Overflowing

It's impossible to spill out if you are empty!

As Americans, who run with both ends burning about 99% of the time, we can get lost in the business of life and forget that we need  to refuel.  As Christians...we are of no use if our cup is empty! We must take time to stop, listen to the Holy Spirit, read the Word and Worship the King of Kings.  We are vessels for filling...we can do nothing without His presence in our lives.

If you we want to love our husbands, siblings, parents, children, friends...others...we must be filled to overflowing with the source...Jesus! 

Lord, I want to be filled and overflowing...prick my heart...lead me to you.  Help me seek you every moment of my day. I am yours.

5 Scariest Things You Can Do This Halloween…

Read this article this morning...thought I'd share.

By Doug Phillips

Our country is in the grip of a fear crisis. The tension because of this fear is almost palpable. There is fear over elections, fear over the economy, and fear over hundreds of other issues ranging from the environment to terrorism.
The one fear that America is missing is a fear of the Lord. As a people, we no longer fear God. Because we do not fear God, we no longer hate evil (Proverbs 8:13).
Instead of hating evil, Americans toy with it. We toy with holidays like Halloween that were conceived in evil and that promote the “cute-ification” of evil, whether that evil takes the form of witchcraft, sorcery, ghoulishness, or some other form of malevolent imagery paraded before our children. We laugh at the very things that the Lord describes as “abominations,” and we find ourselves obsessively fascinated by, and attracted to, all things dark.
Yet we do not fear the Lord.
Those who “hate evil” are very scary to a secular society that fears man more than God. They are scary because they dare to declare that there are absolute standards by which society must be governed. They are scary because, if they are successful, industries like Hollywood that make billions of dollars by promoting ungodly fear will lose their influence. They are scary because such people will not be swayed by political candidates who use fear as a tool for manipulation.
With this in mind, I offer you the five “scariest” things you can do this Halloween:

1. The scariest thing you can do this Halloween is to not make light of evil. Halloween was conceived in evil and has remained a celebration that uses children to promote a fascination with darkness and superstitious fear. Simultaneously, it makes light of things that the Bible describes as evil. Stand against such things, and the world will find you very scary indeed. The fear of the Lord makes men turn from evil (Proverbs 16:6).
2. The scariest thing you can do this Halloween is to not be fearful. The media wants you to be afraid of everything from overpopulation to global warming. The politicians want you to be afraid of the economy and political instability. God wants you to do what is morally right, trust Him completely, and never be gripped by an ungodly spirit of fear. You can place your trust and hope for this nation in the King of Kings. Jesus said: “And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him” (Luke 12:4-5). Believe this, and you will be light to the world.
3. The scariest thing you can do this Halloween is to completely skip Halloween and remember Reformation Day. It was 493 years ago that Martin Luther nailed his world-changing 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg church. These theses included rebukes to ungodly fear and superstition. 501 years ago, sometime near October 31, a baby named John Calvin was conceived who would dedicate his life to eradicating an ungodly fear of superstitious beliefs and proclaiming the gospel of grace. His emphasis on reformation, revival, and the sufficiency of Scripture had such far-reaching implications for nations like the United States that he has been described by Christian and secular scholars alike as the true founding father of America. The Reformers did something that was very scary to the world of their day. They stood against all forms of dark superstitions which grip the minds and souls of men. It was their emphasis on the fear of the Lord and the wisdom of Holy Scripture that was used by God to liberate untold numbers of men and women. But to remember the Reformers instead of Halloween is very scary to the world. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).
4. The scariest thing you can do this Halloween is to refuse to watch or allow your children to watch any of the toxic Halloween and horror films emerging from Hollywood. America’s fascination with ungodly fear has made horror the most popular and fastest-growing film genre amoung youth. When parents allow their children to toy with this genre, they promote ungodly fear, and they contribute to the fear-factories in Hollywood that prey upon the youth of our culture. Say “no” to Hollywood horror and you will be dangerously scary to the media elite. “Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence....?” (Jeremiah 5:22).
5. The scariest thing you can do this Halloween is to get on your knees as a mother and father and pray that the Lord will send you many, children who will fear God, not man — children who will especially shun the glorification of witchcraft, the bondage of ungodly fear, and the “cute-ification” of evil that is promoted through holidays like Halloween. Cultures that toy with evil end up being cultures of death. The Christian response is to be a people of life. That means babies. It means fearing God by honoring His command to “be fruitful and multiply.” It means remembering that the Scripture describes children as a “blessing” and a “reward.” Raise children that fear God more than man, and that will be answer enough to our Halloween- and darkness-obsessed culture; for if you trust God over your womb and commit your children to a holy education, you will be very scary to the modern world. “Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (Psalm 34:11).

