Small faith in a Big God

Yesterday in The ReignForest at NewPointe Community Church I shared with the volunteers the truth of something Jesus told his disciples. From Mark 11:22 he simply said "Have faith in God". Often many Christians have faith in faith rather than faith in God. When facing trials, they agonize to attain moutain-size faith. But Jesus taught that faith the size of a mustard seed is sufficient, if planted in the soil of God's greatness.

What is your mountain today? As soon as you plant your mustard seed of faith in God, your mountain becomes His responsibility-and you can rest in His faithfulness.

HAVE FAITH IN GOD - NOT FAITH IN FAITH

Dear God today I want to focus on how great you are. You care for each life on this planet and you care about each problem I am experiencing. You are not a God who is far away and distant. You want me to have a personal relationship with you. Today Father, I choose to practice using my mustard seed of faith in the soil of your greatness. In Exodus 34:5-7 I find the traits of your character which helps me focus on your greatness. Great is your compassion, grace, slowness to anger, love, faithfulness and forgivenss. Thank you as I choose to see your greatness today. Amen.

Prayer

Today we were challenged in SWAT (Staff working as a team) by our lead pastor, Dwight Mason, to confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. James 5:16-18 NLT

As we met in groups and confessed to one another true prayer could be participated in around each table. Even a church staff can find it challenging to confess to each other their sins, admit their weaknesses and miss an opportunity to be authentic. We can gather and "chit chat" and talk about surface things and go through the motions of praying for each other.

I was challenged in our time this morning to revisit those disciplines that contribute to an earnest prayer life. I want to live a life that produces great power and wonderful results. I know it doesn't happen by the work of my hands but rather the bending of my knees. Giving private time to God must remain a priority if I want to change my story and change the world.

Time passes quickly - Hello Journal

It's too long since I last posted. How can this be? Time slips by and before you know it months pass. I am trying to journal everyday in order to recognize and appreciate the time I am blessed to enjoy life.

I have tried journaling on and off over the years but usually it fizzles after so many weeks. Since March, 2009 I challenged a couple of young women I was meeting with to journal along with me. It was that accountability that seemed to get me over the hump.

In leading people, as I have the privilege to do at NewPointe Community Church, I really sensed that I enjoy a freedom to pray and spend time with God, to begin a day fresh. It was something I was guilty of taking too lightly without great appreciation. I'm not brilliant nor the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to journaling. I rarely write down the events of the previous day. For me, I usually focus on what I am going to commit to God for the day. With that I might mention prayers, petitions, struggles, sins needing confessed, trust issues I have which I know God cares and wants to help me with. Sometimes I use my own format and sometimes I ramble.

Whatever you do in 2010 - try to write it down. It will be a special year for you to review the time you spent on earth.
The bottom line is every day just try and before you know it you will be like me. You will get over the hump.

Hit it on the head !

Those attending NewPointe Community Church have been invited to be a part of the 28 day fast leading up to Easter Sunday. If you click on the NPCC link it will take you to the fasting and prayer guidelines. I hope you want to participate. I hope you want to grow and discover the plans that God has for your life.

Today I had been thinking about what I was going to give up for this fast. Although I'm fasting every Monday I wanted to be able to also make another sacrifice. It was really too late to give up any particular food. We had just returned from my grandson Joshua's birthday party and well ... what can I say Josh did real good in picking his birthday meal.

Upon arriving at home I really wanted to take some time and play Dr. Mario with Len. I thought out loud "Hey, that's what I can give up...Dr. Mario." My son-in-law, Aaron, had just come into the house and heard me mention that and said "Well, why don't you give up FaceBook." He no sooner said it then I was like in my mind "NO" ... "Ugghh, I don't want to be away from FaceBook for 28 days!" I said I'd have to think about that...but immediately, I knew by that internal response that would be the best sacrifice I could make. Aaron's pretty perceptive and he hit the nail right on the head.

