We are truly the work of His hand as it says it Isaiah. There is no other place that I would rather be than in the hands of our God.
Written by Sandy
..........WOMEN'S FOCUS MINISTRIES..
10/13/10
We Are The Work Of Your Hand
God's word says in Isaiah 64:8 " But now, O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand." God is our "Heavenly Potter". As we yield to Him continuously it allows for Him to work in our life. We as the clay are molded and shaped and melted by the sovereignty of our Almighty Father. As we surrender to Him, He continues to transform us from clay to a beautiful piece of "Heavenly Pottery" in His eyes. As we say yes to Him, He continues to decorate our life with more of Him. The closer we draw near to God, the more He molds us into a life that exemplifies Christ.
Blessings!
Written by Sandy
Written by Sandy
10/12/10
God Gives Hope
ROMANS 5: 1-5
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
*******************************************************
"Hope" appears three times in these verses, and it is tied to justification and the doors that open to us. In verse 2, hope motivates us to rejoice that we can look forward in positive expectation of God's glory! What an awesome opening that is to us! It is not the glory of a perfect human or even of angels, but of God! This is so hard for us to imagine because it almost sounds blasphemous. Is it any wonder that Christians can be optimistic about life in the face of all the evil we are aware of? The goal is so great that it is worth more than all the burden of being human, dealing with our sins and the repercussions of others' sins.Our hope does not disappoint or bring us to shame because it is based in the reality of God and His promises. The common hopes of man may or may not come to pass because they are fragile and frail at best and in many cases utterly false. Yet, the believer's hope is no fantasy because it is firmly anchored in the person and promises of the Creator God.
As mentioned earlier, the activity of God among us produces hope. This is drawn in part from verses 3-4, where Paul says that trials, borne while God is part of our lives, produces perseverance, character, and hope. Because of this hope a person is never embarrassed through failure because God, who is our hope, never fails. God loves us, and He communicates His love to us through His instruction, fellowship, and discipline. Through these, we come to know Him and His faithfulness. As our admiration for Him grows, these things motivate us to purify ourselves to be like Him (I John 3:1-2)submitted by AMA
10/11/10
LEAVING A LEGACY
Jerry Rose of the total Living Network spoke this week about leaving a legacy to our children and grandchildren. He suggested that we write down our life story for our descendants to read and treasure. Recording this account on DVD would allow our children to see and hear our narration. It would add a new dimension to this precious gift.
Mr. Rose related that recording our life story brings us a sense of completion, helps us to work through personal issues, and grants us emotional healing. It offers us the opportunity to pass on our Christian goals and values to our family. Such a chronicle also gives our children and grandchildren an awareness of their own heritage and identity.
Bringing our young ones to the place of our birth, different homes we lived in, schools and churches we attended, and playgrounds we frequented, provide great visuals to make our narrative come alive. Writing poetry for and about our grandchildren is another way to strengthen our relationships with them and to create more family history.
In this ever changing mobile society it is important to give our families a sense of solidarity, character, and lineage. Relaying the blessings and goodness of God in the past gives our offspring a glorious hope for their future.
My thanks to Jerry Rose for the ideas presented in this writing.
Written By CF
Mr. Rose related that recording our life story brings us a sense of completion, helps us to work through personal issues, and grants us emotional healing. It offers us the opportunity to pass on our Christian goals and values to our family. Such a chronicle also gives our children and grandchildren an awareness of their own heritage and identity.
Bringing our young ones to the place of our birth, different homes we lived in, schools and churches we attended, and playgrounds we frequented, provide great visuals to make our narrative come alive. Writing poetry for and about our grandchildren is another way to strengthen our relationships with them and to create more family history.
In this ever changing mobile society it is important to give our families a sense of solidarity, character, and lineage. Relaying the blessings and goodness of God in the past gives our offspring a glorious hope for their future.
My thanks to Jerry Rose for the ideas presented in this writing.
Written By CF
10/10/10
Past, Present and Future
What do we do with these three "time zones"?
