Giving Grace

Lately I have been thinking a lot about grace and how important it is to extend it to others. Let's talk about grace. What is it? How do we give grace?

The definition of grace is unmerited favor. Getting something that you do not deserve. That's grace. In Ephesians 2:8 we read "For by grace ye are saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" So God extends grace to all who will accept the gift not because we deserve it but because He loves us and wants to have a relationship with us. He also expects us to extend grace to others. Let's look at some ways we can give grace.

First, with our words. Be kind and gentle when we speak to people.
Proverbs 25:11 - A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Meaning a timely spoken word is both precious and beautiful. 
Proverbs 16:24 - Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. When people hear kind and encouraging words they feel good in the core of their being and good feelings brings better 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. Make sure when we talk to people, we are helping and not destroying. 

Secondly, in our actions. Doing kind and helpful things for others is commanded by God. 
Galations 6:10 - As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. When an opportunity presents itself, we are to do good to others and especially to other Christians.
Romans 12:10 - Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 
Showing kindness and affection and honor to the other person.
Ephesians 4:32 - And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Kindness and forgiveness involves action on our part. The other person can't feel the grace we are extending by being kind and forgiving without us expressing and showing it. 

Thirdly, by forgiving. We have been forgiven by God when we accept his free gift of grace. Therefore, we are also commanded to forgive others when they seek forgiveness.
Luke 17:4 - And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. I like that we are not commanded to forgive someone who is not repentive or sorry. I do think for our own sakes that we should forgive whether they seek forgiveness or not so that we don't become bitter, but clearly that's not commanded.
Matthew 6:14 - For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  God forgives when we forgive. I believe the above verse still applies in this situation. 
Colossians 3:13 - Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Forbearing means to put up with. In other words accepting flaws and all. 

All of the above mentioned are ways to give grace to others. We may not feel they deserve any of them but that's the point! Grace means getting what you don't deserve. We do not deserve the grace of God yet he offers it to us. It is out of love that His grace is extended to us. If we are  extended such grace then we should also give it. 

Lastly, by witnessing or telling others about Saving Grace. This is also commanded with promises! 
Mark 16:15 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. This is Jesus speaking. He told his first disciples to go and preach the gospel. He left us here on this earth to share the good news of his Salvation.
Proverbs 11:30 - The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life: and he that winneth souls is wise. I am pretty sure this is self-explanatory! 
Daniel 12:3 - And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. There's your promise. We will shine brightly like the stars when we turn others to Christ. 
2 Corinthians 5:18 - And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given unto us the ministry of reconciliation;  We have been reconciled to God by Jesus and are now expected to spread to others how to be reconciled to God. It's pretty simple. 

We all want grace given to us so let's make sure we are giving it out to others also. Cut people some slack. Be kind. Be helpful. Forgive. Most importantly tell them of what Jesus did. 

Sweet Talk

Story about Frogs:
Two frogs were hopping through the woods together. As they talked they hopped right into a deep pit. When they realized how deep the pit was, they began trying to jump out but were unable to do so. As they continued to try to jump high enough to get out of the pit, the forest animals gathered around the top of the hole. They began yelling things such as "It's hopeless. Just give up and realize you are going to die". After some time, one of the frogs DID give up and just laid down and died. The other frog just kept trying harder and harder. The forest animals continued to yell and jump up and down swinging their arms and cupping their hands by their mouths. Finally, the frog gave one last hoorah jump and made it out. The animals were amazed and asked him why he hadn't given up like his friend. Couldn't you hear us telling you to give up? The frog told them that he was hard of hearing and when he looked up and saw them yelling and jumping up and down, he thought they were encouraging him to try. 
Proverbs 18:21a o- Death and life are in the power of the tongue:

Proverbs 16:24
Everyone loves to be talked to sweetly. Sweet words warm our hearts and make us feel better. We call babies and kids cute little nicknames. Husbands & wives call each other special names (especially in private). 

When husband calls me "baby", it makes me feel endeared to him. Makes me feel special to him. He only calls me that at moments when he feels close to me so I know it's a special term. He has never been someone who is overly critical or spoke negatively to me. It has been rare in our 32 years of marriage. However, those few times will come to mind at crazy times and cause pain all over again. WORDS ARE POWERFUL!
---It has been said that people will forget what you do to them but they will never forget how you made them feel.

