The Point

Humble, Seek, Pray, Turn - Day 20

2011-07-29T03:00:00.001-04:00

Today we are 2/3 of the way through our 30 days of prayer for the church of Jesus Christ. Have you seen God's hand moving around you as you pray for the church? Have you felt His Spirit speak to your heart? I pray so. I can tell that He has tendered my heart toward and given me a hunger for revival.

Today as you pray I encourage you to ask God to help you leave behind the perspective of the CHURCH as simply a building. Ask God to give you spiritual insight into the CHURH as the people of God. A people in desperate need of a visitation from the Spirit of God.

This weekend please choose one or two of the things that we have prayed over the past three weeks and focus once again on them in prayer.

Pray eagerly.

Pray expectantly.

Pray diligently.

I'll see you back here on Monday with a surprise.

Humble, Seek, Pray, Turn - Day 19

2011-07-28T03:00:00.002-04:00

Today as we pray through the HSPT call to pray for the church, I encourage you to pray that God would help you die each day to your self--your comfort, your desires, etc. It is only when we clothe ourselves with Christ that we will truly experience revival.

"He (Bonhoeffer) knew something was deeply wrong with the church as it then existed, and not just with the Reichskirche and the German Christians, but with the best of the church, with the Confessing Church, and with the current form of Christianity in Germany in general. He felt that what was especially missing from the life of Christians in Germany was the day-to-day reality of dying to self, of following Christ with every ounce of one's being in every moment, in every part of one's life." --- from Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas

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Very, very soon when you come to The Point you will see some awesome changes. A new look and a new format. I am so excited about these changes that will allow me to expand the ministry, so stay tuned.

Fall Special on Legacy Bible Study Handbooks

2011-07-27T03:00:00.003-04:00

Today's prayer focus for HSPT is to ask God help you really believe that He hears our prayers. Even when we don't see the answer and we don't feel like He hears, He does. Ask Him to help you have the faith of a child when you pray.
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Is your Bible study group looking for a fall Bible study that will immerse you in the Word AND be pertinent to your daily life?
Are you ready for a Bible study that will make you ponder, pray, laugh and cry?
Would you like a Bible study that will impact your family for generations to come?

Look no further! From the Trash Pile to the Treasure Chest: Creating a Godly Legacy is that study for you. And I have it available here at The Point Ministries.

From the Trash Pile to the Treasure Chest: Creating A Godly Legacy will challenge you to consider what you are leaving for the generations that come behind you....not from a materialistic standpoint, but from a faith perspective. In the 6 week study you will be asked to examine the faith that you have to see if it is strong and steady. You will also take a look at your character and find God nudging you to examine your holiness to see if it is pleasing to Him. This study uses a myriad of testimonies of the faithfulness of God to encourage the student to build a godly legacy for future generations to model.

Want to learn more and see what others who have done the study are saying about it? Click over to this page to read more.

In August and September I will be running a special on the member handbooks. This is only good for books purchased from me.

For every 10 member handbooks you purchase from me,
I will give you ONE FREE.
I will also give you a FREE LEADER GUIDE.

Email or call me today, using the 'Contact and Links' tab to reserve your supply of member handbooks for your group! I look forward to hearing how God spoke to YOUR Bible study group through From the Trash Pile to the Treasure Chest: Creating a Godly Legacy Bible study.

******In just a few days......there will be a new and improved Point Ministries website......stay tuned.

Humble, Seek, Pray, Turn - Day 17

2011-07-26T03:00:00.002-04:00

We are 17 days into our prayer effort (HSPT) for the church and today I encourage you to pray that the church (you and me) would stay focused on Christ and His gospel. It is so easy to get caught up in things that are not central to the gospel and lose our first love.

This happened in the German church in the 1930's when Hitler was rising to power. Allow me to give you another quote from Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas that vividly portrays this happening.

"In coarse, crude language, Krause demanded that the German church must once and for all divest itself of every hint of Jewishness. The Old Testament would be first, 'with its Jewish money morality and its tales of cattle merchants and pimps!' The stenographical record notes that 'sustained applause' ensued. The New Testament must be revised, too, and must present a Jesus 'corresponding entirely with the demands of a national Socialism'. And it must no longer present an 'exaggerated emphasis on the crucifed Christ.' This tenet was defeatist and depressing, which was to say Jewish. Germany needed hope and victory!"

Lord, have mercy, friends, can you even imagine? However, in America TODAY many churches preach a gospel that is so watered down it is almost non-existent. Large, big churches led by pastors with very recognizable names. We must stay on our guard.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was encouraged to join in this nonsense and work against the Nazis from within the German Christian church. He told them that he couldn't do that. "If you board the wrong train," he said, "it is no use running along the corridor in the opposite direction."

We must be absolutely certain that we are focused solely on Jesus and His gospel.

Get Wisdom! - Proverbs 6:16-19 - The End

2011-07-25T03:00:00.008-04:00

Today for our HSPT prayer focus let's recall what God requires of us from Micah 6:8 and then pray that God would help us do those things in a humble, obedient manner.

Act justly
Love mercy
Walk humbly with God

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Welcome to our final installment of Get Wisdom!! Do you feel wiser than you were when we began this journey in early May? I hope so. God has promised that His Word always accomplishes what He purposes for it and I’m believing that our time in Proverbs has accomplished much in your life.

Today’s selection from Proverbs is four verses that are chock full of wisdom. We are going to hear God tell us some things that He hates. Yes, God does hate….not people but things that keep people from Him. So, let’s jump into Proverbs 6:16-19. Pick your translation.

There are seven things that the Lord hates and cannot tolerate:
A proud look,
a lying tongue,
hands that kill innocent people,
a mind that thinks up wicked plans,
feet that hurry off to do evil,
a witness who tells one lie after another,
and someone who stirs up trouble among friends. (GNT)

Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion:
eyes that are arrogant,
a tongue that lies,
hands that murder the innocent,
a heart that hatches evil plots,
feet that race down a wicked track,
a mouth that lies under oath,
a troublemaker in the family. (The Message)

There are six things the Lord hates. There are seven things he cannot stand:
a proud look,
a lying tongue,
hands that kill innocent people,
a mind that thinks up evil plans,
feet that are quick to do evil,
a witness who lies,
and someone who starts arguments among families. (NCV)

These six things doth the LORD hate : yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look,
a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,
feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies,
and he that soweth discord among brethren. (KJV)

I could really teach all day from these four verses but I will spare you the agony. Just a few things I would like to point out.

• Typically when we hate something, there is a reason. Why does God hate these things? Because they are very much the antithesis of God---the polar opposite of God’s character and person. And they keep man from being able to be in relationship with God.

• Check out the first one. Pride! I believe this is first because God hates this sin most. It is what caused Satan to be thrown---lock, stock and barrel---out of heaven, and it is what caused man to be separated from God.

• Notice that lying is mentioned twice. Hmmm, does that tell you anything? God really, really hates lying.

• God hates the killing of innocent people. Notice the key word here is ‘innocent’. I believe God recognized that justice would have to be served when someone breaks the law and often that justice involved killing.

• The Word is clear about the person who not only thinks up evil, but hurries off to do it. Either action alone is despicable to God. Ditto for someone who is always out to cause trouble among friends and family. My Daddy would have said that person just likes to ‘stir the pot’ and cause trouble.

So, my friends, it would seem to be wise to avoid doing these things that God says He hates. I hope as we have studied several proverbs in our Get Wisdom series you have begun to make wiser choices in your daily lives. I know I sure have.

Thanks for taking this journey with me. I’d love to hear how this series spoke to you.

Humble, Seek, Pray, Turn - Day 13

2011-07-22T03:00:00.001-04:00

We are 13 days into our prayer for the church. I hope you are not growing weary in praying. Stay the course! God has promised to hear our prayers. I'm anticipating a mighty movement of God. How about you?

Today I encourage you to pray that the church (you and me) would care more about those who are dying without Jesus and going to hell than about our own comfort. Ask the Lord to break your heart over those who don't know Jesus.

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Consider this quote from Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas:

"We must shake off our fear of this world--the cause of Christ is at stake, and are we to be found sleeping?....Christ is looking down at us and asking whether there is anyone left who confesses faith in him." Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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This weekend marks two weeks that we have been praying for the church. Please spend time this weekend praying for the church and for yourself to be humble and broken before the Lord and other people. I'll see you back here on Monday.

Humble, Seek, Pray, Turn - Day 12

2011-07-21T03:00:00.002-04:00

Today for our HSPT prayer time I encourage you to pray that the church would be willing to reach out to YOUNG men and women with the love of Jesus. Pray that the under 40 crowd would be open to hearing what Jesus does in the lives of those willing to follow Him.

We have at least two generations that are walking away from the church because the church doesn't love like Jesus loved. It will take RadICaLLy DiFFereNT means to reach these young people than those of us in the over 40 crowd are accustomed to. BUT, just because we have never reached out in that way before does not mean it is wrong.

Humble, Seek, Pray, Turn - Day 11

2011-07-20T04:47:00.000-04:00

Hey ya'll,

I hope you are praying diligently for the church of Jesus Christ through our joint effort - HSPT. Click this HSPT link to learn what we are doing.

Today I encourage you to pray that God would give the church a love for her enemies or those who oppose her. There are plenty out there who battle against the church and the Word of God. Please pray that we (you and me, the church) would show the love of Jesus to those who oppose us.

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Today I have the privilege of being a guest writer over at CBN.com. One of my pieces is the devotional of the day there. Stop by CBN.com to read more.

Humble, Seek, Pray, Turn - Day 10

2011-07-19T04:46:00.000-04:00

Day 10 of HSPT and I am challenging you to pray that the church of Jesus Christ would come together in unity and love. Jesus said that the unbelieving world would know that we are HIS OWN SPECIAL PEOPLE by our love and unity.

They will NOT know we are Christians by our:

Denominational names
Insistance on one and only one version of the Bible
Dress codes
Judgmental attitudes
Criticism of unbelievers
Large, impressive buildings
Sunday morning order of service
Preference of worship music

An unbelieving world will know that we are CHRISTIANS (Christ followers) by our LOVE and UNITY! Please join me in praying for LOVE AND UNITY in the church of Jesus Christ today!

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Just as the German church was easily duped by Hitler, the American church is threatened by equally dangerous words and actions from those who seek to take God out of America. Today I offer you another quote from Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas.

"[Alfred] Rosenberg was one of the Nazi leaders most active in creating this 'new religion'. Rosenberg was an 'outspoken pagan' who, during the war, developed a thirty point program for the 'Nationale Reichskirche.' Rosenberg's plan is some of the clearest proof that exists of the Nazi's ultimate plans for the churches. A few points of his program illustrate what Hitler was open to approving and, under cover of war, would move toward:

13. The National Church demands immediate cessation of the publishing and dissemination of the Bible in Germany.....
14. The National Church declares that to it, and therefore to the German nation, it has been decided that the Fuehrer's Mein Kampf is the greatest of all documents. It....not only contains the greatest but it embodies the purest and truest ethics for the present and future life of our nation.
18. The National Church will clear away from its altars all crucifixes, Bibles, and pictures of saints.
19. On the altars there must be nothing but Mein Kampf (to the German nation and therefore to God the most sacred book) and to the left of the altar a sword.
30. On the day of its foundation, the Christian Cross must be removed from all churches, cathedrals, and chapels.....and it must be superseded by the only unconquerable symbol, the swastika."

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This kind of hog-wash got by the German church. Let us not dare to look down our noses and declare that we, in America, would never fall for this. Be careful! Be very careful!

Get Wisdom - Proverbs 26:18-19

2011-07-18T03:00:00.004-04:00

Today in our Humble, Seek, Pray, Turn prayer effort, I encourage you to pray specifically for pastors/ministers in the church of Jesus Christ. Pray that the Holy Spirit would empower them to preach the gospel of Christ BOLDLY and completely without watering it down.

Two more quotes from Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas:

"Theological work and real pastoral fellowship can only grow in a life which is governed by gathering round the Word morning and evening and by fixed times of prayer."

"Christianity preaches the infinite worth of that which is seemingly worthless and the infinite worthlessness of that which is seemingly so valued."
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We only have one more week in our Get Wisdom series. I hope you have gotten a double portion of wisdom as we have journeyed through the book of Proverbs. Today we look at two verses that will likely convict each of us. I know I have made the mistake that Proverbs 26: 18-19 talks about. Let’s take a look:

Someone who tricks someone else
and then claims that he was only joking
is like a crazy person playing with a deadly weapon. (GNT)

Like a madman who throws firebrands,
arrows, and death, Is the man who
deceives his neighbor, and says, "I was only joking!" (NKJV)

People who shrug off deliberate deceptions, saying,
"I didn't mean it, I was only joking,"
are worse than careless campers
who walk away from smoldering campfires.
(The Message)

Have you ever had someone deliberately say something deceptive or hurtful and then immediately turn around and say, “I was only joking.”? You knew good and well they were not joking, but they were not willing to be honest about their attitude or words. Worse yet, have you ever done this to another person? I’ve heard children do this to one another. I’ve heard adults do this to one another.

This is one of those rare times when I am without (many) words. What more can I add to this proverb? It is plain. Hurting someone through deception is wrong and covering up deception by trying to make a joke out of it is really wrong. Period.

Let’s Get Wise and make sure we don’t do this.

MEDITATION MOMENT: Hey ya’ll, I can guarantee this Get Wisdom post is one that you will be able to refer back to in the days ahead. This particular problem is pervasive among children and adults. Memorize the address for this proverb and when you hear someone doing this, you will have something from God’s own Word to use to show them the error in what they are doing.

Humble, Seek, Pray, Turn - Day 6

2011-07-15T03:00:00.029-04:00

Want to know more about HSPT - a prayer effort for the church? Go here.

I am so glad you are joining me in this prayer effort for the church. I hope you were able to view the video above where I explain what has gotten me all stirred up about praying for the church. God has promised to hear the prayers of His people. Today I encourage you to pray that God would raise up champions in the church like Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Champions who are willing to stake their lives on doing what is righteous and godly, regardless of the cost. YOU just might be one of those champions.

Here is an excerpt from Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas that is pertinent to our prayer focus for the day. This is a quote from a Pastor Niemoller who was a German pastor in Bonhoeffer's day. He turned a blind eye to the atrocities that Hitler was perpetrating in spite of the warnings given by Bonhoeffer and others. He was imprisoned for 8 years in a concentration camp as the personal prisoner of Adolf Hitler when he wrote:

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For our Saturday and Sunday HSPT prayer effort, please choose two of the prayer topics that we have focused on this week and spend additional time in prayer over those OR simply pray whatever the Holy Spirit lays on your heart for the church this weekend. I'll see you back here on Monday.

"First they came for the Socialists,
and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists,
and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
And then they came for me---
and there was no one left to speak for me."

Humble, Seek, Pray, Turn (HSPT) - Day 5

2011-07-14T03:00:00.004-04:00

Day 5 of Humble, Seek, Pray, Turn (HSPT)

Today I challenge you to ask Holy Spirit to do whatever it takes to bring humility and brokenness into your life. Friends, we are the church. I am the church. It is only when we are able to move past the 'what will they think' or 'I could never do that' mentality and be willing to go face to the floor in humility before our God and our fellow man/woman, that God will be able to work in and through us. DO IT, LORD, whatever it takes, work humility and brokenness into our hearts so that You can do awesome things in and through the church.

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Humble, Seek, Pray, Turn (HSPT) - Day 4

2011-07-13T03:00:00.004-04:00

Day 4 of Humble, Seek, Pray, Turn (HSPT).
Just joining us? Go here to learn more about this call to prayer.

Today my challenge to you and to myself is exactly what Brandon Heath sings about in this song. Ask God to give you His heart, His eyes, and His ears so that you can see and hear others (inside the church and outside the church) the way He does.

Humble, Seek, Pray, Turn (HSPT)- Day 3

2011-07-12T03:00:00.002-04:00

Are you just now joining us for a call to prayer? Don't go away! You are welcome here. Want to know more? Go here to find out what HSPT is all about.

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Today as we HUMBLE ourselves before God, SEEK His face and PRAY to Him, I encourage you to ask God to break your heart over what breaks His heart. He will do it. I promise. As I have prayed this very prayer for months, He has done it with my own heart. Hence our HSPT prayer effort.

I believe that His heart breaks over the apathy in the church today. Oh, not everyone is apathetic, but many are. Later this week I will share with you why this prayer is important to me personally and what has been the impetus for HSPT.

For today, will you ask God to break your heart over what breaks His heart?

