A Challenging Thankful Challenge

For the past several years, the 30 day Thankful Challenge has been popular on Facebook.  Each day, you post something that you are thankful for.  It’s a great way to remind ourselves that we have a lot of things to be thankful for.  BUT if you want a real challenge in being thankful, don’t think of things, but be thankful in circumstances, in whatever is happening in your life.  Every one of us is struggling with something, and we need to be thankful in it.

In Philippians, Paul tells us there are four thieves that rob us of our joy:

• circumstances
• people
• things
• worry

He then tells us how to keep these things from making us into bitter, whiny, complainers.

• Be single-minded:  This means to stay focused on our blessings and our allegiance to God.  James 1:6-8 tells us that a double minded     person is unstable in all his ways.  God wants all of our loyalty, not for it to be divided between Him and this world.

• Have a submissive mind:  This means to stay focused on others.  Take a look around, and take your eyes off of yourself and your problems for a moment.  Choose to help people in need around you.  This can help in so many ways, plus it can help curb annoyances with other people when we aren’t getting our way.

• Have a spiritual mind:  Spiritual minded people focus on what God wants.  They are looking for lessons and messages in every circumstance.  If we choose to look at things that way, instead of being obsessed with what we do or do not have , things will start looking up.

• Secure your mind:  People with secure minds just don’t allow worry to enter them.  Having a secure mind means that you have guarded your heart and mind with the word of God, and you have faith that good will come from whatever is going on.

Following Christ is an action.  We are not to sit around and play a passive role, but instead we should be active; always abounding in the work of the Lord:  praying, rejoicing, and being thankful no matter what.  

We might be weak, we might cry too often and proclaim, “I can’t do this, God”, BUT God is faithful.  He fills in for the weakling.  He gives joy.  He provides mercy that we do not have, patience that we cannot muster and love for people who might not be easy to love.

Happiness is not based on your circumstances, but on a decision that you make.  Paul was literally chained to a prison guard at all times.  However, through it all, he had joy.  He prayed without ceasing, he wrote letters encouraging churches to be faithful, he witnessed to the guards, the other prisoners and to high officials.  By the way, Paul would probably never have come in contact with these people if he hadn’t been imprisoned.

Paul didn’t let his circumstances rob him of his joy because he wasn’t living to enjoy circumstances, he was living to serve Christ. And he was thankful in every situation that he was put in, no matter how difficult it was.

Whether you are facing unemployment, cancer, a rebellious child, caring for aging parents, uncertainty or anything else you’re struggling with, choose to be thankful.  It’s a challenge, but I am taking it.  How about you?

Passages to Ponder:

I Thessalonians 5:16-18  Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

James 1:6-8  But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone.  Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.  Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

Philippians 2:3  Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others.  Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

Contributors:  Karen Bromby,  Tammy Holtzapfel, Kim McClure and Shawna Nelson

June Hope Chest- Hope Brings Determination From Desperation by Katie Gray

The most impressionable church I went to when I was younger completely skewed the way I saw God. I was continually confused about what it meant to be a Christian and what God's role was in my life. 

I went to church, I prayed, I cried a lot. I was a good kid, nice to others. Why didn't it feel right? Why did I feel like the least of them when I walked through the church doors? Why didn't I feel accepted by the kids who had formed their cliques in children's church? Why wasn't life getting any better? 

Isn't that the big question? God, I'm doing what I'm supposed to; why aren't things getting better? I remember being so confused and just wanting someone to explain to me how to be a Christian. 

My hope was in the wrong place.

As a young adult I spent most of my mental and emotional being on relationships. Family, friends, significant others. When things were going well in these relationships life was good, but if there were any hiccups, I was swarmed by desperation and heartache. I was consumed with negative thoughts about myself and would blame myself for any disagreements with people.  

Social gatherings were my sanctuary where I could laugh and enjoy conversations with people. My insecurities were so deep and I remember fighting to keep them out of my head. I depended on relationships with people to keep me going; keep me busy; keep me from facing my insecurities. Nothing could break the mold. 

My hope was in the wrong place.

After ending a few different relationships and being rejected from a job that I thought I had in the bag, my desperation turned into determination. There was a drive that aroused in me that I had never experienced before.  I had finally landed my first teaching position, moved out of my parents house and into a roommate situation with a teaching buddy, and I began a new workout routine. It was as if a fire had been lit under me and I could not be stopped. 

