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"They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt in front of Him and mocked Him. "Hail, King of the Jews!" they said. They spit on Him, and took the staff and struck Him on the head again and again. After they had mocked Him, they took off the robe and put His own clothes on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him." Matthew 27:28-31
Jesus, I can neither love You enough nor thank You enough, but I will neither stop thanking You nor stop loving You! You took my punishment and death.Thank You once again for Your amazing love for me! I love You, my Lord and Savior!
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"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10
"This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: 'In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.'" Isaiah 30:15a
"Without the renewed mind, we will distort the Scriptures to avoid their radical commands for self-denial, and love, and purity, and supreme satisfaction in Christ alone."
~John Piper
Sad but true, we have seen people, including those who appear to be "active" Christians distort the Scriptures to justify their sins, to serve their own agendas, and even to commit crimes. Satan knows the Scriptures. Most atheists know the Scriptures. Pharisees and false teachers know the Scriptures. What do they all have in common? The lack of the renewed mind (and transformed heart)!
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2
Without the renewed mind, the world continues to have a hold on you. Self is still on the throne of your heart. Love is still conditional and selfish. Purity is only for nuns and monks. Supreme satisfaction in Christ alone...no way. However, the Scriptures are clear about denying self (Mark 8:34-36), sacrificial love (1 John 3:16), purity (1 Timothy 4:12), and the spiritual satisfaction which can only be found in Christ alone (John 4:10, 13-14). This quote from St. Augustine comes to mind: "If you believe what you like in the Gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself."
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17
When one is in Christ and becomes a new creation, his/her old way of thinking and living has gone. His/her mind is renewed by God's Word and His Holy Spirit. It all starts with surrendering one's life completely to Christ.
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
On a personal note: I received a phone call from my doctor's nurse on Jan. 5th. She said the doctor wanted me to go see him so that he could discuss the ultrasound result with me. No, I'm not pregnant :). I've had intense abdominal pain following my menstrual period for the past few months. Anyway, I didn't know what to expect. I'm thankful that the Lord gave me peace during the waiting days (my doctor appointment was Jan. 9th). I prayed for His will. My life is in His hands and that alone gives me comfort. I, of course, imagined how I would feel/react if I had cancer. By God's grace, I felt ready to face any news. My mind and my heart agree that Christ alone is indeed enough. I hoped and prayed that Christ would always be glorified in me, whether in my sickness or health. When I went to see the doctor, he told me that I have a tumor/fibroid (bigger than a golf ball) in my uterus but it's not cancerous. Praise God! The longer I walk with God in this life journey, the more I find supreme satisfaction in Christ alone!
Christ My All
Christ for sickness, Christ for health,
Christ for poverty, Christ for wealth,
Christ for joy, Christ for sorrow,
Christ today and Christ tomorrow;
Christ my Life, and Christ my Light,
Christ for morning, noon and night,
Christ when all around gives way
Christ my everlasting Stay;
Christ my Strength and Christ my Rest
Christ my Wisdom, Christ wants for me the best
Christ my Well-beloved Friend
Christ my Pleasure without end;
Christ my Savior, Christ my Lord
Christ my Portion, Christ my God,
Christ my Shepherd, I His sheep
Christ Himself my soul to keep;
Christ my Leader, Christ my Peace
Christ hath wrought my soul's release,
Christ my Righteousness divine
Christ for me, for He is mine;
Christ my Advocate and Priest
Christ who never forgets the least;
Christ my Teacher, Christ my Guide,
Christ my Rock, in Christ I hide,
Christ the Ever-living Bread,
Christ His precious blood hath shed;
Christ hath brought me nigh to God,
Christ the everlasting Word
Christ my Master, Christ my Head
Christ who for my sins hath bled;
Christ my Comforter on high,
Christ my Hope, draws ever nigh.
(Source unknown)
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
This is one of my all-time favorite songs. In Christ alone, I am who I am today...born again and blessed!
