Impact on the World

Our Sunday school class is beginning a study of Acts.  The other project is one the Pastor has presented to all the classes....How can We Love God more?
                    How can We Love Others more?
                     How can We make an Impact on our World?
The class came up with all kinds of wonderful ideas, projects Huge and small... and I kept thinking ...here are 15-20 people... Habitat for Humanity? Homeless Shelter? other equally wonderful goals... but, I'm not going to be able to take my kids and go work on a house, or help out much in a homeless shelter... what can I do?  As a matter of fact, everyone there has jobs, kids, obligations but the biggest thing that Struck me..everyone there has their own specific Talents and gifts.  Instead of organizing a group of people to do a project where we Could make a difference but probably not a Huge difference... what if we organized the whole Church...instead of 10 little groups made up of whoever happens to be there... what if we found out what Each person can do, what they can give, where they can serve, organize everyone into groups that each member can Specialize in...
a group of the men that can work on a house, a group of the women that can cook or babysit, group of teens willing to help with the kids etc.
What if everyone who had Anything to give, time, resources, money, effort, teaching, reading, singing, baking cookies.... what if we took the list of each group of abilities, organized it into a chart of what this total package of people could accomplish...would certainly be bigger than what the individual classes could do on their own... organized schedules and resources and money and babysitting into a larger project that would honestly make an impact?
We need someone with a business head that could begin to organize the talent base available, resources and funds available, people to help get information distributed and get people involved in committing what they have available to use, make this like any other business...find the needs, hire the people suited for the jobs, outline the plan, make up the schedules and communicate clearly between all groups... then we could get to work on something big enough that it would be Noticed... we could all be showing our love for God, for others and make a tremendous impact.
I don't know that this is any kind of workable idea, but it has always seemed that there are about 20 people doing all the work, because no one else knows what they are supposed to be doing, or they aren't good at pounding nails or cooking at the soup kitchen.  What if everyone found their place, found the place where their skills and talents fit in and will actually be Useful?
If everyone in our church wanted to actually get involved and could be given a job that Suited their gifts, everyone working together, doing something they Liked, and giving their best, the projects our church could undertake could be much larger, have more people working, more people giving and loving and making a real difference.

sign up example sheet.... Very basic outline thing

Where Can I Make a Difference?

Name, address, phone 3’s, e-mail

Available times, days and frequency

What can I give?

• Finances
• Food
• Resources
• Time
• Childcare
• Transportation

Special skills/training/abilities?

• Construction
• Business
• Organization
• Leadership
• Communication
• Bookkeeping
• Teaching
• Counseling
• Evangelism
• Hospitality
• Helps

Areas I am willing & able to Serve

• Physical labor
• Childcare
• Teaching
• Cleaning
• Maintenance
• Cooking
• Business skills
• Computer skills
• Paperwork
• Resource acquisition
• Transportation
• Group leadership/ organization
• Business planning
• Fundraising

Humble myself

I wrote a note yesterday, posted it before this, and got a wonderful comment back that just made me feel Wonderful!  Herb McClenahan I am not sure how you are seeing into my circumstances when you don't even know where I live so it must be God speaking through his word through you the person who brings his word Thanks for being faithful to deliver the word of the Lord when he tells you to. Now please pray that those for whom this word was meant will be able to find the strength to act on the word


The problem was that I was feeling pretty darn good about Myself I don't think I was taking it as great praise of ME but it still was making me feel pretty good that I was able to "speak the Word".  Was reading something and it said the guy was getting all this praise for his speaking ability and it suddenly hit him that everyone was talking about him and not about God!  Ooops I had to check my response to Herb to make sure I didn't do that and I guess I did ok, but my feelings I really had to put in check Big time!!  I wanted mom and several other people to read what he had said, you know, so they could see what a good job I was doing.  Yep, I felt about 1/2 inch tall when it hit me!  I'm nothing, just a clay pot, a vessel to be used, not something special!  whew... not that it was too hard a pill to swallow Now, but I could see it becoming a real source of pride for me!  Thank you Lord Jesus for knocking me off that pedestal Right Now!!!

Forgive or Hold a Grudge?

