Fabulous You

Restoration

2011-10-30T13:50:00.000-07:00

Recently I had a conversation with a friend who asked how I was doing. My response was, “Good…we have a really good life…” I explained to her it was only a year ago when I was so stressed that I truly thought I was having a mental breakdown. I told her I am fully persuaded the mental health healing I have received is a miracle from God. “The LORD sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.” (Psalm 41:3) She responded, “God restores”.

People spend many hours and large amounts of money to restore an automobile back to the “authentic” condition. That is exactly what God does through Jesus with us. Before the Fall, Adam and Eve were in their “authentic condition”, walking in fellowship with God. But the “authentic condition” became tarnished due to sin. God had a plan from the beginning to restore all of us back to this original condition. The great restorer is Jesus Christ.

Allow God to restore you to your “authentic condition”. Return to God and He promises He will restore you. “If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored…” (Job 22:23) Through the blood of Christ we are restored to the “authentic condition” of fellowship with God. I stand in awe when I think I am able to fellowship with the God of the universe. We no longer are separated from God.

Do you need restoring in any area of your life? God has promised to restore everything, your relationship with Him, your health, your relationships, your employment, your finances and anything else that needs restoring in your life.

Take time with God and mediate on the following restoration verses.

“Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.” Acts 3:21

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit” Psalm 51:12

“Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.” Psalm 71:20

“Lord, by such things people live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health
and let me live.” Isaiah 38:16

“You, LORD, showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.” Psalm 85:1

“if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your prosperous state.” Job 8:6

“After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10

Michelle Odom

Put One Foot in Front of the Other

2011-10-25T05:25:00.000-07:00

Do you remember this song from “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”?

Did you know it’s Biblical?

“For we walk by faith and not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

Lately I’ve been thinking of someone who didn’t just walk by faith, but ran by faith. The example of David and Goliath was used by my pastor a few weeks back in a sermon. In this historical story, told in 1 Samuel 16 and 17, David had been anointed as King of Israel by Samuel the prophet. However, he was still just a young man serving as shepherd to his father’s flock. His father sent him to take food to his brothers, who were on the battlefield with all the armies of Israel. The Philistines had gathered to battle against them, with their figurehead a great and terrible giant named Goliath.

All the men of Israel were cowering in fear before this giant, who blasphemed the name of God everyday to their faces.

No one dared stand against him. Until the shepherd boy David arrived on the scene.

It is a familiar story, but well worth reading again. The part I am writing of today is found in 1 Samuel 17:48-50.

⁴⁸ So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. ⁴⁹ Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. ⁵⁰ So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David.

There are times to walk by faith and there are times to take off in a hard run – not away from the battle, but towards it. I believe that as David took those first few steps towards that giant, what he began in faith was encompassed by the very power and glory of God. As he ran, the Spirit of God came upon him and anointed him, anointed those very rocks that he laid hold of. David’s part was to act in faith; God’s part was to give him the victory over a giant that was a very real and evil force against the people of God.

And so it can be with you and me. As we rise up in faith, we can run towards the battles of this life – both big and small. When we step out in obedience to and faith in God’s Word, He will empower us to overcome every enemy – whether it is the giant of despair and discouragement or the giant of illness or financial loss. We are empowered as we walk in faith to spread the good news of the Kingdom – the gospel message – to slay the giants of apathy and blindness to the truth of God’s Word.

Put one foot in front of the other – you may find yourself taking off in a hard run! And a giant is getting ready to hit the cold hard ground.

(By the way, here are the lyrics to that songJ)

Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door

You never will get where you’re going
If you never get up on your feet
Come on, there’s a good tail wind blowing
A fast walking man is hard to beat

If you want to change your direction
If your time of life is at hand
Well don’t be the rule be the exception
A good way to start is to stand

If I want to change the reflection
I see in the mirror each morn
You mean that it's just my election
To vote for a chance to be reborn

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Animated)
(ABC) December 13, 1970
New Music by Maury Laws
New Lyrics by Jules Bass

Rhonda Roughton

I Stand in Awe

2011-10-21T12:36:00.000-07:00

While in the Amazon jungle in Peru we traveled by boat many times at night. I would love to lay my head back and just look at the sky. There is no view like it. Absolutely pure and brilliant! No street lights, now smog, no glow from a city, nothing to distort the glorious expanse of the night sky. Then to think that God created it all simply by speaking the words – I stand in awe!

I often take for granted the unmatchable power of the God that I serve. So, it is always a good thing to be reminded while studying scripture of just who He is and His power!

Nahum was a prophet to the southern kingdom, Judah. He brought a very harsh prophecy not against the Israelites, but against Nineveh. In the prophecy He reminds the Israelites just who God is!

1. He is a just God: Nahum 1:3b – “The LORD is slow to anger but great in power;
the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished.”

a. God’s holy nature & love for His people demand that sin be punished & the righteous be defended. He is patient with sinners but His restraint will not last forever! Proverbs 29:1 says “A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.”

2. He is an omnipotent God: Nahum 1:4-5 – “He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry… The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it.”

a. God has ALL power! Mountains quake and melt away, seas dries up, winds cease at His command – we can trust Him to handle ALL our problems! His desire is to take care of His children!

3. He is a good God: Nahum 1:7 – “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.”

a. He is the one we can run to when life seems too much to bear! His goodness assures His children that He will care for them. It also assures that He will defend His children against those that attempt to do harm to them.

4. He is an invincible God: Nahum 1:9a – “Whatever they plot against the LORD
he will bring to an end…”

a. No matter what attempts the enemy makes – they are all futile! God is unstoppable and cannot be defeated! He will squash whatever effort is made against His children.

5. He is a saving God: Nahum 1:13 – “Now I will break their (the Ninevites) yoke from your neck and tear your shackles away.”

a. Our God is mighty to save! He promises to set us free from our enemies and all the things that oppress us and hold us in bondage. Our enemies, our habits, our addictions and our sins – He sets us free!

Today I challenge you to ponder on the amazing attributes of who God is! There is no other god like our God! None can compare to His love, His power nor His might! Trust in Him – He’s got our back!

Crystal Owens

Friends Helping Friends

2011-10-20T18:19:00.000-07:00

Four friends are discussing their paralyzed friend. They want so much for him to be healed. They believe if only they can get him in to see the one everyone is talking about, he would be healed. One friend asks,” how are we going to get him there?” They decided that all four of them could carry him there. So, the four friends go to the home of their paralyzed friend and carry him through the streets of Capernaum. Once they get to the place where He was, they see a large crowd and are unable to get through the door. One of them says, “Oh no, what are we going to do?” They come up with a plan to hoist their friend up on the roof; they dug an opening in the roof and they lowered the man down through the hole to a place in front of Him. (My dramatization of Mark 2:3-5.)

Then they came, bringing a paralytic to Him, who had been picked up and was being carried by four men. And when they could not get him to a place in front of Jesus because of the throng, they dug through the roof above Him; and when they had scooped out an opening, they let down the [thickly padded] quilt or mat upon which the paralyzed man lay.

And when Jesus saw their faith [their confidence in God through Him], He said to the paralyzed man, Son, your sins are forgiven [you] and put away [that is, the penalty is remitted, the sense of guilt removed, and you are made upright and in right standing with God]. Mark 2:3-5

This is a wonderful account of friends helping friends. It only took four friends to get this man to Jesus. Once he met Jesus he was healed and saved because the friends made a commitment to get their friend to Jesus no matter what it took. It is clear to me they were on a mission!

I have never had too many friends and I use to be envious of those popular people that had tons of friends. But I have recently realized it is not the quantity of friends, but the quality of friends. My friends may be few but I know they are people that love me, pray for me, encourage me and inspire me.

If you feel you do not have a friend in this world, be encouraged Jesus has promised to be your friend. Jesus also has promised not to leave us alone; He left the Holy Spirit to be our friend and helper.

“…but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24c

"I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don't be upset. Don't be distraught.” John 14:26 MSG

Do you have friends in your life that need to meet Jesus? You can be the friend that brings them to Jesus. Make a commitment to help someone that may be “paralyzed” by questions and doubts about Jesus. Have the faith that your friends will be healed and saved. We each are on a “mission” for God to help others to the place where they met Jesus.

“No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends. You are My friends if you keep on doing the things which I command you to do. I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. [I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him.]” John 15:13-15MSG

Michelle Odom

Your Choice

2011-10-19T13:01:00.000-07:00

As believers in Christ, we are no longer under the curse of sin. However, it is possible to be a believer and remain under the curse of the law. Paul wrote to the Galatians on just that subject. He admonished them that even though they had been saved by faith in Christ, they had gone back to the way of the law in their everyday lives – what we would call a “works mentality”. A works mentality will cause us to try to please God by our good deeds. If you read Galatians 3, you will understand how easy it is to revert to this type of lifestyle, even as a Christian. Unfortunately, this type of lifestyle brings the curse of the law on anyone who practices it.

The Message Bible spells it out plainly enough:

Galatians 3:2-6 “Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God's Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up!

Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you? Don't these things happen among you just as they happened with Abraham? He believed God, and that act of belief was turned into a life that was right with God.”

The word curse means – a cause of great harm or misfortune (Merriam-Webster). The Greek word for curse “katara” - means to imprecate (invoke evil on) or execrate (to declare to be evil or detestable).

The word blessed means – bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune. The Hebrew word for blessing “brakah” – is benediction (the invocation of a blessing); by implication prosperity. The Hebrew word for bless “barak” – means to kneel; by implication to bless God and man abundantly. This carries with it the knowledge that God and man are joined together – that all God has is available to man and all man has is available to God. It is astounding to me that the word “bless” means to kneel – for God Himself said it to Abraham.

Galatians 3:10-14 (New King James Version): ^“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
¹³ Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), ¹⁴ that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

One of the amazing things about the blessing that God gave to Abraham is that it continues throughout time to include all those who are in Christ. Abraham is our spiritual father, and we are heirs of the promises of God. This blessing covers every area of our lives – the natural as well as the spiritual – and causes us to prosper in all things. We are blessed to be a blessing, just as Abraham was. But this blessing is conditional – we cannot work our way into the blessing. It is received by grace through faith and obedience to the Word of God.

I choose the blessing! How about you?

Rhonda J. Roughton

How’s Your Moral Compass?

2011-10-16T05:36:00.000-07:00

Romans 12:2

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Many times when my children do something that is inappropriate, I immediately jump and discipline. However, on the days when I have had about all that I can stand and I am tired, I tend to let the little “sins” slip by. Not because I want them to do wrong, but because I am just tired and do not feel like dealing with it.

The same thing happens with our encounter with the world. We watch the news everyday in order to hear the same stories. We encounter many people daily, who we think, “just do not have a clue”. Because of the current state of our world, it is easy to grow numb to the things around us. We, as believers, are surrounded everyday with people who are involved in immoral activities. Whether we agree with the lifestyles of those around us or not, it is easy to get sucked in to their ideas and views. While we may not agree with what they are doing, we don’t want to judge, so we remain quiet. What happens when we allow the activities of others to become “normal” to our ears? It begins to decrease our moral/spiritual compass. We begin to take the non-judging mindset that we have and accept the actions that are blatantly unbiblical as OK. It is one thing to accept others as they are, but it is not OK to accept their sin as it is.

The Bible calls us to live set apart. We have a standard to live by, a code of conduct so to speak. We must daily be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2) if we are not transformed, we will conform to the standards of the world out of sheer exhaustion. Once we are transformed, we will be able to stand for what is right in the sight of God and NOT man. Let’s use Biblical standards as our moral compass and not the standards of the world. Be transformed.

Kasey Scott

Serving God while Scrubbing Toilets...

2011-10-14T10:51:00.000-07:00

"Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord.” Luke 1:45-46

Mary was a young lady who was wise beyond her years and had the faith of a child! The angel of the Lord spoke to her an impossible thing: she was chosen to give birth to the Son of God. The impossibility was there on so many levels. She was a virgin, this was an angel speaking to her and she was going to birth the Son of God. Many of us upon the first sight of the angel would have quickly scattered! It would have been fright night for sure! We wouldn’t have given him a chance to speak! But Mary listened.

Mary did more than listen. She took what was spoken and pondered it in her heart. She believed that God would do it. She was a willing vessel. Mary was going to face an enormous amount of criticism to the point of possible death. Yet, she accepted the role God had chosen her for and served Him faithfully in that role.

We struggle with this. If it is a glorious role that God has called us to fill there is no problem. But when He calls us to fill the “dirty job”, we struggle, make excuses, reason our way out of it. If we do it, we complain about it.

God wants us to serve with a glad heart. He desires us to be cheerful givers, not just of money, but also of our time and talents. Every part of running a church is as important as the preaching or the worship leading or the other “big name” positions. A clean restroom, a great greeter, loving and nurturing childcare, energetic children’s church – all these allow for someone to be ministered to in the service.

Has God called you to serve in a way that you feel is beneath you? Do you serve God begrudgingly? Or are you willing to serve God wholeheartedly? When we serve Him in gladness, no matter what we are doing, we bring glory to His name!

Crystal Owens

I Am Who I Am...

2011-10-13T18:29:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel insecure or inadequate? Well, if you are like most people you will answer “yes”. Insecurity may come from comparing yourself to other people. You are unique and created by God for a specific purpose. You were on God’s mind even before you were born! He designed you and allowed certain experiences in your life to shape the person you are now and who you are becoming. You are fabulously made by God, embrace that person!

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalms 13:13-16 NIV

Also, insecurity is produced by putting your trust in something that you believe can be taken away from you. This may be your job, your bank account, your health or relationships. When we put our trust in something that can be taken away from us, it creates insecurity that manifests in the form of anxiety, fear, worry, restlessness and even depression. But security produces a sound mind, rest, peace, joy, assurance, confidence and love.

So then, what do we trust that cannot be taken away from us? The love of Jesus! We will find security in Jesus when we trust in His love for us. Even if we lose everything, we can be assured the love of Jesus cannot be taken from us. Jesus is our Rock and our stability. (See 1 Corinthians 10:4, Psalms 94:22)

“For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

We can live a life of security and assurance when we trust in Jesus and grow in the knowledge of who we are in Christ.

God loves you and has chosen you 1 Thessalonians 1:4; Ephesians 1:4

You are a child of God John 1:12

You are a new creature in Christ 2 Corinthians 5:17

Your are set free Galatians 5:1

You are blessed with every Spiritual blessing Ephesians 1:3

You are God’s workmanship created to produce good works Ephesians 2:10

You are redeemed and forgiven Ephesians 1:7

You are complete in Christ Colossians 2:10

Michelle Odom

I Ain't Workin' Here No More!!

