Okay, so I am at work and totally doing this as stealth as I can. LOL!
But, leave your prayer requests and let's cover each other in prayer this weekend!
Ash, Good Luck on the test today!!
Me Prayer Requests:
1. That I won't sob like a baby at two graduations that we are attending this weekend.
2. Continual oppurtunities to share Christ with others.
Thanks y'all and see you soon!
Remember, you have until Monday to enter into the contest!! Keep up yo five!
NChrist, Susan
Friday, May 16, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
That Glorious Appearing
First off - I am a dork and just noticed that I have my contest running through Monday. So, you have a few more days to keep trying for the prize. I will draw the name on Monday, the 19th.
I have had a lot of reaction to my post a couple of days ago about world events and Christ coming back someday. I just wanted to reiterate to always be ready. In our testimony time last night during youth group, one of our youth said he had a dream about Christ coming back and he woke up and was afraid. He knew he needed to get right with God and was thankful that he had such a dream that made him wake up spiritually. I don't want any of us to have such a dream as that to get it right with God. But, the theme that came out of last night was 'Be Ready!'. So today, if there are any of my readers who don't know Christ, please feel free to ask me about Him or how to get right with God. I would be glad to share with you. For those of us who are Christians, maybe its time we start preparing ourselves by getting closer to Christ through the Word, through prayer, through the fellowship of believers, and reaching out to those in need. Maybe it's time as Christians that we go and rock our world upside down. We were all challenged last night by each other that we have people we know who don't know Christ and we need to be ready to share the hope that is within us. Salvation ultimately is the work of God in a person, but let's just be ready vessels to share so that the work of God might start in a non-believers life.
The return of Christ will be Glorious one day. Whether or not we will see it, is no matter. What matters most here on earth, at this time is to do the will of God and to bring His Name Glory. We just need to focus on those things and let all other things fall to the wayside.
His grace is sufficient to get me through each day and it is on that that I lean daily.
May his grace supply all your needs and remove all your fears as you face this day and may you desire above all to do His will today and to bring Him Glory! -Amen
NChrist, Susan
I have had a lot of reaction to my post a couple of days ago about world events and Christ coming back someday. I just wanted to reiterate to always be ready. In our testimony time last night during youth group, one of our youth said he had a dream about Christ coming back and he woke up and was afraid. He knew he needed to get right with God and was thankful that he had such a dream that made him wake up spiritually. I don't want any of us to have such a dream as that to get it right with God. But, the theme that came out of last night was 'Be Ready!'. So today, if there are any of my readers who don't know Christ, please feel free to ask me about Him or how to get right with God. I would be glad to share with you. For those of us who are Christians, maybe its time we start preparing ourselves by getting closer to Christ through the Word, through prayer, through the fellowship of believers, and reaching out to those in need. Maybe it's time as Christians that we go and rock our world upside down. We were all challenged last night by each other that we have people we know who don't know Christ and we need to be ready to share the hope that is within us. Salvation ultimately is the work of God in a person, but let's just be ready vessels to share so that the work of God might start in a non-believers life.
The return of Christ will be Glorious one day. Whether or not we will see it, is no matter. What matters most here on earth, at this time is to do the will of God and to bring His Name Glory. We just need to focus on those things and let all other things fall to the wayside.
His grace is sufficient to get me through each day and it is on that that I lean daily.
May his grace supply all your needs and remove all your fears as you face this day and may you desire above all to do His will today and to bring Him Glory! -Amen
NChrist, Susan
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
QUESTION DAY
Ask away and let's help each other understand the Word and our Walk better!
UPDATE ON THE ANGER ISSUE:
Wow y'all I am learning so much. I have these set of verses that I read daily and I tell you what, the more I read them, the more they get in my brain and start transforming me from the inside out.
Here is one that really hit me yesterday!
Luke 6:27 "But I say to you(Jesus is speaking) who hear, love your enemies, do good to those hate you."
There are three things I learned from that verse yesterday, that I am going to have to take a lifetime to learn.
1. 'But I say to you who HEAR..' - The first lesson is that we need to be ready to hear. Obviously Jesus knows that there are people who will hear him and some who will not. So, are we listening and ready to hear Him??
