learn. It’s hopeless. You didn’t bargain for this.” Although I wish I never had to go through the battle of these lies, I have learned how to counter them with the truth, reminding myself that God thinks highly of me to take on this important job.

I remember asking Him to show me an example of a strong willed individual who was used specifically because of that personality God put into him. He showed me Paul, my brother-in-law. He’s the one my middle boy takes after and so he surely was the perfect example.

Ornery, unruly, and stubborn throughout his life, Paul fathered a baby girl at a young age. Now when that precious life was created, God must have looked forward into time and saw what that child was going to have to suffer through. He no doubt wept for that baby girl, Lacy, but knew that one day strong willed Paul would step in and take charge.

Paul was not allowed to be a part of little Lacy’s life for many years. This was due to the dysfunctional decision’s Lacy’s mother and family made. But Paul, against his own personality patiently waited and loved her from a distance with letters and gifts and no doubt prayers. So, almost 13 years after her birth, when she walked into a room to find her mother’s lifeless body was no longer able to withstand the poison she abused regularly, a strong willed grown man was called upon to travel the distance and rescue Lacy. Paul would not let anyone stop him anymore from removing his daughter from this family. He brought her into his home, where Lacy was welcomed by a new family…one that would not expose her to those evils anymore.

For such a time as this, Paul was prepared to step in and take God’s lead. I think of the heavy load his mother once had, but look at the man he had become. I think of the load I have had as well as so many of us do. At the time, I thought of my sister-in-law and the load she had of helping a teenage girl put pieces back together. It is an honor to be the one to train a child to allow his own will to come alongside God’s. It’s a heavy load, but an honor. And it makes you wonder, “Just how heavy was the cross?”

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,

who have been called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

Amie Spruiell
9/02/2011

Be Led With Confidence

“Lean on, trust in,

 and be confident in the Lord

with all your heart and mind

and do not rely on

your own insight or understanding.

In all your ways know,

recognize and acknowledge Him,

and He will direct

 and make straight and plain your paths.”

Proverbs 3 verses 5 and 6

(Amplified Bible)

This is such a wonderful reminder to me today. There are so many times that I begin to believe that I know the “answers” to things. Often times that belief is only based on my own experiences in life, which leaves me with a very limited view.

Other times I have very strong feelings about how a situation should be worked out. Sometimes these feelings can be misconstrued as insights. These “insights” have caused me to follow in the wrong direction at times. I have had to learn that just because I feel strongly about something, that doesn’t mean that I always have the correct perspective about it.

I am a student at heart, and I love to learn new things. Perhaps the most important thing that I have learned is that I must choose my teachers wisely. I have learned a lot of things from others, but they haven’t always been good for me. Perhaps you can relate.

The above verse tells us to “lean on, trust in” and to “be confident” in the Lord. This is a place in which I have learned to trust. I love that the Lord knows all things and understands all things. Perhaps the thing that I love the most is that He is willing to share that knowledge and understanding with us. He knows the correct ways in which to lead us. He leads us in wisdom and with love. He never looks down upon us with criticism, but He leads us “up” to where He is and gives us His vantage point. His ways are so much higher than our ways and yet He is willing to come to the place where we are in order to help us.

Written by Beverley A Napier
September 1, 2011