I Choose to be a Christian / Ms Stephanie Roloson

Ms Stephanie Roloson

Involved in ...  Choir, Nursery, King's Kids,

and is getting ready to start a program for girls called Daughters of the King.

Moorhead Baptist Church

Moorhead, MN

I choose to be a Christian
I will follow Christ
Carry the cross that leads to life
I will be true, stand for my convictions
Whatever others do
I choose to be a Christian.

I’ve lived my whole life as a Christian. My dad was still attending Hyles-Anderson College when I was born. So, I grew up in the bus ministry. When I was seven years old, God called my dad to pastor MBC here in Minnesota. I’ve seen the heartache the joy, the smiles, the tears, the hurt, and the love. I’ve grown up a Christian.

But at some point, that had to change. It had to go from “I’ve grown up this way” to “I choose this way.” But like many kids from Christian homes, it took me awhile to figure out what I was choosing.

I was 14 years old when a teen girl in our church asked me why I wore skirts and always dressed modestly. I don’t remember what my answer was, but I do know I felt like it was not at all adequate. I was 16 years old when the girls in our church started talking about some wicked movie series. They asked me why I didn’t watch it. I was in college when I was questioned why I had never worn a pair of pants. I was at my work place when I was asked why I wore a skirt, go to church, never cursed, or did not touch the opposite gender. What was my reasoning? Sure, they were standards and convictions with which I had been raised. But were these my own standards and convictions?

I know that I wanted to live the Christian life, but it was not till the middle of my freshman year that I chose to live this life. I had lived too long in my parent’s shadow and under their Christianity.

I choose to wear skirts and dress modestly. I choose to make church a priority in my work schedule. I choose to remain pure with my dealings with the opposite gender. I choose to go soul winning. I choose to allow God to direct my steps. I choose to honor my parents by following in their footsteps.

Now, I don’t choose this blindly. I choose this life knowing that each of these standards and convictions are all there to help me strive to be more Christ-like… more like a Christian. I believe that these standards and convictions help me separate from the world. I have learned that as a Christian, I may be the only Bible the unsaved read. What are they reading?

Proverbs 22:28 says, “Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.” My parents gave me a wonderful childhood with standards and convictions that have stood the test. They never forced me to make these decisions. They guided, directed, and then left the decision up to me. I choose to be a Christian.

Make Today Amazing! / Mrs Paula Seavey

Mrs Paula Seavey

Ladies Singing Group / Plays Piano / Ladies Soulwinning

Victory Baptist Church

Winthrop, ME

How to Make Today Amazing 

Psalms 9:10 “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”


 Over the past several months, specifically February to now, my trust in God in some ways has been tested and tried again and again. However, I never stopped trusting in the Lord I just decided that I would “Make today amazing” by trusting in Him more. 

 On May 9th, our thoughts were confirmed, I have cancer and that it was possibly stage 3 or more. (May I say, up to this point in my life I had, had no health issues and didn’t even realize when I went to the doctor how serious this would be.)  Needless to say, we were devastated by it all and we immediately sought the counsel and advice of our pastor and his wife. That evening and the days to follow were full of questions, overwhelming thoughts, fear and dread. We started scheduling what seemed to be more appointments than we could possibly make. Then came the many trips to Boston, Massachusetts. 

 So how could I apply “Make today amazing” with Scripture? What could I do that would help us get through this “bump” in the road? One evening, I sat down with my Bible in hand and started looking up verse after verse. It was hard to choose only a few verses to use because I have so many marked especially on trusting in the Lord. So, I hope in some small way, what I believe the Lord lead me to use, will be a blessing and help to you. 

