It's a week before new year's eve,
And we are staring at 2013,
And we wonder what it will be?
It's like a great big book,
So let's take a look,
Because we wonder what will be?
It's full of empty pages,
Like we haven't seen in ages,
And we wonder what will be there for me?
What will we write on those virgin pages,
Great works or sinful blotches?
I think that it is up to me.
But let the Creator,
And even the Savior,
help you decide what it should be.
But as for me,
I'm waiting to see,
What God will write for me?
What will the message be
For 2013,
According to me?
Whatever it be,
In 2013,
Let's make them spiritually thirsty!
Mat. 5:6, 13
Monday, December 24, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
changes in the New Year
It has been a few months since I have written anything on here. Next year, I plan to start posting my books on here. Keep your eyes open for my first book, "In Pursuit of the Virtuous Woman". Coming January 2013!
Toni Kratochvil
Toni Kratochvil
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
What type of leader are you?
"Jesus said...You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whosoever desires to become great among you, let him be you servant. And whosoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave- just as the Son of Man come to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
(Mat. 20:25-27)
"So when he had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me teacher and Lord...so I am. If I then ...have washed your feet, you ought to wash each others feet...I have given you an example...that you should do as I have done to you...I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. ...blessed are you if you do them" (John 13:12-17).
Washing the feet of others was a servant's job in the New Testament, and for good reason. People back them wore sandals and walked on dusty, dirty, dug filled roads. One of the customs of the area was to have a servant wash the feet of people when they came to visit. Jesus had tried to teach his deciples about serving others, and they had not understood(Mat. 20:25-27). So he choose to gave them the perfect picture of what servanthood looked like by washing their feet(John 13:25-27). In doing so, he also gave us an example of how a leader should act.
Why do we become leaders at work or in ministry? Is it so others can look up to us and serve us? Or is it so that we can show others love by serving them? Jesus told us that we should serve others. If we want him to be pleased with us we need to do just that.
But how? You ask. Let's look at a play to understand this better. Putting on a play takes many people to do. Yes, there are the actors and actoreses that we see on the stage. But there are many people behind the scenes that are important too.
Here is a list of them...
The person who wrote the songs and play
The director
The one who teaches the dances to those in the play
Those who put together and painted the set
The people who made the costumes
The light and sound people
Those who promotes the play
Those who made and printed the tickets
The people who did the hair and makeup
The ticket sellers
And those who buy and attend the play
Now you will have to admit that a play would not be the best, if you didn't have these people all doing their jobs. As with a play, a ministry needs many people with different talents and skills doing what they are called to do, otherwise, it will not be as affective as it could be. WE need to all do our job, even if it is a job that no one sees you doing, like writing something that can be used of God or directing a ministry. Do all that you do to the glory of God.
(Mat. 20:25-27)
"So when he had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me teacher and Lord...so I am. If I then ...have washed your feet, you ought to wash each others feet...I have given you an example...that you should do as I have done to you...I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. ...blessed are you if you do them" (John 13:12-17).
Washing the feet of others was a servant's job in the New Testament, and for good reason. People back them wore sandals and walked on dusty, dirty, dug filled roads. One of the customs of the area was to have a servant wash the feet of people when they came to visit. Jesus had tried to teach his deciples about serving others, and they had not understood(Mat. 20:25-27). So he choose to gave them the perfect picture of what servanthood looked like by washing their feet(John 13:25-27). In doing so, he also gave us an example of how a leader should act.
Why do we become leaders at work or in ministry? Is it so others can look up to us and serve us? Or is it so that we can show others love by serving them? Jesus told us that we should serve others. If we want him to be pleased with us we need to do just that.
But how? You ask. Let's look at a play to understand this better. Putting on a play takes many people to do. Yes, there are the actors and actoreses that we see on the stage. But there are many people behind the scenes that are important too.
Here is a list of them...
The person who wrote the songs and play
The director
The one who teaches the dances to those in the play
Those who put together and painted the set
The people who made the costumes
The light and sound people
Those who promotes the play
Those who made and printed the tickets
The people who did the hair and makeup
The ticket sellers
And those who buy and attend the play
Now you will have to admit that a play would not be the best, if you didn't have these people all doing their jobs. As with a play, a ministry needs many people with different talents and skills doing what they are called to do, otherwise, it will not be as affective as it could be. WE need to all do our job, even if it is a job that no one sees you doing, like writing something that can be used of God or directing a ministry. Do all that you do to the glory of God.
Monday, August 20, 2012
God uses our brokenness
A couple of weeks ago, I was ordained as a minister. The part that I was looking forward to the most was the anointing part. This was not your normal anointing where you just put a little oil on the head, but the Arron the priest type, where you pour lots of oil onto the head and let it run down over the body (Ps. 133:2). The plan was for a gallon of oil to be poured into a metal vase, we bought for this purpose, and have the pastor pour it over my head. but when the time came to fill the vase, we quickly realized that the vase had leaks in the bottom of it. but the Pastor was quick on his feet and had my Mother and sister hold the vase over my head as my Father poured the oil into the vase, while the pastor laid hands on my head and prayed for me. It was the perfect picture of how God the Father used Christ's broken body to cover me and make me worthy to serve him. Then the pastor took the oil that had gotten on his hands from my anointing and took the hands of two ladies that would be serving God with me and prayed with them. Showing how they would be blessed through my brokenness and anointing.
We often do not realize that God can use our brokenness to serve and minister to others. To us, this makes no sense. But Paul said, "God has chosen the foolish things of this world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of this world to shame the things which are mighty"(I Cor. 1:27). Why? God knows that if someone is struggling with a certain problem such as a drug addiction that someone who has been there and been helped by Christ is the best person to help them deal with it. That is why Paul said,"To the weak, I became weak that I might win the weak...This I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you"(I Cor. 9:22-23).
So you see, through our brokenness and testimony of how God has brought us through that we can help others. So don't hide your testimony, but use it and your brokenness to the glory of God (I Cor.1: 31).
We often do not realize that God can use our brokenness to serve and minister to others. To us, this makes no sense. But Paul said, "God has chosen the foolish things of this world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of this world to shame the things which are mighty"(I Cor. 1:27). Why? God knows that if someone is struggling with a certain problem such as a drug addiction that someone who has been there and been helped by Christ is the best person to help them deal with it. That is why Paul said,"To the weak, I became weak that I might win the weak...This I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you"(I Cor. 9:22-23).
So you see, through our brokenness and testimony of how God has brought us through that we can help others. So don't hide your testimony, but use it and your brokenness to the glory of God (I Cor.1: 31).
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
We hold the tools to follow God
Ever wondered, what is my purpose in life? What is it that God wants me to do? I remember having that question After I finished a big job for God. "What do you want me to do now?" I asked God in tears, feeling tired and worthless.
"What's in your hands?" came the answer as clear as though someone was sitting next to me. I looked down and found I was holding a baby blanket in one hand and a needle in the other hand.
