FOCUS

So, here I am, a pastor’s wife?!

Whether you have been  one of us for 2 weeks, 6 months, 2 years, or 65 years, we all have need of  TRUTH spoken to us which render us: hope, grace, encouragement, and life transformational insights.  We pray that you will receive just that (and more) through our various 2012 writers. The Heartline entries include timely insights into several scripture passages and life-applicable topics.

God bless you as you join us in gleaning! 

WORDS TO INSPIRE

 “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count other more significant that yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)

We as pastor’s wives wear many hats including serving as an encourager, prayer warrior and confidant. Though we may experience a unique role in our congregations, our attitude in serving our Savior is no more than what Paul encourages all believers to possess. He continues, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, (Phil. 2:5ff).

My life is not about me; it’s about the Lord. Isaiah’s saw God’s glory. His encounter (6:5-8) with God’s holiness seared not only his lips, but his heart. Isaiah’s humble response to his call to service: “Here am I. Send me.” Contemplate the Lord’s unlimited goodness and mercy, His immeasurable love and power, and our attitude in service changes.

Rhoda Jore, missionary to Uganda, captured the essence of Christ-like service. She wrote of her struggle on occasion to graciously receive unexpected guests, considered to be an honor in the culture, while in the midst of managing a busy household. “I often see it as an intrusion rather than an honor. But I have found that each time God gives me what I need to step out and receive in love. He gives joy and a knowing that it is not myself that I am extending, but Him. People are not looking for us, they are looking for Him.”

May God bless our service for His glory.

NEEDS OF THE REAL WORLD

Being Emptied…To Make Room for God

What does “being empty” mean?  Empty means nothing is left.  So in light of this topic emptied means to have nothing of “myself” in the way but only God.  If we want to be filled up with God we have to be emptied of self.

Sometimes God has to really work with me to be emptied so that there is room for God.  I like to hold on to things.  I like how it feels though when I am emptied just for God.  I feel frustrated when I know the heaviness is upon my heart of holding on to things.  When I release them to the Lord it feels so good it is like a big back pack has been lifted off of my back. Sometimes I can pray myself and give God the situation and sometimes I physically have to lift up my hands up to the heavens and say, “God I need to be shown today that you love me in your own special way”  “God I don’t know how this certain situation can be fixed Lord but you do and I am just going to back out of the situation and watch you work”  “I am so lonesome today Lord please let me feel your love to me.”    It feels so good to let go.  I know it is the verses I have quoted before, Proverbs 3:5, 6, Trust in the Lord with all of your heart. God knew that I would want to keep part of my heart from myself so He put that verse there for me with all my heart. If you have ever experienced letting go of something it is a total feeling of emptiness just waiting, watching or leaning on Him alone.  No worries, no fretting just wait on Him for each new thing.  The song writer says “Room for Jesus King of Glory, hasten now his will obey.”  It is obedience on my part to leave it with God.

What a victorious life it would be if I could continually lean on Him alone each day and not allow the evil one to cause any disruptions in my life.  That is why we need to be on guard.  Be watchful.  Then, listen to the Holy Spirit and obey.  God wants all of me.  He just doesn’t want part of me.  I have known that concept for a long time.  Yet in my flesh, I don’t allow Him to have all of me because either I don’t think He can handle it or I just want to keep hanging on to it.  Whatever the reason, God needs to prune me so that I get rid of things so that my cup is empty of myself and so that I can be full of God Himself.

Prayer:  “Lord Jesus sometimes it is so hard for me to lean on you.  My flesh wants to hold on to things or control my ideas myself.  Lord it is such a heavy feeling to carry these burdens around with me.  I long for the fresh, emptied feeling within my heart.  Lord please help me today to be watchful if Satan catches me in a snare and if he does to immediately go to you in prayer with it.  Help me also to listen to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to guide each situation in my life.  Thank you Lord.  This I pray through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Amen

CHECK IT OUT

I recently completed reading Francine Rivers‘ “Mark of the Lion” trilogy. Although it was written in the early 1990’s, I first became acquainted with it when I checked out Book 1, A Voice in the Wind, from my church library.  The setting for the trilogy is first-century Jerusalem, Germania, Rome, and Ephesus in the days of the gladiators. The historical presentation and the clear presentation of the Gospel in Book 1 lead me to purchase Book 2, Echo in the Darkness, and Book 3, As Sure as the Dawn.  