1. “Make today amazing” by seeing the Lord is good. Psalms 34:8 “O taste and see that the LORD is good….” Realize that no matter what you are going through God is good. He doesn’t give us anything we can’t handle. It really doesn’t matter what you are going through taste and see that the Lord is good, that he alone wants to guide you, comfort you and be there with you through the journey.  GOD IS GOOD!!  2. Another way I chose to “Make today amazing” is by something my pastors wife, Jennie Walter, reminded me of, Mrs. Marlene Evans use to say. Have some of your favorite things – So I incorporated that into making my day amazing by:  a. Using my favorite mug for hot chocolate (I’m NOT a coffee drinker)  b. Sitting in my favorite seat to read my Bible or another book. c. Playing my favorite music. I love good uplifting, encouraging old time gospel music and hymns.  d. One I can’t do as much right now eating a favorite food. (Chemo has messed with the way and what I can eat)  e. Go and do something that is a favorite fun thing to do, SHOPPING!! :D  So, if you are down, having a rough day, or just simply want to make the day “Amazing” do a few of your favorite things.  3. “Make today amazing” by trusting in the Lord! 
a. Psalms 18:2 “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” As I mentioned in the beginning, my trust in the Lord was tested: but I never stopped trusting in the Lord. If for no other reason, He’s my salvation, he gave his life for me! Therefore no matter how hard the day, because of chemo: no matter how tired I may be, because of the cancer, I can trust in the Lord that He knows my future. I can trust in Him because this didn’t take Him by surprise or shock Him. My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is follow. I need to be trusting in him to guide me, trusting in him to take care of me. So no matter what you are facing, trust in the Lord. I can trust Him to do what’s best for me with this cancer, you can trust in Him as well.  b. Psalms 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” In my heart I can rejoice in the fact that I have a loving Saviour who helps me, and I can sing praises of His love. One of my favorite songs since I was child is: Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so…. Even in this child’s song we are being taught, the Bible tells us that Jesus loves us! Have a song that touches your heart and sing it when you are having a good day, as well as when the days are rough.  c. Psalms 31:14 “But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.” God knows my tomorrows! Trust Him to take you through. You know, The Lord is there in the valley and He’s there on the mountain top.  d. Psalms 34:4 “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Part of making today amazing is not fearing what the day may hold. Fear isn’t of God and if we seek after him, stay in His word, allow Him to guide us He’ll deliver us from our fears. I’ve had a few “fears” about all this, BUT the Lord gave me peace and now I’m able to face each new step of my journey.  4. “Make today amazing” by continuing to serve the Lord. Though we have been given news that is awful to us. We didn’t stop serving. We have continued to serve God and continued to feed on his word. We are seeing God’s hand in how my health is going, in our lives and in our family. We are allowing God to work through this time of our lives. Don’t quit on God because you feel your life is falling apart, when in reality your life may be coming together in God’s plan for your life.  Joshua 24:15 “And if it seem evil unto you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

In closing, I have Psalms 139 as one of my go to chapters during trials or hardships. I won’t go into detail but back in 2007 my pastor at that time, Jeff Owens, was helping us adjust from part of the ministry into another. I went to him for Counsel, he lead me to Psalms 139. I highly recommend you read this chapter. I read it all the time, not just at hard times; but God in his infinite mercy knew this would be a chapter to get me through several situations that otherwise
could have been devastating. In several situations and now here in May of 2017 I once again found myself going to this chapter and getting strength and encouragement from God’s Word.  

 We all need to remember to praise God; to remember as verse 14 of this chapter says, to praise him, to remember He made us. How? Fearfully and wonderfully. We all can do this and remember to “Make today amazing” through Scripture and by other ways. 

 What are you facing today? Is it ministry related? Is it a family situation? Maybe you, your spouse, or a loved one has been given news that will affect the whole family health wise. God wants you and I to have good days. Yes, we’ll all have those days where we’re in the valley-but we’ll also have those mountain top days. If you and I simply focus on God’s Word, pray, trust in Him, and lean on God, you’ll be amazed at how “Amazing” your day will and can be. 

“Make today Amazing!”

 

But if not... / Ms Adri Ludwick

Ms Adri Ludwick

Pianist / Sunday School Teacher - FBC Hammond, IN

Teacher - Hyles Anderson College

"But if not..."

I have loved the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego since I first heard it as a little girl in Sunday School class. It's found in Daniel 3, & that chapter paints such a descriptive story for us of 3 friends who so powerfully stood for Christ against all odds, and as a result saw God come through for them in a big way! It's such an awesome display of God's power, and it never gets old reading how Jesus showed up to be with them & save them out of the fiery furnace. 

  

A little over 2 years ago, I heard a lesson from Johanna McCroskey on 3 little words, buried right in the middle of that story, that have been life-changing for me. Johanna was one of my dearest friends, a 24-year old wife & mother of an adorable baby girl, & at the time she taught, battling her 3rd fight with cancer. I co-teach an adult ladies Sunday school class, and we asked Jo to be a guest speaker for us in February of 2015. Even though she was incredibly ill, she graciously agreed, and the lesson she taught that day, both vocally & through the power of a life that lives what it teaches, is something I will never forget.

Jo taught from Daniel 3:17 & 18: "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." She pulled out the 3 little words, "But if not..." & taught a lesson about completely trusting God that had most of us in tears.

