"If we do not see ourselves as valuable to God and valuable before God, then we will never find confidence before Him. Serving Him will always be a duty rather than the delight He intends for us.". - Duty or Delight Bible Study
Very powerful quote!
Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS)/MOMSnext @ MWC
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Powerful Message
Former MWC Youth Pastor Jason Hotchkiss delivers a powerful word on God's holiness....very timely message especially because of this past Sunday evening's Night of Worship. This message is part 1 of a 7 part series and this message is called "He's Other". He also preached the last message in series just this past Sunday but that doesn't appear to be available yet. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!
http://www.eriefirst.org/podcastgod101.asp
http://www.eriefirst.org/podcastgod101.asp
Monday, June 25, 2012
No Exemptions
Devotional by Pastor Greg Laurie
| |
"For he gives his sunlight to both the
evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike."
|
When a crisis comes
into our lives, the first thing we usually ask is, "Why is this happening
to me? What have I done to deserve this?" At the outset there are no real
answers to questions like this. In fact, it is very unlikely we ever will have
the answers to the whys of life until we get to heaven.
Somehow in our minds, we may believe that, as Christians, we are exempt from suffering. We just won't have tragedy befall us. We won't get cancer. We won't have spouses ever leave us. We won't ever have anyone we love die in any kind of accident. We won't have problems with our kids. But no matter how much we may love the Lord, crises will come into our lives. We cannot control that.
Ironically, people said to me after our son went to be with the Lord, "Why has this happened to you, of all people?" I find that to be a curious question, the assumption being that I get a free pass because I am a pastor. But I live in the same fallen world as everyone else. Jesus said the rain falls upon the just and the unjust (see Matthew 5:45).
So I think it is very important not to make the mistake of always trying to find cause and effect for everything that happens. For example, if something bad happens, we may say, "Well, they were evil, and because of that, this came into their lives." That may be true.
However, sometimes bad stuff happens, and there is no cause and effect at all. It is simply because sin is in the world. And because sin is in the world, we have aging and sickness and disabilities and even death. But those things never were part of God's original plan.
Somehow in our minds, we may believe that, as Christians, we are exempt from suffering. We just won't have tragedy befall us. We won't get cancer. We won't have spouses ever leave us. We won't ever have anyone we love die in any kind of accident. We won't have problems with our kids. But no matter how much we may love the Lord, crises will come into our lives. We cannot control that.
Ironically, people said to me after our son went to be with the Lord, "Why has this happened to you, of all people?" I find that to be a curious question, the assumption being that I get a free pass because I am a pastor. But I live in the same fallen world as everyone else. Jesus said the rain falls upon the just and the unjust (see Matthew 5:45).
So I think it is very important not to make the mistake of always trying to find cause and effect for everything that happens. For example, if something bad happens, we may say, "Well, they were evil, and because of that, this came into their lives." That may be true.
However, sometimes bad stuff happens, and there is no cause and effect at all. It is simply because sin is in the world. And because sin is in the world, we have aging and sickness and disabilities and even death. But those things never were part of God's original plan.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Blogs/Websites for Busy Moms and/or Wives
These are some cool blogs/websites for us busy moms and/or wives - some great encouragement and also some fun ideas for the summer, etc.
http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com/
http://slowlynatural.blogspot.com/
http://www.thepurposefulmom.com
http://www.incourage.me/
http://joyfulmothering.net/
http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com/
http://slowlynatural.blogspot.com/
http://www.thepurposefulmom.com
http://www.incourage.me/
http://joyfulmothering.net/
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
A Fulfilled Promise
http://www.leadingtheway.org/web/guest/read/my-devotional/-/blogs/a-fulfilled-promise
June 20, 2012
By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.
Abraham fully trusted God’s promise that Isaac would continue his bloodline. He knew that somehow Isaac would live to fulfill God’s promise. Abraham believed that if he sacrificed his son, God would somehow return Isaac to life.
“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’ Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death” (Hebrews 11:17-19).
Abraham wasn’t worried because he fully trusted that God’s plan would happen—no matter what obstacles occurred. Genesis 22:5 says it all: “He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’” We will come back. Even as he prepared the sacrifice, Abraham was confident that both he and his son would return alive.
God kept His promise, and Isaac did live to produce heirs. In verse 13, we see that God provided the solution—a ram caught in the thicket.
When God has a plan, He will fulfill it. What is God calling you to sacrifice as a test of your faith in Him? Is it your reputation or your net worth? Is it a relationship or an ambition? God wants us to give up anything that distracts us from Him.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the reminder today that You will fulfill Your promises and plans. Help me to trust You enough to be willing to sacrifice anything You ask of me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
June 20, 2012
A Fulfilled Promise
By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.
Abraham fully trusted God’s promise that Isaac would continue his bloodline. He knew that somehow Isaac would live to fulfill God’s promise. Abraham believed that if he sacrificed his son, God would somehow return Isaac to life.
“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’ Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death” (Hebrews 11:17-19).
Abraham wasn’t worried because he fully trusted that God’s plan would happen—no matter what obstacles occurred. Genesis 22:5 says it all: “He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’” We will come back. Even as he prepared the sacrifice, Abraham was confident that both he and his son would return alive.
