So…last night officially started Discipleship Training homework. Can I tell you it was one of the happiest moments of the last weeks?!? I just have to laugh when I say out loud “I can’t wait to do my homework!”…for a few reasons…1) I hated homework in school 2) I never, ever dreamed in a gazillion years I would enjoy Bible reading and study 3) and The Old Testament at that!!! If you had told me 10 years ago that I would become a Bible toting, scripture quoting, Jesus seeking, people loving, women leading, woman after God’s Heart…I would have laughed out loud in your face with a smirk. I am living breathing proof that God can do amazing things in you…if you let Him! Let Him ladies…let Him!!!
Anyway, it was about Saul and Jonathon, father and son. How differently they both turned out to truly be. Isn’t that just like God? I was spending time with some family recently and wondered if something was wrong because I did not “fit” the family mold. And then God shows me…neither did Jonathon and he chose the better path…to follow God. And God blessed him and kept him for it! The ending focus was on Jonathon and his armor bearer. That is the part that was intriguing. I never thought about his armor bearer in 1 Sam 14. And how Christians MUST be God’s armor bearer (Eph 6:11)…putting on the WHOLE armor of God…not the armor we buy or the armor we make or the armor Pastor Billie has…but God’s armor…that He gives to every single one of us as believers! And how if we put on that armor that is God’s…we have His power to stand firm against the devil’s schemes…not our power, not Pastor Billie’s power, but God’s power! It was a unique and vivid example of trusting in the leader (Jonathon in this case, God in our case) and following in obedience and respectfulness. I loved it!!! If anyone thinks the OT is dead…come see me!!!!!
And then…one of my new favorite scriptures…I had overlooked these powerful words too many times…”…Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving whether by many or by few.” 1 Sam 14:6b.
How powerful is that????? Not “if the Lord can save” but “if the Lord wants to save”… the Lord is able…the question resides with whether it is His will. She referenced my favorite all time story…Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. If you have never read it…I will include a portion because it is my absolute favorite…Daniel 3:13-27
“Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”
They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”
25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. “
---------------------------
Sorry I know this was long…but I couldn’t stop until the best line ever…” and there was no smell of fire on them”! Lord, bring me through my trials without a hint of the smell of smoke on me! Amen
Bless someone today ladies…and get in a Discipleship training class if you have not…it is NEVER too late…I will gladly take you in our study of King David.
Love ya!
Kristy =)
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
It is too LONG to even title it...salvation
I could write an endless book on the topic of Tim’s message last night. I am sure others of you can too if you’re willing to share. I have blogged several times about the topic of a relationship or lack thereof with Jesus. Last night I went back and read some and laughed at how much I have changed in a year…not that it was funny…just that even as recent as a year ago God was (and is still) shaping my beliefs and thoughts on salvation. And how in the course of months my opinion on salvation changed from a “simply walk the aisle and pray the prayer and believe in God” view to a “believing in Jesus as Savior and clinging to Him in a personal relationship” view. It is amazing the more you seek Him the more He will show you. He knows you can’t handle much at once…so He starts you slow.
Jer 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you and I will tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know”.
Are you calling Him? Are you seeking Him? Do you know the difference in a Good Bible Study Girl and A Woman after God’s Own Heart? Honestly even after I became Bible Study obsessed…I still didn’t get the relationship thing for quite some time. And I still daily have new ah-ha moments when relationship info becomes apparent and I think “dang I am slow”!!!! Relationship is what it is all about…a relationship with Jesus first and then with others.
You see I had buried myself in some untruths orchestrated by the enemy. Some of them I even thought were scriptural. Until I learned to compare EVERYTHING against God’s infallible word for TRUTH…I was mixed up and believing in a salvation that I truly did not posses! That is how satan wins. He confuses you into not knowing what you believe and why you believe it. He gets you so hung up on the ceremony and the pomp and circumstance that you MISS the billboard and the clear writing on the wall. You don’t hear Jesus because you are listening for a trumpet that will split the eastern sky…but until the rapture…mostly Jesus whispers. Only we are so busy “doing” life and even “doing” church that we don’t hear Him whispering.
