Titus 2:3-5 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so 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, so that the Word of God will not be dishonored.
You may or may not consider yourself an "older woman" but it is our responsibility to teach and encourage those who are younger in years or younger in faith.
Shortly after my family and I began attending Pontiac Bible Church (www.pontiacbible.org), I was looking for ways to meet other women. There was an upcoming Bible study called "Apples of Gold" and I signed up in hopes to make some friends. It ended up being more than just a Bible study, but a group of older women willing to mentor younger women in their faith. Oh, how I received so much more than fellowship! The heart-felt teaching and love that was shown to me, changed my heart and my life.
Because of this change, now God prompts me to teach and encourage those who are younger than me. I don't really consider myself an "older woman" but I am older than some and I am willing to allow God to use me to encourage younger people in their faith.
What are you doing to lead or set an example for those younger than you? This may be a great time to ask God how you can be a part of teaching what is good!
Have a great day
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Good morning and happy Monday! :)
After talking about overcoming sin and addictions on Friday, God has brought me to this topic again today.
Romans 7:15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.
Romans 7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
I think we can all relate!
Isaiah 48:17-18 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your well-being would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea."
Again, we try to find happiness in our fleshy desires and in this world but it is through following Christ and His commandments that we can be truly fulfilled.
You may be thinking that following Christ is too hard but I wonder, how easy is your life right now? What consequences are you facing for your sins? How are you hurting yourself and those around you by following your own desires?
Just like a child does not always like to obey their parents, but one day realize that they are thankful for what their parents taught them. God knows what is best for us, even when we don't think He does - even when we want to choose for ourselves.
Even when circumstances are not what we want them to be, we must trust that God is in control and we can gain all strength through Him.
Have a great day
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie
After talking about overcoming sin and addictions on Friday, God has brought me to this topic again today.
Romans 7:15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.
Romans 7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
I think we can all relate!
Isaiah 48:17-18 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your well-being would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea."
Again, we try to find happiness in our fleshy desires and in this world but it is through following Christ and His commandments that we can be truly fulfilled.
You may be thinking that following Christ is too hard but I wonder, how easy is your life right now? What consequences are you facing for your sins? How are you hurting yourself and those around you by following your own desires?
Just like a child does not always like to obey their parents, but one day realize that they are thankful for what their parents taught them. God knows what is best for us, even when we don't think He does - even when we want to choose for ourselves.
Even when circumstances are not what we want them to be, we must trust that God is in control and we can gain all strength through Him.
Have a great day
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie
Friday, June 12, 2009
Whooo Hooo - it's Friday! :)
Have you ever felt like following God was too hard and that there was just too much sacrifice involved? I have felt that way and I have some friends who are currently struggling with giving up something that they really don't want to give up in order to follow Christ.
We get our minds focused on what will make us happy and we think that things of this world can do just that. What we forget is that void we are trying to fill is put in our heart for a reason by God. That void was made by God and it can only be filled with God.
The sins that we love, don't bring us happiness and fullness, they just pacify our need for a very short time.
I have been able to give up some sins that I love through the grace of God (still have many more to go) and what I have found is that I am so much more content, happy and at peace because of it and also have fewer bouts of depression. Those desires of the flesh were not making me happy - they were bogging my spiritual life down and keeping me from true fullness in Christ.
During those very difficult times of giving up things that I loved so dearly, there were 3 things that helped me tremendously.
1. Praying, praying, and praying for God's help to overcome temptation
2. Having an accountability partner who is also praying (make sure it's someone who is willing you kick you in the pants when you need it)
3. Each time I was tempted, I offered my desire as an offering to God. Because it was something I wanted to do or have so badly, I made the decision that it would be my sacrifice in honor of God
Hope this helps - believe me, I know the struggle and heartache you are facing!
When you are through this difficult time, you will be able to look back and celebrate the new freedom you have! Praise God for His faithfulness!
Have a great day
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie
Have you ever felt like following God was too hard and that there was just too much sacrifice involved? I have felt that way and I have some friends who are currently struggling with giving up something that they really don't want to give up in order to follow Christ.
We get our minds focused on what will make us happy and we think that things of this world can do just that. What we forget is that void we are trying to fill is put in our heart for a reason by God. That void was made by God and it can only be filled with God.
The sins that we love, don't bring us happiness and fullness, they just pacify our need for a very short time.
I have been able to give up some sins that I love through the grace of God (still have many more to go) and what I have found is that I am so much more content, happy and at peace because of it and also have fewer bouts of depression. Those desires of the flesh were not making me happy - they were bogging my spiritual life down and keeping me from true fullness in Christ.
During those very difficult times of giving up things that I loved so dearly, there were 3 things that helped me tremendously.
1. Praying, praying, and praying for God's help to overcome temptation
2. Having an accountability partner who is also praying (make sure it's someone who is willing you kick you in the pants when you need it)
3. Each time I was tempted, I offered my desire as an offering to God. Because it was something I wanted to do or have so badly, I made the decision that it would be my sacrifice in honor of God
Hope this helps - believe me, I know the struggle and heartache you are facing!
When you are through this difficult time, you will be able to look back and celebrate the new freedom you have! Praise God for His faithfulness!
Have a great day
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie
Thursday, June 11, 2009
For my current speech class, one of my assignments is to do speaker critiques. I have done some in-person and also been watching some on youtube. The other day, I listened to a sermon by Pastor Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church.
One sentence that Pastor Driscoll spoke really stuck out to me:
"We don't need self-esteem, we need identity in Christ."