Drat, you Aaron !! Your timing of coming in the house - too perfect. :-)

So, fb, I'll see you in 28 days. I'm going to take the fb application off my BB Storm and file it away. Remove the temptation. I'll still be on Yahoo if you want to check in with me.

I am looking forward to surrendering and yielding my life so I experience life change.
We all need it.

What are you giving up in preparation to be refreshed, renewed....changed ?

Silencing Enemies through decision

From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger
Psalm 8:2 (niv)

When you think there's no hope, no place to go because the enemy is in hot pursuit and you feel like you're definitely losing ground or being overtaken...change your thinking. Perhaps you need a heart and spirit transformation.

You've heard the saying "If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten." Tony Robbins
OK - so it's up to you - your choice. Here's the rub if you don't implement this advice that's OK because that's what you want.

Remember, a real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken new action.
If there's no action, you haven't truly decided. Tony Robbins

Pray this prayer
With you on my side, You who hold the heavens in Your hands You who sustain the entire universe, I need not be afraid of my enemies, of those who wish to harm me, or of the evil one that dogs my steps. With praises to You on my lips and in my heart, my foes are vanquished. You are my great refuge, my rock of strength.

Waiting room stuff

Today I went to the hospital to pray with a friend and volunteer in The ReignForest who was going to have her retina reattached for the 2nd time in less than three months. She's an amazing young woman with a heart that loves God, a faith that will enable her to make it through this difficult time. After praying with her I sat with her husband in the surgical waiting room. We had been sitting there an hour when Jason got the call that they were starting the surgery. It's going to be a while. We spoke of politics, religion and family life over the next couple of hours. We discussed how kids today- well most everyone wants service or stuff - right now. They don't want to wait. We need answers now, plans now, toys now, food now, better bodies now and relationships in 10 minutes or less. Genuine relationships take time to nurture and grow. You can get a lot of things by driving up to a window...but relationships - well they're not on take-out menus or at drive-up windows.

I learned alot about Jason that I didn't know. He is a deep thinker, a sensitive yet strong and protective step-dad, a loving new Father, an admiring husband and a follower of Jesus Christ. Sometimes we want a quick relationship with God but God wants so much more. He is a quality creator. Jason is a bright intelligent thinker with strong moral fiber and a heart that recognizes where his blessings come from. Lately, the rainstorm of problems has been coming in sheets and not letting up.

When the doctor came and discussed the outcome of the surgery with Jason, the doctor mentioned that he had to go all out and risk it all to make the best possible situation out of a very difficult one. I was impressed by Jason's questions to the doctor and the confidence he had in this doctor. When Jason asked if there was anything he could do to make the scarring less for Theresa. The doctor amazed us with "You need to pray". Pray that there will be minimal scarring.

In a book I handed to Jason to read you will find 4 certainties that children of God can count on:
1) God will make you well 2) God hurts when you hurt 3) God knows why you're suffering 4) God is in control (pg. 6)

Thanks Jason for the great conversation and allowing me to share time with you "waiting".
Thank you God for the awesome outcome of Theresa's surgery and for reminding us what the waiting and the rain is all about.

Lifehouse Everything Skit

When I watched this I held my breath and my heart raced. I found myself crying for those that really struggle against the things of this world. Yes, I could relate to the times I struggled like this fighting my way back to the one true love of my soul.

God remind me to intercede in prayer for those that are struggling to find their way to the truth?
Remind me to cheer for those struggling in their fight to find their way back to Christ?
Amen.

Acceleration

Acceleration is a transitive verb with one meaning of a: to enable (a student) to complete a course in less than usual time b: to speed up (as a course of study). Well that's the journey I thought I was on until a month ago. I had been doing this spiritual journey book by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson. It's the second time I've read the book. I had been sharing in huddletime in The ReignForest that I've been stuck on the last three days but actually it was Day 26 of the book entitled "Keep Yourself from Idols". Whatever takes our hearts from him, or shares it with him, is an idol. There are three species of idolatry: 1)desire of the flesh - refers to all the outward senses; 2)desire of the eye - gratified by such objects as either grand or beautiful or uncommon and 3)"the pride of life" - seeking happiness in the praise of men or "taking care of our reputation". While trying to find the idols in my life I prayed the prayer "God remove anything from my life that takes me from knowing you more intimately, if it is pride remove it or rout it out." Ahh...dangerous prayer - almost as dangerous as praying for patience. So the past ~30 days I had been doing soul searching about idols in my life.

