Many Flowers With One Gardener!

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.  Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good....All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.  Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.  For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.  Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many."  1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 11-14

During this season of blooming flowers, sunflowers are blooming in our garden right now and I love the word picture message God laid on my heart!  As a part of the body of Christ, there is one body with many parts.  The same is true in this picture of a bouquet of flowers; there are many flowers created by one Gardener, the Lord! 

As you look at a bouquet of flowers do you see yourself?  Do you see your giftedness?  Do you see your unique personality?  Do you see purpose?  You are in there!  You may be the beautiful background flower, the tender accent flower, the colorful complimentary flower, or the sunflower that leads them all (someone has to be the sunflower and God never intended the other flowers to be jealous or envious of anyone).  Every flower is necessary for the common good and purpose of the bouquet.  Every flower is meant to bloom the unique ways that God planted them and created them to bloom.

As the body of Christ, each member needs to be included, needs a place to belong, needs to be accepted for the unique ways that God has gifted and created them.  When everyone is embraced for different service but with the same Lord, you will have a beautiful bouquet of ministry taking place for the common good of people knowing Jesus, sharing Jesus, and leading others to do the same!  I have seen this kind of ministry in action.  I have experienced God take a group of people that are embraced for their uniqueness and watch Him mobilize them for God's Glory and the saving of many lives.  This is a beautiful work of the Lord.

I have also seen the downside of ministry when the enemy tries to get members in the body of Christ to favor one over the other, leaving out members that have gifts to give, turning ministry into a competition or popularity of one over another, and abandoning members that may not in their in crowd....the results of the enemies tactics is not pretty...it may look something like this

one flower left standing alone, wiped out from being alone in ministry, lacking the ministry life and beauty that God intended through many flowers with one Gardener!  
I love the differences in the body of Christ, I love to surround myself with others that have gifts that I do not have so that they build strenght and beauty into the beautiful bouquet of ministry that God has called us to!  I love how God says it best in 1 Corinthians 12:15-26 "Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.  And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.  If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?  But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.  If they were all one part, where would the body be?  As it is, there are many parts, but one body.  The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”  On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbSMfL5LuSo  ("You Are For Me" by Kari Jobe)

Excited about encouraging women to know Jesus, share Jesus, and lead others to do the same:-)!!!

Clinging To The Cross!

Some of my favorite promises from God's heart that describe "Clinging to the Cross" are 2 Cor. 1:3-11, I must cling to The Cross in order to keep my hope set on Jesus!  As you can see in this picture, I Am Clinging To The Cross!  I am a desperate Christian, but in desperation I find hope and victory in Jesus! 

I pray you are encouraged to cling to The Cross if you know Jesus as your Saviour or run to The Cross if you need Him to be your Lord today, as you read these promises too! God Loves You!! Praise God for God's Promise to use everything you experience in life for His purposes, His Glory, His Salvation for Others!!  "...if we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation..." 2 Cor.1: 6 (please see below)  WOW, that makes all the negative experiences in life worth it all to know that God can use them ALL to share comfort and salvation with OTHERS...I sure have a lot of things to share with others as someone that was not raised in a Christian home and as someone that has experienced many sufferings as a believer...I pray this encourages you to be ready to share Jesus from the pain and persecutions that you may have or may be experiencing in life!


2 Cor.1:3-11 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.  We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us again. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."  Keep Your Hope Set On Jesus and Be Ready to Share Him with Others!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noSLw7v_kEM  (If I Could Just Touch The Hem Of His Garmet"!!!  Nicole C. Mullen)  http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=YGKG7NNX 

Mother's Day Tribute!

"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."  2 Peter 3:9 (NASB)

The picture you see above is a picture of my mother and I on Mother's Day, 1965, when I was 2 years old.  I was born on Mother's Day, 50 years ago, wow can't believe I just typed that number, I am about to be 50 and happy, happy, happy! 

My life is a miracle from God!  I was born into a very lost family, I am the first Christian in my family and the joy of my life is to know that God used my life to lead my own dear mother to Jesus....as the years go by there is no greater Joy than to know that my mother is in heaven this Mother's Day!  If you have loved ones that still need to be saved, be encouraged, my mother did not come to know the Lord quickly or easily for this daughter. 