Get Wisdom - Proverbs 26:11

2011-07-11T03:00:00.005-04:00

Humble...Pray...Seek....Turn. Day 2.
I invite you to join me for 30 days of prayer for the church of Jesus Christ.
Want to know more? Go here.
Today let's ask God to search our hearts and point out any sin that prevents us from being the church that Jesus intended. Pride? Idolatry? Jealousy? Territorality?(not sure that is a word) Hypocriticalness? Condescension? What is preventing God from moving among us?
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Got a weak stomach? Today’s Get Wisdom proverb may be a bit nauseating, but hang in there because I think there is a load of wisdom in this one. Check out Proverbs 26:11.

As a dog returns to his own vomit,
so a fool repeats his folly. (NIV)

A fool who repeats his foolishness is like a dog
that goes back to what it has thrown up. (NCV)

A fool doing some stupid thing a second time
is like a dog going back to its vomit. (GNT)

Ok, I know. T.M.I!! Too much information! But these are not my words. They are the inspired Word of God and so we have to consider them. Actually, I can very much identify with this proverb because it has my name written all over it.

If you have been around dogs and cats very much you know that they tend to eat their own vomit. I have NO IDEA why they do this. Yes, it is crazy and ridiculous to a human but for some reason they think it is a pretty good idea.

Enter you and me. More times than I can count, I have done something foolish (apparently thinking it was a good idea at some moment of time), asked God to forgive me, and then dang it, turn right around and do it again.

I know it is a foolish thing, but I just keep doing it.

Telling a lie is a classic example of this proverb. When you or I lie about something, we generally find that we must tell another lie to cover the first one. Then, we must tell yet a third lie to cover lies number one and two and so it goes. It is all foolishness and stupidity and it gets us into major trouble, but we keep on doing it.

I found this to be a proverb with great truth in the area of sexual sin. In my twenties after my divorce, to my great shame, I engaged in no small amount of sexual sin. I knew it was wrong and there would be consequences for the behavior, yet I did not stop at one sinful sexual encounter. I went back for more and more. It made just about as much sense as a dog returning to its vomit, yet I did it over and over.

Foolish behavior with mammoth consequences.

This proverb tells us that only a fool repeats stupid behavior. I have been a fool, but by the grace of God I will not be a fool again. This proverb is one where I want us to make application to our lives the first time and not have to couple application with hideous regret. Let’s just cease that foolish behavior. NOW!!

MEDITATION MOMENT: Is there an area of your life where you are repeatedly doing something foolish? It may be something big like sexual sin. It might be something that seems small like telling lies or gossip or wearing clothes that are not modest in order to gain the attention of the opposite sex. Confess it to God and ask Him to help you not be a dog that goes back to its vomit.

Will You Join Me in Prayer?

2011-07-10T06:49:00.000-04:00

This morning as I talked to the Lord, I had an overwhelming sense of His calling me to prayer for the church of Jesus Christ. By and large, we, the church, have become an over-indulgent, spoiled church, whose primary aim is our own comfort rather than the spread of the gospel of Jesus. We are full of pride over so many things...our nice buildings, programs offered, number of baptisms and so much else. We have lost the humble, servant heart of our Lord. My 'we' includes me, too.

The Lord reminded me of a familiar verse in an exceedingly fresh way this morning.

"And if my people who are called by my name" - God is very specific that HIS people, the church, those of us who name the name of Christ, are the ones who should act.

"will humble themselves" - He insists first and foremost on humility before Him.

"and pray and seek My face" - We, you and me, His people, must, in humility come before Him, acknowledging our need for Him and His intervention in our lives and our church.

"and turn from their wicked ways" - that's pretty plain. Do we understand that our pride and self-indulgence is wicked in God's eyes?

"then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land." - The land that we need healed is the church, my friends. Yes, the unsaved need to hear the gospel, but before that can happen, the church must return to our first love.

And so, I am commiting to 30 days of prayer for the church of Jesus Christ.

Each day I will spend some time with God, on my knees, seeking His face specifically about the church of Jesus Christ. I will ask for a humbling and brokenness that brings about revival among His people. I'm convinced that it is the only way that the church will regain its effectiveness.

Will you join me? Will you commit to 30 days of seeking God's face specifically for the church? Each day I will post a reminder to pray for something specific in this regard. I am convinced that we will see God move in response to this. God promised that He hears and responds to our prayers.

Will you join me as we humble ourselves, pray and seek His face? Humble, Pray, Seek.

Relationship Status: It's Complicated!

2011-07-07T03:00:00.010-04:00

It’s Complicated.

So says the relationship status for one of my Facebook ‘friends’.

For the Facebook (FB) uninitiated among us.....(there is no condemnation if you are not on FB, so please don’t feel bad that you are not addicted like the rest of us). Let me start again…..for the FB uninitiated among us, allow me to explain. When one signs up on FB, you can provide as much or as little personal information as you desire. One of the categories that you are asked about is your 'relationship status'.

You can tell the world that you are

single,
married,
engaged,
in a relationship,
in an open relationship,
widowed,
separated,
divorced,
in a civil union,
in a domestic partnership
it’s complicated.

Over the years of being on Facebook, I’ve decided that “It’s Complicated” is usually FB-ese for “I’m doing something I should not be doing”. Am I wrong? There are plenty of options given by FB that would clarify one’s relationship status totally. 'It’s complicated’ is intended to be cloudy and murky.

If there were a heavenly Facebook…..

what would your status be with regard to your relationship with Jesus?

Married (for eternity),
In an open relationship (where you acknowledge Him on Sunday and live like you want to through the week),
Separated (you once loved Him with all your heart, but now that love has grown cold),
It’s complicated (you are out doing stuff you know is wrong and don’t want to have to explain it).

MEDITATION MOMENT

Honestly, what is your heavenly FB status?

Do you recognize a need to make changes in your life so your heavenly FB status changes?

What changes will you make?

Crazy Dog! at CBN.com

2011-07-05T04:36:00.001-04:00

My husband and I once had a neighbor who had several dogs. Most of the dogs lived outside and were really just yard dogs---except for Chester, a beautiful chocolate Labrador!! Chester was different. Chester belonged to another family in our county as a puppy. The first family treated Chester well and took good care of him, but Chester liked to roam. That’s how he ended up at our neighbor’s house. Chester roamed so regularly over to our neighbor’s house that eventually the first family gave Chester to our neighbors.

Click one of the links below to

join me over at CBN.com
where you can read the rest of Chester's story

"Crazy Dog!" is the devo of the day.

Get Wisdom - Proverbs 22:28

2011-07-04T03:00:00.001-04:00

Today in our Get Wisdom series we are talking about boundaries and landmarks as we peer into Proverbs 22: 28.

Do not move an ancient boundary stone
set up by your forefathers. (NIV)

Do not steal your neighbor's property
by moving the ancient boundary markers
set up by your ancestors. (NLT)

Do not remove the ancient landmark
which your fathers have set. (NKJV)

This verse speaks, in the immediate sense, about physical properties lines. An example of physical property lines that have been moved in our world today are those that define the nation of Israel. The leaders of the Israeli government have traded pieces of the land given to the Israelites by God for a supposed peace with the Palestinians. Peace has yet to take hold and will not appear in that land until Jesus steps foot on earth again. Trading land for peace is not going to work. Period.

I believe there is an even broader look that we need to take at boundary lines in our time together. The Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary offers the following definition of ‘boundary’. “Something that indicates or fixes a limit or extent.” Long ago God set definite boundary lines for our moral, physical and spiritual wellbeing. Consider a few:

• Genesis 2: 24 – God instituted marriage between a man and a woman

• Exodus 20: 3 – God commanded that we should place no one or nothing before Him.

• Exodus 20: 12 – God commanded us to honor our parents.

• Exodus 20: 13 – God commanded that we should not murder.

• Exodus 20: 14 – God commanded that we should not commit adultery.

• Exodus 20: 15 – God commanded that we should not steal.

• Exodus 20: 16 – God commanded that we should not lie.

• Exodus 20: 17 – God commanded that we should not covet or desire what is not ours.

Many of these have been, and continue to be, moved.

• Today, the sanctity of marriage is quickly being eroded. Many states now recognize marriage between two men or two women.

• If we would be gut-level honest, many of us place things or people before God in importance.

• Children are disobedient to their parents in unprecedented ways, in part because parents have abdicated the position of authority and responsibility in the home.

• We murder the unborn and call it ‘choice’.

• We commit adultery and call it an ‘affair’.

• We lie and dismiss it by saying that ‘everyone tells little white lies’.

• We watch television and movies and see things that would never have been shown or spoken there 25 years ago.

Do you see what I mean? We have moved the ancient boundary stones. We have moved the limits or extent of what God says is acceptable. Human wisdom says, ‘It’s ok. God doesn’t really care.’ Trust me, God knows and He cares and there are consequences for disobedience.

Meditation Moment: What other boundary stones have been moved in our world today?

Think Before You Act!

2011-06-30T03:00:00.009-04:00

Recently someone ‘Listed’ me on Twitter as ‘churchy’. I’m pretty sure it was not a compliment. Today’s post will likely seal my fate as ‘churchy’.

It seems that every week I hear news of Christians behaving in ways that are definitely un-Christian. One person walks out on their spouse and children and moves in with someone else. Another person is arrested for drunk driving. Yet another arrested for child molestation. Someone embezzles money from their employer, while another commits fraud in their business. Lying, cheating, stealing, shacking up and all manner of bad behavior. Really? What in the sam-hill are they thinking?

Before you leave me a comment or send me an email accusing me of acting

high and mighty like I’ve never done anything wrong,

let me set the record straight.

I’ve been the worst of offenders in regard to sexual promiscuity. I’m sure I have taken a pens or notepads from an employer at some time in the past. In my twenties I drove when I was too drunk to be behind the wheel. I am not angel and I think that is why I get so frustrated with bad behavior. I know how easy it is to try to justify bad behavior. I’ve done it and there is no justification for it.

We are not surprised when those who don’t know Jesus act like a person who doesn’t know Jesus, but when a Christian acts like a person who doesn’t know Jesus…well, it can be devastating. When I was writing the Legacy Bible study, I came across a verse of Scripture from Titus 2 that is frequently used to encourage older men and women to mentor younger men and women in their Christian walk. Have you ever read it in The Message? Ya’ll, it slayed me. Stopped me dead in my tracks. Take a minute and read it from The Message:

1 Your job is to speak out
on the things that make for solid doctrine.

2 Guide older men into lives of temperance,
dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance.

3 Guide older women into lives of reverence
so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks,
but models of goodness.

4 By looking at them, the younger women
will know how to love their husbands and children,

5 be virtuous and pure, keep a good house,be good wives.

We don't want anyone looking down
on God's Message because of their behavior. (emphasis, mine)

6 Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.

7 But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself,
incorruptible in your teaching,

8 your words solid and sane.
Then anyone who is dead set against us,
when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around.

Right there in verse 5 is where I got the wind knocked out of me. “We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior”. Oh, no!! Have I, by my behavior, caused others to look down on or disdain God’s Word? Oh my word, I’m sure I have. Lord, please forgive me for causing another to stumble or pass up the opportunity to have Jesus as their best friend.

Think, people! Think before you act in a way that you know is wrong.

You could be the reason a lost person walks away from Jesus. Everything you do and say is part of your LEGACY. Think, my friend, before you act.

MEDITATION MOMENT:
Do you want to be the reason someone looks down on the gospel?
Is your momentary pleasure worth risking someone else's eternal future?

Top Ten Events that Shaped My Life

2011-06-28T10:15:00.000-04:00

My friend, Cindy Bultema over at She Sparkles, did a Top Ten post today and it got me thinking about doing a Top Ten Tuesday post. Hmmm, what topic could I focus on for a Top Ten?? I could do my top ten favorite foods or top ten fav songs or top ten fav books. However, none of that really resonated with me.

Then it hit me!! My Bible study is about the topic of Legacy. I will do my Top Ten Tuesday post about the events that shaped my life...all of which are part of my legacy.

So, here goes in no particular order.

ONE

Recognized I could never be good enough to get to heaven on my own.

Asked Jesus into my heart in December 1979.

TWO

Spent tons of time with my paternal grandmother

who loved Jesus like a crazy woman.

THREE

Participated on the debate team in Jr. High.

Here began my love affair with public speaking.

(I know, I'm a freak and a nerd!)

FOUR

Worked at Emory University in the Lipid Division.

Did a ton of public speaking presentations

for various pharmaceutical companies about their medications

to lower cholesterol. This cemented my passion for public speaking.

FIVE

My precious Daddy was diagnosed with

metastatic colon cancer in December 2002.

This was the point at which I had to decide

if what i believed was really real.

Was God who He said he was?

SIX

Married Greg in 1995.

I may not have made many good choices

in my life up to that point,

but this was a really, really good choice on my part.

SEVEN

Began hosting a Tuesday morning ladies Bible study

in 2001 that was birthed out of my incredible hunger for the Word.

We still meet on Tuesdays! These girls are so special to me.

EIGHT

God ~~called~~ dragged me into ministry in 2007.
Specifically a speaking ministry.

I was sure it would be a disaster
because of my tendancy toward pride.

He assured me that He would keep my pride in check.

Boy, has He! The past four years have been A-MAZING!

NINE

Wrote and published

From the Trash Pile to the Treasure Chest: Creating a Godly Legacy

in 2009 and 2010.

Actually, God wrote it, I just typed.

I know with all my heart that the words are His

and that He is and will use them for His glory

and for the good of others.

TEN

Through a series of miracles,

God brought Greg and me back to Blairsville in late 1999.

I had no idea at the time why we were coming home.

God did. I have come full-circle.

Thanks for letting me share my top ten. There were more than ten but I will save them for another time. Have a great Tuesday.

Get Wisdom - Proverbs 21:1

2011-06-27T03:00:00.004-04:00

Because of my family’s past experiences in politics, I HATE politics. So, let’s establish up front that this is not a political post. Got it? Good!

What this is, is a post about what God’s Word says about politics. In today’s edition of Get Wisdom!, we will look at Proverbs 21:1 to see what nuggets of wisdom we can find about the state of politics in our world today. I’m offering you a few versions of this verse below.

“The Lord can control a king’s mind as he controls a river;
he can direct it as he pleases.” (NCV)

“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will.” (ESV)

“Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God;
he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.” (The Message)

Regardless of where you live, there are likely political officials with whom you do not agree. In our cities, states, and countries, political officials cannot please all of the people all of the time. Particularly disconcerting are those decisions that are in direct contradiction to God’s Word. How do we square this verse with the fact that God has given man free will?

In this verse we find that the phrase ‘king’s heart’ means the mind of or discernment of the ruler. We find from the original language that the word ‘pleases’ is the Hebrew word ‘hapes’ which means ‘to delight in, be pleased with’. What we learn is that the mind of a ruler will be controlled by the desire of God. God is definitely the power-player here. Does this mean that every decision a ruler makes is right and good? No, it does not. This is where free will enters the picture. God allows all of us free will to make decisions. I believe what it does mean is that God knows beforehand about poor decisions by a ruler and He will use them to accomplish His will.

Consider Pharaoh. God knew and told Moses that Pharaoh would harden his heart nine times (Exodus 8-10) with regard to letting the Israelites leave Egypt. In fact, God’s Word says that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart in Exodus 9:12; 10:1; 10:20; and 10:27. Preventing the Israelites from leaving would appear to be a poor decision on Pharaoh’s part from the standpoint of the Israelites. However, only God saw the big picture and knew that ultimately Pharaoh would allow the Israelites departure and they would go with the blessing (as well as the plunder) of the Egyptians.

Do I understand the ways of God and why He allows the Hitlers, Stalins, Khomeinis, Husseins, and so many other evil rulers into power? No, but I must trust that He is ultimately in control and that He will use kings, presidents and rulers to accomplish His purposes. This is one area where should fervently pray

“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

MEDITATION MOMENT: Are you willing to commit to praying for the political leaders in your nation, state, county and city every day? I commit to praying for President Obama every day this week.
How about you? Who will you pray for by name this week?
Leave me a comment telling me which political leader(s)
you will be praying for this week.

Quotes that Speak Outloud

2011-06-24T06:57:00.000-04:00

Hi ya'll! Today is Friday and I'm headed for work, but I wanted to offer up a few quotes that have spoken to my heart in recent days. Some spoke softly while others shouted. I offer them in the hope that they will speak to you as well.

First one for those of us who are CONTROL FREAKS! Welcome to my world.

