Very few verses of the Bible have hit me like I Thessalonians 4:11.  In fact I think I have quoted it in some manner or another at least five times over the past couple of weeks.  I've mentioned it to friends at church, to family members and really hit it hard in the Bible Study small group I am leading right now.  I came across it in Beth Moore's Children of the Day study.  So my take on this passage of scripture is definitely impacted by her teaching.  I'll not claim credit.

How many of us, as Christians, wonder how it is that we can best live for Christ?  Well, this verse lays it out in a very plain way.  First it says we are to "lead a quiet life".  Oooh...I love this.  You mean we aren't to be superstars for Christ?  All of us?  Out there shouting from the mountaintops and harassing every person that crosses our paths?  Nope.  This refers to living our lives in such a way that outsiders watching can see our peace, joy and commitment to the things that are important to us.  Living a life that allows us to be available and within reach of those around us.

Next it tells us to "work with our hands" or "not to be dependent".  Now I don't believe this talks about those times when things are hard and we need the support of those around us.  It is more to the effect of not being lazy and thus requiring others to carry our load or pay our way.  In this way we show the Believers in our community respect in give and take.  A chronically lazy, and therefore needy, person is not living out the teaching of the Word.

Finally, we are "to mind our own business".  Now, I have to be careful with this one.  Yesterday it was very convenient as I observed a potential "train wreck" in relationships about to happen and took five steps back to "mind my own business".  In reality it all worked out very well and I'm thrilled that I hadn't inserted myself in the middle of it as I had been tempted to do but I'll have to be aware of when I am using this to stick my head in the sand.  :-)  Isn't it true, though, that we can have a tendency to "share a prayer request" because we really want to be the one to tell someone else about this or that?  Or to pass along someone else's thoughts or opinions in an attempt to strengthen our position with the potentially offended person?  Oh, I'm guilty.  But I'm going to work hard on minding my own business.

Feel free to check out I Thessalonians this week.  It will have something for you.  Such a packed study of practical encouragement.

Becky - Good Neighbors Candle Co.

I am at a strange place in life as a Christian.  My husband and I have made a mess of things and now have nothing to place our trust in but the Lord.  And as I ponder what I have to bring to the Lord, there are no great accomplishments, no great offerings of wealth, no great talents. All that remains is me, broken and humble.

I struggle with feelings of unworthiness in this place and as I pray and repent for having nothing left to give, God gently whispers to my heart "Good, now I can accomplish MY plans in your life. Let's begin again. It is time to "Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And trust in the Lord." (Psalm 4:5)

Where ever we are at in our journey with Christ, we must remember we have His righteousness through His grace.  When that is all we have left to give, God's love is still extended to us and His mercies are still new every morning. When we come to God empty handed and broken hearted in willing submission to Him, He shows up and begins to do mighty works in us and through us. Sometimes God's best work begins with nothing.

"Glory" by kennedyjanice

Many blessing to each of you today, may you be blessed and encouraged in your walk with the Lord.

Today is an interesting day for me.  It is the last first day of elementary school for my youngest child, the last first day of middle school for my middle daughter and the last first day of high school for my oldest two kiddos.  Each on of them are in a transition year which means my husband and I are also in a transition year.

As I think about their individual journeys, as well as our corporate journey as a family, I am full of mixed emotions.  I am so proud of who they are becoming and yet I am filled with the thought that there was so much more I wanted to be able to do for them and provide for them.  I am tempted to over examine each failing I have had as a parent when God gently reminds me that my kiddos are really His.  He always has their best interest at heart and He has the ability to redeem my mistakes and use them for my children's good and His glory.  He reminds me to do my best and not to beat myself up by comparing it with someone else's best.

And my heart felt prayer becomes "For Your name's sake, O Lord, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great." (Psalm 25:11 NASB) Redeem the times I have missed the mark as a parent to them. Bless them beyond measure. Help them to build a solid life in You, may they begin with my best as their foundation and be wiser and more gracious than I have ever been.

God wants to be involved in every situation in our lives, from our jobs to our marriages, from relationships with our parents to our relationships with our children.  He waits for us to invite Him in and then He does what only He can do, turns our messes into messages and tests into testimonies, offers grace and mercy for our sins, redeems our mistakes, and loves us more deeply than we can often fathom.  Whatever life holds for you today, challenges, transitions, celebrations, know that God loves you and wants to bless you. He is just waiting for you to say "come on in Lord".

