Happy Birthday(s) to ME!

January is a pretty fantastic month for me!!  Interesting that it is the month that marks the beginning of a new year because it is also the month that holds my spiritual birthday, which marked the beginning of a new life for me!!  So, January is a super special month for me for reasons that all work together!!  I give December a strong second because it is when I celebrate my natural birthday (those balloons are from friends from my birthday this past December!) and it is also the month that holds the spiritual birthday of a very special person in my life! 

On January 16, 2010, I will celebrate my most significant birthday!!  My 5th birthday to be exact!  You see, on January 9, 2005, Jesus Christ proved Himself to me in a way that gives me the confidence to boldly stand on His Word all day everyday!!  Just as on the day of Pentecost (recorded in Acts chapter 2), the Lord filled me with His gift of the Holy Ghost!!  It was on a beautiful Sunday afternoon! I remember everything about it--where I was (8 Logan Street Greenville, SC), who was there (Troy, Charity, my pastor's wife, a few dear Mothers of the church, and Elder Humphrey!), what I was wearing (black skirt, pink cardigan, black shoes, black hat), how I felt (GOOD!!! REAL GOOD! NOTHING CAN COMPARE!), everything!!  One week later, on January 16, 2005, I was baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38; Colossians 3:17) for remission of sin and PRAISE JESUS--newness of life!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

For me, it was one thing to read Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus (John 3: 1-21) but it was another to truly understand and experience what Jesus Christ was telling Nicodemus-- being born into His spiritual family!! (as opposed to my natural family that I was born into on December 4)!  Elder Evans, our assistant pastor, said a few weeks ago that we don't remember the day we're naturally born into this world.  Rather, we rely on what our parents tell us or on a piece of paper (birth certificate) that bears our name and a date.  We trust that that was the actual date that we were born into this world.  BUT, not so on the day of our second & spiritual birth!!  I don't need any paper documentation nor does anyone have to tell me the day of that birth!  You know for yourself without anyone having to tell you a thing!!  Jesus is so wise!!!

Since I failed to do a posting on my natural birthday, I'll give you a brief summary of how it went--I traveled to Athens, GA to visit the BEST hair dresser EVER (yay for a relaxer!), I came back to Greenville for service and had cake & ice cream with my church family, and on Saturday some of my amigos de Greenville surprised me at Myabi for dinner and we had a game night at our house!  Allison gave me Loaded Questions--one of my new FAVORITE games!!  So, we played that and had a smashing good time! 

Alrighty, I hope your 2010 is off to a fabulous start!!  I'm enjoying age 27 (feeling a little old) and looking forward to celebrating my 5th birthday this Saturday!! It truly has been the best five years of my life that's for sure and I just keep learning and growing, growing and learning!  Happy New Years Everyone! 

Happy Birthday To Me,
SG

Giving

Today’s Sunday School lesson on Giving has sparked something within me that really transforms the way I think about a lot of things.  Below is my attempt to summarize the lesson as well as share my thoughts on the lesson & other related things that have since come to my mind.  I wouldn’t be surprised if a Part II pops up later!

The lesson was divided into three fundamental principles: (1) stewardship (2) giving and (3) sowing.

1. Stewardship—“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”  Psalm 24:1

A steward is one who manages another’s property, finances, or affairs.   The primary principle that we must grasp and accept in order to truly become givers is that we are stewards.  Nothing (not one thing) that we possess belongs to us.  Jesus owns everything and we are blessed to be stewards over His possessions.

Interestingly enough, this is a principle that we may say or want to believe, but it truly takes some growth, I believe, to allow our minds to be transformed into understanding, accepting, living, and practicing this belief in stewardship.  Nothing I own is mine.  When I go to work, it is by the grace of God.  Therefore, the paycheck that I draw is also by the grace of God.  It is His money.  He gives me the talent and the ability to perform my job.  Therefore, nothing I have done to purchase “my” belongings is of my own ability.  Humbling huh?

Likewise, my body belongs to God; therefore, I will carry it around this Earth in a manner that is pleasing to Him.  I don’t get to define what to do with His body/temple that He has given me.  The choices I do make must be in accordance with His Word. 

Even the breath that I breathe at this very moment belongs to God.  I think I am going to write down this principle/thought (“Nothing I have is really mine! It belongs to Jesus!) and post it in places around my office, car, and home.  My daily calendar would be a great place to put this reminder because even “my” time belongs to Jesus!!  And I sure do live by my daily “to do” list.  Truly, it is something that needs to be etched in my/our hearts in order to understand and obey the act of giving.

