Excel

 

I’ve learned something about myself. I tend to stay away from talking about giving in my writing. Maybe I think my readers don’t want to hear about giving in this forum. Maybe I don’t believe anyone will read the blog on that day. Who knows? It just doesn’t seem to be something God has placed on my heart to write about.

 

Until now.

 

CCWe are in a short generosity message series where I attend church. Yes, we talked about the money part, but we were also reminded that giving is a spiritual issue.

 

If you read through 2 Corinthians 8, you’ll find the account of the Church at Corinth and their desire to give to the Church in Jerusalem. Jerusalem had been plagued with a drought and had caused financial hardship. The Corinthian believers were eager to start the collection, but for some reason had fallen behind (2 Corinthians 8:10). Take a look at Paul’s analysis of this reason.

 

“But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” (2 Corinthians 8:7 – NIV)

 

This group of believers had come to maturity in all other areas of spiritual growth. Their faith was exceptional. They spoke the words of Christ. Their knowledge of biblical truth was above the bar. Their love for others was great. But they lacked spiritual maturity in their giving.

 

I understand this. To be honest, I think this verse could have been written about me in years past. But what I’ve come to realize is that when one area of spiritual life is lacking maturity, it hinders growth in other areas.

 

Maybe you feel like I did in the past. Your faith and trust in God is stagnated. Your desire to know more of God’s Word is diminished. Your love for others is just so-so. Maybe you go days without even speaking God’s Name. And you are not even thinking about giving regularly to your local church.

 

If this sounds like you, maybe it’s time for you to shake up your life a bit.

 

Our church is also doing a 90-day giving challenge. The idea is to commit to trust God with our finances. To commit to giving 10% of our income or to raise our current giving by a certain percentage. At the end of the 90 days, if we have not been blessed in some way (not necessarily financially), we will get our money back.

 

Malachi 3:10 (NIV) says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the flood gates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

 

I can’t wait to see what God is going to do with our folks. But more importantly, I can’t wait to see what God is going to with me! Where is God going to take me? What is God going to do through me? Who will God point out that needs to hear about Him? I can already feel the excitement building within me.

 

Now I’m not telling you all of this because I’m the assistant to the lead pastor at our church. I’m sharing this message with you because God has placed it on my heart. This verse from 2 Corinthians touched my heart. I pray that it just might touch yours as well.

 

Are you up to the challenge?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Messages from John

 

I know you know that I love Pinterest. I could spend hours looking at how creative others are in this world. But what I’ve come to know is that I live a lot through others. I pin their crafts, recipes, and decorating ideas, but rarely go back to create what I’ve pinned.

 

However, there are some pins that I take to heart and am able to use on a day-to-day basis. Those pins I find of God’s Word. I find encouragement. I find joy. I find peace. I find strength. I find good news. I find enjoyment. All from God’s Words combined with beautiful artwork.

 

So today, I want so share some of my recent favorites from the Book of John. I pray that you will be encouraged by these wonderful words of life.

 

John 15

John 1:5

John 316

John 3:16

John812

John 8:12

John 836

John 8:36

John 1010

John 10:10

John 1334

John 13:34

iPhone 5 Wallpaper

John 14:17

John 154-7

John 15:4-7

John 1515

John 15:5

John 1633

John 16:33

1John 419

1 John 4:19

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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A Hopeless Case

 

I am beginning to feel the pressures of this week. There are some big events coming up at church that I need to be on top of. I have a Halloween costume to complete. And I am committed to putting a “Jesus loves YOU” sticker on each piece of candy that I will hand out this Friday night.

 

peaceI have two Bible studies to lead between now and the weekend which requires prep. I have blog postings to write. There are the usual day-to-day items that need checked off my list: laundry, meal preparation, cleaning, etc. I am definitely under pressure.

 

But what I know in my heart is that it isn’t hopeless. I have hope in Jesus and with Him by my side, I know I can face any situation without being crushed by the pressure. Take a look at these verses and see if you can gain encouragement.

