Good Morning Kingdom Seekers,
Here's another 'devotional' that I sent out to the gals that I mentor. Hope it encourages you and prods you on to good works (it is unedited):
1/13/10
Hi Girls,
I talked with you a few days ago about ‘choice and time.’ I really want to focus on the topic of ‘the choices you make’ (or have made). It’s so important to our Christian maturity to make good God-honoring choices and decisions. Think about how many times in a day you have to make a choice or a decision about something. When I really get down to the nitty-gritty of it, I guess I make in a single day hundreds of decisions choices. What will my kids eat for breakfast, what will Caleb wear to school today and what is Josh going to wear out of the house today, what should I lay out in preparation for dinner tonight, what am I going to wear today, will I work on laundry today, work on Bob’s business paperwork, continue to get Christmas decorations put away, clean any room in the house that needs immediate attention (and they all do), go visit my mother, spend time studying God’s Word, etc. Hundreds of choices and decisions, minute by minute, have to be made everyday of my life. Some days for me it can get a little overwhelming; because no matter what I choose to give my time and energies to there are a dozen things that are being left undone. So, as part of my New Year’s goals I have to start making better choices with my time.
But, the things I just mentioned are everyday, mundane activities that we all have to make choices about. What I really want to talk to you about is making choices that are going to affect you long-term. Have you made decisions / choices in the past that you are still living with? What decisions / choices have you made and it is not only affecting you, but your kids and possibly your husband? Think back on some of your life choices and how they are affecting you now – either good or bad.
According to Dr. Paul Tripp we don’t make many ‘really big’ decisions in life, only about three or four – what will you pursue as a life-long career, who you will marry, how many children will you have, how will you prepare for your retirement. These are the biggies and from the time we decide what we want to do with these big decision they can have effects that will last a life-time. How important is it to make wise choices for ourselves; and maybe more importantly, for our children because everything we do affects them.
Stop and think about the bad decisions you’ve made and you’re still living with the effects of them. Maybe you chose to have pre-marital sex at a young age (and with a man that God did not intend to be your husband), produced one or two children and now the relationship is long over and your children are the victims of an absentee father and lack of good parenting from you because you have to work non-stop to support them. Or maybe you’ve spent money on drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and paying off debt that was created due to bad choices and you have nothing to show for it, and now you’re financially busted and disgusted. You haven’t got enough money to ‘pay attention’ due to poor choices in your past. Think about who you’ve chose in the past to be your most intimate friends and all they’ve done is drag you down and have left you ‘high and dry.’ Think about who you hang around with now – are they an asset in your life, or a liability; are they someone who adds to your life or takes away?
Girls, as the New Year is getting underway, as adult, Christian women, we must make wise, godly choices for our lives and our families. I’m not telling you this in order to condemn you- Oh, no; never!!! The Bible tells us,”There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Only to prod you into becoming the wise, God-honoring woman that you were created to be. Trust me, I’ve made some bad decisions myself, and Oh, how I regret them.
But, you may be saying, ‘Charlotte, what can we do; it’s all in the past and I can’t make the decision over.’ True, but I want to tell you about something that I’ve done over my ‘bad decisions’ and I pray that you will take this bit of advise and incorporate it into your own life. The first thing I do when I realize that I have messed up is to ‘Repent’ before the Lord. Be very specific about what decision you made and the actions that followed that caused a negative effect in your life. For example, if you did not raise your children properly then tell God just that. Tell Him you messed up and it was not only a sin against Him, but against your children; because our children are a ‘major’ stewardship from God and we must make right decisions with this very precious commodity that God has entrusted into our care.
So, the first step is to repent! But, I know what you’re thinking, “Charlotte, that was all so long ago and I’ve accepted Christ since then. All my sins that have resulted from poor decision-making are under the blood of Christ and I have been forgiven. May sins have been cast into God’s forgetting sea, never to be remembered no more.” That’s true to the extent that God will not hold them against you concerning your salvation and your admittance into heaven. But, we still live with the affects of our sins even though we’ve been forgiven. It’s like giving your child enough money to get a good college education and they blow all the money on cars, vacations, and stuff. You may forgive them, but they will be flipping burgers instead of working in a high-rise office building, wearing a business suit, and making a 6 digit income. And what makes things like this so hard is when someone is not remorseful over their bad decision. We must, as we journey to Christian maturity and the heart of God, not be passive in this area and accept responsibility to our decisions and actions. We must repent; this is at the heart of true humility and humility is at the heart of the gospel.
We must in our pursuit of Christian maturity take responsibility for our sin even if it was before our salvation experience. Ask God to forgive you specifically for the bad choice you made and then there a second thing we can do... Our God is the God of yesterday, today, and forever. Did you see that – He is the God of yesterday!!! Our God has the ability to walk right into your past and redeem back to you what you messed up or foolishly gave away. Oh, how many times have I repented before the Lord in sack-cloth and ashes, and then asked Him for a do-over? How many times have I asked God to redeem back to me something I messed up due to a bad decision? More times than I care to admit!!!
Don’t ever forget that our God’s specialty is redemption. He can redeem back to you whatever is wrong, whatever needs to be straightened out, what needs to be fixed because of poor choices. Oh, let Him do it!!! I believe when we have come to the end of ourselves in this way, knowing that we cannot change the past, and we turn to Him in total repentance and dependence, He delights in ‘stepping up to the plate’ for one of His children. I believe that doing this sort of thing – taking responsibility of our sin, repenting of our sin, and then asking God to give us wisdom to make better choices the second time around (thank God, He’s the God of the second chance) is one of the most important ways to mature in Christ.
