Word Filled Wednesday

The Proverbial Sunrise- Forgiveness

Mark 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Today’s word is not Hebrew or Greek, it’s Eskimo! The word is issumagijoujunnainermik. When missionaries first shared the gospel with the Eskimos, they couldn’t find any word in the Eskimo language for forgiveness. So, they took a number of Eskimo words and joined them to form a new word — Issu-magi-jou-jun-nai-ner-mik — and it became the Eskimo word for forgiveness. The individual words are “Not-being-able-to-think-about-it-anymore.”
Too often we remember the hurt, replaying it over and over again in our minds. Forgiveness is not something we do just once. It is something we must reaffirm every day. Whenever a hurtful memory comes up, remember the word Issu-magi-jou-jun-nai-ner-mik, and say, “I can’t think about it anymore, it’s in God’s hands.”
Rather than replay the hurt you may have acquired, replay God’s mercy, His grace, His love for us (and them) — when He freely gave His life. That will enable us to forget it, and move forward.

Growing Up Mondays

Seek out and use your gifts — According to the scriptures, the Lord distributes gifts to each in the body as it pleases Him. Spiritual gifts are not provided to you merely for your own gratification, but so the church would be edified, or built up. God has given you gifts that will be a help to your church -- it is up to you to discover them, develop and utilize them, under the direction and cooperation with your spiritual leaders. By doing so, you will glorify God, and be a great help to your church. "Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel" (1 Cor. 14:12).

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This article (VL-160) is copyrighted © by Dale A. Robbins, 1990, and is a publication of Victorious Publications, Grass Valley, CA 95949.

Focus On Missions

The Great Commission Prayer Plan

God has called us to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:18-20). People must hear the gospel in order to enter into a right relationship with God. This commission from Jesus requires the broken and fervent praying of God's people. If the gospel is going to penetrate the darkness of this world, God's people must plead for this.
Many times a believer may feel overwhelmed by this call to pray. There are many nations, many needs, and many opportunities to pray. How can you pray about the spread of the gospel across the nations? With so much to pray about, how can you pray powerfully and effectively in this area?
The Great Commission Prayer Plan has been devised to help you pray powerfully and effectively for the spread of the gospel. It is intended to help you join God in His work of bringing the nations to Himself. This prayer plan is offered to help you cover a variety of needs through your week. The prayer plan is based on the days of the week. Each day will have a specific emphasis concerning the spread of the gospel. The prayer plan is as follows:

Monday-Missionaries
On Monday, you can cover missionaries in intercession. On this day, you can intercede for the needs and the requests of missionaries. You might want to consider adopting some missionaries and interceding for them and their work.

Tuesday-Nations
On Tuesday, you can pray for the nations of the world. You might consider adopting particular nations that you will pray for. You might consider praying for the nations in which the missionaries that you are praying for are serving.

Wednesday-People Groups
On Wednesday, you can pray for particular people groups. You can adopt particular people groups for which you will specifically intercede. You might consider tying this in with the other days by praying for the people groups that your missionaries are working among.

Thursday-World Leaders
On Thursday, you can cover world leaders in prayer. You can find a list of the world leaders on the Kingdom Praying site. You might consider praying through this list over a period of time. Each Thursday, you might pray for a particular number of the leaders. You might consider praying for the leaders of the nations of the missionaries for whom you are praying.

Friday-Listening Day
On Friday, use this day to simply wait on the Lord. Ask Him, "Father, what needs do you want me to pray for today? What missionaries do I need to pray for today? Guide me in how you want me to pray for the spread of the gospel today." As He impresses names and needs on your mind and heart, pray with fervency.

Saturday-Bible Translation
Pray today for the translation of the Scripture into the languages of the world. You might consider praying for the translation of the Bible into the languages where your missionaries are working. You might plead for the various nations and the translation of the Bible into their language.

Sunday-Your Church And A Heart For Missions
On Sunday, plead with God to give your church a heart for the nations. Pray that the believers of your church would be committed to sharing their faith. Ask that the believers would be involved in missions through prayer, giving, and taking part in mission projects and trips.

You need to keep in mind that this is simply a plan. It is offered as a model of how you can be involved in praying for the spread of the gospel without being overwhelmed. You can use this plan or develop your own from it. You can adapt in a variety of ways in order to meet your needs and your burdens. Whenever you pray, you need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leadership. He can guide you according to this plan. Sometimes He may have you pray in a different direction.

Dr. Kevin Meador

A Little Bit Of Joy

Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. It was a cowboy's life, a life for someone who wanted no boss. What I didn't realize, was that it was also a ministry. Because I drove the night shift, my cab became a moving confessional.

Passengers climbed in, sat behind me in total anonymity, and told me about their lives. I encountered people whose lives amazed me, ennobled me, made me laugh and weep. But none touched me more than a woman I picked up late one August night.

I responded to a call from a small brick duplex, in a quiet part of town. I assumed I was being sent to pick up some party goers, or someone who had just had a fight with a lover, or a worker heading to an early shift at some factory in the industrial part of town.

