Wednesdays in His Word!

This last fall, my husband and I were blessed to build a home.  What a fascinating process.  I found myself driving out everyday to see what had been done!  There wasn't a handful of men that built our house, but countless numbers.  A group of men were hired to dig the hole, then a new group were brought in to pour the foundation.  Some that built the frame of the house, did the electrical, the plumbing, the sheetrock.  They were nearly a hundred men that had a hand in building our house. 

Each man specialized in something.  They were extremely gifted in their specific job.  I wouldn't want the plumber to lay the tile in my house, or the concrete pour-er to paint my walls.  Each had an important and vital role in building what is now a home.

Paul tells us that we each have been given special gifts as well.  Each of our gifts are unique and vital to building the body of Christ.  The "gift" I've been blessed with isn't the same as yours.  Trust me, you wouldn't want me standing from a pulpit.  And I'm sure that some of you would agree that the last place you should be is on a tiny little chair singing Bible songs with a three year old! 

The Lord knows what our gifts are because He gave them to us.  He has fully equipped us to serve the body of Christ.  Just as those who built my home, we are here to build His church!  Each with different roles, God has a plan for us!

~Andrea W.

This week's reading:
Mon-4:7-8
Tues-4:9-10
Wed-4:11-13
Thurs-4:14-16
Fri-4:17-20

Special Gift!

As a woman especially who doesn't like getting gifts?! This last weekend was my birthday and I was blessed to receive wonderful gifts from my friends and family. One of the best gifts this weekend was from my 13 yr old who sacrificed her sleeping in time to make me pancakes in bed. Now to a mom that was a very special gift, it was done on her own and although she had to sacrifie her extra sleep she wanted to do it for me.

In today's reading Paul tells us about a special gift, However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say,"When he ascended to the heights,  he led a crowd of captives  and gave gifts to his people." (Ephesians 4:7-8 NLT)

Christ gave us special gifts, first he set us free from eternal captivity and led us to eternal freedom by dying on the cross for our sins. He set us free! He also gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit so that He can dwell in us. Then he gave us other gifts for us to serve how He wants us to. He equips us with what we need to fulfill the ministry He has for us.

Now I don't know about you but when I receive a gift I feel special and loved by the one who gave the gift. Christ loves us and gave us a very special gift! We need to remember that when we are feeling down on ourself, Christ gave us special gifts, we are special to Him!

This week's reading:
Mon-4:7-8
Tues-4:9-10
Wed-4:11-13
Thurs-4:14-16
Fri-4:17-20

-Missy D

Wednesdays in His Word

In my life, I have called on the Lord countless times.  I have gone to Him in celebration, in fear, with high hopes, and I have gone before Him pleading for life.  I have fallen at His feet as a child of God and stood on my tip toes shouting His name in admiration.   I go before Him  because He is mighty. My God is mighty and powerful.     

Ephesians 3:20 reads, " Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.".

Can you grasp it?  Not only is HE mighty, but his mighty power is at work in us!  In little ole me.  And you.  He is working!  Continue reading the end of the chapter you realize that it's even bigger.  He is able to accomplish more than we even think or ask!  It's big.  Its bigger than we can imagine girls!  So if you think that your problem is too small to take before Him, your wrong.  If you think your problem is too big for God to handle, you are mistaken.  If you don't think God has a plan, HE DOES!

I plan on spending the rest of my life going before my Lord.  In those moments of celebration,  in fear, in hoping and pleading, I will go before my God.  HE is mighty, HE is able.  All glory to God!   

~Andrea W.

This week's reading:
Mon-3:17-18
Tues-3:19
Wed-3:20-21
Thurs-4:1-3
Fri-4:4-6

Strength

Im not a very strong person and just by looking at me you can tell. I have skinny arms, skinny legs, and I don't work out. My physical strength is weak. Now there is also my spiritual strength which you can't see by just looking at me. I will be completely honest and say that my spiritual strength is not where I would like it but I am working on it. The best thing is though I don't have to rely on my strength. In today's readin it says 3:17-18 "Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is." As we know God at a deeper level by reading His word and experiencing His love we will begin to trust Him more. As we trust Him more our roots will grow deep in His love and we will be made strong. Our strength will be from Him, our roots will be in His love. When we trust Him and our roots grow deep within His love He will show us how deep, high, wide and long His love is. I know that my strength will come from Him if I allow myself to grow in Him, He will be my strength. I don't know about you but I want to be like Psalm 1:3 "He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers." Trees planted firmly by streams of water are strong. Their roots are deep and strong because they are continually being fed by the source. When we allow ourselves to grow in God our roots will become strong in His love and we will be able to show others His great love.

This week's reading:
Mon-3:17-18
Tues-3:19
Wed-3:20-21
Thurs-4:1-3
Fri-4:4-6

-Missy D

Anointed

Every day I have four children in my house - oldest is 4, youngest is 9 months.  Our days are a whirlwind of bottle feeding, reading books, breakfasts and lunches, wiping bottoms, blowing noses, playing on the swingset, breaking up arguments, bandaging boo boos... and the list goes on.  I absolutely adore my children.  I am beyond grateful to be home with them every day, teaching them what I want to teach them, holding them, wiping their tears, kissing their noses.  But I must admit, that there certainly are days where I find myself wondering, "Is this all, Lord?  Am I just a waste?  Here we are, day after day, doing the same thing.  There are people I want to reach out to!  Your world is crying to know you and here we are, again today." 