"The great mistake made by most of the Lord's people is in hoping to discover in themselves that which is to be found in Christ alone." A.W. Pink
In Christ we have... a love that can never be fathomed, a life that can never die, a peace that can never be understood, a rest that can never be disturbed, a joy that can never be diminished, a hope that can never be disappointed, a glory that can never be clouded, a light that can never be darkened, and a spiritual resource that can never be exhausted. ~Unknown
You're invited to share your thoughts about the quote above (by John Piper) on your blog and then link up your post here. To learn more about "In Other Words"(what it's about, how it works, and how it originated), visit here. This post is also linked up with Brag on God Friday @Beholding Glory, Spiritual Sundays, Sharing His Beauty @The Beauty in His Grip, Playdates with God at The Wellspring, and "Hear It, Use It" @Graceful.
P.S. I would like to invite you all to join my page, "Christ Alone" on Facebook. Please feel free to post there anything that is Christ-honoring and feel free to invite your friends to check it out. I dedicate that page to Christ and for His glory alone.
Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.
When Lina (the Swedish writer of this hymn) was 26, her father (a devout minister) fell overboard and drowned right before her eyes. This tragic experience did not make her bitter or angry at God; instead, she chose to live each day with the conscious presence and strength of her Lord and continued to express a childlike faith/a deep & peaceful trust in Him day by day.
"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
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"Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.'" 2 Timothy 2:19
Our confidence for this life and eternity rests on the Word and on the promises of God's Word.
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"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." John 3:16-17 "Jesus answered, 'I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" John 14:6 "You know the story--an infant, born in a stable, worshiped by lowly shepherds and travelers from the East. Sweet story, but does it hold any meaning for your life today? Consider this. The entire Bible pivots on this single event in history. The Old Testament predicts it, and the New Testament confirms it. The Child lying in that tiny manger was no ordinary child--He was God incarnate, who came to live and die for you. The story won't be fully told until you bow your knee to Bethlehem's Babe and call Him the Lord of your life." ~Rebecca Currington
Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.
"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)
"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel'--which means, 'God with us.'" (Matthew 1:22-23)
Oh precious Father, as we bow Before Thy throne today, We count the many blessings Thou hast showered upon our way.
The comfort of our humble homes Our health and happiness, The strength provided for each day To meet the strain and stress.
We thank Thee for Thy precious Son Who brought salvation free, And for this mighty land of ours, A land of liberty!
So, Lord, help us to give Thee thanks For all that we hold dear, Not only on Thanksgiving Day But each day of the year.
~Unknown
"We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks, for Your Name is near; men tell of Your wonderful deeds." Psalm 75:1 "Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song." Psalm 95:2 "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:4-5
This month, I have been posting on my Facebook page each day what I'm thankful for. I think it's so good for me to be intentional about thankfulness everyday. When we focus on having a thankful heart, we are less likely to complain, get upset, be discontent, or have a bad attitude. Try it :)!
Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.
How would you describe the magnitude or the intensity of God's love for us? No word could suffice. Jeremy Riddle attempted by using the word "furious" in this song :).
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17b-19 "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1a "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
Lord, I'm forever grateful for Your unconditional, everlasting love for me! I can never thank You enough! Lord, please love through me...help me love You and others with Your love.
P.S. If you like this song, check out my review and giveaway of Jeremy Riddle's CD, "Furious" here. The giveaway ends 9/30.
"It’s hard to come up with words that depict the magnitude of Christ’s love – the depth and width of it. Furious doesn’t work outside of the context of love; we tend to translate the word as angry, but I see it as a super-powerful force; stronger, deeper, broader than our vocabulary can fully describe." ~Jeremy Riddle
Jeremy Riddle is a gifted songwriter, musician, and worship leader. I love his song, "Sweetly Broken" very much :)! "Furious" is his 3rd full-length album from Vineyard Music. This CD has 13 songs:
Fall Afresh
Furious
Love Came Down
One Thing Remains
Acquitted
You Are Good
Walk in the Promise
One Thirst
Glory to the Lamb
The Lord Is My Shepherd
Here
Always
Nations Rage (not included in the pre-release CD I received for review)
These are wonderful praise and worship songs. The theme throughout the CD is: God's love. These songs from the heart invite listeners to reflect on His amazingly intense love for us and to respond by worshiping Him wholeheartely. Some of my favorites on this CD include Fall Afresh, Walk in the Promise, One Thirst, Love Came Down, and One Thing Remains. Beautiful music...soulful voice...worshipful lyrics! Check "Furious" out!