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-3

Sometimes we can be so quick to accuse others of anger or bitterness, but our view is colored by our own attitude of unforgiveness and unwillingness to have love and compassion and forgiveness... Verse says if you have a problem with your brother, go fix it before you come talking to God.. but what if we are too busy blaming the brother for the problem... the Bible talks about a root of bitterness growing up and that will choke out all love or mercy not to mention, making us ill physically... we Have to reconcile with those we have problems with Particularly if they are Christian brothers and sisters... its not good enough to just walk away and stay angry. That would be Sin.

Mark 11:25-27 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Must be Important if its in there more than once!

So if someone has offended you, particularly a Christian brother or sister, what is our obligation at that point...stay mad and write them off?  What if our obligation is to first Forgive, and then In Love, reconcile the relationship, and what if that person is in need of Ministering to... by not forgiving, are we leading them toward God or pushing them away... 

I don't want to be the one the is angry and pushing someone away from God because my feelings are hurt or I don't agree with their point of view!  This is important!  We can Never ever draw anyone to a better relationship with God if we As Christians Reject and condemn them.  

What does the Bible teach about forgiveness... 

   Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. Matt 18:32-35   that's pretty harsh... we get forgiven, we Best be forgiving others!

another parable...Luke 7:47  woman (probably a prostitute) anoints Jesus with oil, and He forgives her sins... Notice what He says about Love regarding forgiveness!!!!  Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.   What this means...easy to see... if we forgive someone, they are going to love us more, therefore we have Much stronger Christian testimony with them.  Is that important, or is it more important to say they were Wrong and Hateful and we will just Ditch them and leave them for the devil to take?  Hmmm  

Something to think about!

These wooden shoes pinch

Just found out that Caitie's school will no longer offer middle and high school next year, after finding that out of district students would be charged...both kids $1050 a Month.... so had to find something else anyway.  What to do???  Seriously looked at home school again..but it was such a nightmare for all of us I just cant see doing that to ourselves!  Turns out the school that Caitie's PSR (Psych/social rehab) counselor was recommending is where it looks like she will be going.  Stephen will probably be going to the school right down the road from hers.  Hoping we can figure out how to get them there part way on the bus as both schools are in Lewiston. Its only about 15 minutes further everyday...each way... but what a Pain!  Anyway, they are much bigger schools and naturally I am worried about that!
Caitie is starting a business program thru a teacher at school... something like 4-H... she will be raising Netherland Dwarf rabbits.  Wayne laughed like crazy at me when I asked where Netherland was...um...duh...Holland.  Oh  so silly... seems we can't get out of Holland no matter how we try!
Working hard on school right now, I have 4 papers done, 2 in progress and then there will be only one left to finish my bachelors.  I will go right on into my masters.  I have learned so much its incredible, wish I were a better writer so I could put all my thoughts down.  So far all my thoughts are in my papers, but for my masters (if necessary) or my phd, I will have to gather it all together and make some sense of the whole thing.
Steve and his family have completely un-friended me on facebook, which in someways makes my life a little easier as I don't have to keep apologizing for him and his kids... but its so sad.  I don't understand why he has worked so hard at alienating his family from the rest of us.  He seems so bitter and hateful.  I just keep praying...probably have said too much since he won't listen anyway but I just have to try sometimes.  Seems like every time something happens it looks like I was being mean...at least to mom, who worries so much about them writing her off as they have done in the past.  So anyway,no facebook contact may just be what has to happen so there is no fighting....not reallly fighting with me as much as with Scott;s kids...the last go around was Ashley jumping all over Michelle about her daughters both having babies and "being married in the eyes of God" instead of legally... I tried to smooth things over and got jumped all over again and unfriended by Michelle now too.  Sigh... I tried my hardest but there is something wrong...and serious bitterness that won't allow Steve to have anything todo with the rest of the family.  It just breaks my heart, and mom can hardly stand it.  I don't know if dad even knows that Julia (16) is "married" and is also pregnant.  Sabrina is 18 now (I think) and her baby is already a year old!  Its hard not to say our opinions on this but anything to do with thier lives are totally off limits for conversation.  Ok I have ranted about that, ranted about school so I guess I will work on My school work while its nice and quiet...kids are at grandma's for the week...or until Gramma can't stand it any more!

