Truly Thankful

November 19, 2008 – 9:03 am

Around Thanksgiving time, the “holiday season” begins. By Thanksgiving Day, we are so caught up in the Christmas rush that often the true meaning of Thanksgiving is overlooked. Oh sure, there’s the turkey dinner, the parades and football games on TV, and a long vacation from school or work; but the real observance of being thankful for our blessings often passes unfulfilled.

Being thankful is more than just uttering a “thank you” prayer to God. God knows our hearts, and words radiating only from our mouths are nothing to Him. Our thanks must be sincere. Are you truly thankful? Do you realize that all you have comes from the Lord? Do you give God the praise He deserves, no matter your circumstances?

Stop in your busy schedule today and list all your blessings - everything and everyone God has allowed to enrich your life. Take time to ponder that list. Then each day during the Thanksgiving season, take time to sincerely thank God for the blessings on your list. He is worthy of our praise and our thankfulness!

 

 

By Donna | Posted in Devotional | Comments (0)

Sorting Limitations

November 16, 2008 – 7:20 pm

 I like compartments.  It does not matter the type-as long as I can separate and sort, I’m loving it! 

My dresser, for example, is tall and has several drawers.  There are two just for socks and others that allow me to gather items quickly whenever I need them.

Even in my closet, I have cubby holes that allow me to sort winter sweaters, work out clothes and so much more.  I even have two shoe towers and two shoe racks that allow me to pick a pair at a glance.

One day, while shopping at a neighborhood store, I even happened upon extra large, zip lock clothing bags that nearly took me over the edge!  I’m now able to separate entire comforter sets!  OMG!!

The down side of compartmentalizing occurs when I’m tired or in a hurry.  This is when I usually throw things in the first drawer, cubby hole or shoe space available. 

Of course the next time I look for that particular item, it creates total havoc because I have to pull everything out of its place just to find the lost item.

Nevertheless, God has given me just enough wisdom to know that when it comes to spiritual things, compartmentalizing is neither good nor an acceptable practice.

For example, I can remember as a child hearing “that’s just a little white lie” or “it’s only bad if you get caught” or even hearing “if you ask for forgiveness first, then…”  (Okay, I’ve heard the last one as an adult.) Somehow, compartmentalizing our sins gives a “tidy” illusion.  Our stuff doesn’t seem as bad.

1 John 5:17 reminds us that “all wrong doing is sin…” (NIV).  God hates sin, and there is no where we can store our stuff away, zip it away or cubby-hole it, for when He searches our hearts, we are laid bare.

Only God can organize a life so that order evolves from the inner and outer chaos simply when we ask for forgiveness.  “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).  Now that’s storage God’s way!

 

By Shelly Johns | Posted in Devotional, Uncategorized | Comments (1)

What a time to get sick!

November 14, 2008 – 8:08 pm

This week was the Kentucky Baptist Convention.  My husband and I have been looking forward to this for awhile now.  Not only were we able to part of the KBC process, but we were actually going to get time away-ALONE!  We had got on the internet and found a 4 star hotel for a 1 star price and we were going to enjoy.  There was just one small problem… that nasty cold my son had last week found its precious little way to my beautiful hotel room.  Yep!  I got sick!

We had left Sunday afternoon so that we could get into the hotel and settled before the Pastor’s Conference on Monday.  We got there alright, but spent that evening shopping for medicine, hoping that my sickness would be just a one day bug. 

Monday while Tom attended the Pastor’s Conference-I slept, all day.  Surely with medicine and sleep I would feel like a romantic dinner with my hubby.  No such thing happened.  We ended up ordering pizza in, followed by more yummy medicine.

Feeling a little better, I attended the first half of the KBC meeting with Tom.  It was nice to see some people we haven’t seen in awhile, listen to the reports and the election of the new president.  All the time though I was getting worse and worse, so back to bed I went.  Tom once again went to the meetings alone.  Trying not to be beat, we again hoped for that romantic dinner.  It is funny how a pile of snot rags, constant coughing and raging body aches just don’t make a dinner very romantic.