A Voice in the Wind is the result of Francine River’s quest, “seeking the faith of a martyr.” Hadassah is this martyr. She struggles courageously to live out her faith as a servant in the midst of the pagan Roman household of the Valerian family. Although she is ridiculed for her faith, the Holy Spirit uses her bold witness and perseverance to eventually lead the wealthy Valerian family to faith in Christ, one at a time. The family includes two siblings, Julia and Marcus. Hadassah became the devoted servant of Julia, showing kindness and love to her in spite of her cruelty to Hadassah. Marcus was attracted to Hadassah’s physical beauty and her gentle spirit, but he could not understand her devotion to her God. He was a regular attendee at the games in the Roman arena, but after Hadassah was thrown to the lions, he was devastated and repulsed by the barbaric games. In Book 2, there is an amazing turn of events. If you read Book 1, you need to find out what happens in Book 2.

In this trilogy, there is a stark contrast between worship of the one true God and the worship of the Greek and Roman gods which were found wanting. A Christian worldview and the development of the characters by Francine Rivers inspired me to continue reading all 3 books.  If you like historical fiction, I think you will be as convinced as I am that these books are worthwhile and will help you grow in your faith and courage to defend the Gospel.

HELPFUL HINTS FOR HOME

Calendars and schedules are useful tools that assist us in our attempt to be organized, but they offer us no help in setting our priorities and  our limits! We need to be thinking and praying about our priorities daily, BEFORE we come to our calendars!

The book by Charles Bradshaw and Dave Gilbert entitled Too Hurried to Love, share this thought: “hurried people are the ones who have said yes to so many things that now they seem to be on the verge of panic! Just observing their lives brings to mind the school-yard rhyme:  When in trouble, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout.”  Psalm 39:4-7 encourages us to redirect our focus on the eternal.  Our Creator offers us wisdom about calendars, schedules, priorities, and limits.  He had the challenge of a busy life when He was on earth too.  The kinds of complexities that tie most of us up in knots never seemed to concern Jesus.  He kept His life focused by setting limits.  He chose twelve (not twelve hundred!) into whom He would pour His life for  3 years (note!  end date in mind!)

Rather than getting caught in the success trap that says bigger is better and  that enough is never enough, he chose to own only those things He could easily carry with Him as He walked. His ability to set limits was the reason He could focus fully on the moment rather than fuss around with a million worrisome concerns!  Let’s learn from His example—spending time with the Father, focusing on eternal issues, and setting appropriate limits.

I’m encouraging you, dear, godly woman! I’m praying for you to step out and follow the One who knows each of our personal limits and is the Trustworthy One to follow!

IDEAS THAT WORK

Make Life Simpler With A Salad Box

Idea Taken from Hallelujah Acres

When you come home from work the last thing you want to do is chop up a bunch of veggies for a salad. We feel the same way, which is why we invented “The Salad Box.”

The salad box is a simple concept we created so that we could have pre-cleaned, pre-cut veggies ready to go whenever we wanted – and it’s all in one handy box that fits in our refrigerator. It brings the convenience of a salad bar into your own home! You know everything is fresh and cleaned… because you did it!

All you have to do is get a large, clear, plastic under-the-bed style storage box and several smaller boxes to fit inside. All your veggies will fit into the smaller boxes, one type of veggie per box. Put them all in the larger box and you have a mini salad bar ready to go in your own refrigerator.

We searched high and low for boxes that would fit inside an average refrigerator. The best, large box can be found at Target stores, and the little boxes that go inside are available at Walmart.

