The Proving Ground

"He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord."

Psalm 112:7

"My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise."

Psalm 57:7

"Evil tidings"... When bad news, or difficult situations come your way, what is your reaction? Recently, I found myself reacting to bad news, and a difficult situation, opposite from the admonition of these verses. Instead of trusting in the Lord, I questioned Him. Instead of my fixed-heart singing and praising, I cried and complained. As I wondered why I had pouted my way through another struggle, my thoughts went to a playground full of children... .

In our early ministry life, my husband was an assistant pastor, and we both taught in our Christian school. At this particular time, our school had about 350 students, and this was the year that my daughter was in my Second grade class, along with 26 other students. Though everyone knew she was my daughter, we liked being teacher and student while we were at school, and so my daughter would call me "Teacher" instead of "Mom" while I was on duty.

Our Christian school had a great playground that was designed and built by our pastor, so there was nothing like it anywhere else. We had a huge climbing tower, restricted for the big kids in the Third through Sixth grades (8 to 12 year olds) , and a smaller Jungle Jim for the younger children in Kindergarten through Second grades (4 to 7 years olds). There was also an in-between piece of playground equipment that we teachers soon realized was being used as some sort of "proving ground" by the Second grade students. This piece of equipment was the Monkey Bars. Students would climb the three ladder rungs up and then stretch to reach the first bar, which was about seven feet from the ground. After they had firmly gripped the first bar, they would then start to swing their bodies back and forth until they had enough momentum to swing their arm forward and grab onto the next bar. They would continue, grabbing bar after bar until they had reached the other end, which was about twelve feet away. The students who had accomplished this feat, 7 feet up and 12 feet long, were no longer considered to be little kids of the playground, and no one would call them "baby" any more. They had proved their strength and determination to their peers, and their accomplishment was celebrated by all who watched.

One day, while most of the students were playing in the field, I noticed my daughter climbing the first three rungs of the Monkey Bars. This was not her first attempt; she had often climbed up only to become fearful and climb back down. But this time, as another teacher and I looked on, she stretched herself forward and caught the first bar... and then the next... and the next, until she was a third of the way through this "proving ground feat". Then she stopped, and began crying out to me. I could hear the fear in her voice as she cried, "Mommy, help me now!".

I came near to her, but I didn’t touch her. I knew she had just overcome her greatest fear by making it this far onto the bars. I had helped many others students through this "proving ground" test, and I knew she had the strength to finish: I just had to convince her. I told her I wouldn’t let her get hurt and that I was close enough to catch her if she slipped. I even told her to let go and I would catch her, but she wanted me to wrap my arms around her and lift her to safety. She continued kicking and crying, begging me to help her. I told her the strength she was using to pitch-a-fit on the bar was enough to get her across and she needed to use that strength to reach for the next bar.

She finally made it to the other side of the Monkey Bars. The other teacher and I were telling her how well she had done, that she was so brave to keep on going and that we were happy for her accomplishment! But my daughter wasn’t happy. All she said to me was, "Mommy, you were supposed to help me." I could hear the disappointment in her voice, and she walked away frustrated with me. She wasn’t relieved that she had made it safely to the other side. All she focused on was how I hadn’t helped her like she expected me to, and how I hadn’t kept her from being so afraid.

I’m ashamed to admit it, but even as an adult, I sometimes behave just like my daughter. When things on this proving ground of life get tough to deal with, I want my Heavenly Father to wrap His arms around me and lift me to safety. I don’t want to have to continue in the struggle... I don’t want to be afraid. I want help now! Just as my daughter’s playground expectations were disappointed by me, I had to admit that my proving ground experience was similar, and I found myself frustrated with the Lord.

Then I realized, once again, that I had pitched-a-fit when I should have been trusting the Lord. I had wanted help out of the struggle instead of help through the struggle. I wish there was an easier way to learn the lesson expressed in this Psalm, but the lesson of how to fix our heart on the Lord, through difficult situations, can only come while experiencing the difficult situation.