Speed up to this past week-end. I had a lesson..uhm "a God moment" in my flower garden. I was trying to remove a little wild tree/shrub thingie that was developing in my garden. I wanted to chop it out. I went to the shed to get the ax but couldn't find one but found an ax pick instead. Well, that'll do. There I am wielding this big thing swinging the pick into the ground to get to the bottom of this stubborn root. As I swing and strike deeper into the ground I'm saying to myself "Man this thing is deep-just how deep do I have to go?" and suddenly there was the picture before me and the softness of a familiar inner voice "Your pride is just like that root and that's why your stuck and you're experiencing so much pain lately." gulp... God moments don't always make you stop in your tracks and lights go on well at least this one wasn't like that. It seemed like this one kept low and started grower brighter and clearer until - the lights are fully on.

Here's the reality...I had cried for something to be revealed, my sinfulness, disobedience, guiltiness so that I could be discovered and be made known more to myself than to God. He knew what the problem was all along. Sometimes I don't know what the problem is because I don't want to or don't want to face the reality of myself.

Here's the results...once God showed me what it was, I repented of it and received a spiritual breakthrough.

Here's some hope...you know that root I dug out. The deeper the pick went the root got smaller and then relief I yanked it out. By tending my flower garden more closely I'm going to be checking for any wildshoots before they take deep root. In my life, it means staying close-intimately close to God my Father, Jesus my Lord and Savior and being sensitve to the Holy Spirit so that the revealing of self (weeding) is less painful.

While this was not an easy breakthrough Dr. Bruce says the insights that I learn from pain will endure. I'm finding that the cost of daily discipleship has some benefits...one is to encourage imitation of Christ and allow me to act in ways that are centered in God's will.

May the hand of God be upon you as you seek His face to receive His peace.

Sessions in the prayer closet

The lessons continue in the prayer closet. It's bitter sweet at times. To be honest there are days I don't want to go into the closet because God is faithful in answering my desire of learning and living a disciplined life.

Discipline is found in many commands from the Bible to believe, obey, walk, present, fight, reckon, hold fast, pursue, draw near, and love.

I continue to find the strength of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit at work to accomplish needed change in my life through sessions in the closet.

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." Galations 5:25 NASB

This is a choice I make daily towards spiritual maturity. To actively have my mind and emotions guided and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

Pursuing God

I've been blogging about going deeper with God through my journey and my prayer life. This week it is striking me like a brick against my head as I study the Hebrew name of God "Yahweh Yireh" which means "the Lord will provide" that God is the one who is pursuing me.
Have you thought about it ? You think your seeking God but He's always the one seeking you out first. You have a choice everyday to make. Give back to Him what He's giving you or... not. The not is a dead-end, dried-up existence that is futile. Not a good choice but one, if I'm honest, that I find I make too often.
Could it be that my pride and selfishness gets the better of me? Most likely. I think I blame it on the busyness of life and other various reasons, but the bottom line rests within me. Sin...don't candy coat it...call it what it is. That way as the Holy Spirit brings it to your attention you can confess it and surrender it. Hey, for me, it feels like an ongoing project. How about you?

Reflect on: Genesis 22:9-12
Praise God: He is highly exalted, glorious beyond our understanding
Offer Thanks: That God is pursuing a relationship with you
Confess: Your tendency not to face the difficult things that God wants you to face.
Ask God: For the grace to make the necessary sacrifice

Great book: Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler

I'm so thankful God is pursuing me. I've heard....that He's after you too.

