Consider

Jen G. 2009 ~ repost

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is hidden from its heat.

Psalm 19:1-6

Psalm 19 tells us that the heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the works of His hands. Simply looking at the sky allows us to experience the glory of God in all His majesty! The voice of the sky extends to every part of the world; there is no people group that has not heard what the skies proclaim - that God is on His throne and that He is the Creator of all.

The Lord has allowed His creation to declare who He is, what He is, what He can do. For us to allow one day to go by without acknowledging the greatness of the Lord is unthinkable. Even if we are in the midst of a trial or great difficulty and there seems to be nothing in our lives that has the hand print of God on it, we can always look to the skies. They are a constant, ever present reminder of the God of the universe and His great love for us. He created something that shouts of His amazing love for His creation; it shouts in every corner of the earth, in every climate, in every war, in every famine, in darkness or daylight.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:3-4

If we stop for just a moment and consider the work of God's fingers, the largeness of His miraculous creation, it should cause us to catch our breath and look at the smallness of ourselves. Think about it: the world goes on when a human dies, but the world can not survive without a sky. Yet Jesus died for us, the only part of His creation that does not continuously declare His mighty works and goodness. We should compete daily with all of creation to be the loudest voice praising God.

Prayer:
Lord of all creation, I praise You for Your mighty works, Your faithfulness, Your patience and love for me. Please forgive me for not declaring Your greatness each day.

Challenge:
This week, begin each morning with a look at the sky. Join with this vast creation in declaring the greatness of God. Read the following Psalms that reveal how awesome God is by looking at His creation. Psalm 148, Psalm 139, Psalm 104, Psalm 93

Jen G. 2009



Not Alone

by Jen G. 2011

One moment I was standing with a smile and the next I was flat on my spiritual back; crushed, laid low, hopeless, miserable, humiliated, and wounded. The feelings were so intense that I literally wanted to lie down and hide under something.

But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Ecclesiastes 4:10

What caused this awful moment of incredible weakness? It was a small thing, really – a mother/child thing. It was certainly not uncommon and by no means something to get my knickers in a knot over. And yet knotted they were.

And then…

Friends surrounded me. Women that I do not normally get to visit with for longer than a coke and fries, a hug after church, or a chat while getting my hair cut gathered around me and cared for me. They talked me off my emotional ledge and pointed out the fiery dart of the enemy that was digging into my heart. They encouraged me to not give in to the lies of Satan. They boosted me with words of love and admiration for my child. They spoke truth.

Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.  And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12

Do you know someone who needs the threefold cord of friendship? Is there a lady who is struggling to see the goodness of God or recognize a spiritual attack? Reach out to her and speak truth to her. Be the mouthpiece and reassuring arms of Jesus.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

Prayer:

Father, thank You for my mom and other sisters in Christ who held me up when I was succumbing to the lies of Satan. Thank you for giving them discernment into the issue at hand and the wisdom to speak into my life. Help me to remember the example of Christ in them and in turn allow You to use me in another woman’s life. Amen.

Challenge:

Be watchful for opportunities to minister to a woman this week that just needs a friend. Listen for the Holy Spirit’s prompting and act on it, letting Him guide your counsel. Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.

Jen G. 2011

The B-I-B-L-E!

by Jen G. 2011

The B-I-B-L-E! Yes, that’s the Book for me!

I stand alone on the Word of God,

The B-I-B-L-E!

I remember singing this song in Sunday School at Calvary Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Florida as a preschooler. At the time it was simply a catchy tune that I sang over and over again not realizing the importance and truth of the words.

In the book of 2 Timothy Paul writes to warn his young friend – and us - of perilous times filled with selfish, greedy, bragging, proud, blaspheming, disobedient, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slandering people who have no self control, are brutal despisers of good, traitors, stubborn, stuck up and pleasure loving. To top it off, these people have a form of godliness with out the power of the risen Christ. (vs. 1-5)

Could there be any more bad news coming in this chapter? Yep. These convincing people “creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts.” (v. 6)

Ouch.

The gullible women Paul spoke of in his letter were certainly not stupid. On the contrary, they were always learning. Like Eve, the women desired knowledge. Unfortunately, they were never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (v. 7) Paul delivers more bad news: the deceivers were only going to get worse and the deceived were only going to grow in number (as we see today).

Is there hope? How do we protect ourselves from becoming the deceiver or the deceived?

The B-I-B-L-E!

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17

Sometimes false things are incredibly obvious – like burying a potato at midnight to get rid of warts. Some things are not so obvious, however, and that is why we need to have a solid foundation in the Word of God.

Books, Christian radio, the internet, Bible studies and magazines are fabulous resources that can sometimes help us be more knowledgeable of the Word. However, caution must be used. Today’s ‘Christian’ climate is rife with misapplied Scripture for everything from gender identity to hell to divorce to the actual substitutionary death of Christ. Without a firm foundation in Scripture, it is incredibly easy to be deceived by words that sound good and godly. As Christ followers, we need to stand alone on the Word of God - the only faithful infallible, accurate record of God’s Truth.

