Retreat....

I am reading a book called "The Creative Call." Well...actually, I have been reading this book on and off since my daughter and her best friend were in high school. They are now a sophomore and junior in college. However, it is amazing how God would bring me back to this book over the years at the time it would mean the most.

Right now, on thing on my mind is the RBBC upcoming Ladies Retreat in April 2011. The cool thing is the book which, I am on the last chapter after all these years talks about a retreat to finish about the commencement of finishing the book. It is a study book...which means in the future I will read and do the whole study aspect and receive even more from God. :-)

Janice Elsheimer discusses the three aspects of a retreat. These three aspects are seclusion, solitude and significance. The leadership team at RBBC already knows the retreat this year will be different than any other one ever done. I believe that God brought me here to these three aspects of retreat to give me the opportunity to let God reveal them completely to me.

This is exciting to me and I will be waiting expectantly for God to give me each piece of the aspects from His point-of-view. It is amazing when we are obedient to God and see Him more and more throughout our day.

Graduation and other life happenings...

The last couple months have flown by for me. I finished my Masters of Entertainment Business in December 2010. Also, in November, I was given the delight of seeing my little brother (he is a 6ft 300lbs football player) play in the Semi-pro championship. It was also the first time seeing him in almost 25 years.

I look forward to what God has planned for 2011. The RBBC Ladies Retreat is in April. YKP, LLC will be working on a mini-tour for one of our artist, Billy Buchanan.

There may be more time for this blog and hopefully they will be worthwhile and not a bunch of babbling.

Nearing the end....Means a new beginning is around the corner....

The end of my Masters program is right around the corner (December 17th to be exact).  The exciting thing is that when this adventure ends God will be beginning a new one. What is it? I don't know but the important thing is when God gives us new opportunities, we must be ready, willing and obedient.

I am reading Doug Field's book, Fresh Start and he tells a wonderful story of "Taking a Knee." Field's explains taking a knee is a humble action. Humility is not weakness but realizing and acknowledging who the KING is....Do you fully understand your relationship with your KING?

I am coming to a closer and better understanding of my relationship with my KING.

Thank you Jesus for loving me.

Jonah was a prophet…

A young man in my college and career class said a profound statement. A couple weeks ago, he said, “Jonah,when in the belly of the big fish, was repentant for running away from God… but he was not repentant of his attitude towards the Ninevehites.” Boy did that statement ring true and step all over people’s toes.

We need to look at our lives and determine if we are truly repentant for what God has called wrong or our we repentant we are in the pit because of our actions. We discussed how one question asked to inmates is if they are truly sorry for what they did or sorry they got caught.

That is what we reflected on the last couple weeks.

Huddle...

While at the park this morning I saw all the ducks grouped together from the night. It made me think do we support each other and protect each other like these ducks?

Each of the ducks everyday go out and do the life and business they are called to accomplish. Each one has a different calling. Just like each one of us, we all are called by God to accomplish different things. He is the one who does the work through us.

However, so many of us neglect the gathering together to provide encouragement, support and protection. Think of it as refueling. As we go about our lives and business we are being used by God. Yet, when we go to bible study, church or have lunch with a trusted brother or sister in Christ we are entering a time of refreshing and refueling. Have we made the commitment to be that source of encouragement and protection to our brothers and sisters? Do we show them love and protection?

God gave all of this to me while I spent five minutes at the park with Him this morning. I thank Him for showing me His handiwork and His love.

Please do not try to be like the bird in this last picture. You have to look really hard (he is the little speck at the top) but that is a lone bird on top of that pylon. This is not God's will He has created us to fellowship with one another. In this society of people claiming they do not have to attend church please remember what God said in Hebrews 10:25:

"And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near"

Storm Preparation....

As everyone was preparing for the storm called Hurricane Earl last week it made me think. It made me wonder how much preparation goes into the storms of our lives. How much time do we spend with the Father and in His Word?

There is one thing that is crucial to remember...just like with actual hurricanes no matter how much we prepare they will come soon or later. Yet, the difference is the damage the hurricane can wreck on the area. Just think of seeing the people putting plywood boards on their windows and those who don't...depending on the severity of the wind the plywood can be the determining factor of whether the windows break.

We are studying Jonah in our Sunday Morning Bible Study class. We saw the great fish is not the only thing that God created during this story. In the beginning, He created the wind for the storm that resulted in Jonah being thrown overboard.

Are you prepared for the storm?

Check out Jonah through www.blueletterbible.com.

C.H.U.R.C.H.

