PUTTING OTHERS FIRST

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Phil 2:3-4

Judy provided our memory scripture for this week.

Mind Games???

Matthew 6:34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

As I was considering what to write about last week, my mind was all over the place, which seems to fit right in with my life right now. For many reasons, and most of them not good reasons, my life/emotions have been on a roller coaster ride recently. I have been worried, anxious, and just letting my mind take over my life.

It was really cool to see how God was working in my life, I started a new bible study a little over a week ago and Day 1 jumped right off the page and into my face. The words I read from the page were, "Listen to me!! Tune out other voices, so that you can hear Me more clearly. I know your anxious thoughts but I designed you to dwell in peace." Wow, I had to take a minute to catch my breath and gather myself. Had it really taken the Lord almost yelling at me to make me stop and listen to Him??? Well sometimes that is just what this stubborn soul needs.

God has not called us to take charge of our lives and figure everything out. Instead He says, come to Me and I will give you rest, cast every care upon Me... He knows our thoughts and just wants us to surrender our lives, and in my case, mind to Him so he can wrap us in His love and peace. This is a continual process for me, this battle of the mind, that I so often struggle with. But in the moment I stop to seek His face, He is always there ready to take hold of the uncertainty in my life.

Well, after this weekend at the simulcast ,which again was exactly what I needed to hear, I realized these time in our lives where we feel so out of control are not really "interruptions" at all, they are divine interventions! God has not forgotten me or not heard my prayers, he knows the desires of my heart. But, He has a perfect plan for my life. So I now have a choice when these "interruptions" come. Do I run like Jonah did and complain that my life is not what I want right now, or do I obey God and see what opportunity He has planned for me??? Pray that I will be obedient to what God is calling me to do and what He has in store for me.

James 1:19- My Dear brothers/sisters, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

I know we had the conference in the fall about the law of kindness. And last night was my night that I was supposed to add my verse and write a little something about it. Well, I hadn't really thought about this much until this morning when God convicted me of the law of kindness. My verse is James 1:19. My DEAR brothers, take note of this: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to become angry. WOAH- the conviction. Last night, I was with coworkers for our annual dinner. I had a chair between me and the next girl. I looked around and saw that one person who I thought was coming, wasn't there. I was quick to say "Please don't let ______ sit here. I don't like her. She bothers me. She talks too much... " This morning I was convicted that I was unkind, rude, and what a horrible thing to say! I would like to think that normally I am not like this. But Jesus said "whatever you do to the least of men, you do it unto me."
Not to mention,I am a teacher. This past week has really put the pressure on me about the anger thing. I feel like one minute I am Dr. Jekyl and the next minute Mrs. Hyde.
So.... Here's my plan of attack! First.... I am going to bathe these situations in prayer! Then I am going to talk with the ladies that heard me last night and ask for forgiveness. I also need to confront the lady that I spoke so badly about. (THIS WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT.) And before my babies come into my classroom, I need to pray and breathe very deeply. (ESPECIALLY today since my assistant is out and I will be by myself.) OH--- And pray for me.. My dear SISTERS, take note of this: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to become angry! Keep that in mind today and everyday!

Rest

First of all, I am terribly sorry for the lateness of this post! It completely slipped my mind...better late than never???

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Oftentimes I feel like the world will stop spinning if I'm not doing something. The hard-cold truth is that it won't.

I have a very difficult time just resting. I worry so much about the next step that I rarely let God take care of it for me. Not long ago I was at my wits end because I didn't have a plan for my life 2 years from now! (If you know me, you know that I am not exaggerating one bit!) So, obviously, the issue of not resting in the Lord shows up in many areas of my life. More often than I'd like to admit, when I feel weary and burdened I look for an equation to fix it, instead of looking to the truth of God's word. The passages that follow this memory scripture speak of God's passion for us to be 100% dependent on Him. So, I guess there's no need to work out the equation, the answer is already there for us. Throw any variable in the equation and it always works out that we are to be 100% dependent on God. He works out the details. When I stop and meditate on how simple that concept is, I am overwhelmed by our Savior....and I realize how silly I am not for not doing it more often!

