Hello All………….John’s surgery was moved up to today……….answered prayer PTL………here’s the latest.
John went in for surgery at 3:30 and came out at 5:00 pm. The Oral Surgeon said that the infection was more severe than he even thought….it had compromised the bone around the implant so badly that it just popped up and out – no unscrewing needed. Usually they have to put some torque on these things to back them out. L The degree of infection also caused him to chisel out a very large part of John’s jaw bone until he got to healthy bone…………the pain was so intense, John came out of anesthesia a couple of times during the procedure and more had to be administered. I hated hearing that……..like he hasn’t had enough of that already! The bone is now packed with the synthesized protein from the bottom up……….it’s a good 4 -5 weeks of healing time. John is back to 7-8 degree pain level tonight – still in the temple, ear, eyes, jaw..………Doc said it’s a waiting game now………to see if his pain recedes because of the infection being addressed by this procedure and antibiotics. If it doesn’t………we’re left with the Trigeminal Neuralgia diagnosis. UGH!
We’re choosing to believe and ask the Lord with ALL CONFIDENCE that this infection was the culprit all along…..that John be completely healed of ALL infection, and the radiating pain symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia BE GONE!
I know you’ll all join us in that prayer.
We are truly grateful for the body of believers the Lord has surroundings us through this and past trials. You have been beyond faithful in prayer for us. John and I know by His design life is experiencing trials, troubles, and hardships in this fallen world and enduring them – He does what I call “hurt so good” pruning in us during these times- it’s sanctification through the fire…………..knowing how persistent MY sin nature is………..there can never be enough pruning going on. J Lord, continue your work in us Lord………just give us the strength and endurance to persevere to your purposes and your glory. We know you haven’t left us…………you are carrying us. We trust you.
On our knees,
Wendy and John
Psalm 46: 1-2 – “ God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear.”
Wendy Gerhardt, Administration C12 South Florida
"Building Great Businesses For A Greater Purpose"
4460 Lords Drive
Sarasota, FL 34231
wendy.gerhardt@verizon.net
941-929-7247 Home
941-586-6000 Cell
www.c12group.com
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Your Daily Bread October 28
Proverbs 28
1.The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2.When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.
3.A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4.Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them.
5.Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
6.Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse.
7.He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
8.He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
9.If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.
10.He who leads the upright along an evil path will fall into his own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11.A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.
12.When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding.
13.He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14.Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
15.Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked man ruling over a helpless people.
16.A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment, but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life.
17.A man tormented by the guilt of murder will be a fugitive till death; let no one support him.
18.He whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall.
19.He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
20.A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
21.To show partiality is not good -- yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22.A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him.
23.He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue.
24.He who robs his father or mother and says, "It's not wrong"-- he is partner to him who destroys.
25.A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
26.He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
27.He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.
28.When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
1.The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2.When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.
3.A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4.Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them.
5.Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
6.Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse.
7.He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
8.He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
9.If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.
10.He who leads the upright along an evil path will fall into his own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11.A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.
12.When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding.
13.He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14.Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
15.Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked man ruling over a helpless people.
16.A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment, but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life.
17.A man tormented by the guilt of murder will be a fugitive till death; let no one support him.
18.He whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall.
19.He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
20.A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
21.To show partiality is not good -- yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22.A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him.
23.He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue.
24.He who robs his father or mother and says, "It's not wrong"-- he is partner to him who destroys.
25.A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
26.He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
27.He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.
28.When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Good read
Have you ever known a “mercy” person - that is, a person with the spiritual gift of mercy? I know it sounds like a cop-out, but due to the way I’m wired up, I really have to work hard to carry the attributes of a “mercy person.”
My younger daughter is a good example of a “mercy person.” She is wired up to care about any living thing. The only creature I can think of that she despises and fears is the bee. She will scream and run from any bee sighting. It’s an unnatural fear and quite dramatic. However, a few weeks ago at the pool, she saw a bee struggling in the water. It was a beautiful picture of her giftings vs. her fears – so I watched from a distance.
She cautiously swam up as close as her fear would allow to inspect the condition of the bee. Within a few seconds, her concern for a hurting critter won out and she leapt from the pool to gather a large pink flower from the nearby bushes. She jumped back in the water and carefully scooped the bee from the water with the flower and then took the tiny patient to the smooth tiles along the side of the pool. She began to gently blow on the wings of the bee in an effort to speed the healing. I wondered if she was even thinking about the fact that her lips were only inches from this buzzing insect that only minutes before she was deathly afraid of.
Within a few minutes, the bee flew off into the beautiful blue, Florida sky – and my daughter was filled with glee. She jumped up and came over, all excited, to tell what had just happened (she wasn’t aware that I was watching the whole incident).
I remember being amazed at how her inner makeup overcame one of her few nine-year-old fears and, as a result a life was saved. Ha – well, I bet the bee was happy about it.
In today’s reading of James chapter 2, I once again started thinking about the gift of mercy vs. fears. I love James’ writing style (especially in the New Living Translation). Take a look:
14 Dear brothers and sisters, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone. 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well” but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” I say, “I can’t see your faith if you don’t have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds.”
Did you catch the first part of verse 18: “…some may argue, ‘Some people have faith; others have good deeds.’” James is refuting the popular excuse that “I don’t have the gift of mercy – so I’ll leave that to those that do.”
Like my young daughter, I have plenty of fears and excuses for not helping the poor, the hungry and the naked. I’d much rather practice my faith in other ways. I’d much rather leave that to those with “the gift.”
But, James calls my pathetic excuses on the carpet with verse 17: “Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all it is dead and useless.”
So – what to do? How can we put our faith “where our mouth is?” For me, I just needed the reminder from God’s word. No more excuses – I need to put my faith into action. Does it have to be in the area of serving the poor, hungry and naked? Well – that’s between you and God – but I do seem to remember another passage where Jesus rebukes those who never came to visit Him in prison, give him water when He was thirsty, etc.
Watching my daughter overcome her powerful fear of stinging insects to save a life has really reminded me that I have a job to do (not a job to just talk about).
Lord, forgive me of my excuses. I want to serve You by serving others. Increase my faith and my love for others. Help me to focus on someone besides myself. You have blessed me with so much – I want to bless others in turn.
peace,
My younger daughter is a good example of a “mercy person.” She is wired up to care about any living thing. The only creature I can think of that she despises and fears is the bee. She will scream and run from any bee sighting. It’s an unnatural fear and quite dramatic. However, a few weeks ago at the pool, she saw a bee struggling in the water. It was a beautiful picture of her giftings vs. her fears – so I watched from a distance.
She cautiously swam up as close as her fear would allow to inspect the condition of the bee. Within a few seconds, her concern for a hurting critter won out and she leapt from the pool to gather a large pink flower from the nearby bushes. She jumped back in the water and carefully scooped the bee from the water with the flower and then took the tiny patient to the smooth tiles along the side of the pool. She began to gently blow on the wings of the bee in an effort to speed the healing. I wondered if she was even thinking about the fact that her lips were only inches from this buzzing insect that only minutes before she was deathly afraid of.
Within a few minutes, the bee flew off into the beautiful blue, Florida sky – and my daughter was filled with glee. She jumped up and came over, all excited, to tell what had just happened (she wasn’t aware that I was watching the whole incident).
I remember being amazed at how her inner makeup overcame one of her few nine-year-old fears and, as a result a life was saved. Ha – well, I bet the bee was happy about it.
In today’s reading of James chapter 2, I once again started thinking about the gift of mercy vs. fears. I love James’ writing style (especially in the New Living Translation). Take a look:
14 Dear brothers and sisters, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone. 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well” but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” I say, “I can’t see your faith if you don’t have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds.”
Did you catch the first part of verse 18: “…some may argue, ‘Some people have faith; others have good deeds.’” James is refuting the popular excuse that “I don’t have the gift of mercy – so I’ll leave that to those that do.”
Like my young daughter, I have plenty of fears and excuses for not helping the poor, the hungry and the naked. I’d much rather practice my faith in other ways. I’d much rather leave that to those with “the gift.”
