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"He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning." Daniel 2:22 (NIV)
Warm Fuzzies
Thank you to all of my subscribers, without you, the new Christian, this newsletter wouldn't exist. I would love to hear from you, but please do not
hit reply to contact me because I won't receive your response. If you need to contact me you can
email me at sandra @ thebossychurchlady.net (without the
spaces in the address).
I'd love to hear what you think! And, if you want to share something with the other readers in a future issue of this newsletter--such as a testimonial, or a poem, devotional,
a story that God has inspired you to write, or even
if you want to advertise your own site-- you
can send it to me at sandra @ thebossychurchlady.net (without the
spaces in the address).
Your privacy is important to me; therefore, I will not sell, rent, or give your name or
address to anyone. At any point, you can select the link at the bottom of every email to unsubscribe.
If your
e-mail program is blocking the pictures in this newsletter or if you would rather read this newsletter online, go to:
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(The current newsletter is always at the top of the pages.)
Even though the Bible says we are to honor our parents, a lot of people are left wondering if they still have to honor their folks even if they aren't deserving of any honor. In a nutshell, yes. The Bible is clear on this matter and it says that we should if we want things to go well for us. No matter what our parents do or don't do currently; or even did or didn't do for us, and some of us have had lousy childhoods, we are commanded by God to honor our parents. It's the fifth commandment.
Now before anyone gets their panties in a bunch over what I've just said, let me quickly make an important point regarding this matter: No child should ever willingly comply with something so offensive such as sexual abuse by a parent or cooperate with parents that want to make the child do something against God, or do something illegal. In that case, he or she (the child) can and should do as prescribed in First Timothy 5:1 and give your parent a gentle rebuke.
"Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers,"
(1 Timothy 5:1 NIV).
Let me point out some verses from the Bible that state the same thing I just said: Romans 13:1-2, and 1 Peter 2:17 are two of them, and then there's Daniel 2:22. What the verses are saying is that God is the one Who appointed your folks to be your folks. Likewise, it is God who sets up authority figures such as the president, the police, our bosses, and teachers.
Because it was God's will that our parents ended up being our parents, we honor God by showing respect to our parents. No matter how awful they may be, even if we can't stomach the sight of him or her, or believe he or she has risen from the bowels of hell itself, we're to show our folks some respect.
No matter what, we are never to be contemptuous toward any authority figure. Below are two conversations, one is an example of utter disrespect on the part of the child; the other is an example of how to honor God by honoring the parent.
Wrong:
Parent: "No, you cannot stay out past curfew; it's a school night."
Child: "You're too strict! I hate you!"
Parent: Stands there flabbergasted.
Right:
Parent: "No, you cannot stay out past curfew; it's a school night."
Child says with no hint of anger or sarcasm: "Okay; just thought I'd ask."
Parent: "No problem."
Child: "I love you," and hugs or kisses parent on cheek, "I'll be back on time."
Parent: Smiles and thanks God for giving him or her such an awesome kid.
Of course, there are other ways to honor your folks, such as:
Helping them financially
Caring for them, even letting them live with you in their golden years
Showing them simple respect like the second conversation above
Showing appreciation for whatever they do for you, no matter how small the
gesture may be
Mowing the lawn, helping with other chores without having to be asked--or
threatened
By walking in your faith
Being faithful to God always brings honor to your parents
Remember: You honor God when you honor your parents and others in authority.
Copyright 2009 Sandra Purdue, A.K.A. The Bossy Church Lady. You can use whatever I write for whatever purposes as long as you don't take credit for what I've written.
Absolutely shocking! Reading a recent study, I learned that 61% of young adults who were churched as teenagers are now spiritually disengaged.
How did this happen? Were the parents of these teenagers aware that "values rejection" was on the agenda?
Parents recognize open opposition when a child talks back and sticks out his tongue. Scripture identifies the tell-tale marks of this rebellion:
"Their speech and their actions are against the LORD the expression of their
faces bears witness against them."
Is your child telling you in their behavior, words, and/or attitudes that they
are rejecting your values?
Parenting is a 24/7 vigil, a leadership position like no other. Most leaders do not get their followers at birth and take responsibility for every morsel they are fed, physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually! Parents do. It is a monumental undertaking. Recognizing signs of rebellion and correcting attitudes while a child is young, goes a long way toward having your children respect and keep your values into adulthood.
Rebellion can be obvious or subtle. Jesus poses the question about a father who asked his two sons to go work in the vineyard . The first son said,
"I will, sir"; and he did not go. The second son answered "I will not"; but he reconsidered and went. Jesus asked,
"Which of the two did the will of his father?" The listeners replied, "The latter."
1. This "actions speak louder than words" test is one way a child reveals himself. So, right here, you can ask yourself,
"Am I only listening to my child's words, or do I follow through and inspect his actions?" Observing behavior is key.
A friend's son was to put away his laundry. The boy was very quick with the task and reported that he was done. His mother went with him to inspect and found the clothes on the floor by the dresser, not really put away.
