5 important steps to share with people

Do you know why you believe what you believe?  Can you show someone what the Word has to say about salvation?

On Sunday I was preaching from Romans 1:16-17

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I started with a teaching segment on how to be prepared to talk with someone about your faith and have the Word of God ready to show them what it has to say.

Obviously, there are all sorts of ways that conversation can go.   How many times have you said “I can’t remember where it is but, in the Bible it says….” Here are 5 verses that can get you started.  An easy way to remember them is to write on the  inside cover of your Bible  “Romans 3:23″ — as that is the starting verse.

With each scripture you can share from your heart what it means to you.

Romans 3:23 – all have sinned.  All means me, you and everyone.  At the end of this verse  write 6:23 – that is the next verse.

Romans 6:23  — the penalty for sin is death – gift of God is eternal life.  At the end of this verse  write “5:8″

Romans 5:8 – Christ died for us.  He paid the price we could never pay.  It is not the blood of a bull, ram or dove but the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  At the end of this verse  write “10:13″

Romans 10:13 – whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.   God hears us when we call.   At the end of this verse we leave Romans and go to John 14:6.  Write “John 14:6″ at the end of verse 13.

John 14:6 ^” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”   This verse is extremely important to share as Jesus clearly states how we come to the Father.  If there was any other way, if His blood was not required…..  Jesus, Himself, prayed in the Garden “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

It is important that we, as Christians, share what God has done and is doing in our lives.  Now you can easily take the Word of God and share the Gospel with anyone!

til next time

(I will post sermon notes later — lots of good things come from Romans 1:16-17)

are you an anorexic christian?

It seems that somewhere in each Sunday morning message the importance of  reading the Word of God has been addressed.   One week, Pastor Curt asked some thought-provoking questions.   Now he did not ask for a show of hands but he did ask,

“How many of us could raise our hands if I asked if you have read the Word every day this past week?  What about most days – four out of seven?  How about at least two days?  Do you even know where your Bible is?”

Everywhere I look people are facing some huge issues.  Sometimes life is just plain hard.  Yet where do we look for help?  Is our Bible covered in dust?

This past Sunday Pastor Curt preached from the book of Joshua.  We all have a past that we are leaving behind (our Egypt) and we all have a future ahead of us.  But in the here and now “Be strong and courageous for the Lord thy God is with you.  Do not be afraid!  Do not quit!!  Know that God is with you.  In this  moment you can be strong and courageous!  In this moment don’t quit.”

In the midst of that message, what comes up?  A reference to reading the Word.  I am confident God is trying to drive home a point here.  Joshua 1:8  “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

“If you are only getting the Word on Sunday morning, then you could say that you are an anorexic Christian. “  Pastor Curt

Anorexia is a very serious disease.  I worked with a lady long ago that was fighting for her life.   It was so sad.  Her energy level was almost non-existent.  Her body was rejecting the very thing it needed in order to stay alive.

Do we ‘reject’ the very thing that is needed for us to walk in victory?

The Bible addresses our thoughts, actions, heart, will, relationships, work ethic — reading it, meditating on it will change us.  This change will make us strong!

The enemy of our souls will do whatever he can to keep us out of the Word.  He knows that if we are reading it – it will strengthen us and we will not so easily fall for his tricks.   Instead we will walk in victory!  We will walk in truth!

I have often told people that my husband can tell if I have not been in the Word for a couple of days.  My friends and coworkers can tell if it has been more than 3 days.   Oh they don’t necessarily know that is what is going on, but they know something is off.

I am constantly amazed at how something will come up in my dealing with people that God has addressed that morning (or night before) in His Word.

God uses His Word to prepare us, to encourage us, to guide us and most importantly to draw us closer to Him.

He is waiting for you to open His book so that He can pour truth into your heart and fill you with love, joy, and peace.

til next time

fear/worry — peace/still ??

