Feed One Another

My friends at Cumberland Community Church have given me so many gifts. They have opened their doors to Church 4 Chicks consistently over the past year and have given me opportunities to speak to their members and women's ministry as well. On top of that, they recently allowed me to feel even more like a part of the family by allowing me to become part of their daily conversation on their "Feed One Another" website. I hope you'll check it out and become a part of this awesome community as well. You don't have to be a member, honorary or otherwise, to join in the conversation and leave comments. You can see my little ditty by clicking the link provided here:

Feed One Another

Have a great day!

Testing...is it really all about Pass or Fail?

In the Christian world, and even in the secular, we're often told that tests come before promotion or blessings or a new level. Having been in the Church most of my life, I've heard this a lot! {Preachers and teachers often tell us that it's up to us to "pass the test" so we don't have to repeat it or lose out on the intended blessing God has for us.

But when I read the Bible, and what God is talking about when it comes to "tests" or "testing", it has nothing to do with a sheet of paper, #2 Pencils, or whether or not I've studied or crammed enough to pull off a passing grade.

Take this verse for example: Job 23:10b says, "...when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." (NIV)

Or this one, James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." (NIV)

Now, don't get me wrong: I'm not an argumentative person, and I can totally see the relevance to the illustration many teachers use when they say that we need to be responsible for how we handle tests because how we respond will have an affect on what happens next. But, I want to share something with you that God has shown me in my studies. For one, I've come to realize that far too often, Westernized Christians view the Bible through a Westernized culture's lens. We are so accustomed to being "tested" by our teachers, bosses, parents, co-workers, spouses, and our friends to see if we can pass the test they place in front of us.

Think of all the reality shows now that have to do with catching people when they think no one is looking! It's frightening, really, to see how people behave when they think no one sees.

In tests, there are questions posed, and answers given. If you know the right answers, you pass the test. If you don't know, and you try to guess, you might find out how creative you can be, you might get some right; but, let's face it, you probably won't pass. If you don't know and don't care, you are pretty much guaranteed to fail. Follow me so far? That's how we view tests and testing. It's all about our score--our ability to perform well enough to pass and move on up.

But what if God's tests have nothing to do with this kind of thinking?

What if God has a higher purpose than simply to show us how much of a failure we are and how far we need to go in our striving and self effort to please Him when the tests come? What if it's not about us pridefully seeing how far we have come so that we are able and capable of passing His tests?

What if His purposes for testing us have more to do with purifying us from pollutants, exposing weak places so He can bring His strength to fortify us? What if testing us was more about His loving work in us than about our proving our love for Him by whether or not we pass or fail?

We are all familiar, at least to some extent, of the work of a goldsmith or silversmith. The goldsmith takes the precious metal pulled out of the earth. Metal that is not much to look at when it is unrefined, and yet he sees what it can become! The goldsmith knows that what he is holding in his hand has the potential to become something great--given the right time, pressure, heat, and more time, and more heat, and more pressure....
As the goldsmith patiently works with the metal in the refiner's pot, he has to stay with the metal, watching carefully, stirring when necessary, raising the temperature at the right time, and letting the temperature cool before permanently damaging the metal he is so carefully protecting and perfecting. You see, it's not just about the gold being purified, it's also about the intented purpose for the gold's future use!

As the temperature rises, impurities that have attached and enmeshed to the pure metal rise to the surface of the liquified gold during times of intense heat. The goldsmith feels the heat produced through this testing process--testing not to see if the metal is truly gold, for he already knows it is!--but testing which means purifying, to remove any and every single thing that doesn't belong within the gold. As he watches these impurities rise to the surface in the midst of the heat, he skillfully removes them himself! He exposes what is really inside, knowing full well to expect there to be impurities. Would he have rejected this gold had he known of its impurities--obviously the answer is no. Gold is gold. But some will require more heat and more pressure, and only the goldsmith is qualified to make the determination of how much heat, how often, and how much pressure will be applied.

The goldsmith knows that the testing and re-testing, and testing again are vital because some impurities are far more deeply attached to the gold than others, and greater heat will be necessary to expose those so they can be removed. He know the testings have been accomplished successfully when he is able to see his own reflection in the liquid metal beneath his face.

