Being A Girl Who Serves Notes

The following are points taken from a book that I recently read that was an encouragement to me, Being a Girl Who Serves by Shannon Kubiak Primicerio. I will put a disclaimer in and say that I don’t agree with everything she says and she doesn’t use the right Bible version but in all it was a really good book and help me put some things back in line.

• True servant hood is a lifestyle and a lifelong commitment. A servant who trusts their master is always going to be more willing to serve.
• Life becomes exciting when we dare to take risks that count for something.
• What are we risking out lives for? Because everything in life is a risk. Be sure that in the risks you take you aren’t rash in your decisions. It’s little steps of obedience that prepare you for bigger ones. The places God asks us to go and the things He asks us to do may not always be earth shattering but they will make an impact.
• God uses those who are out there moving and searching because they have no plans of their own.
• God gives us talents and gifts to use to serve Him, not lie dormant. He has a purpose for the things He made you good at.
• Insecurity is a form of pride- dwelling on what we can or cannot do or what people will think of us.
• Sometimes we are called to serve in places that make us uncomfortable, and pride keeps us from doing God’s will.
• Many times it’s what we don’t want to do that God has for us. Don’t refuse to stoop and have God force you to stoop!
• So many hope they have to courage to die for Christ but they won’t even live for Him now.
• Mary and Martha both had a servants heart. Take times to be still and know God rather than rushing around like a maniac. Great peace and joy come from sitting at His feet. Before you can serve you must sit. Forget about everything and everyone and spend time with Christ.
• How often do we look for someone to serve? Three things a servant of God should do when serving: 1). Call them by name, 2). Put them at ease, 3). Give them a place of belonging.

Several Ways to Make Yourself Miserable

These were in a devotional book by Elisabeth Elliot, Keep a Quiet Heart.

1. Count your troubles, name them one by one- at the breakfast table, if anybody will isten, or as soon as possible thereafter.
2. Worry every day about something. Don't let yourself get out of practice. It won't add a cubit to your stature but it mught burn a few calories.
3. Pity yourself. If you do this enough, nobody else will have to do it for you.
4. Devise clever by decent ways to serve God and mammon. After all, a man's gotta live.
5. Mike it your business to find out what the Joneses are buying this year and where they're going. Try to do them at least one better even if you hvae to take out another loan to do it.
6. Stay away from absolutes. It's what's right for you that matters. Be your own person and don't allow yourself to get hung up on what other expect of you.
7. Make sure you get your rights. Never mind other people's. You have your life to live, they have theirs.
8. Don't fall into any compassion traps - the sort of situation where people can walk all over you. If you get too involved in other people's troubles, you may neglect your own.
9. Don't let Bible reading and prayer get in the way of what's really relevant - things like TV and newspapers. Invisible things are eternal. You want to stick with the visible ones - they're where it's at now.

Are you a Strong Woman or a Woman of Strength?

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape…
But a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.

A strong woman isn’t afraid of anything…
But a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fears.

A strong woman won’t let anyone get the best of her…
But a woman of strength gives her best to everyone.

A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future…
A woman of strength realizes life’s mistakes can also be God’s blessings
And capitalizes on them.

A strong woman walks sure-footedly…
But a woman of strength knows God will catch her when she falls.

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face…
But a woman of strength wears grace.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey…
But a woman of grace has faith that it is in the journey
That she will become strong.

~Cathy Berry~

Don't Leave off the End!

I have been dying to post on here for a while and yet I struggle to find the time and the connection to post. But right now I am managing with one bar of wireless, Lord willing I will be able to finish and it will last.

We had an evangelist last night at church and though he didn't have long to speak what he said was an encouragement and a reminder. Many time when we read Scripture or memorize Scripture we sometimes forget "parts".

• Turn to Psalms 40:1-2


• You probably have this memorized but maybe you were like me and forgot the end of verse 2.

Praise the Lord He hears us when we call. When we are out of fellowship with the Lord it's like that horrible pit - dark, cold, alone, and you can't see the way out. It's also like the mirey clay- you may be able to see things but you cannot do anything to get anywhere, your stuck right where you are.

When we realize our broken fellowship and call on Him, He hears us and brings us out and sets us on that rock- sure, sound, secure. But the verse doesn't end there! He sets us on the rock long enough to establish where we are to be going. And he only wants us there long enough to give us our orders and send us off.

We have this common misconception that we need to wait on God to make the decision of what He wants us to do. Wrong! He already has our future all planned out and we only need to seek His face to get our orders.

I thought it was really interesting and it makes me wonder How many other verses are like that? What other verses do I only look at the beginning and forget the end? Maybe that will spark your interest too!

I have missed posting and hopefully I will have time to post something every now and then about what God has been teaching me. Until then... Keep Following Him.