Also, from this point on, every decision must be bathed in prayer. No major decisions without prayer!!! I personally cannot navigate life’s rocky roads, the twists and turns, the ups and downs without a heavenly guide. I desperately need Someone who knows the road far better than I and can give me directions that will lead me on a smooth straight path. Oh, what peace can be found when we allow our blessed, heavenly Father to guide us through the decision-making processes of life. It’s like a divine GPS system.
Girls, we want to be mature, ‘wise,’ godly women. We want to possess something that we can pass on to the next generation. Let’s start by humbling ourselves before the throne of God in repentance, asking Him for His redemption, and then petitioning Him for His wisdom in making wise choices.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 niv
Be blessed today, and God glorified,
Charlotte
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Self-Improvement - Not!
Hi my Kingdom Seekin' Sweeties,
I've sent another email to the girls that I mentor on Mon. evenings and thought you all would enjoy reading it. Here it is:
1/7/10
Hi Girls,
I was thinking about our scripture memory plan that I have encouraged you to do this year - memorizing scriptures that correspond with what your New Year's resolutions
might be. But, as I was thinking about this I want to make sure that you understand that this is not just another attempt at 'self-improvement'; although that is what hopefully will occur as you memorize God's word and meditate on it - you will constantly be reminded as you go over your specific scripture of choice what God has to say about your goals toward the 'Cross-Centered, Gospel-Driven life' and what He expects you to become. This is being 'transformed into the image of Christ.'
Just know that none of us wants to admit how depraved we really are. None of us has the ability to change ourselves. It's only God, His Word, and the indwelling Holy Spirit that should be counseling you everyday in your spirit that gives any of us the ability to be transformed into the likeness of Christ.
We are all hopelessly helpless in our attempts at self-improvement. There have been thousands of books written on the subject and our society today proves that the self-help gurus / psychiatrists / sociologists who wrote those books have not accomplished their goal. It's the Gospel that changes lives. Preach to yourself the Gospel everyday. We all need to remind ourselves of the gross amount of help we need from our Lord at being like Him in our hearts and minds.
Think on the Cross everyday and the great price that was paid for your salvation. Let that simple statement be the driving force behind everything you do and say. Let the Cross motivate you to be the Christian wife, mother, employee, daughter, sister, etc. that you are meant to be through your devotion to our Lord. Remember if you're devoted to Christ and His Word, and you have a heart for Him, everything else will fall in place.
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV
Be blessed today, and God glorified,
In His Grip,
I've sent another email to the girls that I mentor on Mon. evenings and thought you all would enjoy reading it. Here it is:
1/7/10
Hi Girls,
I was thinking about our scripture memory plan that I have encouraged you to do this year - memorizing scriptures that correspond with what your New Year's resolutions
might be. But, as I was thinking about this I want to make sure that you understand that this is not just another attempt at 'self-improvement'; although that is what hopefully will occur as you memorize God's word and meditate on it - you will constantly be reminded as you go over your specific scripture of choice what God has to say about your goals toward the 'Cross-Centered, Gospel-Driven life' and what He expects you to become. This is being 'transformed into the image of Christ.'
Just know that none of us wants to admit how depraved we really are. None of us has the ability to change ourselves. It's only God, His Word, and the indwelling Holy Spirit that should be counseling you everyday in your spirit that gives any of us the ability to be transformed into the likeness of Christ.
We are all hopelessly helpless in our attempts at self-improvement. There have been thousands of books written on the subject and our society today proves that the self-help gurus / psychiatrists / sociologists who wrote those books have not accomplished their goal. It's the Gospel that changes lives. Preach to yourself the Gospel everyday. We all need to remind ourselves of the gross amount of help we need from our Lord at being like Him in our hearts and minds.
Think on the Cross everyday and the great price that was paid for your salvation. Let that simple statement be the driving force behind everything you do and say. Let the Cross motivate you to be the Christian wife, mother, employee, daughter, sister, etc. that you are meant to be through your devotion to our Lord. Remember if you're devoted to Christ and His Word, and you have a heart for Him, everything else will fall in place.
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV
Be blessed today, and God glorified,
In His Grip,
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Time for a Break
Hey all you Kingdom Seekers,
Well, Christmas is over and it's finally time for a much needed break. I looovvve Christmas, but I'm always glad when things settle down and I can get some rest.
I have a small group of gals that come to my home once a week for Bible study and also I email them with inspirations that I get from various sources, not least of all the Lord. I want to include what I wrote to them yesterday and today. I hope you will be blessed by these emails that I sent to them.
Your Kingdom Seekin' Mama,
12/29/09
Good Morning Girls,
I'm so sorry that class was canceled last nite; but I am feeling sooo bad. My throat feels like it's on fire and I'm having terrible pain in my back (I have this from time to time due to my scoliosis). It took everything I could muster up to get out of bed this morning. Please pray for me; I need to get back on my feet so I can take care of my kids, run my household (Bob is not a very good housekeeper, although he's doing a great job helping me catch up the laundry - it's probably because he needs clean underwear and work-clothes, HaHa!), and be the help-meet for my husband that I was designed to be and help him run his business by taking care of all the paper-work and money (bills have to be paid whether your sick or well). Bob hates when I'm sick, he works soooo hard during the day and doesn't want to come home and work more; but he does what needs to be done without complaining (I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful, hard-working, selfless husband).
