Verse and Message for Thanksgiving Week! November 25, 2008

 

Psalm 69:30
I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.

 

Psalm 39:5
Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.  Selah

 

It’s so easy to take for granted all of the blessings we have been given.  If you are reading this email, you have a computer or access to one…and that in itself is a bonus in our world. We don’t even realize how good we have it! There are parts of the world where water and food are limited, expression of the Christian faith is prohibited, and violence is so rampant that people fear for their lives at every turn.

 

Each year my family has a special tradition.  We go around the table before our Thanksgiving meal and express one or two things we are grateful for….it’s special. My mom cries every single time the spotlight is on her. It’s a moment of “selah” which means to reflect…a moment to pause.

 

I received a video yesterday from my facebook brother in Christ, Jeremy Russell.  I actually viewed this video about three months ago and was moved to tears almost immediately. The video is a wonderful example of how we should  pause and truly be grateful for every second of life. After watching the video yesterday, I was led to share it with you all this Thanksgiving week. 

 

We must realize that this life is but a vapor……and most of our problems aren’t really problems when we check out this perspective.  When we count our blessings…..our list is endless, or should be endless.  I won’t elaborate further, because the video tells it all.  It’s a beautiful expression of embracing life and cherishing the fact that we all woke up this morning! 

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0

 

If you or someone you love had 99 or fewer days to live, how would you use that time?

We never know when our last breath will be…..so seize the day and take hold of every bit of favor He has given you! And, don’t forget the best blessing of all — our Savior, Jesus Christ!

 

I hope you all have a beautiful Thanksgiving!

I am so grateful for you!

Don’t forget to take a moment of “selah” and reflect on your abundance!

 

Susie Mc

Verse and Message (Week of Nov 16-22, 2008) November 19, 2008

  

Psalm 107:9

For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Galatians 5:22-23

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

  

Have you ever gone on a diet to lose weight?

I have had my experience of crash diets by exploring a variety of healthy food selections or simply diminishing my food intake.  Food is fuel for the body.  However, so many times we get carried away with all the tempting options offered in our microwave/fast-food society. 

 

I have learned after many roller coaster diet adventures, that it is not a specific diet that keeps my body in tune; it’s a lifestyle of healthy eating combined with regular exercise that keeps the body fit and healthy. 

 

The following are choices of diets that draw people into the diet craze:  Weight Watchers, The South Beach Diet, The Atkins Diet, The Slim Fast Diet, Sugar Busters, Hollywood Juice Diet…..it’s unbelievable!  And it’s difficult to stay focused on any one of these diet plans. 

 

It’s smart to consider what we take into our bodies, and it’s equally significant to pay attention to portion size. Excessive consumption can occur easily. For example, super sizing should be avoided.  

 

We need some sugar, we need some protein, we need some carbohydrates, we need some calcium, we need water…but most of all WE NEED BALANCE! A balanced diet includes dedication, endurance, and the practice of wise eating habits along with consistent exercise.  A seasonal diet is not going to work.  The way we eat and maintain our bodies must be a lifestyle choice. 

 

Likewise, our spiritual growth is not meant for a season.  It has to remain a consistent lifetime activity, or we will find ourselves on the spiritual roller coaster track!  The measure of our spiritual growth is found in Christ alone! 

 

In this age we have no excuse for lack of healthy spiritual food!  We have access to all the appropriate spiritual food we can grasp:  The Bible, Christian books, music, videos, concerts, conferences, radio and television stations, magazines, seminars, retreats, life-giving churches, small group Bible study options….etc.  There are many opportunities to be spiritually fed. 

 

However, we sometimes allow ourselves to be absorbed into secular programs, music, television shows, magazines, movies, concerts, etc…..it’s easy to be tempted to fall into that SECULAR HOT FUDGE SUNDAE in life.   

 

Just as we cannot eat that hot fudge sundae everyday, we cannot allow our focus to gaze on secular desires of the flesh, because we will fall further from the only diet that overflows without the unwanted calories…..JESUS CHRIST! 

 

I used to exercise so much in order to justify indulging in all kinds of food.  In the spiritual arena, that’s like performing works to feel free from the guilt of sin……and it will not work for the long haul.  It will exhaust, and it will not satisfy.  We cannot earn our salvation.

