THE WEEKLY GRIND

I enJOY my java!!! I love the aroma as it wafts through the air. Many wonderful memories have been made in it's company ... books were read, the warmth of glowing fires were enjoyed and laughter or deep conversation were savored. So let's enjoy the journey over a cup!!

FULL BODIED: Recap of the morning worship service.

BOLD: Random acts of kindness.

SKINNY: My journey towards physical wholeness.

THE PRESS: Building my vocabulary.

BREVE: A "short" devotional.

BARISTA: Serving up new healthy recipes.

THANKS A LATTE: Preparing my heart for Sunday worship.

A GIFT WRAPPED UP IN PERFECTION

Today my blog was supposed to be the next installment of my series on the Word of God- stop FOUR: How the Word of God Encourages Us. I had full intentions of posting according to the plan but something this morning took me on a detour. I hope you will allow me the editorial right to switch things up for the day. I will post stop FOUR tomorrow.

This morning shouldn’t have taken me by surprise considering what today’s topic was. We serve a God that loves to give us gifts wrapped up in perfection!! He knows what we need and when we need it!!

I recently switched my email address and so I haven’t re-subscribed to some of the daily devotionals that I have automatically delivered. At this time I only have one that makes it to my in box. SO today when I was feeling discouraged about our relocating to another state, was feeling alone, frustrated and angry that things haven’t gone according to plan and just wanted to curl up in a blanket and let the day pass by … God broke through!!

The devotional started with a prayer. The parentheses were my thoughts. “Dear God, Thank you for new beginnings. (Okay God you are not funny) Change is not always easy. (Amen to that) I am so glad that you offer us opportunities to change for the better. (I can agree with changing for the better but why this) I trust you because you know the future and you want what is best for us. (Alright God I will check my attitude… I will trust that this is what is best) May we always do your will and walk in your way. I know you will bless us and you will be glorified when we do. (I am listening) In Jesus' name I offer my thanksgiving and praise to you. Amen. (Amen)

Once I had surrendered my attitude to God I was able to be fed by what followed and it completely lifted me from the quagmire of my pity party. The verse of the day was "...Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah ..." (1 Samuel 22:5).

“David and his fighting men had been hiding in the cave of Adullam. He was fleeing Saul. Many of life's down-and-out had come and joined David's army. David was content to stay in the stronghold of safety. Then, God's prophet came to David and told him that he must leave the stronghold and go into the land of Judah. Judah means ‘praise’."

There are times in our lives that can be dark. We find our selves held up in a cave of discouragement. We can become content in staying in our stronghold … it becomes our place of safety. But God wants us to get out of our cave. He wants us to go into the “land of Praise” for there are people waiting for us.

“God is preparing each of us to be the vessel He wants to use in the life of another person, but we will never be that vessel if we give up and hide in our cave of discouragement. Not only must we keep moving we must move into a new realm. Our attitude must move from discouragement to praise.”

I don’t want to miss ANYTHING that God has for me!! IF … "He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.” IF … “He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD's favor has come and that he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair.” I want to be faithful and be planted like a strong and graceful oak for his glory. (Isa 61:1-3).

Now I know that if you have followed my blogs you know that I have shared before about giving God praise when we are in our low places and he will lift us out. This is one of those truths that I need to revisit from time to time. I am thankful for a patient God!!

Has today been perfect? NO. Has it been without its share of stress? NO. But I can hold on to the fact that God knows where I am at! He knows where to find me! He knows what I need! Today he proved himself faithful again!

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THE WORD HELPS US SEE WHO WE REALLY ARE - Stop THREE

Mirror, mirror on the wall … who’s the fairest of them all!!

I dare say from the first time that man/woman saw their own reflection in the still of the waters they have been intrigued with who was looking back at them. Over the centuries that intrigue has moved from the reflective properties of water to the creation of mirrors and now the instant gratification of digital photography. All it takes is looking at any young persons Face Book page and you will see a myriad of self portraits from the beautiful to the utterly ridiculous.

