What's Your "Exhortation Score?" / Mrs Debbie Russ

Mrs Debbie Russ

Boeke Road Baptist Church

(She and her Hubby have been serving there faithfully for 30 years)

Office Assistant at Faith Music Mission

Wife of Bro Ed Russ President of Faith Musics Missions

What’s Your “Exhortation Score?”

Hebrews 3:13 – “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

As adults who are paying our own way in life, we all have what is called a “credit score.”  This score, or rating, tells us how good (or bad) our credit is. How well we pay our bills, etc.  Well, what would it be like if we, as Christians, had an “exhortation (or encourager) score?”  What would ours look like?

In the above verse, God tells us that we should be exhorting (encouraging) each other daily.  That means every single day of our lives. Ladies, we never know when our words & deeds of encouragement will keep someone else from quitting.  We have all been at that point in our lives. Who did God use to help keep you from giving up? Can God count on you to be a vessel of encouragement in someone else’s life today?

I believe that one of Satan’s most used weapons against a Christian is that of discouragement.  If he can get us discouraged, he has been successful in making us less effective in God’s work, in our marriages, in our families, in our churches, in our jobs, in our relationships. 

In knowing this is true, lets look around us—all around us.  Who is in your path right now? Your husband, children, grandchildren, pastor, pastor’s wife, school children, co-worker, boss, friends, cashier, fellow shopper, Sunday School teacher, missionary… the list could go on & on.  Who does God want you to encourage today? Don’t put it off until tomorrow. That person needs your encouragement TODAY!  

Give a smile (how hard is that?), a compliment, a note of encouragement, a phone call, a text, an email, a lending hand.   As you go through this day, this week, this month, this year, be looking for ways that you can be an encouragement to “one another daily.”  It’s not a suggestion, it’s a command!

Let’s see how high your “Exhortation Score” can go today!

Hebrews 10:24-25:  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.



Are you discouraged today? Aren’t you glad that God has given us His perfect, unfailing Word to help us during those times?  In I Samuel 30:6, the Bible says, “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.


We should be looking for ways that we can encourage each person that God places in our path every single day. 

Trained to be a Martha.... but I'm supposed to be a Mary / Mrs Paula Rimes

Mrs Paula Rimes

Pastor's Wife

Gospel Light Baptist Church

Tuscaloosa, AL

"Trained to be a Martha...but I'm supposed to be a Mary"

     Confession time...I like to be busy!  I like to be involved with everything going on in our church.  I teach Sunday School, play the piano, and teach a Wednesday night kid's class.  I clean the church, help with yard work, and do the secretarial responsibilities.  I visit a bus route, go teen soul-winning, and work in our Nursing Home ministry.  I plan the Ladies Conference trips, go with the teens to Youth Conference, and I've spent the past 11 summers as a camp counselor.  I spend countless hours planning VBS, as well as doing fundraising to get all those young people to camp and Youth Conference.  I do all of this while homeschooling my 4 children and TRYING (I emphasize trying!!) to keep up with all of my responsibilities as wife and mother. If you're like me, a great emphasis has been put on being busy serving the Lord.

     Several years ago though, as I was reading through the book of Luke, I came across the story of Jesus visiting in the home of Mary and Martha.  You know the story.  Martha is busy in the kitchen, preparing a meal for Jesus.

     I often imagine how I would behave if Jesus was coming to my house for lunch.  I'd want the table set just perfectly.  I'd put out my best dishes on which I would serve the most delicious meal I know how to fix.  (My best dish is pork chops, but since He's a Jew, I'd probably have to rethink that.)  The house is as clean as can be, because Jesus is coming.  When He arrived, we'd usher Him into our living room, where my girls would offer him a drink.  My husband (because he's a better Christian than me) would most certainly sit there quietly hanging on His every word, while I'm running around the kitchen making sure everything is just perfect.  I'm a Martha!!

     Martha is a servant.  She wants to serve Jesus.  She loves Him and wants everything to be just perfect for Him.  She finds herself frustrated with those around her, who aren't as busy serving as she is.  So much frustrated, that she complains to her Lord.  His response is a reprimand. 