It was another day, and my daughter, surrounded by her peers, climbed the Monkey Bars again. While the children watched, she reached for the first bar. With confidence, she reached for the next bar... and then the next, until she had reached the other side, seven feet up and twelve feet long. Her peers celebrated her accomplishment... and she smiled.

Too often it is forgotten that spiritual strength is built through the struggle. Too often it is forgotten that "the proving ground" of faith is never a comfortable place. But often enough, when the struggle is over, we smile with contentment and a refreshed spirit knowing the Lord was with us all the way through.

"Yea, though I walk through... thou art with me...". Psalms 23:4

a price above rubies. 1

this is the first post of a series from 

[God's Gift: becoming the woman my man needs]

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her...  Proverbs 31:11a. 

Safely trust means to be secure or have confidence in.

While I have heard and read and agree that this entire passage [verses 10-31] is a collection of the Virtuous Woman's entire life's work, this one thought is the crux of her virtue and can only be achieved through daily dilegence. 

All the days of her married life, 

her husband's heart is safe in her hands. 

~~

There is so much that could be said here. Indeed, I have read several books on this subject. 

But I will suffice it to say that if I, as a wife, 

17 Amazing Quotes

Helping One Another

1. "No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it for anyone else."  -Charles Dickens

Contentment

2.  "All our discontents about what we want appear to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have."  -Daniel Defoe

3.  "All our discontents about what we want appear to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have."  -Martin Luther

4.  "The secret of contentment is the realization that life is a gift, not a right."  -Unknown

Things

5.  "I will place no value on anything I have or may possess except in relation to the kingdom of Christ." -David Livingstone

6.  "I have held many things in my hands, and have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."  -Martin Luther

Sold Out for Christ

7.  "My dear Jesus, my Savior, is so deeply written in my heart, that I feel confident, that if my heart were to be cut open and chopped to pieces, the name of Jesus would be found written on every piece."  -St. Ignatius of Antioch

8.  "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."  -Jim Elliot

Encouragement

9.  "It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers that his Helper is omnipotent."  -Jeremy Taylor

Forgiveness

10.  "He who cannot forgive others destroys the bridge over which he himself must pass."  -George Herbert

Friends

11.  "A blessed thing it is for any man or woman to have a friend; one human soul whom we can trust utterly; who knows the best and the worst of us, and who loves us in spite of all our faults; who will speak the honest truth to us, while the world flatters us to our face, and laughs at us behind our back."  -Charles Kingsley

Complete in Christ

12.  "None but God can satisfy the longing of the immortal soul; as the heart was made for Him, He only can fill it."  -Richard Trench

Hard Times

13.  "You are never to complain of your birth, your training, your employments, your hardships; never to fancy that you could be something if only you had a different lot and sphere assigned you. God understands His own plan, and He knows what you want a great deal better than you do. The very things that you most deprecate, as fatal limitations or obstructions, are probably what you most want. What you call hindrances, obstacles, discouragements, are probably God's opportunities. Bring down your soul, or rather, bring it up to receive God's will and do His work, in your lot, in your sphere, under your cloud of obscurity, against your temptations, and then you shall find that your condition is never opposed to your good, but really consistent with it."  -Horace Bushnell

Relationship with God

14.  "He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day."  -John Bunyan

Pride

15.  "You can have no greater sign of confirmed pride than when you think you are humble enough."  -William Law

The Tongue

16.  "One of the first things which a physician says to his patient is, 'Let me see your tongue.' A spiritual advisor might often do the same."  -Nehemiah Adams

17.  "When I want to speak let me think first. Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? If not, let it be left unsaid."  Maltbie Davenport Babcock

Note:  All quotes are from Christian Quotes.