Fear

Several reasons we don't do the things in life we want to, or we feel we should, or even reason for not enjoying our life... big one is Fear!  Fear, worry, stressing about things beyond our control

Romans 8:15  The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”


2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.


Heb 13:5,6 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say:       “ The LORD is my helper;  I will not fear.  What can man do to me?”


Psalm 27:1  The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?
         The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 118:6

 The LORD is on my side;

I will not fear. 

What can man do to me?

Psalm 56:10-11 

In God (I will praise His word), 

In the LORD (I will praise His word),  

In God I have put my trust; I

 will not be afraid. 

 What can man do to me?

Matt 10:29-30 

 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. ³⁰ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

1 John 4:18  

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love

Realizing there is a lot more to it than this... need to figure out how deal with it, how to lead someone through overcoming fear!

From the Heart!

Tonight I learned a lesson I should have known... hard to explain all the back story, but essentially, I have learned that desperately trying to explain, convince, push someone I love toward God isn't effective (that part I Did know... it wasn't working) So, what I need to do is step back, pray for them, let them know that I love them no matter what, will always love them, and will pray for the best for them.  When the time comes that they can look at me, trust my heart (not my Words), they will be That much closer to seeing Jesus.  Um, duhhh  Let them see Jesus in me!  Jesus was all about Love... yes, He used some really awesome convincing arguments but it was His Love that led Him to the cross, and His love that brought Him out of the grave, and His LOVE that offers us hope.  His Love is what needs to be reflected in my life!

"Why doesn't anybody Listen to Me?!?!?!?!"

If it seems that you are talking and talking and someone just won't listen, you might want to ask yourself "Why won't they just Listen??"  Kids, friends, coworkers, family... No body!!  Giving this a lot of thought lately.  If I want Anyone to listen, I need to figure out How to make that happen!  Figured I'd check the Bible since, as with everything else, it will have Something to say! So here is what I came up with...  I'm going to paraphrase and link some verses together here.
      The first and greatest commandment is to Love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind. The second is that we love everyone else as Jesus loves them (Mark 12:30-31). So my message Must come first from a heart of love~ From the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh (Luke 6:45)   If my heart is filled with God's love, mercy, compassion,and wisdom, then my words will give Life. My words will be healing, loving, uplifting, leading others Toward Christ. The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life(Prov 10:11).
    The heart is the fountain, words are the streams.  Our words can be poison or fruit (Prov.18:21) If our words are to be Fruit, to feed the soul, then what kind of fruit?  That's an easy one. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
   Ok, so now I know my message should fit into the above criteria. On the other hand, a troubled fountain, or a contaminated spring, must send forth muddy and unpleasant streams.  Remember ~poison or fruit. Offensive, hurtful words stir up anger (Prov 15:1) , and stirring up anger brings quarrels, strife, controversy, dispute and contention (Prov 30:33). Its honorable and Godly to avoid strife and contention (Prov 20:3) as we are to live peaceably with others (Romans 12:18).   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
   So does that mean I shouldn't say anything unless its the Popular opinion, the Politically Correct thing? God's Word is Not popular, its not politically correct, it causes controversy.  If I am talking about God its going to offend Someone!
    While that is all true, the issue I am addressing really is Not about being liked by everyone, being nice and not speaking up about God. The real issue is this~ Is my Message drawing people Closer to the Lord, or chasing them away with my attitude?  Are my words life-giving fruit of the Spirit of Peace or are the poison arrows flung at the heart of my listener.  We have guidelines to follow~  Let your speech be always with *Grace, seasoned with *salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man(Col 4:6)
   *Grace: of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues  
   *salt:wisdom and grace exhibited in speech
   Do my words show that I am a Christian? By my LOVE?  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)  If my words are offensive, divisive, angry, and hurtful, its so much easier for people to walk away and not listen!
   Attitude guides the words... the heart guides the attitude...Love guides the heart.