When I arrived at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark, except for a single light in a ground floor window. Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away. But I had seen too many poor people, who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation.

Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needed my assistance, I reasoned to myself. So I walked to the door, and knocked.

"Just a minute," answered a frail, elderly voice.

I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress, and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knick- knacks, or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said.

I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness.

"It's nothing," I told her. "I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated."

"Oh, you're such a good boy," she said.

When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, then asked, "Could you drive through downtown?"

"It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly.

"Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice".

I looked in the rear view mirror. Her eyes were glistening.

"I don't have any family left," she continued. "The doctor says I don't have very long."

I quietly reached over, and shut off the meter. "What route would you like me to take?" I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds.

She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, I'm tired. Let's go now."

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up.

They were attentive, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

"How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse.

"Nothing," I said.

"You have to make a living," she answered.

"There are other passengers," I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

"You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said. "Thank you, Dear."

I squeezed her hand, then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly, lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done very many more important things in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments, often catch us unaware - beautifully wrapped, in what others may consider small ones. -- Author Unknown

Saturday Psalm And Praise

Up From Depression

by Barbara Epp

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I want to tell you about my experience with depression and why I think God allows some of us to experience it in our lives, and how we can have hope in the midst of it.

I am not a doctor, a psychologist, or a psychiatrist. I am simply one who has experienced depression first hand. I am, in fact, one, who with God's help has learned from the experience.

Symptoms and Causes
To some people depression is a time of feeling low and discouraged. While this is an accurate description, it doesn't necessarily describe all the other feelings that can be part of depression. I will share with you what my experience was:

• You feel desperate, and that you are losing control of your life.

• It is a space filled with darkness, fear, despair, and panic.

• Your thought world profoundly impacts your physical life.

• You feel as if time is racing, or you are moving in slow motion.

• Your world and activities appear insurmountable, and life can feel like a pit.

• There are overwhelming feelings of isolation, and you feel disconnected from others.

• You feel trapped with no way to escape.

• You hate yourself for feeling like this, and feel tremendous shame and guilt.

What causes depression?
Medical practitioners could give you reasons why this occurs, but I will share from my own experience, and from the experiences of those who have shared their struggles with me. It seems that depression is often triggered by trauma in our lives. It could be emotional, mental, social, physical, or a combination of any of these factors.

My Experience
My story begins with lost memories. There is a period of approximately three years between the ages of five and eight that I have no recollection of my life as a child. I associate tremendous shame with this period of time. I know there were many significant events that occurred during this period, but I can't remember starting school, welcoming my baby brother, or moving from Saskatchewan to British Columbia.

I was an outgoing child, and the object of much attention from family, friends and even strangers. What I experienced as a young girl was having my hair shaved off my head just before starting school. This was done to me in the hope that my hair would grow back thicker. It had a traumatic and lasting affect on me. I immediately changed from being the object of positive attention, to being the center of scorn and ridicule. This was the beginning of my entrance into a world of darkness.

Rejection
I can remember my mother talking to a doctor about giving me "nerve pills" when I was a pre teen. As a teenager, I experienced the repeated rejection of a close friend, and soon began to experience the torment that depression can bring.

As a young mother, I fell into a deep post-partum depression. This experience was the most painful. Attacks of depression continued over the next seven years. They would vary in length, with the longest period lasting for nine months. I lived in a very isolated area of north-central British Columbia, and rarely visited a doctor, or talked with other people. One thing I continued to do though, was talk to God and cry out in my despair.

Need for God
You see, I am a Christian. I had recognized at a very early age my need for God, and His deep love for me. Now, years later, I was in the pit of despair, crying out to a God that I felt had abandoned me. I thought Christians shouldn't be depressed, and my husband, and friends, couldn't understand what was wrong with me. Their comments pushed me to a place of deeper despair. Again, I called out to God for help. Where was He? Had I so disappointed Him, that He would not hear me? When I felt most tormented, I would read my Bible, looking for relief and comfort.

In the following passages of the Bible, God spoke to me:

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

"But now, this is what the Lord says - He who created you O Jacob, He who formed you, 0 Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead" (Isaiah 43:1-3).

"Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted" (Isaiah 53:4).

"Oh Lord, You have searched me, and You know me.
You know when I sit, and when I rise;
You perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out, and my lying down;
You are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
You know it completely, O Lord.
You hem me in - behind and before;
You have laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from Your spirit?
Where can I flee from Your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, You are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there Your hand will guide me;
Your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, ''Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
even the darkness will not be dark to You;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is a light to You.

For You created my inmost being;
You knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise You, because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from You
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
Your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in Your book
before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are Your thoughts, 0 God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would out number the grains of sand.
When I awake I am still with You.

If only You would slay the wicked, 0 God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
They speak of You with evil intent;
Your adversaries misuse Your name.
Do I not hate those who hate You, 0 Lord, and abhor those who rise up against You?
I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.