And, once this happens, he is then able to move on to the reason he began this process in the first place. You see, he knows the purposes and intended destiny of the metal he has now purified. He knew it before the process even began! Will it become jewelry to enhance a woman's natural beauty? Will it become a coin to help fund the work of ministry or to purchase necessities or desired goods? Will it become ornamental to bring lasting beauty to a home or church or city? Gold has been used in so many various ways, but the gold itself doesn't get to decide how or where or when it will be used. Once it has been purified, it's only job is to surrender itself to the one who patiently and carefully tested it, purified, and perfected it for its purpose.

So, no, I definitely don't believe God is waiting to see if I'm going to pass the tests I've been given. I don't believe I'll have to re-take the test if I don't muster up enough strength, courage or godliness to pass it this time around. I do believe, though, very strongly, that God tests me, raises the temperature, and adds pressure over and over as He is gently and very carefully exposing the impurities that remain within me so that as I surrender to His touch, He can remove those things that would only serve to hinder and pollute me if they were to remain.

May we, with Job, faithfully declare, that when He has tested us, we will come forth as GOLD!

An excerpt from the upcoming devotional guide

Proverbs 16:32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;
and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. (KJV)

When it comes to the plans we have for our lives, and the vision God has for our lives, one thing that can cause some major delays and detours is when we have a lack of self-control and unruly tempers. Anger itself is just an emotion, but anger left unchecked and undealt with will become a stronghold in the life of the one who possesses it—or rather becomes possessed by it.

This verse was probably an unexpected one in the day in which it was written because in those days, mighty warriors who could conquer a city were the superheroes of the day! To say that self-control was better than physical strength went against the cultural norm. But then again, when has God ever called us to fit in to our culture? Today it seems far too many Christian leaders are trying so hard to reach the culture that they are becoming like the culture rather than allowing the Holy Spirit to set a higher standard through their lives. The Church was never called to fit in, but to stand out. This does not mean in any way that we have to be weird to reach a lost world—thank goodness! But again, it takes what my friend Lori Salierno calls a “holy tension” or balance in our lives to be Spirit-led as we are Spirit-filled to reach our unsaved friends, neighbors, and loved ones. Beware of trying to reach a lost world by acting, looking, and behaving just like them. What difference will they see that will draw them to the Jesus in you if there is no noticeable difference?

Getting back to the topic of anger and self-control and how this relates to the above paragraph, consider the kind of impact your life will have on those around you when they begin to observe how you handle your emotions rather than allowing your emotions to handle you. What if, instead of taking revenge or getting even with someone who has wronged you, you offer forgiveness and let go of your anger? If we try to manufacture a testimony of self-control on our own, we will eventually have a major outburst and fall flat on our faces! But, if we humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand, and allow Him to fill us with His Holy Spirit, which will equip us to withstand anything the enemy and the world throw our way, HIS light will shine through our frail humanity to expose a person’s true condition. We can try to convince people all day long to accept Christ and never make headway. But when we allow the Holy Spirit to live His life through us, He will bring about life-changing conviction that is far superior to anything we can do on our own. It all goes back to being people of wisdom, which begins with a fear of the Lord, which all starts at the place of knowing Him through His Word.

Has anger been getting the best of you? Struggling to stop at just one healthy sized helping of dessert after dinner? Looking at something on the Internet that you only look at when no one else is around? Self-control means that we grow and mature to a place that no one has to be looking for us to do what is right and what is best. Is there a secret something you have been holding on to? Something you would never do if someone was looking? That very area will become a stronghold if it hasn’t already become one and it is time to humble yourself under God’s mighty hand and recognize that His ways and plans for you are always best for you. And, just so you know, I am not just writing to you—God is working on me even as I type out these words.

Consider this good word from God’s Word as you consider today’s devotion:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I John 1:9

God knows the condition of our hearts and when He brings about conviction of sin it is always to bring us closer to Him. We do this through confession (acknowledging that He is right about our sin) and repentance (turning to Him away from the sin).

Remember this good word as well:
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:1

Thank God for His grace that truly is greater than all our sin! May you walk in greater freedom and joy today, knowing your sins are forgiven and Your Father in Heaven delights in you!

Bo's Cafe

(Also visit http://www.boscafe.com/)

You MUST read this book! I'll tell you why, but I'll have to take you the scenic route to get there...