Harsh Truth or Sweet Lies

Monday, January 10, 2011 at 10:18pm

A recent conversation I had was disturbing to me; it seemed as though the idea was that  the delivery in which words are spoken, is equally as important as the message and if the words are harsh, this means they are Not spoken from a heart of Love.
This is a common way of thinking, everything we do or say must be Pretty and sweet, but that isn't always the way... sometimes the delivery of a message has to be Direct and Forceful. The Message is the Most important point!!!  Even if the words are not sweet,  the truth just isn't always Pretty or Comfortable!!!  The sweetest words can sting if the message is one of correction or reproof.  A parable.. a woman has two friends... "How do I Look today?"  One says," Oh Wow you are looking so awesome, so cute and you just Rock that skirt!" and the other says "That really isn't a flattering outfit, and your skirt is stuck in the back of your pantyhose!"  Which friend truly Loves???

Just a few quick references to words spoken by Jesus...
Jesus spoke differently to different people, and didn't always approach and respond to them in the same way - and it always depended upon all kinds of varying factors. It never was black and white.
 So what about Jesus' interaction with self-righteous people and hypocrites (essentially one in the same)? It seems as if these people bugged Jesus the most, and He often had more than a mouthful to say to them.
Matthew 3:7 Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It's your life that must change, not your skin!
Matt 23:25-27"You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You burnish the surface of your cups and bowls so they sparkle in the sun, while the insides are maggoty with your greed and gluttony. Stupid Pharisee! Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something.
 27-28"You're hopeless, you religious scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You're like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it's all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh. People look at you and think you're saints, but beneath the skin you're total frauds.

Jesus didn't always use sweet words, particularly when He was speaking to those who had hardened their hearts and refused to hear.
Sometimes the direct approach is the only way to shake up the hearing into paying attention.  That is not to say that we can just go blast everyone when we don't agree.  However, if I see someone in the path of an oncoming train, I don't think I'm going to be sweetly, lovingly gentle and soft as I suggest, kindly, that they might, possibly, think about moving.  Especially if I had already attempted that approach, while the train is still rumbling this way. There comes a time to yell "Hey you Dope...MOVE!"
Without truth, love is empty.  Love may also be harsh, when needed. I love my children very much, but that does not mean that I will not discipline them when I need too. Love is tough sometimes.  In the same way, the Lord Jesus sometimes told people harsh truths about themselves instead of being like some of us who think that "love" means to just affirm people in their actions even if those actions are leaving them standing in front of the oncoming train.
I am willing to spend the time, prayer and study to advise or correct someone in the nicest possible way, when I am sure they aren't in Immediate danger of being hit by the Train!!  No, I can't force anyone to listen. Moses tried asking nicely, then warned him, but the pharaoh Refused to hear.  There comes a point, when you have tried and tried but the message is still rejected, that speaking in sweet, assuring, compassionate terms isn't working.  Sometimes, you just have to say it Like it Is, not sugar-coated, just the hard truth.  And, yes, sometimes that means rejection. I'm willing to back away and pray the Lord will open hearts, After I feel that I've been honest, truthful.  LOL yep sometimes I pray that God will lead someone else to guide that person!
2 Timothy 4:3   3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.

Krissy's reply

Hebrews 12:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Well said Stephi. Matthew Henry would add, in his commentary on ...this verse, "Christians should not faint under their trials. Though their enemies and persecutors may be instruments to inflict sufferings, yet they are Divine chastisements; their heavenly Father has his hand in all, and his wise end to answer by all. ... Our earthly parents sometimes may chasten us, to gratify their passion, rather than to reform our manners. But the Father of our souls never willingly grieves nor afflicts his children. It is always for our profit. Our whole life here is a state of childhood, and imperfect as to spiritual things; therefore we must submit to the discipline of such a state. ... Let us then learn to consider the afflictions brought on us by the malice of men, as corrections sent by our wise and gracious Father, for our spiritual good." I have to agree, to take everything, whether harsh truth, or persecution, as from the Lord and prayerfully let Him correct our ways to His glory.

NT90 Day 9

Some interesting passages from my reading
Matt 23:11-12 in the Message...Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.
This is so important, simply being Yourself... imagine if you could just throw out all pretension, dispose of the mask you wear for others, just be the person that the Lord created you to be.  Use the abilities and gifts the Lord has given you, without trying to make yourself seem bigger and more important.  Aren't you special enough as the Lord Made you, without trying to be anything else?  Did He make a mistake when He made you the way you are?