I can count on one hand the number of times that sickness has stopped my husband in his tracks.   He may get a cold or a sinus issue but he plows right through.  This past Friday afternoon he got knocked right off his feet (figuratively speaking.)

I thought it would be a 24 hour thing and he would be up and at ‘em Saturday.  Instead Saturday found him alternating between the bed and the recliner.  By Saturday night it became evident that he would not be preaching the next morning.   The verse from  2 Timothy came to mind – “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season…………..”

What did God want me to share?

Psalms 46:1-3  I find that I am quoting verse 1 a lot lately, either in person, on the phone, by text, and even on facebook.   We don’t have to look far to see trouble.  We do not face it alone.  God is indeed a very present help in trouble.

“We will not fear.”    Fear is a great peace robber.  It is virtually impossible to stay in peace while allowing fear to take hold of your emotions.    Most of the things people worry about never happen.  Don’t get caught up in fear’s trap.

Fear and worry ruin a perfectly good day and disrupt a good night’s sleep.

When you notice fear, worry or dread knocking at your door remember God is a very present help in trouble.  Place your focus back on Him and you will find your peace returning.  Instead of dwelling on the situation, going over it and over it, take it to God in prayer.  Leave it with Him. Trust Him to work things out.

“Oh what peace we often forfeit.  Oh what needless pain we bear.  All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”   He is the living God.  The Great I AM.   The creator and sustainer of the universe and He is an ever-present help in trouble.

Let’s look at the end of this chapter.

Psalms 46:10  I am going to take it one word at a time.

BE:  state of being

Acts 1:8 tells us that we are to BE witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the utter most parts of the earth.   (For me that breaks down to my city, state, neighboring state –or county and neighboring county–and the world.)   Notice that it doesn’t say DO witnessing.  It is possible to DO witnessing and not BE a good witness.  Be is who we are – 24/7.   And we can be still in the midst of any circumstance.

Be STILL:  quiet confidence – a heart of peace.   Not in a state of turmoil or wrapped up in fretting about the situation.

Be still AND:  this lets us know that there is more.  It isn’t just be still.

Be still and KNOW:  know that you know that you know that God is in control.  He has a plan.  He will make a way where there seems to be no way.   We will not be shaken.  We know God is greater than anything we face.

Be still and know THAT:  that – pay attention to what comes next – emphasis

Be still and know that I:  one true God.   God tells Moses  in Exodus 3:14  “I am who I am”  God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and always with us.

Be still and know that I AM:  present tense.  Right where we are, there He is.

Be still and know that I am GOD:  He is the living God.    What you magnify just gets bigger.  Instead of spiraling downward with fear and worry, place your focus back onto God.  Let Him fill you with peace.

Whatever you are facing, God has a plan.    Don’t let fear and worry rob you of the truth that you know.  God is with you!  He loves you!

“Be still and know that I am God” — Psalm 46:10

til next time

what are you dishing out?

Relationships are multifaceted. I guess that is what makes life so entertaining and at times stressful.

My daddy used to say “Don’t dish it out if you can’t handle it.”  He loved to play practical jokes on people.   He loved it when people gave it right back to him.

I  remember coming home to a whole lot of junk piled in front of our front door because his brother had stopped by and we weren’t home.  It was their family calling card.   I also remember being a partner in crime at his brother’s house  when they weren’t home.

Later there would be the expected phone call.  I can still hear my daddy laughing.  He loved to laugh.

But what about when people dish out words that hurt?

I have been thinking about relationships lately.  A scripture that always pops in my head when dealing with relationships is Psalm 19:14  “Let the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer.” 

I can’t possibly expect good words to come out of my mouth if I am mediating on junk.  If I am rehashing what so and so did to me or said about me or my kids or my husband then I am pretty sure that my mouth will reflect that.

What I think and how I feel about a relationship will be evident in what I say.  What I say will come from what I have allowed myself to meditate on.

“I believe their heart toward me is good.”   Try meditating on that.  Give the person the benefit of the doubt.  Look for the good.

