Archive for November 2009

November 24, 2009

Give Thanks !

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4

Be joyful always? Rejoice always? Give thanks in all circumstances? I can hear many of you right now. "What do I have to be joyful about?" "There is nothing that can make me rejoice right now." "Give thanks in THESE circumstances?" God's Word tells us that, yes, we are to be thankful. Yes, we are to rejoice. Yes, we are to be joyful. Because this is God's will for us. The holiday season is always a very difficult time for moms, for dads, for their children, and for their extended family.

Traditions and "always" things in the past may have to give way to new and temporary arrangements as you wait for the Lord's perfect timing to bring mom or dad home. There may be someone new cooking the turkey or there may not be a turkey at all this year. There may be a new Christmas tree this year in a new home in a new city. There may be other children that you need to share your dad or mom with. There may be bus rides and plane trips and long voyages by car as you get shuffled back and forth, trying to make something very wrong at least a little bit right.

There may be tears as you think on and remember the holidays of the past. It's OK to cry for the things we have lost because Jesus cries for them, too. He longs to see moms and dads saved, families restored, and children who know and love Him. It breaks His heart to see families torn apart and children hurting. He sees your tears and hears your prayers. In His faithfulness and love, He reaches out from the Heavens to hold you in His arms, comfort your hurting heart, and hide you under the shadow of His wings.

"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him." Psalm 126:5-6

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God… He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." Isaiah 40:1, 11

We have so much for which to be thankful. First and foremost, we have a God who loves us so much that He gave His only Son so that we may have eternal life. We have a Savior who was willing to die for us on the cross. We have a Lord who sets and names the stars in the Heavens and yet numbers even the hairs of our head. We have a Jesus who not only walks beside us but offers to carry us when our burden gets to be too much.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." Psalm 40:2

We have parents who want the best for us and give us their love and protection, no matter the circumstances in their lives. We have a mom or dad who is willing to stand in the gap and pray for the salvation of those who are away from the Lord. We have grandparents and aunts and uncles who lift us in prayer. We have a church family that cares about our hearts and our destinies. We have Christian brothers and sisters all over the world to join us in praise and petition. Yes, we have much to be thankful for.

I know how difficult it is to give thanks during this season of your life. But giving thanks is not an option; it is God's will for us in Christ Jesus. Today, sit down with mom or dad and make a list of all the things you have to be thankful for. It may be hard to come up with that first one but once you get started, I think you'll find that there is much to rejoice about, always.

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior." Habakkuk 3:17-18

Giving thanks on Thanksgiving,
Kim, standing in Nebraska
http://rejoiceministries.org/Kim.html
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
Post Office Box 10548
Pompano Beach, FL 33061
http://rejoiceministries.org

November 16, 2009

Calling All CFA (Christ Following Agents)

Mission:

We need your help! The enemy has taken good men and women and led them to prison. They're POWs (Prisoners of War). CFAs report immediately for duty.

I need you to infiltrate the enemy's lair and bring hope to the prisoners by following the instructions below. It's a tough job, but I can count on you.

Supplies you'll need: Instruction manual, a quiet place.

This will take dedication. Carefully pick a time and place to carry out your mission each day. Enter your quiet place with supplies. Proceed with daily readings of the instruction manual. You'll learn all you need to know about taking victory. Read a chapter. Take up the fighting position, which opens direct communication with the Commander in Chief. Do not stray or change the instructions for this will delay the POWs return.

The enemy is tough and his hold is strong, but with your commitment and the power of the Commander and Chief, we'll see our POWs come home.

Are you with me, agent?

POW refers to people taken prisoner during a war. Your parent has been taken prisoner, but in spiritual war.

Your instruction manual is the Bible. The Commander in Chief is God. I was specifically referring to getting on our knees to pray as a fighting position. When we're on our knees, we are humbly bowing to God.

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11 NIV

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." 2 Thessalonians 2:16

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:13,16

He really is the Commander in Chief.

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:18-23

When I said "do not stray from them" I was talking about trying to fix the problem. Some may try to trick a parent to come home. My daughter was so disobedient once. She thought if she'd been bad enough, Daddy would come home. It didn't work.

Maybe your parent is in a relationship. You want to be mean to make the person go away. You're just falling into the enemy's trap. Instead, show respect and the love of Christ. Pray for the person and your parent that the Lord will get a hold of both of their hearts, they walk in Jesus' light and be set free. Jesus never had to fight anyone to win people over to Him. He always showed love and that is what drew people to Him.

If you were in a water gun battle with friends, would you throw Q- tips at them? No. What good is a Q-Tip in a water gun battle? Your parent is in a spiritual battle. So being mean, disobedient, using hurtful words, etc. are no good. Instead, we fight spiritually by reading our Bible and praying every day.

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Follow your mission and see God take victory. Your POW will return home making you an RF, "Restored Family."