But, James calls my pathetic excuses on the carpet with verse 17: “Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all it is dead and useless.”
So – what to do? How can we put our faith “where our mouth is?” For me, I just needed the reminder from God’s word. No more excuses – I need to put my faith into action. Does it have to be in the area of serving the poor, hungry and naked? Well – that’s between you and God – but I do seem to remember another passage where Jesus rebukes those who never came to visit Him in prison, give him water when He was thirsty, etc.
Watching my daughter overcome her powerful fear of stinging insects to save a life has really reminded me that I have a job to do (not a job to just talk about).
Lord, forgive me of my excuses. I want to serve You by serving others. Increase my faith and my love for others. Help me to focus on someone besides myself. You have blessed me with so much – I want to bless others in turn.
peace,
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Message from Joe White
This came in tonight and ties into what we are studying tonight. It is long but read down to the message about the Vine Dresser.
I remember when my grown daughter, Jamie, went into the hospital for surgery (nothing life-threatening, but painful and laborious just the same). As I leaned over her bed in the recovery room and discussed the surgical procedures that had just taken place with her, I began to grow faint. My face became pale and dizziness overcame me. As I quickly took a seat (before the nurse had to place me on a stretcher) I thought about this letter . . . and you . . . when, like me, you grow weary, dizzy and faint inside over the many mental, physical and emotional surgical procedures your children face in their perilous growing up years.
It hurts to be a parent.
Going through pain in our own childhood is one thing, but hurting with our kids is an entirely different (and usually more difficult) experience, indeed!
With today as reference "Point A" and the fine young adults they will be when they have their own kids as reference "Point "B", we as caring parents, often believe that the shortest (and best) route between "Point A" and "Point B" (as we have always been taught) is a straight line.
We naively ponder, "My child is not going to have to experience the kind of pain and difficulty I did to arrive there."
As we change those diapers and parent through those precious toddler years, we think, "If I - as a parent - can be careful enough and build a home safe enough and protect them enough and love them enough and put enough wisdom into their heads and send them to kamp and keep them in a youth group, etc., etc., they will travel between "Point A" and "Point B" without many detours. Life for our kids will be practically problem-free."
Sounds great on paper!
Unfortunately, (or maybe, not so unfortunately) that naive scenario and God's plan for His kids are usually miles apart.
As I have shared before in these emails, my wife and I raised two boys (Brady and Cooper) and two girls (Jamie and Courtney). All four are now in their 20's and 30's. All four (by the grace of God) are still alive! (Albeit, just barely due to a couple of instances) All four now love their mom and dad. All four are now following Christ. But . . . all four suffered through childhood and adolescence. There were detours and difficulties and derailments and devastations and disputes and disappointments - too many to number. I don't know how it is going for you, but in my home, we cried rivers of tears through those turbulent growing up years. After gripping tightly to a thread of hope until my knuckles turned white, during those crisis-filled days from age 8 to 18, the only two things I am sure of is that a. - boys are less expensive than girls, and b. - God is faithful to use perils in kids' lives to make them the caring, compassionate, persevering young adults that He wants them to become.
Hebrews 5:8 gives me great comfort as I beat myself up for not being a better dad. I often times thought I could have done a lot better job and painted a whole lot prettier picture of their growing up years. "Even though He (Jesus) was the son, yet learned He from the things He suffered."
From all the emails and conversations I have with kamp parents I think Debbie Jo and I are not alone in our confession that growing up is really, really hard, and kids are bound to suffer. Here're just a couple of lines from stories parents have shared through their emails recently. Maybe you can relate.
"The past two years have been brutally difficult for our 13 year old. Multiple moves, intense bullying, total academic breakdown, depression, thoughts of suicide, and running away. We've watched him get closer and closer to the edge of despair and destruction."
"Our 14 year old daughter has struggled with depression for two years and we have seen psychiatrists, counselors, tried 3 different anti-depressants and increased the doses many times, and nothing has helped."
"Throughout much of his life, our son has struggled with anger, low esteem and a self-defeatist attitude."
And from a teen recently, "I struggled with every drug you can name and drinks off the wall. I struggled with sex and heartbreaks weekly - it seemed. [But God has] turned me into a beautiful Christian who knows and loves the Lord more than anyone in her entire life!"
If these emails remind you of one or more of your "most prized possessions," I hope the next few lines will bring you peace and wisdom to help you get through and come out stronger on the other side.
First, God didn't stutter when He told a suffering Apostle Paul, "My grace is sufficient to you, and my power is made perfect in your weakness." This same truth then is true to your suffering child today. When leukemia struck my bone marrow this verse jumped off the pages to me. I've seen thousands of kids suffer through their growing up years, and they, too, in their suffering were endowed with God's sufficient grace. I've seen kids in bed with cancer, rejected by friends, sidelined by injuries in sports, emotionally damaged and with countless other afflictions, and in every case God never withdrew His grace. His grace was never partial. His kids ALWAYS had sufficient grace to weather any kind of storm. Count on it! He'll be there for them!
So, don't carry their load on your shoulders. (Oh, that's hard!) Give them to Jesus daily. Your kids are HIS. He promises to be there.
Second, James 1 and Romans 5 tell us to exult in our tribulations because tribulations develop character. There is no shortcut to strength of character. Easy roads produce weak, insensitive and insipid soldiers. James proceeds further to say, "So don't squirm out of your problems because when the way is rough your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow!" (paraphrased)
Parents, don't rush to your kid's rescue (unless they're in obvious danger, of course). Don't find fault with life's circumstances that surround them. It's not about their coaches or their teacher or their kamp counselor or their classmate! Difficult circumstances are not necessarily wrong because your child is struggling or hurt. Parents who rush to their kid's side to place blame, criticize and find fault are creating emotionally disadvantaged children! Difficult circumstances are like sandpaper. Just as the sculptor puts his hand on the mallet and chisel to build his great marble art, struggles and difficulties are God's tools to create human masterpieces in your children. Their Christian character is built through their suffering. Their compassion comes from their pain. Their faith comes from their being stretched. Their wisdom comes as they face their problems and stand on their own two feet.
If you have been prone to over protect, justify and place blame, - the next time you are tempted to remove the chisel from the Master Craftsman's hand take the same time and effort you took to place the blame and spend it praying for your child's character. As the years go by, you will literally be amazed at the difference it will make in the finished product!
Finally, (only because we are running out of paper) God "prunes" His kids like a good farmer prunes his grapevines, because God has '"fruit of worthwhile production" in mind when He created and gave salvation to your kids.
John 15 describes God as a vinedresser. Every branch that is pruned produces four branches - each stronger and more productive than the original. If your child is hardheaded or independent, pray for the Vine Dresser to come. If your child is bored or purposeless . . . if Play Station, MTV and music are absorbing his life, pray for the Vine Dresser. When the Vine Dresser arrives, even if you don't see the need at that time, thank Him for caring enough to stop by.
At age 20, 21, 22 and 23, you will stand in happy amazement as the fruitfulness and purposefulness and humility He has carefully structured in your children comes into full bloom.
Hebrews 12:5-11 assures us that God chastens the sons He loves.
Meanwhile, in the midst of the process, stick to the basics. Lavish them with encouragement. Stay in charge. Insist on discipline and respect. Pray together daily. Read and memorize scripture together. And support each other.
Live your life as a parent one day at a time, and be sure that every day, no matter how severely the minefields are exploding all around you, you find at least one positive thing to encourage them with. Find at least one way to help them pursue a dream. Pray and dig into the Word together at least one time that day. When the smoke is cleared, the view of the finished product will be magnificent!
If this email connects, be blessed by it and pass it on to others. If it doesn't, print it and file it. Before long you will need it.
A Fellow Soldier,
Joe White
I remember when my grown daughter, Jamie, went into the hospital for surgery (nothing life-threatening, but painful and laborious just the same). As I leaned over her bed in the recovery room and discussed the surgical procedures that had just taken place with her, I began to grow faint. My face became pale and dizziness overcame me. As I quickly took a seat (before the nurse had to place me on a stretcher) I thought about this letter . . . and you . . . when, like me, you grow weary, dizzy and faint inside over the many mental, physical and emotional surgical procedures your children face in their perilous growing up years.