At that moment, I was focusing on the needle and thread. Ah, God wants me to sew for him. But what, I thought after I finished that blanket, which was a gift. I had seen a missionary's presentation of their mission to a country where they helped feed and clothe orphaned children. I wanted to put teddy bears in the arms of every one of those children.
I said something to the team about it. "No, we can't afford to take teddy bears there with us," they told me. Their answer saddened me at first. But the images of those children wouldn't leave me, so I prayed about it.
In time, I remembered that the team had taken M & M packages with them to the field. These fit easily into the pockets and stuffed in luggage. Ah, I thought, I will make M & M package size teddy bears to send with them. So I did just that. For about a year I sewed 4-inch teddy bears. When I got up to 66 of them made, my mother helped me make most of the rest. Between the two of us, we made 100, we were told.
Those teddy bears were handed out all over that country the next five years to children who had no toys. Wow, that is great, I thought. But God was not finished with me yet.
What's in your hands? he had said. Not what's in one of your hands? I had failed to look at the other hand where the baby blanket was. But God hadn't forgotten.
"Make me a blanket!" I went to the missionary and said, "God told me to make a blanket for you to take to the field."
"Oh, like a quilt," he asked. I didn't know.I just knew that I was to make a blanket.
He was very excited about the whole thing for, he explained to me, a blanket was a very precious and personal item in that country. People did not share their blankets with other people. I had no way of knowing this when God called me to sew them, but God knew.
In time, God gave me a design for a blanket that could be used in that country. I've been making blankets every since.
"What's in your hands" God asked Moses when he called him to do a ministry. With that simple tool God saved a nation.
Want to know what God has called you to do? Look down and see what's in your hands. It could be children God has entrusted to you to raise for his glory, or a needle, or a business- the list could go on. Start with that, and he will bless it. What abilities and things has God given you to use for his glory? My friend, what is in your hands?
"What's in your hands?" came the answer as clear as though someone was sitting next to me. I looked down and found I was holding a baby blanket in one hand and a needle in the other hand.
At that moment, I was focusing on the needle and thread. Ah, God wants me to sew for him. But what, I thought after I finished that blanket, which was a gift. I had seen a missionary's presentation of their mission to a country where they helped feed and clothe orphaned children. I wanted to put teddy bears in the arms of every one of those children.
I said something to the team about it. "No, we can't afford to take teddy bears there with us," they told me. Their answer saddened me at first. But the images of those children wouldn't leave me, so I prayed about it.
In time, I remembered that the team had taken M & M packages with them to the field. These fit easily into the pockets and stuffed in luggage. Ah, I thought, I will make M & M package size teddy bears to send with them. So I did just that. For about a year I sewed 4-inch teddy bears. When I got up to 66 of them made, my mother helped me make most of the rest. Between the two of us, we made 100, we were told.
Those teddy bears were handed out all over that country the next five years to children who had no toys. Wow, that is great, I thought. But God was not finished with me yet.
What's in your hands? he had said. Not what's in one of your hands? I had failed to look at the other hand where the baby blanket was. But God hadn't forgotten.
"Make me a blanket!" I went to the missionary and said, "God told me to make a blanket for you to take to the field."
"Oh, like a quilt," he asked. I didn't know.I just knew that I was to make a blanket.
He was very excited about the whole thing for, he explained to me, a blanket was a very precious and personal item in that country. People did not share their blankets with other people. I had no way of knowing this when God called me to sew them, but God knew.
In time, God gave me a design for a blanket that could be used in that country. I've been making blankets every since.
"What's in your hands" God asked Moses when he called him to do a ministry. With that simple tool God saved a nation.
Want to know what God has called you to do? Look down and see what's in your hands. It could be children God has entrusted to you to raise for his glory, or a needle, or a business- the list could go on. Start with that, and he will bless it. What abilities and things has God given you to use for his glory? My friend, what is in your hands?
Monday, July 9, 2012
Be the salt you're meant to be
We are told to be "salt to the earth" by Jesus in Matthew 5:13. What does being salt to the earth mean? It means that we should be to the earth what salt was to their culture. To better understand that we need to look at the culture Jesus was speaking to.
Let's see what that says about Christians and how we are to impact the earth around us. First off, we need to be "in the world, but not of it." Salt and Christians are not effective unless there is contact.
Second, it means that we should help make the unpalatable things in life palatable. We should be fun to be around and not walk around with a long face or bad attitude.Salt is used to preserve foods. Our presence in the earth preserves the community we live in. Look at how Lot's presence in Sodom and Gomorrah kept god's judgement at bay. God did not judge it until Lot was out of those towns. When we live in a community, praying for it, God holds back his judgement on it. Also being involved in our community can make a difference. for people will see our good works and some may even do some themselves, which would make it a more pleasant place to live (Mat. 5:13; Mark 9:50; II Cor. 9:27).
Salt is used to make things clean. It was used to clean their homes much like we use household cleaners today. Our presence in society should do the same. We do this through evangelizing in our community (I Thess. 1:8). If those around us accept Jesus as their Savior they will be clean spiritually.
Salt was used as an antiseptic. It was put on wounds, used as mouthwash, and even rubbed on babies to "strengthen them" (Ez. 16:4). We live in a society full of physically, mentality, and spiritually wounded people. Part of our job is to help them heal with God's help.
Salt was so important to society that it was woven into their culture. Ways we see this is how it symbolized hospitality (Ezra 4:14), durability , fidelity, perpetuity, incorruption (Numbers 18L19). These are ways we, too, can make a God honored impact on our communities.
But what happens when we are not involved as Christians in our community in the way God wants us to be? let us look at the end of that verse I started out with"...But if the salt looses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?" This means that salt isn't doing its job. What happens when we Christians are not doing our jobs?
Our communities with out Christian involvement will leave it open to all kinds of evil. A good example of this is seen in the movie, "It's A Wonderful Life." In it we see a man named George who doesn't think that he made a difference in his community and wishes that he had never been born. He gets his wish. In the end, he sees that he has made a real impact in his community for the good.
Then there's the worse case scenario of how our community can treat us if we are not the salt we are called to be. We see this spoken of at the end of the verse where it does say,"It is thereforth good for nothing, bu to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." This is what they did with salt in those days that was deemed useless. I have seen this happen to people who say that they are Christians, but do not act like it. Causing people to say," If that is a Christian, i don't want to be one." It has those who are not a Christian so upset that they poke fun at the Christian that they poke fun at the Christian and sometimes even beat them up. Why? Because they really want Christians being salt in their society today.
So there's the challenge. Are we going to be salt that makes a positive impact on our society, or are we going to do nothing and be useless to God and our society?
Let's see what that says about Christians and how we are to impact the earth around us. First off, we need to be "in the world, but not of it." Salt and Christians are not effective unless there is contact.
Second, it means that we should help make the unpalatable things in life palatable. We should be fun to be around and not walk around with a long face or bad attitude.Salt is used to preserve foods. Our presence in the earth preserves the community we live in. Look at how Lot's presence in Sodom and Gomorrah kept god's judgement at bay. God did not judge it until Lot was out of those towns. When we live in a community, praying for it, God holds back his judgement on it. Also being involved in our community can make a difference. for people will see our good works and some may even do some themselves, which would make it a more pleasant place to live (Mat. 5:13; Mark 9:50; II Cor. 9:27).