Search me, 0 God, and know my heart;
test me, and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting"
(Psalm 139).

Slowly, these truths began to touch my heart. God began to show me the steps I needed to take, in order to begin my journey 'up from depression.' As I stepped out in faith, believing the truths and principles that He had shown me, I began to realize God's plan for my life.

How do You Gain Victory Over Depression?
I can only speak to you from my own experience. This does not replace speaking to your doctor about any medical concerns you might have about depression. I have found the following steps helpful in dealing with my depression, and releasing me from its hold:

• Recognize that God is with you, and has always been with you.

• Realize that He has a plan for your life.

• Relinquish control of your life to God.

• Replace negative thoughts, with positive, and truthful thoughts.

• Rely on God, because He is at work in your life.

In order to take these steps, you will need the power that only the Holy Spirit can give. God wants to be our leverage in living, empowering us to feel better about ourselves, more excited about our future, more grateful for those we love, and more enthusiastic about our faith.

If you are looking for a deeply satisfying relationship with God, I encourage you to pray by faith, and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God has given you His Holy Spirit to help you live life according to His perfect plan. Why not pray this simple prayer, and by faith, invite Him to fill you with His Spirit:

Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have sinned against You by directing my own life. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ's death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thankful Thursday- Simplicity

Hello my friends, welcome to another Thankful Thursday. Laurie chose the theme simplicity for this week, thanks sweetie for hosting this month, you are appreciated. Yesterday, was one of those days, you know, the kind that seems to never end, and when it does, you are very relieved. My lovebug took a vacation day yesterday, so that he could take me to two different doctor appointments. I had one appointment at 9:30 yesterday morning, and another appointment at 12:30 yesterday afternoon. Well, I did not get done with the first appointment until 12:00, then we zoomed over to the next appointment. We got done there about 2:30. The news from both places, was not good. Then, I get home, call my sister to tell her all about my day, and she is not feeling well. Her diabetes is really bad, she keeps blacking out, and having seizures due to the diabetes. Her kidneys are also failing due to the diabetes, they continue to work at about 30%. Of course, I am very much concerned about her, after losing my big brother to diabetes last June. After talking to her, I call my dad to see how he is doing. He was very stressed out, he had taken my uncle to the hospital, he is not feeling well at all, having real trouble with his eyes. So, of course my dad is really worried about him, that is the only sibling my dad has. My dad also told me that my niece, who is my only niece, she is my big brother's daughter. Anyway, she is 27, and pregnant with her first baby. The baby has a problem with it's blood cells, so they are going to take it two weeks early, which means she will be having it by this weekend. If not, it could be life threatening to her, and the baby. This is my big brothers baby girl, and his grandson. So, of course, we are all very concerned for her, and the baby. Prayers are being lifted high on their behalf. At this point, I could totally give up. But, I refuse. Instead, I choose to dwell upon the simple, and basic things of my life. My Father God, my lovebug, my family, and my life. I intend to fill my mind, and my heart with the beautiful, simple pleasures of life. I am so very thankful for my family, and their place in my life. I am not mad at God for everything that is going on right now, actually, I praise Him for His total presence right now in my life. I feel Him very near to me, comforting me as always. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He is watching over me, and my family. I give You praise in this storm Father. The hard times in life, can be made simple, if only we lean totally upon You. I love You Father, I will not let go of You.

Word Filled Wednesday

Proverbial Sunrise- Forgiveness

By Mary Fairchild, About.com

It is not uncommon for Christians to have questions about forgiveness. Forgiveness does not come easy for most of us. Our natural instinct is to recoil in self-protection when we've been injured. We don't naturally overflow with mercy, grace and forgiveness when we've been wronged.

Is forgiveness a conscious choice, a physical act involving the will, or is it a feeling, an emotional state of being? The Bible offers insight and answers to these, and many more common questions about forgiveness. We'll take a look at the most common questions, and find out what the Bible says about forgiveness.

Is forgiveness a conscious choice, or an emotional state?

I believe forgiveness is a choice we make through a decision of our will, motivated by obedience to God and His command to forgive.

The Bible instructs us to forgive, as the Lord forgave us:

Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (NIV)

How do we forgive when we don't feel like it? How do we translate the decision to forgive into a change of heart?

We forgive by faith, out of obedience. Since forgiveness goes against our nature, we must forgive by faith, whether we feel like it, or not. We must trust God to do the work in us that needs to be done, so that the forgiveness will be complete.

I believe God honors our commitment to obey Him and our desire to please Him when we choose to forgive. He completes the work in His time. We must continue to forgive (our job), by faith, until the work of forgiveness (the Lord's job), is done in our hearts.

Philippians 1:6
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (NLT)

How will we know if we have truly forgiven?

Corrie Ten Boom, a Christian woman who survived a Nazi concentration camp during the Holocaust, said, "Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize the prisoner was you."