With the creation of digital photography came the ability to easily manipulate the image that was captured. Some purist photographers have not jumped on the band wagon of the digital age for they feel that manipulating the object after it has been captured isn’t a true representation of the original. It allows anyone to become a professional photographer without a true understanding of composition and light.

As a Christian we have been given a tool that has reflective properties. It is called the Bible, the Word of God. The amazing thing about the Word of God is that it doesn’t just give us a picture of who we are on the outside but reveals things about us in our inner man. It shows us an image that has not been manipulated. God’s Word is more advanced than any invention that man has ever created for it shows us what we are, what we can be and who we will be!! Now that’s just mind boggling!! (I think that is a whole study in and of it self … hmmm) In the here and now we will be looking at who we are.

As we study God’s Word it will begin to reflect our true selves. We will see our selves in God’s light. Heb 4:12, “For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are.” (NLT) As a mirror shows us our blemishes and imperfections, so God’s Word shows us our sin and what needs to be cleansed out of our hearts.

In James 1:23-25 it says: “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does.

James warns us that there is a danger in looking into the mirror of God’s Word, letting it show us what is wrong and then walking away and do nothing about it. If God reveals a weakness or sin and we don’t allow him to fully cleanse and cut it out we can go on with life and forget what it is that God wanted to do in us. We can live deceived believing that we are right with God. But if we look into his Word and allow it to do its convicting work … if we continually surrender our will to his will … we will experience freedom.

For each individual that freedom might have a different face to it but it will be reflected in how we love God and love others. It will be as if a veil has been removed from our faces and we can clearly see! “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.”

Father … Make Me OVER!! May we stand before the mirror of God’s Word until all that is not holy is removed and we are free to reflect his Glory to others.

On the next stop on our journey we will look at how the Word encourages us.

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IT CLEANSES US - Stop TWO

Christ sanctifies and cleanses us by the washing of water, but what sort of water? By the Word. The water which washes away sin, which cleanses and purifies the soul, is the Word.” Charles Spurgeon

Have

you ever seen the illustration of a dirty putrid glass of water having a pitcher of clean pure water poured into it to the point that the dirty water in the glass has been displaced and the water in the cup is now clean? I have always thought that it is an excellent picture of the cleansing power of the Word of God in our lives.

In EPHESIANS 5:26 we are told that we are “cleansed … by the washing of water with the WORD.”

In the Greek we find that the literal translation would be … “cleansing by the laver (loutron) of the water in the word.” The laver was the brazen bowl at which the Priests would cleanse themselves and the sacrifices to make them sanctified before presenting themselves and the sacrifices to God. God’s Word acts as a cleansing agent in our lives that helps bring about sanctification.

We see the same use of the word “Word” in John 15:3 when Jesus said, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” We are made clean by his words and if we believe that the Bible is inspired by God then we can assume that his WORD will cleanse us.

The world offers many things for us to us to fill our lives with. Not all things are bad but we need to be aware of what we are allowing in our lives. We need to know what it is that we

are ingesting. Are we filling our glass with pure refreshing cleansing water or are we drinking sludge?

How can we make it through this world without being drug down into the mire pit of sin? Psalms 119:9 asks and answers this question: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all of my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” It is through bathing ourselves in God’s Word that we can stand in purity … that we can be truly cleansed.

“The Bible serves as an instrument of Sanctification in three ways: 1) The Holy Spirit uses the Word to reveal our sinful condition (which we will be talking about next time) 2) The Holy Spirit uses the Word to cleanse us from our sinful habits and practices of sin. It is the Word that washes away our daily defilement. The blood of Christ cleanses us from the guilt of sin, and the Bible cleanses us from the habit of sin. The blood deals with guilt, the Bible with our daily pollution. But, as we travel through life we acquire the dirt of the world, for which we constantly need the cleansing of our minds by the Word of God through the Holy Spirit. This results in a progressive transformation into the likeness of Christ, by transforming our character. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to transform us into the ‘Image’ of Christ.” John H. Stoll, Th.M., Ph.D

Do you desire to experience true transformation? Do you want to have a form (outward semblance) of godliness (piety) but, denying (rather as Greek, "having denied," that is, renounced) it’s power (the living, regenerating, and sanctifying influence of it.)? Then let God’s WORD do its work!! Embrace it!! Drink it in!! Let it cleanse you from the inside out!!