“Worship songwriters should always ask if the content of their songs is really the word offering of our heart or simply a well-crafted lyric. I continuously tried to direct my focus onto delivering authentic expressions of my heart over something catchy and quotable.” (~Jeremy Riddle, from his website)
To Enter: "Like" Vineyard Music's Facebook page and then leave a comment here including your Facebook name. Make sure you leave your email address, too. Deadline: Sept. 30th at midnight (Pacific time)
For extra entries (please leave a separate comment for each one you do):
- Follow this blog via GFC or NetworkedBlogs
- "Like" my page "Christ Alone" on Facebook
- Follow me on Twitter: @treasuredbyGod
- Share the link to this giveaway post on Facebook
- Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter
- Enter my Ginny Owens' CD giveaway
- Enter The Shunning DVD giveaway
~"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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Trust...obey...surrender all...rest in God's love and His faithful promises! "And I will go through the valley if You want me to." I do desire God's will for my life and my family...nothing more...nothing less...nothing else. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me...Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." ~Psalm 23:4, 6
"This is God's universal purpose for all Christian suffering: more contentment in God and less satisfaction in the world. I have never heard anyone say, "The really deep lessons of life have come through times of ease and comfort." But I have heard strong saints say, "Every significant advance I have ever made in grasping the depths of God's love and growing deep with Him has come through suffering." ~John Piper
"It will be worth it all when we see Jesus, Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ; One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase, So bravely run the race till we see Christ."
~Esther Kerr Rusthoi
If you like her voice, check out my review of Ginny Owens' new CD "Get In, I'm Driving" and enter to win a copy here. She is blind but she sees the world through her Heavenly Father's eyes.
My Fave Five this week:-
1. I spent $6.70 at the library's book sale and came home with 2 bagfuls of great books, CDs, and DVDs. Thankful and excited :)!
2. I had so much fun taking senior pictures of my 17 yo daughter, Alyssa! God made her so beautiful (inside and out :)). Such a delightful blessing she is! Here are a few samples out of over 200 pictures I took.
3.We enjoyed watching a series of magnificent lightning in the sky (60+ lightning strikes). Very cool light show :)! "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge." Psalm 19:1-2
4. I'm participating in 21 Days of Prayer for Sons and I have been blogging about this prayer challenge on my homeschool-related blog, Fruitbearers. I love praying the Scriptures for my sons (and daughter).
5. Alyssa was leaping on cloud nine on Tuesday :)! It's impossible for her (and me) to express all her excitement in words. She got accepted by OM (Operation Mobilization) to serve onboard the Logos Hope for 2 months. She will leave in August to get onboard the Logos Hope in Phuket, Thailand and in October, she will leave from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to come back home. I'm so excited to see what the Lord will do in her, for her, and through her. What a mighty God we serve! (Alyssa used to sing that song out loud in public when she was a toddler :).)
