The Balancing Point

The Resolution for Women: Priscilla Shirer

Last post we read about the need to give to gain, the post before that we learned that we need to be satisfied with what we have, and the first post we learned that every moment should have meaning and should be enjoyed.  Now we talk about the balancing point. How do we balance all of life’s wants and needs? Some may feel like living satisifed with what God has already given is like admitting defeat, or a life of mediocrity. Being satisfied does not mean we do not hope for more. Contentment is the balance between the enjoyment of life now and the anticipation of what is to come. Being content keeps you from being controlled by your desires. What God has bestowed now is worthy of gratitude and appreciation, not merely because it is enough but because it is good.

Making this resolution of contentment will offer you an opportunity to look forward to tomorrow with peace and ease and an appropriate level of anticipation instead of the frustration and hurriedness that often comes with looking into the future. We do not need to sacrifice today’s blessings because of un-contentment or trying to rush our future gifts. Fully enjoy the things you have, the person you are, and the life you’re currently living with you strive to move forward with your dreams and future.

If you are single you need to take hold of everything you can do more easily when you are single. Traveling just as an example is so much more possible when you do not have the responsibilities of our spouse and children. Going to college or mission trips. There is so much more to do in this season of singleness that God has planned for you! Take the awesomeness of each season and run with it! You will have the young married life where you to get to know each other do not rush through this enjoy it!  Them the season of children which is amazing until you have gone through the previous season you may have not been ready! Then your children grow and leave the house, your time with your husband to grow old and see your grandchildren or possibly travel again! So many wonderful possibilities is we were just content with each season; content with the now.

It’s a balance. A holy equilibrium.

Contentment is not complacency. We just do not allow these issues to take away our joy. There is always going to be something in every season that will make you upset. You can still have contentment even with these every day irritations.

That’s a safe, healthy place when contentment allows you to take root and take up residence. Instead of being manipulated by unrestrained discontent, instead of allowing restlessness to hustle you into decisions, relationships, and opportunities that you’re unable to recognize as being faulty from the outset, contentment keeps your mine clear.

I do solemnly resolve to embrace my current season of life and will maximize my time in it.. I will resist the urge to hurry through or circumvent any portion of my journey but will live with a spirit of contentment. 

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Overflowing Blessing

Luke 6:38

New Living Translation (NLT)

³⁸ Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.“

There’s noting exact about God’s recipe of return to us. His gifts and overflowing. He’s not stingy with His goodness or ungenerous with His supply. When you choose to give. He promises you’ll have enough – more than you think – filling you back up with more than you had to begin with.

This doesn’t mean you should always without question give yourself at the expense of the relationships and purposes that should be prioritized in your life. Sometimes the best, most empowering word you can learn to utter is no. But on those occasions when you do feel genuinely led by God to give, you needn’t be worried about what appears to be a dwindling amount of personal resources to do the task.

Most people think these things:

• My energy level is so low
• My love tank is running so close to empty
• its only tuesday but my patience is already running out
• I barely have enough money to fill the tank and feed my kids!

Yet when you feel as though you’re completely void of anything worthwhile to offer, or when your situation make you feel justified in not being the one to participate, you’ll often hear Him whispering… Give and it will be given to you.

It appears that the best way to get more of what you need is to give away the little you think you have left – at the appropriate time and in the appropriate way. So make the resolution to be content. Then look toward heaven with holy anticipation.

When you consider your level of willingness to give of yourself, does it reveal more contentment or discontentment residing in your heart? In what way?

Based on God’s provissions that you listed at the end of the last chapter what is one thing you could close this book and go do for someone else out of that resource?

Record your thoughts regarding this statement. “Sometimes the best, more empowering word you can learn to utter is no.”

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Life’s Biggest Battles

Five Smooth Stones for Parenting

How to prepare your kids to win life’s biggest battles

God has been in the business of helping children defeat the “evil giants” in their world for a long time.

1. Teach Them to Suffer Well

A Theology of Suffering:

• Life is hard, but God is good! • Life is unjust, but God is sovereign. • Old Testament Roots – Joseph (Genesis 37-50) • New Testament Command – 1 Peter 2:21-23

Application: Help your child grow through suffering. Life message: Suffering is Normal!

2. Teach Them to Work “Unto the Lord”

A Theology of Work:

• Work is a “calling”, not a job • All work is sacred. • Our work is to flow from God’s unique design and purpose for our lives. • Work is for one audience; the “audience of one.”

1• Old Testament Roots – Genesis 2:15 • New Testament Command – Colossians 3:23

Application: Help your child discover “God’s calling” for their life so they can impact their world and beyond.

Life Message: You Were Created to Work!