At first, when I ran to Jesus and gave Him my life, my mother thought that I had been brained washed.  I remember her asking me time and time again, "why are you going down to the church all the time, are you in some kind of cult"?  Witnessing to family members can be some of the most difficult people to share Jesus with, but never give up, God is always at work!  After more than 10 years of praying for my mother to come to know Jesus as her Lord, many days that were discouraging because of the rejection that often goes hand in hand with "being patient & waiting on the Lord", it happened like this:  It was a Sunday morning at our church in Plano, Texas and my mother came to church, may I say, without me even inviting her to come to church that Sunday :-) !  It was like we turned around and she was there and the next thing I know she was asking me to lead her to the Lord, GLORY & PRAISE TO GOD!!

Then she became an inspiration as she jumped into her relationship with the Lord with total surrender as I became her mentor and had the JOY of discipling my own mother....as I look around my study right now I can see the many many Bible Studies and even my mother's Bible that I had the PRIVILEGE of sharing with my mother as she grew and grew as a Christian!!  Here is a picture of my mother at one of her first women's ministry ladies retreats that I had the privilege of leading, my mother is the one full of the joy of Jesus in the middle of this picture :-)  

As my mother grew in the Lord there were dear sisters in Christ that He used to love her unconditionally, She was so excited about her relationship with the Lord that she was involved in every area of church, so much so that I was able to say back to her with a smile "why are you down at that church all the time, are you in some kind of cult, ha!!"  Barbara was one of my moms first Christian friends and she is pictured in this picture on the right and she blessed my mother's life in Christ in so many ways!  And then there was my mothers first pastor's wife, Judy Fenton.  Judy inspired and loved my mother unconditionally, here is a picture that includes Judy, she is on the left full of beauty inside and out!

My mother had her first church directory picture taken and I can not tell you how excited she was, just look at the joy of Jesus and His beauty in her face!

My mother had some difficult days in the last years of her life but because of prayer and the encouragement of many, she finished well and she is now in heaven with Jesus!  I will forever be thankful for the witness and encouragement of Jaye Martin during the last few months of my mothers life as she strived to finish strong for Jesus!  This picture was taken by Jaye at our son's wedding, just over 3 months before my mother went to be with the Lord! 

but it doesn't end with my mother going to be with the Lord, she went to be with the Lord as a soul-winner because as I had the privilege of sharing my mother's testimony at her memorial service, her 66 year old little brother, my Uncle Larry that you see in this picture with my mom GAVE HIS LIFE TO JESUS at my mother's memorial service!! 

This was one of the desires of my mother's heart, that her little brother would come to know Jesus as his Lord, God Answered my mother's Prayer!! 

Thank you, Jaye, for your prayers, for loving my mother unconditionally, and for never giving up!!

Who are you praying for today, dear friends, that still needs to turn their life over to Jesus?  Please always know that you can share your loved ones names with us as we pray with you because  "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 (NASB)

♥Happy Mother's Day 2013♥

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CSVqHcdhXQ  "Blessings"!!! Laura Story

 

Conversation Starters: Nature

"Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have not storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable are you than the birds" (Luke 12:24, NASB).

Do you love the crisp air in fall or the beauty of new life that you see in spring? I used to have a professor who couldn't help but stop on vacations to take pictures of eroded rock formations as he took road trips with family. What stands out to you in God's creation? This can be a great way to start a conversation with someone, to share more about our Creator.

Nature can be simply striking. Its beauty tends to draw us in, and its intricacy can lead people to wonder about its designer. As life in unfolds around us, we can talk with others about how carefully and intelligently God made the world. He didn't just make everything and then walk away. He is ever-present, watching over every living thing, like the birds of the air. He desires a relationship with the people that He made in His image.

"The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands" (Psalm 19:1, NASB).

Study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo by Keith Williams from www.birds.cornell.edu.

Jelly Beans For Jesus!

