I thought it was about time I wrote a personal update. I am working full time as an assistant manager at a local dollar type store. It is a lot of work, but I love it.
John hurt his back, a couple of weeks ago, so he is just laying around, and trying to heal. He is in a lot of pain. John has been asked to be the youth director at the church we attend, and has accepted. He is trying to retire from construction. This position is part time, but can work into more at some point.
Marci is planning on finishing up her high school at the community college. She is dating a young man who lives down the street.
Jonny will be in the 8th grade this year, and loving it. She is very social, and loves to spend time with her friends.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
What is an evangelist?
I heard some one say, "God gave evangelists to prepare God's people for works of service." This comes from Eph 4:11-12. They cut out parts of the verse, but I do not think it would have impacted me as much if they would have quoted the full verse. This person was talking about training others to evangelize. What the quote made me think was, "You mean evangelists are to help us to serve others?"
As a result I decided to try and answer this question. I looked up evangelist in the Greek, and it said one who evangelized, so I looked up evangelize in the Greek, and it said one who shares the good news. When it says in the bible that Jesus preached the Greek word used is evangelized.
When I see "evangelists" today I don't see them sharing good news to me. The good news is that we can talk to God at any time about anything we want. It also is that God loves us. He loves us no matter what we have done, or think.
HE LOVES US!!!
The work of an evangelist is to let God love others through us. It isn't about preaching. We as evangelists are also to teach others to love. This is where the works of service come into effect. We show the love of God through works of service.
As a result I decided to try and answer this question. I looked up evangelist in the Greek, and it said one who evangelized, so I looked up evangelize in the Greek, and it said one who shares the good news. When it says in the bible that Jesus preached the Greek word used is evangelized.
When I see "evangelists" today I don't see them sharing good news to me. The good news is that we can talk to God at any time about anything we want. It also is that God loves us. He loves us no matter what we have done, or think.
HE LOVES US!!!
The work of an evangelist is to let God love others through us. It isn't about preaching. We as evangelists are also to teach others to love. This is where the works of service come into effect. We show the love of God through works of service.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
spontaneity
My pastor made a comment the other day that made me laugh. I also had to stop and think about the comment. He said, "I like to plan my spontaneity." I am usually a planner. I had my whole life planned out when I was young. My plans did not happen as I had planned. This was really hard on me. Then I married.
John,my husband, is very spontaneous. He does not like to plan anything. It has made me become more spontaneous.
I have found that being spontaneous has helped me keep my life more balanced. When I am spontaneous I have a chance to live beyond my plans, and enjoy life. Living in the moment has been a struggle for me, and spontaneity helps me to be able to live in the moment.
So yesterday, my daughters were asking me to take them all kinds of places today. I told them that I was planing on being spontaneous today. I had a great day, and it was very stress relieving. I was spontaneous all day. I loved it. I went and helped a friend clean her garage, took my kids to the beach, went kayaking, and went to work. I did not know about work until 15 minutes before I had to leave, so that was spontaneous as well. I have decided that I need to plan spontaneity at times in my life. I was very stressed all week, and this day of spontaneity helped me to unwind.
There are times that we need to plan, but I spend too much time planning, and need to relax and enjoy the moment at times as well. I WILL BE SPONTANEOUS AT TIMES!!!
It was a great day, and I am so glad that I decided to plan to be spontaneous for the day.
John,my husband, is very spontaneous. He does not like to plan anything. It has made me become more spontaneous.
I have found that being spontaneous has helped me keep my life more balanced. When I am spontaneous I have a chance to live beyond my plans, and enjoy life. Living in the moment has been a struggle for me, and spontaneity helps me to be able to live in the moment.
So yesterday, my daughters were asking me to take them all kinds of places today. I told them that I was planing on being spontaneous today. I had a great day, and it was very stress relieving. I was spontaneous all day. I loved it. I went and helped a friend clean her garage, took my kids to the beach, went kayaking, and went to work. I did not know about work until 15 minutes before I had to leave, so that was spontaneous as well. I have decided that I need to plan spontaneity at times in my life. I was very stressed all week, and this day of spontaneity helped me to unwind.
There are times that we need to plan, but I spend too much time planning, and need to relax and enjoy the moment at times as well. I WILL BE SPONTANEOUS AT TIMES!!!