Where My Heart IS...

Many people who know me know that I have a heart for missions. I think I always had an interest but something drastically changed last year when I came back for Cairo, Egypt.

David Bolt, Director of Bring Me Hope, stopped in at our Allstaff meeting to share his vision of the orphange camp program he runs in China. WOW - this young man is passionate and is going after a heart for God and so is his apprentice and friend Andrew.

Anyway, David was sharing how difficult ministry can be with Miriam and I. We both understood what he was saying because we personally experience it. It's the hardest job we've ever taken on. Often people have a different picture of what working for the church or a ministry organization looks like than it really is.

I wanted to encourage David and said perhaps someday I could come and work beside him in building bridges of friendships and care for orphans and translators. I asked him when his deadline for this year's trip was and he said April 15th. Too bad, he added something like if I wanted to come and join them they would extend the deadline to me. Well I told him I'd pray about it. So I did (closet) and a couple of days later I asked Lynn Allison to pray about going with me.

Then I told my husband, Len, what I was praying about. After a brief conversation about ...all money being God's money, he said "Have you left yet?" (He's a very funny man, ha, ha funny. A good hearted person - ask the people that traveled with us to Biloxi in October, 2005.)

So thus began my mission trip to China. It's on an accelerated pace of God bringing along just the right team together, as only He can do. So now a couple - weeks later, there's Carol Miller, Gaila Gartrell and Gwen Hamsher going. 100% committed to saying Yes to the journey God is taking us on.

Today I knew God was up to something when my friend and previous co-worker Lish Kandel came to say Hi to me and brought me up-to-speed on her life. As she was telling me about her new job it burned in my heart you need to ask Lish to go to China, my mind is having this conversation with my heart (this takes "seconds") "are you crazy, didn't you hear her, she just started a new job!" Just as my conversation, in my head, finishes- I hear her say "I'd really like to go to China." WHAT! That's awesome! I share with her what just went on in my spirit (heart/body/mind) and I respond enthusiastically Of Course! Ask your employer and see where this leads you....

I LOVE IT when people risk it and say YES to God.
We're now at possibly 6 women going to Beijing, China, July 19th - 29th or 30th This is big. Our God is bigger, we're pushing the borders of where He wants to take us.

This week-end the team of 7 who went last year to the camp are going to meet with us and we're doing a Nightwalk to sponsor and pray for this year's trip. Will you sponsor a child? It's $25.00 Contact me if your interested. You may not be able to go, but you can sponsor BMH orphans or the team.

You see, since last year, the boundaries are limitless for me, the risks are worth it all - whatever, job, comfort, cost...whatever!! Please, please, please allow God to take you out of your comfort zone and see what God has in store for you.
You might find your world rocked because of His LOVE for you and through you.
Caution: It's life-changing.

A twist on prayer and laughter

Last week my friend who will remain nameless - NOT ...Lynn A. went into her prayer closet with her little dog Autumn. She and I had been talking the day before and I had shared with her how I have this routine in the morning for prayer "1. 2. Do It". I get up, go to the bathroom, brush my teeth and get in my prayer closet. I did this at the prompting of my prayer prophet (see earlier posting). She related easily to the distractions that kept me from prayer time. Lynn felt that she might try this routine also.

So Lynn is in the closet with Autumn and realizes, the dog is a distraction and turns the door knob to let her out and it just turns in her hand. She jumps up in the closet and says "Oh God NO!" (Did God really have anything to do with this ?)

Long story short, she finally gets free of the closet and I'm 3rd on her to-do list: 1) Let the dog out 2) Call her work and let them know and ... our conversation took place something like this (a condensed version):
L: Faye, I was in my prayer closet today.
F: Lynn, that's great !
L: Faye I was in there for 4 1/2 hours.
F: WOW Lynn, that is really great - you get the prize.
L: NO Faye, I was locked in my closet and couldn't get out.
F: Lynn, do you want me to come and let you out?
L: Faye, if I had my cell phone on me I would've called you to get me out of the closet sooner.