The Lord gave me an acronym for the Church. The interesting thing is He gave me the beginning of it almost 8 years ago but didn’t finish it until the early hours of the morning today. Here is the Acronym:

C: Christ

H: Healing

U: Unruly

R: Rebellious

C: Children

H: Here

The interesting thing to me is I have been waiting 8 years for the last part of that acronym. Then as plain as day my Loving Heavenly Father told me that is what His Church should be doing walking in our healing HERE.

We all have been unruly, rebellious children and some of us are still being pretty unruly and rebellious instead of walking in the healing that Christ has provided for us HERE.

What is this Healing? It is Healing from being separated from God. Healing from the world (oh wait but we live in this world and we are only human is what most people would say) but I challenge that when Christ heals us we start a journey. I think of a time when our Pastor’s son broke his leg and the Dr. said after the cast came off it was important for him to use that leg. See his leg had been bound for so long that he became use to not using it. The Dr. said if he didn’t use it then the leg would become literally useless and there was the danger it would not be usable again. It was painful in the beginning for him to use that leg. But the more he used it the more he was walking in the healing that had already occurred in his leg.

I propose that each of us have areas in our lives that we have been bound so long that even when Christ heals us, we have become use to not using that area which had been bound. We must retrain yourselves to understand we are not bound any longer and to use what our Savior Jesus Christ has set free. Remember Joseph told his brothers that what his brothers meant for evil that God used for good.

Lastly, I want us to remember that Christ is a TOTAL HEALER…He wants to heal us spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. We talked the other night about the ten lepers (Luke 17:12-19) and how only one came back to express gratitude and give Glory to God. All the lepers received physical healing but only the one that went back received TOTAL HEALING. I find it interesting the one who came back was a Samaritan.

My final question and our challenge is are we doing church as normal or are we an alive, vital, and active part of the THE C.H.U.R.C.H?

Been a little while…

It has been a couple weeks since I have written a blog. I have been really busy with school, work, and getting our daughter back to college for her sophomore year.

God has been moving and I am asking Him to let me see Him each day. The last couple weeks there have been test for me. The test had me relying on God for His answers.

God gave me a devotion to share with the prayer group this past week. It was on interruption or divine appointment…maybe it will be shared here in the near future. There was even a test in this act of whether I would trust God or fall back onto Plan B. Choosing to obey God is always the best and most awesome choice.

I encourage you to read 1st Chronicles 29:11. It should be that God is in control at all times.

Have a blessed week.

Hope in the grieving….

The phrase, “Hope in the grieving” became a reality for me this week along with many of my friends. Cheyenne went home to be with the Lord after a valiant and good fight. She was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer a little over a year ago. This young lady was amazing during this time of torture and tribulation.  Yet, she still sang praises to her Jesus through all the chemo, radiation, and the side effects.

Cheyenne touched a great number of lives and I for one know that I will never be the same from knowing this sweet child of God. I have been reading a book entitled, “Christian Atheist” by Craig Groeschel. In this book, Pastor Craig talks about being a THIRD LINE CHRISTIAN.

Pastor Craig shares the following in the “Christian Atheist”:

The FIRST LINE CHRISTIAN has this mind-set: “I believe in God and the gospel of Christ enough to benefit from it.”

This is the bless me attitude. A pastor friend of mine said the other night this is where we all start….babies needing to learn to crawl but this is not where God intended for us to stay.

The SECOND LINE CHRISTIAN has this mind-set: “I believe in God and Christ’s gospel enough to contribute comfortably.”

Think of a toddler, they will share as long as it doesn’t cause them to be uncomfortable.

THEN THERE IS THE THIRD LINE CHRISTIAN: “I believe in God and Christ’s gospel enough to give my life to it.”

This person lives with the attitude I’m willing to give my whole life to His cause. I desire nothing more than I desire all of God.

Some may be wondering why I bring this up….because as I read those words in this book this week; God spoke to my heart and said that is exactly what Cheyenne did. She crossed that Third Line and became a THIRD LINE CHRISTIAN. However, she didn’t cross that line on the wee morning hours of July 28th, when she went home to be with the Lord.

Cheyenne crossed that Third Line a long time ago and I believe she is in heaven right now cheering each of us to cross the Third Line for it is definitely worth it and she is proved it with her life. Our challenge is will we cross that Third Line and join Cheyenne in being a THIRD LINE CHRISTIAN?

In loving honor and memory of Cheyenne Elise Bauer: April 1998-July 2010. We love and miss her but have hope in our grieving for she is with her Savior and in no more pain.

School of Hard Knocks…

Some of us have attended the School of Hard Knocks (SHK) in our lifetime. The one thing, we who have attended want to do is keep our loved ones from attending. However, if we try to control every aspect of their life and keep them from attending SHK are we truly trusting God.

