Mrs Ellie DeAnda

 

Mrs Ellie DeAnda

Pastor's Wife

Iglesia Bauista Casa de Gracia

Chicago, IL

 

Have you ever faced a situation in life when you've had that anxious, worried feeling in the pit of your stomach? It just drains you, and no matter how hard you try not to think about it, it doesn't work, because your mind goes back to the situation and you start worrying again and you literally make yourself sick.  I think we have all faced times like these before.

This happened to me recently when my husband and I made a huge CHANGE in our lives...we left the ministry we served at for 14 years and started a church in Chicago. This change started over a year ago when my husband confided in me that God was calling him to start a church. At first, I didn't understand why God was calling us away from where we were, after all, we were doing just fine, I was comfortable! We had everything anyone could dream of, a congregation that loved us, great building/office accommodations, bus routes, organized ladies meetings, addiction programs, we were financially taken care of, even our children's Christian school bill was paid, etc. All that to say, I was anxious about the change and literally made myself sick. I couldn't make peace with this uncertainty, after all, we didn't even have a building to start this church in. I was about to leave all I had ever known and all my children had ever known, and I wasn't going to do it without a fight! I was determined to somehow convince my husband and God that we should stay!  I mean, afterall, I had some questions and doubts!  Well, after spending a good time worrying about this CHANGE that I knew was in my near future, I stopped and analyzed myself...I was living anxious, confused, & frustrated and I was tired of it! I was done worrying and done with trying to figure everything out on my own! I decided to give all my worry to the Lord. I honestly told the Lord one hot Sunday afternoon this summer while sitting on my backyard deck, "I trust YOU and I choose to trust my husband's godly leadership!!"  One thing I will never forget, though, was the anxiety I had as I would go to sleep each night and was reminded of as I woke up each morning, before I finally decided to trust all my worry to HIM! Girlfriend, I realize your situation may be totally different than mine was, maybe:

You or your husband are going through some financial issues and you don't know how you will make it financially.

You might be worried about your health or the health of someone you love dearly and are scared to death about what the future holds.

You might be worried about your children or your backslidden teenager.

You may be in a difficult marriage and you don't know what to do....

Maybe you have been hurt deeply by a close friend or family member or have been betrayed by someone close to you.

Maybe your church is going through a tough time....

I don't know what it may be, but it's that anxious, sick feeling that lays heavy on your heart! 

I love what David penned in Psalms 40, "I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered."

The Bible promises us in Psalms 40 that when we feel uneasy, anxious, when uncertainty sets in, if we trust God, He will set our feet on a rock. We will no longer have to feel like we are overwhelmed with our worries or problems. We can stand on the firm foundation of God, even when we don't know what the future holds, as long as we trust Him we will no longer feel weak & anxious from worrying and trying to work everything out on our own! We can stand firm/confident on a solid foundation of trusting Him, and believe me, I know my trust in Him is so totally imperfect, but He still continues to be my solid Rock, spite my weakness- He is absolutely unmovable and unchanging, He knows me! HE probably has a special nickname for me, like Nervous Nelly, instead of Ellie, hehehe!! Girlfriend, we CAN and should rely on Him! When you walk through life unsure of what lies ahead, remember that He is your Rock and ALWAYS provides a stable place for you to stand,  HE is God and can easily carry all of your weight and problems. You and I just need to trust Him with all of our heart and mind!

I was raised in a Christian home all of my life and I have learned throughout the years many things about the man who wrote that comforting chapter in Psalms, he was the Psalmist, the shepard boy, the mighty King David; I have often read about his ups and downs, his times of both self-reliance and reliance upon God,  and I have seen that he was never more weak than when he was trusting in his OWN strength and reasoning and ignoring GOD'S strength and plan!

I have recently been reminded of a faithful, trusting mother whose faith was whole- heartedly in her God! This lady really put into action, "letting go and letting God!" Let's talk about her for just a minute:

Jochebed's life was starting to crumble, at least this is how I would look at it if I were in her shoes!  I'm sure she felt anxious and doubtful as she realized the dreaded day was soon coming as she would have to "let go and let God!". I can't even imagine the anxiety I would feel if I were in her shoes! What I love most about her story is the trust she had in God & how HE transformed her worry into good, just as He tells us He will in Romans 8:28, "And we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." When Moses’ mother, Jochebed, sent her three-month-old baby down the Nile River in a basket to save his life, she trusted somehow, someway that God would take care of Moses and protect him from the hands of Pharaoh, who had ordered all Hebrew baby boys to be murdered. By faith, when Jochebed let go of the basket carrying her sweet baby boy, she trusted God would save Moses from alligators, wild animals, Pharaoh’s "police", and the river itself;  she trusted God to comfort baby Moses, when she couldn’t. She just trusted!! We all know what happened next, not only did God bless Jochebed with the assurance that Moses had survived the river and was now in the care of Pharaoh’s daughter, but now Jochebed was given her baby back so she could nurse and care for him. WOW!!!   Most likely, Jochebed was able to see Moses’ first steps and also probably heard his first word and was even paid to do this! What a God and what a faith!