 

“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5:5 – NIV)

 

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27 – NIV)

 

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.” (1 Timothy 1:1 – NIV)

 

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” (Hebrews 6:19a – NIV)

 

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3 – NIV)

 

When we place our hope in Jesus, we find great benefits. Unfailing love (Psalm 33:18), confidence in God (Psalm 71:5), God’s Word to point us to His hope (Psalm 119:81), God’s delight (Psalm 147:11), and boldness (2 Corinthians 3:12).

 

My little bit of pressure may be nothing compared to what you are facing. Perhaps you could use a good dose of hope this morning. If so, take God’s Word as truth and place your hope in Jesus. Believe the verses of Scripture above and hold tightly to their truth. What a blessed Savior we have to put our hope in!

 

And finally, one last passage. It’s one of my favorites because there have been many times in my life when I’ve felt just this way. I pray that God’s Word will fill you with hope this day. You will not be crushed, left to despair, abandoned, or destroyed. Not when your hope is in Jesus!

 

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-10 – NIV)

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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“Lay Me Down” – Monday Musical Musings

 

“I surrender.” Not words that we are inclined to say. It means that we have decided to give up all that we have to the conqueror. We tend to fight, fight, fight. We don’t want to be called “quitters.”

 

0005030206R-849x565So how do you react when you read Jesus’ words from Matthew 16:24-26 (NIV)? “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” Jesus is asking for you to give Him full authority over your life. Jesus is asking you to surrender to Him.

 

I believe there are different levels of surrender to Jesus. The initial acceptance of Jesus as your Savior would have been one level of surrender. As your relationship with Jesus grew, you surrendered a little more. As the maturity of your faith deepened, you’ve surrender yet more and more. Before you realize, it becomes easier to surrender behaviors, attitudes, and control over to Jesus.

 

Of course there will be difficult things to surrender to Jesus. Just take some of the lyrics from today’s chosen piece for instance. Are you willing to give up your pride? To sacrifice regardless of the cost? And to do so joyfully?

 

We can’t do this on our own. And we don’t have to. Jesus sent the gift of God’s Spirit to us when He left. The Holy Spirit leads and guides us to a greater understanding of what it means to daily walk with Jesus. The Holy Spirit shows up in our lives as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

 

Little by little, we are able to repeat the words of the Apostle Paul. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 – NIV) Jesus surrendered all for us. We should at least be willing to try for Him.

 

Today, take a look at these words to “Lay Me Down.” See if there isn’t just one more area of your life that you could surrender to Jesus. Next week, offer yet another sacrifice. As the Holy Spirit points out sin in your life, surrender those actions or thoughts to Jesus. Step by step your relationship with Jesus will grow and Jesus will shine through you.

 

“Lay Me Down”

 

With this heart open wide
From the depths, from the heights
I will bring a sacrifice
With these hands lifted high
Hear my song hear my cry
I will bring a sacrifice
I will bring a sacrifice

 

Chorus:
I lay me down I’m not my own
I belong to you alone
Lay me down
Lay me down
Hand on my heart this much is true
There’s no life apart from you
Lay me down
Lay me down
 

Letting go of my pride
Giving up all my rights
Take this life and let it shine
Take this life and let it shine

(Chorus)

 

It will be my joy to say
Your will, Your way
It will be my joy to say
Your will, Your way
It will be my joy to say
Your will, Your way always[i]

 

Click here to listen to Chris Tomlin sing his version of “Lay Me Down.”

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] “Lay Me Down,” Words and Music by Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Jonas Myrin, and Jason Ingram, WorshipTogether.comsongs, Six Steps Music, Vamos Publishing, Said and Done Music, Shout! Publishing, Thank You Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, West Main Music and Windsor Hill Music, 2012.