"If we can trust God for our eternal salvation, how can we not trust Him to provide for the "little" things of life?"~M.E.Howard
Isn't that a great question :)? Compared to our eternal salvation, everything else seems so insignificant. All trials, problems, disappointments, struggles, and sufferings would be considered "little" bumps in life's journey when we look at them from an eternal perspective. Why then is it difficult for us sometimes to trust God to provide...to take care of our "little" problems? I believe it's often a matter of our perspective and focus. If our perspective is self-centered, we still want to be in control, not willing to acknowledge that God is in total control and we still only think of what we want, not what God wants. If our focus is on our situations, then we fret and get anxious and/or depressed. But when we focus on God and His attributes, we can rest in Him and leave our burdens at His feet. Personally, I don't have problem trusting in God's power and ability to provide and to solve my problems. What I usually struggle with is wondering if and when He will choose to do so. Then I need to shift my focus. I need to remind myself that God knows and wants what's best for me and I want His will, not my will to be done, including His timing, not mine. I find this quote to be a good reminder for me to let go of my "little" concerns and just trust God. Five points that might help us have the right perspective and focus when we have trouble trusting Him:
- God is in control even when things are out of control. His sovereignty rules. - God is faithful even when we have little faith. He always keeps His promises. - God is good all the time even when nothing good seems to be happening right now. His goodness never changes. - God loves us no matter what we do or don't do...succeed or fail. His love never fails. - God is omnipotent. Nothing is impossible for Him.
"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." Psalm 37:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
Lord, please give us a childlike faith that simply and completely trusts in You 100% in any situation!
You're invited to share your thoughts about this quote on your blog and then link up your post here.To learn more about "In Other Words"(what it's about, how it works, and how it originated), visit here.
"The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." Psalm 24:1
Everything (more than just 10%) belongs to the Lord! On earth, we are simply His stewards. He entrusts us to manage all He owns in the ways that will glorify and honor Him. We need to use our time, talents, and treasures wisely and according to His will.
We need to give all of ourselves to the Lord. Many give 10% and consider that the rest of their resources can be spent at their discretion. Let’s realize that God owns all of us, including our resources. Let’s spend them as He leads us by His Word and His Spirit. The New Testament portrays the concept of freewill sharing and equity among believers. "Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: ‘He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little." 2 Corinthians 8:13-15
We, as the body of Christ, are called to reach out to a lost and dying world. We need to deny ourselves, carry our crosses, and follow Jesus. We need to live lives of "New Testament" simplicity, and not in luxury and self indulgence. We believe there is a significant mismanagement of God’s money among His Church (the body of Christ) in affluent countries. The Church should not be spending billions of dollars on church buildings, church salaries, and unnecessary/extravagant personal items/hobbies/property. (Certainly, the worker deserves his wages, but his work must be in accordance with the Father’s will. The Church is not a business.) These resources should be spent on reaching the millions of people who have never heard of the Gospel even once, and on providing them with the Word of God in their own language. Sadly, we are spending the majority of our resources on the areas of the world where Christ has already been preached. "More than 95 percent of the total church budget in the United States is spent at home to maintain programs rather than to reach out in mission. Of the five percent that goes overseas to mission, less than half of one percent is used to reach the lost." (K.P. Yohannan, The Road to Reality, p. 118) It is unjust to share the Gospel of Jesus repeatedly to people who have already heard when there are those who have not heard the Gospel of Jesus even once. These resources need to be quickly redistributed so that the majority of the Church’s resources are sent to the unreached people groups of the world.
We need to give to native missionaries who are reaching the unreached, to organizations that are actively sharing the Gospel in unreached areas (i.e., CRU's Jesus film ministries), and to organizations that are actively translating the Bible into unreached languages (i.e., Wycliffe).
We should also generously give food, clothing, shelter, and medical supplies where possible to the neediest from among mankind. We need to give to those who could not otherwise receive the basic needs of life from anyone else. Many of us are so comfortable and wealthy compared to these needy ones. If we live simply and pool our resources together, by God’s grace there will be enough for everyone throughout the world who is in need (remember the five loaves and two fish). We need to join together in praying and giving to those in need across the world as God directs.
"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7
"Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:33, 34
Striving to be good stewards, Eric and Urailak
~ To find other Spiritual Sundays participants, please visit here.
Summary: We have a tendency to complicate Christianity. Jesus simplified it: Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. If we are to live out the essence of Christianity, we must commit to being great at this Great Commandment.
In Primal, Mark Batterson explores the four elements of Great Commandment Christianity: compassion, wonder, curiosity, and power. Along the way, he calls you to be a part of God’s reformation, starting in your own life.