2011-10-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Adam and Eve had a sweet thing going on in the garden. Created in the very image of God and blessed by God with these words: “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28b)

As my pastor says, Adam wasn’t a glorified gardener with a hoe and rake – he was blessed by God to have dominion over the earth and everything in it (paraphrased). But we all know the story of Adam and Eve’s fall from grace. No longer did the first couple walk in the perfect conditions of the garden, talking with their God – they were banished from the garden and began a life of toil and sweat.

“Then to Adam He said, ‘Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:

Cursed is the ground for your sake;

In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life.

Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,

And you shall eat the herb of the field.

In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground,

For out of it you were taken;

For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:17-19

That would be a very unhappy ending to the story of mankind – if it was indeed the ending.

But God had other plans. In the fullness of time came a Savior – the One in whom all things are restored to the Father. You and I were created, just as Adam and Eve were, to fellowship with God – to walk and talk with Him. In Christ, this heavenly relationship is restored. In Christ, the blessing of God is restored – to “be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

A great promise was given to Abraham along this road to restoration: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2-3)

It is a mistake to believe that in Christ, we must remain under the curse pronounced over Adam – that “cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life”. We are no longer under the curse. But the enemy has used tradition and, many times, religious teaching, to make us believe that although we are saved and on our way to heaven, we must toil under the curse of sin until the day that we leave this earth.

There is a difference between toil and work. Toil means a “long strenuous fatiguing labor” (Merriam-Webster). Work means “a specific task, duty, function, or assignment often being a part or phase of some larger activity”.

We are to take our place in the Kingdom of God and work towards the advancement of the Kingdom. We are not to toil under the curse. As believers, we are brothers and sisters to the second Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ. As believers, we are partakers of the blessing of Abraham.

“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:13-14

So, come on and join me as I say – I ain’t workin’ here (under the curse) no more! I am blessed to be a blessing – the favor of God is upon my life! Amen!

Rhonda J. Roughton

One Way Jesus

2011-10-06T08:25:00.000-07:00

There is a trend in our country to accept everything and not to offend any group of people. Some want us to embrace the idea that “all paths” lead to heaven. This is so those that do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God will not be insulted. However, this is deceit from the devil. We read in Matthew 24:10-11 that this will happen.
“And then many will be offended and repelled and will begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought to trust and obey] and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error.”

Jesus is the only way to God and heaven. Regardless of who it offends, Christians have a responsibility to explain that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. We must be bold in speaking the truth of the risen Christ. People are being deceived and the gospel is being watered down so to include all religions. We should all be ready to explain in simple terms the Roman Road to Salvation.

1. God is the Creator life and we must acknowledge Him as Creator:

“God has revealed Himself to us. We must acknowledge God as Creator and life giver. “²⁰For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], ²¹Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and ^[^a^]godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened.” Romans 1:20-21 AMP

2. We all have sinned:

“Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory ^[^a^]which God bestows and receives.” Romans 3:32 AMP

3. No one can “earn” right standing with God:

“As it is written, None is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, no, not one.” Romans 3:10 AMP

4. The penalty of Sin is death but we have a gift of eternal life only through Jesus:

“For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23 AMP

5. God’s plan for salvation is His son Jesus who paid the penalty for our sin by dying on the cross:

“But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.” Romans 5:8 AMP

6. Our response to the gospel is to accept what Jesus could only do for us:

“Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.” Romans 10:9-10 AMP

^“For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved.” Romans 10:13

My prayer is that all Christians gain courage to speak out against the deceit and lies being told by the devil and that all come to the saving knowledge of Christ.
It is very comforting to know I have been forgiven and I have an advocate with the Father. Your can have this same comfort and assurance. It is simple:

A. Admit you’re a sinner and ask for forgiveness.

B. Believe Jesus is the Son of God who died for your sins.

C. Call upon Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.

Thank you Father God for revealing yourself to us, for sending your Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sin, thank you Father for forgiveness of sin through the bloodshed of Jesus. In Jesus’ name Amen

Michelle Odom
Michelle is an Ordained Minister through United Christian Fellowship and co-founder with her husband, John, of MJ Ministries, a “Practical Evangelism” ministry expressing the Gospel through action. MJ Ministries is dedicated to revealing God’s love through the practice of hospitality using our God given gifts, talents and resources. We are challenged to Engage others in the pursuit of Jesus, Encourage others to realize their potential in Jesus, and Empower others to have influence for Jesus. “Mission Possible” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” Mark 10:27

Love In Spite

2011-10-05T07:02:00.000-07:00

“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” Romans 5:7-9

Over the course of the last couple of days I have felt a special dispensation of grace and gratitude. If asked I couldn’t really tell you when or where it started. All I know is that I’ve enjoyed it and have tried to bask in it for as long as possible. Yesterday, while on my way to work, the Holy Spirit reminded me of Romans 5:8. I was reminded how I had done nothing worthy of God’s pardon but yet He sent Jesus to die for my sins. Once again I had a wave of gratitude flood my spirit. I was then inspired to make a Facebook post that read something to this extent, “He loved us in spite of our short comings so let’s return the favor to others today.”

I believe we could learn a lot by following and mimicking Jesus’ actions. When I consider Romans 5:7-9, I see more grace, mercy, and love extended our way via Jesus that we should then duplicate towards others. I see us not holding those guilty of doing wrong accountable for every single thing thus causing us to withhold our love from them. I can now understand why Jesus, only minutes away from death, asked the Father to forgive the soldiers that day. He was demonstrating love in spite of their short comings. He saw past their actions and decided to extend grace.

Today I’d like to encourage you to look past the short comings of others and be an extension of God’s grace, love, and mercy in their lives. I know it might be easier said than done but it’s possible. If you need help just remember the latter part of Romans 5:8, “while we (you) were still (a) sinners, Christ died for us (you).” God bless and go forth doing well today!

Adraine Scott
Adraine is the president of Edvance Services LLC. His entire professional career has been spent helping others find their unique ways of learning and being. He has been able to accomplish this by serving as a youth minister, speaker, counselor, college and career minister, secondary education teacher, and business owner.

The Kindness of Strangers…

2011-10-04T09:54:00.000-07:00

“…I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” Blanche DuBois in “A Streetcar Named Desire”.

When I saw this movie years ago, this particular quote stuck in my mind. It’s such a sad declaration of passivity and resignation to a hapless fate. As people of God, we are not to be passive or forlorn in our outlook on our future. We serve the Living God, who blesses us and equips us to be more than overcomers.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.” Jeremiah 29:11-14

No matter what is going on all around us, we are children of promise. God has told us that His intent towards us is to give us a “future and a hope”. We can depend on His Word. However, if He is a stranger to us, we are wrong to depend upon Him. God is gracious and kind and will meet us at our point of need. But as believers, we are to grow in our knowledge of Him. The time to grow in faith and knowledge of His love is in the here and now, not only during times of crisis.

If you wait until a time of crisis to seek God, you are depending upon the kindness of a stranger. Even as believers in Christ, He can remain a stranger to us. This happens when we do not seek Him. God Himself says through the prophet Jeremiah in these verses that we will find Him when we search for Him with all our heart. Christianity is not for the half-hearted or the faint-hearted. The Word of God calls us to total abandonment to His Word and His Will. That is the doorway to His blessing upon our lives – to living a life of purpose and joy and strength.

Yesterday I read a news columnist’s opinion that we live in a time when many are giving up on the hope of tomorrow. In our culture, the American dream seems to be turning to ash as people lose their homes, or walk away from their homes. Much of the news we hear every day is dire and calamitous. But as children of God, we understand through His word that we are not subject to the world system. We are subjects of the King – God Himself, who created all things. He is our source for everything we need; He is the one who will even give us the desires of our hearts.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are not relegated to the past. However, the shaking in our economy and in government shows us that we cannot depend upon world systems for these things. The source of our life and liberty and happiness is God and His Kingdom. The kingdoms of this world rise and fall - history has proven that out – but the Kingdom of God is eternal and cannot fall.

Seek God and find Him. You will find He is more than enough.

Rhonda J. Roughton
Rhonda is founder of INK Ministries. INK Ministries' mission is to build up the body of Christ through writing, preaching and teaching with an emphasis on the New Covenant and who we are in Christ. "Write down the vision and make it plain on tablets so that whoever reads it may run with it." Habakkuk 2:2-3. This is a "hands-on" ministry as well as a writing ministry - moving in the gifts and power of the Holy Spiit to bring hope, healing and deliverance to all those who hunger for more of Him.

Are We Asking the Wrong Questions? (Part 2)

2011-10-03T15:13:00.000-07:00

We discussed last week the problem we as Christians often have with asking the wrong questions (and I include myself in that statement). Let me remind you that Paul’s admonition to us to “not conform” is accompanied by the key to success in that endeavor, the “renewing of your mind.” We have to think differently than the world around us if we are going to fulfill Jesus’ mandate in Matthew 5:13-16 to be salt and light. In that passage Jesus also warns against salt that has lost its effectiveness and light that has been hidden. This happens when we begin to absorb the culture around us rather than transforming it through a life lived by the radically different guidelines established in God’s Word.

So let’s take a look at a few more of the “right questions” we should be asking ourselves (and I will continue to borrow from Mr. Kennedy’s format in asking them):

My fellow Christians, ask not “Does my conscience bother me when it comes to (insert an action here)?” – ask “Does (insert same action here) violate any commands or principles of God’s Word?”

How often do we make the mistake of assuming that if our conscience is not bothered by an act we commit then it must mean that act is acceptable to God. Truth is, our consciences can be very faulty. This is because our conscience (that voice inside our head directing our moral decisions) is largely the byproduct of the environment in which we’ve been raised. The Bible makes clear the unreliable nature of our conscience. Hebrews 9:14 speaks of the need to have our consciences cleansed. In 1 Corinthians 4:4 Paul makes an astounding statement – “My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent….” He goes on to state that “it is the Lord who judges me.” We have already discussed the fact that the criteria for making decisions in our life is not “Will this keep me out of heaven?” Now we find another criteria often utilized by believers being challenged by scripture. The basis for our moral choices must not be “Do I feel guilty about this?” While “let your conscience be your guide” is the best those without Christ can do, we as believers have a much more reliable source. We have the benefit of the Holy Spirit sitting in the director’s chair of our life and guiding our every choice. It is this voice we need to be listening for and to, and this voice speaks to us primarily through the scriptures (not as a little man with wings sitting on our shoulder!). This, of course, requires us as believers to be in the Word on a regular basis in order that the Spirit within us might reveal the mind of God within it. It is dangerous to make decisions based on “Well, I think….” or “I feel that…” – truth is, what you or I think or feel doesn’t really matter. What matters is “Well, God’s Word says….” Only this will insure our thinking is right and our choices are a reflection of the Jesus we love!

May I venture to pose one last incorrect question to ponder (I hope you said yes because I’m going to go ahead with it!):

My fellow Christians, ask not “Will (insert action here) hurt my relationship with Christ?” – ask “Will (insert same action here) do anything to hinder those around me in their relationship with Christ?”

Some of you may remember the song from the 1960’s in which Simon and Garfunkel declare “I am a rock, I am an island.” Unfortunately this isolationist mentality is often encouraged in our culture today. We praise “rugged individualism” and foster a “me against the world” approach to life. This causes our moral choices to be all about what’s right “for me”, what makes “me” happy, what’s in it “for me”. As believers we can’t live that way. We’ve been called to put the best interests of others ahead of our own.

If a choice I make offends a brother or sister in Christ or causes them to stumble in their walk with Him, it is my problem not just theirs! If my decision to compromise in some area of my life causes someone else’s view of Christ to become more dim, it is my problem. And don’t be fooled, every moral choice we make either serves to bring Jesus into greater clarity for those around us or further clouds their view of Him.

The right questions….can you imagine if believers across our nation began not only asking them but answering them honestly? What would happen? I don’t profess to be a prophet, but I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say that local churches would be radically transformed (many would shrink in numbers!). A greater purity would bring greater power and genuine revival would result (and God would cause the church to grow rather than man!). But remember, “believers across our nation” starts with you, starts with me. One believer at a time daring to ask the right questions, answer them honestly and act accordingly can start a fire of revival that the “gates of Hades will not overcome”! Will you, will I, be the spark to ignite that flame?

Clark Hausman

Pastor of Moyock Assembly of God

Is it Thanks-Giving Time Yet?

2011-10-02T05:49:00.000-07:00

If you were to wake up today with only what you gave thanks to God for yesterday, what would you have?

I was asked this question recently and it has stuck with me. I often catch myself thinking about it and what the answer would be for that day. I’ve examined my matter of “thankfulness” and have come up with a couple of reasons why giving thanks isn’t always where it should be in my heart and mind.

1. I get caught up in the day-to-day life and simply forget.

2. I take things for granted.

3. My frustrations with some things, overshadows my thankfulness.

4. Just plain laziness.

I discussed this question with my family and a few friends and luckily I found out I wasn’t alone. My daughter who teaches a pre-k class that is full of energy on Wednesday nights discovered that they were all she would have. She loves them dearly, but decided she needs to start being thankful for much more!

Scripture is full of commands and directives telling us to give thanks to God.

- “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34

- “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100:4

- “Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.” Psalm 107:8

- “I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.” Psalm 118:21

- “At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.” Psalm 119:62

- “He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he (Jesus) had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so.” Mark 8:6

- “Saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.” Revelation 11:17

We tend to focus on being thankful around Thanksgiving, but we clearly learn from scripture it needs to be a daily thing. As you move through your Sunday and the remainder of the week, think about all your blessings and “Give thanks to the Lord.” What if you were to wake up today with only what you gave thanks to God for yesterday, what would you have?

Crystal Owens
Crystal has a passion for reaching youth and a heart for missions. She is currently the the youth leader at Moyock Assembly of God, teaches a weekly adult Bible study and a monthly Bible study for Women.

Confession is Good for the Soul

2011-10-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

I know that confession is good for the soul, so here goes. I don’t think about heaven very much. I know what you’re thinking….But it’s true. I am a devout Christian and have been for many years, but I don’t think about heaven that often. I am excited about the idea when I do, but going to heaven is never at the forefront of my mind. I realized the other day when my daughter and I had a conversation about heaven that this is an area that I do not ponder very much….now, something I did to consider more.

