Latrobe Regional Church of Christ

Please ignore the time and month that was written in the weekly notices for next week’s congregational meeting.  It will be held next Sunday 13th September at 2.30pm at the church. Thank you to Grahame Cann for coming down to be with us for that!

Blessings, LRCC blogger

This year’s AGM is coming up on the 9th of August. It will be straight after church in the morning (hopefully around midday). Please try to come, it’s an important date for the church!

Sorry for the late notice, but I just received this email from LifeFM and wanted to share. I’ll be taking my two kidlets, hope to see you there!!

Hi there

If you’re down Traralgon way tomorrow we’d love you to join us at
Christian Bookworld.

In a very special event, Life FM’s Sarah Possart - host of Sarah’s
Mixed Veggies - will be coming in to station partner Christian
Bookworld in Traralgon THIS FRIDAY at 3pm!

There’ll be a fantastic Veggie party to celebrate, with food and
frivolity, and Sarah will bring some VeggieTales tales to life with a
book reading!

Don’t miss this great school holiday event for the kids, at shop 3,
27 Princes Drive Traralgon, Friday July 3rd, from 3pm.

see you there

Deb

Blessings, LRCC blogger

Quest for Joy: Six Biblical Truths

John Piper

Did you know that God commands us to be glad?

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

1) God created us for his glory

“Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth,… whom I created for my glory” (Isaiah 43:6-7)

God made us to magnify his greatness - the way telescopes magnify stars. He created us to put his goodness and truth and beauty and wisdom and justice on display. The greatest display of God’s glory comes from deep delight in all that he is. This means that God gets the praise and we get the pleasure. God created us so that he is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.

2) Every human should live for God’s glory

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

If God made us for his glory, it is clear that we should live for his glory. Our duty comes from his design. So our first obligation is to show God’s value by being satisfied with all that he is for us. This is the essence of loving God (Matthew 22:37) and trusting him (1 John 5:3-4) and being thankful to him (Psalm 100:2-4) It is the root of all true obedience, especially loving others (Colossians 1:4-5).

3) All of us have failed to glorify God as we should

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

What does it mean to “fall short of the glory of God?” It means that none of us has trusted and treasured God the way we should. We have not been satisfied with his greatness and walked in his ways. We have sought our satisfaction in other things, and treated them as more valuable than God, which is the essence of idolatry (Romans 1:21-23). Since sin came into the world we have all been deeply resistant to having God as our all-satisfying treasure (Ephesians 2:3). This is an appalling offense to the greatness of God (Jeremiah 2:12-13).

4) All of us are subject to God’s just condemnation

“The wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23).

We have all belittled the glory of God. How? By preferring other things above him. By our ingratitude, distrust and disobedience. So God is just in shutting us out from the enjoyment of his glory forever. “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might” (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

The word “hell” is used in the New Testament twelve times - eleven times by Jesus himself. It is not a myth created by dismal and angry preachers. It is a solemn warning from the Son of God who died to deliver sinners from its curse. We ignore it at great risk.

If the Bible stopped here in its analysis of the human condition, we would be doomed to a hopeless future. However, this is not where it stops…

5) God sent his only son Jesus to provide eternal life and joy

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” (1 Timothy 1:15)

The good news is that Christ died for sinners like us. And he rose physically from the dead to validate the saving power of his death and to open the gates of eternal life and joy (1 Corinthians 15:20). This means God can acquit guilty sinners and still be just (Romans 3:25-26). “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Coming home to God is where all deep and lasting satisfaction is found.

6) The benefits purchased by the death of Christ belong to those who repent and trust him

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out” (Acts 3:19). “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

“Repent” means to turn from all the deceitful promises of sin. “Faith” means being satisfied with all that God promises to be for us in Jesus. “He who believes in me,” Jesus says, “shall never thirst” (John 6:35). We do not earn our salvation. We cannot merit it (Romans 4:4-5). It is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is a free gift (Romans 3:24). We will have it if we cherish it above all things (Matthew 13:44). When we do that, God’s aim in creation is accomplished: He is glorified in us and we are satisfied in him - forever.

Does this make sense to you?

Do you desire the kind of gladness that comes from being satisfied with all that God is for you in Jesus? If so, then God is at work in your life.

What should you do?

Turn from the deceitful promises of sin. Call upon Jesus to save you from the guilt and punishment and bondage. “All who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). Start banking your hope on all that God is for you in Jesus. Break the power of sin’s promises by faith in the superior satisfaction of God’s promises. Begin reading the Bible to find his precious and very great promises, which can set you free (2 Peter 1:3-4). Find a Bible-believing church and begin to worship and grow together with other people who treasure Christ above all things (Philippians 3:7).

The best news in the world is that there is no necessary conflict between our happiness and God’s holiness. Being satisfied with all that God is for us in Jesus magnifies him as a great Treasure.

