Strength in the Lord

“Mom, Dad … I want to be the one to tell you, we’re getting a divorce.” “This is your doctor; the tests are back … it is cancer” “Sorry, I can’t pretend any longer – the Bible just doesn’t work for me.” “We’ve had to make some difficult choices; clean out your desk; we are letting you go.” “Yes, I’m sure … it’s conclusive you have (this disease).”  Receiving just one of these messages would be tough to hear at any time … but especially challenging when you are approaching retirement, looking forward to enjoying your grandkids, planning a special wedding anniversary, feeling your precious Christian family is intact.  But God often writes the story different than we would.  When asked recently why a friend serves as a Bible study leader, without much thought the answer quickly came: “I lead Bible study because I want to be used of God to help others grow in their faith.”  This was the truth 8 months ago when all five of the above situations were beginning to be birthed in this person’s life.  With more real life stories than they would have chosen to tell, it is still the truth … because God is in control even when life spins out of control.  The following quote from Charles Stanley says it best: “I wonder how many times you have said to the Lord, ‘Dear Lord, I want you to use me.  I don’t want a lot of pain in my life, but I’m willing to be used.’  Sorry, God does not work that way.”  If you want to be used by God, get ready to hurt.  If you want to be a comforter, then get ready to suffer.  If you want to be someone who can really encourage others, then you must be a person who has walked through the valley of discouragement, surrounded by hurt, suffering and loss. God is equipping you and me to be vessels of love, healing and restoration to a world of people filled with pain, hate and despair.  I lead Bible study because I want to be used of God to help others grow in their faith.  Yes, I found strength in the Lord my God! I Samuel 30:6b. - A Fellow Believer   Recommended Reading: Behind the Mask by John Lynch, Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol--For those with unresolved life issues this is a helpful book to face them, and slay them with the grace of God.

Spiritual Parenting

Shortly after we had our third kiddo under 3, we figured it might be a good time to learn some parenting skills…so we signed up for Spiritual Parenting. Over the course of a few months we and several other families joined Sherri and Bonnie, who led weekly sessions, and discovered how we parent, why we parent the way we do, and God’s plan for parenting.  The weekly sessions were divided into discussions of environments we can create in our homes to introduce our children to Christ. Some of my favorites were story-telling, course correction and serving others.

Story-telling emphasizes how the stories of the Bible are like chapters in God’s big story, which continues today to include our lives and those of our children. Unlike the typical presentation of children’s Bible books and songs which portray heroes and heroines such as David, Ruth, Joseph, etc., this environment acknowledges God as the master storyteller and recognizes His casting of various characters to most effectively tell His story.

Course correction involves the use of discipline to steer our children back on track, with a motive to restore and heal. We also learned that effective methods of discipline may differ from child to child just as God uses tailored methods of discipline when he corrects us.  Unique in this presentation was the encouragement to apply grace in our responses to disobedience in our children, instead of responding with discipline every time

The creation of a service environment involves teaching our children to maintain our home by serving each other, and including our children in our acts of service to others. Some ideas we have incorporated are encouraging generosity by giving away our surplus toys to families in need and signing our family up to serve at the church’s community luncheon. Although we're still honing our parenting skills, and will be for years to come, Spiritual Parenting provided several valuable tools to include in our box.

 - Joanna Galbraith

 

 

Pastor's recommended reading:

Love and War by John and Stasi Eldredge.  Author's of  Wild at Heart and Captivating.

If you want a book that will encourage you and inspire a greater vision for your marriage this is a good one.  Through helpful vulnerability John and Stasi will give you hope for your marriage to be even better. 

You Can Change by Tim Chester
God's power can change you  This book will help you understand how the process of change works with the integration of the Word, the Holy Spirit and you. 

Open Our Eyes

Do you remember the story of the blind servant of God?  His story is recorded in 2 Kings 6:15-17.  He had the ability to see the strength of the opposing enemy, but was blind to the army of God.  It was Elisha who prayed, “O Lord open his eyes so he may see.”  That is a great prayer.  I pray it for myself, my family and our church regularly.  When I see the power of God all else seems different—even the challenges.  Today’s Focus story helps us to see God which changes how we face the bumps in the road.   

 

This morning we received an email from our daughter-in-law that our son was laid off his armed security job he has held for 3 years.  On January 1 he would receive the highest wage and three weeks’ vacation. In spite of having high seniority and good working reports he was informed this Friday will be his last day.  I immediately prayed and asked our Lord how to best pray for my son and assist him in this trial. I talked to my son and let him know I would be praying for him.  In the meantime I was reading one of the three daily devotions I receive through email.  One of these devotions seemed very appropriate to send to my son.  I asked my wife if she had read this devotion.  Not only had she read it but had sent it to my son via email. This was the little devotion and small commentary:

 

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.  Isaiah 41:10

Ever will the Lord raise up His people from their troubles!  Ever will He seek to heal their hurts!  Ever will He redeem His people from wickedness!  And ever will the Lord Almighty strengthen the resolve of His children that they might proclaim His mercies forever!  Praise His name forever all you His people!  Hallelujah!

 

Now some people would say this devotion was just a coincidence and I was reading into this situation.  That would be the devil talking.  At first I did not realize what had just occurred.  I asked my Father God how to best pray and help my son.  Soon after starting to read my daily devotions I realized how my first devotion would be quite useful to my son.  Then I realized my Lord also answered my prayer request through His magnificent Word.  The timing was impeccable.  Not only did my Lord answer my prayer, He also allowed the same message to minister to my son. Then my God went the extra mile.  My wife who was in deep sorrow over this incident was strengthened in the Lord and not only found peace in the Lord, but permitted to relay this powerful message to our son and his wife. Thus my wonderful God met four people who were in great distress with the same encouraging Word.  WOW!  What a great God and He is greatly to be praised.

Be encouraged, God sees you and is mighty to save. 

 

Thanks to a brother in the church who sent me this note and allowed our body to be encouraged as well. 

“O Lord open our eyes so we may see.” 

-Pastor Mark

Due to computer glitch - this message didn't  make it on January 10.  Trying again today 1/12

Happy Birthday, Pastor Mark!