When trials come in my life, I can easily fall into the trap of leaning on my own understanding to solve my problems, doing what I think will improve my situation. When this happens, I'm no different than my 3 year old girl, Isabella who often tries to do things beyond her ability & assures me, “I can do it, mom!”. I've been in this mommy buisness long enough to know that I shouldn't go very far, because soon she'll be calling me for help,  "MOM!! I need YOU! I CAN'T DO THIS!!"  Our Heavenly Father does just the same, He watches us struggle, He gently offers His help, and stands by ready and willing to come to our aid!  Isaiah 41:10 says, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Why waste our time thinking we can do it alone?! We have the best help available!!

I am thankful He gently offered His help to me and then stood by waiting for this foolish girl to wake up and choose to trust HIM!  I would definitely still be living a life full of exhaustion & frustration, if HE wasn't so god to me and patient, might I add!! We can spare ourselves a lot of frustration and exhaustion if we like Jochebed, trust in the Lord without wavering right from the start! (I've always been a late learner!)  Some of the first verses I ever memorized as a young girl were, Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." I definielty had these verses memorized, but wasn't applying them to my life like I had been taught my whole life to do! When we actually do what these verses tell us, there is no telling the amazing work God will do in our situation! 

When discouraging circumstances, CHANGE, or problems occur in our lives, one of two things can happen.  1.Either we firmly believe God will somehow, some way work our circumstances out for good, or #2. We jump to conclusions and take matters into our own hands. It's not always easy to do #1 but you and I both know it's always the best! 

Please allow me to share 2 things I have learned through the CHANGE God has walked me and my family through in recent days. (Believe me, I am still learning and I have a lot more to learn!!!!!)

1.  Be positive & godly in your thinking. 

Would you look at your marriage problem as an opportunity instead of an impossible challenge? Would you look at the person trying to discourage you on your journey through life and love them instead of backbiting them with your tongue? God sees our response to people, problems, change, conflict, sickness, etc. How will YOU look at these situations in your life?! God says in Psalms 119:71, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."  In other words, I'm going to learn something from this that I didn't know, I am going to grow spiritually, I'll be able to help more people because of it, and through God's grace become more beneficial for HIS work! After all, didn't our Creator say, "It is good for me"?!! He said it, so it must be true!!

2. We MUST be careful with our RESPONSES and the WORDS we speak to others around us as we travel through CHANGE, people problems, difficulties, conflict, and afflictions, or else we may hurt others in the process, as well as shame our name, our husband's name, or God's name!

Proverbs 12:18 says, "There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health." 

Ephesians 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." 

Colossians 4:6, "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." 

Titus 2:8, "Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you."

I cannot read enough verses on the tongue, because it is so easy to get trapped into using my tongue as a backbiting tongue, to see only the injustices and not the positive benefits that CHANGE, problems, and affliction can bring to my life.

Also, since we are traveling this life in an imperfect world, surrounded by imperfect people, we are going to be wounded by someone elses' tongue; people will hurt us, and when that happens, one of the best things we can do is quote scripture, many times throughout our day! Why?  Because the enemy is smart and  will use this hurt to make us look at the negative and in turn, we will end up having a victim mentality! (whoa  is me!) 

Psalms 51:10 and Psalms 143:8-10 are some amazing verses to quote in times like these! 

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." 

"Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness." 

Let us use GRACE as we respond, instead of the easy, fleshly way--like a sword that will pierce and hurt. We CANNOT be carless in our speech, we MUST be on guard, we MUST be careful and we MUST be yielded to the HOLY SPIRT at all times. (I know it is easier said then done! I would have to say, not letting my emotions take over my words and responses have been one of the toughest things for me, and if there has been anything I have learned through this CHANGE, it is how dangerous my tongue can really be!!) I'm so very glad God is teaching me and molding me! Everyday and every second I need Him at work in my life, because I know I am so very weak when I am not trusting the One who deserves my trust the most! 