Easter is just around the corner and for Christians it is one of the most awesome days to Celebrate Jesus being ALIVE!  Easter is one of the greatest opportunities to be Sharing Jesus with those that need Him to be ALIVE in their lives!  It is like our Super Bowl Sunday but even much much more exciting!

Candy is always a great way to open the door for spiritual discussions.  At Easter, sharing Jelly Beans For Jesus, along with an invitation to your church's Easter celebration may open the door to sharing Jesus with your unchurched neighbors, unchurched friends, your children's sport team, and much more.  Be Creative & Have Fun for Jesus this Easter!!

Jelly Beans For Jesus Is A Great Way 2 Witness!!!  What are some ways that you witness at Easter?  We would love to hear about your ideas, please e-mail us or share your ideas on Facebook as we encourage one another to Share Jesus during the greatest time of year that reminds us that Jesus Is Alive!  Happy Easter!!

"Jelly Beans For Jesus"

Great Activity for Moms & their Children, or at an Easter Party:  You will need: Snack size ziploc bags, the Jelly Beans For Jesus poem written below, colored pencils, scissors, paper, Easter grass, witnessing booklet.



Directions: Type out the special poem written below on colored paper (2 poems per 1 piece of paper).  Cut paper poems in half, Roll up poem, then put poem and witnessing booklet into an empty small ziploc bag that has some Easter grass in it.



As you read the poem, below, have children drop two to three of each of the matching colored jellybeans into their bag.



(Using a child-friendly Bible version, and read Scriptures with poem.).



“ORANGE is for Heaven so bright. (2 Samuel 22:13-14)

YELLOW is for God's perfect light. (Revelation 21:23)

BLACK is for the sins we've done. (Romans 3:23)

RED is for the blood He gave. (Romans 5:8)

WHITE is for our cleansing from sin. (Psalm 51:1-2)

GREEN is for new life in Him. (Colossians 1:10)

PINK is for His gift to share. (Matthew 28:19-20)

PURPLE is for the crowns we'll wear! (2 Timothy 4:8)

The witness of the Jelly Beans is true; trust in Jesus, because He loves you! (Romans 10:13)”



Presentation idea: Cut colored poster board in the shape of jelly beans (make them extra large). On the back of the poster, write the matching line from the poem. Have children stand side-by-side, hold up their jellybean when it's their turn, and then recite their line. Afterwards, distribute small packets of jellybeans along with the printed poem.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3StQfGXwKQ0 "Easter Song"  Keith Green

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwZqhx8eSN4  "JESUS SAVES"  Easter Song by Northland Church

Reward of Inheritance

"Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve" (Colossians 3:24, NASB).

I love morning runs, because there are less distractions. There's a great morning air, and things can be quiet if you get to go before traffic picks up. After about ten minutes in, I feel like I can get into a "zone" so to speak. It is just easier to get into the finish when I reach this, as it becomes easier for me to focus and keep going. As believers, where is our focus? Where are our eyes? We have this relationship with God that lasts forever. All because of grace. Now, I think that's a finish line to fix our eyes on.

Inheritance. This inheritance is our reward. What is it? The word itself is commonly known today as something that is passed on to someone else in your family - like a treasured vase or a piece of furniture. In this case, we are reminded that as believers, God has accepted us into His family. As we have put our faith and trust in Christ and what He has done, we know we are forgiven and called God's children, His sons and daughters.

He is glad to welcome family in. We are able to be near God and have this restored relationship with our Creator, forever - longer than accomplishments, physical health or any possessions we may have at the moment. Our King welcomes those who trust in Him as their heavenly Father.

Whom do we serve? As people who put our trust in God, the Lord is the One we aim to serve. Earlier in Chapter 3, we can read how we are to "set our mind on things above" (Colossians 3:1-4). God is is love and cares for the world (John 3:16-17). He stands for truth and yet has this amazing mercy. He is the One who saves, revives, and guides us.

So, we live for the One who rules over all the tribes, tongues and nations; the One who is just and sent Jesus to pay the price we owed for our wrongs on the cross; the One whom offers forgiveness and invites us to be a part of His family - forever.

Lord, thank You calling us sons and daughters. As we serve, help us keep our eyes on bringing honor to You. Thank You for being our Creator, Redeemer, Healer...you know, we could go on and on. We love You. In Your great name, Amen.