Two of the biggest lies satan sold me included:
1) You only need to believe in God to be saved. I can never remember a time in my life that I did not believe God existed. But now I know that it is not JUST believing in God that matters…it is believing in Jesus, His one and only Son who came to earth perfect and blameless and lived perfectly and blamelessly without sin and was crucified on a cross for my sins that he knew would happen and that He arose on the 3rd day and ascended into heaven to prepare a place for me!! Believing in God is ½ of the Truth...I think people miss that obvious point!
example a) satan believes in God; James 2:19 “You believe that there is one God, good! Even the demons believe that…and shudder!”
example b) the Pharisees believed in God but did not recognize Jesus as the Lamb; Matthew 23:13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”
2) Praying the sinner’s prayer is all you need to do to get to heaven. I think you have to have a heart change after you pray that prayer or repeating the words is worthless and just ceremonial. If you do not leave an encounter with God CHANGED…you probably did not really encounter Him (thanks Henry Blackaby for sharing this statement!). And I think that includes the sinner’s prayer.
example a) Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
example b) John 10:26-28 26 “but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. “
You can’t hear Him and do His will if you do not open your heart and have Him CONSTANTLY abide in it. Without a heart change I think you are not His sheep.
I share all this to encourage you…if you are doubtful about salvation…seek counsel from a pastor. You MUST know that you know that you know where your eternity will be spent. I am convinced there might be a church full of Kristy Gardner’s sitting in the seats thinking that Tim was preaching to someone else last night when in fact he was preaching to that Kristy Gardner and she is too hung up in herself and her life to realize she needs a personal intimate relationship with Jesus. It is so easy to think someone else needs to hear a specific sermon worse than our “plank in the eye” selves need to hear it…amen?
If you don't mind...anonymously (or if you don't care publicly...but I like anonymous better on this topic though) post a comment if you have struggled through this issue. Briefly tell us if you are still struggling and we can pray for you. Do you doubt your eternity or are you secure in knowing it is in heaven?
Seeking Him,
Kristy
PS - Did you sign up for Discipleship Training yet?????? You'd better!!!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
As promised...
I told y'all I would share the scriptural illustration that Phyllis Elvington did at Caswell the last session of The Lamb of God. If you want the FULL effect look up each scripture reference and read it for yourselves. But have a tissue ready because it is POWERFUL! See ya tonight at church!
The Lamb of God
As illustrated by Phyllis Elvington
Gen 22:7 Where is the Lamb?
Gen 22:8 God will provide the Lamb
Ex 12:3,5 Your Lamb shall be without blemish
Ex 12:6-7, 11-13 And when God sees the blood He will Passover you
John 1:29 The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
Luke 22:1, 7-8, 13-20 This cup is the new covenant in my blood poured out for you
1 Cor 5:7b Christ, our Passover Lamb
1 Peter 1:18-19 Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect
1 Peter 2:22-24 by His wounds we have been healed
Rev 5:1-14 Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Rev 21:22-27 the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple; the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp; Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
AMEN
The Lamb of God
As illustrated by Phyllis Elvington
Gen 22:7 Where is the Lamb?
Gen 22:8 God will provide the Lamb
Ex 12:3,5 Your Lamb shall be without blemish
Ex 12:6-7, 11-13 And when God sees the blood He will Passover you
John 1:29 The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
Luke 22:1, 7-8, 13-20 This cup is the new covenant in my blood poured out for you
1 Cor 5:7b Christ, our Passover Lamb
1 Peter 1:18-19 Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect
1 Peter 2:22-24 by His wounds we have been healed
Rev 5:1-14 Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Rev 21:22-27 the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple; the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp; Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
AMEN
Monday, March 7, 2011
Monday Again
Well it is Monday again...where does the weekend go? It just amazes me how fast those days fly!
I missed y'all last night at church. I got hung up at the funeral home...it is funny because sometimes the family line moves fairly quickly and sometimes it does not...this was a does not kind of night. The line was not long...just slow. And when we left it was wrapped around the place...I imagine it was a late night. But it all worked out great for me because the kids got to spend extra time at Meema's playing with their cousins and then I even got them to bed 30 minutes early so we could start the week on the right foot! woohoo!
And I finished "Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl" last night while Travis was at his meeting. It was really good. I highly recommend it. I wanted to finish it before Discipleship Training started this week so I would not have 3 things going on in addition to my Yearly Bible Reading. Two I can juggle...three make me nervous...ha I can't wait for Discipleship Training. If you have not signed up...IT IS NOT TOO LATE!!!!
