Thanksgiving Verse and Message (Week of Nov 22-28, 2009) November 24, 2009

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

  

Acts 20:35
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “

I bet you were expecting me to write a message on being thankful. Being grateful for the remarkable blessings we have been given is simply….a “given.” (Pun intended) However, more than that…..the best way to show how thankful we are is to “give away” what we have received. Simply put…..we are BLESSED to be a BLESSING!

  

We are commanded and instructed to be the hands and feet of Christ. It’s easy to get caught up in our little world and take for granted the position Christ has placed us. We were born in the United States and God designed us to live in this place in history. We have been blessed with numerous resources and regardless of how we use it….we have been blessed with timing.

 

According to Pastor Chris Hodges, we need to recognize that in this time we should be careful not to squander or mismanage the clock. We should be living our life with a sense of urgency….FOR OTHERS.  If we seize the opportunities that are set up for us, God will grant us even more favor and blessing!

 

We are to be a funnel of what the Lord pours into us. It doesn’t have to be a monetary gift that we offer others. Instead we can offer a smile, offer our time, but most importantly….offer our love……the love we have because He lives in us!

   

As you count your blessings this week, ponder how He may be guiding you to be a blessing to someone else. Recognize, seize, and be obedient to follow through with the opportunities God drops in your lap. Pray, plan, and participate in what you feel led to do. There’s no question He wants to use you…..that’s why we are here. 

 

Talk to the Lord and do whatever He tells you to do. It’s not a myth that it is more blessed to give than receive. It’s fun to step out and love on others! 

 

Let’s challenge each other at the brink of this beautiful season of our Lord to be reflections and conduits of His love and passion for the world. JOY is guaranteed when we grab His perspective. Loving others and giving away for Him is the best investment we can make……..the return on the investment is incredible.

 

Don’t look for a miracle this Thanksgiving and upcoming Christmas….

BE THE MIRACLE!

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

You are such a blessing to me!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!

SUSIE MC

Verse and Message (Week of Nov 15-21, 2009) November 19, 2009

Ephesians 4:15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.   Proverbs 9:9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.   Proverbs 16:20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.   Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.   The BLAME GAME….we have all been there.   We might have pointed a finger when we were children, possibly blaming our sibling for a broken glass.   We may have blamed another classmate when we got in trouble for laughing or talking.   We could have blamed a co-worker  for an incomplete project that a supervisor requested.   You might blame your spouse for a pouty attitude.   We might even blame the car in front of us for causing us to run a red light or causing us to speed on the freeway.   WE MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR OWN ACTIONS!   One time a friend brought to my attention a boundary I had crossed. This person came to me in Christlike love, and her intentions were to balance things and clear the air. I had been totally clueless of the mishap that my action caused which further snowballed into uncomfortable miscommunication. My first instinct was to blame her for what I thought was a careless misinterpretation. But……the Holy Spirit gave me a stillness and self-control as not to reply defensively by placing blame or making excuses.    Typically, we judge others based on their actions, but we tend to judge ourselves based on our best intentions. Oftentimes, we are unaware of our wrongdoing, or we might be oblivious to an offense, because we are in our own little world. It’s important to listen and respond in love when our brothers and sisters in Christ speak the truth in love.   Christ uses others to nudge us in order that we may recognize a sin or realize negligence in a relationship. When we acknowledge sin in our life, we point people to Christ and they receive the cleansing and growth that He so graciously offers. If we don’t acknowledge sin in our lives, we aren’t able to receive the forgiveness from it and grow in grace.    Sometimes God uses a friend or family member to approach us to guide us in seeing a different viewpoint. There are so many perspectives in different situations that take place. Instead of playing the blame game or responding defensively, God asks us to reflect His nature…..a response of humility and love.   God’s desire in bringing others across our paths to speak the truth in love is ALWAYS to reconcile people to Him and others. If we place the full focus on ourselves, we might mistake it as unwarranted criticism, however, when we direct the focus on Christ, He allows us to be grateful for it and learn from it!   Don’t be offended when another Christian approaches you about a matter. Set aside pride and self-centeredness, it’s the Lord’s correction nine times out of ten. Most of the time when you examine that person’s heart, you will find that their motives are pure. It’s called “Iron Sharpens Iron” and it’s a way the Holy Spirit molds us into His likeness. Be thankful that someone loves you enough to help you grow in Him.   Finally, I wanted to leave you with an excerpt from a devotion I read yesterday by Jon Courson. I posted it as my facebook update today……   “God puts us in fixes to fix us, He puts us with people and in situations He knows will shape us most effectively. So if I try to fix the fix God put me in, He will be faithful to put me in another fix to fix the fix He wanted to fix in the first place! I’m going to embrace and accept where You have me, because I know You’re doing a work on me, shaping me for eternity.” THANK YOU FOR FIXING US JESUS…..  He is the POTTER …we are the clay! SUSIE MC