 

Sin can only be released by the GRACE of the KING.  We cannot cover up sin with religious activity.  It’s not a weighted scale.  For example, we cannot try to outweigh the good with the bad things that we do in the flesh. 

 

Obedience and works will be the result of a heart after God.  It’s a joy and honor to partake in discipleship, not just an action to keep the record straight. We cannot earn our salvation. It’s all because of Jesus we are alive! 

 

Only Jesus keeps the record straight…..

It all begins with RELATIONSHIP….

not a quick GOD MOMENT DIET to keep us afloat!

  

LET YOUR LIFESTYLE REFLECT THE ONLY HEALTHY CHOICE–

JESUS CHRIST!

SUSIE MC

Verse and Message (Week of Nov 9-15, 2008) November 12, 2008

 

Mark 12:30

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

Revelation 3:16

So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

 

One thing that rings true in our generation is the overuse of abbreviations. Would you agree?  Here are a handful of abbreviations I recognize that appear to be common among many people. Oh, and just in case you aren’t familiar with them, I have included what they stand for as well:

 

 

BFF – Best Friends Forever

JK – Just Kidding

LOL – Laugh Out Loud

PSP – Play Station Portable

TMI – Too Much Information

VIP – Very Important Person

PDA – Public Display of Affection

 

I thought I was pretty up on things until a buddy of mine introduced me to an abbreviation I had not heard before.  He had started going out with a woman and was stressed,because she had brought up the dreadful ”DTR” the previous weekend.  I am like, “What?” He went on to define the abbreviation “DTR.”  If you are clueless like me, you might be wondering what this means as well. I googled “DTR” and found the meaning in the Urban Dictionary:

 

DTR

Define The Relationship. When two people discuss their mutual understanding of a romantic relationship (casual dating, serious boyfriend, engagement, etc).

  

Last week I received an interesting take on DTR.  I wanted to write about what my sister in Christ, Tommye Reinhardt, shared with me in an email….I couldn’t resist this topic! 

Jesus asks……..

“Are we really a thing or do you just date me?” If you are not married and you are in a relationship with someone, chances are that if you hang out for longer than a couple months, that DTR moment is going to pop up eventually. Maybe it’s time to have a DTR talk with Christ. That’s right, Christ courts us prior to salvation, but once we receive Him as our personal Savior, we are in a “marriage” commitment.  We are no longer dating.  It’s a serious covenant. As Christians, we should consider an inventory of the heart and evaluate where we are with Jesus on a consistent basis.  Are you really an “item” with Him, or do you just date Him on Sundays? When you are married, do you just communicate and/or hang out with your spouse one day of the week? Love is the greatest motivation for an intimate relationship. When you are in love with someone, you want to spend time with that person and you want to please that person–do you feel the same way with Jesus?  Do you take advantage of Him by considering Him a mere Friend with benefits? Do you go to Him only when you need something? Do you turn to Him when you have come to the end of your rope, after all else fails? Is He an afterthought? Are you faithful to Him whether you are on the mountain top or in the desert?  It’s easy to love when it “feels” good.  But,true love is an action; it’s not a feeling. A marriage vow is not simply for better but for WORSE, it’s not in health, but in SICKNESS. That’s how you know if you are “in love.” When everything is wonderful, it’s easy to love! Do you still love when everything seems to be falling apart?   Is your relationship with Jesus something real and relational, or do you just go through the motions? Do you get excited to spend time with Him, or do you just check off the list Bible reading, prayer time, church, small groups, etc? Do you got to go to church, or do you GET to go to church? Our Jesus is not concerned with our activity…..He wants our undivided devotion!  He is serious about “forever” with us, but do we just consider Him “Mr. Right Now?” Are you a faithful follower of Christ only when it works for you? You cannot be married and be single too….you cannot straddle the fence, you will fall off that fence. Being in limbo doesn’t reflect love! So many of us, and all of us at one time or another, treat Him as an acquaintaince rather than our husband….in fact, some of us are only comfortable with a surface relationship with Christ. Our Savior desires for us to go deeper; He’s not interested in shallow interaction.    In Matthew 19 we are told of a rich young ruler who had a DTR with Jesus.  When Jesus called him to follow Him completely, the man walked away sorrowfully, rejecting Christ. The ruler had a commitment phobia regarding Jesus. His God was money. He couldn’t lay it at the cross and embrace Jesus fully. Is it time to have a DTR with Jesus Christ?  Are we willing to walk with Him every single day?  Can we release the world and give Him our all?  Actually, a great way to begin each day is to surrender every part of our being to Him.  When Christ takes control, our lives will take on dimensions that we would have never known apart from Him. Beautiful things will happen when we commit our love and life to His Lordship, His will, and His ways.    If you aren’t “into Him” Sunday through Monday, He considers you to be lukewarm which makes Him sick. It’s ALL or NOTHING. Partial obedience is disobedience.  Wearing the ring on Sundays doesn’t cut it.  Jesus isn’t interested in a fair-weather friend…..He desires His Bride, and He will do anything and everything to have His Bride!     Our lives are the sum of responses we make toward our Groom. He’s given us everything! He sacrificed His own Son!   Is it time to DTR? He is, afterall…..the top VIP! PDA with Him delights Him! He is by far your BFF! SUSIE MC