Proverbs 16:20 says, "He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he."

So when that dreaded word, CHANGE, comes into our lives or when "matters" arise, let's TRUST Him through it, let's be positive & godly in our thinking, and be careful with our responses and the words we speak to others around us! Let's set our faces like a flint and get through life's changes and struggles with the Lord God on our side!  An amazing verse to memorize: Isaiah 50:7,  "For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I KNOW that I shall not be ashamed."

P.S. I am the happy Pastor's wife of Iglesia Bautista Casa de Gracia (House of Grace Baptist Church)! I'm in love with the life God has chosen for me and my family! I am grateful and humbled that He has chosen us to serve in the great city of CHICAGO!!!! I'm just moving along in God's grace and I wouldn't trade my life for anyone else's! 

God Bless each and everyone of you!

Ellie DeAnda

Linda Kaiser

 

 



I am Linda Kaiser and my husband is Matt Kaiser.  We have 5 children. Two teens, two toddlers and one in heaven.  Our church is Bethel Baptist Church in Imperial, MO.

We have been in the ministry for 5 years.

Proverbs 11:13 13 A talebearer * revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. 

I was saved in 2002 at 29 years old.  I grew up in a good home but it was not a Christian home.

As Pastors wives we must endure a lot of good and some not so good.  So, how do we deal with the not so good?  One thing that

I have learned early in my Christian life is to be loyal.  This trait is important to me because my family lacked loyalty which is required in strong relationship building.  

For example, if I confided in my mom about something, she might tell her sister and

I would eventually find out her sister knew even though I told mom not to tell anyone.  This would hurt me and my trust with my mom.

My father on the other hand was pretty good at keeping my secrets and because of this, I felt that  I could trust him.  

Some of our husbands are leaders in the church and because of this some church members consider us wives to be leaders as well and will confide in us from time time.   As they confide in us, some might be slandering, revealing  secrets, or gossip; while others are truly trying to figure out a dilemma in their life.

We must be spirit filled in order to handle these matters properly, and the best way is to conceal these matters. The word conceal means to keep from sight, hide, keep secret and to prevent from being known or noticed.  How will we ever earn the trust of people if we never learn to conceal what we hear? We need to remember that what we say travels.  Eccle  10:20 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber : for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

How do we handle those who try to tear down our husbands, his ministry, the church or attack our family?  Hey mama bear?  You in there?  Yeah.  You.  

I know your son or daughter was being attacked but you got to put a leash on yourself.  Grab a pot of honey, sit down and open up God's word before you 

do anything else!  

Psalm 5 is a great place to go.  Instead of naturally fighting back, David takes refuge in the Lord through prayer vs 1-3

Sometimes when you hear that someone is speaking ill about you it's easier to handle than if it was spoken about your own family members.  Maybe not, I guess it depends

on what type of person you are.  How do you face that person in church?  How do you let it go?  Do you walk into church and tell that person you still love them regardless

of any unforgiveness?  This is all about trusting what God's word ultimately says.  It's not about "faking it" and pretending like everything is okay.  It's literally allowing God to come through you to love that person back because you might not have the strength to love them.  

There was a time in my life when I was in the darkest valley of my life.  A family member had done something so low, so unbelievably cruel to me that I could not attend Christmas that year.  In fact, I could not speak to this person for a few years.  It's not that I could not forgive her.  I did.  I just didn't know how to love her.  I didn't know how to show my dislike towards her.  I prayed a lot about it as God was not allowing me to get away from this!  After praying and crying and screaming, (I hope you all do that too) I said to God "I don't have the strength to love her!  I can't do it!  I just can't!"   That still small voice said to me, Let me love her through you.  Suddenly my tears stopped.    Everything ounce of emotion that I had in this matter shut off and the lightbulb appeared over my head.  I don't have to use my own strength to love her.  I don't.  God can do it!  YEEEESS!  That's it!  I have been using this golden nugget God taught me since then.  

So God is not looking for tale bears.  He is looking for faithful persons who will conceal sensitive issues; building relationships by way of loyalty and allowing God to love people through us.  