Salt is used to make things clean. It was used to clean their homes much like we use household cleaners today. Our presence in society should do the same. We do this through evangelizing in our community (I Thess. 1:8). If those around us accept Jesus as their Savior they will be clean spiritually.
Salt was used as an antiseptic. It was put on wounds, used as mouthwash, and even rubbed on babies to "strengthen them" (Ez. 16:4). We live in a society full of physically, mentality, and spiritually wounded people. Part of our job is to help them heal with God's help.
Salt was so important to society that it was woven into their culture. Ways we see this is how it symbolized hospitality (Ezra 4:14), durability , fidelity, perpetuity, incorruption (Numbers 18L19). These are ways we, too, can make a God honored impact on our communities.
But what happens when we are not involved as Christians in our community in the way God wants us to be? let us look at the end of that verse I started out with"...But if the salt looses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?" This means that salt isn't doing its job. What happens when we Christians are not doing our jobs?
Our communities with out Christian involvement will leave it open to all kinds of evil. A good example of this is seen in the movie, "It's A Wonderful Life." In it we see a man named George who doesn't think that he made a difference in his community and wishes that he had never been born. He gets his wish. In the end, he sees that he has made a real impact in his community for the good.
Then there's the worse case scenario of how our community can treat us if we are not the salt we are called to be. We see this spoken of at the end of the verse where it does say,"It is thereforth good for nothing, bu to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." This is what they did with salt in those days that was deemed useless. I have seen this happen to people who say that they are Christians, but do not act like it. Causing people to say," If that is a Christian, i don't want to be one." It has those who are not a Christian so upset that they poke fun at the Christian that they poke fun at the Christian and sometimes even beat them up. Why? Because they really want Christians being salt in their society today.
So there's the challenge. Are we going to be salt that makes a positive impact on our society, or are we going to do nothing and be useless to God and our society?
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Staying connected to Jesus
"I am the True Vine, and my Father is the Vinedresser.2.Any branch in me that does not bear fruit (that stops bearing) He cuts off (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.3. You are cleaned and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you (the teachings I have discussed with you)4.Dwell in me and I will dwell in you (live in me and I will live in you). Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. 5.I am the vine; you are the branches. Whosoever lives in me and I in him bears much(abundant) fruit. However, apart from me(cut off from the vital union with me) you can do nothing"(John 15:1-5 Amplified).
In the last week, a couple of storms came through a large part of the country and cut off our power. I don't know about you, but I found that there were a lot of things that I could not do without power, like take a shower or write this blog. Our spiritual life is much the same as electric power. Just as many of the machines we use can not work without being connected to the grid. We, too, can not do many things unless we are connected to Jesus.
What are those things, you ask. Things like having God's love for others. We see what that love is to look like in I Cor. 13:4-13. Let's look at that. "Love endures long, and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealously, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. it is not concieted (arrogant and inflated with pride): it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not selfseeking; it is not touchy or freitful or resentful; it takes not account of the evil done to it (it pays no attention to a suffered wrong).it does not rejoice at injustice and unrightousness, but rejoices when right aand truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, it hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything (without weakening). Love never fails(never faides out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end)." I Cor. 13:2, says that without love, we are nothing, and verse three tells us that anything we do without God's love gains us nothing. So we can see that love is important, but remember we can not truly have God's love unless we are connected to Jesus.
Another thing we cannot do, if, we are not connected to Jesus, is bear good spiritual fruit. We see this in John 15:2-4. And when we do bear fruit, He will continue to cleanse and prune us so that we can bear even better fruit!
So with this all in mind, let us make sure that we are connected to the power source of our spiritual lives- Jesus.
In the last week, a couple of storms came through a large part of the country and cut off our power. I don't know about you, but I found that there were a lot of things that I could not do without power, like take a shower or write this blog. Our spiritual life is much the same as electric power. Just as many of the machines we use can not work without being connected to the grid. We, too, can not do many things unless we are connected to Jesus.
What are those things, you ask. Things like having God's love for others. We see what that love is to look like in I Cor. 13:4-13. Let's look at that. "Love endures long, and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealously, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. it is not concieted (arrogant and inflated with pride): it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not selfseeking; it is not touchy or freitful or resentful; it takes not account of the evil done to it (it pays no attention to a suffered wrong).it does not rejoice at injustice and unrightousness, but rejoices when right aand truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, it hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything (without weakening). Love never fails(never faides out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end)." I Cor. 13:2, says that without love, we are nothing, and verse three tells us that anything we do without God's love gains us nothing. So we can see that love is important, but remember we can not truly have God's love unless we are connected to Jesus.
Another thing we cannot do, if, we are not connected to Jesus, is bear good spiritual fruit. We see this in John 15:2-4. And when we do bear fruit, He will continue to cleanse and prune us so that we can bear even better fruit!
So with this all in mind, let us make sure that we are connected to the power source of our spiritual lives- Jesus.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Finding new direction in your valley of doubt and confusion
"Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? (Is. 43:19).
Have you ever had something happen in your life that just stopped you in your tracks, like the death of someone? I and a whole lot of friends recently had that happen to us, when a godly man who was president and co-founder of a fairly new ministry suddenly died. We were left with a big hole, not only in that ministry,but other ministries and our lives, as well.
When things like this happen, we are left standing in one place feeling at a lost as what to do next. You know you want to keep the ministry going, but you are not sure what the next steps should be at this point.
I believe that is when we should stand still and know that God is God (Ps. 46:10). I don't know about you, but I have learned that life may not be fair, but God is good. Don't ever forget that. If you will trust in him, he will lead you out of whatever valley of doubt and confusion, you may be in at this time, and lead you in a new direction.
As you do so, if you listen real close you will hear the Lord say," Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth."
Have you ever had something happen in your life that just stopped you in your tracks, like the death of someone? I and a whole lot of friends recently had that happen to us, when a godly man who was president and co-founder of a fairly new ministry suddenly died. We were left with a big hole, not only in that ministry,but other ministries and our lives, as well.
When things like this happen, we are left standing in one place feeling at a lost as what to do next. You know you want to keep the ministry going, but you are not sure what the next steps should be at this point.
I believe that is when we should stand still and know that God is God (Ps. 46:10). I don't know about you, but I have learned that life may not be fair, but God is good. Don't ever forget that. If you will trust in him, he will lead you out of whatever valley of doubt and confusion, you may be in at this time, and lead you in a new direction.
As you do so, if you listen real close you will hear the Lord say," Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth."
Monday, June 11, 2012
Need for strength in the race of life
He giveth power to the faint; and them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Is. 40:29-31).
There are two ways that we can look at these verses, physically and spiritually.When you look at it the physical way, we could read it to mean this...
He gives strength to the fatigued and exhausted; and them that has no strength, he increases it. Even the young shall tire from weariness, and young men shall totter from weakness in their legs. But they
that look patiently to the Lord shall gain back their strength; They shall recover and be restored; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk, and not grow tired from weariness.