A Holy Experience

One of my favorite blogs is Ann Voscamps blog... Holy Experience. Ann is an incredible writer, photographer and a is very passionate about Christ and being FULL of Christ in our daily lives....

If you have a heart for others in need...or your heart is hard and you are happy living in mediocrity...I recommend this read. I hope you are moved...

When you're dying to live radical: Fight Middle Ground blog entry

Admonishment

As I read in Ephesians 6 this morning, I read verse 4 that says "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."  I have read this verse many times and even quoted it in jest to my dad as a kid...but today I was wondering, what does admonishing mean? I had always remembered it being translated as instruction, and although nurture means tutorage and training, admonish does not. 

So I looked up the Greek word. "calling attention to, i.e. (by impl.) mild rebuke or warning". That is different. The directions from the Lord are to tutor or train our children and call attention with MILD rebuke! I know that I would rather the Lord show me in his Word how I am supposed to live, and give me ample tries to walk out His instructions, than for Him to tell me once and then strike me down if I fail.  I am thankful for a God that shows men and women how to love their children.  I am thankful that even when we mess up, He is Faithful and can remedy the situation if we turn to Him for help. I am thankful for a husband who leads with a soft hand and words of instruction.

I am praying for Fathers...that they would have a heart of instruction and mild rebuke after God heart.  That a hard hand and a loud bark is not what our children remember about their Dads. We are Earthly example of our Creator.

My disclaimer:

(I don't think that the term mild rebuke means you simply lecture your children on what all they need to be doing and aren't.  Using time-out, redirection and even spanking...I know...the S word...are all tools that help train and rebuke children. The Bible does say in  Proverbs 22, 23 and 29 that spanking is a tool to be used in discipline. I think to do that Mildly means to not act out of our anger and to use it WHEN appropriated by "in your face" rebellion, not just because the child made a mistake.)

Vigilance

I am often caught off guard when Satan attacks!  I shouldn't be...but I am.  I am right in the middle of a battle when I stop and realize that it is a battle!  Scripture says in  1 Peter 5:8-9, that we should be vigilant, or be on alert.  You see, when we are sleeping, spiritually, that is when Satan attacks.  We let him in by not keeping him out. This is an everyday...many times a day...renewing of our minds and focusing of Christ. 

Scriptures says that the devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour!  I don't want to be devoured!  I don't want my relationships and time to be devoured!  The Word also says that Satan comes to kill, steal and DESTROY!  He is out for your life!  "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10.


Jonathan Mayer, The Devour



Satan wants to steal ALL that God has promised you.  He wants you to be in the pits of despair so you can't, or won't, move forward with Christ.  You see, he change who you belong to, but he can change how you respond to who you belong to.

When I notice that I am in the midst of a battle...I have to take up my sword and fight...or be defeated.  It is a choice.  I want to live in the life that Christ paid for me to have!  I want to head off the attack...not struggle to defeat it.  Watch...Vigilantly..."Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." Ephesians 6:16

Zeal For ALL!

I just read a friend's blog and it has lit a fire in me.  I am so appalled that older, more mature Christians discourage so many!  You heard me...DISCOURAGE!

As believers, we are supposed to be growing in Christ...not becoming complacent and judgemental of those that are diligently seeking after God's will.  The Lord didn't call his disciples to follow him...until they were in their 50s-70s. NO!  The disciples followed him unto death AND old age.  WAKE UP!

We must have mature Christian leadership.  The Bible warns about putting new (not Young in age) Christians in leadership.  It puffs up their ego. 1Timothy 3:6. So who is supposed to be leading? Seasoned, wise, committed Christians...no matter their age!

When we become complacent and unwilling to follow Christ with our WHOLE heart.. we are hardened.  No one wants to hear that. but the scripture warns us not to let our hearts become hard to His voice...

"For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,  Harden not your heart, Psalm 95:7-8; Hebrews 3:15; Hebrews 4:7

"The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock." 1Peter 5:1-3

"The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Titus 2:3-5

If you are in your 50s-?...get a move on!  God's not finished with you...he has SO much he wants to do with you and through you.  Your age is not an excuse for no longer having zeal...that my friend is a CHOICE...Choose you THIS DAY whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15). Will it be your flesh...or God?  Draw near to me and I will draw near to you. Ask and you shall receive...

