Even Steven / Mrs Charissa Andrews

Mrs Charissa Andrews

Pastor's Wife

Amazing Grace Baptist Church

O'Fallon, MO

 

Even Steven

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. -Isaiah 61:3

When my boys were younger, they loved to trade things with each other. They would swap just about anything: match box cars, stickers, stuffed animals, metal trinkets they would find deep down in the dirt, army guys, gum and candy. You name it, they would trade it. Some of their trades went well. Both parties came to the table with something valuable and both parties left the table with something they deemed valuable. However sometimes a deal would go bad. I'd hear something like this:

               "Give it back!”

               “No way, you already traded!”

               “But it isn't fair!”

               “Too bad, you said yes and Mommy said we HAVE to keep our word.”

               “I don't want this anymore, give me my trade back. This guy's arm won't even stay on, it                       wasn't a fair trade.”

               “I don't think it was broken when I gave it to you, you probably broke it.”

That would continue until I intervened and tried to sort out their bad deal. It didn't take us long to realize that this trading stuff was not working out so good, and that we needed to find a solution. We came up with an “Even Steven” approach. We talked thoroughly with our boys about being fair. We emphasized treating others the way you want to be treated. We gave examples of fair trades and unfair trades. We set up this whole trading system based on honesty and complete disclosure. Because who in their right mind would give something that is good and valuable and precious and holds worth in exchange for something that was dirty and broken and ugly and worthless?!? We all agreed that no one does that. We give something and expect to get something fairly equal in return.

It has been some time since those “Even Steven” days, about twelve years. I hadn't thought about those days in quite some time. Then I came across this verse in Isaiah. Don't you just love it when God's perfect word goes and messes up your mindset? :) I started thinking about the “trading deals” I've done with God. When I came to Him as a 17 year old girl, I brought to the table: insecurities, brokenness, filth, hurt, betrayal, dysfunction...ashes. And in turn He traded me: peace, wholeness, cleanliness, love, forgiveness, security...beauty. There have been countless times since then that I have gone to my Jesus and made, humanly speaking, an unfair trade. I have given Him weakness and in exchange He gave me His strength. I have come to Him empty and He has filled me up. I have handed Him a heart that is shattered and He has handed me a balm and wrapped me in His loving arms. I have come to him weak kneed and wobbly legged and He traded me for a solid foundation to rest on.

So now when I ask that question: Who in their right mind would give something that is good, and valuable, and precious, and holds worth in exchange for something that is dirty, and broken, and ugly, and worthless? I can't help but whisper....Jesus. My Jesus.

Do you have ashes? Do you hold nothing but remains of something you once loved? A dream you used to hold on to? Would you give them to Christ? He will give you beauty in return.

Are you mourning? Do you grieve in the deepest parts of your heart? Are there times that you sob into your pillow, not sure that anyone else understands? Would you be willing to give that mourning to Christ? He will give you the oil of joy in return.

Is your heart heavy? Are there situations around you that are out of your control? Are you carrying burdens that seem to weigh you down? Would you release that heavy heart to Christ? He will give you a garment of praise in return.

I'm so glad God doesn't play by my “Even Steven” rules. I'm so glad that He can take a little and make something great out of it.

It's important to note the last part of this verse. “...that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified” It is so that He might be glorified. Ladies, God wants to give us a “good trade”, but it is for His glory. Let's walk circumspectly in regards to how we handle the transaction. Don't despise the heart break, the emptiness, the brokenness that we have to offer. Give Him the ashes and receive the beauty and point all the glory to Him. 

Drop in for Tea / Mrs Lisa Butler

 

Mrs Lisa Butler

Word of Life Baptist Church

Mattoon, IL

 

"Drop in for Tea"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you noticed how many different blends of tea there are for us to try:  I love trying new tea flavors, sometimes I end up liking the flavors, and sometimes not so much, some are too strong, too weak or just have an odd taste to me, others I enjoy.  Many blends are good for us, and today we are going to share in some cups of "tea" that are good for us as Christians:

 

1 - Royal - Tea

This source for this tea is straight from the well of living water, when we accept Christ as our Saviour, we become part of His Royal Family, so we should be living like we are one of his children.  Gal 4:7 - "Wherefore thou are no more a servant but a son, and if a son, than an heir of God through Christ."  When we accept Jesus as our personal Saviour, we become an heir of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.  (We have everything that Jesus has.)