2. 'Love your enemies...' - The second lesson is like a one-two punch and I am about to fall on the ground! I live this out, but too often I live out its evil twin: anger. Yesterday, I started pondering this part of the verse and I was overwhelmed with thoughts of how to Love your enemies. I mean, when you really start thinking about situations you really see how tough this part of the verse is. So, we are to love those who persecute us, our family and our children. Oooh, if you know me, I am a mama bear. You don't mess with my family. But, now I am realizing Jesus is telling me to be counter cultural, counter what my flesh and the world wants me to be like and I am like, whoa, wait a minute, this is almost...unnatural. But, I know Jesus is right, for the H0ly Spirit over time let's this verse sit in me, and makes it almost, cozy to me. I have to learn to be like Jesus and if he could do what he did before the cross and during the cross, then I know THROUGH HIM, AND HIM ONLY that I can love my enemies. The question for me is: Will I surrender to Him to let Him teach me and mold me to love my enemies.
3. 'Do good to those hate you...' -Wow, lesson three has me down on the ground for the count. I-chee-wa-wa. Luke 6:32-33 puts this vers in an interesting context: "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same." Wow, Jesus is once again, in the very same verse asking us to be different than the world, especially different from what our flesh wants us to be like. We aren't accomplishing much for the Kingdom of God when we are just doing what sinners do everyday. So, we gotta step it up a notch.
My journey has been awesome so far and my journey has profoundly taken me from showing me how foolish it is to be easily angered, then showing me to do the opposite in my life and be wise and loving towards others, and then the Word has graciously shown me ways I can do good to others.
Here are some ways from the Word of God that you can love and do good to others, that in the process will also remove a spirit of quick temperedness.
A. Proverbs 15:26b -tells us to SPEAK PLEASANT WORDS because they are pure
B. Eccl. 10:4 - Great verse for the workplace : "If the rulers temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because COMPOSURE allays great offenses."
C. Matthew 5:44 'But I say to you, love your enemies and PRAY for those who persecute you.'
D.Luke 6:27 -DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU.
E. Romans 12:20-21 'But if your enemy is hungry, FEED HIM, and if he is thirsty, GIVE HIM A DRINK, for in so doing you will heap buring coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.'
F. Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13 - FORGIVE OTHERS
G. 1 Peter 3:9 - 'Don't return evil for evil, insult for insult. GIVE A BLESSING INSTEAD.'
CHALLENGE:
1. Pick one of the 'good things to do to others' above and let me know how you do on it today or during the week!
2. Ask your question that you may have!
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
NChrist, Susan
UPDATE ON THE ANGER ISSUE:
Wow y'all I am learning so much. I have these set of verses that I read daily and I tell you what, the more I read them, the more they get in my brain and start transforming me from the inside out.
Here is one that really hit me yesterday!
Luke 6:27 "But I say to you(Jesus is speaking) who hear, love your enemies, do good to those hate you."
There are three things I learned from that verse yesterday, that I am going to have to take a lifetime to learn.
1. 'But I say to you who HEAR..' - The first lesson is that we need to be ready to hear. Obviously Jesus knows that there are people who will hear him and some who will not. So, are we listening and ready to hear Him??
2. 'Love your enemies...' - The second lesson is like a one-two punch and I am about to fall on the ground! I live this out, but too often I live out its evil twin: anger. Yesterday, I started pondering this part of the verse and I was overwhelmed with thoughts of how to Love your enemies. I mean, when you really start thinking about situations you really see how tough this part of the verse is. So, we are to love those who persecute us, our family and our children. Oooh, if you know me, I am a mama bear. You don't mess with my family. But, now I am realizing Jesus is telling me to be counter cultural, counter what my flesh and the world wants me to be like and I am like, whoa, wait a minute, this is almost...unnatural. But, I know Jesus is right, for the H0ly Spirit over time let's this verse sit in me, and makes it almost, cozy to me. I have to learn to be like Jesus and if he could do what he did before the cross and during the cross, then I know THROUGH HIM, AND HIM ONLY that I can love my enemies. The question for me is: Will I surrender to Him to let Him teach me and mold me to love my enemies.
3. 'Do good to those hate you...' -Wow, lesson three has me down on the ground for the count. I-chee-wa-wa. Luke 6:32-33 puts this vers in an interesting context: "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same." Wow, Jesus is once again, in the very same verse asking us to be different than the world, especially different from what our flesh wants us to be like. We aren't accomplishing much for the Kingdom of God when we are just doing what sinners do everyday. So, we gotta step it up a notch.