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My New Favorite Place

 

Today’s repeated blog post is about my old office. It was pretty special, but what I’ve turned my new office into is pretty spectacular! With the use of my favorite location on the planet (the beach), I’ve created my little oasis in the middle of the Colorado mountains. The sites, the scents, the textures, the scenes of the beach are with me each moment I’m in my office.

 

windowsBut the best part of my new favorite place is that it’s where I meet God. I share my thoughts with Him. He tells me what I need to know. I dig deep into His Word and read snippets of passages as I look around. Yes, this is my new favorite place because God is with me right here. Right now.

 

Another favorite place for me is at church. In just a few hours, groups of believers will gather together for corporate worship and study of God’s Word. I pray that you will take the time to be with God today in a setting much like I’ve described. I can’t wait to get there!

 

My Favorite Place

 

Do you have a favorite spot or location? One that warms your heart the moment you arrive? I have several “favorite” spots. So I guess I really don’t have a favorite! My newest favorite place is my new office. Within its walls, I am made comfortable by the décor, the paint colors, and the little items that make this room uniquely mine.

 

I painted a silhouette of a tree on one wall. I chose the color “chocolate brownie.” The gentleman who mixed the paint for me chuckled. He said he would be hungry for brownies all the time if he knew that was the name of the color. Well, that got me thinking! I began a search for a chocolate scented candle. It was actually more difficult than I would have thought, but finally, I found my candle and now the pleasant smell of brownies fills the air.

 

The sounds of my favorite artists fill the room with music. Depending upon my mood, gospel, pop, swing, classic country, contemporary praise, Christmas, or instrumental music can be heard. Each tune brings to mind something different. Perhaps a moment in time or a person. Maybe a reminder to be thankful or get up and dance! Sometimes after several runs through an album, I’ll remember to switch it to something new. Regardless, the music that plays is inspirational for me.

 

I have a lovely ceiling fan with a light. It is pretty and functional. When it is turned on, the bulbs shed light on the work I do and the fan gives a breeze that could almost be called “hurricainal.” I know that isn’t a word, but this little fan can sure move some air! I have a desk lamp as well for when I’m reading my Bible or working on Bible studies. It too provides the light needed for all tasks at my desk.

 

Throughout my house, you’ll find joy. Not my granddaughter (well maybe on certain days you’ll find her here), but the word “joy.” I’ve lost count of the actual number of plaques, pictures, artwork, etc. with that word on it, but each room has something with joy on it. My office is no different. Joy can be found in prominent places and there is even one that you’d need to search for. My coffee coaster has red poppies on it. In making Ukrainian Eggs, the red poppy is a symbol for joy. Joy abounds here!

 

Among the items on the walls are verses of Scripture that are meaningful to me. They are words directly from God for me to remember. “For the Lord is good. His love endures forever.” (Psalm 100:5) “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 40:10) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

 

As I sit at my desk the verse that I see directly in front of me is “Show me your ways, O Lord. Guide me in your truth and teach me.” (Psalm 25:4-5) For me, this is what it’s all about. As I study God’s Word, prepare to lead women in Bible study, or write, I’m always open to His teachings and guidance. I’m always searching for His truth.

 

In several ways, my office reminds me of heaven. It is a welcoming place. A comfortable place. And the reason? God has invited us join Him in heaven. He has invited us to join Him for eternity. It is where He dwells. And He has done His best work there.

 

  • God’s chosen décor for heaven is gems, pearls, and gold.
  • There is a tree…the tree of life.
  • Perhaps there will be glorious scents…we are invited to the wedding feast after all.
  • And music? Of course! Thousands and thousands of angels singing, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:13)
  • There will be no need of a light or a lamp, for God Himself will provide the Light.
  • And yes, there will even be joy! We will join with the angels in joyful assembly.
  • God’s Word will be there as well. Just as He spoke in the beginning, He will speak throughout eternity.

 

My office…a little bit like heaven. I will never sit here again without thinking of my future home. One that God has prepared for you and me. Come and join me in that ultimate “favorite” place. God will be waiting!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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