the Word of God

This is one of my favorite sights...
And honestly it took 3 tries to get the socks on the floor out of the top of the picture... ;)

I sent the picture to a friend last night and she probably thinks I am crazy. But she was sweet and said "cool". She was probably thinking...and I care why? haha But I was so excited that I just needed to share it! You ever felt that way? Like you just had to tell someone how excited you were over doing something? Not to be bragging about it or boastful or prideful or anything negative like that...just genuinely excited about it. Not to mention....it helps for someone to be there to hold you accountable on days when you want to skip! (I desperately need a Weight Watcher partner...ha!)

Then I sent my quote buddy the best quote of the day "The Word of God is alive and powerful! It remains unexciting only when we remain detached from it". Amen.

Are you detached? As a woman seeking God's own heart...how are you accomplishing that? Are you seeking Him through His Word?

Life is crazy and in most households the woman holds the keys to the organizing and stabilizing (except yesterday when I set the house alarm without giving the sitter the code and I was unavailable in a meeting...so the sheriff deputy came (within 10 minutes...they rock!) - and it was utter chaos...caused by me!).

Sometimes I think women struggle with finding time to feed our spiritual growth because we are too busy tending to everyone else's every kind of growth! Do we do ourselves an injustice? I think so. If we aren't grounded in His Word our household is a sitting duck for satan to attack. The only defenses we have are in Eph 6:10-18 (or so). And the Word of God is our sword. Without it you are basically...defenseless and just deflecting the fiery darts from the evil one or running for your precious life! You can't stand in the fight for very long without a sword to fight back with!

So I ask again...are you detached??? If so, it's not too late to come to Discipleship Training!!!! =)

In Him,
Kristy =)

PS - Travis Cottrell has a new cd out and one of the songs is "the Word of God Has Spoken"...and y'all it is AWESOME!!!! Listen if you get the chance...

New Book and Discipleship Training

I finished a book in record time (less than 2 nights!). Heaven is for REAL. It is about a preschooler who has an emergency appendectomy and the months/years following the procedure he talks of going to heaven and back in great detail…things he had no other way to know. It was a very easy book to read and it is full of hope. My sister-in-law that lost her premature baby girl recently bought everyone in the family a copy. It speaks of miscarried babies and it absolutely gave her hope that she wanted to share with us. As you can imagine…I cried through a good bit of the book. It is an amazing event to read about. If you don’t have anything reading right now…check it out! You can borrow my copy when Travis finishes. =)

I am so excited about discipleship training starting Sunday night! If you don’t get our emails at church I will throw in my testimony at the bottom of this post so you can understand why I get so excited – it is long winded like everything else about me…but you might get something from it so I will include it! If you are here from another church and your church does not offer any classes…come with us Sunday nights at 6pm. We would love to have you!

That is all I wanted to share today...have a great wet weekend!

In Him,
Kristy =)

Email to WMBC:
Sunday starts our Discipleship Training Fall Session.

For those of you who might not know...Discipleship Training classes are offered soley to give you a way to draw closer to Jesus. Some folks can study their Bible on their own with no guide necessary. Others of us (like me!) need a plan to help us stay focused on our Bible Study and fellowship with Jesus daily. Discipleship Training IS that plan.

I wanted to share a brief testimony (those who know me well however know that there is no way for me to do anything "brief") so indulge me...I spent many adult years thinking that I was doing good as a Christian. Saved as a teen but never "growing up" in church, I was a good parent intending to raise my children in a church family so they would have the support that I did not. Overall...I was a regular Sunday attender and thought I had the church thing down pat. Then I went to a Discipleship Training course offered at WMBC and realized I was CLUELESS! I was actively "doing" church and volunteering to help out at church but I knew nothing about a relationship with Jesus. I expected Pastor Billie to provide me what I needed to live as a Christian in his sermons. And I took really good notes!

My relationship with Jesus was about as close as my relationship with my hair dresser. Y'all I like her A LOT...and have been going to her for hair cuts since I was four years old. She would kill me for telling you that is over 30 years! Can't imagine anyone else cutting my hair. She always comes through in a hair crisis and is always a phone call away! She knows everything there is to know about every hair on my head and lots of personal details of MY life. But...I have no clue what her favorite color is, her favorite food, if she still sings in her church choir, how her kids are doing in college, etc. And that is what my relationship with Jesus was like before Discipleship Training at WMBC. I knew who Jesus was, and I liked Him a lot. He knew everything about every hair on my head, but I knew nothing personal about Him.