I hope you find time to rest in Him this week.

Love in Christ,
Tosha

Stinkin' Thinkin'

"Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8

I don't know about any of you, but so often I find myself dwelling on the negative. It's not any surprise then that its hard to find good in anything when all I fill my mind with is negative negative negative. There is a book that I've read ("Created to Be His Help Meet") that has a chapter on this very subject. I wish I could just copy the whole chapter here because it is filled with so much truth. A couple of quotes that I underlined..."Your reactions break you loose from your social inhibitions and manifest who you really are inside and what you really believe at your core level....the way you think everyday determines the way you feel, and it will determine how you will react in stressful situations...the heart is filled with thoughts, and it is out of that reservoir of thoughts that the mouth speaks words of praise or bitterness." Talk about a kick in the gut! I remember struggling the day I read this with having pleasant thoughts toward Austin. I was quickly convicted and began to ask the Lord to help me "take captive those thoughts" (2 Cor 10:5) and replace those negative thoughts with positive ones.

Even the last few weeks while we've been on this roller coaster waiting to go and get Ada, the negative has been looming over me and I've had to constantly go back to this passage remembering to "DWELL ON THESE THINGS!" As we were reminded yesterday through Brody, the war that rages around us is very real. I have been quite aware of this truth lately and refuse to let the enemy into this camp to destroy what God has already redeemed and conquered!

Hope this post makes some sense...I'm writing on adrenaline as we just found out we'll be leaving this week for Ethiopia!!! Our embassy date will be one day next week...imagine that we still don't know details for sure. All I know is that THIS Sunday I will be holding our daughter and joy has filled my heart! Thanks so much for your prayers for us. Can't wait to get her home to meet all of you!

Keri

Finding Acceptance in an Unaccepting World

Romans 15:7, "So accept each other just as Christ has accepted you; then God will be glorified."
This was a verse we memorized in Sunday School in the Romasn study. Romans is such a cool dictionary of the road for a believer to travel. I just love instructions, routines. If you have ever met my middle son, Brent, you know he does as well. Brent is a highly functional autistic child. We are so blessed with Brent. He often says inappropriate things, has absolutely no pride, doesn't get embarrassed (which is a bad thing when trying to potty train,) and just basically tries to emulate whatever he can to fit in. Brent watches others and mimics what they do and holds on tight. If Brent is watching the right people, this goes smoothly, if not, watch out. Brent has a cousin who he has favored above all else since he was born. Sam loves Brent and Brent loves
Sam. Sam is very smart, well versed, mature. Brent is not. Brent has a light that shines from within that seems to infect all he encounters. Brent loves life and openly loves Sam. This relationship works because Brent never judges, just accepts. Sam chooses to love. For Brent, love is easy, he just does it and does it completely. He loves fully about 5 people in the world, knows he likes a few others. Imagine if everyone loved like Brent and chose to love like Sam what the world would be like. If we loved more like Christ and enveloped everyone's faults, idiosyncrascies, character traits. Everyone would have a relationship like Brent and Sams and we would all be able to accept the full love of Christ and the way He loves us. I think of Brent and Sam and how much Glory He receives from those two and it makes me want to be more like them both. God didn't design us all to be a cookie cutter of the perfect person, he gave us differences so we could work to love like He does. I challenge you to find that someone different and radiate God's love to them!

The Fast Lane

Be still and know that I am God;
I will be exhalted among the nations,
I will be exhaled in the earth. Psalm 46:10


Give me a B
Give me a U
Give me a S
Give me a Y
Whatcha Got
Busy
Whatcha Got
Busy

Beginning August 25, 2010 life began to get busy. Of course, this was due to school starting. This was not too bad. It was something I knew was coming. However, it just did not seem to stop. Out of nowhere, life was no longer life. It has changed it form and I did not even recognize what it was anymore. I kept going, sometimes not even knowing how I made it through the day because the days were just coming so fast and never seeming to start or end. I have always been busy, especially with 3 kids, but it has been managable. This time however, the business controlled me and I lost focus of my priorities. This is not to say that I did not keep trying to do something to fix it myself. Of course I did because I am such a practical person. I just knew I could figure out how to make life slow down. Practicality was not the answer. Who would've known? I kept hearing this voice say,"Be still." "Be still." "Be still!!!" Was God crazy? How could I possibly BE STILL. "I" had too much to do! Then, not surprisingly, came the shear exhaustion. It was then that "BEING STILL" felt like heaven. God, the Father of the universe, had been trying to get me to rest in Him for months and I totally ignored Him. I am praying now that my life will not become USELESS because of business, but USEFUL because of resting in HIM.