I'm telling you Lynn and I were laughing so hard we were crying. I was on my knees in my cubicle and I'm sure I was disturbing my neighbor Jessica but I couldn't help laughing so hard. Not only at Lynn as she told me detail by detail of her thoughts and the creative way she escaped. We also laughed at my "blonde" response ( duh !). We weren't sure what this lesson was but we were both sure there was a lesson in this.

Later the next day I thought...Mmmm..., perhaps Lynn would share this story in huddle on Sunday morning in The ReignForest. You see last Sunday I challenged the even months serving team to pray a minimum of 5 minutes each day and this months team was fresh on rotation duty. Well Lynn said yes, she would share. (GOD BLESS HER !!)

Anyone who knows Lynn knows that she can be very animated. Well she came and shared her story and what a "hoot" and a hit it was. Many volunteers laughed until they cried and some came to hear the story twice.

Thanks Lynn for coming out of the closet. Maybe your story will remind the of the laughter enjoyed on Sunday and they will remember to participate in the prayer challenge.

Hey could be that they will find 5 minutes turns into 10 minutes which turns into 20 minutes and before you know it - their prayer life is changed.

Remember God created both prayer and laughter... He's Good.

"The mind ... a fire to be kindled."

We have huddletime each Sunday in The ReignForest before letting families that we serve into our environment. Yesterday I shared a devotional about two men who were walking the Road to Emmaus. (Luke 24)

In Acts 17, Paul went to Mars Hill to declare the truth of the resurrection. The listeners gathered there were not spiritual seekers but spent their days simply wanting to discuss the latest ideas. They had little interest in acting on anything they learned (v.21).

Can too much information be that dangerous? Often an overwhelming amount of ideas can blur together and leave you more confused. There is even risk that information overload rather than helping you can leave you unchanged.

Living life purely on an informational level is dangerous. The historian Plutarch warned several centuries ago of the pitfalls of living on a purely informational level.
He said, “The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.”

As we read the story of two Christ-followers on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24, we find they are grieved at the death of their friend Jesus. Jesus joined them on the road but kept his identity hidden from them. As they walked along the road He began to instruct them on the ancient prophecies of events found throughout the Old Testament. As he prepared to journey on at the end of the day He revealed Himself to them through a blessing of the food and then left them. They realized suddenly that it had been Jesus Christ, their friend, who had been with them. The things He taught were not the latest topics of the day or facts that had no significance but were things that set a fire within them and kindled their hearts and filled them with devotion for Him.

Here's the challenge: today will you trust your hearts to be kindled through His Word...through 5 minutes of prayer time each day of the week ?
Why not start today - "Just Do It" - you'll be glad you did.

A - Adoration
C - Confession
T - Thanksgiving
S - Supplication

Turn your cup over.

I really enjoy our Family Life Staff meetings. (There was a time they were alright but somewhat frustrating because they felt superficial.) Now I look forward to hearing what Kevin, Director of Family Life at NewPointe, has to share with our team. The man cares about his relationship with Christ and takes it to heart what his role as a leader means. So much so that he spends a lot of time reading (A LOT) so that he has something to pour into us. He reminds us that "you can't give what you don't have". So that means I do more reading than I've ever done before in my life. I take it to heart that I need to seek God and strive to have a growing intimate relationship with Him. You see, it's not my husband's responsibility to grow me spiritually, or Kevin's, it's not Dwight's (our Lead Pastor at NewPointe) to be responsible for my spiritual development although they may be participants in it. Bottom line, it's my responsibility to develop an intimate relationship with God. The cup needs to be up and ready during reading of His Word, prayer time, at Family Life meetings, listening to Dwight speak, reading books, listening to a volunteer's story, through a conversation with a staff member or perhaps even with someone I meet at Wal-Mart. This is something I need to work on ...making sure my cup is turned over, ready to receive what God may be wanting to pour into me from someone else.