9 years later of Discipleship Training classes 2-3 times a year...I not only know some things about Jesus...I can quote some of His words, I can recognize His ways, I understand when I am in and out of His Will for my life, I thank Him for the 2x4 He has to use some days to get my attention...I have an active, intimate, loving relationship that I feed daily, not because I have to but because I WANT to. I desperately want to know more and have SO much more to learn! And I have found that my passion in life is to show other women what they are missing and how to get it. I don't want anyone else wasting the years I wasted focused on self instead of Jesus! If you would have told me 10 years ago I would eat, sleep and breath my Bible...I would have laughed out loud! Funny how God changes you if you ask Him...and seek Him. He is amazing. And now I can't imagine not reading my Bible cover to cover every year.

There are 3 different classes being offered this fall that ALL focus on Jesus. Get in one. You will NEVER EVER waste a minute on Bible Study. I promise. He rewards that precious time spent seeking Him in ways you could never imagine. In case you can't tell...Discipleship Training excites me. Ask me...I have so much more I could tell you...but most of you have probably stopped reading by now =) And I really am sorry it was so long. I just want you to be excited too! =)

Missed you

Howdy Ladies,
I have missed you lately. Life has been super busy and posting has taken a backseat. Which reminded me of something else busyness has caused to suffer...I have fallen off pace sending my Monday morning "Phyllis Jr" emails to the Caswell girls! For those of you that didn't go with us, Phyllis Elvington challenged us to stay in His Word every day. She specifically challenged us to get in His Word before we left the house every morning. And she said she couldn't be accountable for all 300 of us so we needed accountability partners. Well I took the challenge and was sending an email every Monday morning to all 45 of our ladies with the roll call question...Did you spend time in His Word before you left home this morning?

Well....did you? =)

I know everyone is as busy as me...but stay in His Word ladies. It is crucial to survival in this world we live in. My Granny Capps used to say something like "when people get to heaven they aren't going to know how to talk to Jesus because they haven't spent this lifetime preparing for it. Some people who think they are the holiest probably won't even recognize Him because they don't know His voice and what kinds of things He says". You know...I wonder if there is truth to that. At work, I talk to a girl at RTP almost everyday. The first time I met her face to face, I picked her out of a crowd of 20 women because I knew that voice with my eyes shut. Never had a clue what she looked like...but I knew that voice and I knew she always said "awwwwwesome".

Could you pick Jesus out in a crowd? Do you know His voice? Do you know the words He says?

I think lots of times that folks are clueless what a true relationship with Jesus is...I can say that because I was clueless for SO long. And I thought I had it together. I thought I knew. I thought I was a good Jesus girl. I thought I had all the answers. I think that is the crazy part. In my heart and mind I thought I was doing GREAT. And then one day...unexpectedly...the scales lifted. And I realized I was living clueless. I ate some humble pie and it never tasted so sweet! I think that is the key to the relationship...you must come humbly seeking Jesus. Otherwise...it is a wasted effort. Pride has no place in a relationship with Him and I think that is where folks like me get all messed up. I think the first clue is...if you THINK you know enough, spend enough time, pray enough, give enough, serve enough...then...you might want to evaluate yourself more closely with the backdrop of the cross! It puts many things in perspective! I evaluate myself daily...and still regularly fall short...and digest more humble pie...and enjoy the sweetness of the relationship! Psalm 34:8a "Taste and see that the LORD is good"

Seek Him ladies...spend time in His Word. Know Him...don't just know of Him! (If you don't understand that there is a difference...come see me! We need to talk!)


In Him,
Kristy =)

SMC - Sep 15 2011

Running late...still at work!

Isa 41:10 NIV
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand".

Amen ladies...

Ramblings...

God is good! Today we got awesome news from my friend Tammy. You may remember she is battling pancreatic cancer that had already metastasized to her liver when they found it in late Feb. She has fought and given it over to God and has daily declared His power and glory in her life. Today she got MRI results that were encouraging. Praise the Lord for His healing touch! She still has a battle to continue but she is making progress and God is providing the healing and holding her in His “righteous right hand” along the way! (Isa 41:10)

Do you know what time it is???? It is TIME for Fall Discipleship Training classes to begin! Yay!!!! I am so excited this year because we are re-offering Beth Moore’s “Jesus the One and Only”. I can’t wait to see her hair! LOL It is an old one but somehow I missed doing it. There are two other good options but I can’t remember the names…sorry! If someone knows please post a comment. =)

Speaking of Beth Moore…the Simulcast was AWESOME! I took my 10 year old daughter because she has been asking for years to go see Beth and Travis, but I have been afraid to take her on an overnight trip for fear of her getting restless. She is a very mature 10 so I opted to try this one and aside from having to explain what the word pornography meant (thanks Beth! Ha)…she had a BLAST! She is dying now to go on a two day trip…lol She proudly wore her Living Proof t-shirt to school today. And thank y’all for the prayers for strength…I managed to watch a good bit of my little man’s baseball games and still only miss a wee bit of Beth’s speaking! It was truly a miracle from above! =) And Princeton Church of God was a great host site! I hope they will host again in the future! The way they set everything up was just perfect! I liked it much better than previous Simulcast sites I have attended. And there were some homemade chocolate chip cookie/oreo cookie/brownie bars that I would fight you over…so delicious!!!