There's a somewhat-goofy-but-totally-awesome-at-the-same-time guy that Stephen and I have been fortunate enough to become acquainted with over the last couple of years. We stumbled upon his ministry and message really by accident. It started when someone handed my husband a copy of a book called "Truefaced." Stephen began reading it, and the next thing I remember, he brought home a DVD one night after one of his group meetings and said it couldn't wait--we needed to watch it together right away.

I will never, ever, ever forget that evening...probably 6-7 years ago. As I watched the video, and listened to John Lynch speak, I was feeling every emotion imagineable. To name just a few, I was thrilled that someone had come along to speak such a message to my heart--one that told MY story so much better than I knew how to tell it myself. I felt anger, that I had missed this truth for so long! I felt fearful, that it could be too good to be true (and afraid that God might be upset with me if I believed it). I felt sad for all the people in the Church and around the world who might never hear it or get it. But most of all, I felt free and hopeful, that because of the truth of the Truefaced Message, life could be different from that point on. That I could be different.

The message is as old as the New Testament, but it's been missing from the life of the Christian for far too long. Here is a brief snippet to whet your appetite for the whole enchilada...

(There are more clips out there in the world of Facebook, Tangle, etc., so feel free to find them. Then, order a copy for yourself. We even keep some on hand for times when we know someone needs this message, so if you want to reimburse us for a copy, let me know and we'll get it to you.)

Well, as I said, Stephen and I have begun to get to know the guy in the video via Facebook and emails over the past year to two years. As soon as I heard he and the other co-authors of Truefaced had written a novel, Bo's Cafe, I knew I would be one of the first to read it. I could hardly wait to get my hands on it! What the authors, John Lynch, Bill Thrall, and Bruce McNicol have been able to accomplish is such a gift to us, the readers. They have taken the message of grace, identity, authenticity, and told it in a story with such wonderful characters and incredible story-telling abilities that I felt completely drawn into the whole thing. I've been going through some really heart-breaking stuff this year, and I can't tell you what it has meant to me to be surrounded by some grace-filled, authentic, safe people. Such is the stuff of "Bo's Cafe."

It also revealed the ache in me to have even more of this kind of authenticity in my life. It revealed an even deeper level of knowing and being known than I've been able to experience outside of the relationship I have with my husband. Trusting others with who I really am --even on my worst day-- is no small feat! And, it raises the question: is it even worth it to do so? Do the rewards outweigh the risks involved?

Here is a brief snippet from the website about the book:

Every now and then we stumble upon a place that feels different. You might find it on a trip out of town or sometimes it might be a place you discover right in your own neighborhood. The place kind of sneaks up on you. Maybe it’s the music, or the upstairs deck, or the smell of good food. Something about it feels…safe, real, fun, alive…authentic, unrehearsed, true. You stumble into conversations and in very little time feel like you’re becoming known. Or you can sit off in the corner with a nice drink and just be there, talking to no one until you’re ready. The place is almost always comfortably full, but rarely crowded. And there’s laughter. Not that obnoxious drunken laughter of lonely bravado, but the laughter of friends enjoying each other. You eventually get a sense that no matter what you tell these friends, they are going to care for you more, not less.

I am so excited that this book has been written and made available to us. I think it offers some pretty cool things to consider and think about and chew on.

...and speaking of chewing: Don't read this when you're hungry. The authors talk about food constantly, so you might find yourself in trouble if you read it without something close by to munch on. ;)

You can find Bo's Cafe pretty much anywhere books are sold. I hope you'll get your own copy, read it, read it again, and pass it along to others. And then I hope you'll find that place within your own life--your very own "Bo's Cafe" where real life is lived among real people. It's messy, but there's nothing like it!

"Disease is Contagious, but Health is not"...

Joyce and me ;-)

That is only one of the great quotes I wrote down this weekend at the Atlanta Joyce Meyer Conference. To clarify the above quote, she was talking about living a life of intentionality, and understanding that we can't be passive when it comes to our own personal health; be that spiritual, mental, emotional, or physical. We can live passively, and, in doing so, "catch" someone else's unhealthiness before we even realize it's happening; but we will never "catch" their healthiness. We must take responsibility and be intentional for our own.