The reason I don’t give it very much thought is this…..I get so caught up in being grateful for my salvation experience that I don’t think about the afterlife. Not only did God keep me throughout my childhood, but he set a specific time for me to experience salvation. The God of the Universe sent his very son to die for me (John 3:16) Not only was I saved, but God continues to meet my needs and a few of my wants, takes care of my family, gives me ministry opportunities, comforts, guides, protects, and the list goes on. If he stopped at forgiving me and setting me on the right path during my teenage years, that would have been enough. Yet, he continually takes care of all of this other things daily. So, sometimes heaven is an afterthought when I think about the goodness of God….And willingly admit that even if heaven was not a part of the packaged deal, it would still all be worth it.

But…when I do think about the fact that there will be so much more to come, It’s like the icing on the cake, the peanut butter with the chocolate, the cupcake from my favorite bakery…you get the idea. I know it will be all of things that we have ever hoped and dreamed of. It will satisfy our every longing and desire.

Until then, learn from my unintentional mistake…get excited about the fact that there is more when this life is over. God keeps giving us more and more. And….when we finally reach the goal and win the prize…we will truly say it has been worth it all.

Kasey Scott
Kasey is currently a high school English teacher, whose students are young ladies who are substance dependent and incarcerated. Kasey has a passion to reach into the lives of girls in desperate situations and show them the Hope that is available in Jesus Christ. She also is the VP and Director of Curriculum Design for Edvance Services, an educational services company she co-founded with her husband.

Remembering Your Life Story...

2011-09-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been driving, get to your destination and not remember how you got there? Recently I had a day of doing what I like to call the “mommy shuffle”. It felt like I spent most of the day driving back and forth taking my boys to school, to practice, you name it; all the while, having little to no memory of my time in the car.

Each of our lives is a journey, each turn, stop or u-turn has a purpose. Most of us can recall major steps in our life our first boyfriend, our wedding day and/or the births of our children. But, have you considered the steps in your spiritual journey? What about the pivotal steps that turned us from who we were to who we are?

One of my earliest memories was of my 1st grade Sunday school teachers. They were an older couple that taught every Sunday their dedication to serving was a great example for each of us. To this day I carry their life lesson with me. From the time I was in their class to the present day I have had countless moments that were divine appointments from God - times when the Lord just whispers something in my ear or gives someone a word for me or even puts people in my track that I would least expect. Not long ago, I sat down with my journal recalling each of the moments that have completely made me fall in love with my creator even more, the moments that have gotten me where I am today.

As a young adult I so badly longed for significance a need for unconditional love. In those dark moments of feeling utter rejection, my heart was opened to a love that is far greater than anything on earth. For the first time I was exposed to an acceptance like nothing I had ever experienced before.

Remembering this particular time in my life floods my heart with a gratitude that cannot be summed in words. My love for Jesus is renewed and my desire to serve Him is exhilarated to new levels.

So I encourage you in the coming days to sit down with your Father and reminisce the situations, people, places, stories in your life that have been written as your life story. And if you haven’t started this journey with Jesus but you know somewhere deep inside of you, you are tired of living this life not remembering how you got from one place to the next? I encourage you to pray a small prayer accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and savior.

I am not sure where you are on your journey but it never hurts to remind yourself how you got there.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Ashley McDougal
Ashley is the Children's pastor for 3N1 Church in Virginia. Her passion is to see the Church being Christ's Church consistently no matter where they are and of course Children!! For more info on 3N1 you can check out their website at http://3n1church.com.

Pamphlet or Encyclopedia

2011-09-29T06:18:00.000-07:00

A young boy sits at the table staring down at the words on the page; the words seem all jumbled and they don’t make sense to him. As he tries his best to understand the words, his father smacks the back of his head while calling him “dumb” and “stupid” and saying “you will never be anything”. The boy becomes very discouraged and drops out of school before completing the ninth grade. His father’s words plague him into adulthood. He struggles with self-doubt and he fears that he will never amount to anything. Not until the boy becomes a man does he realize he is not dumb, but has a developmental reading disorder called dyslexia. Dyslexia is a condition where the brain does not properly recognize and process certain symbols; it has nothing to do with one’s intelligence. Even though the words of his father still sometimes invade the man's mind, he has been able to overcome the negative words spoken to him as a child through learning who he is in Christ. He grew up to be a man who strives to be an encourager and to speak positive about others.

I know all too well the impact words can have on one’s perception of themselves; the above story is about my husband. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21) Our words are so powerful; they carry a life giving force or a destructive force. It is our choice if we want to be an encourager or a discourager; this includes conversations we have with ourselves. As Christians we should be speaking life giving words to others and to ourselves. Words that discourage or tear down are filled with hate. If we claim to be born again Christians and are filled with the love of Jesus, so our words should reflect that love.

In Malachi 3:16 we read that God listens, hears and records in a book of remembrance the words that we speak that honor His name.

^“Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His name.” Malachi 3:16 AMP

Every encouraging and uplifting word you speak is being recorded! This has made me examine what I am saying and thinking. Will my pleasing conversations be contained in only a pamphlet or a set of Encyclopedias? Determine to speak what is pleasing to God; let your “book of remembrance” be larger than a set of Encyclopedias. For those that honor God, He will publically recognize and openly declare them to be His jewel.

“And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I publicly recognize and openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My peculiar treasure). And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Malachi 3:17 AMP

Michelle Odom
Michelle is an Ordained Minister through United Christian Fellowship and co-founder with her husband, John, of MJ Ministries, a “Practical Evangelism” ministry expressing the Gospel through action. MJ Ministries is dedicated to revealing God’s love through the practice of hospitality using our God given gifts, talents and resources. We are challenged to Engage others in the pursuit of Jesus, Encourage others to realize their potential in Jesus, and Empower others to have influence for Jesus. “Mission Possible” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” Mark 10:27

The Crossroads

2011-09-27T10:18:00.000-07:00

The Christian life is intended to be a life lived in the very presence of God. The intention of God is that we are blessed to be a blessing. The book of Deuteronomy has a lot to say about the blessings and how this divine favor touches and prospers us in every aspect of our lives. Whether or not we live the blessed life is entirely up to us. Each of us face crossroads in our faith – marked by some event, large or small. These crossroads cause us to make decisions to either live by faith, in obedience to God – or to detour into doubt and disobedience.
Deuteronomy 30:11-20 The Message
This commandment that I'm commanding you today isn't too much for you, it's not out of your reach. It's not on a high mountain—you don't have to get mountaineers to climb the peak and bring it down to your level and explain it before you can live it. And it's not across the ocean—you don't have to send sailors out to get it, bring it back, and then explain it before you can live it. No. The word is right here and now—as near as the tongue in your mouth, as near as the heart in your chest. Just do it!

Look at what I've done for you today: I've placed in front of you
Life and Good
Death and Evil.
And I command you today: Love God, your God. Walk in his ways. Keep his commandments, regulations, and rules so that you will live, really live, live exuberantly, blessed by God, your God, in the land you are about to enter and possess.

But I warn you: If you have a change of heart, refuse to listen obediently, and willfully go off to serve and worship other gods, you will most certainly die. You won't last long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

I call Heaven and Earth to witness against you today: I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse. Choose life so that you and your children will live. And love God, your God, listening obediently to him, firmly embracing him. Oh yes, he is life itself, a long life settled on the soil that God, your God, promised to give your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

As New Testament believers, we have been grafted in to the family of Abraham. We are heirs to the promise just as much as the children of Israel. The Word of God says that if we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. As we choose to deny our doubt and walk in faith; as we take the road less traveled we will walk on a level of life that no one on the face of the earth has access to. It is only through Christ that we are blessed. It is only through Christ that we are to be a blessing.

Christianity has long put the blessing in a box and marked it “open with you get to heaven”. Christianity has long assumed a false cloak of humility through self-denigration.

Christianity is actually meant to be a blessed life – why fight it? The word says in these verses that we who are obedient to the Word “will live, really live, live exuberantly, blessed by God, your God, in the land you are about to enter and possess.”

We are at a major spiritual crossroad today. Our Father God is calling us to wake up from apathy and misunderstanding about His will for us. We are to walk in life and that in abundance, just as Jesus said. We are not to be downtrodden, just hoping we make it to heaven in the “sweet by and by”.

We are to walk as children of God – in the blessing of the Living God. There is much to say about this new life in the New Testament letters to the churches. Yes, we do have many problems to face in this life – after all, the earth is still under the curse of sin. However, we are not. We are overcomers in Christ and yet more than that, we are more than conquerors. We are to live above the curse on a level of blessing that the Spirit of God will reveal to us more and more as we trust and obey and learn more about the true destiny of the children of God.

Be blessed!
Rhonda Roughton
Rhonda is founder of INK Ministries. INK Ministries' mission is to build up the body of Christ through writing, preaching and teaching with an emphasis on the New Covenant and who we are in Christ. "Write down the vision and make it plain on tablets so that whoever reads it may run with it." Habakkuk 2:2-3. This is a "hands-on" ministry as well as a writing ministry - moving in the gifts and power of the Holy Spiit to bring hope, healing and deliverance to all those who hunger for more of Him.

Are We Asking the Wrong Questions? (Part 1)

2011-09-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

On January 20, 1961, newly elected President John F. Kennedy made this statement in his inaugural address: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” President Kennedy was challenging the American people to change the questions they were asking themselves. Why? Because he knew that this would steer their thoughts in a more positive, productive direction. It would shift their focus from something small and selfish (what can I get?) to something much larger and nobler (what can I give?). And this shift would be reflected in their words and actions.

Might I suggest that it is about time the church in America today was challenged in a similar manner? For far too long we have been asking ourselves the wrong questions, questions that are small and selfish, questions that have robbed us of power and influence and left us comfortable and acceptable in an ungodly culture. And while such questions have allowed us to build big churches, I wonder, is that really the kind of church envisioned by Jesus? By Paul?

Matt. 16:18 “…on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Rom. 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

I would suggest….no, I would insist, that Christ has called His followers to something much bigger and nobler than many have been made aware of. Notice that Paul’s challenge to the church to “not conform” is accompanied by the antidote to such a condition, the “renewing of your mind.” Our thinking as Christians has got to be different from the culture we live in if we are going to be distinguishable from it in our words, actions, attitudes and motivations. And part of thinking differently is asking the right questions. Might I suggest some that would radically transform your life as a believer and the look of the church in America if they were to be asked (and, of course, answered honestly)? I will borrow from Mr. Kennedy’s format in asking them:

My fellow Christians, ask not “What can I get away with and still go to heaven?” – ask “What is the absolute best I can do for the One who gave His absolute best for me?”

It is discouraging to see so many who profess Christ being more concerned with what they can “get away with” than with what would be the best reflection of Him to their world. Paul wrote in Colossians 3:2,3 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” The problem with many who claim to be Christian is that they have not “died” to self. Yet Jesus Himself stresses this as being the first criteria in following Him. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) Until one has died to what they want (earthly things), they can never set their mind on what He wants (things above). This produces shallow Christians at best whose main concern is “Will this send me to hell?” instead of “Will this bring heaven to others?”

Let me illustrate this problem in some practical ways:

The choices we make with our bodies, do they represent the absolute best stewardship of God’s creation? Or is overeating, dressing immodestly, sporting holes and markings that God didn’t see fit to put there, etc. all about me, not about reflecting Him?

The way we spend our money, does it represent the absolute best stewardship of God’s resources? Or are houses bigger than we need, big-screen high-def televisions, the latest clothing styles, failure to tithe, etc. all about me, not about reflecting Him?

The conversations we have with others, do they represent the absolute best stewardship of God’s gift of language? Or is gossip, crude humor, cutting remarks, disrespecting authority figures, etc. all about me, not about reflecting Him?

As you can see, the list could go on and on. We could talk about the way we use our time and energy, the treatment we give to those who are different from us, our performance on the job and a million other decisions we make daily. The point is this - every moral choice we make (and this includes the vast majority of them), matters because each one reveals our heart and will either bring Christ into greater clarity for those around us or further cloud their view of Him.

The evangelist D.L. Moody once said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man totally consecrated to Him.” I’m pretty sure God is still searching for men and women who will say with Paul “…to me, to live is Christ.” (Philip. 1:21) Not just in some areas or moments, but in every act and every decision every day! It is not the easy road to walk, nor is it well-traveled. But for the few who will venture to ask the right question – “What is the absolute best I can do for the One who gave His absolute best for me? – for the few who will dare to answer it honestly and act on it courageously, there is the privilege of joining the great faith heroes of the past whose radical passion for Christ “turned the world upside down!” (Acts 17:6 – KJV) The world is waiting….will you dare?

Clark Hausman
Clark is the pastor of Moyock Assembly of God.

Be Gullible

2011-09-25T17:49:00.000-07:00

Matthew 18:1-4
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

I was watching a reality show the other day...I know what you're thing but they are addicting. The mom was having a hard time with life and the one that had the faith that life would change was her small son. I am not sure, if the mom was comforted by her son's faith based response...but I took notice.

Having children will change someone's life in many ways. As newborn babies become children, hopefully these blessings change our level of faith in God. Children have a unique way of being so agreeable sometimes. They may seem a bit gullible at times and some children more so than others. They take their parents at their word and believe whatever they tell them. They KNOW that you will feel better; they KNOW the bills are paid. They also know they will be fed, clothes, and protected. There is no anxiety because they just believe.

When we become "Grown-up Christians" it is the hope of God that we will move to a child-like faith. One that believes our father's word. One that moves from questions to an assurance. Once God says it there are no more questions. I love the fact that God makes our relationship with our earthly children as he desires our relationship to be with him....one where we take him at his word. Believe God today; know that when he tells you something he will do it. Know that he will take care of your every need...Know that you are dearly loved and rest easy knowing that having God as your father means you never have to worry again.

Kasey Scott
Kasey is currently a high school English teacher, whose students are young ladies who are substance dependent and incarcerated. Kasey has a passion to reach into the lives of girls in desperate situations and show them the Hope that is available in Jesus Christ. She also is the VP and Director of Curriculum Design for Edvance Services, an educational services company she co-founded with her husband.

Sometimes I Disgust Myself

2011-09-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

Statisticsshow us that 67.5% of offenders will repeat the same crime they were justreleased from prison for committing. While we frown upon that and simply chalkit up as they’re just criminals anyway, we forget to look at the plank in ourown eye. As Christians, we are not exempt from the repeat offense.

Proverbs26:11 says, “As a dog returns to itsvomit, so fools repeat their folly.” I know it is disgusting and yet, verytrue at the same time. We just never think of our repeat offenses in thislight. We all struggle with sin and there is always one (sometimes more) thatwe always return to repeat.