Jesus talks about knowing people by their fruits. One of the "fruits" is our character. Character development is absolutely influenced by the way we parent.
How do we understand the "fruit" Jesus spoke of? No need to guess. We're told.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control"
Again, observation is essential.
2. Is your child demonstrating these qualities both in and out of the home? My daughter was babysitting, and asked the young boy to help pick up the toys. He replied in a lilting voice,
"No, thank you. I don't want to." The politeness lesson was in play; the obedience lesson still needed some work.
3. What kind of stories do you hear about your child from his peers and other adults who work with him? These can tell you if your values are sticking. The fruit of the developing character can be seen very early, and requires almost constant pruning.
As we think about the story Jesus told of the father and two sons, we may see a parallel to our own children. Sometimes our children openly oppose us, and we may agonize, pray, and take steps to win a child over. The situation that is more likely to blindside us, is the quiet, compliant child who rejects our values after they leave our household. Are there any signs of this silent rebellion?
Yes, there are. And again, it is a matter of observation. The signs of silent rebellion are most often found in body language.
4. Does your child avoid eye contact or avert their eyes when you talk to him? This is an indicator of disagreement. Ask yourself what your child is hiding, that he can't look you in the eye. Is it guilt? Is it fear? Is something bothering him that he can't entrust to you?
My two-year old granddaughter likes to climb, and has been told to stay off my desk and out of the post-it notes. When I see her headed that direction and intervene, she works hard at avoiding my eyes, even as I say,
"Look at me." Parents have to train their children to see "eye-to-eye" on their values.
5. Rolling the eyes is an indicator of a seriously bad attitude. This carries with it not only disagreement with what you are telling your child, but also an attitude that the child thinks you are a fool. This contempt leads the child to despise your values. Sadly, this is a behavior most likely learned by observing the parents. Perhaps the mother disagrees with the father and does not say anything, but the children observe that she rolls her eyes.
6. A negative interpretation of life will cause a child to reject your values. The words of your child is often where this tendency shows up. Grumbling, finding fault, answering
"Yes, but," misinterpreting neutral comments to be negative, or being defensive are all indicators that your child is rejecting your values. A parent may let a child get away with these attitudes because they are not hurting anyone else. The challenge here is to recognize and correct the rebellion.
The stated goals at our household were to have our children be able to run the household by the time they were 12, and to be able to go out on their own by age 18. One daughter left for college when she was 18, but came back and asked me why we didn't kick her sisters out when they were 18. We had said,
"be able to" and she had interpreted, "You're out of here." I didn't recognize her misinterpretation until years later.
7. Limited interaction is possibly the most difficult sign of rebellion to recognize. This calls for observing verbal and body language responses or lack thereof--when you talk with the child. Is the child interacting by nodding, adding comments, or asking questions when you're together? That's healthy. If your child says nothing, you may think they're agreeing, when in fact they are giving you no feedback. They may give you a blank stare, or make it more interesting, by looking thoughtful, but they likely have their own thoughts, which are not in agreement with yours.
Parents, these signs of rebellion are representative of the way children reveal themselves. As you seek to instill your values in the lives of your children,
"values rejection" is on the agenda, and you are now more prepared to recognize it.
2008 Millie McNabb.
Millie McNabb, B.A., B.Mus., founder of Christian Values Legacy, offers strategies and support for parents who are intentionally raising children to become Christian adults. She speaks for Christian and homeschool groups. Download her free report at www.ChristianValuesLegacy.co Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
I should have known better than to trust my work to a teenager. Courtney was my best friend's daughter, and she'd come to me begging for a summer job. Two things sealed the deal: I'd been thinking about hiring an assistant for months, and Courtney told me she'd work for free. She just needed the community service hours for school, she said and besides, wouldn't
that give me more time with the baby?
Well, yes yes it would, and more baby time was exactly what I needed. And more hubby time. More family time I'd been blessed to get this writing job, but when Courtney clinched her offer with a bribe of her mother's walnut brownies, I gave her my computer password and started to plan an actual home-cooked meal for Denny and me, the first in weeks.
Perhaps I should back up: I write a monthly column for "God's Gals" magazine. The focus of the column is home-y advice with a twist. I'm no Martha Stewart, and I don't know many people who are. It's an impossible standard, so with a little bit of humor and a lot of practicality, I write about having a relaxed and happy home.
But I'm an old-fashioned gal I still prefer writing in pencil, on tablets of lined paper. I've also been known to write on backs of grocery receipts, church bulletins, and defunct business cards. Courtney's job would be to enter my writing on the computer, then send it off to my editor. Just for the relief of not having to deal with that infernal Mac this girl would be worth her weight in walnut brownies.
I should have known better.
I had a great idea for a column called "What's the Best Way?" It'd be a series of one-liners, questions about child-rearing, household tasks, marriage with short, snappy answers. I scrawled the questions on scraps of paper while Paige fingered Cheerios, and on Post-Its as Denny and I watched baseball. When I had over a dozen questions and answers, I gave Courtney a fistful of mismatched papers and my blessing, then took off for the beach with Denny and Paige.