When I look back at this point in my life, I realize that the fire I felt was the Holy Spirit. After putting my hope in people, situations, and luck, I finally realized that everything I had been doing was just empty. I refocused my being where my roots were planted. I turned to The Lord in my desperation and He gave me determination. 

He gave me hope. 

I will never forget the rejection of that first teaching position that I had been reassured I would be chosen for. I, had, for far too long, put my hope in people alone. 

Once I began to spend my time with different people I noticed my life begin to change as well. There are certainly wonderful, loving, helpful, and sacrificial people out there, however they cannot give us salvation.

 I believe with my whole heart that God wants us to connect with one another. I believe that loving each other is the closest thing we have on earth to God's love. People are the most fascinating thing that God ever created and we were created "in His image" Genesis 1:27.  My role as a Christian is to bring God glory. I am His disciple and I am to spread His word. Therefore, as we hope for better days or hope for the best, we must stay focused on what truly gives us hope. God sent His son to save our lives from sin and this fallen world. 

If we stay focused on Him, surround ourselves with good people, and treat others as Jesus did, our hope will never fail.

 I believe that we all go through mountains and valleys. I also believe that these mountains and valleys we endure are for a greater good. I firmly believe that we must praise Him regardless of our circumstances (Although this could be one of the hardest things in life!). I also believe that He will not give us something to deal with in our life that we truly cannot handle. One of the principles from my Bible study this year was "God will enable us to do what He commands." If He wants something to work towards His good, He will provide us with the tools to fulfill it.

With my story, I'd like for others to learn this lesson:  Be careful how you portray your faith. In Matthew 10:40 Jesus explains to His disciples, "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."

From my experience, if you have hope in anything other than God then you don't have hope. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life" John 14:6 and with this, we have hope.

What Is Stealing Your Peace?

What do you think of when you hear the word “peace”?  

It might be the peace sign made popular in the ’60’s.  It might be total silence, or some might see a picturesque scene of nature.  The dictionary equates peace with tranquility.  Tranquility is defined as “being free from agitation of mind or spirit; free from disturbance or turmoil”.  Now, that sounds good.  Wouldn’t it be nice to go through life with no agitation, disturbances or turmoil?

Life isn’t easy.  It just isn’t, and just because you give your life to Christ doesn’t mean that everything is going to start being lollipops and rainbows.  However, one big difference between a believer and a non-believer is the way difficulties are dealt with.  That comes down to one reason.  We, as believers, have the Holy Spirit living in each of us, and He is a provider of peace and strength.

God, our Father, will give us the strength that we need to get through each day, and that will result in living a more peaceful life.  We have to strive for it though.  It won’t just be dropped into our laps.  The main thing we need to do is give up our power and start to become aware of the things that steal our peace.

What steals your peace?  

• comparisons
• competitions
• judging or being judged
• anger
• regret
• worry
• blame
• guilt
• fear

That is a list of ugly words that will not bring peace into your life, but instead agitate and irritate and cause turmoil in your life.  

Living a life where you’re constantly judging others or yourself in some kind of competition and comparison game will never allow you to be happy.  

Putting yourself in situations with people who anger you is not good for you physically or spiritually.  

Many believers tear themselves up with regrets over their past, blaming themselves or maybe other people for the mistakes they made.  That guilt can be overwhelming and heavy.  

Worrying about tomorrow and being afraid of what will happen next are things that will overtake your thoughts and be blown out of proportion in your imagination.  

So..what are you going to do about it?  Look UP instead of around.

When your co-worker gets the promotion instead of you, look UP and believe that there’s a reason for it, and that you are needed where you are.  

When a conversation begins to take a sharp turn toward an argument, look UP and walk away until you’ve had time to calm down.  

When you see someone from your past and that nagging tug of regret starts to form in your gut, look UP and believe that Jesus took that away from you.  He went through an enormous sacrifice to forgive you of those mistakes, we have to forgive ourselves too. We just have to.  

When your kid is struggling with life or there’s a big change coming in your future instead of letting that take the form of frustration that can affect your relationships, look UP and believe that He has it under control, and frankly, He doesn’t need your help in that area.

Sounds easy, right? A lot of times it isn’t.  Even the disciples who lived with Jesus and learned from Him on a daily basis doubted sometimes.  It takes strength to look up instead of around.  It takes strength to accept things for what they are, and hope for understanding when the answers aren’t coming as quickly as you would prefer.  It takes strength to push away those feelings of regret and guilt.  It takes strength to live a life of peace.  