He wants us to trust Him with all things and that means our loved ones too. No…I don’t want to see my family and loved ones head to SHK. Nevertheless, my job is to tell them that sin is only pleasurable for a short time span and the repercussions can last for a lifetime. Then I must pray for them and trust my Loving Savior knows what is going on.

I have loved ones that don’t know Jesus as Savior and Lord. Believe me, when we have heartbreak and tears over our loved one’s decisions just remember that Jesus hurts for them more than we could ever imagine.

God made this so real for me about two years ago. I know a young woman who has decided to walk away from God. It hurt to see her make such wrong decisions. One day, I was crying out  to God for this young woman telling God I couldn’t take the pain in my heart. God spoke to me gently but firmly and said, “The pain you feel for ______ is not even a pinch for how my heart breaks over her. You would not be able to handle my heartbreak and tears they would overwhelm you.” I realized right then that God loved her more than I ever could and when I cry for her it is only a slight drizzle compared to the downpour God has cried for her.

Keep holding tight to Jesus and knowing that He is working out the details even when we can’t see Him.

Psalm 56:8, “You number my wanderings; put my tears in Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?”

I encourage you to check out my friend’s blog:

http://simplygelisblog.blogspot.com

Do we truly know…

We discussed in the College and Career Bible Study yesterday morning some obstacles to prayer in our life. We have been studying Colossians since last August and God has been so wonderful and faithful throughout this study. I just wanted to share the obstacles of prayer we discussed (these came from a sermon done by Pastor Bruce at Union Church with God adding upon His sermon while I studied God’s Word):

Seven Obstacles to Prayer (Pastor Bruce):

1. We don’t have a true relationship with Jesus. Our class talked about how there are so many who walked in aisle in the church but don’t know what they did or did it just because their friends were doing it.

2. Have a faulty view of prayer.

3. Be under spiritual attack. (Most Christians want to put their head in the sand and not talk about this one.)

4. Focused on “getting stuff” rather than being with God and following His Will for our lives. (We discussed how it would be if we only went to our parents when we wanted something and never went to just spend time with them and how that is what we do to God).

5. Too Proud: We want to be in control and asking for God’s help through prayer means giving up control.

6. View Prayer as a chore instead of a a joy (Do you see prayer as a duty to mark off of your Christian to-do list or as a chance to spend time talking and fellowshipping with your loving Savior?)

7. Things are going good why trouble God. I will contact Him if I am in trouble.

We discussed how all of us have to check up on ourselves to see if we have any of these obstacles or if any of them have crept into our lives without us realizing it has happened.

Have a great week and may your time with the Father be Precious.

Loving Biblically…

In Sunday School we discussed a concept of loving biblically that I found online. I believe the Pastor’s last name is Groetsche. What he discussed in his sermon was when we love biblically we do the following things:

1. Love Realistically: This means knowing someone’s faults and loving them in spite of them.

2. Love Sacrificially: Don’t take them for granted. Wanting what is best for them even if you must sacrifice. It is about giving not getting.

3. Love Purposefully: Helping loved one become all Christ intends for them to be.

4. Love Personally: Caring for loved one in the same way we care and love ourselves. Letting them know that we are there for them. Being involved.

5. Love Spiritually: Our relationship to loved one affects our spiritual life as our spiritual life affects our relationship with loved ones.

We left with lots to think about this past Sunday. I challenge each of you to ask God if you are loving in all of these ways.

Glad to be loved…

I am so glad to be so loved. It is amazing the concern and care people can show for one another. However, we must also realize that at times, we can also be each other’s worst enemy. Continue to pray for one another each and every day. Meditate on Galatians 6:9.

I am hooking up as many of my social networks through Ping.fm. I needed something to help me with all the craziness of trying to keep up.

Travis Thrasher has Ping.fm so I am giving it a try.

New Year....New Goals....

Everyone makes New Year's resolutions and most promptly break them on the 2nd of January if not sooner.

I have some goals for the whole year. Here they are for accountability:

First, I want to fall more in love with Jesus in 2009 so that when I look back on 2008, I say "How could that have even been considered love?"

Second is to be available to the clients God has given the business and to see them worship and lead others into worship throughout 2009 and beyond.

Third is to be ready to go when God says to go. To speak when He says speak. To be obedient to Him in all things.

They seem like simplistic goals but it is where my heart is....I want to be all about Jesus in everything I say and do and if that is simplistic than so be it.

Praise God!!!!

Yeah, Yeah I know I haven't blogged in forever and now two in one day.

I wanted to share a praise with you all. On Thursday, I met with a young teenager from our church. She wanted me to teach her how to study the bible. While I was praying before this meeting, God told me first thing to do was ask her to share her testimony. God explained teaching her the Bible would do no good to her if she didn't belong to Him.