Don't just speak empty words. WE to speak to people in a manner that the person hearing, whether child, spouse, relative or friend, BELIEVE what is being said. (empty I love yous overly said, have no real impact) 

It is important for parents to talk sweetly to their kids. We should use positive words to edify, strengthen character, & make them feel loved. As mothers, we should be builders in our homes both of children & husband. - Prov. 14:1
---We tear down our homes when we are nagging & being critical of everything that someone does
---Using words like "you never" or "you always" followed by a negative statement causes feelings of failure & never good enough
---Be encouraging about what is actually right

In friendships we need to be careful of our talk - Prov. 16:28, 17:9
Gossip, that we are all guilty of at times, is very destructive. Also, there is a fine line between covering a transgression out of love and helping someone to continue in sin. While we should help up those who are down, because we which are spiritual are to restore such an one-- we are not to enable more sin. We don't have to go spread the wrong to everyone causing more destruction but neither should we not expose & confront the sin to the person. Accountability for sin is the best deterrent!

Words can be destructive or instructive. Prov. 16:21 - The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

Sweet words can instruct. People will grow & blossom under an instructor (parent, teacher, pastor) if the words are spoken in truth, love & kindness. Prov. 15:2 & 7 When counseling, teaching or disciplining someone, always try to find a scripture to back up what you are saying. EX. - remind children that it is your duty given by God to discipline them & spank & show them the verses.

The opposite of sweet words is bitter words. Psalm 64:2-4 Harsh or negative words pierce like arrows & leave a wound that may never heal.
---Experts have said that physical abuse is often easier to overcome than verbal because bruises, cuts, & broken bones heal but words ring on forever in our minds.

Think about someone speaking that way from your past, whether childhood or something else. Prov. 15:1 - A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. 
--- Harsh & negative words come from anger & bitterness in the heart. It is hard to be around a person who is always angry or negative or critical.

These kinds of words contribute to people feeling unloved, unworthy, useless & rejected. People who live in the negative all the time are usually ill more often with ulcers, headaches or even serious illness.

People who have positive thoughts & give out positive comments are happy & rarely get sick.

James 3:3-10

Prov. 21:23 - Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. 

Women of Strength

Deborah & Jael
Judges 4 & 5
This is the jest of that passage...
Deborah was a prophetess & judge over Israel. She sat under a palm tree and judged the children of Israel. 
God had allowed King Jabin of Canaan to buy the Israelites and rule over them. Jabin had Sisera, the captain over his army, place soldiers at the gates of the city with swords & spears to make life difficult for the Jews. He also did not allow them to trade or grow crops. This went on for 20 years.

God tells Deborah to call Barak and have him gather 10,000 men and go to Tabor so that God can help him to defeat Sisera. Barak is somewhat of a chicken and tells Deborah that he will only go if she goes with him. Deborah agrees to go but tells him that God says that because he is scared and doesn't trust him, then God will deliver Sisera by a woman's hand. 

It says in 4:15 that God discomfited Sisera and when the battle begins he runs away on foot. He flees to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite. At the time, Heber & Jabin were friends so Sisera thought he would be safe at Heber's tent. Jael is kind to Sisera and offers him a place to rest and a blanket. When he asks for a drink of water she steps it up and gives him milk. He tells her to guard the door and tell anyone who comes by to say no one is there. Once he is asleep, she goes to him softly and takes a tent stake and drives it through his temple and into the ground, killing him. She sees Barak coming and goes to him and tells him where to find Sisera. So, God delivered Sisera into the hands of the Israelites through the courage of 2 women!

I want to look at some things we can learn from this story. 

I. Draw Your Strength From the Lord - James 4:8
-Deborah must have been a godly woman or God would not have given her the authority or wisdom of be a prophetess & judge over Israel
--be someone God can trust
--pray & search the scriptures for knowledge about how to live your life & to know God better
This will give you strength in times of trouble and your daily walk!

II. A Woman's Strength Should be in Spirit - Prov. 11:16
- While exercise is important to be healthy, it's more important to have a spiritual strength
-women should not try to be masculine and be stronger than men physically - Prov. 20:29
--for the sake of a man's ego men need to feel that they are strong
--men want to feel they are needed for their physical strength & abilities
--men (even strong men) need our emotional strength & encouragement - it's one of the main reasons we were created - to help & encourage them

III.  Learn When to be Weak & When to be Strong - Col. 3:18
- there are times, especially when our husbands aren't present, that we must be strong & make decisions & take care of ourselves, the kids & the home
-but when our husband is present they need us to need them
-many women in today's society say they don't need a man & these women often go through one relationship after another
--usually because they try to take charge & do everything including all decisions on their own with no input from the man
--most men find this a turn off - they don't feel needed - they feel they are unnecessary
--God created a desire in men to feel needed by us (really all people want to feel needed and relevant in the world!)
**Deborah went with Barak & gave her moral support but it was Barak who led the army!!

