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Falling in Love With Jesus…& A Survey!

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Day 19 of the #31dbc!

“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.” ~ Lauren DeStanfano

Few people on this earth do not find pleasure in the comfort of fall. I love the changing of the seasons, the cooler temperatures coming on, the bright hues and radiant shades and colors! Such joy comes from listening to the rustling of the leaves across the sidewalk, that has been music to my ears all week long!

We throw open our windows and let the cool breezes blow through our homes, the fresh air bringing welcome change from a hot summer of closed, air conditioned houses. It puts us in a cleaning mood and, unfortunately for our waistlines, a baking mood!

Falling in love with Jesus Hope in the healing

(I took this fun picture of my youngest son, Korey Ross, and our “adopt-him-if-we-could” son, Kyle Christian, when we were  living in Latvia in 2011. We were visiting a castle in Segulda, and on the long walk back Korey and Kyle saw this irresistible pile of leaves and before we could tell them they were trespassing on “keep off the grass” signs, it was too late. Kyle was already in Superman form and Korey was falling in. They are not teenagers. Ahem. Good times!)

This time of year also makes me pause and think of the good things of God. Of all the blessings in our lives and the many, many reasons we have to be thankful. In our mid-week service Wednesday evening, our pastor was speaking about how blessed we are as a people. Compared to two-thirds of the entire world, we were considered wealthy!

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Ephesians 5:20.

If we have a roof over our heads, food on our table and clothes on our back on a daily basis, we are better off than half of the people in the world. But if we have those things and more than one outfit of clothing, can go to the pantry and actually stand there and choose what we are going to have to eat for every meal then we are considered to be rich!

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Psalm 107:1.

I realize that the majority of my readers are from North America, but I am very grateful for the many friends that I have made in so many other countries in the last eight months! You all have been such a blessing to me and have taught me so much. What a thrill it is to meet people from all around the world who share a love for the things of God and who want to study His Word.

“I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.” Psalm 9:1,2 NLT.

From Dubai to Nigeria, Kenya, the Dominican Republic, Toronto, the Netherlands, Manitoba,  and of course we can’t forget the Eastern Europe countries of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland. These are just a few of the friends that I actually communicate with on a regular basis and know them by name, out of over 100 countries that visit the blog!

“Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.” Psalm 118:28.

Our lifestyles are so very diverse, but yet when I receive your emails and read your thoughts and comments on things I have written, I am amazed at how alike we really are. We come from different cultures but we love the same God.

As we enter this season of thankfulness, I thought it would be good to hear from you, from your corner of the globe and right here close by too. Some of you I hear from regularly, some read but have never commented. What I would love to know is three things:
  1. Something God has done for you in 2013, what you are most thankful for.
  2. What you want to see accomplished in your spiritual walk in 2014.
  3. How you and your family will be celebrating the Thanksgiving Holiday if at all.

Mention what state or country you are from. You can email me your response to ynannette@gmail.com . I would like to use the information in my Thanksgiving post and show what God has been doing around the world! I will only use first names so you don’t have to worry about confidentiality. But if you do not even want me to use your name at all, please say so in your post and I will respect your wishes.

This will be a great blessing! I hope you will take a couple of minutes and answer the questions for me. I love and appreciate every one of you. These last eight months have been some of the most rewarding of my life and I thank you for being a part of the journey.

God isn’t finished, let’s keep reaching for souls and telling others the Good News that Jesus saves!

 

Sharing with Saturday Stillness, Heart Reflected, Amaze Me Monday, Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday, Sharing His Beauty, The Better Mom, Making Your Home Sing, Mondays Musings

Alright then, have it your way…

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How many of you have heard of the Rich Young Ruler?

It’s not the newest reality show this season so don’t get excited. We are going way back for this one, waaaayyyy back. This was in a parable that Jesus told the crowd that had gathered around Him, and it goes like this:

“Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry’. 

But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21 NKJV.

Do you see what I see here?

My barns, my crops, my goods…

He had it all figured out for himself. He had so much, too much, he just kept piling up more STUFF, and more STUFF, and even more STUFF! He wasn’t concerned about anything or anyone around him, he was totally independent.

But God said he was a fool, he couldn’t take all of his stuff with him! Who was going to get all of those things when he died?

Have it Your Way hopeinthehealing

The New Living Translation says, “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

Relationship is the key.

If we have no relationship with Him all the wealth in the world will not buy us entrance into that heavenly city. We must know Him!

Burger King used to have a slogan that was so effective that people still sing it to this day, “Have it Your Way…” I can even recall the jingle, this will be dating me, but here it goes: “Hold the pickle, hold the lettuce, special orders won’t upset us, all we ask is that you let us serve it your way! Have it your way…”

Having things our way is a big deal in our society. We want it now and we want it our own way…or else.

Jesus wasn’t saying there was anything wrong with having wealth or nice things. He was saying that getting, just to get, and ignoring the needs of the poor and the outcast was another matter altogether. Jesus was a Master Teacher and the point He was trying to get across was that “tearing down your barns to build bigger ones” was laying up for yourself treasure here on this earth, not in heaven above.

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:32-34 NKJV.

[Tweet “Treasures that are laid up in heaven won’t fade, rust, tear, rip or wear out over time.”]

So back to the quote…there were two kinds of people…One that wanted his own way. We have seen what happens to him. But what about the first guy, he said, “Thy will be done!”

So simple, so easy, and his life is blessed, not necessarily with material wealth, but with that relationship. He knows the Lord Jesus Christ and Jesus knows him. They walk in sweet communion.

He loves us in spite of our faults and regardless of our failures and our inadequacies. He knows better than anyone all of the mistakes and shortcomings in our past and loves us anyway.