“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)

---

Bible Verses

Jesus replied: “`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” (Matthew 22:37)

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:3-4)

Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his [1]; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. (Psalms 100:2-4)

…because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints–the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel… (Colossians 1:4-5)

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. (Romans 1:21-23)

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. (Ephesians 2:3)

Be appalled at this, O heavens, and shudder with great horror,” declares the LORD. “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. (Jeremiah 2:12-13)

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20)

God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished–he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:25-26)

Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. (Romans 4:4-5)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24)

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. (Matthew 13:44)

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Peter 1:3-4)

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. (Philippians 3:7)

---

Appearances of the word “hell” in the New Testament

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, `Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, `You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Matthew 5:22 Jesus speaking)

If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. (Matthew 5:29 Jesus speaking)

And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. (Matthew 5:30 Jesus speaking)

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28 Jesus speaking)

And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. (Matthew 18:9 Jesus speaking)

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. (Matthew 23:15 Jesus speaking)

“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? (Matthew 23:33 Jesus speaking)

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. (Mark 9:43 Jesus speaking)

And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. (Mark 9:45 Jesus speaking)

And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, (Mark 9:47 Jesus speaking)

But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. (Luke 12:5 Jesus speaking)

In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. (Luke 16:23 Jesus speaking)

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (James 3:6 James speaking).

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; (2 Peter 2:4 Peter speaking)

---

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of International Bible Society. “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark office by International Bible Society.

---

© Desiring God

Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Desiring God.

Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: http://www.desiringgod.org/

From www.crosswalk.com

Life with Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde: The Verbally Abusive Marriage

Dr. David Hawkins

Editor’s Note: Do you need sound, Biblically-based advice on an issue in your marriage or family?  Dr. David will address questions from Crosswalk readers in his weekly column. Submit your question to him at: TheRelationshipDoctor@gmail.com.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tom said angrily to his wife, Kari. “You’re crazy and everyone knows it. Even your friends think you’re nuts.”

“I can’t believe you’re talking to me this way,” Kari said, still trying to gather her wits. She stood in her kitchen stunned.

“You’re ridiculous,” he shouted.

“Please don’t talk to me like this,” she said weakly.

“I can and I will,” Tom asserted. “You need a good shrink, but I doubt even he could help you.”

Kari started to cry.

“Oh, and now you’re going to cry, trying to make me feel bad,” Tom said, hovering over her and pointing his finger. “You’re pathetic.”

With that Tom walked out of the house, slamming the door.

Kari crumpled to the floor, oblivious to the fact that their two children were quietly sitting in their rooms, praying the fighting would stop.

Kari wouldn’t talk about scenes like this for years, partly because of shame and partly because of fear. It’s never easy to share facts about verbal abuse in marriage. It’s never easy to admit your husband, or wife, has shameful aspects to their personality.

You may be tempted to believe a scene like this happens infrequently. You might think it could never happen in a Christian home. Yet, neither of these facts are true–verbal abuse occurs frequently and in Christian homes. Verbal abuse is part of far too many relationships, with 98% of victims being female, and is characterized by the following:

• Attacks on personal character
• Blame and accusations
• Shame and judging
• Sarcasm and twisting what you say
• Rewriting history
• Playing the victim
• Manipulation, control and coercion
• Unpredictable explosions
• Criticism that is harsh and undeserved
• Swearing
• Intimidation
• Escalating situations

Certainly we can see several of these symptoms in the above situation. Tom degrades Kari, as well as using shame in an attempt to make her feel bad and conform to his expectations. He taunts her for crying, and calls her names. He tries to undermine her esteem by telling her she needs professional help. His actions are deplorable.

In a world where Dr. Jekyl can turn into the harsh, abusive Mr. Hyde in an instant, it is common to tiptoe, walking on eggshells. You don’t know what will set him off, or when. You are afraid of him, and are never sure what he is capable of doing. You apologize unnecessarily, and are compliant to his wishes and control. Deep inside you know his actions are wrong, but you’ve been hurt so many times and your self-esteem has suffered. You try again and again to make the verbal abuse seem “normal.” You rationalize that the abuse will end and he’ll improve, tomorrow–but tomorrow never comes.

How can we better understand Tom? We must be careful to see that he is complex, with different sides to his personality–some quite horrific.

Tom is not simply a ‘bad man.’ He does many good, virtuous things: He sings in the choir, coaches his children’s soccer, and serves on the Elder board at his church. He is dedicated to his family, and believes in the sanctity of his marriage. He has never cheated on his wife and would never consider divorce.

Tom has a hidden side to his personality, a side that he doesn’t like to admit. Behind the pleasant and responsible exterior, there is another Tom. He is abusive and controlling. He hates it when Kari insists that he change and tries to manipulate her into thinking it’s all her fault. While he is always sorry for his outbursts, he never truly makes efforts to change. In addition to being Dr. Jekyl, he is Mr. Hyde. As long as he denies these character traits, they will not go away.

Tolerating Tom’s behavior only reinforces and enables it. Men, and women, have rage issues partially because someone in their world tolerates and enables them. The victim is often tempted to hide these problems because of feeling embarrassed, ashamed and even frightened. When rage reactions and verbal abuse are no longer tolerated, however, they cease. Thus, it is critical that every couple expose any form of violence in their relationship, and determine to eradicate it.

The Scriptures speak strongly against verbal abuse. Proverbs 22: 24 says, “Do not associate with a man given to anger; or go with a hot-tempered man.” Ephesians 4: 21 says, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” Other Scriptures implore us to be even-minded, kind, considerate and caring. The fruits of the Spirit include self-control–not a characteristic of the verbally abusive individual.

Tom will not change without intervention. After confrontation, and in moments of apparent remorse, Tom may say he will change. As much as he insists that he can change, in all likelihood he won’t change until he must change. Being sorry for his actions isn’t enough. Promising to change isn’t enough. Changing for a short time isn’t enough. Rather, taking decisive actions that lead to true and lasting character change are necessary.