Verse and Message (Week of Nov 8-14, 2009) November 12, 2009

 

 

 

Matthew 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

 

I was inspired to write today’s message after listening to a powerful message delivered by Pastor Josh Canizaro at last night’s service. He is the pastor of our Greystone Campus of Church of the Highlands. 

How often do we desire things that outweigh our desire for God? Guilty? I am. In fact, I can get so obsessed on getting the blessing that I totally bypass the BLESSER.

 

Abraham and Sarah are used as examples of who God had promised the world, but they wavered in their faith. Literally, God promised that Abraham’s descendants would outnumber the stars in the sky. It’s interesting to me to hear people say how impatient Sarah was to “help God out” with His promise to them by getting her maidservant Hagar to assist in speeding up the process.

 

Guess what folks? I don’t think I would have waited that long…..I would have tried my hand at manipulating and controlling the process sooner….look how old they were when the promised child, Isaac, finally came on the scene. Abraham and Sarah were not just old, they were ancient! They had more patience than I could possibly muster, but according to the lesson taught, their patience failed.

 

How many times do we get anxious and take it upon ourselves to force the fulfillment of God’s promises to us? When we believe our assumptions more than we believe in God’s promises, we have missed the mark on trusting Him. He is sovereign, and no matter what ….He will be Lord, whether we treat Him as Lord or not.

 

We have to get to a place in our faith where we are certain that Jesus is BETTER than anything and everything else….OR BETTER than anyone else!

 

We must not give worth to creative things…but rather the worth belongs to the CREATOR of things! Jesus is superior and He does not want the things He gives us to become counterfeit gods. That’s right…..things and people can and do become idols.

 

If our focus is more on the PROMISE in lieu of the PROMISER….then we can be assured that disappointment is on the horizon. Because….NOTHING or NO ONE can fulfill us. Only Jesus can COMPLETE us. Sadly, many people don’t realize that Jesus is all they need until He ends up being all that they have left. 

 

So, if you are struggling to keep God in first place where He belongs, ask Him to help you reorganize HIS priorities for you. He is the Author of Perfect Balance, and He wants to give us good things. Just like we want to give our children good things – He wants to spoil us too!

 

We must learn to submit our desires to God and be in check with our hearts. The minute that a gift from God becomes elevated, it will be knocked down.

 

The best way to stay focused on the REWARDER is to check our desires against the Word of God and to respond humbly to the Spirit’s guidance. And, we have to take on the fruit of patience and believe in His perfect timing for the promise He has for us.

 

Sounds easy as I write this, but it’s not. I would imagine a lot of you might agree. So, just remember to keep your eyes glued on the Savior……when we allow God to work out His perfect will for our lives, His power is made known!

 

Lastly, I wanted to share the refrain of the lyrics of a favorite old hymn that we sometimes sing at Highlands…..it seems fitting with this message:

 

“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

Helen H. Lemmel (1922)

 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace

 

That precious hymn says it all…..

 

The Savior is SWEET!

Seek the BLESSER not the BLESSING!

EVERYTHING ELSE….will dim in comparison!

