How To Have True Peace

June 14, 2016June 14, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

The house is chaotic. The grocery store is crazy. Work is demanding and the traffic makes even your cup of coffee nervous. Throw in the big city scene with all the violence, and you have many situations for a troubled heart.

Peace! Where is peace?

As believers, our answers are all in God’s Word. Why would we even try to reason with all our chaos with the world’s phrases, techniques, masks or cliche’s?

First, let’s remember that Jesus said in this world we would have trouble! That’s why He came. We are desperate without Him. Both Eternity and today are hopeless and lacking peace unless we come to Christ. If you have no peace, could it be because you have never received Christ as your personal Savior? He loves you and died to prove it! His peace is yours when you come to Him for salvation from your sin.

Secondly, after we receive Christ as our Savior, we have peace with God and we can also have the peace of God. Philippians 4 reminds us in verses 6 and 7 that when we pray about our troubles, His peace, that passes all human understanding, will gird up our mind.

When we were having our new patio area done out back of our house, the guys put up supports all the way around the edge. They said that if they didn’t do that, over time the bricks would move and the shape would not hold. It was a step that was necessary to keep things looking good! That’s what God’s peace does in our lives. When we run to Him and trust every care to His keeping, our lives, our thinking and our emotions are all firmed up and He keeps our testimony as a Child of God looking beautiful! Who believes that life in Christ is the best when they see us falling apart quicker than a brick building in an earthquake??! So if you have no peace, it may be because you’re not praying as much as you need to about those burdens in your life.

Lastly, we must seriously consider what’s in our mind. Listen to Romans 8:6

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

If you know Christ and you’re seriously praying about your burdens, yet still have no peace, consider your thoughts – on what are they landing? Are you saturating your mind with the things of this world? Do you spend more time thinking about television shows, media, texts, magazines, fashion and news reports than you do God’s Word? There is no substitute for biblical Truth! You either know it and trust it and have God’s peace because of it, or your thoughts are earth-filled and troubled.

Recently while we were working with a group on our church’s bathroom remodel, one of the men came to help with touching up a small area of paint. When he walked in he was holding a railing that he was going to install in the handicap stall. As he painted with his right hand, his left hand was firmly gripping the unattached railing. I asked, “Are you holding onto that thing so you won’t fall down?!” He didn’t even realize he was holding onto it – much less that he was gripping it so tightly!

We all had a good laugh, but you know, it’s a great picture of what it looks like when we fill our mind with earthly thoughts. We’re wondering why we have no support, but we’re more attached to the world than we are to God! We are wobbly, woozy and weak! Peace will come when we think and meditate on spiritual matters. You can’t help but have joy and rejoicing when you do that! Find a passage of Scripture to memorize. Study a passage; dig and write notes about what you learn. Listen to podcasts of preaching, or a CD of music that will turn your thoughts upward!

So, if you’re realizing that you could really use some peace, wisely consider:

Is Christ my Savior because I’ve received Him as the sacrifice for my sin?
Am I praying more than I am worrying about my cares?
Do I have a greater spiritual mind than I do a carnal one?

These are the three ways to have real genuine peace in your heart! And you know what? When you have God’s peace NO ONE can take it from you!

Enjoy the peace that only God can give and

stay refreshed,

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Christian Life

Teamwork

June 8, 2016June 8, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

If you’ve followed my blog since last summer or before, you’ll know that one of the loves of my heart is the mentoring ministry, Apples of Gold. It’s a fun means of mentoring using cooking, teaching and fellowship. We meet for six weeks, three hours each session. I’ve had two full six week sessions in the last two summers, and it has been both a blessing and a blast!

I decided before our next session starts in July that I needed to have a reunion with the first two groups. So, our first reunion was held this past Monday in my home. I asked each lady to bring a dish to share and I provided the main dish of Pork Tenderloin with Brown Sugar Balsamic Glaze (one of my favorites of the recipes we made!).

We had quite a spread! They brought salads, vegetables, rolls, and desserts and they were all so delicious! We enjoyed a great time of fellowship around the table as we ate our supper.

After the meal was over, I asked everyone to bring their chair to the dining room table. Then we pulled out Jenga. Are you familiar with it? Little pieces of wood are all stacked up – one row going one direction, the next row going the other. The object of the game is to pull or push out a piece and then set it on the top without knocking the stack over!

It gets very quiet when each player takes a turn. We hardly breathed until the piece was safe and the tower of blocks still from its swaying. And even though we were each competing against one another, there was a collective sigh and applause when the opponent was successful!

Jenga 1

There was even some coaching going on~

“No, don’t move that one, it has no support underneath!”

“You can do it!”

“Careful! It’s shaking!”

One of the players would playfully say,

“I pass!”

She could see that it was risky and she wasn’t sure she wanted to be the one who caused the crash! We cheered her on and kept her in the game, however! And guess what? She wasn’t the one who pulled the wrong piece out! I did! But it was fun and we laughed at even the ending of the game.