Tell Tom his verbal abuse will not be tolerated. When you set this boundary, you must be prepared to follow through. If he is verbally abusive again, insist that either he or you will leave temporarily until therapeutic change has been initiated.

If you are married to a man, or woman, who has a hidden problem with verbal violence, name it for what it is: abuse. Become informed about the symptoms of verbal abuse, and agree to end it. Then, after being clear about the destructive element in your marriage, agree on action that will lead to change–treatment. Insist that your husband, or wife, receive specific treatment that ensures change. Set a clear boundary that says violence won’t be tolerated. Not one ounce. Never.

If you are the victim of verbal abuse, seek safety. Find someone you can trust to share your information with and take steps to put an end to the violence. Please feel free to email me at TheRelationshipDoctor@Gmail.com or see information about The Marriage Recovery Center on my website.

---

Dr. Hawkins is the director of The Marriage Recovery Center, where he counsels couples in distress. He is the author of over 30 books, including When Pleasing Others Is Hurting You, Love Lost: Living Beyond a Broken Marriage, and Saying It So He’ll Listen. His newest books are titled The Relationship Doctor’s Prescription for Healing a Hurting Relationship and The Relationship Doctor’s Prescription for Living Beyond Guilt. Dr. Hawkins grew up in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and lives with his wife on the South Puget Sound where he enjoys sailing, biking, and skiing. He has active practices in two Washington cities.Read more about The Marriage Recover Center on Dr. David Hawkin’s website at www.YourRelationshipDoctor.com.

From www.crosswalk.com

If We’re Created in His Image, Why the Struggle with Body Image?

Deborah Raney and Tobi Layton

A fresh perspective…
Tobi Layton, married 7 years

Like most women, I’ve spent many a morning making frequent trips to the mirror, which I find quite disagreeable. And, like most wives, I’ve enlisted the help of my husband as fashion consultant. If you can call it help. “It looks fine,” is hardly helpful when I know good and well that my pants do, indeed, make my rear end look big. And every once in a great while, when I find that rare outfit that actually succeeds in making me look skinny, “fine” is not reassurance. Instead the word turns to an insult in my mind, making me doubt the clothes I was so excited about minutes ago.

More than once I’ve questioned why Ryan can’t just tell me what he thinks: a wolf whistle when I look great and a gentle, “maybe something else” when I look like an elephant. A few months ago, I got my answer.

Ryan and I were dressing to go out with friends and he had on a polo shirt, not unlike the dozen others he owns. I walked into the bathroom and felt like I’d stepped onto the set of “Freaky Friday” and we’d switched places. There he was staring at the mirror, with a frown on his face, turning this way and that, checking out all the angles of his reflection. Let me just pause to say that Ryan is more than just “fine” looking. I know I’m a little biased, but countless other women have echoed what I already know — that he is “fi-ine.” He has huge blue eyes framed by dark eyelashes, a sculpted face, broad shoulders, tan complexion and a tall lean, athletic frame.

But his build, however attractive to me, has always been an insecurity of his. Someone, somewhere along the way, told Ryan he was skinny and he’s believed it ever since. “This shirt makes my arms look skinny,” he stated, sounding scarily like me (only I wish I could find a shirt that would make anything look skinny). I told him the truth. The shirt looked great on him. “No it doesn’t. It looks stupid,” he answered in a harsh tone.

I could hardly believe it. So, I took him through the positive points of the outfit from top to bottom, thinking surely that would boost his ego and his mood. I was wrong. Now I was mad. Not only was he griping about a totally nonexistent problem, but he was more or less calling me a liar and getting mad at me for telling him how sexy he was! Exasperated, I said, “Fine! Wear whatever you want to wear. I don’t know what to say to make you happy!”

Whoa! Where have I heard that before? And suddenly, I realized how annoying I was! In five years of marriage, this was the first mirror incident hosted by Ryan, but how many times had I staged a similar scene? And I realize now that when I gripe about my appearance, I put Ryan in a position where he can’t win.  If he denies my self-accusations and compliments me, I dismiss him as just telling me what I want to hear. If he tells me what I think is the truth (and fortunately for him, he’s never been brave enough to do so!), I’d be crushed. There was nothing he could say to make me happy. So, he had developed the best answer he could think of, the infamous “fine.”

God has given us the gift of physical attraction. I believe we have a responsibility to take care of our bodies for health’s sake and to honor our spouse. But when I am overly critical of my appearance, I dishonor God’s creation, insult my husband’s taste in women, and make my spirit less attractive. Instead, I should remember that I am “fearfully and wonderfully made” and when Ryan tells me so, it will be just fine with me.

A seasoned perspective…
Deborah Raney, married 34 years

Athletics and physical fitness have always been high priorities for my husband. Even now, at 53, he plays basketball three days a week to keep in shape. I should have been clued in to this priority early in our dating life. This man had played four sports in high school and football in college. When he wasn’t playing sports, he was watching sports on TV. From the very beginning, our dates often involved some sort of athletic pursuit–baseball, swimming, bicycling, jogging, etc.

If it was a test, I should have failed miserably. I’ve been a klutz all my life. Women’s athletics weren’t in vogue until about the time I graduated high school. But because I knew it was important to this man I wanted to marry, I somehow managed to fake my way through our engagement, appearing somewhat athletic.

But after we were married, and especially after the kids came along, I was much relieved to become a spectator only. Unfortunately, adding that to the ravages of four pregnancies, my body soon began to testify to my inactivity. It’s been a struggle every day since to keep my weight down and stay active enough that my heart gets the aerobic workout it needs.