Wednesday we sleep in, loaded up the van and start back home.  While Tom drove the distance home, I crawled to the back of the van and you guessed it…slept.

So much for our planning the nice getaway, the romantic evening, the stimulating conversation of the KBC meeting.  No, didn’t happen.  It just shows you that even with the best plans you never know what is going to happen. 

It reminds me of the return of our Blessed Saviour.  People have tried to plan His return for centuries, but you never know when He is going to return.  Are your Heavenly plans ready?  Is your room booked?  If you don’t know or are not sure then follow this link to the KBC website and allow the Lord to show you.  God Bless.  http://www.kybaptist.org/kbc/welcome.nsf/9a3ba6bea069d4fe852569590065c6fe/c6ce330179359bef85256a6a00425de3!OpenDocument&Highlight=0,salvation

By Aundie Starks | Posted in Devotional | Comments (0)

Caught Unaware

November 12, 2008 – 10:19 am

My husband manages the local water district and last week he was called out to repair a main water line.  A local farmer decided it would be a good time to clean out his pond, but while using machinery, he hit the water line and it burst.  That in itself is not that unusual or earthshaking.  What struck me about the situation, though, was a frantic call they got from a neighbor woman.  It seems the lady had just applied hair coloring to her hair and was desperate to rinse it out and there was no water in her faucets!

Most of us ladies can relate.  The haircolor must be washed out in a calculated number of minutes, and we expect to turn on the faucet and go about the business of changing our hair color or covering the gray.  What a predicament-without warning to be stuck with the dye on your head!

We are all consious of death looming for each of us, yet we usually don’t think it will happen to us anytime soon.  For most people, death comes when least expected - a car accident, a fatal heart attack,  an aneurism, etc. can take a life without a moment’s notice.

The Bible tells us that Jesus’ return will catch us unaware.  We’ll be going about our daily routines, oblivious to the frenzy of activity in Heaven as the Son prepares to return.  For so many it will be too late to turn their lives around, to make things right with God, or, most importantly, to accept His Son as Saviour.

We should live our lives to the fullest each day and reach out to a lost and dying world so that we  (and they) will not be caught unaware when death comes or when it is time for Jesus’ return.

By Donna | Posted in Devotional | Comments (0)

Bent Toward the Things of God

November 9, 2008 – 6:32 pm

King David is one who has encouraged me along my faith walk.  Perhaps it is because he had a heart bent toward the things of God despite his sin problem.

We are given the privilege of walking with him from the field to the palace.  We walk with the young man who dared to stand against the Philistines, stating, as he stood against Goliath, “who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

In an unbroken series of military successes against Israel’s enemies, we walk with King David as he led the Israelites to their final stand against their enemy, the Ammonites.  One writer stated that the battle was so important that they took the ark of God with them in battle; however, David stayed home, sending Joab in his place.

It was while staying home that David caught sight of Bathsheba, which was just the beginning of a downward spiral as David made one wrong decision after another until God sent Nathan.  Read 2 Samuel 11 and 12.

In 2 Samuel 12, Nathan was sent by the Lord to help David see his sin.  Once David’s eyes were opened, “David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord’” (vs. 13).

Unlike his predecessor Saul, after David recognized his sin, he admitted it, and then submitted to God’s discipline.  Although the Lord told him he as an adulterer and murderer would not die, God did not spare his and Bathsheba’s child.  See 2 Samuel 12:18.

Even after the child’s death, David, who had fasted and prayed while the child was ill, “went into the house of the Lord and whorshiped” (2 Samuel 12:20).

Psalm 51 gives us a bit more insight into a man’s heart who could do such a thing, for like David, we too struggle with sin. Nevertheless, in light of recognizing our sin and after the consequences, how do we respond?  Like David, we have done or at least know what others have done to cause whispers of, “no, not her?” 

May God grant us a heart bent toward the things of God so that we can say like our brother David, “have mercy on me, O God…wash away all my iniquity…restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.  Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you” (Psalm 51:1, 2,12-13). 