Courtney bless her heart, it's a good thing she's cute, because she's no nuclear physicist. She dropped the papers. And then, because she wanted to get to the mall with her bubble-headed friends, she just typed them up well, like this. My over-worked editor couldn't reach my cell phone, looked at her deadline, shrugged, and ran the column:
***
What's The Best Way?
by Tina Kellogg
We women are nurturers and fixers, but too often we go about nurturing and fixing in the most difficult or time-consuming way, just because we think that's somehow best. Here are some common problems in the typical home and family, and the absolute best solution for each of them. Enjoy,
ladies!
What's the best way to get rid of a tick?
-- Candlelight, flowers, chocolate, and a little hanky-panky.
What's the best way to keep the marriage fresh?
-- Sit him on the potty chair until he produces something, then give him candy.
What's the best way to potty train a toddler?
-- Wrap it in tissue paper, and store carefully in a cool, dry place.
What's the best way to keep a fragile Christmas ornament safe?
-- Frequent application of an organic pesticide.
What's the best way to maintain a beautiful lawn?
-- Make swirly patterns with a fork.
What's the best way to easily decorate a sheet cake?
-- Nasal strips work wonders!
What's the best way to quiet a snoring spouse?
-- Get some cork board and lots of thumb tacks.
What's the best way to make an inexpensive message center?
-- Just flush it and replace it. No one will ever know.
What's the best way to deal with the death of a goldfish?
-- Be familiar with their world, but don't try to be part of it.
What's the best way to communicate with a teenager?
-- Whip it like crazy with a wire whisk.
What's the best way to make lump-free gravy?
-- Drill, drill, drill.
What's the best way to help a child memorize math facts?
--A firm "No" will usually do the trick.
What's the best way to discipline a three-year-old?
-- Squeeze its head with tweezers, and pull up firmly.
***
But you know, some of this advice might not be so bad. Paige will have to be potty-trained soon, and Denny has recently started to snore.
Copyright Jan Ackerson--2006. Jan is a Christian who has traveled through sorrow and depression, and has found victory and grace. She dedicates all writings to her Heavenly Father. Contact Jan for writing projects at jan_ackerson@yahoo.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
Here's an interesting question posed by one of the newsletter readers:
I have always wondered why God said he made the woman for man and not the man for woman.......although I have a relationship with the Lord, I have often struggled with thinking that God seems like he values or has more respect towards men than He does women. Why did God allow men to have several wives in the old testament although the opposite wasn't heard of.... and why was virginity expected of women before marriage or it was considered dishonorable and the same is not mentioned of men? Even in Proverbs it's always mentioned about the harlot or the loose women...yet I haven't found anything about an immoral man?! Please help comfort my mind!!!
Thanks... anonymous.
<>< <>< <>< ><> ><> ><>
Dear Anonymous:
First off, let me apologize for the lengthy response, but after carefully considering your questions, I felt that you deserved a detailed answer.
Just to set your mind at ease, I'd like to start by letting you know that Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11 and Ephesians 6:9--just to name a few--tell us that God is no respecter of persons, either male or female. Thankfully, He doesn't show favoritism or we'd all be in trouble--at least I would be.
Thinking about what you said about God saying He made the woman for the man and not the other way around, I felt that way too for a while, until I really looked at Genesis 2:18 where it says,
"The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him,"
(NIV). The fact that the Lord stated that it wasn't good for Adam to be alone, when everything else was good in His eyes tells me that Adam was lonely; he was incomplete.
Notice how in verse 19, the Lord brought the animals to Adam to see what he would name them? Further down, in the second half of verse 20, the fact that Adam was alone is mentioned once again:
"But for Adam no suitable helper was found." No suitable "partner in life" or "helper" could be found out of all the animals. Most of all, no suitable companion could be found for Adam. The solution was to make a woman.
God had another purpose for man: To multiply on the face of the earth (Genesis 1:28), and this couldn't be accomplished without us women. Even though we women are, quite literally, from men, we are by no means are we to be treated as lowly individuals.
In the beginning, God intended marriage to be between one man and one woman. Even though God didn't approve of bigamy, I believe He allowed it in the beginning so that the population could grow. Besides, it was acceptable in certain mid-eastern cultures for a man to have more than one wife--although that doesn't excuse the practice.
Here are a couple of places in the Bible--again, these aren't the only instances--where women are given the recognition they deserve: In the book of Judges, a woman named Deborah was a judge
(ruler) of Israel for a time, and Paul mentions a woman named Rahab by name in Hebrews 11 because of her righteous actions.
Now, on to sexual purity being expected of men and women, I'm going to list a couple of verses that, hopefully, will set your mind at ease:
1) First Corinthians 7:2 tells us that virginity is expected of both men and women until they're married; and
2) Numbers 25:1 tells us that Israelite men committed sexual immorality with Moabite women. Another account in the Bible that should set your mind at ease about men needing to keep themselves pure is in 2 Samuel 11 where King David had an affair with Bathsheba and had her husband killed after he found out that she was pregnant. It says in verse 27 that God was displeased. God punished the king by letting the baby die
(2 Sam. 12).