Verse and Message (Week of Nov 2-8, 2008) November 5, 2008

Matthew 18:3 And, he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you CHANGE and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 And, we who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being TRANSFORMED into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.   Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the SAME yesterday and today and forever.   When preparing for my message this week, I decided to share a blog entry written by Mark Shaw who partners with Jason Cooke, a dear brother in Christ, in a ministry called “Truth In Love.” Before moving onto the subject, I wanted to share a portion of their mission:   http://histruthinlove.org/ (website) http://histruthinlove.wordpress.com (blog)   Truth in Love is an innovative, on-location ministry to the body of Christ through the local church.  Our staff travels to local churches to establish a biblical counseling discipleship, and mentoring ministry at each partnering church.  While serving the church members and the surrounding community as outreach, we also teach and equip church leaders and called lay persons to completely provide shepherding care for God’s “flock” of children. (1 Peter 5:2)   And, I also deemed it fitting to share a portion of their statement of faith that applies to this message specifically:   “Achieving God’s purposes means taking faith filled risks. This always involves CHANGE.”   Here’s what Shaw’s blog entry had to say about what is happening now……   *Post written by Mark Shaw on November 4, 2008   As biblical counselors, we know what we want the counselee to CHANGE into – the answer is – Christ.  We want our counselors to become like the Lord Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.   We have an example to learn from when we read the Holy Scriptures.  Jesus is our example, and we are all to be like Him.  The Bible is essential to study so that we can be like Him.   “CHANGE” is a big word this election year.  I say we focus NOT on political CHANGE but upon spiritual CHANGE in our personal lives.  We need to ask God to CHANGE us into the image of Christ by His transforming power through His Word of Truth.   -Mark (voting for “CHANGE” in the lives of Christians everywhere)   With those thoughts in mind, I wanted to share an acrostic I created to coincide with the referenced blog entry:   CHANGE   C – Christ is the clear example to follow.   H - Holiness is obtained only through Jesus Christ.  We can be “set apart” by accepting Christ as our personal Savior, and allow Him to sanctify us day by day.   A – Almighty God….Indeed, our Lord is sovereign, and because He is the Everlasting God, He is never taken by surprise….even during an election as historical as this one has been.   N – None can come to the Father except through Jesus.   G – His Grace is sufficient for anything and everything that we will ever face.   E – Eternal Life is our gift when we VOTE for Him Who loved us first.  In fact, all of His promises provide 100% guarantee.   CHANGE was the platform for President Elect, Barack Obama.  Indeed, CHANGE is something that will take place in our nation.  But, we can be certain that our God will not CHANGE, regardless of what happens in this world! He is truly our ONLY SECURITY. We must focus on CHANGING the world with the LIGHT of JESUS within us! So, let’s SHINE people!   ASK NOT WHAT GOD CAN DO FOR YOU…. ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR GOD! WE CAN CHANGE…..CHANGE INTO HIS IMAGE….CHANGE THE WORLD! SUSIE MC