It was a great day, and I am so glad that I decided to plan to be spontaneous for the day.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Relationships
I know it has been a while. I have been working full time, and not had much time between family and work. One of my good friends is moving. I just moved to this area a year and a half ago, and this person is one of the few people who I have meant and feel comfortable talking with. I love her a lot. I also know that this move is for her best. Therefore I bless her, and wish her the best.
This being said, I was listening to a podcast today where the person was saying that people who are believers are connected, and when they meet it is just like they have known each other all their lives. I think this is not a realistic view of life. It takes time to build relationships. I determined that I would take the time that was needed to build good relationships. I have slacked off on this in the last month. With work and family I just have not felt like taking the time. I really need to get back into the hard work of relation building. It might not be hard work for you, but it sure is hard work for me. I was not raised knowing how to handle relationships, and am trying to learn this much needed skill in life.
I have found that I handle the trials in life much better when I have friends to walk along side me through them. My husband is great, and I love him walking beside me, but I also need my friends as well. They are there for me, and I am there for them.
This being said, I was listening to a podcast today where the person was saying that people who are believers are connected, and when they meet it is just like they have known each other all their lives. I think this is not a realistic view of life. It takes time to build relationships. I determined that I would take the time that was needed to build good relationships. I have slacked off on this in the last month. With work and family I just have not felt like taking the time. I really need to get back into the hard work of relation building. It might not be hard work for you, but it sure is hard work for me. I was not raised knowing how to handle relationships, and am trying to learn this much needed skill in life.
I have found that I handle the trials in life much better when I have friends to walk along side me through them. My husband is great, and I love him walking beside me, but I also need my friends as well. They are there for me, and I am there for them.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Let God Do The Work!!
I was reading about when David brought the ark of the LORD to Jerusalem. (2Samuel 6:1-23) In the first attempt David used his own knowledge. He used a cart pulled by some oxen. In the process Uzzah was killed because he touched the ark. When Uzzah was killed David was afraid and said, "How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?"
Fear is the same reaction that I have when I am moving forward in what I believe God wants me to do, and get stopped in my tracks. I usually take years to come out of this fear. David only took 3 months. WOW!! Fear makes us pull away from God, but David didn't pull away for too long, and when he told God just how he felt God answered him. He showed him the right way to bring the ark to Jerusalem. David tried to bring the ark to Jerusalem a second time, and this time he did it as Moses said to. No one was killed this time, and the ark got it's own home in the very town that David lived in.
I am trying to learn from David, and tell God exactly how I feel about what is happening in my life.
Another way I am trying to learn from David is to allow God to work out his plan for my life instead of doing it in my own power. This story shows us what happens when we do things in our own power verses God's power. It was when David brought the ark to Jerusalem in God's plan that it worked.
When David was anointed King he didn't take things into his own hands. He waited for God to bring everything to pass. David was even given opportunities to Kill Saul, the king at that time, but David did not take them. I am trying to be better in this respect in my own life. I want to wait on God, and only do what I see him doing through me.
This is not easy for me. I am a planner, and like to know what is coming. God is teaching me to enjoy the moment, and leave the future to him.
Fear is the same reaction that I have when I am moving forward in what I believe God wants me to do, and get stopped in my tracks. I usually take years to come out of this fear. David only took 3 months. WOW!! Fear makes us pull away from God, but David didn't pull away for too long, and when he told God just how he felt God answered him. He showed him the right way to bring the ark to Jerusalem. David tried to bring the ark to Jerusalem a second time, and this time he did it as Moses said to. No one was killed this time, and the ark got it's own home in the very town that David lived in.
I am trying to learn from David, and tell God exactly how I feel about what is happening in my life.
Another way I am trying to learn from David is to allow God to work out his plan for my life instead of doing it in my own power. This story shows us what happens when we do things in our own power verses God's power. It was when David brought the ark to Jerusalem in God's plan that it worked.
When David was anointed King he didn't take things into his own hands. He waited for God to bring everything to pass. David was even given opportunities to Kill Saul, the king at that time, but David did not take them. I am trying to be better in this respect in my own life. I want to wait on God, and only do what I see him doing through me.
This is not easy for me. I am a planner, and like to know what is coming. God is teaching me to enjoy the moment, and leave the future to him.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Organic Living
I have been asked, "What is the next move of God?" I believe that God is working in the lives of individuals organically.