At times this has been an issue in our marriage. Because Ken has worked so hard to stay fit, it bothers him a great deal when I don’t make the same effort. I understood his attitude better after reading Shaunti Feldhahn’s excellent book For Women Only (Multnomah 2004). In her chapter titled “The Truth About the Way You Look” she cites a survey that indicated seven out of ten men would be emotionally bothered if the woman in their life “let herself go.”

The encouraging news for women is that, for most men–Ken included–the expectation isn’t perfection, or even necessarily keeping the status quo. Most men accept that childbirth and the passing years will take a toll on their wife’s body. As Christians, we know our earthly bodies are “wasting away,” and thankfully, there will come a day when we’ll receive new and glorious bodies. (Oh, how I long for that day!)

The truth is that most husbands are proud and grateful if they can simply see their wives making an effort to stay in shape and take care of themselves. Even if it proves to be somewhat of a losing struggle, our husbands appreciate when we do this–for them, as well as for our own health and wellbeing. I’m proud of my husband’s efforts to stay fit and I want him to feel similar pride in me.

One thing I’ve learned–and that Feldhahn’s book confirmed–is that Ken sees it as an expression of my love for him when I make an effort to look nice for him, when I make the best of the physical attributes I’ve been “dealt.” I’ve learned how to dress to hide a few of those extra pounds I carry. I rarely go without putting on a little makeup and fixing my hair–even if I’m not going anywhere. All the physical things we judge ourselves so harshly on–don’t matter nearly so much as the simple effort we make to look the best we can for our husband’s sake.

Sometimes, of course, husbands might need to be reminded that a woman’s beauty is not supposed to come only from outward appearances, but from the “unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that is so precious to God.”

Jesus used the metaphor of His body as a temple (John 2:18-22) and we see the analogy again in reference to us in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and as such we should take care of them. However, there is a fine balance between being obsessed with our body image, spending far too much time, money and effort on our physical appearance, and caring enough to honor our husbands by taking care of ourselves.

I think I’ll go for a nice, brisk walk while I pray about discovering that perfect balance.

Discussion:

Read 1 Peter 3:3-4 and 1 Corinthians 7:4

How do you and your spouse view each other’s bodies? On a scale from “appreciative” to “judgmental” where would each of you fall?

Have you struggled with your own body image? With your opinion of your spouse’s body? Has this changed from the beginning of your marriage until now? Why?

What are some ways you can find balance in this issue–not placing too much importance on the way you look, yet honoring your body as a temple of the Holy Spirit?

Read Psalm 139:13-14 aloud. Thank God for the marvel of the body he gave you. Thank him for the way your body works, even if it may not look as good as it could, or as you wish it did.

Read 1 Corinthians 7:4 aloud together as a couple. Thank God for your bodies, however flawed they might be, and rejoice that he intended us to enjoy one another’s bodies. Begin today to care for your body as though it belonged to your spouse–because it does!

---

Deborah Raney has been writing for thirteen years and is at work on her fifteenth novel. Her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title. The book was recently reissued in an updated version for the ten-year anniversary of its first release. Deb and her husband, Ken, have been married for thirty-four years and live in Kansas. They have four children and two grandsons. Visit Deborah’s website at http://www.deborahraney.com/.

Tobi Layton is a fifth grade teacher and freelance writer in southeast Missouri. Tobi has been married for seven years to Ryan Layton, a high school biology teacher. Tobi and Ryan are involved with the high school and junior high youth groups at their church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The Laytons have two sons.

Tobi Layton is the daughter of Ken and Deborah Raney. The Raneys and the Laytons share an August 11 wedding anniversary.

From www.crosswalk.com

The Parable Of The Donuts

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the Western United States.

Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his or her freshman year regardless of his or her major.

Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor’s class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. “How many pushups can you do?”

Steve said, “I do about 200 every night.”

“200? That’s pretty good, Steve,” Dr. Christianson said. “Do you think you could do 300?”

Steve replied, “I don’t know . . . I’ve never done 300 at a time.”

“Do you think you could?” again asked Dr. Christianson.

“Well, I can try,” said Steve.

“Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind, and I need you to do about 300 pushups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it,” said the professor.

Steve said, “Well . . . I think I can . . . yeah, I can do it.”

Dr. Christianson said, “Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind.”

Friday came, and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these weren’t the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls.

Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson’s class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, “Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?”

Cynthia said, “Yes.”

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, “Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Cynthia can have a donut?”

“Sure.” Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia’s desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, “Joe, do you want a donut?”

Joe said, “Yes.”

Dr. Christianson asked, “Steve would you do ten pushups so Joe can have a donut?” Steve did ten pushups, and Joe got a donut.

And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut, and down the second aisle, till Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. When the professor asked, “Scott do you want a donut?”

Scott’s reply was, “Well, can I do my own pushups?”

Dr. Christianson said, “No, Steve has to do them.”

Then Scott said, “Well, I don’t want one then.”

Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, “Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn’t want?” With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten pushups.

Scott said, “HEY! I said I didn’t want one!”

Dr. Christianson said, “Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don’t want it.” And he put a donut on Scott’s desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow. Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.

Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, “Jenny, do you want a donut?”