I'm writing to you this morning because while I've been 'down' due to my back I've been given the opportunity to read more than usual. I'm an avid reader, I'm always reading something that will teach me something new, encourage me in my Christian walk, convict me of sin, help me to be a better wife, mother, daughter, member of a local church, and a more disciplined follower of Christ.
The book I've been reading (Raising a Modern-Day Knight by Robert Lewis - awesome!) has inspired me so much that I could not wait to pass it on to you! Although this book is written to fathers and is about raising sons, it hit me that the principles laid down in this book could also help us girls with our New Years resolutions. So often we decide 'what' we would like to see changed in the coming new year, but we lack the 'how.' I think this book, that is geared to teach sons how to become men, can teach us gals how to achieve some of the goals we want to accomplish in the coming year.
Here are the principles and I've included a brief explanation of what this means for us as women:
1) Reject Passivity - when it comes to becoming the women that God intends for us to be, according to His Word, we cannot be passive. We need to reject laziness, procrastination, and rebellion in order to become the godly women we need to be in our generation and inspire younger women that look to us as examples.
2) Accept Responsibility - accept you femininity!!! and the unique call that God has for you as a female. Your responsibilities are to know your God and worship Him only, serve and submit to your husband with zeal, raise your children according to Biblical standards and with joy, represent our Savior to your church and community with love. We must accept this, and all the many facets that each responsibility contains, and do all this as unto the Lord! And in addition develop a meek, quiet spirit that is of great value in the sight of God
(1 Peter 3:1-4). Accept the responsibility to run your homes well, be the wife and mother that God commands, be a woman of prayer and the Word, be committed to godly speech and actions, and committed to encourage the body of Christ - all of this is our responsibility as we pursue our Christianity. I pray that it will be said of all of us that 'Jesus is truly the King of who and what I am.'
3) Lead Courageously - we must use the Titus 2 model when we lead. Girls, we are not to lead our husbands, but our homes!!! Take on courageously the leadership of your home and make it a sanctuary for your family from the harshness of the world. I want to include here a quote from Peter Marshall, former chaplain of the US Senate:
"I was privileged, in the spring, to visit in a home that was to me - and I am sure to the occupants - a little bit of Heaven. There was beauty there. There was a keen appreciation of the finer things of life, and an atmosphere in which it was impossible to keep from thinking of God. The room was bright and white and clean, as well as cozy. There were many windows. Flowers were blooming in pots and vases, adding their fragrance and beauty. Books lined one wall - good books - inspiring and instructive - good books - good friends. Three bird cages hung in the brightness and color of this beautiful sanctuary, and the songsters voiced their appreciation by singing as if their little throats would burst. Nature's music, nature's beauty - nature's peace... It seemed to me a kind of Paradise that had wondered down, an enchanted oasis - home!"
This quote has been a constant goal of mine and will continue to be until I achieve it. I'm not there yet, but I press on. I pray that you will too!
4) Expect the Greater Reward, God's Reward - remember as we set goals and achieve them that there will be times when you will receive no thanks or accolades from anyone!!! There are things that we can expect rewards from only in the future and maybe not even until we reach eternity. Just remember, God sees all, and you will be rewarded, at some point and time and only God knows when, for all your had work and effort. Also, don't expect rewards for doing the minimum of what your duty is. Your duty to God, your family, and your employer is just that - your duty! So, let me encourage you to stretch yourself and do more than what's expected. I've had a motto for years and have tried (still trying) to pass it on to Caleb: 'It takes so little to be above average.' If you want to rise in this world and in God's Kingdom do more than expected, go the extra mile, do hard things, and attempt the extremely difficult. It will strengthen you into the mighty woman of God that you were intended to be.
Please girls, hear me on this - I do not want to set myself up as an example of what I have just written; but know that I am sooo inspired by this that I had to pass it on to you. I pray that you will be too!!!
Be blessed today and God glorified,
In His Grip, Charlotte
12/30/09
Hi Girls,
All this lying around with my back out has got me being more contemplative than usual. It's been in my heart and mind today about delighting in who we are: children of grace - God's grace. And because we are the recipients of abundant grace it only stands to reason that we should be gracious. Have you ever heard the expression, "Growing old Gracefully?" Well, that is exactly what we should be doing. As we mature, both physically and spiritually, we should become more and more gracious for no other reason that it represents Christ well. And as we mature in the Lord we can see how much of His grace we have received and will continue to need. I am in amazement of the fact that the more I learn about God the more I am in need of His grace to conquer my own flesh and be victorious over my own wicked heart.
I looked up the word 'gracious' on the online Webster's dictionary and this is what I found:
a) marked by kindness and courtesy b) graceful c) marked by tact and delicacy d) characterized by charm, good taste, generosity of spirit, good breeding
Wow!!! I loved this definition and thought of how much Christian women everywhere need to be marked with the attribute of graciousness. These are some characteristics (kindness, courtesy, tact, delicate, charm, good taste, generosity, and good breeding) that I definitely want to possess. Some [including me] may feel that they do not come from 'good breeding' but anyone can start that lineage with themselves. You may not have been born into a wealthy family (another definition I found on Webster's), which can be the mark of 'good breeding;' but remember that you have been re-born into the family of God and so the heritage of 'good breeding' starts with you. Another thing to add to my New Year's resolutions - "Lord, help me to be your 'gracious' daughter."