3. Teach Them to Manage Their Lives Wisely

A Theology of Stewardship:

• God owns everything. • God has entrusted us “things” to manager for Him (time, talent, treasure) • God expects a positive return on His investment. • God will hold you accountable. • God wants you to share in His joy. • Old Testament Roots – Genesis 1:26-28 • New Testament Command – Matthew 25:14-30

Application: Help your child become faithful in the “little things” – Luke 16:10

Life Message: Your Life is a Sacred Stewardship!

The Resolution Revolution

What would happen if the men and women of this generation fully resolved and committed themselves to live for what matters most? Women who reflect their full purpose and potiental. Women who embrace life with joy and fulfillment and are know for being faithful in each area of their lives. Women who understand that this involves discipline and self-sacrfifce, but that it can happen as they allow the Word of God to nurture them and the Spirit of God to take control of them and have His way.

This bible study will both stir and challenge you. Fasten your seat belt! God’s about to go to work – Alex & Stephen Kendrick

The Resolution Revolution

Resolution

• the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.
• the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.

How many resolutions have we made over the years and actually kept? The biggest ones; loosing weight, saving money, or eating healthier. Fail enough times, and you don’t feel like trying again. Yet still every year we say our new years resolution again… mine always being loose weight! So important to me but never can get accomplished; why is that!?

If we think about it we make resolutions every single day. We choose to treat people a certain way, to stay committed to certain activities, to live a certain life, to be a certain kind of person, or not a certain kind of person. Ether way, you’ve made a decision.  These resolutions determine the life we end up living.  So when we make our next resolution be intentional about it!

1. This Resolution is with God.
2. This Resolution will impact the people you love.

This resolution is powered by the power of the Holy Spirit! Although the choices you make will impact others, you in no way have the right to blame or be frustrated in other people’s direction. This is about what you will do, what you will become by God’s grace from this day forward. This is the Resolution for one woman; YOU.

By no means are you promising to be perfect, rather you are making a commitment simple to begin 0 to journey forward in the direction that particular resolution is pointing you.  – Priscilla Shirer

Here are the 13 Resolutions.

The more you grow the more His power is able to flow through you, satisfying your heart and transforming your world. So no matter if you feel you do great in this area or that; push through to improve!

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Dedicated

 – Pastor Brad Grasley –

Click above to hear the Podcast.

Being Dedicated

Child dedications are NOT

• A recognition of God’s blessing
• A statement of trust in God
• A commitment to raise your children God’s way
• Claiming their promises future.

It is a covering over your children until the day comes where they can make the choice to be baptized. We cannot change their lives by dedicating them or christening them, only Jesus can change their lives and ours.

Let Jesus’ Story change our Lives.

Jesus came into this world so we could have a new life. Put the past behind us and be ready for a new life. Don’t get stuck focusing on what you were it will only keep you stuck. Give it to God.

Stop comparing yourself to others. Stop being hung up on what you THINK you are. HE knows who we were; that is why He sent Jesus to give us a clean slate. When you say you don’t know what I have done and who I was; God does!

Luke 2:22-24

(NIV)  Jesus Presented in the Temple

 ²² When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³ (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”^[a]), ²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

God’s asks us about two things when we are ready to dedicate

PRESENT:

(v.) To bring or introduce into the presence of some one, especially of a superior; to introduce formally; to offer for acquaintance; as, to present an envoy to the king; (with the reciprocal pronoun) to come into the presence of a superior. Easton’s Bible Dictionary

Who is more superior than God?!

Romans 12

A Living Sacrifice

 ¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Lay ALL of ourselves down; not to die an earthly death like in the old testament, but to be a living sacrifice. Be willing to kill that sin – jealousy ect. This is WORSHIP.

Worship is not just songs and music. Being generous, giving time, reading the bible when you don’t want to, sacrifice the fight even when you are right, Killing those sinful thoughts these are all worship.

REMOVING POWER FROM THE FLESH

like in fasting as a simple option. Fasting shows we can have power over our flesh and still live.

WHAT YOU FUEL GROWS; WHAT YOU STARVE DIES. What are you feeding?

We need to fuel ourselves; read the bible, get in the word, look at your temptation and tell it NO you will not eat it, you will starve it out of your life!

CONSECRATED: to be Holy and set apart.

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

¹⁵ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Jesus is more than just the reason for THIS season. He is the reason for life EVERY season. When January comes around let Him still be what we value.

Separate yourself from sin. Jesus is the only one to worship. Not even our kids can be the example of our changed lives.  Be ready to share Jesus. Are you different from the world??

Romans 12 (MSG)

Place Your Life Before God

^1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Place your everyday life is God’s hands and God will give you the opportunity to share!

Mark 4:1-20

Jesus was teaching to a group of people so large he went out in a boat and the people were along the coast. He told the story of the birds scattering the seeds. Some landed on rock, thorns, and good soil. Obviously the good soil produced much vegetation. Later the twelve asked him what was up with the parables.

