Are You a Basket Case?
by Barbara Chadwick
"Don't let your worries get the best of you; Remember, Moses started out as a basket case." from Nubiagroup.blogspot.com/
Some of the best things come in a basket:
Nut bread, a collection of teas and cookies, sewing notions, bathing lotions and then of course there's Moses.
I like baskets. There are a myriad of styles, sizes and colors. Michaels store once had baskets on sale at an incredible price and I looked at as many as I could dig out of the bin, but since I couldn't make up my mind I walked away.
I know. You're remembering the issue with the purse and thinking, "She's blonde." But sometimes it's good to walk away. I once heard of a woman who bought 40 light sabers because they were on sale for 1$ each. She had two sons. I was told that every time someone came to visit, the boys would ask, "Hey, do you want a light saber to take home with you?" She should have just walked away.
Well sometimes my worries accumulate. I suppose I should write them down and put them in a basket. Henry Blackaby says in his study, Experiencing God, that worrying is really unbelief. Probably so.
Moses. What an incredible story. Don't you just wish you could have been up there with God watching it all unfold? ...the basket, the burning bush, his question (we could call it his whine), "Couldn't you just send someone else?", the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, Mt. Sinai and the Ten Commandments, his face as he came down from the mountain after being with God.
Your face. What does it show? Sorrow when the cancer returns. Anger when you've been treated wrong. Unbelief when a friend maligns you. Worry when there's not enough money to last until the next paycheck.
But when you've been with Jesus, then your face glows with the light of His Presence, Peace because He has promised to walk with you and Joy because He has chosen you for His own.
Henry Blackaby says that God develops character to match the assignment. He certainly did that in Moses case. Moses was uncertain, hesitant and sure that he could not speak up. But God took him one step at a time. God was holding the basket. Moses couldn't do it. But God could.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Nothing to Offer but Jesus
by Audrey Wauson
Dear Tammy,
Regarding your inquiry about being involved in prison ministry:
I go to the Detention Center (DC) on Sunday nights from 7-9pm. After I committed to that so many fun things have come up on Sunday nights that I’d like to be a part of, but I KNOW where I'm supposed to be so that makes it a LOT easier. Once I'd made a connection with these women and saw their desperate need for Christ, it just feels right.
The procedure is that I go into the DC itself near the front where the classrooms are. After a guard escorts me in they bring the women from one of the pods. There are three pods that are allowed to go out to the classroom. Each pod can hold 32 women but there’s only room for 15 women in the classroom. We never know how many will come.
When the women first come to the DC they are often still cocky and full of themselves, eager to make someone else as miserable as themselves. But after they've been there for awhile they begin to see the seriousness of their situation and that they need someone. My job is to show them who God is and what He'd like to do in and through them. Not many of them will choose to follow Him but, as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become "daughters" of God". Jn 1:12
Please understand that I don't want to 'talk you into' coming to the DC because it is a place where spiritual battles are fought and you shouldn't go because of any reason other than ... you can't be satisfied doing something else. You absolutely have to know that's what God is leading you to do. I personally wrestled with the decision of whether or not to go for over six months.
I didn't want to go in by myself. So finally, I told God if you will send someone who's willing to go in with me, I'll go. When I called my friend Mari, she said that God had been pestering her about going as well. Then the first time we went in God gave us a boldness that is simply unexplainable, a confidence that we could never have mustered up on our own. And, because we know that He wants us to be there, we feel like whatever happens (and you and I both know that bad things happen to good people) we can have confidence like Steven, Paul and Silas and Peter and other greats like Corrie Ten Boom, that our God will protect us and give us the strength to do His will. However, the chances of anything bad happening are pretty remote.
In order to get in at all, you have to get a background check and go through the prison training. The training alone will turn away any of the 'faint of heart' cuz they show & tell some of the worst case scenarios. The people who work at the DC want you to be afraid of what these people are capable of so that you won't break their rules, so that you will understand the reason these rules are in place. Many people who start volunteering become so burdened with these people's troubles and hard life that they start trying to do 'favors' for them and it's just not safe. However, IF you remember that you have NOTHING to offer these people but Jesus and His word then you'll be fine.
Tammy, please know that God will make your way/path clear and if you choose to follow Him you won't regret it. That may or may not include going into the DC. But here's what it won't do, it won't make you more spiritual, or closer to Him or any other thing. But if He's calling you, He won't give you the courage to go ... UNTIL you go. You won't have the courage while you're thinking about it and planning it, but when you ARRIVE at the DC to start the paper work you'll have enough courage to do that much. Later if you go in to the DC to encourage the women ... you won't be given the courage while you’re standing around waiting for the guards to take you in but AS YOU WALK THROUGH THE DOORS then the courage will come. It is in the moment that you step out in faith that the strength & courage is given. God is VERY generous, He will give you exceeding, abundantly above all that you can ask or think or even imagine as you step out in faith to do what He's calling you to do (Eph. 3:20)... whatever it is!!!!
God bless you as you start serving Him ... wherever you serve ^_^
Dear Tammy,
Regarding your inquiry about being involved in prison ministry:
I go to the Detention Center (DC) on Sunday nights from 7-9pm. After I committed to that so many fun things have come up on Sunday nights that I’d like to be a part of, but I KNOW where I'm supposed to be so that makes it a LOT easier. Once I'd made a connection with these women and saw their desperate need for Christ, it just feels right.