     Luke 10:41-42 "And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."


     I don't think that the Lord was telling her not to serve, but that her service had taken an improper place in her life.  Her service wasn't supposed to take the place of her time spent with the Saviour.  As I read this passage, I became convicted.  Had I done the same thing?  Had the busy-ness of serving Jesus kept me from time that should have been spent sitting at the feet of Jesus?  I admit that in my life, I have had to adjust some priorities.  I'm not trying to take away from those who are busy serving the Lord, but in His own words, "But one thing is needful..." Choose time spent at His feet!

Hurry Up and Wait / Mrs Ruby McMiller

Mrs Ruby McMiller

Pastor's Wife

Heritage Baptist Church

Kenosha, WI

Hurry Up and Wait

…and let us run with patience the race that is set before us  Hebrews 12:1b

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.  Ps 27:14

The American minister and writer Philip Brooks was noted for his poise and quiet manner. However, one day a friend saw him feverishly pacing the floor like a caged lion and asked him what the trouble was. 

"The trouble is," replied Brooks, "that I’m in a hurry, but God isn’t!"

Does that sound familiar? You have this ‘situation’ that needs God’s attention right now but He seems to be moving slow.

We can find it hard to wait for God to work. We want things done in our time. We can lose sight of the teaching of scriptures that remind us to wait on the Lord.

Here are a few ideas to make waiting on the Lord a blessing:

I. Fellowship While Waiting  You are not the only one waiting for God to move. One reason that  God slows you down is because there others around you that need  your encouragement. 

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

II. Recharge While Waiting   Refocus, reflect, and reconnect with your Savior. Back to the  beginning is the great place to wait. Take this time as an   opportunity to draw closer to Him. Could this be the reason you’re  in this holding pattern, to bring your focus back to the Savior?

 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:28-28

III. Rejoice while Waiting   I wonder how much time we really spend rejoicing. We may not  complain, but do we rejoice? Praising God is good exercise. It will  keep us from fretting. Make a list of all the reasons you have to  rejoice. Time will fly by.  

And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house… Deuteronomy 26:11a
IV. Serve While Waiting  The call has not changed. The work must continue. Now is not the  time to sit with idle hands. There is work to complete. The wait  will give you ample time to finish the task set before you.

Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth… Joshua 24:14a

V. Watching While Waiting   Look for what is coming next. Don’t miss the instructions. Don’t  get distracted. Keep your eyes and ears open. God will move. You  job is to be watching. Prepare your heart and mind for the next  step.

Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. Isaiah 48:17


Waiting for God to move may seem trying. It may seem that nothing is getting done, but be assured that He is working out His plan for your life and that of those around you.

His promises still hold true. Enjoy the time spent waiting. God really is working things for His glory and our good.

Wait! God's delays are not denials; He has heard your prayer;  He knows all about your trials, knows your every care. God's delays are not denials; Help is on the way;  He is watching o'er life's dials, Bringing forth the day.  God's delays are not denials; You will find Him true, Working through the hardest trials What is best for you! —The Believer's Magazine.
 

Never A Friend Like Jesus / Mrs Kelly Monkofsky

Kelly Monkofsky
Pastor's Wife
Grace Baptist Church
Quincy, IL


Never A Friend Like Jesus

All your anxiety, all your care Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there Never a burden you cannot bear Never a friend like Jesus.

Do you have a best friend? Someone who you can count on, tell your secrets to, be real with, “unload” your burdens to? I do. His name is Jesus. This song means more to me now, and in the past year and a half, then it ever did before. I’ve sung it many times in church, but the words are dearer to me now. When you hear from the Dr. that you have the “C” word, life changes and Jesus really does become your dearest friend.