So, look UP and ask for the strength to avoid those bad behaviors listed above, and to focus on the One who has a plan for your life.

Peace!

Passages to Ponder:

Psalm 29:11- The Lord gives His people strength.  The Lord blesses them with peace.

John 14:27- I am leaving you with a gift- peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.  So don't be troubled or afraid.

Philippians 4:6-7- Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Contributors: Kim McClure and Marla McDonald

A Fresh, Firm, and Fuzz-Free Faith

The bayous in Louisiana have water that is referred to as “brackish”.  Brackish is a mixture of salt water and freshwater.  If you put fresh water into salt water, it will not make the water fresh, it remains salty.  Likewise, if you put salt water into fresh water, you no longer have fresh water, but instead it is now salty.  There is a process to remove salt from saltwater, but it isn’t an easy one.

Many people try to live a brackish spiritual life.  They want to mix the life that God requires with the life of this world.  Instead, we should strive to be persons whose desire is to have a freshwater faith, not allowing our lives to be polluted by things that make our choices fuzzy.

Moral choices become fuzzy when God’s word is not used as the standard. The only way to know the truth of what is good and what is evil is through the Bible.  God reveals truth constantly through His Word.  We can read the same passages repeatedly, and learn something new and relevant depending upon the season of life we are in.  His word is living and it has power.  Read it aloud, read it silently, study it in groups, and be amazed at what it will reveal to you.

We have all tried to justify unholy behavior, and God cannot stand for this.  He troubles the waters so that we don’t mistake our own justifications for what is good.  When we choose to believe that everything is right depending on our point of view, we are looking at things in a very immature way.  Thankfully, when we ask, the Holy Spirit will guide us to the right choices, because without a moral standard we are headed for a lot of pain.

It’s scary to think that there are people who are waiting until they are “good enough” to come to church and seek a relationship with Christ.  This thought process is the devil working his way into your life. Don’t allow him to put those thoughts into your head. None of us are good enough.  We are all sinners that are unworthy of the amazing love that Christ shows us.

He wants you just like you are.  In His eyes, you are perfectly ready to come to know Him. 

 It takes a fresh, firm, and fuzz-free faith to be bold enough to live a life for Christ.  It’s a struggle to walk a different walk and stand firm in what God has called us to do, but when we do it, our spirit feels free and we can enjoy life.

Passages to Ponder:

Isaiah 5:20- What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.

James 3:11-12 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?  Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw freshwater from a salty spring.

I John 1:6- So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.

Contributors:  Karen Bromby, Susan Haynes, Michele Killion, Maria Kucharczuk, Kim McClure, Marla McDonald and Brooke Radnor

February Love Letters- Love Transcends All Boundaries by Brittany Ketter

I thought and I prayed long and hard about these words that I write to you.  After a few weeks the question that I felt God was prompting my heart with was this, "What is the greatest outpouring of love you have ever received?" And, "What is the greatest outpouring of love that you have given?"

 The gift of salvation through Jesus Christ is the greatest outpouring of love I have ever received. I am not meaning to sound cliche here - He really is. Aside from Jesus, memories of the people I was so privileged to minister to in El Salvador, Phoenix, and New York City flood my mind. 3 mission trips, 3 different years, each one life-changing in a unique way. New York City was my first trip. I thought I was going to bless some people and witness on the streets. I was not prepared for the tsunami that swept over my heart when I met these kids at a day camp that my group and I put on a Vacation Bible School for. There was one girl in particular who really captured my heart, Brianna. To this day I'm not sure how she captured me so, but even after 4 years, she still remains in my prayers.

In El Salvador I learned that love transcends all boundaries. It is a language all on its own. If you are fluent in love, you can reach anyone.

Phoenix was a whole new group of people - and a lot of young kids in far less than wholesome situations. One of the neighborhoods that our team worked during the trip was the location of an axe murder that took place the day before we got there. To think that these children live surrounded by that kind of violence - it is heart breaking. Those children touched my life in a deep way through their hunger for love. Everyone needs it. 

During these trips my love for people has deepened, and through these experiences, God has re-shaped my view. Growing up, I had the mindset that life really begins when I get married and begin a family. I couldn't have been more wrong. That is just a part of life - just like singleness is a part of my life right now. What I've found through these mission trips is that a life truly lived is one that is lived in love.