It hurts to be a parent.
Going through pain in our own childhood is one thing, but hurting with our kids is an entirely different (and usually more difficult) experience, indeed!
With today as reference "Point A" and the fine young adults they will be when they have their own kids as reference "Point "B", we as caring parents, often believe that the shortest (and best) route between "Point A" and "Point B" (as we have always been taught) is a straight line.
We naively ponder, "My child is not going to have to experience the kind of pain and difficulty I did to arrive there."
As we change those diapers and parent through those precious toddler years, we think, "If I - as a parent - can be careful enough and build a home safe enough and protect them enough and love them enough and put enough wisdom into their heads and send them to kamp and keep them in a youth group, etc., etc., they will travel between "Point A" and "Point B" without many detours. Life for our kids will be practically problem-free."
Sounds great on paper!
Unfortunately, (or maybe, not so unfortunately) that naive scenario and God's plan for His kids are usually miles apart.
As I have shared before in these emails, my wife and I raised two boys (Brady and Cooper) and two girls (Jamie and Courtney). All four are now in their 20's and 30's. All four (by the grace of God) are still alive! (Albeit, just barely due to a couple of instances) All four now love their mom and dad. All four are now following Christ. But . . . all four suffered through childhood and adolescence. There were detours and difficulties and derailments and devastations and disputes and disappointments - too many to number. I don't know how it is going for you, but in my home, we cried rivers of tears through those turbulent growing up years. After gripping tightly to a thread of hope until my knuckles turned white, during those crisis-filled days from age 8 to 18, the only two things I am sure of is that a. - boys are less expensive than girls, and b. - God is faithful to use perils in kids' lives to make them the caring, compassionate, persevering young adults that He wants them to become.
Hebrews 5:8 gives me great comfort as I beat myself up for not being a better dad. I often times thought I could have done a lot better job and painted a whole lot prettier picture of their growing up years. "Even though He (Jesus) was the son, yet learned He from the things He suffered."
From all the emails and conversations I have with kamp parents I think Debbie Jo and I are not alone in our confession that growing up is really, really hard, and kids are bound to suffer. Here're just a couple of lines from stories parents have shared through their emails recently. Maybe you can relate.
"The past two years have been brutally difficult for our 13 year old. Multiple moves, intense bullying, total academic breakdown, depression, thoughts of suicide, and running away. We've watched him get closer and closer to the edge of despair and destruction."
"Our 14 year old daughter has struggled with depression for two years and we have seen psychiatrists, counselors, tried 3 different anti-depressants and increased the doses many times, and nothing has helped."
"Throughout much of his life, our son has struggled with anger, low esteem and a self-defeatist attitude."
And from a teen recently, "I struggled with every drug you can name and drinks off the wall. I struggled with sex and heartbreaks weekly - it seemed. [But God has] turned me into a beautiful Christian who knows and loves the Lord more than anyone in her entire life!"
If these emails remind you of one or more of your "most prized possessions," I hope the next few lines will bring you peace and wisdom to help you get through and come out stronger on the other side.
First, God didn't stutter when He told a suffering Apostle Paul, "My grace is sufficient to you, and my power is made perfect in your weakness." This same truth then is true to your suffering child today. When leukemia struck my bone marrow this verse jumped off the pages to me. I've seen thousands of kids suffer through their growing up years, and they, too, in their suffering were endowed with God's sufficient grace. I've seen kids in bed with cancer, rejected by friends, sidelined by injuries in sports, emotionally damaged and with countless other afflictions, and in every case God never withdrew His grace. His grace was never partial. His kids ALWAYS had sufficient grace to weather any kind of storm. Count on it! He'll be there for them!
So, don't carry their load on your shoulders. (Oh, that's hard!) Give them to Jesus daily. Your kids are HIS. He promises to be there.
Second, James 1 and Romans 5 tell us to exult in our tribulations because tribulations develop character. There is no shortcut to strength of character. Easy roads produce weak, insensitive and insipid soldiers. James proceeds further to say, "So don't squirm out of your problems because when the way is rough your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow!" (paraphrased)
Parents, don't rush to your kid's rescue (unless they're in obvious danger, of course). Don't find fault with life's circumstances that surround them. It's not about their coaches or their teacher or their kamp counselor or their classmate! Difficult circumstances are not necessarily wrong because your child is struggling or hurt. Parents who rush to their kid's side to place blame, criticize and find fault are creating emotionally disadvantaged children! Difficult circumstances are like sandpaper. Just as the sculptor puts his hand on the mallet and chisel to build his great marble art, struggles and difficulties are God's tools to create human masterpieces in your children. Their Christian character is built through their suffering. Their compassion comes from their pain. Their faith comes from their being stretched. Their wisdom comes as they face their problems and stand on their own two feet.
If you have been prone to over protect, justify and place blame, - the next time you are tempted to remove the chisel from the Master Craftsman's hand take the same time and effort you took to place the blame and spend it praying for your child's character. As the years go by, you will literally be amazed at the difference it will make in the finished product!
Finally, (only because we are running out of paper) God "prunes" His kids like a good farmer prunes his grapevines, because God has '"fruit of worthwhile production" in mind when He created and gave salvation to your kids.
John 15 describes God as a vinedresser. Every branch that is pruned produces four branches - each stronger and more productive than the original. If your child is hardheaded or independent, pray for the Vine Dresser to come. If your child is bored or purposeless . . . if Play Station, MTV and music are absorbing his life, pray for the Vine Dresser. When the Vine Dresser arrives, even if you don't see the need at that time, thank Him for caring enough to stop by.
At age 20, 21, 22 and 23, you will stand in happy amazement as the fruitfulness and purposefulness and humility He has carefully structured in your children comes into full bloom.
Hebrews 12:5-11 assures us that God chastens the sons He loves.
Meanwhile, in the midst of the process, stick to the basics. Lavish them with encouragement. Stay in charge. Insist on discipline and respect. Pray together daily. Read and memorize scripture together. And support each other.
Live your life as a parent one day at a time, and be sure that every day, no matter how severely the minefields are exploding all around you, you find at least one positive thing to encourage them with. Find at least one way to help them pursue a dream. Pray and dig into the Word together at least one time that day. When the smoke is cleared, the view of the finished product will be magnificent!
If this email connects, be blessed by it and pass it on to others. If it doesn't, print it and file it. Before long you will need it.
A Fellow Soldier,
Joe White
Ask God
Ask God
Peter was one of Jesus' closest friends, one of only three that were invited into his innermost circle. In Gethsemane, at his hour of greatest need, Jesus again took Peter aside, poured his heart out to him; he looked to Peter for strength. Three years of this, and who knows how many other stories. Peter must have known, I have a special place in Jesus' heart. So, how do you suppose Peter felt after he denied Christ - not just once, but three times? It must have been devastating.
After the resurrection, Jesus is on the beach with Peter and the others. It's a touching reunion. Following a night of lousy fishing, Christ yells out to the guys to let their nets down for a catch - just as he did that morning he first called them three years earlier. Again, their nets are bursting with the load. Just like the good old days. Peter leaps from the boat and swims to Christ. They have breakfast together. Reunited, laughing about the catch, relaxed, warmed by the fire and stuffed from breakfast, Jesus then turns to Peter.
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." (John 21:15-17)
What a beautiful story. Notice first that Christ does not let Peter sweep the whole matter under the rug. If this issue doesn't get addressed, it will haunt the old fisherman for the rest of his life. No, this must be spoken to. Most of us simply try and "put things behind us," get past it, forget the pain as quickly as we can. Really - denial is a favorite method of coping. But not with Jesus. He wants truth in the inmost being, and to get it there he's got to take us into our inmost being. One way he'll do this is by bringing up an old memory. You'll be driving down the road and suddenly remember something from your childhood. Or maybe you'll have a dream about a long-forgotten person, or event, or place. However he brings it up, go with him there. He has something to say to you.