How to Help a Wounded Person

How to Help a Wounded Person
By Cary Schmidt (published by permission)

One of the most difficult circumstances of life and ministry is to try to help someone who has been deeply hurt. These are hard moments. More than anything, you want to take away the hurt, undo the pain, and fix the problem. But it’s just not that easy. Woundedness—regardless of how it occurred—requires time and God’s grace in order to heal.

Here are a few thoughts (not exhaustive by any means) that you might be able to place in your tool box to encourage and help those who are wounded.

First—Teach through Hebrews 12. Much of life’s pain is not disciplinary in nature—but all of it is allowed of God and is intended to be used by Him to produce good in our lives (Romans 8:28). Hebrews 12 deals powerfully with how Christians should respond to wounds and chastening—by claiming God’s grace and turning away from bitterness. As I study this passage it seems that chastening can be both disciplinary and nurturing in nature. In other words, it’s not always about discipline, but it is always difficult and painful.

Second—Emphasize God’s Desire to Heal. (vs. 13) The focus of Hebrews 12 is the peaceable fruit—the outcome of grace. Help the hurting person find hope in looking forward. In time, God’s grace can work all things to our eventual profit. Satan wants the hurting to only focus on the past—the hurt. After all, it’s difficult to imagine how the abuse of another can produce something good in me! God calls His child to “lift up the hands which hang down.” He offers hope in what is yet to come by His grace.

Third—Call the Hurting to Pursue Peace with All Men. (v. 14) For God’s healing, the wounded must have a right heart toward the relationships of life—even the broken ones. This is a bit different for each situation, and forgiveness is always a journey—a process of forgiving over and over again. But one condition of God’s healing is that the hurting must have an agenda of peace not revenge or resentment.

101 Ways To Help Your Pastor

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Every pastor, regardless of age, years of experience, and size of congregation, needs help from time to time. It is the responsibility of the congregation to meet the needs when they arise. Listed below are 101 ways one can help their pastor in various categories/areas. It is very likely that someone could add to this list. For this reason, we ask that you submit your ideas in the comment section below!

Stand Still and See

Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord." --Exodus 14:13

INTRODUCTION:
1. These words contain God's command to the believer when he is reduced to great straits and brought into extraordinary difficulties. He cannot retreat; he cannot go forward; he is shut up on the right hand and on the left; what is he now to do? The Master's word to him is, "Stand still." It will be well for him if at such times he listens only to his Master's word, for other and evil advisers come with their suggestions.

2. DESPAIR whispers, "Lie down and die; give it all up." But God would have us put on a cheerful courage, and even in our worst times, rejoice in His love and faithfulness.

3. COWARDICE says, "Retreat; go back to the worldling's way of action; you cannot play the Christian's part, it is too difficult. Relinquish your principles." But, however much Satan may urge this course upon you, you cannot follow it if you are a child of God. His divine fiat has bid thee go from strength to strength, and so thou shalt, and neither death nor hell shall turn thee from thy course. What, if for a while thou art called to stand still, yet this is but to renew thy strength for some greater advance in due time.

4. PRECIPITANCY cries, "do something. Stir yourself; to stand still and wait, is sheer idleness." We must be doing something at once--we must do it so we think--instead of looking to the Lord, who will not only do something but will do everything.

6. PRESUMPTION boasts, "If the sea be before you, march into it and expect a miracle."

CONCLUSION:
But FAITH listens neither to Presumption, nor to Despair, nor to Cowardice, nor to Precipitancy, but it hears God say, "Stand still," and immovable as a rock it stands. "Stand still";--keep the posture of an upright man, ready for action, expecting further orders, cheerfully and patiently awaiting the directing voice; and it will not be long ere God shall say to you, as distinctly as Moses said it to the people of Israel, "Go forward."

Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. - Cesar E. Rodriguez

One of Today's Devotions from http://kjvdevos.blogspot.com

Overcoming a Condemning Conscience

Romans 8:1
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

One of the things I have found that hinders many Christians from doing what they should for God is a guilty conscience. If the truth were known, everybody has done something that they regret. The reason why I know this is because everybody is a sinner. Because everybody is a sinner, there is not a person alive who hasn't done some sin that they wish they could undo. Therefore, everybody is capable of having a guilty or condemning conscience.