We are toofamiliar with the sins in our lives that we no longer find them detestable. Once we do, we reject them and walk away fromthem which is known as true repentance. Sometimes, however, we let our guard down;we walk too closely in line with the ways of the world. When we do this, wereturn to that which we once rejected (vomited) and pick it up again. We arelike the dogs. This is why I disgust myself sometimes. If I return to a sinthat I “vomited” I’m just like a dog that does the same.

So how can we stop the cycle? Scripturetells us a couple of ways, one of which is found in Romans 12:2: “Donot conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing ofyour mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—hisgood, pleasing and perfect will.”

We have toturn our lives, our hearts and our minds away from the ways of the world. Whenwe do so, our way of life will stop lining up with the world. As we turn from the world, we need to turn toGod and His word which will allow a transformation to take place, renewing ourminds on a daily basis. We need to spend time in His word, worshiping Him andin prayer.

CrystalOwens

Crystal is a speaker for the Fabulous You Conference. She’s married with 2 girls. Crystal is currently teaching a weekly adult Bible study and a monthly Bible study for Women. She has a passion for reaching youth and a heart for missions.

Bring Your "G" Game

2011-09-23T04:15:00.000-07:00

The people of the town had no idea of what rugby was, butonly vaguely. So when construction began on a new rugby stadium, no one wasimpressed. At least not favorably. People grumbled when construction blocked alane of traffic. They griped about the noise and the ruined view. When they sawsigns announcing tickets for sale, few were interested. Most people predictedit would never last.

One clear evening, people noticed two spotlights piercingthe night sky. Curious, some people set out to find the source of the light.Soon the sky rained color, glittering fountains of fire and sound. Fireworks!Obviously, something very special was going on. Thousands of people followedthe signs in the sky.

It took little time for people to trace the fireworks to thenew field. Crowds stood outside looking up, but the best view was inside.Ushers invited people inside for a comfortable seat and a free look.

When the fireworks ended, the rugby gamed started, Peoplewho had never before seen the game found themselves enthralled with the fastaction and great skill of the players. A lot of people’s feelings toward rugbychanged that night. Some signed up to learn to play. Many more signed up forseason tickets. The spectacular sights and sounds of the spotlights andfireworks had drawn people to the field, but the exciting game made the peoplerugby fans. The game, not the fireworks, was the central importance. [*]

First let me start with I know nothing about rugby and trulycan say I have never even seen someone play. But with that said, this storycaught my attention because this is exactly what our lives, our relationships,and our churches should be. Wait... don’t go buy fireworks for your Sundayservice yet....What I am saying is that the supernatural works of the HolySpirit in your life should be ever so present and inviting that people aredrawn to it. They want a seat to watch in amazement of what the Lord is ableand capable of doing and what the same thing for themselves. It starts with aspotlight- a seed, to draw their attention to Him. Then with a movement of the Holy Spirit, abeliever exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit to the lost, getting them sold outfor the main event. See the main event should always be the main event. Like itor not, it’s not about you or me, it’s about the main event.

Thousands of years ago, on the Day of Pentecost when thechurch was born, the Holy Spirit drew crowds of thousands in. However, the mainpurpose and central importance was the message of the gospel. This leavingthree thousand people who walked into something they never knew of beforecompletely sold out and sharing the word of God to everyone they met. See thefact of the matter is when we lose sight of our central importance we losesight of it all. “When the Holy Spirit is resting upon a body of believers, Hedoes not need to be advertised. The most effective form of advertising is thepower of God. Word spread all over the temple area and all over Jerusalemwithin a very short period of time. The crowd had been gathered and the stagewas set for evangelism to take place.”

“Lord, Let us never forget to bring your power as ourcentral importance to every event we face. Trusting and believing that yourSpirit will be so present in our lives that people will be drawn to your peopleand we can usher them into a lifelong relationship with you. Help to rememberthat you’re POWER can move any mountain and clam every sea in our lives andthat nothing is too big or small for you. Thank your Spirit and your presence thatyou allow us to feel everyday!” Amen
* Story and excerpts taken from “Acts: The Holy Spirit atwork in Believers”

Ashley McDougal
Ashley is the Children's pastor for 3N1 Church in Virginia. Her passion is to see the Church being Christ's Church consistently no matter where they are and of course Children!! For more info on 3N1 you can check out their website at http://3n1church.com.

Exchange your can'ts for cans

2011-09-22T08:49:00.000-07:00

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13 NKJV

This week has forced me to ponder my current health issues. I know I can improve my overall health by losing weight. When I started thinking of the weight I need to lose I became very discouraged and I started telling myself I can’t lose this weight. I began to have a nice little pity party. I just keep saying over and over to myself “I can’t exercise”, & “I can’t lose this weight”. As soon as those thoughts entered, I took it to the extreme and start calling myself as a failure. Even though I had lost two pounds in two weeks, I didn’t focus on what I had done, but only on the fact I had so many more pounds to lose. Then my attitude shifted, I said to myself (yes, I talk to myself allot!) “well that is two pounds I didn’t gain!”. I started thinking “I can” lose the weight and “I can” exercise with God’s help. One of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control, God has given me self-control. It may take awhile, but He has also given me patience. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV

It seems to me sometimes we forget everything that concerns us concerns God. God tells us to ask and it will be given to us. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 NIV. I realized when I was having my “pity party” and felt defeated that I had not asked for God’s help. I will pray for a parking space at the mall, for good shopping deals, and even for my cat, but I had not asked God’s help with this health issue. Not sure why, I think maybe because I know it is my lack of self-control that has caused the health issues. I figured I got myself in this situation I need to get myself out! This is so wrong! Only though Him can I do what I need to do to become healthier. I am determined I can do it, I know I may have set backs but I have positioned my mind in agreement with God “I can do all things though Christ”.

Becoming healthy will be a life time journey. I am determined not only to be spiritually fit but also physically fit so I can complete the mission God has called me to. We do not have the promise that all we have to do in this life will be easy, but we do have the promise God gives us the strength do to whatever we need to do in this life.

You may be telling yourself you “can’t”, but I encourage you to exchange your “can’t” for “cans”.

You can lose weight.

You can get out of debt.

You can get that job or that promotion.

You can find a spouse.

You can buy your dream house.

You can be healed.

You can do whatever you need to do through Christ.

-Michelle Odom
Michelle is an Ordained Minister through United Christian Fellowship and co-founder with her husband, John, of MJ Ministries, a “Practical Evangelism” ministry expressing the Gospel through action. MJ Ministries is dedicated to revealing God’s love through the practice of hospitality using our God given gifts, talents and resources. We are challenged to Engage others in the pursuit of Jesus, Encourage others to realize their potential in Jesus, and Empower others to have influence for Jesus. “Mission Possible” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” Mark 10:27

Constant

2011-09-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8

You know there’s nothing like being reminded by your spouse, right before you step out the door to go to work, that you forgot to write a devotional for that day. Oh the feelings of “I dropped the ball” and “how in the world did I manage to forget that” first thing in the morning feels so great! Not really. Well this is exactly what happened to me this very morning. Somehow in the hustle, bustle, and sleepiness of last night I managed to forget about writing this devotional. So for the sake of time, today’s devotional will be short and to the point.

After leaving the house and jumping in my truck, I start towards work. Now not only am I thinking about what’s planned for me today at work, but I’m also trying to be sensitive to the Spirit of God to see what’s on His mind. Thankfully God is always a constant (faithful) and the Spirit starts to remind me of this attribute. My mind is then reminded of Hebrews 13:8, as well as, given examples of successful believers in the faith that has this character trait.

So there it is, being a constant. As I started to reflect upon my life I could see areas where I could have been more successful if only I had stayed consistant. I looked at the natural and considered people and things that are successful because of their consistency. Going forward I’m making a commitment to be more of a constant. My word for today is consistency. Besides if I desire to be like my Lord, He was the same yesterday, is the same today, and will be the same tomorrow. I have to be a constant.

Adraine Scott
Adraine is the president of Edvance Services LLC. His entire professional career has been spent helping others find their unique ways of learning and being. He has been able to accomplish this by serving as a youth minister, speaker, counselor, college and career minister, secondary education teacher, and business owner

Wasted

2011-09-20T08:43:00.000-07:00

The word “wasted” has becomeassociated with drug use, appropriately enough, since it is a word evocative ofwhat could have been. When something, orsomeone, is wasted there is a loss of something that cannot be regained.

There is a story in the Bible ofa woman who knew what it was like to have a wasted life. She is simply referred to as “a woman in thecity who was a sinner” (Luke 7:37). Sheobviously had heard of this man called Jesus and something had awakened in herspirit and let her know that the Messiah had come.

Luke 7:36-50 (NKJ)

Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eatwith him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was asinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’shouse, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Himweeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped themwith the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed themwith the fragrant oil.

Nowwhen the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself,saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner ofwoman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon,I have something to say to you.”
So he said, “Teacher, say it.”
“There was a certain creditor who hadtwo debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which torepay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will lovehim more?”
Simon answered and said, “I suppose the onewhom he forgave more.”
And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.”

ThenHe turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered yourhouse; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with hertears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, butthis woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but thiswoman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, areforgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the sameloves little.”

Then He said to her, “Your sins areforgiven.”
And those who sat at the table with Himbegan to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

There are two ways of beingwasted – and there is, in the human spirit, a desire to be wasted. One is to be wasted in the things of thisworld with no way of ever recovering that which is lost.

The other way is to be wasted inthe things of God’s Kingdom. We can pourout our lives in pursuit of the things of God – His presence, His power, Hisprovision, His purpose, His people, His passion.

After all, He poured outHis live for us. Life “wasted” in the Kingdom of God will bring reward, both in this lifeand that which is to come.

Rhonda Roughton
Rhonda is founder of INK Ministries. INK Ministries' mission is to build up the body of Christ through writing, preaching and teaching with an emphasis on the New Covenant and who we are in Christ. "Write down the vision and make it plain on tablets so that whoever reads it may run with it." Habakkuk 2:2-3. This is a "hands-on" ministry as well as a writing ministry - moving in the gifts and power of the Holy Spiit to bring hope, healing and deliverance to all those who hunger for more of Him.

Salvation in Reverse

2011-09-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

“…Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will besaved. How, then, can they call on theone they have not believed in? And howcan they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preachingto them? And how can they preach unlessthey are sent.” -Romans 10:13-15

The story of Hansel and Gretel is one which has beenentertaining (and probably scaring) kids for generations. It is the story of a brother and sister whoare intentionally stranded in the forest by their parents who can no longerafford to feed them, they discover a house made entirely of sweets, getcaptured by the witch that owns the house, are held captive while the witchattempts to fatten them up so she can eat them, and finally escape when Gretelbravely tricks the witch and pushes her into her own oven and cooks her. Great stuff, huh?

Probably one of the most familiar parts of the story isthe wisdom of Hansel who, knowing the intentions of his parents, twice leaves atrail, once of stones and once of bread crumbs, so they can retrace their stepsback home after they are abandoned. Inthe passage above, Paul has laid out the “path” a person walks on their way tosalvation. To see this path we need to doas Hansel & Gretel did, follow the trail from where it ends to where it allbegan. Let’s consider the progression ofsalvation in reverse:

Someoneis sent àthey preach the word à theword is believed àthey call onJesus àthey are saved!

By taking this backward look at salvation, we Christiansare made painfully aware of the responsibility we have to the “lost”. For starters, we have the responsibility toproclaim the message of “good news” to them. Apart from a knowledge of Christ, an unbeliever will not be able to“believe” and “call” on Him. And thisknowledge comes through the preaching of the word.

“…faithcomes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Rom. 10:17)

And this “preaching”, which is nothing more than verballycommunicating who Jesus is and what He has done for us, is not theresponsibility of “professionals” (pastors, evangelists).

1Peter 2:9 “…you are a chosen generation,a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging toGod, that you may declarethe praises of him who called you out of darknessinto his wonderful light.

If you know what it is to be called out of darkness, thenyou have a message to tell to others, you are ready to “preach”.

The second major part of our responsibility to the “lost”is that of being willing to be sent. Wemust take seriously the “great commission” given by Christ to His followers(not to be misunderstood as a “great suggestion”!).

Matt.28:19 “…go and make disciples of all nations…”

2 Cor.5:17,18, 20 “…if anyone is in Christ, heis a new creation…all this is from God, who reconciledus to himself through Christ andgave us the ministry of reconciliation…we are thereforeChrist’s ambassadors….”

Now that doesn’t mean we all have to pack our bags forBotswana or board a plane for Portugal. We simply have to be willing to go to those whom God puts in our path –our co-workers, neighbors, family, dentist, mechanic, and so on, and share withthem what Christ has done for us and can do for them.

Sometimes we tell ourselves that God will make a way forpeople to be saved even if they don’t have a witness of the gospel (throughtheir conscience or the witness of creation or some other mystical way). While this may enable us to sleep well atnight, it does not align well with what the Bible tells us about beingsaved.

Acts4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else,for there is no other name (besides that of Jesus) under heavengiven to men by which wemust be saved.”

Rom.10:9 “…if you confess with your mouth,‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe inyour heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

The scriptures are clear – without someone being sent,without the message being proclaimed, the lost will remain so. Can we live with that? I pray the answer for each of us who haveexperienced the wonderful grace of God (because someone was willing to be sentand to preach!) is a resounding “No!”

Clark Hausman
Clark is the pastor of Moyock Assembly of God

Need: Something Required Because it is Essential

2011-09-18T12:03:00.000-07:00

My youngest daughter, Morgan, is a sucker for those commercials on TV that offer the craziest items for just $19.99. One time I remember she came running up to me so excited because she had just seen a commercial on the television for something that we just had to have! Needless to say, after about thirty minutes of watching TV with her to see the commercial again, I was not impressed when I saw the “must have” item was a toothpaste dispenser that guaranteed to squeeze ALL the toothpaste out of the tube.

We all want things and mostly things we don’t really need. We don’t really need more clothes or the newest phone, the hottest new computer item or the newest model car. These are things we want. We often get discouraged when we don’t get what we want and forget that our needs are being met.

Psalm 23:1 says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.” A shepherd provides for his flock of sheep. He provides security, food, water, shelter, and companionship, anything they need. David, the writer of this psalm, understood what it meant to be a shepherd and he understood who God was to His people.

“I shall not be in want” holds two truths:

1. I will not lack anything needed in my life to accomplish God’s will.

a. We don’t have to be crafty and piece together what we have to make something work,
God will provide anything & everything necessary.

2. I will be content in the provision of God, no matter the circumstances.

a. We have to trust in God’s love for us and His commitment to us, His children.