Someone has altered the script. My lines have been changed...
I thought I was writing this play. Madeleine L'Engle

Now for a quote on character,

which is a topic that fills an entire chapter of this Bible study.

We always have a choice
about the contents and character of our inner lives.
John Ortberg

On living the Christian life..from John Ortberg's book

When the Game is Over It All Goes Back in the Box.

Christian journalist Greg Levoy has said that Jesus promised
those who would follow him only three things:
that they would be absurdly happy,
entirely fearless,
and always in trouble.
The problem is that most of us figure that two out of three ain't bad.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

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By the way I am having trouble with Blogger refusing to let me leave comments on certain blogs. Not all Blogger blogs, just ones with certain comment formats like my friend Ginger's blog. Ginger: I'm reading, but can't comment!! Anyone else having this problem????

Heart Check

2011-06-23T03:00:00.006-04:00

Am I making a difference for Jesus in this world?

Not for Leah, but for Jesus and His kingdom.

This is a question I ask myself periodically, especially in the days leading up to a speaking engagement. In late 2007, I experienced an unmistakable call to a speaking ministry, which also necessitates a writing ministry. Over the course of almost four years, God has taken me down paths and into places I never dreamed of going. I am still nearly speechless over the fact that He would use me in His kingdom. That is the point where I have to stop and ask the question ‘Am I making a difference?’ You see, I have no doubt that God has called me and that He will use me, but am I cooperating with Him and making a difference or am I just along for the ride to see where God will take me and claim some glory of my own along the way?

You cannot answer that question for me and in truth, I wouldn’t want you to even try. I must lay my heart bare before the Holy Spirit and ask Him to reveal the motives of my heart.

Am I ministering out of my own power or out of His?

Do I see people through Jesus’ eyes or my own?

Do I seek my own glory or the renown of Jesus?

Am I prideful over the ministry that God has appointed to me or do I serve out of humility?

If God’s idea of ministry for me is always small and local rather than large and nationwide, am I prepared to bend my knee to that?

Who is the focus of the ministry that God has given me…..God or me?

If no speaking opportunities come my way for months and months, am I content to spend my time developing a more intimate relationship with Jesus?

These are huge, gut-wrenching, heart-searching questions for me.

I’m convinced that ministry is similar to a small child learning to walk. It requires baby steps and a few stumbles to remind you that you are not the one empowering the work. All too often, I may allow myself to get on ‘ministry autopilot’ when it comes to the parts of ministry that I do well. Then God throws me a curveball and says, “Ok, girl, let’s see how this one works for you.” You see, He wants to remind me that it is not all about me. I may start running in this ministry race when He intends for me to still be walking.

In his book, When the Game is Over it All Goes Back in the Box, John Ortberg tells the story of his friend Max and Max’s granddaughter (p.142). The little girl asks Max if he would like to see her run. Max is a bit perplexed because thus far she has not excelled at walking, although she seems to have mastered falling.

Max tells his granddaughter that he would love to see her run.

“She lined up on one side of the room and sprinted across to the other side, directly into the refrigerator, and fell backward spread eagle onto the floor. Concerned, Max hurried over to her and said, ‘Honey, you’ve got to learn to stop.’ She looked up at him with a big grin and said, ‘Grandpa, I’m learning how to run.’”

As I serve, am I walking with God, running ahead of God, or have I been knocked to the floor because he needed to teach me a lesson?

Heart check!!

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Out of the Mouth of Babes

2011-06-21T03:00:00.017-04:00

Once a quarter I teach the Bible lesson in Kidz Own Worship (KOW) at my church. This is a very ACTIVE group and there can be as many as 30 kids in KOW. These are 4 year olds through 2nd grade and they are INTIMDATING to this Bible teacher. I can stand in front of hundreds of women and never get nervous, but put me in front of these kids and I'm a bona-fide basket case. These are little kids!

I'm terrified I'm going to ruin them for life.

My assigned Sunday to teach in KOW came up in November just about two weeks after I returned from my most recent trip to Israel. I decided I would do a show and tell about my trip. I took stones and olive wood and pictures and all kinds of neat things to show them. I told them about being baptized in the Jordan River, walking up the steps to Caiaphas' house, riding in a boat on the Sea of Galilee and so much more.

They really loved it.

Fast forward to yesterday. I got a Facebook message from one of the moms of an adorable little girl named Tori. Tori is well-behaved, pays attention, and usually has the right answers for my questions. She has beautiful brown eyes and is a precious child. Here is what her mom, Becky, told me on Facebook.

"Good morning, Leah. I just wanted to share something with you. The other day Tori and I were talking. We started talking about the cross and Tori asked me if the cross was on display somewhere. I told her that was a great question and she should ask Bro. Fred (our pastor). She quickly replied,

'Oh, I can ask Ms. Leah, Mommy.

She was baptized in the same river as Jesus!'

She was so excited and envious of you being in the same place where Jesus once walked. As she told me this, she was in awe. It made my heart jump with joy. I just wanted to thank you for teaching in Kidz Own Worship." Becky

BAHAHAHAHAHA! Ya'll, I laughed outloud. How adorable!! How precious!! Tori was listening to what I taught. I called my pastor and told him that he was now chopped liver and my pay grade had gone up because I was baptized in the same river as Jesus!!!!!

I failed to mention to the little kiddos that Bro. Fred was the one who baptized me in that Jesus-river!!!

When I told my husband, he looked at me and said, "I bet she thinks you were baptized in the same river AT THE SAME TIME as Jesus!! Boooooo!!

Out of the mouth of babes!!!

Get Wisdom!! - Proverbs 18:13

2011-06-20T03:00:00.006-04:00

You are one of three very eager contestants on a game show. In order to win the grand prize of $100,000 you must be the first person to answer 10 out of 10 questions correctly. The catch is that all three of you hear the question at the same time, so you must shout out your answer before the others are able to shout their answer.

The game show host asks if everyone is ready. Each of you answer ‘yes’. He begins to ask the first question.

“What is the largest…”

You shout, “An elephant.”

The host continues, “…..land mass on earth?”

Another contestant answers correctly and is credited with one point. You realize that you have just blown your chance of winning by jumping the gun and answer the question without even hearing it.

The Bible addresses this type of behavior in Proverb 18: 13 and that is what we will think about in today’s edition of Get Wisdom!! Choose your translation and let’s check it out:

“Listen before you answer.
If you don’t you are being stupid and insulting.” (GNT)

“He who answers before listening—
that is his folly and his shame.” (NIV)

“Anyone who answers without listening
is foolish and confused.” (NCV)

“He who answers a matter before he hears it,
it is folly and shame to him.” (NKJV)

GUILTY!! I am so guilty of this. I cannot even tell you how many times my poor husband has said to me, “Let me finish what I was saying!” I have proven myself to not only NOT be a good listener, but also prideful to think that I know what he was going to say. The really sad part is that I have found myself doing this more often than I would care to admit and not just with my husband. This verse brings a dump-truck load of conviction to my heart.

I don’t want to appear stupid, foolish or confused. How about you? I want to be a wise woman who knows how to zip her lip until she has all the facts. It is only then that I should open my mouth to give an answer.

Lord, please help me to keep quiet until I have all the facts and only then to speak with an instructed tongue.

MEDITATION MOMENT: Are you a zipped-lip person or a speak-before-you-hear-all-the-facts type? If you tend to speak too quickly, what can you do to change?

June 16th - It's My Birthday

2011-06-16T01:00:00.005-04:00

When I shot this video the sun was directly in front of me so I look like I am frowning all the way through it. Be sure and listen to the end. I bet many of you can identify with the story I read near the end.

Boundary Lines

2011-06-14T04:44:00.001-04:00

I'm over at the Internet Cafe' talking about the need for boundary line in our ministries...and in our lives. I'd love for you to stop by.

Ministry Boundary Lines

Get Wisdom!! - Proverbs 17:18

2011-06-13T03:00:00.004-04:00

Hey, wise women and men!! I hope that our Get Wisdom series is speaking into your life in amazing ways. Today I want us to look at a proverb that was a complete shocker to me. I had no idea that the Bible addressed the issue of co-signing loans for others. Did you? Let’s take a look at this very pertinent topic. Pick your translation of Proverbs 17:18.

A man lacking in judgment strikes hand in pledge
and puts up security for his neighbor. (NIV)

It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt
or put up security for a friend. (NLT)

It is not wise to promise to pay
what your neighbor owes. (NCV)

One without sense enters an agreement
and puts up security for his friend. (HCS)

WOW!! Did you know that? If you are like me, you have been asked to co-sign loans for others in the past. Did you do it? What was the outcome? It was not until I went through the Crown Financial Small Group Bible study that I discovered the Bible warns us against this behavior. Thankfully, I had never co-signed on a note prior to learning about this principle in God’s Word.

The statistics on co-signing are staggering. Consider the following from my Crown Financial Small group study handbook: 50 percent of those who co-signed for bank loans ended up making the payment, while 75 percent of those who co-signed for finance company loans ended up making the payment!!! The bad thing is that few people who co-sign actually plan to pay the loan.

What if you have co-signed for another person? Does the Bible address this situation? As a matter of fact, it does. In Proverbs 6:1-5 (NLT) we find Solomon saying this:

My child, if you have put up security for a friend’s debt or agreed to guarantee the debt of a stranger—if you have trapped yourself by your agreement and are caught by what you said---follow my advice and save yourself, for you have placed yourself at your friend’s mercy. Now swallow your pride; go and beg to have your name erased. Don’t put it off; do it now! Don’t rest until you do. Save yourself like a gazelle escaping from a hunter, like a bird fleeing from a net.”

Weeellll, allrighty then! God is pretty danged serious about this issue of co-signing for others, isn’t He? So, what is the take home here?

1. Don’t co-sign for the debts of others. Period.

2. If you have already co-signed, try everything you can to get your name removed from the note.

3. Ask the Lord to work in the situation and protect you from financial damage.

I am so excited about all the wisdom we are gaining as we take this journey through the book of Proverbs. I’ll see you right back here next Monday!!

Comfort Food? Not!

2011-06-11T11:42:00.001-04:00

Comfort Food.

I am reading Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst. To be totally honest and transparent, I NEVER intended to read it. Because of my history, (there are 4 parts to my story) I have made a concerted effort to avoid things that tell me I cannot have or do not need to have certain foods. That was what got me into the death trap I was in and I’m determined to avoid going back there at all costs. So, when I heard about Made to Crave and that it dealt with using food as comfort, I decided I would not go there. When I heard that Lysa used the no-sugar approach, I was certain the book was not for me.

Comfort Food.

What an oxymoron! Food as comfort? Surely you are kidding. Now, before you leave comments about how food has been a comfort to you, let me clarify my words. I KNOW that for many people food is a comfort and a stress reliever. However, for me, because of my history, food has mostly been an enemy. For one bound by the chains of anorexia, food is never a comfort. It is a weapon used by the demon who harrasses you day and night. Food is to be avoided as much as possible.

NEVER would food be comforting.

So, I did not buy Made to Crave. However, I did end up winning it on my friend Pat’s blog. Dang it!! Now, I felt obligated to at least read it. I reasoned that since I was in women’s ministry and since so many women use food as comfort, perhaps it would help me relate to women better. So, I am about half way through it and while I have never satisfied my deepest desires with food, I know the battle with an idol very well. No, food was not my idol….my body was my idol.

Has Made to Crave rocked my world? No. It is reminding me, however, that only God deserves my worship. If food is your idol, my friend, know that you are in good company.

I am a recovering body-worshipping, food-hating, anorexic,

girl who loves Jesus with all her heart.

And by the way, if you do use food as comfort, I would recommend you check out Made to Crave.

God's Speech Therapy

2011-06-10T03:00:00.002-04:00

Words.

Language.

I have a phrase stuck in my mind from my read-through-the-Bible-in-one-year effort. The phrase ‘pure language’ comes from Zephaniah 3: 9 (NKJV). I cannot get it out of my head. It struck me as quite foreign, yet something to be very much desired.

Think about it. How much of the language we hear today is pure? We watch TV only to hear bleep, bleep when profanity pours from the mouths of actors and actresses. Movie viewing does not provide anything better, and usually much worse. In another time, gentlemen never uttered profanity in the presence of ladies. Now, profanity is the language many use to express themselves. Four letter word after four letter word. The name of our Lord used in hideous ways.

Even those of us who do not use profanity often give in to using our language to manipulate and hurt other people. We speak words that shame or humiliate adults and children in our spheres of influence. We gossip about or slander others. Our tongues speak lies as if there were no consequences for such behavior.

What would a world with a pure language even sound like? I’m not sure we can imagine it because we are so inundated with language that is un-pure. But Zephaniah 3:9 tells us that one day God will “purify the speech”, “give the people a language that is undistorted, unpolluted”, “purify the lips” of the people so that we will worship God as one.

Think about it. Can you imagine it? A ‘pure language’.

I think it will be quite wonderful!

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Join me for the Company Girl blog hop!

Family and a College Friend

2011-06-08T16:19:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago we had a family reunion on my mom's side of the family. I got to see cousins that I had not seen in a few years. FUN!! It just did not last long enough.

Carol Parker and Jimmie Collins

Carol is a wonderful new addition to our family. She married my first cousin, Greg, and they live in Houston. It had been three years since we saw them.

Mom, Greg Parker and one of mother's sisters, Jean Kendall.

Cole King and my nephew Coleson Daniel

Mother and her other sister, Janie Collins

My very handsome and very SINGLE cousin, Justin Collins

My sister, Leslie and her family.

More cousins and aunts

Jimmie Collins, Mike Parker and Jill Parker - all cousins of mine

Janene King and Greg Parker

My cousin Pam Floyd and her daughter Vanessa

Two of mother's brothers, Zane Parker and Jack Parker

This was toooooo funny. This squirrel was hanging over the edge of the trash can nibbling on food that he found in the trash can. He hung out there for about twenty minutes.

We have been in Pigeon Forge for a few days and I got to meet up with a classmate from pharmacy school who lives and works in Pigeon Forge. Jeanne and Don were precious to visit with. Jeanne and I had a chance to visit and catch up on what has gone on over the past twenty four years!! Oh my word, it has been twenty four years since I graduated from pharmacy school. Good grief!!

Jeanne Dobbs and me

Get Wisdom!! - Proverbs 16:9

2011-06-06T03:00:00.003-04:00

Are you a planner or a spur-of-the-moment kinda girl?

Do you adore spontaneity or must your days be ordered and orderly?

Do you make your plans, then consult God or are you careful to ask God what He wants before you make plans?

Today in our Get Wisdom series we are going to hear from God about plans and planning from Proverbs 16:9. Choose your translation and let’s get started.

People may make plans in their minds,
but the Lord decides what they will do. (NCV)

In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps. (NIV)

A man's heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps (NKJV)

In 2009 and 2010 I was involved in planning two different women’s events. Both were weekend events where I, along with others, would be speaking. We had plans for awesome music, as well as time for reflection on what God was doing in the lives of the attendees. The 2009 event was a conference that had taken place annually for 4 years and one that many women eagerly anticipated, while the 2010 event was a fresh effort that utilized the talents of three different ministry leaders. The goal of both events was to glorify Jesus and draw women closer to Him.

There was only one problem. Throughout the planning phase of each event, I experienced unrest in my heart. I felt the Lord saying “No” to the events; however, as I talked to the leadership team of one of the events about my unrest, I discovered that no one else seemed to be getting a “No” from the Holy Spirit. So, we moved forward with planning.

The longer we planned the more I heard “No”, to the point that when I would think about either event, I became almost physically sick. Finally, I told the leadership team of the 2009 event that I just could not move forward because God’s “NO” was being broadcast with a bullhorn into my heart. I told them they were welcome to do it without me, but I could not be part of it. For the 2010 event, we did not meet our registration goals and consequently decided to scrap the event.

The best laid plans of mice and men…and women…are futile if God is not in them. When you and I try to operate outside the plans of the Lord, we are only spinning our wheels and wasting our time. God cannot and will not bless plans made outside His will. Plans that align with the will of God, however, produce supernatural results. We will not always understand why God says “Yes” to some things, “No” to others, and ‘Wait” to yet others. That is where faith steps in. We must believe that God knows best what needs to happen. Our responsibility is to seek His direction, plan accordingly, and be obedient.

MEDITATION MOMENT:

What plans are you currently making?

Have you consulted the Lord about them?

Are you hearing “Yes” or “No” or maybe “Not Now”?

What action will you take based on what you are hearing from the Lord?

Do You Have a Life Verse?

