Do you Twitter?

If you do Twitter, when asked why? How do you answer that?  I have some trouble at times coming up with an answer, in the time frame that is allowed (while passing) to explain, so generally I don’t.

I came a cross a post while twittering that is exceptional (in my opinion) as to why a Christ Follower would twitter.  Go here and read this Twitter a simple explanation.

I am encouraged daily on Twitter.  I can choose who I follow, and who follows me.  I also get the chance to live life in real time with other followers, who are just doing life, no masks, just people.  I love that! It also helps me to stay close to people I love who are far from me. Its really up to you how much time you spend there, so if you spend your entire day there, don’t blame Twitter!   😉

Love to hear your thoughts!…pro or con..

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New Ministry Excitement!

I have been blessed to be part of a group of people who are looking to God (by being in the Word), and also gleening from each other.  Philter48 is much more than a forum, it is discussion, articles (blogs for men , women, teens-this one not quite ready), forum style Bible Study, and also other topics following after the Verse Philippians 4:8  Whatever is…  Registration is easy and painless, and you will not be given to spambots, or any solicitation.  Its just a safe place to think and build community with other believers.  Do you have to be a believer?  No, but those are the topics we are looking at..and I do think everyone can benefit from it.

I have been posting on the Womens Blog, and I am excited about what God is doing in me through this.  CPKroboth III has been blogging there on the Mens Blog, and I am sure there is a blessing there for you men. 

There is just so much there, TV/live chat…which can also be used as a chat area, a section in the forum to leave prayer requests (who does not need prayer? that is my question) God has been good in giving Carl and Brian this vision, and providing the support they need to get it going. 

Hoping to see you all there, and hope that you will be as blessed as I am in this.  Join us, we would love to hear your thoughts, encouragements, and your struggles.  Come, do life with me!

Philippians 1:9-11

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.(ESV)

(Study notes from the ESV)Phil. 1:9–11 The first petition in Paul’s prayer is that God would cause the cardinal Christian virtue of love to abound more and more, and that it would be accompanied by knowledge and all discernment, so that the Philippians’ love would find expression in wise actions that would truly benefit others and glorify God. As Christians grow in their understanding of what it means to follow Jesus, they will increasingly be able to affirm and practice what is excellent. Such joyful obedience to God will give them the confidence of being found pure and blameless when Jesus returns. This does not imply instantaneous spiritual perfection but rather an increasing likeness to Christ. But fruit of righteousness is not produced in the believer’s own power. Because that fruit comes through Jesus Christ, it will result in the glory and praise of God.

As I studied through this section, and read comments and discussion at Philter48, I was reminded of how often we stop at the “pure and blameless” section and count ourselves OUT!  Through the worlds eyes, we are not pure and blameless..endless grudges have been held against us, and some with good worldly reason. Praise God that HE is not like the world!  The difference between willful or presumptuous sin and transgressions are life changing to one who may be carrying reproach of sins past.  Pure and blameless is being free from willful, repetitive sin. You know the kind..the one we look at and know in our heart of hearts that it would be wrong for us to do it, and we run right in delighting in the forbidden. Not only once, but since we repented, we feel okay about doing it again and again, with all intention of one day laying this thing down.  (Let me just give this warning..God is not a fool, and forgive you HE will, right after that whoopin’ you are asking for..HE will make sure you do not forget what defiance in the face of our Almighty King will bring  you.) We will battle with sin, that everyday sin, someone made you angry, and your tongue got away (not repetitively), when we cry out to the LORD to help us forgive, we repent that we know we are unforgiving, unloving…the things that we go through while learning and growing in HIM.  Those are sin as well, but God has seperated sin and willful sin…We learn obedience, and although something is sinful and totally appeals to us we decline, no willful sin.  There is freedom in this for me.

Psalm 19:13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.

Pauls prayer is beautiful, and one we all need to apply to ourselves as well as others.. Love, knowledge, discernment, pure and blameless, what is excellent, fruit of righteousness..through Jesus Christ all to HIS Glory!

Philippians Study 1:1-9

I have recently started a new study with Philter48. There is lots to offer there for everyone. Although it is in the beginning stages, it has been a blessing.  (Please don’t let the word “forum” scare you off..its very easy to move through, and the discussions are wonderful!)