Read how the Message Bible puts it in 1 Corinthians 13

So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

   Love never gives up.
   Love cares more for others than for self.
   Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
   Love doesn’t strut,
   Doesn’t have a swelled head,
   Doesn’t force itself on others,
   Isn’t always “me first,”
   Doesn’t fly off the handle,
   Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
   Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
   Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
   Puts up with anything,
   Trusts God always,
   Always looks for the best,
   Never looks back,
   But keeps going to the end.

Always looks for the best — Think about your relationships.  How would always looks for the best change that relationship?

What about puts up with anything?  Yes that does mean the clothes that are two inches from the laundry basket.  It can be so easy to nag.   Why not, instead, start commenting on the good things?    Build up instead of tear down.

It’s easy to love people who are loving me  back.  It takes God’s love flowing through me to love people who are being unkind.  It takes God’s love to not be ugly right back.   This is a on-going process.

For a Christian, there is no excuse for ugliness.  That said, there is forgiveness when we fall short.     My prayer has been and will be “Lord help me to not do or say something that I will need to apologize for later.”    You know what?  He does answer that prayer.

til next time

day 10

I am on day 10 of a 30 day challenge.  To say it has changed my life would be an understatement.  (the challenge — For the next 30 days I am going to be mindful to not complain about anything. click here to read more)

How am I doing?

Some days it is absolutely not a challenge.  I breeze through those days.  Others days, however, make up for it and are challenging beyond measure.

What I have found is that I am much more aware of when it is coming out of my mouth.  It is happening less and less.  The coolest thing, though, is when the thought is there but I recognize it before it leaves my mouth.   This is happening more and more.  (hmm reminds me of the scripture to take every thought captive)

I had a co-worker tell me Thursday that she was going to do the same thing.  I was very excited for her.  Although I did tell her to be ready.  As a christian, the devil loves it when we grumble, murmur, or complain.  Therefore he will kick it up a few notches when we purpose to stop doing those things.  He doesn’t think we can do it and he is working to stack the deck in his favor.

That said, the good news is that God does think we can do it.  He is right there ready to help us. After all, He wants us to walk in joy and peace.  Last I checked grumbling, whining, and murmuring were not synonymous with peace.

All of that said, today -day 10 – is starting off very challenging.  I heard some news today that just makes my heart sad.  It’s like this fountain of weariness has threatening to overtake me.

Knowing this is a trial and that I don’t have to act on or live by my feelings.  This is what I did.

I turned to my love letter from God.  Isaiah 40:27-31  I read it in various translations.  The Message bible says it best for me today.

^27-31Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
or, whine, Israel, saying,
“God has lost track of me.
He doesn’t care what happens to me”?
Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?
God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
they walk and don’t lag behind.

I read it over and over again until it permeated my very being and quieted those feelings.   I looked for, found, and allowed truth to rise up.  (Feelings can lie to us and try to sway us to go down a road that is not in our best interest.  I don’t want to be ruled by my feelings.  I want to walk in truth.)

My heart is still sad, but my hope is renewed.  I know that God has a plan.  He is working things out and He is my strength.   I will walk in His truth.

Are your feelings lying to you?

til next time

made it 1 entire day :)

grumble……..murmur………complain………….whine

How much of my day includes one of those things?  Well if you would have asked me two days ago I would have said “I don’t have a big problem with it.”  –click here to read earlier blog –

In fact, I decided two days ago to be mindful of what and how I am saying things for the next 30 days.  No problem??   or so I thought.

I like to talk a lot.  Did I mention that? 

Yesterday went by pretty smoothly.  To the best of my knowledge no complaining, murmuring, whining or grumbling came forth from my mouth. 

Ah, but this morning I had to be to work early and the first thing out of my mouth was “it is way too early to be up.”  I barely got it out of my mouth when I remembered.  UGH!  I told Curt that it really didn’t count because I wasn’t fully awake.  (heavy sigh)  Ok that is reaching just a bit. 