2011-06-03T03:00:00.015-04:00

What is a “life verse”? A life verse is one that is especially meaningful to you. It often makes a statement about who you are or what God has done in your life. Your life verse may be one upon which you build the foundation of your life. Perhaps your life verse reminds you of a time in your life when you were totally and completely dependent on God to bring you through trials. It may be your personal mission statement or provide goals for spiritual growth.

Psalm 3: 3 (NIV) is my life verse.

"But you are a shield around me, O Lord;
you bestow glory on me and lift up my head."

I stand in such desperate need of Jesus Christ. I messed up so much of my earlier life with poor choices and stupid decisions in the areas of sex, dating, body image, and so much more. It frightens me to think how quickly I could revert back to being that person were it not for Christ acting as a shield around me—literally protecting me from my own stupidity. The Holy Spirit and the Word of God provide me with the protection that I cannot provide for myself from Satan and the tricks he uses to entice me to fall into sin. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are a shield around me.

Jesus, in His ridiculous, outrageous, unspeakable grace bestows His glory on me. That is so hard for me to comprehend!!!! I have messed up so many times. I have allowed myself into situations that were so far from imparting the “glory of God” that I cringe just to think of them. I have, so very often in my past, been the sinful woman upon whom Jesus bestowed such amazing grace. Yet, He never condemned me, he never shamed me. He only loved me and gave me His glory, and in the process, reached down with those nail pierced hands and lifted my head so that I could see only Him.

Let me tell you, friend, when Jesus lifts your head and bestows His glory on you, there is no walking around in shame. He makes certain you understand that you are a daughter of THE KING. He makes you feel worthwhile and valuable to Him.

God’s mercy, grace, protection, glory, and unconditional love are the reasons why Psalm 3: 3 is my life verse. It describes perfectly what Jesus did for me and will continue to do for me until He says that it is time for me to go home to heaven.

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE VERSE?

WHY IS IT YOUR LIFE VERSE?

Life Goals

2011-06-02T03:00:00.012-04:00

In the past year I have become a fan of Michael Hyatt's blog. Mr. Hyatt is the former Chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers and his blog is chock full of timely wisdom about leadership, productivity, publishing and social media. Through his blog, I have been reminded of the importance of creating goals for my life. Developing goals for our lives ensures that we don't wander aimlessly through life, accomplishing little. Goals give us a road map by which to navigate, as well as mileposts against which we can check our progress.

This week in this post, Mr. Hyatt talked about the importance of putting my goals in written form. Now, while I had thought about my life goals and prayed about my life goals, I had never actually committed them to writing until recently. What about you? Have you pondered and prayed about what your goals are for your life? What is your purpose? What do you want to accomplish? What is PRIORITY for you? How do family, friends, career and free time fit into your goals? If you really think about it, this topic is H-U-G-E.

I thought I would take some space and share with you a few of my life goals with the hope that it will encourage you to ponder your goals and put them in writing. I'm going to put them into categories: Personal and Family, Ministry.

Leah's Life Goals

Personal and Family

Develop a more intimate walk with Jesus through a more focused prayer life.
Be totally present and focused on each Bible study that I do.
Deepen my relationship with my husband through deeper conversation and sharing, as well as being a true servant to him.
Downsize our home.
Become debt free.
Although I am thankful for my education, my goal is to no longer have to work as a pharmacist.
Make time for relaxation and pleasure reading.
Seek more opportunities to give sacrificially.
Read more of the classics.
Leave a godly LEGACY for those who come behind me.

Ministry

Focus my ministry on women in their 20's and 30's, while continuing to serve those who are in their 40s and above.
Write a second Bible study....and maybe a third, fourth, etc.
Seek opportunities to guest post or write on blogs and in magazines. Write as the Lord leads.
Expanded speaking ministry - speak at least once per month as the Lord brings opportunities.
Develop better listening skills and be fully present in each conversation that the Lord blesses me with.
Move my website to WordPress.
Be an encourager of others in ministry.

These are some of my goals. There are more that are just too personal to put on this website, but I hope you get the idea.

What about you? What are some of your goals? I'd love for you to share.

A Small Request

2011-05-31T11:03:00.000-04:00

I should have done this sooner, but I thought it would get better and not be such an annoyance. I am such a huge believer in prayer and am always so eager and honored to pray for others. Yet, I hesitate to burden others with my own prayer needs.....especially in light of the enormity of the needs of others. Joplin, Tuscaloosa, Mississippi and Louisiana, friends' battles with cancer, job loss, foreclosures, death, devastation. So much hurt, so much pain. My request is so small in comparison.

Yet, it has affected me A LOT. And so, I come to you today to ask you, if the Lord brings me to your mind, to ask Him for healing for my hips according to His plan and purpose.

About two months ago, I began experiencing pain in my left hip. At it's worst, I could barely walk. I began taking anti-inflammatory medication and it got some better....as long as I stayed on the meds. Over time, the right hip felt that it should get into the act and so it began hurting, too. Eventually, the pharmacist self-medication solution was not working and so I went to my doctor. She asked me to show her where it hurt and when I did said, "You have greater trochanter bursitis."

Great! Now my pain had a name!! She told me that the best and surest way to rid myself of this unwelcome visitor was through steroid injections into the bursa of each hip. Thrilling!! NOT!! Nevertheless, I agreed and each hip was the recipient of an injection. The next day was VERY PAINFUL because of the probing around of the needle in order to get all the steroid into the bursa of the hips!! However, I did experience some improvement over the course of a week. The downside is that the pain in the left hip has not completely resolved. I'm back on the anti-inflammatory medication in hope of getting rid of this mess.

The big problem in all this is that the hips need R-E-S-T. That means no exercise. I'm not good at NO EXERCISE. I've exercised for 25 years. It is like breathing to me. I need it physically, but as importantly, I need it mentally. R-E-S-T also is a problem for me as a pharmacist. I stand on my feet for 10 hours a day at work.

So, I have decided to take a three pronged approach.

First, I'm asking you to pray for healing according to God's plan and purpose. I really want to be able to exercise again.
Second, I am eliminating exercise (ANGUISHED SIGH) for about 10 days and see if it helps.(I may be a bigger mental case than I already am by the end of 10 days. Just warning you in advance!!!! Maybe you should also pray for my husband.)
Third, I am going to not work for about 2 weeks (beginning this Saturday).

Thank you for reading my whiny post and for your prayers.

GET Wisdom! - Proverbs 15:3

2011-05-30T03:00:00.001-04:00

Do you remember when you were young and it seemed like you could not get away with anything? It was as if your mom had eyes in the back of her head. How in the sam-hill did she know about some of the things you did? Today in our GET Wisdom series, we consider this issue of being ‘found out’. Let’s take a peek at Proverbs 15:3:

The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
keeping watch on the wicked and the good. (NIV)

The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good. (NKJV)

God doesn’t miss a thing—
he’s alert to good and evil alike. (The Message)

The Lord sees what happens everywhere;
he is watching us, whether we do good or evil. (GNT)

Whether we like it or not, God sees everything we do. Our good deeds, our bad deeds, our secret sins and our out-in-the-open sins. Nothing is hidden.

Most of us are quick to draw attention to the good things that we do in life, but how eager are we to admit and agree with God about the bad things we do? Not many of us jump up and down with our hand raised, yelling, “Hey God, look at me, I told a lie!” Nope! We want our bad behavior to go unnoticed by God.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. God knew about our bad behavior long before it ever was played out on the stage of life. He saw us while we were behaving badly and He knew the consequences our behavior would bring. Yes, I said consequences.

In our human-ness, we hope that our bad behavior will not be found out. If however, it is discovered, we then hope that there will not be consequences or punishment for that behavior. In many cases our society today calls right what God calls wrong. This does not sway God’s opinion about the wrongness of our behavior. He does not look the other way or excuse our sin. Psalm 50: 21 (NIV) reminds us of this. In the verses preceding verse 21, the psalmist lists all kinds of evil in which we engage such as ignoring God’s Word, stealing, having an affair (adultery), gossip, lying, and slandering another. God says:

“These things you have done and I kept silent;
you thought I was altogether like you.
But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face.”

God sees our rebellion and disobedience. He does NOT turn His holy head and ignore it. This is why there is so much wisdom in the words of my mother. She advised me to 'never do anything that I would be embarrassed to do if Jesus were standing in front of me'.

So, my friend, are you keenly aware that God sees your every move and knows your every thought? He does, but the good news is that He loves you anyway!! Now, that is good news!

Paper Plate People

2011-05-25T05:00:00.000-04:00

On special occasions I use my fine china to serve dinner to friends and family. It is a Lenox pattern that has a cream background with black and gold bands around the edge, making it particularly delicate. Because of the gold edge, I have to hand-wash the china and dry it so as not to damage the gold edge. My china is special to me; therefore, I treat it carefully.

Casual dinners with friends and family are typically not fine china occasions. In fact, I have been known to open a pack of paper plates and offer them as the resting place for a hamburger or hot dog. Although paper plates are often flimsy and require several to support a meaty burger, they are cheap and disposable and it doesn’t matter if you need two or three to make it through a meal. Once we finish eating, the paper plate is not washed, nor is it even cleaned off. It is immediately thrown in the garbage and not given another thought.

This all begs the question of how you and I treat the people in our lives. Are they china people with whom we take great care; treating them as special and valuable? Or do we treat those in our lives as if they are PAPER PLATE PEOPLE—cheap, flimsy and disposable.

I recall a time when it was made painfully evident to me that I was treating others as paper plate people. In the 1990’s I worked at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. My job as a research coordinator required that I see research study patients in the clinic, but also interact with the laboratory staff in the basic science section of the university. One day when I was talking with one of the PhDs in the lab, she looked at me and said, “I’m not sure what makes you feel like you are better than those of us in the lab, but you are not! You don’t need to treat us like we are second class citizens.”

At first I was mad. How dare she accuse me of being a snob? Then my anger turned to dismay and hurt. I had no idea that I was coming across like that. The lab personnel perceived that I was treating them like PAPER PLATE PEOPLE. It was such a huge ‘A-Ha’ moment for me. Regardless of what I felt, the perception of those around me was what mattered in this case. My actions said to the lab staff that I thought I was better than them and they were not important. I apologized profusely and promised to be more aware of my actions.

Who in your sphere of influence are you treating like a paper plate person?

Who do you pass everyday who feels in their heart like a paper plate person?

Is it a teenager who feels like they never do anything right?

What about a 20-something who perceives that Christians judge them?

Is it a divorced person whose entire world has changed?

Could it be the man or woman who spent time in jail for a crime but is now free and seeking to start over?

Does your spouse feel like a paper plate person in their own home?

Jesus was clear that the world would know we belong to Him by the love that we live out in our lives. No matter who He was around, Jesus never treated anyone like a paper plate person. I hope you will join me in asking the Lord to show you those in your life who feel like paper plate people. When he does, let’s show them the love and compassion of Jesus.

Have a blessed Memorial Day weekend! Never forget those who have given their lives so we can live free! See you Monday for Get Wisdom!!

A Giveaway...and a Legacy Study Leader Guide

2011-05-24T03:00:00.004-04:00

Randomness.....Major randomness today.

I am very excited to announce that I have developed a Leader Guide for my Bible study, From the Trash Pile to the Treasure Chest: Creating a Godly Legacy. It gives you 7 sessions worth of suggested questions and material to cover in your small group. I am offering the Leader Guide FREE to anyone purchasing their group's workbooks directly from me. For those who purchase from other sources (i.e. Crossbooks, Lifeway, Amazon, B&N, etc) there will be small fee of $3 plus shipping (if required) for the Leader Guide. I can email the Leader Guide or send it via regular mail.

It is not too early to begin thinking about what Bible study you and your group will be doing in the fall. I would be honored if you decided to do my study! To that end, I am going to be running a summer special on the workbooks. For every 10 workbooks that you purchase, I will give you one FREE workbook. I will also toss in a FREE Leader Guide. You can learn more about pricing by clicking over to my Legacy Bible Study page. Oh, by the way, my Legacy Bible Study is available as an E-BOOK for Kindle and Nook. Yippee!!

Let me tell you there are some mighty awesome giveaway bundles over at the Internet Cafe' Devo site. Get yourself over there and register ASAP because the winner will be drawn on Monday. Here's the link.

Because I have recently purchased a NOOKcolor as an early birthday gift, I would really like to hear from you what books you think I should download onto my NOOK. I've already downloaded a few Bibles (ESV, HCSB, Message), Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers and Bonhoffer by Eric Metaxas. I have read the hard-copy of Crazy Love, unChristian, and Radical, but plan to download those as well. So, what books do you suggest?

GET Wisdom!! - Proverbs 15:2

2011-05-23T03:00:00.003-04:00

Are you growing wiser as you grow older?

I hope our Get Wisdom series is helping you do just that. I certainly do not want to be considered to be a fool, much less an OLD fool. Can you stand some more wisdom today from the book of Proverbs? Join me in Proverbs 15:2.

“When wise people speak, they make knowledge attractive,
but stupid people spout nonsense.” (GNT)

“The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.” (NKJV)

“Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise;
fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.” (The Message)

“The wise person makes learning a joy;
fools spout only foolishness.” (NLT)

Nothing gets me in more trouble than my mouth! I have a small ceramic sign that my friend, Cindy, gave me that says, “Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth!” It really is a perfect prayer for me and the funny thing is that she got one for herself when she got mine.

Aren’t the ways of the Lord strange sometimes? The very thing that gets me in the most trouble is the thing that He calls me to use most in ministry. The moment I heard the call to a speaking ministry, I knew that I would constantly struggle to allow the Lord to speak through me. I have such a tendency to speak with my mouth before my heart and mind engage. Thus, very often I have wounded others with my words of nonsense.

This verse from Proverbs applies to everyone—not only speakers and teachers. Other people can learn from you and me as we allow our words to be wise, but when we do not ask God for wisdom for the words we speak, we have little to offer others that is wise.

So, what does this look like in real life? For me, it means asking God on a daily basis to pour His wisdom into me so that it flows out of me when I my mouth opens. If I am faithful to ask, He will give me what Isaiah 50: 14 (NIV) calls an instructed tongue. Consider this verse:

“The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue
to know that word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.”

I want an instructed tongue so I can make knowledge and learning something that others desire…especially learning about Jesus. What about it, friend? Shall we turn off the leaky faucet of our mouth that drips nonsense and seek to pour out words of wisdom?

May I pray about this for us?

Lord, please give my friends and me your wisdom in the words that we speak. Help us have tongues that are instructed or taught by YOU. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord.

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Are you interested in winning a copy of my Bible study, From the Trash Pile to the Treasure Chest: Creating a Godly Legacy? Go to the Internet Cafe Devotions site to enter.

Atlanta/North Georgia Event

2011-05-22T06:13:00.000-04:00

Hey all my Atlanta and North Georgia friends,

On Saturday, June 25th, I will be speaking at a ladies brunch at Hickory Flat United Methodist Church in Canton, Ga. We will be discussing our legacy and how to create a godly legacy for the generations that come behind.This will be a very fun BEACH themed brunch, so come in your casual beach or summer clothing!!

I am excited that my friend and ministry partner, Kristin Adams, will be with me and will lead us in praise and worship. This chick knows how to bring out the worship in a group and I L-O-V-E it when she is able to be with me for an event. It is like having my very own female version of Travis Cottrell!!!!!

The cost to attend is $5 and childcare is available for a cost of $5 per child. You MUST PRE-REGISTER for this event by calling the church at 770 345 5969. Come join us and bring a friend. NOW is the time to begin creating a godly legacy!!

Girls Day Out!!

2011-05-19T07:53:00.000-04:00

Today's post is not at all spiritual, but if you are a female type, I think it will bless your heart because every woman needs a 'girl's day out', don't you think?

Most of us go through our wife/mom/employee/sister/duaghter lives like chickens with our heads cut off. Sometimes we just gotta have a day with our girlfriends to decompress and laugh until we nearly wet our pants over silly things. Yesterday was that day for two of my best friends and me. I thought it might be fun for you to join us...since you and I are friends. I warn you though, you have to get up pretty early to partake of one of my girlfriend days.

Do you hear the alarm going off? Don't hit snooze or you will miss the fun!!! I hit the floor between 4 and 4:30am most days. I know it is weird and abnormal and just not right, but I've done it for years...in fact, since I was a little girl. I just have this funky internal alarm that goes off extremely early. I never set an alarm clock. Never. I think if I was still in bed at 6:30am my husband might be calling the local funeral home to ask them to come pick up the body because he would be certain I had died in the night.