It is not always easy being a single Christian woman. At times I find myself in a state of longing - I do so desire to marry and have a family one day. Beyond that, I long to see the glory of God made manifest in my life and in the lives of those who I come into contact with.

Love is not just for couples. I want to encourage you if you are a single Christian woman - embrace this season of singleness and press into the heart of God. These are the days that He is shaping you for what is to come.  If you want to truly live and experience life, you need to love radically. How better can you love radically than to know Love Himself?

The greatest outpouring of love that you can give is the knowledge of salvation to a lost soul who needs Jesus. Is there really a higher privilege than being able to introduce someone to Jesus Christ and eternal life? I'm not so sure there is.

I want to challenge you - think about the greatest outpouring of love you have ever received and then give out that same kind of love. You will never be the same.

 Brittany Lee Ketter

www.gracedwithglory.org

www.facebook.com/BrittanyLeeKetter

Twitter: @Brittany_Lee22

Love Will Unite Us

United we stand, divided we fall…

We have all heard that motto.  While reading through the book of Matthew recently, I was reminded of it when Jesus says, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed.  A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.” (Matthew 12:25).

It is common knowledge that families are being torn apart at an alarming rate in our society.  A non-chalant attitude toward sex, and the pressure to compete with jobs, money, cars, etc. has infiltrated many family units causing words and actions that can’t be taken back.  The hurt remains, even after the apology has been given (if there is one).

Can love unify us?

Can love make us stronger and keep us working together and in support of one another?

Keeping any group of people united toward one goal is a tough job.  Every group needs a peace maker.  There is a vast difference between peacemaking and peacekeeping.

Peacemaking is hard work.  It requires facing the problem head on in love.  Peacekeeping address the symptoms and tries to draw attention away from the real problem.  What is the root of most disagreements?  Pride.  We want something and we aren’t getting it, or we don’t like the way that things are being done or choices that other people are making.  It’s human nature to think that we know best for ourselves and for everyone around us, but letting that ego invade our relationships will doom them.

We all want our families, teams, departments, and any other unit we are in to be successful.  No one likes to fail, but if conflict isn’t resolved, that’s exactly what happens.

What can we do?

• ·         Respect:  Set boundaries.  Everyone deserves to be treated with respect.  At one time or another, we will most likely lose our temper with those around us.  Be aware of your boundaries being crossed, and walk away.  Find a quiet place, breathe, and ask God to help you before you go back, or just drop it.
• ·         Research:  Find the real issue in the conflict.  Be sure you aren’t yelling at your husband for not taking out the trash when in reality you’re upset because you don’t feel like you’ve spent any real time with him lately.  It’s not always easy to be honest with your feelings, but sending mixed messages will always end poorly.
• ·         Risk:  Take a risk and compromise.  Discuss ways that both needs can be met, or agree to go along with a choice until a certain time or goal has been met, and then try your way to see if things get better.  However, don’t ever compromise your beliefs or morals..just your pride.
• ·         Reconsider:  Is the issue really important?    When you look back in a year, will this matter?  Ask yourself these questions before you continue to stress your position on the subject.

Our enemy wants to destroy our families because he knows that’s where our heart lies.  If he can get to our hearts, it makes us more vulnerable, and makes us doubt what we know as the truth.  It happens every day to people we know.

Let’s choose to love and ask for guidance so that we stay strong TOGETHER.

Are there other ways that you deal with disagreements?  We would love to hear from you.

Passages to Ponder:

Matthew 5:9-

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

James 4:1-3  

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you?  Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?  You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it.  You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them.  Yet, you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.

Colossians 3:14

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

Contributors:  Karen Bromby and Kim McClure

Love Will Change Your Heart

It’s quite easy to proclaim your enduring love on Valentine’s Day, but much more difficult to genuinely live it out every day.

I Corinthians 13:4 says that love is patient and kind, that it is not jealous, not boastful, and not proud. 

Those are characteristics that go against the grain of our society.  We live in a world focused on me, me, me that feeds the belief that we should get something in return for everything we do.  However, God wants me to love people and not concern myself with whether it will be reciprocated or not.

Have you ever had a friend who asks a lot of you and never really gives back?  This can lead to frustration, and make you want to bring up all the things you have done for them, but God doesn’t want it that way.  He wants you to keep loving that person and giving, to show that you have Jesus is in your life.

