Staff -founder / president Melissa Pearce
-copy editor Laurie Hamby
-contributing writers Jamie Clawson Katie Cline Pastor Chuck Hamby Toni Hembree Maureen Kurp Melissa Pearce Ronald Pearce Mary Beth Pecora
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As I sat down to write, I heard the Lord say in my spirit “You are stronger than you realize.”
It came at a time when I
needed to hear from Him the most.
In the last several
weeks, a lot of the projects I had been working on, all came to a head.
Being pulled in every direction with time,
obligations, and commitments, I found myself drowning in the weight of feeling overwhelmed and consumed with worry. I heard the Lord say again in my spirit, “You are stronger than you realize.” This time, the Lord was quickening me to recognize the importance of operating out of His power versus my own strength.
I realized I was in a new training season with Him.
It was a season
that would take me deeper in my walk with God. Even though I had received this word from the Lord for myself, He wanted me to share it with all of you.
God wants you to realize you are stronger than you think.
Spirit lives within you and me.
God is looking to train you up in Him.
God’s mighty
There are great exploits
He is looking to do within your lives and in order to fulfill them, you will need to operate
not by human might or power, but by His
He dwells with you and will be in you (John
Spirit.
14:16-17 - NKJV).
How does one draw from His Spirit? must realize some fundamental truths.
We
It is the Holy Spirit’s job to be your Helper.
First,
If someone is a helper, that person comes beside the other and assists that individual
when God gives us a task, it is not meant in any way possible. to be burdensome.
The load of carrying
The assignment set out the assignment is shared between two
before us most likely will challenge us to grow people.
It is the same way with God.
He
in the Lord, but it should never put us in a has come beside you and me to be our position of defeat. Helper. The Helper’s responsibility is to assist us in There is another core principle God desires for us to understand.
He is our Mighty everything we face.
Could you imagine how
Helper Who is not only with us but Who is
life would become less complicated if we truly
in us.
believed this about God within our lives?
And I will pray the Father, and He will give
It’s time for you to recognize you are stronger
you another Helper, that He may abide with
than you think, not because of who you are
you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the
but because of the One who is inside of you!
world cannot receive, because it neither sees Go and conquer all He has set before you Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for
to do with Him! ~Rev. Melissa Pearce
?
If you are like most of us, we gather strength from another, possibly a friend, parent, spouse, etc. There is a place of strength we can turn to, a refuge, a rock, when we are discouraged and disappointed. His name is Jesus, fully God and fully man. David is an example of a man who suffered greatly. In Psalm 22, He begins expressing his suffering by saying this: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Have you ever felt forgotten?) “Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?” ever asked: Why is this happening to me?
(Have you
Why am I not being heard?)
He continues, “O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. Yet, you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel…”
HERE IS OUR HOPE: “ In you our Fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed” (Psalm 22:5). That is our answer on how to handle our disappointments! Did you see ‘IN YOU’, which means IN HIM?
HOW CAN WE TRUST GOD? Rely on God. You will be victorious! Scripture says this about a battle: The men of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their Fathers (2 Chron. 13: 18b). God is so reliable! He will not disappoint you. He will cause you to be victorious. Listen to this promise as well: “No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame” (Psalm 25: 3). Trust and hope go together like soul mates. When we trust, we have hope. When we have hope, we will not be disappointed. “…those who hope in me will not be disappointed” (Isaiah 49: 23).
SO WHERE IS YOUR HOPE? Where should we look when we are disappointed? Look up to your Maker, your Creator, Who delights in bringing you hope and allowing that hope to not disappoint you as your life and your situations unfold before you. In every circumstance we encounter that is difficult, God has the power to change and use that situation for your good! His love is great! He will not disappoint you. When we come to Him, rely on Him, trust in Him, He becomes our hope…He becomes our strength…He becomes our helper…He becomes our friend…the One Who moves heaven and situations on our behalf. Learn to trust Him and allow Him to be your friend. He is the very best friend, forever, Who never betrays or disappoints. He only appoints!
“He appoints His love and faithfulness”
Let’s consider this:
Psalm 61: 7
God makes it a point, continually, to release His love and faithfulness
to us. How could we not love and accept Him into our hearts?