I am excited to be doing the study of David again. He is probably my favorite Old Testament character because we have a lot in common...and ultimately I want to pursue Jesus as strongly as he pursued God. That is my life dream...that when I die y'all write on my tombstone..."she fell short but pursued Jesus with all she had". Also...you need to sing Victory in Jesus at least once...will suit me to sing it twice (at the beginning and the end haha)!!! And have my services on non-church days (I don't want people missing worship time for me or really to see my family...cause my casket better be CLOSED!). Those are my requests...please and thank you.
Now...lunch is over...back to work! Got to leave for a funeral soon and I have some stuff to finish up!
Pursuing Him,
Kristy =)
I missed y'all last night at church. I got hung up at the funeral home...it is funny because sometimes the family line moves fairly quickly and sometimes it does not...this was a does not kind of night. The line was not long...just slow. And when we left it was wrapped around the place...I imagine it was a late night. But it all worked out great for me because the kids got to spend extra time at Meema's playing with their cousins and then I even got them to bed 30 minutes early so we could start the week on the right foot! woohoo!
And I finished "Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl" last night while Travis was at his meeting. It was really good. I highly recommend it. I wanted to finish it before Discipleship Training started this week so I would not have 3 things going on in addition to my Yearly Bible Reading. Two I can juggle...three make me nervous...ha I can't wait for Discipleship Training. If you have not signed up...IT IS NOT TOO LATE!!!!
I am excited to be doing the study of David again. He is probably my favorite Old Testament character because we have a lot in common...and ultimately I want to pursue Jesus as strongly as he pursued God. That is my life dream...that when I die y'all write on my tombstone..."she fell short but pursued Jesus with all she had". Also...you need to sing Victory in Jesus at least once...will suit me to sing it twice (at the beginning and the end haha)!!! And have my services on non-church days (I don't want people missing worship time for me or really to see my family...cause my casket better be CLOSED!). Those are my requests...please and thank you.
Now...lunch is over...back to work! Got to leave for a funeral soon and I have some stuff to finish up!
Pursuing Him,
Kristy =)
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Woohoo for Wednesday
It is Wednesday again…yippee! I love Wednesday for many reasons…and they all revolve around church night!!! In addition to getting my spiritual tank topped off with a Fresh Word…there is much joy in other things like supper at Yummi Japan, a day of rest from my running workout, very little or no homework (just love my church going teachers!), fellowship with like-minded believers, etc.
I am trying to finish a book before we start Discipleship Training in a couple weeks so that I only have 3 books going at a time! And it reminded me of something Phyllis Elvington shared that really struck me. I think Amber or Tammy commented on it so I thought I would expand.
Phyllis said that in 5-10 years the person you are spiritually will be influenced and shaped by 1) the books you read 2) the people you associate 3) the choices you make. I have been thinking A LOT about this statement and if I believed it. She challenged us to think of it and decide for ourselves. I have decided I ABSOLUTELY believe it. I think back to several years ago when I gave up watching most (not all) TV and replaced it with reading spiritual growth books. Then I think back to 4 years ago when I started reading the Bible cover to cover each year. Just those two CHOICES alone have majorly changed my life on earth and eternally!!! Then there was the choice made years ago to go to church every time the doors were open and I was physically able to surround myself with like-minded believers. My family thinks I am quite the Jesus freak...and I am certain that I am the topic of many conversations…and to that I say…Praise God!!!! If the worse thing I give someone to talk about is that I stay at church too much and spend too much time in His Word and raising my children in Him…then Praise the Lord!
OK…I side tracked…surprise! The other thing she said that I really wanted to share was that there were two categories of books 1) the Bible (a category all to itself!) 2) everything else. And that reading your Bible is like your daily "tithe" and reading devotions and other spirit filled books are the "offering". I just loved that analogy!
So are you daily giving your “tithe” and “offering”?
See ya tonight!
Kristy =)
I am trying to finish a book before we start Discipleship Training in a couple weeks so that I only have 3 books going at a time! And it reminded me of something Phyllis Elvington shared that really struck me. I think Amber or Tammy commented on it so I thought I would expand.