Just know that God loves women dearly. As Jesus hung on the cross, He found another son for his mother so that she would be taken care of. And in the New Testament, you'll find a lot of verses that instruct men to treat women well.
Have an awesome day!
God bless,
Sandra
"THE VALUE OF A WOMAN: Be careful if you make a woman cry, because God counts her tears. The woman came out of a mans' rib. Not from his feet to be walked on. Not from his head to be superior. But from the side to be equal, under the arm to be protected, and next to the heart to be loved." I have no idea who wrote it, but it's such a great saying that I thought I'd pass it along.
Copyright 2009 Sandra Purdue, A.K.A. The Bossy Church Lady. You can use whatever I write for whatever purposes as long as you don't take credit for what I've written.
I'm always delighted to present each new resource that I find because it's my
hope that every one that I include in my newsletters will help you grow in Christ. If you know of any resources that you would like to share with the other readers, feel free to write to me and let me know about it so I can include it in the newsletters.
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The Bossy Church Lady 9400 Elm Ct. Denver, CO 80260
"While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 (NIV)
Warm Fuzzies
Thank you to all of my subscribers, without you, the new Christian, this newsletter wouldn't exist. I would love to hear from you, but please do not
hit reply to contact me because I won't receive your response. If you need to contact me you can
email me at sandra @ thebossychurchlady.net (without the
spaces in the address).
I'd love to hear what you think! And, if you want to share something with the other readers in a future issue of this newsletter--such as a testimonial, or a poem, devotional,
a story that God has inspired you to write, or even
if you want to advertise your own site-- you
can send it to me at sandra @ thebossychurchlady.net (without the
spaces in the address).
Your privacy is important to me; therefore, I will not sell, rent, or give your name or
address to anyone. At any point, you can select the link at the bottom of every email to unsubscribe.
If your
e-mail program is blocking the pictures in this newsletter or if you would rather read this newsletter online, go to:
http://www.thebossychurchlady.net/2009_03.html
(The current newsletter is always at the top of the pages.)
In This Issue
><>Why Celebrate Easter? by The Bossy Church Lady ><>Bits of Paper and the Cross by Debbie Roome ><> Confessions of the Anti-Martha by Jan Ackerson
><> Resources
Why Celebrate Easter?
Why on earth would we celebrate Easter? And why in the world would we let
our kids believe that there's an Easter bunny? Finally, why would we decorate eggs with little kids and then hide them,
and encourage those same kids to hunt for them?
Because our Easter celebration is a cue for the wee ones--and for us older ones--that something special happened.
Not only does our celebrating Easter let the kids know that something extraordinary happened, but it's also our opportunity to tell the children what happened that makes the day so special. However, if we leave it at the finding of eggs, eating a bunch of chocolate
bunnies and marshmallow peeps, and getting a huge stuffed animal, the
real meaning of Easter Sunday is lost.
God demonstrated His undying love for us by coming to this world and dying in one of the ugliest ways imaginable for our sins so that we could live. Easter is our way of celebrating the fact that God was resurrected on Easter Sunday,
three days after dying. We celebrate the Lord's victory over evil on
Easter Sunday.
If we leave the true meaning of Easter out of our celebration, however, then the real reason for all of the hoopla on one Sunday in particular will be lost; there's really no reason to celebrate
on that day.
This Easter, celebrate loud, celebrate proud I say: Tell everyone that'll listen what God did for you and for them. If you've wandered off the straight and narrow path, recommence your life in Christ by first celebrating His resurrection with the rest of the believers, and then by making the commitment to follow Christ Jesus always.
Copyright 2009 Sandra Purdue, A.K.A. The Bossy Church Lady. You can use whatever I write for whatever purposes as long as you don't take credit for what I've written.
Guest Article
Bits of Paper and the Cross
The singing attracts my attention, filtering down silent streets to the doorway I call home. It's an old hymn I remember from my childhood. Annoyed at the early awakening, I stuff my blanket away and limp across the road to the public restrooms. The mirror reveals a mess of grey. Grey hair, grey whiskers, grey stumps where teeth have rotted, grey clothes engrained with filth.
No wonder people avoid me.
Another homeless man wanders in. "It's Good Friday." he says. "There's something
happening in the square."
I spit towards the hand basin. God only cares about those who gather in cathedrals and wear fine clothes. I don't matter to Him or them. I'm just a nothing and even those who toss coins my way, don't communicate
- besides what would they say? "Lovely day, Mr. Tramp. How's your garden doing? Been on any trips recently? Have you seen the new suits at Ballantynes?"
I stomp out of the restroom and across the pavement, cold air seeping through ancient shoes. My stomach is grumbling and I decide to head to the square, anyway.
Maybe there'll be some food available.
In spite of the early hour, throngs of people fill the area. A cross stands tall in the centre of them; a rough wooden structure with bits of paper pinned all over it. A group stands to the left,
singing a familiar hymn.