Sometimes I confuse my wants with my needs. Sometimes I get frustrated when my wants aren’t coming to me the way I think they should. Sometimes, I don’t see my needs being met to the degree I think they should. Then I’m reminded – The Lord, God, my Father – he’s going to make sure I’m provided for! He is Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord will Provide), He sees my needs and He will provide for them. He will do the same for you.

Crystal Owens
Crystal is a speaker for the Fabulous You Conference. She’s married with 2 girls. Crystal is currently teaching a weekly adult Bible study and a monthly Bible study for Women. She has a passion for reaching youth and a heart for missions.

We All Kick The Bucket

2011-09-17T18:58:00.000-07:00

In recent years, people have jumped on the bandwagon to create bucket lists. What is a bucket list one might ask? Basically, an individual would create a list that would consist of all of the activities, dreams, and desires he or she would like to accomplish before death or before they “kick the bucket”. I love the idea of the bucket list because it pushes people to live passionately in life. People use their bucket list as a launch pad for sky diving, a trip around the world, or taking a photography class at a local college. There are many dreams or goals that get lost in this thing we call life. The bucket list captures the things we love or would like to try and puts them into our life’s purpose.

As Christians we should be just as intent on our bucket list as the world. We should desire to live life with passion, purpose, and enjoyment. Most see the Christian life as being monotonous and boring. We should have the most exciting life of all people. Not only can we sky diving, save for a trip around the world, but we have many other items to be added in. Let’s take a look at a few.
1.       We should live a life holy and acceptable to God. (Romans 12:1)
2.       We should take care of widows and orphans. (James 1:27)
3.       We should proclaim the good news. (Isaiah 61:1)
4.       We should bind up the broken hearted. (Isaiah 61:1)
5.       We should bring freedom to the captive. (Isaiah 61:1)
6.       We should lay hands on the sick in order for them to be healed. (Mark 16:17-18)

And, the list goes on. I know, I know. It’s a lot. We have all of these things that we want to do and then we have a whole list of things that we HAVE to do. Let’s just sum the entire bucket list up in two verses. First, we must love the Lord with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Second, we must love our neighbors as ourselves. (Mark 12:29-31) Whether we need to see ten (10) items on the list or we can take care of all with just two (2), we have to be committed to check off our Christian bucket list. Let’s agree that when we are truly living out THIS bucket list, our passions, desires, and dreams will ALL come true.

Shifting Sands

2011-09-16T15:02:00.000-07:00

Red plum, Source Saver, Coupon mom... there are so many different places these days to find coupons. After a few instructional classes and several very embarrassing moments at the register I was sold out. I was officially a couponing diva. I would go everywhere with my binder in hand looking for the latest and greatest deals. Keeping track of every dollar spent and every dollar saved. Ideas started to come and go on just what I was going to do with all of this great food I was going to get for next to nothing, blessing so many families in need. This was going to be me forever. Until there was a shift..... somewhere between the sorting and calculating, I started to get discouraged. Then soon after I went back to my old way of shopping.

In John 21, we read a story very similar to that. Simon Peter, a man that later was the catalyst for many miracles and brought so many to know and love Christ, had a quick bout with doubt and discouragement. The name Simon means “shifting sands” and until that time in history, Simon Peter was still not sure. Arguably the greatest thing that had ever happened to this earth had just taken place. Jesus has appeared to his disciples twice now and yet Simon Peter still hasn’t sold out to this opportunity called “ministry”. So Peter goes back to the only life he knew....fishing. Bringing others along with him. He was so discouraged in a time in his life when he was stepping out of the box. As our natural human defense would go, we automatically go back to what we know best or where we are comfortable when feelings of insecurity come along.

I wonder how many have been so on fire for God and because of something that may have happened, or for lack there of, something that may not have happened, we allowed the enemy to push us back into our old lifestyle. It is through true transformation that we never turn back.

Later, we know that Simon Peter sells out and never goes back to his old life never to fish for fish but fishing for men and feeding Christ’s sheep. In his transformation He dropped the Simon in his name and just carries the name Peter meaning “Rock”. A solid form that can not be duplicated and can withstand anything that comes its way, Peter the rock. If today you are having a Simon moment and just want to go back to whats easy, I challenge you to be a Peter and withstand this trial, you are being groomed for something great!

“ Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

I still haven’t picked up my coupon binder but I look forward to learning some new ideas from our “Fabulous You” break out that may help me to start again!

Ashley McDougal
Ashley is the Children's pastor for 3N1 Church in Virginia. Her passion is to see the Church being Christ's Church consistently no matter where they are and of course Children!! For more info on 3N1 you can check out their website at http://3n1church.com.

My Prayer For You...

2011-09-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

After I met Jesus and came to the knowledge that my sinswere forgiven I mourned over the suffering and pain Jesus endured for me. I fully understood my sins were forgiven andI was made to be in right standing with God through the shed blood of Jesus. Butsomething I struggled with for several years was guilt and shame. Not until Iheard a message preached by a dear Pastor friend did I realize not only didJesus bear my sins on the cross, but also my shame and guilt where on thatcross with Jesus. This knowledge lifteda huge burden and struggle from me, this was another example of the deep loveGod has for me. I was able to move forward in the call God has on my life once Iovercame the shame and guilt and realized the deep love God has for me. Wegained power and strength from the knowledge of God’s love.

Today my heart’s desire is for you to comprehend the profoundlove God has for you. Did you realizeGod is mindful of you? “…I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of myhands;” Isaiah 49:17-16. He has you “engraved” or “cut” you in His palms. This image amazes me, not only does He know weare His but I can imagine Him lifting His hands in heaven and all can see weare His because we are engraved in His palms!

You are always with God and God is always with you! Hedelights in you, “The LORD your God iswith you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he willquiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah3:17. I love the thought of God singing over me! This is so comforting and sucha wonderful example of His love for His child.

When thinking of coming to the knowledge of God’s love, I amreminded of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians’. I have prayed this many times for family andfriends and today this is my prayer for you. I hope you will meditate on the prayer andcome to the full knowledge of the love of Christ and the power you havereceived. Personalize this prayer by inserting your name or the name of a lovedone everywhere you read “you”.

¹⁴ For this reason Ikneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom his whole family in heaven andon earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious richeshe may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you,being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, togetherwith all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the loveof Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—thatyou may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
²⁰ Now to him who is able to doimmeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is atwork within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesusthroughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians3:14-25

Michelle Odom
Michelle is an Ordained Minister through United Christian Fellowship and co-founder with her husband, John, of MJ Ministries, a “Practical Evangelism” ministry expressing the Gospel through action. MJ Ministries is dedicated to revealing God’s love through the practice of hospitality using our God given gifts, talents and resources. We are challenged to Engage others in the pursuit of Jesus, Encourage others to realize their potential in Jesus, and Empower others to have influence for Jesus. “Mission Possible” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” Mark 10:27

Sluggardly or Diligent: You choose

2011-09-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 13:4

“A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,
but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.”

This verse speaks of two kinds of people, the sluggard and the diligent. The sluggardly one according to Webster is a habitually lazy person. Honestly I was kind of shocked to find out that there’s such a thing as being “habitually lazy”. Until now I had just placed all laziness into the same category and all lazy people into the same boat. But as I considered the Scriptures and this definition, I came to term with the fact that just like there are different categories of work or sin there could also be different categories of laziness.

Also like sin, there’s “occasional” laziness and then there’s “habitual” laziness. I believe the difference is found in the attitude and the heart.

Occasional laziness may present itself in the form of deciding not to cut the grass that particular day or putting off cleaning the living room until tomorrow. We all have times when we’re occasionally lazy. It’s human nature or should I say sinful nature. With laziness the problem occurs when the occasional turns into the habitual.

Habitual laziness presents itself as never cutting your grass until forced by the Code Enforcement Agency or never cleaning your house until you’re threaten with having your children taken away due to the unsanitary environment. This kind of laziness is costly and can be deadly. It leaves you with a feeling of emptiness on the inside. It’s not what God desires for our life. His desire is for us to be fully satisfied. He desires for us to be diligent and not lazy.

The sluggard also desires the gains of the diligent. I have found this to be true in my own personal life. When I’m functioning in a sluggardly state I always find myself envying or lusting after what the diligent has honestly gained. No matter what I do, I’m left with a feeling of wanting more. I’m never full. Am I the only one or can anyone else relate to what I'm saying?

As we move forward let's make a commitment to be more diligent. Let's get full and crave no more. Let's not envy or desire what we haven't put forth the effort to obtain. Let's get busy and only occasionally find ourselves to be lazy. God bless.

Adraine Scott
Adraine is the president of Edvance Services LLC. His entire professional career has been spent helping others find their unique ways of learning and being. He has been able to accomplish this by serving as a youth minister, speaker, counselor, college and career minister, secondary education teacher, and business owner

Take Me To The River

2011-09-13T05:03:00.000-07:00

One of the first Bible stories that truly spoke to my heartwas the story of the woman at the well. Manyyears back, I found myself seeking after God and had gone, almost reluctantly,with a group of ladies to a Christian women’s convention in Charlotte, NC. I thought this group somewhat strange andwondered how I ever came to be with them. They were different, I thought at thetime (not in a good way) from any people I had ever met. My life changed that weekend as the Spirit ofGod broke me down – I found myself with tears streaming down my face manytimes. Even though I was raised inchurch, I had finally encountered the Living God.

John 4:4-14 (TheMessage)

"To get there, he had to pass through Samaria. He came intoSychar, a Samaritan village that bordered the field Jacob had given his sonJoseph. Jacob's well was still there. Jesus, worn out by the trip, sat down atthe well. It was noon.

A woman, a Samaritan, came todraw water. Jesus said, "Would you give me a drink of water?" (Hisdisciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.)

The Samaritan woman, takenaback, asked, "How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, fora drink?" (Jews in those days wouldn't be caught dead talking toSamaritans.)

Jesus answered, "If youknew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink,and I would give you fresh, living water."

The woman said, "Sir, youdon't even have a bucket to draw with, and this well is deep. So how are yougoing to get this 'living water'? Are you a better man than our ancestor Jacob,who dug this well and drank from it, he and his sons and livestock, and passedit down to us?"

Jesus said, "Everyone whodrinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the waterI give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian springwithin, gushing fountains of endless life."

This woman in Samariawas no different from the men and women of our day. She had tried many things in this world, seekinghappiness. She had been married several timesand was living with a man outside of marriage when she happened upon theMessiah one day.

Jesus had a conversation with this woman at the well. He knew everything about her, for after all,He is the Son of God. He also knew shewas a Samaritan, a group of peopleshunned by the Jews. None of thatbothered Jesus in the least.

He spoke to her of a River, a river of water unlike anything this womancould have ever imagined. This River isa river of life, a spiritual river that meets our every need because it flowsfrom the very heart of God to the heart of whoever will turn to the Messiah,the Lord Jesus Christ, in sincere repentance and recognition of Him as theirSavior.

As believers in Christ, this river of life pours into us constantly. The more we give from this river, the moreflows into us. We can give from thisriver lavishly, just as the Father gives to us lavishly. This river was birthed from the heart of aGod who loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die upon a cross andredeem us from the wages of sin.

Do you know Him? He will take you tothis river and you will never thirst again.

Rhonda Roughton

Rhonda is founder of INK Ministries. INK Ministries' mission is to build up the body of Christ through writing, preaching and teaching with an emphasis on the New Covenant and who we are in Christ. "Write down the vision and make it plain on tablets so that whoever reads it may run with it." Habakkuk 2:2-3. This is a "hands-on" ministry as well as a writing ministry - moving in the gifts and power of the Holy Spiit to bring hope, healing and deliverance to all those who hunger for more of Him.

Winning Over Whining

2011-09-12T12:11:00.000-07:00

“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life….I have learned to be content in whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” - Philippians 2:14-16 ; 4:11-13

We all know them…..people who can always find something to complain about, who are never happy no matter the circumstances…..when it’s raining, they complain because the sun isn’t shining; when the sun is shining, they complain that it’s too hot; and so on. These are people who infect all around them with the cancer of their discontentment and suck the life out of everyone and everything. Sad thing is, sometimes these are the same people who claim to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Brothers and sisters, to quote a good King James expression, these things ought not so to be!

However, this is also not something new to our generation of believers. It’s a temptation God’s people have been yielding to since the days of the OT (despite God just having recently delivered them from Egyptian slavery). Here are a few examples:

Exodus 16 – they complain b/c they are hungry

Exodus 17 – they complain b/c they are thirsty

Number 11 – they complain about their “hardships”

Numbers 14 – they complain b/c the people living in the land of Canaan appear to be too big and powerful for them to defeat

Numbers 16,17 – they grumble against the leadership of Moses and Aaron

How does God respond to their whining? In some instances He provides them with what they were lacking and complaining about, food & water. He makes clear, however, that He is not pleased with their grumbling. In other instances, He brings judgment in various forms: fire from heaven that consumes part of the camp; a declaration that only two men from their generation will live to see the Promised Land, while the rest will die wandering in the wilderness; fire from heaven that consumes 250 men who challenged the authority of Moses and Aaron; a plague that kills 14,700 who opposed the leaders God had placed over them.

Many would take issue with what seems to be overly harsh reactions on the part of God, but let’s consider some truths that may help to bring a better perspective:

Complaining demonstrates a lack of trust in God’s wisdom – it is a failure to recognize that every step of a believer’s life is ordered by God; it says, in effect, that we are not so sure if God knows what He is doing

Complaining demonstrates a lack of trust in God’s power – we become fearful that God is not going to be able to rescue us this time and doubt begins to crowd out faith

Complaining demonstrates a lack of trust in God’s goodness – while we may not say it out loud, we begin to question God’s love for us and whether or not our Father really has our best interests at heart

Paul, in the book of Philippians, exhorts believers to “do everything without complaining” and states that doing so is a sign of spiritual purity and maturity (“so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault”). He understood that such an attitude would also have a huge impact on our witness. Why should somebody else want something that can’t bring us joy or contentment? They can lack those things without a relationship with Christ!

And lest you be tempted to think that Paul must have lived a charmed life and can’t relate to the “hardships” that you have to endure on a daily basis, read 2 Corinthians 11:23-30 where he speaks of prison terms, beatings, stoning, shipwreck, sleeplessness, hunger and so on. And yet Paul states in verse 30 of that passage that he will “boast of the things that show my weakness.” Notice, Paul didn’t say “complain”, he said “boast”. How different is that from the way we want to respond when faced with negative circumstances?

