Truth is in the Handbag

Truth is in the Handbag

Shari Braendel

"Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me." Psalm 31:3 (NIV)

Devotion:
I recently watched as a frazzled shopper fumbled around in her bag trying to find her allusive keys. As she dug through her overstuffed purse, multiple items spilled out, landing on the counter and falling to the floor. Quickly, she began collecting her items.

I thought about her pretty purse, beautiful on the outside but hiding an unruly mess on the inside. And then I started thinking about how alike women and purses can be.

Maybe you're like a small purse that only has the capacity to hold a few things. Yet you try stuffing more into your life than you can hold, only to get frustrated. Perhaps one of those things is God: He's been crammed into a tiny space in your world and you don't give Him much room to rule because you feel more comfortable when you are in control.


Perhaps you're like a big purse, carrying all kinds of things. You're involving yourself in so many activities just because you can; with no real purpose to why you're doing it. You end up flustered like the shopper digging for her keys because you haven't spent the time needed to organize your spiritual life.

I know you're not a handbag, but when applying biblical truth and application, what kind of purse are you most like?

It's not God's desire for our inside to be out of sync with our outside. He desires for us to have our hearts turned toward Him and have our very pulse in beat with what He is doing in us.

Where should we start to curb the chaos, release our controlling tendencies and lighten the busyness to fall in step with God?

Start by being still. For some, that will go against every fiber of your being, but try it. Perhaps you abide in chaos because it's masking what is really going on with you, just like your pretty purse hides the unorganized mess within. Sit quietly and pray for God to help you be keenly aware of Him. Nothing that you are going through is a surprise to God.

Next, relax and trust the Lord. Sometimes feeling out of control causes you to hyper-control everything around you. Let go of your fears, doubts and worries and make room for God in your life.

Finally, clear your calendar. We overbook and over-schedule out of habit and now busy feels normal. Is your fast pace driven by fear, or does it define your value or identity? If so, re-evaluate where your time and energy are being spent and why.

Making a change doesn't come easily, but it can be done. Although seeking out time with God, learning to trust Him, and reorganizing your priorities can feel uncomfortable and difficult at first, I know for sure that it's not nearly as hard as living overcommitted and out of control.

Together, let's commit to cleaning out our "purses!"

Thought you might like this devotion I found!  It really spoke to where I am at right now!  So What kind of purse are you? 

Have a Beautiful Day!

Christina

Have you signed up yet to go to the Conference?  What are you waiting for?   Sign ups are still being taken this Sunday!  Cost $60 (includes hotel, conference and breakfast) plus food and spending money.  (A $25 deposit is due 7/15 to reserve your spot)

Date:  August 6-7
Location: Tulsa. Oklahoma
Contact Vicki Bowman for more information (or see Christina Sunday to register)

Hope to see you there!

Have a Beautiful Day!
Christina

Diiner & A Movie Recap with Pictures!

We had a great night of food, fun, friends and a great devotion by Cindy! See the pictures!

Slideshow generated with Smilebox

If you haven't seen this Movie yet, what are you waiting for? Seriously it is quickly becoming one of my favorite movies. I love this version of the Cinderella story, it makes it more real. I won't give the movie away but I will say my favorite sceen is towards the end when the Prince comes to rescue Danielle (the girl) and she has sorta already rescued herself and he says her name, and she say say it again!   Don't we all want to be known, to be recognized!?! I know I do! I Love it! When we first moved here that was one thing I missed terribly was not being known. And I can still remember the first time someone saw me (outside of the church) and called my name and said Hi! 2 Timothy 2:19a But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his."  God Knows our names, even when those around us don't!  Know You are Loved, Thought of, & Prayed for!

Have a Beautiful Day!

Christina

Rahab: Less than Perfect

 Read Rahab's story here   I think the story of Rahab is my favorite in the Bible because it shows so much about God's Love for us!  He takes the least of us, (Rahab, a prostitute) and uses it for His purpose. 

I can't even begin to imagine how Rahab must have felt to have two spies (foreigners) come to her and promise her safety and freedom if she helped them.  Then to have to wait and see if they would keep their word.  She saw her people destroyed and her city demolished.  But can you even imagine the Joy she felt when she saw that they were true to their word?  That God could and would use her a lowly prostitute.  She was obedient! Wow!  Can we I say that we I are/am always obedient to what God asks of us me? It makes me think of all the amazing things I have missed out on because I wasn't obedient. 

