Highway of Holiness

The Highway of holiness, it is told
Is great and mighty, yet a less traveled road.
Those who frequent this special sod
Are the ransomed, not fools who reject Holy God.
Those evil minded never find the way
It’s for those who follow God and obey.
The dangerous and ferocious beasts who once thronged
Are gone and the redeemed sing a joyful song.
Crowned with everlasting joy
Their sorrow and mourning has been deployed.
And the land that was once deplete from fresh springs
Will once again bloom with all living things .
The Lord will display His splendor and glory
Oh praise our dear God, what a glorious story!

~Gail Harlin~
Dec. 2010
Inspired by God Is. Chpt.35

Quote

[Christians], at their best, know that often they don't know.They do not have all the answers. They do not have God in their pocket. We cannot answer every question that any bright boy in the back row might ask. We have only light enough to walk by. -- Howard A. Johnson

Proverbs 31 Ministry

“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” James 1:21 (NIV)

Ever have a reoccurring bad attitude drain the life right out of you? It can cause your spirits to wither and your joy to die, leaving you limp and lifeless like a water-deprived plant.

I was feeling that way recently when I remembered something my husband’s mom had taught me. She is famous for growing wonderful herbs and colorful perennials. In fact, her garden boasts an array of color from the first hint of spring until late fall.

One day I asked her to share her green-thumb secret. She explained that the secret to helping plants thrive is called “dead-heading.” Here is how it is done: As soon as any beautiful blooms begin to whither, fade, or turn brown, they must be removed.

I’ve discovered it is a tedious, never-ending task. Just when I think I have removed every dried up blossom, the next day a dozen more appear. But if I want my flowers to keep blossoming, I have to dead-head daily because the deceased blooms sap nutrition and strength from the core of the plant. They rob the flowers of energy that could be used for new growth.

However, if the dead and debilitating weight is properly plucked, the stems will give gorgeous petals throughout the entire life of the plant.

As I pluck my dead flower heads, I am reminded of my life with Christ. There are places in my heart, thoughts in my mind, and actions in my will that stem from bad attitudes. And they are nothing but dead weight to my spiritual life.

Often these deep-rooted thought patterns and their companions — doubt, fear, wrong choices, old habits, nursed grudges, or current conflicts — threaten to choke our growth and prevent us from displaying the splendor God intends for us to show.

We start our day hopeful yet give in to the hurtful. Our self-doubts or judgments of others often take root in negative thoughts and counterproductive actions that not only have the potential to ruin our day, but also affect those around us. However, if we are intentional in nipping these at their first appearance, we will be more likely to experience new growth in our walk with Christ and health in our relationships.

Today’s verse from James tells us to get rid of such issues and instead to humbly plant God’s word deep in our hearts. So, instead of dwelling on a temptation in our thoughts and allowing it to morph into sin, we quietly focus our hearts on a truth from scripture such as “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 5:14)

Dwelling on scripture empowers, rather than drains us. It is spiritual dead-heading at its finest. This switch in our thought pattern can save us from wrong choices, unhealthy relationships and self-inflicted heartbreak.

Could your heart use a dead-heading session? Are there faded blooms you have been carrying around that are sapping your spiritual energy and strength, causing heartache and tears? Get rid of the bad. Plant God’s good Word in that spot instead. Then stand back — patiently now — and watch beautiful blooms begin to appear.

Dear Lord, I admit to You the faded flowers of my heart that I have been carrying around for much too long. Grant me courage to pluck them for good. Replace them with Your word planted seriously in my soul in an intentional manner. Let me drink deep of your bottomless nourishment so that the blooms You choose to grow and display in my life might point others to the Savior. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Scripture

“What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light and what is whispered in your ear, proclaim to the housetops.” Matthew 10:27 NET

Radical Together

Radical .. is it a noun, adjective, or verb in your life? Would people say you are a radical for Jesus? Would they describe your life as being lived in a radical way for Christ? Are you being radical in your obedience to God's Word?