Here’s how it works. Simply buy 4-5 days’ worth of veggies, seeds, nuts, water chestnuts or anything you’d normally put in salads, stir frys, or pita wraps. Designate an hour on one evening to wash and prepare all the ingredients and put them in the smaller boxes within the large salad box and you’ll have everything ready to go whenever you wish for several days and even up to an entire week!

The salad box saves a lot of time and makes dinner prep a lot less stressful. Watch part 1 and part 2 of our salad box videos for all the details!

http://ampm.hacres.com/index.php/recipes/make-life-simpler-with-a-salad-box/

HERE'S WHAT'S COOKING

Strawberry and Feta Salad

Ingredients:

1 cup slivered almonds

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon honey

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/4 cup raspberry vinegar

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

1 head romaine lettuce, torn

1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced

1 cup crumbled feta cheese

Directions:

In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the almonds, stirring frequently, until lightly toasted. Remove from heat, and set aside.  In a bowl, prepare the dressing by whisking together the garlic, honey, Dijon mustard, raspberry vinegar, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil.  In a large bowl, toss together the toasted almonds, romaine lettuce, strawberries, and feta cheese. Cover with the dressing mixture, and toss to serve.

Garlic Prime Rib

Ingredients:

1 (10 pound) prime rib roast

10 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons ground black pepper

2 teaspoons dried thyme

Directions:

Place the roast in a roasting pan with the fatty side up. In a small bowl, mix together the garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper and thyme. Spread the mixture over the fatty layer of the roast, and let the roast sit out until it is at room temperature, no longer than 1 hour.  Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).  Bake the roast for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, then reduce the temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C), and continue roasting for an additional 60 to 75 minutes. The internal temperature of the roast should be at 135 degrees F (57 degrees C) for medium rare.  Allow the roast to rest for 10 or 15 minutes before carving so the meat can retain its juices.

Allrecipes.com

TOGETHER THROUGH PRAYER

Lord, I come to you again, asking that you would give me eyes to see others as you see them and to know my place in relationship to them.  I  am no better than anyone else. I have no more to offer You than anyone else.  Forgive me, again, for being so self-centered and thinking that the world revolves around me.  Give me your heart, Lord. Filled with your compassion.  I  cannot do this myself , Lord,  It must come from you.  So I ask you for it.  I want to be empted,  to  make room in my  Heart for you and for all those that You love.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

FOCUS

So, here I am, a pastor’s wife?!

Whether you have been one of us for 2 weeks, 6 months, 2 years, or 65 years, we all have need of TRUTH spoken to us which render us: hope, grace, encouragement, and life transformational insights. We pray that you will receive just that (and more) through our various 2012 writers. The Heartline entries include timely insights into several scripture passages and life-applicable topics.

God bless you as you join us in gleaning! 

WORDS TO INSPIRE

II Corinthians 5:17-18 (ESV)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;”

I am writing during Holy Week. Throughout Lent I’ve been reminded over and over how great my need is for a Savior. During Lent we’re encouraged to look at our hearts (as honestly as we are capable of looking). I see my failure and sin all too clearly, and then must also realize that is just the “tip of the iceberg” so to speak. We are also encouraged to look at what Christ did for us; He suffered things we can’t imagine as He gave Himself up to the Father’s perfect plan. Then we come to these two verses. “The old has passed away; behold the new has come.” We aren’t “fixed” in Christ. We are put to death and then we are made into a new creation, a brand-new person! Praise God! It is all from God. Nothing is from us. He reconciled us to Himself. Then He gave us a “ministry of reconciliation.” What is that? It is the privilege of sharing this Good News with the world.