Wow! I stopped dead in my tracks as I realized how true that is. With the God of the universe as our Father - with the Creator of all things as our Savior and with the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us - why do we need people to build us up? Why do we use a low self-esteem as an excuse as to why we can't serve or be who God wants us to be? Why are we reading self-help books on how to raise our self-esteem? The answer to all our self-esteem issues can be found in truly realizing who we are in Christ! As Christians, we are His chosen people. God chose YOU to be His child. Let me say it again - God chose YOU! What more of a confidence booster do you need?!
It is time to realize who we are as daughters and sons of the King and use that realization to serve Him with all we do, say and think.
Have a great day knowing who and Whose you are.
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie
One sentence that Pastor Driscoll spoke really stuck out to me:
"We don't need self-esteem, we need identity in Christ."
Wow! I stopped dead in my tracks as I realized how true that is. With the God of the universe as our Father - with the Creator of all things as our Savior and with the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us - why do we need people to build us up? Why do we use a low self-esteem as an excuse as to why we can't serve or be who God wants us to be? Why are we reading self-help books on how to raise our self-esteem? The answer to all our self-esteem issues can be found in truly realizing who we are in Christ! As Christians, we are His chosen people. God chose YOU to be His child. Let me say it again - God chose YOU! What more of a confidence booster do you need?!
It is time to realize who we are as daughters and sons of the King and use that realization to serve Him with all we do, say and think.
Have a great day knowing who and Whose you are.
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Good morning and happy Wednesday! I hope this day finds you feeling great and connected with our Savior.
Do you easily forget that other Christians are our brothers and sisters? I do.
Just like our biological brothers and sisters, we will not always agree with our spiritual brothers and sisters but God still expects us to love them and treat them in a way that honors Him.
In Matthew 12:46-50, while speaking to a crowd, Jesus is notified that His mother and brothers are wanting to talk with Him. He explains that all those around Him are His mother and brothers. He was not trying to ignore His mother and brothers but to show that as Christians, we are all related. We are all family - the family of God.
So, the next time you/I are thinking less than honorable thoughts and saying less than honorable words to another Christian, remember, they also are a child of God and your brother or sister in Christ.
The love of Christ needs to be shown between Christians so that non-believers may see!
Have a great day
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie
Do you easily forget that other Christians are our brothers and sisters? I do.
Just like our biological brothers and sisters, we will not always agree with our spiritual brothers and sisters but God still expects us to love them and treat them in a way that honors Him.
In Matthew 12:46-50, while speaking to a crowd, Jesus is notified that His mother and brothers are wanting to talk with Him. He explains that all those around Him are His mother and brothers. He was not trying to ignore His mother and brothers but to show that as Christians, we are all related. We are all family - the family of God.
So, the next time you/I are thinking less than honorable thoughts and saying less than honorable words to another Christian, remember, they also are a child of God and your brother or sister in Christ.
The love of Christ needs to be shown between Christians so that non-believers may see!
Have a great day
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Matthew 12:43-45 "Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation." (NASB)
My Bible commentary:
Just cleaning up one's life without filling it with God leaves plenty of room for satan to enter. The book of Ezra records how the people rid themselves of idolatry, but failed to replace it with love for God and obedience to Him. Ridding our lives of sin is the first step. We must also take the second step: filling our lives with God's Word and the Holy Spirit. Unfilled and complacent people are easy targets for satan.
As I read this Scripture and commentary, I was compelled to share it. What truth and richness! God's will for us is not just trying to do the "right" things and be done, but to share in an intimate love relationship with Him. I used to see God as my dictator and disciplinarian but now I realize Who He truly is, as my Father who loves me unconditionally - a Father Who knows what is best for me and plans my life accordingly.
Do not leave your heart open to the schemes of satan, but fill it with love for God and for others by dousing it daily in the Word of God and applying His truths to your life. Life is not a set of rules and regulations but a love relationship.
Have a great day
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie
My Bible commentary:
Just cleaning up one's life without filling it with God leaves plenty of room for satan to enter. The book of Ezra records how the people rid themselves of idolatry, but failed to replace it with love for God and obedience to Him. Ridding our lives of sin is the first step. We must also take the second step: filling our lives with God's Word and the Holy Spirit. Unfilled and complacent people are easy targets for satan.
As I read this Scripture and commentary, I was compelled to share it. What truth and richness! God's will for us is not just trying to do the "right" things and be done, but to share in an intimate love relationship with Him. I used to see God as my dictator and disciplinarian but now I realize Who He truly is, as my Father who loves me unconditionally - a Father Who knows what is best for me and plans my life accordingly.
Do not leave your heart open to the schemes of satan, but fill it with love for God and for others by dousing it daily in the Word of God and applying His truths to your life. Life is not a set of rules and regulations but a love relationship.
Have a great day
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie
Monday, June 8, 2009
Good morning and happy Monday my bloggy friends! I am officially back to the real world today as I work on mounds of laundry, wash dishes, pick up the house and cater to and be a taxi driver for children. I am actually very thankful to have all this to come home to. While Mike and I were away and enjoying absolutely nothing to do (yes, you heard me right), we continued to thank God that we had our children, our home, our jobs and our family to come home to.
Here, we were awake and upright but it was one of the few times.
Even Cooper relaxed!
Now, this is how I spent most of my vacation. Relaxed, with my feet up - aaahhhh!
I have to admit that 3 days of eating, sleeping and boating on a beautiful lake could get very easy to get used to but I know that God's will is for me to live in the "real world"! :)
Here, we were awake and upright but it was one of the few times.Even Cooper relaxed!Now, this is how I spent most of my vacation. Relaxed, with my feet up - aaahhhh!I have to admit that 3 days of eating, sleeping and boating on a beautiful lake could get very easy to get used to but I know that God's will is for me to live in the "real world"! :)
Have a great day in the real world!
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)