I leave you with the following visual. In doing this study I believe its illustrative power has now come close to surpassing the illustration given at the beginning of this stop along our journey. God’s cleansing Word can become a purifying fire if we will thirst for righteousness and drink it in.

Let God baptize you with the water of his Word and may it consume all that is unclean! May your life be a beacon of holiness in a corrupt and dying world! In our next stop upon our journey we will be looking at how God’s Word helps us see ourselves as we really are.

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THE INSPIRATION OF GOD'S WORD - Stop ONE

The Bible is like a telescope. If a man looks through his telescope, then he sees the worlds beyond; but if he looks at his telescope, then he does not see anything but that. The Bible is a thing to be looked through, to see that which is beyond; but most people only look at it; and so they see only the dead letter. - Phillips Brooks

What a great word picture!! If we look at our world through the lens of the Word how would our actions change? Would the way we live out Truth be different than what we experience now? When we go deeper we see that the Word is a living, breathing guide to life. What it contains within its pages reaches beyond life and shatters death.

How can this be true of “just a piece” of literature? It is because the very premise of the Bible is that it is the story of God … inspired by God … given as a gift to man. Like God breathed the breath of life into man in the garden, he breathed his breathe of life into the Holy Scriptures.

2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is God-breathed…” (NIV)
“Every part of Scripture is God-breathed …” (MESS)

The Scriptures are "theopneustos" in the original Greek -- "breathed out by God"

I love that!! His Word … the Scriptures … are not dead and stagnant but Living!! Breathed OUT by God!! We have the privilege of having in our possession Words that the creator of the universe inspired into existence for us to live by. Do we cherish that privilege?

We also see in 2 Peter 1:20-21: “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (NIV)

Some have argued that this inspiration was true of the Old Testament Scriptures but that the New Testament was just mans account of their experience with Jesus and the ensuing spreading of the gospel. But we see in

John 14:26 Jesus says, "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. I believe Jesus was letting the apostles know that when it came to their future writings he would help them, through the Holy Spirit, to recall his Words and his teachings, so that others would be drawn unto him and know the Truth.

So this fully covers both the Old and New Testament Scriptures.

Once we whole-heartedly believe that the Bible … the Word of God … was divinely inspired we can fully embrace its teachings as Truth!!

Now that we have rested at this first stopping point let’s move forward on our journey. On our next stop we will be looking at: How the Word Cleanses Us.

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JOIN ME ON A HIKE

A few days ago I talked about being passionate about the Word of God and making its Truth’s come alive. I decided to take a hike into the Word to discover how God designed this trail map to impact our lives. In the next few days I will be sharing the results of my 'trek'.

Before I take you down the path that I journeyed let’s take a look at our itinerary...

Stop One: The inspiration of the Word.

Stop Two: How the Word cleanses us.

Stop Three: How the Word helps us see ourselves as we really are.

Stop Four: How the Word encourages us.

Stop Five: How it equips us to do good.

Stop Six: How it gives us faith.

Stop Seven: How it can help save us.

So join me on this journey as we seek to understand the IMPACT that the WORD can have on our lives if we will take the time to discover its

Truths!!

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BIBLE RUSH

I have made a decision that I am going to try and use my blog not just to write my thoughts that are on a deeper level but to create the discipline of writing. Although ... it seems as if any time I do start to write down the menial tasks of a day I find something in it. Who knows ... maybe something will come of it some day!!

Last night we spent some family time watching the incredible movie AUGUST RUSH! Phil and Jared had never seen it before and I thought that they might enjoy it. Jared wasn't prepared for how riveted he would be to it. He thought it was going to be boring and by the end of the movie he went from laying down to sitting on the edge of his seat.

I love stories like that!! Stories that pull you into them and move you to your core!!

There are stories like that all through God's Word if we will allow our imaginations take over and show us in vivid color the visual side of the story. Sometimes it can be as simple as having a true understanding of the cultural context of the story we are reading. I think sometimes it is easy to just read and not take in the full scope of the story and what that would look or feel like.

