Can I just say something....?

I was with a family member the other night and there was a brief discussion on the political race (go figure!). This family member mentioned how they hated all the dirty politics going on (who doesn't), but right in that mix was a comment that they would not vote for someone based on their pro life/choice stance. Of course that started me thinking why I DO! After all, in God's eyes, isn't life the most important thing? The selfish "my body, my rights" thinking is stinking! And besides that, isn't Pro Life synonymous with Pro Conscience?
I know there is a lot going on in the world right now - especially in the financial realm, but this has only caused me to think more about God's Economy, and what He wants from us as His church. Most people, including many Christians, are unfamiliar with the application of the word economy in relation to God. If you are interested, there is a very good description of God's Economy on the following website:
http://www.godseconomy.org/index.html

Bottom Line:

We may not know what the future holds, but we can trust the One who holds the future!

Larry, Barry & Gary

O.K., I hate riddles, but someone got me intrigued enough to find one and post it, so here it goes:


Harry went out to dinner with his friends Larry, Barry, and Gary. Harry sat across from Gary. At Gary's right, opposite Barry, sat Larry. When the waiter came for their orders, Larry and Barry ordered steak. Gary chose fish, and Harry (who likes to be difficult) ordered like this: "Unless the man at the left of the man opposite the man who ordered fish is not having what the man across from the man at the right of the man at my left is having, then I'll have what the man across from the man at the right of the man opposite me ordered. Otherwise, bring me the fettucine alfredo." Assuming "right" and "left" is from the viewpoint of the diners, what did Harry order?

Who is brave enough to take the challenge?

Obedience

Is it just me, or does it seem like every message preached and every topic you study out in the Bible eventually leads back around to obedience?

When God was showing me about grace, and how much more it is than my finite mind could fathom, it came down to "the power to obey", or more specifically, "God’s empowering presence within to do what truth demands of us" (See the blog dated 9-17)

When Matt was speaking this morning on worship, it came down to obedience; and he was sharing about how much better obedience is than sacrifice. How interesting, as Matt made the observation, that when someone makes a sacrifice of some kind, they are highly revered in the church, but if a person is going along, just quietly doing what is right, it is rarely mentioned. – Just a thought!

Then, when Aaron Crider was speaking in the main service about Offenses, (what an awesome message! Get the CD!), he mentioned the story of Cain and Abel and how, if Cain had just been obedient to give God an acceptable sacrifice, it might have kept him from killing his brother.

So, obedience, why is it so hard for us to just obey? It started way back in the garden I guess, just like everything else. Adam and Eve were allowed to eat of anything they wanted in the garden – except for the fruit of one tree. And, you know the story; they disobeyed and forever changed their future and ours. Now, since we inherited the ‘sin nature’, we constantly have to fight against the flesh to do what is right.

But, back to grace – sweet grace! We can draw on that grace (that power), which we received through salvation, to lay down our lives and worship Him; to NOT take offenses; and to simply – OBEY!

Proverbs 31 Woman

Is it possible to be the Proverbs 31 kind of woman in 2008?

For thousands of years, God-fearing women have looked to the noble, or virtuous(KJV),woman of Proverbs 31 as their ideal. Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, probably had this role model of the virtuous woman in the forefront of her mind from
earliest childhood. Most Jewish women did, for this poem was traditionally recited in the Jewish home every week on the eve of the Sabbath.

But what about today’s woman? Of what value can this ancient poem be to the diverse, complex life-styles of women today? To the married, to the single, to the young, to the old, to those working outside the home or inside the home, to those women with children or without children? It is more relevant than you might at first expect.

When we examine this ancient biblical ideal of womanhood, we do not find the stereotyped housewife occupied with dirty dishes and laundry, her daily life dictated by the demands of her husband and her children. Nor do we find a hardened, overly ambitious career woman who leaves her family to fend for itself.

What we find is a strong, dignified, multitalented, caring woman who is an individual in her own right. This woman has money to invest, servants to look after and real estate to manage. She is her husband’s partner, and she is completely trusted with the responsibility for their lands, property and goods.

She has the business skills to buy and sell in the market, along with the heartfelt
sensitivity and compassion to care for and fulfill the needs of people who are less
fortunate. Cheerfully and energetically she tackles the challenges each day brings. Her husband and children love and respect her for her kind, generous and caring nature.

But with all her responsibilities, first and foremost, she looks to God. Her primary
concern is God’s will in her life. She is a woman after God’s own heart.

(You go Sarah Palin! - Just a thought!)

Amazing Grace!

Do you ever think about grace? Do you really understand it? I thought I did! I’ve heard many teachings through the years, and read a lot of scripture. I’ve seen the word placed in an acronym – you know:
God’s
Riches
At
Christ’s
Expense
I’ve heard it simply referred to as ‘God’s unmerited favor’, and have even thought of it as something God extends to us after we have blown it!

The grace of God. Webster defines it as ‘the influence or Spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them’. Now we are getting close, but here is where it really hit me - I was reading John Bevere’s book Driven by Eternity when I came upon this heading “The TRUE Grace of God” (emphasis mine). What was revealed in the next few paragraphs is what I want to share.

The author starts off by telling us how we distort the message of grace (see the book of Jude) and tells us what grace is not. Have you ever heard this common statement? “I know I’m not living the way I should, but thank God for His grace.” Grace is NOT a big band-aid, nor is it God’s protection for our disobedient lifestyles, but rather God’s empowering presence within to do what truth demands of us. It empowers us to OBEY, and the evidence that we’ve truly received it is our godly lifestyle!
We leave such a huge gap if we just stop at “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved”. Remember, even the demons believed in Him!
The evidence of truly being saved by the grace of Jesus Christ is that we will have the lifestyle to prove it! (Read 1 John 2:3-6)
Friends, the goal is NOT TO SIN! We’ve got the power of God’s grace so we can set our sights on a life like Christ, for we are free from the control of the nature of disobedience.
Yes, IF we sin, we have an Advocate (1 John 2:1-2).

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably (Heb. 12:28 – emphasis – John Bevere’s)

Just a thought…………

Hey,...where am I?

OMG, it's Blogsville!!!! I've heard of this place. They say once you go there, you may never return!!! YIKES! What am I going to do now?
I guess I'll have to start a blog.....................soon.