NEEDS OF THE REAL WORLD

The Comparison Trap

Comparison Trap is just that! It’s a trap. We, as women, fall so easily into that trap.  Maybe it’s because we’re more the “people pleasing-type” or because we’re so relational but, for whatever reason, we become trapped in it so easily!  We don’t even have to wait until adulthood, nor even our teenage years to start doing it!  Many times it starts when we are very young and we say “her piece is bigger than mine” or “why does he always get______ and I get______? Then, as a young teenage girl, her comparison can become even deadly. It’s a time when we may be seeking approval for our physical appearance and we compare ourselves to the world’s “standard’ and find that we don’t match up.  So, we become anorexic to achieve that “standard” of approval.  The results can be deadly.  Even as adults we may still be caught in the comparison trap.  We want the best for our children we keep encouraging (prodding?) them so that they’re the best at ____. We know they’re the best because we’ve compared them to others and we know they are. (although we wouldn’t want to admit that’s what we’ve been comparing/thinking!) How about our cooking? Do we compare how much better our rolls look and taste then Jessica’s? Or how about our pastor-husband? Do we compare how many people are in our church on Sunday and are in attendance at our church’s events as compared  to the neighboring church? How about us as grandmothers, do we compare  how many grandchildren we have as compared to the Larsons?  Let’s call it for what it is—COMPARISON! Let’s confess it for what it is.  Can we call it sin?  It’s not being content with what He has provided for us, or the  way He has uniquely created us. THERE’S DELIVERANCE FROM COMPARISON! When we yield to Him. When we confess to Him.  He says ”there is great gain in godliness with contentment”

I Timothy 6:6.  In Luke 7:23 He again says “blessed is the man who doesn’t take offense on account of me”  I want what He calls great gain and what receives His blessing. I don’t want what the devil, the world, and my flesh tells me are  my rights, what will make me happy, nor even that “ I deserve it!” Ladies! Let’s encourage one another in seeking His transforming work in our lives.  He alone can deliver us from the Trap of Comparison and set us free to live a Life of Contentment.  

CHECK IT OUT

“Forgotten God: Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit” by Francis Chan

Francis Chan’s book speaks directly, simply, and profoundly to a tragic reality in many of our lives and churches—the neglect of the Holy Spirit. In His absence, individuals and churches operate in their own personal strength and accomplish goals that are merely ‘human sized’. When we begin living in the power of the Holy Spirit, our churches and lives will be vastly different. It is upon that premise that Chan discusses the work of the Holy Spirit as presented in the Bible.

Throughout the book, Pastor Chan challenges his readers with questions to reflect upon. I found these questions especially convicting. For example, 1 Corinthians 1:6:19-20 states that as a believer our bodies are the home of the Holy Spirit. Most of us have likely read that passage several times, but Chan challenges us to consider this statement in light of the way we live. Should there not be a huge difference in the life of a believer versus that of the unbeliever, given the reality of the Holy Spirit inside of us? Yet, why are so many lives of Christians virtually no different than that of an unbeliever? “When was the last time I undeniably saw the Holy Spirit at work in or around me? (p. 35) Is it possible that for many, our relationship with the Holy Spirit is based upon head knowledge rather than a total submitting unto His leading every day? Through the process of encouraging readers to ask hard questions of themselves, Chan truly helps us gain a better understanding of what it should be to have the Holy Spirit within us.

Pastor Chan also digs into the reasoning we have for desiring to be filled with the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. The question we must address is it is one of selfish reasons ( for me and my betterment), or for that of truly knowing the full experience of God in one’s life, and how that experience reflects itself in a love of others and of Christ’s church.  A sure sign of the Holy Spirit’s working in individuals (or churches for that matter) is that Christ is magnified and not man. Further, Chan calls his readers to think less about God’s will for one’s life for the future (which is often a veiled excuse for waiting, doing nothing, and succumbing to fear of failure), and rather focus on God’s will for their lives TODAY (p. 119ff). We are called to an active pursuit of God and His will, not only for tomorrow, but especially for today!