So what was Paul’s secret? What’s ours? How do we come to the place where we can meet the challenge of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to “give thanks in all circumstances”? Truth is, there is no “secret”…because Paul has already given us the strategy that he relied on:
Rest in the assurance that God will supply all your needs (not wants!) (Philippians 4:19) – trust His goodness!

Rely on the strength that Christ brings (Philippians 4:13) – trust His power! (see also 2 Cor. 12:10)

Realign your thinking with His through prayer (1 Thess. 5:17 – notice this come right before Paul’s command to give thanks in everything) - trust His wisdom!

Next time you’re tempted to throw yourself a pity party, to have a whinefest, just remember….others are listening. Are they going to want what you have based on what they’re hearing?

God, help us to “shine like stars” and “hold out the word of life” (Philippians 2:15,16) as we keep our eyes fixed on You and Your promises (even when we think we have something to complain about), because that is what those around us really need!

Clark Hausman

Clark is the pastor of Moyock Assembly of God.

Obedience School

2011-09-10T22:37:00.000-07:00

It has been said that there is only instant obedience,delayed obedience is disobedience.
There are several examples of instant obedience in theBible, but one example is that of Abraham. In Genesis’ 22^nd chapter,Abraham is instructed by God to take his son Isaac, the one God had promisedhim, and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. The scripture doesn’t say that hequestioned God or prayed for a number of confirmations. Scripture says that herose early the next day and with his son, headed to the mountain which Godinstructed him to go. He loaded the wood on his son’s back and together theywalked up the mountain. There Abraham built the altar, placed the wood on it,bound his son and laid him on the altar too. And as he drew the knife to killhis son, an angel appeared and God provided a ram. Abraham displayed an amazingfaith in God through his obedience. His heart was turned toward God. He trustedHim with every part of his being.

There are times when I have to ask my daughters severaltimes to do something for me. Eventually, they accomplish the task. However, bythat time we are all frustrated with the situation. I’m tired of asking themover and over again. They’re annoyed I keep asking them when they have intentionsof getting it done sooner or later, maybe.
I can only imagine how equally frustrated God becomes withHis children.

God speaks to us through His word. He lays it out for us howwe are to live a life pleasing to Him. But He also speaks to us. He instructsus to accomplish tasks for Him or to put things aside for Him. Do we follow Hisinstructing with instant obedience or do we delay? We find excuses why we putit off or we pray and ask God for confirmations before moving forward. I knowI’ve prayed prayers like this, “God, I know you’ve asked me to ____, but I justneed some confirmation to really know that it was you!”

Instant obedience… What are we missing out onbecause we are okay with delayed obedience? What stops instant obedience: lazinesson our part; a lack of trust in God; fear to step out in the unknown; and aself-seeking heart! If we would turn our hearts to God and seek a life thatpleases Him, we would respond with instant obedience.

Crystal Owens
Crystal is a speaker for the Fabulous You Conference. She’s married with 2 girls. Crystal is currently teaching a weekly adult Bible study and a monthly Bible study for Women. She has a passion for reaching youth and a heart for missions.

Healthy Living

2011-09-10T11:37:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago, I had a day where I felt extremely tired and had a headache, probably resulting from stress. My four year old asked if my head and brain hurt. I responded with yes. Then, I asked her, “What should I do?” Her immediate response was, “PRAY!” So, we prayed. I agreed with her as she took her little hand, laid it on me, and began to ask Jesus for healing. While I was happy that she knew exactly what to do, I was speechless because at four years old she was ready to take action and lead the prayer….

I can’t say that I have always sought prayer first when going through something. I have noticed that I seem to go through cycles. There are times in my life where I pray for EVERYTHING first and then follow-up with action. Then there are other times where I pray while I am acting…. And then there are times when I worry, worry, worry, and then pray. I haven’t always noticed quicker answers when I prayed first and then acted, but what I have noticed is this, when I am in a constant state of prayer about everything, I am at peace. I am not anxious. The bills do not seem as big, the sickness does not seem to last as long, and I am not as tired.

In Philippians 4:6-7,the scripture says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The Bible beckons us to PRAY first. Through prayer, lives are made whole, bodies are healed, and people are delivered. We are at peace. Stress and anxiety cause unnecessary physical ailments and if prolonged can lead to a suppressed immune system, digestive disorders, memory loss, or heart attack according to WebMD.

In order to live a life of physical, mental, and emotional peace we must be a people of prayer. Without prayer, we are more likely to worry and live a life of anxiety. Not only is it necessary for answers, it is necessary for our health.

Let’s be healthy, let’s pray FIRST about EVERYTHING.

Heart vs. Knowledge

2011-09-09T13:58:00.000-07:00

It’s that time of year again, my fold up chair, cooler, and cow bell all stashed in the trunk of my car. Being a football mom is hard work with remembering practice every night, snacks for every game and of course trying to memorize all of the kids names and numbers. I’ve learned a lot in my career as a team mom but the greatest thing I have learned has nothing at all to do with football at all ..... it’s about ones heart. See having a passionate heart trumps all the knowledge in the world.

There are many kids that come out to the football field each week out of obligation because Mom and Dad wanna “start’em young” but then theres those few that come out because they genuinely love the sport. These kids do just about anything to make the play, they may don’t know the technical term for what they are doing but they know the end result and have a goal in mind.

The Lord speaks to us about passion and knowledge on many occasions in the word. /Yet, one of the most well know verses is in Matthew 22:37 “Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list......”

See if it weren’t for David's passion, his faith, in the Lord do you really think he would have stepped up to fight Goliath? David was a shepherd and with all due respect I am pretty sure he never took “slay someone with a sling shot 101”. What David did have was a heart full of passion about what he was doing. He knew from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet that he had loved the Lord and that nobody not even an oversized warrior would stand in the way of him and the creator of all that is good! Often times we let things divert us from our passions. Thoughts of inadequacy, “not good enough”, I am not educated in that, all these are straight from the pit hell trying to derail you from the very thing you were created for. See when you stand firm in your passion and you serve out of love, you are a force to be reckoned with. There is nothing that will stop you not even the gnarliest linemen or the biggest warrior that will keep you from fulfilling your hearts desire.

So I challenge you daughters of the most high to live a life of passion not to walk a road where somewhere along the way your passion falls out of your pocket but to wear it proudly as “a seal upon your heart.”

Ashley Mcdougal
Ashley is the Children's pastor for 3N1 Church in Virginia. Her passion is to see the Church being Christ's Church consistently no matter where they are and of course Children!! For more info on 3N1 you can check out their website at http://3n1church.com.

Impossible Situations & Inconceivable Solutions

2011-09-08T04:35:00.000-07:00

When we decided to move back to the area I prayed for three things; jobs for my husband and I, housing and health insurance. I sent out resume after resume. Finally, I got a call and a telephone interview from a company in Chesapeake Va. The job seemed to be perfect for my skills. I became very encouraged when I was called for a second phone interview. I knew this was the job I had prayed for but I got the dreaded “thank you for applying, the job has been filled” email. I just didn’t understand; it seemed perfect to me. But little did I know God had a better solution than I could ever imagine. I found a listing on Craigslist looking for a couple to manage a Self Storage facility in Yorktown VA. I emailed our resumes and that same day interviewed over the phone; within two weeks we were offered the position. It never occurred to me that my three prayer requests would or could be answered in one job! My Husband and I now work together; housing is provided, with all utilities paid and paid health insurance. Daily I give thanks for the better plan God prepared for us.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

I am amazed at how God solves problems and situations. Take a look at the Israelites wandering for 40 years in the desert. They were fed manna from heaven and their clothes and sandals didn’t wear out! (Deuteronomy 8:2-4) My solution would have been to put a mall with a food court right in the middle of the desert! Jonah was saved from drowning by a big fish swallowing him up and spitting him out on shore. (Jonah 1:17; 2:10) I would have just had another boat come along to rescue him. What about God using a donkey to talk to Balaam? (Numbers 22:28) Definitely would have chosen a different way to speak to Balaam!

There are many of you right now who are fretting over how to solve a problem or situation in your life. You go over it in your mind trying to solve the problem and it keeps you up at night. I encourage you to pray about the situation, give thanks for the solution, and wait on the Lord. Allow God to speak a solution into your situation. His solution may not be how you would solve the situation or problem, but understand His solution is far superior to anything you can conceive. God has not changed; He will meet your needs. Trust Him because He loves you and He already has the solution worked out before you were even aware of a problem that needed solving.

Michelle Odom

Michelle is an Ordained Minister through United Christian Fellowship and co-founder with her husband, John, of MJ Ministries, a “Practical Evangelism” ministry expressing the Gospel through action. MJ Ministries is dedicated to revealing God’s love through the practice of hospitality using our God given gifts, talents and resources. We are challenged to Engage others in the pursuit of Jesus, Encourage others to realize their potential in Jesus, and Empower others to have influence for Jesus. “Mission Possible” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” Mark 10:27

Shalom....... Peace With God

2011-09-07T04:12:00.000-07:00

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, “ Romans 5:1

The Hebrews word for peace is shalom. This word indicates far more than the absence of stress, issues, conflict, or war. Shalom’s basic meaning is the positive presence of harmony, wholeness, soundness, well-being and success in all areas of life.

Even though the word shalom is not used in Genesis 1-2, shalom describes the original created world that existed in perfect harmony and wholeness. When God created the heavens and the earth, He created a world at peace. The total well-being of creation is reflected in the summary statement: “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good (peaceful).”

Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden destroyed theirs and our harmonious relationship with God. Before eating the fruit, they had intimate fellowship with God in the garden, but afterwards they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Instead of looking forward to talking with God, they were afraid of His presence. They had lost their peace in God thus causing us to lose ours in Him as well.

Then Jesus, the proclaimed Messiah, who Isaiah prophesied as the Prince of Peace enters the scene. This Messiah would soon become the gateway to the new covenant of peace God would establish. As a matter fact, He himself would become peace.

Peace restored? Everything’s okay? Not quite.

Simply knowing that Christ came as the Prince of Peace does not ensure that peace will automatically become a part of our lives; to experience peace requires that we be united with Christ in an active faith. The first step is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. When we do, we are justified through faith and so have peace with God. Along with faith, we must walk in obedience to His commands in order to live in peace.

Only active faith brings about the positive presence of harmony, wholeness, soundness, well-being and success in all areas of life. Only Shalom can be found in Jesus. Only Shalom can be had with God.

Sweet Child of Mine

2011-09-06T06:40:00.001-07:00

As you probably know, this is the name of a song by Guns N’ Roses, released in 1987. I’m not sure why this title popped in my head, since I haven’t listened to their music in over 20 years!

But let’s see where the Holy Spirit takes us with this.
1 John 3:1-11 (The Message)
"What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we're called children of God! That's who we really are. But that's also why the world doesn't recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who He is or what He's up to.

But friends, that's exactly who we are: children of God. And that's only the beginning. Who knows how we'll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we'll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to His Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus' life as a model for our own.

All who indulge in a sinful life are dangerously lawless, for sin is a major disruption of God's order. Surely you know that Christ showed up in order to get rid of sin. There is no sin in him, and sin is not part of his program. No one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin. None of those who do practice sin have taken a good look at Christ. They've got him all backward.

So, my dear children, don't let anyone divert you from the truth. It's the person who acts right who is right, just as we see it lived out in our righteous Messiah. Those who make a practice of sin are straight from the Devil, the pioneer in the practice of sin. The Son of God entered the scene to abolish the Devil's ways.

People conceived and brought into life by God don't make a practice of sin. How could they? God's seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It's not in the nature of the God-begotten to practice and parade sin. Here's how you tell the difference between God's children and the Devil's children: The one who won't practice righteous ways isn't from God, nor is the one who won't love brother or sister. A simple test.

For this is the original message we heard: We should love each other."

It is an amazing thing that believers in Christ are called the children of God. Just as we were born naturally, we are reborn spiritually. The world has never seen the likes of this – the children of God, walking in the very likeness of Christ.

Do not be misled by your own weaknesses or shortcomings. The Message Bible does a good job of explaining that there is a difference between our growing in the faith as little children, sometimes making mistakes and “those who make a practice of sin”.

Our Father is patient with us as we learn and grow in the intimate knowledge of Christ and as we are conformed into His image through our day to day challenges and opportunities. Do not let the enemy make you think that you are anything less than a beloved child of the Living God. As His child, you are an heir of righteousness – this means the very nature of Christ has been reborn into your spirit and you are able to do all things in Him.

So, if you are discouraged with yourself - with mistakes, with shortcomings, with failures – be encouraged! Everything we need for this life has been poured into us as believers in Christ. For our part, we are to turn away from selfish desires and consciously draw on the very nature of God in us. If you think back to when you first came to Christ – can you think of things you struggled with that are no longer an issue? And so it will be a month and a year from now as you serve Him with all your heart. This is a walk of love, not a walk of appeasement. We do not have to “please” an angry God – all He desires is that He can call each of us “sweet child of Mine”.

Rhonda Roughton
Rhonda is founder of INK Ministries. INK Ministries' mission is to build up the body of Christ through writing, preaching and teaching with an emphasis on the New Covenant and who we are in Christ. "Write down the vision and make it plain on tablets so that whoever reads it may run with it." Habakkuk 2:2-3. This is a "hands-on" ministry as well as a writing ministry - moving in the gifts and power of the Holy Spiit to bring hope, healing and deliverance to all those who hunger for more of Him.

The Drifting (aka The Dumb)

2011-09-05T08:29:00.000-07:00

“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?...” (Hebrews 2:1-3)

Ask anyone with an ounce of common sense and they can tell you that driving a car and sleeping are not two activities that should be done simultaneously. This is something I know too well, seeing as I have been on both the driving and passenging (yeah, I know it’s not really a word, but it’s one I use to refer to “what you should be doing if you’re not the driver!”) side of such a mistake.

One occasion involved a busy weekend with little sleep for myself and three college friends. The decision to leave Oklahoma at 3am to travel back to our campus in Missouri was, in retrospect, not a wise one. When staying awake became a struggle and my pleas for someone else to take over driving were rebuffed, I did what any 18-year-old college kid would do….I just kept driving. It wasn’t long before I found myself “waking up” to discover that I was in a different lane than I had been in just a “moment” before. Then I’d wake up again and find that we were barreling down the shoulder of the road. My wife’s grandpa has been fond of telling me over the years that the “Lord looks out for the dumb” (I’m not sure, but I think I should have been insulted by that). All I know is that by the grace of God we somehow made it back to campus safely (to this day I’m not sure if two of the passengers realize how close to death they came – I married the other one and have since confessed my “dumbness” to her!).

