What's Your Favorite Hymn?

Friday, June 30, 2017

• Amazing Grace
• How Great Thou Art
• And Can It Be (Amazimg Love)
• It Is Well With My Soul
• In The Garden
• Victory In Jesus
• A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
• Bringing In The Sheaves
• Without Him
• Peace In The Valley 
• O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing
• I Surrender All
• Just As I Am
• Come Thou Fiunt Of Every Blessing
• At The Cross
• Leaning On the Everlasting Arms 
• Grace That Is Greater Than All Our Sins
• Holy, Holy, Holy
• Immortal Invisible
• More Love To Thee
• Nothing But The Blood 
• Open My Eyes
• Savior Like A Shepherd Lead Us
• Blessed Assurance
• All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name
• When I Survey the Wondrous Cross 

I can't say that this is my absolute favorite, but whenever I hear "Without Him" my mind goes back to Espiritu Santo, Brazil. One of the translators for our mission trip sang this with me in Portuguese for one of the worship services. It was pretty sweet. 

"Take The Name Of Jesus With You" was the closing song we sang every week at the little corner church where I attended as a teenager  in Bowling Green. Now when we sing it on Sunday nights, I think about my old church family way back then. 

I think songs are so very important in our worship of the Lord -- whether it's in church or in the car or wherever. I can only imagine the harmony we'll experience one day as we worship Him together in heaven!

We have been blessed with many wonderful hymns over the years. Does one of these stick out to you as being especially important? Why?

Lord, thank you for giving us music and harmony. I can't imagine going through life without it. And I can't wait to experience its fullness one day in heaven!

 

Piccoli Horses

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Yesterday I met the cutest stuffed horse EVER! And I've known quite a few over the years. He's a Piccoli Horse named Topper. He can stand on all fours . . .

 

sit . . .

 

and stand on two different leveled surfaces. 

 

He is the most cuddly stuffed animal I think I've ever seen. 

AND . . .

He is paired with a mobile app which uses technology to help children learn to speak!

Craig Anderson developed the software. He was a college student at our former church in Bowling Green and he used to babysit our boys! Now he has a growing boy of his own and has partnered with someone in Somerset to create Piccoli Horses. 

piccolihorses.com

One of the cool things you won't find on their website is that the company is interested in pairing with groups to assist with fundraisers. Contact them directly if interested. 

They are quite a herd!

Piccoli Horses video

Piccoli Zoo video

 

 

What are you doing?

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

I feel like if you want something from somebody, you should start by being nice to them. And my children can attest to the fact that, in my eyes, pitching a fit does NOT get you what you want. 

How many times have you been in a store and heard a small child raising a ruckus? (I think they put candy at the checkout counter so that when a child sees it and insists on having it, the parent caves and buys it for them just so they won't cause a scene.) 

Or have you ever been so perturbed with someone that you felt it appropriate to punish them by not speaking to them?

Have you ever been in the middle of a yelling match or a door-slamming-fest?

Are we as parents too busy to hear our children? Do they feel like acting out is the only way to get our attention?

Now let me make it clear that I'm only bringing this up because I've been thinking about it lately. I'm not trying to call out any of my friends or family. 

And here's the actual question I'd like to ask: What do we do when we feel like God isn't paying attention to us -- when we want something from Him and He's not delivering? 

Do we pout?

Do we scream and shout?

Do we give Him the cold shoulder and stop talking to Him?

Do we make life miserable for everybody else because we're unhappy with God?

Do we pitch a fit?

Do we call Him names?

Do we insult those who claim to be His?

Do we try to manipulate Him?

Well, first of all we should understand that God DOES hear us. 

You will pray to Him and He will hear you....
Job 22:27

He's never too busy for us. And He loves us more than we can imagine.  (see John 3:16)

Secondly, like any good parent, God has our best interest in mind when He responds to our requests. Just like I'm not going to give a child three donuts right before supper, He's not going to indulge us when it's not for our good. 

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:11

Thirdly, God doesn't have to make sense to us. He is God. He is Love. He is Truth. He is perfect. We are -- none of those things. And we do need to trust Him. I mean wholly trust Him. 

So the next time you get frustrated with God, just remember that He knows better than you do. Avoid the temptation to act out. Trust Him with everything. 

Lord, we are so limited by our human nature and so influenced by our culture. Thank you for your grace. Help us to see what we are doing so that we can stop acting out and start trusting You. 