 

With Gratitude,

Linda

Fixed / Mrs Terri Cannon

 

Mrs Terri Cannon

Pastor's Wife

Hope Baptist Church

Bettendorf, IA

 

 

Fixed

“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalm 34:18

You know the funny things kids say that then become family sayings? Most kids do it. When my daughter Wendy was tiny, and her dad would joke with her, she would say, “Daddy, you pulling my leg off!” When she was a little older, maybe four, she was laying in the floor at my Mom’s house coloring while Mom and I were bemoaning the current state of affairs. A little voice from the floor said, “What’s coming to this world?” (Instead of “what’s this world coming to?”) Bryan, my nephew, when he was two or three, would bring me broken toys and say “Tay, fik it!” To this day when something is broken, I say to my honey, “Fik it, Mark, fik it!” 

Then there was my sister, Lesli. You know when your kids ask for money and you don’t want to give them any, you tell them you are broke. Well, Les didn’t take this answer for long. By the time she was 2 1/2 she would bring Mom’s wallet, open, with the shiny coins, maybe just pennies and nickels, showing and say just as sweet as honey, “Mommy, you fixed!” In other words, “Don’t tell me you’re broke–I see the money!”

The truth is, at that time in her life, my Mom was broken. Mom grew up in church. She sang in a gospel trio with her sisters in churches all over Southern Missouri. She knew the gospel inside out. But my mom wasn’t the good sister. She was the “wild child” and knew it. She felt like God loved the world and sent His Son to die for the world and anyone who called upon Him would be saved … except her. She was “too bad” for God’s salvation to reach her.

She had five kids by the time she was 26 years old. After the last baby, postpartum depression set in. The doctors didn’t know what it was then — or what was causing it. They medicated the symptoms, but didn’t address the problem. She got worse. I grew up with a mother who was broken — mentally ill they called it.

When I was 13, she made a profession of faith. The grown ups didn’t understand why I was skeptical, but I was right. Nothing changed. She still had it in her head that God couldn’t save her.

As a teenager, to say that my relationship with my mother was strained would be an understatement. We rarely spoke to each other. We lived in the same house but we were strangers. She was lost in the darkness of her world. I was angry with her for leaving me behind to find my own way through my world. I was a know-it-all teenage girl. She despaired in a world where she knew nothing.

In her brokenness, she tried to end her life multiple times. When I was 18 and at Bible College, she almost succeeded. She was in the hospital and the doctors gave her a 5% chance of surviving the night. My family didn’t call me to tell me because it was during midterms and they didn’t want my grades to suffer. In the dark night of the hospital, my mom decided that she needed to find out if God was big enough to save even her. She called a preacher and he came

and introduced her to that Mighty God who can save even the vilest of sinners. God saw the shiny coins, maybe just pennies and nickels, and God saw worth.

Mom, who had been broken for so long, was fixed. She didn’t heal overnight. However, a loving, patient, and long suffering God made my Mom over again, fixed. We found each other. We were fixed: Mother and daughter. She became more than my best friend–she became my mom.

In 1999, she lay down on the couch to take a nap and woke up in the presence of Jesus, fixed for all eternity. For me it was too soon. I miss her every day. But, I rejoice in knowing that she didn’t die broken.  

Because of Mom, I know that no matter how black the darkness becomes, God can fix it. 

Maybe you have a loved one who is broken. Maybe you’ve given up hope. Mom was lost in a bleak hole for most of my childhood, but God answered the prayers of those who never gave up hope. Right now, I have loved ones I grieve over daily. For whatever reason, they won’t accept the idea that God loves them and God can move in their lives. There are days I want to quit hoping. There are moments I want to stop praying. But I recall my mom and remember that God still fixes broke. How long did the father of the Prodigal pray? How many months did his eyes search the horizon for his son’s return? It probably took a while for the son to waste his inheritance. It took a while for the famine to become great enough to force the boy into the hog pen. But one day the father was able to say, “… this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found. …” (Luke 15: 24) No matter how black the darkness, God can fix it.

Because of Mom, I know that God always sees the faint sparkles of the few coins and to Him we are all worth it. Maybe you think you are too broke for God to fix. Yes, you’ve seen Him fix others. Yes, you believe He cares and works in the lives of people, but you know the darkness of your own heart. You’re certain He can’t reach you. Oh, you are so wrong! Hebrews 7:25 says, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Just like my mom, God sees worth in you. Please believe that. He can fix you.

And because of Mom, heaven is an incredibly real place where not only my Savior waits, but my mom is there waiting for me. Fixed. One day, I will be there. Fixed. 

Your loved ones can be there. You can be there, too. The next time you see the coins in the bottom of your wallet, your purse, or the coin catch in your vehicle, remember that. Fixed.



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.