Oh yes, it is a curse sometimes, because I am not a very good date at night. By 8:30 pm, I'm yawning and looking for my nightgown. However, I sure do get a lot done early in the morning. So, get out of that bed and let's get going.

My first task in the morning is to throw a load of clothes in the washer. It is unbelievable how many loads of laundry I do for just TWO PEOPLE. What in the world??? I cannot imagine the laundry chores of women who have multiple children plus a husband. Whew!!

Ahhhh, by this time, my Keurig is all heated up and ready to make me a cup of heaven, er, I mean coffee. One cup is all I can do, but I really NEED it.

My next stop is at my computer to do a quick check of email, Facebook and Blogger. Most of my blog posts are scheduled ahead of time, but I always like to make sure they actually posted first thing in the morning.

This little fur-ball is waiting on me in the basement when I am through at the computer. It is breakfast time, Mom....get in here. For the love of Pete, sometimes she acts like she has not eaten in days. She is getting older and we think she might have some health problems. I am in a wait and see mode with her right now. She does Bible study with me each morning and loves to sit in my lap and be stroked.

I settle into my chair at my downstairs table with my coffee, Bible, prayer journal and whatever in-depth Bible study I am doing at that point. Right now, as you can see, it is "Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed". Ya'll, it is an awesome and incredible study! If you have not done it, I highly recommend it. Whew! It is speaking, no screaming into my life.

By 5:30am I am into this little number and at the gym swimming laps. I have been a huge exerciser for 25 years and have always walked for exericse. I still walk but about a year ago I decided that middle age was necessitating a bit of a change-up in my exercise routine. So, I began swimming. LOVE what swimming has done for me. I get a total body workout and I can tell such a difference. I still walk 3-4 days a week and then swim 2 days a week.

Here is my friend and ministry partner, Kristin, proudly displaying her cup of coffee from the first of our MANY bathroom stops in our girls day out. Quick Trip coffee was not bad, I'll have to admit. It served the purpose in lieu of Starbucks. If you are new to The Point, Kristin does the music for many of the events where I speak. Ya'll, you cannot believe how good she is. She has an incredibly powerful voice and can ROCK the house. Recently at one of the events where she and I served, she sang Mercy Seat and I thought the rapture was just going to happen right there. I'm telling you there was not a dry eye in the house. I love having her do the music for my events. It really helps me prepare to speak and the audience is ALWAYS blessed. She is so much fun and I just really adore her!!!!

Ya'll know my friend, Cindy from Life is Good. She and I have been friends for eons. We are both from Blairsville, our husbands hunt and golf together. We both have teeny bladders and must stop at every bathroom on the road to wherever we are going. Cindy is not only my dear friend, but she helps keep me accountable to and focused on the ministry the Lord has assigned to me. We are convinced that one day we will share a room at the local nursing home or insane asylum...whichever comes first!! I am sooo blessed to call her friend.

I dropped Cindy and Kristin off at Phipps Plaza in Atlanta and headed here to get a haircut. I was in desperate need of the wizardry of Keith Robinson and I am never disappointed. I've been going to Van Michael Salon for 22 years. It is located smack in the middle of what is known in Atlanta as "Buckhead" and is a premier Aveda salon. It is a world renowed salon with locations in Atlanta, Miami and Tokyo.

When I went to VMS the first time in 1989, it was the weirdest place I had ever been. Understand I was a red-neck fresh out of the moutains of North Georgia and we just did not have people with fuschia hair, weird clothes and strange music playing where I came from. As I sat in the salon that first time, I thought, "Lord, if you get me out of here, I will never come back." What I did not know at that time was that I was about to get the best haircut available in the free wordl. Yes, I would go back and have for 22 years. I meant to get a pic of Keith but forgot.

Self portrait before going into VMS for my cut....it is totally NOT evident in this picture how badly I needed a haircut. Trust me I did.

After the haircut, I scooted back up to Phipps and met Kristin and Cindy for lunch at Twist. Ya'll we love Twist. It is busy and noisy and full of business people, but the food is divine. Cindy and I always eat their Calamari Salad. Oh, sweet heaven, it is a beautiful thing and we believe it is put there for our edification!!!! It is full of fresh lettuces, artichoke hearts, bananas, cashews and LOADED with lighly battered and fried calamari. The dressing is a very light sweet/tangy/sesame dressing that is perfect. I meant to take a pic of it, but was too enthralled by it and forgot. Sorry.

Thankfully I did not forget to take a picture of THIS:

Ummmmm, have you tried the Mocha Coconut Frapp at Starbucks? Ok, now I am not a chocolate lover, but seriously, this was straight out of heaven. It tastes like a liquid Mounds Bar. The marrying of the sweet coconut and bitter mocha was perfect. I always have my frapps double blended and this one was perfect. With whipped cream and chocolate/caramel drizzle on the top.....well, there are just no words. You HAVE to try one.

This was our final treat of the day after doing a bit of shopping. We headed back home, satisfied and content with a wonderful girlfriend day! Now we are planning a June girl's weekend in Atlanta. Shopping, eating, overnight at a hotel, and church at my old church home, Mt. Paran COG. Anyone want to join us?

Idols and Snares

2011-05-17T04:32:00.000-04:00

Ministry can be a very tricky thing.

You are serving the Lord, seeking His will and being obedient to all that He asks. Then your foot is in a snare before you even knew what grabbed you.

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

To read more on unexpected idols, join me at the Internet Cafe.

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Did you get your weekly dose of wisdom yesterday? If not, join me as we get some wisdom from a pig.

Get Wisdom - Proverbs 11:22

2011-05-16T01:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Get Wisdom! Sometimes there is just no easy way to say a thing and this week’s verse from Proverbs is one of those times. Heaven’s above, it is as if the writer of Proverbs just couldn’t hold his tongue in check and blurts out the first thing that comes to his mind.

Warning: prepare for your sensibilities to be assaulted as you join me in Proverbs 11:22.

“Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful face on an empty head.” (The Message)

“A woman who is beautiful but lacks discretion
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.” (NLT)

“Beauty in a woman without good judgment
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.” (GNT)

I was the poster child for this proverb for many years. Not the beautiful face part. I was a woman that lacked discretion and good judgment and my choices bore witness to it. Consider the definition of discretion:

Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary says that discretion is ‘the quality of being discreet; cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsible decisions.”

Oh my! ‘Cautious reserve in speech’ did not characterize me for many years. If a thought came to my mind, it came out my mouth. For many years I excused my lack of discretion by saying, “that is just how I am—I say what is on my mind.” The problem was that I did not use good judgment or love in what I said or how I said it AND I stepped outside the boundaries of God’s love many times by words and my deeds.

I made some horrendously stupid choices that were a result of not using proper discretion. Sex outside of marriage, the use of profanity, idolizing my body to the point of an eating disorder, marrying the wrong person the first time around,….all adversely affected my physical, spiritual, and emotional health. It wasn’t that I did not know better. I did. I simply did not use discretion and therefore, I chose poorly.

Placing a ring in a pig’s snout has a purpose….it keeps the pig from rooting around and destroying the ground. But a gold ring in a pig’s snout….well, there is no reason to use gold. What a waste of precious metal!

Discretion assures that we will not root around in the ground of sin, wasting the preciousness of the salvation that Jesus offers us. It leads us down the path of purity, holiness, honesty, and trustworthiness. Just as the ring in the nose of the pig is painful when it roots in the ground, discretion causes a person to think twice about their actions.

So, are you using discretion in your daily life? In your speech and your actions?

MEDITATION MOMENT: The use of discretion causes us to make good character choices, which in turn, helps us leave a godly legacy for the generations that come behind us.

Mother's Day Blessing

2011-05-15T16:15:00.000-04:00

My son-by-marriage, Charlie, called me on Sunday to say Happy Mother's Day.

I'm sure you are saying, "So, what? Lot's of moms and step-moms got a call like that".

I probably would say that too, however......

.....however, it was the first time it has ever happened.

.....however, I was SO not nice to him for so many years.

.....however, I just plain do not deserve his love and that call.

.....however, it was such a HUGE display of the power of the Holy Spirit to bring life and love and beauty and joy out of something that, because of my own selfishness and ugliness, had been so wrong for so many years.

We were sitting in a restaurant eating Mother's Day lunch with Greg's parents, sister and brother-in-law when my mobile device rang. I could see it was Charlie and answered it right away. He said, "I just wanted to call and say Happy Mother's Day and I love you!"

Peeps, I could not even respond because of the wave of emotion that came over me. All I could do was sit there in the middle of the restaurant with tears running down my face and try to choke out, "I love you, too." I very nearly had an UGLY-cry right there.

I texted him later and told him that he had no idea how much that meant to me. He texted me back and said, "I love you. You have been the best stepmom in the world." Another UGLY-cry moment.

I know and he knows that I have not always been the best stepmom. I think the fact that he does know all about those years when he was a little boy is why we have the awesome relationship we have now. I was willing to be transparent about those years in this post and God has blessed us with a wonderful relationship because of it.

Stunned!! I am stunned at how God makes beauty out of the a hideous ash heap that I created myself. Blown away and incredibly thankful to my Jesus for the mercy and grace that He showers on me.

Why Did You Not Do What I Asked You To Do?

2011-05-10T04:11:00.000-04:00

I am leading my Sunday Bible class through the incredible study by the three Deeper Still ladies (Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore and Kay Arthur) entitled Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed. In week two, Priscilla leads us to consider David and his obedience toward God, even in times when obedience did not make sense. She encourages us to do something that was EYE-OPENING to me. I wanted to share it with in hope that it would put the discipline of obedience to God in perspective.

First, find a piece of paper and a pen. Then make a list---I love lists, maybe you do too. However, this list may not be one that gives us warm fuzzies. Ok, here is what goes on the list.

List the things that God has asked you to do THAT YOU HAVE NOT DONE YET.
List the reason(s) why you have procrastinated in obeying what God has asked you to do.

Think about it. Think about it. Think about it.

Really? Are your reasons for procrastinating from doing what God asks sounding as good as when they were just rumbling around in your head? Really? Probably not.

Time to be obedient to what God is asking us (that's me and you) to you.
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If you missed this week's Get Wisdom!, please go to Monday's post and check it out. You may think you don't need Proverbs advice, but this week's post tells us otherwise.

Get Wisdom! - Proverbs 12: 15

2011-05-09T05:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome back to Get Wisdom! In this Monday summer series we are reaching out to the book of Proverbs to grasp wisdom. We are seeking to not walk the path of the fool, but rather to walk the sometimes difficult trail of the wise.

This week our journey takes us to Proverbs 12:15. Pick a translation:

Fools think they are doing right,
but the wise listen to advice. (NCV)

A stubborn fool considers his own way the right one,
but a person who listens to advice is wise. (GOD’S Word Translation)

Fools think they need no advice,
but the wise listen to others. (NLT)

I just have to ask…..how many of you can recall a time when someone gave you GOOD advice that you DID NOT heed and you ended up making a terrible mistake because of it?

Oh yes, my hand is waving wilding in the air! Hmmm, let me count the times…….
1. Save sex for marriage.
2. Only marry the person that God chooses for you.
3. Stay close to Jesus.
4. Don’t gossip or lie or____________.
I could go on and on, but I hope you get the message.

Most of us think we don’t need the advice of others when it comes to our own lives. Truth be told, Satan is eager to destroy us through the choices we make. God places wise people in our lives to encourage us to make good choices, but we must first choose to listen to their advice. Look back at the verse. The fool thinks he is doing right; he considers his own way right. Does that sound familiar?

Let’s consider that God wants us to first seek His advice about each and every situation that we encounter. It has taken me a lot of years and many bad choices to learn to go to God FIRST with my problems and concerns. Yes, He gives us wise human counselors, but ultimately WISDOM comes from HIM and it is to HIM that we should go first.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking, “this is a small problem…God doesn’t have time for it” or “I can handle this one by myself” or “God is more concerned about the big issues of the world”. Those, my friends, are lies straight out of the pit of hell. God is intimately concerned with every area of your life and He longs to give you the wisdom that you desire. Ask Him for it.

This WISDOM lesson is one that sounds easy, but is difficult to put into practice.

Why?

Because we think we know the right answers….and we may, but we still need to listen to the advice God sends us from others. If you are God’s child and are headed down the wrong path with a specific decision, God will send you at least one warning. We must put our pride aside long enough to consider the advice of God and of others in our lives.

Don’t be a fool!

Get Wisdom!

Ten Things I Learned From My Mother

2011-05-05T05:36:00.001-04:00

June 2004

October 2008, Mother's 70th birthday party

As Mother's Day approaches, I pondered some things that my Mother has taught me over the years and thought I would share them here as a tribute to her. My mother's name is Barbara, but close friends call her Bobbie. She is one of eight children, all of whom are living except one. She has lived in the same town all her life.

Ten Things I Learned from my Mother:

Faithfulness in marriage - they were married for 46 years before Daddy died
Love and compassion for the disabled - my Daddy was disabled from the age of 16
Singleminded focus - my Daddy, my sister and I were her whole focus...until grandchildren came along
To send cards to let others know she cares - she sends a gazillion cards; it's her ministry
Cooking
Respect for my husband
To be my husband's helpmate and friend - She told me after Daddy died that she truly believed that God put her on earth to be a helper for Daddy.
The importance of Jesus and church
To shower and dress every day - I never remember a day (unless she was ill) that she has not showered, put on makeup and nice clothes. None of this staying-in-her-pjs-all-day stuff for her.
To watch my weight and not become obese - yes, this fed right into my battle with anorexia (that was my fault, not hers)

All this is part of my Mother's legacy to my sister, me,

her grandchildren and those whose lives she touches.

What have you learned from your mother?

Slaying the Green-Eyed Monster

2011-05-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

I never saw it coming.

In fact, I have no idea where it came from, but oh my goodness, it definitely came and intended to stay a while. Jealousy. Covetousness. It was an ugly within my heart that took me by total surprise. Even now, as I look back on it, the only explanation I have for it is that it was a scheme of Satan.

I allowed jealousy of one friend’s relationship with another friend to fester and take root in my heart. I felt anger and resentment at one friend because she was occupying so much of my other friend’s time. My bitter thoughts threatened to engulf me.

At first I did not recognize it as jealousy.

My pride stepped into the picture.

“You, Leah, are a far too mature a Christian to deal with something like jealousy,” whispered the father of lies.

What a lie!

Neither I, nor anyone else, am immune to his evil manipulations. Oh, he almost succeeded in his efforts to swallow me up in a wave of jealousy.

BUT……

For years I have consistently prayed for the Lord to show me anything in my heart and life that does not please Him. This is a dangerous prayer, friend, because He is liable to do just that and what He reveals is usually painful. In a moment of clarity, my eyes were opened and I saw the jealousy for what it was. It was an UGLY in my heart. It was S-I-N and it had to be dealt with. It had to be confessed—to God and to another human. I needed God’s forgiveness and human accountability.

I told God that I was sorry and asked Him to please help me do away with it. I shared my struggle with my husband. In a loving, yet very manly, matter of fact way, he told me that I should tell my friend how I had been feeling.

I was horrified.

I can’t let her know how petty and childish I have been feeling!

Pride, again.

God made it clear that, oh yes, I can let her know and I did. In that moment of transparency with my friend, I found that the jealousy was gone.

Together, God and I slayed the green-eyed monster.

Get Wisdom!! - Proverbs 1: 7

2011-05-02T01:00:00.001-04:00

Are you ready to Get Wisdom? Let’s dive into the first chapter of Proverbs and pull out the granddaddy of all verses: Proverbs 1: 7. I’m going to give you each week’s verses in at least 3 translations. It will be like ordering Proverbs at Burger King—Have It Your Way!!

Ready??? Here we go!

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (NIV)

“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (NLT)

“Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to GOD; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.” (The Message)

“If you really want to gain knowledge, you have to begin by having respect for the Lord. But foolish people hate wisdom and training.” (NIRV)

The Hebrew word used here for fear suggests reverence and awe. A person seeking wisdom is willing to bow down to God simply because of the awe and respect they feel for Him. This phrase also suggests total dependence on God.

I am reminded of my relationship with my earthly father. My Daddy was a wonderful man whom I loved with all my heart and respected so much. He was the perfect example of a godly father. Highly respected in our community, he was a fair and wise man. Yet I knew my boundaries with him. I had a proper fear of him. Not the kind born of bad experience (unless you would call the holy discipline of spanking ‘bad’), but rather awe and respect for him. I loved him with all my heart and desired to please him. This is the ‘fear’ of which the Bible speaks.