 

Obedience?

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

I'm studying David. Interesting man.  It's hard to study David without also observing Saul. 

Here's a quick run-down of what I saw this week. 

God directed the prophet, Nathan, to anoint Saul and then later David as king of Israel. So both men were God's chosen leaders. 

Both men sinned against God: 

• all-consuming, unfounded  jealousy
• adultery
• murder
• conspiracy
• deceit
• cover-up

Nathan confronted both men regarding their sin. 

One recognized his sin (David).

One made excuses for his sin (Saul).

One repented (David).

One did not (Saul). 

One's whole family was blessed forever (David).

One's family met its demise. 

So what is our response when we sin and the Holy Spirit brings it to our attention?

Do we face the Lord with a contrite heart and own up to our shortcomings?

Do we make excuses or justify our behavior?

My Bible study leader had us write down the things we know God has directed us to do but we haven't. Then we were to write down the reasons why we were not obedient. 

Interestingly, as we looked at the rationale for not doing as we were directed, we came up with one conclusion: the only alternative to obedience is disobedience. No matter how we tried to justify our actions, we had to come to grips with the fact that we were just flat out disobedient. 

So the next logical question is: Are we going to be repentant like David or obstinate like Saul?  

Lord, use your Holy Spirit to show us the errors of our ways. Give us a heart for truth, that we will acknowledge our sins and turn away from them. May you be glorified as a result. 

 

Shake! Shake! Shake!

Monday, June 26, 2017

Do you make protein shakes in a shaker bottle? Do you ever get big blobs of powder stuck on the bottom edges? 

I prefer to mix mine in a blender with lots of ice. But sometimes I take the ingredients to work and make a shake for lunch. 

Here is a little trick I use to mix powders in liquid. See what you think. 

 

Start with your dry ingredients in your shaker. Jostle it a bit to be sure it's not too firmly settled. 

 

Add your liquid -- in this case almond milk. But don't shake quite yet. 

 

Turn your shaker over.  Notice how the powder stayed put. 

 

Tap the lid to make the powder drop down into the liquid.

 

Shake to your heart's content and enjoy a nicely mixed shake. 

(Of course you could always take your liquid to work in your shaker bottle and just add the dry ingredients to it. Then shake. But that's not as much fun!)

This is so simple but it works every time.  Let me know what you think. 

Memory Verse 2017 -- Week 25

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Holy Behavior

 

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, 

continue to live your lives in him.

Colossians 2:6

Spend the week focusing on this scripture: 

• Read the verse in your Bible. 
• Read the passage before and after it. 
• Write it in your journal. 
• Ask the Lord to show you how it applies to your life. 
• Put it on a piece of paper and post it in a prominent place in your home so that you can see it often. 
• Put the words to music. Make up a tune or use one you already know. Singing always helps in the memory process. It's a left brain / right brain thing. 
• Always memorize the scripture reference with the verse so you can remember where to find it in the Bible. 

Make Disciples

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Here are some of the things new believers need to know about and learn how to do. 

• Baptism
• Daily Quiet Times
• Bible Study
• Memorization of Scripture 
• Scripture Meditation
• CorporateWorship
• Fellowship with other believers
• Sharing their faith with others

New believers need to be confident in their own testimony. It is theirs. No one can take it away from them. They just need to share how they came to understand why they needed Christ and how he has changed them since he came into their lives. 

One way to prepare to share your faith with someone else is to write out your story on a single piece of paper. It should be short and sweet. It should contain the "ABCs" of becoming a believer. 

Admit -- When I first came to faith I had to admit that I was bad and that there was nothing I could do to truly be good. 

Believe -- I had to believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God and that he died on the cross to take away my sin. 

Confess -- I went to my family because I knew they would understand. I told them (confessed to them) that I had just asked Jesus to live in my heart.

And, as I said earlier, it is always a good idea to share how Christ has changed your life. 

Lord, you told us to go make disciples. Lay on our hearts the ones that you want us to mentor. Thank you for your direction in their lives and in ours. 

 

 

Make Disciples

Friday, June 23, 2017

Here are some of the things new believers need to know about and learn how to do. 

• Baptism
• Daily Quiet Times
• Bible Study
• Memorization of Scripture 
• Scripture Meditation
• CorporateWorship
• Fellowship with other believers
• Sharing their faith with others

CORPORATE WORSHIP

Ive heard it a thousand times: "I don't need to be at church to worship."