Check out the song "Your Great Name" by Natalie Grant:

• This version was posted by New Hope Oahu
• Natalie worships with others at Saddleback Church in this YouTube video
• This recording is an acoustic version

Study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).

Form of a Bond-Servant

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who...emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant..." (Philippians 2:5-6a, 7a).

Jesus was a sort of bond-servant to God - He served God above all else. What does it mean that He emptied Himself? Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. Even though He was God, He left His home and came to earth. He didn't lose His identity as divine, since we know He experienced temptations but was still without sin. He endured ridicule from some and suffering on the cross, knowing that He was God's Son and that He had a greater purpose to be a part of God's plan - to save His people.

How can we have the attitude of a bond-servant, like Christ? Christ served God first, no matter the cost. As believers, we've acknowledged our need of Him and received His grace. We now seek to serve Him first, but we can still struggle. Trip Lee offers encouragement in this arena, from his song, "We Told 'Em" -

"So we know that He's great, but we don't reflect Him well,

So when we told 'em that He saves, it was hard for them to tell

So it's time to live this thing, in light of the God who reigns

Let's not try to cause Him pain, show them a pic of the God who came."

Lord, thank You for showing us amazing grace. Work in us and help us put You first in our lives. Help us be a changed people, people who are a better reflection of You. Amen.

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men" (Colossians 3:23).

For a reference on being a bond-servant to Christ, see Paul's note in Galatians 1:10.
Verses from the New American Standard Bible.
Study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Hear Trip Lee's song, "We Told 'Em," on YouTube here.

Let's Have A HeartTalk!

Our world is full of people that are searching and starving for Jesus.  People that need the Lord have many similar characteristics:  empty, searching for peace, trapped in darkness, broken, rejected, without hope, wandering, searching for meaning, yearning for belonging, running from one thing to another, trying to fill their lives with constant activity, trying to escape reality, addicted to the things of this world, and on and on. Why do I know some of these characteristics? Because until I was a grown adult and someone shared Jesus with me, those characteristics described my daily lifestyle. You see, I was lost and without hope until I accepted Jesus as my Savior! Lost people look like lost people!!

Do you know Jesus? If you do not know Jesus, you can know Him right now, today, this very minute! He is looking over your life with His love. He knows those that are starving for peace and purpose that can only be found in Him! Here are some simple steps you can take to know Jesus:

• HOPE in HIM ♥ God has some things He'd like for you to know from His heart. God has great plans for you! Jeremiah 29:11-13 was written just for you as God says "'For I know the plans I have for you, ______________ (put your name in the blank)'" declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'"

• BELIEVE in HIM + God Loves You! John 3:16 was written just for you as God says, "For God so loved the world ______________ (put your name in the blank) that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." When you believe God sent Jesus to die on the cross for you and accept the forgiveness He offers, He will wipe your sins away. Then, the communication with God is open.

• TURN to HIM ^ God will forgive your wrongdoings and clean your heart! Acts 3:19 was written just for you as God says, "Turn to God, so that your ___________(put you name in the blank) sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." As you turn away from your sins and turn to God, He helps you make wise decisions. He wants the very best for you!

• CALL on HIM as LORD "HeartCall" God will give you a new heart. It's not enough just to know about Jesus. You must ask Him to lead your life and be your Lord. Romans 10: 9-10, 13 was written just for you as God says, "if you ___________(put you name in the blank) confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."!!

If you would like to ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, just call on Him by praying a simple prayer similar to this one from your heart:  "Dear God, I know You have great plans for me and I want to place my hope in You. I believe You love me and sent Jesus to die on the cross for me. Please forgive me and help me turn from my wrongdoings. I want You to lead my life. Amen!"

If you prayed this prayer and meant it, God says you are now a follower of Him, a New Believer with A New Heart!  2 Corinthians 5:17 was written just for you as God says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, you are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come."!

Please share with us of your life-changing decision to follow Christ so that we can rejoice with you, pray for you, and share a simple but wonderful New Believers Guide called "HeartCall: A New Heart", with you!