It just showed me how easy it is to grumble and not even realize you are grumbling. 

I much prefer mornings when I wake up and before getting out of bed, I say “Good morning Lord, it’s gonna be a great day.”   Hmmm I am sure God prefers that too,  along with my family and friends.

Then off to work.  I need to go back to the doctor for a follow-up visit.  I mentioned to Susan, “I hate spending money on doctor bills.”  

Oops, there it is again.  Yes, that is a true statement but murmuring none the less.  Instead I am grateful that I can make payments to such noted doctors.

So I have had two strikes today and it is only lunch time.  However, this is not baseball and I am not limited to three strikes. 

Yes, being mindful of my words and purposing in my heart to stop any and all griping is a good thing.   After all, I am confident that God is at work.  God will take care of those things that come my way.  With my mouth I will be grateful and thankful.

Oh, I forgot to mention, when I got home at lunch there was yet one more explanation of benefits from our insurance.  It was a shocker.  Let’s just say that Curt has met his $4,200 deductible for the year. 

Strangely though, I am not freaked out about it nor do I even want to grumble.  It just isn’t worth it.  I am determined to live in peace. 

What about you?  How often do you complain, grumble, murmur, gripe?

I challenge you to replace it with gratitude.  Let your hope in God rise above the fear.

What we say does impact our lives and those around us.

til next time

to complain or not to complain?

“God is not motivated or moved by our complaining.”  Joyce Meyers

Did you know that Joyce and I do dishes together?  She is a great help to me.

In all began a few years back.  See  I was in this funk.   I didn’t want to cook.  I certainly didn’t want to do dishes.   I was beginning to dread any time that I had to spend in the kitchen.  As a wife and mother that meant a big chunk of my day was filled with dissatisfaction.

That’s when Joyce came to my rescue.

I had been receiving her ‘teaching of the month’ cassette.   I was building up quite a pile of them.   When the thought hit me (thanks God) that I could put one in while I was working in the kitchen.

What a difference!    We’ve been doing dishes together ever since.  To say that I love my kitchen would be an understatement now!!

So, currently I am listening to “Contentment and Satisfaction — finding Joy in every situation”.    Every situation — yes I have room for growth.

It was during the 4th cd that Joyce made the above quote.  (“God is not motivated or moved by our complaining.” )

Complaining……..murmuring……..whining………muttering…………grumbling

About a month ago I mentioned to my husband that the next time I told him that I did not want to go to work – I had to pay him $1.00.  No big deal, you might think.  However, my husband is a financial guru and we budget everything.  Yes, even down to each getting  an allowance.   (This is money that I do not have to account for. )

How much you ask?  You might be surprised to hear that it is $10 a week.  Yes that is correct $10 a week.  Hey that is $40 a month I do not have to account for.

Why do I tell you this?  Because it is so easy to spend money and not even be aware of how much.   At the end of the month do you know where your money went?   If I did not have a set amount it would be so easy for me to spend three to four times as much during the week just on whatever I felt like at the time.

So when I said I would give him $1 that was huge.  Even greater is the fact that I have not had to pay him, not even once.

That was only the beginning.

My next challenge.

Complaining……..murmuring……..whining………muttering…………grumbling

STOP……CEASE…..ENOUGH……INSTEAD…..BE THANKFUL……BE POSITIVE

Now I am not one of those people who go around complaining and murmuring every chance I get.  I do try to see the good in each situation.  Yet I do find myself griping about the heat, or little things,  or situations out of my control, or the work load — that is a big one, or our crazy schedule …………… words that just don’t need to be spoken.  Period!

Now I’ve managed to sugar coat it so that I can kind of – sort of – justify it but, when Joyce made that statement my heart went ouch.

She also went on to say that we open a door for the enemy, in our lives, we invite destruction through grumbling, fault-finding and complaining.

When I am murmuring the devil is doing a happy dance and just loving it.  Why do you think it is so easy to complain?   Grumbling is contagious but so is thankfulness.  From now on I am going to be mindful to spread thankfulness!

