Under the Influence

"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18, New American Standard Bible).

Do you have a craving? I have a craving for coffee. Although, that is normal for me. If you scroll through any website, you likely will see an advertisement that says it will satisfy some sort of craving or desire. Desires can be important to notice, because they can influence our hearts, minds, and actions.

Our Creator God is the source of life, and He desires to fill us with the Holy Spirit. When someone first believes in and turns to follow Christ, the Holy Spirit enters their life and can work in them and through them. God can bring joy into life that lasts through whatever circumstance, because it is fixed on the unchanging character of God. We can have faith that we are now and forever a part of His family. As believers, we are not exempt from challenges, pain, or sorrow, but we find the greatest hope there is in Jesus.

Now, I confess that I am not resolved to give up coffee. I do pray, though, that my ultimate satisfaction is continually rooted in God and His Son who redeemed me. The Holy Spirit, sent from God and His Son, can fill us up with contentment in Him as we trust in our Faithful Redeemer.

Lord, thank You for filling us up with the Holy Spirit. Help us continue to find satisfaction in You, and help us share with others the joy we find from being with You. Amen.

"Delight yourself in the LORD..." (Psalm 37:4, NASB).

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

Leaders Encouraging Leaders!

http://www.namb.net/atf/cf/%7BCDA250E8-8866-4236-9A0C-C646DE153446%7D/2005%20HCLL%20NOTEBOOK.pdf (please click on this link for your free leadership notebook! please pass this on to someone that you are encouraging!)

As today's Christian women growing as evangelistic leaders, I can not think of a better resource to share with you than this free down-loadable leadership notebook written and compiled by Jaye Martin! It may have been released years ago when Jaye was leading HeartCall, but even this week, as we prepare to share HeartCall & Gifted2Go next week at SBTS, God has drawn me back to so many of the leadership tools that sharpen and encourage as we reach out to others and Share Jesus!

Please dive into this free 50 page notebook and print off anything that encourages you in your walk and witness for Jesus as we spur one another on for God's Glory!! Please sharpen/encourage someone else with this evangelistic tool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SceRP-EHkKo&a=uiLTWdOranc&playnext_from=ML

(Come & Fill This Place!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9PgWK98p5c&feature=related (Lord I Give You My Heart!)

the Unexpected Guest

"And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?'" (Luke 1:41-43, ESV).

Have you ever had an unexpected guest? One that just drops in with no warning? Growing up, I learned to keep the front rooms and public areas of the home picked up and ready for company - just in case anyone dropped in. Mother also taught us to have a meal ready - pre-cooked and frozen - or something easy to prepare. While I admit that I hate drop-ins, I am still ready - just in case!

I can't imagine being Elizabeth and having Mary drop in - and stay for three months! My, can't say I'd be ready for that! Elizabeth was very old and now pregnant. She had to be exhausted and achy - even if she was excited to be pregnant and excited for Mary! Yet Elizabeth kept a positive and spiritual outlook on it all. Elizabeth knew that God was in the visit. Whatever she thought she had planned, God's plan had to take priority.

I pray that this Christmas, we will be ready for company. It might come when someone arrives at the door, or when we find ourselves with time to talk to someone about Christ. I pray that we will be ready for God's plan to change our plan. And may we be like Mary - full of the Holy Spirit and listening for what He will teach us.

Let's have a "Mary" Christmas!

Sit and be fed (filled)

Then Jesus said, '"Have the people sit down." there was plenty of grass in that place, so they sat down...Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were seated - so also with the fish, as much as they wanted" (John 6:10-11, HCSB).

I was reading John 6 about Jesus feeding the 5,000 when it hit me. Jesus asked the disciples to have the people sit down. It is not a new thought to sit and eat. It is certainly what we just did for Thanksgiving when twelve members of our family gathered together to celebrate what the Lord has done for us. The thing that struck me was how many times we eat as we go. And of course the spiritual implications are what really hit me...how many times we want the Lord to fill us yet we don't stop to sit down and be filled.

Jesus desires for us to come to him and to be filled. Yet, He desires for us to sit and be filled. If anyone was ever on a mission for God, it was Jesus. Even though He was super busy, He always took time to get away from the crowds and to be alone with the Father. He took time to sit and be filled.

Especially during the holidays it is easy to be too busy to sit and be filled. I'm going to commit to make sure I schedule that sitting time so that I can be filled with God's wisdom for the day. Anyone else want to commit to sit and be still during this busy season?