Silver Forest Arts

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me." Rev 3:20 NASB

Many blessings to you today!
Cherry Fargo
Being ReMade (formerly Cherry's Creations)

As Christians we may have many denominations and sometimes a few doctrinal differences too.   But God tells us very plainly in His word that we are all part of one family, one community.

1 Corinthians 12:18But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.



Each one of us has a vital role to play in advancing the kingdom of heaven and it is essential we focus more on doing our own part because the Bible also tells us that the rest of the world will know us by our love for one another.  (John 13:35)  We are to edify and uplift our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to love them just as God loves them, unconditionally and full of grace and mercy, regardless of denominational affiliations.

If we want to make an impact on the world around us,  we must stop comparing our walk of faith with that of other people. We must also, individually and corporately, step into the role God has for us and support each other and the community we live in.  We can't all lead, we can't all follow. We are not all gifted with eloquent words or powerful speech.  But we are all entrusted with something that God has given us.  Step up, stop looking around at what everyone else is doing and follow after God using what He has placed within you to reach the world we all live in.  Imagine the difference we could make if we functioned in harmony and cooperation with one another.

Many Blessings,
Cherry Fargo
Being Remade
(formerly Cherry's Creations)

and Always

Yesterday, today and forever is a long long time.  Have you ever thought about it?  That the days

Object Lessons

AmenPrintables

I am a terrible singer. When I say that, people try to minimize that statement telling me they are sure I am no worse than most or that I am being overly critical of myself.  But I know it is not just being overly critical... I sing horribly.  After so many years at church, singing the worship songs I began thinking I was getting the hang of it.  I always close my eyes when I sing and try to focus on the Lord through the music.  The day I thought I could somewhat sing, I decided I could harmonize with the worship team.  I was fairly pleased with what was coming out of my mouth when I opened my eyes and saw two children holding their ears in front of me.  No, it was not a coincidence... they were giving sidewards glances of disgust!  I have not belted a song out since.But I still love to sing to the Lord (I do so quietly now). 

Olive Garden - heart

Recently I was singing (very timidly) with my eyes closed meditating on what it would be like to be at the throne of God singing praises to Him with the heavenly choir.  I asked the Lord if my voice would be pleasing to Him when I was was there.  (I so hoped it would.)  He gave me a beautiful response that I have been pondering on since.  He told me that He listens to the heart not to the voices.  That He hears us with the ears of His heart.  That He wanted us to hear others with the ears of our hearts.

When I think about listening to a person with the "ears of my heart" I think of focusing into the soul of the person.  So how do we do that?  We can't.  God can.  For a long time now, God has convicted me that each person I meet (whether I like them or not) is of special value to Him.  He loves them just as He loves me.  He called me while I was a sinner, loved me and forgave me.  He calls me to do the same for others.  I am not God and I still am a self-centered sinner so by my own means I am not able to hear beyond words... to hear the deep cries of the heart.

 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, Eph 3:16

Photo by MariaRoseCollection

What He taught me is that when I am talking to a person, I look into their eyes and pray: God you love this person as much if not more so than me. Love them through me.  That simple prayer has changed so many relationships that I am not able to express the power of it to you.  And now I will add to that prayer.  I will ask God to allow me to hear beyond the words into their hearts.

This past weekend at church when we did our hand-shake thing, I saw a dear friend who's husband has cancer in his throat.  She was pretty devastated as he could barely talk and not able to eat or drink plus undergoing of all the side effects of the treatments.  After the service I prayed with her but felt incredibly inadequate to have words of comfort for her.  As I prayed out loud with her, I was praying from my heart to the Lord asking Him to provide the comfort that was beyond me.  When we finished a woman approached and apologized for interrupting but her husband had cancer and it is 2 years now and things are looking good.  She gave wonderful encouraging words. I just praised the Lord for the comfort that she brought. 

by graceforgrace

Once we had finished talking and praying, I looked around and the church was empty except one young man (probably about 16 or 17) with kind of wild hair down to his shoulders, baggy shorts and t-shirt.  (I imagine if the apostles lived today, they would look much like him, they certainly would not be suit & tie guys.) As we walked out, he stopped my friend asking her if her husband had cancer.  She said yes.  He said God had spoken to Him and to tell her that he would be cured.  It is amazing how God listens to our hearts and answers through those who choose to hear with their hearts what He has to say!