How or even why would
we reject that kind of love? After you serve Him awhile, He anoints you; He sets you apart for His service! As His anointing teaches you about all things, as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him (1 John 2: 27). Yes, as a friend He remains. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother, or sister! You can trust and rely totally on our God in handling all situations. Let Him handle it all. He can change a disappointment and turn it into an appointment…of continual faithfulness!
Awaiting His Appointments, ~Mary Beth Pecora
My favorite book on this subject is Becky Manley Pippert’s, “Out of the Salt Shaker and Into the World.” The first line tells it all. It goes like this:
“Christians
and
non-Christians
have
something in common; they are both uptight about evangelism.”
What do you think of when you think of evangelism? Is it “revival meetings” or people handing out tracts on the street? The stereotypes of evangelism cause us to think, “I sure don’t want to be like that!” We all want to be effective in God’s Kingdom, to spread the good news of the Kingdom, but we hold back and feel guilty. Let’s look at some basic truths about evangelism. Evangel is from the Greek word evangelidzoo) which means to announce good news! The word ευαγγελιον (evangelion) is the preached gospel or good news. We are to be “good newsers!” We use the word “gospel” without grasping that its meaning is “good news.” Paul talks about the gospel and describes it plainly in 1 Corinthians 15. He tells us the basics of the good news. Here is what it looks like: (I Corinthians 15:1-9; 51-58 NASB). Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached
1
to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins
Not only are we ambassadors through whom God makes His appeal, we are made sinless because Jesus became our sin so we could become His righteousness.
according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.6After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;8and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 9For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God… 51
Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
52
in a moment,
in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53
For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54
But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put
on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
sin, and the power of sin is the law;
57
56
The sting of death is
but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ. 58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work
of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. The first point of the gospel is given in verse 3: For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture. The prime facet of the gospel is that Christ died for our sins… without this there is no atonement. Everyone
has to acknowledge that Christ died for his/her sin. Paul said that he also receives this. Christ, the sinless One, was legally able to die for one who had sinned and to pay that penalty. We call His death substitutionary (vicarious), and so it was. But it was more than a replacement in death, it has brought us privileged standing in His Kingdom. Look at Paul’s 20
plea in 2 Corinthians 5:
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were
making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21
He
made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Not only are we ambassadors through whom God makes His appeal, we are made sinless because Jesus became our sin so we could become His righteousness. We all know Romans 3:23: All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. In Romans 6:23 we find that the wages of sin is death. That is the good news. Jesus took our death and gave us His life! Paul’s grand explanation in 1 Corinthians 15:3 is, according to scriptures!!! His death was the doings of an angry mob, but it was foretold in Scriptures. The Psalmist said even the wrath of men shall praise God (Psalm 76:10). The first point of the gospel is that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. The second point is that He rose again the third day, according to Scripture! If His death for us is evidence of our sin and guilt, what is His resurrection? He has destroyed the evidence of our sin. His resurrection is the pioneer blazing the trail for our own resurrections. Jesus has become the first of the harvest (the first-fruits). He has done what no man has ever done. He brought life from death. He defeated the hordes of darkness and He shares that victory with us. 51
The final point is in verses 51-57: we will all be changed,
52
Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for
the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53
this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
For
54
But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put
on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
sin, and the power of sin is the law;
57
56
The sting of death is
but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ.
58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work
of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. Simply said, the third point of Paul’s gospel is Jesus saying, “Because I live, you are going to live too!” So far, we have seen what the gospel is but have not mentioned how we are to share it. Remember Paul said to the Corinthians … the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. When we put our faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, there are things that must happen. WE must believe our sin is paid for in full. We no longer walk under condemnation of our past. We walk in absolute freedom from guilt and shame. This gives us a free conscience to LIVE the gospel. St Francis of Assisi said we should go into all the world and preach the gospel… and when absolutely necessary, use words. Paul spoke of those converted by his life and ministry, “you are our epistles (letters)…” Live in the freedom that you have in Christ Jesus. It is less about words and more about lives. When you do this, people will want to know why you are happy, smiling, full of peace, or whatever they have noticed. THAT IS EVANGELISM. Get Becky Pippert’s book, “Out of the Salt Shaker and into the World.” It is out of print, but you can find it in used book stores, Goodwill, Salvation Army Stores, and church libraries. You are a witness! Be a great one!!
~Pastor Chuck Hamby
I recently attended a conference where the topic of discussion was submission – particularly wives submitting to their husbands.