My journey has been awesome so far and my journey has profoundly taken me from showing me how foolish it is to be easily angered, then showing me to do the opposite in my life and be wise and loving towards others, and then the Word has graciously shown me ways I can do good to others.
Here are some ways from the Word of God that you can love and do good to others, that in the process will also remove a spirit of quick temperedness.
A. Proverbs 15:26b -tells us to SPEAK PLEASANT WORDS because they are pure
B. Eccl. 10:4 - Great verse for the workplace : "If the rulers temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because COMPOSURE allays great offenses."
C. Matthew 5:44 'But I say to you, love your enemies and PRAY for those who persecute you.'
D.Luke 6:27 -DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU.
E. Romans 12:20-21 'But if your enemy is hungry, FEED HIM, and if he is thirsty, GIVE HIM A DRINK, for in so doing you will heap buring coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.'
F. Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13 - FORGIVE OTHERS
G. 1 Peter 3:9 - 'Don't return evil for evil, insult for insult. GIVE A BLESSING INSTEAD.'
CHALLENGE:
1. Pick one of the 'good things to do to others' above and let me know how you do on it today or during the week!
2. Ask your question that you may have!
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
NChrist, Susan
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Always Be Ready
Did you all hear about the 7.8 Earthquake in China yesterday?? 80% of the towns buildings fell down and nearly 9,000 people are believed to be dead. I tell ya, my heart is just breaking with all the destruction that is happening around the world lately. Really within the last 2 weeks. Myanmar Cyclone was about 2 weeks ago, and nearly a million are probably going to die. Just last week 37 tornadoes touched down in the Midwest of North America killing and destroying. Then the Earthquake yesterday.
I am not one of those doom and gloom, Christ is coming back tommorow kind of people. But, I am reminded of what Jesus says, "As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?" And Jesus answered and said to the them, "See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in my name, saying, "I am the Christ, and will mislead many."(Okay, don't know if you were watching the news last week, but there is a guy who believes he is the Christ! His son was interviewed on T.V. So, I look at this verse, and I am like, wow, there will be crazy enough people out there who will say they are the Christ and will mislead many. That is soooooooo sad to me.)
"You will be hearing of of wars and rumors of wars."(I think the two most pressing wars right now are the Iraq war, and the possible war that could break out in the Middle East against Israel. The bible says somewhere that Israel will be surrounded by her enemies and they will wage war against her. Right now, as I write this, there is a madman as President of Iran. His Muslim faith is extreme and he believes wholeheartedly that if he destroys Israel, then that action will usher in the Muslims belief of the 12th Imam(their Messiah that will rule over the world and will force all people to follow Shyria Law(Muslim Law) or die). Just last week he was quoting as saying, "Israel is a stinking corpse, that will be annihilated." His quest to go nuclear(don't be deceived y'all) is not for energy! It is for the annihilation of Israel. And right now he is controlling the countries around Israel to be ready to wage war against Israel when the time is right. But, let's read the rest of this verse....."See that you are not frightened, for thoset things must take place, but that is NOT YET THE END." (woo, sometimes I wish Christ would have said, 'and that will be the end'. But, no, he goes on. But, I am encouraged by his statement here, dont' be frightened. So, I choose not to be frightened. What I do choose is to pray for our leaders and pray for people like the President of Iran and terrorists. I pray heartily for their salvation. I choose to be frustrated enough to know that the only place I have to give my frustrations to, is to the foot of the Cross. For Jesus' yoke is easy and his burden is light. It is there I will lay down my concerns for this world.)
There is more to that section of verses. But, I think I am done for now. I know that my God is coming back one day. When that is, I really don't care to know. What I do like to look for, are prophecies that are being fulfilled as we speak. I love it when that happens. Why? Because its like Sha-Zam the word is Truth and what it says will happen, will happen! It is just confirmation for me that the Word is true and I can lay my confidence wholeheartedly in it. And God is gracious enough to let us have these to help us understand what kinds of times we are in. If God is coming back soon, we can learn that we don't need to be frightened, we can trust in God and His plan and that He will come soon. If God is not coming back until years from now, then we have the very promise to cling to, that He is coming back!
The point is: Be ready for whenever that is! Allow Him to clothes you in righteousness and to mold you into the image of His Self. What a beautiful picture that is! Just resting in Him each day. Finding your true joy in Him and in His faithful Word!
CHALLENGE:
1. Keep up on that time with God everyday!
2. Be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger
3. Always be ready for Christ's return and preach the Gospel to those who are perishing and leave their salvation choice to the movement and guidance of Christ. Just always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is inside you!