What's In The Wrapping?

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7

O.K. girls, be honest - are you as exhausted as I am? Here it is two days before Christmas, and I feel like I'm ready for a long-winter's nap! I must say, I do love this time of year. Last night I pulled down some old photo albums, and was looking at the pictures of Christmas' past when my boys were younger. Needless to say I was brought to tears as I reflected on those special times.
I remember one particular Christmas - Caleb must have been five or six years old. He'd gone shopping for his family in the Santa Shop at school. As I picked him up that day he was so excited about a gift he'd bought for me. He talked about this "surprise" all the way home, and even told me that if I wanted, he'd let me have it as an early Christmas present. Needless to say he was a little disappointed when I told him no, let's wait for Christmas day and I'd unwrap it then. So, Christmas day finally arrived, and as we went to open gifts, Caleb wanted me to open mine first. Inside the wrapping was a small crystal teddy bear. It probably cost him $3 or $4 at most, but to him (and to me) it was a priceless treasure. I still have that teddy bear sitting on my computer stand, and each time I look at it I remember that Christmas day.
I'm sure we all have found memories of a particular Christmas gift, whether it be one we have given or have received. But let's just pause for a moment and reflect on the perfect Christmas gift ever given. Of course you know I'm talking about God's gift to us, Jesus. God could have given us His gift in rich fancy, shiny wrapping. After all, He was born a King, but instead, this gift was wrapped in swaddling clothes. Swaddling clothes were strips of cloth that the Hebrew women would wrap their babies in to help the baby's body grow straight. It also helped prevent SIDS. The mother would wash her newborn with salt water, anoint him with oil, and then wrap him in the strips of cloth.
Let's take a moment to carefully unwrap this precious gift that God has given to us. In it we find first of all love, but then mercy, and grace, and best of all salvation - eternal life for all who believe in Him. All these things rolled up into one - Immanuel, God with us - Jesus. Oh, what a beautiful gift our Father has given us.
But we can't leave this gift wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. No, God's perfect gift lived a perfect life, "humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." He died a humiliating and painful death for you and for me. God the Father highly exalted Him. He is now our risen Lord, and He lives and reigns forever!
So, I challenge you, on Christmas morning as you unwrap your gifts, take time to thank God for the perfect gift that He's given to mankind. Take a closer look at the Gift that He gave, wrapped in the swaddling clothes.
On behalf of the Venture Women's Ministry, I wish you and your family a very blessed and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Donna

My plans or His plans?

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I know, I know, many of you are thinking, "I've known that verse since I was a child!" Well, I haven't known it long, and don't know if I've ever thought too much about it, even though it's one we hear quoted often. It came to me in a powerful way today. I had actually planned to write about my foray into the book, Radical, (for those of you who haven't read it...read it, it will change your thought life for sure, but hopefully your actions as well), but apparently God had different plans for this blog!

Anywhooo, I have had one of those days! I should have known something was up last night when I couldn't sleep and thought, "I should get up and work on my blog entry", then thought, "I'll do it tomorrow morning when everyone is out of the house". Well, that plan went right out the window. I have been on the RUN all day. Here's a little background.