How about a situation when you feel jealousy because someone has been more successful, is more well- liked or has received more recognition for something than you have?  The natural response is to have a bad attitude about it, but God wants you to rejoice when other people succeed.

In looking at all the things that “love is” in I Corinthians 13:4, it boils down to one word: humility. It takes humility to be patient and kind, especially when the other person doesn’t deserve it. 

In order to truly show love, I have to realize that I am not above anyone else.  When another person isn’t acting how I want them to, I should ask God to humble me so that I can pray for that person and mean it, and ask Him to show me what He wants revealed in the situation.  It just might be me that needs to change, not the other person.

Love requires listening, admitting when we are wrong, and sometimes we might need to apologize even when we think we don’t need to.

How often have we let our pride get in the way of loving others as ourselves?  We might have some type of prejudice that we don’t even realize we hold inside that keeps us from reaching out to those facing different trials than we are facing. 

Just because we’ve never known homelessness, clinical depression, or cocaine addiction doesn’t mean we can’t help them.  I have probably missed countless opportunities to show love to others because pride gets in the way.  If we choose to think of ourselves less, our focus can be on Jesus and look at others through His eyes to see their needs.  If we are looking at them through His eyes, rather than ours, how can we not see them with patience and kindness?

Love frees you from criticizing and judging others.  The more you show love, the more your pride will deflate. It will change your heart.

Let’s choose to love people today and every day.

Passages to Ponder:

James 4:6b- God opposes the proud, but favors the humble.

Luke 14:11- For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

I Corinthians 13:4- Love is patient and kind.  Love is not jealous or boastful or proud.

Contributors: Karen Bromby, Catherine Caracio, Kathy Derda, Kim McClure, Marla McDonald, and Kristy Tolley

February Love Letters- Love Complements Us by Elizabeth Daniels

I never thought I would get divorced.  I married my college sweetheart, and knew it was a mistake from the start. Unfortunately, I wasn’t willing to admit it to myself until we had two children and had been married for 9 years. It was a failure I had a difficult time swallowing.

 Out of all of my cousins, I am the only divorcee. My parents (before my mother’s death) were married nearly 56 years. God was probably screaming in my ear before I got married, but I just knew I could make it work.  Well, the joke was on me.

God has always been a part of my life. I was raised going to church, by parents who didn’t preach at me (we didn’t say grace or read the Bible at home), but rather lived by example. We always knew God was around us, never doubted for a minute (at least I didn’t). 

This is not to say my faith hasn’t been challenged. The biggest test was my son developing a potentially life-threatening condition when he was a toddler. I never doubted God’s presence through all of the ups and downs.  I have seen the gifts he has given me. My daughter was born right before my son was diagnosed.  Had I not gotten pregnant when I did, she never would’ve happened. 

My other gift from Him is my husband, Brian.

At the age of 34, I decided to try dating again (I’d been divorced about a year).  This time around, a relationship was going to complement me, not complete me.  The big question was how to meet guys. I lived in a college town, so I wasn’t about to go cruise the bars for a date. I grew up in the church I attended, so every guy there was like family. I eventually did what happens in the 21^st century:   I tried online dating. That is how I met Brian. He contacted me through an online dating site. I instantly recognized him from his profile picture because I had graduated with his sister. As soon as I met him, I knew I was in trouble.

Brian is NOTHING like my ex-husband, and I couldn’t be happier.  Like I do, he feels our meeting was probably divinely inspired. He loves me for who I am and is a genuinely nice guy. We’ve been together more than 10 years, and my stomach still does a little flip every time I see him.  I never knew I could feel like this about someone, and I thank God every day for Brian. There are times I want to kick myself for entering into my first marriage, knowing it was wrong. But all those decisions I made then (by the grace of God) have turned into an unbelievable amount of happiness.

Nurturing a No-Nagging Zone

Proverbs 19:13b- A quarrelsome wife is annoying as constant dripping

We all have a list of things to do, and sometimes we feel that those tasks will never be accomplished.  When a task has a deadline, it increases the importance of that task, but what do we do when our spouse or child doesn’t feel the same urgency that we do?  Ladies..we tend to nag them.  It’s a natural response.  In my case, it’s an issue of letting go and not having control over the situation.  If I have control over it, then I know that it will get done on my timetable and I will be able to check it off my list.  However, life doesn’t work that way.