Maybe our lack of energy or excitement, when it comes to biblical literature, is because we think that we've heard the stories told so many times that we stop looking for new things. I know that there are some movies that seem to never grow old. You can watch them over and over and if they are made really well, it seems as if you can find fresh new insights.

I am asking God to help me find a new excitement in looking at the stories ... the Truths ... of the Word. I want to get on the edge of my seat in order to take in the whole scope of what I am experiencing. I want my eyes and heart opened in fresh new ways to then help make those stories come alive for other people. What if we could passionately share those truths with others ... in the same manner that you would explain some incredible cinematic experience.

Imagine your favorite movie with out the music score behind it. Would it evoke the same response from you? What is it about reading the Word that would equate to the music score?

Or .... what about trying to watch a movie and someone is trying to talk to you the whole time so you miss key points. What distractions do we have when trying to read the Word that keeps us from missing key points so it doesn't quite click for us?

These are just some thoughts that I've had. Didn't really intend to give any "answers" to the questions. I think for each person the answers could be different. What would your answers be?

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MY HOPE IS IN THE LORD

For those that put so much emotionally, physically, spiritually and financially into the political race the past few months ... no matter who you chose to support ... I emplore you to take a step back and reflect on the whole process. What lessons can we learn? I have learned that mans plans and ways of doing things cannot steal my HOPE!!

Do I have hope today … Yes I do
For my hope is not in a political system
My hope is not in a man
But my hope is in the Lord
The maker of the heavens and earth

Do I have hope today … Yes I do
For I saw in the faces of our young people a passion for change
Knowing my God the way that I do
I know that through prayer and the church truly being the Body of Christ
That the same passion I saw in the eyes of our next generation
Can be a passion that is unleashed to create change for Christ

Do I have hope today … Yes I do
For I saw a people that were bound by slavery and discrimination
Come forth and break the chains of years of oppression
Knowing my God the way that I do
I know that he came to break the oppressive chains of sin and death
And through that freedom anything is possible

Do I have hope today … Yes I do
For I saw that people of every color, age and gender
Can come together in unity for a cause that they believe in
Knowing my God the way that I do
I know that if we will but humble our hearts before him
He will bring down the walls that separate his children
And spread revival like a wild fire across our nation

Do I have hope today … Yes I do
Just like the gentiles grafting into the vine
Was meant to stir up a jealousy in the heart of God’s chosen people
Knowing my God the way that I do
He can use a political race to stir up a jealousy in his people
That social justice is not the responsibility of a political system but of the Church
For we are not just called to share God’s saving grace
But to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and take care of the widows and orphans

Do I have hope today … Yes I do
For my hope is not in a political system
My hope is not in a man
But my hope is in a God that can
Turn Passion into Promise
Turn Chains into Change
Turn Division into Devotion
And Jealousy into the Joy of bringing True transformation to the lives of every man, woman, boy and girl.

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MATTEA BLOWS ME AWAY

There have been many interactions with Mattea since she has begun to verbalize that have left me completely in awe of her ability to remember experiences. One such experience happened today. If you know Mattea she talks more gibberish than actual words but she is getting much better at expressing herself. This morning I happened to have on a morning talk show in which they were interviewing the Olympic Gold Medal swimming sensation Michael Phelps. Mattea had been playing in another room when the interview started and walked into the room mid-interview. She looked up at the screen and with great delight began to yell: "Michael, Michael! Swim!! Pool!! YEA!! YEA!!" Then proceeded to make body gestures as if she was jumping in a pool and putting her head in the water and back out.

What is completely amazing is that the last time she would have seen him swim would have been back in August during the Olympics. We excitedly cheered Michael on to each one of his gold medals. I would dare say it was the excitement of the moment and the repetition of the eight times of cheering for the same person that burnt that moment in her memory. What ever it was, that week of cheering made an impression.

It made me think! What is it about our walk with Christ that could make that kind of impression on our young children? When our children sit in church with us and experience worship what do they take from that? I believe that they understand far more than what we give them credit.