We will know the work of forgiveness is complete when we experience the freedom that comes as a result. We are the ones who suffer most when we choose not to forgive. When we do forgive, the Lord sets our hearts free from the anger, bitterness, resentment and hurt that previously imprisoned us.

Most times, however, forgiveness is a slow process.

Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. (NIV)

This answer by Jesus makes it clear that forgiveness is not easy for us. It's not a one-time choice, and then we automatically live in a state of forgiveness. Forgiveness may require a lifetime of forgiving, but it is important to the Lord. We must continue forgiving, until the matter is settled in our heart.

What if the person we need to forgive is not a believer?

I have found that prayer is one of the best ways to break down the wall of un-forgiveness in my heart. When I begin to pray for the person who has wronged me, God begins to give me new eyes to see that person and a new heart to care for that person. As I pray I begin to see that person as God sees them, and I realize that person is precious to the Lord. I also see myself in a new light, just as guilty of sin and failure as the other person. I too am in need of forgiveness. If God did not withhold His forgiveness from me, why should I withhold my forgiveness from another?

Is it okay to feel anger and want justice for the person we need to forgive?

This question presents another reason to pray for the person we need to forgive. We can pray for God to deal with the injustices, for God to judge the person's life, and then we can leave that prayer at the altar. We no longer have to carry the anger. Although it is normal for us to feel anger toward sin and injustice, it is not our job to judge the other person in their sin.

Luke 6:37
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (NIV)

Why must we forgive?

The best reason to forgive is because Jesus commanded us to forgive. We learn from Scripture, if we don't forgive, neither will we be forgiven:

Matthew 6:14-16
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (NIV)

We also forgive so that our prayers will not be hindered:

Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. (NIV)

In summary and in closing, we forgive out of obedience to the Lord. It is a choice, a decision we make. However, as we do this "forgiving," we discover the command is in place for our own good, and we receive the reward of our forgiveness - freedom.

Growing Up Mondays

Apply the teaching and ministry to your life — There's not much that a pastor loves more than to see his flock practicing what he has preached, living a Godly, holy life, and on their knees seeking the Lord. Learn to appreciate the spiritual values they try to instill in you and the congregation. "Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern" (Phil. 3:17).

It helps your Church when you live, and conduct yourself in a Christ-like manner. Whether you realize it or not,, you're a walking billboard for your Church. Whatever the people of your community see in your life, they will tend to identify with your pastor, and his flock. Behave yourself, and speak well of the Church, and your pastor. Eyes and ears, are always open to the things you say and do.

Focus On Missions

Dan & Rachel Janzen

Serving through Leadership Training in Rwanda

Ministry Focus

Dan and Rachel Janzen are planning to partner with New Creation Ministries in Kigali, Rwanda, training Rwandan pastors to effectively teach and lead their congregations to greater spiritual depth.

Nearly 90 percent of pastors in Rwanda have no education beyond 6th grade and few have any Biblical training. As a result, the Rwandan church has been described as being a "mile wide and an inch deep." The Janzens plan to use their gifting to assist pastors in clearly understanding the Bible's message in order to communicate it to their congregations in ways that will facilitate spiritual growth.

The Janzens envision East Africa filled with spiritually mature pastors who lead effective churches that are growing in the Lord and reaching out to transform their communities. They are eager to pour themselves into a small group of people and together with the Rwandans grow in their understanding and in their ministries to the Rwandan people.


Fast Facts

Birthdays: Dan (8/7); Rachel (9/16)
Anniversary: (6/20)
Children: Drew (5/16); Alex (3/14)
Education: Dan B.A. in Christian ministry and biblical studies, 1998, Wheaton College, Illinois; M.Div., 2004, Denver Seminary, Littleton, Colorado Rachel B.S. in environmental science, 1998, Wheaton College
Appointed: June 2009
Home Church: Calvary Baptist Church, Wickenburg, Arizona



Ministry-at-a-Glance

The People: Pastors in Rwanda and surrounding countries.
Previous Ministry Experience: Dan: Short-term trips to Honduras and Dominican Republic. Three-month trip to Guinea through WorldVenture in 2004. Rachel: Six-month college internship in Ghana, three-month trip to Guinea in 2004, and short-term trip to Dominican Republic.
Prayer Focus: Please pray for a strengthened faith in God's provision, energy, focus, and both spiritual and physical health for their family.

Fully Committed

We should be holy… [fully committed] before him.
Ephesians 1:4

The word "holiness" is a turn-off to a lot of people. It reminds them of the finger-pointing religionists, and negative experiences they've had in church. They immediately think of all the things you can't do, like a religious version of Robert's Rules Of Order. Nothing could be further from the truth. "He chose us in Him… that we should be holy… [fully committed] before Him." You'll never have the motivation to live a fully committed lifestyle unless you know that God has chosen you for a specific purpose. It's like being an athlete: certain activities might be permissible for others, but not for you. And why's that? Because you want to win the race!

