Remembering Your Life Story...

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

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

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)

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

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

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

Proverbs 26:11 says, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.” I know it is disgusting and yet, very true at the same time. We just never think of our repeat offenses in this light. We all struggle with sin and there is always one (sometimes more) that we always return to repeat.

We are too familiar with the sins in our lives that we no longer find them detestable.  Once we do, we reject them and walk away from them 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, we return to that which we once rejected (vomited) and pick it up again. We are like the dogs. This is why I disgust myself sometimes. If I return to a sin that I “vomited” I’m just like a dog that does the same.

So how can we stop the cycle? Scripture tells us a couple of ways, one of which is found in Romans 12:2: “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.”

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

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.

Bring Your "G" Game

The people of the town had no idea of what rugby was, but only vaguely. So when construction began on a new rugby stadium, no one was impressed. At least not favorably. People grumbled when construction blocked a lane of traffic. They griped about the noise and the ruined view. When they saw signs announcing tickets for sale, few were interested. Most people predicted it would never last.

One clear evening, people noticed two spotlights piercing the 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 followed the signs in the sky.

It took little time for people to trace the fireworks to the new 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, People who had never before seen the game found themselves enthralled with the fast action and great skill of the players. A lot of people’s feelings toward rugby changed that night. Some signed up to learn to play. Many more signed up for season tickets. The spectacular sights and sounds of the spotlights and fireworks had drawn people to the field, but the exciting game made the people rugby fans. The game, not the fireworks, was the central importance. [*]

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

Thousands of years ago, on the Day of Pentecost when the church was born, the Holy Spirit drew crowds of thousands in. However, the main purpose and central importance was the message of the gospel. This leaving three thousand people who walked into something they never knew of before completely sold out and sharing the word of God to everyone they met. See the fact of the matter is when we lose sight of our central importance we lose sight of it all. “When the Holy Spirit is resting upon a body of believers, He does not need to be advertised. The most effective form of advertising is the power of God. Word spread all over the temple area and all over Jerusalem within a very short period of time. The crowd had been gathered and the stage was set for evangelism to take place.”

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

“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

“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

The word “wasted” has become associated with drug use, appropriately enough, since it is a word evocative of what could have been.  When something, or someone, is wasted there is a loss of something that cannot be regained.

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

Luke 7:36-50 (NKJ)

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

Now when 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 of woman 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 had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”
 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”
And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.”

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

 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
 And those who sat at the table with Him began 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 being wasted – and there is, in the human spirit, a desire to be wasted.  One is to be wasted in the things of this world with no way of ever recovering that which is lost.

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

After all, He poured out His live for us.  Life “wasted” in the Kingdom of God will bring reward, both in this life and 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

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

The story of Hansel and Gretel is one which has been entertaining (and probably scaring) kids for generations.  It is the story of a brother and sister who are intentionally stranded in the forest by their parents who can no longer afford to feed them, they discover a house made entirely of sweets, get captured by the witch that owns the house, are held captive while the witch attempts to fatten them up so she can eat them, and finally escape when Gretel bravely 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 is the wisdom of Hansel who, knowing the intentions of his parents, twice leaves a trail, once of stones and once of bread crumbs, so they can retrace their steps back home after they are abandoned.  In the passage above, Paul has laid out the “path” a person walks on their way to salvation.  To see this path we need to do as Hansel & Gretel did, follow the trail from where it ends to where it all began.  Let’s consider the progression of salvation in reverse:

            Someone is sent à they preach the word à the word is believed à they                           call on Jesus à they are saved!

By taking this backward look at salvation, we Christians are made painfully aware of the responsibility we have to the “lost”.  For starters, we have the responsibility to proclaim 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 this knowledge comes through the preaching of the word.

            “…faith comes 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 verbally communicating who Jesus is and what He has done for us, is not the responsibility of “professionals” (pastors, evangelists).

               1 Peter 2:9  “…you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

If you know what it is to be called out of darkness, then you 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.  We must 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, he is a new creation…all this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…we are therefore Christ’s ambassadors….”

Now that doesn’t mean we all have to pack our bags for Botswana 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 with them what Christ has done for us and can do for them.

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

            Acts 4:12  “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name (besides that of Jesus) under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

            Rom. 10:9  “…if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your 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 have experienced the wonderful grace of God (because someone was willing to be sent and to preach!) is a resounding “No!”

Clark Hausman
Clark is the pastor of Moyock Assembly of God

Need: Something Required Because it is Essential

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

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.

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.

Shifting Sands

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.