In August of 2015 I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. At the time, I was only 37 years old. Not something many 37 year olds hear. With a husband, 5 kids, and a church to take care of, this news was hard to bear. Put me into shock, actually. I knew something was going on because I hadn’t felt good for about 2 months prior. I still had no idea I was about to embark on a journey that would turn my world upside down. Millions of questions and scenarios raced in my head while my husband and I sat in the Dr’s office that day. I was literally waiting for someone to pinch me so I could wake up and say it was just a bad dream. However, it wasn’t. It was real, and I was scared. I remember sitting there, watching my husband with tears coming down his cheeks. It almost hurt more to see him hurting so badly. All I could do was pray. And pray I did! Unless you’ve experienced something like this yourself, you probably won’t understand completely what I’m about to say next. The peace that swept over me in those next few hours of tests and poking and prodding was absolutely unbelievable! “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3) I didn’t lose it. I didn’t panic. I didn’t even cry which for me, is a miracle in itself because I normally cry over everything☺ The Lord was with me. He was my rock (Psalm 61:2). He was giving me the grace I needed. He was bearing my burden!! 

To make a very long story short, I chose to go the natural route after all my tests and biopsies came back confirming my illness. I had no treatment for almost a year after, just a big change in my lifestyle and diet. The testing that I had done each month from the naturalist I was seeing, showed that I was improving and that the cancer was going away. However, about 10 months into it, I started feeling terrible. I had no energy, I was losing weight, couldn’t even climb the stairs of our house. I was basically on the couch or in bed all day long. After several family members urging me to get blood work done, I finally agreed. My husband had to carry me to the car that day. We went to the ER and had blood drawn. Turned out, I was severely anemic…like, deathly anemic. My hemoglobin was 2.8. That is NOT normal. In fact, it’s considered critical. The nurses and my ER Dr. were in shock that I was still alert and awake. That was God! So of course I was admitted and given a blood transfusion shortly after. From there, they had to determine the cause of my anemia so again, several tests were done. The entire time I was going through these tests, the Lord was there, giving me peace again. He was once again, my best friend. I told Him I was scared. I told Him I was nervous, burdened and anxious. He knew. He
took care of me. “Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still” (Psalm 107”28-29) After many hours of seeing Dr’s, giving my blood away, getting new blood, having a heart monitor, etc, an oncologist met with me and told me that my cancer had spread and was now in my bone marrow, which was causing my red blood cells to be destroyed as well as my platelets. I was also at risk for bleeding. Yeah….that’s a big load to carry!! But Jesus said, let me carry it, child. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (I Peter 5:7).  

My hospital stay ended up being almost 2 weeks. I had one oncologist tell me when it was just her and I in the room, that I had about 6-18 months to live, with this diagnosis. Um…say what?! Boy was this a time to cast all my cares upon Him; to bring my burden to Him. I heard a lot of bad news in the hospital during those 12 days but honestly, I also felt the peace of God that truly “passeth all understanding.” (Philippians 4:7).  Unexplainable peace. I’m so glad I had Jesus as my best friend at this time. I’m so glad He was there with me during the MANY tests, biopsies, Dr. visits, blood draws, transfusions and scans. Friend, is Jesus your best friend? Can you take all your cares and burdens to Him? Are you? Or are you trying to bear them alone? It’s so much easier when you give them to Him. I’m ashamed to say it, but up until my diagnosis, I don’t think I really relied on Jesus to carry my load. I think I tried doing a lot of it myself. I trusted myself to get through the hard times and challenges of life. Maybe God put me through this to show me HE ALONE is the one to trust. My earthly friends are wonderful. I have some of the best of friends here on earth. But none of them could have helped me through all of this like Jesus did. None of them could have given me that peace. None of them could have sustained my spirit like He did. Psalm 16:11….in his presence is fullness of joy. Amen to that! 

So, its been 5 months since I came home from the hospital and to God’s glory, I have been making remarkable strides in my health. I went from having blood transfusions every 10 days, to not needing one now for 2 months! I feel great, have had encouraging Dr. appointments, and just feel like a new person, praise the Lord!! He is so good to me. I’m so glad He taught me to lean on Him more. One of my favorite verses while going thru this trial was, and still is Isaiah 41:10! Such powerful words! 