This passage in Proverbs compares a quarrelsome wife to water that constantly drips.  Have you ever had a leaky faucet? It can be a sound that wears on one’s patience and nerves, until somehow your brain adapts and you start to tune it out.  That’s what happens when we are quarrelsome or argumentative with people.  We wear on their patience and nerves until they start to tune us out.  Just last week I texted my son “I’m not going to nag you, but…” . I guarantee that he didn’t even read the rest of that message. 

The truth is in this world where most homes have two partners working outside the home full-time, and children with activities packing our calendars, we can get a little tired which can lead to irritability and stress.  I have no doubt that Satan loves to see our calendars full of activities and that he fully enjoys when we take our stress out on each other.  After all, he would love to destroy the family unit.  There is no other way he can hurt us so deeply or make us doubt God’s goodness than when we lash out on those we love and our family unity suffers.  We need to learn to pick our battles, and pick them wisely.

                Karen shares what choosing her battles has looked like in her marriage.

“I spent a good part of my first few years of marriage nagging my careful, thoughtful, SLOW husband to complete projects that he started, and to start projects that he didn’t think of and on and on and on.  What helped me to stop nagging was studying Gary Chapman’s Five Love Languages.  This book helped me to see the good qualities that make my dear husband so careful, thoughtful, etc., and it helped me to see that my nagging was not good for my marriage.  I used to create false deadlines to push him along.  I used to try doing things myself to just get them done which infuriated him.  I used to leave notes and reminders.  I don’t do any of those anymore.  I let normal consequences occur, and that was difficult for me at first.  Now that I don’t nag him anymore, when I truly do need something done on a timetable, he listens and tries to do it in a timely manner.  We’ve come a long way baby!  Another thing that only God could do.”

We are under a lot of pressure to succeed.  Parents feel the pressure to perform at work so that they keep their job which continues to provide stability and financially for the family.  Kids are under pressure to succeed in school and in their extra- curricular activities.  Home should be the place where we can all come and not feel pressure, but there are things there that have to be dealt with too. 

Jeremiah 10:23 tells us “I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own.  We are not able to plan our own course.”  God is in control.  We are not.  Our homes don’t need to be spotless, we don’t have to be involved in every activity and win top honors in all of them.  In some cases, these issues are prideful and cause more pressure than pleasure to those involved.  If your home runs smoothly, and is a no-nagging zone, would you share with us your tips for success?  Your experiences might help someone that can relate to your situation.  We would love to hear from you!

Passages to Ponder:

Colossians 3:21- Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.

2 Peter 1:5-6 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises.  Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness.

Romans 8:6- So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death.  But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 

Contributors: Karen Bromby and Kim McClure

Yielding to Yes

Ecclesiastes 11:4

Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant.  If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.

Sometimes, it’s just as important for a Christ follower to say ‘Yes, as it is to say ‘No’.  God gave Solomon great wisdom and understanding, as well as knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore.    I Kings 3:12 says that God told him that He would give him a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have.  So, when the person with those traits speaks advice, we should listen. 

Here, Solomon is telling us that waiting for things to be perfect will result in you doing nothing, because things will never be perfect.  Some folks have a tendency to “watch every cloud” when making a decision, therefore ending up missing the opportunity that presented itself.  Others may make a quick analysis and decision.  Which end of the spectrum are you on, or are you wisely planted in the middle?  I find it interesting that when speaking with married couples, it almost always seems that one of them is a cloud watcher, and the other is one to make quick analyses and decisions, which tends to strike a good balance in their relationship.

My family is currently in a transitional period.  I have a son who is away at college, and I have a daughter who is a senior in high school.  My husband recently accepted a job 7 hours away from our home.  We have moved several times.  In fact, my friend, Shawna tells me that I owe her another “M” page in her address book because she filled hers up changing my address so many times.  When my husband and I made the decision to accept his job here 5 years ago, we determined that we would not move our kids again until they finished high school.  So, over a year ago when murmurings started happening about this new position opening up, we stayed firm in that decision.

I prayed and thanked God for the opportunity that was being presented to my husband, but I also asked Him to delay the start date until my daughter graduated from high school.  Running down a list of why the date should be postponed, and reasoning out the logical thinking that I had going on in my head.  Wow! That’s bold, huh?  Telling God WHY He should do something.  Well, guess what?  He didn’t listen to me.