While it may be true that I can worship other places, I find that it is extremely important to find a body of believers with which to worship. 

• I glean so much from their contribution to the service.
• I am better able to keep my mind on track. 
• I am able to hear a sermon from someone who has prepared and prayed and sought the Lord's direction in the delivery process. 

And so I feel it is important to encourage the new believer to find a church body that is welcoming and encouraging, and one where he/she will get solid, Biblical messages from the pulpit. 

FELLOWSHIP

No man is an island.

While that is not scriptural, it has truth in it. 

A new believer is much like a newborn baby, needing age-appropriate nourishment and care. We should encourage the new believer to: 

• get involved in a small group Bible study class for further development and friendship. 
• go to cookouts and other gatherings with like-minded church people. 
• play sports with church-sponsored teams. 
• join support groups in the church. 

It's too hard to grow up in this world by ourselves. We need each other for strength and encouragement. 

Lord, so much of maturing spiritually includes involvement with other believers. Help us to recognize when a younger believer is lacking in this area so that we can invite him/her to church activities with us. 

 

Make Disciples

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Here are some of the things new believers need to know about and learn how to do. 

• Baptism
• Daily Quiet Times
• Bible Study
• Memorization of Scripture 
• Scripture Meditation
• CorporateWorship
• Fellowship with other believers
• Sharing their faith with others

SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION vs MEDITATION

New believers should start memorizing Scripture right away. 

Why?

Because you can't have your Bible with you 24/7/365.25 and you might need to reference something. Sometimes something will happen during the day that will remind you of Scripture. It's wonderful to have it at your "fingertips" in your brain. 

What verses should be memorized?

All of Scripture is important. But there are several verses that are particularly helpful for the new believer. I post one memory verse every Sunday morning on this blog in case you're interested in checking it out. 

What is meditation? That is savoring the Scripture for its nourishment -- spending time contemplating its meaning, praying it, soaking it in. 

The new believer needs both of these to become well-rounded. 

Lord, you want us to grow to be solid, mature Christians.  I pray that we will make you proud as we absorb your word into our lives. 

 

Make Disciples

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Here are some of the things new believers need to know about and learn how to do. 

• Baptism
• Daily Quiet Times
• Bible Study
• Memorization of Scripture 
• Scripture Meditation
• CorporateWorship
• Fellowship with other believers
• Sharing their faith with others

DAILY QUIET TIME vs BIBLE STUDY

What is the difference? 

Quiet times, in my book, are designed to be 15-20 minutes long and can focus on various aspects of Christian life. They are little nuggets of information that we ingest in the morning and then reflect on all day. 

Bible Study is more involved, taking 30-60 minutes at a time. For the new believer, Bible Study could be roughly twice a week. 

It is very important for the new believer to get into a routine of regular quiet times and Bible studies. One good way to keep track of these is to write daily entries in a spiritual journal. It can be beneficial to look back every so often in order to reflect on where we've been. 

Lord, since it is important for the new believer to be in the word, it only stands to reason that more mature believers should model that process. Give us the desire to spend this time alone with you. 

 

Make Disciples

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

What are some of the things new believers need to know about and learn how to do?

• Baptism
• Daily Quiet Times
• Bible Study
• Memorization of Scripture 
• Scripture Meditation
• CorporateWorship
• Fellowship with other believers
• Sharing their faith with others

Let's talk about one of these today. 

BAPTISM

Why is baptism so important?

One of the reasons baptism is important is because Jesus told us to do it. Matthew 28:19 says, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."  So baptism is an act of obedience. 

Another reason it's important is that it is a way that new believers "confess" that Jesus is Lord of their lives. Remember Romans 10:9 from last week? Baptism is a way of declaring that “Jesus is Lord.” 

Also when they stand before a church body and a minister baptizes them, new believers are telling the world that they belong to Jesus and that they are off limits to Satan forevermore.

It is important that new believers understand why baptism is important so that they do it for the right reasons. I think it helps to solidify for them that they really have turned from their old ways and have newness of life with God. 

Lord, thank you for helping us teach new believers about their new walk with you. Help us to prepare them well for Christian baptism -- that they might carry out this act of obedience with confidence. 

 

Make Disciples

Last week we looked at the Roman Road which many people use to present the plan of salvation. This is clearly an important thing to do because it is God's desire that everybody be saved. 

But what are the next steps for the new believer?