My final challenge comes from Hebrews 10:22-24

"22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works"

Love to you all...may your hearts be full and zeal return to those sleeping...

Prayer For You

We serve a Powerful, Loving God!  This morning my heart is praying for each of you that reads my blog, and for others that are "fighting the good fight of faith". Have a wonderful and blessed Sunday...seeking His face, His presence and His will, enjoying family and friends, and basking in the richness of His love for each of us...for we ARE His children.

"For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come." Ephesians 1:16-21

Fingerprints

Often I forget what a great impact I have on my children!  I know...sounds crazy doesn't it? But really, there are moments that we stop and stand back and can see the direct fingerprint we have had on our children. The way they stand when they are talking or pace while on the phone.  The way they clean up a room and order their day.  Just this morning, as I got up to read I spotted a checklist my daughter made for herself to reminder her of the important things she needed to accomplish...her mother dead out!! Heehee.

I am pausing to consider God's fingerprint on their lives...

More important than how to make a checklist and follow it out...is having a heart for Christ.  Have I influenced my children to live for Christ simply by my actions?  Do I speak about following Him and let my actions refute my words?  Am I leaving a fingerprint of hypocrisy?  I pray that I am not, but I know in some areas I am.

Actions DO speak louder than words.  I hope my children SEE me doing God's will, following after Him with reckless abandon and tasting that He IS good.  I want my children to have the fingerprint of a Godly mother...because they will, after all, have my fingerprint no matter what I chase after.

Actually, my fingerprint will continue on...

"For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation." Luke 1:49-50

Adventures Await

Do you ever wonder, "how am I going to walk this out?"  I do.  I feel a call on my life, a tug at my heart, a simple request to move and I sometimes respond as Moses did..."but God...surely you don't mean me! I ...." filling in the blanks with all my excuses.  But then I draw strength from the Word of God.  

"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."2 Peter 1:3-4


"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:1-6

The Lord never expects us to "go it alone" or without a road map.  This isn't a guessing game. We are not unprepared for the journey in which he has called us, nor are we left without resources to get the job done. 

There are exciting adventures waiting and God is waiting on you, and me to get movin'!

Rahab, The Harlot

Reading in Joshua today.  The Lord let me to read right at the point where Joshua and his army are marching around Jericho.  I just love this story!  How Great and Mighty is the Lord God!  He brought down an entire city with the shouts of mortal man.  Not only that, but what GREAT Faith Joshua had to stand up before an army ready to fight and tell them that they were going to simply march around the city for 6 days, carrying the ark and on the seventh they would do it 7 times...I'm thinking if Colon Powell had said that to the troops of  Desert Storm...they would have sent him to the loony farm!

As I read on, verse 17 spoke to me this morning. "And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent." You see, the Lord gave the entire city to Joshua.  He "accursed" everything in it ALL were destroyed by Joshua's army, save one house...the Harlot's. Rahab was a prostitute...yet God spared her. Why? Because she hid the messengers, or spies from the Israelite army. Because of her actions, God spared her and her household.

What interested me so much is Rahab's occupation.  Today, we still have prostitutes working the streets that we look on with disdain...even hatred.  God loves them, too! He sees their sin, and it is unpalatable to Him, but he also sees a child that is in need of a Savior; someone in need of a safe place to sleep, good food to eat, warm arms to hold them that have no alter plan.  What do you see?

The scripture tells us in Acts 10:34-35 "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, 'Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.'" Are you?  God did NOT condone Rahab's occupation!  He honored her actions toward His people. Rahab continues to dwell with the Israelites for the remainder of her life (Joshua 6:23-25). And then...READ THIS...in Matthew 1:5, she is listed in the genealogy of Christ!  THE SON OF GOD! 

No matter what your circumstances look like. No matter your occupation, or living arrangements...God can and will use you if you surrender to Him.  God blessed Rahab, even in her sin, by sparing her life...but she turned from that life and dwelt among God's people.

For those that are not living sinfully out-loud...your sin is NO different that Rahab's.  Lying, reacting out of anger towards others, living depressed or angry or in bitterness...all measure up to the same sin level as Rahab's sin.  I know...you didn't want to hear that...stepping on my own toes too! Remember, "God is no respecter of persons".  He wants to use us NOW...and in the process of our obedience...he wants to give us a better life..."I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10b.