The other sleeping/driving incident occurred on a trip home to Pennsylvania from Missouri. My father and brother had flown to Missouri to see my wife and I graduate from college and the plan was for us to drive them back to Pennsylvania. We left late in the evening in an effort to avoid as much traffic as possible. Dad was going to drive first so I could catch a few hours of sleep in the back seat before taking over. I will never forget the shock of waking up to the car bouncing through the grassy median in the middle of Interstate 44 and seeing nothing but tall grass out of every window. Dad had fallen asleep at the wheel and my Cutlass Supreme had decided to do a little off-roading. Fortunately, the God who looks after the dumb was once again merciful and no one was hurt (and thanks to the massive amounts of adrenaline now pumping through our bodies, nobody had any trouble staying awake for the rest of the trip!).

So why do I bring up these incidents? To discourage nighttime driving? To warn you against riding in the same car as me? No. I bring them up because they demonstrate the danger of “drifting”- an activity that Webster’s Dictionary defines as “to move along a line of least resistance; to move in a random or casual way; to become carried along subject to no guidance or control.” It’s what happens to cars whose drivers fall asleep behind the wheel. It’s what happens to a boat that’s not properly anchored or tied off. And it’s what the author of Hebrews warns us can happen to a believer whose not taking pains to “draw near to God” (James 4:8) on a continual basis. See, “drawing” is the opposite of “drifting” and must be done on a regular, intentional basis. One of the scary things about drifting is that it is such a gradual, subtle process that it can happen without a person even being aware. The next thing you know, you find yourself “waking up” far from where you thought you were.

The band Casting Crowns have a song entitled “Slow Fade” whose chorus captures the essence of “spiritual drift”:

It’s a slow fade, when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade, when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices will be made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It’s a slow fade, It’s a slow fade

“Spiritual drift” has two main contributors:

Laziness – the path of least resistance – the refusal to consistently practice the spiritual disciplines of worship, repentance, fellowship, reading the Word and prayer

Selfishness – subject to no guidance or control – the refusal to heed the voice of the Holy Spirit and respond in obedient submission

The author of Hebrews not only warns against spiritual drifting in the passage above, but also provides the remedy against it. “We must pay more careful attention” is the admonition given to us. Sounds a lot like the words of Jesus to His disciples who kept drifting off to sleep when they should have been praying – “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (Matt. 26:41).

There is very little room in our relationship with Christ for standing still. If we’re not “drawing” then we’re probably “drifting”. And drifting, if not corrected, can be deadly – “how shall we escape…?” Don’t become another fatality on the road of faith; stay awake (watch) and stay on course (pray) and the Lord who “looks out for the dumb” will take care of anything you encounter along the way. Hey….it works for me!

Clark Hausman
Clark is the pastor of Moyock Assembly of God

Not Feeling Needed Today...

2011-09-04T05:11:00.000-07:00

We live our life with an enormous amount of demands pullingus in a thousand different directions. We have our families and all theyentail, our work, our church, our friends, our community involvements and thelist goes on. It is exhausting just trying to list all the different demands wehave and we tack on even more with the technology devices we “have” to have tokeep up with everything and everyone! If you Facebook or tweet or if you’reLinked In, that is a whole other amount of demands! It seems like we can neverescape from our demands. I think this is why we desire vacations so much andyet the majority of us can’t get away from our demands long enough to take one!

I always have the tendency to get involved with a lot ofthings, usually at one time. Here recently, I’ve had a lot going on with mydaughter’s softball, the ministries I’m involved in, handling family demands,work and a few other things. I feel like I’m being pulled in several differentways at one time! If you have kids, it is similar to the infamous, “Mom, Mommy,Momma, Mom, Mommy, MOM!” Sometimes you just don’t want to feel needed.

Recently, I heard a song that I’ve listened to hundreds oftimes and I don’t think I’ve ever heard these lines, “How refreshing to knowYou don't need me, How amazing to find that you want me.”(Casting Crowns “In Me”). But they totally resonatedwith me!

It reminded me of John 3:16,17. “For God so loved the world that he gavehis one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but haveeternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the World,but to save the world through him.”

So often we forget that God doesn’t needus. He wants us. He wants us so much that He created us andwhen we screwed up the perfect set-up in the Garden, He made a way for us nomatter what our time is in history! He sent His son to die on the cross for us.I heard a preacher say one time that even if there was only one person in theworld, God would have still sent His son to die on that cross for the oneperson!

We still get caught up in thinking that God needs us to do this or that. We put Him into the group that hasdemands on us, but He has none. Simply believe in Him. How refreshing indeed,to know He doesn’t need us! Amazing, that He wants us, no matter what we’vesaid or done, He loves us…

Crystal Owens
Crystal is a speaker for the Fabulous You Conference. She’s married with 2 girls. Crystal is currently teaching a weekly adult Bible study and a monthly Bible study for Women. She has a passion for reaching youth and a heart for missions.

A Friend That Sticks Closer...

2011-09-03T13:48:00.000-07:00

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9

I have never been much of an animal person, unless they are in a zoo. But what I have noticed among avid dog lovers is this, there is a constant tag-a-long in a dog. Whether a dog has a great owner or one who is not so great, the dog is a constant companion, similar to our God.

Recently, I have been put into a situation at work that truthfully had me quite fearful. It has left me blindsided. I willingly admit that I have had a rough couple of weeks. What could go wrong has? I have been frustrated, overwhelmed, fearful, confused, ineffective, and at times angry. We all have days where we feel a bit defeated and then sometimes it seems like the days turn into weeks, months, or even years. Nothing lines up and we are quick to throw in the towel. It is easy to forget that we have a help that will never leave, someone who will take every hit, sting, word, or deed on our behalf.

After Moses died, the Lord installed a leader, Joshua. Joshua was to lead the people across the river Jordan. The Lord says several times throughout the first ten verses, “Be strong and courageous.” My favorite part is Joshua 1:9, the scriptures says, “do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” What a moment of victory for the team of God. No matter, where you go, I am with you.

Not only have I needed this scripture this week, I have needed it throughout my Christian walk. You do too. The world will always present us with situations that may shake our very core or God may call us to do something that we do not feel is within our scope of expertise. But guess what....whatever it is, God is with us....wherever we may go.

Kasey Scott
Kasey is currently a high school English teacher, whose students are young ladies who are substance dependent and incarcerated. Kasey has a passion to reach into the lives of girls in desperate situations and show them the Hope that is available in Jesus Christ. She also is the VP and Director of Curriculum Design for Edvance Services, an educational services company she co-founded with her husband.

Think. Study. Pray.

2011-09-02T06:18:00.000-07:00

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” Proverbs 24:3

Have you ever had a day where a 30 minute break felt like a week’s worth of vacation? Where you have scheduled everything that could possibly fit in a 24 hour window, yet there are five other things left on your list to take care of that day. As women, we tend to adapt to this way of scheduling to our lives. With a husband, kids, a job, church, you name it, there is always something to do.

Where are our margins? Where do we stop?

Mr. Webster (the dictionary) shares with us his thoughts on what a margin looks like: the edge or border of something, an amount by which a thing is won or falls short of, an amount of something included so as to be sure of success or safety, and the blank border on each side of the print on a page.

There is something to be said of a page that has no margins. It’s hard to read, to understand and let’s be honest, it looks sloppy. So, what’s the difference in a page with no margins and a day with no margins?

Recently, I had an opportunity to hear an interview with Rev. Billy Graham. Rev. Graham’s ministry has certainly been an amazing movement in the Christian faith and a pillar to the evangelist everywhere. There is no doubt that he is anointed and filled from head to toe with the spirit of God. With 60 years of ministry under his belt, Rev. Graham has seen millions of people come to know the Lord and is full of wisdom. In the interview, he was asked what he would change if he could do it all over again. In short he answered, “I would spend more time in meditation and prayer and less speaking and traveling... I didn’t have enough time to think, study, and pray.” How many times have we said the same thing? Where did the time go? Rev. Graham’s epic journey speaks to multitudes of generations and his wisdom drives into the hearts of many believers. It’s leaders such as himself we can learn so much from.

Just as Rev. Graham ministered and traveled, We too as mothers, wives, teachers, are always on the go. The pages of our days should be full of God’s work, yet our margins should be left blank to think, study, and pray to the one who gave us everything. To the one who gives and takes away, the one who has made us able to fill those very same pages with the blessings we have. Just as a margin frames a page, so should meditation in the Lord frame our lives.

Ashley McDougal

Ashley is the Children's pastor for 3N1 Church in Virginia. Her passion is to see the Church being Christ's Church consistently no matter where they are and of course Children!! For more info on 3N1 you can check out their website at http://3n1church.com.

Ripples

2011-09-01T06:13:00.000-07:00

So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God's family with you, the believers]. Galatians 6:10 AMP

I have heard this week so many times “We were blessed” in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. Even though there was damage and lives lost due to this storm, most people expected it to be much worse. I am fully persuaded Hurricane Irene had less of a blow in our area due to prayer. Many were blessed, fortunate and benefited from the prayers of others during this storm. I have thought a lot about blessings and being blessed over the past several months; this week has brought those thoughts back to the forefront of my mind. In Galatians 6:10 we read “Be mindful to be a blessing…” When we take a look at the meaning of a couple words in this scripture we find mindful means to be attentive, aware, and thoughtful. Blessing/blessed is defined as supremely favored, fortunate, blissfully happy or content. Some synonyms for blessed include: Spiritual, exalted, honor, invoke benefits, invoke happiness, favor, give, provide, anoint, pray for and praise, according to Dictionary.com. We are expected to be aware of opportunities to exalt, favor, honor and provide for others.

Blessings are like the ripples produced when a rock is thrown into a pond. The ripples expand far out from the impact of the rock. When we pray for the lost it creates this “ripple” blessing effect. We have no idea how many people will be blessed from just one person meeting Jesus. One of our tenants told me today that because he was invited to church at the beginning of the year, that not only is he sober and serving the Lord, but his Father is also sober and serving the Lord – the ripple effect! One person’s blessing has an exponential effect. If one person blesses two people, those two people will bless four people, and those four people will bless eight people and so on.

Be bold and creative in blessing others. It doesn’t require allot of money, you can be a blessing and make others feel favored and honored from a small gesture. If you have extra veggies from your garden, give them to your neighbor. Clean out your closets and give away what you are no longer using. Smile and thank the cashier; give her a word of encouragement. Text someone today just to let them know you were praying for them and thinking of them. Let someone with less items or with a cranky child go in front of you in the line at the grocery store. Offer to take someone’s cart back to the cart corral. The ways to bless others are endless. We also benefit from being a blessing; it takes our focus off of ourselves, our problems and our situations. You will find that your peace and joy will increase in your life as you increase blessing others. “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.” Proverbs 22:9.

During those times when you don’t feel so blessed remember, “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him” Romans 4:8. The cry of my heart is to be a blessing. I know I fall short, but Praise God every day I start anew and I am able to be a blessing because I am blessed. Cast a stone in the pond and see how far the decision to be a blessing reaches.

Michelle Odom
Michelle is an Ordained Minister through United Christian Fellowship and co-founder with her husband, John, of MJ Ministries, a “Practical Evangelism” ministry expressing the Gospel through action. MJ Ministries is dedicated to revealing God’s love through the practice of hospitality using our God given gifts, talents and resources. We are challenged to Engage others in the pursuit of Jesus, Encourage others to realize their potential in Jesus, and Empower others to have influence for Jesus. “Mission Possible” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” Mark 10:27

Supernaturally Natural

2011-08-31T09:30:00.000-07:00

“…it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.” I Cor. 15:44-46

The Scripture typically divides all humans into two divisions, the natural and the spiritual. Some refer to the spiritual as being the “supernatural”. So, for cohesion sake, I will also.

The natural, or unspiritual, man identifies the un-regenerated person. You know, the one controlled by mere natural instincts and desires. This kind of person does not have the Holy Spirit, is under Satan’s dominion, and is a slave to the body and its passions. He or she belongs to the world, is in agreement with it and rejects the righteous ways of the Spirit. The natural person is not able to understand God and his ways, but instead relies on human reasoning or emotions. The natural person, without some kind of divine intervention, is headed for doom.

The second division that humans fall into is that of the supernatural. The supernatural man identifies the regenerated person. You know the one who has the Holy Spirit. This person is spiritually minded, thinks the thoughts of God, and lives by the Spirit of God. Such an individual believes in Jesus Christ, strives to follow the leading of the Spirit, and resists sensual desires and sin. It’s obvious that this is the kind of person God desires for all to be.

It is true that all men are born as natural. From the start we all desire for our own natural desires to be met. If you have kids or have ever had kids you know exactly what I mean by this statement. Newborn babies are some of the most selfish individuals you’ll ever come across. Why? Because that’s all that they know, they haven’t come into the knowledge of Christ yet.

So the question is this; how does one become a spiritual man or woman? Simple… when a person accepts by faith the salvation provided through Christ, he or she is regenerated; the Holy Spirit imparts to him or her new nature. He or she is born again, renewed, and made a new creation and recipient of God’s righteousness through faith in Christ. He or she is made to be supernatural but this doesn’t mean that the entire “natural” has vanished nor does this mean that we should disregard the “natural”.

As Christians we must realize that before you can have supernatural experiences there must be the natural. I know that some of you are having a hard time with that statement. If you look at all of the miracles Jesus performed there were often, if not always, elements of the natural present. Why? Because I believe God wanted to show humanity how much better and superior He is than what we have come to know on this earth!

Everyday my natural tendencies are at war with my supernatural inclinations. Sadly sometimes nature wins. But I have determined to not look at them as defeats or setbacks. I’m learning to look at them for what they really are: just more opportunities for God to show His superiority in my life. So I say work Jesus, work! I’m proud to be supernaturally natural!

Adraine Scott

Adraine is the president of Edvance Services LLC. His entire professional career has been spent helping others find their unique ways of learning and being. He has been able to accomplish this by serving as a youth minister, speaker, counselor, college and career minister, secondary education teacher, and business owner.

Stranger in a Strange Land

2011-08-30T05:34:00.000-07:00

I write this Tuesday’s devotional as a somewhat privileged refugee. As Hurricane Irene headed toward the NC coast, I took my daughters and headed to Virginia to stay with family until the storm had passed. The hurricane passed over Hatteras Island with wind and rain, but then dealt it a brutal blow with hard westerly winds as it left. I had seen pictures of locals who had stayed through the storm standing out in the sound on dry land as the waters had receded during the beginning of the storm. The sound came rushing back in with a vengeance, flooding the northern villages of the island, from Avon to Rodanthe, and destroying great pieces of Highway 12, the only road onto the island.