SUSIE MC

 

Verse and Message (Week of Nov 1-7, 2009) November 5, 2009

 **I was unable to include colors and graphics on my blog this week. The application failed when I pasted it and copied it. If you would like a copy of the original, Iwill be happy to send it to  you via email**

I am on the greeter team at Church of the Highlands. We are so very blessed to have an amazing Greeter Coordinator who oversees the greeter service teams. Her name is Ginny DeBardeleben, and she is a beautiful leader for the Lord. She is compassionate and encouraging, and I have witnessed her demonstrating nothing less than going the extra mile in every area of her ministry. She blesses me each week with the precious thoughts she sends to the greeter captains to sharpen us and strengthen us. Last week she sent us the poem below that truly spoke to me.   

Many times, God reveals things through other brothers and sisters in Christ. I know that God led me to share this with all of you. I hope it touches you as it has me. It’s expresses the genuine heart of God. Check it out, and feel free to pass it along to someone else who might need to be encouraged….   

Isaiah 40:31       

      But those who wait on the LORD
      Shall renew their strength;
      They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
      They shall run and not be weary,
      They shall walk and not faint.  

Wait
by Russell Kelfer  

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said, “Wait.”

“Wait? you say wait?” my indignant reply.
“Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I’m claiming your Word.

“My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?
I’m needing a ‘yes’, a go-ahead sign,
Or even a ‘no’ to which I can resign.

“You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I’ve been asking, and this is my cry:
I’m weary of asking! I need a reply.”

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, “Wait.”
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, “So, I’m waiting for what?”

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
and He tenderly said, “I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

“I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You’d have what you want, but you wouldn’t know Me. You’d not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You’d not know the power that I give to the faint.

“You’d not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there.
You’d not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.

“You’d never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you’d not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

“The glow of my comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that’s beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

“You’d never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I’m doing in you.

“So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait.”

© 1980 Russell Kelfer. All rights reserved.

Special thanks to Ginny for sharing this beautiful insight. I appreciate the reminder that we “wait” so that we might come to know HIM more…knowing HIM more intimately is a beautiful reason to “wait.” God bless you all……

SUSIE MC

Verse and Message (Week of Oct 25-31, 2009) October 28, 2009

 

 

ROMANS 8:1-2

 

NIV

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

   

The Message

With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.

 

I have a few friends who I converse with regularly that beat themselves up for stupid stuff. What I mean by stupid stuff is the stuff that the enemy throws in their face.

 

At my biblical counseling small group this past Sunday, we were discussing the subjects of conviction and condemnation.

 

Webster’s online indicates that conviction occurs when one is convinced of error or compelled to admit the truth. Condemnation, on the other hand, occurs when one is declared to be reprehensible, wrong, or evil usually after weighing evidence and without reservation.

 

Before Christ, we were all condemned to death for our sin. If you weigh the evidence, not one part of us is holy. However, God the Father had a beautiful idea… He provided THE Perfect Substitute for our unholiness.

 

BUT, the devil wants to condemn us as Christians. He wants to declare that we are guilty causing us shame for our wrongdoing. In fact, one of his main objectives is to blur our perspective in a way that causes us to see ourselves as we were before Christ redeemed us, with a dark cloud over our heads. The devil’s plight is to manipulate us into becoming miserable Christians that will be ineffective for God’s Kingdom.

 

The Holy Spirit removed that condemnation when Jesus took it all for us on the Cross. One of the main goals of the Holy Spirit is to give us a lens to see the TRUTH. He reminds us that that when we walk in His Spirit we are free from the pain of guilt and shame. The POWER of the Holy Spirit convicts us when our flesh acts out in the old nature. This is much the same way as a loving parent disciplines his child. This action of the Holy Spirit is for our good, so that we will confess our sin by admitting and confessing the TRUTH.

 

Even though God placed within us His own Holy Spirit upon Salvation, we undergo a process of sanctification day by day. Salvation was an event, and it guaranteed our residency in heaven. Sanctification is the process that takes place from Salvation until we meet Jesus.

 

Upon Salvation, we received a new way of thinking and a fresh awareness of God’s presence, but look who’s still hanging around…..the flesh side of us. Our spirit is perfect…and, therefore, the sinful man is beaten, but that flesh man will look back at the old nature and will put up a fight with the new nature. Sometimes, the flesh wins the battle….