Sometimes we may want to live in the past. It may be tempting to think of "the good old days" as being something greater than they really were. Other times we may find things in the past which we wish to forget, that were difficult or painful. Or there may be things we regret that we have said or done. Sometimes they are even little things that we kick ourselves for every time we remember them. Sometimes we can get stuck in the past, mourning our losses over and over. It is important not to dwell on the past but to remember all of those things with perspective, the good and the bad, and acknowledge God's presence through all of it - his blessings in the good things, his mercy for bringing us through the hard times, and his grace in using all of it for our good in the long run.
Sometimes it is hard to focus on the present. There may be distractions from the past, or worries about the future. Our current circumstances may not be very pleasant or uplifting. We may become depressed about our situation. Some of us may even have difficulty being "present" in a relationship, always yearning for something else, or hiding ourselves out of fear of being hurt, etc. Others simply move through life without fully engaging themselves, simply going through the motions without making the most of opportunities that present themselves. God wants us to live fully in him, be his witness to other people, and be a tool for him in their lives. To do that, we must live in the moment with God as our focus. God is doing great things in our lives in the here and now and can work through us to touch other's lives!
And what about the future? It is beyond our control, yet many times we try to make a certain outcome occur. We may have fears about our future and worry about what might happen. Or we may go overboard the other way and brag about what we think is going to occur, which may never actually materialize. The future is in God's hands, and he has our best interests at heart. We can trust in him. And if there are future blessings to receive, we can be patient and give him the glory when they occur.
This is all illustrated beautifully in Isaiah:
Past} "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
Present} See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland,
Future} to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise." Isaiah 43:18-21 NIV
Amen!
The past, it is over; the future is yet to be.
This moment is the present only temporarily.
Each hour passes by us; then becomes a memory;
What once was future time, is now, don't you see?
We cannot change the past; for our own good God used it, and
regret need not befall us. "Now, go witness," his command.
Worry not what the future brings, for God holds us in his hand.
He'll bless us and redeem us; by grace through faith we stand.
Written by Jan A
Sometimes we may want to live in the past. It may be tempting to think of "the good old days" as being something greater than they really were. Other times we may find things in the past which we wish to forget, that were difficult or painful. Or there may be things we regret that we have said or done. Sometimes they are even little things that we kick ourselves for every time we remember them. Sometimes we can get stuck in the past, mourning our losses over and over. It is important not to dwell on the past but to remember all of those things with perspective, the good and the bad, and acknowledge God's presence through all of it - his blessings in the good things, his mercy for bringing us through the hard times, and his grace in using all of it for our good in the long run.
Sometimes it is hard to focus on the present. There may be distractions from the past, or worries about the future. Our current circumstances may not be very pleasant or uplifting. We may become depressed about our situation. Some of us may even have difficulty being "present" in a relationship, always yearning for something else, or hiding ourselves out of fear of being hurt, etc. Others simply move through life without fully engaging themselves, simply going through the motions without making the most of opportunities that present themselves. God wants us to live fully in him, be his witness to other people, and be a tool for him in their lives. To do that, we must live in the moment with God as our focus. God is doing great things in our lives in the here and now and can work through us to touch other's lives!
And what about the future? It is beyond our control, yet many times we try to make a certain outcome occur. We may have fears about our future and worry about what might happen. Or we may go overboard the other way and brag about what we think is going to occur, which may never actually materialize. The future is in God's hands, and he has our best interests at heart. We can trust in him. And if there are future blessings to receive, we can be patient and give him the glory when they occur.
This is all illustrated beautifully in Isaiah:
Past} "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
Present} See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland,
Future} to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise." Isaiah 43:18-21 NIV
Amen!
The past, it is over; the future is yet to be.
This moment is the present only temporarily.
Each hour passes by us; then becomes a memory;
What once was future time, is now, don't you see?
We cannot change the past; for our own good God used it, and
regret need not befall us. "Now, go witness," his command.
Worry not what the future brings, for God holds us in his hand.
He'll bless us and redeem us; by grace through faith we stand.