Phyllis said that in 5-10 years the person you are spiritually will be influenced and shaped by 1) the books you read 2) the people you associate 3) the choices you make. I have been thinking A LOT about this statement and if I believed it. She challenged us to think of it and decide for ourselves. I have decided I ABSOLUTELY believe it. I think back to several years ago when I gave up watching most (not all) TV and replaced it with reading spiritual growth books. Then I think back to 4 years ago when I started reading the Bible cover to cover each year. Just those two CHOICES alone have majorly changed my life on earth and eternally!!! Then there was the choice made years ago to go to church every time the doors were open and I was physically able to surround myself with like-minded believers. My family thinks I am quite the Jesus freak...and I am certain that I am the topic of many conversations…and to that I say…Praise God!!!! If the worse thing I give someone to talk about is that I stay at church too much and spend too much time in His Word and raising my children in Him…then Praise the Lord!
OK…I side tracked…surprise! The other thing she said that I really wanted to share was that there were two categories of books 1) the Bible (a category all to itself!) 2) everything else. And that reading your Bible is like your daily "tithe" and reading devotions and other spirit filled books are the "offering". I just loved that analogy!
So are you daily giving your “tithe” and “offering”?
See ya tonight!
Kristy =)
Monday, February 28, 2011
Caswell Challenge Recap
I don’t even know where to begin! Have you ever wanted to say and share so much that you can’t even figure out where to start so you end up speechless? That is where I am today. Well maybe not totally speechless…that would take some serious intervention from God…a miracle of the proportions of parting the sea! ha
We went to the Caswell Ladies Retreat over the weekend. Make your plans TODAY to attend next year. It is always the last weekend in Feb and we will take you whether you attend our church or not…because I feel that passionate about its importance. Phyllis Elvington was our guest speaker. She is speaking for our church on 3/27. You do NOT want to miss it…she is wonderful! You can go from laughing to crying and back to laughing in 3 seconds flat! She challenged us, encouraged us, fussed at us, and loved on us all weekend long. She is so inspiring!
I think my favorite part was an illustration she did showing from Genesis to Revelation of who Christ is. It was 10 scripture references of Christ as The Lamb. It was very moving and very powerful. I had plenty of “ah-ha!” moments but that one brought me to tears and just resonated in my spirit.
If you went to Caswell…share your favorite moment!
I think the first full day back in your life is the hardest part of coming home from a spiritual retreat. Apparently no one tells your circle of people that you have tasted heaven and would like to keep the sweetness on your lips. Instead they try you, test you, tempt you, and trip you up…and most times they don’t even realize they are doing it. That is what satan does…he uses folks who don’t ever know they are his puppet. So how do we survive the first days back to reality? On our faces! Jesus is the ultimate answer to that question. Praying for strength and then finding confirmation in His Word is the best survival tactic in ANY situation. Did you get in His Word before you left the house this morning?
Then there is an Accountability Partner…find one NOW. Ask her to hold your feet to the fire and make sure you are walking the walk that you are talking. You don’t have to have a single thing in common except for loving Jesus with all your being! But be cautious…find a good one! Don’t pick a friend because they have always been your friend. Pick someone who is earnestly seeking Jesus as hard as you or maybe harder. Pick someone consistently lifting you up. If you partner drags you down or encourages you to falter in your walk with Christ…she is the wrong partner! Sometimes you have to make hard relationship choices to get the right fit for you…but looking at the grand picture…eternity trumps this life any day so choose wisely!
Then there is fellowship with other believers. Get to church Wed night. In fact, every time the door opens…try everything needed to get there. With or without your husband…get there. Children clean or muddy…get there. Not because you want to be seen and see others…but because you want to worship God while surrounded by like-minded believers. I believe you can’t stay full of the Holy Spirit without interaction at a worship center. This morning Beth Moore said “We were created for relationship!” We need to worship with other believers. That is what makes Caswell and other retreats so spiritual…the people there are seeking the same Jesus together! I know there are times you must miss church…no one can be there every single time the doors open…but they should be far and few between! And there must be a reason worthy to stand at the throne of God and say “thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for my sins…but I couldn’t worship you on Wed night with the other believers because ______”. The only things I can think of are sickness and travelling!! So if healthy and in town…see you Wed night!