As Mark writes, “Is there a place in your past where you met God and God met you? A place where your heart broke for the things that break the heart of God? Maybe it was a sermon that became more than a sermon. Maybe it was a mission trip or retreat. Maybe it was a vow you made at an altar. In that moment, God birthed something supernatural in your spirit. You knew you’d never be the same again. My prayer is that this book would take you back to that burning bush—and reignite a primal faith.”
Primal will help you live in light of what matters most and discover what it means to love God. It will help you become great at the Great Commandment.
Author Bio:
The author of Wild Goose Chase and In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Mark Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington , D.C. One church with nine services in five locations, NCC is focused on reaching emerging generations and meets in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the D.C. area. Mark has two Masters degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago . He and his wife, Lora, live on Capitol Hill with their three children. www.markbatterson.com
My Review: What does Christianity mean to you? The message in Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity is simple, yet profound. Want to become part of a reformation movement? The author takes us back to the basic, yet underestimated command from the Lord. After all, it is indeed the first and greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-38)! Have you ever taken the time to ponder what it really means to love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength? This book will help you do just that. The book is divided into 4 parts: The Heart of Christianity, The Soul of Christianity, The Mind of Christianity, and The Strength of Christianity. You will learn about the 4 "spiritual love languages": compassion, wonder, curiosity, and energy. They all are important. Our family is missions-minded so I am glad to see that the author is, too. I also appreciate Mr. Batterson’s childlike faith that delights in God alone. The whole Christianity boils down to one primal thing: Amo Dei = Love God! This book is a call for Christians to love God above all else...yes, even more than life. "Everything minus God equals nothing. God plus nothing equals everything. At the end of the day, all that matters is God." (p.165) God is enough. Not God and job. Not God and house. Not God and ministry. Not even God and family. Just God! This book will fuel you to be on fire for Jesus. Refreshing read!
Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.
To download the first two chapters, click here.
To purchase the book, visit here or here.
~ I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
My Fave Five this week:-
1. I've started a page on Facebook called "Christ Alone". Christ alone I am saved by and Christ alone is my Lord, Savior, and Life and Christ alone I will proclaim, praise, & exalt! If you're on Facebook, please stop by and check it out :).
2. G.A. Henty's books (Kindle Edition) are available free for download on Amazon. You don't have to have a handheld Kindle. You can install Kindle for PC to your computer at no cost.
3. Blog-hopping via the Ultimate Blog Party 2011. I have 3 party posts...one for each blog...here, here, and here :).
4. Are you a Rebecca St. James fan or do you like to collect worship CDs like me :)? You can win a copy of her new CD, "I Will Praise You" here.
5. Just in time for Easter...You can win a Magdalena: Through Her Eyes DVD package from Campus Crusade for Christ. Wonderful ministry tool for small groups, women's ministry, churches! Great evangelism tool for any Christ's follower! You are part of the Body of Christ (the Church) and you can host a movie night with a purpose for friends, family, co-workers, or neighbors. Please check out my review and giveaway for details.
The modesty issue is a touchy topic. However, immodesty is still a widespread problem, probably more so than ever. Yes, it is even a problem among Christians and in churches.
I'm so glad Mr. Mahaney was bold enough to give this sermon. I think more pastors should be preaching this message to their congregation. It is very distracting and difficult for men and boys to focus on worshiping the Lord at church when they keep seeing tightly-clad or seductively dressed girls/women on stage (part of worship team) or in front of them or next to them. Unfortunately, some pastors are too afraid to confront their congregation with this issue because they don't want to offend the female members and lose them.