My point….even though the flesh will fight, we cannot beat ourselves up when we fail. We can embrace the gift of the conviction of the Holy Spirit and confess and agree that we have sinned. 

 

Satan wants to torment us with our failures. God desires for us to recognize our mistakes….but, He wants us to learn from them and MOVE ON. 

 

So, when the devil reminds you of how “bad” you are… remind Him how GOOD  JESUS IS!! If you are a Christian, God sees Christ when He sees you!

 

When you maintain a healthy diet of prayer, reading The Word, worship, thanksgiving, and accountability…..you’ll be able to see right through that liar who’s taunting you. Nothing the enemy can do or say will change what Jesus has transformed….

 

COMMITMENT TO CHRIST BANISHES CONDEMNATION…

STEER CLEAR OF THE ENEMY’S HARASSMENT…

PERIODIC CONVICTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT –

GUARANTEES GROWTH IN THE SANCTIFICATION PROCESS…

SUSIE MC

Verse and Message (Week of Oct 18-24, 2009) October 21, 2009

 

James 1:6

But when you ask Him, be sure that you really expect Him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

 

We all know people who waver back and forth in everything they do. I think we have all had seasons in our lives where we have found ourselves slipping into that anxious position of uncertainty. 

 

Doubt is the uncomfortable place when uncertainty torments us, and we are unable to do anything but “straddle the fence.” Somehow, straddling the fence appears to be a safe place. However, that place can be a miserable place, because we are fearful to make a decision. We are afraid we might choose the wrong side of the fence.

 

We are all capable of moving forward in faith, even though we may be threatened with doubt. However, doubt can paralyze us and keep us from realizing God’s blessings. It’s important to recognize when our heart is divided. God may clearly define the next step He desires for us to take, and yet, we may delay that action, because we are bound in fear. Delayed obedience equals disobedience.

 

Here’s an acrostic I created with the word DOUBT:

 

D – Double Mind which may cause Delayed Obedience

O – Over analyzing until we are utterly exhausted

U – Under Satan’s Deceptive Spell

B – Belief smothered until faith is small or nonexistent

T – Tormented with confusion

 

I have learned that the more we understand the unconditional love of Jesus, the more apt we are to place our faith in Him, thus, diminishing all the remnants of doubt that keep us unsettled. True peace is provided when we listen to the VOICE of TRUTH and claim victory in His promises. When we stand on His promises by meditating on His Word, and when we take time to communicate with Him daily….fear and doubt run the other direction ie Satan flees.

 

Another miraculous way to drown fear and doubt is to make it a practice to come before the Lord with thanksgiving, adoration, and praise. When He floods us with the knowledge of His presence, the other voices desperately attempting to plant seeds of doubt will be banished.

 

When we seek to discern the VOICE of TRUTH amidst the chaos, distractions, and confusion bombarding us, we are able to stay steady in our Walk and Work for Christ. When we don’t waver, we can be confident with each step we take.

 

Nonetheless, it doesn’t come natural. We have to be intentional in our focus on Christ. Everything in the world around us is competing for our attention.

 

Most of you are familiar with the “The Voice of Truth” by Casting Crowns. I had not heard the song in a while, and then I heard it last night on XM Radio.

 

Here’s a video of “The Voice of Truth” with clips from the movies Bruce Almighty and The Truman Show. Check it out when you get a chance….

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqg6QOY8oKc

 

“Faith is a desperate dive out of the sinking boat of human effort and a prayer that God will be there to pull us out of the water”…Max Lucado

 

DESTROY DOUBT WITH A DAILY DIET OF HIS DIVINE LOVE

LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF TRUTH….

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES?

SUSIE MC

Verse and Message (Week of Oct 11-17, 2009) October 14, 2009

Colossians 3:13

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

A sister in Christ, Christie Bryant, sent me a profound message on forgiveness written by Terri Savelle Foy, the daughter of well-known ministry, Jerry Savelle.  

 

I decided to rewrite Terri’s version of ”Forgiveness is a Choice” as it has applied to my life and my past. I have referenced some of her message, but I have added my own insights for emphasis.