My story is nothing special. I know there is so many others who have experienced something like this, or who are going through it right now. I just wanted to brag on my Jesus for a bit, and let you know that you’ll never find a better friend! 

He's Always Faithful / Mrs Danielle Moore

Mrs Danielle Moore

Pastor's Wife

Open Door Baptist Church

Potts Camp, MS

He's Always Faithful

I was asked over two months ago to write a devotion for this page, and kept drawing a blank. It wasn't until about a week ago when Amy text me to remind me that the

Lord showed me what He wanted me to write about. You see, today is April 24th, and for our family it marks the one year anniversary of the hardest day our family has ever faced. One year ago today we said goodbye to my Dad, my pastor, & my hero. 

In 2013 he was diagnosed with a rare lung disease for which there is no cure. The only treatment is a lung transplant. So on April 2nd of 2014 he received a single lung transplant at Vanderbilt. We were so excited that Dad was receiving a second chance on life. However, we soon realized that during the next two years there would be many ups and downs. Anything that could go wrong went wrong. However, God always stayed faithful. 

The period following his surgery, we felt a peace from God that can't be explained.  I have often said that I don't know how lost people manage to go through trials not having the help of the Lord. He provided a strength that can only be found when we learn to fully rely on Him. A verse that became very dear to our family during this time was Nahum 1:7 "The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” Our help truly comes from the Lord. 

The two years and twenty-two days following Dads transplant were not easy, but looking back on them I wouldn't change them for the world. You see it gave me the privilege to help with my Dads care, and spend lots of time with him.  I will always cherish the times I had with him. 

I haven't written this so that you will feel sorry for me. My desire it to challenge you in two different ways. First, cherish every moment you have with your family. Life is short, and we have no guarantee of tomorrow. Matthew 24:36 "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Don't be afraid to say, "I'm sorry," and tell them often, "I love you." Second, if you are going through a hard time, learn to rely on God. He can provide a strength that can't be matched. That's not to say I have always been on top side, and that I won't be shedding some tears today, but after everything I can still say that God is always right, and God is always good. 

If your in the middle of a storm, trust God. Whatever it is that your battling the Lord can see you through it. A year ago when I held my Dads hand as he left this world and passed into Heaven, I didn't think I could make it. However once again God was there for our family. Sometimes I look back and can't believe that we have made it a year without Dad, but God has brought us through this year. We are definitely looking forward to that Glad Reunion Day. Help is available to you ladies, you just need to ask the Lord for the help you need. Stay strong in the Lord, and don't give in to the Devil. You never know who may be watching you. If we give in, we may cause someone else to stumble. So today, I pray for those of you who read this and may be going through a trial. I pray God will wrap you in His arms, and provide a peace that only He can give you. 

Psalm 121:2 "My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."

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Roses, Damaged Petals / Mrs Dianne Mcqueen

Mrs Dianne Mcqueen

Pastor's Wife

Victory Baptist Church

South Boardman, MI

Roses, Damaged Petals

            Have you ever tried to take a rose apart? Doesn't work does it . In a lot of ways our life is like a rose, let's take a look and see.

Roses start off as a bud. They are very fragile and need lots of care to grow. We start off as a small baby and we also need lots of care to grow .The rose grows up and the petals open to reveal a beautiful pink, red or yellow flower. Petals are very soft and they smell good. As we grow up to be a beautiful young lady, different nationalities and colors, we too are very soft and sweet. The more the rose matures  and opens the more beautiful it becomes. The more we grow, the more we mature the more beautiful we become .I Tim. 2:9

         Then time and nature take over and the petals start to turn brown on the edges, someone has picked it and tried to keep it for a few days in a vase of water. Leaves start to wither and drop and its almost at the end of its life.  It can't be refreshed, its head has drooped and finally it has to be put in the trash.