Rahab has been considered as an example of active faith, and despite whatever her past may have been before her turning to the true God, she was later considered among the righteous: She is even in the blood-line of Jesus 

The Story of Rahab reveals  God's willingness to use the less than perfect, the outcast, the unsuitable, to accomplish His purposes.  Thankfully God dosen't wait for us to become perfect in order to use us.  He dosen't even promise to make us perfect and then use us, instead like Rahab, He promises to use us and through that experience to perfect us.  God only asks that we are willing to be used!

God Said in 2 Corinthians 12:10 (Message)

My grace is enough; it's all you need.

My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

So It's my prayer that you will see, know, believe that God can and will use you, inspite of what you've done!

Titus 3:4-5 (New International Version)

4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

Have a Beautiful Day!
Christina
 
P.S. Just a reminder:Beth Moore's Esther Study starts this week!  Wednesday's @ 9 am

Dinner & A Movie: Everafter

Women's Minsitry Presents: 

EVERAFTER  Dinner & A Movie     Date:  Friday June 4th 2010    Time: 6:30 p.m.     Location: FBC Friendship Room  Come out and Join us as we watch the movie Everafter and enjoy a yummy Mexican Fiesta together.  Bring a Friend! 

RSVP/Questions to Christina  ohmommaok@yahoo.com  or check out the FBC Women's Ministry Facebook Page

Idols & Tools

This really spoke to my heart this week! I have been feeling cluttered and like I am holding on to things to fill a void, or something I feel is missing, when it's just stuff and I can't take it with me when I am gone! So I have been de cluttering my home as well as myself!   Hope this is an Encouragement to you as well!

May 4, 2010

Idols and Tools

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

Luke 12:15 (ICB) "Jesus said to them, "Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. Life is not measured by how much one owns."

Friend To Friend
We live in a "stuff" driven world where it does not seem to matter what we have, it is never enough. We are told the more things we have, the more successful we are. We not only want possessions, we want other people's talents, abilities, circumstances and relationships. Luke warns us to guard against "all kinds of greed." It is easy for us to covet a job that offers more power and prestige. We want the power that another seems to possess in their career. We are driven to have the best and to be the best, unable to relax and celebrate where we are and what we do have. Hebrews 13:5 is powerfully clear in its warning, "Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. God has said, "I will never leave you; I will never forget you" (NCV). Now that is a fortune.


Be honest. How important are your possessions? How do you view them? Howard Hendricks, a great Bible teacher, was having dinner with a very wealthy and prestigious man. Hendricks was amazed at the humility of his host, knowing the man's impressive credentials and the massive wealth he possessed. At the end of the evening, Hendricks asked his friend, "How did you grow up in such wealth and not be consumed by materialism?" With a smile, the man responded, "My parents taught me that everything in our home was either an idol or a tool. The choice was up to me."

The truth is that we want whatever we put first in life. I have discovered the more I have to live for, the less I need to live on. Too often, greed and jealousy encourage wrong decisions and foster unhealthy and ungodly attitudes. The fact is - greed and jealousy are fruits of idolatry. Everything in life is either an idol we choose to worship or a tool we choose to use for good or bad.


Corrie ten Boom was a godly woman who endured great persecution from the Nazis in the World War II concentration camp known as Ravensbruck. During an interview, she once stated she had learned to hold everything "loosely" in her hands. When asked why, Miss ten Boom explained that after being a Christian for many years, she had discovered the truth that when she grasped things tightly, it hurt more when the Lord would have to pry her fingers loose. The choice really is ours to make. We need to hold our "stuff" loosely while investing financial resources in eternal things. We need to keep our gaze riveted to God's plan alone instead of entering the all too familiar and ungodly "competition" that seems to plague so many people.


To stay away from idols and avoid greed we need to change our focus from what we want to what we have and choose to be satisfied with whatever that is. In Luke 12:15, Jesus issues a warning, "Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. Life is not measured by how much one owns" (ICB). I believe that attaching importance to "things" is sin and will lead to more sin.