Sternly, Jenny said, “No.” Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, “Steve, would you do ten more pushups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn’t want?” Steve did ten, and Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say “No” and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each pushup to make sure he did the full ten pushups in a set because he couldn’t bear to watch all of Steve’s work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room.

He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set. Steve asked Dr. Christianson, “Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?”

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, “Well, they’re your pushups . . . You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want.” And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, “NO! Don’t come in! Stay out!” Jason didn’t know what was going on.

Steve picked up his head and said, “No, let him come.”

Professor Christianson said, “You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him?”

Steve said, “Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut”

Dr. Christianson said, “Okay, Steve, I’ll let you get Jason’s out of the way right now.

Jason, do you want a donut?” Jason, new to the room hardly knew what was going on.

“Yes,” he said, “give me a donut.”

“Steve, will you do ten pushups so that Jason can have a donut?” Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve’s arms were now shaking with each pushup in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. Sweat was profusely dropping off of his face and, by this time, there was no sound except his heavy breathing, there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, “Linda, do you want a doughnut?”

Linda said, very sadly, “No, thank you.”

Professor Christianson quietly asked, “Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn’t want?” Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. “Susan, do you want a donut?” Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. “Dr. Christianson, why can’t I help him?”

Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, “No, Steve has to do it alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not.

When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve, here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work.

Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do pushups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your pushups. He and I made a deal for your sakes.

Steve, would you do ten pushups so Susan can have a donut?” As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. “And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, ‘into thy hands I commend my spirit.’ With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, he yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten.”

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile. “Well done, good and faithful servant” said the professor, adding “Not all sermons are preached in words.”

Turning to his class the professor said, “My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who spared not the only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all for the whole Church, now and forever.

Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid. Wouldn’t you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it laying on the desk?”

Heartlight have some great resources, and send out email devotionals that often strike a chord with me. I liked this one and thought I’d share.

Made 2BN Community, by Phil Ware

Two families walk into a church foyer on the same Sunday. They use the
same door. They arrive minutes apart. By the time their church
experience is over, one family says, “That is the friendliest bunch of
folks we’ve ever been around.” The other family feels shunned,
neglected, overlooked, and unwelcome.

What’s the difference? Was it …

* expectations?

* facial expressions?

* choice of clothing?

* greeters?

* décor?

* personality type?

* knowing folks there?

* previous church wounds?

Sometimes we can know. Other times we will never fully understand.
Underneath it all, however, there is a truth we all have to face: we
are made to be in community. That’s the way God hard-wired us from the
beginning.

Sure, some of us connect best at a mega-church, or a small church, or a
church rich in traditions, or a small church, or even a less formal
home gathering. But all of us are made with the need to connect with
other people just like we are made with a need to connect with God.
Listen to just a few of scriptures that play off of this theme:

The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone …” (Genesis
2:18).

Two are better than one … a cord of three strands is not easily
broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

Calling the twelve together he [Jesus] sent them out two by two …
(Mark 6:7).

Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking
bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together
with gladness and sincerity of heart (Acts 2:46).

And these are just a sample.

Bottom line: we were made to be in community.

When asked what the greatest command was, Jesus talked first about
loving God. He then quickly added that there was a second command of
like importance: love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Matthew
22:37-40). Jesus didn’t leave open the option of being in relationship
with others if we were going to be in relationship with God. What Jesus
implied in this teaching, John makes clear in his writings (1 John
especially drives home this point!).

God made us to need to others. God also calls us to live a life of love
in relationship with others. In our love for each other, God’s love is
made complete (1 John 4:12) and we show we are followers of Jesus (John
13:34-35).

Opening ourselves up to others, however, is not easy. Many of us have
been hurt or have been neglected and betrayed by others in the past.
Connecting to others feels dangerous. Being involved with other people
is time consuming. Other people can be boring, presumptuous, unkind, or
unfair. So many of us shun this call to community because we do not
want to risk connecting to others because of past hurts.

At the same time, deep in our souls, we know we need others in our
lives. Many who went to the Alaskan frontier in the early days of
homesteading were never heard from again. While the winters were harsh,
the isolation of being alone for such long periods of time away from
community literally drove people mad. We are not meant to be alone!

In the 1950’s, as concern for health and hygiene dominated the health
news in the U.S., babies were kept in isolation from others. People
wore masks if they were going to be in the presence of newborns.
Touching babies, especially with bare hands, was discouraged. For a
time, bottle-feeding was preferred to breast-feeding. Infant mortality
began to rise. A condition called marasmus — or failure to thrive now
associated almost exclusively with malnutrition — started going up to
levels close to non-developed countries. In the U.S., marasmus was
caused by the lack of human touch and close community. We are made to
be in relationship with other people!

Jesus didn’t leave open the option!

Living in community, like living in family, is always going to be messy
and challenging. We lose control when we are in relationship with
others. This is the scary part of it. But, it is precisely when we live
the radical ethics of Jesus in community that we experience his
presence. As the Lord said, “For where two or three come together in my
name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). There is something about
living in the dangerous place of influence, accountability, and
forgiveness with flawed people that opens our eyes to Jesus.

I carry around several folders of things I am studying. In one of those
folders is a picture of a person. When this person entered the life of
our church, this person resisted being connected with any group of any
kind. This person simply came to church. So when this person’s spouse
died unexpectedly, this person was without connections. And despite the
fact that others tried to reach out to this person, this person felt
neglected and alone, let down by everyone — friends, neighbors, and
church. Sometimes we avoid what we most need — community and
relationships — only to blame others for not giving it to us when we
are under stress, grief, crisis, or catastrophe. We end up hurting
ourselves by our avoidance of what we need.