Another way to look at it is being 'grace filled.' Being so full of God's grace that it spills over onto those around us. Anytime you are patient with someone, forgiving someone, extending mercy to someone, kind to someone, making peace with someone, gentle with someone, joyful with someone, courteous to someone, charming with someone, generous with someone, tactful with someone, loving to everyone, you are allowing your grace filled tank to tip over and pour out on them. This is especially true when it happens with someone that doesn't deserve it (remember that grace means 'undeserved favor'). When you do this to someone undeserving, you stand in the place of our Lord; because the abundant grace He extends to all of us is most assuredly undeserved. Think about how gracious God has been with you, and as Christians we cannot do less but be gracious to others.
Please give this some thought, and think about, in the New Year, being gracious in your speech and actions, gracious in your thoughts and attitudes, building a gracious home, teaching your children and grandchildren (no matter what age) to be gracious. It's the mark of the 'beautiful, godly woman.' I pray that you will think about what it means to be gracious in the particulars and specifics of your daily life. "Lord, help us all to represent You by being gracious!"
Be Blessed today, and God glorified,
In His Grip, Charlotte
Well, Christmas is over and it's finally time for a much needed break. I looovvve Christmas, but I'm always glad when things settle down and I can get some rest.
I have a small group of gals that come to my home once a week for Bible study and also I email them with inspirations that I get from various sources, not least of all the Lord. I want to include what I wrote to them yesterday and today. I hope you will be blessed by these emails that I sent to them.
Your Kingdom Seekin' Mama,
12/29/09
Good Morning Girls,
I'm so sorry that class was canceled last nite; but I am feeling sooo bad. My throat feels like it's on fire and I'm having terrible pain in my back (I have this from time to time due to my scoliosis). It took everything I could muster up to get out of bed this morning. Please pray for me; I need to get back on my feet so I can take care of my kids, run my household (Bob is not a very good housekeeper, although he's doing a great job helping me catch up the laundry - it's probably because he needs clean underwear and work-clothes, HaHa!), and be the help-meet for my husband that I was designed to be and help him run his business by taking care of all the paper-work and money (bills have to be paid whether your sick or well). Bob hates when I'm sick, he works soooo hard during the day and doesn't want to come home and work more; but he does what needs to be done without complaining (I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful, hard-working, selfless husband).
I'm writing to you this morning because while I've been 'down' due to my back I've been given the opportunity to read more than usual. I'm an avid reader, I'm always reading something that will teach me something new, encourage me in my Christian walk, convict me of sin, help me to be a better wife, mother, daughter, member of a local church, and a more disciplined follower of Christ.
The book I've been reading (Raising a Modern-Day Knight by Robert Lewis - awesome!) has inspired me so much that I could not wait to pass it on to you! Although this book is written to fathers and is about raising sons, it hit me that the principles laid down in this book could also help us girls with our New Years resolutions. So often we decide 'what' we would like to see changed in the coming new year, but we lack the 'how.' I think this book, that is geared to teach sons how to become men, can teach us gals how to achieve some of the goals we want to accomplish in the coming year.
Here are the principles and I've included a brief explanation of what this means for us as women:
1) Reject Passivity - when it comes to becoming the women that God intends for us to be, according to His Word, we cannot be passive. We need to reject laziness, procrastination, and rebellion in order to become the godly women we need to be in our generation and inspire younger women that look to us as examples.
2) Accept Responsibility - accept you femininity!!! and the unique call that God has for you as a female. Your responsibilities are to know your God and worship Him only, serve and submit to your husband with zeal, raise your children according to Biblical standards and with joy, represent our Savior to your church and community with love. We must accept this, and all the many facets that each responsibility contains, and do all this as unto the Lord! And in addition develop a meek, quiet spirit that is of great value in the sight of God
(1 Peter 3:1-4). Accept the responsibility to run your homes well, be the wife and mother that God commands, be a woman of prayer and the Word, be committed to godly speech and actions, and committed to encourage the body of Christ - all of this is our responsibility as we pursue our Christianity. I pray that it will be said of all of us that 'Jesus is truly the King of who and what I am.'
3) Lead Courageously - we must use the Titus 2 model when we lead. Girls, we are not to lead our husbands, but our homes!!! Take on courageously the leadership of your home and make it a sanctuary for your family from the harshness of the world. I want to include here a quote from Peter Marshall, former chaplain of the US Senate:
"I was privileged, in the spring, to visit in a home that was to me - and I am sure to the occupants - a little bit of Heaven. There was beauty there. There was a keen appreciation of the finer things of life, and an atmosphere in which it was impossible to keep from thinking of God. The room was bright and white and clean, as well as cozy. There were many windows. Flowers were blooming in pots and vases, adding their fragrance and beauty. Books lined one wall - good books - inspiring and instructive - good books - good friends. Three bird cages hung in the brightness and color of this beautiful sanctuary, and the songsters voiced their appreciation by singing as if their little throats would burst. Nature's music, nature's beauty - nature's peace... It seemed to me a kind of Paradise that had wondered down, an enchanted oasis - home!"
This quote has been a constant goal of mine and will continue to be until I achieve it. I'm not there yet, but I press on. I pray that you will too!