• baptism
• getting plugged in to a Christian fellowship (church)
• Personal spiritual growth 

Does a new believer automatically know how to do these things? Does a newborn baby know how to drive a car?  Just like a newborn  needs a grownup to take care of them -- to feed them baby food before they tackle a steak -- so do spiritual babies need a spiritual mentor in their lives. It's up to us who are more mature believers to show them the ropes -- take them under our wing and nurture them. Otherwise they'll get overwhelmed by it all, fall into the shadows, and slip out the back door of the church unnoticed. 

"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20

Notice that Jesus doesn't say, "Go make believers." He says to make disciples. We are to baptize them, teach them and help them understand they will never be alone. 

Any ideas about how to do this?

Lord, thank you for equipping us to bring people to Christ and to mentor them as they mature spiritually. Help us to be mindful of those around us who might need our help. Eli us to nurture them well. 

 

Memory Verse 2017 -- Week 24

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Holy Behavior

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 

let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. 

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Hebrews 12:1

Spend the week focusing on this scripture: 

• Read the verse in your Bible. 
• Read the passage before and after it. 
• Write it in your journal. 
• Ask the Lord to show you how it applies to your life. 
• Put it on a piece of paper and post it in a prominent place in your home so that you can see it often. 
• Put the words to music. Make up a tune or use one you already know. Singing always helps in the memory process. It's a left brain / right brain thing. 
• Always memorize the scripture reference with the verse so you can remember where to find it in the Bible. 

Revelation 3:20

Saturday, June 17, 2017

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” 

Jesus is a gentleman. He doesn't knock the door down, forcing His way into your heart. No, He patiently waits for you to open the door from the inside. 

 

And when we invite Him in, He wants to spend quality time with us -- like eating together. 

So now we've covered the basics of becoming a Christian:

   A.  Admit that you are a sinner. 

   B.  Believe Jesus died on the cross and came back to life. 

   C.  Confess that Jesus is Lord of your life

So now what? Do we just pat a new believer on the back and say, "Congratulations. Now you're on your own." Hopefully we will be in a situation where we can start showing them the ropes. It's a hard concept for people to realize, for instance, that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit where He now resides. And it is their responsibility to take care of themselves out of respect for God. 

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:19-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Next week we'll look at some of the ways to tutor a new believer. 

But first, here's something I've thought about this week as we've looked at how to present the plan of salvation with someone. 

Not everyone will accept Christ as their savior when you talk to them about it. But you should continue to pray for them. 

• You never know when someone else will share with them and, because of their conversation with you and others, they will invite Jesus to live in their heart. 
• Don't take it personally. They are not rejecting you but Jesus!

Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Lord, give us the courage to share the Good News about salvation when you direct us to. Help us to be clear in our witnessing so that the lost can understand your plan. And help us, as well, not to get discouraged if they say no. 

Romans 10:9-10

Friday, June 16, 2017  ‬‬

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

So now that you know the back story related to our sin and to Jesus' paying the consequences for it, here's how to become a Christian. 

1. Believe that he arose from the dead. 
2. Tell somebody that Jesus is Lord of your life. 

That's it?

Yep. 

I don't have to, like, DO anything?

That's right. 

That's too easy!

Is it?

God's plan is perfect. All he wants from us is, well, US. He isn't interested is fancy words, elaborate rituals, or acts of contrition. He just wants US. 

For some, the simplicity of becoming a Christian is a stumbling block. It seems too good to be true -- there must be a catch. 

The reality is that this method of salvation is appropriate for the youngest child, the sickest individual, the least literate as well as for the most educated, the most fortunate, etc. And this is because God wants EVERYbody to come to him -- He doesn't want ANYone to miss out on heaven. 

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 NASB

Lord, thank you that salvation is free and not something I have to earn. Since it is your desire that all come to know you, help me be more diligent is sharing the Roman Road. 

 

Romans 5:8

Thursday, June 15, 2017

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  ‬‬

Here's the difference between God and man when it comes to forgiveness. 

MAN:

• You love me and I'll love you back. 
• You do something to offend me or to hurt my feelings and I'll never speak to you again. 
• You ask me to forgive you and I might. But I'll never forget what you did. 
• You don't ask for forgiveness, I'm definitely not giving it to you. 

GOD:

• I love you no matter what!
• You ask me for forgiveness and I'll grant it, welcoming you with open arms. AND I'll forget what you did and never bring it back up again. 
• You don't ask for forgiveness, I'll extend my love to you anyway.
• Furthermore, I knew before you were even born that you would sin (because that's your very nature). So I sent my son to die in your place ahead of time. 