 

UNFORGIVENESS…..A delicate subject that every single one of us has dealt with. Unfortunately, some live in a vicious cycle of unforgiveness which can lead to a lifetime of unforgiveness. Getting our feelings hurt, being offended, feeling resentful and/or bitter are areas we all face relationally on one level or another.

 

When Terri Savelle Foy was in high school she participated in gymnastics. Each summer the team would take a break, but would return to full force training in the fall. When Terri would begin practicing the uneven bars after taking three months off, her hands would become raw from the blisters that would develop from her hands rubbing continuously on the bars. The pain would become so severe that she had no choice but to wrap them with tape in order to endure the consistent swinging on the bars. The more she practiced the tougher the skin on her hands became, because of the calluses she developed. Her hands became so hard from the calluses that she couldn’t even feel her own skin.

 

This is what can happen to our hearts if we are hurt, abused, or mistreated. Sometimes when someone has hurt us, we become so self-centered that we share our story of pain as if no one else has experienced it.  And, even though it’s not something we should keep bottled inside, it’s extremely crucial to recognize that dwelling on the pain will lead to a hardening of our heart. Our heart will become callous and cold. We will become numb and indifferent to Scripture that commands us to embrace the love and mercy of the Lord, and we will fail to take the steps necessary to forgive. Instead, we stew inside and obsess over the offense and replay it over and over in our head analyzing each detail. Whenever we are around people who haven’t heard our story, we are compelled to share our pitiful plight.

 

So, what’s the answer? Simply to forgive. You ask how? The only way. Give it to God, ask God to help you with your unforgiveness. CHOOSE to cancel the debt. CHOOSE to LET IT GO. When we stop swinging over and over the uneven bars…..when we choose to stop doing and saying whatever it is that has calloused our heart…..that is when healing takes place. When we decide to stop reliving the pain, God can and will do a miracle in our heart. It’s sad that some people go around trying to be a debt collector, trying to get people to pay the debt that they feel is owed to them. However, no one can pay that debt back. Why? Because that debt was paid once and for all at the CROSS.

 

God is the only true VINDICATOR. His love wants to hold us…..He wants to heal our hearts supernaturally.  God will turn a heart of stone into a heart of clay. He will restore us completely. It’s a promise of His, but He cannot do His work until we do our part. However, we cannot wait until we “feel” like forgiving, because we will be waiting forever. The feeling will not come until after we have taken the faith steps to CHOOSE TO FORGIVE. The tenderness in our heart will return with the help of Jesus.  

 

The most powerful reason to forgive …….HE FORGAVE US. He took the nails for us, and He had done absolutely nothing wrong. He took the blame. He took the shame. He took the pain. HE is the only ONE who was capable of giving HIS ALL for every sin we have ever committed or ever will commit. That is the weight of the world.

 

So, if you want to travel light…..release the burden of forgiveness.  Terri suggests a beautiful confession to get you started:

 

“LORD, I CHOOSE BY FAITH TO FORGIVE (and say their name) FOR WHAT THEY DID TO ME (or what they did to someone you love).

 

FORGIVENESS BRINGS HEALING

IT’S A CHOICE….CHOOSE HEALING

 

BECAUSE HE CHOSE YOU!!

SUSIE MC

Verse and Message (Week of Oct 3-10, 2009) October 9, 2009

 

Psalm 63:1-4 (The Message)

God—you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you! I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts. So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains. I bless you every time I take a breath; My arms wave like banners of praise to you.

  

The GLORY of the Lord is unmistakably evident when God inhabits a place. Yes, God is everywhere all the time. However, there is a heaviness of His Spirit that is so profound when He chooses to make Himself known. If you have never experienced this, you might ask…how and when will His Spirit appear? It’s actually very simple. He inhabits the praises of His people. When we worship Him with reckless abandon, He cannot help but show up.

  

Last night, I had the awesome privilege of experiencing one of the most beautiful moments in worship I have ever known. Church of the Highlands was honored to have Kari Jobe as guest for our Wednesday evening service. It was off the charts amazing! (I also have to add that the incredible worship time over the course of last weekend during Highlands women’s reCreate conference prepared our hearts to be hungry for even more of HIS immeasurable presence!)

