Wednesday, July 29, 2009
July Bible Study for Moms on Church Website
Our July Bible Study for the Wonderfully Made Moms can be found on our church website www.lighthousebaptistchurchil.org.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Go for the Goal!
James 1: 2-4 says, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
How do we count it joy when we are tested? I've noticed in my life that my husband and I go through times that run smoothly and everything seems to go right. It is easy to say during those times "Praise God" and "Thank you God." Then all of a sudden, everything seems to fall apart, and is our response the same? It should be.
Everybody goes through testing. How we respond during these times shows us how strong (or weak) of a Christian we are. That thought can be a little hard to swallow, can't it?
This past week both my husband and I have been faced with physical problems--serious ones, yet not too serious for God to intervene. Underlying these problems is the thought, "We're getting older." It is especially difficult when we have an adult child with special needs. The hard truth is that some day, most likely, our child will be on this earth without us. Our human frailties are a reminder of how much we must depend upon the Lord.
Verse 2 says to count it all joy when we fall into temptation (or testing). How can it be counted for joy? Verse 3 goes on to say that the trying of our faith worketh patience. Patience! That's something we all want, isn't it? Sometimes we don't want to do the work to get it; or in other words, we don't want to endure the testing to get the reward! The last part of verse 4 says, "that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." That means that we may be mature and complete.
Count it all joy? Does that mean that I am actually suppose to be happy about being tested? Well, yes it does. Read those verses again. The result of passing the test is patience. And don't we all want to be mature and complete? What a goal for which to strive!!!
If you are going through a difficult time of testing right now, ask God to help you pass the test. Go for the goal!
How do we count it joy when we are tested? I've noticed in my life that my husband and I go through times that run smoothly and everything seems to go right. It is easy to say during those times "Praise God" and "Thank you God." Then all of a sudden, everything seems to fall apart, and is our response the same? It should be.
Everybody goes through testing. How we respond during these times shows us how strong (or weak) of a Christian we are. That thought can be a little hard to swallow, can't it?
This past week both my husband and I have been faced with physical problems--serious ones, yet not too serious for God to intervene. Underlying these problems is the thought, "We're getting older." It is especially difficult when we have an adult child with special needs. The hard truth is that some day, most likely, our child will be on this earth without us. Our human frailties are a reminder of how much we must depend upon the Lord.
Verse 2 says to count it all joy when we fall into temptation (or testing). How can it be counted for joy? Verse 3 goes on to say that the trying of our faith worketh patience. Patience! That's something we all want, isn't it? Sometimes we don't want to do the work to get it; or in other words, we don't want to endure the testing to get the reward! The last part of verse 4 says, "that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." That means that we may be mature and complete.
Count it all joy? Does that mean that I am actually suppose to be happy about being tested? Well, yes it does. Read those verses again. The result of passing the test is patience. And don't we all want to be mature and complete? What a goal for which to strive!!!
If you are going through a difficult time of testing right now, ask God to help you pass the test. Go for the goal!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
No Boring Retirement for Us!
Wow! Time really does fly! I didn't realize that it has been two weeks since I blogged.
Don and I went out to the campground for a few days last week. The second day we were there it rained, and it rained, and it rained. Now if any of you know anything about camping, rain is not good. We can tolerate the cold, we can even tolerate the heat. But when it rains, there is not much we can do. We went to a town a few miles away and walked around in the stores. Soon we grew weary of that and went back to the campground. We had reading material with us, but one can only read for so long. I LOVE to read. My husband LIKES to read somewhat. When I admitted that even I was tired of reading, he was surprised.
Then I was convicted about something our pastor said recently. Did you ever stop to think that when we complain about the weather we are complaining about something God made? It's a very convicting thought, isn't it?
VBS starts tomorrow at our church. Don, Trent and I are helping out--I'm teaching the 10-12 year olds and Don is in charge of the games.
Don was laid off in February, forcing him to retire sooner than he wanted to retire. However, we have committed ourselves to not retiring from the Lord's work as long as God give us strength to continue to serve him. As anyone who has an adult child with a disability living at home knows, we will never be bored. Isn't it wonderful to serve God and to be able to be there for an adult child with a disability as long as God allows? No complaints of boredom!
Last Wednesday Trent turned 29. Those years have flown by so quickly. Today is my husband's 65th birthday. Happy Birthday to two of the men in my life whom I love very much!!
Don and I went out to the campground for a few days last week. The second day we were there it rained, and it rained, and it rained. Now if any of you know anything about camping, rain is not good. We can tolerate the cold, we can even tolerate the heat. But when it rains, there is not much we can do. We went to a town a few miles away and walked around in the stores. Soon we grew weary of that and went back to the campground. We had reading material with us, but one can only read for so long. I LOVE to read. My husband LIKES to read somewhat. When I admitted that even I was tired of reading, he was surprised.
Then I was convicted about something our pastor said recently. Did you ever stop to think that when we complain about the weather we are complaining about something God made? It's a very convicting thought, isn't it?
VBS starts tomorrow at our church. Don, Trent and I are helping out--I'm teaching the 10-12 year olds and Don is in charge of the games.
Don was laid off in February, forcing him to retire sooner than he wanted to retire. However, we have committed ourselves to not retiring from the Lord's work as long as God give us strength to continue to serve him. As anyone who has an adult child with a disability living at home knows, we will never be bored. Isn't it wonderful to serve God and to be able to be there for an adult child with a disability as long as God allows? No complaints of boredom!
Last Wednesday Trent turned 29. Those years have flown by so quickly. Today is my husband's 65th birthday. Happy Birthday to two of the men in my life whom I love very much!!
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