I have been mentoring a young girl for almost a year now. I had never planned to mentor a teenager, (by God's grace we have gotten through the teen years with 2 daughters; and one son to go...I was almost home-free!) but need I say it, God had different plans. It's been an incredible blessing to me, my family and hopefully to this young lady. Anyway, she has really struggled this year; first with drugs and alcohol, then academically (it's hard to pass your classes when you are on drugs, in jail or in the hospital). Praise God, she has passed drug tests that have been administered to her in the last couple of months, but academically is still struggling some. Long story short, the feeling was that she would be better served by earning her High School Diploma through Adult High School. Well, today was the last day to take the placement test for that, but in order to take the placement test, she had to be discharged from public school (run, run), get her dad's signature and the school superintendent's signature (run, run) then show up at 5 to take a test from 6-8pm (run, run). Well, we did what we had to do, but she did not pass the test! She is so disappointed and embarrassed and full of "should haves and could haves". I didn't know what to say to her! Was all the running and maneuvering for nothing? Did we make a mistake? I told her that I wasn't sure why things turned out the way that they did, but God had a plan for her. He would use the situation ultimately for her good - she may not be able to see it now, but I was sure of it. She wasn't a failure or a loser (this was part of her self-recrimination). Sometimes, many times, things don't turn out the way we planned, but God is still in control and if she would embrace that, learn from it and move on, He would do great things in her life! He has a plan...an awesome plan!

As I got ready to write this blog, Jeremiah 29:11 came to me! I knew vaguely what it said, but not fully. How can I encourage others in God's Word, if I don't know it? This has shown me (again) how important scripture memorization is. If we hide God's word in our hearts, He will give it to us when we need it most. Our plans don't always work out, but God's plan always does!

Here's my new plan...learn and memorize His word, after all, that's part of His plan for me!

December 4, 2010

Turn Your Heart Toward Jesus...More!

“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrew 12:28

Hope you are embracing this Christmas season with an awesome view of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

As 2010 comes to an end, I have found myself in a time of reflection. This is usually experienced at the first of the New Year. But none the less, reflection time has begun with an increasing awareness of God's love, grace, and mercy. Honest reflection revealed that too many things have interrupted my awareness of Jesus. This year's spiritual struggles brought me to a realization that I had lost my awesome view of Jesus and the reality of that shook me to the core of my heart!

BUT, our amazing and most loving, gracious, and merciful Lord took pity on me and has begun to renew my heart with a more awesome view of Him. While I have experienced spiritual ups and downs; the Lord is leading me to confidently persevere in Him and live for Him with a much more awesome view of Him. It has been evident that in 2010 the love and patience of Jesus Christ toward me has been abundant.

It has become clear that having an “awesome view of Jesus” ensures that He will dominate everything I do. It gives me an awareness of His heart in everything and everywhere He leads me. It will keep the right focus on what I do being all about who He is. It want be the doing that will be the consuming fire, it will be JESUS!

This is what the Lord is calling me to, a renewed awesome view of Him that leads my heart to be consumed with His heart. I’m not waiting till the first of 2011; I’m yielding this minute to His leading to turn my heart toward Him MORE! And what’s more, He is leading me to invite YOU!

In 2011, our Women's Ministry's motto is "Turn Your Heart Toward Jesus...More!" and our scripture reference is:

“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrew 12:28

What a powerful verse to memorize and meditate on. May each of us seek to have an “awesome view of Jesus” and for HIM to become a consuming fire within our hearts?

LOOKING FOR A ROPE TO TIE A KNOT IN?

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil ~~ Hebrews 6:19

I will never forget the illustration Kay Arthur used for this verse as she taught during the Fall Women's Conference at Precept Ministries last month. This was my first time attending the conference, and it definitely won't be my last.

We seem to always be looking for that proverbial rope to tie a knot in and hang on as life overwhelms us. Kay had a real rope that she anchored to the podium and used it over and over to drive home the point.... WE HAVE A ROPE and it is the hope that anchors our soul from within the veil!! Read Hebrews 10:10-14. We have a High Priest, Jesus, who offered one sacrifice for sin. No matter what happens to us, when we fail, when we go through trials, when we go looking for that rope to tie a knot in.... it is never any farther away than down on our knees.... and that rope holds.

THE LOVE OF GOD

Judy asked me to post the Scripture God laid on her heart to share with us.

I John 5:3-4
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His
commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.

How is everyone doing with scripture memorization, are you going back and reviewing? Review all the scriptures that have been posted in these last months and keep them fresh in your mind.