For the next 30 days I am going to attempt to not complain about anything.  Now I know that some of it is habit (i.e.  Oh it is so stinkin’ hot.  or Is it 5:00 yet? whine – whine – whine )  and I will slip up.  But those of you that know me personally — feel free to remind me that I was giving up whining and maybe, just maybe,  you will get a quarter.  (Hey that’s 1/40th of my allowance for the week.)

What is God speaking to you about?

til next time

christian?

A few months back we celebrated 20 years of ministry in a small town church.  20 years!  I’ve lived here longer than anywhere else in my life.

A lot of people have come and gone.   Babies have grown up and are now having babies.   What a joy that is to see!  There is the joy of  new life  and then there is the sadness as we have bid farewell to those who have gone on before us.  One day we will meet again  on that Golden Shore.  (Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.  Psalm 116:15)

There have been weddings.  I love weddings!  If I could do it over again I would have started a scrap-book with the very first wedding.

There are those who have moved away and those who have moved on.  There are those who have recently joined our family  (quick count and I am up to 23 in the last year and a half  – Thank you God!)

All in all, it has been and is my desire to be real in a world where so many people are trying to be someone who they aren’t.   I have good days and I have bad days.  Life happens.  Yet in and through all of it, God is there.   I am not the perfect Pastor’s wife (not by a long shot)  or the perfect pastor.   However,  I love Jesus and I am learning how to walk in love.  I am finding that to be a life long process.  Some days are easier than others – for sure.

Awhile back I was at a craft store with a dear friend and  saw this fairly large wall hanging.  We talked about what it had to say – about what it means to be a christian.  For our 20th anniversary she gave it to us.  Here is what it said.

When I say “I am a Christian” I’m not shouting “I am saved.”   I’m whispering “I get lost – that is why I chose this way.”

When I say  “I am a Christian”  I don’t speak of this with pride.   I’m confessing that I stumble and need someone to be my guide.

When I say “I am a Christian”   I’m not trying to be strong.   I’m professing that I’m weak and pray for strength to carry on.

When I say “I am a Christian” I’m not bragging of success.  I’m admitting I have failed and cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say “I am a Christian” I’m not claiming to be perfect. My faults are all too visible, but God believes I’m worth it.

When I say “I’m a Christian” I still feel the sting of pain.  I have my share of heartaches – which is why I seek His name.

When I say “I’m a Christian” I do not wish to judge.  I have no authority.  I only know that I am loved.

Christian?

What does it mean to you?

til next time

God said no

Many years ago I was reading an article by a prominent minister.  The article was on the will of God and he had some good things to say.  At the end, he made the statement — “God has never told me no.”

What?

Huh?

Never?

Really?

That was the last article I have read by that minister.  Oh, I know there is the concept of -take the meat and spit out the bones – which is a good rule but with the limited time I have for reading and so many things I want to read, this author doesn’t make the list anymore.

God never said no?

I don’t know this man personally.   I do know that however good he is or how close he may be to God, He is not Jesus and God told Jesus no.

Yes, you read that right.

In the garden, it is recorded that Jesus prayed 3 times.  Matthew 26 – …My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me;  yet not as I will, but as You will.”    (no it is not possible)  2nd time  “My Father, if this  cannot pass away unless I drink it,  Your will be done.”  (no it cannot- you must drink it)  3rd time  “…went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.”      (italics are my words)

We know the outcome of those prayers.  Jesus went to the cross and died for our sins.  His love for mankind -what a price to pay.  If there were any other way  to God, … but clearly there wasn’t.

I believe that Jesus knew all along that this was the plan.  He was/is God.  Yet He used His time on earth to show us – to be an example we can look at.

There are many things we can grasp from His time in prayer that night.  One  key  is “Not my will but Yours”.    The recognition that God is in control and He sees the whole picture, not just the part we see.  He knows what is best for us.

