Verse and Message (Week of January 20 – 26, 2008) January 23, 2008

James 4:14

whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

  

I was stunned Sunday morning as I heard the news from our pastor that Rick Burgess of the Rick & Bubba Radio Show lost his two-year-old son Saturday night in a drowning accident. At that moment, I recalled a handful of families that have endured such a tragedy in my lifetime.  This verse and message is dedicated to all the families I know who have had to go through what I consider the most traumatic grief possible – the loss of a child. 

No one wants to outlive his children.  It doesn’t go along with what we consider the general order of things.  It’s tragic for not only the blood relatives, but also for friends, co-workers, classmates, distant acquaintances, radio listeners, and/or for anyone like me who has a child and cannot begin to imagine it happening to us. 

The fact remains that we all die in this world.  And, really we all live after this life…..but the question is, “Where will your final destination will be?”  

Death ranks high if not the highest as the most mysterious part of our existence.  No one knows for sure what really happens detail by detail once we make our passage to the other side.  However, we do know and believe what the Bible relates to us about this mystery.  But, we will never fully realize until we are there. 

That goes for our future in this life as well.  Our God only provides what is necessary for us to know at the time that He feels best.  He reveals things to us day by day if we are close to Him and if we are listening.  We really wouldn’t want to know the when’s or how’s of our future, because God knows we couldn’t take it all in. His timing is perfect…so, wouldn’t we be wise to make the most of the “present” in this life? 

Don’t wait to say you are sorry.  Don’t wait to tell someone that you love them and also to express that love. Don’t wait to forgive.  Don’t wait to say “thank you.” Don’t wait to use your fine china.  Don’t wait to call that friend you haven’t spoken to in a while.  Don’t wait to go have fun because you are too busy working or cleaning.  Don’t wait to give your time to someone who needs you. Don’t delay in going to sporting events for your child. Don’t put off another week of going to your worship home, because you have to cut the grass or you have to take care of a spreadsheet for the office. Don’t wait to go see your mom, dad, or grandparent at the nursing home.  Don’t wait to live out your purpose for God. DON’T WAIT!

In our current series at Church of the Highlands “30 Days To Live” we have discovered that imminent death has a commanding power to straighten life’s priorities.  And, if you had thirty days left till your last breath, I bet you would be like me in wanting to make everything right before that time had arrived.  But, friends, what’s the hold-up?  Why not live a life that leaves a legacy of WHO you belong to and live that life now?  IF we want more of our loved ones to have the best choice of eternity – Heaven…then we should be motivated to live a life like Jesus.  We are not perfect…but with His Spirit within us, we can supernaturally have consistent character, holiness, and unconditional love. How we live ultimately influences how we die …where we are headed …and what we leave behind.  If we do not guard what matters most, we will be blinded by the world’s idea of success and comfort.  Remember, those who have chosen to live with Christ are aliens to this land. We are on a mission! We are ambassadors for the King.

We must reach for the stars and ask God to help us fulfill the dreams and purposes that He has placed inside of us.  Refuse to have any excuses. Don’t bury your head in the sand.  Make time each day to focus on who and what means the most….and GO FOR IT! 

Or, you might realize that it’s too late……

Now in conclusion, I wanted to share some additional information regarding the Burgess Family that I received in an email today.  Rick was heard saying that Bronner didn’t fall into the pool, he fell into the arms of Jesus. What an incredible perspective! Please pray for this family, and see below…..

Susie Mc 

http://www.rickandbubba.com/  

We ask that you bathe Rick, Sherri, and the entire Burgess family in prayer as they deal with the loss of their youngest son, Bronner Burgess. We all are grieving together in this terrible loss.The Burgess’s want to give all Honor and Glory to GOD for the many blessings He has given us, especially the life of Bronner Burgess. And while we do not understand, we know who is in charge and His will be done in life and in death.

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
1 Thessalonians 5:10

Verse and Message (January 13-20, 2008) January 17, 2008

Hebrews 12:1

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith..”

  

Matthew 6:33

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

  

Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

My primary goal for 2008 is to learn to maintain a successful order and balance in the way I prioritize my time.  Life has a way of getting away from me at times, and before I know it my life is cascading out of control.  Why?  Well, like most in our society, I am inundated with an enormous amount of distractions and an overwhelming amount of clutter, a crowded schedule, and constant interruptions. In a day when genius technology continues to rise, one would think that life would be easier. When the world around us is causing an avalanche of high expectations in every corner of our lives….no wonder we are disoriented and depleted when evening comes. 

