Tomorrow is my daughter Emily's birthday. (Happy Birthday, Emily. You are gorgeous, talented, gifted, determined, motivated, industrious, a great mother and inspiring teacher. We are immensely proud of you.)
Yesterday was son in law Kyle's birthday, a wonderful man who loves God, loves our daughter Katy, is a servant, is funny, creative, a great friend, fisherman, a true blessing to the family.
Last week was son in law Mike's birthday, a godly man who is a wonderful husband and father, a leader in God's kingdom, who, as the first son in the family, set a high standard.
With 4 daughters, 4 sons-in-law, 8 grandchildren, we have a lot of birthdays in the immediate family, and we don't do much for them. They just sneak up on us, and then they are over.
A few years ago, we quit celebrating the adult birthdays in the family. We rent a lake house every year. Les and I put what we would spend on the 8 adult birthdays toward the bulk of the lake house expense. The truth is, no one needs anything as for as a birthday gift, the lake house vacation is a great time for the whole family, so it is good use of the money. It really is a good arrangement.
The bad thing is, we forget about the birthdays. We don't have time to have big birthday gatherings for everyone, so celebrating the days is pretty hit and miss. Since we don't buy gifts, we forget to get cards in time to get them in the mail. So, it is a little sad. We have wonderful people in the family who SHOULD be celebrated, but end up only celebrating a few each year.
So, today, I am saying Happy Birthday to my wonderful daughter's and their terrific husbands.
Our purpose is to encourage women to pursue a growing, passionate relationship with Jesus Christ through support, fellowship and discipleship. We strive to provide many opportunities to help women grow in relationship with Christ; to live the abundant life that Jesus promised, a life of joy and freedom, and to have relationships that are healthy and fulfilling.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Kingdom Living
These are just some things that are going through my mind lately, mostly because of reading When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson. I'm not advocating any new agenda, I'm just pondering some things, and writing down my thoughts, not polished, just some ramblings.
Jesus told us to pray "your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is on heaven". This is the primary focus of prayer, that God would rule on earth as He does in heaven, that just as Gods will is done I heaven, so it will be on earth. We pray the revealed will of God, through an exercise of faith. Enduring faith doesn't let go. Such an invasion causes the circumstances here to line up with heaven.
Everything that happens here is supposed to be a shadow of heaven. Matt 6:33 "Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you." In prayer, we seek His kingdom, ask that the Lordship of Christ would be seen in all circumstances of life. As the kingdom of God confronts sin, forgiveness is given and change comes. When His rule collides with disease, people are healed. The kingdom message provides salvation for the whole man--spirit, soul, and body.
What Jesus was saying is that, if we seek His kingdom first, we'll find that His kingdom is fully equipped. It brings with it His answer to our needs. When we pray for His kingdom to come, we are asking Him to superimpose His rules, orders, and benefits of His world over this one until this one looks like His.
Like a McDonald's franchise. When I am travelling and I see those golden arches, I know what to expect if I stop. Every menu item in Little Rock AK will be the same as in Stephenville TX. If you want to open a McDonalds, you agree to all the rules, the menu, the way things are done. You also get all the benefits; the name recognition, advertizing, etc. God's Kingdom is like that. If we line up our lives with all of His ways, then we get the benefits, too.
The honor we have in being able to pray is beyond all comprehension. We are His representative on earth--ambassadors of His world. Our cries touch His heart. Intimacy is the main purpose of prayer. And its through relationship that God entrusts to us the secrets of His heart, that we might express them in prayer.
In Luke 2:25-30 Simeon and Anna prayed for the messiah because God told them that he was coming soon, and He showed them when he came. God has full power and dominion to do anything he wants, but what he wants to do is answer our prayer. God has chosen to work through us. We are His delegated authority on planet earth, and prayer is the vehicle that gives occasion for his invasion. If we don't pray, we allow darkness to continue to rule.
Matt 11:11 Jesus said that John was the greatest until then, but the least in the kingdom would be greater. Matt 3:11 John explains why, because Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. The baptism in the Holy Spirit makes a lifestyle available to us which not even John the Baptist had access to.