Studying Philippians, I am glad to tell you that I am going slowly through it, and happy with that. My hunger for the Word is growing, and I just don’t want to miss anything God has for me. Here are some highlights that spoke to me…

Phil.1:1 I found it interesting that Paul addresses this letter to the “saints”, “overseers” and “deacons”.  For some reason he felt the need to write it this way. The mystery to me is  why? “Saints” pretty much covers all believers.  Well, they couldn’t say he didn’t mention them, and he had thier attention as well.

Phil 1:3-5  Interesting. The joy and love that Paul felt for these people, because of thier love for the LORD, and the way they also spread the Good news, the Gospel. There is nothing wrong with us feeling this same kind of love for each other, and I am sure that this is what I am experiencing here in Blogville with my Christian brothers and sisters. It is amazing, and what an awesome gift from God.

Phil 1:6  Seems to me that the ones who are spreading the Gospel seem to need reminded ( I know I do) that God has started a change in us and HE will finish it. No doubt! HE does not fail at what He sets out to do, HE doesn’t become tired or bored, HE has a plan and HE finishes it! Thank you Jesus!

Phil 1:7-9 Paul has written the most awesome prayers, I love to look and read and apply them.  This one is near to my heart, and I have prayed tons for things that he called out that he prayed for the Philippians.

We need to rememeber that all saints are saints, all part of a well oiled machine needing each other to function in the area and gifts that God has given us. To love each other and find that love in the saints sharing the Gospel just like us, God truly does bind our hearts together. And to pray for each other, and also for ourselves.  These are some of the things I pray for..to have a righteous fear of God, because through it HE promises wisdom, to know God more, to love HIM more, and to not be decieved, protection from the evil one. (why else would we need to be reminded that HE will finish the work HE has started in us)

Stay tuned..hahaha I will be posting again on next tuesday what I rest on in the next section.  Love to hear what you think of Philippians 1:1-9, and would love to see you at Philter48  (Carl Kroboth, Dale Hill, Brian Swan, and Michelle  are all going to post also this week..checkout the Philippians Study at Philter48 )

Teen Mothers in Church

Interesting…while thinking today of a young mother (16), who chose to keep her baby, and is trying very hard to keep good grades (maintaining an A average), taking on her motherly duties, and the baby is a picture of health and being well taken care of…one  happy baby.  This mother is wanting to go to church…I know there are consequences to our poor choices.  But those consequences should never be with holding Jesus Christ, or the gospel as if she has really out sinned God’s forgiveness.  Curious..

-Would your church be okay with this young lady being part of your daughters youth group? why or why not?

-Would you let your daughter be her only friend?

give me some feed back….(BTW-I already am loving this young mama)

Alot have opinions, and alot speak a good God talk…how about you? how do you think one should respond to this situation?

Worship One and serve another?

Isreal was taken captive by the Assyrians 722 BC, and priests of different religions were placed among them.  The people soon had many different gods, but the sons of Isreal spoke of thier God, and how HE had sent lions among the people because they did worship/fear the one true God.  So they were sent to teach the others, but something strange happened.  Now there is a huge nation who fear God but serve many other idols.  You can read the entire account in 2 Kings 17:7-40.

 32They also feared the LORD and appointed from among themselves priests of the high places, who acted for them in the houses of the high places. 33They feared the LORD and served their own gods according to the custom of the nations from among whom they had been carried away into exile.

³⁸“The covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, nor shall you fear other gods. ³⁹“But the LORD your God you shall fear; and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.” ⁴⁰However, they did not listen, but they did according to their earlier custom. ⁴¹So while these nations feared the LORD, they also served their idols; their children likewise and their grandchildren, as their fathers did, so they do to this day.

As I have been studying for my class (to start in October), I have been brought back to these verses over and over again.  In the Western culture that I live in, we may not have a shelf full of statues that we bow to every day, but we most definitely serve other gods.  Whether that be “people pleasing”, addictions, vehicles, posessions, style, how about our children? mmmm I know I have fell into that a few times, only to be called out to lay them down, and say Blessed be thy name LORD. 

Wondering what you all may think about these verses? Have we been carried away to our own type of exile…strongholds…?  Did you even know it was possible to fear God and serve other gods?  Has our lifestyle been handed down through generations, and we believe that it is all okay?  HE said there shall be NO other gods….I believe HE means it as well today as when HE said it the first time.