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Some verses are just ‘refrigerator verses,’ you know?  I mean the kind like John 3:16 which gives a great message, makes you feel good, and you’re not afraid to post it for all to see.  People post verses on bumper stickers, t-shirts, refrigerator magnets, Facebook statuses, and I even have some stenciled on my walls.  I love the reminder of God’s words being everywhere my eyes might happen to fall.  Deuteronomy 6:6-9 comes to mind, which says, “And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.  And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.  And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

But what do you do with a verse like this one: “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.”  Hebrews 12:4.

(Facing God’s Calling Upon Your Life)

Most everyone is familiar with the story of Jonah in the Bible.  He even has his own book in the Old Testament named after him.  He was made famous for running away from God, getting swallowed by a big fish, then spewed out, so he could be obedient to God and go preach to Nineveh.  Jonah sometimes gets the bad rap because he didn’t really want to do what God asked, was disobedient, and had a bad attitude.  We, Sunday School teachers, shake our fingers at him, and say, ‘tsk tsk. See what happens when you don’t do what God has called you to do?’ Yet, how many times does God ask us to do much smaller, easier, insignificant things, and we turn away as if we didn’t hear Him ask?

In recent months, I have been examining more closely what it really means to be a follower of Jesus. Many people profess to be “Christians,” yet their words and deeds seem so far from Jesus’ example for us. When we do not truly reflect the image of Christ to others, we become stumbling blocks for other believers and for those who have not yet chosen to believe in Him and His coming Kingdom to the earth. 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” I yearn to be an ambassador for Christ, effective in persuading people to get right with God (repent, believe in the Gospel of the Kingdom, and be baptized, then choose to live an obedient life to God)! Yet, it begs the question, how can I represent Jesus in a better light? How can I see more of God’s Spirit dwelling in me? How can I have an increase in love for others?

    Awaken to Living Out God’s Passion and Purpose in Your Life!

Passion.  Purpose.  Motivation.  Inspiration.  These are all buzz words we hear floating around, both in our church culture and in our work and personal lives.  We all want purpose to bring meaning to our lives.  We all want to feel passionate about something.  And once we find that purpose, we want to stay motivated and inspired, so we can be creative, productive, and effective.

I believe those qualities are what is lacking in our local churches today and why we bear so little fruit in our personal lives as a testimony of God’s Spirit dwelling within us, and so little fruit, as in the number of people we are instrumental in bringing to Christ.

Someone once sat on my living room couch and told me that if I did not believe that Jesus was God, then my sins were not forgiven.

Most modern day, Trinitarian churches believe this, and assume you believe this also. But, is this so? Is this what Scripture truly teaches? Let’s investigate to see if this is true or not.

I believe this man’s beliefs were based on a passage found in Mark 2, where we enter the picture and find Jesus about to heal a paralytic. Instead of saying, “Arise and take up your pallet and walk,” Jesus said “My son, your sins are forgiven.” But the scribes who were sitting there hanging out, were thinking, ‘Who does this guy think he is? He’s dissing our God! Who else can forgive sins, but God alone?’

“And as he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to him and knelt before him and began asking him, “Good teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” Mark 10:17-18.

I would call this a ‘rabbit trail.’ When the subject presented is ‘how should this man inherit eternal life’, which Jesus does eventually answer, Jesus’ attention is first zeroed in on the word “good” that the man used. Okay, so you’re wondering who cares? Why do we care that Jesus takes this one simple, descriptive word “good” that the man probably used haphazardly, without a single thought, yet Jesus takes the time to pause and reflect upon it? What’s the big deal?

It seems these days when people ask me how I’m doing, I’ll answer “busy!” The reality of it all is, that my life has seemed more than just busy lately, it’s been “crazy busy!” My husband and I discuss this scheduling mayhem in our life, and part of it is just the season in which we find ourselves, when you have five children who have activities, sports and social lives of their own, on top of our own family’s activities and responsibilities, our careers, interests, friends and marriage. Yet, as a mother and a wife, I realize the harm and destruction that overcommitment can wreak on a marriage and family if you’re not careful.
Dr. James Dobson once warned, “Overcommitment and exhaustion are the most insidious and pervasive marriage killers you will ever encounter as a couple.”

Titus 2:3-5 says: “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored.”

What always made me wonder when I read this passage from Scripture was, why did an older woman have to teach younger women how to love their husbands and children? Was this not a natural thing for women to do, that Paul would have to write this as instruction for Titus to teach the women?

“But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.” Luke 5:8-11.

“We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.” Luke 17:10(b).

How often do you serve in your local church or give financially to other ministries and feel like someone needs to take notice and acknowledge all of your back breaking work? Doesn’t it feel swell when someone recognizes all of your sacrifices and dedication, and tells you what a fine job you are doing and how much they appreciate you? Most often, than not, most of our serving the Lord, goes on quietly, behind the scenes, where no one ever sees all the hours that we log for Him. No one ever notices what we do or commends us on our work. We’re not on a paid staff somewhere. We’re just the nursery worker, the guitarist in the worship band, or heaven forbid, the janitor!