God kept His promise, and Isaac did live to produce heirs. In verse 13, we see that God provided the solution—a ram caught in the thicket.
When God has a plan, He will fulfill it. What is God calling you to sacrifice as a test of your faith in Him? Is it your reputation or your net worth? Is it a relationship or an ambition? God wants us to give up anything that distracts us from Him.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the reminder today that You will fulfill Your promises and plans. Help me to trust You enough to be willing to sacrifice anything You ask of me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19)
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Be Willing to Change
Today's MWC Devotional - Be Willing to Change
“If anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Php 4:8 NIV
If you’re not moving closer to your dream, you may not be tenacious enough in your pursuit of it. And the key to greater tenacity is not necessarily working harder at the same things, but being willing to change. Change what?
(1)Your thinking. Are you convinced you can’t succeed? Do you describe yourself and what you’re doing in negative terms? Are you afraid to get started because conditions aren’t favorable? Do you stop trying to move forward when you don’t have the resources you need? If so, you need to change your mindset, to break the cycle of negative thinking.
(2) Your perspective. Do you have a short-term mindset? Are you expecting success in days, weeks, or months? The greater your assignment, the longer it’s likely to take. So recalibrate your expectations and create a more reasonable timetable for yourself; otherwise, you’ll live in frustration and defeat. That’s not God’s will for you. Paul’s desire was “that I may finish my race with joy” (Ac 20:24 NKJV). God wants you to experience joy in the pursuit of your goal.
(3) Your ways. How are things going in your personal life and in your home life? Are you ready to deal with the habits and hang-ups that stand between you and success? What can you do today that will bring you closer to your dream—no matter how small the progress? Author and publisher Robert Collier says, “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”
“If anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Php 4:8 NIV
If you’re not moving closer to your dream, you may not be tenacious enough in your pursuit of it. And the key to greater tenacity is not necessarily working harder at the same things, but being willing to change. Change what?
(1)Your thinking. Are you convinced you can’t succeed? Do you describe yourself and what you’re doing in negative terms? Are you afraid to get started because conditions aren’t favorable? Do you stop trying to move forward when you don’t have the resources you need? If so, you need to change your mindset, to break the cycle of negative thinking.
(2) Your perspective. Do you have a short-term mindset? Are you expecting success in days, weeks, or months? The greater your assignment, the longer it’s likely to take. So recalibrate your expectations and create a more reasonable timetable for yourself; otherwise, you’ll live in frustration and defeat. That’s not God’s will for you. Paul’s desire was “that I may finish my race with joy” (Ac 20:24 NKJV). God wants you to experience joy in the pursuit of your goal.
(3) Your ways. How are things going in your personal life and in your home life? Are you ready to deal with the habits and hang-ups that stand between you and success? What can you do today that will bring you closer to your dream—no matter how small the progress? Author and publisher Robert Collier says, “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Daily Devotions
These daily devotions posted on Pastor Jentezen Franklin's website are identical to the MWC Devotional. Read them electronically whenever you want :)
They are also available as a tab at the top of our blog.
http://www.jentezenfranklin.org/blog/category/daily-devotions/
They are also available as a tab at the top of our blog.
http://www.jentezenfranklin.org/blog/category/daily-devotions/
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Another Great Blog
Here is another great blog by one of our most favorite pastors and evangelist, Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, CA. We attended this church back in August of 2006 (over 20,000 people attend) and it changed our lives. He also has a new program on TV....look for it. I believe the program is called "Harvest". Check him out on FB, etc. God is using him in an amazing way!!!! We have been so blessed by the ministry of Greg Laurie (as so many others have). We have also attended one of his crusades in NYC....we saw streams and streams of young people give their lives to the Lord that afternoon. The new initative is called "Harvest America" which is an evangelistic outreach that is being brought to local churches to reach the lost. God is so good!!!! Check out the church's website too.
http://blog.greglaurie.com/
http://www.harvest.org
http://www.harvestamerica.org
http://blog.greglaurie.com/
http://www.harvest.org
http://www.harvestamerica.org
Link to Message
Here is the link to the message that I mentioned in previous post the other day....sorry about that!!!! This is a very powerful message for all men...married or not....but it is a great message for us women too!!! Great to see God's perspective!
Title: Leadership Is the Husband's Role - Listen to Dr. Michael Youssef from Leading The Way
Link: http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/leading-the-way/listen/leadership-is-the-husbands-role-282802.html
Title: Leadership Is the Husband's Role - Listen to Dr. Michael Youssef from Leading The Way
Link: http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/leading-the-way/listen/leadership-is-the-husbands-role-282802.html
Monday, June 11, 2012
Great Message
This is a powerful message from Dr. Michael Youssef titled "Leadership is the Husband's Role". This not only speaks to men but us as women as well!
Friday, June 8, 2012
Cool Blogs to Follow
Beth Moore's Blog - http://blog.lproof.org
Beth Moore's Daughter Amanda's Blog - http://babybangs.blogspot.com/
Lisa McKay's Blog - http://www.apreacherswife.com
Beth Moore's Daughter Amanda's Blog - http://babybangs.blogspot.com/
Lisa McKay's Blog - http://www.apreacherswife.com
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