To break the cycle of racing at a pace when every hour seems like rush hour, I know what I must do.  I must FIX my eyes on what’s most important.  I cannot allow myself to fix my eyes on what things that my will dictates are important…I must choose the ONE THING that makes all things work together….our Lord. 

Since our lifestyle is dominated by multitasking, we may be tempted to throw our Lord in with the mix of everything we are trying to master.  Instead of working vigorously to master our priorities, we should give it to Him….letting our Master be the one to master our time.  With our permission, He is able to supernaturally balance our priorities.  We are fooling ourselves if we ever think we can manage this assignment on our own….it’s truly impossible. He should be in everything we do, but we cannot begin to attempt to organize this skill without Him.

We are all busy.  However, most of us are inappropriately busy at least at one time or another.  God doesn’t mind that we are busy if it is the kind of busy that fulfills His purposes for His Kingdom.  But just as we have all been instructed to take one day at a time, we should also consider taking one activity at a time.  Therefore, we are able to focus on each task more effectively.  When we are able to focus successfully on each of the priorities in our lives, then we are able to develop proper balance (with His help of course).

According to A Minute of Margin by Richard A. Swenson M.D., the following principles are suggested in establishing and guarding priorities:

  

* Obtain priorities from the Scriptures

* Look through God’s eyes, and then act on what is seen

* See FIRST the Kingdom of God, and everything else later

* People are more important than things

The Holy Spirit wrote the Bible.  He communicated His good and perfect will through people who put Scripture on paper.  In order to see the Father’s perspective, it is imperative that we soak in His Word.  When we are obedient to that process, we will delight in placing His Kingdom ahead of all else.  He will be our main focus.  It won’t be difficult then to fix our eyes on Him. 

He loves His children and He wants us to love people too. Our relationship with Him directly affects our relationship to others. In addition, our relationship to others will affect our relationship with Him.  The best things in life simply are not things….the BEST is God and then other people. 

It seems simple, but it becomes a challenge when we do not protect ourselves from the enemy.  The devil can come into our territory, manipulate our lives into a marathon of being busy, thus, thwarting God’s plan, because we are unable to concentrate on what’s MOST IMPORTANT.  We know this, so why is it so difficult to keep our priorities parallel to our Father’s agenda?  Because the devil’s distractions and schemes of  “busyness” can wreak havoc in our day to day….BUT ONLY IF WE ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN. 

  

Simply put, we try to do everything on our own without the assistance of the Holy Spirit….because we can handle this or that…hmmmm.  Can we?  Not effectively.  The cycle repeats itself and we are utterly exhausted from the battle we fight to keep up. 

  

If we FIX our EYES on the Author and Finisher of our FAITH, we won’t get in a fix…instead, He will FIX us and our priorities!  If we allow ourselves to REST in Him, our heart will capture the miracle of unsurpassed peace. 

  

I don’t know about you….but I receive that blessing!

God bless you all with the same!

SUSIE MC

Verse and Message (Week of Jan. 6-12, 2008) January 10, 2008

 

^{This past Monday, Church of the Highlands began it’s annual observation of “21 Days of Prayer and Fasting.”  This focus takes place at the beginning of each year in order to offer our “first fruits” to our Father.  It puts us in a posture of truly honoring the Lord as our #1 priority, by reducing our flesh desires so that we may feast more on Him.  It humbles us to recognize that we cannot do without Him.  By entering into a season of specific prayer and fasting, we are in a stance of “attention” to our King.  Therefore, we are more apt to listen and seek revelation, instead of continuing in the rapid pace most of us experience during the  Christmas season.} 

  

^{I received an incredible message recently from my sister in Christ, Beth Yoe of Chattanooga.  Below I have highlighted a portion of her message that I feel is applicable to what I am trying to accomplish during this time.  It helps me to realize that the disciples also had some difficulty understanding our Almighty’s perspective and purposes for His children.  His ways are higher, and operating in our own power and pursuing our own will leaves us empty.  I want to be filled completely as I continue to be blessed the days of 2008……}

  

^{__________________________________________________________________}

^{**Wisdom from Beth Yoe’s devotions “Sharing Bread”**}

⁶ Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. ⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts.  Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.  ⁸ ”For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.  ⁹ ”As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.   Isaiah 55:6-9 (NIV)

The commands are clear:  Seek Him, Call on Him, Forsake our evil ways and thoughts and Turn to Him, He will have mercy, He will freely pardon.  Live a life of trust in Him.  Jesus wanted His boys to understand how the events of His life would indeed play out.  He did not want them to be caught off guard.  He was telling them to listen carefully!  He was telling them to pay attention!  How often I have missed His warnings too!  There are many reasons for this including, but not limited to, pre-determined ideas of how my life would play out, being too busy to hear His still small voice, confusion over His will for my life, and being ignorant of God’s word, just to name a few.  Since our God is a God of order, when I experience confusion in my life, I am the problem.  Having a firm grasp of Scripture will keep our heads above water – and I don’t mean when the crisis hits!  The most effective Christians for Kingdom work are prepared people.  They know truth.  They can trust God even when circumstances appear different from expectations.  “Real trust in God is above circumstances and appearances.”  George Muller.