Lunch is over I know the two of you are glad I am signing off…
Be a blessing to someone this week…
In Him,
Kristy =)
We went to the Caswell Ladies Retreat over the weekend. Make your plans TODAY to attend next year. It is always the last weekend in Feb and we will take you whether you attend our church or not…because I feel that passionate about its importance. Phyllis Elvington was our guest speaker. She is speaking for our church on 3/27. You do NOT want to miss it…she is wonderful! You can go from laughing to crying and back to laughing in 3 seconds flat! She challenged us, encouraged us, fussed at us, and loved on us all weekend long. She is so inspiring!
I think my favorite part was an illustration she did showing from Genesis to Revelation of who Christ is. It was 10 scripture references of Christ as The Lamb. It was very moving and very powerful. I had plenty of “ah-ha!” moments but that one brought me to tears and just resonated in my spirit.
If you went to Caswell…share your favorite moment!
I think the first full day back in your life is the hardest part of coming home from a spiritual retreat. Apparently no one tells your circle of people that you have tasted heaven and would like to keep the sweetness on your lips. Instead they try you, test you, tempt you, and trip you up…and most times they don’t even realize they are doing it. That is what satan does…he uses folks who don’t ever know they are his puppet. So how do we survive the first days back to reality? On our faces! Jesus is the ultimate answer to that question. Praying for strength and then finding confirmation in His Word is the best survival tactic in ANY situation. Did you get in His Word before you left the house this morning?
Then there is an Accountability Partner…find one NOW. Ask her to hold your feet to the fire and make sure you are walking the walk that you are talking. You don’t have to have a single thing in common except for loving Jesus with all your being! But be cautious…find a good one! Don’t pick a friend because they have always been your friend. Pick someone who is earnestly seeking Jesus as hard as you or maybe harder. Pick someone consistently lifting you up. If you partner drags you down or encourages you to falter in your walk with Christ…she is the wrong partner! Sometimes you have to make hard relationship choices to get the right fit for you…but looking at the grand picture…eternity trumps this life any day so choose wisely!
Then there is fellowship with other believers. Get to church Wed night. In fact, every time the door opens…try everything needed to get there. With or without your husband…get there. Children clean or muddy…get there. Not because you want to be seen and see others…but because you want to worship God while surrounded by like-minded believers. I believe you can’t stay full of the Holy Spirit without interaction at a worship center. This morning Beth Moore said “We were created for relationship!” We need to worship with other believers. That is what makes Caswell and other retreats so spiritual…the people there are seeking the same Jesus together! I know there are times you must miss church…no one can be there every single time the doors open…but they should be far and few between! And there must be a reason worthy to stand at the throne of God and say “thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for my sins…but I couldn’t worship you on Wed night with the other believers because ______”. The only things I can think of are sickness and travelling!! So if healthy and in town…see you Wed night!
Lunch is over I know the two of you are glad I am signing off…
Be a blessing to someone this week…
In Him,
Kristy =)
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
All Clear...
That's what the doctor just told me about going to Caswell. You see, I still have the crud. And I didn't want to share it with my friends so I went back to the doctor to make sure it was not contagious. And she said it looked like I was having an early allergy season...yeehaw! So I can go...and y'all don't have to worry about catching it...I just might not be a pleasant bunk mate with my snoring and coughing...lol I will bring Nyquil. ;)
Have you decided what to take for Discipleship Training? It is tough to choose this time! The nerve of the church offering so many good choices...ha! If you have never participated in DT...I absolutely positively insist you sign up! Nothing will grow your faith like studying God's Word with a small group of like-minded believers! If you don't know which to choose...I'll help you pick one out! With the options available you CANNOT go wrong with any choice! If you are lurking from another church and you do not have DT at your church...come join us for ours and get some ideas to take back to your church. Sundays at 6pm and anyone is welcome! Starts March 13th I think!
Y'all have a great Wednesday...go to church tonight and get refilled!
In Him,
Kristy =)
Have you decided what to take for Discipleship Training? It is tough to choose this time! The nerve of the church offering so many good choices...ha! If you have never participated in DT...I absolutely positively insist you sign up! Nothing will grow your faith like studying God's Word with a small group of like-minded believers! If you don't know which to choose...I'll help you pick one out! With the options available you CANNOT go wrong with any choice! If you are lurking from another church and you do not have DT at your church...come join us for ours and get some ideas to take back to your church. Sundays at 6pm and anyone is welcome! Starts March 13th I think!
Y'all have a great Wednesday...go to church tonight and get refilled!
In Him,
Kristy =)
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