4) Expect the Greater Reward, God's Reward - remember as we set goals and achieve them that there will be times when you will receive no thanks or accolades from anyone!!! There are things that we can expect rewards from only in the future and maybe not even until we reach eternity. Just remember, God sees all, and you will be rewarded, at some point and time and only God knows when, for all your had work and effort. Also, don't expect rewards for doing the minimum of what your duty is. Your duty to God, your family, and your employer is just that - your duty! So, let me encourage you to stretch yourself and do more than what's expected. I've had a motto for years and have tried (still trying) to pass it on to Caleb: 'It takes so little to be above average.' If you want to rise in this world and in God's Kingdom do more than expected, go the extra mile, do hard things, and attempt the extremely difficult. It will strengthen you into the mighty woman of God that you were intended to be.
Please girls, hear me on this - I do not want to set myself up as an example of what I have just written; but know that I am sooo inspired by this that I had to pass it on to you. I pray that you will be too!!!
Be blessed today and God glorified,
In His Grip, Charlotte
12/30/09
Hi Girls,
All this lying around with my back out has got me being more contemplative than usual. It's been in my heart and mind today about delighting in who we are: children of grace - God's grace. And because we are the recipients of abundant grace it only stands to reason that we should be gracious. Have you ever heard the expression, "Growing old Gracefully?" Well, that is exactly what we should be doing. As we mature, both physically and spiritually, we should become more and more gracious for no other reason that it represents Christ well. And as we mature in the Lord we can see how much of His grace we have received and will continue to need. I am in amazement of the fact that the more I learn about God the more I am in need of His grace to conquer my own flesh and be victorious over my own wicked heart.
I looked up the word 'gracious' on the online Webster's dictionary and this is what I found:
a) marked by kindness and courtesy b) graceful c) marked by tact and delicacy d) characterized by charm, good taste, generosity of spirit, good breeding
Wow!!! I loved this definition and thought of how much Christian women everywhere need to be marked with the attribute of graciousness. These are some characteristics (kindness, courtesy, tact, delicate, charm, good taste, generosity, and good breeding) that I definitely want to possess. Some [including me] may feel that they do not come from 'good breeding' but anyone can start that lineage with themselves. You may not have been born into a wealthy family (another definition I found on Webster's), which can be the mark of 'good breeding;' but remember that you have been re-born into the family of God and so the heritage of 'good breeding' starts with you. Another thing to add to my New Year's resolutions - "Lord, help me to be your 'gracious' daughter."
Another way to look at it is being 'grace filled.' Being so full of God's grace that it spills over onto those around us. Anytime you are patient with someone, forgiving someone, extending mercy to someone, kind to someone, making peace with someone, gentle with someone, joyful with someone, courteous to someone, charming with someone, generous with someone, tactful with someone, loving to everyone, you are allowing your grace filled tank to tip over and pour out on them. This is especially true when it happens with someone that doesn't deserve it (remember that grace means 'undeserved favor'). When you do this to someone undeserving, you stand in the place of our Lord; because the abundant grace He extends to all of us is most assuredly undeserved. Think about how gracious God has been with you, and as Christians we cannot do less but be gracious to others.
Please give this some thought, and think about, in the New Year, being gracious in your speech and actions, gracious in your thoughts and attitudes, building a gracious home, teaching your children and grandchildren (no matter what age) to be gracious. It's the mark of the 'beautiful, godly woman.' I pray that you will think about what it means to be gracious in the particulars and specifics of your daily life. "Lord, help us all to represent You by being gracious!"
Be Blessed today, and God glorified,
In His Grip, Charlotte
Thursday, November 19, 2009
I'm in it for the Profit
Good Morning Kingdom Seekers,
Here is a devotional that I placed on my website a few years. It still holds true today. I pray that it ministers to you.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3
Greeting in the high, holy name of our Lord Jesus Christ who is rich in mercy, abundant in grace, and loves us with an everlasting love. Have you ever heard, or maybe said it yourself, “I’m in it for the money.” My husband and I have said this many times to our renters that are slack in paying their rent. It’s usually Bob that takes care of the rental business and he has told our tenants that they must pay their rent because plain and simple, we need the money. They seem to think that we are loaded and don’t need the cash (NOT!!!) and Bob has to explain to them that we are in this business for the money; for the profit we can gain. If it wasn’t for the money who in their right mind would put up with such aggravation? It’s a blessing to have good tenants.
We all go to jobs that we sometimes don’t like and our co-workers can be aggravating, but we do it in order to receive a paycheck. Let’s face it – we all go to our jobs in order to gain a profit, we invest money in the stock market in order to gain a profit, we put time and money into many other investments in order for them to be profitable to us, either immediately or in the future. It is no different in the spiritual realm and the apostle Paul gives us this admonition in
1 Corinthians 13.
It’s strange to think of working for the Lord and pursuing godliness in order to acquire gain and maybe that concept goes against everything you’ve been taught, but as we will discover it is scriptural. We often accumulate material possessions and we work hard for those things – a nice home, a nice car, nice clothes, nice furniture, nice vacations, etc. And how often have you heard the expression, “You can’t take it with you.” Well, the material things you acquire in this life you can’t take with you, but there are some things you and they can’t be transported in a U-Haul trailer. The things that we take with us are in the spirit realm and we don’t necessarily take them with us when we go to heaven; the profit we have gained in the spirit are already in heaven waiting on us when we get there, because we have sent them on up ahead of us. Everything we do now for our triune God is making deposits for us in heaven and those rewards are waiting on us there. It’s our heavenly profit!!!