IV. When a Woman is Strong in Spirit, She Creates in Her Husband a Need for Her Presence - Prov. 31:10-12
***Deborah did this with Barak & he wasn't her husband, he was the leader of an army!
-when a woman uses her strength in a proper way & at proper times, like encouraging her husband when he's down or worried, or helping him with whatever he needs, he learns to lean on & trust her
--Barak had become so dependent on Deborah's wisdom that he felt he needed her with him at the battle
-when a woman uses her strength in improper ways & times, her husband seeks to be independent of her
ex:
-challenging his authority in front of the kids
-second guessing his decisions in front of others
-second guessing his decisions on a regular basis
-demanding things be her way
---all of these tear down his emotional well being & causes him to feel incompetent, hurt, angry and WILL cause him to want to be away from her
**Prov. 14:1

V. A Strong Woman Asserts Her Strength Without Sacrificing Her Femininity - Prov. 9:13
-Jael did a brave & strong thing when she killed Sisera
--she did it completely using her feminine resources - being sweet, kind & hospitable
-a woman doesn't have to become like a man to do great things for the Lord
--we don't have to dress, walk, or talk like men, especially men who cuss, drink & act mean and hateful
-it is always appalling to me when I hear women in public cussing and shoving men around - WHAT'S FEMININE ABOUT THAT?!

Let's be strong women of spirit for the Lord and for our husband and be an example to our daughters. How you show your strengths and refrain from them will be how our daughters show or refrain from theirs! - Titus 2:3-5

Extra devotional thought provoker:
Strong Woman VS A Woman of Strength

A strong woman works out everyday to keep her body in shape, but a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.

A strong woman is not afraid of anything, but a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of fear.

A strong woman will not let anyone get the best of her, but a woman of strength gives the best of herself to everyone.

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face, but a woman of strength wears grace.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey, but a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong.

Life is a Circus

Comparing Circus Performers with Real Life

I. Clowns - they are fake - they hide behind makeup

--Don't be a hypocrite - Matt. 23:27, Luke 12:1, 1 Ptr. 2:1

II. Trapeze Artists - They practice for hours for just a few minutes on stage

--Seek God Continually - 1 Chron. 16:11, Gal. 6:9, 1 Cor. 15:58

--God is the one who perfects us - Ps. 138:8

---Perfect practice make perfect!

III. Jugglers - They can juggle many things at once

***But they only touch one thing at a time in each hand!

--We need to prioritize - God 1st, Husbands 2nd, Kids 3rd, Christian Service 4th 

---Serving is not necessarily putting God first, you can get so busy doing that you neglect spending any real time with God (Mary & Martha story)

--you can also neglect husband, kids & home

- Deut. 6:5, Gen. 2:18, Prov. 14:1

IV. Lion Tamer - Gets in cage with lion but only gets so close

--Be separate from the world - 2 Cor. 6:17, 1 John 2:15

V. Tight Rope Walker - They must walk a straight line high above

---As leaders in church or a leader to your own children & grandchildren we must be good examples - Ps. 101:2-3, Titus 2:7-8

--The tight roper walker also has a safety net below them

---God catches us & holds us - Ps. 54:4, Is. 41:10

VI. Ringmaster - They represent the pastor & his staff

-They call the plays or what's coming - Heb. 13:17, Jer. 3:15

VII. Cleaner of the Circus - They are behind the scenes, not in the spotlight

--Not all jobs are glamorous or receive recognition but they are still important 

- 1 Cor. 10:31, Col. 3:17, Col. 3:23-24

Getting Winterized

This lesson I got from another source several years ago. I don't remember where to give credit but I do tend to make borrowed lessons my own through my own thoughts and tweeks. 

Philippians 4:11-13

In many areas of the country we have four seasons. Mid-January is usually the heart of winter for most as far as actual weather goes. Winter brings shorter days which means more darkness. It brings gray, dreary damp days with cold temps. During the fall or early winter many people winterize their cars and homes. They change oil weights, check antifreeze levels, and in some states put on snow tires. They put blankets and kitty litter or salt for traction for if they get stuck. For their homes they clean and service the furnace, use caulk and weather stripping on doors and windows or put up plastic to keep out the cold air. They disconnect water hoses and put them away so they don't freeze up.