Now that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you can know that He will help you every day and that when you die, you will go to heaven to live with Him forever! 1 John 5:13 was written just for you as God says, "I write these things to you _____________(put your name in the blank) who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life"!

You will also want to take the daily first steps as a follower of Christ:

1. Share HeartTalk with others and tell them of your decision to follow Christ. God will be pleased and you will be His Witness!
2. Join a Bible-believing church and follow Christ's example of baptism. You'll be blessed!
3. Pray daily! Prayer is simply talking to God just like we talk to each other. Share with God why you    love Him and about the things you are trusting Him for. He Always Listens!
4. Read your Bible daily! If you do not have a Bible please let us know so that we can help you get one. As you start reading your Bible, a good place to start is 1 John (don't be embarrassed to look at the table of contents in the front of your Bible to find 1 John). Then read the Gospel of John. Ask God to help you understand what you are reading and He will help you!

Let us hear from you! We would LOVE to know of your decision, answer any questions you may have, support you, and/or pray for you!

"HeartTalk" witnessing booklets are a great tool to use in your personal witness, and in your church ministries for witness training/decision time. You can contact Jaye Martin Ministries by clicking on the e-mail option.  (all of the written material above is from the "HeartTalk" Witnessing Booklet, written by Jaye Martin) Please contact us if you would like to purchase the "HeartTalk" Witnessing Booklets to share with others as His Witness!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PANiveIKVX0  (Come To Jesus - Chris Rice)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0LM5e7EkJ0 (God of This City with lyrics - Chris Tomlin)

Please pass this post onto others as His "HeartTalk" witness!!

Humility of Mind

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interest of others" (Philippians 2:3-4, NASB).

What does humility mean? Paul encouraged the Philippians to put others before self, instead of seeking ambition and praise for themselves first. He urged them to have "humility of mind." What does that look like?

Jesus gives us the perfect example of humility. He came to serve (Mark 10:44-45). He came to show us how to live on earth in honor to God. In His perfection, He chose mercy and compassion as He loved and healed people who were from different walks of life. He is God, and so He is distinct from the world. And yet, He loves it. Jesus endured in the face of suffering, so we could have a restored relationship and a new life with our Creator.

Looking at our perfect Savior, how can we be humble like Him? Growing in humility may be a process (at least it is for me). That's a reason why we need God, though. No challenge is too tough for Him, and He is there for us out of love. When we mess up in this regard, God is faithful to forgive sin when we confess it (1 John 1:9). He gives believers the Holy Spirit to help us grow (2 Corinthians 3:16-18).

As believers in Christ, we are told that "You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14-16). By His strength and power, as we receive God's love and let Him work in us, we can live out humility and be a lighthouse to honor our Savior. We can let God and others be our chief concern, rather than letting personal interest or personal advantage be our main goal in life. A humble mind is driven by a love for God and others.

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but 

to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?" 
-Micah 6:8, NASB

Lord, thanks for showing us what humility looks like. Forgive us for any pride that blocks us from considering others before ourselves. Renew our minds, so we can walk humbly with You. Amen.

Photo from dailybibleplan.com.
Study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).

Songs of Praise

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Colossians 3:16, NASB).

In this verse, Christians are challenged to let God's Word dwell richly inside of them and to give thanks to God. If a dwelling is a place to live and reside, then we are to let these words not just pass through our ears but to take root inside us. As it takes root deep within us, penetrating our core with the power of the Holy Spirit, we can overflow with thanks for what He is doing within us.

Martin Luther once prayed, 

"Grant that I may not pray with my mouth alone; 

help me that I may pray from the depths of my heart." 

Let us let God in, savor His Word, and overflow with thankfulness. Let's praise Christ for all that He is, and let us pray His Word penetrates our hearts, flows through our veins, and brings life to those around us. We can praise God, because He loved us while we were still sinners. He came to bring life and light to the world. Hopefully, this deep relationship with Him is or becomes an essential part of our lives.

Lord, thank You for creating us, for saving us and for being our Guide. After all is said and done, let our lives be filled with worship and thankfulness to You. Amen.