This is a great truth that I have held onto and have used to minister to others that are ill for years. As we grow older, our bodies hurts and tires more easily. When that happens, stand on these truths, my friend.
When you look at these verses in a spiritual way, you see a deep rich promise that goes like this...
He who gives fruits to those who has worked themselves to exhaustion; He will increase your strength. Even the young grow spiritually weary, and the young men stumble. But they that bind themselves together with God shall grow up; then they shall rise up and sour above worldly things; they shall run the race for God and not be weary; they shall walk the walk of faith without weariness of soul.
Wow! Isn't that a wonderful promise! Just think of it! When you bind yourself to God, and do his will, he will strengthen you, so that you can run this race called life, in victory, producing spiritual fruit for his glory!
Let us pray:
Lord,
Help us to ever look to you for both our physicsal and spiritual strength.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Note: Meaning of words found in Strongs' Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.
There are two ways that we can look at these verses, physically and spiritually.When you look at it the physical way, we could read it to mean this...
He gives strength to the fatigued and exhausted; and them that has no strength, he increases it. Even the young shall tire from weariness, and young men shall totter from weakness in their legs. But they
that look patiently to the Lord shall gain back their strength; They shall recover and be restored; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk, and not grow tired from weariness.
This is a great truth that I have held onto and have used to minister to others that are ill for years. As we grow older, our bodies hurts and tires more easily. When that happens, stand on these truths, my friend.
When you look at these verses in a spiritual way, you see a deep rich promise that goes like this...
He who gives fruits to those who has worked themselves to exhaustion; He will increase your strength. Even the young grow spiritually weary, and the young men stumble. But they that bind themselves together with God shall grow up; then they shall rise up and sour above worldly things; they shall run the race for God and not be weary; they shall walk the walk of faith without weariness of soul.
Wow! Isn't that a wonderful promise! Just think of it! When you bind yourself to God, and do his will, he will strengthen you, so that you can run this race called life, in victory, producing spiritual fruit for his glory!
Let us pray:
Lord,
Help us to ever look to you for both our physicsal and spiritual strength.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Note: Meaning of words found in Strongs' Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Offering up our imperfect talents to God
"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, and to another he gave two talents, and to another he gave one talent, each according to his ability.Then he went on his journey.
The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also the one with two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master," he said,'you entrusted me with five talents. See, have gained five more.'
His master replied,'well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with few things; I will put you in charge with many things. Come and share your Master's happiness!
Then the man with two talents also came. 'master,' he said,'you entrusted me with two talents' see , I have gained two more.'
His master replied,'Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in chanrge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!
Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said,'I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I
was afraid and went out and hid it in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
His master replied,'You wicked lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I had not sown and gathered where I had not scattered seed? Well, you should had put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when i returned I would have received it back with interest.
'Take the talent from him and give it to one who has ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whosoever does not have even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth'( Mat. 25:14-29 NIV).
I have struggled to write what God called me to write, and failed. One of the groups of people I am called to write for, is those who are mentally and physically challenged. I think that I have problems with it, because I feel as though my writing isn't perfect, so why put it out there. Then this week, I sat and listened to a man in a wheel chair, who struggled to speak, preach a very powerful mini sermon. That is when my excuses fell fat on its face and it hit me. We do not have to be perfect to be used in His kingdom. God will use whomever is willing to be used by him. If we will humble ourselves and do as he asks of us, he will take our imperfect effort and use it to His glory. A friend of mine is always saying," God doesn't call the equipped, but equips the called."
My friend, have you been ask of God to preform a task that seems too big for you to do? Don't hide your "talent", because you feel as though it is unworthy for God. Use it and let God use it and perfect it.
Lord, We ask that you will forgive us for hiding from our duties. We ask that you will perfect our imperfect efforts and use them to to your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.
The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also the one with two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master," he said,'you entrusted me with five talents. See, have gained five more.'
His master replied,'well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with few things; I will put you in charge with many things. Come and share your Master's happiness!
Then the man with two talents also came. 'master,' he said,'you entrusted me with two talents' see , I have gained two more.'
His master replied,'Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in chanrge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!
Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said,'I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I
was afraid and went out and hid it in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
His master replied,'You wicked lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I had not sown and gathered where I had not scattered seed? Well, you should had put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when i returned I would have received it back with interest.
'Take the talent from him and give it to one who has ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whosoever does not have even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth'( Mat. 25:14-29 NIV).
I have struggled to write what God called me to write, and failed. One of the groups of people I am called to write for, is those who are mentally and physically challenged. I think that I have problems with it, because I feel as though my writing isn't perfect, so why put it out there. Then this week, I sat and listened to a man in a wheel chair, who struggled to speak, preach a very powerful mini sermon. That is when my excuses fell fat on its face and it hit me. We do not have to be perfect to be used in His kingdom. God will use whomever is willing to be used by him. If we will humble ourselves and do as he asks of us, he will take our imperfect effort and use it to His glory. A friend of mine is always saying," God doesn't call the equipped, but equips the called."
My friend, have you been ask of God to preform a task that seems too big for you to do? Don't hide your "talent", because you feel as though it is unworthy for God. Use it and let God use it and perfect it.
Lord, We ask that you will forgive us for hiding from our duties. We ask that you will perfect our imperfect efforts and use them to to your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Onward Christian warriors
This week the traveling Vietnam Wall traveled to our town. We watched it pass us being escorted by about 350 Vets and others on motorcycles. Someone has stood guard of it around the clock. This morning, we went to a church service they had there. In it a Vet spoke of how those on the wall were willing to die their lives for their country, and how Jesus die for us. It got me to thinking. We are suppose to be warriors for God. As warriors of God, as we willing to die for the kingdom of God?
Paul said that he died daily (I Cor. 15:31). I believe that this type of dying, is dying to our will and sinful nature. I use to call it killing my will. I would do that when ever my sinful pride was hurt and I wanted to to hurt back. I also have been known to lay my dreams aside when God told me he had other plans for me. That means that I had to let my dream die. As warriors of God, are we to die to ourselves daily?
John 15:12-13, tells us that we should love one another as Christ has loved us, and he loved us enough to lay down his life for us. Are we willing to lay down our lives for one another. This can be anything from laying aside something we wanted to do, so we could help a brother or sister in Christ with something they needed that day? We may say, "shore, I would." But are we willing to lay aside an hour of our day to pray for someone who really needs it? Also, are we willing to die physically for the sake of someone else?
How about Jesus? Are we willing to give Jesus, an hour or two to him each month, week, or day reading his love letter, we call the Holy Bible? Or do we spend time talking or listening to him in prayer? Above that, are you willing to die physically for God's kingdom?
If we are truly warriors of God, we should be. May we all examine ourselves and line our lives to our commander's will and command.It is easier when we remember that" we are looking for a city not made by hands"(Heb. 11:10).
Onward Christian Warriors!