Now THAT is love!

Lord, thank you for loving us even when we don't deserve it. Thank you for sending Christ to die on the cross so that we might live. 

 

Romans 6:23

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

(1) "For the wages of sin is death, 

(2) but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

What does that mean -- "the wages of sin is death?"

Well, "wages" are what you get paid for working.

"Wages" are what you earn or your payment. 

And "death" here is eternal separation from God or hell. 

So

(1) the price or the consequence we must pay for our sin is that we will be forever separated from God in hell.

But

(2) we can experience heaven or spend the afterlife with God in spite of our sin. 

How do we secure this spot in heaven? First we must recognize that:

• it is a free gift. 
• we cannot earn it. 
• we cannot buy it. 
• we cannot bargain for it. 
• we must do what we would do with any other gift we are given -- either receive it or decline to take it. 

What's so cool about this is that even though we are the ones who should be punished for the bad things we have thought or said or done, Jesus is the one who actually paid the price. And because of Him we are eligible to receive God's free gift if we want it. 

And that's the second part of what we must recognize:

• it is because of Jesus that we can have eternal life. 
• we cannot get to heaven by any other way except through Jesus. 

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John‬ ‭14:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Lord, thank you for your great mercy in that you are willing to offer us heaven as a free gift instead of giving us what we deserve. We are forever greatful! 

 

Romans 3:23

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

The first Scripture of the "Roman Road" is as follows:

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23

Think about a person shooting arrows at a bull's eye.  Because of our sin, we are like arrows that fall to the ground short of the target. We just can't quite make it. 

Now, I know this passage says "all" have sinned. But does that really mean everybody? I mean, what about children? Are they sinners? 

Well, in my opinion, yes. Because of the fall of man, we are all born with sinful nature. Why else would toddlers be so selfish?   Or older children be so defiant? 

Here's a story for you. 

A gazillion years ago when I was 9 years old, I was a sickly little girl. Many times my teacher would take my classmates outside to play and I would have to stay inside. One particular day there was a young man who had to stay back during recess as punishment for something he had done. It was his job to clean all of the desks while his peers were outside having fun. 

I watched as he half-heartedly wiped down the desktops which really weren't all that dirty. So I decided I would make his punishment a little more meaningful. I took out my crayon box and made heavy marks on my desk for him to clean off. 

I can still remember how wide-eyed he was when he saw what I had done. 

But I can also remember the panic I felt when I realized my classmates were on their way back inside. Uh oh. Busted! And I was devastated. 

I had disappointed my friends and my teacher. I had let my parents down. And, as I learned at church that week, I had disappointed God. I realized that day that I was BAD!

I was 9 years old. But I KNEW I was an awful person. 

When sharing the Roman Road with someone, sometimes it's good to tell them your story about how you came to the realization that you didn't measure up to God's standards -- that you had fallen short of the glory of God. It doesn't have to be a complicated story. Just trust the Holy Spirit to direct your thoughts and words and share from your heart. 

Lord, thank you for your Holy Spirit who convicts us of our sin. Help us to be your instruments as we share the gospel so that others may come to you. 

 

Be Prepared to Share The Gospel

Monday, June 12, 2017

When was the last time you walked someone through Scripture to show them how to become a Christian?

Could you do it with a Bible in your hand?

What if you don't have your Bible with you. Could you recite the verses from memory?

This week we are going to look at each of the following verses with the idea that by the end of the week, you might have them all memorized. And, of course, it would be awesome if you are then able to lead someone to Christ as a result. 

Here is the premise for using these Scriptures. 

• Recognize that nobody is perfect. Everybody has sinned. 
• Our sin separates us from God.  But Jesus' death on the cross allows us to reach God. 
• Even though we were sinners, Christ died in our place to pay the penalty for our sins. 
• If we confess that Jesus is Lord of our lives and believe that he rose from the dead, we can become a Christian. 
• If we open the door to our hearts and ask the Lord to come in and live there, He will. And we will never be the same. 

1. Romans‬ ‭3:23‬ ‭NIV:  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” ‬‬
2. Romans‬ ‭6:23‬ ‭NIV:  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
3. Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NIV:  “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  ‬‬
4. Romans‬ ‭10:9-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”  
5. Revelation‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”  ‭

We'll cover these verses this week so stay tuned. Pray about how God can use you to share His plan of salvation.  