So Busy... Don't Leave out God!

Well, I have been wanting to post on here for so long but this summer has been busy. That's part of the reason why I am posting, this summer has been tough for me spiritually, and not because I haven't been spending time with Him. I was so busy this summer going from one ministry to another and now that the summer is over I look back amazed at how monotonous it became. I loved every bit of the ministries I was involved in: camp, VBS, Activities, Special musics, Missions trips, but it was so easy just to slip into a comfortable routine, living from one activity to the next.
I don't know if you all ever struggle with this problem but I do and I don't like it. I'm just seeking the Lord on better ways to serve but not become so engrossed in the ministries that I overlook the Master. This summer has been life-changing for me, in more ways than one. I look back at my life a year ago and I see how much God has changed me and how much I have grown (sorry I definitely haven't arrived yet! ;). I wish I had time to sit and be able to write all the things I've seen God do for me this summer, that day will come sometime. I haven't forgotten you all and I for sure haven't been learning things from God's Word. I just can't find time to write and I miss it.

Start of Our Revival

I can't believe that it has been so long since I last posted! Not that I haven't had anything to post but haven't had much time.
We have revival going on at my church this week and Sunday nights message was really good. It was basically a message pleaing with people to surrender to Christian service. Brother Ron Comfort gave some staggering statistics of the world. If you have ever been to another country you understand a little of the need.
75% of the world has heard of Coca Cola, and 50% has tried it, but only 10% of the world has heard the gospel!
I was burdened by the fact that I begun to be complacent in my Christian life, kind of nonchalant in my ministries, which ought not to be. My heart cried out that many teens would see the need. Brother Comfort asked who was going to take the place of those faithful people in leadership when they pass on to glory. I know I don't deserve to take their place but I want to be available and usable for the Lord. But I was praying that it would click to the teens, and at the invitation 8 came forward to surrender for Full time Christian service. It was good, but pray that they would remember this and not take back the string they've now given to the Lord. I so want God to use me for His service, it's an ache that fills my being. There's nothing that soothes it but serving Him.
Well I need to go and get ready for church tonight. I'll try to post again soon.

Revival in the Heart

I found this the other day while Lizzie and I were reading Baptist History and I thought it was really good. It’s part of a journal entry of Absalom Waller, pastor of Lower Spotsylvania Baptist Church in Virginia in 1817. His church had become cold to spiritual things and he longed to see revival and records when revival broke out, starting in his own life first.
This scene takes place in a grove of trees where he regularly went to pray, it was also a graveyard where several of his relatives lay.

“While I was thus engaged (praying in the grove) the thought struck me with great force indeed, that the souls of my dear departed children near whose graves I was then kneeling were at that moment in glory, singing the praises of the Lamb of God, who died for the redemption of lost sinners! And that I was surely a most ungrateful wretch, to feel unwilling to spend and be spent in the cause of Christ! I am unable to describe my feelings at that moment; I wept, under a sense of God’s goodness and my own ingratitude – nay more, I fell on my face and cried out, O Lord! Send me, and I will go; I will forsake all for Christ, and try to spend my last breath in exhorting sinners to repent and turn to God.”

What a powerful statement and oh, how we need to see ourselves! I am praying that revival would come to our churches but more specifically to me. I hope maybe this was an encouragement to someone.

Times of Old

We wonder why our churches aren’t experiencing revivals and God’s power like times of old but the answer is so clear. Prayer is power, we little power because we pray so little. What is wrong with us that we think because we are a “different” generation that we should do things as they were done before? Cottage prayer meeting and prayer partners are things of the past, hardly ever heard of, but look how God used that to move the church and transform it into the image of His Son. There used to be prayer meetings before every church service where the members would come and pray that God would speak to them and God answered. Yet today we can’t even find a man to volunteer to pray and close the service. God help us as we’ve drifted so far from the simple, tried and true ways of knowing God! I’m not harping on everyone around me, I’m “preaching” at myself. I propose we get back to the way things were and they way need to be. I want to see God change me and those around me, and conform us into the image of Christ. Let’s get back to the methods that God blessed, praying and seeing His power.

How Heavy is Your Burden?