¹¹ He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables ¹² so that,

“‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’^[a]”

Impressions that are not deep, will not last. This parable of the good seed, shows the manner in which the kingdom of God makes progress in the world. It grows gradually it is perfected in heaven!

These are the verses that went with the study.

¹¹ Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. Genesis 1:11

⁸ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. JOshua 1:8

¹² The LORD said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching^[a] to see that my word is fulfilled.” Jerm. 1:12

²⁶ He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:26-29

³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1:38

²⁰ In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. Acts 19:20

1 Corinthians 12

The variety of use of spiritual gifts are shown. (1-11) In the human body every member has its place and use. (12-26) This is applied to the church of Christ. (27-30) And there is something more excellent than spiritual gifts. (31)

This chapter speaks on our spiritual gifts and how you cannot call on Jesus without the Holy Spirit.  No man has them merely for himself. The more he pours out the more it will come back to benefit him as well. These gifts are meant to help us understand the mysteries of the gospel.

¹¹ All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

 No matter what gift you were given remember who gave it to you and do not squander it. The Holy Spirit gave these gifts to us each specifically; He did not just pick them out of a hat. Each gift and each person has a purpose to expand His Kingdom.

Unity and Diversity in the Body

These verses talk about how just as the body has different parts to make a whole, so does Christ. We were all baptized by one Spirit to make one body; the church.

¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

What a silly way to look at it. The bible makes me laugh sometimes! We as a body cannot all be the same; if you were all like me I would not be extraordinary and vise versa!! Be YOU and be you with purpose.

We should not find the weakest link and extract it; we need to love every part, every person equally.

²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

 I love that !! How opposite the world lives! This kick them when they are down attitude does no one good not even the kicker who gets that momentarily upper hand. It always comes crumbling down when our foundation is not good. When it’s not of Christ it is not strong enough to survive this world.

How blessed the Christian church, if all the members did their duty! Instead of coveting the highest stations, or the most splendid gifts, let us leave the appointment of his instruments to God, and those in whom he works by his providence. Remember, those will not be approved hereafter who seek the chief places, but those who are most faithful to the trust placed in them, and most diligent in their Master’s work. – Matthew Henry

Acts 9

The conversion of Saul. (1-9) Saul converted preaches Christ. (10-22) Saul is persecuted at Damascus, and goes to Jerusalem. (23-31) Cure of Eneas. (32-35) Dorcas raised to life. (36-43)

In the beginning of Acts 9 we are back with Saul and he is still on a warpath. God decided to put a stop to that a light struck from heaven and a voice asked Saul, “why do you persecute me?” Saul asked if this was the Lord! Who else can strike you down from heaven? The voice replied :

 “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

When Saul stood up the people traveling with him were amazed. Saul could not see he was blind and did not eat for three days.

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision. He told him to go to restore Saul’s sight. Ananias was leery because he had heard what Saul had been doing; arresting anyone who spoke of Jesus.

 ¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

After this Ananias went to Saul and blessed him, and Saul was baptized.

 ²⁰ At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. ²¹ All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” ²² Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

At once! He just went right to work! Could you imagine all the people were so confused! Wasn’t this man just arresting people for this and now he is doing it? This only made Saul push stronger to prove Jesus was the Messiah. This of course turned into a conspiracy to kill Saul…. they always lead to killing someone! Saul being too smart for this found out about the plan.

²⁵ But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

Now in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples but they were scared too of his past and didn’t believe he had changed.  We do this often I feel!! Hard to believe sometimes that someone has changed. Barnabas stood up for him and brought him in front of the apostles and told his story. Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

the Hellenistic Jews,^[a] but they tried to kill him. ³⁰When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

He just cant seem to find a home where people are not trying to kill him.

Aeneas and Dorcas

³² As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda.³³ There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.

Peter told him of the Lord and healed him the people were amazed.

Tabitha or Dorcas was a person who always helped the poor, but had died the people went to Peter to help her.

⁴⁰ Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. ⁴² This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

Wow amazing what the power of Christ can do!!!

Acts 5

The death of Ananias and Sapphira. (1-11) The power which accompanied the preaching of the gospel. (12-16) The apostles imprisoned, but set free by an angel. (17-25) The apostles testify to Christ before the council. (26-33) The advice of Gamaliel, The council let the apostles go. (34-42)

At the end of the last chapter it was all unicorns, and rainbows! How quick things can go south…

Ananias and Sapphira sold some property and kept some money for themselves; we think why would that matter I would keep it all!!! In the last chapter they were all taking care of each other and what they sold the money went to the apostles. Ananias’ only kept a bit for himself and he did bring the rest to the apostles….