 He did, however, provide a peace in my heart and as the time approached and things became official, I actually had a sense of security about the whole thing.  After all, with every move we have made, I have met some amazing people that have blessed and enriched my life in immeasurable ways.  Why wouldn’t I trust Him to take care of this situation?  I had no reason except my prideful ways of thinking that I knew best.

To no surprise, I have already been proven wrong.  We, luckily, get to see my husband frequently as he is traveling back and forth a lot, but in the time that he has been away, about 50% of that time has been spent somewhere else: doing research, in meetings, etc. preparing for next year.  Let me sum up what that would have looked like if God had done this on my timeline.  45 year old woman whose youngest child just went away to college is in a new town, with no established relationships other than her husband who is out of town 50% of the time.  That, my friends, would have been a recipe for disaster.  Instead, while he is transitioning and prepping for next year, I get to be surrounded by familiarity and enjoy my daughter’s senior year with her.

He knows best!  If we truly believe that God has our backs, then we should have a spirit of adventure and a willingness to try things when we feel we are supposed to.  God doesn’t provide a spirit of fear.  He provides a spirit of power, and love.  If there is something you feel called to do, or if there is a major decision looming on your horizon, trust Him and if He is telling you to go for it. Then…GO FOR IT!!  Ask God for wisdom.  He loves a humble heart.

We might be at a place in life where we are in this position, and we might be at a place where we are watching our adult children find their “pace” in decision making.  Share your experiences with people and let them know how faithful God has been to you.  What are you waiting for?  Yield your pride to Him, let Him guide you and honor Him by saying “Yes”.

 

Passages to Ponder:

2 Timothy 1:7- For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

I Kings 3:10- The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom.

Job 12:13- But true wisdom and power are found in God;  counsel and understanding are His.

 

Contributors:  Karen Bromby and Kim McClure





Cultivate Contentment

Proverbs 14:30 “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones”

I know several people who are currently being affected by cancer.  Some of these people are living with the disease themselves, while others feel the effects because they are watching a loved one fight it.  If you ask any of these people, if they would choose to continue in their current state, or to be healthy, the answer would resoundingly be for good health.  This passage compares jealousy to cancer in the bones, and says that peace is a healthier option for our hearts.  The definition of peace is “freedom from disquieting thoughts or emotions”.  Cancer in the bones eats away at the very thing that holds you up, which will eventually make you crumble and fall.  There is no freedom in that. 

Cancer is formed by just one microscopic bad cell.  Often we have no idea that it is within us until it grows so large that we start seeing the symptoms.  Jealousy can be the same way.  It has the ability to create unsettled, bitter people riddled with doubt and insecurity.   On the flip side, true peace comes from God, and peace reigns when I am content.  Contentment, however, does not just present itself to us, rather we have to strive for it and cultivate it. Being content is a choice. Be willing to accept your circumstances no matter what they are, and you might be surprised to find that by nurturing that one microscopic good thought, contentment can be formed.

The dictionary says that contentment is being mentally or emotionally satisfied with the way things are.  Doesn’t that sound good?  Yet, the world teaches us to acquire, accumulate, and achieve beyond our current blessings.  The hard truth is that pining for things beyond what we have is an affront to God, who cares for us with unbridled generosity. Note that the definition doesn’t mention anything material or physical, but instead it focuses on emotions and mental capacities.  The apostle Paul went through times when he had plenty, and times when he had nothing.  He went through times of freedom and he went through times of imprisonment.  He went through times of persecution, and he went through times when he was doing the persecuting.  He talks of how he found contentment in Philippians Chapter 4.  In verse 8, he says to fix your thoughts on things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  This reinforces the idea that contentment  is an emotional matter.

 We have to make a choice.  Are we going to let that microscopic bad cell of jealousy grow, or are we going to cultivate thoughts that lead to peace and contentment? 

How can I cultivate contentment in my life?

·         Keep my eyes fixed on God

·         Calm and quiet myself

·         Make gratitude for what I’ve been given a number one priority in my day.

·         Give thanks and praise for what I have (it’s a lot when you think about it)

Passages to Ponder:

Psalms 37:7- Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act.  Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

Psalms 131:1-Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp.

I Thessalonians 5:18- Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

 

 

Contributors:  Karen Bromby, Tammy Holtzapfel, and Kim McClure