“I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding… than memorizing Scripture… No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends…”

~Charles Swindoll

WEARING HIS CLOTHES

This is Tonya's week to share a verse with us. She asked me to post it for her as her computer is having some "issues".... she tried but the computer wouldn't cooperate. She would like us to memorize the following verses.....

Colossians 3:12, 14
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience..... And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.


As I read these verses Tonya asked me to share with you, I was reminded of something the Lord just showed me in the study of His Word, the meaning of Covenant. As He walked the earth in order to become our means of delivery from God's wrath, He clothed Himself in our humanity. How humbling that must have been for Him, I really have a hard time grasping what this must have been like for Him. He who created all things and for whom all things were created wrapped Himself in flesh.... All so we could clothe ourselves with His heavenly garments! In Covenant the Lord exchanged clothes with us!!! ... and going back to ancient times, this is one of the components of Covenant, you exchanged cloaks with the one you were entering into a covenant with. Because he "put on" our flesh, we can now "put on" His garments of holiness, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and love!!! Wow!!!

Oh and for those who came to the Simulcast and the Junctions following the Simulcast.... there is that word again, kindness! :-)

Being a Christian Mother

Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it. ~ Proverbs 22:6

If you know me it probably comes to no surprise that I would share scripture on motherhood. I am expecting my second son the beginning of December. As I spoke in my testimony, it is crucial to me that my boys have a solid foundation in the Lord.

Being a mother is a very important role that the Lord chooses to give to many women. The Bible never states that every woman should be a mother. However, it does say that those whom the Lord blesses to be mothers should take the responsibility seriously. Mothers have a unique and crucial role in the lives of their children. Motherhood is not a chore or unpleasant task. Just as a mother bears a child during pregnancy, and just as a mother feeds and cares for a child during infancy, so mothers also play an ongoing role in the lives of their children, whether they are adolescents, teenagers, young adults, or even adults with children of their own. While the role of motherhood must change and develop, the love, care, nurture, and encouragement a mother gives should never cease.

I love that my GrandMOTHER took extra time to make sure that we had a strong Christian foundation. She knew that one day all her hard work and teachings would pay off and I must say looking at all of us now she really out did herself and has made God very proud. I want that for my boys and my grandchildren one day.

The thing that I love the most is my Grandmother, my mother and myself are ALL active Christians and it gives me great comfort to know that I can call on them for guidance and encouragement and they are quick to pray for me and most importantly pray with me. I pray that I am just that for my boys when they get older and I encourage all you women to pray for your children and with your children often.

Experiencing God's Peace!

Phil 4:7 "And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus"

I was brought to this verse recently while under a lot of stress and pressure at work. For about a week I was so angry and frustrated, but instead of giving the problem to God, I just wanted to be angry. When I had finally had enough, I sat down with the Lord and started reading about His peace and this verse stuck out.

The great thing about the peace that God gives is that is it far greater than anything we can understand, even when we cannot see an answer to a situation and feel hopeless, God know the answer and can give us peace about it. So often I find myself getting caught up in such selfish things and can worry myself to death. But God does not want us to have anxiety, worry or fear. John 16:33 tells us that we will have struggles in this world, but not to worry over them, because He has overcome the world!

God has given me a peace in this situation that I know can only come from Him, and I am so thankful for that. He has also reminded me what a loving Father He is. I could almost see Him with His open, loving arms waiting for my frazzled self to run to Him so He could give me the comfort and peace I so needed. What an awesome God we serve! I am grateful He understands that I am a work in progress and that I am in constant need of Him. I hope this verse may come to your mind next time life seems to get a little too crazy to handle.

Understanding you are loved!