Let’s lay down our “stuff”…
Reach for the relationship…
And lay up treasures that matter for eternity.
Thy Will Be Done.

Kingdom2

 

If Only He Could Walk On Water, Then We Would Give Him A Raise…

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31 days of HopeDay 16 of the #31dbc! Still talking about Hope and Healing but taking a little bit of a side step to honor our pastors today!  It’s Pastor Appreciation Month and I just cannot let it pass without giving honor where it is due.

A good place to begin when we want to see what the Word of God tells us is a good role model for a Pastor, Elder, Bishop, or any appointed leader in the Church, is with the Apostle Paul’s teachings.

“Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect…hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour… Titus 1:1-3.

The Lord has manifested His Word through preaching.

He has revealed and established it through the anointed speaking of man. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15.  

Paul told them to ordain elders, or pastors, in every city. This would mean the establishing of churches as well! Then he went on to give the criteria for this man of God. Let’s look closely:

“…you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—  if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.

For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”  Titus 1:5-9 NKJV.

The position of pastor is not an easy one. It wasn’t in Paul’s day and it certainly isn’t today. I can speak from experience since I was a pastor’s wife for several years. We only resigned our church to go overseas and serve on the mission field, so I am well aware of the pressures, and the blessings, of pastoring.

A pastor, and his wife, are always on call, and are happy to be available to their congregation.

They love to serve, to give and to love. Many times they are awakened in the middle of the night to come to the hospital, the home of a church member, or even the scene of an accident.

Then there is the pastor’s wife and family. When a church hires the pastor, they are getting an entire package. This package is then invited to live in a glass house! They are never, ever without criticism.

The pastor’s wife is often overlooked but always “looked over”. Oh my, is she looked over! She is whispered about and gossiped about more than anyone in the church. She doesn’t mind being talked about herself, but she is weary of the criticism of her husband and children.

The events that she is required to attend and oversee are endless: bridal showers, baby showers, funerals and funeral dinners, weddings and rehearsal dinners, children’s ministry, youth ministry, all church events, some business meetings, small groups, choirs, music ministry, hosting missionaries and special speakers in her home, dinners, fundraisers, Vacation Bible Schools, and the list can go on and on…

Pastor’s wives are not complaining, these are labors of love for most of them if their church family is a place of refuge and safety. I pray it is so for your pastor’s wife.

In small churches pastors are asked to wear the hats of janitor, gardener, handyman, secretary, treasurer, greeter, song leader, maybe even piano player!

Recently there was a church that advertised for an opening for a Senior Pastor position:

“We want a Pastor who is well-organized, dynamic and youthful in outlook: one who is not afraid of innovative ideas or of risk taking; one who takes strength from and is strong in preaching and teaching the Word; one who is open and inventive, able to find new and different ways to worship God. Our Pastor will look for ways to develop consensus . . .”

Realizing, perhaps, that these characteristics sounded much like a description of Superman, the pulpit committee added a note at the bottom that read:

“The ability to walk on water would be nice, but is not required.”

Shepherd of the flock

The term pastor literally means “shepherd”. A shepherd is a rescuer, a protector and a caretaker of his flock. Sheep become lost so easily and need a shepherd to lead them home. The role of a pastor is to lead them to Jesus, to help them find their way to the Good Shepherd.  “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 NIV.

The Good Shepherd, and the pastor, protects his sheep. “He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.” John 10:3. He isn’t being nosey, he is concerned. When it seems he is preaching “at” you, or you think he has “read your mail”, have you considered that God has spoken to the man of God through the Word to protect you? A true shepherd of the flock guards and shields his flock from the things of the world that would cause them to stumble or fall.

He is also your caretaker, comforter and counselor. “…warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14 NKJV.

But remember he has a life. He has a family, a home, and chores that need to be done around his house too!

He would like to spend time with his family, take a day off now and then, and enjoy dinner without the phone ringing non-stop. (Emergencies are always welcome!)

We have a duty and responsibility to give back to our pastor, the shepherd of our souls. He will stand and give account for us! “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Hebrews 13:17.

A pastor is expected to be all things to all people at all times.

But remember he is only human. He cannot walk on water! They are striving to be the best they can be, love their congregation and help them find a relationship with Jesus Christ. Let’s not make it difficult for them to fulfill their role.

Since it is my blog, I get to brag on my pastor. (Insert Smile) I am thankful for my pastor and his wife, Pastor Ron and Cindy Hawkins of Turning Point Apostolic Church in Ellettsville, Indiana.

Even though we are close in age and I have known Pastor Hawkins almost my entire life, it has not hindered my respect for him as my pastor. He is a very meek and humble man of God who sincerely cares about the souls he has been given charge over. He has a desire to see his church thrive; not just survive.

Turning Point has the best pastor’s wife anywhere! She is funny, sweet, caring, and compassionate. She is one of those rare gems who, if she is carrying a mountain of stress, you would never know it. She doesn’t wear her feelings on her face. Oh, how I love that about her!

Thank you Pastor Ron and Cindy Hawkins for your sacrifice and devotion to the congregation of TPAC.

hawkins

Now you all can feel free to comment about your pastor and pastor’s wife! I would love to hear your comments! And take time in the next couple of weeks to tell them personally how much you appreciate all they do for you and the church they pastor.

Make sure your church is doing something to show them honor at some point during the year. Pray for your pastor and his family. Love them and support them, God will honor you!

“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.” 1 Timothy 5:17.

Sharing with Whole Hearted Wednesdays, Works for Me Wednesdays, A Little R & R, Homemaking Party, Time Travel Thursday, Thriving Thursday, Hearts for Home, Proverbs 31 Thursdays, Friendship Friday

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