Notice the words "we should be holy… before Him." True holiness is being aware of what pleases God, and what offends God - and living your life accordingly. In other words, it's not for man's benefit, it's for God's. In the Old Testament God used forks, spoons, basins, and flesh hooks for temple worship. Now, they were just ordinary kitchen utensils, until God set them aside for His use, then they became holy forks, holy spoons, holy basins and holy flesh hooks. And since contamination, could disqualify them for service, they had to be protected. Are you getting the idea? When God called you, He earmarked you for a specific purpose. Up until then, you were just 'Hal' and 'Helen', but now you're 'holy Hal' and 'holy Helen'.

Like a dedicated line on a fax machine, you can be used for one thing only - God's purposes. Once you understand that, and fully accept it, you'll never stray far from His will.

Saturday Psalm And Praise

Thankful Thursday

Hello my sweet friends, and welcome to another thankful Thursday post. Wow, satan is attacking so many of us recently, in various ways. He is stirring up the pot of bad stew, and wants to pour it all over us. How many of you feel like that? With me, he has been attacking me physically, and messing with my self worth. The bloggers retreat is coming up in just a few weeks, in October. I have been so looking forward to it for months now, but as it is getting closer to being a reality, satan is really trying to bring me down. Every time I am near a mirror, I refuse to look in it. I have been feeling very down about my no hair situation, thinking about how lovely all the ladies are that will be at the retreat, and then, there is me!! I feel so different from all of them, like a sore thumb standing out in the crowd. It scares me, and makes me not want to go. I feel like I am not good enough to be among all of them. But, then, I hear that still, small voice, that I love so very, very much. My Father speaking to me once again, He reminds me that I belong to Him, He molded me to be who I am, and more importantly, to be Whose I am. He tells me not to worry about this outward package, but gaze into my inner chambers. That is where my worth comes from. In my Father's eyes, I am beautiful, and that is all that matters to me. So, I am going to Florida to the bloggers retreat, and I am going to shine as brightly as I can for my father. I will be the one standing out from the crowd, with hardly any hair, but look who is standing right there beside me, my Father with His arms around me, loving me completely, because I am His daughter.

So We Don't Forget

Today's topic - well a little off topic but still fun!
Let's share RECIPES!
Main Dish Fall Recipes!
Soups, Casseroles, or anything yummy we can eat for dinner. The secret to perfect dumplings is to not overmix the batter and to drop the batter onto very hot, bubbling liquid. That way the dumplings begin cooking immediately and don't get soggy.
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Ingredients:
1 potato, peeled and chopped
3 carrots, sliced
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup sliced mushrooms, if desired
14 oz. can ready to serve chicken broth
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 2" pieces
9 oz. pkg. frozen baby peas
1-1/2 cups baking mix OR Homemade Baking Mix
1/2 cup milk
Preparation:In a 4 quart crockpot, mix potato, carrots, and onion. In medium bowl, combine chicken broth, flour and spices and mix smooth. Pour over vegetables in crockpot. Add chicken.
Cover crockpot and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours until chicken is thoroughly cooked and no longer pink in center. Add peas and cover again. Cook on HIGH for 20 minutes until peas are hot.
In small bowl, combine baking mix and milk and mix just until combined. Do not over mix. Drop by tablespoons onto hot, bubbling chicken mixture in crockpot. Cover and cook on HIGH for 20-25 minutes until dumplings are cooked through, fluffy, and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serves 4

Word Filled Wednesday

Are You Ready For A Big Give Away?

The Free to Be Me Conference is right around the corner. Are you praying for the blessed opportunity to attend? Have you always wanted to meet your blog-friends in person? Would you LOVE to go, but have been asking God for a financial miracle? How does a scholarship for this amazing two-day conference sound? Did I mention you'll be leaving the kids, and dirty dishes behind? Girls, get ready...one lucky gal is going to receive a $100 scholarship! Which means admission to the Free To Be Me conference will be...FREE! Here's all you have to do: Hop over to One So Blessed and leave a comment, then post about it on your blog. The winner will be picked on Sunday, September 20th. Which means I'll be seeing one of YOU in Florida.

It's as easy as that.

The Proverbial Sunrise- Forgiveness

When I refused to confess my sin, I was… miserable.
Psalm 32:3 NLT

Are you harbouring sin? Are you refusing to deal with your unresolved issues? David did, and he slipped into hell-deep depression. After committing adultery with Bathsheba, he arranged to have her husband killed, then he married her - and his world caved in! "I was… miserable."

What stops good people from cleaning up their act? Spiritual misconceptions! Damaging beliefs! See if you recognize any:
(1) Negative consequences are just the result of fate; they're not connected to my choices.
(2) God's much too forgiving to permit escalating consequences, or allow me to experience pain, just to get me to stop sinning.
(3) The enjoyment I get from my so-called sin, outweighs the benefit of stopping. Anyway, my sin isn't really hurting anyone.
(4) I can't help myself. The problem goes back to my childhood, so why wouldn't God extend grace, rather than impose discipline?
(5) Just because I sin doesn't mean I can't do something for God. Hey, God uses crooked sticks - we can't all be the Apostle Paul.
(6) Anyway it's not a sin, it's just a part of my personality that I struggle with.