Paul said that he died daily (I Cor. 15:31). I believe that this type of dying, is dying to our will and sinful nature. I use to call it killing my will. I would do that when ever my sinful pride was hurt and I wanted to to hurt back. I also have been known to lay my dreams aside when God told me he had other plans for me. That means that I had to let my dream die. As warriors of God, are we to die to ourselves daily?
John 15:12-13, tells us that we should love one another as Christ has loved us, and he loved us enough to lay down his life for us. Are we willing to lay down our lives for one another. This can be anything from laying aside something we wanted to do, so we could help a brother or sister in Christ with something they needed that day? We may say, "shore, I would." But are we willing to lay aside an hour of our day to pray for someone who really needs it? Also, are we willing to die physically for the sake of someone else?
How about Jesus? Are we willing to give Jesus, an hour or two to him each month, week, or day reading his love letter, we call the Holy Bible? Or do we spend time talking or listening to him in prayer? Above that, are you willing to die physically for God's kingdom?
If we are truly warriors of God, we should be. May we all examine ourselves and line our lives to our commander's will and command.It is easier when we remember that" we are looking for a city not made by hands"(Heb. 11:10).
Onward Christian Warriors!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Priorities
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you" (Mat. 6:33).
I have a sister who is a professional organizer ask the other day if anyone could name some thing that could not be organized. I said, "My mind". Then I started to tell her about all the duties I have and things that I needed to get done. Which is way too much for one person can reasonably do and has become overwhelming.
The problem is that I am a hyper minded person with ministries, writing, walking and exercising to do for my health, a home that I am trying to keep clean while I am organizing it, gardens to put in, Christmas gifts to make... You get the picture.To make matters worse, they are all of equal and high importance to me. This puts even more stress on me. I was at my wits end. So I asked her for help.
She surprised me with her clarity on what was most important which was my health. So that I should put walking and exercising first, and then organize my week and day in such a way as to get every thing done.The bottom line was that I needed to figure out my priorities and do the most important things first. Once I do that, figuring out how to organize my week and day will fall into place. Sounds easy, huh?
Are a lot of things in your life screaming for your attention? Do you grow weary in figuring out how to balance it all. Jesus addresses this in the sixth chapter of Matthew . He tells us that we should seek the things that are important to His kingdom first, then everything else, like the need for food and clothes will be taken care of.
Let us pray: Dear Lord, please give us clarity of mind and heart as to what is most important as we strive to live a balanced life between the spiritual and physical worlds. In Jesus' name. Amen.
I have a sister who is a professional organizer ask the other day if anyone could name some thing that could not be organized. I said, "My mind". Then I started to tell her about all the duties I have and things that I needed to get done. Which is way too much for one person can reasonably do and has become overwhelming.
The problem is that I am a hyper minded person with ministries, writing, walking and exercising to do for my health, a home that I am trying to keep clean while I am organizing it, gardens to put in, Christmas gifts to make... You get the picture.To make matters worse, they are all of equal and high importance to me. This puts even more stress on me. I was at my wits end. So I asked her for help.
She surprised me with her clarity on what was most important which was my health. So that I should put walking and exercising first, and then organize my week and day in such a way as to get every thing done.The bottom line was that I needed to figure out my priorities and do the most important things first. Once I do that, figuring out how to organize my week and day will fall into place. Sounds easy, huh?
Are a lot of things in your life screaming for your attention? Do you grow weary in figuring out how to balance it all. Jesus addresses this in the sixth chapter of Matthew . He tells us that we should seek the things that are important to His kingdom first, then everything else, like the need for food and clothes will be taken care of.
Let us pray: Dear Lord, please give us clarity of mind and heart as to what is most important as we strive to live a balanced life between the spiritual and physical worlds. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Spiritual rooms of our lives
Imagine:
Your life is a garden filled with "rooms". Each room is a different part of your life and each room has a gate to enter it.
In the beginning, you choose if you want to enter that room, like the room of marriage. But once you open the gate, you have to tend to the the room or it will die.Some of the rooms are connected, like the room of marriage is often connected to the room of children.
Then there are rooms that are there because we choose to add them, like ministry. These rooms can start out being casual rooms we dabble in from time to time. What would you grow in your rooms of ministry? Be careful, for sometimes the gardens in the rooms can take on a life of it's own and grow in ways you can never imagine!
For me, the room of ministry has turned into a cluster of butterfly gardens that seemed to be totally disconnected, but as time went by, they became very connected to each other. They are the rooms called,"The Vannie Project". There are five rooms at this time, but as time goes on,it appears to be growing next to many other rooms of my life. It may even be taking over some of the other rooms. Oh, for wisdom on how to tend all of the rooms of the garden well.
Know the feeling? I think that the trick is to go to the Master Gardener and glean from his wide wisdom on tending our gardens well.
Your life is a garden filled with "rooms". Each room is a different part of your life and each room has a gate to enter it.
In the beginning, you choose if you want to enter that room, like the room of marriage. But once you open the gate, you have to tend to the the room or it will die.Some of the rooms are connected, like the room of marriage is often connected to the room of children.
Then there are rooms that are there because we choose to add them, like ministry. These rooms can start out being casual rooms we dabble in from time to time. What would you grow in your rooms of ministry? Be careful, for sometimes the gardens in the rooms can take on a life of it's own and grow in ways you can never imagine!
For me, the room of ministry has turned into a cluster of butterfly gardens that seemed to be totally disconnected, but as time went by, they became very connected to each other. They are the rooms called,"The Vannie Project". There are five rooms at this time, but as time goes on,it appears to be growing next to many other rooms of my life. It may even be taking over some of the other rooms. Oh, for wisdom on how to tend all of the rooms of the garden well.
Know the feeling? I think that the trick is to go to the Master Gardener and glean from his wide wisdom on tending our gardens well.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Spring cleaning our spiritual lives
"Let all things be done decently and in order".( I Cor. 14:40)
Lately, my spring cleaning has gone from the outdoors into my little cottage. I have been cleaning out cupboards figuring out what I still use and what I don't. I feel good about what I've done so far. But there is one room that makes me cringe just to think about. It's my office/sewing room, which has turned into the room I stuffed boxes of books that needs to be gone through, clothes that needs to be mended or sewn together, and piles of papers that needs filing. It is so full I can't get to my desk to write the books I'm suppose to be writing right now.
Our lives can become like my room. Too full of stuff to find time for God. In the 1990's I recall hearing a song being sung on a Christian radio station that said,"I miss my time with you..." It was sung from God's point of view, and he was saying, "I miss my time with you". Is our lives so busy, that God has to say that to us? If so, we need to reoranize our lives to make room for Him. Instead of hoping to find time with God, we need to schegle time with him every day. That may mean that we will have to clear something out of our life, so we get to God. Just like, I have to clear out stuff in my office/sewing room this week, so I can get to my computer to write.
May we all find ways to bring our lives order so we will will have time for God.
Dear, Lord, give us the wisdom to know what stuff is between us and you. And the boldness to move it out of the way, so you won't have to say, "I miss my time with you." In Jesus' name. Amen.