Before I show you how to overcome the condemning conscience, let me show you why Christians have guilty consciences. Revelation 12:10 says, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” Notice this verse says that Satan is the accuser of the brethren. Satan's accusatory actions are not only performed in front of God, but he will also take our past and use it to attack us personally. Satan's accusatory attack can cause us to carry a condemning conscience.

According to the verse above there is a way that you can overcome a condemning conscience. There are three steps that God says must be taken in order to overcome a condemning conscience. First, a person must get saved. When a person gets saved all of their sins are placed under the blood of Jesus Christ. Christian, you must realize that even though Satan accuses you to condemn your conscience, you can respond back to him by saying that all of your sins are placed under the blood of Jesus Christ.

Secondly, you overcome a condemning conscience by not walking after the flesh. In other words, the best way to overcome a condemning conscience is not to live the life the flesh would like you to live. This is why preachers constantly preach that you should stop trying to live like the world. Christian, when you continue to yield to the flesh, you are feeding the conscience with things to condemn you. You will never overcome a condemning conscience while living a fleshly life.

Last of all, the way to overcome a condemning conscience is to do the things the Spirit of God would want you to do. Yes, serving God and doing what God commands you to do will help you overcome your condemning conscience. When you do right and stop doing wrong, you will have a clear conscience. There is nothing more refreshing than knowing that you did right. The greatest prescription for overcoming your condemning conscience is to live according to the Scriptures.

Are you having problems with your conscience condemning you? Then take the prescription from the verse above and follow it. You will find by following the prescription from this verse that your conscience can be guilt free. It will be guilt free because God promises that He is greater than anything else in life. When we do what God commands us to do in order to overcome the condemning conscience, then He will drive away Satan and those thoughts that try to condemn us.

Start living right today and you will see the things that used to condemn your conscience will be driven away. A happy life is the result of a guilt-free conscience.

Just Remember...

The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember...
Noah was a drunk,
Abraham was too old,
Isaac was a daydreamer,
Jacob was a liar,
Leah was ugly,
Joseph was abused,
Moses had a stuttering problem,
Gideon was afraid,
Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer,
Rahab was a prostitute,
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young,
David had an affair and was a murderer,
Elijah was suicidal,
Isaiah preached naked,
Jonah ran from God,
Naomi was a widow,
Job went bankrupt,
John the Baptist ate bugs,
Peter denied Christ,
The Disciples fell asleep while praying,
Martha worried about everything,
The Samaritan woman was divorced, (more than once),
Zaccheus was too small,
Paul was too religious,

AND Lazarus was dead!

God turned the curse into a blessing unto you

http://billthereasoner.blogspot.com/2009/08/god-turned-curse-into-blessing-unto-you.html

So says Deuteronomy 23:5 (later quoted in Nehemiah 13:2). The fact is, we desperately need to know somebody is on our team. I have watched those who "sorrow as though there is no hope", and I must tell you that I am glad to be one of His.

Gainsayers and critics abound. "Has beens" and "would've beens" are not content to forsake their past apathies and move on...they must also believe that you will not be blessed. They may even whisper words of cheer when they watch you fall. Those of your own household; those of another; they may all watch with anticipation to see if their doubts and "curses" of you will come true.

"What shall we then say to these things?" Shall we despair? Shall we think for even a nanosecond that our God has turned His back upon those that are His? Nay! For He did this once upon my Substitute. There is not a reason for His back to be towards me. Should we expect His hand of blessing to turn into a hand of chastisement. Again, the penitent man or woman finds no reason for a grudging Father.

O you have stumbled upon this blog--may you find an ever merciful God Who is not willing that any of His should be lost! Will you seek to be one of His? Will you not trust the once-bleeding hands of the Savior which were nailed to an altar for your sins?