Many dedicated people and companies are working around the clock to restore power and transportation to our beautiful island. In the meantime, those who left wait to return to the lives they left behind. I am reminded of the period of time before I came to know Jesus, when I increasingly was feeling like what I found the Bible calls “a stranger and pilgrim on the earth”.

Hebrews 11:13-16 (NKJV)

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

Hatteras Island has a spiritual heritage that could be called a microcosm of the pilgrim dream of America. The villagers’ lives centered around their church and families, the work ethic was strong. These were a people who knew they were “strangers and pilgrims on the earth”. Many of the old-timers of Hatteras Island have now passed on to that heavenly country – and they too “died in faith, not having received the promises”. These promises included the salvation of their households – their inheritance which is composed of their children, their grandchildren and so on. This inheritance also includes the nations of the world, for the Word of God promises He will give His people the nations as their inheritance. In their day, Hatteras Island was a wild and desolate place, isolated from the world. In our day, people from all over the world come to us to enjoy all that nature has to offer. Many people have moved to Hatteras Island for a simpler lifestyle, drawn by the passion and purity of life surrounded by sound and sea. They are included in the inheritance of the saints.

And so, as the Church age rapidly draws to a close, we will see the promises of God come to pass for all those who died in faith, for those who confessed they were strangers and pilgrims, for those who desired a heavenly country. This includes all who died in faith all over the world, throughout human history. The days are upon us that we will see the nations give up the inheritance of the righteous – an inheritance far more valuable than gold or diamonds – an inheritance composed of men and women and children. Those who will recognize that they too are strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Ephesians 2:19-22

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

These are the most exciting days of human history in which to be living, days in which we will receive the promises of those who died in faith.

Rhonda Roughton
Rhonda is founder of INK Ministries. INK Ministries' mission is to build up the body of Christ through writing, preaching and teaching with an emphasis on the New Covenant and who we are in Christ. "Write down the vision and make it plain on tablets so that whoever reads it may run with it." Habakkuk 2:2-3. This is a "hands-on" ministry as well as a writing ministry - moving in the gifts and power of the Holy Spiit to bring hope, healing and deliverance to all those who hunger for more of Him.

Arise & Shine

2011-08-29T08:02:00.000-07:00

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” (Isaiah 60:1-3)

For the past week or so my seven-year-old daughter, Hannah, and I have gotten up early, put the dogs on their leashes and taken off for an early morning walk. One of the benefits of doing so is getting to see the beauty of daybreak as the sun rises in the sky and grows in intensity. When we leave it is barely light and by the time we return home, much more exhausted than the dogs, the daylight has taken over and dispelled all trace of the dark.

The prophet Isaiah looked around at the world in his day and saw little trace of light. The evil of mankind had brought a blanket of darkness over the world that God originally created “good”. Yet when he looked at the people of God he saw light breaking through. Why? Because they were covered by the “glory of the Lord” that had dawned in their lives. As God’s chosen people they were going to be the rays of light that would drive back the darkness and allow others to see the Lord. In fact, the prophet makes clear that their influence would stretch far beyond their imagination to impact nations around the world.

Today, the world hasn’t changed much from Isaiah’s time. The darkness that surrounds its people is as thick and oppressive as ever. People are stumbling and perishing and desperate for light. That’s the bad news. There is, however, good news – God’s glory has not diminished one bit and that glory is still able to puncture the darkness and bring light to a lost world! And the way God chooses to do so hasn’t changed either. He still uses “moons” to light up the darkness.

One of the myths believed by a young child is that the moon “shines” at night time. It isn’t till they get older that some well-meaning parent or science teacher lets them in on the truth – the moon doesn’t shine at all, it simply reflects the light of the sun. When there is little or no moon the darkness wins, but when the moon is shining full the darkness is held back.

In 2 Corinthians 3:18 Paul makes clear that we as believers are the “moons” God uses to drive back the darkness. “…we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord…” It wasn’t long ago that we were a part of the very darkness we now seek to repel – “…that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Pet. 2:9) Did you notice that last phrase? – “his wonderful light” – we can never forget that the light we shine is not our own. When we lose sight of this, when we forget the darkness we once stumbled around in, it becomes easy to look at those still living in darkness with judgmental condemnation, when instead we should be shining the light of Christ into their dark soul so they too can come to see the “light of the world” (John 8:12) The challenge for each of us is to keep our lives pure of anything that would diminish Christ’s glory from reflecting. The impact of a life lived like that cannot be underestimated – it could reach around the world!

Clark Hausman
Clark is the pastor at Moyock Assembly of God.

Breaking News: A Storm's Coming - Get Prepared!

2011-08-27T06:02:00.000-07:00

Photo credit: Lori Stewart via FB

I’ve lived all my life in the northeast area of North Carolina. We have been through many hurricanes, tropical storms and nor’easters. We’ve even had a couple of blizzards. It never fails that as soon as the forecast is made that a storm may be in our area the news begins telling people how to prepare for the storm. The need of so many gallons of water per person, per day; non-perishable food items, flashlights, batteries, boarding up windows, picking up lawn items that will most likely blow around and sometimes evacuations. There is a rush on the grocery stores to buy water and many other items. The shelves are wiped out of the items that people feel they will need to survive. They always wait until they are told a storm is coming – get prepared.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 - ^“Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”

Many people have tried to predict when Jesus will return. He taught the disciples to be prepared because it was unknown. In this passage, Paul was teaching the same thing. If we know that we have a storm coming we have time to get prepared. If we were told a burglar would be coming, he would definitely be met with a surprise! But we aren’t told of the time, day or hour of Jesus’ return, but we know it’s coming – we should prepare! However, we tend to wait until it’s too late and we find the empty shelves.

I think the problem is we look inward rather than upward. We get caught up in our day-to-day lives. We run errands, go to work, run our kids around to their activities and we forget that we have an urgent matter at hand. There are friends, family, neighbors, strangers, people we might not care too much for, and honestly, some of us “christians” that when the day comes of Jesus’ return will face an eternity of judgment.

Are you prepared? Are those around you prepared? We need to be about our Father’s business and make sure the world and ourselves are prepared for that day – no matter when it may be!

I want to leave you with a powerful piece of writing. From all accounts I can find, it was written by a young pastor in Africa. It was found amongst his papers after he was martyred.

“I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His and I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I'm done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.

My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.

I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!”

A storm’s coming, we’re not sure of the day. It’s time to prepare.

Crystal Owens

Category 5

2011-08-27T04:08:00.000-07:00

I read the quote recently, “Count your rainbows, not your thunderstorms.” It is very basic at first glance, but the reality is, it is quite spiritual.

Most people (including myself) tend to focus on the storms that seem to always come up and they come.....sometimes daily. Whether it is a late bill, a sick child, the death of a parent, unemployment, or an unsaved spouse, there our storms surrounding us. Be it natural disasters darkening our very door or spiritual enemies hindering our spirit, we are bombarded with attacks.

It is in our human nature to place emphasis on the storm and devalue the victories. I have great news! When new storms come, it probably means old storms have passed away. It also means that we have had victory in certain areas of life. While focusing on the rainbow which also represents the promise of God as seen in Genesis 9:12,

Genesis 9:12 (Whole Chapter)
God continued, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and everything living around you and everyone living after you. I'm putting my rainbow in the clouds, a sign of the covenant between me and the Earth. From now on, when I form a cloud over the Earth and the rainbow appears in the cloud, I'll remember my covenant between me and you and everything living, that never again will floodwaters destroy all life. When the rainbow appears in the cloud, I'll see it and remember the eternal covenant between God and everything living, every last living creature on Earth."

We minimize the anxiety of the battle ahead. We recollect on the times when bills were paid with no money, bodies were healed, people (including ourselves) were delivered, and God took care of every situation. In Luke 8:22, the scripture says that when the disciples were on the boat with Jesus and the storm came, he spoke and the storm ceased.

If we are consistently recollecting on the times when God came through for us in the midst of the storm, we will always see the next rainbow. Every time there is another rainbow, it will encourage us to push harder and trust more because then we realize that God is with us, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM.

Kasey Scott

Kasey is currently a high school English teacher, whose students are young ladies who are substance dependent and incarcerated. Kasey has a passion to reach into the lives of girls in desperate situations and show them the Hope that is available in Jesus Christ. She also is the VP and Director of Curriculum Design for Edvance Services, an educational services company she co-founded with her husband.

Things You Thought You Couldn't Do - Part II

2011-08-26T06:04:00.000-07:00

“But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.” 1 Corinthians 12:18

Realizing that our sovereign Lord has made us for a purpose far above anything we could imagination is mind blowing. The word exemplifies this in so many people and stories in the Old and New Testament. One step further in accepting that awesome calling is understanding that just as we are called to a higher potential as individuals, we also are called to that same level as a community. When Adam, the very first individual, was created there was an immediate dilemma. “The Lord God said, It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Thus, the first community was created.

If the truth be told, we all have somewhat of a hard time with acknowledging the need for community. In the last couple of decades, our society has devalued relationships outside of our everyday sphere. Let’s face it, unless an earthquake hits who really talks to their “neighbors” anyway?

This has got to stop......

According to Peter*, we are like living stones being built into a spiritual house. The Living Stone, Jesus, is crafting us into the very church He has such a passion and love for. Not one stone will build this glorious structure alone. This is no physical building that is being built; it’s the community, the spiritual house of the Lord. Each of these stones are connected and molded together through the blood of Christ. We all have a common thread, the day we allowed Jesus into our lives. As for any good community, we too have a common incentive in mind. Heaven, our prize, is full of community, so should we be here on earth. I challenge you to connect, relate, and discover your community.

Remember we serve GOD the father, GOD the son, and GOD the Holy Spirit … the great 3 in 1……

* "As you come to him, the Living Stone - rejected by men bt chosen by God and precious to him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ." 1 Peter 2:4-5

** Inspired by a teaching of Pastor Judah Smith **

The "F" Word

2011-08-25T08:22:00.000-07:00

When I was young my brother enjoyed terrorizing me on a regular basis. He was mischievous and a prankster. He would splatter ketchup all over himself and turn his eyelids up and chase me around the house like he was a zombie. I would run screaming into my bedroom where he would turn the light off & hold the door close from the outside. I was frozen in fear and because I was so afraid, it never occurred to me that all I had to do was switch the light on and I would no longer be in the dark. My brother did this because he knew he would get a reaction from me and he thought it was very funny. Not once do I remember my parents coming to my rescue, maybe they were never home during his zombie attacks. It’s funny how all these years later I think back on this and I find it very comical. I guess he prepared me to enjoy being scared because now I like scary movies!

Somewhere I read that there are about 530 documented phobias. We live in a time when people are afraid of everything. Fear is poison from the enemy. It is the root of many physical and emotional ailments such as anxiety, stress and depression. When fear sets in it affects our mind, which alters how we think. Fear distorts our perception; we no longer are able to see situations as they really are, just as I was unable to reason all I had to do was turn the light on. But God has not given us a Spirit of fear but a Spirit of power, love and sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

Fear steals our peace. Peace is a state of mutual harmony, cessation of war, and freedom. Peace produces clarity of mind and rest for the body. The enemy tries to keep us at war with God, through fear, but because of the blood of Jesus the war has ceased. “…and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Colossians 1:20 NIV Christians are no longer at war with God; we have freedom from torment, dread, and anxiety. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace” Ephesians 2:13-15 NIV

The enemy takes advantage of fear in our lives to stop us from fulfilling the plan God has for us. We will continue to have feelings of fear but be encouraged that you have a heavenly Father who is always home and waiting to come to your rescue. God knew this would be an area where His children would struggle, that must be why He left us so many instructions on not fearing, about 365 one for each day of the year. Stand firm in your promise of peace, “Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]” John 14:27 AMP

Stop allowing the enemy to torment you and fill you with fear and darkness. The light of Jesus lives in you; you no longer live in darkness. Daily you can make a decision for peace and not to live in fear. Be bold and believe the war has ended you have VICTORY. You can live the life God has planned for you; a life filled with love, joy and peace.

Michelle Odom
Michelle is an Ordained Minister through United Christian Fellowship and co-founder with her husband, John, of MJ Ministries, a “Practical Evangelism” ministry expressing the Gospel through action. MJ Ministries is dedicated to revealing God’s love through the practice of hospitality using our God given gifts, talents and resources. We are challenged to Engage others in the pursuit of Jesus, Encourage others to realize their potential in Jesus, and Empower others to have influence for Jesus. “Mission Possible” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” Mark 10:27

Should We Work or Should We Worship?

2011-08-24T04:23:00.000-07:00

I was shaken and challenged today while reading a book by one of my favorite authors, Dan Miller. In his book, 48 Days to the Work You Love, Dan makes a bold statement concerning work. Here’s the statement, “Never separate your work from your worship.” See what you do during the week as a form of ministry. If you are unable to see your work this way, then you really need to look at changing it.”

Wow, straight to the point! No sugar coating anything there! Isn’t that right, Dan?

AS a Christian I have always tried to view my work as a form of serving God. I'll admitthat some days are easier than others. But if the truth be known, in the hustle and bustle of the moment I often lose sight of this truth.

I somehow seem to unintentionally compartmentalize my life. On one side there’s work and then on the other side there’s Jesus. I’m now realizing that somewhere along the way I was given the wrong information concerning what it really means to minister before God. The ill conceived notion that only those who are in full time ministry or missions are the only ministers before God is not true. What we really need are some “regular” occupational ministers.

Imagine what the world would look like if we never separated our work from our worship. Buildings would look much more ascetically appealing because they would have been designed through the lenses of worship. Customer service would be changed to Godly service. Overtime wouldn't even be a concept because we'll lose track of time worshipping. The wold would be a totally different place.

Colossians 3:17 teaches us to “whatever… deed…do it all in the name of Jesus...giving thanks to the father.” Simply put, ‘never separate your work from worship’.

In closing I'll like to leave you with another thought from 48 Days to the Work You Love. This helps us to sum it all up, "In addition to the paycheck, we all want a sense of meaning, a feeling of accomplishment to what we do. And what we do vocationally is important; the way we spend 40 to 50 hours a week is no small matter. OUr work must be a fulfillmet of our unique ministry; otherwise, we are wasting a lot of our time and energy."

So to answer the question of whether we should work or should we worship?

My answer is simple...What's the difference?

Adraine Scott