In our spiritual lives we can have winters, too. Spiritually we can have dark, dreary cold days. We have to winterize in order to deal with and face them. Just like winter season can often bring the blues, discouragement, depression and more feelings of loneliness than usual, so can spiritual winters bring this. These spiritual winters are trials or inner battles with self and sin. 

We are going to look at ways to winterize & guard against dark and dreary winters of our lives.

1. The Cold Air Culprit of the World
When trials come, we can let our guard down. We start focusing on how to cope or to fix the problem. This is when worldly ideas & philosophies can seep through the cracks of our hearts and minds. Friends and media influences can give non-biblical advice. Or we start rationalizing in our own minds what is correct instead of what God says. Maybe a friend advises revenge over a wrong rather than forgiveness. Maybe we decide it is more important to make money for bills than to go to church, or to pay a bill than to tithe or to lie, cheat or steal to get what is wanted. 
--This is when we must caulk & weather-strip the cracks of hurt and desperation. Using God's Word is best for this. Read it, know it, memorize it to stop the cold air of the world from seeping in.
--Always check ideas, thoughts, and advice against scripture!
Psalm 119:11 - Thy word have I hid in thine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

2. The Icicles of Cold Attitudes
During winter it is easy to develop a bad attitude. With cold, damp, dreary days we can become cranky with others. We can complain more about everything and everyone! When in a trial we can really get into an icicle mode attitude. We blame spouse, children, family members, friends, co-workers and even God for the trial we are facing. Remember that only we can fix and change our bad attitude. Just decide to get over it. It's not easy when winter weight of ice is bearing down on us. 
--Best to take a step back and remember who God is and who we are not!
Psalm 46:10a - Be still, and know that I am God

3. The Blizzards of Circumstances
Sometimes winter can bring a blizzard. A blizzard means heavy snow with 30 mph or stronger winds which causes severe drifting and poor visibility. The effects can be devastating. Circumstances in our lives can be devastating, too. Jobs are lost, bills pile up, loved ones get sick or even die, relationships go bad, cars break down, appliances break, etc. These weigh down on us like heavy blankets of snow and can pile up like snowdrifts until we think we can't go on because we can't see any light or let up at the end of the road. 
--During blizzard times all we can do is hunker down and wait it out. We need to do ONLY what we can at each moment of the day and trust God for the outcome. He knows the end of the road and the plan he has.
Job 23:10 - But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

4. The Jack Frost of Depression
If you are going through a trial, depression is going to come nipping at your heels sooner or later. Just like many people get the winter blues, trials seem to frost us with depression. When in a trial, it is often easy to let it just nip away and bring us further and further down. There's no easy way up out of depression but keeping in tune with God will help. Regular devotions and prayer time every day will help more than anything. 
Psalm 55:17 - Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

Isaiah 26:3-4 - Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

Along with this goes good Christian fellowship and laughter. Have a lunch date with a friend. Watch your favorite funny movie or comedian. 
Proverbs 17:22 - A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Many people put together Winter Survival Kits. Let's use this list of survival kit supplies to apply to a spiritual winter survival kit...
1. Non Perishable Food - Scripture!
- memorize scripture for those desperate times
2. Extra Blankets and Warm Clothing - Fellowship
- don't shut church family and friends out when in a trial - lean on them for support
3. Drinking Water - Christ the Living Water
- we need Jesus every day - his love, blessings & promises
4. Emergency Candles or Flashlights or Lamps - God's guidance 
-God is the source of light - stay sensitive to His leading and guidance - fast, pray and listen to the still small voice within

Have you winterized yourself?

The Ornaments of Our Lives

Ornament -
1. Archaic - a useful accessory
2. something that lends grace or beauty
3. a manner or quality that adorns (enhances the appearance of)
4. one whose virtues or graces add luster to a place or society

We are going to look at how different things about our personalities are the ornaments that represent our lives.

We should be asking ourselves if they are ornaments that compliment or disgrace us in the sight of others.

I. Willingness to learn from authority 
           - Children from parents or guardians
Prov. 1:8-9 - My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
--Children & especially teens are know it alls and unwilling to listen and learn from parents

        - Church members from Pastor
Heb. 13:17 - Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
--many church members are just like teens and unwilling to heed advice and wisdom that a Pastor offers

II. Being wise or seeking to become wise
Prov. 4:5-9 - Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her and she shall keep thee.
Wisdom is the principal thing: therefore get wisdom: and with all the getting get understanding.
Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
--wise people tend to have people be drawn to them, there's something alluring even graceful about a wise person

III. Being humble
1 Peter 3:3-4 - Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
--humbleness is a great ornament to wear and display in our lives

There are many personality traits that each of us display to the world around us like an ornament. They range from our clothing & makeup styles to our character and demeanor.