Lately, my spring cleaning has gone from the outdoors into my little cottage. I have been cleaning out cupboards figuring out what I still use and what I don't. I feel good about what I've done so far. But there is one room that makes me cringe just to think about. It's my office/sewing room, which has turned into the room I stuffed boxes of books that needs to be gone through, clothes that needs to be mended or sewn together, and piles of papers that needs filing. It is so full I can't get to my desk to write the books I'm suppose to be writing right now.
Our lives can become like my room. Too full of stuff to find time for God. In the 1990's I recall hearing a song being sung on a Christian radio station that said,"I miss my time with you..." It was sung from God's point of view, and he was saying, "I miss my time with you". Is our lives so busy, that God has to say that to us? If so, we need to reoranize our lives to make room for Him. Instead of hoping to find time with God, we need to schegle time with him every day. That may mean that we will have to clear something out of our life, so we get to God. Just like, I have to clear out stuff in my office/sewing room this week, so I can get to my computer to write.
May we all find ways to bring our lives order so we will will have time for God.
Dear, Lord, give us the wisdom to know what stuff is between us and you. And the boldness to move it out of the way, so you won't have to say, "I miss my time with you." In Jesus' name. Amen.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Rest
Read Mark 6:30-32 in different versions. When you do you will find that it says, ..."Come away with me to a...deserted place(KJV & Beck), a lonely place(RSV & NAS), a quiet place(Williams)...to rest..."
This leads me to believe that sometimes God wants us to disconnect from the world to spend time with Him resting from our life and spending time in a quiet place, so we can clearly hear what he has to say to us. After which we will have more to give to others.
My experience has proved that if we do not do this from time to time, one can burn out. For me, burn out, affected every level of my being...mind, spirit, and body. Every time I have burnt out, it has taken time to recover all the layers, sometimes years. When I burnt out in 2000, I had a wonderful experience and put it down on paper in a poem I called, "rest". As you read this poem ask yourself, How can I find time to be alone with God?
Rest
The battles the warrior faithfully did fight,
As she had walked through her life.
But as her body ached and grew weary,
And found it hard to tarry.
She had duties that she needed to lay aside,
So she called her leader and she started to cry.
"May I stand down and rest for a while?'
After an hour or so, "Why yes," was his reply.
The next morning as her Bible laid by,
In front of Jesus' throne she stood with a sigh.
"May I stand down and rest for a while?"
Jesus looked at her, "Why yes," he said with a smile.
She handed him her duties and asked him to pray for them,
She stood as tall as she could and saluted him.
"Thank you, sir." She said as she turned,
The tears in her eyes started to burn.
She had one more to ask before she could rest,
Then she crawled up a very large staircase.
It took all she had to do, but she stood the test,
Now she struggled to her feet and stood to make her case.
In front of the Father's throne she asked with a sigh,
"May I stand down and rest for a while?"
He saw she was weary, "Why yes,"was his reply,
Her Heavenly Father looked at her with a smile.
Just about then her strength grew weak,
And she fell at her Father's feet.
He lovingly reached down and places her on his knee,
"It is now time to take your sleep.
Now she basks in his lap, as his face now she sees,
As she rests in a crease near his knee.
"In many tomorrows you may again stand the test,
But for now, my Child, take your rest."
This leads me to believe that sometimes God wants us to disconnect from the world to spend time with Him resting from our life and spending time in a quiet place, so we can clearly hear what he has to say to us. After which we will have more to give to others.
My experience has proved that if we do not do this from time to time, one can burn out. For me, burn out, affected every level of my being...mind, spirit, and body. Every time I have burnt out, it has taken time to recover all the layers, sometimes years. When I burnt out in 2000, I had a wonderful experience and put it down on paper in a poem I called, "rest". As you read this poem ask yourself, How can I find time to be alone with God?
Rest
The battles the warrior faithfully did fight,
As she had walked through her life.
But as her body ached and grew weary,
And found it hard to tarry.
She had duties that she needed to lay aside,
So she called her leader and she started to cry.
"May I stand down and rest for a while?'
After an hour or so, "Why yes," was his reply.
The next morning as her Bible laid by,
In front of Jesus' throne she stood with a sigh.
"May I stand down and rest for a while?"
Jesus looked at her, "Why yes," he said with a smile.
She handed him her duties and asked him to pray for them,
She stood as tall as she could and saluted him.
"Thank you, sir." She said as she turned,
The tears in her eyes started to burn.
She had one more to ask before she could rest,
Then she crawled up a very large staircase.
It took all she had to do, but she stood the test,
Now she struggled to her feet and stood to make her case.
In front of the Father's throne she asked with a sigh,
"May I stand down and rest for a while?"
He saw she was weary, "Why yes,"was his reply,
Her Heavenly Father looked at her with a smile.
Just about then her strength grew weak,
And she fell at her Father's feet.
He lovingly reached down and places her on his knee,
"It is now time to take your sleep.
Now she basks in his lap, as his face now she sees,
As she rests in a crease near his knee.
"In many tomorrows you may again stand the test,
But for now, my Child, take your rest."
Friday, April 13, 2012
We hold the tools to follow God
Ever wondered, what is my purpose in life? What is it that God wants me to do? I have. I remember having that question in my heart after I had finished a big job for God. "What do you want me to do now?' I asked God in tears, feeling tired and useless. 'What's in your hands?" came the answer so clear as though someone was sitting next to me.I looked down and found that I was holding a baby blanket in one hand and a needle in the other hand.
At that moment, I was focusing on the needle and thread. Ah, God wants me to sew for him. But what, I thought after I finished that blanket, which was a gift.I had seen a missionary's presentation of their mission to a country where they helped feed and clothe orphaned children. I wanted to put teddy bears in the arms of every one of those children.
I said something to the team about it. "No, we cannot afford to take teddy bears over there with us." They told me. Their answer saddened me at first. But the images of those children didn't leave me, so I prayed about it.
In time, I remembered that the team had taken M & M packages with them to the field. Those fit easily into pockets and stuffed in luggage. Ah, I thought, I will make M & M package size teddy bears to send with them. So I did just that. For about a year, I sewed 4-inch teddy bears. When I got about half of them made, my mother helped me make most of the rest. In all we made around 60 teddy bears.
Those teddy bears were handed out all over that country that next five years to children who had no toys. Wow, that is great, I thought. But God wasn't finished with me yet.
What's in your hands? he had asked. Not what is in one of your hands? I had failed to look at the other hand where the baby blanket was. But God hadn't forgotten.
I guess he decided that I wasn't getting the whole message from him. So one day, he just said to me,"make me a blanket!" I went to the missionary and said,"God told me to make a blanket for you to take to the field."
"Oh, like a quilt?" he asked. I didn't know. I just knew that I was to make a blanket.
He was very excited about the whole thing.for, as he explained to me, a blanket is a precious and personal item in that country. People there did not share their blanket with other people. I had no way of knowing this when God called me to sew them, but God knew.
In time, God gave me a design for a blanket that could be used in that country. I've been making blankets every since.