What in our culture do we cheer on? What do they see as our passions? What indelible imprint are we making on children's memories? Are they passions for the lost? Are they passions for the things of Christ? What in our lives will they want to imitate?

Just a thought!!

Oh ... FYI ... Mattea will just be turning 3 on 19th of November!!

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PRAYER AND RESPONSE

Let me breath yourbreathe of life.
Let me know your hope, your song.
Depth of feeling, depth of healing beyond the reach of mortal love.
Know me, search me, all knowing being.
Let me know that into me you are seeing.
Hold me in the darkest night, beyond the shadows of morning light.
Heart of God that beats for me, Encircle me within the realm of my reality.

My child breathe me in deep and long.
Listen to me sing your heart song.
Feel my touch to depths unknown.
My love for you will not be out shown.
I know you from the inside out.
I delight in you, there is no doubt.
Darkest night and shadow lands will not separate you from my loving hands.

My heart beats with yours, if you listen you’ll hear it.
My pulse races when I’m encircled with you.

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EMBRACING PEACE

Sometimes PEACE seems so illusive. A lack of PEACE can come from so many different sources; wrong choices, hurts, finances, relational turmoil, physical ailments, ... you name it ... you know what steals your PEACE.

I decided to go to God’s Word and see what it had to say about PEACE. I found several places where Joy was linked with PEACE. What comes first PEACE or Joy? Most of us would assume that we would have to experience PEACE in order to experience Joy. I came across the following passage that spoke to me in a whole new way.

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-94 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again-rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 If you do this, you will experience God's PEACE, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His PEACE will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of PEACE will be with you.

Imagine that!! We are to always be full of Joy in the Lord!! We are not to worry about anything. How many times have I laid awake at night worrying about life? How many hours have I wasted trying to figure things out instead of taking it immediately to God? I know at times that I have taken things to God, but then when done, take those things back upon myself.

Notice, verse 6 says “Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Tell him what you “need”, not want! Then we are to thank him for all he has done. We are promised if we do this we will experience God’s PEACE!! A PEACE that is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand!! What kind of PEACE can you imagine for yourself? God’s PEACE surpasses that. Through THANKSGIVING, his PEACE will guard your hearts and minds. It will keep you from “stinkin’ thinkin’”. I can think of numerous times that my life was in turmoil … PEACE was no where to be found … I humbled myself by letting go of my “right” to be in a low place and began to worship God with praise and thanksgiving. It wasn’t long and the heaviness began to lift. I began to feel joy and peace in my spirit. If this is God’s “formula” why do we find it so difficult to do?

Then the writer closes out by imploring us to think on things that are honorable, true, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praise worthy. Keeping our minds on these things will allow the God of PEACE to be with us. Wow … how often have I over analyzed things! How often do my thoughts stray away from the mind of Christ on those issues that steal my PEACE?

If you are in need of PEACE in your journey ... Let him fill you with his Joy … Cast your cares upon him … Shower him with thanksgiving … RECEIVE THE PEACE THAT ONLY HE CAN SUPPLY!!!

Today ... on this journey ... I embrace PEACE!!

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REFLECTIONS OF LOVE

Last night as we were driving through the streets of West Lafayette a song started playing that I had been contemplating for several days. The song is "Your Love Is Deep" by Joel Engle. It is very simplistic in its verbiage but yet speaks to the incredible depths of the love of Christ. The lines have penetrated my heart as did the traditional chorus "Jesus Loves Me" in my childhood years. Unlike "Jesus Loves Me", it's not so much a statement of His love, as it is an intimate proclamation of a heart that has been redeemed.

Your love is deep
Your love is high
Your love is long
Your love is wide

Your love is deeper than my view of grace
Higher than this worldly place
Longer than this road I've traveled
Wider than the gap You filled.