Our culture does not teach this kind of fear or respect, therefore, it is a concept many people do not fully understand. Respect means that I trust the other person and esteem them, or hold them in high regard. It also means that I am willing to be submissive to another person. Oh yes, the 'S' word--submit. To respect another causes one to desire to please that person and perhaps even emulate them.

As Proverbs 1:7 tells us, a fool does not feel the need to respect God and therefore lacks the wisdom and knowledge that comes only from God. In fact, the fool chooses to go the opposite direction from wisdom.

I like this quote from Walter Lippman about wisdom:

It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf.

The fool is like a deaf audience. He has no way to gain wisdom because he doesn’t understand or respect the way to wisdom, which is the Lord. The fool refuses to submit to God because he doesn't trust God.

When I fear the Lord and walk before Him in respect, He makes me so much wiser than I should be. Really, I am a blonde underneath the Miss Clairol on my head, so sometimes I am stunned by the wisdom that God gives me.

I don’t want to be a fool!

How about you?

Let’s learn to respect, trust and submit to God in order to get a dose of WISDOM this summer.

I'm at Mary DeMuth's today!

2011-04-30T04:49:00.002-04:00

I have the privilege of being a guest writer today over at Mary DeMuth's blog. Mary is an author and speaker with a tender heart for helping others thrive and turn their trials to triumph. It really is an honor to be selected to post on Mary's site. I hope you will stop by and spend some time at Mary's blog.

Please plan to come back to The Point on Monday as we begin our summer series entitled, Get Wisdom!! Wanna know more? Go here!

Have a blessed weekend.

Summer Series - Get Wisdom!!

2011-04-27T04:00:00.000-04:00

This summer we are going to get us some

WISDOM

so that we have a

GODLY CHARACTER

and leave a

GODLY LEGACY.

May I tell you more?

I hope you will join me starting Monday!!

Have You Thought About MOTHER'S DAY?

2011-04-26T06:44:00.000-04:00

Friends

Mother's Day is only 11 days away.

It is NOT too early to think about Mother's Day!

Your mom/wife/daughter/aunt/grandmother/friend deserves something really special for Mother's Day and I have just the gift for her.

Every mother/wife/daughter/friend/aunt/grandmother wants to leave a special legacy for those who come behind them. A copy of my Bible study, From the Trash Pile to the Treasure Chest: Creating a Godly Legacy would be a perfect gift for that special MOM in your life.

You can purchase a copy of the Legacy study from me for $16.90 which includes shipping. You can also purchase them from Lifeway.com, Amazon.com, CrossBooks.com, BarnesandNoble.com, CBN.com and Lifeway Mall of Georgia store in Buford, GA. Go here for links to these retailers.

Give that special MOM something that will speak into her life

and the lives of those who come behind her.

Established

2011-04-25T06:50:00.000-04:00

I encountered 1 Chronicles 14:2 in my daily Bible study last week and it gave me a great deal to ponder.

“And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.”

The word that grabbed me was ‘established’. In the Hebrew, the word means

‘to be firm, be fixed, be certain, be prepared, to set up, build, make ready. Denotes bringing something into existence. Signifies initial preparation.’

God ESTABLISHED David as king over Israel for the sake of God’s people, Israel. God had a reason and a purpose for placing David where He placed him. If that is true for David, then it is not a theological stretch to assume the same is true for you and me.

God has established me [done the initial preparation and brought into existence] in ministry and He has a reason and purpose for that. Part of His reason and purpose is surely to draw me closer to Him, but if 1 Chronicles 14: 2 is any indication, the primary reason and purpose of my establishment in ministry is for someone else’s sake. I am called to ministry as an instrument in God’s hands to draw others closer to Him.

God has established YOU for the sake of another.

Perhaps you are a mom to little children. You have been established as their mom to give them guidance and spiritual instruction.
It could be that you have been established as one of the few believers in Christ in your workplace so that you can be a light in the darkness.
Maybe you have been established as a nursery or youth worker in your church in order to love on young people in Jesus’ name.
Perhaps you are a single established in that role for this season to set an example of integrity and character to other singles around you.
You may be a mentor to a younger Christian in order to model for them a Christian walk in the middle of a perverse world.

God establishes each of us for a specific kingdom purpose.

Do you recognize where you are established by God and the purpose for it?

MEDITATION MOMENT: I have been established in ministry in this generation for a specific purpose. I also have been established by God as a wife to Greg, a step-mom to Charlie, a daughter to my mother, an aunt to my nephews, and a pharmacist in the community.

Share with us where God has established you and the purpose, as you understand it, for your establishment in that place at this time.

I Saw The Tomb....It is Empty!!

2011-04-21T04:42:00.005-04:00

I've had the privilege of traveling to Israel....twice.

I was there in 2006 and again in 2010.

It is an AMAZING trip.

I walked the land where Jesus walked:

Nazareth: His birthplace

Capernaum

Sea of Galilee

Mount of Olives

Garden of Gethsemanee

Steps leading to Caiaphas' house where He was tried

Golgotha

The Garden Tomb

I went into the tomb where the precious, battered, bleeding body of my Jesus was laid on a cold stone slab. He had been tortured, beaten and crucified. He was unrecognizable because of the torture.

All the sins of every person who would ever call on His name had been heaped upon Him and He took the punishment for each one of them.

pride
adultery

murder

lying
coveting

stealing

gossip

sexual sin

idol worship

disobedience

Whatever the sin, He took the punishment.
He took MY punishment so that I would not have to.

Then, they buried Him.

It was finished.
His life was over.....or so they thought.

Three days later.................................

The Tomb was EMPTY!!

He defeated death, and in doing so, provided forgiveness of sin, a way of escape from eternal death. His selfless act gave us the opportunity to live forever in heaven with HIM.

Inside the Garden Tomb where Jesus' body was laid

I saw the tomb.....It is empty.

PRAISE GOD!!!

New Lives and Fresh Starts

2011-04-20T03:24:00.005-04:00

As we celebrate Easter, or Resurrection Day, I wanted to take a moment and tell you about an organization that is all about new lives and fresh starts.

I have chosen Wellspring Living as the organization that receives my tithe from the sale of my Bible study, From the Trash Pile to the Treasure Chest: Creating a Godly Legacy.

What is Wellspring Living? So glad you asked.

"1 in 4 women is abused sexually by the time she reaches adulthood.

In 2001, Wellspring Living, a 501(c)(3) organization, formed to help survivors of childhood sexual abuse overcome their broken pasts and move towards hopeful futures. Our mission is to confront the issue of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation through advocacy, education and treatment programs for girls and women. Our programs are a refuge for women and girls who need a chance to start over. Through therapy, education, life skills and spiritual renewal, the Wellspring programs give participants recovery tools for the body, soul and spirit."

Did you know that 90% of runaways become part of the sex trade industry? NINETY percent! That is hideous.

Wellspring's services include:

Wellspring for Women: a residential recovery home for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse
Wellspring for Girls: a therapeutic and educational program for child victims of forced prostitution and sex trafficking
Lynn Sweet Counseling Center: therapeutic outpatient services for the community
Wellspring Redeemed Assessment Center: a safe place for women escaping unsafe situations while considering long-term recovery

So, if you have purchased my Bible study, please know that a portion of the money you spent went to support Wellspring Living. You helped change a life!! God bless you.

What Does Easter Mean To You?

2011-04-19T07:16:00.000-04:00

As we approach Resurrection Day, my thoughts turn to what Easter means to me.....and to you. Of course, it means all the traditional things to us, but there is more....so much more. Easter means:

new life
being given things I do not deserve
family around the table
spring
buds and blooms
dogwood trees in full bloom
promises fulfilled
eternity with Jesus
georgia mountain passion play
little girls in pastel dresses
indwelling Holy Spirit
green grass
return of the hummingbirds
peace in my heart
hope of Jesus soon return
reminder of Jesus' servant heart
our difficult times may be our finest hours
forgiveness...there is always forgiveness

What does Easter mean to you?

Facing The GIANTS - Interviews with the Heroes of our Faith - David

2011-04-18T03:47:00.000-04:00

In our final interview with the heroes of our faith, we find ourselves in the presence of royalty. May I introduce you to King David?

LA: Sir, it is a pleasure to have you, a man after God’s own heart, with us today.

David: Thank you. The Bible does record God calling me a man after His own heart, however, I could just have easily been known as one over whom sin prevailed. It is all about perspective.

LA: Would you elaborate for us?

David: I started out well. I sought God and His direction for my life. He allowed me to do great things for His Name. Then, I became full of myself; self-centered and self-indulgent. I forgot who was really King and I fell into horrible sin. I commited adultery and murder (1 Samuel 11) and brought down a terrible curse on my family. God said that the sword would never depart from my family, and indeed it did not. My sons and daughters paid a high price for my sin.

LA: Yes, I do remember those stories. God always keeps His promises, yet when those promises involve curses rather than blessing, it is a difficult thing.

David: After Nathan confronted me about my sins of adultery and murder, I felt so ashamed. I felt as if I could never face the world again. I was the king of Israel, yet I had acted like one who did not know God; a pagan. I was humiliated at my actions.

LA: I can certainly identify with those feeling, your Majesty. I, too, have done things that I Iook back on and think, “What was I thinking? How can God love me after that?”

David: You know I wrote many songs, ma’am? Psalm 51 was the anguished cry of my heart when my sin was exposed. I was not distraught because I had been caught, but rather because I had broken relationship with my God, the God of my fathers. I had walked so sweetly with Him for so many years and then with one decision, that fellowship was broken. I was miserable and had been for months, but had not been willing to acknowledge it.

LA: God certainly does not let us be happy in our sin, does He?

David: No, He does not. Once I confessed and repented of my sins, that fellowship was restored, but it took me a long time to understand that God did not constantly think of me as a murderer and an adulterer. He considered me washed clean because of my confession and repentance. As I said at the beginning, it is all about perspective. I had a choice to make: would I live the rest of my life under false condemnation or would I live as a forgiven man of God who once again walked in sweet fellowship with God?

LA: I completely understand, sir. On this side of the cross of Jesus, once we confess our sins, God says that He remembers those sins NO MORE. Even though we cannot forget them, God does. When God looks at us, He sees us through the blood of Jesus, forgiven and washed clean. Now, our enemy, Satan, tries very hard to make us live in shame over our sins, but he just needs to be reminded that our sin was nailed to the cross with Jesus and we have a ‘Not Guilty” sign hanging around our necks.

David: Grace is a wondrous thing, ma’am. The Bible says that the angels don’t understand it. God gives us what we do not deserve.

LA: Absolutely. So, King David, your legacy includes believing that God means it when He says He washes away your sin and remembers it no more. Your sin and shame were taken away when you confessed and repented and you never had to walk in shame over it. Thank you for being with us today.

MEDITATION MOMENT: We have all made sinful choices and found ourselves up to our ears in the consequences of those choices. Have you asked God to forgive you for that sin? We all have to live with the consequences of our sin, but we do not have to live in shame over the sin. God is faithful to forgive us if we will only ask. Once we ask, then we must walk in that forgiveness, regardless of whether we feel forgiven or not. Thank God today for forgiving you and washing you clean from your sin. Ask Jesus to help you overcome any shame you might feel over the sin. He will!

Thank you for joining me for this series on faith. Have a blessed Resurrection week!

Spring Garden Delights

2011-04-16T12:56:00.000-04:00

Although both my grandmothers had green thumbs, I do not. So, when anything comes up in my yard, I consider it a definite win. Here are a few of the delights that I am enjoying in my garden and on my porch.

Variegated Solomon's seal

Bloom on Solomon's Seal

Toad Shade Trillium

I can't remember what the name of this bush is, but it is so pretty in the spring with its pink blooms seen in the 2nd picture.

This dainty groundcover produces delicate blooms each spring.

This is one of my favorite plants in my garden, It is a Little Brown Jug plant. It has beautiful heart shaped leaves that hide the flower beneath them.

Little Brown Jug

See them? The Jug/Flower will turn a dark brown later on in the summer.

My Lenten Roses were spectacular this year. The blooms have faded to a very light pink.

The only name I know for this beautiful little plant is Green 'N Gold.

Now to the plants that give me such delight. My hostas. I have several varieties...some minis, some small, some medium, some large and some extra large.

Tiny Tears - my first mini hosta

Heart and Soul - a medium hosta

Guardian Angel - a large hosta

My largest hosta - aren't the leaves huge and lovely?

Tiny Tears in a pot on my deck

Hope - another mini

Cookie Crumbs - a mini

Silver Threads and Golden Needles - a small hosta

Striptease - a medium

Teaspoon - another small hosta

I hope you enjoyed a walk through my garden.

Don't Be A Fool!

2011-04-15T04:48:00.000-04:00

On Thursday evenings I am leading this study in my hometown. Obviously I am intimately familiar with the study, but each time I lead a session or sit down to review in preparation for a session, God speaks to me from one of the verses that I wrote into the study. It is proof that God's Word is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12) and speaks into our lives each and every time we open it.

Last night we discussed Week 4 which is entitled, 'When Character Was King". On Day 3 we reviewed verses from Proverbs that pack a whallop concerning our tongues and our speech. Folks, our tongues can get us into a peck of trouble, and I am probably the worst of offenders in this regard.

In an effort to share the convicting L-O-V-E, I wanted to offer up a few of the verses (from the NIV) that we looked at:

Proverbs 11: 9
With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.

Proverbs 13: 3
He who guards his lips guards his life,
but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

Proverbs 17: 28
Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,
and discerning if he holds his tongue.

Proverbs 18:2
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding
but delights in airing his own opinions.

Proverbs 21: 23
He who guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself from calamity.

Friends, I have been a fool with my tongue SO MANY TIMES in my life. These verses are proof positive that the Word of God is practical for us and speaks into our lives on a daily basis. I do not want to be a fool and I bet you don't either. Let's remember these verses as we do life.

Facing the GIANTS: Let's Get Personal - Rahab's Hinge Moment

2011-04-14T04:00:00.003-04:00

Surely some of you have had hinge moments in your life.

Hinge Moment: a point in time where you realize that you need to do something different than you have been doing in order to have a different and hopefully better, outcome.

No one shared a hinge moment on this post from Monday. Come on, peeps. Share some hinge moments with us. I will share a link to one that I shared last year in order to give you a start.

Ok, now it is your turn. Give us some examples of hinge moments from your life!!

I Can't Do It All!!!!

2011-04-12T05:11:00.000-04:00

I can’t do it all!

Of course you can’t and neither can I. Why do we think we can or even should? Being the Type A, control freak that I am, I certainly have tried to do it all over the years. Rarely was I able to for any sustained period of time.

Guess what? God never meant for us to be superwomen and do it all.

How do I know? Joshua told me so.

In the book of Joshua (one of my favorites, by the way), Joshua has taken the reins of leading the Israelites. In chapters 1-12, we find the details of many of Joshua’s conquests in the Promised Land. Joshua 11: 23 tells us that “Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had said to Moses; and Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel.”

Immediately Joshua 13 opens with these words, “Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the Lord said to him: ‘You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed.”

What’s up with that?

Joshua could not, nor did the Lord expect him to, conquer every last square inch of real estate in the Promised Land. Joshua’s mission was to conquer key parts of the land, divide the land between the tribes, and enable and empower them to conquer what lay in the parameters of their inheritance.

The really cool thing is that Joshua did not push the issue with God. He did not try to be superman and conquer those areas that were someone else’s to conquer. His attitude was NOT “if it is going to be done right, I need to do it”. He did the tasks God assigned to him and then stepped back. He did not try to do it all.

Are you trying to do it all?

Perhaps God has not assigned “all” to you.

I know that is a shocking thought for some of us!

Could the exhaustion, frustration, and burnout you feel be a sign that ‘all’ is not what is ‘best’…that ‘all’ is not God’s plan for you?

What part of ‘all’ can you and should you step back from?

Will you be obedient to God’s plan?

Just sayin’……

Facing The GIANTS - Interviews with the Heroes of our Faith - Rahab

2011-04-10T17:00:00.000-04:00

Today’s guest at Facing the Giants - Interviews with the Heroes of our Faith is one that I am especially excited about interviewing. She has quite a colorful history, so let’s not hesitate. May I introduce you to Rahab?

LA: Welcome to The Point, Rahab. I have to say that you are such an inspiration to me that I wrote about you in my Bible study.

Rahab: Why, thank you. Really it has very little to do with me and everything to do with God.