"What's in your hand," God asked Moses when he called him to do a ministry Ex. 4:2). With that simple tool God saved a nation.
What has God called you to do? Look down and see what is in your hands. It could be children God has entrusted to you to raise for his glory, or a needle, a pen, or a business- the list can go on. Start with that, and he will bless it. What abilities and things has God given you to use for his glory? My friend, what is in your hands?
At that moment, I was focusing on the needle and thread. Ah, God wants me to sew for him. But what, I thought after I finished that blanket, which was a gift.I had seen a missionary's presentation of their mission to a country where they helped feed and clothe orphaned children. I wanted to put teddy bears in the arms of every one of those children.
I said something to the team about it. "No, we cannot afford to take teddy bears over there with us." They told me. Their answer saddened me at first. But the images of those children didn't leave me, so I prayed about it.
In time, I remembered that the team had taken M & M packages with them to the field. Those fit easily into pockets and stuffed in luggage. Ah, I thought, I will make M & M package size teddy bears to send with them. So I did just that. For about a year, I sewed 4-inch teddy bears. When I got about half of them made, my mother helped me make most of the rest. In all we made around 60 teddy bears.
Those teddy bears were handed out all over that country that next five years to children who had no toys. Wow, that is great, I thought. But God wasn't finished with me yet.
What's in your hands? he had asked. Not what is in one of your hands? I had failed to look at the other hand where the baby blanket was. But God hadn't forgotten.
I guess he decided that I wasn't getting the whole message from him. So one day, he just said to me,"make me a blanket!" I went to the missionary and said,"God told me to make a blanket for you to take to the field."
"Oh, like a quilt?" he asked. I didn't know. I just knew that I was to make a blanket.
He was very excited about the whole thing.for, as he explained to me, a blanket is a precious and personal item in that country. People there did not share their blanket with other people. I had no way of knowing this when God called me to sew them, but God knew.
In time, God gave me a design for a blanket that could be used in that country. I've been making blankets every since.
"What's in your hand," God asked Moses when he called him to do a ministry Ex. 4:2). With that simple tool God saved a nation.
What has God called you to do? Look down and see what is in your hands. It could be children God has entrusted to you to raise for his glory, or a needle, a pen, or a business- the list can go on. Start with that, and he will bless it. What abilities and things has God given you to use for his glory? My friend, what is in your hands?
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Living Sacrifices
Rom. 12:1 & 2- "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God."
In these verses, Paul is pleading with the Roman Christians to present themselves as living sacrifices. these people understood how the Jewish people had to sacrifice animals to God to cover their sins.
We are told this in Hebrews 9:22, let us look at that. "Almost all things are by law purged by blood: and without shedding of blood there would be no remission."
The problem is that the blood of animals was only a band aid, that was not perfect or permanent. That is why they had to keep sacrificing animals. This is why God, in his mercy, sent Jesus to shed his blood once and for all. He was the final and perfect sacrifice (Heb. 9:19-20; Mat. 26:28).
Because of what Jesus did for us, we no longer have to kill animals to cover our sins. God doesn't want that type of sacrifice anymore. In Ps. 51:16-27, we see that God has always wanted the sacrifice of a broken spirit and contrite heart.
How do we do that? Repentance. Repentance means to think differently. That's why Rom. 12:2, tells us to renew our minds. You may say, 'I am a Christian, I don't think as the world thinks.' But do you?
What are you feeding your mind? In other words, what are you looking at daily? In Mat. 6:22-23, we
are told that what we look at is forever imprinted on our minds and souls. So what do you watch? TV, movies, Internet, video games...
Also what are you reading? Many a sinful thing is in print. In fact, many movies started out in a book or newspaper. You need to ask yourself, is what I'm looking at edifying me, and glorifying God? If not, why are you looking at it?
What are you listening to? Evil can enter your mind through your ears. So be careful what you are listening to on radio, computer, TV, by way of music, and what others say to you.
When we take evil into our eyes and ears, it will come out of our mouths, in time. This goes back to the old saying, "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." This is why Isiah said, "Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and dwell in the mist of a people of unclean lips..."(Is. 6:5).
We too, live in the mist of a people with unclean lips and may even have unclean lips ourselves. Even if we haven't said unclean things yet, we probability have unclean thoughts. Meaning that our thoughts rebel against God's Word.
If this is so, how do we get back on track? We repent! To do this, we need to kill our will; stop our minds from feeding on evil and start feeding it God Word.
You see, like a computer, your brain only has so much memory to it. So if you would start feeding on the things of God, it has to push, or boot, old memories out of the way to make room for new. This is how you transform your mind.
But how do you transform your soul? Transforming your soul starts at the foot of the cross. That is where we must go and look fully at Christ and what he sacrificed for us. Then ask him to forgive us for being "undone". Only after we have done that can we be "holy, and acceptable unto God." Only then, can we be living sacrifices that "prove what is that good, and perfect will of God".
I wish you a blessed Easter with a transformed soul, spirit, and mind.
In these verses, Paul is pleading with the Roman Christians to present themselves as living sacrifices. these people understood how the Jewish people had to sacrifice animals to God to cover their sins.
We are told this in Hebrews 9:22, let us look at that. "Almost all things are by law purged by blood: and without shedding of blood there would be no remission."
The problem is that the blood of animals was only a band aid, that was not perfect or permanent. That is why they had to keep sacrificing animals. This is why God, in his mercy, sent Jesus to shed his blood once and for all. He was the final and perfect sacrifice (Heb. 9:19-20; Mat. 26:28).
Because of what Jesus did for us, we no longer have to kill animals to cover our sins. God doesn't want that type of sacrifice anymore. In Ps. 51:16-27, we see that God has always wanted the sacrifice of a broken spirit and contrite heart.
How do we do that? Repentance. Repentance means to think differently. That's why Rom. 12:2, tells us to renew our minds. You may say, 'I am a Christian, I don't think as the world thinks.' But do you?
What are you feeding your mind? In other words, what are you looking at daily? In Mat. 6:22-23, we
are told that what we look at is forever imprinted on our minds and souls. So what do you watch? TV, movies, Internet, video games...
Also what are you reading? Many a sinful thing is in print. In fact, many movies started out in a book or newspaper. You need to ask yourself, is what I'm looking at edifying me, and glorifying God? If not, why are you looking at it?
What are you listening to? Evil can enter your mind through your ears. So be careful what you are listening to on radio, computer, TV, by way of music, and what others say to you.
When we take evil into our eyes and ears, it will come out of our mouths, in time. This goes back to the old saying, "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." This is why Isiah said, "Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and dwell in the mist of a people of unclean lips..."(Is. 6:5).
We too, live in the mist of a people with unclean lips and may even have unclean lips ourselves. Even if we haven't said unclean things yet, we probability have unclean thoughts. Meaning that our thoughts rebel against God's Word.
If this is so, how do we get back on track? We repent! To do this, we need to kill our will; stop our minds from feeding on evil and start feeding it God Word.
You see, like a computer, your brain only has so much memory to it. So if you would start feeding on the things of God, it has to push, or boot, old memories out of the way to make room for new. This is how you transform your mind.