Check out an acoustic version of Crowder's song, "Holy" on YouTube here.
Study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).

Mending of Lives

"Older women, likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers, at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored" (Titus 2:3-5, NASB). 

In business marketing and human resources articles, often you can find extensive research on generational differences. It is important for companies to learn about who they are marketing to and about how to work together as a team. As believers, we know we are united as the church based on our faith in Christ. So, how can we help people who are different from us?

What has God taught you so far in your walk with Him? Whether it be large or small truths you are learning, you can share these with younger believers. We can build these relationships on love. We can live out God's truths and share with younger ones how God has taught us to walk by faith.

Do you have ideas on how to share with and how to connect different generations? It doesn't have to be a formal appointment. Whether it's going to the grocery store with someone, volunteering with them, or sending them an encouraging email or text message, we can pray God shows us ways we can help someone younger know Him more. It may take time to build relationships like that, but it's worth it.

Lord, help us be a people who help encourage younger ones along in this walk of faith we have with You. Help this to be part of the heartbeat in the body of Christ, so that others will know You more. Amen.

Study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).

People of Peace

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15, NASB).

Where do you go for air? What do you do to find peace?

A missionary once told me that when they look for people who can lead a Bible study on their own, they look for those who are a "people of peace." She looks for believers who find their peace in God, knowing that He has forgiven them and is leading them. They find solace in trusting God and having a relationship made right with Him.

When stress or anxiousness come, we can turn to God for understanding, wisdom, and direction on the next steps to take. There is peace and confidence in God when we have a mended relationship with Him. His grace in forgiveness and our faith in Him saves us and bring us under the guardianship of the Lord over all. He forgives and is here to help us walk as we follow Him.

Our Lord brings lasting peace. He made us, He has a genuine and lasting love for us, He wants to save us from destruction, and He wants to invite us into His presence for good. Let's pray that we find peace in Him.

Lord, thanks for sending Christ to us, to show us Your love. Help us be a people of peace, a people who fully trust in You and rely on You. Help us see ways to tell others more about who You are, so maybe they will come to experience this peace You bring. Amen.

An acoustic recording of "Psalm 63" by Kerith Worship - www.youtube.com. They have another one with great lyrics, "Drawing Near" - www.youtube.com - Kerith Worship.
Study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).

Bond of Unity

"...love, which is the perfect bond of unity" Colossians 3:14b (NASB).

Unity - it reminds me of people who come together to reach victory. Whether it be a sports team, an army, or a work group, usually a group unified at some point has to go through something - a competition, a battle, or at least some amount of time of concentrated effort. The blood, sweat and tears that can happen in the thick of a hardship can appear unattractive by onlookers. Not every united group may win the way they first planned. Although, they represent a victory to me when they hold a unity of purpose and a love for something outside of themselves.

The verse above describes how love unites people perfectly. God is love, and so love is meant to define us as individuals following Him. Also, it's meant to define us as a group of believers in Christ.

As believers, we have accepted God's love and His love is working in us, but we can also have this special bond in that we live it out together, as one body. The church definitely has people who are different - unique interests, different personalities and varied spiritual gifts. Yet, a believer's common bond with other believers is that we know, believe and trust in God's grace. We know this walk with Him has joy as well as suffering, and we know that God has told us to take heart, since He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

Christ has shown us how to walk on earth in love, and the Holy Spirit has the power to help us love today. We have seen God's grace work in our own lives and draw us to Him. We are a family of people who are made to unite under Him and live out and display His love. Let's unite in this love of God, so others may come to see more of who He is and how He brings light and life.

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35, NASB).

Study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo from the Vancouver Sun of the Canadian Women's Basketball Team at the London 2012 Olympics (www.vancouversun.com).

Thread of Love

"Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond..." (Colossians 3:14a, NASB).

What do you picture, when you picture love? The word "binds" in the verse above makes me think about how threads can bring sleeves and other elements of a shirt together. That thread unites the parts that make up the final piece, so you can wear it. Like threads on a shirt, love rooted in Christ is the key to the virtues in Colossians 3:

• compassion
• kindness
• humility
• gentleness
• patience
• bearing with one another 
• forgiveness
• thankfulness

Love defines God; it's a part of His character (1 John 4:7-8). It is what drives Him in the action He takes. It's why He works in us, and it's how He renews hearts.