 

2 - Personali  - Tea

As Christians, we represent the person of Christ, so he should be part of our persona.  John 13:35 "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (Love is the distinguishing mark of Christ followers)

 

3 - Hones - Tea

In todays world, a cup of honesty sure is refreshing.  As a Christian, honesty is something we should be filled with.  Eph 4:25 "Wherefore putting away lying.  Speak every man truth."  (We know that truth comes from knowing God)

 

4 - Accountabili - Tea

We all have to drink this one, we are all responsible for how we live this life on earth, and what we do or do not do for Christ.  Rom 14:12 "So then everyone of us shall give account of himself to God."  (that includes our idle words we speak and the way we live our lives here on earth.)

 

5 - Adversi - Tea

Watchout!!  It's hot and may be a hard one to swallow, but sometimes the Lord knows we need a good strong drink of it.  What I love is that this blend of tea always comes served with grace.  Sufficient grace our cup's never filled with more than we can drink at one time.  2 Cor 12:9,10 "And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee. For my strength is made perfect in weakness."  (no matter what our adversaries are, whether the world, the flesh, or the devil.  Our God is there to help us through.  That is a precious promise of God)

 

6 - Generosi - Tea

Notice how a cup of this will keep refilling itself?  When we give the Lord blesses us all the more.  Luke 6:38 "Give and it shall be given unto you good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over shall men give unto your bosom.  For with the same measure that ye mete, withal it shall be measured to you again."  (the promise here is that we cannot out give God)

 

7 - Availibili - Tea

We all should be willing and ready to drink this blend.  Is 6:8 "Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us?  Then I said, Here am I, send me"  (we all shuld be willing to be a servant for God)

 

8 - Laughabili - Tea

Be sure to get a full cup, this blend of tea has medicinal purposes and I sure feel good when I drink this one.  Prov 17:22 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones"

Prov 15:13 "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance."  (you will have a glow)

 

9 - Humili - Tea

Before we can pick up this cup, sometimes we have to swallow a little of our own pride first.  As a Christian.  Humility should be part of our character.  Acts 20:19 "Serving the Lord with all humility of mind"  1 Pet 5:5 "And be clothed with all humility, for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

 

10 - Hospitali - Tea

This blend is for sharing, be sure to serve it up to others.  1 Pet 4:9 "use hospitality one to another without grudging"  Titus 1:8 "Be a lover of hospitality"

 

Conclusion....

I hope I'm drinking in all the things I need in order to live my Christian life to it's fullest.  It will all add up to my Spiritualli - Tea

 

When we are walking in the Spirit instead of the flesh, we begin reflecting Christ.  The whole chapter of Romans 8 is talking about living in the Spirit, in verse 13 of that chapter is is talking about mortifying the deeds of the body and keeping sin under control.  We need to work on getting the way we live under control of the Spirit, instead of living in the flesh.

:

Romans 8:13 & 14 "for if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:  but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.  for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God."

 

How we live reflects who we serve, and when we begin sipping on those "teas" in our life and concentrating on those areas, we begin reflecting Christ more.

Sin and the flesh will have a hard time sneaking in when we are living like Christ intended for us to live.

 

I don't know about you, but when I sit down and have a cup of tea (or coffee) in the morning it puts me in the right mindset of the day.  These "teas" will help put us in the right frame of mind too.  Reflecting on these areas of our lives will give us a boost of Spirituality.

 

Romans 8:5 & 6 " For they that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh:  but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death;  but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

 

The Joy of The Lord is my Strength / Mrs Lisa Gillaspie

I’m Lisa Gillaspie and my husband is Nick. We have 3 kids. Titus (19), is attending Golden State BC, Ashley is 14 and Brooke is 11. Our church is Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Springfield Oregon. We love it here! We started the church in 2004.  Prior to that, Nick graduated from HAC where we served in the Sailor ministry for 6 years.

The Joy of The Lord is my Strength

(But I can easily diminish it if I’m not VERY careful)

You may be quenching the Holy Spirit, surviving that way, without even realizing it. 