Ask Ourselves:
Are those personality ornaments displaying a useful accessory?
Do they lend grace or beauty to us?
Is it a quality that enhances our appearance or personality?
Does it add luster to a place or the world around us?

Let us strive to be an ornament of grace, beauty, and meekness that is willing to learn and gain wisdom. 

Creating a Home Through AROMA

I want to say upfront that this is a lesson I tweaked and pulled together from two different sources. I no longer have the book or other source to give credit to the creators. I make every lesson my own even when I borrow but I still prefer to give credit when I can.

Aroma is a pleasant odor (apparently if it is not pleasant then it is a smell or just plain stinky!)

Eph. 5:1-2

As Christians we should model Christ in love & become a sweet smelling sacrifice. We need to bring this first to our homes.

Affection

Respect

Order

Merriment

Affirmation

Atmosphere is the light that glows from inside a home. As wives and mothers we should want that atmosphere to be so inviting that family members can't wait to get inside. If we intentionally create affection, respect, order, merriment, and affirmation; then our family will want to experience that atmosphere again and again.

We'll look at each of the aspects of AROMA one by one.

AFFECTION - giving/having tender or loving touches or compliments

Ex. Hugs, kisses, caresses, praise, "I love yous"

Prov. 14:1 - build up others

Prov. 31:26 - speak kindly and with wisdom

Rom. 12:10 - show affection to each other

Guidelines to accomplish:

1. Model affection on a consistent basis

2. Don't withhold affection as a reaction to a child's or spouse's behavior

3. Know the person well enough to know what type of affection they prefer (some people don't like their feet touched, or are uncomfortable with public compliments)

RESPECT - holding other people in honor so they may recognize their own worth

**Self-worth & attitude are built brick by brick on loving acts of respect in all circumstances

Luke 6:31 - golden rule

Eph. 4:32 - be kind and forgiving

Eph. 5:22 - wives submit to husband as though to the Lord

Eph. 5:33 - men love wives & wives reverence

Eph. 6:2 - honor parents

Ex. Do kind gestures that family members would enjoy

Guidelines to accomplish:

1. Be generous with honoring members in life's ups & downs (allow mistakes & let them grow & learn)

2. Allow others their own opinions & ideas - even if you disagree

3. Confront self criticism with positive in put - be a cheerleader

4. Avoid hateful or disrespectful speech

5. Say "I'm sorry" & "please forgive me" quickly - this shows humbleness

ORDER - the act of managing and modeling godly leadership in the home, resulting in a refuge of calm 

**Someone must be the anchor

**Others, especially children & spouse, have a hard time staying calm & peaceful in an atmosphere of chaos, turmoil & disarray

The purpose of order is to foster a sense of security within the boundaries & rules of the home by creating a habitual rhythm in daily routines & traditions

Prov. 16:32 - Keep in check & be slow to anger

Prov. 17:1 - Keep strife away

Prov. 29:15 - Train children & have rules

Prov. 31:27 - Keep up with the house & family

Guidelines to accomplish:

1. Make CLEAR rules that can be kept with consequences when broken

2. Set priorities for home and future goals

3. Keep home clean & free of messes

4. Create family traditions & habits - brings a sense of peace

5. Keep a calm spirit at all times (easier said than done!)

MERRIMENT - an atmosphere with uninhibited laughter & enthusiasm 

Laughter and crying are two emotions that draw people closer together when shared.

Laughter has been proven to help offset illness

Prov. 15:13 - Facial expressions often reveal emotions

Prov. 17:22 - Laughter is like medicine

When I was growing up I was surrounded by love and laughter by a large extended family. These are some of the most vivid and precious memories I have from childhood.

Fun, laughter, and enthusiasm create a joyful and happy home

Guidelines to accomplish:

1. Do fun things as a family

2. Learn to laugh at yourself

3. Laughter should always be WITH but not AT someone

AFFIRMATION - positive declaration or confirming a clearly held position through kind words and actions

*Affirmation is a combination of all the other parts of AROMA to help hold & confirm the positive atmosphere of the home

I Thess. 5:11 - Edify and comfort each other

Guidelines to accomplish:

1. Use positive reinforcement through praise & encouragement

2. Help family members pursue their dreams & potential

3. Show mercy & forgiveness when mistakes are made

4. Communicate & be there when they need to talk

Three Victories to Change Our Lives - Noah's Ark Series Lesson 4

Building the Ark of  Confidence
Philippians 1:6
The great victories of life are won
-not on the battlefield of military conflict,
-not in the sports arenas of the world,
-not in the market places,
-not in the scientific laboratories,
-not even in the great expanses of space;
but rather in the souls of people.
The great battles of life are won and lost inside; in the inner lives of individual people.