Looking at this story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, it's obvious that they had such strength and so much determination to stay true to their God. But in the midst of their strength & belief, they wanted to affirm to everyone present, that even if God didn't work it all out the way they thought He would or should, they still wouldn't back down or betray their God. "But if not..." I find this to be one of the most true & humbling examples of faith in the whole Bible. These men were boldly entering a fiery furnace, proclaiming to the world that their God would save them; but yet willing to sacrifice their lives if He didn't. "But if not..."  As humans, we can't see the whole picture. Our mortal minds will never completely understand the what or why of everything that comes into our life. But, we do get to choose how we handle the "fiery furnaces" that God brings into our lives. 

Jo never chose to believe she was dying. She had seen God work miracles before. He had healed her of cancer two other times, and she knew with all her heart that God would give her another miracle. She lived & believed that way, and her faith was convicting & powerful.  A little over a month after she taught our class, just days short of her 25th birthday, Jesus chose to take Johanna home to heaven. "But if not..." 

His ways are always right. He is always good. There's a peace that comes with the knowledge that we can completely rest in His care no matter what the outcome. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego walked out of a fiery furnace completely whole & unharmed. But, the Apostle Paul spent months in a jail cell, and then was beheaded for being a Christian. Both for the glory of God & the furtherance of the Gospel.

Life rarely goes the way we expect it to or think that it should. If it were up to us, bad things would never happen to good people. Life wouldn't hurt. There would be no tears. Why do you think we all love fairy tales so much? :) But God has every minute detail of our life orchestrated for our good & to bring Him the most glory. I wrote a song called "I Still Believe" not long after Jo died. The chorus says: "I still believe your way is right; I still trust in Your plan. I still believe in miracles, though I don't understand. I still believe You know what's best; I'll follow where you lead. So with all the pieces of my broken heart, I still believe." Whatever "fiery furnace" we're facing, whatever heartache is causing intense pain, we can trust in the goodness of an always kind Father. "But if not..." 

Marriage / Mrs Debbie Bragg

Mrs Debbie Bragg

Pastor's Wife

Lafayette Bible Baptist Church

Wildwood, MO

Marriage

I have taken the word MARRIAGE and made an acrostic out of it.  This is just some things I've learned over 40 years of marriage. I didn't learn it all at once though!!  I never had someone telling me how to do it right. My husband and I when we started out didn't want to pattern our marriage after our parents' marriages. His parents divorced when he was 16. He grew up with a lot of screaming and yelling. On the other hand, my parents did the opposite. It was the silent treatment and cold shoulder.  We just decided we didn't want either of those patterns for our marriage!!    Work together on this.  It's a team effort on your parts. Both of you, together, making a marriage!!!

M.  Make time for each other. Have a date night. Even for us old married couples, we need to make time for each other. After the children come, still continue to have date nights. Someday, before you realize it, those children will be gone from home and it will just be the two of you together again. Don't end up as strangers. Make time for each other through the years. 

A. Always be sweet!!  You may need to bite your tongue!   Keep a sweet attitude. Screaming and yelling are not worth it. Learn to be on the same side with each other. You're not against each other, you're on the same side.  

R. Rely on each other. Make each other your best friend. Confide in each other.  Don't tell your family all his failures. We both have them!!!  But learn to deal with them by praying about them and not talking to others about them.  

R. Refuse to go to bed mad at each other. Do not let the sun go down upon your wrath!!  Settle it before morning, even if you have to stay up all night and talk it out!  Take the word "divorce" out of your vocabulary. Don't even threaten divorce in the heat of the moment. Marriage is 100%. It's not 50/50. Be determined to work at your marriage. 

I. Integrity. Be honest and true. When you say you're going to do something, then do it. Don't exaggerate when you're talking to each other. (For example:  You never do this and you always do that). When women exaggerate you are letting your emotions control you.  Don't let your emotions control you. Don't hide things from each other. You're a team!

A. Agree that he is the leader. The Bible says that men are to love and lead. Women are to submit and serve. Today's women don't like the word submit. But it still is in the Bible!!  The man is to submit to God and the woman is to submit to their husband. Let him lead!!!  Some men aren't great at leading but give him a chance to learn and let him do it. A big reason women lead today is because the man won't. But, if you encourage him and tell him you're behind him and will do what he says, then he'll do all he can to lead you and love you. A man wants to know that you will follow him anywhere and be supportive. Let him be the leader. 

G. Glorify God together. Serve God together. Have devotions together. Make sure you have your own personal devotions. Start each day with reading your Bible and praying. When there are children in the home it should already be in your habits to be faithful to church, faithful to reading your Bible and praying, and family devotions. Put God first in your marriage. 

E. Enjoy each other. Have fun!!  Laugh a lot!!  Make a habit of telling him you love him.  Kiss him hello and goodbye every day!!  Write him notes. Do everything you can to keep the relationship fresh. Life really is short. It goes by fast. Make the best of life!!