But how do you transform your soul? Transforming your soul starts at the foot of the cross. That is where we must go and look fully at Christ and what he sacrificed for us. Then ask him to forgive us for being "undone". Only after we have done that can we be "holy, and acceptable unto God." Only then, can we be living sacrifices that "prove what is that good, and perfect will of God".
I wish you a blessed Easter with a transformed soul, spirit, and mind.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
For such a time as this
"Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"(Esther 4:14).
I have always felt that I was born about 100 years too late. Why? Well, I grew up during the Hippy days, and lived in a world that was filled with drugs, booze, weird clothes, and free sex. I never understood any of it and didn't feel as though I fit in. Yet, I did what I could to change the world I lived in, for the better. You know- "brighten the corner where you are".
Then this week, I read an article that is in The Morgan County Herald that looks at a ministry I am involved in. The article did a beautiful job of showing how many of us fit together to change things in God's kingdom. Now I understand why God put me here "for such a time as this".
How about you? Have you figured out how you fit into God's kingdom and why you are here "for such a time as this"? If not, seek His will and in time you, too, will know how you fit into the timeline of God's kingdom. Even if you have to wait to find out after you're done living this life. If you do know, keep at whatever He has given you to do. Remember, you are writing God's story with your life.
Lord, help us as we seek your will and to not grow weary in doing good. In Jesus' name. Amen.
I have always felt that I was born about 100 years too late. Why? Well, I grew up during the Hippy days, and lived in a world that was filled with drugs, booze, weird clothes, and free sex. I never understood any of it and didn't feel as though I fit in. Yet, I did what I could to change the world I lived in, for the better. You know- "brighten the corner where you are".
Then this week, I read an article that is in The Morgan County Herald that looks at a ministry I am involved in. The article did a beautiful job of showing how many of us fit together to change things in God's kingdom. Now I understand why God put me here "for such a time as this".
How about you? Have you figured out how you fit into God's kingdom and why you are here "for such a time as this"? If not, seek His will and in time you, too, will know how you fit into the timeline of God's kingdom. Even if you have to wait to find out after you're done living this life. If you do know, keep at whatever He has given you to do. Remember, you are writing God's story with your life.
Lord, help us as we seek your will and to not grow weary in doing good. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Weedy Words
"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven...a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted" (Ecc. 3:1-20.
Weedy Works
This spring, I was in my cottage garden weeding out the small patches of grass that was growing there. I found that if I don't get them early while they are small and the ground is damp, it is so much harder to get them out later. I want to get them out for more reasons then just how it looks. I have found that grass can take over a garden and choke out the flowers I want to grow there, leaving it a confusing weedy mess that does not bless anyone looking at it.
Writing a story, song, poem or sermon can be a lot like my cottage garden. Weedy words can choke out the impact that the piece that you are writing along the path you want it to go. Gor example: If I am writing a story about a girl who is running a race and in the middle of it, I get off the story line and start to give details of things that are along the way.Those words would be weedy words. Why? Because the details are taking away from the story line, not adding to it.
When we write for the Lord We need to stay away from weedy words, so we can give people a clear message from God.
Happy writing!
Weedy Works
This spring, I was in my cottage garden weeding out the small patches of grass that was growing there. I found that if I don't get them early while they are small and the ground is damp, it is so much harder to get them out later. I want to get them out for more reasons then just how it looks. I have found that grass can take over a garden and choke out the flowers I want to grow there, leaving it a confusing weedy mess that does not bless anyone looking at it.
Writing a story, song, poem or sermon can be a lot like my cottage garden. Weedy words can choke out the impact that the piece that you are writing along the path you want it to go. Gor example: If I am writing a story about a girl who is running a race and in the middle of it, I get off the story line and start to give details of things that are along the way.Those words would be weedy words. Why? Because the details are taking away from the story line, not adding to it.
When we write for the Lord We need to stay away from weedy words, so we can give people a clear message from God.
Happy writing!
Friday, March 16, 2012
Dream, Writer, Dream, write, Writer, Write
"Write in the book all the words I have spoken you" (Jeremiah 30:2).
Have you ever seen the cartoons of Snoopy in Peanuts by Charles S. The ones where Snoopy is sitting on top of his box fighting the Red Baron in great battles, in his dreams. Then later,Snoopy was a writer sitting on top of that same box, writing the greatest stories ever, or at least he tried to. I believe that Charles had a clear view of how both were battles. Let me explain.
History had the battle with Red Baron. Then there is writing. Any successful writer will tell you that at times they battle when it comes to getting the words on the page. There is also the battle Christian writers face. We are putting things down on paper that could kick Satan's teeth out in spiritual battle. God has put those powerful words in our heads to put on paper to minister to others who are in the middle of a spiritual battle. Those words will be just the ammo a brother or sister needs to fight and win that battle. Satan doesn't want them to win, so he will do everything he can think of to stop us writers from supplying the bullet or grenade to God's ammo dump.
You see, writing for the Lord is a Christian act. Just like any other station in God's army. We may not be on the front lines of the fight like a Pastor or Missionary, but we can be the ones who build the spiritual bombs for them to use in a battle down the road.
So now that you know about the battle. I want to ask you, "what saying, poem, article, devotional or story runs through your dreams? Write it down and get it out there, so those on the front lines will have the ammo that they need to do battle. Dream, writers, dream, write, writers, write!
Have you ever seen the cartoons of Snoopy in Peanuts by Charles S. The ones where Snoopy is sitting on top of his box fighting the Red Baron in great battles, in his dreams. Then later,Snoopy was a writer sitting on top of that same box, writing the greatest stories ever, or at least he tried to. I believe that Charles had a clear view of how both were battles. Let me explain.
History had the battle with Red Baron. Then there is writing. Any successful writer will tell you that at times they battle when it comes to getting the words on the page. There is also the battle Christian writers face. We are putting things down on paper that could kick Satan's teeth out in spiritual battle. God has put those powerful words in our heads to put on paper to minister to others who are in the middle of a spiritual battle. Those words will be just the ammo a brother or sister needs to fight and win that battle. Satan doesn't want them to win, so he will do everything he can think of to stop us writers from supplying the bullet or grenade to God's ammo dump.
You see, writing for the Lord is a Christian act. Just like any other station in God's army. We may not be on the front lines of the fight like a Pastor or Missionary, but we can be the ones who build the spiritual bombs for them to use in a battle down the road.
So now that you know about the battle. I want to ask you, "what saying, poem, article, devotional or story runs through your dreams? Write it down and get it out there, so those on the front lines will have the ammo that they need to do battle. Dream, writers, dream, write, writers, write!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
An Introduction to Christian A.C.T.S.
Hi! My name is Toni. I see writing as a Christian Act. A.C.T.S. means Authors & Composers Talk Sessions. So that is why I'm calling this blog Christian A.C.T.S. My goal is to share devotions, short stories and such with you. I also want to encourage any of you in your journey with God and in your Christian act, whether it be writing or some other Christian act.
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