I pray.   I ask in faith believing that God hears my prayers.  I stand on His word and His many promises.   I trust God!

I also recognize that I don’t know the whole situation.  God does.

I can’t see down the road.  God can.

So I pray with an attitude of  yet not my will or my plan but according to Your will and Your plan.  For I know that God’s ways won’t always make sense to me.  After all He is God and who am I to think I can understand all the thoughts and ways of God.  He wouldn’t be a very big God if that were the case.

My God is greater than that.  He is the creator and sustainer of life.  He is all -knowing, all-powerful, and yet He loves me.  He is not some far off god.  He desires to have an intimate relationship with me and with you too!!

As I look back on  some of those times God said no, I can see why.  I am grateful that God did not give me some of the things that I so desperately thought, at the time, was His plan.

So with my prayers today, I will continue to pray in faith, believing and expecting God to work in the situations.  I will continue to lay out my requests before Him.  It will be with an attitude of  ‘Your will be done Lord’ because I know that God’s plans for me are good.   Each day is an adventure!

His plans for you are good too!!

til next time

together we praise

Have you ever wondered – why should I go to church?  Maybe your kids have said “Do I have to go to church?”  or maybe you have even said that.  The enemy of your soul will try anything and everything to keep you away from gathering with others.  Why?  Because coming together, rubbing shoulders with each other, encourages us and brings glory to God.

This weeks sermon was all about  coming together for worship.  To read other ‘sermon notes’ click here.

Grab your Bible, as I won’t be posting all of the scriptures.  I  feel that it is important to look the scriptures up in your own Bible –  to stay familiar with the love letter that God has given to us.  (If you don’t have a Bible let me know.)

Read Psalm 105:1-5

Why do we come together?

God desires our worship.  We come together to worship Him.  We join together to offer our thanks for all God has and is doing in our lives.  (Can we do that apart from church?  Of course and we should but there is something different about gathering with others for the sole purpose of worshiping God and hearing His word.)

We can tend to focus on the things that are going wrong.  We see the bad – focus on it – and forget all the good.

Illustration:  Did you know that your thumb can blot out the moon?  If you hold your thumb up to the sky,  you can cover up the moon.  Now the moon is huge.  It is way bigger than your thumb.  However, if you are focused on your thumb you will not see the moon.

When we focus on our problem we blot out all the good God has done.  It is still there, but we are not seeing it because our sight is on the problem.

When problems seem real big — look at where your focus is.

V. 2  Sing

What can we do for God?  We can sing!!  We gather together as the people of God to sing praises and to offer up thanks.   Testimony time is a time of proclamation – remembering God’s works.  God is at work in our lives!

God is good!  All the time!

v.3  Glory in His name – stop in the presence of the Lord and simply think about who God is.  How often do we do that?  Probably not often enough.  It is life changing to stand in the presence of an awesome God and glory in His name.

v.5  judgments – history of God interacting with the human race.  God shows great mercy to those who repent and believe.  To those who fail to repent and fail to believe  – there is great judgment.

“The Gospel message is repent and believe, not just proclaim and hope!”

We, as the people of God, are meant to proclaim the message of salvation.  Look for opportunities to proclaim the goodness of the Lord.

v. 4  Seek His face – an audience of One!

We are united in His presence and told to seek His face – to spend time in the presence of Almighty God.

“You’re not gonna get a better offer”

In the presence of the Lord is fullness of joy, peace forevermore.

I (Pastor Curt) will be having a GI scope – in God’s presence is strength, hope, peace, and joy.

“It really doesn’t matter what they find in here (pointing to his stomach) as what God finds in here (pointing to his life).  If I could pound one thing into people –one thing — it would be if you are experiencing problems in life then get before God!“

“God will give us the wisdom to know what to do.  The strength to do what we need to do and the peace to get us through the storm.“

“Let the wind blow, blow as hard as it can on Christ the solid Rock I stand!!” (Imperials)

till next time