Written by Jan A
10/8/10
Complacency Leads to Withering
Why do we have to go through suffering? Why does God allow it? Why do we turn to God more often when we go through suffering? Isn’t it interesting that one question answers the others? I recently heard a speaker explaining a pattern that’s typical among mankind. It goes like this…we go from bondage to spiritual faith, from spiritual faith to courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to complacency, from complacency to dependency, from dependency back to bondage. But look at where bondage takes you…back to spiritual faith. I don’t believe this applies to only bondage. I believe it’s any type of suffering.
When God withholds His hand of blessing, the result can manifest itself in a number of ways. So why does God allow it? He allows it to draw us closer to Him. Though it’s difficult to rejoice in pain, it is a blessing. If He leaves us at the abundance/complacency stage, what happens? Well, it shouldn’t happen, and I wish it didn’t, but usually what happens is we become uprooted and in the end, will He look at us and say, “I never knew you?”
That’s what I don’t want to happen. But it says in Job that the ungodly is like an amply watered plant in the sunshine. Their shoots spread over the garden and it appears that it’s flourishing. But the roots are weak and wrapped around rocks. It is easily uprooted and the soil underneath says, “I never knew you.”
I never thought about what happens when a plant is given excess water in the middle of the day’s heat. I was always told to water in early morning or in the evening and not to over water, but to just make sure the soil is moist. Reading this in Job, the picture I got is the hot and thirsty plant drinking up the water too fast. So, the water never has a chance to soak deep into the soil. The roots don’t have to stretch deep to search for the water, they remain in the topsoil where it’s rocky. They don’t get the nutrients in the deep, richer part of the soil, so they’re thin and weak. Yet, the plant is getting water and sunshine, so growth occurs. But since the growth is not in the roots, it’s in the shoots giving the appearance of a lush garden. This appearance hides the fact that the plant is really weak and easily uprooted. The roots never stretch down deep, so the good soil says after it’s been uprooted, “I never knew you.”
I suppose that’s what having abundance can do. That’s what being spoiled can do. That’s what happens when we fall into complacency and forget God. But there are times when a plant is deprived, and the suffering it goes through from the deprivation is evident to the world because it appears withered and haggard. Though underneath, the roots are stretching down as far as it can go seeking and searching for water. Finally, the gardener tends to the plant, and the water is allowed to soak all the way down because the roots are not at the top drinking it up too quickly. The water reaches the roots, and as the plant quenches its thirst, it also receives nutrients from the deeper soil. Now the roots are not only deep, but strong and able to hold itself firm no matter how much weathering is going on up above.
When I’m feeling withered and haggard, it’s a good sign that I need to search God’s Word, I need to drink from the well that never runs dry, I need to fill myself up with His strength. That way, I’m strong enough to stand firm regardless of what’s coming at me from all directions. It doesn’t mean that an abundance of God’s blessings is a bad thing. But if I slip into complacency, I know that He will eventually withhold blessing in order to get my attention. So, I suppose that withholding blessing is in itself a blessing.
I pray that I don’t have to go through suffering, but yet I still pray that He will use whatever He has to in order to keep me close to Him. There’s a reason for everything we have to suffer through, and usually more than a few reasons at that, but one of the reasons will always have to do with our relationship with God.
Amie Spruiell 10/08/10
10/7/10
The Lord’s Table
I am reminded this morning of growing up with my Grandma and eating meals at her table. There were certain behaviors that were acceptable, and expected. Most importantly, I remember that her table was a place of privilege.
Even at a very young age, I understood that I had a “place” there. No matter how many others were present at the time, my “place” was never filled by anyone else. It was “reserved” just for me, and that reservation was never in question of being cancelled. It did not matter if it was day or night, sunshine or clouds, a season of harvest or famine. I knew I belonged there, because I was loved and accepted by my Grandma.
So it is with the Lord’s Table. No matter how young or old, how rich or poor, how successful or lacking we are, we all have a “place” reserved just for us. It is a place that cannot be filled by any other. This place is ours, and that never changes. Whether we choose to accept this place or not is up to us, our decision does not determine its availability.