We can throw out those old "clothes" - lives distinguished by anger and rage, malice and slander, filthy language, lies and prejudice. We can do that with the Holy Spirit's power. Because of the price Christ paid on the cross and out of our trust in His lead, we can have this walk with God, a walk in the ways of love as we follow Him. It's His desire and joy to help us live love like He does. It's a great trade - turning in our old lifestyles for a new one marked by love, love like our Creator and Savior.

How can you love others today? How can you help weave a lifestyle of God's kind of love in your community and your city this month?

Lord, thanks for Your unmatchable love! Open our eyes to see opportunities to love more like You. Help us share with others how we learn from the best. Amen.

"We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him" (1 John 4:16, NASB). 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Check out the song "Captivated" by Jeremy Camp - www.youtube.com - photos by Edenview Photography.
Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Image by Paul Soupiset. Find samples of his work at www.paulsoupiset.com.

A New Heart: Thankfulness

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15b, NASB).

Count your blessings. What are you thankful about today? I'm thankful for family, friends and great sunsets like the one pictured. We can celebrate all the ways God has blessed us today. Just having a relationship with Him is a blessing.

Count on Him. The peace of Christ is a confidence in God and His Word. We can believe God loves us, that He sent Christ to pay the price for our sins and that God's forgiveness lasts. This pardoning love brings a peaceful relationship with the Lord, who is life-giving and in control over all things. We can let this peace rule in our hearts, whether it's a good or a challenging day. There is this joy we can find in putting our trust in God above all else.

Count others in - contagious thankfulness. When we have this relationship with God, we are a part of this one body, the church, a family of people who also believe in God's saving grace. We can walk in faith and encourage each other to persevere together in our trust in Him. Hopefully, this thankfulness overflow into our lives so much that it is contagious. We can pray that, by the Holy Spirit, others may see just how great our Savior King is.

Lord, thanks for being One who sacrifices, forgives, redeems and renews. You are full of faithfulness, goodness and truth. Thank You for giving us fellow believers who also understand this walk with You. Grow thankfulness and peace in our hearts, and help us point others to You. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father" (Colossians 3:17, NASB). 

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Check out the song, "I Smile" by Kirk Franklin - www.youtube.com.

A New Heart: Forgiveness

"And forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you" (Colossians 3:13b, NASB).

One of the greatest pictures of forgiveness I see is in couples who have been married a long time. Picture any two people living together. After all of those years, they must have shared so much of life together. Surely, even if you can't see it, there have been times when they disagreed about something or when they messed up and hurt the other. What lasts forever, though? A love that forgives, I see, and a love that presses on during hard times.

Our God lives a lifestyle of forgiveness. He keeps loving us, even when we turn away from Him and go our own way. It is why He eventually sent His Son, Jesus, to die for the times we turned against Him. Forgiveness is a part of His nature. Nothing can separate us from His love.

Romans 8:38-39 (NASB) says:

"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, 

nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 

nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, 

will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

God's perfect love shows in His forgiveness. With His help, we can make it a part of our every day walk with Him. As He makes our hearts be more forgiving, hopefully others will see Him working in us and will see more of how our Lord loves.

Is there someone on your mind that doesn't know God's forgiveness? Let's pray for them, so they see and know His grace.

Mighty God, we are amazed at the way You forgive us. Help us practice forgiveness the way that You do. Help someone on our minds today, someone who doesn't know You, come to know Your forgiveness as well. We pray that they come to be a part of Your loving family. Amen.

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo from www.revitalizecounselingservices.com.

A New Heart: Bearing with one another

"Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other..." (Colossians 3:12b-13a, NASB).