Matt24:4-32 or so, Jesus is talking about the end times.  v4-8 talks about the deceivers and rumors and wars... He says its just normal things, all through history we will hear about horrible things, but verse 6 says When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. 
I've seen and heard so many times about the End of the World and all we should do to prepare, but hmmm  it just keeps going... not to say that the end isn't coming, but I think its pretty significant that Jesus said..Don't Panic!


Rapture issue coming up... so if you don't agree with me on this one...sorry...
Again this is straight from Jesus, so I have to give it a lot of weight in this issue....
v 30; ³⁰And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.³¹And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.


the Message says it this way...^30-31"Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies—no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same moment, he'll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God's chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole. 
  
and NIV   “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.³¹ And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.


Jesus is pretty clear that when He returns its going to be HUGE... all the world will See, and Then He will call His people together.  
The "thief in the night" does Not refer to sneaking in under cover of darkness, He is using the illustration that it will be Sudden and people will not be prepared... not that He is going to make it a covert operation!


Along with this point, the other passage we have all heard in support of the rapture, one taken and the other left... but let's look at what He said Right before that ...
verse 38 Jesus says it will be like the days of Noah, everyone partying and having a good time and Then verse 39  look closely at exactly what He says ³⁹And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

 ⁴⁰Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

 ⁴¹Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

When Jesus was talking about being taken in verse 39, Who got taken? It was the ones not prepared, the ones Not in the ark... the one's Not following God!! So, does it make sense that in the very next sentence He would be talking about taking someone Else?  Doesn't it follow that He would be saying, those taken in Noah's time and those taken in the coming of the Son of man would be the SAME guys??  I doubt Jesus would have made such a confusing statement as to refer to the ungodly being taken in one sentence and the Godly being taken in the next sentence...at Least not with Some kind of explanation of His intent.  It just does not make sense to confuse the taken  as two different sets of people, the godly and ungodly. Jesus surely would have realized His disciples would not understand the jump from one group to the opposite group.

Its probably a good thing that no one read this cause I bet this would have a few people really up in arms!

New Testament in 90 days

Wondering if I'm actually going to do this 90 days, because I just don't like skimming through so fast.  I've been thinking of taking maybe a week a book, but then, some of the books are so short...like Jude... that couldn't take a week.  So what to do.  Really feeling the need to do Study... just don't really know what... seems like there are several people that I need to study with, but what should we study... should I do an online study, do a study myself, write a study?  Too much pressure to do it myself, since I have the impression of late that no one is going to listen to me anyway.  
I've started my studies for my bachelor's.  Need to be writing a paper right now.  I have just been feeling an urgency about someone else, there are several I can think of that might be in need, but there is just a weight on my heart and so writing this paper is just not doing it for me!  I read the book, and I really just want to read the next book..actually there are several of them I just want to read NOW!!  
I'm just babbling right now...thinking out loud I guess... trying to work out some of the stuff that happened today without mentioning names or issues and there really is nothing I can do about any of it I guess.  I think I will just have to take some actual time...face to face time... not distracted time... alone with the Lord.   Hmmmm  guess that was what I was Trying to say today on FB that caused such a stir... maybe I'm really the only Christian out here that hasn't Arrived!  I'm the only one that feels that my life should be closer to Him, my relationship should be more One on One, instead of just expecting Jesus to follow me around while I do My thing, and He can just keep me company and He can listen as I chatter to Him.  I must be the only woman that doesn't Always talk to her children in Spiritual talk, only one that doesn't know the Bible Inside and out, I'm the last poor pathetic person that doesn't know it ALL....   well I can tell you right now you aren't going to find me trying to do the walking on water trick!!!  I bet there are at least 4 people I know right Now that are pretty sure they should be watching for flaming chariots to be picking them up!!!!  
Guess I am done ranting for the night.  I just wonder, is there anyone out there that feels that the Almighty Creator of the Universe just Might have things to teach you, things to show you in His word, lessons for you to learn before you run off telling everyone all that you know?
Bleh done with this topic now that I had my rant!