In Psalm 23:5, David speaks of the Lord “preparing a table” before him in the presence of his enemies. So it was for him, and so it is with us. One thing that I was always sure of was that my Grandma was always for me, she was never against me. She was always on my side. No person or circumstance could ever sway her from that position. When everything else in my life seemed to be going wrong, I could always come to my Grandma’s table and find not only nourishment for my body, but encouragement for my spirit, as well.
You see, she had “prepared” beforehand. Actually, I believe that she lives in a state of “preparedness.” Every day she reads God’s Word, and she prays. She brings her heart and her petitions for her family before the Lord. She gives Him her concerns, and He gives her His peace, and wisdom. She knows His voice, because she has taken the time to become closely acquainted with Him throughout the many years and challenges of her life.
So it is with the Lord, also. He has “prepared” a place for each one of us. Although the enemy of our souls would come only to kill, steal and destroy us, our Lord came that we might not only have life, but life in abundance, till it overflows (John 10:10). What an amazing truth this is. Even before we understood our need to be reconciled with His Father, Jesus was making a way for us. He was “setting the table” so to speak. He was waiting for us to come. He still is.
Whether I came as a child or as a full grown woman with children of my own, and now even three precious grandchildren, my Grandma’s welcome has never ceased. Her warm smile and loving embrace are always there to greet me. It is something that I have learned to depend on. Her love and faith have helped me throughout the many changing seasons of my life. She has remained constant in her love, and true in her devotion to the Lord. She is someone that I not only admire, but that I deeply respect. Because of her, I have learned how to “set” my own table, and to “prepare” for those that the Lord would bring me.
I am thankful for the loving example of my Grandmother, and for the amazing devotion of her Lord and Savior. How loved we are, that we can call Him our own. How precious it is that He would sit and dine with us, in a place the He had prepared for us, and then teach us to do the same… for others.
Written by Beverley A. Napier
So it is with the Lord’s Table. No matter how young or old, how rich or poor, how successful or lacking we are, we all have a “place” reserved just for us. It is a place that cannot be filled by any other. This place is ours, and that never changes. Whether we choose to accept this place or not is up to us, our decision does not determine its availability.
In Psalm 23:5, David speaks of the Lord “preparing a table” before him in the presence of his enemies. So it was for him, and so it is with us. One thing that I was always sure of was that my Grandma was always for me, she was never against me. She was always on my side. No person or circumstance could ever sway her from that position. When everything else in my life seemed to be going wrong, I could always come to my Grandma’s table and find not only nourishment for my body, but encouragement for my spirit, as well.
You see, she had “prepared” beforehand. Actually, I believe that she lives in a state of “preparedness.” Every day she reads God’s Word, and she prays. She brings her heart and her petitions for her family before the Lord. She gives Him her concerns, and He gives her His peace, and wisdom. She knows His voice, because she has taken the time to become closely acquainted with Him throughout the many years and challenges of her life.
So it is with the Lord, also. He has “prepared” a place for each one of us. Although the enemy of our souls would come only to kill, steal and destroy us, our Lord came that we might not only have life, but life in abundance, till it overflows (John 10:10). What an amazing truth this is. Even before we understood our need to be reconciled with His Father, Jesus was making a way for us. He was “setting the table” so to speak. He was waiting for us to come. He still is.
Whether I came as a child or as a full grown woman with children of my own, and now even three precious grandchildren, my Grandma’s welcome has never ceased. Her warm smile and loving embrace are always there to greet me. It is something that I have learned to depend on. Her love and faith have helped me throughout the many changing seasons of my life. She has remained constant in her love, and true in her devotion to the Lord. She is someone that I not only admire, but that I deeply respect. Because of her, I have learned how to “set” my own table, and to “prepare” for those that the Lord would bring me.
I am thankful for the loving example of my Grandmother, and for the amazing devotion of her Lord and Savior. How loved we are, that we can call Him our own. How precious it is that He would sit and dine with us, in a place the He had prepared for us, and then teach us to do the same… for others.