Peter was one of Jesus' closest friends, one of only three that were invited into his innermost circle. In Gethsemane, at his hour of greatest need, Jesus again took Peter aside, poured his heart out to him; he looked to Peter for strength. Three years of this, and who knows how many other stories. Peter must have known, I have a special place in Jesus' heart. So, how do you suppose Peter felt after he denied Christ - not just once, but three times? It must have been devastating.
After the resurrection, Jesus is on the beach with Peter and the others. It's a touching reunion. Following a night of lousy fishing, Christ yells out to the guys to let their nets down for a catch - just as he did that morning he first called them three years earlier. Again, their nets are bursting with the load. Just like the good old days. Peter leaps from the boat and swims to Christ. They have breakfast together. Reunited, laughing about the catch, relaxed, warmed by the fire and stuffed from breakfast, Jesus then turns to Peter.
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." (John 21:15-17)
What a beautiful story. Notice first that Christ does not let Peter sweep the whole matter under the rug. If this issue doesn't get addressed, it will haunt the old fisherman for the rest of his life. No, this must be spoken to. Most of us simply try and "put things behind us," get past it, forget the pain as quickly as we can. Really - denial is a favorite method of coping. But not with Jesus. He wants truth in the inmost being, and to get it there he's got to take us into our inmost being. One way he'll do this is by bringing up an old memory. You'll be driving down the road and suddenly remember something from your childhood. Or maybe you'll have a dream about a long-forgotten person, or event, or place. However he brings it up, go with him there. He has something to say to you.
Meeting tonight
Guys:
Tonight we will be continuing the Secrets of the Vine and having dinner at 7:00. Last week Big Jim rocked the house so we are expecting a great night tonight. Miss Angie is in the kitchen wipping up something special for us so come hungry and bring a friend because we should have a ton of food.
See you tonight,
Peter
Tonight we will be continuing the Secrets of the Vine and having dinner at 7:00. Last week Big Jim rocked the house so we are expecting a great night tonight. Miss Angie is in the kitchen wipping up something special for us so come hungry and bring a friend because we should have a ton of food.
See you tonight,
Peter
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Great Commision
We’ve all read it, most of use have memorized it or can at least paraphrase it. But here it is per the NIV translation…by the way, was there an Old International Version?
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
I see Jesus telling us to do three things. First, go and make disciples. Second, baptize them. Third, teach them to obey His commands. Let’s look a little closer at each part of the commission.
Go and Make Disciples: This GO and MAKE seems to be quite a bit different from the ‘be prepared to give account for the hope within you’ as 1 Peter 3:15 says. It’s not waiting around for someone to ask, it’s more intentional than that. And just how do we make disciples(a learner, student)? I say we must have something that draws people to us. We have to be able to get people to want to be taught what we know. Jesus did this through love. “I don’t care how much you know till I know how much you care.” We (the Church) are told that we should be known for the love we have for one another, for our neighbors. And who is our neighbor? Whomever God sees fit to put in our lives or on our hearts.
Baptize Them: This was Jesus’ great commission to…only the 11 Disciples? Only ordained Ministers and Pastors? Elders and deacons? I think this commission was meant for everyone that would call themselves a christian. Unless I’ve missed it, I think this applies to us all. So the question is; When was the last time you baptized someone? Or have we all relegated that responsibility to “those other people?”
Teach them to Obey All Commands: First, this assumes we know all the commands ourselves and are able to explain them to all nations. Maybe some more study required, maybe some going out on a limb in calling ourselves a teacher, maybe a little less hypocritical behavior on our part thus allowing us to be heard by those Jesus said to teach.
James 3:1; “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” I suppose there could be a difference between someone who teaches and someone who calls themselves a teacher? All I know is Jesus said to teach…unless He wasn’t talking to us all, only the 11 Disciples left.
My belief is that we are all tasked with The Great Commission, and all three of its elements. We’ve got our orders, may we be about our Father’s business.
The best part is the last…”And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
I see Jesus telling us to do three things. First, go and make disciples. Second, baptize them. Third, teach them to obey His commands. Let’s look a little closer at each part of the commission.
Go and Make Disciples: This GO and MAKE seems to be quite a bit different from the ‘be prepared to give account for the hope within you’ as 1 Peter 3:15 says. It’s not waiting around for someone to ask, it’s more intentional than that. And just how do we make disciples(a learner, student)? I say we must have something that draws people to us. We have to be able to get people to want to be taught what we know. Jesus did this through love. “I don’t care how much you know till I know how much you care.” We (the Church) are told that we should be known for the love we have for one another, for our neighbors. And who is our neighbor? Whomever God sees fit to put in our lives or on our hearts.
Baptize Them: This was Jesus’ great commission to…only the 11 Disciples? Only ordained Ministers and Pastors? Elders and deacons? I think this commission was meant for everyone that would call themselves a christian. Unless I’ve missed it, I think this applies to us all. So the question is; When was the last time you baptized someone? Or have we all relegated that responsibility to “those other people?”
Teach them to Obey All Commands: First, this assumes we know all the commands ourselves and are able to explain them to all nations. Maybe some more study required, maybe some going out on a limb in calling ourselves a teacher, maybe a little less hypocritical behavior on our part thus allowing us to be heard by those Jesus said to teach.
James 3:1; “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” I suppose there could be a difference between someone who teaches and someone who calls themselves a teacher? All I know is Jesus said to teach…unless He wasn’t talking to us all, only the 11 Disciples left.
My belief is that we are all tasked with The Great Commission, and all three of its elements. We’ve got our orders, may we be about our Father’s business.
The best part is the last…”And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Prayer Request for Travis
Travis McClelland has inoperable brain tumor for those who do not know him he was one of the original eight guys who did Wild At Heart together in a One bedroom apt at Feather Sound.
He went to the first CO Boot Camp and who has always remained in the game quoting, "what ever comes out of those gates, we have a better chance of survival if we stay together"...
Today he needs our prayers.
Father God we Lift up our Brother and ask you to send your angels to heal his body, we know that only you can do this. Satin we stand together as a Band Of Brothers and we Claim Dominion over our brother and in Jesus Name we command you to leave and take your hands off him. We pray this in Jesus name.
He went to the first CO Boot Camp and who has always remained in the game quoting, "what ever comes out of those gates, we have a better chance of survival if we stay together"...
Today he needs our prayers.
Father God we Lift up our Brother and ask you to send your angels to heal his body, we know that only you can do this. Satin we stand together as a Band Of Brothers and we Claim Dominion over our brother and in Jesus Name we command you to leave and take your hands off him. We pray this in Jesus name.
Dave Ramsey
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We want to help you get started, so we are making an introductory offer to FPU members. If you start a Financial Peace University class in October or November with five families or more, then we will give you a Financial Peace University Leader membership for free! That's a $299 value totally free for you! Be sure to use the link below to get this special offer as this is not available anywhere else on the web.
This free leader membership includes everything you need to host an FPU class in your home, church or community. Find five friends, coworkers or even family members and refuel your inner gazelle while helping others on their journey to Financial Peace!
Order Now
We want to help you get started, so we are making an introductory offer to FPU members. If you start a Financial Peace University class in October or November with five families or more, then we will give you a Financial Peace University Leader membership for free! That's a $299 value totally free for you! Be sure to use the link below to get this special offer as this is not available anywhere else on the web.
This free leader membership includes everything you need to host an FPU class in your home, church or community. Find five friends, coworkers or even family members and refuel your inner gazelle while helping others on their journey to Financial Peace!
Order Now
TGIF today
David's Armor
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Thursday, October 21 2010
"David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. 'I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them.' So he took them off." 1 Samuel 17:39
David, the young shepherd boy, heard the challenge from the Philistines to send someone to fight Goliath. No one volunteered to fight except David. King Saul reluctantly agreed and offered David his armor. David put on the weighty equipment, but quickly concluded he could not fight in this heavy armor.
God equips each of us in such a way that is unique to our strengths and abilities. David was trained as a shepherd to use another weapon. For David, it was a slingshot. David showed great maturity in realizing he could not be effective with Saul's armor. What are the gifts and talents God has given to you? Have you ever tried to accomplish a task with tools you were not trained to use? God allows each of us to develop skills that are unique to our life. He will not call you to use someone else's tools.