On a hill far away
Stood an old rugged cross
The emblem of suffering and shame...
I push through the crowd and they drift apart, moving away from my filth. "What's happening?" I demand as I reach the foot of the cross. An elderly woman looks up, face creased behind round spectacles.
"We're remembering the death of Jesus. You do know He died to take away all the
bad things you've done?"
"What are all the bits of paper for?"
I can see she's nervous as she pushes a pen and some papers towards me. "They're for writing down your sins. When you're done, you can pin them to the cross as a sign of accepting God's forgiveness."
A beefy man approaches from the right. "Everything alright here, Edith?"
I walk off, breathing insults about hypocrites and do-gooders. The cathedral's a few metres away and although I'm tempted to keep walking, I slouch down against the wall. With a bit of luck,
someone will throw some half-eaten food in the nearby bin.
Moments later, I see a figure approaching. He looks to be in his thirties, swarthy, with hair dreadlocked into coarse ropes. I've seen him before somewhere
- sometime. As I run through old memories he stops in front of me. "Do you mind if I join you?"
No one has ever asked me that.
He drops down next to me and swings his backpack to the front. "I've got some hot lamb sandwiches." He hauls out a package and hands it to me.
"Open it up while I get the juice out."
I'm curious and suspicious. Very suspicious, but hunger wins the battle. I shovel one sandwich after another down my throat with no regard for table manners.
"So what do you want?" I ask.
"To spend some time with you."
I laugh, sarcastically. "No really. Why are you here this morning?"
"Just passing through."
"Where're you from?'
"Here and there."
I let out a loud burp after a swig of fizzy grape juice. I wish it was wine, warming my innards and dulling the pain but it's better than nothing. Leaning back against the wall, I look across at my benefactor.
"So what's the catch? You doing a newspaper article on drunken bums?"
His eyes smile as he answers. "I told you, I came to spend some time with you."
"No one in their right mind sits on a hard pavement with a tramp." I gesture at the church people, singing, praying, pinning bits of paper on the cross.
"Why not go mix with them?"
"I've come to see you."
My mind runs through family members, people I haven't seen for years. Could he
be a nephew or a cousin or an old acquaintance?
"I'm none of those." His voice is strong and his eyes seem to penetrate my soul.
"Who are you then?"
"We've met before, a long time ago."
I shake my head. "You look familiar but I can't place you."
He reaches out a hand and as he places it on my shoulder, I notice a deep scar, a sunken gouge by his wrist.
"What did you do to your hand?"
"An old injury. Happened years ago."
His touch is tender and warmth flows into my skin, into my body, into my heart. No one touches homeless people unless they want something and I'm used to violence and harsh words.
"Who are you?" I ask again.
"We met when you were ten. At the altar in your mother's church."
I close my eyes and something shifts beneath my grime and brokenness. That was the day I gave my life to God. An incredible sense of awe overwhelms me...he isn't, he can't be. I open my eyes but he's gone. The only thing left is a lamb sandwich,
a can of grape juice and some scraps of paper and a pen.
For the first time in a decade, hope surges into my heart as I start writing.
Jimmy knew when he proposed to me that he wouldn't be getting a typical pastor's wife. No piano playing, for example, and there's nothing--except the audible voice of God--that would induce me to teach Sunday School. The thought of hosting a Ladies'
Tea makes me break out in hives.
"I don't care about any of that, Nicky." Jimmy reassured me often during the first years of our marriage.
"I just need you to support me, and pray for my ministry, and love the church people."
Well, it's been a pleasure to do those things for Jimmy--and for God. If the Women's Missionary Guild gasped when I attended meetings in hot pink capris and a tee-shirt that read
"Some Day My Prince Will Come," they soon adjusted. I like to think I won them over with my charm.
Still, there's a certain amount of work that must be done, and I've tried to be a good pastor's wife--practicing hospitality, for example, when I'd rather be writing another chapter of the Next Great Christian Novel. I've developed some shortcuts over the years; just call me the anti-Martha.
Here are some ways that I've survived parsonage life:
Housecleaning: Closets are my friends. Happily, I have one in every room. When
Mrs. Postlethwaite calls to say that she'll be by in ten minutes with six boxes of quilt squares for Africa, I open the closet doors and start tossing.
(When my children were little, they were very enthusiastic about having visitors if it involved what I called The Closet Game.)
Also, my living room has several small, portable pieces of furniture. I move them often, to cover any new splotches or stains. Jimmy occasionally trips over a newly repositioned end table. He just chuckles.
"Did you have company today, dear?"
Ironing: When Jimmy needs a wrinkle-free shirt for the Trustees meeting and his dress shirts have been sitting in the dryer since Tuesday, I don't panic. I simply run the shirt under the basement faucet until it's slightly less wet than the sacrifices of the prophets of Baal.
Then I run it through the dryer again for twenty minutes.
Sure, I could iron it in five minutes. But that's five minutes better spent with a cup of coffee and Max Lucado.
Gardening: Isn't it lovely to have your own fresh produce to can and freeze and
preserve?