Let’s take a look at some scriptures to confirm a spiritual profit or gain:
1 Samuel 12:21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain
Proverbs 3:13-14 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than find gold.
1 Corinthians 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
1 Corinthians 10:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
Philippians 1:21 For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that thy which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. (These things are good and profitable unto men.)
Hebrews 12:9-10 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
As you can see there are many scriptures that teach us concerning profitability and gain. As I was researching this I found 67 references for the word ‘profit’ including it’s various forms; and 41 references for the word ‘gain’ and it’s variations. Anytime the Holy Spirit sees fit to repeat something over and over again in the scriptures it’s a ‘heads up’ and we need to pay attention to it.
It’s more than obvious that the Lord expects us to be profitable to someone else and in the doing gain profit for ourselves. We see in Paul’s statement in 1 Cor. 10:33 that we are to seek the ‘building up’ of others and also in his first letter to Timothy that godliness is profitable to ‘us’ in all things. What a foreign idea, that we should pursue our Christian walk in order to gain a profit – but as you can see it is biblical. But lets be clear, the profit is more for the Kingdom of God and Christ than for us! Jesus said:
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:8
Let’s look briefly at another example: What happened to the stewards in Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25? The ones that gained a profit were praised and received a reward, and the one that did not was ‘cast into outer darkness.’ The servant that gained nothing was called by Jesus, ‘the unprofitable servant.’ Christ expects us to be a profit and a benefit to His kingdom. Not in heaven, the Lord has no need of our talents there. Our profiting is to be here on earth; and all the while storing up for ourselves treasure in heaven. Also, take a look at Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:26a:
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Although your work is here on earth, your reward will be in heaven. Oh, please don’t think that you won’t receive a few goodies here on earth, we most certainly will. But it may come in a way that you never expected – all your bills paid on time; health for yourself and your family (what a blessing to never hear the word ‘terminal’ from your doctor); your children serving the Lord with zeal and gladness all their life and marrying others that have the same zeal for the Lord; etc. But, if you expect your blessing to be the BIG house on the hill, and the BIG bank account, and the expensive cars, you may be sadly disappointed. God rewards those who are His obedient servants and the most valuable piece of profit-sharing we can receive from the Lord comes in a package that when opened we find a jewel called “PEACE.” Another package comes on your doorstep and inside is a nugget of gold marked “SATISFACTION & CONTENTMENT.” Well, what d’ya know, the delivery angel has stopped at your house once again with another package. You hasten to open it and find a precious ornament labeled “FULFILLMENT.” I can’t think of any other better earthly rewards than these. I can do without the big house, cars, a large bank account, and expensive clothes in order to have peace, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment. These, my precious brothers and sisters in Christ, are all worth whatever it takes for us to be a profit to someone else, to ourselves, and ultimately to our Lord.
In conclusion, I want to leave you with the words of the apostle Paul concerning two of his fellow co-workers in the ministry. And it is my prayer that the following statements may be said of us all:
2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
Philemon 1:10-11 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
Go with God Kingdom Seekers,
1 Timothy 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
Here is a devotional that I placed on my website a few years. It still holds true today. I pray that it ministers to you.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3
Greeting in the high, holy name of our Lord Jesus Christ who is rich in mercy, abundant in grace, and loves us with an everlasting love. Have you ever heard, or maybe said it yourself, “I’m in it for the money.” My husband and I have said this many times to our renters that are slack in paying their rent. It’s usually Bob that takes care of the rental business and he has told our tenants that they must pay their rent because plain and simple, we need the money. They seem to think that we are loaded and don’t need the cash (NOT!!!) and Bob has to explain to them that we are in this business for the money; for the profit we can gain. If it wasn’t for the money who in their right mind would put up with such aggravation? It’s a blessing to have good tenants.
We all go to jobs that we sometimes don’t like and our co-workers can be aggravating, but we do it in order to receive a paycheck. Let’s face it – we all go to our jobs in order to gain a profit, we invest money in the stock market in order to gain a profit, we put time and money into many other investments in order for them to be profitable to us, either immediately or in the future. It is no different in the spiritual realm and the apostle Paul gives us this admonition in
1 Corinthians 13.
It’s strange to think of working for the Lord and pursuing godliness in order to acquire gain and maybe that concept goes against everything you’ve been taught, but as we will discover it is scriptural. We often accumulate material possessions and we work hard for those things – a nice home, a nice car, nice clothes, nice furniture, nice vacations, etc. And how often have you heard the expression, “You can’t take it with you.” Well, the material things you acquire in this life you can’t take with you, but there are some things you and they can’t be transported in a U-Haul trailer. The things that we take with us are in the spirit realm and we don’t necessarily take them with us when we go to heaven; the profit we have gained in the spirit are already in heaven waiting on us when we get there, because we have sent them on up ahead of us. Everything we do now for our triune God is making deposits for us in heaven and those rewards are waiting on us there. It’s our heavenly profit!!!
Let’s take a look at some scriptures to confirm a spiritual profit or gain:
1 Samuel 12:21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain
Proverbs 3:13-14 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than find gold.
1 Corinthians 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
1 Corinthians 10:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
Philippians 1:21 For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that thy which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. (These things are good and profitable unto men.)