By Shelly Johns | Posted in Leadership | Comments (0)

What-joining the Marines?!

November 7, 2008 – 7:00 am

What-joining the Marines?!  That was my exact reaction last week when my oldest son (Jordan) told me that he had decided to join the Marine reserves.  He has said every since he was 4 he was going into the military, but over time and after going to college for 2 years I thought he had changed his mind.  Boy was I wrong.  I questioned everything.  Do you really understand what it will be like?  Do you know how hard it is?  Do you know that you could die?!  He knew all of that. 

He came home for the weekend and I knew that I had 3 days to change his mind.  I am a mother, it is my duty to try and talk him out of it.  I tried everything, but nothing worked.  His termination was unstoppable.  I couldn’t sleep, my baby in the Marines!  Of course he is almost twenty years old and 6′2″, but still he is my baby.

Jordan told me something that really stuck with me though.  When I talked about the fact that he might lose his life, he had an answer.  “Mom, I am a Christian, and if I die I know where I am going.  There are young men losing their life that don’t know.  Isn’t it better that my life be taken instead of theirs and they have a chance to accept the Lord?”  Wow, what do you say to that.  I guess he really is a grown man, a grown Christian man. 

He signed the papers Monday and reports to boot camp on Dec. 29.  I am proud of him.  Proud of his commitment to the Lord and the service.  While it won’t be easy, I know that the Lord is leading his way and what more could a mother ask for. 

 

By Aundie Starks | Posted in Moms | Comments (2)

Beyond Ourselves

November 5, 2008 – 10:46 am

…you are to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8b My daughters’ church gave out rubber bracelets with the initials ” JJSE”, each letter referring to the places mentioned in this scripture. The members were to wear the bracelets as a constant reminder to look for places of ministry at home and abroad. Jesus told us to minister at our own immediate community, then expand out to our larger area (Kentucky), then on to our continent (North America), then the whole world.

As a young girl in my GA class, our teacher had us memorize The Great Commission, Matt. 28: 19-20: Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost…(KJV) How can we impact the entire world? Sounds imposing, doesn’t it? It is an impossible task on our own, but with God’s help, we can accomplish His purposes. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Phillipians 4:13) We can witness and meet needs by praying, giving to mission offerings, taking or supporting mission trips, assessing needs we see locally and devising a plan to meet those needs, …the possibilities are limitless!

But first, we must look beyond our church walls, beyond our Sunday School class, beyond our Bible study class, beyond our WMU group, and beyond ourselves to minister to the needs of those we come in contact with, to serve with love in situations before us, and to support the work of missionaries in our state, our country, and around the world with our money and prayers.

To be witnesses for our Lord is not an option, it is mandated by Jesus. Go ye…

By Donna | Posted in Devotional | Comments (0)

Crossroads

November 3, 2008 – 6:15 am

 Each of us has been at a “fork” in life. A decision has to be made regarding which direction we choose. It can mean the difference between merely surviving (which can be relative) or thriving.

Often times we consider all of our options, looking mainly at what will benefit us the most or what feels most comfortable.

Other times, we haphazardly make a quick decision just because things seem so cut and dry. “Who could have seen that coming,” we reason.

As Christian leaders, we not only have to consider personal consequences but those of people who could be affected by our decision. Those people could be new Christians or ones yet to come to Christ; women of your ministry team; your husband and child(ren), and even generations yet to come.

Our decisions color the relationship we say that we have in Christ.  They paint a picture of what we really believe.  Thus, there are only two options at a crossroad-choosing God’s way or the other way. The wisdom comes in discovering God’s way: 

  • Watch-look for God’s hand of direction as you read His Word, pray, and even discuss the issue with one or two Christian friends who strongly rely on God’s instruction for their lives (Jeremiah 10:23; Prov. 12:15)
  •  Act-do what He says with wholehearted devotion (Joshua 24:15)
  •  Yield-give Him full access/control in the matter (Prov. 3:5-6)

God is the only One who sees the entire picture–in true color. He knows the best decision to make, as well as the difficulty (at times) we have in the process. So, staying in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:16) is the only WAY to God-sized success.