Believer, will you not realize afresh and anew that all of the promises of God are "Yes" and "Amen" in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20)? Will we not rest in His work, His promise, His presence?

There is no better time to bow the knee.

No Unreasonable Service

Sometimes in the routines of life- in the seemingly mundane tasks of everyday living, I can see why women get exasperated with being homemakers. No sooner have we washed, dried and folded a load of washing, than the hamper is filling up again! The freshly made bed has been sat on again, the pristine bathroom has toothpaste in the basin and the toilet seat has been left up- again! We won’t even think about the pots that need scrubbing and the plates needing washing- for the third time today. Life can seem so boring and repetitive! Especially when there are little ones to look after and you are in desperate need of a nap- and they aren’t.

Monotony sometimes fuels fatigue- or maybe the fatigue is brought on through the monotony of the mundane running of a home.Whatever the reason, we can dwell on our many tasks, and as we see our husbands off to work, we can brood about our lot in life. We think we are serving our husbands, and we are- but we haven’t got a servant’s heart. We need an attitude adjustment.

Instead of focusing on our husband’s “freedom” as he leaves for work, we should consider that it is WE who have the choice part in life. For we can for the most part, pick and choose what jobs are to be done on any particular day. We can rest when we need it, make a phone call, watch a TV program, use the computer or enjoy a hobby. Or we can go to the store and get out into the thick of things, only to return to the relative calm of our own home when we have had enough.

Unfortunately, our husbands do not enjoy the same privileges. They are out in the thick of the “dog-eat-dog” mentality of the world all day. Restricted in activities and choices- they do not enjoy the freedom that we have. Certainly, they have to face stresses we do not often have to worry about- pleasing the boss and producing. Employment is always about production when you come down to the bottom line! And that is often stressful.

How our husband can enjoy his home and family and unwind from the enormous pressures that he bears will depend upon us! If he comes home to a peaceful home that is reasonably well maintained with his wife and family genuinely glad to see him, he will be able to not only unwind but feel appreciated. It is for you that he works and worries about maintaining his job.

Compared to our domestic woes, his worries are by far the more gruelling and we would do well to try to develop a compassionate and empathetic attitude to him. Apart from being affectionate when he arrives home, I believe we should have planned our day to have the majority of our domestic chores completed so that we can be available to our man.

Sometimes a man will need to be pleasantly silent and reflective- just to turn off from the constant interaction of the day. Understand that this is not a reflection on you- allow him the time to unwind. When he is ready, he will share his day with you. Try to be attentive when he wants to talk.

It is a good thing to prepare the evening meal in the morning if possible. That way, dinner will be on time and you will be less tired. Try to set the table in the afternoon. You will be glad later on that you did. Have the children pick up their toys before Daddy comes home, and make sure bikes and scooters have been removed from the driveway.

Washing is best done- and by done I mean, washed, dried, folded and/or ironed and put away early in the day- it is not good to be folding it when the evening comes and your husband wants to talk and enjoy your company! As his wife, your place is by his side.

Try to have the children cleaned up and freshen up your makeup and brush your hair before your husband arrives home! Make him glad to come home to you! Try not to overwhelm him as soon as he gets in the door with the woes of the day and the disciplining of the children. Remember, he needs time to unwind.

This all sounds like a lot of effort and work for a wife, but we must keep our focus on being a helpmeet to our husband. It is not unreasonable for a man to have a clean shirt, socks in the drawer and in pairs, dinner ready and the home tidy and exuding a peaceful tone, and his wife in a welcoming mood when he gets in the door. This is what will keep him motivated in providing for you- his family.

A servant’s heart is needed for this wonderful job of being a helpmeet. God has given us the choice role in marriage, one that He in His Wisdom has ordained as the woman’s role. May keeping an open mind of the cares your husband bears daily help you develop a servant’s heart- for to serve your husband is no unreasonable service, but a God-given role designed to bless not only your marriage and family, but you as a godly wife, mother and homemaker. And that doesn’t sound unreasonable to me!