Much love to you all!
NChrist, Susan
I am not one of those doom and gloom, Christ is coming back tommorow kind of people. But, I am reminded of what Jesus says, "As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?" And Jesus answered and said to the them, "See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in my name, saying, "I am the Christ, and will mislead many."(Okay, don't know if you were watching the news last week, but there is a guy who believes he is the Christ! His son was interviewed on T.V. So, I look at this verse, and I am like, wow, there will be crazy enough people out there who will say they are the Christ and will mislead many. That is soooooooo sad to me.)
"You will be hearing of of wars and rumors of wars."(I think the two most pressing wars right now are the Iraq war, and the possible war that could break out in the Middle East against Israel. The bible says somewhere that Israel will be surrounded by her enemies and they will wage war against her. Right now, as I write this, there is a madman as President of Iran. His Muslim faith is extreme and he believes wholeheartedly that if he destroys Israel, then that action will usher in the Muslims belief of the 12th Imam(their Messiah that will rule over the world and will force all people to follow Shyria Law(Muslim Law) or die). Just last week he was quoting as saying, "Israel is a stinking corpse, that will be annihilated." His quest to go nuclear(don't be deceived y'all) is not for energy! It is for the annihilation of Israel. And right now he is controlling the countries around Israel to be ready to wage war against Israel when the time is right. But, let's read the rest of this verse....."See that you are not frightened, for thoset things must take place, but that is NOT YET THE END." (woo, sometimes I wish Christ would have said, 'and that will be the end'. But, no, he goes on. But, I am encouraged by his statement here, dont' be frightened. So, I choose not to be frightened. What I do choose is to pray for our leaders and pray for people like the President of Iran and terrorists. I pray heartily for their salvation. I choose to be frustrated enough to know that the only place I have to give my frustrations to, is to the foot of the Cross. For Jesus' yoke is easy and his burden is light. It is there I will lay down my concerns for this world.)
There is more to that section of verses. But, I think I am done for now. I know that my God is coming back one day. When that is, I really don't care to know. What I do like to look for, are prophecies that are being fulfilled as we speak. I love it when that happens. Why? Because its like Sha-Zam the word is Truth and what it says will happen, will happen! It is just confirmation for me that the Word is true and I can lay my confidence wholeheartedly in it. And God is gracious enough to let us have these to help us understand what kinds of times we are in. If God is coming back soon, we can learn that we don't need to be frightened, we can trust in God and His plan and that He will come soon. If God is not coming back until years from now, then we have the very promise to cling to, that He is coming back!
The point is: Be ready for whenever that is! Allow Him to clothes you in righteousness and to mold you into the image of His Self. What a beautiful picture that is! Just resting in Him each day. Finding your true joy in Him and in His faithful Word!
CHALLENGE:
1. Keep up on that time with God everyday!
2. Be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger
3. Always be ready for Christ's return and preach the Gospel to those who are perishing and leave their salvation choice to the movement and guidance of Christ. Just always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is inside you!
Much love to you all!
NChrist, Susan
Monday, May 12, 2008
Monday, Monday
I feel like majorly down this morning. This weekend flew by and I really love Sundays because that = church. But, I did not get to enjoy church much. Aye... First, I stayed outside in the foyer talking to Julie during first service which I love to do, because her and Kramer are hilarious! But, I had told myself that I wanted to go to 2nd service that day. Then second service rolls around and I notice that one of the moms is in the nursery and the other ladies had come to first service. And well, I felt bad that she wouldn't hear the message. So, I took her place so she could go and listen to the sermon. So, even though I am happy with what I did, and I super enjoyed hanging out with the kids, I feel a little empty today. The fuel tank is running a little low.
My second thing will be found below after all my talky talk, so that I can warn my teenage readers, if there are any today. Please, dont' read what is below. It is for married couples and I would appreciate it if you would be mature enough to avoid reading what is below. I know this warning will probably make you want to read it, but let's just be mature enough to read and then click the page off when you get to that paragraph.
Did anyone read during the weekend, if so, let me know what you read:) so that I can put your names in the drawing. The drawing is the this Friday!!
Remember, get your families involved!! I allow an entry for reading the Bible or a Bible story to your children.
My second thing will be found below after all my talky talk, so that I can warn my teenage readers, if there are any today. Please, dont' read what is below. It is for married couples and I would appreciate it if you would be mature enough to avoid reading what is below. I know this warning will probably make you want to read it, but let's just be mature enough to read and then click the page off when you get to that paragraph.