So, determine to obey God beforehand–in all things. Then when you are at a crossroad (which job should I take; should I continue dating this guy; how should I respond, etc.), you are half way home. The next step is to go His WAY.

By Shelly Johns | Posted in Leadership | Comments (0)

Does your marriage need a FLU shot?

October 31, 2008 – 7:00 am

We are entering into the start of the flu season.  People are flocking every where to get their yearly flu shot.  Being in the ministry we shake a lot of hands and are exposed to a lot of germs.  We try every year to get a flu shot so that we don’t get the dreaded flu.   Being sick and down for a week is not fun.

This is also the time of year when people start to get stressed.  Not only are the days seeming shorter, but we are so busy with upcoming holiday parties and gift buying.  We worry about how to pay for this and find time for that.  A lot of the time our spouse is the one who gets the brunt end of it all.

Maybe it is time to give your marriage a FLU shot.  A vaccine for a virus?  Well….not exactly, but it will help prevent some problems that enter you marriage this time of year.  I am talking about a Friendship, Love, Understanding shot.  Yeah, I just made it up, but it really works.  When we get overloaded we tend to miss out on these aspects in our marriage.

First we need to realize that our husband is our best friend.  He is there to be that companion in your life.  Make time for him!  Take him to lunch or dinner just the two of you.  Don’t drag him shopping, unless he likes it, but make a date with him so he knows that he is your best friend.

Second, let him know that know matter what, he is worthy of your love!  Everyday show him that in your words and actions.  A goodbye hug and kiss.  A welcome home greeting that let’s him know he was really missed.  An affirmation of how great a husband and father he is.  Little things go a long way.

And lastly, understanding.  When women get stressed that is one of the first things that we lose.  Our patience and understanding are in short supply during those times.  Take a moment to realize that he did not make all four check out lines in the store full.  Nor did he cause the never ending price check that ran you twenty minutes late.   He is an innocent bystander.  He has pressures during this season too.  We need to have some understanding with each other.

So get you flu shot to protect your body and get your FLU shot to protect your marriage.  I promise it won’t hurt.

 

By Aundie Starks | Posted in Devotional, Uncategorized | Comments (0)

What Does Women’s Ministry Look Like?

October 29, 2008 – 9:43 am

How your Women’s Ministry looks will depend on the size of your church, its population, the way it is organized, and the involvement of the women of your church.

Your Women’s Ministry may co-exist with WMU, or Women’s Ministry/WMU may be the umbrella under which the other functions.  Hopefully, the two organizations will work in harmony,  realizing the purpose for both should be the enrichment of women’s lives, to help them find their ministry purpose, and to offer opportunities for service to the church, community, and the world.

In your Women’s Ministry, there may be several different subgroups such as Bible study, mission groups, prayer groups, support groups, special events, enrichment groups, as well as gatherings for recreation and fellowship.  All of these groups should be coordinated by the leadership team/Women’s Ministry Director so events, subject matter, ministry opportunities, etc. do not overlap or are overlooked.

Women’s Ministry should involve all generations and lifestyles in your church.  Take a look around your church on any given Sunday morning.  I’m sure you will see women who are married, single, widowed, divorced, those with young children, moms of teens, empty-nesters, elderly, homemakers, career women, college students, military wives, service women … and others unique to your church and community.  The programs, activities, and classes of your Women’s Ministry program should attempt to meet the needs and interests of as many diversified groups as possible.

Remember, most of all, your Women’s Ministry program should be focused on the spiritual growth of the women of your church, on the task of evangelizing the lost, and on ministering to those in need.  It should emphasize the discovery of spiritual giftedness and provide a means for service and ministry.  As your Women’s Ministry complements the overall church mission/purpose - not in any way deterring the on-going ministry of the church- it becomes an integral component of service and ministry.

By Donna | Posted in Leadership | Comments (0)