1.) A negative mindset can grieve or even quench the Spirit of God in us

Eph. 4:23 

And be ye renewed in the spirit of your mind

The best way to renew the spirit of your mind is to entrench yourself in the word of God, service, and church services

2.) Words that do not edify and minister grace can grieve (deeply sadden) the Holy Spirit

Eph. 4:29 

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God

No one can ONLY speak edifying words (we all have kids and/or  pets) 

but we have many opportunities in which we can choose to edify and minister grace

3.) Bitterness (slow burn), wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, and malice will grieve the Holy Spirit.

Eph. 4:30-31 

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you

God always gives us something that is good for us, to replace something that is bad for us.

Eph.  4:32 The Bible says:  ‘Be ye kind one to another’

Tenderhearted

Forgiving one another as Christ forgave us

These things listed next are things we can PUT ON:

*Col. 3:12

Put on Bowels of mercies

Put on Kindness

Pun on humbleness of mind

Put on meekness

Put on longsuffering

Forbearing one another (putting up with)

Forgiving one another

Put on Charity

And as a result let the peace of God rule in your hearts

AND be ye thankful

So, to change a negative mindset: entrench yourself in the word of God, service, and church services

To be sure you don’t grieve or quench the Holy Spirit: use your many opportunities each day to edify and minister grace with your words and actions. Put away bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, and malice. Put on all the things from COL.3:12. Start out your day with God.

Protect your strength, you need the JOY of the LORD!

Walking on Water / Mrs Mindy Holeman

Mrs Mindy Holeman
Grandview Baptist Church
Beavercreek, OR

Walking on Water

What is faith? How do we know we have faith? How do we know we are actually trusting God and not fulfilling a plan WE planned ahead of time? In the last few months, I have heard the words “have faith” more than I can count. As I really thought about what it meant to have faith, I realize that my faith often involved a calculated plan that I pursued for things to go my way. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen”. Hmmmmm NOT SEEN? As in NOT PLANNED?? Anyone that knows me know I like a calculated plan! Unseen could potentially mean unexplainable, unfamiliar, uncalculated, unknown, unsecure!  Which for a lady means lack of security, scary, dangerous, unorganized, fearful, and even sometimes we use manipulation when we don’t get our way.  Peter walked on water… are we capable of walking on water? Do we trust that if He says “Come” that everything will be “ok”? What if everything isn’t “ok”? What if God didn’t answer the way we thought He should. What if the plan God has, has nothing to do with our comfort? What if it isn’t about us after all? I have pondered these thoughts and many more over the last few weeks.

  The bible also says in Romans 14:23 “and he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; for whatsoever is not of faith is sin”.  WHATSOEVER is not of faith is sin? DO I have this “whatsoever” faith? Could I leave all and follow HIM? Even if it means persecution? It could mean trials. Jesus said “follow me” and straightway they forsook all and followed him!! No calculated plan. They had No idea what road was ahead.  I think if it were the modern woman and she were in the bible days she would need at least 30 days to sell her things and have enough money to live on. She would cash her 401k and make sure there was a retirement plan where she was going. She would need to pack everything because anything could happen. Is that faith? NO!

On July 27^th we loaded a Uhaul and followed Gods will to Oregon. The world would never understand a decision based upon the knowledge that Jesus said “COME”. To the world, It wouldn’t make sense to leave your congregation, a beautiful house that you built, people who love you like family and respect you, and follow a God you have never seen? Who in their right mind would leave all that to go to a place you have never been, live in a house you have never seen, go to a church that you have only heard about? (ALL good things by the way!!) We did! We did because FAITH is the SUBSTANCE of things HOPED for and the evidence things NOT SEEN! I don’t have to be in control. Whatsoever is not of faith is sin!! I don’t have to have my life planned before me. Jesus has it all figured out. HE knows my beginning and my end. Even after getting here, I still find myself trying to calculate my steps but that is not faith. I am constantly submitting and resubmitting MY will to the Fathers. He is taking care of me far greater than I could have ever imagined on my own. He knows what we need before we need it. He also knows I’m frail and sometimes weak and emotional. He knows I hold on to people and try to meet their needs on my own. I need to trust that He knows what’s best for others too! Above all, I need to pass this water walking faith on to my children. They must not see me struggle and if they do they must see me seek Him, trust Him and follow Him without fear. We need to follow without question, without calculations, without a blueprint or a map. Jesus loves me… so I can walk on water.