           Time and the world have taken over the young lady. She tries to live for the Lord but sin scars her and puts a brown spot on her life. Someone  has showed her what the world has to offer and she thinks it looks good. Problem with that is the devil does make sin look good. Rom 6:23  She's now running with the wrong crowd, her life is a mess. In and out of relationships, job after job. No peace, her head is drooped. Finally to her, her life is over when a soulwinner comes and her petals ARE refreshed. She's not ready for the trash.  She has a new life to live and a new Savior to live it for. Rom. 6:14. Would to God we could keep every young girl on the right path so she has no chance to go ruin her life with the world. Look around you at the young ladies you have contact with and find ways to keep them on that straight and narrow path.

         The next time you see a rose, remember you are  sweeter and more precious to the Lord than all the roses. God loves you and God is good.

Full of Prunes / Mrs Janice Wolfe

Mrs Janice Wolfe

Host of eleven2one

FaithMusicRadio.com

Full of Prunes

Nothing is more wonderful to a child than a new puppy. Nothing was more dependent upon that child, than that new puppy. When I was about 10-years-old, we got a new puppy for our family.  I loved that puppy and we spent all day together, everyday.

Aunt Tel, was "Special Needs" and was never able to learn to read or write. My dad had promised his dad that he would care of her as long as she needed help.  Dad kept his promise and Aunt Tel lived with us the whole time I was growing up.  

Aunt Tel must have been in her early 40’s at the time. It is obvious to me now that she must have been having some issues with irregularity, because she had been told she needed to eat prunes.  To this day, I do not know if she did not LIKE prunes, or if they just did not help her but, one day she offered the undesirable prunes to me.

I had not had a lot of prunes, if any, in my 10-year life span! I ate a few and I felt they were just alright but, the puppy sitting in my lap, was VERY interested in the prunes. So he had a happy feast!

The next morning when I awoke, my dad said to me, “Janice, what did you feed that dog yesterday?”

(You see my dad was legally blind, and he had gone out on the back porch to put some laundry in the laundry room. Well, the puppy also slept on the back porch. I think you see where this is going.)

I responded matter-of-factly, “Nothing but prunes daddy.”

My dad replied, and to this day I can hear him like it was yesterday, “Well, I cleaned up 6 messes and turned around and stepped in another one!!”  

What goes up must come down and what goes in, must come out! There have been times in my life -- and I am sure that if you are honest, that you have been there too --when what I had been putting in my heart and mind was coming out in my life as a mess. I would find myself leaving little messes everywhere I went.  This is what happens, when one is full of prunes!

Psalm 19:14 is a prayer in the form of a song. “Let the words of mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” The word meditation means a murmuring sound, that is, a musical notation. In fact, our word music, comes from the word muse.

Music is a wonderful way to fill your heart and your mind with good thoughts. Here at Faith Music, we like to say that a gospel song is a three-minute message that helps us meditate on the principles of God’s word and builds our faith. The book of Psalms contains 150 songs.  It appears that God wanted His people to meditate on His precepts, principles and promises!

When reading Proverbs 9, two verses really stand out to me:

“Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,” (Proverbs 9:4)

“Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,” (Proverbs 9:16)

These verses are nearly identical.  Verse 4 is the cry of wisdom and verse 16 is the cry of the foolish woman.  Lady Wisdom has furnished a delightful table. To dine with Lady Wisdom you must forsake the foolish. You will live if you do!

Verse 16 is the cry of the foolish woman. Her water is stolen and her bread is deceitful.  Her way leads to death and destruction.  

When it comes to our music, who is making our dinner? What is our soul having for supper?

In this blog last week, Vicky Mutchler wrote that, what pressure does is squeeze out what’s inside. That thing you did not mean to say, but it just came out. My former pastor’s wife, Beverly Hyles, used to say, “Yes, you did mean it! Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”  What goes in will come out! Will we leave messes or blessings?  Will we be full of prunes or full of wisdom?

Psalm 19 teaches us to take care that the meditation of our heart is acceptable in the sight of God. He has redeemed us for that purpose and He will give us the strength to do so.

“I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.” (Psalm 104:33-34) When the direction of our praise is towards God, the dedication of our life is for God, and the meditation of our heart is upon God, then, the by-product is a glad heart! A glad heart is a much better gift to give others than the messes we leave when we are full of prunes.