The grumblings of those around me indicated to me
that they were not agreeing with the direction of the speaker.
As I sat there and listened,
my heart ached for those attending the conference because I realized they did not understand God’s direction in this topic. My objective and heart’s desire is for every reader, both men and women alike, to realize the truth of God’s Word and how it is applicable to their lives. However, before we can dive into the conversation of submission for wives to their husbands, we need to understand a few key principles from the Word of God that are found in Genesis. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh.
Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of
the man, and he brought her to the man (Genesis 2:20b-22 - NIV). There are two clear points God desires for us to attain.
We will come to understand God’s
design for creating woman and His intentions for their relationship with their spouse. Notice, the Lord took the bone from Adam’s side.
He didn’t take the bone from Adam’s
foot because He didn’t want the man to rule over the woman.
Nor did He take the bone
from Adam’s head, because that would signify the woman ruling over the man.
God purposely
took the bone from Adam’s side – a clear distinction of true partnership. Secondly, the woman is to be a helpmate or a helper to man. comes along beside you and helps carry the burden.
A helper is someone who
A helpmate is there for you no matter
the situation or circumstance, bringing encouragement and hope to see you through to the end.
In other words, God designed the woman and man to be in a partnership together.
When you are in a partnership, you depend on each other. Now that we have laid the foundational truths of God’s heart, let’s discover why He desires for wives to submit to their husbands. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife
as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church
submits Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything (Ephesians 5:22-24 - NIV). Both men and women have misunderstood the context of God’s direction here.
Women often
believe submission pertains to a form of inequality with men, and men view submission as a hierarchy for ruling.
Both are incorrect.
God created submission in the home, between
a man and a woman, for order and protection. Here’s the problem. Lord has directed.
Both the man and woman are not taking their rightful positions as the In turn, it is causing a domino effect within the body of Christ, within
marriages, and having an impact within society. Notice, the very first direction God gives to wives. as to the Lord.
They are to submit to their husbands
Why do we struggle submitting to a man?
to fully submit to the Lord.
Because we haven’t learned
We want to be the one who is in control.
God asks us to trust Him in unforeseen circumstances.
We don’t like it when
We want to guard and protect
everything because we want to either ensure or manipulate the outcome for our advantage. Submitting to the Lord not only applies to women but to men as well. of Christ need to fully surrender their lives to the Lord. king or queen over our domain.
It is time!
Those in the body
We can no longer be
There is only One King and His name is Jesus.
He desires
to have full reign over our hearts. So what have you been withholding from God lately? What have you not fully surrendered to Him?
Is it your finances, or perhaps your kids?
depths of your broken heart?
Could it be that you are guarding the
What are you still trying to control and maintain in your life?
Realize God gave the husband to be a covering just as Christ Jesus is the covering over the body of Christ.
The function of the husband’s role is to be a provider and protector.
I do understand that there are many women who are raising children by themselves.
Yet
there are many reading this article who are in a marriage and do not view your husband in the role just described.
I know some of you may be saying, “Of course I don’t see him
in this role because I am the one doing everything!” Let me remind you, just as God did me at one time. My marriage to my wonderful husband
was not only for him to be my partner in life,
way of telling me to wait or that I’m not going
but God wanted to use marriage to further in the right direction. cultivate Christ Jesus in both of our lives.
Remember, your
I husband is your covering, and as a covering,
had to relinquish doing all the time and had to learn to be.
he is to protect and provide for you. I had to also trust God, even God would never cause you to go in one
when
I
didn’t
think
my
spouse
was direction and he in another, causing division
responding fast enough to a particular situation.
We’ve all been there – thinking
between the two of you.
I understand there
and believing we could do this particular task are those who are in an abusive situation, either faster or better.
You know who you and God would not want you to continue in
are; I have done it too!
this role.
In this case, your spouse is not
protecting you but hurting, and this is not from Yet, through this whole process, God was God.
You need to get assistance to remove
breaking a prideful spirit within my heart and you and your children from this situation. developing
self-discipline
in
his.
It’s
amazing to me how God works in our lives when we give Him the chance to develop His
So as wives, we are challenged first and foremost to submit to the Lord in all that we
fruit within our hearts. do.