Who shall separate us
Who shall separate us from Your love
Nothing can separate us
Nothing can separate us from Your love

It is incredibly freeing when you come to the realization of His love. Imagine the most unpardonable sin and failing. His love is so deep that our human concept of grace cannot comprehend His ability to transform, restore and mend the sin sick soul. Imagine all the turmoil and strife that we experience here on the earth. His love extends higher than the muck and mire. It is something that we can look to when we can see nothing else. Imagine the road that you have traveled up to this point. At times it might have taken detours, been closed down, or seemed as if you were traveling it alone, but His love is ever before us leading us on. It is our hope on the journey. Imagine the deep chasm that separated us from God before Christ came and died on the cross. Imagine if you will the gap that was between you and God before you said "YES" to Him. His love filled that gap to overflowing. It made a way to touch the hem of his garment when it seemed there was no way. Take that picture of His love ... nothing can separate us from it??? I am convinced that:

Rom 8:37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Rom 8:38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Rom 8:39 Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

TODAY ... I praise HIM for HIS LOVE!!!

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GOD IS FAITHFUL

Yesterday we visited Maple Ridge Community Church here in West Lafayette. I was a little nervous knowing that the visit was because we were trying to find a church home. Upon walking in the doors of the church and into the sanctuary Phil recognized one of his crew members from Purdue. They immediately warmly welcomed us and invited us to sit with them. It was nice not having to try and find a place to "fit in" within all the chairs and people.

In place of the sermon they had a time of communion. The Associate Pastor shared some thoughts on church community and body life from Dietrich Bonhoeffers, "Life Together". I enjoyed the words and the heart behind the words. What a privilege it is to do life together as brothers and sisters in Christ. We are given time here on earth to bear one anothers burdens, to help eachother through our failings, to encourage and be iron sharpening iron.

He also shared that not only do we have the privelege of doing life together here on earth but that that fellowship will continue on into eternity. For those that have to move or leave a location it is not the end of fellowship but that fellowship will continue on ... it doesn't end.

All of his words were an encouragement ... especially with us just having moved to the area and leaving behind those that we had done life together with for 10 years. It was what I needed to hear that morning. God is faithful!

Please continue to pray that God leads us and guides us through this new adventure!! For those back in Branson ... know that I love and miss you!!! In His Unfailing Love - me

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CHURCH HURTS

SURELY, we must be in the "LAST DAYS"!! How can I proclaim such a statement so boldly? Just look around you my friend ... what do you see!?! What have you experienced from the "body" of Christ? We see the signs clearly if we but open our eyes and our hearts to the truth. One of the signs of His pending return: "Many will be offended ..." (Matt. 24:10) Not a few, not some, but many! These offended that God's Word is talking about are not those in the world but His own children. That's those that believe in Jesus Christ and call themselves "CHRISTIANS".

I had a friend share with me recently something that she read in a book on prayer. In the book they gave a definition on what it means to be dead to self. The basic premise is if you can be offended and hold on to that offense you have not died to self. A dead person can not be offended and surely a dead person has no means to hold on to an offense for years on end. If we are truly living a life of surrender to Christ can we take offense or hold an offense ... whether imaginary or real?

Later in Matthew chapter 24 it says that "...the love of many will grow cold". When we have taken offense we have a tendency to build walls around our hearts. These walls keep us from being able to love unconditionally with the "LOVE OF CHRIST". Proverbs 18:19 states: "A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle." Wow ... do you know of any "wall builders"? I know that I've built walls in the past ... walls that have had to come tumbling down.

In John Bevere's book, THE BAIT OF SATAN, he says: "We construct walls when we are hurt to safeguard our hearts and prevent any future wounds. We become selective, denying entry to all we fear will hurt us. We withhold access until these people have paid there debt in full. We open our lives only to those we believe are on our side. Yet often these people who are "on our side" are offended as well. So, instead of helping, we stack additional stones on our existing walls. Without our knowing when it happens, these walls of protection become a prison."

People that are offended have a tendency to be able to find other people who are offended. We can think in our warped sense of reality that "I've found a brother or sister who understands my hurt" but, instead we've found someone that helps us build the walls to our prison. We frenzy feed off of each others negative feelings and words to the point our bellies are full of bitterness and bile and we can't eat of the truths that God would have us devour that would bring healing and health. What have you filled your self with. Is your happiness found in the freedom of unconditional love or the chains of bitterness and un-forgiveness? How sad it is when you can actually see the "people of God" delight in sharing their offense. If you've been around people much you know exactly what I mean.