However, this is only half of the equation. These talents must be mixed with faith. Talent alone is not enough. Faith alone is not enough. It is only when the two are combined that God's power is released and manifested in the physical realm. Mix your unique gifts with faith today; you will be surprised at the power of God that will be manifested.
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Thursday, October 21 2010
"David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. 'I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them.' So he took them off." 1 Samuel 17:39
David, the young shepherd boy, heard the challenge from the Philistines to send someone to fight Goliath. No one volunteered to fight except David. King Saul reluctantly agreed and offered David his armor. David put on the weighty equipment, but quickly concluded he could not fight in this heavy armor.
God equips each of us in such a way that is unique to our strengths and abilities. David was trained as a shepherd to use another weapon. For David, it was a slingshot. David showed great maturity in realizing he could not be effective with Saul's armor. What are the gifts and talents God has given to you? Have you ever tried to accomplish a task with tools you were not trained to use? God allows each of us to develop skills that are unique to our life. He will not call you to use someone else's tools.
However, this is only half of the equation. These talents must be mixed with faith. Talent alone is not enough. Faith alone is not enough. It is only when the two are combined that God's power is released and manifested in the physical realm. Mix your unique gifts with faith today; you will be surprised at the power of God that will be manifested.
Prayer Request
Prayer Team….….. I could really use some “air” coverage for my husband, John…..
John had a jaw implant procedure 10 days ago and started developing severe pain and discomfort…….we thought it was infected, but that is
not the case. After 7 days of severe pain that not even oxycodone is effecting…………and little to no sleep. John is distraught……..I am exhausted
caring for him ………..little to no sleep. After 1 trip to emergency room this past weekend and 3 doctor consults, he has been diagnosed with “Trigeminal Neuralgia”.
We have been told this is not easily controlled or cured. L Apparently the dental procedure disrupted this cranial nerve that runs down the right side of his face.
He has stabbing, hot poker, pain constantly in his eye socket, ear, and lower jaw. He has been out of work and is unable to return at this point because the pain is
so debilitating. I took him to an Acute Pain doctor today just to try to figure out how we can get him some relief…………the doctor admitted him to SMH.
The neurosurgeon has him comfortable w/dilaudid drip to see if the cranial nerve can be calmed with epileptic medications, if not the next step is a surgical procedure
where they can go in and cut the facial nerve, but it has high risks of facial paralysis/numbness.
Needless to say, this is very scary. I had John’s men’s bible study group come over last night to anoint and pray for him. He had another terrible night last night.
We would appreciate you and others praying for the Lord to relieve John of this condition, that the nerve is only “angry”, not damaged and that he would
work in John’s body to CALM the nerve. Also pray for the Lord to direct us to quality doctors that specialize in this condition.
We are crying out to the Father for provisions only He can provide………COMPLETE HEALING and COMFORT during the storm.
Thanks so much.
Wendy Gerhardt,
John had a jaw implant procedure 10 days ago and started developing severe pain and discomfort…….we thought it was infected, but that is
not the case. After 7 days of severe pain that not even oxycodone is effecting…………and little to no sleep. John is distraught……..I am exhausted
caring for him ………..little to no sleep. After 1 trip to emergency room this past weekend and 3 doctor consults, he has been diagnosed with “Trigeminal Neuralgia”.
We have been told this is not easily controlled or cured. L Apparently the dental procedure disrupted this cranial nerve that runs down the right side of his face.
He has stabbing, hot poker, pain constantly in his eye socket, ear, and lower jaw. He has been out of work and is unable to return at this point because the pain is
so debilitating. I took him to an Acute Pain doctor today just to try to figure out how we can get him some relief…………the doctor admitted him to SMH.
The neurosurgeon has him comfortable w/dilaudid drip to see if the cranial nerve can be calmed with epileptic medications, if not the next step is a surgical procedure
where they can go in and cut the facial nerve, but it has high risks of facial paralysis/numbness.
Needless to say, this is very scary. I had John’s men’s bible study group come over last night to anoint and pray for him. He had another terrible night last night.
We would appreciate you and others praying for the Lord to relieve John of this condition, that the nerve is only “angry”, not damaged and that he would
work in John’s body to CALM the nerve. Also pray for the Lord to direct us to quality doctors that specialize in this condition.
We are crying out to the Father for provisions only He can provide………COMPLETE HEALING and COMFORT during the storm.
Thanks so much.
Wendy Gerhardt,
Your body is a temple are you taking care of it?
As many of you know I have lost 35 pounds over the past few months and that was insprired by what I read in the bible about taking care of our body. I am going to start posting some tips that can help you.
Here is the first one:
Medial Weight Loss Solutions Tip #1: “Sip Water to Slim Down”
Water is vital for your body to function properly. It helps your body remove waste, carry nutrients, regulate body temperature, keep bowel function normal, and reduce fluid retention. One of the easiest ways to keep your body healthy is to stay hydrated. In addition to quenching your thirst, drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day can help you in the following ways.
1. Combat Hunger
Your body often mistakes dehydration for hunger. Before you reach for a snack (and unwanted calories), drink a glass of water. Wait 20 minutes to see if you’re still hungry. Drinking water prior to eating can also help you feel more full and eat less. Many people drink beverages full of calories, sugar, or caffeine, thinking they are getting their fluid intake for the day. However, caffeine acts as a diuretic, making you more dehydrated. By the time you feel thirsty, your body is already in dehydration. Replace beverages full of sugar and calories with plain water or flavored water (without added sugar). Add lemons, oranges, or raspberries to your glass of water to give it a hint of flavor.
2. Speed Up Your Metabolism
Studies have shown that water consumption increases the rate at which calories are burned. Increasing your water intake may increase your metabolic rate by as much as 30% on a daily basis, leading to thousands of additional calories burned off each year. Why? It’s actually simple…when people drink cold water, the stomach must warm the water up to process, which increases the metabolism.
3. Reduce Bloating
Bloating is a common problem. Drinking water is actually the only way you can reduce bloating. It helps regulate your digestive system by helping your kidneys function properly.
Drinking water is vitally essential. So how can you increase your daily consumption of water?
• Carry a refillable bottle with you throughout the day.
• Keep a glass of water at your desk and next to your bed.
• Eliminate coffee and sodas and substitute water with added flavors, such as a squeeze of lemon juice or low-calorie sweetener to make water a treat.
Here is the first one:
Medial Weight Loss Solutions Tip #1: “Sip Water to Slim Down”
Water is vital for your body to function properly. It helps your body remove waste, carry nutrients, regulate body temperature, keep bowel function normal, and reduce fluid retention. One of the easiest ways to keep your body healthy is to stay hydrated. In addition to quenching your thirst, drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day can help you in the following ways.
1. Combat Hunger
Your body often mistakes dehydration for hunger. Before you reach for a snack (and unwanted calories), drink a glass of water. Wait 20 minutes to see if you’re still hungry. Drinking water prior to eating can also help you feel more full and eat less. Many people drink beverages full of calories, sugar, or caffeine, thinking they are getting their fluid intake for the day. However, caffeine acts as a diuretic, making you more dehydrated. By the time you feel thirsty, your body is already in dehydration. Replace beverages full of sugar and calories with plain water or flavored water (without added sugar). Add lemons, oranges, or raspberries to your glass of water to give it a hint of flavor.
2. Speed Up Your Metabolism
Studies have shown that water consumption increases the rate at which calories are burned. Increasing your water intake may increase your metabolic rate by as much as 30% on a daily basis, leading to thousands of additional calories burned off each year. Why? It’s actually simple…when people drink cold water, the stomach must warm the water up to process, which increases the metabolism.
3. Reduce Bloating
Bloating is a common problem. Drinking water is actually the only way you can reduce bloating. It helps regulate your digestive system by helping your kidneys function properly.
Drinking water is vitally essential. So how can you increase your daily consumption of water?
• Carry a refillable bottle with you throughout the day.
• Keep a glass of water at your desk and next to your bed.