I am blessed to be participating in a study right now called "Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed."  One of the authors, Priscilla Shirer, last night talked about David's anointing.  At the age of 15 David was anointed as the future king of Israel, yet he didn't begin his job as such until the age of 37!  So for 22 years, he continued to be what he'd always been - a shepherd.  Sounds pretty menial and mundane, doesn't it?  But for that 22 years, David was a shepherd who had the Spirit of God on him.  Just David and the sheep.  And the Spirit.

Our reading for today in Eph 3:16 (New Living Translation) says, "I pray that from his glorious unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his spirit." For us who believe, we come up from those waters of baptism and we have the same anointing as David - that amazing Spirit - that Ephesians tells us will empower us!  And it is unlimited, dear friends.  So sweet shepherd boy, David, needed God's anointing to watch over those sheep, to show compassion to his enemy, to slay a giant!  All before accepting the BIG role that God had in mind for him.

And li'l ol' me? I plan to use that anointing this very day.  My season in life, home with my precious babies, teaching and filling their hearts with lessons of life from God's perspective, is exactly where God desires me to be.  I am ready to slay the giant of impatience, and shower compassion on those little ones who mess up yet again (they are only learning!).  For I am anointed! And someday, if I am faithful with this job, He has more in store for me.  But today, this IS my big job!  Oh to hear him say, "Well done!"

-Kelly T

Wednesdays in His word

When I was a little girl, I used to play "mommy" all the time. I always knew I wanted to be a mom. When my husband and I were expecting I was overjoyed. Quickly, the excitement turned into a real and true fear! What did I know about being a mom? What if she was choking or spitting up? How do I really get that teeny tiny outfit over her head without hurting her? Do I scrub us both down with anti-bacterial every time we leave the house? I soon realized just how under qualified I was to be a mom. It was too late to back out, she was on her way! What have I done?

And then, there she was. Pink, tiny and perfect. And the strangest thing happened, I was a mom, one that actually knew what to do. I was under qualified but fully equipped with what I needed in order to be this little ones mom.

In Ephesians, Paul called himself under qualified too. He called himself the least deserving and not qualified to reveal Gods plan for us. He had no background experience in spreading the message and yet God saw more in him.
“God saw to it that I was equipped. (Ephesians 3:8)

Just like Paul, God equipped me for the job. I was once the least qualified to be a mother and here I am. God saw to it that I was prepared as well. My perfect little pink tiny baby did spit up, did choke and had a few outfits smooshed over her head in the last year and a half. But verse 7 of Ephesians explains my journey fully, “It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details.”
~Andrea W.

This Week:

Mon - 3:4-6

Tues - 3:7-9

Wed - 3:10-11

Thurs - 3:12-13

Fri - 3:14-16

Riches Inherited

Maybe we haven't experienced it first hand but we have heard of someone who has inherited something great from someone else.  Now usually those who inherit something are very close to the person giving it, and if there is a big family those closest to the person get the best.  Our heavenly Father is different.  In verse 6 from the New Living Translation it says, "And this is God's plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God's children.  Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus."  Did you read that, all share equally in the riches because we belong to Christ Jesus.  No matter your position here on earth you receive the same riches that all children of God are blessed with if you believe in the Good News!  I don't know about you but that is exciting to me.  I don't have to be the richest person here on earth, or be liked by the most people, or any of that, God says that if I believe in the Good News and belong to Christ Jesus I will inherit the riches he promises to all His children.  What a blessing that we are all equal in His eyes.

This Week:

Mon - 3:4-6

Tues - 3:7-9

Wed - 3:10-11

Thurs - 3:12-13

Fri - 3:14-16

~Missy D

His Grace Reaches Me

I've always heard grace defined as being given something we don't deserve.  But another common definition of grace is, "elegance or beauty of form... or action." In Ephesians 3:2, Paul writes that he was given the responsibility of showing God's grace to the Gentiles - those who were not Jews.  As I got to thinking about this it hit me that God's grace to us (the Gentiles) was not just a gift we don't deserve, although that is the biggest part of it.  Truly, isn't grace something of indescribable beauty to those who have been lost to death, and now are alive in Christ?  An elegance of action, filled with love and a cherishing of those it's extended to?

Oh dear sister, do you question God's love for you?  You know in your head, but your heart might say otherwise...  Consider His grace - a gift we cannot deserve, but it's given anyway - and know, without a single sliver of doubt.  He is madly, crazy in love with you!

Wednesdays in His word

Years ago I traveled to rural Mexico on a mission trip. We were there to pour concrete floors in homes and provide bible classes for children. I went more for the “social aspect” and because all of my friends were going. I had no idea what I was getting into! We traveled deep into the mountains of Mexico where the local mode of transportation was donkey and the people defined poor. Each morning we divided up and traveled to different villages for bible classes. I had no idea which village to go to, so I selected the one that had only a handful of people. I soon realized why no one wanted to travel to La Cieneguita. It was the farthest away and the bumpiest of rides.