I love the story of a wealthy man who prayed, asking for permission to take his earthly wealth with him when he died and went to heaven. An angel appeared to the man and said, "We heard your prayer, but I am sorry. You simply cannot take it with you." The man pleaded so passionately that the angel said, "Let me see what I can do." When the angel returned, he reported, "Good news! God has made an exception for you. You may bring one suitcase with you when it is your time to go." Delighted, the man packed his one suitcase and went on with life. Several years later, he died and appeared at the Pearly Gates where St. Peter who took one look at the suitcase and said, "I am sorry, sir, but you cannot bring that in with you", met him. The man protested, "But I received special permission." Just then, the angel appeared and said, "Peter, it is true. He has special permission to bring one suitcase in with him." Curious, Peter said, "Do you mind showing me what is in the bag that is so important to you?" With a smile, the man replied, "Not at all" and proceeded to open the suitcase to reveal stacks of gold bricks. Peter's face said it all, "Pavement? You brought pavement with you?"


Many of us are in a never-ending and futile quest to accumulate "pavement" here that is worthless there! Wealth is all a matter of perspective. We need to understand that our Father wants us to have wealth. We just have to be careful not to settle for earthly money and possessions or human power and prestige instead of the eternal treasures only He can offer.

Let's Pray

Father, I confess to You that the material things of this world often tempt me. Please forgive me for the greed in my life and help me learn how to choose against it. I choose to keep my eyes on You and the eternal wealth You alone can offer. Help me to guard my heart and mind. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Some things to ponder:
· How important are your possessions to you? Be honest.
· Make a list of your ten most important "things." Will they be just as important in a year?
· Examine your heart for any jealousy. Record your thoughts in your journal.
· Identify and eliminate any "pockets" of jealousy and greed in your heart.
· Begin each day with a prayer of thanksgiving. Evaluate the difference this prayer has made in your life after a month.

Scars

Today I am sharing part of my story, I don't do this for you to pity me but in hopes that it will be an encouragement to you.  This past summer at Middle School Camp we were talking about scars and comparing our scars.  I have a few, that  you can see one on my left arm and two on my right foot from a car accident I was in in 2005. I have some scars you cant see, they are inside.  I didn't grow up in a christian home, and there was no talk of God.  I grew up in a home filled with angry words, and flying fists. For a very long time I thought everybody knew my secret.  You see when a child hears they are stupid or won't amount to anything they believe it!  I felt ugly inside and out! I had no hope of being anything of any value to anyone. I looked to the world to find value and worth and it filled me with more lies... Be prettier, be thiner, be smarter... be better... be  more!  I couldn't do any of these things but I tried, boy did I try.  I so wanted to be loved, to feel loved, and I did whatever it took.  I did whatever it took to get that love...but I never felt completely satisfied with it, it was never enough.  I was all alone even when I was surrounded by people. 

It wasn't until after I was married that I learned true love, and it wasn't from my husband (he did/does show me love), it was different an unconditional love like I had never knew before.  I was 21 when I first met Jesus.  I tried to "fake it" like I had done with people in the world for so long, but He saw right threw me. He (Jesus) saw threw to the ugly, brokeness, and loved me anyway! He began to heal those scars, that no one else could see.  He took away the pain, the hurt that was caused by those scars.

Psalm 147: 3-5 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.

 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

I love this scripture because it reminds me that I am not alone!  He (God) binds up, bandages those scars those wounds I have and heals them!  He counts and knows the names of all the stars and He knows me, calls me by my name.  I never thought I deserved His Love, His Healing, but He showed me I did. 

He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by His wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5) 

       His scars take away ours!  His Love is enough!

This past few weeks, I have been feeling the pull to share this with other women, because when I look at you I see the hurts so many of us still hold on to, the scars that just won't seem to fade and it breaks my heart.  It breaks my heart, that many women don't feel they deserve this healing.  Can I tell you, you do!  You have a God who love's you!  Who cherishes you, and wants you to know His unconditional Love. His Love brings a healing that only God can.  My prayer is that you will seek this healing out, that you will allow God to bind up your wounds, no matter how dirty or ugly they are. That His Hope will replace those scars.

Know you are Loved, Though of & Prayed for!

Have a Beautiful Day!

Christina