• Eliminate coffee and sodas and substitute water with added flavors, such as a squeeze of lemon juice or low-calorie sweetener to make water a treat.
Your Daily Bread: Proverbs 21
Proverbs 21
1 The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he turns it wherever he pleases. 2 People may think they are doing what is right, but the LORD examines the heart. 3 The LORD is more pleased when we do what is just and right than when we give him sacrifices. 4 Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin. 5 Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. 6 Wealth created by lying is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap. 7 Because the wicked refuse to do what is just, their violence boomerangs and destroys them. 8 The guilty walk a crooked path; the innocent travel a straight road. 9 It is better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a contentious wife in a lovely home. 10 Evil people love to harm others; their neighbors get no mercy from them. 11 A simpleton can learn only by seeing mockers punished; a wise person learns from instruction. 12 The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked; he will bring the wicked to disaster. 13 Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need. 14 A secret gift calms anger; a secret bribe pacifies fury. 15 Justice is a joy to the godly, but it causes dismay among evildoers. 16 The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead. 17 Those who love pleasure become poor; wine and luxury are not the way to riches. 18 Sometimes the wicked are punished to save the godly, and the treacherous for the upright. 19 It is better to live alone in the desert than with a crabby, complaining wife. 20 The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get. 21 Whoever pursues godliness and unfailing love will find life, godliness, and honor. 22 The wise conquer the city of the strong and level the fortress in which they trust. 23 If you keep your mouth shut, you will stay out of trouble. 24 Mockers are proud and haughty; they act with boundless arrogance. 25 The desires of lazy people will be their ruin, for their hands refuse to work. 26 They are always greedy for more, while the godly love to give! 27 God loathes the sacrifice of an evil person, especially when it is brought with ulterior motives. 28 A false witness will be cut off, but an attentive witness will be allowed to speak. 29 The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright proceed with care. 30 Human plans, no matter how wise or well advised, cannot stand against the LORD. 31 The horses are prepared for battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD
1 The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he turns it wherever he pleases. 2 People may think they are doing what is right, but the LORD examines the heart. 3 The LORD is more pleased when we do what is just and right than when we give him sacrifices. 4 Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin. 5 Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. 6 Wealth created by lying is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap. 7 Because the wicked refuse to do what is just, their violence boomerangs and destroys them. 8 The guilty walk a crooked path; the innocent travel a straight road. 9 It is better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a contentious wife in a lovely home. 10 Evil people love to harm others; their neighbors get no mercy from them. 11 A simpleton can learn only by seeing mockers punished; a wise person learns from instruction. 12 The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked; he will bring the wicked to disaster. 13 Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need. 14 A secret gift calms anger; a secret bribe pacifies fury. 15 Justice is a joy to the godly, but it causes dismay among evildoers. 16 The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead. 17 Those who love pleasure become poor; wine and luxury are not the way to riches. 18 Sometimes the wicked are punished to save the godly, and the treacherous for the upright. 19 It is better to live alone in the desert than with a crabby, complaining wife. 20 The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get. 21 Whoever pursues godliness and unfailing love will find life, godliness, and honor. 22 The wise conquer the city of the strong and level the fortress in which they trust. 23 If you keep your mouth shut, you will stay out of trouble. 24 Mockers are proud and haughty; they act with boundless arrogance. 25 The desires of lazy people will be their ruin, for their hands refuse to work. 26 They are always greedy for more, while the godly love to give! 27 God loathes the sacrifice of an evil person, especially when it is brought with ulterior motives. 28 A false witness will be cut off, but an attentive witness will be allowed to speak. 29 The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright proceed with care. 30 Human plans, no matter how wise or well advised, cannot stand against the LORD. 31 The horses are prepared for battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Big Jim Coming to Town
Next Tuesday the 19th Big Jim Henderson will be coming to talk at Woodlands
Jim holds the World Bench Press record 711 pounds and is one of the original members of the Power Team.
This is going to be a Great Men's Night and is open to all men young and old.
Dinner starts at 6:15pm (BBQ Ribs and Chicken).
Followed by praise and worship, and message from James. H
Tickets are only $10 and you need purchase them in advance. Buy Tickets online here
If you have any question please contact me,
Peter Martin
941 907 4132
Jim holds the World Bench Press record 711 pounds and is one of the original members of the Power Team.
This is going to be a Great Men's Night and is open to all men young and old.
Dinner starts at 6:15pm (BBQ Ribs and Chicken).
Followed by praise and worship, and message from James. H
Tickets are only $10 and you need purchase them in advance. Buy Tickets online here
If you have any question please contact me,
Peter Martin
941 907 4132
Men at the Cross
Men:
As a grandfather of eleven "little tykes" I'm pretty sure I'm the most blessed man alive! I love little bitty people!! I thought being called "Dad" was amazing (and it was) but being called "Pops" by two adopted from Rwanda and nine biological "grand pups" is absolutely THE DEAL!
You learn a lot as a "Pops" ...like sometimes when you just think about them, you cry.
I also learn new words! "Chickennuggetsfrenchfriescokeduh?" is one word when you pull up to McDonald's and ask your 4 year-old "what do you want to order?"
That may be the biggest word in a four year-old's vocabulary, but you know what? I think perhaps a certain three-letter word is the biggest word in a "more grown-up" person's vocabulary...at least it is for me.
The word is, "All."
Yep, that's it, "All."
We sing, "I Surrender All" as we "accept Jesus," but do we "surrender all" or is that just a song?
You can look back over the last 12 months and sort of count up all the money "I spent on ME" and how much I gave to the "poorest in this world" and you get a pretty honest quick look at how big the word "ALL" is.
We say, "I give Jesus ALL my sins" and we still beat ourselves up over our past mistakes. We pray, "Jesus, I love you with ALL my heart" and yet we spend hours searching the "T.V. Gospel" and our Bibles gather dust over on our night table. It's all too easy to sing "All for Jesus" and then go home to computers, IPOD's, and DVD's laced with pornography, profanity and lust.
I'm reading Psalms 111 lately, and man, I'm wanting to live the meaning of "ALL." Why is that little three-letter word such a TALL mountain to climb, I ask?
I watched my friend Colt McCoy go down in the national championship game against Alabama and then have to sit on the sidelines and watch his dreams of leading the Longhorns to his long-awaited dream of being # 1 melt down before his eyes. The news reporter asked him after the game for a comment. Was he bitter? Couldn't God have prevented it or healed him? Didn't he deserve the championship? I'm sure the thoughts of fans were countless that surrounded him.
His answer was simple and to the point, "I always give God the glory. I never question why things happen the way they do. God is in control of my life. And I know that if nothing else, I'm standing on the Rock."
After Job suffered more loss than any of us could ever suffer, he said, "God I know now that you can do all things and no plan of yours will be thwarted. I know my redeemer lives. In the end I will see God. (You can hear in his words, "All for God! All for God! All for God!")
After David had risen, fallen and risen again to be the great king of Israel, through valleys and deserts, through the mountain peaks of watching God bring to pass "the glory days of Israel" and yet endure the utter brokenness and the deep valleys of moral failure, David consummated his life by saying, "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all." (1Chronicles 29:11)
All for God! All for God! All for God!
I am challenged daily to discover new depths of that powerful three-letter word "ALL" and dig deeper into its meaning and practical application for my life.
For I have so much more to give Him. With each layer of my being that He peels away and reveals that another treasure needs to be brought to His throne of grace I am grateful.. For each divine revelation of one more investment of my time, talent and treasure into the "Eternal Bank" where "neither moth nor rust destroy" I am blessed to lay it down. For each curtain that is opened before yet another window into my heart and I can see a selfish motive, impure thought, or less than completely honest agenda I am set free.
I have a long way to go but I celebrate the journey.
I pray that you will find God's grace today to dive deeper with me in the journey and that one day we can join hands before the throne of grace and sing in complete transparency from the basement of our soul, "I surrender all, yes I surrender all."
Grace alone,
Joe
As a grandfather of eleven "little tykes" I'm pretty sure I'm the most blessed man alive! I love little bitty people!! I thought being called "Dad" was amazing (and it was) but being called "Pops" by two adopted from Rwanda and nine biological "grand pups" is absolutely THE DEAL!