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine." Isaiah 43:1 (b)

How many times have you questioned your life? Your importance? I remember having a lot of these questions and concerns when I was in middle school and after I moved to a new high school. I didn't know a person and I didn't believe there was anything special about me. I still question this sometimes when I am down and feeling lonely... But... This verse explains that I should know better!!! Slowly reread the verse above.
This Bible verse proves that we are special because we are chosen!!! WE ARE HIS!!! How awesome is that! God chose you and me. We are special and honored. What a privilege it is to know that He picked us. He knew us before we were born and He loves us no matter how often we fall short of His glory and Holiness.
Later on in the 43rd chapter of Isaiah it says that "When we pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God.... verse 4- states "Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you" I am shocked that the God of this Universe that created everything around me says that I am precious... honored... and He loves me... WOW!!! What an amazing experience having that in my life.
I know as a Christian, we are not told that life will be perfect. The Bible verse says that "When you" have these hardships. Life is hard, especially with the economy, the world issues, the local issues!!! We have a close friend who is suffering from an unknown kind of cancer. He just got married and the doctors don't know how to treat him. My husband was concerned for him and his salvation. Bryan didn't sleep for three nights because he needed to talk to this man. I hate to admit it, but I was more concerned about my issues. I felt horrible when God opened my eyes. Nothing should be more important in our lives than telling the World of His great love for us. We need to be fishers of men and women. Remember when you question your worthiness that HE has redeemed us, summoned us and YOU ARE HIS, if you put your trust in Him! Rejoice and spread the good news! We are loved. Never forget your importance in Him!

The House that Built Me

By wisdom a House is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24:3-4

Well as you guys can see I am a little late on my blog. This week has been insane crazy! I hope the scripture speaks to you like it does me. I have started this 2 times and have had things come up where I would have to stop and then when I would come back to it I would delete the whole blog. Well this is my 3rd time starting it maybe it will be completed.
The House that Built Me is a song by Miranda Lambert that I heard many months ago and wanted to blog on it then, but I guess I didn't have the confidence to say what I wanted. (You know its like one of those times that you feel like you are the only person in the world this probably means anything to.)Well I hope its not one of those times! I want to encourage you to please listen to the song, and you might relate more than you think.
Growing up I was very lucky. I grew up in the same house with my parents who believed and taught the word of God. My dad worked and my mom stayed at home. We ate supper together(like real homemade food) everynight around the table with no phone and no tv. As a teenager I can remember that interrupting my social life but my mom did not care I still had to do it. When I got married that was the first time I had moved. Leaving that house was so hard. I suggested to Jason that when we get back from our honeymoon we should just go there and live but that didn't quit go over so well. I felt comfort and support there and love that was never ending and always encouraging. Now don't get me wrong it was not the perfect little family by no means and I am sure there are many times that were really tough but the good times far out weigh the bad times. Now that I am older and do have a house of my own I remember those times around the table and I know that they are times that by wisdom a House was being built. Since my mom died I have had a constant pull at my old house where I grew up and spent all those years. My dad still is in that house and alot of things have changed about the house but I still have constant memories of my home. I go there and leave with memories everytime. I know now that my mom & dad teaching me the ways of the Lord are the treasures that I have built up in the rooms there filled with love and support and an understanding of the love the Lord has for me.
Since this song has come to me I have posed a very important question. "How is the house being built for my family?" Am I building a house with God's Wisdom, by Gods knowledge am I filling the rooms with beautiful treasures? How about the House that is bulding your family? Is it with wisdom and knowledge of God? I pray this blog helps us to see the Houses that we are building, I pray that we are Thankful for the ones that helped build us and I pray that we build strong firm houses that can withstand any storm.

Amy

"Brothers, I do not consider yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Philipians 3: 13-14



It seems I have used this verse so many times recently, including in my own life. I thought it might be an appropriate addition to the blog. It's so encouraging to know that this came from the mouth of a man who most would consider having a crippling sinful past---Paul, the former Christian killer.



I was hiking Crowder's Mountain this week and was talking with someone close to me. She shared with me the intense hate she has for her mother due to various things that have occurred in her life. The hate and resentment she holds is so intense that forgiveness seemed an impossibility. During our conversation this verse came to me. After sharing the verse it seemed like a layer of anger and hurt peeled away. She even said that she was more ready to forgive and heal than she had been before. Wow! What an incredible, gracious God we have! So often we let our past dictate who we are, instead of letting Christ mold us into who we are to become. How can we look ahead toward Heaven when we are always looking at our past? Whether it is sin that we have committed ourselves or sin that has been done to us, we must remember that God never intends for us to wallow in it. He wants us to deal with it, learn from it, and move on stronger in Him. Although I've not mastered this, it has certainly been an encouragement for me in times when I get stuck reliving history. I pray it does the same for you!