In the book of Philippians we see three inner victories recorded by Paul. 
Phil 1:12-14
I. We don't have to be victims of circumstances
--don't have to be imprisoned or paralyzed by any situation
--can be victors & rise above with God's help
Paul was in jail, he was sick, he was away from loved ones, was cut off from his dream of traveling and spreading the gospel
--he didn't wallow in self-pity but tells us that it all happened to help further the gospel & even helped others to be bold for Christ
--He used his circumstances & wasn't enslaved by them
***We don't have to be thermometers - we can be thermostats!
--A thermometer simply tells us what the temperature is
--A Thermostat changes or influences the temperature!
Christians can use every circumstance as an opportunity to serve Christ 
-Like a thermostat we can change or influence what is going on around us

Phil. 2:3-4, 3:7-8, 3:13-14
II. We don't have to be victims of pride
--sometimes we get caught up in being too concerned with what people think of us (good & bad)
--we also sometimes want recognition for our deeds
Paul reminds us to place others above ourselves
--that when we gain for ourselves it is loss for Christ
--to forget what is behind & press forward
We need to forget bad things & not wallow in it - this can make us depressed & unproductive for Christ
We need to forget good things also because we can become prideful and stuck thinking about the "Glory Days" - this also makes us stagnant & unproductive

Phil. 1:19-20
III. We don't have to be victims of death
--Many Bible saints were not afraid of death
--Paul stood ready for life or death as long as the cause of Christ went on

Christians do not have to fear death
Prov. 14:32, 2 Cor. 5:8, John 5:24
If you have trusted Christ as your Savior, you can know that death is just a transfer to the home office!

Noah's Ark Series Lesson 3

Having Fixed Points in a Changing World
Matt. 7:24-27, Heb. 12:25-28

In a world of constant change there are some things in life that are fixed points. They don't change. they can be counted on.
--Navigators can count on the North Star
--Builders trust in plumb lines
--Musicians depend on set notes

Psychologists say that change is hard for most people - even good changes.
--change is threatening, frightening, & intimidating
--most people resist it  and down right avoid it

Psychologists also say that the best way to adjust to change is to remember and focus on some fixed points in our life.
--Fixed points are things we can trust & commit to
--Little kids learn this at a very young age - when they go into a new situation, they usually reach for & cling to a security blanket, teddy bear, or other toy, mom, dad or even their thumb because they want something that they know & makes them feel secure

So, what are some fixed points for us as our world shudders, shakes and we go through trials?
Heb. 13:8 tells us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever

Because of this He gives us strong foundations to build upon
Let's look at some fixed points in anyone's life....

I. Truth
--Sometimes it is hard to sort out lies from truth but we can use Jesus as a measuring stick
--We need to measure everything we see, read or hear by the standard of truth found in God's Word
--If it goes against what Scripture says--it CANNOT be truth!
--By the way, God will NOT impress upon you to do something that goes against His Word
-- For instance, God doesn't impress upon people to murder someone, steal from others or even get a divorce - when someone chooses to do those things they have made up their own minds because God would not urge someone to do something contrary to His Word

Prov. 23:23 tells us to buy the truth and sell it not
John 14:6 - Jesus tells us He is the truth
Rom. 3:4  says that God is true and every man a liar

--When Satan makes us doubt - cling to the truths of the Bible

II. Love
--We love him because he first loved us - this is the only reason we know about love

Rom. 8:38-39 - Once we get saved, we become God's child and we can't be separated from his love
--even when we think that no one on earth loves us, we can rest assured of God's love for us

**True love is that which gives expecting nothing in return

III. God
--He is immutable or unchangeable
Ps. 102:27, Mal. 3;6, Rev. 1:8

Though God allows and sometimes even brings changes in our lives, we can trust Him for He is unchanging -- He is always just, always fair, and always loving even when He brings His wrath. Everything He does is for our good and for His glory

IV. God's Word 
--it endures forever
Ps. 119:89, Is. 40:8, Matt. 24:35, 1 Peter 1:25

--when we go through trials we can search the Bible for comfort and also for what to do

Some Things You Can't Borrow - Lesson 2 Noah's Ark Series

Matt. 25:1-13
When a crisis comes in your life you must have your own resources of faith and spiritual strength because they can't be borrowed at the last minute.