In short--no. Here are two of my favorite words. Grocery. Store. Yes, I could plant tender young tomato seedlings, and weed them, and pick off those horrid fat green tomato worms. I could spend several afternoons in a sweltering kitchen with a pressure cooker and five dozen Mason jars. Or...I can buy a can of delicious tomatoes for
$.79, without all that perspiration.
Furthermore--it happens every year-every family in the church experiences an abundance of garden-grown tomatoes and peppers and, God help me, zucchini. Jimmy likes to say that they try to pay his salary in vegetables every September. Eventually.
we have to beg people to stop being so charitable/
Baking: This hasn't come up often; the Mother-Daughter Banquet Committee knows that Dottie Stouffer makes the best cakes. But the year that Dottie had surgery, the task fell to me,
and my creation was a big hit.
I went to the kitchen supply store and bought a platter big enough for two turkeys. Next stop--the supermarket, for an assortment of small snack cakes. Little Debbie, bless her soul, has several varieties of hexagonal cakes with various icing designs. I spent a few minutes artfully arranging the desserts, making lovely patterns with the icing.
The resulting cake was as intricate as a parquet floor.
The ladies are still buzzing about that cake.
I could go on and on: hints for gift-wrapping (paper bags), centerpieces (dandelions in a jelly jar), clothing repair
(masking tape, safety pins, buy new).
Last night, Jimmy sat beside me on the couch and handed me a bowl of fresh, sliced peaches. I was suddenly aware of the cluttered living room
(no Mrs. Postlethwaite that day). "I'm sorry, hon. I guess I didn't do much work today."
Jimmy rubbed my neck. "Did you do any kingdom work?"
I thought about the devotional I'd written for the bulletin, and the coffee I'd shared with my lonely neighbor June, and the dozens of prayers I'd launched God-ward.
"Well, yes, Jimmy. I sure did." We finished the peaches in happy silence.
Copyright Jan Ackerson--2006. Jan is a Christian who has traveled through sorrow and depression, and has found victory and grace. She dedicates all writings to her Heavenly Father. Contact Jan for writing projects at jan_ackerson@yahoo.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
I'm always delighted to present each new resource that I find because it's my
hope that every one that I include in my newsletters will help you grow in Christ. If you know of any resources that you would like to share with the other readers, feel free to write to me and let me know about it so I can include it in the newsletters.
><>
F.R.E.E. Daily Devotions -
Have you checked out the free daily devotions right on The Bossy Church Lady's website?
><>
Daily Bible Stories -
Make reading the Bible an adventure for the whole family! These Daily Bible Stories make the stories within the Bible come alive! And they're F.R.E.E.!
><>
Esther -
A Christian Woman's Ministry where inspiration, fellowship, encouragement, prayer, laughter, and friendship come together, strengthening our walk in Jesus Christ.
><>
Fresh-Hope -
Message board dedicated to encouraging, edifying, building each other up & studying the end times. We have many special forums for members only including Living With Pain and Fresh Hope for the Divorced . Please come and check us out!
><>
Christ Centered -
Bible teaching by several ministers. daily devotions, Bible verses, forwards, prayer requests, Bible search, prophesy news, download sermons, daily quiz, Christian cartoons, audio, sermons, songs, verses, Bible scenes, e-cards. Subscribe to daily devotion.
><>
Gods Word Ministry and Bible Study -A Christian site devoted to spreading the Word of God with daily Bible study, Sermons, forum, devotionals, many Christian links, and much more.
NEW!
If you're looking for a book that will take you by the hand and instruct you in the ways of
God for FREE then The Bossy Church Lady’s Official Guide For New Christians: 6 Days
To Knowing All About God is for you!
><> Babe in Christ? Seeking answers about God? The Bossy Church Lady's website is packed with inspirational articles, tools,
resources and scriptures that will answer your questions about Jesus.
http://www.thebossychurchlady.net
><> Get a f.r.e.e e-book that will take you by the hand and explain everything you need to know about the end times! If you're a
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The Bossy Church Lady 9400 Elm Ct. Denver, CO 80260
"For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6 (NKJV)
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In This Issue
><>When Do You Seek Out God? by The Bossy Church Lady ><> This Leader's Heavy Concerned Burden Was to See People Rescued From Approaching Threatening Dangers by Sandy Shaw
><> Is It Faith Or Works That Saves? by The Bossy Church Lady
><> Resources
When Do You Seek Out God?
In Matthew 22, Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love the
Lord with all your entire being. But how do we love someone with
everything we are when we hardly know him or her?
Unbelievably, we tend to seek out God in our deepest, darkest times, not when things are going good for us. But if we can make the effort to get to know God even when we think things are going great for us, our efforts will go a long way toward understanding our Creator and His purpose for us. We'll come to appreciate His work in our lives and the efforts He goes to in order to mold each and every one of us so that we can not only become effective warriors in His Kingdom, but also so that we can walk beside Him, so that we can walk next to Him as a friend would.