Lord, we are all sinners. If it weren't for you we wouldn't have any chance of getting to heaven -- or of helping our neighbors do the same. Give us a burden for the lost. Give us the confidence to take your plan of salvation to everyone we meet. 

Memory Verse 2017 -- Week 23

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Holy Behavior

 

But just as He who called you is holy, 

so be holy in all you do.

1 Peter 1:15

"Many people often get the wrong idea about holiness and think that it can be achieved simply by following a strict set of rules. Rules and rituals have their place, but when you start to care more about looking holy than being holy, you tread into the realm of moralism.

"For example, if you pray in public for the sake of being seen by other people, your attitude toward prayer is not as healthy as it could be. You can pray in public if the situation warrants it, but when you do so, your prayers must be for the sake of communicating with God.

"There is nothing inherently wrong with being viewed as a spiritual or religious person, but that view must come about naturally. You must abandon the desire to appear holy to other people. If people still develop that view of you after the fact, then there is nothing wrong with it, but there is no guarantee that those around you will perceive your desire for holiness."

For the full article, check out this web site:

"How to be Holy"

Spend the week focusing on this scripture: 

• Read the verse in your Bible. 
• Read the passage before and after it. 
• Write it in your journal. 
• Ask the Lord to show you how it applies to your life. 
• Put it on a piece of paper and post it in a prominent place in your home so that you can see it often. 
• Put the words to music. Make up a tune or use one you already know. Singing always helps in the memory process. It's a left brain / right brain thing. 
• Always memorize the scripture reference with the verse so you can remember where to find it in the Bible. 

Animal Additions to the Family

Saturday, May 10, 2017

Today we are taking our dog, Cassie, to the "Mutt Strut" at Keeneland Racetrack in Lexington. Lizzie is taking Zoey. Klecenda is taking Muffi. This is a one mile walk to raise money for the Humane Society.

 

 

I started thinking about the various critters we've had at our house over the years and how many of them were rescue animals. Let's see what we've had. 

1. Chili Davis Fort -- purebred cocker spaniel named after the San Francisco Giants center fielder (whose autograph I have on a baseball somewhere). 
2. Barnabas of Greybeard (Barney) -- purebred schnauzer whose father lived with one sister and whose brother lived with the other. 
3. Red October (Toby) -- the red border collie who drove mother crazy with his profuse shedding. 
4. Steele Magnolia (Maggie) -- the Hurricane Katrina rescue dog transported to KY from the gulf coast of Mississippi. 
5. Cassie -- just Cassie -- whom we adopted from PetSmart.  
6. Henney Penney -- who was captured near JC Penneys and given to us by Lizzie's pre-K teacher. 
7. Punkin -- whom we found at Berea Healthcare when Lizzie and I were delivering medications for Hospice. 
8. One mama cat and five kittens whom we rescued from the bushes beside Wendy's and gave to Dr. Taylor to adopt out. 
9. One cat we rescued from outside the high school who was very sick with feline leukemia and who later passed away. 
10. Tickles the red-eared slider who "ran away" but came back to see us about two years later. 
11. Maci the kitten whom we rescued from the green space behind our house and who almost died from a botfly larva in her throat. She made up for being so sick. Now she weighs over 20 pounds!
12. Zoey -- the malti-poo who is 4 pounds of pure spunk. 

Patrick had a hamster once and so did Lizzie. They stank!

We had two stray kittens spend the night with us last night because their caregiver was out of town and Lizzie offered to kitten-sit. They are so cute. And they are growing at a breakneck pace. 

Of the 17 animals listed, 5 of them were pure bred. The rest were mutts or strays. Yes, I think we've done our part to help these poor   

guys out. 

 

Lord, thank you for giving us these animals to care for. Help us to be more responsible and more benevolent toward them. Except for your grace, we would be nothing but mutts. Thank you for making us valuable and acceptable in your family!

The Family of God

Friday, June 9, 2017

I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God!
I've been washed in the fountain, 
Cleansed by His blood.
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm a part of the family, 
The family of God. 
by Bill and Gloria Gaither

Click here for the full story behind the song.

According to Gloria Gaither, someone in their church experienced a devastating accident. The whole church rallied around the family to help provide all the necessary things to get through it all. The Gaithers were overwhelmed by how God worked through His children to accomplish so much. One thing lead to another and "The Family of God" was born. 