Don’t forget to sign up for the 5K (link is at the top of the blog page).

Tomorrow is church night…come get refilled!

In Him,
Kristy =)

BUSY!!!!

Y’all it is here…finally! Football season! I know most of you could care less (like my hubby)…but I enjoy it! But I don't hold it too closely...I missed kick off last night and all was well. I watched about 30 minutes and went to bed. I don't love it enough to lose sleep or anything crazy! HA

And you know what excites me most about it this week? That means FALL is around the corner! Yay!!! I am ready! Fall is my favorite season I think. I like the cool mornings but warm afternoons. Dressing is a little challenging but it is worth it! And life gets back “on schedule”. It takes a few weeks once school starts back to get in the groove of life again…and since I live by a day planner…I like the controlled chaos to return…it makes me feel “normal” again! If that even remotely makes sense =)

One of my favorite scripture passages is Titus 2:3-5:
“3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”

If you are new to the blog…I wrote a post here about the realization of being the “older” woman in the passage...
http://wmbcwomensminstry.blogspot.com/2010/10/news-flashi-am-older-woman.html

Anyway, this passage is the foundation for Women’s Ministry in my opinion. I believe if we mentor young Christians and teach them these simple principles, the church would be much more effective as the Body of Christ.

And I love the way they stress being “busy at home”. But I think it is important to understand what kind of busy that Paul is likely referring to…busy in things that bring glory to God. Busy taking care of your family and your house; making sure everyone around you is getting what they need. The "busyness" that bears good fruit! I am firmly convinced if you focus on the RIGHT things that keep you busy that you have no time for the kind of busyness that breeds TROUBLE! =)

And while on the topic of busy… I think it is kind of funny that Paul points out in TWO places not to be a busybody! I believe he knew this would be a problem for our generation!

1 Tim 5:13
“13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.”

2 Thes 3:11
“11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies.”


So what do you do at home? Are you busy in the things that bring God glory? Are you idle? Are you a busybody? Pray for me that God will show me where I am idle or a busybody and keep me focused on the busyness that He wants me to focus on!

Enjoy your weekend!
Go see Beth Moore speak…I have tickets to Princeton Church of God if you don’t have yours yet!

And speaking of I have a prayer request…it is a small thing…but I am going to try and juggle the Beth Moore Simulcast, hubby’s birthday supper and a double header baseball game tomorrow…I need STRENGTH! Luckily it is all in a 5 mile radius but I will be dashing in and out of everything!

In Him,
Kristy =)

Living LIFE

I finished my Power Suit book last night. I got some major affirmation for some situations I have been facing and whether they were spiritual warfare battles or just my imagination…let’s just say if you think you are imagining someone is spiritual attacking you or a loved one…suit up and get ready for battle. I think the best advice was at the end of the book when she talked about how many people know the tools but do not use them. She also had great suggestions for methods of Bible Study and scripture memorization. A couple were new to me and I can't wait to try them!

We all know the Word of God defeats satan every time, but how many of us use the Word of God daily to strengthen and sharpen us? So many people expect the pastor to educate them in everything they need to know about Jesus on Sunday morning and it just does not work that way. An intimate meaningful relationship is more than a one day a week large group session meeting. Think about relationships with your closest friends versus folks you just know of. It would be the difference in my relationship with my best friend Val versus me insisting I had a meaningful friendship with Cam Newton because I watch him play football every Sunday. It's a one day a week commitment I have to Cam watching him play for 3-4 hours on Sunday but he does not know who I am. Showing up to meet Jesus on Sunday morning for one hour and then living daily life without him is not a relationship. Do not fool yourself. And your pastor cannot provide your relationship with Jesus for you. He can only preach the Word of God so that the Holy Spirit can convict you and bring you closer to seeking Jesus on your own. The preacher does not convict, save, condemn, etc...he preaches. The Holy Spirit does everything else! If you don’t know Jesus intimately…you have MISSED the point.

Intimate relationship is key not only to salvation but also abundant life and joy and peace and all of the other positive aspects of life in the Spirit. Without the Spirit living in you and an intimate relationship with Jesus…it is “just life”…and that is sad. And yet 90% of church goers are just living life…without the Spirit…and they do not even realize there is so much more. It grieves me. That’s why I am so passionate about women’s ministry and mentoring and discipleship training…I want other women to see what I realized 8 years ago…so they don’t waste the time I wasted “just living life”. So what kind of life are you living? If you don’t get it…let’s talk!!! Ok enough on the soap box!