As we begin the first chapter of Radical Together on Tuesday night these and many more questions come to mind. Over the next 6 weeks I hope our small Connect Group can come up with some answers for ourselves and perhaps for our church.

Here are two quotes from the first chapter. Perhaps they will challenge you to think like a radical!

Let me ask: Are you there personally? Is your church? Specifically, is your community of faith willing to put everything down before God and say, “We will do whatever you want, we will drop whatever you command, we will eliminate whatever is not best, and we will add whatever is necessary in order to make your glory known in the world around us, no matter what it costs us”?

I simply and humbly want to ask the question,“Amid all the good things we are doing and planning, are there better ways to align with God’s Word, mobilize God’s people, and marshal God’s resources for God’s glory in a world where millions of people are starving and more than a billion have never even heard of Jesus?”

Are you and I personally willing to put everything in our lives on the table for Christ to determine what needs to stay and what needs to go? Are you and I willing to say, “Lord, we don’t want to settle for good things as your people. We want only your best”?

When we take this step of surrender and obedience together,we will find ourselves becoming part of a movement of God’s people who are accomplishing God’s purpose.

Quote

"Love is the key. Joy is love singing. Peace is love resting. Patience is love enduring. Kindness is love's truth. Goodness is love's character. Faithfulness is love's habit. Gentleness is love's self-forgetfulness. Self-control is being the reins" — Donald G. Barnhouse

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galations 5:22-23

Dear Abba

D is for dear one, who dries all my tears. ( Rev.1:17)
A is for my Father, whose love cast out all fear. ( I John 4:18)
D is for devoted, you pour Your love on me. ( Romans 5:5)
D is for dependable, you died upon a tree. (Romans 3:15)
Y is for the yearning as my heart cries out for you. ( Galatians 4:4)

Daddy, your love is faithful and all your words are true. (John 17:17)

Serving Others

Four years ago as I began to lead the Women's Ministry I looked for a foundation verse. What was God calling this ministry to do? The verse I was drawn to was 1 Peter 4:10. You will now find it listed on our brochures, fax cover sheet, and other printed materials. Serving others is what we are called to do. I told someone on Monday night that we are here to help women grow - not to grow the Women's Ministry. I believe that with all my heart. The following devotional was written by LeAnn Rice. I hope you enjoy it and that you learn to live 1 Peter 4:10.

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

Five years ago I took a spiritual gifts test and failed! Well, in my mind, I failed.

I had high hopes that the test would confirm that I have the spiritual gift of wisdom, discernment, evangelism or mercy. You know…a good, useful gift. A change-the-world kind of gift. I was crushed to discover that I do not possess any of what I perceived as “good” gifts.

Since I was sure I knew myself better than this silly test, I took it again. I ended up taking the spiritual gifts test five times! Sadly, each one confirmed that I was stuck with the frivolous gift of hospitality. Seriously? I wanted to be a wise sage and soul-winning evangelist, not a hostess!

Shortly after my testing marathon I read today’s key verse. Reading it a second time, my eyes lingered over the words “whatever gift.” It doesn’t say, “Only those with the gift of leadership or evangelism go and serve.” As I pondered this verse I realized that as a body of Christians we could not accomplish nearly as much if we all had the same gifts. I embraced my gift of hospitality and God showed me He could use my ability to create a fancy meal or decorate a beautiful table to make others feel special. I can administer God’s grace through what I thought was fluff!

What gift(s) has God given you? If you haven’t yet determined your spiritual gift(s), spend some time thinking about what you do well, what hidden talent you may have, and what you have a passion for. Ask your friends what they think your talents are.

Then ask God how you can use these gifts to share His grace with others. If you are a musician, consider playing at a local retirement center or soup kitchen. If you love to scrapbook, consider organizing memories for someone who is unable to do so. If you have great computer skills, consider helping women at a shelter put together resumes or teach computer skills to help them secure a job.