  

When God reaches you deep within your soul, it may be totally unexpected. Even if you are seeking Him completely, something supernatural happens within you, when you decide to release everything you have to Him in worship. 

 

I wanted to direct your attention to three worships songs that moved me last night. Jobe is known for ”Revelation Song” but she also shared songs known by other artists. I have included the links to not only “Revelation Song” but that of “Hosanna” sung by Brooke Fraser of Hillsong United and “How He Loves Us”  by Kim Walker. I have also thrown in my favorite portion of the lyrics of each these songs.

 

If you have time over the weekend, I recommend you listen to the following three worship songs and see if God doesn’t take you to a higher place of intimacy with Him. I don’t see how I can add another thing. Taste the presence of our Holy God….it’s remarkable!

 

REVELATION SONG – KARI JOBE / GATEWAY CHURCH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahhg1LFGyPA

 

My favorite part of the lyrics:

 

Filled with wonder,
Awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus, Your Name is Power
Breath, and Living Water
Such a marvelous mystery
Yeah…

 

HOSANNA – BROOKE FRASER / HILLSONG UNITED

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6hiyVV_GtU&feature=related

 

My favorite portion of the lyrics:

 

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your Kingdom’s cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

 

 

HOW HE LOVES US - KIM WALKER / JESUS CULTURE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoC1ec-lYps

 

My favorite part of the lyrics:

 

He is jealous for me
Love’s like a hurricane,
I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of
His wind and mercy
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory
and I realize just how beautiful You are and how great your affections are for me.

 

I know that this message was a little different than those I have written before– I just couldn’t help but share my passion for worship, and if you will truly “give all you have” in worship…..you might just find yourself in a realm you never thought possible….no kidding!

 

SEEK HIM THROUGH WORSHIP!

PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!

LET HIS SPIRIT OVERWHELM YOU AND TAKE OVER!

SUSIE MC

Oh, how He loves us so
Oh, how He loves us
How He loves us so.

(Chorus)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And – I – will – adore You!

Verse and Message (Week of Sept 27-Oct 3, 2009) October 1, 2009

 

Psalm 26:2

Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;

 

Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

 

Last Wednesday night, Pastor Chris presented a message called “Passing Life’s Tests.” There are ten tests he suggested that all of us will’; go through at some time or another.

 

In this world we will face trouble. Trials will come our way; it’s a fact. Not only do we question the reason for these times, but we also try to determine the source of the trial. We might blame people for something difficult we are experiencing, or we may possibly accuse Satan for our troubles. Tests usually take place in our lives to measure how we are doing. In school, obviously, a test determines our level of academics. In life, the tests often point to where we might fall on the scale in our faith journey. The secret to that process is not only understanding the tests we undergo but allowing ourselves to appreciate the tests we encounter.

 

Here are the 10 Tests in Life:

 

1.  The Test of Small Things 

This test will reflect how faithful we are in things that may personally seem insignificant to us. But, if we are faithful in the little things, the Lord will give us a chance to be faithful in the big things. An example of faithfulness in small things would be taking the opportunity at the workplace or in ministry to do something no one else desires to do. When I worked in Disney World, the entire cast was encouraged to pick up trash in the park. Everyone was expected to take pride in the small things required whether your job was selling merchandise or operating as a tour guide on the Jungle Cruise. In other words, work as hard as you can as if you were working for the Lord–Who is the real CEO after all! God smiles at the servant heart.

 

2.  The Motivation Test

This test will determine if we are doing things with the correct motive. God is much more interested in our heart than our sacrifice. No matter what we do, no matter how great it may be….it means nothing without the right heart. An example of this would be the character Job. The devil tried to prove that Job would curse the Lord’s Name once calamity befell him. However, God allowed the tests Job had to endure in order to prove that Job’s true character of devotion and commitment to the One True God would remain the same. He praised God’s Name in the storm. His heart stayed pure throughout all the trauma he had to withstand. The result? Job was restored much more than he had in the first place.