We were created to love the Lord and to have a close relationship with Him. In order to have a close friendship with God, we have to take the time to get to know Him, during the good times and the bad. Even when we think we're too busy, we have to carve out some time for God. We have to spend time in worship, prayer and learning about Him, not just on Sundays, but every day. That's really the only way to develop a close, personal relationship with Him. That's the only way to become a friend of God's.
The choice is yours: Wait until the inevitable storm comes raining down misery in your life, pouring defeat into your soul to get to know God and His will for you, or make the effort to know God right now, at a time when things are, hopefully, going good for you.
Copyright 2009 Sandra Purdue, A.K.A. The Bossy Church Lady. You can use whatever I write for whatever purposes as long as you don't take credit for what I've written.
Guest Article
This Leader's Heavy Concerned Burden Was to See People Rescued From Approaching Threatening Dangers
The first letter of John in the New Testament was being written when people were trying to move away from this whole idea of sin and man being a sinner. John was around ninety years old and had been a disciple of Jesus Christ for around 60 years. Here is a man with experience and depth, who is able to give leadership and guidance in a way that few others could come near.
John had been teaching and writing that if we claim we have not sinned we make God out to be a liar. Now, this is strong writing, but then again, most of the New Testament contains very strong writing. It challenges us at all kinds of levels.
"Come clean" we hear people say. John could voice such words, but note that it does not say come perfect. John mentions sins -
"Lord, I am sorry - for what I said - for what I thought - for what I did." Sin has almost become the great unmentionable word in our vocabulary.
If you come clean - honestly and humbly - Jesus will minister to you. That is what John is saying to these people who were being bombarded with all kinds of temptation.
This is why the Cross is so vital and so central. Jesus will wipe out whatever we confess and admit.
If we say we have fellowship with God and walk in the darkness, which is really
moral disorder, that is to live a lie. A lie has short legs - it will not take
you very far!
Maturity has been described as our capacity for fellowship. You are mature only to the degree that you can fellowship with God and with others.
Sin is not merely the breaking of the law - it is the breaking of fellowship - and what was creeping into the Church of Jesus Christ at that time was sin. The moment we sin, there is a sense of estrangement, as we feel isolated in some way. When we are redeemed from sin there is a sense of fellowship with God and with others.
The Gnostics denied they had any sin from which they needed to be cleansed and
from which they needed to be forgiven. This is common thought today!
John is writing to combat this erroneous view. John knew that human nature was stained by sin. His keywords in his letter are, know, Joy and fellowship, along with some other very important words which we need as walk along our spiritual road.
Sin separates but Jesus Christ cleanses. At the heart of John's writings is the message that we need continuous cleansing.
Our lungs expel unwanted carbon dioxide in order to convey a fresh supply of oxygen to the blood - so the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ takes away our impurities.
In Luke Chapter 7 verses 37 and 38, the woman who washed Jesus feet with her hair does so because she has been forgiven much and so she has loved much.
King David cried out in prayer, "Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow".
These amazing teachings - this amazing truth - about which John writes in his letter - is grounded upon the fact of Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord.
This leader could see what was happening and what the solution and remedy was.
There is another thing which he is so concerned about too - if we are going to walk together - we are going to have to walk together in the light. Read John's first letter and allow the text of the Word of God to speak to your heart and encourage and strengthen you. That invariably has its own very special reward.
Sandy Shaw
Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children's Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.
Email: Sandy Shaw
He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled
"Word from Scotland" on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.
His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.
With all of the books out there and all of the information that a person can obtain on the Internet, I have to admit that I'm flabbergasted by the fact that people are still lending an ear to the false doctrines that some of the major religions have been churning out for centuries.
Every time I think about some of their guidelines, I get the willies. No. Actually, I get upset; I'm terrified for the poor people who believe the madness that these churches have been pumping into the heads of their followers.
Which brings me to the point of this article: I'm writing this article with the hope that the truth--at least the truth about this particular false doctrine that I will be addressing--can be spread around so that certain people who have been misled can come back to the Lord before its too late.
Specifically, the false doctrine that I'm talking about here is the one that teaches that people must
do something, or do a ton of somethings, to earn their way into heaven.
People say all the time, "I was raised such and such (whatever religion he or she was brought up to practice), but I'm not anymore," or,
"My parents made me go to such and such church, but I don't believe in God." Why do you suppose that might be? Because they weren't taught to know God. Because they weren't taught that believing in Jesus will make the difference between going to heaven or hell after he or she dies. They've been left feeling empty; they haven't learned that God loves them unconditionally… even if they haven't done anything to deserve it.
From the time that these people first stepped foot in certain churches they were taught to believe that if they're a good person
who does good things for other people, all in the name of the Lord, then God will throw open the doorway to heaven for
him or her. All that does is leave people with the feeling that they have to be perfect or God will cast them aside. They believe that God won't love them if they aren't good. And, since they've messed up once or twice, there's no reason to keep trying to have a relationship with God. Why? Because these churches aren't teaching them any differently.
I've got news for you: Nobody is good except God (Mark 10:18).