  

God has a greater plan than our eyes can see or our mind can understand.  For instance, in our verses for today, if the disciples would have had their way, Jesus would have been made an earthly king. He would have never gone to the cross and all mankind (including them) would have been destined to hell.  But God (my two favorite words together) had a different plan.

  

We live in a generation where we constantly depend upon our own strength and abilities until, of course, we reach the end of our powers, hopes and dreams and we are left empty calling out for help to save us!  I believe that our lives would be much less harried if we began each day by emptying ourselves of ‘ourselves’ and praying to be filled with all the fullness of God.  God desires for His Spirit to fully indwell and equip His saints for every good work.  We shrink the Spirit within us when we constantly rely on ourselves.  He often has to get us to the point the disciples were in before we will look up and be amazed by the greatness of God.  Spurgeon tells us:  “It will do us good to be very empty, to be very weak, and so to go about our Master’s work.”

• When God tells me something I must pay attention and respond.
• God’s thoughts and ways are higher than my thoughts and ways.
• God has a greater plan than my eyes can see or my mind can understand. 
• Increase the Father….Decrease Self

  

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Thank you Beth for your beautiful insight! Please check her blog!  bethyoe.wordpress.com

I challenge you all to believe in God for answered prayer to your specific needs, and please declare your complete dependence on God…..not allowing anything to distract you.  His Presence is available to all…..but it is our responsibility to SEEK, CALL, FORSAKE evil, and TURN to Him. Join us as we embrace our Savior 100% through prayer and fasting at Church of the Highlands through January 27….what a way to kick off the year!  2008 is said to be the year of new beginnings!

  

God bless you all!!

SUSIE MC

Verse and Message for the New Year 2008 January 4, 2008

Psalm 118:24
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

  

I received the following email from my dad recently, and I thought these “Lessons In Life” would be some great tips to pass along to guarantee an amazingly blessed 2008!
 
For over seven years, Regina Brett was a columnist at The Beacon Journal in Akron, Ohio.  During that time, she was diagnosed and successfully treated for breast cancer.  Regina is now a columnist for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio. She wrote 50 lessons in life that she wanted the world to observe.  I couldn’t resist sharing some of the thoughts she expressed.  If we follow these “lessons in life” our journey is sure to be a beautiful one.  Check them out….and ponder them as we embrace 2008!  Happy New Year everyone! May you be filled with joy and abundance! Rejoice and be glad in the gift of each day!

  

Smiles and Blessings……………Susie Mc

Lessons in Life by Regina Brett:

**Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

**When in doubt, just take the next small step.

**Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

**Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

**Pay off your credit cards every month.

**You don’t have to win every argument.
Agree to disagree.

**Cry with someone.
It’s more healing than crying alone.

**It’s OK to get angry with God.
He can take it.

**Make peace with your past.

**It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

**Don’t compare your life to others.
You have no idea what their journey is all about.

**Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
But don’t worry; God never blinks.

**Life is too short for long pity parties.
Get busy living, or get busy dying.

**It’s never too late to have a happy childhood.
But the second one is up to you and no one else.

**Over prepare, then go with the flow.

**No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

**Frame every so-called disaster with these words:
“In five years, will this matter?”

**Always choose life.

**Forgive everyone for everything.

**What other people think of you is
none of your business.

**Time heals almost everything.
Give time, time.

**However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

**Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick.
Your friends will. Stay in touch.

**Believe in miracles.

**God loves you because of who God is,
not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

**Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

**Your children get only one childhood.
Make it memorable.

**Read the Psalms.
They cover every human emotion.

**Get outside every day.
Miracles are waiting everywhere.

**If we all threw our problems in a pile and
saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

**Don’t audit life.
Show up and make the most of it now.

**Get rid of anything that isn’t useful,
beautiful, or joyful.

**All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

**Envy is a waste of time.
You already have all you need.

**The best is yet to come.

**No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.

**Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

**If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

**Life may not be tied with a bow, but it’s still a beautiful gift!