I have learned that my “frivolous” gift of hospitality is not so frivolous after all. Extending hospitality, simple or extravagant, is a tangible way to share God’s love and His grace with family, friends, co-workers, and strangers. My prayer is that every day God will provide me with new opportunities to use the gifts He has bestowed upon me for His kingdom and for His glory.

Let Your Light Shine

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”Matthew 5:16

Several years ago, I was sitting with some friends discussing all kinds of issues. It was one of those late night sessions where we were talking about anything and everything.

So the subject of Christianity came up and they asked the question, “What is a Christian?” And as we began to bat around the idea a bit, one after another gave her opinion on what a Christian is. After a few hours of not really getting anywhere, one woman stopped the conversation dead when she said, “A Christian is Brenda Driggers.” Now, Brenda was a friend who was known for her kindness and willingness to go the extra mile for others because of her faith in Christ.

I wonder how that conversation would go if your friends were having a discussion over coffee and asked, “What is a Christian?” Would anybody mention your name? Are you so identified with Jesus Christ that people know who you are and what you believe?

Being a Christian is more than just lip service. It’s living your life in such a way that others see a difference in you. So as you go throughout your life, let others see God’s grace and love in you!

20 Minutes a Day

I only borrow from the best and this comes from Debbie Stuart, Director of Women's Ministry at Prestonwood Baptist Church. During a recent women's conference she challenged everyone to give God 20 minutes a day:

This challenge asks you to spend 20 minutes a day with the Lord for the rest of your life. Time is spent in Bible study/reading, prayer journaling, and meditating or memorizing Scripture.

You can begin by reading one chapter in Proverbs and five psalms every day. (Since Proverbs has 31 chapters, it’s easy to read the chapter that corresponds with the day of the month. For instance, if today is the first day of the month, read Proverbs 1, and so on. For months with 30 days, be sure to include Proverbs 31 on day 30.) Reading in this manner will take you through Psalms and Proverbs every month.

There is only one way to know God and receive revelation from Him, and that is to spend time with Him. He speaks through His Word … and it will change your life!

Other ideas for your 20 minutes include:

Read: a chapter of the Bible every day.

Word Search: Find verses that “speak to” a particular issue you are facing or want to know more about such as forgiveness, resentment, grieving, spiritual growth, fasting, character, leadership, faithfulness, etc.

People Study: Look up people you don’t know much about and list the things they did that you should do, or things that had a positive impact, or if they left a great legacy, or list the things they did that were not right that you should guard against. Every life has valuable lessons.

Keep a journal and write out your prayers. Pray those requests as you write them down. It will change your prayer time.

Memorize one verse from every book in the Bible. As you call each book by name, you will be able to quote the Scripture.

Music: Sing songs of praise; write Scriptures on spiral index cards (in different colors).
Write verses in a journal so you can refer to them later.... It’s amazing how God reminds of the same verses over and over.

Read daily devotions by Jack Graham, David Jeremiah, Greg Laurie, Adrian Rogers or Charles Stanley. Scriptures and study suggestions are given and will help point you to the Word of God.

Quote

"Many has sought for close communion with God and not found it because they would have the Head of the Body without the members of the Body!" - Alan Taylor

Lead Me

I was listening to the song Lead Me by Sanctus Real which is about a husband asking God to help him lead his family. It had never occurred to me before that this song is about godly leadership no matter what your life circumstance might be.

Read these lyrics:

So Father, give me the strength to be everything I'm called to be
Oh Father, show me the way to lead them
Won't You lead me?

How many times have you said those same words in relation to leading others? I began to think about the rest of the lyrics.

To lead them with strong hands
To stand up when they can't
Don't want to leave them hungry for love
Chasing things that I could give up

Is this not what we are called to do as shepherds of the people around us? Do we not give up things we want for ourselves so we can be there to stand up for others and to love them?