We arrived and I felt like I was walking into a dream. I was most definitely a foreigner. The houses were so rustic and it was hard to believe anyone lived in them. And I quickly realized that my limited Spanish was not quite enough to communicate properly. Within that first morning of classes, the language barrier didn’t matter. I instantly bonded with a little girl named Cecilia. She had no idea what I was saying but loved that I sang a song with her name in it, “Oh Cecilia, you’re breaking my heart…” For three days, I chose to make the long journey to La Cieneguita because of a little girl with the brightest smile. We never had a real conversation, much less a full sentence that either of us understood. And even though we were geographically foreigners to one another, we were “no longer strangers and foreigners” (Ephesians 2:19), but “members of Gods family.” When I left I was genuinely sad to leave my new friend but incredibly thankful that we were bonded in Christ Jesus.

~Andrea W.

Reading Schedule:
Mon - 2:13
Tues - 2:14-16
Wed - 2:17-20
Thurs - 2:21-22
Fri - 3:1-3

Near to Him

People in general like being near to someone. They like knowing someone and having a close relationship with that person. In our world today we have movie stars, athletes, the President and even kings and queens in other countries but unless you are a part of the "in" crowd you will never be near them or have a close relationship with them. We serve a different King though that is not of this world! Ephesians 2:13 says, "But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ."

We have been brought near to Him and you know what the best part is to me, it's not because of what I did but through His blood that we are united with Christ. No matter how cool I try to be or try to be a part of the "in" crowd that doesn't matter. We serve a mighty King that is approachable for everyone. We were once far away like the crowds at a concert but then His son gave His life, shed His blood and brought us all near to Him.

I don't know about you but I am glad I serve our Lord who reigns in heaven and not the kings of this world. He loves us so much He wanted us to be united with His son that He made the ultimate sacrifice!

Reading Schedule:
Mon - 2:13
Tues - 2:14-16
Wed - 2:17-20
Thurs - 2:21-22
Fri - 3:1-3

-Missy D

The Best He Has To Offer

While checking out at Walmart yesterday, I asked the cashier how her day had been.  She said, "Ok."  I commented about how that didn't sound promising, and she said that her day had not started well.  She then said it was slowly getting better.  Before I left I told her, "I hope your day keeps looking up."  She gave a half smile and turned the next customer, but it seemed almost as if she were fighting back tears.

As I walked to my car, I was filled with frustration at myself.  "I hope your day keeps looking up?"  Was that really the best I had to offer?  Ephesians 2:12 says that unbelievers are "without God and without hope."  I could see that written on her face - the hopelessness, the despair.  Yet all I could say was, "I hope your day keeps looking up." 

Our amazing God created all of our human emotions and knew the ups and downs we would face.  Yet He does NOT want us to live in despair.  He LONGS for us to have hope!!  Hope of His power in our lives, hope of His protection over us, hope of His grace for even me, hope of a life in Heaven so full of Him that we cannot do anything but stand and praise through tears of joy.

There are so many hopeless people around us, Soul Sisters.  We must be willing to share with them that there IS a better way! (Romans 5:5 says that "hope does not disappoint!") So next time, I envision it going like this: as I zip up my wallet and gather my children, I'll glance at her name tag and say, "Shiela, I am going to pray for you.  I hope you can feel God's love the rest of today!"  And she'll smile and tell me thank you.  And even if she doesn't, it will be worth it.

Oh Father God, put people in our lives that we can minister to today.  We don't always know where to look, so bring them to us.  We don't always know what to say, so give us your words.  Help us to show them that You bring beautiful hope!

Love to you, Soul Sisters!
Kelly T

Wednesdays in His word

I was raised by the hand of an incredibly loving mother.  So many times when I struggle as a new mom, I stop and think to myself how my mother would have handled a particular situation.  She was loving, kind, fun and most of all, she was full of mercy for me.   As I grew up, our relationship strengthened and became a beautiful friendship.  I would definitely consider her the best friend I ever had.  But as I became an "adult" I developed an attitude.  I thought I knew better.  I was short with her and sometimes disrespectful.  She took all of my words with stride.  I have no doubt that they cut her to the bone but she never showed those emotions.   I lost my mother eight years ago and to this day, I consider those actions my one regret in life.  My point is, that even in those times of me being hard on my mom, she was full of love and mercy.  Her love for me never changed. 

I know that so many people don't have the same kind of mom.  They weren't raised in a home that showed so much love and grace. But each of us do have that, except we have it tenfold.  According to verse 4 of Ephesians, our God is so rich in mercy, he loved us even when we were dead because of our sins!  He raised us from the dead with Christ!  No matter what horrible and unmentionable things we have done in this world, He still loves us and is FULL of mercy!  These words are full of hope.  Full of love.  He loves us so much that we are alive in Him and have a place in heaven waiting on us!  Just as my mother loved me no matter what, Our Father does too.  Ephesians 5, "He gave us life."

~Andrea W.