 

3.  The Stewardship Test

How do we currently manage the resources that God is giving us?  As the Lord blesses us with provisions, time, relationships, etc, do we in return give out of the overflow we receive. What’s the point of our gifts if we cannot share them? So, let’s be faithful in our tithe, faithful and wise in the use of our time, and faithful in growing relationships. The best way to gain a friend is to become one. We are only able to LOVE, because He first loved us.

 

4.  The Wilderness Test

We all experience dry seasons in our walk. There have been times that we don’t have the desire to read the Bible, or the passion to pray, or even the energy or motivation to be nice to people. We must stay devoted to the Word, Prayer, and People even when we don’t feel like it. Love is an action, not a feeling. The best way to stay devoted in these areas is to be pliable and be open for change. All circumstances and situations will change. The beautiful thing to remember is that GOD NEVER CHANGES. If we want to be aligned with His will and at peace, we must allow Him to mold us and stay committed to the things that matter….The Word, Prayer, and Healthy Relationships.

 

5.  Credibility / Integrity Test

Don’t live according to the customs of the world. It’s easy to allow the world to influence our talk, our wardrobe, our activities, etc. We must focus on staying pure and being honest with ourselves and others. We need to be the same person on Friday night that we are on Sunday mornings. WWJD? Yes, we must ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?”

 

6.  The Authority Test

Submission is an attitude that God is looking for. We must determine our submission and keep our attitudes pure. It’s ok to disagree, but we can still be submissive to our leaders. Don’t talk negatively about your boss. Be respectful and faithful to God. God commands us to submit to authority. Of course, our Ultimate Authority is most important.

 

7.  The Forgiveness Test

We must not hate people. We must instead hate the devil. Our conflict is not with flesh and blood. But, you might say, “He hurt me.” Well…..our mindset should be that of Christ. We have no right to hold anything against someone, because, the ONLY REASON WE HAVE LIFE IS BECAUSE GOD LET US OFF THE HOOK AT THE CROSS. The best way to show mercy is to put ourselves in the other person’s shoes. Maybe that person has had a bad day. Maybe that person is struggling over many things. Maybe that person doesn’t have God. The best way we can show someone Jesus is to be like Jesus. Forgiving an offense simply means canceling the debt. God will provide the healing if we take the step to LET GO and LET GOD step in and change hearts.

 

8.  The Warfare Test

This test exposes our ability to stand strong when all Hell breaks loose. If you lose your job, you get sick, a relationship is stirred up, and you can’t find your keys …..you feel like throwing your hands up in the air and giving up. Most of the time when it rains….it pours. God won’t allow us to go through anything that He won’t provide the strength and perseverance for. Usually, it’s pretty obvious when we are in the midst of warfare, because it becomes comical how many things seem to be going poorly.

 

9.  The Test of Time

Whoa…this one is a hot point for me. This test is the test of our patience. We want it NOW, NOW, NOW!! Or, we might have a COW, COW, COW!! If we will relax and wait until His appointed time, His plan instead of our forced plan will unfold and it will become more than we could ever hope for or imagine! Seize the day, enjoy the NOW…don’t rush ahead…wait on the Author of Perfect Planning!

 

10. The Lordship Test

This tests whether or not God really has the last Word in our lives. God didn’t want “Isaac” ….instead He wanted Abraham. Abraham’s heart and commitment to God was proven, and when Abraham’s devotion was reflected, God rewarded Abraham and provided the ram. If we truly serve Him, we are saying,”Thy will be done.” Is He genuinely the Lord of our lives?

 

HE PROVIDES TESTS SO THAT WE CAN EXPERIENCE TRUE LIFE!

SUBMISSION WILL BRING SUCCESS

WALK THE WALK AND TALK THE TALK….

IT’S EASY WHEN WE ARE IN LOVE WITH JESUS!

SUSIE MC

Verse and Message (Week of Sept 20-26, 2009) September 24, 2009

 

Ephesians 4:27

Do not give the devil a foothold.

