Finish the Race

 

 

Easter is this Sunday! Jesus rose on the third day, conquering death, hell and the grave. He also conquered sin in our lives. As we read about Peter and how he denied Christ - we must continue to move forward in the ministry God has placed on our hearts.

 

- Peter followed Christ at a distance. How many Christians follow Jesus from a distance. They have good intentions but because their life is shallow, it is easy for them to fall away from God. If Christ is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all. So many areas in our lives demand that we put the Lord first. Our mentality should be to react to everything in our life with the love of God.

- Peter failed God miserably "The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”  Luke 22:61 The crucifixion was a bloody, gory, long process of death. I can't imagine how Peter must have felt when he denied the Lord. The Bible says that Peter "went out and wept bitterly." Failure does not have to be final.

 - The cross stood in his way. The first thing that was said after the resurrection  - was go tell Peter that Christ is risen! Notice, when Peter received his call from the Lord, he was fishing. Luke 5:10 After Peter failed Christ, he went back to fishing. Jesus said to Peter again, "Follow Me." John 21:19

Everyone fails sooner or later. It is not how we start that matters, but how we finish.  Let's finish the race - not turning back - but moving forward as the Lord leads!

 

 

Welcome your Journal into your Life

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

Father, I acknowledge that the bulk of the work is done on my knees before your throne. I ask for your ever present help, wisdom, and power to lead my writing efforts today. I will write what you whisper to my heart.

My daughter Cindi and I went on a cruise to the Bahamas to celebrate our birthdays.  As I reflect on the memories in my journal, it is as if we are still on the ship laughing, sunbathing, and enjoying the delicious food.

Journaling gives our souls time to rest, it lets us escape from the noise and clutter of everyday life. 

It also is important to write in a journal to remember all the exciting people we meet and places we visit. Most important, for writers, rereading our journal and using some of what we have written can make a great magazine article.

I sold a story to Woman’s World, but if I had not kept a journal, I would not have remembered the details to include. Keeping a journal beside my Bible and writing during my daily devotion time has helped me to meditate on the Scriptures.  I write down what I feel God is quietly teaching me from His Word.

The life of a Christian is a journey; it should be a great adventure of daily going on with the Lord into deeper experiences and greater faith.

Ready, Set, Go!

 

 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us." Hebrews 12:1

 

I enjoyed a brisk walk this morning at the Cantrell Center 5K/Fun Run. Brr - it was a cold morning - but I finished. This race is once a year and donations go to the Children's Hospital. The Cantrell Center 5K/Fun Run is taking strides to obliterate obesity. 

 

Living a life of faith  - and doing what we can to stay healthy is so important. Maintaining our goal weight - and keeping a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) is the key to a healthier life.

 

This was my 4th year to enter and hope to continue each year.

 

 

       

 

Developing Our Skills

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20

 I  attended  a   Christian  Writers’  Conference   workshop   led   by Mr. James Russell,  President of  the  AMY  Foundation.   He taught us how to form a Church writers’ group in our community.

After silently praying, “Lord, what can I do to apply this workshop to my life,” I returned home and formed a writers’ group in our community.

 Mr. Russell stated, “Christians who are frustrated by the moral deterioration of America are in a position to do something that can help fuel a major revival.  We can sow the seed of God’s Word as never before.  And we can do it by means of a rather unexpected source—the secular print media.”

Our group sent letters to the local newspaper editors about various problems and offered Scripture-based solutions.  Teaching this small group led to my having a weekly Christian column in the local newspaper, and writing my first book, Discipling a Community.  

 As we teach others, we also learn to develop our skills.

 A Prayer for Today

Lord, your Word is a light to my path, and to the path of my readers.  Help me to make your Word come alive so those who are lost find their way, and those who are walking in dim light see you more clearly.
 

Women in the Bible - Dorcas

Dorcas was a woman with good sense, courage, contentment, and fortitude, a respectable widow who worked hard spinning (producing garments for the poor).  She also was a model to the community whose members revered her, and she dedicated her time to good works.

  My friend Kathy reminded me in many ways of Dorcas.  She shared her story of how she had to work hard after losing her husband. 

 

  She said, “When I returned home, the two children were six and almost two.  God was good to us.  Mama made nice clothes for us.  In fact, we looked about as good as anyone else around.  I’ve never even bought a loaf of bread on credit.  I would put big items such as a coat on lay-away.

   We all attended church and God blessed us for being faithful.  Mama was afraid we could not make ends meet, but we were both surprised how well we did on my salary.

    I managed to get a Civil Service job and was able to buy a car. Not only a car, but also a two-   story house with 14 rooms, that needed much work.  I had to hire much of the work done, but I did it as I could afford it. We did all the work on the inside ourselves. We all pitched in and worked together. God worked it all out for us. I would like to say to others who may be going through a time of struggle "Tough it out and lean on the Lord."

 

 

 

 

Women in the Bible - Priscilla

   Priscilla and her husband, Aquila, opened their home to those wanting to know more about their faith in God.  An amazing aspect of Priscilla’s life was that, though she had to manage her household and weave tent cloth, she found time to be a thorough student of the Gospel.

   The Apostle Paul stayed with them at Corinth.  When he set sail for Syria, he committed the work in Ephesus to Priscilla and Aquila.  When Paul returned a year or more later, he found they had established a well-organized congregation in Ephesus.  There Priscilla and Aquila ranked next to Paul and Timothy in the work of the church.

    Priscilla presided over a devout, peaceful home, to which Christians came and were uplifted.  Read more about this powerful woman of God in I Corinthians 16.  One of her first services was not only to teach, but also to “expound” to the eloquent Apollos, a man well versed in the Old Testament Scriptures.

    We can be sure that Priscilla was not only intelligent, but willing to make many sacrifices in spreading the gospel.  She lived at a time when Christians faced great persecution, but she was not afraid.  Christians honor her because she served God “acceptably with reverence and godly fear” Hebrews 12:28 and because she was not “forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unaware.”  Hebrews 13:2  

 

 

 

Women in the Bible - Anna

“There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.  Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”  Luke 2:36-38

   Anna had a powerful ministry!  Have you ever received a personal prophecy?  I received the following word of wisdom from a prophet of God and have seen this prophecy fulfilled. 

   We come before the throne in the name of Jesus and ask for this vessel to be blessed.  Pour down your Spirit of love and joy within her heavenly Father.  Give her the strength she needs.  Let her surrender her will to your way.  Let her surrender her faith to your victory.  Oh heavenly Father surrender her thoughts to your mighty plan for working her good. 

   Help her to surrender her flesh that it may be humble. A humble vessel loving in word and deed.   I see the Lord giving you a slice of the pie.  Some people wait for their slice of the pie in heaven bye and bye but God is going to give you a slice of the pie right here on earth.  I see your son getting a truck the American way.  I see your daughter having pleasure as if she is at a baseball game and I get no understanding.  I see your husband resting in Jesus in a recliner.  Not being afraid of what he is facing.  I see you cooking.  I see God giving you a piece of pie the American way.  I see you enjoying where you are.  I see God’s glory on where you have been.  Did not I tell you I was the alpha and omega.  Get ready for I lie not. I see the Lord as He takes care of you.

  Father heal her mind and let her rest in your faithful care.  He cares for you. Cast all your cares on Him.  In Jesus, let it be established here as it is in heaven as we see it on earth.

 What a powerful Word! God is taking care of His children in a mighty way. Praise Him for His greatness today!