Following Jenga, I asked everyone to gather in the living room. I shared with them that there was a method to the madness of us playing that game. You see, the real reason I asked all those women over to my home in the first place was to try to encourage them to in their spiritual lives (okay, and I wanted that tasty meal!). I wanted to challenge their hearts to have a strategy to keep them moving forward in their Christian walk. I reminded them that, just as we cheered one another on in the game, the mentors and I were cheering them on! We want to see them succeed in being a godly woman for the glory of the Lord! We don’t want to find one of them “dropping out” because the challenge is too great!

We ended by pairing off and praying together for the burdens on their hearts. It was such a blessing to me. They’ll never know what a joy it is to see them continuing on faithful and dedicated to growing in God’s Word, in prayer, and in serving our great God.

We all do better when we work as a team. With whom are you accountable? Who is cheering for you and challenging you? If you don’t have someone, pray about it. The Lord will bring an encourager along for you! Whom are you encouraging? Maybe it’s time to check in with them. Teamwork is better than going it alone!

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
Ecclesiastes 4:9

Stay encouraged with the help of your team!

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Christian Life · Uncategorized

The Atmosphere of Eternity

June 7, 2016June 5, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

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Last Sunday as my husband began preaching from Revelation 8, the emphasis of the message dealt with living in the atmosphere of eternity. I’m pretty sure we all had many points of conviction about being so busy we miss out on what is best. He said If we do live in the atmosphere of eternity, life is simple(r). Don’t we all long for that?! I sure do!

As I pondered the message, here are my applications of what that kind of mindset will do for me ~

If I live for eternity every single day:

I’ll have a much easier time understanding what I should be doing each day.
I will lay aside that which would distract me.
I can say “no” to things (or requests) that are outside of what is most important.
I will prioritize people, rather than things.
I will let that which matters for eternity matter most to me.
I’ll be ready to serve the Lord.
I’ll be giving others the Gospel.
I’ll be becoming wiser in God’s Word.
I’ll be more in prayer.

Let that which will matter when we’re caught up matter most.

The great use of life is to spend it on something that will outlast us.

How are you living today in the atmosphere of eternity?

With love,

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Christian Life

None To Help

May 31, 2016June 1, 2026 RefreshHerLeave a comment

When I think back to some of the hardest times in my life, I cannot say that I ever felt alone. As far as I can remember I’ve always had someone alongside me to encourage and pray for me. But yesterday as I was reading II Timothy 4, I read that Paul had been forsaken by Demas. Alexander had done him much evil. He then adds,

“No man stood with me; all men forsook me.”

I think it’s notable that he said all MEN forsook him. For even when we do feel like we are alone, we have to realize the truth that Paul states in the next verse…

Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me;

In other words, Paul says, “No matter that men may have forsaken me, the Lord never left me! He gave me strength!” He says that the Lord delivered him out of the mouth of lions. He’s likely referring to Nero and his wickedness. God protected Paul, even though there was no human help in sight!

What are you facing right now that makes you feel so alone? Don’t keep your mind there. Move on to this truth – the Lord is standing with you if you know Him as your Savior. He will give you strength! If you don’t know Him, then allow this trial to run you to Him as your Savior, then your Anchor in this trial!

We are never alone; the Lord is always present to help! Acknowledge Him and watch what He will do for you!

Lovingly,

Christian Life

Go Deep Where the Treasures Are

May 26, 2016May 25, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

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When you get up early and walk the beach, you can find some special shells that have washed up during high tide while the vacationers slept. While visiting there recently, I resisted the urge to stop and collect some as I walked, but I could hear the crunch of the ocean’s bounty under my tennis shoes.

No matter when you walk the beach you will see treasure hunters on the search for the perfect conch shell, starfish, or other sea creature that has been washed ashore. However, they are rare finds because of people like me who tromp over and break any that might have washed ashore.

If the shells above would do for your collection, then you’re in luck because they’re heaped high and easy to reach! Maybe you could go out a little deeper and grab this treasure…

However, if a hunter is looking for the perfect shell that they could wash and drop into a sandy bucket to swing along the shoreline, it’s still at the bottom of the ocean, waiting to be discovered. These gems are for those that dare to go deep. With finned feet and oxygen tanks, those that would get the real treasures must dare to swim far below the surface. They can’t walk along sunny shores with cute little sandals and sun visors – it will take preparation, effort and determination.

As I pondered these thoughts while strolling the beach, the Lord brought to my mind that this same principle is true of my time in God’s Word. I make the choice whether I skim along the top and get something “nice,” or if I would swim out and get the precious treasures that come from going deep into God’s Word. What would that look like?

Skim Safe and Shallow

Read a devotional book, no Scripture

Listen to God’s Word while doing something else

Read and run – no notes

Go Deep

Have a plan to follow through God’s Word

Listen to the Word with Bible and journal open

Read commentary notes on any passage that you don’t understand.

Pray over the passage and let the Lord teach you.

It’s our choice as beachcombers and followers of Christ – will we stay shallow or go down deep where the treasures are?

What is your current method of studying the Bible and drawing near to God? If you need help or feel sort of “stuck,” I would encourage you to choose a new plan, perhaps on You Version. There are lots to choose from. It will prompt you each day, if you need a reminder. It will keep you on track of what to read next. Write the things that “jump out at you” as you read. Ask what God is saying to you in that passage – make the application.

God’s Word is alive and He wants to speak to us. Let’s not settle for broken shells!

Lovingly,

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