Good clean fun

Made me laugh out loud

Please pray for Steven Curtis Chapman's family

They have been hit by a terrible tragedy.

The Tenneesean

Courage

I have to make a telephone call later this morning and it's one that requires me to have guts to do it. So, I came to the Bible this morning looking for promises of courage.

Found this one:

Hebrews 3:6 "But Christ, the faithful Son was in charge of the entire household. And we are God's household, if we keep up our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ."

and I looked up "courage" in the dictionary.

Here's the definition:

:mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty
Merriman Webster online

I know I've heard it before but, this morning it seems new again. I was just beating myself up over feeling afraid, but God doesn't ask me to deny my feelings. Thank goodness the Heavenly Father isn't dysfunctional that way! God wants me to acknowledge how I feel and then persevere.

Courage is the strength to venture, persevere and withstand. The really cool thing is - God supplies the strength too. Acts 1:8 "But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere. . "

The footnote to that verse in the New Living Translation of the Bible says this "Power from the Holy Spirit is not limited to strength beyond the ordinary. That power also involves courage, boldness, confidence, insight ability and authority."

So God, I'm fearful about this call, but I will venture, persevere and withstand. I will act in faith.

And then, once it's over, I'll get on with my day in thankfulness!

Baptism

When I first started attending Pawleys Island Baptist Church over 20 years ago, any baptisms were done in the creek/salt marsh behind Pawleys Island, because that was our only option. The church was tiny and we only had about 50 members.

Now that we've grown (check the link for Pawleys Island Community Church on the right) we still do our baptisms in the creek - and I'm so glad we do. It's a testimony to all the people at the beach and a true public profession of faith.

Here are a couple more pictures from yesterday - 13 people - men, women, children - publicly professed their faith in Jesus Christ.





Yesterday was beautiful. We've been out there sometimes in nasty weather, but except for a little wind sandblasting us, it was great. Wonderful to be celebrating faith in the midst of God's amazing natural glory.

Glorious

I love the David Crowder Band. Seem's like their music has been the soundtrack for my life this past year. Right now I'm listening to "Everything Glorious"

You make everything glorious
you make everything glorious
you make everything glorious
and I am yours, what does that make me?

In my past, I so needed to get that in my head, and thanks be to God, it's getting there. If I don't think I'm worth anything, then I'm not going to feel like I can do anything for God and I'm not going to take care of myself like God's glorious masterpiece.

That's what Paul calls us in Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago."

That's a promise - I'm a masterpiece. Man, just typing it and tears jumped in my eyes. Little old me . . . broken me, divorced me, single mom me, feeling inadequate at work me, struggling with bills me, haven't washed my hair today yet me . . (oops that didn't need to go in). . . I am God's masterpiece.

You know, I think if I can make sure that my daughter gets that concept into her head and heart - that she is God's masterpiece - I will have done well as a mom. If I can help my friends to know that - I've done well as a friend.

Knowing that God thinks I'm a masterpiece sure does make me feel loved.

The truth about my future

"The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word, I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. You will live in Joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where briers grew, myrtles will sprout up. This miracle will bring great honor to the Lord's name; it will be an everlasting sign of his power and love." Isaiah 55:10 - 13

This passage is the deposit agreement that goes along with the image of the holy ATM from yesterday. I love this promise God says through Isaiah, "I send [my word] out, and it always produces fruit." Over the past several years I've learned that when I don't know how to pray, it's always a good choice to pray God's promises back to Him. That's where the peace comes from, that's where the assurance is that I'm praying in His will.

Over the past 2 1/2 years I've gone through a separation, difficult divorce, 4 moves, a flood in our apartment, the sudden illness and death of a close friend, helping my mother recover after a traumatic injury, loneliness, major work stress and raising a teenager. I will stand on this truth - if I didn't have a real relationship with Jesus - I'd be crazy now. Bug-eyed insane. And the main thing that has kept me focused and positive, is praying God's promises.

Even when I don't know why, when, how - I cling to scripture like a drowning person clings to a life preserver thrown their way. And ". . . it always produces fruit."

Here's one I repeat over and over in my head . . .

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

This week, my daughter and I celebrate our first anniversary in our new, happy, home.

The truth about worry

I really like the New Living translation of Philippians 4:6-7

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

I've read this portion over and over in my life. Memorized it in a different translation but got something new today when I read it again. It's not just as easy as "don't worry, just pray about it."

It's praying in faith. Praying and saying thank you for what is already done.

I found a quote from Catherine Marshall that explains it well - even though I had to think back to what a "check" is :-)

With God, there is only the infinite NOW. Therefore, by faith we must grasp the fact that all the blessings we shall ever need are already deposited in the Treasury of Heaven.

Money in any checking account will stay right there until the owner cashes a check in the present. Even so, we shall received God's blessing only as we claim them one by one in the present. Faith in the future tense is hope - not faith. (emphasis mine) A sure sign that our hope has passed into faith is when we stop begging God and begin thanking Him for the answer to our prayer.

Practically how to do this? I'm memorizing the promises of God in the Bible and every time the worry gets hold of me again, I'm taking one to my ATM of prayer and making a withdrawal, being thankful that the answer is there, the need is met, even if I can't see it yet.