The procedure is that I go into the DC itself near the front where the classrooms are. After a guard escorts me in they bring the women from one of the pods. There are three pods that are allowed to go out to the classroom. Each pod can hold 32 women but there’s only room for 15 women in the classroom. We never know how many will come.
When the women first come to the DC they are often still cocky and full of themselves, eager to make someone else as miserable as themselves. But after they've been there for awhile they begin to see the seriousness of their situation and that they need someone. My job is to show them who God is and what He'd like to do in and through them. Not many of them will choose to follow Him but, as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become "daughters" of God". Jn 1:12
Please understand that I don't want to 'talk you into' coming to the DC because it is a place where spiritual battles are fought and you shouldn't go because of any reason other than ... you can't be satisfied doing something else. You absolutely have to know that's what God is leading you to do. I personally wrestled with the decision of whether or not to go for over six months.
I didn't want to go in by myself. So finally, I told God if you will send someone who's willing to go in with me, I'll go. When I called my friend Mari, she said that God had been pestering her about going as well. Then the first time we went in God gave us a boldness that is simply unexplainable, a confidence that we could never have mustered up on our own. And, because we know that He wants us to be there, we feel like whatever happens (and you and I both know that bad things happen to good people) we can have confidence like Steven, Paul and Silas and Peter and other greats like Corrie Ten Boom, that our God will protect us and give us the strength to do His will. However, the chances of anything bad happening are pretty remote.
In order to get in at all, you have to get a background check and go through the prison training. The training alone will turn away any of the 'faint of heart' cuz they show & tell some of the worst case scenarios. The people who work at the DC want you to be afraid of what these people are capable of so that you won't break their rules, so that you will understand the reason these rules are in place. Many people who start volunteering become so burdened with these people's troubles and hard life that they start trying to do 'favors' for them and it's just not safe. However, IF you remember that you have NOTHING to offer these people but Jesus and His word then you'll be fine.
Tammy, please know that God will make your way/path clear and if you choose to follow Him you won't regret it. That may or may not include going into the DC. But here's what it won't do, it won't make you more spiritual, or closer to Him or any other thing. But if He's calling you, He won't give you the courage to go ... UNTIL you go. You won't have the courage while you're thinking about it and planning it, but when you ARRIVE at the DC to start the paper work you'll have enough courage to do that much. Later if you go in to the DC to encourage the women ... you won't be given the courage while you’re standing around waiting for the guards to take you in but AS YOU WALK THROUGH THE DOORS then the courage will come. It is in the moment that you step out in faith that the strength & courage is given. God is VERY generous, He will give you exceeding, abundantly above all that you can ask or think or even imagine as you step out in faith to do what He's calling you to do (Eph. 3:20)... whatever it is!!!!
God bless you as you start serving Him ... wherever you serve ^_^
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Have you 'gotten over' what Jesus has done for you?
One of my sons and I were talking about traditions in the church, a while back, and some of the messages that we communicate through those traditions. The conversation got around the huge problem of ‘easy-believe-ism’ in the American church today. As I was on the phone, sitting in the University parking lot trying to explain my point of view to my mom, it occurred to me that our walk with God is much like university life.
- Before anything can happen you have to apply to get in.
- Once you’re accepted you can register for classes.
- In order for any learning to happen, you actually have to attend class AND do the homework.
- Then after 4-6 years (depending on the amount of energy you put into it … hehe) you can graduate
What concerns me in the church today is that there seems to be a thought or teaching, that you can just ‘apply’ … simply ask Jesus into your heart and that’s it … you’re good. You don’t have to “Do” anything. While I fully recognized that there is nothing I could do that would make me more eligible for ‘saving’ than anyone else … like if we were all lined up and started jumping up to touch the moon, from our perspective some of us could jump WAY higher than others, but from the surface of the moon, all of our efforts would be completely imperceptible. But what Jesus’ says is not only the John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will live and not die” but He also says that IF you are His you WILL obey His commands.
John 15:9-17 (New International Version)
9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 IF you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends IF you do what I command. … 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
And what are His commands? Basically Matthew 23:37-38
- 1. Love God
- 2. Love others
Forgive one another. “… I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had mercy on you?” Matthew 18:21-35 Serve one another. “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.’” Matthew 25:31-46
Until we arrive at the pearly gates we will be taking ‘classes’ in how to Love God and Love Others. Those classes will take the form of unruly children, or a disagreeable neighbor, or unpleasant illness, or a cranky boss, but we will be given opportunities (tests per James 1:12) to exercise our faith. If we don’t pass the test, don’t worry we will continue to have them (tests that is) until we’re ready to move on to harder material … or until we get our diploma (die and go to be with Jesus forever).
In Jesus’ words, “I tell you the truth (He’s not lying or teasing.) anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the father.” John 14:12
Mike Napier was preaching at East Mesa Baptist Church this past week and his challenge to me, is my challenge to you. “Have you gotten ‘over it’ … have you ‘gotten over’ what all Jesus has done for you? Do you still feel obligated (in a good way, like the apostle Paul, Romans 1:14,15) to share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?” Have you ‘gotten over’ that overwhelming desire to do anything that He would find pleasing? I pray that God will open your heart and eyes to the people around you and that you will ‘begin classes’ today, begin learning how to better serve Him and others. And may God bless your efforts!!!
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