A New Kind of Ministry
I'm often blown away by the wonder that is the blogosphere. For years, my ministry has involved my family, the people in my small group, my neighbors; those with whom I come into physical contact on a fairly regular basis. These people are still my ministry, of course, but the ministry itself has been broadened, just as yours has, if you're a blogger. The World Wide Web has had the effect of making our world not as wide!In the last 24 hours, I've had the privilege of praying for a blog friend whose mother was just diagnosed with cancer, encouraging another whose son was in a car accident and is facing some other challenges that has had her feeling low and, through my dread of writing my...
Making a Mockery
You know, there are just some posts that I don't want to write. There are some topics that the Lord impresses upon me, for personal reasons, that I don't really want to share. However, He won't let this one alone, and I feel like I'm supposed to muddle through it in this public forum - like it or not. So, today I set out to discuss mocking God. Sounds fun, doesn't it?Perhaps I should start at the beginning. For a (very) long while, I have struggled with maintaining a healthy lifestyle, with regard to eating right, exercise and some physical (non-life-threatening) health issues. Like many of us, I've made repeated attempts to alter my diet and be disciplined with exercise; some...
The Mind-blowing Imagination of God
I'm using this post as my God-Stop Friday (hosted by one of my best siestas, Patty). God-Stop Friday is a chance to give a shout-out to the Almighty God, for showing Himself in an extraordinary way during the week. I was going through the pictures below this week, and was struck by how amazing they all are - not the photos, the flowers!As you look at them, consider how they differ, how intricate they are, how vivid their color. You are witnessing God's imagination in overdrive, sights and scents created to bless our socks off, just because He loves us. Bask in it, and give Him a thankful shout-out for His incredible creation!I would expound a little further, but more words seem a little...
The Beauty of Boundaries
I'm all about boundaries. I didn't used to be, mind you. No-sir-ee, I lived in the relative discomfort of the overwhelmed boundary-less. So, it is no surprise that when Beth brought up the following point at the Living Proof Live conference in San Antonio, I sat up and took notice.I am an heir of God. My boundary lines form a pleasing place.It's funny how we tend to view boundaries as confining or stifling - anything but pleasing! However, in reality they provide security, safety and freedom. The statement above talks about the boundary lines of our lives. So, what are the boundary lines that make up our lives? Beth proposes the following:This box represents our "property" that has been...
Betrothed
In mulling over all the points that were made about our being heirs of God, a couple really stood out to me. The one I want to talk about today is this:I am an heir of God. The deposit has been made.This statement is based on Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV):And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.Sometimes I just have to shake my head at the wonder of God. He created us. We screwed up. He knew we would so He had a way already...