I'll show them I'm willing to fight
And give them the best of my life

I don’t always succeed at this – giving others the best of my life, but I try to put others before myself. It is a struggle sometimes to put the desires of the flesh down and to pick up the weight of the cross, but that is what we are called to do. Which is why the last line of the song says,

Lead me 'cause I can't do this alone

Thank you Father for leading me so that I might be able to lead them.

For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me." Psalm 31:3

What You Do When You Wake Up

Mattie is my profound thinker. Her ability to ever so innocently insert deeper meanings into simplicity never ceases to amaze me. Her mind usually works more like her daddy’s in its ability to think abstractly, and this often leaves me in giggling amazement.

Our conversation today (out of NOWHERE):
Mattie: “Mommy, how do you fall in love?”
Me: L-o-n-g p-a-u-s-e… I shake my head for a moment. “Mattie,” I sigh… …Still searching for the words to explain such a concept to a 5 year old… “Well… You meet someone, and you become friends, and you start to like them, and you get to know them really good, and you spend lots of time together, and then after a long time you might fall in love with them and get married!” Simple enough for a 5 year old, but complex enough that she feels that she has received an adequate answer, I am hoping…

Mattie: “So, what do you do when you wake up?!”
I am taken aback by the statement, funny as it is, how true is it?! Where it came from I have no clue. My mind races back and forth between the irony of the statement and where she came up with the idea that you are a sleep when you fall in love from my answer…

My response was “You are usually awake when you fall in love…” And the response worked. But as I got ready for bed my mind went back to our innocent conversation. Hind sight is always 20/20. And this fact usually leaves me frustrated. *Hold that thought* So given the chance to re-respond, and given the opportunity to be having this conversation with her another twelve years from now, I would have said something like this…

“You wake up. And he’ll wake up too. And there will be days where you both think ‘what have I done?’ But you stick it out, cause that’s what you vowed to God and each other to do. And the promise for happiness wasn’t anywhere in those vows. It was ‘for better or worse,’ and worse will come. And it will go too. And happiness will do the same. Luckily, although we call it “falling” in love, it’s really not falling at all.

Love is a choice- it’s not a feeling. It’s not the warm fuzzys that make you smile every time you think about him. It’s an action that you chose to do. If someone says that they “fell out of love,” don’t be fooled into thinking it “just happened,” they made the decision that it was too much work to continue to love the imperfect person they chose and are now through. But let me tell you, the best years of your life will be the ones where you learn to stop focusing on yourself. This life is not about ‘me,’ despite what our culture leads us to believe. We are part of something greater, and God cares far more about our character than our comfort. And if one thing is for sure, He will allow you to go through uncomfortable times. But it’s to build you and grow you both as individuals and together as a couple. If you never knew pain, you would never know to pray for comfort, if you never knew hard times, you would never know to pray for provision. So when you wake up, you pray. You stick it out, because you said that you would. And excuses aren’t acceptable. You fell in love with an imperfect person, and they did the same. Hurt will come. Heartaches happen. Hard times are a part of life. But you cling to each other and God. You don’t run from issues or problems. You face them head on together. You are a team, and divorce really is a 4-letter word. Whatever you do, don’t look to society for advice or approval. They don’t have the same standards that we are held too. And I say this not at all because I am perfect, but because I know from experience. Things that are good are worth fighting for, and you just may have to do that at some point. So, just know baby girl, when you wake up God has your path ready for you with all the grace and provision you will need, and we will always have your back and will be behind you every step of your journey.”

So back to my *hold that thought* moment… Hind sight is always 20/20, but I was actually allowed to get this 20/20 vision a few years early. For now my explanation of falling in love worked for my child who still believes in fairy tales, but when we revisit this topic later in her life, I’ll be slightly more prepared with what to tell her about what to do when you “wake up” after falling in love.

- By Mikki Smith

Radical Together

In providing full disclosure I need to say I am leading a Connect Group that will be discussing the book Radical Together by David Platt.

In doing some background research for the study I came across this video and wanted to share it with you. If you are impacted by the message as I was I invite you to join us on Tuesday nights to discuss how we can become a radical community for Christ.