All of us need to find some form of Jesus-based spiritual community. It
may not look the same for us. Jesus mentioned two or three gathering
together while the Jerusalem church had gatherings in the thousands and
small house-to-house gatherings. Yet if Jesus is going to be real to
us, if we are going to experience his presence, we are going to have to
risk living in real community.

Blessings, LRCC blogger

Easter - the Journey of Hope in your community.

Supported by the Awakening Movement and the Victoria Council of Churches

Victoria is still coming to terms with the worst peacetime disaster in our history.

This Easter, the Victorian Council of Churches and the Awakening Movement are encouraging churches to take simple action that will lead the Victorian community to engage with the journey of Easter week as part of the process of beginning the journey of healing.

Although there is not a lot of time before Easter, it will take very little effort on your behalf to facilitate your community’s engagement with this moment.

How can you or your church get involved?:

Easter Open Crowd Festivals in fire zones or in your neighbourhood

Open crowd festivals are a simple but effective way of building bridges in communities. The distinctive of the Open Crowd Festival is that it focuses more on the process happening between people than on the activities themselves.

This year there will be Awakening Easter festivals in the fire zones on Palm Sunday and during Easter week, where affected churches will be supported by people from unaffected areas. To explore involvement in festivals in the King Lake, Bendigo or Churchill fire zone festivals, email Matt Garvin matt.garvin@fusion.org.au or phone 0413 598 625

Alternatively, if you have access to a public open area in your community, an Easter festival is an invaluable way to connect with your local community. Training and support will be provided free of cost, and a festival can be organized within a window of two weeks before Easter. For support in hosting a festival email julie.ratcliffe@fusion.org.au or phone 0402 294 482

Palm Sunday Peace March

The Palm Sunday Peace March is a march of solidarity with those who suffer, and also for the future generations who inherit the world we are now creating. This year’s theme is Lets Make Peace Possible - End the Waste of War.

The march is organized by the Victorian Council of Churches, giving the Victorian Christian church the opportunity to stand up for peace on the day that commemorates the Prince of Peace and his entry into Jerusalem.

There will be an Ecumenical Peace Service on the State Library of Victoria steps, Swanston St, Melbourne from 1.45 – 2.15pm, followed by a community rally and March at 2.30pm.

For more information email Rohan Waters rwaters@vcc.org.au or phone 0432 991 836

Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross is a centuries old Christian tradition where participants are taken on a spiritual pilgrimage of prayer, through meditating upon the passion of Christ - the chief scenes of Christ’s sufferings and death.

This year churches are encouraged to widely publicise and invite people to local Stations of the Cross events.

In Melbourne the “Way of the Cross” around the CBD, starts at St Francis’ Church, Cnr Lonsdale and Elizabeth St, Melbourne at 10am Good Friday, 10 April.

For help in publicizing local Stations of the Cross events contact John Latten on john.latten@fusion.org.au or phone 0407 004 209

Good Friday Prayer Vigil (with local children’s prayers and prayers from the fire zones).

One of the simplest ways your church can engage with the bushfire tragedy is to pray the prayers of children who have been affected by the fires.

A very simple kit can be made available to churches and communities that want to take up the opportunity to hold a regional prayer vigil on Good Friday evening.

In addition to praying the prayers of children from the fire zones, a very effective way for your church to connect with the local community is to collect the prayers of local children. A sheet for distribution to local children through primary school R.E. programs or Sunday Schools is at it is at http://www.awakening.org.au/ (go to “resources”, go to “download pdfs” then scroll down to Reclaim Easter).

To have these prayers passed on around the country to be prayed or for information about hosting a Good Friday Prayer Vigil contact John Latten on john.latten@fusion.org.au or phone 0407 004 209

Easter Sunday March of Hope

As the final public event of this important Easter week, the Easter Sunday March of Hope is a significant moment for the church to be together bringing the message of Easter to our city and State.

The Awakening Easter Sunday March and Festival gives an opportunity for the Church to present a youthful, united front and to communicate the central message of life and hope, not only on the streets of Melbourne but also on the evening news.

Join us at 1.30pm at the steps of the State Library of Victoria in Swanston St, Melbourne as we prepare to march at 2pm to Birrarung Marr (near Federation Square). We will finish our time with a community celebration and festival.

Bring your friends and family to the March and festival to finish the Easter season.

For brochures for you or your church, or more information about the Easter March contact John Latten on john.latten@fusion.org.au or phone 0407 004 209. Also go to www.awakening.org.au for information or a downloadable movie promotion.

Has anyone noticed anything different about the site (besides that it’s actuallly working!!)???

We have a new page!! A photo gallery! So you can go and see what we look like, and what sort of stuff we get up to at LRCC.

Go and have a look HERE!!

Blessings, LRCC blogger

Sorry to those who have tried to access the website and got nothing or an error message. We have had a number of problems after a server switch, but hopefully (with prayer ha ha)  things will be more stable now. Please, if you have or did have problems, let us know.

Blessings, LRCC blogger

Quite a few members of our church have suffered terribly at the mercy of these terrible fires. I ask that anyone visiting here please stop to say a prayer for them and all the others who have lost property, life, friends, animals, anything, in this awful tragedy.