You learn a lot as a "Pops" ...like sometimes when you just think about them, you cry.
I also learn new words! "Chickennuggetsfrenchfriescokeduh?" is one word when you pull up to McDonald's and ask your 4 year-old "what do you want to order?"
That may be the biggest word in a four year-old's vocabulary, but you know what? I think perhaps a certain three-letter word is the biggest word in a "more grown-up" person's vocabulary...at least it is for me.
The word is, "All."
Yep, that's it, "All."
We sing, "I Surrender All" as we "accept Jesus," but do we "surrender all" or is that just a song?
You can look back over the last 12 months and sort of count up all the money "I spent on ME" and how much I gave to the "poorest in this world" and you get a pretty honest quick look at how big the word "ALL" is.
We say, "I give Jesus ALL my sins" and we still beat ourselves up over our past mistakes. We pray, "Jesus, I love you with ALL my heart" and yet we spend hours searching the "T.V. Gospel" and our Bibles gather dust over on our night table. It's all too easy to sing "All for Jesus" and then go home to computers, IPOD's, and DVD's laced with pornography, profanity and lust.
I'm reading Psalms 111 lately, and man, I'm wanting to live the meaning of "ALL." Why is that little three-letter word such a TALL mountain to climb, I ask?
I watched my friend Colt McCoy go down in the national championship game against Alabama and then have to sit on the sidelines and watch his dreams of leading the Longhorns to his long-awaited dream of being # 1 melt down before his eyes. The news reporter asked him after the game for a comment. Was he bitter? Couldn't God have prevented it or healed him? Didn't he deserve the championship? I'm sure the thoughts of fans were countless that surrounded him.
His answer was simple and to the point, "I always give God the glory. I never question why things happen the way they do. God is in control of my life. And I know that if nothing else, I'm standing on the Rock."
After Job suffered more loss than any of us could ever suffer, he said, "God I know now that you can do all things and no plan of yours will be thwarted. I know my redeemer lives. In the end I will see God. (You can hear in his words, "All for God! All for God! All for God!")
After David had risen, fallen and risen again to be the great king of Israel, through valleys and deserts, through the mountain peaks of watching God bring to pass "the glory days of Israel" and yet endure the utter brokenness and the deep valleys of moral failure, David consummated his life by saying, "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all." (1Chronicles 29:11)
All for God! All for God! All for God!
I am challenged daily to discover new depths of that powerful three-letter word "ALL" and dig deeper into its meaning and practical application for my life.
For I have so much more to give Him. With each layer of my being that He peels away and reveals that another treasure needs to be brought to His throne of grace I am grateful.. For each divine revelation of one more investment of my time, talent and treasure into the "Eternal Bank" where "neither moth nor rust destroy" I am blessed to lay it down. For each curtain that is opened before yet another window into my heart and I can see a selfish motive, impure thought, or less than completely honest agenda I am set free.
I have a long way to go but I celebrate the journey.
I pray that you will find God's grace today to dive deeper with me in the journey and that one day we can join hands before the throne of grace and sing in complete transparency from the basement of our soul, "I surrender all, yes I surrender all."
Grace alone,
Joe
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Ritz Carlton Golf Marathon!
Good afternoon brothers in Christ! Golf at the exclusive Ritz Carlton Members Golf Club in Bradenton, enjoy the great outdoors, food, PGA prizes, fellowship and an opportunity to kick start a brand new Christ-centered Sarasota family ministry. All this is part of the Family Builders 1st annual golf marathon Monday, November 22nd. We have less than 24 spots remaining in this exclusive event and we are handing out complimentary preview rounds of golf for 4 to the Ritz THIS MONTH ONLY for players who join the golf marathon team in October. For information, please contact Doug Poll at doug@dougpollgroup.com or simply call 321-7130.
Help Needed
Guys:
We need a few Volunteers from Wildmen for Saturday night before/after worship and Sunday morning between worship services to grill some steak bites pass out info and sell tickets on the patio out front to help us promote the Men’s Night? This is same as we’ve done in the past. Need to be ready 4:30 pm Sat and for about 15 minutes after worship lets out. Sunday morning between service should be there 10:00 to 10:50am and then after second worship for about 15 minutes.
If you can help out please contact:
Banks Corl
941-345-7632 mobile
We need a few Volunteers from Wildmen for Saturday night before/after worship and Sunday morning between worship services to grill some steak bites pass out info and sell tickets on the patio out front to help us promote the Men’s Night? This is same as we’ve done in the past. Need to be ready 4:30 pm Sat and for about 15 minutes after worship lets out. Sunday morning between service should be there 10:00 to 10:50am and then after second worship for about 15 minutes.
If you can help out please contact:
Banks Corl
941-345-7632 mobile
An Identity We Received from Ransomed Heart
Identity is not something that falls on us out of the sky. For better or for worse, identity is bestowed. We are who we are in relation to others. But far more important, we draw our identity from our impact on those others-if and how we affect them. We long to know that we make a difference in the lives of others, to know that we matter, that our presence cannot be replaced by a pet, a possession, or even another person. The awful burden of the false self is that it must be constantly maintained.
We think we have to keep doing something in order to be desirable. Once we find something that will bring us some attention, we have to keep it going or risk the loss of the attention.
And so we live with the fear of not being chosen and the burden of maintaining whatever it is about us that might get us noticed and the commitment never to be seen for who we really are. We develop a functional self-image, even if it is a negative one. The little boy paints his red wagon a speckled gray with whatever Father left in the can after putting a new coat on the backyard fence. "Look what I did!" he says, hoping for affirmation of the wonderful impact his presence has on the world. The angry father shames him: "What do you think you're doing? You've ruined it." The boy forms an identity: My impact is awful; I foul good things up. I am a fouler. And he forms a commitment never to be in a place where he can foul things up again. Years later, his colleagues wonder why he turned down an attractive promotion. The answer lies in his identity, an identity he received from the impact he had on the most important person in his world and his fear of ever being in such a place again.
We think we have to keep doing something in order to be desirable. Once we find something that will bring us some attention, we have to keep it going or risk the loss of the attention.
And so we live with the fear of not being chosen and the burden of maintaining whatever it is about us that might get us noticed and the commitment never to be seen for who we really are. We develop a functional self-image, even if it is a negative one. The little boy paints his red wagon a speckled gray with whatever Father left in the can after putting a new coat on the backyard fence. "Look what I did!" he says, hoping for affirmation of the wonderful impact his presence has on the world. The angry father shames him: "What do you think you're doing? You've ruined it." The boy forms an identity: My impact is awful; I foul good things up. I am a fouler. And he forms a commitment never to be in a place where he can foul things up again. Years later, his colleagues wonder why he turned down an attractive promotion. The answer lies in his identity, an identity he received from the impact he had on the most important person in his world and his fear of ever being in such a place again.
Choose the Day!
Hello men, does your life seemed filled with difficulties and challenges? These are indeed challenging times. What do we do when life is so hard? Men, we must rise up and go hard after God. He alone is our source of victory, joy and confidence. Hope and rescue is found in none other. Now is not the time to pull away into isolation away from your brothers in Christ. We all need someone to have our back as we grapple with our life and faith as men.
Wildmen
Wildmen meets Tuesday at 7:00PM to continue with "Secrets of the Vine" by Bruce Wilkinson. This is a great series of teachings but perhaps, more importantly, it provides us great material to bring to the discussion table where the Word can become ours in a personal way as we share our lives. Dinner is at 7PM followed by the study and discussion time.
REAL Men
REAL Men meets this Thursday as usual with the morning session from 6:20-7:30PM in the Forum. We have been sharing ideas and concepts of sharing our faith and defending the gospel. The discussions have been amazing! At the lunch, which meets at the New China Buffet from 11:45-1:00PM, we will study how to take our stand in these days of confusion and uncertainty - Choose This Day!
Join us!