I can’t wait for the Beth Moore Simulcast Saturday. If you do not have a ticket yet and would like to go to Princeton Church of God I still have some tickets to sell. It is less than 15 minutes from Smithfield on 70. Very easy! Just email me kgardner1@aol.com. They are $20 and include Chick-Fil-A lunch. The event is from 10-5:30 and I know it is going to bless our socks off!

Also I am very excited about the WMU Mission Fun Run! I admit that I am a little stressed because there are not many registered folks yet. Hopefully registration will pick up soon. So please spread the word. Here is a link to the on-line registration…http://wmbc2011wmu5k.eventbrite.com/ please forward to all your friends...whether they exercise or not…ha!

Tonight is church night – PRAISE JESUS! Come get filled!

See you there!

In Him,
Kristy =)

We are not supposed to be Strong Enough

Ever read something in a book or Bible Study and be so convinced that God sent it to you that you check someone else’s workbook to see if it says the same thing convinced their copy will be different? Not saying that I have done that a dozen or so times, but someone less grounded might…*wink*!

Or have you ever hear a song and THINK…oh my! God sent this song to someone to write for me specifically for this season in my life!

Well…I can tell you…He does.

Eph 1:4 says “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight”. And then read Ps 139. I will spare you from copying the entire thing in…but read it all of it…it has sustained me this week and I think it will bless you too. (Verse 23 and 24 are on the memory post yesterday if you need a memory verse *grin*)

OK…so last night I was working WAY too late which happens form time to time in the life of a plant accountant at month end and I had KLove blaring and a song came on that I have sung a million times and already knew the words to…but last night God told me to shut up singing (off key mind you) and LISTEN to the words because He had sent them to Matthew West to sing to me TODAY. And y’all I about fell out of my chair.

I am humbled daily that we serve a God who cares for me the way He does. That He knows my breaking point is very close and I am about to fall off the edge and in the knick of time He says…”shut up singing and listen…I am Here and I am all you need. You are NOT supposed to be strong enough to survive in this life without Me. If you could…there would be no need for the grace and mercy that I give you daily. Stop trying to be strong alone and let Me be strong for you. Ignore everyone around you and focus on ME and the strength that I try to give your hard headed self”

Sing with me ladies…and thank you Matthew West for being obedient!

Strong Enough by Matthew West

You must, You must think I’m strong
To give me what I’m going through
Well forgive me, forgive me if I’m wrong
But this looks like more than I can do
On my own

I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to beI give up, I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t You cover me?
Lord, right now I’m asking You to be
Strong enough, strong enough
For the both of us

Well maybe, maybe that’s the point
To reach the point of giving up
‘Cause when I’m finally, finally at rock bottom
Well that’s when I start looking up
And reaching out

I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
I give up, I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t You cover me?
Lord, right now I’m asking You to be
Strong enough, strong enough
For the both of us

‘Cause I’m broken
Down to nothing
But I’m still holding on to the one thing
You are God
And You are strong when I am weak
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
And I don’t have to be strong enough
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
And I don’t have to be
Strong enough, strong enough
Oh yeah

I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
I give up, I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t You cover me?
Lord, right now I’m asking You to be
Strong enough, strong enough
For the both of us


Amen!

SMC - Sept 1 2011

Happy Thursday! I can’t believe it is Scripture Memory day already!!

On a side note…cause I like to digress…I am already half way through the new book. It is really good. I have highlighted something on about every other page. And I have been sending quotes to my “quote buddy” left and right. Finally I gave up and took this picture and sent it…cause I wanted to text the entire paragraph but I knew that would take me 3 hours on my smarty pants phone (and that assumed I would remain in Princeton while I typed lol) Check out the pink line…


Can you quote it ladies???? (nice lead in, huh?)

My memory verse today is:
Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

I need to pray this daily…continuously. Sometimes I can feel myself losing my focus on Jesus. It’s very clear when things are out of control and I am spazzing too. And I know that it is because my heart gets cluttered with the world and the people of the world. Once my focus returns to HIM…no matter what is going on around me…I feel the peace. And I know without a doubt who is in control and I praise HIM for it!

What’s your verse?

And if you were missing a reason to be thankful today…there you have it…that you are not my quote buddy when I am elbow deep in a convicting book that I want to share with the world…haha

And PS – last night was my last night teaching Acteens…don’t faint…but I think I am going to miss it!!! I have come to love those girls and they have taught me so much in our 10 weeks together! I have truly been blessed from the experience.

Be a blessing ladies!

In Him,
Kristy =)