Blessings, LRCC Blogger

I just wanted to come in and say sorry for the lack of uploading of late. We have had server issues and it has meant that not only has the site gone down for a period of time but I have been unable to upload new sermons and stuff. We have “our people” onto it and it will hopefully be fixed ASAP!!

In the meantime, why don’t you click on some of the links we have provided, there is some great information there.

Blessings, LRCC blogger

I saw this incredible video on the blog Just A Thought (one I follow) and couldn’t help but share it.

Why? Because you so often get questions from non-Christians about tithing and why do we give money to the church and “oh so many churches are so rich and they should all be poor” etc. But I don’t think they, nor, in fact, many CHRISTIANS get it, as to what that money is actually doing.

That money is building God’s kingdom. Pure and simple.

I challenge you to watch this video and come to church next week and say “nah, I don’t have enough to give, I’ll pass on the offering plate please”.

This is a large video file, please only attempt if you have broadband. If you don’t, and you want to see it, please email me and I’ll see what I can do for you.

Blessings, LRCC blogger

From one of the great blogs I read Be About Your Fathers Business. I just had to share. It’s beautiful.

Today A Child Is Born

I paced the floor in anticipation….. I have waited many years for this event to take place. You see, I am the Father and it is My Son that is to be born. He agreed many years ago to take the form of flesh and be the worlds Savior, but today is the day it will come to pass.

I can only wait in excitement as the events unfold. No room in the Inn, the Innkeeper says. So I watch them settle down in a manger in Bethlehem. Even the animals seem curious about the birth. I will make this birth easy for Mary; she has known no man you see.

Ahh, My Son, count His fingers, count His toes, He is perfect! I love Him so! Mary has done well. Swaddled in a blanket the Savior is. Here in Bethlehem lays the Kings.

I will announce His arrival! Shine bright I tell the star. Show the world My Son is here. Tell the wise men and the shepherds too, today your Messiah has been born. I have fulfilled the promises of My Word. I’ve given you a Savior, He is My Son.

I can not hear the baby cry…. The angels in heaven are singing. They fill my ears with there music. “Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” There beautiful praises cry out. All of heaven is in Praise, not one is seated. All have stood to honor the King. “The King is here!” There voices cry out. There is celebration in heaven today.

Much will come for this child, but I will lead His way. He will be blameless when He meets His destiny. I do not want it but it is the only way. He will grow and teach the world how to come back to me. Then die on a cross at Calvary. I will raise Him up on the third day and death will be defeated forever that day.

I must sacrifice My Son you see or My other children could never come to me. Oh I do love them so. Enough to send Jesus to Calvary. You are all my children and I need you so, please accept My Son so you can come home.

Blessings, LRCC blogger

As the official LRCC blogger I’d like to say farewell to Andrew, who has been our interim minster for much of 2008. It can’t be an easy job, coming into a new church for only a short period of time, having to get to know us all, get to know the church, hear what God wants for us and then have to leave! And spending so much time away from his own church and his family - thank you to his family as well who have sacrificed for us, and for God.

He was probably one of the main reasons we managed to get this website up and running, so a special thank you for that from me! 

Andrew your presence here will always be remembered and I hope that you know that you will always be welcome to come back any time.

In the meantime, you can always spy on us through here.  

Survive the Wilderness Seasons of Life

Whitney Hopler

Editor’s Note: The following is a report on the practical applications of Marian L. Jordan’s new book, Wilderness Skills for Women: How to Survive Heartbreak and Other Full-Blown Meltdowns, (B&H Publishing Group, 2008).

If you’re going through a time that tests your faith right now, it can feel like you’re stuck out in the middle of the wilderness, exposed to the harsh elements and feeling the pain. But if you trust God as you endure hardships, you’ll eventually emerge from the wilderness transformed for the better.

Here’s how you can survive the wilderness seasons of life:

Realize that you’re not alone. Everyone finds themselves wandering around the wilderness at some point in their lives. Others are also dealing with whatever form of heartbreak is causing your current wilderness season, whether it’s a breakup, miscarriage, personal failure, illness, financial crisis, infertility, divorce, death, abandonment, illness, unemployment, or something else. Most importantly, Jesus Himself knows what’s you’re going through — and He cares. He suffered a lot during His time on earth, and He’s right beside you in your own wilderness, willing to guide you through it.

Walk through the wilderness of rejection. If you experience rejection, don’t allow it to define your worth. Ask God to help you see yourself as He sees you — as someone who is highly valued. Only God’s opinion ultimately matters, and His love overrules every other opinion, evaluation, and criticism. Jesus knows what rejection feels like, and He is with you in your time of need. Don’t despair. Instead, cry out to God, remembering that His promise never to leave or forsake you. Often, what seems like rejection is actually God’s protection from something you think you want, yet He knows wouldn’t be best for you. If you trust God, He will cause the circumstances of your life to work together to fulfill a good purpose. Don’t lose hope, because God remains in control. Ask God to give you His peace, even when you don’t understand why the rejection has happened to you. Decide to trust Him.

Walk through the wilderness of temptation. Behind every temptation you encounter lies insidious questions: “Does God really have my best interest at heart?”, “Can I really trust Him?” and “Don’t I know what’s best for me?”. During times of temptation, Satan often bombards you with accusations about God’s goodness and trustworthiness. Something vitally important is at stake — whether or not you will still love and worship God n the midst of temptation. When Satan tempts you to distrust God’s character, God watches to see if you’ll believe. Choose to be faithful to God in the face of temptation. You’ll never regret that decision. Also, keep in mind that God is worthy of your worship in every situation, simply because of who He is. When you choose to praise God even while you’re tempted to turn away from Him, you turn a dangerous situation into an act of worship.