The second principle that the lesson discussed is that we must understand that giving is an act of worship.  Just as our prayer, fasting, and praise reflect God’s characteristics within our lives, giving is also an act that reflects the character of God.  The lesson text states it this way, “Our giving patterns either testify to the abiding character of God in our lives, or they bear witness to its absence. . . Giving is an outflow of a life that is consecrated wholly to God.”

Side note: It is also important to note that giving any kind of way does not work!  We cannot give God anything in any manner.  Giving must be done cheerfully!  (2 Corinthians 9:7) So if you’re on your way to bible study and complaining,  “I really don’t have time this week for bible study.  I have so much work, laundry, etc… to do…”  You’re giving your time, but not cheerfully!!  It is important that we not treat serving Jesus as a chore, burden, or just something on our “Christian” to-do list.  That type of giving produces little to nothing for your spiritual growth.  This is another thing that I believe takes growth and awareness.  A lot of times we are so caught up in our daily schedule and routine that we don’t realize how we treat giving and living for Jesus as just another mundane item on our to do list that we get to if we have time.  Backwards much? 

Giving begins with me.  Another portion of the lesson discussed that a prerequisite for the act of giving is to first give ourselves.  If my life belongs to Jesus then I won’t have as difficult of a time understanding that everything related to my life also belongs to Jesus.  Giving isn’t a burden. 

During the lesson I thought about the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-22) who told Jesus that he had kept all of His commandments from his youth and asked “what lack I yet?”  Jesus told him that if he wanted to be perfect to sell what he has and give it to the poor and “thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”  The man’s response?  See ya!! The Bible says the man went away “sorrowful: for he had great possessions.”  This man literally looked Jesus in the face and walked away after being told to give up his possessions.   Perhaps he didn’t understand that NOTHING that he possessed could match what Jesus was offering Him in exchange.

I should pause here and make sure that I emphasize that giving involves more than money!  While giving does involve money, there are so many other things that Jesus requires that we give—ourselves (our lives/body), our time, our talents (He gave them to you for a reason!), our spouses (any minister or deacon wives out there?  I know you understand this one!), etc… None of those things belong to us anyway.

Lastly, I note that we should really find pleasure in giving!  God does!  (Philippians 4:18) 

3.  Sowing—An Act of Faith!

The lesson states, “when the farmer purchases the seed and places it in the ground, he understands that he may not see it again.  He is, for a season, poorer than he was.  He cannot dig that seed up and use it for his own food.  Once it is planted, it is gone from him.”  I found this to be a helpful illustration of sowing.  Sowing is an act of faith.  For we believe that what we are giving will produce something, but the evidence of the product is typically nowhere to be seen.  The motive for sowing? Pleasing Jesus and blessing others!  The expectation, however, is a hope to reap because that is a scriptural promise! (Galatians 6:7-8)  The only thing that can prevent reaping is failure to faithfully sow.

So that was the Sunday school lesson! I thoroughly enjoyed it!! It really makes me think about every single aspect of life.  In particular, one thing that came to my mind while studying this lesson was some of the things we may take for granted that are gifts given to us by Jesus.  Our health, for example.  Our ability to hear, see, walk, etc… is a gift!  Our health is a gift, and while I 150% know that Jesus is a healer, during the times when I may experience bodily pain and sickness, one thing that helps me is to appreciate and praise Jesus for the times when I was fully healthy.  It was a gift that I never earned!  In that respect, I believe that it is imperative that we remain mindful of the many gifts that Jesus bestows upon us, that we may appreciate them while they last!  (“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits”!!) Psalm 68:19

Every second of every minute of every hour of every day, Jesus is giving to us whether we acknowledge Him or not (the very ability to see and read and breath right now: GIFT!).  All He asks in return is that we do likewise.  GIVE! 

I hope this lesson is a blessing to someone as it was to me!  My prayer is that it sparks something within us all to be mindful (daily) of the giving nature of Jesus, that we might strive to exemplify it in our daily lives.  Remembering that we are stewards of all that we posses.  Let’s take good care of what He has given us (start with your body!!!) and let’s use them to His glory and never be too selfish to know that we are blessed to bless others.

“For of Him, and through Him and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” Romans 11:36

Growing,

SG

The Proof Is In The...Prayer!

 ♫ "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."  