Prayer:

Father, open my eyes to see Truth and with that Truth help me to identify the lies of the enemy. My heart desires to be faithful to Your Word alone, not the latest church style or new doctrine. Help me to guard my heart and know Your Truth. Amen.

Challenge:
Take time this week to examine the basis for your beliefs. Are you getting your Scripture-view and worldview from a magazine, Bible teacher, or book, or are your views based on God’s view of the world? Really look at your heart and mind and see if you are a gullible woman. If you are, repent and change! Seek the wisdom that comes from above and allow it to make you wise unto salvation through Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15)

Jen G. 2011

Springs of Life

by Sherry S. 2011
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This week I have been preparing for a retreat where one of the topics I am to address is the Exposed Heart.  I am continuously amazed at how full the Word is of references to the heart. Once you start looking at the Scriptures it is incredible the things you notice about your own heart.

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Proverbs 4:23 says: "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life."

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Ouch. That one hits home doesn't it? How often do we neglect our heart attitudes? We go about our days as if all is well, when in fact we have neglected to keep our hearts in step with the Spirit of God.  Before we know it we look back on a trail of hurt feelings and wounded friends and family. 
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Luke 6:45 says: "The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart."

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I shudder to think of the things I have said to my precious husband or daughter in a moment of frustration. Can you identify? As I have grown in my faith, I have learned that I don't even know my own heart, but there is One who searches my heart and knows and loves me enough to open my ears to see and even hear the condition of my heart.

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Is it any wonder why the Psalmist prayed in Psalm 139:23 -24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way,"?

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I praise the Lord that He began a good work in me and will complete it. I thank Him that He is changing me daily to be like Jesus. And I know that He will do the same thing for you. Are you willing? Are you ready to let issues of life flow from your heart, through your lips, and into the lives of others?
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Prayer:

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit." Amen
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Challenge:

This week LISTEN to what is coming out of your mouth, and then you will KNOW what is really in your heart. When you find out then run to your Father and allow Him to change your heart and, in turn, your speech.

Sherry S. 2011



Thoroughly Equipped Flamingos

by Jen G. 2011

Let’s talk about chicken and flamingos…

Did you know that chickens live in every continent on the planet except Antarctica? They are pretty easy going birds – they can live in a barnyard or in the woods or even the side of the road. They lay eggs in the yard or hen house and eat bugs, grass, grain and a myriad of other things. Chickens are made to be adaptable to many different habitats and circumstances.

Every year, a whole bunch of Lesser Flamingos fly to salty Natron Lake in Tanzania, Africa. While there, the big pink birds eat algae to give them their rosy color, find a mate and prepare to lay eggs. As the temps rise and the water begins to evaporate rapidly, the salt settles on the top of the lake and forms crusty sheets, eventually floating to the center of the lake and forming a salt island. It is in this harsh, hot, floating plain that the Lesser Flamingo builds a nest of salt and lays its eggs. Of the 2 million Lesser Flamingoes born in Africa, all 2 million are born on the salt crust of Natron Lake. Flamingos are made for this bizarre habitat and have been equipped with the necessary tools to survive there.

Just as chickens and flamingoes have a unique purpose in God’s creation, Christ followers have a special purpose in the kingdom of God. As believers, we have been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

Maybe you feel like a chicken on a salt lake or a flamingo in a barnyard; your circumstances are not ideal to your thinking. You live in a 700 sq. ft. appt. or have a chronic illness or a rebellious child or a rough marriage. A tiny budget demands that you buy used curriculum or shop at thrift stores for clothing. OR, maybe your life is pretty much perfect and you feel guilty for having it so ‘easy’ when your friends are having a rough go of it.

Be assured that no matter what your life looks like right now, the Lord has given you the tools to accomplish His good purposes for you. He has equipped you to handle what life holds.

How has the Lord equipped you?

2 Timothy 3:16,17 says,

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (emphasis added)

Are you using the tool of Scripture to walk out your calling? Do not believe the lie of the enemy that you can not do what the Lord has called you to do. Spend time in the Word, study it, know it, learn from it and allow it to transform your thinking. Then walk confidently in your circumstances, knowing that He has given you all that you need to be what He has created to be.

Sort of like a flamingo.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the beautiful examples in creation that point us right back to You and Your wisdom. Thank You that Your Word is life to me! Help me to hold fast to it, drawing the strength I need to walk out the good works You have prepared for me. Amen

Challenge:

Spend time in the word each day and allow it to renew your mind. When you find yourself second guessing what the Lord has called you to do, remind yourself that in Him you can walk out His purposes. Audibly express your thanksgiving to Him for His perfect plan for your life.

Jen G. 2011