Francis Chan does not allow us to use preconceived notions of the Holy Spirit and His work. The author devotes an entire chapter (The Theology of the Holy Spirit 101) to summarize the vital work of the Spirit, and constantly references and expounds upon Scripture in his book. Further, the use of human example (Esther Ahn Kim, Dave Phillips, Domingo and Irene Garcia, etc.) and amazing comparisons in life (butterflies, tractors, and football) all provide for an excellent and unforgettable understanding of the Spirit’s work.

Our church recently worked through this book and DVD study guide in our Wednesday evening adult large group. It was a wonderful blessing—one that I would recommend for you as well.

HELPFUL HINTS FOR HOME

Hi, I’m Rose, and I wish I could personally know and fellowship with each one of you who is reading this article so I could give you a hug, a smile, and an encouraging word.   The printed word will have to suffice, and that is the next best thing! I have been married to my husband Tim for… let’s see now… thirty-one years I believe, but when I married him I was just a “regular” girl who had no idea I would be married to a pastor! Don’t get me wrong, going into full time ministry was a joint decision and I showed my full support by cleaning houses and living in poverty all through seminary, but after seminary I wasn’t sure how to fill the role of “pastor’s wife”, especially because I did not grow up in a churched home.   I have learned a few lessons from the school of “hard knocks” and from the best teachers, God’s Word and the Holy Spirit, which I want to share with you today.

My first lesson is that our home should be a light to the world around us.  Acts 13:47: For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” We have always made our home a place of welcome, warmth, love, and unconditional acceptance. It is perfectly fine to let people know that we are “regular” people who are saved by grace, so fight the urge to give the impression of perfection.  I have stopped comparing myself to others who cook and bake and clean much better than I do. God made me with unique strengths and gifts so I try to use what He gave me to the best of my ability. Having a welcoming home has enabled us as a family to reach out to hurting people, lost and lonely youth, and even homeless people.  When people come to us with physical needs, we often end up having exciting opportunities to share the Gospel.   In order to be hospitable, I have had to learn that special food, a fancy table, or fresh baked desserts are not necessary.   A spirit of love, a bucket of ice cream perhaps, and a comfortable environment are all that are needed.  Of course, having an open home requires some personal discipline. Just like Murphy said, “If it can happen, it will happen”; therefore, try to be prepared ahead of time by yielding the habit of procrastination to the Lord! I will never forget the ONE day I decided to stay in my jammies a little later in the morning.  That was the ONE day that one of the church trustees came over and wanted to take a look at the parsonage furnace.  You can bet that I resolved to be fully dressed by 8 am from that day forward!   I have also learned that procrastination with housework will usually result in more stress later when I am scrambling to tidy up because we are having unexpected company.  Keeping up with some basic, daily chores, five minutes at a time, and teaching the children to help with regular assigned chores, has enabled me to have the open home the Lord can use.

Second, and seemingly opposite from lesson one, is to set and keep appropriate boundaries.   My girls love to tell the story of what happened to them during a time when our little home mission church was keeping me busy with many needy women who were newly saved and wanting my “ear”.  The phone rang a lot at my house and as a dutiful pastor’s wife I always jumped to answer it, often abandoning whatever activity I was doing with my family.  During one season I was trying to teach my five young children that it is rude to interrupt Mom when she is on the phone, so when seven-year-old Abbie came running in from outside with her typical outburst of “Mom, Mom!” I calmly and quietly told her that she would have to wait because Mom was on the phone.  When she interrupted again with “But…”, I reinforced my instruction with a strong look and an admonition to wait.  After my third visit from Abbie, I finally asked her what the problem was, and I learned that her younger sister had been hanging upside down by her knees from a tree branch for quite some time because she was unable to get down.  At that point I realized I had my priorities in the wrong order, said a hurried farewell to my caller, and went out to rescue poor six-year-old Sarah from what my girls call a “nearly fatal” fall.  Ladies, put your family above your church needs and set healthy boundaries, while loving your church family and the world around you with all of your heart.   If you need help, one of the few self-help books I ever recommend reading is Boundaries by Cloud and Townsend.  The book compares boundaries to fences, which we put up to keep bad things out and to keep good things in.  That analogy has strengthened me many times.  My husband needs to recharge with times of quiet and solitude, so there are some days when my door is NOT open and I graciously explain that we need some quiet time as a family or whatever the case may be. Obedience can come in the form of the word “No” as well as in the word “Yes.”