When you want to plant an organic garden what do you do? You might read books, but until you actually plant your garden you do not know what questions to ask. You need to get your hands dirty.
The same is true in our lives. God is working in us to draw us back to the natural. He wants to draw us back to him. He is not working in "institutions" He is working in individuals. It is not our job to start new churches. There are enough churches already!!!
God wants us to have relationship with him and with his body. ALL OF HIS BODY!! Even if you do not fully agree with them you need to have relationship with them because they might just have something that you need.
There are people trying to write formulas for what God is doing, but it will look different in every place. It will look different in you than it does in your friend. It will look different in your city than the city down the road. It will look different in your state that it does in other states. It will look different in your country than in other countries. God works with the seasons that are in our lives and in the life of the place we live in.
We can not read a book and get a "formula" for what God is doing. The only way we can find what God is doing is by stopping and listening to him. He might ask you to step away from the things that you think you are doing for Him. He might even ask you to stop attending the institution that you attend and focus only on Him for a time. You need to be willing to listen to Him and do only what he asks you to do.
God told me, "I have not asked you to fight." God only asks us to stand. When we fight we are looking for an enemy. When we stand we have to look at ourselves.
We do not have to change ourselves just be honest with God as to what we are really like. Then we ask God to change us. God can change us better than we can change ourselves. In fact we can not change ourselves. God changes us on the inside, and then our actions show the changes that he has made in us. There are times that God asks us to do things to help with this change. These things can be hard. We have to have enough faith in God that He is with us and loves us.
So stand and listen to what God is telling you. Quit chasing after every wind of doctrine
When you want to plant an organic garden what do you do? You might read books, but until you actually plant your garden you do not know what questions to ask. You need to get your hands dirty.
The same is true in our lives. God is working in us to draw us back to the natural. He wants to draw us back to him. He is not working in "institutions" He is working in individuals. It is not our job to start new churches. There are enough churches already!!!
God wants us to have relationship with him and with his body. ALL OF HIS BODY!! Even if you do not fully agree with them you need to have relationship with them because they might just have something that you need.
There are people trying to write formulas for what God is doing, but it will look different in every place. It will look different in you than it does in your friend. It will look different in your city than the city down the road. It will look different in your state that it does in other states. It will look different in your country than in other countries. God works with the seasons that are in our lives and in the life of the place we live in.
We can not read a book and get a "formula" for what God is doing. The only way we can find what God is doing is by stopping and listening to him. He might ask you to step away from the things that you think you are doing for Him. He might even ask you to stop attending the institution that you attend and focus only on Him for a time. You need to be willing to listen to Him and do only what he asks you to do.
God told me, "I have not asked you to fight." God only asks us to stand. When we fight we are looking for an enemy. When we stand we have to look at ourselves.
We do not have to change ourselves just be honest with God as to what we are really like. Then we ask God to change us. God can change us better than we can change ourselves. In fact we can not change ourselves. God changes us on the inside, and then our actions show the changes that he has made in us. There are times that God asks us to do things to help with this change. These things can be hard. We have to have enough faith in God that He is with us and loves us.
So stand and listen to what God is telling you. Quit chasing after every wind of doctrine
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Building an alter
When the Israelites built an alter it was not to be cut by man. Just as Israel was not to alow man to cut the stones used in their worship, we are not to try to fix ourselves so we can be more fit for worshiping God. All we have to do is relax and trust that God can fix us.
Lately I have been thinking on this very subject. No matter how we try our problems keep coming back. It was not until I quit trying to fix myself, and just let God fix me that I started getting the help I needed. I see so many people trying to fix themselves through counseling, accountability, and other things. These things only help if that person is willing to accept the fact that they can not do on their own.
Jesus came to fix our problem, SIN!! He is the only answer. Just relax and let him fix you. When we relax and come to the understanding that Jesus' death on the cross truly fixed everything we will be able to overcome a multitude of sin.
Lately I have been thinking on this very subject. No matter how we try our problems keep coming back. It was not until I quit trying to fix myself, and just let God fix me that I started getting the help I needed. I see so many people trying to fix themselves through counseling, accountability, and other things. These things only help if that person is willing to accept the fact that they can not do on their own.
Jesus came to fix our problem, SIN!! He is the only answer. Just relax and let him fix you. When we relax and come to the understanding that Jesus' death on the cross truly fixed everything we will be able to overcome a multitude of sin.
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