Isaiah 26:3-4

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

I don't think my friend knew how badly I needed to hear this verse when she shared it with me years ago. I was in a new place, feeling very much alone, battling anxiety, and very discouraged. There were times during that season of my life that I would find myself almost chanting this verse. And I learned then that He is absolutely an Everlasting Rock!!

I love this passage because it doesn't matter where we are in life, it applies. If it doesn't today it probably will tomorrow. I want my mind, no matter what I'm doing, to be fixed on Him, because it's only then that I experience His true peace...."peace that passes understanding". And trust me, in my crazy life, I can always use peace.:0)

Love you ladies!!!

Keri

MEMORIZING AND FORGETTING.... MEMORIZING AND FORGETTING.......

I want to share a portion from a blog I read, Desiring God, which is John Piper's blog. Are you forgetting the scriptures you've memorized weeks before? Don't be discouraged.... read on....

How Do You Remember the Scripture You've Memorized?

(Author: Tyler Kenney)

John Piper answers this question in today's Ask Pastor John. Scroll down to read a transcript.

The following is an edited transcript of the audio.

How do you keep from forgetting Scripture after you've memorized it?

I don't. But practically, what can you do to keep it as long as you can? There is only one word. Review.

Review, review, review. There is no way to memorize Scripture that keeps you from losing it. Some people don't lose anything. Some people have traps in their head that just hang on to it. But only 1 in 10,000 people can do that. Average folks like me have to work real hard to memorize the first time, and then recurrently review to keep it. So I memorize verses every day, and I forget them every day.

This morning I re-memorized a verse. I finished Deuteronomy and ran across a verse that I memorized years ago. Maybe I memorize it once a year, because I read the whole Bible once every year.

The verse is Deuteronomy 33:26. "There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, and through the skies in his majesty." So, I've got it memorized. I probably will forget it in a week. That verse is hard for me to remember.

I've memorized that verse probably five times in five years. I forget it because I don't use it as often as some verses. So, I jot it down on a little piece of paper and carry it in my pocket, pulling it out during the day once or twice. If I try to nail it so that it is useful for me over the long haul, I keep it and review it.

A practical thing I would suggest for people to do, is decide what cluster of text they want to always be at their disposal. For me I could name Psalm 46, Psalm 23, Psalm 1, Romans 8, 2 Corinthians 5:21, a cluster of texts surrounding justification, 1 Peter 4:11—"let him who serves serve in the strength that God supplies, that in everything God may get the glory through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the dominion forever." This is the most quoted verse as we move into worship at Bethlehem.

So for my soul, for the warfare of my life, and for ministry in hospitals and counseling sessions, I want a cluster of texts at my disposal. Decide what those are, put them on a piece of paper, and review them until you have them down. I'll give you a little story.

My first or second year of pastoring I was called to the hospital—quickly. I went without my Bible. Rollin Erickson's wife just had a heart attack. I walk into a room of probably 20 family members that didn't know if she was alive or dead—as she is in surgery. Rollin gave me a big hug and said, "John, give us a Word from the Lord." Now, if I had my Bible I would have opened it to a Psalm or something. I didn't have my Bible, and for whatever reason at age 35 my mind went blank.

I felt so humiliated. It was horrible. Here are 20 people, and the husband of a dying woman says, "Give us a Word from the Lord." I can't even remember what I said. I probably said, "Let's pray," and tried to paraphrase some Scripture. I went home and got on my knees that afternoon. I said, "Lord Jesus, that will never happen again." I opened to Psalm 46—"God is our refuge and strength." I have been able to quote Psalm 46 verbatim for the last 28 years. I decided that Psalm 46 is going to be in my head because it is so useful all the time.

The answer is, review. But don't try to do that with every verse you learn. You should be learning hundreds of Bible verses by heart, and forgetting 90% of them. But then you get to them again and relearn them, and they are still with you because you learned them once. Somehow they will function to get out into your life.

But really nail down a cluster of soul strengthening words.

John Piper's blog can be found at www.desiringgod.org/Blog/

In Christ Alone,

Jane