Every believer has written into her spiritual DNA the desire for the supernatural , to see God do amazing things that only He can do. We need to focus on Gods presence in our lives, and that means we are willing to live beyond reason. Not impulsively or foolishly, but willing to be obedient to God. Obedience is the expression of faith.
In John 3, Nicodemus said, "We know you are a teacher from God, because no one can do these signs apart from God". Jesus did a lot of miracles. Then, He sent out 70 disciples and said they would do everything he did, and should tell people that the kingdom of God was there.
In Luke 10:9 John 14:10 says that Jesus did the signs not on his own but by the father. John 5, Jesus did nothing apart from the father, "I can of myself do nothing". Luke 4, Jesus the spirit was on him to preach, to heal, to proclaim liberty. Everything Jesus did was from God's heart. The supernatural interventions of God were done to reveal the extravagant heart of the father for people. Every miracle is a revelation of His nature. And in that revelation is imbedded an invitation for relationship. Don't we need that today? We need the Father Himself. We need his presence, to woo the hearts of mankind through His live.
Many believers have made it their primary goal in life to be well respected citizens. Good character makes us solid citizens, and we should be that, but, MUCH more. Jesus sends us out, not to just be good, but to represent His kingdom here on earth today.
Acts 2:28 we are to be witnesses..with power. Jesus died for us, we are forgiven, born again, children of God, with the Holy Spirit, all the power that raised Jesus from the dead at our disposal. We are told to not grieve the spirit in Eph. 4:30. That deals with sin. We are also told to not quench the spirit in 1 Thess. 5:19 That means, Don't stop the flow. I wonder how much I stop the flow of the Spirit in my life. Im not sure I even understand what that means.
Biblical passion is a mysterious mixture of humility, supernatural hunger, and faith. I pursue because I have been pursued. Lethargy must not be found in me. I don't want to accept an explanation or rationale that excuses mediocrity. Gods kingdom is here. With power. We are representatives of that kingdom, so we should live like it. By looking for chances to serve, to pray for people, to reach out, we give the holy spirit the opportunity to do what only he van do. Give God a chance to do whatever only He can do.
Jesus told us to pray "your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is on heaven". This is the primary focus of prayer, that God would rule on earth as He does in heaven, that just as Gods will is done I heaven, so it will be on earth. We pray the revealed will of God, through an exercise of faith. Enduring faith doesn't let go. Such an invasion causes the circumstances here to line up with heaven.
Everything that happens here is supposed to be a shadow of heaven. Matt 6:33 "Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you." In prayer, we seek His kingdom, ask that the Lordship of Christ would be seen in all circumstances of life. As the kingdom of God confronts sin, forgiveness is given and change comes. When His rule collides with disease, people are healed. The kingdom message provides salvation for the whole man--spirit, soul, and body.
What Jesus was saying is that, if we seek His kingdom first, we'll find that His kingdom is fully equipped. It brings with it His answer to our needs. When we pray for His kingdom to come, we are asking Him to superimpose His rules, orders, and benefits of His world over this one until this one looks like His.
Like a McDonald's franchise. When I am travelling and I see those golden arches, I know what to expect if I stop. Every menu item in Little Rock AK will be the same as in Stephenville TX. If you want to open a McDonalds, you agree to all the rules, the menu, the way things are done. You also get all the benefits; the name recognition, advertizing, etc. God's Kingdom is like that. If we line up our lives with all of His ways, then we get the benefits, too.
The honor we have in being able to pray is beyond all comprehension. We are His representative on earth--ambassadors of His world. Our cries touch His heart. Intimacy is the main purpose of prayer. And its through relationship that God entrusts to us the secrets of His heart, that we might express them in prayer.
In Luke 2:25-30 Simeon and Anna prayed for the messiah because God told them that he was coming soon, and He showed them when he came. God has full power and dominion to do anything he wants, but what he wants to do is answer our prayer. God has chosen to work through us. We are His delegated authority on planet earth, and prayer is the vehicle that gives occasion for his invasion. If we don't pray, we allow darkness to continue to rule.
Matt 11:11 Jesus said that John was the greatest until then, but the least in the kingdom would be greater. Matt 3:11 John explains why, because Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. The baptism in the Holy Spirit makes a lifestyle available to us which not even John the Baptist had access to.