Completing my mission,
Colleen in Virginia
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
Post Office Box 10548
Pompano Beach, FL 33061
http://rejoiceministries.org


	Archive for November 2009 November 24, 2009 Give Thanks ! "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4 Be joyful always? Rejoice always? Give thanks in all circumstances? I can hear many of you right now. "What do I have to be joyful about?" "There is nothing that can make me rejoice right now." "Give thanks in THESE circumstances?" God's Word tells us that, yes, we are to be thankful. Yes, we are to rejoice. Yes, we are to be joyful. Because this is God's will for us. The holiday season is always a very difficult time for moms, for dads, for their children, and for their extended family. Traditions and "always" things in the past may have to give way to new and temporary arrangements as you wait for the Lord's perfect timing to bring mom or dad home. There may be someone new cooking the turkey or there may not be a turkey at all this year. There may be a new Christmas tree this year in a new home in a new city. There may be other children that you need to share your dad or mom with. There may be bus rides and plane trips and long voyages by car as you get shuffled back and forth, trying to make something very wrong at least a little bit right. There may be tears as you think on and remember the holidays of the past. It's OK to cry for the things we have lost because Jesus cries for them, too. He longs to see moms and dads saved, families restored, and children who know and love Him. It breaks His heart to see families torn apart and children hurting. He sees your tears and hears your prayers. In His faithfulness and love, He reaches out from the Heavens to hold you in His arms, comfort your hurting heart, and hide you under the shadow of His wings. "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him." Psalm 126:5-6 "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God… He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." Isaiah 40:1, 11 We have so much for which to be thankful. First and foremost, we have a God who loves us so much that He gave His only Son so that we may have eternal life. We have a Savior who was willing to die for us on the cross. We have a Lord who sets and names the stars in the Heavens and yet numbers even the hairs of our head. We have a Jesus who not only walks beside us but offers to carry us when our burden gets to be too much. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." Psalm 40:2 We have parents who want the best for us and give us their love and protection, no matter the circumstances in their lives. We have a mom or dad who is willing to stand in the gap and pray for the salvation of those who are away from the Lord. We have grandparents and aunts and uncles who lift us in prayer. We have a church family that cares about our hearts and our destinies. We have Christian brothers and sisters all over the world to join us in praise and petition. Yes, we have much to be thankful for. I know how difficult it is to give thanks during this season of your life. But giving thanks is not an option; it is God's will for us in Christ Jesus. Today, sit down with mom or dad and make a list of all the things you have to be thankful for. It may be hard to come up with that first one but once you get started, I think you'll find that there is much to rejoice about, always. "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior." Habakkuk 3:17-18 Giving thanks on Thanksgiving, *Kim, standing in Nebraska* http://rejoiceministries.org/Kim.html Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc. Post Office Box 10548 Pompano Beach, FL 33061 http://rejoiceministries.org November 16, 2009 Calling All CFA (Christ Following Agents) Mission: We need your help! The enemy has taken good men and women and led them to prison. They're POWs (Prisoners of War). CFAs report immediately for duty. I need you to infiltrate the enemy's lair and bring hope to the prisoners by following the instructions below. It's a tough job, but I can count on you. Supplies you'll need: Instruction manual, a quiet place. This will take dedication. Carefully pick a time and place to carry out your mission each day. Enter your quiet place with supplies. Proceed with daily readings of the instruction manual. You'll learn all you need to know about taking victory. Read a chapter. Take up the fighting position, which opens direct communication with the Commander in Chief. Do not stray or change the instructions for this will delay the POWs return. The enemy is tough and his hold is strong, but with your commitment and the power of the Commander and Chief, we'll see our POWs come home. Are you with me, agent? POW refers to people taken prisoner during a war. Your parent has been taken prisoner, but in spiritual war. Your instruction manual is the Bible. The Commander in Chief is God. I was specifically referring to getting on our knees to pray as a fighting position. When we're on our knees, we are humbly bowing to God. "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11 NIV "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." 2 Thessalonians 2:16 "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 "Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:13,16 He really is the Commander in Chief. "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:18-23 When I said "do not stray from them" I was talking about trying to fix the problem. Some may try to trick a parent to come home. My daughter was so disobedient once. She thought if she'd been bad enough, Daddy would come home. It didn't work. Maybe your parent is in a relationship. You want to be mean to make the person go away. You're just falling into the enemy's trap. Instead, show respect and the love of Christ. Pray for the person and your parent that the Lord will get a hold of both of their hearts, they walk in Jesus' light and be set free. Jesus never had to fight anyone to win people over to Him. He always showed love and that is what drew people to Him. If you were in a water gun battle with friends, would you throw Q- tips at them? No. What good is a Q-Tip in a water gun battle? Your parent is in a spiritual battle. So being mean, disobedient, using hurtful words, etc. are no good. Instead, we fight spiritually by reading our Bible and praying every day. "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Follow your mission and see God take victory. Your POW will return home making you an RF, "Restored Family." Completing my mission, *Colleen in Virginia* Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc. Post Office Box 10548 Pompano Beach, FL 33061 http://rejoiceministries.org
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