© Glenys Robyn Hicks of Morning Cuppas With Glenys

"She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." Proverbs 31:12

Living Life in a Glass House...

This is a post for all the people who are in the ministry and those of you who attend church and have a pastor's family. So I guess that this post covers all of you!

Can you imagine living in this glass house? No privacy! Can you imagine that everybody in the neighborhood will see what goes on in your house? I think that the designer forgot something when he built this house...

Okay this part is for everybody out there...to all you saved people out there who attend a church with a pastor and family....and to those in the ministry...

The Bible says in I Samuel 16:7b, "...for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."
Today, we as Christians like to focus on the first part of the verse about what the Lord sees, but we tend to forget about what people see. Even if you are not in the ministry, you still live in a glass house so to speak. Ok, imagine those cars with the tinted windows, you can see in some, but not everything or everyone that is in the car. That's the difference between you and someone in the ministry. You are the one with the tinted windows, and we are the one without the tinted windows...but anyway, as I was saying, we forget that people see us. We need to remember that though I don't always know that someone is watching...they are. It may be through my actions and attitudes that someone may reject Christ or accept Christ. We must always remember that.
Now speaking of actions and attitudes...I know some people that are probably reading this are saying, "Wait a minute! I don't have an attitude! Especially toward other people!" This is where I am going to talk about my experience of living in a glass house of a preacher's kid...Don't stop reading church members, you need to know what its like! Don't stop reading, preacher's kids, parents, just because you know what it is like!

This part is to the members of the church:
Jude 22, "And some have compassion, making a difference."
Colossians 3:12-14, "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."
Philippians 2:3, "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."
These are just a few verses on how we are to treat others. Please church members, you need to realize that what you do affects the pastor's family either for good or bad. This has been on my heart for so long! I have seen many preacher's kids leave the ministry, get in trouble, and now will not have anything to do with church. I know some of you think that most preacher's kids turn out bad, after all they are so spoiled. haha...I have heard that! :-) But let me say, in most cases it is not that, it is a result of the actions and the attitudes of the members that cause the children to go astray!
I am so glad that we have a great church with great members...right now, Lord willing, we have no problems that I know of, and I know that some of our members read this blog :-) and I want to warn you to be careful of your attitudes and actions it will affect someone for good or bad. It may be a bus kid or a fellow member, but it will affect someone.
There is a dear lady in our church, and she is a great example of how people's attitudes and actions affected her. When she was a teenager, she attended church with her parents, but one day, she heard a member say something against her father, and she would not go back to church until a couple of years ago, she visited our church and was saved. Our actions affect someone whether we know it or not! Plus, people in the ministry are not perfect! We are all imperfect people serving a perfect God!

Now for you people in the ministry and (even members please read too):
This is a lot easier for me to talk about...for this is me! I love it! But let me say go back and read the verses above. They all apply to you and me and everyone. We can not change people and how they react to us in the ministry, but one thing my parents have always taught me is that we are doing this for the Lord (Galatians 1:10, "For do I now persuade men or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.")
There is joy in serving the Lord. Yes, there are hard times! But it is so great to see the people in the church stand behind your family during those times. Like I said the Lord has been so good to give us good people. It is good to see how people's lives are changed by the Lord!
But we do need to remember that we do live in a glass house, I know that people watch me and my family. Some people probably don't realize that I know that they do, but I do! (Like I said, I know that some of our members look at our blogs, and I hope that I can be a blessing to them through this ministry!) :-) Even People at McDonald's watch us, people at Walmart watch us! As we are in the ministry, we are a walking testimony by our looks, by our facial expressions, by our words, by our actions, we are a walking glass house! This goes for people in the ministry and outside of the ministry. But to those in the ministry, don't give up! PK's, remember I Timothy 4:12, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." Be an example! Church members, Be an example! ~ Jennifer