Sisters in Christ, if you really love and care about your brothers in Christ, you would try your best to dress modestly and not cause them to stumble. It is a real battle for them. You need to ask yourself whether what you put on brings honor to God or brings attention to yourself/your body/your body parts (that are supposed to be kept private). Modesty is beautiful. When you dress provocatively, you look cheap and leave no mystery. Godly men would not be looking for those kinds of women. What kind of man are you (single women) trying to attract? If you're already married, your husband should be the only man who sees all your curves and cleavage....not the whole world. Do everything, including how you dress, for the glory of God! Look in the mirror and imagine Jesus standing next to you...would He approve of your outfit (regarding modesty, not price or style)? He always sees you. Your beauty should shine from within; don't let your clothes prevent others from seeing that. True beauty is when through your life/living…Jesus’s light shines brightly. True beauty is when your words, attitudes, and actions please God and glorify Him. Being beautiful in God’s sight is truly beautiful!
"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31: 30
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." 1 Peter 3:3-4
"Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." Romans 13:14
Parents, grandparents, husbands, youth pastors, and pastors, please do speak up and help the girls and women in your lives not become stumbling blocks to men.
P.S. Whether they are believers or non-believers, we are to love them with Christ's love. If they are believers, you may exhort them with grace and gentleness. If they are non-believers, you can't expect them to want to please & glorify God or to understand what I mentioned above. Their hearts need to be transformed first. Another thing I want to mention is modesty should be practiced by both men and women. The video addresses only women from men's perspective and my post focuses on that.
An Army of Ordinary People: Stories of real-life men and women simply being the Church.
Author: Felicity Dale
List Price:14.99
ISBN:978-1-4143-2279-7
Trim Size:5 1/2 x 8 1/4
Binding:Softcover
Book Summary:
An Army of Ordinary People contains the key to explosive, transformational, 21st century evangelism. Renowned church planter Felicity Dale shares stories of how God has always used—and is still using—ordinary believers to carry out his work in simple ways throughout the world. Some of these stories are dramatic—people being led to the Lord by the friends who counseled them through drug addictions and criminal pasts. Some are everyday—a dad spending his Sunday teaching Bible lessons to his kids, or a couple inviting their neighbors over to dinner and a spiritual discussion. But in each of them, there is a light bulb moment, when someone just like you thinks I can do that! And as a result, the gospel is spreading . . . and lives are being changed.
Author Bio:
Felicity Dale was trained as a physician at Barts Hospital in London, where she and her husband, Tony, pioneered simple church concepts while in medical school and later in the East End of London. Now living in the United States, Felicity and Tony are actively engaged in training church planters. They founded House2House magazine and have authored several books, including their latest from Tyndale, The Rabbit and the Elephant, and others such as Simply Church and the Getting Started manual on planting house churches. Felicity and Tony speak regularly at conferences throughout the world and reside in Austin, Texas.
My Thoughts and Review:
I agree with the author's definition/understanding of "church" based on the Bible. The Church is the Body of Christ, Christ's followers, not the buildings...not the denominations...not the programs. In this book, the author shares true stories of believers living out their faith and serving God where they are. They bloom where they're planted. It's so encouraging and exciting to read the accounts of ordinary people being used by our awesome God to do extraordinary things for His glory and for His kingdom. We, too, can do the same by sharing Christ's love and compassion and the Gospel with those around us in our families, neighborhoods, campuses, workplaces, communities, and nations. The book talks about "simple churches" (aka organic churches, house churches, or home churches). A simple church is a missional, relational, and reproducible church where Christ is the Head and Christ's followers take the Great Commission seriously. The concepts and practicality of simple churches totally make sense and adhere to Biblical principles. The last chapter includes recommended books, videos, websites, and blogs for those who would like to learn more about or get involved with simple churches. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to be in the Lord's army and makes an eternal impact in this world. Read this book, obey God's leading, and go make disciples!
2. Wow..wow..wow..the Lord answered my prayer in a way that blew my mind away!!! And all I prayed was...May "it" be according to His will. I want nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. He chose to bless me/us beyond what we could ever have imagined.
3. We watched one of our home videos. Alyssa was 6 then (now 17) and Josiah was only 1. They were super cute :)! Josiah's laughter was so contagious. O precious memories!
4. My new profile picture for Facebook this month :).---->
5. Please take a few minutes to view my 17 yo daughter's video below. The most viewed video wins an iPad. Thanks, everyone!
Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.