Do you see what you're really saying? "My sin doesn't have consequences. God won't pursue this. I like my sin too much to give it up. I've convinced myself that I can't quit. My sin won't diminish my effectiveness. My problem isn't even a sin." If this describes you, embrace the truth, disregard the lies that have kept you stuck in unnecessary pain, and repent. Yes, repent and renounce it! The moment you do, you'll receive God's forgiveness - and the heaviness you're living under will lift!

Grow Up Mondays

Help shoulder the load of responsibility — Pastors and leaders of the church often feel much like Moses did when Israel fought with Amelek. Their arms become weary under the weight of so many responsibilities, and they need brothers and sisters to stand beside them, and help distribute the load. "But Moses' hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun" (Ex. 17:12).

The Lord never intended for the whole ministry of the church to be carried solely by the pastor, or a mere handful of people. It's said that 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people, and sadly, this has caused the "burnout" of its many outstanding workers. If everyone would simply pitch in and do their fair share in helping, serving, and giving, all the needs would be met and no one would be overburdened. Be willing to volunteer with whatever needs done, and don't be finicky about what you will, or will not do. Do as the scripture says, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might..." (Ecl. 9:10). And don't help out just for strokes of attention, but do it for God's glory.

A church is like any other organization with human resources. No one ever starts out at the top. Everyone knows that we have to start at the "entry level." But if a believer continues to grow strong in Christian character, and proves faithful and responsible to the basic tasks given to them in the church, they will likely be promoted to greater responsibility and ministry. "He who is faithful in what is least, is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least, is unjust also in much" (Luke 16:10).

I Plead The Blood

Do our churches need to be more seeker-friendly? Absolutely! Should we develop our gifts to a higher level, then offer them to God? Yes! But there are some things church attendance won't fix, and talent can't do. Only the blood of Jesus can lift you out of a family under the sentence of death, and place you in one that offers pardon, peace and purpose, not to mention a heavenly home that makes the richest folks in your town look like they're living on skid-row.

Ever hear of "the wages of sin?" Every rebellious act goes on your account. And those payments add up. You can roll them over, but eventually they've got to be paid. Right? Well, God recognises only one currency - the blood of Jesus. "The blood… makes atonement" (Leviticus 17:11 NKJV). The word atonement just means at-one-ment! Atonement wipes out the debt, bridges the gap, and makes you one with God.

Furthermore, the blood of Jesus draws a line in the sand over which satan dare not step. Listen: "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony" (Revelation 12:11). Each time you testify to what the blood has done for you, satan is silenced. Each time you say, "I plead the blood", he retreats; he must, he's no other option. In Exodus, even the death angel had to back off once the blood had been applied to the doorposts. And it's the same with you. Study the message of the blood. Learn to use its power, and walk in victory every day.

Saturday Psalm And Praise

We Will Never Forget

As we look back on the tragic events that took place eight years ago today, may we vow once again, to never forget the innocent victims that we lost. May we all bow our heads , and say a prayer for them, and their families, and friends. My hearts prayer, is that we as not only a nation, but as a world, would come together as one. We can my sweet brothers and sisters, if only we are willing. If we would all willingly, drop to our knees, let go of all bitterness, hatred, hard, or hurt feelings, and cry out to our Father God. I promise you, He will hear our cries, and quickly answer them. He is the only One who can bring peace, and calm to this hurting world. He is the only One that can save us, before we destroy ourselves. God is love, and love is the only answer. May God bless us all.

Thankful Thursday

Hello my friends, praying that you all enjoyed your long holiday weekend, and that you are ready to give a big shout out to the Lord today for all of His gifts to you. I know I am more than ready to thank Him, I could thank Him forever, for His sweet blessings upon me, and it still would not be enough. I want to give a huge shout out of thanks to my lovebug today, he was off Saturday-Monday, but he spent that time taking care of me, and doing things around the apartment. He did the laundry, cleaned the stove, and cooked. What a blessing, what a gift from God's heart straight to my heart, and what a sweetheart. All I was able to do was lay in the bed, or on the couch. I am totally wiped out, not feeling well at all. Diabetes and thyroid together, are really taking a major toll on me. I am having bad stomach cramps, headaches, and my eyes hurt all the time. I have no energy what so ever. But, I refuse to give in, or give up, or get down, and depressed. That is what satan would love for me to do, but I will carry on, and rejoice in the middle of my trials, I want to make satan really mad, and put a huge smile on my Saviour's face. God gives me so many gifts, and I intend to use them to the fullest, for as long as He chooses for me to. Even in my darkest hours, when I am at my weakest, He is there drying my tears, and lifting my head up once again. He is my healer, again and again. I praise You Lord, for all Your gifts You daily lavish upon me. Your gifts of restoration, healing, strength, and unspeakable joy. Shout to the Lord, give Him a huge clap of praise, He alone is worthy of our praise.