LA: Tell us more, please.

Rahab: When the two Israelite men came into Jericho that day long ago, I was terrified. We had heard about what God had done on behalf of the Israelites and the entire city was trembling in their sandals. I was not what you would call a high-class citizen of Jericho. I did whatever I had to in order to make a living and that meant selling my body to whoever had money. When the men first appeared at my door, my immediate reaction was that maybe I could ‘charm’ one or both of them and they would protect me. Sex sells, you know, and I was even willing to give it away if it meant safety for me and my family. No one in Jericho cared enough about me to give me a second thought if the Israelites invaded, so I knew it was every prostitute for herself.

LA: Obviously, God had other plans for you, right?

Rahab: Oh, yes. As soon as those men came into my house, it was like a switch flipped in my heart. Immediately I knew that the life I had lived up to that point was certainly not worthy of being saved by the men or their God. I had a decision to make….

LA: Rahab, you had what I call a hinge moment. That point in time where one realizes that what they have been doing is not working and a change is needed in order to experience a different and better outcome.

Rahab: That’s it. A hinge moment. What a wonderful way to describe it.

LA: What happened then?

Rahab: In my heart I knew that the God these men served was so much better than me, yet I very much wanted to be loved and cared for in the same way that He defended and cared for the Israelites. I don’t think I have ever wanted anything more. The two men assured me that their God would help me if only I would trust Him and them and do exactly what they asked. It was strange, but for some reason, I had complete confidence that He would. Even though I had never met these men before and I would not have known their God from Adam, I believed that He could be trusted. I staked my life and that of my family on it.

LA: God rewarded your faith in Him, did He not?

Rahab: Oh, in more ways than I can count. He saved my family and me from death. We were integrated into the Hebrew society and in fact, I married an Israelite. We had a wonderful life and I felt as if my past history had been wiped clean.

LA: That is what faith in Christ does for us, my friend.

Rahab: Yes, but the story does not end there. God so redeemed my past that He allowed me to be a great, great, great plus a few more greats- grandmother of King David and, ooooooooo, it gets even better. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, came from my lineage. I was just an average woman with a horrible past that God saw fit to save, clean up and use to bring forth the Messiah. I had no idea how He would use me. It still causes me such amazement.

LA: Rahab, what an amazing legacy of humility and submission. You truly are a life that was changed by faith in God. Thank you for visiting with us today.

Meditation Moment: As we approach Easter and think about our faith, today let's consider HINGE MOMENTS in our faith journey. A moment in time when you realized you had to do something different in order to achieve a different and better outcome. I invite you to share a HINGE MOMENT from your life with us today.

Facing the GIANTS - Let's Get Personal - Joshua

2011-04-07T04:00:00.002-04:00

Today in our Facing the GIANTS - Let's Get Personal post, I want us to think about this issue of promise keeping. God made numerous covenants or promises in the Bible and He has kept every single one of them. The Abrahamic Covenant, Noahic Covenant, Mosaic Covenant, Davidic Covenant, and the Messianic Covenant. God kept these promises…..even when it was not convenient or easy.

Your ability and willingness to keep the promises you make are part of the legacy that you leave for the generations that come behind you. Do you have a history of keeping your promises to others? I recognize that sometimes extenuating circumstances occur that makes it impossible to fulfill a promise. Think about it.

If you commit to a project, do you see it through to completion?
If you promise to keep a secret, do you guard that secret?
If you promised (covenanted) to love your spouse through better or worse, sickness or health, in good times and in bad, whether you feel love for them or not, do you stick with them?
If you promise to pay a bill/debt, do you pay that debt as promised?
If you promise to do something with a friend, do you keep that promise even when something more fun or interesting comes along?
If you accept a job, do you do the job your employer hired you to do?

Promise keeping is not easy, nor is it always convenient.

The cross was neither easy nor convenient for Jesus,

yet He kept His promise to provide salvation for God’s precious human creation.

Do you keep your promises? Always?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

God never gets in a tizzy, has a panic attack or feels out of control. Never! I am at the Internet Cafe' Ministry Counter this week mulling this over. Click here to stop by!

500th Post and an Amazing Weekend of Ministry and Worship

2011-04-05T05:30:00.001-04:00

Hey ya'll! Obviously I am WORD-EEEE because this is my 500th post!! Woo-hoo. God has blessed me so much with so many readers and wonderful blog friends. I remember when the Lord made it crystal clear to me that I was to take The Point from a weekly email to a blog. BLOG?? What in the sam-hill is a blog, I thought? Can I even do a blog?

Apparently I learned and have done it 500 times. It has been a blessing and a blast. Thank you all for stopping by and visiting with me over these past 500 posts. I'm praying for God's anointing for at least another 500!!!!
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I wanted to share some pictures from my weekend with you. Whew! It was an intense weekend, but one where God showed up in huge and amazing ways.

On Thursday last week I had the privilege of speaking at North Metro FBC in Lawrenceville, Georgia for their spring ladies Bible study brunch. There were about 50-60 beautiful ladies there and my topic was the importance of Bible study in my life. This message is really my testimony. In it I talk about specific Bible studies that I have done and how they impacted me.

My dear friends Cindy and Kristin accompanied me for prayer support and a bit of retail therapy. We had a wonderful day, although I dragged them out of the bed very early that morning in order to make the brunch.

Cindy, me, and Kristin

Peeps, this is one beautiful young lady that you need to check out. Her name is Ele Gilliland and she has the voice of an angel. She is only 13 years old, but already has recorded songs written for her by Cindy Morgan. Yes, I said Cindy Morgan, from Point of Grace. She is every bit as sweet as she is beautiful. God has incredible things in store for her!

Ele singing for us at the brunch

I have been friends with Mary Cox, first lady of North Metro FBC, for several years. She and her husband, Frank, are a dynamic couple who love the Lord with all their hearts. I am blessed to call them friends. Brook and Shannon were the co-coordinators of the brunch and they did a fantastic job!!

Mary, me, Brook and Shannon

On Friday, my ministry partner, Kristin Adams and I packed up my car and headed to Lake Guntersville State Park to serve the ladies of Mountain Chapel United Methodist Church from Birmingham, Alabama. This was a stunningly beautiful location and I only wish we had had more time to explore.

The view from the balcony of my room at Lake Guntersville State Park

Nancy Owen, director of Women's Ministries at Mountain Chapel UMC, is a precious woman who knows how to put on a retreat. She was amazing to work with for both Kristin and myself. Thanks Nancy for all your support and prayer.

Kristin, Nancy and me

For those who have never heard Kristin sing....well, there just are no words. She took us before the throne of God so many times over the weekend! Her voice is INCREDIBLE and her heart of love for Jesus shines through her singing. I count it an honor to have her as my ministry partner for the events where I speak. She is the real talent....I just ride in on her coattails.

Kristin leading us in worship

The ladies at this retreat ranged in age from 20's to 90's. In this picture you see me with three ladies who kept us all on our toes. Esther and Janet, on the left are sisters. Esther is 90 and Janet is 92. Mary, on the right, is the spring chicken of this trio at the tender age of 80.

Esther, me, Janet and Mary

Group pic outside on the terrace at Lake Guntersville

Talking to the group about the importance of legacy

Kristin and Holly visiting

Everyone had nametags with designs on the back. The designs assigned the ladies to certain groups. Here the ladies are showing me their nametags.

Stones of unforgiveness left at what symbolized the mercy seat of Christ

Following my message on forgiveness, Kristin sang "Mercy Seat" for the invitation time. No kidding, I thought the rapture might happen in that moment. It was an incredibly moving and special time and one that I will ponder and cherish for years to come. Ladies came from all over the banquet room to drop their stones of unforgiveness at the Mercy Seat of Jesus.

After months of prayer, preparation and planning, Jesus showed up and just did the thing. He softened hearts and drew them closer to Him. He flat out humbled me as I was reminded how far He has brought me in my walk with Him. I still have such a long way to go, but every day I seek Him with all my heart. I am so honored that He would allow me to do His work in this generation.

It would be my honor to speak at your next event. Interested to learn more? Go to my Speaking Info page here.

Facing The GIANTS - Interviews with the Heroes of our Faith - Joshua

2011-04-03T18:45:00.000-04:00

This week in our ‘Facing the Giants’ series, I will be interviewing one of my favorite Bible personalities. This man was not afraid to step into the shoes of a larger than life person because he knew that God was right beside him directing his steps. Today we meet Joshua.

LA: Welcome to The Point General Joshua. What a legacy you left! You stepped into the leadership role vacated by Moses and successfully led almost 2 million Israelites across the Jordan River and through many successful military campaigns. Your faithfulness and courage have been a testimony to me on many occasions.

Joshua: Thank you, ma’am. In truth, God led, I simply followed and obeyed. Although there was that one time………

LA: Sir, would you tell us that story and what you learned from it?

Joshua: It was the golden calf debacle. You remember that from Exodus 33, don’t you? Moses was up on the mountain and Aaron let the people talk him into making them an idol. God would have made us all into kindling if Moses had not intervened. God heard and answered Moses’ prayer to save the nation, yet God warned us that if we made a treaty with the inhabitants of Canaan that it would be a snare or trap among us.

LA: I do recall that. It is a powerful passage.

Joshua: Fast forward a few decades. God led the people and me to conquer several cities in the Promised Land. One day this rag-tag group of ambassadors show up at our tent doors wanting to make a covenant or treaty with us because they claimed to have heard of the fame of our God. They told us that they had traveled from a far country. They had moldy bread and worn out shoes. It all looked pretty convincing and we fell for it, hook, line and sinker.

LA: Joshua, how did that happen?

Joshua: I forgot the number one rule.

LA: What is that, sir?

Joshua: God is in charge, not me. I became too big for my sandals and did not consult God on what He thought.

LA: Hmmm, that hits pretty close to home, Joshua. I think we all are guilty of thinking, “I’ve got this one. I know what to do here.”

Joshua: Well, it was huge mistake for me. We made a covenant with these men, only to discover a few days later that they were Gibeonites from just a few miles away. We,er,um, I had done what God explicitly told us not to do. I was at fault. I take the responsibility because I was the leader. It would have been easy for me to shift the blame to the others but when all was said and done, the bottom line was that I had made a huge mistake.

LA: But…..but, they tricked you into making a covenant with them. Couldn’t you just say that it was not really a binding covenant because it was made by trickery? It just doesn’t seem fair.

Joshua: Ma’am, your people do not understand the seriousness of a covenant. A covenant is a solemn, binding agreement made and sealed with blood. There is no breaking a covenant. God expects a covenant to be kept regardless of the circumstances of its making. God never breaks His covenants and He expects us to keep ours—no matter what.

LA: Wow!

Joshua: I kept that covenant and protected the Gibeonites when their enemies attacked them. I knew that to break the covenant would have more serious consequences than the mistake of entering into it in the first place.

LA: Your legacy, General Joshua, is of being a covenant or promise keeper. That speaks highly of your character. Thank you for being with us today.

MEDITATION MOMENT: As you think about your own life, would you be able to say that you are a promise keeper? Do you keep your promises even when it is difficult? Are you faithful to your marriage covenant? When you make a promise to another person, do you keep it...even when a better opportunity comes along?

Does your legacy include promise keeping--no matter then cost?

Facing the GIANTS: Let's Get Personal - Joseph

2011-03-31T04:00:00.002-04:00

Want to win a copy of my Bible study, From the Trash Pile to the Treasure Chest: Creating a Godly Legacy? My friend Cindy Bultema is graciously hosting a giveaway. Click over to her blog, She Sparkles, and enter.
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Forgiveness is often a very difficult obedience. We feel as if we deserve to hold a grudge for what that person did to us or to our family. It is especially hard when the offender does not apologize, isn't it? Yet, Jesus expects us to offer forgiveness anyway.

Jesus offered us forgiveness for the hideous sins we perpetrated against Him. AND He did it long before we ever asked Him to forgive us. How prideful of us to be unwilling to forgive another in view of the forgiveness that Jesus has offered to us.

Are you leaving a legacy of forgiveness toward others?

"Forgiveness is surrendering my right to hurt you for hurting me."
Archibald Hart

The Desire of My Heart: Ministry

2011-03-29T15:52:00.000-04:00

Recently I have been pondering on the words 'desire of your heart'. There are a few verses that use these words:

Psalm 20: 4 (NIV) - 'May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed."

Psalm 21: 2 (ESV) - 'You have given him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.'

In Psalm 21 David acknowledges that God heard the request of his heart and gave him what he desired, while in Psalm 20 David prays for someone else to have all the desires of their heart fulfilled and their plans succeed.

I believe that God delights to give us the desires of our heart, yet He is not a genie in a bottle. Those desires must line up with His will for our lives. We must be seeking to live in relationship and fellowship with Him, all the while walking in obedience and humility to what He allows in our lives. Just as a parent delights to give their child good gifts, so it is with God.

In the past month or so, I've sensed God saying to me,

"Ask me for the desire of your heart!"

And so I have.

That is the privilege we have as His dearly loved children. The veil is lifted and we can approach the throne boldly.

Will it be granted?

I don't know.

Is it in line with God's will for my life?

I believe so, but only God knows for sure.

What happens if He says, "No"?

I bend my knee to His will, knowing that His 'NO" only means that there is a better "YES".

WHAT IS THE DESIRE OF YOUR HEART?

Have you asked Him for it?

Boldly go before Him and ask.

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This is a week full to the brim of ministry and there is NOTHING that excites me more. If the Lord brings me to your mind this week, you will not waste a prayer on me as I speak and serve. Here's the schedule in case you want to pray specifically.

Thursday morning March 31st

I will be giving my testimony at North Metro FBC Ladies Bible study Spring Luncheon. I will be talking about the importance of Bible study using specific Bible study examples and how they have impacted me.

Thursday evening March 31st

I will be leading my study at FBC Blairsville. This week we are discussing Week 2 of the study which leads us to examine our faith in light of the legacy we are leaving. Do we really believe that God is who He says He is?

Friday and Saturday April 1 and 2

My friend and ministry partner, Kristin Adams, and I will head to Lake Guntersville State Park in Alabama to serve the ladies of Mountain Chapel United Methodist Church from Birmingham. I am thrilled to be sharing the Legacy retreat series with these ladies and believe that God will work mightily through it.

As always, I am beyond thrilled for Kristin to do the music for the event! Oh, I wish you could hear her sing!! Her vocal talents far surpass my speaking ability, yet she graciously accompanies me to many events where I speak. Her worship music truly brings the audience into the presence of Jesus. We love working as team and are thrilled to be doing it once again.

I'll see you back here on Thursday for Facing the Giants - Let's Get Personal.

Facing the GIANTS: Interview with the Heroes of our Faith - Joseph

2011-03-28T04:00:00.005-04:00

Welcome to The Point! If you are new here, we are in the midst of a Monday/Thursday series entitled Facing the Giants: Interviews with the Heroes of our Faith. In these weeks leading up to Easter, we are taking some time to examine our faith by interviewing the heroes of our faith from antiquity. Go here to learn more about this series.

Today in our Facing the Giants series we will visit with Joseph. What a story he has to tell us!

LA: Welcome, Joseph. You look quite handsome in that coat of many colors. It sure has held together well over all these centuries.

Joseph: Thank you. This coat, coupled with my pride, sure did get me in a load of trouble.

LA: We all know the story of your brothers selling you into slavery in Egypt because of the visions you had concerning them and your father. It is hard to imagine someone being so cruel to a relative. How did that feel to you? What went through your mind?

Joseph: I was downright terrified. I had heard stories of the horrible treatment of slaves in Egypt, yet I never imagined I would become a slave. I was the favored son of Jacob; protected and sheltered, yet in a split second my life changed and I had no idea if I would live to see the light of the next day. All I wanted in those hours after I was sold was for things to return to normal.

LA: I think that is a very normal reaction when we are going through difficult times. We just want things to go back to the way they used to be.

Joseph: Yes. Little did I know that I would never again return to the land of my father. I would spend the remainder of my earthly life in Egypt. At first, I hated my brothers for doing that to me. I missed my father and mother and was angry at God for allowing it to happen.

LA: Understandable.

Joseph: I agree, but it would have been wrong for me to live the rest of my life in hatred and anger. One day after I had been in Egypt a while, I realized that I had to deal with the hatred or it would consume me. I knew that the God of my father had been faithful to my people and that He could redeem whatever He allowed to happen. I had to grow up, put on my big boy toga, and walk forward with God. I had what you, ma’am, call a ‘hinge’ moment.

