More Money

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him,“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” ...Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. (John 6:8-9, 11-13 ESV).

There are few ministry problems that money could not fix. If there was more money, we could have an awesome website, a staff ready to serve, and scholarship money enough for all. There would be an accountant for all the mounds of paperwork and money so we could be paid (and the remodeling at our home could be finished)! Few would ever think that they had too much money for ministry.

The Gospel of John shows us Christ's important principles for all.

1. Give what you have. The boy gave his whole lunch (and what boy is not hungry?). What are you holding onto that you need to give for the work of God?
2. Pray over what you have been given. Jesus blessed the bread and fish...and multiplied it.
3. Pray over what you give. All were blessed with more than enough to eat but the boy was also blessed...there was more food than they started with.
4. Be careful with what you have been given. Jesus had the disciples pick up the extra food so that none would be wasted. They were good stewards of what had been given.

Let's remember that it is God who gives money for ministry and life. He is the one who blesses the giver, the gift, the receiver, and all!

Thank you Lord for your provision!

God Has Set You Apart!

"...know that the Lord has SET APART the godly for Himself; the Lord will hear when I call to Him." Psalm 4:3 NIV

I will never forget the first godly counsel that I received about being "set apart" as a first-generation Christian! As a new believer striving to be a new witness in the midst of learning how to be a Christian wife and mother, I first heard the words; "God has set you apart", and I needed to know what that meant. Christians are set apart to be "in the world but not of the world anymore" and we are just passing through this world on a mission to share Jesus with others and take as many of them with us to heaven...this was my first evangelism one on one training!

This sure helped me understand what I was feeling as a new Christian experiencing some of my first attacks from the enemy as he attacked me and tried to make me feel so alone and different! The good news is that as God's Witnesses...we are set apart in Jesus...we are different...and In Jesus we are NEVER alone but the path we travel will NOT look like the world's path that I had just been rescued from.

As a Christian, are you feeling like "you do not fit in"? Good News, those are "set apart" feelings as you are "in this world but not of this world" anymore!

In Psalm 4 David describes so well some of the circumstances and feelings that come with being set apart for God's Victory living and sharing Jesus with others that are searching searching like we once were!

I must close with writing the entire fourth Psalm as God is so faithful to speak and minister to each one of His Set Apart Saved Sisters right at the point of our NEED!! The Message paraphrase describes each word in modern day words that we can meditate upon...

Psalm 4 (the message paraphrase)
"When I call, you give me answers. God, take my side! Once, in a tight place, you gave me room;
Now I am in trouble again: grace me! hear me! You rabble-how long do I put up with your scorn?... Look at this: look who got picked by God! (set apart) He listens that split second I call to Him. Complain if you must, but do not lash out. Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking. Build your case before God and wait for His verdict. Why is everyone hungry for more? "More, more," they say. "More, more." I have God's more-than-enough, More joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees. At the day's end I'm ready for sound sleep, For You, God, have put my life back together"!

http://www.utube.com/watch?v=7x2IpLSfqp8 (All to Jesus I Surrender!)
http://www.utube.com/watch?v=TI9RIbaa87I&feature=related (More Than Enough!)

Be Still.

BE STILL ...Cease Striving...Stop...Breathe...Sit...Be...Quiet...Rest... AND KNOW ...Perceive...Acknowledge...Admit...Recognize...Confess... Declare... THAT I AM GOD ...Father...Provider...Healer...Savior...Redeemer... Creator...Love...AND I WILL BE EXALTED ...Praised...Lifted Up...Honored...Glorified...Magnified...IN ALL THE NATIONS ...all the earth...throughout the world...every land...every tribe...every people group...each country...each city...each neighborhood.

BE STILL...KNOW...I AM...I WILL BE...IN ALL NATIONS.

Today...be a part of God's promise to His people. Take time to be still before the Lord and know Him. Then GO. Exalt Him to the people in your day. Make Him known to those in your nation.

Be still. Know. Go. Exalt.

Movies and a Living Sacrifice

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2, ESV).

Just as soon as I landed back in Houston on Friday night, I met my husband and friends at a movie. As usual, it was filled with perverted humor and things that I have learned to overlook. I didn't read the reviews but I thought the movie was about a couple who needed to learn to appreciate each other. However, I found it to be a mockery of marriage and everything holy unto the Lord. We left...but should have left sooner. We are left with images that are forever embedded in our computer-like minds, never to be completely wiped away.