So We Don't Forget

Tell us about your first house - after you were married.
Or
If you're not married, tell us a special memory about another house you lived in.: When lovebug and I first got married back in April of 1985, we lived in a cute little duplex on Rogers Road here in Chattanooga Tennessee. It had two bedrooms, a nice living room, kitchen, long hallway, and one bathroom. We loved our little love nest, we made alot of sweet memories there. We lived there for seven years, we moved in the spring of 1992. What was so awesome, my momma lived around the corner in a duplex, and my big brother lived two doors down in a duplex. It was funny, mommas address was 4701 A Rogers Road, my brothers was 4703 A Rogers Road, and ours was 4705 A Rogers Road. All in the family, lol but I loved it. That is where my brother lived when my dear niece was born, she is now married, and expecting her first baby this month. My momma and big brother are both in heaven now, sure do miss them both. I am so grateful for the precious memories.

Word Filled Wednesday

The Proverbial Sunrise- Forgiveness

Do you want to get well?
John 5:6 NIV

That's what Jesus asked this man. For 38 years "his condition" had brought him the sympathy of others. It also gave him the excuse to say, "I'm not responsible." Wrong! All of us are responsible for two things - our attitudes and our decisions! We've all been hurt, but if you're still using it 20 years later, you're not a victim by circumstance, you're a victim by choice. You ask, "What's a victim?" Somebody who thinks that negative attention is better than no attention at all.

Jesus said, "If ye do not forgive, neither will your Father… forgive your trespasses" (Mark 11:26). Those words presuppose that somebody has hurt you. They also hold you responsible for your reaction to that person. Jesus said "If you don't forgive, you won't receive forgiveness." Whatever others may have taken from you in the past, if you remain bitter, they'll take even more from you in the future. Maybe you're thinking, "If they'd just come back and ask my forgiveness… Is that what you're waiting for? Don't waste your time! The key to happiness is in your hands, not theirs. That key is forgiveness!

Are you waiting for someone to say "I forgive you" before you can forgive yourself and move on? What if they never do? Here's what you need to do:
(1) apologise;
(2) make amends if you can;
(3) forgive yourself;
(4) move on (Philippians 3:13). Do you really want to get well? These are the steps!

Book Review- Fearless By Max Lucado

If you love Max Lucado, as I do, this book will not disappoint you. Another great book, by a great writer. Are you afraid? What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of disappointing God? Do you think you do not matter? Are you afraid that you cannot protect your children? Are you afraid of violence? Are you afraid of global calamity? Those things, and so much more are covered in this book. Can you imagine your life without fear? Envision the day you can trust more, and fear less. Did you know that the one statement Jesus made more than any other was: Don't be afraid. I highly recommend this book, it will truly encourage you to live out your faith, and to get rid of your fears.

Growing Up Mondays

Get to know your spiritual leaders and cooperate with them — The more you get to know them and their Godly life-style, the more you will likely come to trust their leadership. You will have a greater credibility in their teaching and counsel (1 Thes. 5:12). Show respect and cooperate with their authority. Avoid challenging their right, or worthiness to serve in their position, but accept that God has seen fit to place them in this role (Rom. 13:1). Belligerence or antagonism toward leadership may be acceptable in secular society, but there is no place for it in the Lord's church. "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account..." (Heb. 13:17).

Focus On Missions

Chad & Julie Reeser

Preparing to serve in theological education and discipleship in Spain

Fast Facts

Birthdays: Chad (8/25), Julie (11/14)
Anniversary: (1/10)
Education: Chad: B.A. in sports ministry, 2004, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois; Th.M. with an emphasis in New Testament studies, 2008, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas Julie: B.A. in pre-counseling, 2002, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois
Appointed: June 2008
Home Church: Community Bible Church, Irving, Texas



Ministry-at-a-Glance

Anticipated Ministry Focus: Reaching unbelievers and developing disciples who will disciple others in Spain.
The People: The Spanish people are family-oriented, greatly influenced by Catholic traditions, and increasingly secularist.
Ministry Experience: Chad has served for over two years as the youth pastor at Community Bible Church in Irving, Texas. Together, the Reesers have enjoyed investing hours in student's lives, teaching Bible studies, and building up others in the faith. Chad and Julie have also developed relationships within different secular work environments and have started Bible studies in their home.
Prayer Focus: Please pray that God would quickly build up partnerships. Also, pray that God gives wisdom to the WorldVenture Spain team as they welcome the Reesers to the field.

Gods Rainbow

The falling rain dissolves into mist
And the thunder begins to die;
As the sporadic lightning fades,
An arch of colors pours from the sky.

Rainbows appear after mighty storms
When things look their worst;
Just when the skies are darkest gray,
Out of heaven does the rainbow burst.

God first sent the rainbow to Noah
As a sign that His word is true;
The rainbow's eternal message
Still speaks to me and you.