Written by Beverley A. Napier
10/6/10
Wrestling with Emotion
Have you ever known anyone who was an emotional eater? I have known a few friends, male and female, who have used eating to cope with their emotions. I think we’ve all heard the often true, not so funny joke about being an emotional eater: “I eat when I’m sad, mad, happy, glad, bored or lonely.”
I am having my own emotional moment right now. I need to get something done, but I am unsure of how to handle it or quite where to start. So, I want to go get something to eat. I don’t think to myself, eating will help me think. But I’m acting like that’s what I think. Oh, I’m not thinking of a salad either. I’m wondering if there are any Pringles left in my daughter’s room. Or if there’s any candy stashed in a corner cabinet.
Sometimes, if it is mealtime, or I haven’t eaten in hours (see how flexible I am), I’ll start out making healthy food choices. I’ll make a sandwich, or have a hard-boiled egg or such. If I’m feeling well, and in control, I’ll be done. But at other times eating the healthy food is only the beginning. Some sort of door has opened, and I don’t stop with the reasonable amount of food. I will see cookies, and start with two, because I know one will never do, and then I go back for just one more, again and again. Or I’m craving salt and I snack on whatever I can find, and if it’s not salty enough, I just keep trying. In my heart I can tell I am not looking for food. I am looking for satisfaction and contentment.
Yet I know that true contentment comes from within. I know that being sure that God loves me and will be there with me, even if the whole world should turn against me, is what will give me true contentment.
In Philippians 4:6-9, Paul clarifies what I should be focused on and how I can find true release from stress, rather than distraction from it:
“Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. “(MSG)
Even satisfaction has to come from God. Never in this life will my life be perfect enough, clean enough, orderly enough, happy enough, serving enough, saving enough, giving enough, sharing enough, fun enough, or accomplishment enough to gain total satisfaction.
In Hebrews 13:5-6 it says “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”
So that we confidently say,
"The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”(MSG)
If that’s what God’s word says, then I can trust it. I just have to repeat His words over and over to myself until they are what I think of first. Even if it takes awhile, it is an exercise and discipline that is good for me. If I persevere, I will be rewarded with my heart’s desire: that no matter my situation or circumstance, I will have true contentment because I will so completely be trusting in Him.
Written by Mary M. Wilkins
I am having my own emotional moment right now. I need to get something done, but I am unsure of how to handle it or quite where to start. So, I want to go get something to eat. I don’t think to myself, eating will help me think. But I’m acting like that’s what I think. Oh, I’m not thinking of a salad either. I’m wondering if there are any Pringles left in my daughter’s room. Or if there’s any candy stashed in a corner cabinet.
Sometimes, if it is mealtime, or I haven’t eaten in hours (see how flexible I am), I’ll start out making healthy food choices. I’ll make a sandwich, or have a hard-boiled egg or such. If I’m feeling well, and in control, I’ll be done. But at other times eating the healthy food is only the beginning. Some sort of door has opened, and I don’t stop with the reasonable amount of food. I will see cookies, and start with two, because I know one will never do, and then I go back for just one more, again and again. Or I’m craving salt and I snack on whatever I can find, and if it’s not salty enough, I just keep trying. In my heart I can tell I am not looking for food. I am looking for satisfaction and contentment.Yet I know that true contentment comes from within. I know that being sure that God loves me and will be there with me, even if the whole world should turn against me, is what will give me true contentment.
In Philippians 4:6-9, Paul clarifies what I should be focused on and how I can find true release from stress, rather than distraction from it:
“Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. “(MSG)
Even satisfaction has to come from God. Never in this life will my life be perfect enough, clean enough, orderly enough, happy enough, serving enough, saving enough, giving enough, sharing enough, fun enough, or accomplishment enough to gain total satisfaction.
In Hebrews 13:5-6 it says “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”
So that we confidently say,
"The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”(MSG)
If that’s what God’s word says, then I can trust it. I just have to repeat His words over and over to myself until they are what I think of first. Even if it takes awhile, it is an exercise and discipline that is good for me. If I persevere, I will be rewarded with my heart’s desire: that no matter my situation or circumstance, I will have true contentment because I will so completely be trusting in Him.
Written by Mary M. Wilkins
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