There were so many incredible things that took place over the past few days. Israel Houghton and New Breed led in worship. Dave Meyer spoke on the history and greatness of our nation, and the need for believers to be involved in what is happening in the political arena. Joyce, as always, brought powerful, balanced, and practical messages. That woman can flat bring the Word! And she does it without ever using guilt, pressure or manipulation in order to motivate. When you use the whole counsel of the Bible, you can have freedom to speak truth and trust the Holy Spirit to bring change.
HUNDREDS of people made decisions for Christ in the past few days. It was so encouraging to see and be a part of.

I loved having the time with some of my very best friends as we worshipped God together, laughed like crazy, and just hung out and had great conversations.

One other aspect to the weekend that was just icing on the cake was when American Idol's Danny Gokey showed up! I am not a major AI fan, but I did watch this past season and I was so encouraged by Danny's life, testimony and witness for Jesus Christ. Danny never came across as a "Bible Thumping Judge of Mankind"--he came across as an authentic follower of Christ. It was so cool hearing his story, and then getting to hear him sing, and then getting to sing along as he led worship. Too cool!

The one downer of the whole weekend, was when we decided we'd go see a movie. We thought it would be fun. Going to the movies usually is, right? We had all only seen brief trailers for the movie we chose, and expected to see a funny, lighthearted film with some of our favorite actors. What we saw was so belittling, offensive, and off-base, we left and got our money back...and noticed others doing the same. I can't remember the last time I did that. When we politely explained why we were leaving to the theater's manager, she replied, "I walked out of it, too." She was more than happy to refund our money. So, what was this awful movie? It was the seemingly harmless flick, "The Invention of Lying." More than it offended me, and the others with me, it broke my heart. Before you decide to plop down $10 to see it, please read this review first. I couldn't agree more with what this writer had to say about it:

http://www.pluggedin.com/en/movies/InTheaters/InventionofLying.aspx


Once we left, and put that behind us, we continued with our great weekend. God used soooo much of what Joyce shared to speak to specific areas of my life, ministry, family, and future. What a wonderful, personal, and loving God--who is far from being just "the man in the sky."

Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you...

Jeremiah 31:3

"Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is Well...with my soul!"

I shared recently that this year has been very challenging. As I've said publically many times, my desire is to live an authentic life: one that gives honor and praise to Christ for who He is for me and in me, rather than trying to gain praise by what I do for Him. It's so easy to get caught up in the externals of Christian living, rather than resting in the true miracle: Christ in me, the hope of glory!

I am so thankful for who my Savior is. I am so thankful that He accepts and delights in who He has made me to be--imperfect as I am. I am thankful for the Cross that paid my debt and for the Savior who has made me new.

What an incredible reality: the exchanged life-- His for my own. What a Savior! As one great hymn says, "You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!" I believe science, history, and culture prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is an Almighty Creator and that Jesus is His Son; but that's not even necessary for me anymore. I know He lives because of what the living Savior has done, and continues to do, in me, and in the lives of countless others who have tasted His grace and have been made brand new.

In the last few weeks, God has been speaking to my heart in a fresh, clear, gentle way. I used to be afraid to pray prayers that asked God to seek my whole heart for anything that was contrary to His will for me. I am not afraid of that anymore. I've tasted and experienced His incomparable, indescribable grace too often to be afraid to pray those prayers. Now, I welcome those times when the Father reveals areas that need a touch of His grace that brings conviction and change. He has proven Himself trustworthy and faithful time and again. Trusting Him is the only thing that makes sense.

As He has ministered to my heart and mind in recent days, He has brought "peace that passes all understanding" (it definitely passes my understanding!) and a contentment to entrust my whole self to Him in a new way. Just this week, I was part of a congregation that was led in this beautiful hymn. I've always loved this hymn, and the story behind it (which you can read by clicking on the link below this post). But, for the first time in a long time, I knew I could sing these words as my own personal declaration:

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul."

I love the song so much, and thought you might appreciate hearing it sung so beautifully by this incredible singer. He tells a great story before singing the hymn, and I hope it will encourage your heart today. Whatever it is God is allowing you to go through, in order to get you where He is taking you, may you find peace in releasing your life to His care, and may it be well with your soul!



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