God's heart is for His children to be reconciled .... to be in fellowship one with the other. Can you think of someone that is a child of God that you would not allow within your walls? Isn't it time for the walls of un-forgiveness and bitterness to come down? Isn't it time for the "church" to be the "CHURCH" and not do things as the world would do them? We have bought into the philosophies of the world in how we handle our offenses. We have bought into lies that continue to breed division and strife. We have bought into the mode of self-preservation at all costs. While the church has been busy licking its own wounds the world has been going to hell.

It's time for God's children to dismantle their walls .... break free from their prisons and come forth in victory ... united against an enemy that has been laughing at the folly of our ways. I am not saying that the hurts you may have experienced aren't real ... I am saying that it is time to release them ... release yourself ... to live in the true freedom that Christ has for you.

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THE BALANCE

In my search for "BALANCE" between remembering the "PAST", living in the "NOW", and being propelled towards the "FUTURE", I regularly find myself in a struggle. I struggle to remember the lessons I've learned from the grace I've experienced? I struggle to live in the now of daily dying to my own wants and ways of doing things? I struggle with being propelled into the future at what seems like lightening speed? Any one of these 'tasks' could be overwhelming in and of themselves, but I find myself grappling with all three at one time. It can become exhausting.

In an attempt to escape the reality of life I watched a movie the other night called "Autumn Hearts: A New Beginning". In the movie the main character, played by Susan Sarandon, is a 50 year old medicated woman still dealing with the pain of being a camp survivor from 1940s France. Without spoiling the movie for you, there was a time at the camp where her "protector" played by Christopher Plummer, hands her a journal and asks her to write down all of the names and dates of the people that came through the camp, "because someone has to remember." The young girl took her assignment seriously and from that moment on she remembered all the social injustices that were brought to her attention. This continued through out her adult life. She had files filled with all the social injustices she had researched over the years. It became such an obsession that she wasn't able to function in her own life. She was so afraid that if she didn't remember ... no body would ... and "all those lost souls would be forgotten."

Christopher's character visits Susan's, in a picturesque setting at a lake side ranch in Canada. He realized what she had been doing all of the years since they had been separated at the camp and the broken state it had left her in. There comes a poignant time in the movie where he apologizes and says: Instead of teaching you to remember, I should of taught you to live. That simple phrase really gripped my heart!

Yes ... we can remember the past. Yes ... we can live to die. Yes ... we can look to the future. But what is life ... if we don't truly LIVE? I don't want to be constantly looking over my shoulder at what has already been. I am thankful for God's grace and where He's brought me from ... but it doesn't have to consume my existence. He has taken my sins and has forgotten them. They are as far from his mind as the East is from the West. I am thankful for and embrace the cross daily ... but it doesn't have to be a heavy burden that I carry on my own. I don't have to search out things to slay in my life. He will show me what he wants to work on in his time. His burden is light. I don't want to fear the future and all that it has for me, my family, my friends. I am thankful that he knows the plans he has for me and I don't have to be paralyzed, afraid that I am going to move out side of his will. I am HIS child.

It is so easy on this journey to get sidetracked on things that don't lead us towards LIFE ... the life that Christ has for us. We are so busy remembering, dying, searching for the future that we forget that He calls us to LIVE, to LOVE and yes ... sometimes even LAUGH!!!

I want to teach my children not just to remember but to LIVE! I want to teach my children not just to die but to LIVE! I want to teach my children not just to look to the future but to LIVE! Today ... I will choose to LIVE!

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THIS IS NOT MY HOME

WE ARE MOVING!! That is not an easy thing to wrap my mind around. We've lived here in Branson for over 12 years. This is where our children were raised. This is where we have so many memories ... though not all pleasant ... they are our memories. The reality of life is that we don't always find a place to call "HOME" and live out our days creating relationships, doing ministry and building careers around that one location. But is "HOME" really a location? Or is it just a state of mind? Aren't we all just on a journey towards "HOME"? Should we really ever feel at rest in a physical location or is our rest found in the presence of our God? In his presence ... "the things of earth will grow strangely dim". Today, I choose to not look at the chaos of the "THE MOVE", but to live in the knowledge that this is not my "HOME".