Every believer has written into her spiritual DNA the desire for the supernatural , to see God do amazing things that only He can do. We need to focus on Gods presence in our lives, and that means we are willing to live beyond reason. Not impulsively or foolishly, but willing to be obedient to God. Obedience is the expression of faith.
In John 3, Nicodemus said, "We know you are a teacher from God, because no one can do these signs apart from God". Jesus did a lot of miracles. Then, He sent out 70 disciples and said they would do everything he did, and should tell people that the kingdom of God was there.
In Luke 10:9 John 14:10 says that Jesus did the signs not on his own but by the father. John 5, Jesus did nothing apart from the father, "I can of myself do nothing". Luke 4, Jesus the spirit was on him to preach, to heal, to proclaim liberty. Everything Jesus did was from God's heart. The supernatural interventions of God were done to reveal the extravagant heart of the father for people. Every miracle is a revelation of His nature. And in that revelation is imbedded an invitation for relationship. Don't we need that today? We need the Father Himself. We need his presence, to woo the hearts of mankind through His live.
Many believers have made it their primary goal in life to be well respected citizens. Good character makes us solid citizens, and we should be that, but, MUCH more. Jesus sends us out, not to just be good, but to represent His kingdom here on earth today.
Acts 2:28 we are to be witnesses..with power. Jesus died for us, we are forgiven, born again, children of God, with the Holy Spirit, all the power that raised Jesus from the dead at our disposal. We are told to not grieve the spirit in Eph. 4:30. That deals with sin. We are also told to not quench the spirit in 1 Thess. 5:19 That means, Don't stop the flow. I wonder how much I stop the flow of the Spirit in my life. Im not sure I even understand what that means.
Biblical passion is a mysterious mixture of humility, supernatural hunger, and faith. I pursue because I have been pursued. Lethargy must not be found in me. I don't want to accept an explanation or rationale that excuses mediocrity. Gods kingdom is here. With power. We are representatives of that kingdom, so we should live like it. By looking for chances to serve, to pray for people, to reach out, we give the holy spirit the opportunity to do what only he van do. Give God a chance to do whatever only He can do.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Dresses for little girls
This week was our annual "Ma Camp" with Abby and Maddie. We played, shopped, swam, watched movies, and had a great time. Thursday night, after
I got home from Celebrate Recovery and we had a couple of scavenger hunts, we decided that Friday we would make pillowcase dresses to send to children in Africa.
So, we went to Walmart at midnight to buy pillowcases. The twelve year old girls were really excited about that? and amazed that so many people were also there.
This morning we went to work. These are very easy to make, following directions online. Here we are at work.
I got home from Celebrate Recovery and we had a couple of scavenger hunts, we decided that Friday we would make pillowcase dresses to send to children in Africa.
So, we went to Walmart at midnight to buy pillowcases. The twelve year old girls were really excited about that? and amazed that so many people were also there.
This morning we went to work. These are very easy to make, following directions online. Here we are at work.
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| Our inspiration |
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| Finished Product! Ready to mail. |
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Rest for the weary and heavy laden
Special event for women 30-50
(ish)
Mary and Martha--Together at Last
We all have so much to do, and can easily be
stressed and overwhelmed. Learn how to actually do the things that God has given
you, while still sitting at Jesus feet, enjoying the peace that comes from His
presence.
Tuesday, July 10, 6:30-8:00.
Cottonwood Fellowship Hall.
At a leadership retreat June 1-3, we discussed the need for something specific for this age group, and one of the women there who is in that group suggested sharing something dealing with time management and coping with stress. After that discussion and some prayer time, I happened to read Matt 11:28-12:1
" Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, andYOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
That passage spoke to me in a new, fresh way, and I felt that it was the foundation of what I would speak. Jesus calls us to come to Him when we are weary, but then He says to put on a yoke. A yoke was for working, not resting. I believe that Jesus calls us to come join Him in the work that He has designed for us, and that work will be rest to us. We are weary because we tend to be doing so many things that He has not called us to be doing. We are stressed because we are worried about how our children will be. We wear ourselves out trying to meet needs that we are not designed to meet. We find true rest when we rest IN HIM.
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