 

Ephesians 6:10-11; 14-18a

Put on the full ARMOR OF GOD so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Stand firm then, with the BELT OF TRUTH buckled around your waist, with the BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the SHOES OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. In addition, take up the SHIELD OF FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the HELMET OF SALVATION and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the WORD OF GOD. And PRAY IN THE SPIRIT on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

  

I have a favorite pair of jeans that I really can’t live without. Ok, well, if I had to give them up I could, but I wouldn’t want to. They are so comfortable, and the crazy thing — I paid for them with holes and fray already manifested within them.

 

Saturday, I volunteered at the ERA / Oxford Realty 8K that Johnny and Liz Montgomery host each third Saturday in September. I decided I would wear my “holy” jeans as I like to call them, because they are truly set-apart from the rest of my denim choices, and I wanted to be comfortable. 

 

The weather here in Birmingham has been anything but dry. It’s possible we have had enough rain in the past couple of weeks to make up for the lack of rain that occurred last year. The problem with consistent rainfall is that there’s a particular insect that thrives in the overwhelming humidity. This insect happens to be one of my least favorite of God’s creatures (which I would be hard-pressed to include a pair for the ark that I considered building). They are a pesky nuisance of the insect family – mosquitoes.

 

I am a magnet to those pests. They will find a place to feast on my body no matter what I am wearing. If there is one mosquito in a room of one hundred people, I will certainly be the target. Well, that wet day at the race, those irritants managed to find the holes and fray in my jeans…and they had a party. I am still scratching those bites….OUCH. 

 

The Lord dropped in my spirit an interesting revelation as I was scratching that afternoon. Mosquitoes attack what is most vulnerable. Mosquitoes have no mercy. Mosquitos suck the life out of you.

 

I realize that there have been times in my journey when I have become complacent and slack in my walk. Such negligence has allowed holes or fray in my spirit for the enemy to set up a tailgate and have a party. These moments can cause so much discomfort that it’s difficult to focus on anything else. We cannot allow ourselves to become vulnerable, lest the devil will get a foothold.

 

We have to protect ourselves with the Full Armor of God, and we must stay alert in order to resist his bites of vengeance. We cannot leave one crevice open.

 

According to Charles Stanley’s words in When the Enemy Strikes, there are four goals of our enemy:

 

1.  To draw you away from God.

2.  To thwart God’s purpose from your life.

3.  To deny the glory of God in your life.

4.  To destroy you in any way he can, including physical health.

–Just a sidenote I recall from literature class–

Would you believe another name for the devil is “Old Scratch?”

 

It’s important to recognize that Jesus overcame the powers of darkness in His work at the Cross, and we have been given the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions…and mosquitoes. The Blood of the Lamb extinguished all demonic powers.

 

Nonetheless, our enemy is a liar and he will attempt to brainwash us into believing that we are powerless against his schemes. The key is to keep our eyes on Christ. When we take our eyes off of Jesus, we are apt to compromise initially….and compromise eventually leads to destruction. On the flipside, the more captivated we are by our Savior, the less sin and temptations will entice us. 

 

We must guard our hearts and minds and we need to be intent on calling on our Body Guard each morning to walk with us. Don’t get “comfortable”….stay alert and wear the full armor consistently.

The most active piece of armor is The Sword of the Spirit. When used accurately, effectively, and consistently the Word of God NEVER FAILS.. Jesus proved it’s effectiveness in the wilderness when satan tempted Him.

 

And, lastly, the enemy’s powers are annihilated if we stand strong in prayer. Prayer provides us discernment and direction, greater awareness of sin that we need to confess, and prayer gives us added energy and strength.

 

Pesky mosquitoes crave blood, but we know that satan shivers at the thought of the BLOOD OF JESUS. The primary benefit of redemption as Christians is that we are covered in the BLOOD OF JESUS. But the POWER OF THE BLOOD is only active when we apply His repellant daily and CLAIM IT IN HIS NAME!

 

The Enemy attacks what is most vulnerable.

IN CHRIST WE ARE PROTECTED AND VICTORIOUS!

The enemy has no mercy.

THE MERCY AND GRACE OF OUR SAVIOR IS ETERNAL!

The enemy will suck the life out of you.

JESUS CHRIST IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE!

SUSIE MC