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WHERE IS THE POWER

In a day and age where the "church" either seems dead and stagnant or searching for the newest manifestations/signs and wonders where is the true transforming power of the Living God? I've been reading "Fresh Power" by Jim Cymbala. He was recounting the experience of the Upper Room where the Holy Spirit was imparted to those that waited upon the Lord. Without getting into a debate over the hot topic of the gift of "speaking in tongues" Jim emplores the reader to focus on the main point of the passage: "God by his Spirit enabled ordinary men and women to do and say things beyond their natural abilities. They became supernaturally empowered. There was no human explaination for what was taking place."

When was the last time that we've seen God work in and through us, beyond our own abilities? When was the last time we experienced something fresh and life changing that spilled over into the lives others and brought transformation? Can we say that God is moving in our lives in such a way that those who encounter us experience an insatiable hunger for God?

Thanks be to God that "the Holy Spirit is still greater today than all of our shortcomings and failures. He has come to free us from the restraints and complexes of insufficient talent, intelligences, or upbringing. He intends to do through us what only He can do. The issue is not our ability but rather our availability to the person of the Holy Spirit."

What is it that God is wanting to do through me ... through you ... if we would wait before Him and allow Him to fill us with His power? The manifestation of His presence in our lives would be the indelible transformation of our lives and the lives of those we come in contact with. That is a true life filled with the Holy Spirit! I want to live a life that can't be explained away!

Think on it!

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LEARN OF ME

The last couple of days I've been preparing my heart for this Sundays service. The scripture for Sunday is found in Matthew 11: 28-29: "Come unto 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."

In doing research on the historical context of this passage of scripture I found that "different rabbis had different sets of rules, which were really different lists of what they forbade and what they permitted. A rabbi's set of rules and lists, which was really that rabbi's interpretation of how to live the Torah, was called that rabbi's yoke. When you followed a certain rabbi, you were following him because you believed that rabbi's set of interpretations were the closest to what God intended throught the Scriptures. And when you followed that rabbi, you were taking up that rabbi's yoke."

"The intent then of a rabbi having a yoke wasn't just to interpret the words correctly; it was to live them out."

In light of this context, what a beautiful picture for all those that seek Truth. Are you weary and worn, trying to live up to a standard that is placed on you by mans interpretation of the Law? Does your walk of faith seem to be so burdensome that you don't know how you will make it another day? Jesus is saying to those who are weary and burdened, "Come unto me and I will give you rest." He is beckoning us to take upon His yoke of learning for He is gentle and humble in heart. He is saying, 'come to me and learn of me' and in that 'you will find rest for your souls'.

Jesus' intention was not for our walk with Him to be burdensome and heavy. His ways of living out the Word are to bring life, rest and peace to our souls.How often have we bogged ourselves down with an unnecessary, overbearing list of rules? Jesus said, "I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it." He was essentially saying, "I didn't come to do away with the words of God; I came to show people what it looks like when the Word is lived out perfectly, right down to the smallest punctuation marks." He is our perfect example of the Word of God lived out. For He is the Word.

Learn of Him and have rest for your souls today! Think about it!

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MY YOKE IS EASY

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Jlynne's Journey

About The Author

I want to LIVE a life that is pleasing in God's sight! I want to find moments to LAUGH with my family and friends! I want to LOVE with CrAzy Love!

THE WEEKLY GRIND

A GIFT WRAPPED UP IN PERFECTION

THE WORD HELPS US SEE WHO WE REALLY ARE - Stop THREE

IT CLEANSES US - Stop TWO

THE INSPIRATION OF GOD'S WORD - Stop ONE

JOIN ME ON A HIKE

BIBLE RUSH

MY HOPE IS IN THE LORD

MATTEA BLOWS ME AWAY

PRAYER AND RESPONSE

EMBRACING PEACE

REFLECTIONS OF LOVE

GOD IS FAITHFUL

CHURCH HURTS

THE BALANCE

THIS IS NOT MY HOME

WHERE IS THE POWER

LEARN OF ME

MY YOKE IS EASY

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