I think that we do this a lot now with sin. We only do “this” at least we are not doing “this” and I gave “this” much at least I gave anything at all. We always have an excuse or reason or someone worse to compare ourselves too. If it is wrong and we know it and still do it …. why do we do it? Greed, selfishness?

Of course Peter is there to say something; that Peter always has his two cents! He tells Ananias that this land was God’s even selling it didn’t mean that the money was to be his and that the Devil was in his spirit. In my mind I think HARSH; but if we are not giving a 100% of our heart does that not hurt God!? Maybe like Eve may have thought…”its only one fruit from this tree…cant God share? Is He threatened?!”

“The crime of Ananias was not his retaining part of the price of the land; he might have kept it all, had he pleased; but his endeavoring to impose upon the apostles with an awful lie, from a desire to make a vain show, joined with covetousness. “ Matthew Henry

So lets see Ananias’ reaction to these words from Peter.

⁵ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

Wow….  Now it doesn’t say God struck him down. It says when HE heard this, HE fell down and died… His wife didn’t know anything about this came in three hours later and Peter asked her confronted her about the sin. Then he very bluntly I might add that the men who buried your husband are coming they can escort you out as well!! I guess not all men of God are polite. Now what do you think she did?

¹⁰ At that moment she fell down at his feet and died.

Worse ending to an already sad story…. do not try to keep things from God since He already knows everything!

The Apostles Heal Many

^{15 …}people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. ¹⁶ Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

The Apostles Persecuted

Now enters JEALOUSY…. I believe to be one of the deadly sins in my life. The high priests had enough of this… were they jealous people were not coming to them for healing? Whatever their reason they arrested Peter and John. As we learned God’s plan cannot be stopped.

 ¹⁹ But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. ²⁰ “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”

He uses our worst times to save other people. See the man can’t keep me down!! Our God is greater!! Our God is stronger our God is greater than any other!!! So Peter and JOhn did as they were told. The high priests saw they were not there and had them brought to them to question why they were teaching in Jesus’ name even though told not to do it and our friend Peter replied…

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! ³⁰The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. ³¹ God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. ³² We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Again reminding them that they killed Jesus… The priests were so angry they were going to put them to death, but  a Pharisee named Gamaliel spoke to save them.

….Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. ³⁹ But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

How true is that!! So the high priests ordered them to not speak of Jesus and sent them away.

 ⁴¹ The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. ⁴²

That is a crazy sentence… rejoicing and worthy of suffering disgrace! Anyway that God can use us we need to feel joyful and lucky. The job will get done with or without us; I would rather be part of God’s work than standing on the sideline.

Acts 4

Peter and John imprisoned. (1-4) The apostles boldly testify to Christ. (5-14) Peter and John refuse to be silenced. (15-22) The believers unite in prayer and praise. (23-31) The holy charity of the Christians. (32-37)

We left off last chapter with Peter just telling these people off and then inviting them to repent. Now the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees all were upset about Peter and John speaking about Jesus resurrection so they arrested them.

⁴But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

This is proof that no matter how short a word that you give, people will hear you and they will believe! Their arrest did not stop God’s work.

So the big guns brought Peter and John in to question them.

V. 7 “By what power or what name did you do this?” …..V. 10 “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. “

Not only did this not stop God; it gave Peter and John an even bigger platform in front of the biggest religious figures. Peter stood his ground and started nailing it in! What did these priests think?…

¹³ When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Wow; jealous much? Ever had that person next to you speaking in tongues praying beautifully next to you with tears falling down their face obviously filled with the Spirit and you felt a little jealous flame light up?! I know I have! Why God can’t I have that overwhelming feeling!? We can; and the more we worry about others or try to think this are less than us the harder it will be to feel Him.

They had to believe them since the lame man was there walking. They gathered again to figure out what to do with these men in their city. They did not want the word of this miracle being spread around. They spoke to Peter and John and asked not to speak about this. Now how do you think Peter took that?!

¹⁹ But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! ²⁰ As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

This verse reminds me of this one; “But for me and my household we will serve the Lord.” You can do whatever you like; but we are here to bring glory to God not you! The priests let them go and knew not how to punish them The people were already praising God for this no longer lame man.

The Believers Pray

Peter and John returned home and told their fellow believers and they all worshiped God and prayed.

²⁹ Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. ³⁰ Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Just to make sure they were supposed to continue to spread His word they went to the Lord for permission.

 ³¹ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

The more we stick to the word, the bolder we get!! Can you imagine Peter and John being anymore bold!?

The Believers Share Their Possessions

They did not give 10% they gave it all! They didn’t even think this stuff as their own. Whoever needed something they should have it and vise versa. It makes my heart overfill with Joy. The selflessness that the Spirit can give us if we are willing.

 ³² All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. ³³ With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all ³⁴ that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales ³⁵ and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.