Hebrews 12:9-10 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
As you can see there are many scriptures that teach us concerning profitability and gain. As I was researching this I found 67 references for the word ‘profit’ including it’s various forms; and 41 references for the word ‘gain’ and it’s variations. Anytime the Holy Spirit sees fit to repeat something over and over again in the scriptures it’s a ‘heads up’ and we need to pay attention to it.
It’s more than obvious that the Lord expects us to be profitable to someone else and in the doing gain profit for ourselves. We see in Paul’s statement in 1 Cor. 10:33 that we are to seek the ‘building up’ of others and also in his first letter to Timothy that godliness is profitable to ‘us’ in all things. What a foreign idea, that we should pursue our Christian walk in order to gain a profit – but as you can see it is biblical. But lets be clear, the profit is more for the Kingdom of God and Christ than for us! Jesus said:
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:8
Let’s look briefly at another example: What happened to the stewards in Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25? The ones that gained a profit were praised and received a reward, and the one that did not was ‘cast into outer darkness.’ The servant that gained nothing was called by Jesus, ‘the unprofitable servant.’ Christ expects us to be a profit and a benefit to His kingdom. Not in heaven, the Lord has no need of our talents there. Our profiting is to be here on earth; and all the while storing up for ourselves treasure in heaven. Also, take a look at Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:26a:
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Although your work is here on earth, your reward will be in heaven. Oh, please don’t think that you won’t receive a few goodies here on earth, we most certainly will. But it may come in a way that you never expected – all your bills paid on time; health for yourself and your family (what a blessing to never hear the word ‘terminal’ from your doctor); your children serving the Lord with zeal and gladness all their life and marrying others that have the same zeal for the Lord; etc. But, if you expect your blessing to be the BIG house on the hill, and the BIG bank account, and the expensive cars, you may be sadly disappointed. God rewards those who are His obedient servants and the most valuable piece of profit-sharing we can receive from the Lord comes in a package that when opened we find a jewel called “PEACE.” Another package comes on your doorstep and inside is a nugget of gold marked “SATISFACTION & CONTENTMENT.” Well, what d’ya know, the delivery angel has stopped at your house once again with another package. You hasten to open it and find a precious ornament labeled “FULFILLMENT.” I can’t think of any other better earthly rewards than these. I can do without the big house, cars, a large bank account, and expensive clothes in order to have peace, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment. These, my precious brothers and sisters in Christ, are all worth whatever it takes for us to be a profit to someone else, to ourselves, and ultimately to our Lord.
In conclusion, I want to leave you with the words of the apostle Paul concerning two of his fellow co-workers in the ministry. And it is my prayer that the following statements may be said of us all:
2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
Philemon 1:10-11 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
Go with God Kingdom Seekers,
1 Timothy 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Changed by the Word
Hello all you Kingdom Seekers,
You know how I love to pass on meaningful quotes. Well, here's another one:
"[It] is important that with every message something of an intensely practical character should be incorporated lest its hearers be carried away with the glowing pictures of the future and the visions of such prophecies as set forth in Daniel and The Revelation, while very careless and indifferent as to their life. Once when I was asked to give some addresses on the Second Coming of the Lord, a speaker sitting beside me remarked as someone entered before the meeting commenced, "There is one of the most godless men in our community and yet he is always on hand if anyone lectures on prophecy." He is so interested in finding out all about the future--When I got through preaching, this man came up to me. "Brother," he said, "I'm glad to know that you hold the Second Coming - I hold that too." I asked, "Do you? Does it hold you? It is one thing to hold the Second Coming, it is quite another thing to be held by it. The Word says, 'Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.' Does it have that effect on your heart and life?" --H.A. Ironside
Be blessed today and God glorified,
Your Kingdom Seekin' Mama,
You know how I love to pass on meaningful quotes. Well, here's another one:
"[It] is important that with every message something of an intensely practical character should be incorporated lest its hearers be carried away with the glowing pictures of the future and the visions of such prophecies as set forth in Daniel and The Revelation, while very careless and indifferent as to their life. Once when I was asked to give some addresses on the Second Coming of the Lord, a speaker sitting beside me remarked as someone entered before the meeting commenced, "There is one of the most godless men in our community and yet he is always on hand if anyone lectures on prophecy." He is so interested in finding out all about the future--When I got through preaching, this man came up to me. "Brother," he said, "I'm glad to know that you hold the Second Coming - I hold that too." I asked, "Do you? Does it hold you? It is one thing to hold the Second Coming, it is quite another thing to be held by it. The Word says, 'Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.' Does it have that effect on your heart and life?" --H.A. Ironside
Be blessed today and God glorified,
Your Kingdom Seekin' Mama,
Friday, October 23, 2009
Heroic in Faith
Good Evening, all you K.S. Guys and Gals,
It's a raining Friday evening in southern Ohio, so that makes it a perfect time to blog. I ran across this quote and it expresses exactly how I feel about the standard, that our heavenly Father has put in place for His church, is continually being lowered by men and women who want to appease their flesh and not walk according to the Spirit. And in doing so they lead others that are immature or weak in their faith astray. Here's the quote:
"The world can no longer be left to mere diplomats, politicians, and business leaders. They have done the best they could, no doubt. But this is an age of spiritual heroes - a time for men and women to be heroic in their faith and in spiritual character and power. The greatest danger to the Christian church today is that of pitching its message to low."