It stands to reason that since we are God's children and His instruments of love, that He would use us to provide miraculously for His Family. That's what we do at ALIVE Bible Studies, at Vacation Bible School, in the Single Moms Oil Change, at Empty Bowls, at Christmas Served with Love, and with all the mission projects we do. When we make ourselves available to Him and pay attention to the world around us, we should naturally reach out to those in need. 

But, you know, being family isn't just about love and support. Sometimes it's about instruction and discipline. Who better to provide correction than someone who loves you and cares about your future. 

Lord, thank you for my spiritual family. And thank you for making me their sister. Help us all to work together to accomplish your will. 

 

Are You Adopted?

Thursday, June 8, 2017

The New Testament tells us that we can have a home with God by doing the following:

• Admit that we are sinful and that there's nothing we can do to earn our way to heaven. 
• Believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and that he came to earth to die on the cross as payment for our sins. 
• Invite Jesus to come into our hearts and to become Lord of our lives. 

We mustn't miss the fact that by doing this, we actually become adopted into His family. And He loves us as much as He loves Jesus. 

...the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father."
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

He wants us to call on him as our loving daddy.

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians‬ ‭3:26-29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What is our inheritance?

Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Our inheritance is eternal life with God in heaven where we will praise and worship Him until the end of time. 

Lord, I'm so glad I have been adopted into your family -- that I have just as much of a right to be in heaven with you as Abraham, Moses, or King David do. Thank you for your love and your provision for me. I am so thankful to be your daughter. 

 

International Birthday Traditions

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

 

Norwegians celebrate birthdays with chocolate cake and by dancing with a friend. 

Russian children celebrate by giving their classmates candy on their own birthdays. Adults also hang gifts from clotheslines for children's birthday parties. 

German children get candles, cake, and presents on their birthdays. They also get out of homework and household chores. 

Single adult men over 30, however, have to sweep the stairs at their local courthouse while their "friends" throw garbage at them. 

Ecuadorian children are traditionally named for a patron Saint.  So they celebrate their birthdays on the date their saint was born. On their actual birthdays, children just get a card. 

Vietnamese adults and children all celebrate their birthdays on the same day: Tet. This is also the first day of the new year. 

Indian children get to celebrate their birthdays in three ways: they put on a new set of clothes in the morning, they eat a special meal, and they get to touch their parents' feet!

Dutch children celebrate ages 5, 10, 15, 20, and 21 as their crown years. On these days they receive big gifts and get to drink lemonade and hot chocolate.

Australians get to have fairy bread on their birthdays (i.e. buttered bread with sprinkles).

 

Jamaicans throw flour at each other on their birthdays. 

Canadians are likely to have someone sneak up on them on their birthdays and smear butter or grease on their noses. 

Argentinians pull the ears of the ones having birthdays. 

One year for Will's birthday, we went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. I had gone ahead of time and had taken a cake and candles for the waitresses to bring out to us. Not having been there when someone else had had a birthday, I had no idea what was on the horizon.

When the time came to bring out the cake and candles, the whole staff came out with it, singing "Happy Birthday" with very distinctive Chinese accents and with the music playing overhead -- and they sang it THREE times! The first time was sweet. The second time was a bit embarrassing -- for ALL of us. And the third time was just plain AWKWARD!!

But it did establish a fun Birthday memory for our family!

Lord, I firmly feel that it is pleasing to you for us to find things in this life to celebrate. And honoring someone on their birthday can really be important to them. Help us to do a good job of valuing each others' lives and celebrating the masterpiece You created. 

Happy Birthday to Patrick

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

 

Twenty-eight years ago today, I woke up like Anya other day. A friend of mine came over to help me pack up my kitchen because we had just bought a new house and would be moving soon. My big, fat belly made it difficult for me to do much packing!

We had barely boxed up one set of cabinets when it hit me -- I was in labor. 

So I paged Bill and he called me from a pay phone at Mr. Gatti's. That's right. There were no cell phones at that time. And there used to be phones throughout the community that you could place a quarter in and call someone. Also we thought we were pretty cool to have been able to use a pager for our last trimester just in case I needed to reach Bill. 

Anyway, he left his lunch date with Stan Harwood and came flying home to take me to the Medical Center at Bowling Green. 

About 3 hours later we had Patrick. 

He was such a cute little boy. He was always on the top of the growth chart for height and weight (and head size). So by the time he was 18 months old, he was wearing the same size clothes as his brother who was 26 months older. 