Walk through the wilderness of despair. As a believer, you always have hope. God sees what you’re going through, hears your concerns, and understands your situation even more fully than you do. Place your hope in God alone — not in any circumstance you hope will come into your life. If you’re longing for a child yet facing infertility, hope in God rather than your physicians or medical technology. If you yearn to get married but are still single, trust God to lead you to your future spouse rather than placing your hope in your appearance or other efforts to attract a mate. If you want a certain job, look to God to open doors rather than placing your hope in your intellect, talents, or experience. Everyone and everything besides God is unpredictable, but God is completely reliable. Look beyond your circumstances to God. Set your mind on Him and focus on His goodness, power, and glory. Once you make that choice, your emotions will follow course and you will be lifted out of despair.

Walk through the wilderness of unmet desires. When you’re waiting for something you hope for to become a reality, you can feel like you’re stuck while other people’s lives are moving forward. You may wonder if God has forgotten you. Pray for God to give you the strength you need to avoid envy and be genuinely happy for others who are enjoying what you desire but don’t have. Ask God to guard your mind from comparing and coveting. Don’t try to manipulate your way into getting what you want; the easy way out will never truly fulfill you. Whenever a worry creeps into your mind, turn it into a prayer. Choose to trust God to meet your heart’s desires. If you encounter an opportunity to obtain your desires that seems too good to be true, don’t act impulsively. Instead, pray about it and make sure that it aligns with God’s will for you. Remember that God is good, and He will meet the desires of your heart that are best for you, in His perfect timing. Keep praying about your desires, honestly telling God how you feel, but making sure that you fully entrust those desires to Him. Imagine yourself taking each of those desires to the foot of the Cross and leaving them there for Jesus to handle. Learn how to rest and wait on God to work in your life, in His way and at His time.

Drink plenty of water. Jesus is the Living Water who will refresh your soul during your time in the wilderness. Find your daily source of life and fulfillment in Him. Meet Jesus in His Word, the Bible, and drink deeply from it every day. Set a specific time of day to meet with Jesus, begin your time with prayer, read and reflect on a portion of Scripture, and ask Jesus questions about what you read. Consider asking questions like these: “What do I learn about God (the Father, the Son, the Spirit) from this Scripture?”, “What do I learn about myself from this Scripture?”, “What commands/instructions should I obey?”, “What truth can I apply to my life?”, “What sin do I need to confess?”, “What promises can I claim?” and “What does God reveal about my wilderness season?”. You may want journal your thoughts and impressions that come as you read the Bible. The more you drink the Living Water, the more you’ll crave it.

Seek shelter. Jesus’ name is the ultimate shelter for when you’re going through a storm. Simply saying His name out loud invokes unique spiritual power and ushers in the peace that only comes from Him. Banish your fear with faith by praising Jesus for who He is and what He has done. Run to the shelter of the name of the Lord.

Beware of snakes. Satan appeared as a snake in the Garden of Eden, and he is still at work trying to tempt people to sin today. Be on guard against him, realizing that he wants you to doubt God’s heart for you, doubt God’s character, and doubt your own salvation. Whenever you encounter Satan’s deceptive ploys, respond as Jesus Himself did when He faced Satan in the wilderness — by quoting a biblical truth out loud in response to Satan’s lies. Take inventory of your thoughts and ask God to show you which ones reflect listening to or believing evil lies. Base your thoughts firmly on biblical truth. Realize that your thoughts lead to your emotions, and your emotions lead to your actions — so your thoughts are crucial to living a faithful life. Be careful not to entertain Satan’s lies, because doing so means allowing him to dictate your emotions and actions. Decide to stand in truth, especially in the wilderness.

Don’t eat the red berries. Beware of bitterness, which will poison your soul like a wild red berry can poison your body. Deal with unhealed wounds that cause bitterness by honestly and openly expressing your emotions, getting real before God, and asking for help to process your pain and heal. Deal with unmet expectations that cause bitterness by refusing to place the burden of your happiness or completion on someone or something other than God. Place your hope in God rather than on people or things in your life. Deal with unforgiveness that causes bitterness by releasing the debts you feel are owed by people who have hurt you. Answer God’s call to forgive, because He has forgiven you. Rely on God to help you through the process. Invite God to use the suffering you’ve gone through in the wilderness to make you a better person — better instead of bitter — by helping you grow in maturity.

Enjoy the adventure. Don’t miss the wild — God’s incredible plan — in the wilderness around you. All the pain is worth it if it helps you experience the wild adventure of trusting God in new and deeper ways. Trust Him, and enjoy the adventure of walking through any place with Him.

Adapted from Wilderness Skills for Women: How to Survive Heartbreak and Other Full-Blown Meltdowns, copyright 2008 by Marian L. Jordan. Published by B&H Publishing Group, Nashville, Tn., www.bhpublishinggroup.com.

http://www.crosswalk.com/

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

From Zondervan Inspire blog

Sometimes these sermons don’t get uploaded straight away, but if you want a particular one, please email us here and we’ll try to get it up for you to listen to.

Sunday Message 23.11.08 10.6mb

Sunday Message 23.11.08 Fill-ins 40kb

Sunday Message 7.12.08 10.1mb

Blessings, LRCC blogger