Philippians 4:6 

Without question, the last six months of my life have taught me the POWER of prayer and the dire necessity of having a consistent and ever-improving prayer life.  Not only have almost all of the books that I've read recently emphasized how prayer has transformed the authors' relationships with others as well as the Lord Jesus Christ, but my pastor's vision for his flock, my personal reading of God's Word, my meaningful conversations with my husband, and the every day going on's of life, have worked together to make it evident that without a prayer life, it is impossible to grow/mature spiritually or make it peacefully from day to day.

While there are numerous scriptures given to us by the Apostles that remind and teach us that prayer is vital (the instruction to "pray without ceasing" seems pretty clear!),  Jesus Christ Himself was, of course, our perfect example.  The Gospels relay countless times when Jesus prayed in order to maintain His strength and relationship with the Father (Matthew 14:23; Luke 6:12; Luke 9:18; Luke 11:1; Luke 22:41; Matthew 26:36; Mark 6:46; Mark 14:32, Luke 9:28; John 17:1-5).  Likewise, I've found that prayer not only builds my confidence in Christ, it also betters my relationship with Him and reassures me that I serve a prayer-answering Savior who not only listens to my cries, but also responds!! Hallelujah! 

Prayer is our time to sit and talk with our best friend and first love.  Just imagine how great it is to have quality alone time with your spouse where the two of you enjoy each other's company.  We cherish that time because it is essential to our relationship.  Similarly, our alone time with Jesus Christ is vital to having a relationship with Him.  And in all honesty,   time spent with any human being pales in comparison to time spent one-on-one with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.  It's unlike any other time!  Everyone and everything else is set aside during this sacred time to offer praise, whisper words of prayer, cry out, or simply shed a tear in communication with the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:6).

Elizabeth George, author of A Woman After God's Own Heart, suggests that women create and keep a prayer journal that lists people who are in need of prayer and/or situations that need prayer.  Initially, I thought that the idea of a prayer journal was a bit unnecessary, but the more that I've developed a life of prayer, the more I realize--there is A LOT to pray about(!!) so perhaps a journal would be helpful to remember every thing/situation/person that crosses my mind to lift up in prayer.

Perhaps two of the most important prayers that have proven to be refreshing and fruitful in my life have been (1) the prayer that I set aside to pray strictly for my husband and (2) prayer for those who I find it "challenging" to like/coexist with.  

Prayer for Your Husband 

I've found that setting aside a time to pray solely for your husband (especially(!!!!) if your husband is a deacon, preacher, pastor, or leader in your local place of worship) is perhaps one of the most productive things a wife can do.  It builds your confidence in your husband and it allows you to trust Jesus and your husband even more.  [or at least, I've found this to be true]  Moreover, praying for your husband really makes it easier to love and respect him in the role that he fulfills in your life.  I'm in an infancy stage with this set-aside prayer, but I truly recommend to any wife who isn't already, set aside a time each week where you lay before the Lord and pray solely for the many facets of your husband's life and responsibilities.  It adds a new level of beauty to the marriage!!  

Praying for "You Know Who" (Matthew 5:44; Mark 11:25) 

My oh my how I've discovered (am discovering) that praying for people who may not be the easiest to appreciate or get along with is (1) not as easy as you'd think but (2) SO helpful in getting to the place where you can honestly love them!!   Initially, I generically mentioned their names in prayer--"Lord, please bless X.  Help me to love X."  That was not an easy first step, I must admit.  Now, however, I'm finding it easier to pray for those individuals in more than just a sentence or two.  I find myself praying for all the aspects of their lives and when I arise from prayer, I have a new found love for X and a confidence that God will help ME in being more like Him in loving X.  For truly, the prayer for X is also about the Lord helping me because clearly I am not walking wholeheartedly in His Word if I am not loving X as I do others (Matthew 5:44-48).  Man, it's been a tough pill, but I see that it works! [side note: it's also humbling because Jesus shows me how He continues to love me despite my shortcomings, so why can't I do the same for others (Galatians 6:3)]

There are so many other prayers that we pray--for healing (James 5:15-16), our natural leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2), our spiritual leaders (1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; Hebrews 13:18), peace in Jerusalem (Psalms 122:6), salvation/deliverance for our loved ones, for wisdom and understanding, and SO many more--but I wanted to briefly mention how those two prayers in particular have been a blessing to my life and continue to help me to develop my relationship with Jesus Christ.  Truly God has shown Himself as REAL through my prayer life.  So I say, forget the pudding, the proof is in the prayer!!

"Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer."   

Romans 12:12

Sitting in a seat of fervent prayer,
SG