The rainbow is a sign of God's promise
That He will guide us through any storm;
That He will ease all our troubles
No matter what their form.

When you feel battered by life's storms
And you are filled with doubt and dismay,
Just remember God's rainbow is coming
For it's blessing ... you only have to pray.

~ Author Unknown ~

Saturday Psalm And Praise

Give Me Five

Sami did this on her blog, and I asked her to give me 5 words.
She said:
Okay, so here's how this works: she got five words from someone, she blogged on each of the five words, offered to provide five words to anyone who wanted them, I took her up on the offer, I received my five words, and now I will blog about them. Get it?
She looked over my blog, and read some of my posts. Thanks, Sami
So, here are my 5 words: 1) Home- Home is definitely where my heart is, and my home is wherever my dear lovebug is. 2) Eyes-My eyes are getting worse everyday due to my diabetes, but I am thankful for my heart vision. 3) Bug- There is only one bug for me, and that of course is my lovebug. The rest of the bugs, yuck!! 4) Bears- I love teddy bears, I have a huge collection of them. Besides being lovebugs ladybug, he also calls me his teddy bear. Of course, I am also shortybear. 5) Treasures- All of you, have become heart treasures to me. Now, if you would like to play along, just let me know. I will give you five words.

5 Things Friday-5 Favorite Things

Here are five of my favorite things: 1) My precious heavenly Father. 2) My lovebug 3) My family 4) My friends 5) My computer(of course)

Internet Cafe

Please share your favorite Bible verse, or at least one of your favorite Bible verses with the Cafe community today. Why is this verse meaningful to you? Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. This is one of my life verses. I cling to it whenever I am battling with my health, as I am right now. I know I will be alright, and I will continue to fight on. He continually pours His strength into me, which daily renews me.

Thankful Thursday

Hello dear friends, time for thankful Thursday, open your hearts, and share what you are thankful for. I am thankful for so many things, but this week, I would like to focus on acceptance. I praise God for loving me, and all my imperfections. I also praise God for blessing me with a husband, and friends that accept me as is. The past few months, I have been dealing with some medical issues. There is not a day that passes, that I feel very well. It is a combination of my diabetes, thyroid, and some major hormone problems. It looks as if I will be facing some surgery before the end of the year to remove my thyroid. Due to all of these issues, I have had a fluctuation with my weight. After my momma passed away in April of 2006, I lost quite a bit of weight. I went from 250 pounds to 172, and I had kept it off. Well, now due to my health problems, I am back up to 189. But, I am trying really hard not to beat myself up about it, or get upset over it. Lovebug is being very supportive, as always. He loves me, no matter what. Fat, skinny, hair, no hair, I am his beauty queen, that is what he always tells me. God loves me, He really loves me. He loves my inner gift, not my outer wrapping. I am so grateful for the total acceptance of my Father. Because of Him, I am free to be me, nothing less, nothing more, just all I can be in Him. Thank You Father, Your daughter loves You beyond measure.

Word Filled Wednesday

The Proverbial Sunrise- Forgiveness

We need God’s eternal perspective
It helps to see the sins in our life as God has seen them. Our view is limited to the present moment; the past is a memory and the future is only a possibility. But since God is not confined to time (He is infinite), He views our life in its totality.

When God forgave our sins, He saw what we did in our past, what we are doing in our present, and what we will do in our future—and He forgave us anyway!
Conclusion
God did not save us only to regret it, because He was not surprised by anything we have done or will do. When Jesus died for our sins, God had our entire life in view. He did not give us eternal life only to take it back when we do something bad. He already knew what sins we would commit as believers, but forgave us anyway. This should cause us to live worshipfully with gratitude, not in licentiousness. Grace teaches that our guiltless position before God depends on His promise of forgiveness, not on our performance. However, the quality of our subsequent fellowship with God depends on constant confession of our sins as we become aware of them.
Dr. Charlie Bing, GraceLife Ministries

Focus On Missions

Anne Laine

Pharmacy and discipleship in West Africa

Fast Facts

Birthday: (6/13)
Education: B.S. in pharmacy, 1993, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond; doctor of pharmacy, 1998, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston; graduate diploma in intercultural studies, 2008, Phoenix Seminary, Arizona
Appointed: October 2008
Home Church: Red Mountain Community Church, Mesa, Arizona

Ministry-at-a-Glance

Anticipated Ministry Focus: Discipleship of new believers and caring for people while working as a pharmacist.
The People: Anne's heart is for the hurting and forgotten people of Africa.
Previous Ministry Experience: Anne has been on several short-term mission trips, including two to Kenya. She has served in many capacities in her local church over the years, including teaching, leading small groups and serving behind the scenes. Currently, she is a "coach" for the ConNEXTion team, a discipleship team at her local church designed to help people grow in their relationship with God and get them plugged into the Body.
Prayer Focus: Please pray that God will rise up people willing to partner with Anne and that she will continue to pursue and trust the leading of the Holy Spirit in this part of the journey.