This is a fairly good girl and she comes to church so being the stubborn gal I am I questioned God's directive but told Him yes. Upon getting together with this young person, I told her exactly what God had told me. Then asked her if she knew what a testimony was....she said you mean my salvation experience. After a few brief minutes of sharing a testimony can be so much more than sharing my own salvation experience with her...this sweet young lady told me she didn't think she was saved.

After talking for quite sometime and answering many questions, I assured her that it was not my job to beat her over the head into submission of saying a prayer. This young lady had said the "salvation prayer" numerously after watching a tv preacher but never felt any different or saw any difference in her life. So, when all her questions were answered and we had discussed a few other things I asked her if she had any more questions or anything else she wanted to discuss. She said she wanted to pray to accept Jesus as her Savior.

This young person shared her experience in a bible study class on Monday. After a sharing time, a young adult woman in the class (who everyone would have assumed was saved) shared she did not know Jesus as her Saviour.

Why share all this? Because first we want to PRAISE GOD!!! Second, because we are doing a great misservice to our God. We are assuming that if someone goes to church regularly and is a basic good person they must be saved. We shouldn't assume someone from a Muslim country is lost anymore than we should assume someone from America is saved.

Do you see wreckage or God?

Last night at our women's ministry meeting, a young woman from church gave her testimony and one statement she made has stuck with me. Here is her statement:

"Are we so wrapped up at looking in the wreckage that we our missing what God is doing in our lives?"

We all have stories of wreckage whether it be mentally, physically or spiritually, but the amazing thing is if we look for God we will see Him!

I have been through Henry Blackaby's "Experiencing God" twice in my life and the one thing I walked away with the first time was that at times in our lives we can be so wrapped up in a situation....be it the pain or the disruption to the rest of our lives that we lose sight of where God is in all of it. At that time, I was walking through a tough situation with a close friend of mine and I did what Blackaby suggested in the study. Blackaby suggested we ask God to let us see the situation from His viewpoint and not ours. Doing that changed my view to God's view and my reaction to the whole situation.

Each of us has trials and tribulations in our lives..... But we must do be willing to ask the question posed to us last night...."Are we so busy looking at the wreckage that we miss God?"

BID4PRIZES CELL PHONE SCAM......WATCH OUT!!!

BID4PRIZES CELL PHONE SCAM....WATCH OUT!!!!

I wanted to tell you what I have dealt with today. My cell phone has been receiving a charge of $9.99 a month by a content provider called goldpocket with a description of bid4prizes. I had no idea what this was. This is a cell phone charging scam in my opinion because I NEVER gave anyone permission to charge my account repeatedly....I don't even give permission to anyone for a one-time charge.

Since SunCom is now T-Mobile I called T-Mobile, the T-Mobile rep. Laura was a great help in trying to help me. Between the two of us we found a number for this company bid4prizes. Upon calling them the woman, Rhonda, who answered the phone said I need the cell phone number this is in regard to. My response was you apparently have it because you have been charging my phone for months that has not been authorized by me. She said I must have the phone number....I gave her my number. Her next response was please verify your name and social security number. I TOLD HER NO! for her to give me what she had. I admit I was terse and not my normal pleasant self with this woman. She refused to give me the information she had but said the service had been cancelled as of today. I asked her what about all the months of unauthorized charges. She responded we do not give refunds.

I stated I wanted to speak to a supervisor. Rhonda said I was to give her a number and a supervisor would call me within 24-48 hours. I told her that if I did not hear from a supervisor within 24 hours that I would start procedures to force them to give me back the other months for I never gave permission for them to charge my account in the first place. Sorry this is so long but I know you can help get the word out so other people will check their cell phone bills closely. We had noticed the charge before SunCom became T-Mobile and had reported it but there has been a lot of transition for them in the last couple months. They are doing what they can to help but are limited.

God amazes me....

I am still digesting the fact that God has decided to make me a deaconess at my local church.

My first official meeting is tomorrow (Sept. 18th). Myself and one other person will be filling the two slots being opened by the two men rotating off.

This is not the first time our church has had a deaconess.

That is pretty much my news for now.

Focus.....I can't find it......

This is almost laughable....I am writing a devotion on consistency and focus yet I can't get the focus to make this thing flow. See I said it was almost laughable :) :)

I have all this information all over the place and I am waiting for God to put it together. Tried to start writing it and it goes nowhere. Bad thing is someone is waiting for this devotion to send out as a weekly devotion.

Lord, help me to get this devotion written. Show me the key verse from Scripture you want me to use to pull it all together. Amen.