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”1Samuel 16:7

God bless!

Phyllis 
pfdoriginalartworks 

We had friends over last night for game and dessert. We had a blast! One of the games we played was CatchPhrase. If you've never played before, it's a MUST next time you're with friends!

Did you know that God teaches His Truth through anything and everything...even CatchPhrase? During the game, one of my friends says, "I know the answer isn't right, but I keep yelling it louder.  Why do I think that yelling it louder will make it right?"

Absurd, isn't it? Don't you hear the media...the more wrong they are, the louder and more obnoxious they get in their "reporting." But I can't really pick on them. I've even found myself doing that...and not just in games. What about when I choose to go my own way, knowing I'm wrong but fighting that I'm right? The more I know I'm wrong, the louder I get and harder I fight. Absurd, isn't it?

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." God knows that, and that is why He says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." ~ Proverbs 14:12 and 3:5-6 

From the Heart,
Emily of Redeeming Beauty
p.s. all eyeshadows are all sale right now :)

Hoop Art by sewfaithful

Necklace by SissyPretties

 The 2012 Olympics are in full swing as I write this. All over the world TV's, IPads and IPods are tuned in to see who will win and who hopes will be dashed.  Part of what makes them so fascinating are the stories of their journey to make it there.  I personally am not very athletic (which is an understatement) and find the athletes amazing.
 Their dedication to their sport and perseverance could be an example to us as Christians.

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. — 1 Corinthians 9:25-27

 I watched tonight a young athlete who was devastated because she did not make it past the trials.  She had been a world champion in her sport with the hopes of culminating her hard work by winning a medal in the Olympics.  My heart broke for her as I thought of the years of sacrifice and persistent training it took to get her there.  This was her goal... her focus...her life.  It was gone in a matter of minutes as one of her teammate's scores exceeded hers.

Acrylic Coyote by thearrowmaker1

My goal, my life is to run it for God.  The Olympics sometimes convict me because I know  my goal is so much greater and is not as fickle as a missed step in a sport yet I do not put in the hours of dedication that an Olympian puts into their training.  I am so thankful we have a God who is so gracious to us!  He is not giving me points off for when I make a mistake or stumble and fall.  Instead He calls me to come near to Him and He comes nearer to me.  When I make a mistake He tells me, once confessed my sins are gone to Him.

as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:11-13

We, as Christians are blessed with the greatest prize of all... God's love through Christ.  At the end of our race, we will have an eternal award... it will never be misplaced, tarnished or fade.

Amazing Grace by bethstonestudio

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast. Eph 2:6-9

As I continue to watch the Olympics, I think I will take a little time to take stock of the race I am running.  Reassess my priorities, renew my focus and strengthen my determination for my God is greater than anything of value in this world!

I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. Galatians 2:1-3

God bless!

Do find yourself comparing yourself to the pictures of the models while you’re shopping? Isn’t she just gorgeous? (...aside from the lack of modesty most of the time.) But isn’t her skin flawless? Her eyes so intensely alive? Her hair so beautiful with a healthy shine? Her clothes she just bought from {insert store here} the perfect match?

GRACE

Luke 23:41 "And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."42 And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" 43 And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

Grace, I’ve heard it defined “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense” but I think there is so much more to it. It is a sovereign God hanging on a cross in pain and torture and torment extending forgiveness to the criminal beside him who has nothing at all to offer in exchange, he is about to die, he can’t even tell one person about God’s grace and yet it is extended to him anyways. In reality, it is the same with us. Ephesians 2: 1 “ And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, “ . We are not promised another day or even another hour and yet at any time in this life that we call out to Jesus from our state of being spiritually dead and say “Forgive me” He does so even in spite of all our future failures that He can see down through the ages. His graces picks us up when we stumble and when we repent it dusts us off and restores us to that right relationship with Him.

Shouldn’t we also extend mercy and grace to those around us, and even more important, shouldn’t we proclaim God’s grace and mercy with every fiber of our being, in word and deed and thought? I would say that in light of the fact that Christ willingly chose to endure the cross for our sake and even asked the Father to forgive those who tortured Him, that grace is born out of great love that is lavished upon those who are so undeserving, and that is each and every one of us. It has been poured out on us freely, richly, extravagantly.

Matthew 10:6a “Freely you received, freely give.” What have you done with God’s grace?

by Cherry's Creations