I. Can't borrow someone else's commitment to the Bible
A. Need your OWN Bible that YOU have read, studied & memorized 
--others can hand you a Bible and/or quote scripture to you but if you haven't got it inside you yourself, it won't be as comforting, it won't have as much meaning for you

B. If you don't know the Bible - YOUR Bible, when you need verses to help yourself or someone else you won't be able to find the verses you need
--I often know that a particular verse is somewhere in a certain area of the page on the right or left in my own Bible

II. Can't borrow someone else's commitment to prayer
A. Need your own personal time with God
--this is to have your sins confessed up so that your relationship is right with God - If I regard iniquity in my heart, the LORD will not hear.

B. Don't just rely on others for prayer
--many people want others to pray for them but never pray for themselves
--others can pray and it can be helpful and powerful but others do not know you or your needs, thoughts, & desires as well as you do!

III. Can't borrow someone else's commitment to Christ
A. We must have our own relationship with Jesus
--you can't go to heaven because your mom, dad, spouse, or anyone else is saved - must have it for yourself

B. We must have our own peace & trust in Christ when the storm is raging
--the disciples had no peace on the ship when the storm came even though Jesus was there with them, and He was calm and sleeping
--they had seen His miracles & still had not drawn close enough to Him to have peace & trust that He would care for them

We can have peace & joy in the storms of life but only when we abide in Him.

We need to be building an ark of spiritual strength because there are some things that just can't be borrowed - especially at the last minute. Build it by having a commitment to the Bible, to prayer, and to Christ.

Building Noah's Ark Series - Lesson 1

Noah's Spiritual Maturity - Gen. 6:9-14
I. Noah built the ark in the sunshine
- he prepared during the sunshine for the coming flood
- somewhere down the road we will have a flood - a crisis, a trial
So we need to prepare for it now while times are good
A. Prepare for financial trials
- set money aside in an ER fund - $500 to start but eventually 3 months of bills
B. Prepare for emotional trials
- read Bible daily & pray daily
- meditate on the Word & memorize scripture for future comfort & help
C. Prepare for health trials
- it is best to do what you can to avoid health problems - preventative is best for bodies, homes, cars, appliances
- take care of yourself by eating & drinking right & by exercise
***Remember - You are what you eat and you sag and bulge where you don't move!
D. Prepare for death
- make sure you are saved - your life is a vapor - we don't know how long we have
- make decisions now about your funeral & let others know
- have life insurance and/or a prepaid burial plan
- decide who will raise your kids
- have a will or a living trust
We don't know when a storm will come but it WILL come so prepare!

II. Noah let God shut the door - Gen. 7:6
- He took himself & his family & got on the ark & let God close the door but trusted God to open it again later
A. We don't have all the answers about life but we can trust the one who does
- Noah built the ark as God said
- He gathered the animals as God said
- He got on the ark as God said
- He watched the rain fall as God said
- He could believe God would open the door again as He said
B. Let God close doors for us
- follow God's will, let Him guide & direct us
I often pray "Lord open doors & close doors in the direction you'd have me to go."
- ignore the saying "When God closes a door come in through the window or kick down th door"
**When God closes the door - listen & wait until He opens it or a different door
- don't put your foot in the door to keep it open either

III. Noah thanked God - Gen. 8:13-20
- firsh thing Noah did when he got off the ark was build an altar to God and sacrifice to Him in thanksgiving
- This is the first mention of an altar being built to God
- 1 Thess. 5:18 - we are to give thanks for everything
God gives us blessings, we are alive because He allows it, He created us, He loves us
- even the trials, though they are hard to go through, are  a way to help us rely on Him and draw us closer to Him, to grow in Christian maturity or to affect others around us
We can learn and grow in our Christian walk from Noah. The ark was used to help save his life and his family's life but HE had to build it! In this series we will learn to build different arks to help us in our lives.

She Broke the Box!