Now I don't want you to think for an instant that I'm saying that Christians shouldn't do kind things for others. Proverbs 3:27 tells us that it is a sin to withhold good from another when it's in our power to do so and James 2 tells us that our faith without works is dead. In other words, if we have real faith, we'll want to do good things for others.
Good works or acts of kindness are meaningless unless they're done out of love. You do good things for others because you love of the Lord and because you love your brother or sister and you want to help him or her. What good has ever come of doing something when the mere thought of doing it, even if it is in the name of the Lord, causes one to roll his or her eyes?
If thinking about doing something for another gives one a feeling of dread or extreme anxiety, then the inspiration hasn't come from God; it has come from the desire to please the flesh. It's coming from a yearning to please other men.
The desire to be helpful or do kind things for others is a fruit of the Spirit of God. Part of the joy of helping someone else is to see him or her smile; to make their day a bit easier. Heaven forbid anyone being denied the joy of being able to help someone else. But the joy of doing something kind for someone else is taken away when people are forced to do it in order to earn that golden ticket into heaven.
I've listed a few verses below that should prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that we can only be saved by having faith in Christ Jesus:
"For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:40 (NIV) I don't see anything here that says that we have to do anything in particular to earn salvation, do you? All I'm seeing here is that whoever will believe in Jesus will have everlasting life. I hope you agree.
"For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee." Psalm 86:5 (KJV) This is saying that the Lord is merciful and ready to forgive all who call upon Him for salvation. It doesn't say anything about having to do anything in particular to become saved.
"And Jesus said to him,
'Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.'" Luke 23:43 (NKJV) Notice that Jesus didn't say,
"If you do this or that, then you can go to heaven with me"? Seriously, what
could the man have done while he hung on the cross but believe?
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16 (NASB) I see nothing here either that says that we have to do anything to get into heaven, except believe in Christ Jesus.
"It is by grace you have been saved." Ephesians 2:5 (NIV) And, verses 8-9 say,
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast." Funny, I don't see that we have to DO anything to get to heaven here either. We are saved by grace.
"Who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time." 2 Timothy 1:9 (NIV)
Need I say more?
To drive home the point completely: Nowhere in the Bible does it say that there's some kind of weird karma thing that God uses to determine whether or not we go to heaven and there's no way to purchase our way into heaven.
Again, what is it that makes a person worthy of going to heaven after he or she dies?
A person must believe in Christ Jesus as his or her Savior and repent from his or her sins in order to be
saved. That's it. There's nothing more.
I repeat: Anyone who believes in Christ Jesus as his or her savior and has turned away from his or her sins is saved; he or she already stands justified before the Lord.
Next time, we'll talk about another false doctrine--Purgatory.
Copyright 2009 Sandra Purdue, A.K.A. The Bossy Church Lady. You can use whatever I write for whatever purposes as long as you don't take credit for what I've written.
I'm always delighted to present each new resource that I find because it's my
hope that every one that I include in my newsletters will help you grow in Christ. If you know of any resources that you would like to share with the other readers, feel free to write to me and let me know about it so I can include it in the newsletters.
><>
F.R.E.E. Daily Devotions -
Have you checked out the free daily devotions right on The Bossy Church Lady's website?
><>
Daily Bible Stories -
Make reading the Bible an adventure for the whole family! These Daily Bible Stories make the stories within the Bible come alive! And they're F.R.E.E.!
><>
Esther -
A Christian Woman's Ministry where inspiration, fellowship, encouragement, prayer, laughter, and friendship come together, strengthening our walk in Jesus Christ.
><>
Fresh-Hope -
Message board dedicated to encouraging, edifying, building each other up & studying the end times. We have many special forums for members only including Living With Pain and Fresh Hope for the Divorced . Please come and check us out!
><>
Christ Centered -
Bible teaching by several ministers. daily devotions, Bible verses, forwards, prayer requests, Bible search, prophesy news, download sermons, daily quiz, Christian cartoons, audio, sermons, songs, verses, Bible scenes, e-cards. Subscribe to daily devotion.
><>
Gods Word Ministry and Bible Study -A Christian site devoted to spreading the Word of God with daily Bible study, Sermons, forum, devotionals, many Christian links, and much more.
NEW!
If you're looking for a book that will take you by the hand and instruct you in the ways of
God for FREE then The Bossy Church Lady’s Official Guide For New Christians: 6 Days
To Knowing All About God is for you!
><> Babe in Christ? Seeking answers about God? The Bossy Church Lady's website is packed with inspirational articles, tools,
resources and scriptures that will answer your questions about Jesus.
http://www.thebossychurchlady.net
><> Get a f.r.e.e e-book that will take you by the hand and explain everything you need to know about the end times! If you're a
webmaster, snag the book and give it away to your visitors! The Bossy Church Lady's Take On The End Times
Until next time...
Love The Bossy Church Lady
To unsubscribe, go to http://www.thebossychurchlady.net/goodbye.html, enter your email address in the form and click the
unsubscribe button or use the link at the very bottom of this letter to
unsubscribe.
The Bossy Church Lady 9400 Elm Ct. Denver, CO 80260