May your home be a place of rest and refreshment, first for your family, then for the congregation, and finally to the world around you, balanced by obedience and healthy boundaries.

IDEAS THAT WORK

STAYING HEALTHY WHILE TRAVELING

As we find the need to travel once in a while, we may find it challenging to eat healthy foods.  Here are some tips to consider…

Restaurant Dining

• Ask the waitress for a “To Go” box immediately.  When your meal comes, put ½ of the meal in a box to take to the motel or car for another meal. OR consider sharing your meal with another person at your table. Typically, restaurants serve enough food to feed two people 

• Avoid meals that are fried, high in fat, loaded with sugar and high in salt.  Such foods cause high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.

• Avoid “white” foods such as rice, potatoes, sugar, cream sauce, gravies, salt, etc.  These foods also cause health issues.

• If your body does not tolerate certain foods, ask for them to hold that food or put it on the side.  Restaurants are willing to work with dietary needs.

• Skip desserts or ask for fruit for dessert.  While fruit contains fruit sugar (fructose), it is healthier than other desserts.

• Meat portions should be the size of a deck of cards.  Most of the time, restaurants serve too large of a portion of meat.  Eat half and box the rest.

• Soups are loaded with salt (sodium).  Avoid these – especially creamed.  Again, sodium and fats cause various health issues. 

• Don’t give yourself permission to eat uncontrollably.  “Oh well, I’m away from home.”  OR “I’m on vacation.”  OR “It’s okay once in a while.”  These excuses could jeopardize your health – especially if you make it a long-termed practice. 

If we pray about our food choices, the Lord will be faithful to direct us.

1Corinthians 3:16-17 “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and [that] the Spirit of God dwells in you?  If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which [temple] you are.”

HERE’S WHAT’S COOKING

California Grilled Veggie Sandwich

Ingredients
1/4 cup mayonnaise
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/8 cup olive oil
1 cup sliced red bell peppers
1 small zucchini, sliced
1 red onion, sliced
1 small yellow squash, sliced
2 (4-x6-inch) focaccia bread pieces, split horizontally
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Directions

1. In a bowl, mix the mayonnaise, minced garlic, and lemon juice. Set aside in the refrigerator. 

2. Preheat the grill for high heat. 

3. Brush vegetables with olive oil on each side. Brush grate with oil. Place bell peppers and zucchini closest to the middle of the grill, and set onion and squash pieces around them. Cook for about 3 minutes, turn, and cook for another 3 minutes. The peppers may take a bit longer. Remove from grill, and set aside. 

4. Spread some of the mayonnaise mixture on the cut sides of the bread, and sprinkle each one with feta cheese. Place on the grill cheese side up, and cover with lid for 2 to 3 minutes. This will warm the bread, and slightly melt the cheese. Watch carefully so the bottoms don't burn. Remove from grill, and layer with the vegetables. Enjoy as open faced grilled sandwiches. 

Strawberry Angel Food Dessert

Ingredients
1 (10 inch) angel food cake
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 quart fresh strawberries, sliced
1 (18 ounce) jar strawberry glaze

Directions

1. Crumble the cake into a 9x13 inch dish. 

2. Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Fold in whipped topping. Mash the cake down with your hands and spread the cream cheese mixture over the cake. 

3. In a bowl, combine strawberries and glaze until strawberries are evenly coated. Spread over cream cheese layer. Chill until serving. 

Allrecipes.com

TOGETHER THROUGH PRAYER

Please join me in prayer. 

Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me.  You, Heavenly Father are the only one who can create this new spirit, this right spirit, within me.  Forgive me for looking so much to others around me to find answers to who I am and for my  affirmation.  You alone, O Lord, are the only one who has the Truth about who I am and my worth. Thank you for speaking your TRUE WORDS to me.  I am your child I am the  Daughter of the Most High God! And you love me unconditionally.  Thank you, Jesus. Thank you! Amen

FOCUS

So, here I am, a pastor’s wife?!

Whether you have been one of us for 2 weeks, 6 months, 2 years, or 65 years, we all have need of TRUTH spoken to us which render us: hope, grace, encouragement, and life transformational insights. We pray that you will receive just that (and more) through our various 2012 writers. The Heartline entries include timely insights into several scripture passages and life-applicable topics.

God bless you as you join us in gleaning!

WORDS TO INSPIRE

GOD’S WORD- Eternal Truth

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth. To show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is blameless before Him.” 2 Chronicles 16: 9

I love this Scripture. It describes the reasons I feel confident in crying out to God.

I discovered this brilliant nugget of truth while searching the Scriptures in my girlhood. It grabbed my attention! With excitement I imagined the Living God from His throne in Heaven looking up & down, back & forth throughout the earth, searching for His child whose heart is blameless with sincere faith in Him. I pictured this one and that one, suffering, yearning, hoping against hope for God’s provision of mercy, healing and deliverance. With confidence in His Fatherly care, I lifted those names up to HIM.

And of course, I cried out with my own needs. I lifted my eyes to Him in full faith & dependence, and prayed for His mercy to fall upon me.

I believe that this Scripture has a threefold essence: (1) It reveals God’s heart of MERCY. (2) It promises HIS POWER. (3) It compels us to PRAY.

An earthly Father scans the playground to be sure his child is safe; a mother scans the lake as her child bobs up and down in the water; each one stands poised to jump and run to help if a sudden need arises! Each is alert to his child’s cry. But our situation is all the better. We are not at play. We are trudging through the slough of this dangerous world, often carrying heavy burdens. We have to climb mountains of difficulty as we scramble to hold tight to those entrusted to our care. We’re under attack all the way, dodging arrows and darts, and sometimes stumbling with pain as we succumb to them. Sometimes we fall. Often, we look up to His seeing eye and cry for help. We readily recognize that we are totally helpless without His deliverance. “O Lord, in the acceptable time: in the multitude of thy mercy hear me.” (Psalm 69:13)

God’s power is at work on our behalf. He is ABLE to save! He is ABLE to deliver us! We can claim the “exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.” (Ephesians 1: 19,20) “His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ Jesus when He raised Him from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places “ is ours!

I love 2 Chronicles 16:9. I do cry out to God for myself, but most frequently this scripture prompts me to lift others to Him as I place their names in this promise. “Father, I know that you are searching for your child who needs you desperately. Please show yourself STRONG on behalf of ____________ today. He needs healing, Lord. She needs wisdom, Lord. This family needs untangling. That situation needs deliverance. This needs your direct intervention. Please deliver him from danger. Please hold her in Your everlasting arms.”

At any minute God may break in. “God meets life,” writes Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest. “Keep your life so constant in its contact with God that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left.”

That’s the essence of my practical “living out” of this Scripture. It drives me to intercessory prayer. I pray with confidence! It is the Living God who makes this promise. I bow humbly before Him and wait for Him to show His mercy and power in the best ways He shall choose.

NEEDS OF THE REAL WORLD

SELF-CONFIDENCE VS GOD-CONFIDENCE

If I have so much confidence in myself that I leave God out on most parts of my life I will immediately experience as a child of God struggles within. God continually reminds me with a still small voice that I am resting in my own abilities or self-confidence and I am not asking or leaving situations over to the Lord. The thing we have to remember is that when He created us He did not create robots. He created us with a will. He loves us so much and wants us to follow His will but we have to turn our will over to His will. So in every situation in my life I must allow God to have a part in every one. He knows already the outcome of everything but He wants me to verbally by mouth or thought give that over to Him.