Giving our all to God.
Mark 14:3

First, I'd like to point out that Mary didn't remove the lid or cork & pour the ointment out. 
--if she had she might have been tempted to keep some of it for herself to use or sell

Sometimes we hold back giving something to God or someone else because we will have to give up something---time, money, possessions

---we say, "if I give to this offering, I can't go to the movies, or out to dinner, or buy this certain item"
--we say, "If I drive a bus route or visit a bus route, I have to get up early on Sundays, eat later than normal for lunch, and/or give up time on Saturdays"
--we say, "If I drive that person to the doctor or store, I won't have gas for my own trip somewhere or I don't feel like doing that, I want to do something else"

Let's look at two areas in our lives where we can give all to God...
In Giving & Offerings
---Widow's 2 mites - Luke 21:1-4
--Ex. 36:5 - And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.

-- people gave so much willingly for the building of the sanctuary that Moses had to stop them from bringing any more
--1 Chron. 29:3 

--If we set our affection on the house of God, we will want to give - it is hard to invest time and money in something when our heart isn't in it - Matt. 6:21 
--Fireproof movie -- dare challenge

In Our Care of Others
 - story of man with palsy - Mark 2:1-5

friends or family cared so much that they took much effort and time to get the mad to Jesus
--Jesus saw their faith

--story of Good Samaritan - Luke 10:30-35
He showed compassion, - it cost him time and money 
--caring for someone's injuries is also kind of gross, but he did it.

Mary broke the box...she held nothing back...she gave it all to Jesus

We sing the song "All to Jesus I surrender. All to Him I freely give."
What we should sing is "Some to Jesus I surrender. Some to Him I grudgingly give."

A Time for Everything Part 2

Verse 5:
A Time to Cast Away Stones - We need to cast away stony walls between us and others - Heb. 12:14-15, Prov. 14:17
- Walls get built up when we get hurt or wounded and this leads to bitterness

- We fix this by forgiving and also praying for God's help to forget it and for the other person

A Time to Gather Stones Together ( in Bible times, gathering stones meant to gather to build a wall) - Sometimes we need to build walls of protection around us
- We should keep sinners at a distance - Prov. 22:24-25

- 1 Cor. 5:11 - But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not eat.

A Time to Embrace - We need to show affection. Touch is so important. It has been proven through experiment that in the NICU babies that get touched and handled develop better and faster than those not touched. A colt that is handled as soon as it is born is gentler and easier to train than one that is not.
- Song of Sol. 2:6 (marriage) - His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
- Acts 20:1 (friendship) - And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.
- Luke 15:20 (kids)

A Time to Refrain from Embracing - We need to be careful as women who we show affection to. Sometimes touching or hugging on a man that is not our husband sends the wrong signals.
- 1 Cor. 7:1-2 - Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

Verse 6:
A Time to Get - We need to allow others to help us or give to us (it takes as much grace to receive as it does to give)
- Be humble enough to ask for help and accept help
-Be humble enough to accept random acts of kindness or gifts
- Others will get a reward in heaven for their deeds of help
-Matt. 10:42 - And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

A Time to Lose - We all face losses in relationships.
- Death of a loved one - Rom. 5:12
- Friends who walk away
- Spouses who walk away

A Time to Keep - Make special memories with those we love and keep track of those memories with pictures, journals, scrapbooks, keepsake boxes with mementos of special occasions
- Luke 2:19 - But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
- Josh 4:6-8

A Time to Cast Away - We need to get rid of unhealthy relationships
- Sometimes we must walk away from people for our own good
- Sometimes we must walk away for their good (we allow them to depend on us too much)
- 1 Cor. 15:33 - Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
- Eph. 5:6-7 -

Verse 7:
A Time to Rend - We need to tear away our bad habits that harm our relationships - negativity, gossip, being too talkative, losing temper easily, impatient, lying, etc.
- Prov. 17:9 - He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
- 1 Peter 3:10 - For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. (deceit)

A Time to Sew - We need to sew into our relationships love, compassion, encouragement, kindness, patience (the fruits of the spirit)

A Time to Keep Silence - Sometimes it is just best left unsaid
- Momma always said, "if you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all".
- Eph. 4:31 - Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

A Time to Speak - Prov. 25:11 - for God, for what's right, to correct kids & others
- Witnessing - Mark 16:15

Verse 8:
A Time to Love - We need to love God and love others
- Luke 10:27 - 
- Rom. 13:10 - Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
- Titus 2:3-4

A Time to Hate - We should hate evil.
- Prov. 8:13 
- Ps. 101:3 - I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
- Ps. 119:163 - I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.

A Time of War - Fight for your relationship with God
- 1 Tim. 6:11-12
- 2 Tim. 4:7 - I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

A Time of Peace - Be a peacemaker in your relationship & in the relationships of others
- James 3:18
- Matt. 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.