Did anyone read during the weekend, if so, let me know what you read:) so that I can put your names in the drawing. The drawing is the this Friday!!
Remember, get your families involved!! I allow an entry for reading the Bible or a Bible story to your children.
Answers to Prayer:
1. The car show went well. For its first year, it did well, I am excited to see it become even bigger next year. The youth made around $800-$1000 that weekend, but still need to get solid confirmation on that. That is a great start!
2. I think an American C-131 is going to be let into Myanmar today. Pray that they will allow it in.
Let me know if there were any answers to prayers this weekend!
CHALLENGE:
1. Keep getting that time in with God everyday! Read His Word and Pray.
2. Be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.
I would love to hear your stories about how you all are doing with the things you are learning and applying to your life from the word of God.
Update with me about anger stuff: Well, I am noticing that I am becoming quicker to hear and slower to speak, which results in getting less angry and helps in the anger coming on quickly. I have a long way to go, but I want to thank you for the prayers and thanks for all the encouragement! How are you all doing??
NChrist, Susan
WARNING: MARRIED COUPLE PARAGRAPH
Second, ladies and gentlemen I need some advice. This paragraphy will be pretty blunt, and I apologize if it embarrasses anyone. But again, I could really use some advice. So, this will be about marital sex. 1 Corinthians 7:4-5 says, "The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does, and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time so that you may devote yourselves to prayer and come together again so taht Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self control." Okay, here is the dea-leo. We like sex at different times and we have not done a great job of compromise. He likes it in the morning and night, I like it in the day. But, when I don't give in, I feel the weight of this verse. I feel guilty and I know it is the Holy Spirit letting me know, that I am his and he is mine and that sacrifice and putting MY SELF is important to marriage. However, I am finding out that I am a very selfish person and he can be too. Don't worry, we totally have sex, but its in these awkward times that I want to rise up and be a woman of God and not be selfish Susan. Last night, I asked myself, 'Susan, what keeps you from giving in to your husband?' I thought long and hard, and I found that it was intimacy. I need intimacy before all the hooplah. You know, guys can just look and then be off to the races. But most women, like me, need time. So I told him that and we are going to work on that. I just wondered if there were others out there like me. Who have deprived or have been deprived. Boy, I hate it when I am deprived and that is another reason I was willing to ask myself that question because I know what it feels like to be deprived and its hurtful and I don't want him feeling like that. Sorry, I don't mean to ramble.
CHALLENGE:
1. Keep getting that time in with God everyday! Read His Word and Pray.
2. Be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.
I would love to hear your stories about how you all are doing with the things you are learning and applying to your life from the word of God.
Update with me about anger stuff: Well, I am noticing that I am becoming quicker to hear and slower to speak, which results in getting less angry and helps in the anger coming on quickly. I have a long way to go, but I want to thank you for the prayers and thanks for all the encouragement! How are you all doing??
NChrist, Susan
WARNING: MARRIED COUPLE PARAGRAPH
Second, ladies and gentlemen I need some advice. This paragraphy will be pretty blunt, and I apologize if it embarrasses anyone. But again, I could really use some advice. So, this will be about marital sex. 1 Corinthians 7:4-5 says, "The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does, and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time so that you may devote yourselves to prayer and come together again so taht Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self control." Okay, here is the dea-leo. We like sex at different times and we have not done a great job of compromise. He likes it in the morning and night, I like it in the day. But, when I don't give in, I feel the weight of this verse. I feel guilty and I know it is the Holy Spirit letting me know, that I am his and he is mine and that sacrifice and putting MY SELF is important to marriage. However, I am finding out that I am a very selfish person and he can be too. Don't worry, we totally have sex, but its in these awkward times that I want to rise up and be a woman of God and not be selfish Susan. Last night, I asked myself, 'Susan, what keeps you from giving in to your husband?' I thought long and hard, and I found that it was intimacy. I need intimacy before all the hooplah. You know, guys can just look and then be off to the races. But most women, like me, need time. So I told him that and we are going to work on that. I just wondered if there were others out there like me. Who have deprived or have been deprived. Boy, I hate it when I am deprived and that is another reason I was willing to ask myself that question because I know what it feels like to be deprived and its hurtful and I don't want him feeling like that. Sorry, I don't mean to ramble.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)