LA: Ah, so you’ve done my Bible study?

Joseph: Oh yes, I’ve seen it. I like that hinge moment concept. A point in time where I realized I had to do something different than what I had been doing in order to obtain a different and better outcome. I had to forgive my brothers and ask God to use me right where He had me.

LA: And He did, didn’t He?

Joseph: God used me to save my family and my people from starvation. He used ME, a boy from Israel, to save an entire nation. That was pretty big, but you know the even bigger part of it?

LA: Do tell me.

Joseph: With a doubt, it was the change in my heart. I was able to feel love for my brothers and honestly say to them that what they intended for evil, God used for good. It took a lot of faith in Yahweh for me to trust that He would bring good out of my situation, but He did. Romans 8:28 is still in the Bible and is still true.

LA: Yes, it is Joseph. You have left us a legacy of forgiveness and trust in God, even in difficult times. Thank you for visiting with us.

MEDITATION MOMENT: Forgiving others when they hurt us or someone we love is difficult. We feel that we have the right to be offended, but Jesus says that if we fail to forgive others, then we are really telling God it is OK for Him not to forgive us.

Share a time that you had to choose, in faith, forgiveness toward another person OR when another person offered you forgiveness for something you had done.

This and That - Bible study and a Party

2011-03-25T20:59:00.000-04:00

Two very awesome things have happened in March in the Adams family and I wanted to share them with you.

First, I began leading a group through my Bible study, From the Trash Pile to the Treasure Chest: Creating a Godly Legacy. This is my first time to take an IRL (in real life) group through the study and I am beyond excited and thrilled. The study was announced at my church, on Facebook, in the local paper and here at The Point. I expected to have a small group of ladies to take through the study. Well, God had other very amazing plans.

We met for our first class on March 17th and there was the most beautiful array of souls present that I could have imagined. We have men and women, old and young, new Christians and mature Christians, Bible study newbies and Bible study veterans. About half are not even members of my church, which thrills me no end!!! I have several members of our local Celebrate Recovery group in the class. Flitter, my own mother is attending, as well as two of my best friends. I have three pastor's wives, two physicians, a nurse or two, a former Jehovah's Witness, three Barbaras, three Cindys and two Colleens. There is one teen, a few 20 somethings, some 30 somethings, several like me who fall into the 40-50 something crowd and many precious senior adults.

My pastor appeared at the door Thursday evening and offered to lead my group if I would go lead the Deacon's meeting. I declined his offer. We had way more fun in Bible study than the deacons had in their meeting. I kid you not, these people are SERIOUS about leaving a godly legacy. Many confessed on the first night that they had never considered their legacy. Both the men and women are participating in the discussions and it is just blessing my socks off.

Now, for the second very fun thing that has happened in March. My precious husband, Greg, will turn the big five-o in April and I set my mind to throwing him a SURPRISE birthday party. He is the hardest person in the world to surprise because...well, just because. But, with the help of a few friends, I DID SURPRISE HIM!!!

Dear friends of ours let me use their bunkhouse for the party which made it much easier to pull off since I was not preparing and setting up at home. Charlie came in from spring break to be here for the party, but his mind was elsewhere (actually it was back in Alabama with a certain young lady named Sarah).

So, I thought I'd share a few pics from the party.

Immediately after Greg arrived at the party

SURPRISE!!

Eating and visiting

Greg's staff minus one

The Thomas girls and their mom.

Friends waiting on Greg to arrive

This cutie patootie could hardly wait for Greg to arrive so she could HIDE!! Don't you just love those curls?

BBQ catered by Popie's BBQ! YUMMMMMO!

Assorted TO-DIE-FOR cupcakes from Truelove's Bakery

My mom, left, and Greg's mom, right

Two wonderful friends, Patricia and Cindy

Charlie, Greg, Sheryl and Alan

Let me guess who he was talking to??????

Parker, Coleson and Mom

Next week, I am speaking at two different events. Thursday the 31st I will be speaking at a luncheon at North Metro FBC in Lawrenceville, GA. Then next Friday and Saturday, I will be at Lake Guntersville State Park speaking at a retreat for ladies from Mountain Chapel Methodist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. It will be a busy, but exciting way to end up a very good month.

Facing the GIANTS - Let's Get Personal - Noah

2011-03-24T04:00:00.003-04:00

This week in our Facing the Giants interview we 'talked' with Noah about his faithful perseverance in building the ark. Noah exhibited what Eugene Peterson calls 'a long obedience in the same direction'. In spite of probable ridicule and a lack of comprehension regarding what was coming, Noah stayed the course and finished the race with regard to the ark which saved his family.

We need faithful perseverance in many areas of our life:

Marriage
Raising children
Jobs
Financial stewardship
Friendship
Bible study
Prayer
Exercise
Healthy eating
Caring for aging parents
Ministry

In From the Trash Pile to the Treasure Chest: Creating a Godly Legacy Bible study, I share the story of my Daddy's perseverance over polio at age 16. He was told he would never walk, but determination and perseverance allowed him to walk with the aid of a full leg brace and crutches for the rest of his life.

Daddy was a very successful businessman, husband and father. 'Handicapped' was not a word that too many people used in the same sentence with his name because his disability did not deter him from accomplishing a great deal in life. In fact, the first time I heard someone refer to Daddy as 'handicapped' it was like a slap in the face. I simply never thought of Daddy as handicapped. He was determined to function just like a man with two good legs and that is exactly what he did. Through faith in God, Daddy persevered and was victorious over polio.

Do you have a story of faithful perseverance--either personally, someone you know or a story you read? I would love for you to share it as encouragement for us to persevere.

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If you are reading this on Thursday, March 24th before 9 or 10 pm, there is still time to enter the giveaway over at Karen's blog for a copy of my Bible study, From the Trash Pile to the Treasure Chest: Creating a Godly Legacy.

New Word Wednesday

2011-03-23T04:00:00.001-04:00

Have you gotten your copy of my Legacy study? My friend, Karen (The Irritable Mother) is giving away a copy tomorrow evening. Click over and enter her giveaway today!!
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Today I have chosen a word that is completely and totally NEW to me for New Word Wednesday. This word describes a concept with which every Christian is probably familiar. So, I am excited to offer you this NEW Word.

KENOSIS: /ke 'no sis/: action of emptying; the relinquishment of divine attributes by Jesus Christ in becoming human.

USAGE: The KENOSIS of Jesus Christ allowed Him to fully experience every temptation that you and I experience as we live out our daily lives, yet He never sinned.

Now, how cool is that?

Facing the GIANTS: Interviews with the Heroes of our Faith - Noah

2011-03-21T04:00:00.002-04:00

Welcome to Facing the Giants – Interviews with the Heroes of our Faith

Today we have Noah in the interview chair. Let’s jump right in.

LA: Welcome, Mr. Noah. It is nice to have you here.

Noah: Yessiree, with all that rain outside I felt like I needed an ark to get here, but that metal contraption I traveled in got me here safe and sound.

LA: Funny you should mention an ark, sir. Let’s talk about your ark. How did it happen that you built the ark?

Noah: Strange story, it is. One day I had just come in from worship service and I hear this voice telling me that He was pretty fed up with man and was going to destroy the earth. I looked around to see if someone was playing a practical joke on me, but discovered I was alone in the house. It took me a minute to realize that God was talking to me. He told me to build an ark. He gave me the exact measurements and what kind of wood to use. Just as I was about to ask why I needed such a thing, he told me that He was going to bring a flood on the earth that would completely destroy all living creatures.

LA: What did you say?

Noah: Well, I expect that I had a blank stare on my face. A flood? What’s a flood? Rain? We had never seen rain. This was kinda like your modern story of that fella Paul Revere riding through the village yelling, “the British are coming, the British are coming,” but you don’t have any clue what a ‘British’ is. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around it. None of it made sense to me.

LA: What did you do?

Noah: I began building. And I built and I built and I built. For years I built. My neighbors thought I was crazy. None of them knew God and so they certainly could not understand why God might talk to me, much less tell me to build an ark. They made fun of me and cursed at me. They tried to damage the ark. They even went so far as to try to have me put in prison but I wasn’t doing anything illegal. Still, I built.

LA: It is hard to be the object of ridicule because of your faith, isn’t it, sir? How did you get through that?

Noah: It was hard. It was hard on me and on my family. However, I knew that God had always been faithful to me. I knew that He was righteous and holy. Things had gotten so bad in the world. I had often wondered how and why He tolerated it. I guess He had just got a holy belly full of it and said, ‘Enough!’. I had always followed God and trusted Him. I had to believe that whatever He asked me to do was for my ultimate good, even if it was difficult in the present. I just had to trust Him.

LA: God was right, wasn’t He? It happened just like He said. Wow, I bet when that water started flowing you were glad you trusted Him by faith. You have a legacy of faithful perseverence. Thank you for joining us today.

MEDIATION MOMENT: When God asks us to do something that causes us to be the object of ridicule, what steps can we take to assure that we will persevere in faith?

Facing the GIANTS - Let's Get Personal - Abraham

2011-03-17T04:00:00.008-04:00

Faithful obedience.

On Monday in this post, we found that faithful obedience is part of Abraham’s legacy. It is what distinguished Abraham from all others in the land of Ur. God said, “Go.” Abraham went. We have no indication that Abraham argued, fussed or threw a hissy fit about going. He simply went.

Abraham was no less human than you and me. Surely he had his own agenda, his own life plans, his own dreams and desires. How in the world did he just…..GO? When I put myself in Abraham’s sandals, I’m completely blown away. What if God said to me,

“Go to a place that I will show you.”

What if going required that I uproot my family? What if it meant that I would never see my extended family again? What if I had no idea how I would support the family I would take with me? What if.....? What if.....?

Faithful obedience requires that we consider God’s agenda to be grander than our own. It requires unquestioning trust in God and a willingness to subject our human will to God’s divine will. Can you? Will you?

“I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jeremiah 29:11 (The Message)

MEDITATION MOMENT:

• Think back 20 years, or even 10 years ago. What was YOUR agenda and plan for your life?

• Did you factor God into your agenda?

• Does your life look today like you planned for it to look 20 years ago? If not, what is different?

• Is God asking you today to ‘leave and go’? Are you willing to be faithfully obedient? Why or why not?

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Are you interested in winning a copy of my Legacy Bible study? If so, go here and enter the giveaway at The White Stone.

A Giveaway---with a Twist

2011-03-15T08:10:00.001-04:00

Would you like to host a giveaway at your blog, but can't afford to purchase something to offer as a giveaway?

Well, I'm feeling generous and want to help you out.

I would like to offer you a free copy of my Bible study, From the Trash Pile to the Treasure Chest: Creating a Godly Legacy to give away on your blog. This offer is open to the first five of you who email me here. There is also a surprise freebie available to those of you who are kind enough to host a giveaway of my Bible study.

You are free to structure the giveaway any way you choose as long as you link back to this page (Legacy Bible study page) at The Point.

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Did you read the interview with Abraham in our Facing the Giants series? If not, go here.

Facing the GIANTS: Interviews with the Heroes of our Faith - Abraham

2011-03-14T04:00:00.006-04:00

Welcome to Facing the Giants: Interviews with the Heroes of Our Faith.

Today we are talking to Abraham. Let’s see what he has to tell us about faith.

LA: Mr. Abraham, sir, as I recall you were a transplant to the land of Canaan. How did all that come about?

Abraham: I was living in Ur, which is a really long way from Canaan. My family was pretty happy and doing right well for ourselves. We worshipped our gods and offered all the right sacrifices. Things were going good for us. Then, I heard about a new god. I don’t even recall how I heard about this God, but something inside of me said, “This God is the one true God.” Really? I did not even know I was dissatisfied with the gods of my fathers.

LA: So are you telling me that you were not a worshiper of Yahweh, the one true God, yet you somehow knew that all the gods of your people could not satisfy the way Yahweh could?

Abraham: I know, it sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Yet, the more I learned about God, the more convinced I became that He was IT. I even began praying to Him and asking Him to reveal Himself to me. Boy, oh, boy, you better be careful about what you ask for, missy.

LA: Um, yessir.

LA: Back to Canaan. How did you get to Canaan?

Abraham: Yes, Canaan. Well, one day I had been praying to God and asking Him to reveal Himself to me and suddenly I heard Him say to me in my heart, “Leave here. Go to a place I will show you. I will bless you if you believe me enough to go.”

LA: What did you do?

Abraham: Well, I figured that I had been asking God to reveal Himself and now that maybe He had, I’d better do as He asked. I knew that it would not be a popular decision with the missus. She, too, had become a follower of Yahweh, but picking up and moving away from everything we knew and loved…..well that was gonna be a stretch for her.

Leah's personal photo from Israeli desert

LA: Did God tell you where to go? Did He give you a map? How in the world did you know where to go?

Abraham: No, He did not tell me where I was going and He did not give me a map. After we packed up the camels and hit the road, I got up each morning and spent time talking to God and listening for what He might say about where we were going that day. Some days we would travel, but some days we rested. People thought we were crazy. I guess they had good reason, but I knew in my heart that I was doing what God asked and that He would take care of me and my family.

LA: Really?

Abraham: Yes, ma’am. I’ve never been more confident of anything in my life. As long as I was obedient to what God told me to do, He promised to bless me. I staked my entire life and future on it.

LA: So, faithful obedience is your legacy, Mr. Abraham. Sounds like something that I want as part of my legacy. Thank you for your time today. I hope you will visit with us again.

MEDITATION MOMENT: Think of a time when God asked you to step out in faith and do something that seemed crazy or impossible. How did you know it was God asking you to do it? What was the outcome? Share your experience with us.

Interested in considering your legacy in a deeper way? Check out my Bible study here.

Facing the Giants: Let's Get Personal

2011-03-10T04:00:00.013-05:00

In case you missed it, I've been over at the Internet Cafe' Devotions Ministry Counter talking about my priceless gift. Stop by and visit me there.
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If you read this post from Monday, you learned that during the weeks leading up to Easter, I'm going to be doing a series on Mondays entitled Facing the Giants: Interviews with the Heroes of our Faith. I hope you will join me each Monday.

On Thursday, following the Monday post, I will be offering an 'application' post (hence, today's post) based on what we learned in the interview on Monday. My goal for the Thursday application post is to prod us to really consider our faith and how we live it out before a world that does not know our Jesus.

Today I want us to consider the issue of faith (topic of the Monday post referenced above) and whether it makes a difference in our lives. First, we must be sure that we have a clear picture of the object of our faith. For the Christian, the object of our faith is Jesus Christ. For followers of Islam the object of their faith is Allah and Muhammad, while for followers of Buddhism the object of their faith is Buddha. For worshippers of Satan, he is the object of their faith. My point is, friends, we gotta know and understand who we are worshipping.

Secondly, does our faith make a difference in our lives? Do you make certain choices because of your faith? Do you, as a Christ-follower, look any different than one who follows Allah or Buddha or Satan or no one? Right now I am reading Joel Rosenberg's latest fiction book, The Twelfth Imam, so let's consider followers of Islam as a comparison for our Christian faith.

The follower of Islam is willing to die as a martyr for their faith. Are you willing to die for your faith in Christ?
The faithful of Islam pray five times a day with their faces toward Mecca. Do you pray five times a day with your heart turned toward heaven? Do you pray once a day?
A devout Muslim practices the giving of alms to the poor as one of the five tenets of Islam. Do you give to the poor, the orphans and the widows in our world?
Islam is one of the fastest, if not the fastest, growing religion in the world today because they are diligent about seeking to convert non-believers. When was the last time you told someone what Jesus has done in your life?

MEDITATION MOMENTS:

Does your faith in Jesus Christ make a difference in your daily life? Does it in my life?

What do you need to do differently in order to show the world that your faith makes a difference in your life?

Do we even care if our faith is making a difference in our lives or are we simply nothing more than fat, happy Christians waiting on heaven?

New Word Wednesday

2011-03-09T04:00:00.000-05:00

It was slim pickins in the Websters Dictionary for a new word that starts with 'J' today. So, I'm just going with what I could find. Here we go!!

JUXTAPOSE: /'jux-ta-pose/: to place side by side.

USAGE: When you juxtapose all other religions beside Christianity, the real difference lies in the fact that Christianity offers a risen Lord. Praise Jesus!!

A Priceless Gift - At The Cafe'

2011-03-08T04:00:00.001-05:00

This week I am over at the Internet Cafe Devotions Ministry Counter offering to my readers a priceless gift that was given to me. Join me and partake of the gift.

Internet Cafe Devotions Ministry Counter.