Somewhere between 6 and 18, Patrick was, we'll say, a handful. I am so glad I didn't wring his neck because now he is an absolute joy and blessing. He has married a wonderful woman (Klecenda Curtis) who is very much like a sister to Lizzie. And he is a middle school teacher in Madison County (which is pretty funny when you consider what a challenge he was as a youth). 

So Happy Birthday, Patrick. Thank you for taking care of your daddy on your birthday. You are such a blessing. I'm glad to be your mom after all!

Happy Adoption Day, Lizzie!

Monday, June 5, 2017

 

Nineteen years ago today, the Forts (plus Amy Miller, our baby sitter) gathered at the courthouse in Richmond to appear before the honorable Judge Jennings in order to finalize Lizzie's adoption. It was really interesting to hear the Judge explain the particulars. 

 

• From that day forward, Lizzie would be a Fort. 
• She would be equally entitled to all rights and privileges as any other heir to our estate. 
• Her birth certificate would be changed to list Bill as her father and me as her mother. 

After all the legalities were complete, we asked the Judge if we could take a picture with him. He laughed and said, "You know, it's not very common for people in my court to request a picture with me." How true.  

 

One of my favorite pictures from that day is of Patrick holding little six-month-old Lizzie like a sack of potatoes. She was as content as she could've possibly been. 

 

Every year since that day, we have celebrated Lizzie's adoption day on June 5. We wanted her to always know she was adopted so that it would never be a surprise for her. For the longest time, though, she thought EVERYBODY had an adoption day. That's pretty cute. 

Today as we celebrate the addition of this precious child to our family, we recognize that with her our family is complete. 

I have said it many times. It was as intended that Lizzie be our daughter as it was for Will and Patrick to be our sons. We are so blessed to have these three wonderful children!

Lord, thank you so much for this precious daughter you gave us nineteen years ago. Thank you for the tremendous love and sacrifice that her birth mother made in entrusting her to us. Bless her, Lord. And bless our baby girl. 

Memory Verse 2017 -- Week 22

Sunday, June 4, 2017

Abiding in Christ

 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him; 

so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Spend the week focusing on this scripture: 

• Read the verse in your Bible. 
• Read the passage before and after it. 
• Write it in your journal. 
• Ask the Lord to show you how it applies to your life. 
• Put it on a piece of paper and post it in a prominent place in your home so that you can see it often. 
• Put the words to music. Make up a tune or use one you already know. Singing always helps in the memory process. It's a left brain / right brain thing. 
• Always memorize the scripture reference with the verse so you can remember where to find it in the Bible. 

The U.S. Coast Guard

Saturday, June 3, 2017

 

• In the 1790s, the Revenue-Marine (or the Revenue Cutter Service) merged with the United States Life-Saving Service to form the U.S. Coast Guard.
• The Guardians serve to protect our waterways and ports and to save the lives of sailors in peril.
• Although one of the U.S. branches of the military, the Coast Guard isn't a part of the Department of Defense. Instead, it is an arm of the Department of Homeland Security.
• During the 1870s, the Coast Guard "ran" Alaska.
  They enforced hunting and fishing laws, rescued ships in the region, held "court" for the purposes of prosecuting criminals, and supplied provisions like food, medicine, and supplies to the villagers along the coast.
• Lloyd Bridges, Beau Bridges, Jeff Bridges, Arnold Palmer, and Cesar Romero were Guardians.
  And so was Popeye.

 

• On any given day, the Coast Guard conducts over a hundred searches and rescues, saves a dozen lives, seizes hundreds of pounds of marijuana and cocaine, and investigates any number of vessel casualties.
• Like the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, the Coast Guard has its own aviators. In fact, two of them flew in the Space Shuttle program.

I've been amazed about all the different things that the Coast Guard does. Here's an interesting blurb from a drug seizure earlier this year. 

 

The Coast Guard offloaded approximately 4.2 tons of seized cocaine, worth an estimated $125 million in wholesale value, at Coast Guard Sector San Juan. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier seized the contraband and apprehended four Guyanese smugglers following the interdiction of the 70-foot fishing vessel, Lady Michelle, in international waters north of Paramaribo, Suriname Feb. 16, 2017. (DEA courtesy photo)

Lord, thank you for these men and women who work tirelessly to keep our shore lines, ports, and waterways safe. We are very fortunate to have them.