It stands out when someone "bears with" someone else, whether it be in times of celebration or in times of sorrow. This "bearing with one another" is greatly seen in how God redeems us, because He brings hope that lasts:

• In the Old Testament, we can see how God's  love for the Israelites remained steady, even as they went through seasons of following Him and seasons of running in the opposite direction. He was just, and He was there for them when hard times came.
• In the New Testament, Christ lived to show us how to love others. He helped people who were struggling with things, from leprosy to pride. He died on the cross, paying the price for our sins as a way to offer a free gift of forgiveness.
• Today, God is faithful to give hope and establish trust as He listens to our prayers, encourages us through His Word, and offers comfort and wisdom through the Holy Spirit. 

How can you "bear with" someone else? Maybe pray for a coworker or listen to a neighbor? Would you share your ideas in the comment section below? We'd love to read them, and maybe they'll inspire others.

As we reach out to help and bear with others, let us remember that God is the best One we can turn to. He has the power to lead us through every moment as we set our trust in Him.

Lord, thanks for bearing our burdens. Help us be there for others and encourage them. Please help others know the hope, joy and peace that You offer so freely. Amen.

Check out Tenth Avenue North's song, "Let it go" at YouTube.com. It reminds me how God asks us to give our burdens and lives to Him (1 Peter 5:7).
Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo from www.therapeuticassociates.com.

A New Heart: Patience

"The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression" (Numbers 14:18, NASB).

There is something about patience. When I run across someone who shows patience, it usually stands out - a father taking time to teach his son how to catch a baseball, a gardener who waters their plants regularly before they sprout, even an astronaut having patience with themself as they try to walk again in gravity. This patience draws me in, and I wish I could just soak it up. When is the last time you saw someone showing patience? What did you think?

Patience is a part of who God is, so the great thing is that He's fully capable to help us grow in this area. He has shown us a lot of patience. He is wise, good, our Creator and our Savior. He waits for us with open arms to come be with Him and know Him on a deeper level, like the prodigal son's father in Luke 15:11-32. He continues to forgive us and to welcome us back into a closer relationship with Him.

God knows I still need His help with patience today, especially in traffic. Let's ask Him for help in showing others the same sort of patience He has.

Lord, thank You for showing us patience. Help us to grow in it, and please give us joy in the meantime, as we wait. We ask today that you give us an opportunity to share this part of You with someone else this week. Amen.

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).

A New Heart: Gentleness

"With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love..." (Ephesians 4:2a, NASB).

"You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your help makes me great" 2 Samuel 22:36 (NASB).

What does God's gentleness look like? Gentleness sees the beauty in God and His glory, as well as the way sin causes destruction. It acts with compassion. I love that another version of 2 Samuel 22:36b reads, "You stoop down to make me great" (NIV, 1984). When God sees us, He knows that we are His creation and that He loves us. He also faces that we aren't perfect, that we have sin in our lives and that we may be far from Him. God sees we need help. In our weakness, He is strong. The Lord seeks to:

• forgive us
• develop a relationship with us, a relationship based on trust in who He is
• clean out the sin in our lives
• give us the Holy Spirit to give us power to walk a fresh life with Him

God's gentleness uses wisdom and acts on love. How can we act in gentleness? We need humility in knowing who we are, as well as faith in who God is. We also need God's grace, love and strength.

Lord, thank You for showing gentleness toward us. Help us see how to live out this fruit of the Spirit. Help us show others that the gentleness we know comes from You, because it's a part of who You are. Amen.

For more on living out gentleness, see Galatians 6:1, Ephesians 4:1-2, 2 Timothy 2:25, James 3:13.

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo from www.alcsaguilas.com.

A New Heart: Humility

"With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love..." (Ephesians 4:2a, NASB).

Do you know a story of someone showing humility?

By looking at the verse above, humility looks at another person in love. This sort of humility loves the Lord, because God is love and love comes from Him. Humility comes from the Holy Spirit working in us and through us. Out of this love and God's blessing, a person can look at someone else and remember that God has this unstoppable love for His creation.

In humility, we can:

• Remember and have faith in God's promises, knowing He has a plan for our lives
• Look at others with humility, realizing we are in as much need for God as they are
• Pray to live the humility that Christ displayed on earth for us, as He served God and reached out to others

Lord, thank You for giving us life. We need You, God - Your mercy, wisdom, direction and strength. Help us live with humility and point others to You. Amen.

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).