Dallas Willard, 'The Spirit of the Disciplines'
I give this a hearty 'Amen.'
Be blessed all you Kingdom Seekers and God glorified,
Have a good weekend,
Your Kingdom Seekin' Mama,
It's a raining Friday evening in southern Ohio, so that makes it a perfect time to blog. I ran across this quote and it expresses exactly how I feel about the standard, that our heavenly Father has put in place for His church, is continually being lowered by men and women who want to appease their flesh and not walk according to the Spirit. And in doing so they lead others that are immature or weak in their faith astray. Here's the quote:
"The world can no longer be left to mere diplomats, politicians, and business leaders. They have done the best they could, no doubt. But this is an age of spiritual heroes - a time for men and women to be heroic in their faith and in spiritual character and power. The greatest danger to the Christian church today is that of pitching its message to low."
Dallas Willard, 'The Spirit of the Disciplines'
I give this a hearty 'Amen.'
Be blessed all you Kingdom Seekers and God glorified,
Have a good weekend,
Your Kingdom Seekin' Mama,
Monday, October 19, 2009
Standing Alone
Hello, all my dear Kingdom Seekers,
It's been awhile since I've been able to post here, but the last several weeks have been more than challenging. But, the Lord has provided a little time this morning to talk to you about something that is so important in all our lives - 'standing alone.'
If we are going to be Christ-like, there is going to come a time when we will have to stand alone; because we are going to stand for the truth of God's Word that is so often not popular. I just saw an article where an Old Testament professor wants the translations of the book of Genesis rewritten to accommodate her views. This professor is promoting her interpretation of the biblical text that God did not create the earth - how foolish! How many will follow after this individual and her teaching because she is dregreed and holds a position of leadership and authority in a university (don't misunderstand, I believe in coming under authority; but when that authority isn't teaching the truth of the Bible and the whole counsel of God, then we can no longer place ourselves under their influence). And many of those followers will be in the Christian church because they are not taught truth, nor are they seeking it on their own. Because the leadership in many churches do not promote the study of the scriptures by those in the pew, many will be deceived. But, those of us who have studied the Word of God and know better can stand against such foolishness as this, and stand 'alone' if needs be. We that know the truth know that the scriptures tell us that:
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:3
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: Heb. 1:10
Well, as far as I'm concerned, that settles it - God is the creator of everything. This woman is not taking into consideration the whole counsel of God, which is the entire Bible (although she claims to). And so those of us that are in Christ will have to take a stand against what is being taught by this professor and possibly stand alone.
I often tell my younger son (age 10) that at some point in his life he 'will' have to stand alone. It's just part of our suffering for the cause of Christ. It doesn't matter if you're 10 or 100, it's never easy; but it's how we share in Christ's suffering and only those that "suffer, will reign with Him" (2 Tim. 2:12).
I want to encourage you to strengthen and prepare yourselves to stand for Christ. And if necessary to stand alone - you will be rewarded for it. But don't forget, like the apostle Paul when he had been abandoned by his companions, that the Lord stood with him (1 Tim. 4:16-17). You may feel alone physically, but the Lord is always by your side.
Be blessed today my K.S. sweeties and always remember, 'Go with God.'
In His Word and at His Work,
Your K.S. Mama,
if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, Col. 1:23-24 esv
It's been awhile since I've been able to post here, but the last several weeks have been more than challenging. But, the Lord has provided a little time this morning to talk to you about something that is so important in all our lives - 'standing alone.'
If we are going to be Christ-like, there is going to come a time when we will have to stand alone; because we are going to stand for the truth of God's Word that is so often not popular. I just saw an article where an Old Testament professor wants the translations of the book of Genesis rewritten to accommodate her views. This professor is promoting her interpretation of the biblical text that God did not create the earth - how foolish! How many will follow after this individual and her teaching because she is dregreed and holds a position of leadership and authority in a university (don't misunderstand, I believe in coming under authority; but when that authority isn't teaching the truth of the Bible and the whole counsel of God, then we can no longer place ourselves under their influence). And many of those followers will be in the Christian church because they are not taught truth, nor are they seeking it on their own. Because the leadership in many churches do not promote the study of the scriptures by those in the pew, many will be deceived. But, those of us who have studied the Word of God and know better can stand against such foolishness as this, and stand 'alone' if needs be. We that know the truth know that the scriptures tell us that:
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:3
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: Heb. 1:10
Well, as far as I'm concerned, that settles it - God is the creator of everything. This woman is not taking into consideration the whole counsel of God, which is the entire Bible (although she claims to). And so those of us that are in Christ will have to take a stand against what is being taught by this professor and possibly stand alone.
I often tell my younger son (age 10) that at some point in his life he 'will' have to stand alone. It's just part of our suffering for the cause of Christ. It doesn't matter if you're 10 or 100, it's never easy; but it's how we share in Christ's suffering and only those that "suffer, will reign with Him" (2 Tim. 2:12).
I want to encourage you to strengthen and prepare yourselves to stand for Christ. And if necessary to stand alone - you will be rewarded for it. But don't forget, like the apostle Paul when he had been abandoned by his companions, that the Lord stood with him (1 Tim. 4:16-17). You may feel alone physically, but the Lord is always by your side.
Be blessed today my K.S. sweeties and always remember, 'Go with God.'
In His Word and at His Work,
Your K.S. Mama,
if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, Col. 1:23-24 esv
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