We are then commanded to submit to
Our job isn’t to rule over our husband but to our husbands, demonstrating reverence not come beside him and be his helpmate. only unto the Lord but depicting a respect for Being a helper is learning to respect him in our spouse. the role God intended for him to function in. I pray each of you will be challenged in your walk with God and allow Him to lead you in God has taught me personally the importance the path of righteousness for His name’s of maintaining order within our home.
I
know that when I try to take the lead on a sake.
We each have a responsibility to first
particular matter, it often causes disharmony. demonstrate our love to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Unity is the barometer.
If there is no unity,
I need to reevaluate my heart and objective Allow God to use you and your spouse to at that particular moment.
I have often bear much fruit for the kingdom of God.
found that when I am forcing an issue, there In Him, will be some reservation from my wonderful Rev. Melissa Pearce husband.
I have come to learn this is God’s
The Bible, however, tells us a lot about God's hand in our lives and about His perfect timing: Jeremiah 29:11 – 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future' (NIV). Proverbs 3:5, 6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths (NIV). Psalm 130:5 – I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope (NIV). Isaiah 40:31 - ...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint (NIV). God has not forgotten you. He is aware of every facet of your life, and He desires to be involved in it. Furthermore, we gain strength for the journey when we trust in His timing and in His character. So as you practice 'waiting on the Lord,............
1. Look back on what He's done in your life. Make a list of times in your life when you were waiting for God to move and note what He did. Note times that He provided for your needs, or when He sent just the right person at just the right time to walk beside you. 2.
In light of # 1, realize that you don't see the whole picture. You only see it from where you are standing. Not only does God see the end from the beginning, He is 'the Beginning and the End.’ (See Revelation 21:6.)
3. As Psalm 130:5 told us – Put your hope in Him and His word! Seek the face of God. When you live there, you'll be satisfied with whatever His hand gives you. 4. Don't give up! The victory could be only moments or miles away, and you just can't see it yet! Hoping in the Lord along with you, Jamie
I took a stroll through my backyard today and came across a clover.
I paused and smiled
when I saw it.
As a little girl, I’d fill a mason jar full of water along with purple clover to
make perfume.
Maybe it wasn’t a high-cost bottle of fragrance, but I had a wonderful time
making my wildflower concoctions. Recalling my perfume-making days reminded me of one of the most beautiful stories in the Bible.
It brought to mind the story of Mary (sister of Martha and Lazarus) who received
a lasting legacy by risking, worshipping, and loving well.
When I read it, it helps me focus
on the bigger picture, and I hope it does the same for you.
This story of Mary can be found
in Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, Luke 7:36-50, and John 12:1-8.
I encourage you to take
time to read her touching story. Mary approaches Jesus while He’s attending a dinner.
She brings along a very expensive
imported bottle of perfume and pours the perfume over Jesus’s head. falling on His feet.
She weeps, tears
Mary wipes the tears with her hair and pours perfume over His feet.
This is a risky move on her part and not at all a social norm. her a sinner and call her act of worship a waste of money.
People in attendance call
The people at the dinner don’t
get it, but Jesus does. In all of His typical love, Jesus stands up for Mary.
At the end of His rebuttal, Jesus makes
the point that she’s forgiven of her sins, and because she’s been forgiven much, she’s able to love much. Not only does Jesus defend and affirm Mary, He also promises a beautiful
thing.
Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has
done will also be told, in memory of her (Matthew 26:13). Firstly, if you ask Jesus to be your Savior and forgive you of your sins and are sincere, consider it done.
We try to make it a big complicated process.
even owed.
We can’t believe it’s as simple as it is.
your sins, you’re forgiven.
We try to pay penance that’s not It’s done.
It’s finished.
No matter
If you’ve sinned a lot, that just means you’ve been forgiven all
the more. Secondly, move forward in your forgiveness. we can love much.
Just like Mary, we’ve been forgiven much so
Walk in the freedom you have in Christ and spread His love.
Love
God with all that you have. Love others so they can get a taste of Who He is. Lastly, Mary’s risky and loving act of worship earned her a lasting legacy.
Because she
accepted forgiveness and loved well, Jesus promised her that her story would be told throughout the world, and here we are in a different part of the world in 2014 talking about it.
Loving God and others is what counts.
That’s the legacy we can leave.
That’s how
we can make an impact. Maybe when you pass a purple clover or put on some perfume, you’ll think of Mary, her forgiven sins, great love, and lasting legacy – and know that you too can have the same. ~Katie Cline