Do you think living the Christian life is hard? Do you often feel burdened down? Why do we become so burdened and overwhelmed?
I was listening to chapel messages and reading some verses and felt slightly convicted about something. Throughout our Christian life we go through times where we feel so burdened down. But do we realize that it’s our own fault? We cause ourselves to bear those burdens. Jesus tells us that the Christian life isn’t hard in Matt. 11:28-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Our burdens are self-inflicted. Jesus says to bring them to Him and he will give us rest, not that He’ll take it away. We are to learn of Christ, learn how to leave the worry with Him, worrying is a sin. When we cast out the sin (worrying, complaining, selfishness, ect…) in our life that is connected to that burden, we can then learn how to carry the light burden. Jesus says “my yoke is easy and my burden is light”. Living the Christian life isn’t hard, unless we are trying to live it with sin at the same time.
Christ tells us to take His yoke upon us and learn, a yoke is used to guide animals to get work accomplished. The master in charge of the animals decides on how much the animal should pull and how much they can handle. So does the Father for us, He knows what burdens we can handle when we are yoked. The verse tells us that Jesus’ yoke is easy, and the “burden is light”.
We know we are going to have a burden to carry, Christ tells us to “take up his (your) cross, and follow me.”(Mk. 8:34) A cross is going to weigh something, but it doesn’t have to overwhelm us and be hard, because the “burden is light”. Choose to carry your burden, your cross, without dragging that excess weight of sin attached to the burden. Think of when we are serving Christ like we know we should, how burdened down do we feel? Now think of when we take upon ourselves the care of running our own life and doing what we want. Which makes you happier?
How heavy is your burden right now? Do you need to drop some excess weight?

The Consequences of Complaining

I was praying the other day and the Lord brought something to mind. I was convicted lately about complaining and this is the thought the Lord gave me:
The Israelites were known for their grumbling and complaining in the wilderness. God had taken them from Egypt with the promise of the land flowing with milk and honey; all they had to do was follow Him. Yet, what did they do? Murmur and complain
*See Exodus 16:7-12, 17:3 and Numbers 14:1-4, 26-34 They complained about not having food, then water, and then that they were going to be defeated by their enemies. They complained to Moses and Aaron, who in turn said “Hey! Why are you complaining to us? We are just doing what God tells us! You aren’t complaining about our decisions, you are complaining about God’s” (Yes, this is my paraphrased version.)
Think of the results of their complaining. God didn’t allow them to go into the Promised Land, He killed them off. They ruined their chance of the greatest blessings of God by complaining, they saw God work and lead, yet still they complained.

Now to the practical application:
God has led me to this college and He’s “called” me to study here because it’s going to prepare me for the Promised Land later. But if I keep sitting around murmuring and complaining about the changes I don’t like I’m not complaining about the authorities’ decisions in my life, I’m complaining about God’s decisions!
I may miss out on the greatest blessings of God because I repeatedly disobey with my complaining. So, I can stop and have the chance to see the Promised Land (God’s specific will for me later) or I can keep complaining and risk the chance of God taking me out. He may not do it physically but I may never get to do His specific will for my life because I will not trust the way He is leading. Quite a sobering thought.
So, my challenge is: Will you continue complaining when you think about the severe consequences of it against our God?
Just remember that complaining about one thing in your life leads to complaining about everything in your life. It’s like a disease, but Praise the Lord it’s curable!

Benefits of the Will of God

Colossians 1:9-14
Paul was telling the Colossians that he was praying for them to find God’s will and do it. When we find God’s will and do it there are some things that may come with our obedience:
1. You’ll be walking worthy of the Lord – When we do His will we are pleasing Him and accepting what He’s told us to do.
2. You’ll be fruitful in all you do – Now you might not see the fruit, but your labor is not in vain.
3. You’ll grow closer to the Lord – Your knowledge of Him will increase which will strengthen your relationship with Him.
4. You’ll be strengthened – God gives strength to the weary, strength to those who are afraid, and strength those who are weak.
Eph. 3:20 – We have the power to see God do above and beyond the normal with His strength and power.
5. You’ll be given strength in patience ad you’ll have joy while showing it – We are never patient all the time, there is always at least one area where we are lacking in patience. But it is possible to suffer through things and still have joy.
6. You’ll realize all you have to give thanks for – Did you ever stop to think of all God’s given you? He’s given so much, Thank Him!
What are some things to be thankful for?
a. He’s given us eternal life
b. He’s delivered us from Satan and will continue to do so
c. He’s given us a home in Heaven
d. He’s bought us with His blood and call us His brethren
e. He’s forgiven us of all sins – past, present, and future.

The real question is: why don’t people want to do the will of God when there are so many benefits from doing it?

*originally taken from a journal entry from September 2008*

The Rope of Supplication

Last week we had missions conference and during one of the messages, Brother Starnes (church planting in Harrisburg, PA) gave a list of ways we can hold the ropes for missionaries. One of the ways we do that is by holding the rope of supplication, begging on the behalf of the missionaries. The following is a list he gave during the sermon:
Ways to Pray for your Missionaries:
1. That they would have the power of God
2. To be able to withstand the evil ones
3. Grow in the knowledge of God
4. Do all they can to stand
5. Have a great Prayer life
6. Encourage themselves in the Lord
7. Be steadfast and do what God would have