It is when I continue day by day doing everything on my own and not giving the day and the situations over to him that I feel frustrated, anxious, angry, worried, and stressful. I then have to learn that I need to leave every situation of my day or the situations that I know are coming my way tomorrow over to Him. I know that I have heard that saying many times by pastors and teachers but to listen to that saying and to do it actually myself is two different things. I need to give my will over to His will.

Sometimes, and probably more than I would like to admit lately, I get going doing my own will and don’t ask God what He thinks nor do I ask Him to handle certain situations. He allows me to go ahead and do my own will. Sometimes I listen to the Holy Spirit speaking to me to give that over to the Lord, quicker than others and sometimes I don’t. When I don’t then I experience my heart so heavy and anxiousness comes so strongly to my body that I wonder what is going on. Then I remember that I am handling the situation myself and I have not given it over to the Lord or asked Him to tell me what to do and my worry has overtaken me.

When I consistently give the Lord every situation of the day and the next day over to Him the peace that I feel inside me is so comforting. It is so peaceful. I sometimes say why do I forget this peacefulness so quickly and get into the stressful anxious worrisome body and heart. Why do I not listen quicker and react towards the Heavenly Father to experience His love and care for me and show His glory through the situation. I have experienced many times lately when I have not known what to do that I have just simply stated a small statement,” I don’t know what to do Lord, you are going to have to tell me where to go or what to do.” Then I just wait and each time God does give me the answer. It is in my mind a total miracle and closeness to the Lord that I cannot express in words.

I am learning to allow myself to have God –Confidence instead of Self-Confidence. It is a continual process for me and one that I am learning every day. I claim the Bible verses Proverbs 3:5, 6. Trust in the Lord will all of thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.

CHECK IT OUT

“If You Want To Walk on Water, You’ve Got To Get Out Of The Boat”
By John Ortbergs

In whom or in what do you place your trust? This challenging question is at the heart of John Ortbergs’ book, “If You Want To Walk on Water, You’ve Got To Get Out Of The Boat.”

Ortberg, Senior Pastor at Menlo Park Presbyterian in California, uses the Biblical account of Peter walking to Jesus across the water as an illustration of every Christian’s struggle between faith and fear. He describes Peter’s experience succinctly: “Hope got Peter out of the boat, Trust held him up, Fear sank him.” I don’t know about you, but there are many times when I feel content to be what Ortberg calls a “boat potato,” relying on familiar routines, relationships and expectations. The truth is I’m afraid of failure. It seems safer to stick with the folks I know and the abilities I’m comfortable with using than to strike out into the unknown. Jesus wouldn’t expect me to do that, would He? The answer is yes, sometimes He would, because, “God’s general method for growing a deep, adventurous faith, is by asking us to get out of the boat.”

Ortberg combines Biblical teaching, personal examples and insights from other Christian authors in an engaging style. He wants to help his readers learn to be “water-walkers” like Peter. This means discerning God’s call, identifying and transcending our fears, accepting failure and becoming willing to take risks because we trust the One who called us. He illustrates “water-walking” with examples of Christians who have followed Jesus into the storm. Harriet Mears was an accomplished “water-walker.” She taught college age young people for years at Hollywood Presbyterian church and was a formative influence on many, including Billy Graham. Becoming frustrated with the lack of first rate educational materials she started a small publishing company in a garage. It grew into Gospel Light Publishers. Because she could not find a good single volume introduction to the Bible she wrote her own and it continues to be sold today. She also helped to found Forest Home, a well known spiritual conference center. Each time she saw a need she trusted Jesus to help her meet it. Yet at the end of her life, this amazing Christian woman, when asked what she would have done differently replied “I would have trusted Christ more.”

What would happen if we each trusted Christ more? Read this book alone or with a group of friends and you may find out. There are discussion questions at the end of each chapter, making it a good choice for a study group or book club.