Paul appeals to us (because of the mercy of God), to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. This is our spiritual act of worship. We are not to be made like the world, but to allow the Lord to change and transform our minds SO THAT we may know the will of God - His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

To be able to hear God, we must confess our sins. God is perfect and cannot look on sin. We confess that we have sins, name them, and repent or turn from them...asking that He would help us to never commit the same sin again.

Oh God help us - by your mercy - to confess our sin and make us right and holy before you. We want to be living sacrifices, holy and pure, giving up the things of the world. May we not be drawn in by the filth that abounds around us.

All God's Children

In America it is easy to forget that just a plane ride away there are starving boys and girls hanging out at places nicknamed things like "La Mosca" which means "The Fly" (located in the Dominican Republic). It is so easy to get comfortable and forget that as much as the Lord cares for us, He is also abundantly concerned with those in real need of the basics like food and water. He wants to use us to provide the nourishment people need for their bodies and their souls. He desires the hungry fed, the naked clothed, and the lost to be found.

The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ must be told as we hand over medical supplies, warm plates of beans and rice, and as we sit and just listen to those who've known more pain in a day than some of us will in a lifetime. Memorizing Psalm 113 brought this issue of the poor and hungry to the forefront of my thoughts. This verse has hung out in my mind, "He raises up the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap to sit them with princes, the princes of His people." (Verse 8)

If I were to ask you to recite "The Great Commission" many of you would be able to do so without even really thinking about it. As a leader of women I imagine that you well know that the Lord has commanded us to take the Gospel everywhere. What I'm asking you today is how your ministry is shaped by the Lord's command? What are you tangibly doing in your personal life, ministry in the local church, and otherwise to bring food to the poor...and the Bread of Life, that is Jesus Christ, to those who haven't yet heard that their souls are hungry.

Matthew 28:18-20, "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Evangelism Through Trials"

"Consider it pure joy, my brothres, whener you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-3)

How do trials have anything to do with evangelism???? The way the 'world' sees us going through difficult situations can be a shining witness to the glory of God! I have thought a lot about one of the teachers at the school where I teach. Her twelve-year-old son, Bradley, got a staff infection and almost died before he got to the hospital. As he wavered between life and death for several days, the amount of people coming to the waiting room to pray for him was astounding. Others in the same intensive care unit saw the people and heard the prayers. Food and gift cards were given in abundance to Bradley's family to the point that his family was able to share with other families in desperate situations. Those in the waiting room heard the family thank the Lord for Bradley's life, pray for his healing, but also acknowledge that God is the One who gives and takes away.

God answered all the prayers and Bradley survived the staff infection....only to find out a day later that he also had leukemia! That was a real blow to the family. However, that news started a journey of three months in the hospital where the whole family was able to minister to nurses, doctors, other parents of children in the hospital, technicians, maintenance people, etc. as well as through a blog that was updated every day. God carried and is still carrying this family through a tremendous trial. Bradley is still having treatment of chemotherapy, but is getting stronger. Only God knows what is around the corner, but true evangelism took place between words acknowledging the peace and strength that comes from Christ, actions, and prayers. God is a God of peace and He carries us through trials. May we all trust Him with the situations that occur in our lives! And may His light and the Word of Truth shine through us!!

prayer for the saints

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).

This week, my home Bible study group went on a prayer walk around the neighborhood in which we meet. The weather is beautiful in Louisville this spring, so we were blessed to have such a pretty night talk to God outside near dusk. We separated into threes and talked to God out loud as we walked.

With me was the couple that hosts our group meetings. They prayed for opportunities to be able to build relationships with the neighbors surrounding them that they already met. We prayed for community among the people and for people to see Christ and to follow Him.

When we saw an Easter flag, we prayed for Christians in the neighborhood. We asked God to give courage to them to share their faith and to give us opportunities to meet these fellow believers. As we rounded the corner to go back to the house, we met another believer! We found encouragement in talking with her about her heart for Christ and the neighborhood.

In Ephesians 6, Paul describes ways to put on the armor of God to fight spiritual warfare, including prayer. Through this prayer walk, I see the depth of importance in praying to our Lord for unbelievers as well as fellow believers. So, I pray that we continue to support each other in the faith, help each other grow, and help each other tell others of the hope that God brings to us through His Son.

(Picture from mm156.blogspot.com)