Press On

"Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him" (Colossians 2:6, New American Standard Bible).

There is something about the perseverance of marathon runners. Great perseverance can also be seen in the football player who was tackled, then stands up to continue the game. It can be seen in the sculptor who keeps molding to evoke just the right feeling on their masterpiece. It can be seen in the counselor at a homeless shelter as she continues to have hope for the next person coming along.

Spirit-filled perseverance can be seen as a Christian keeps their trust in God, no matter the circumstance. It is startling for me to hear stories of Christians dying as a martyr in their home country, because they confessed they believe Jesus is the Messiah and Lord over all. It can also be seen when the teenager stands up to obey God, even when their friends disagree, and when the businessperson decides to act honestly in a tough situation. It can be seen in the family that keeps trusting and praising God, in the midst of financial hardship.

With God leading the way in life, we can trust that He will be faithful to guide us. As believers, we can continue to walk in Him, trusting in His lead. We do this out of thankfulness for who He is, instead of out of guilt, because He has redeemed us - we have experienced and witnessed His love, His grace, and His transforming way. Let us cling to that change He is making in us, and let us walk forward with hope and confidence in who He is. Let us be ready to reach out to serve and to witness to others with the same kind of love He has shown us.

Lord, thank You for Your mercy and Your Word. Help us cling to it, and help us get to know You more through it. Guide us in how to follow You with perseverance today. Help us share why we desire to keep our course with You leading the way. Amen.

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

Thank You For Your Service!

"Fight the good fight for the faith; take hold of eternal life, to which you were called and have made a good confession before many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:12 (HCSB)

"For you are called to freedom, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love." Galatians 5:13 (HCSB)

On this day, Veterans Day (the 11th Day of the 11th Month) we pause to thank God for all that have served and sacrificed for the sake of Freedom...Freedom is not Free...many have paid a price we could not pay as we thank and remember all who serve!

As we thank God for those that have served and sacrificed much, let's evaluate our life in Christ, a life of service, and continue to "fight the good fight for the faith....to which you were called" until the Lord returns...

The word "veteran" is listed below from "dictionary.com"...as we read the meanings listed, let us take hold of each opportunity to thank God, honor His servants, and allow this day to cause us all to be found faithful in the good fight for which the Lord took hold of us as believers. Let us look around and share Jesus, as His servant witness, to someone that needs the Lord. Jesus is our ultimate example of a Veteran-Servant of all Servants! Will you join the few, the called, the forgiven and share Jesus with others? Praying for all veterans as we all strive to be servants for the Lord...here we are Lord, send Us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c-dgz9Ykvo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WKAVJ3ifv8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzBMM37oB6U

(from dictionary.com)

"Veteran"

–noun
1. a person who has had long service or experience in an occupation, office, or the like: a veteran of the police force; a veteran of many sports competitions.
2. a person who has served in a military force, esp. one who has fought in a war: a veteran.
–adjective
3. (of soldiers) having had service or experience in warfare: veteran troops.
4. experienced through long service or practice; having served for a long period: a veteran member of Congress.
5. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of veterans.

1:30am thoughts on giftedness

So it's 1:30am and i am up. (What's new?) i'm doing the final edits for the new website pages. I'm just amazed at how God uses spiritual giftedness within the body of Christ. What's easy for one is not easy for another. The one with the gift of mercy knows how to comfort while the one who is a natural shepherd can teach/encourage/instruct someone over and over in the same disciplines and never tire of it. I just thank God for how He is using women and their spiritual gifts for Kingdom work.

For instance, take Jana as an example. I can't even remember when we met but chances are that i heard her sing before i knew her personally. She has the voice of an angel and a genuine worshipful love for the Lord and people flows from her when she sings. I met her years ago at Houston's First Baptist, probably when i served there as Minister to Women. I don't know if I changed jobs or she moved but for some reason, she and i have not seen each other for at least 12 years...and it may have been 15 or 20. Anyway, not too long ago, i posted one of those panics on Facebook about how i needed someone to do my website. i've been praying about that for over a year and frankly, just did not have the huge amount to shell out for professional website designer to take it on. Jana sees the posts and insists on helping. Turns out she is doing an incredible job and has taken one small template and turned it into something that looks great! Now whether it is a gift or a talent, i'm not sure but certainly she is talented in music and creativity but she is certainly a servant and i am on my face thanking God for her, her talents, and her awesome servant leadership. She already has a full time job and sings many weekends so how she has accomplished this, i don't even know but what a gift to me and to the Kingdom! Because she is using her serving gift, she is now helping women to learn to share Christ through our ministry. i pray that God will bless her in every possible way!

As we venture together on the new blogging experience, i'm just wondering...what if every woman would use her gifts toward Kingdom work? What if every woman would think of how she could serve but not just serve at church but serve to bring people to Christ? Who do you know that is serving in Jesus name?