God bless, Billy
Wildmen
Wildmen meets Tuesday at 7:00PM to continue with "Secrets of the Vine" by Bruce Wilkinson. This is a great series of teachings but perhaps, more importantly, it provides us great material to bring to the discussion table where the Word can become ours in a personal way as we share our lives. Dinner is at 7PM followed by the study and discussion time.
REAL Men
REAL Men meets this Thursday as usual with the morning session from 6:20-7:30PM in the Forum. We have been sharing ideas and concepts of sharing our faith and defending the gospel. The discussions have been amazing! At the lunch, which meets at the New China Buffet from 11:45-1:00PM, we will study how to take our stand in these days of confusion and uncertainty - Choose This Day!
Join us!
God bless, Billy
Save the date: October 19th
Just a reminder that we’re bringing in James Henderson as a special Men’s Night speaker and hope all the Tampa Bay area Wildmen can be our guests at Woodland that Tuesday night.
A short bio: James Henderson holds the world record for (drug free tested) bench press (711 lbs!). He was one of the original members of the Power Team and is an ordained minister and evangelist, giving full time to speaking in schools, churches, men’s events, and other gatherings.
VISIT His web site: click here
http://bigjameshenderson.com/index-4.html
I’ve speak before and he is awesome!
Peter
A short bio: James Henderson holds the world record for (drug free tested) bench press (711 lbs!). He was one of the original members of the Power Team and is an ordained minister and evangelist, giving full time to speaking in schools, churches, men’s events, and other gatherings.
VISIT His web site: click here
http://bigjameshenderson.com/index-4.html
I’ve speak before and he is awesome!
Peter
Job Opening
Guys:
We are hiring at Cactussky.com if you know anyone looking please share this with them:
Jr. ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE:
Have you seen any great eMails lately? They’re probably ours! Cactussky.com is the fastest growing online advertising agency in West Florida and we need Jr. Account Executives! Only highly motivated people with positive attitudes and high energy levels need apply. Must be proficient in Word, Excel and have great organizational skills. We will train you to work with our clients. We will teach you how to create great eMail Campaigns, eNewsletters, Online contests and create a social media buzz! Great pay plans, paid vacation, paid holidays, excellent benefits package. Send Resume to angie@cactusskyemail.com
We are hiring at Cactussky.com if you know anyone looking please share this with them:
Jr. ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE:
Have you seen any great eMails lately? They’re probably ours! Cactussky.com is the fastest growing online advertising agency in West Florida and we need Jr. Account Executives! Only highly motivated people with positive attitudes and high energy levels need apply. Must be proficient in Word, Excel and have great organizational skills. We will train you to work with our clients. We will teach you how to create great eMail Campaigns, eNewsletters, Online contests and create a social media buzz! Great pay plans, paid vacation, paid holidays, excellent benefits package. Send Resume to angie@cactusskyemail.com
Friday, October 1, 2010
Sad News
Wildmen,
It is with a heavy heart that the Aquino family is announcing the passing away of a fellow Wildmen Manuel Aquino.
Manny went on to be with our heavenly Father this Wednesday Sep 29th 2010
Manuel believed in honoring his family and was very devoted to them, he was a loving husband and a father, grandfather, and brother to many.
He was a proud veteran of the U S Air Force and he worked as an aircraft mechanic for US Airways.
There will be a visitation on Sunday, October 3, 2010 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm with a funeral service at 2:00 pm at
Serenity Meadows Funeral Home
6919 Providence Road
Riverview, FL 33578
Please click on the links below for directions and more info
Obituary
http://www.serenitymeadows.com/obituaries/obituary.php?id=45259
Directions
http://www.serenitymeadows.com/about/locationA.php
--
Thank you
In Christ,
Jerry Batista
Director of Small Group Coaching / Men’s Ministry
jbatista@gracefamilychurch.org
813.265.4151 x144 office
813.495.4139 cell
It is with a heavy heart that the Aquino family is announcing the passing away of a fellow Wildmen Manuel Aquino.
Manny went on to be with our heavenly Father this Wednesday Sep 29th 2010
Manuel believed in honoring his family and was very devoted to them, he was a loving husband and a father, grandfather, and brother to many.
He was a proud veteran of the U S Air Force and he worked as an aircraft mechanic for US Airways.
There will be a visitation on Sunday, October 3, 2010 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm with a funeral service at 2:00 pm at
Serenity Meadows Funeral Home
6919 Providence Road
Riverview, FL 33578
Please click on the links below for directions and more info
Obituary
http://www.serenitymeadows.com/obituaries/obituary.php?id=45259
Directions
http://www.serenitymeadows.com/about/locationA.php
--
Thank you
In Christ,
Jerry Batista
Director of Small Group Coaching / Men’s Ministry
jbatista@gracefamilychurch.org
813.265.4151 x144 office
813.495.4139 cell
Prayer Requests
Here is an email from John Elredge regarding the Captivating retreat going on right now...please continue to pray.
Well the excitement is really building for a beautiful and powerful Captivating retreat. . . 350 women are attending, 305 are first timers which is wonderful. 28 are internationals from all over the world. Wow.
The women’s team had a chance to do some listening prayer and I wanted to give you some highlights for us all to be praying together about. We’ve learned over time that to bring real breakthrough, you have to shut down what the enemy is doing. So let us together bind Despair, Contempt, Weariness and Fear from the women coming. In place of that we pray for God’s Spirit to come. We heard Isaiah 49:23-26 for this weekend, so that will be powerful to also pray together, in agreement (I’ll paste that below).
And on behalf of the team, let us bind Fear and Weariness and Isolation. The team is coming in pretty weary and broken, and so Jesus said, “Stay with Me, Lean on Me” and “Love” as what we need to pray for them, as well as his anointing upon each of them.
And of course, we pray for the Kingdom to come, for Jesus’ intimate presence, for eyes to see and ears to hear, for healing and breakthrough and LIFE in Jesus’ name. O, how beautiful this will be. Thank you for helping us bring this deep restoration to the precious lives of these women, and through them, to change the world.
John
“Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground; they will lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed." Can plunder be taken from warriors, or captives rescued from the fierce ? But this is what the LORD says: "Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save. I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. Then all mankind will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob." Isaiah 49:23-26
John
-----Original Message-----
From: Jan Broucinek jan@broucinek.us
Subject: Re: Prayer
You forgot Shepherd's Village on Friday. They are having their Silent Auction / Dinner.
This weekend there is alot of ministry taking place.
So as things are moving forward the battle is on and people will need our prayer support.
Please remember to pray this weekend through Tuesday for:
The Ransomed Heart Ministries Team and their families
The women attending the Captivating retreat in CO this weekend.
Attending Captivating are:
Lisa Woods
Anita Lenas
Shellie Hobbs
Mary Miranda
Jill Miller
Liz Cherry
John Elredge speaking at the Extraordinary Women Conference in VA.
The Calling Retreat in GA with 40 men attending
Leaders are Gary Barkalow and Mike McDade with Jim Kline prayer leader on site
Wildmen Attending:
Richard Peterson
Rob Irwin
Jerome Gandee
and Charlie
Wildmen Ministry and all of the Wildmen Leaders and their families
Craig, Polly and Amanda at Ransomed Heart have already sent their heart felt appreciation for each of the Wildmen and our prayers.
Well the excitement is really building for a beautiful and powerful Captivating retreat. . . 350 women are attending, 305 are first timers which is wonderful. 28 are internationals from all over the world. Wow.
The women’s team had a chance to do some listening prayer and I wanted to give you some highlights for us all to be praying together about. We’ve learned over time that to bring real breakthrough, you have to shut down what the enemy is doing. So let us together bind Despair, Contempt, Weariness and Fear from the women coming. In place of that we pray for God’s Spirit to come. We heard Isaiah 49:23-26 for this weekend, so that will be powerful to also pray together, in agreement (I’ll paste that below).
And on behalf of the team, let us bind Fear and Weariness and Isolation. The team is coming in pretty weary and broken, and so Jesus said, “Stay with Me, Lean on Me” and “Love” as what we need to pray for them, as well as his anointing upon each of them.
And of course, we pray for the Kingdom to come, for Jesus’ intimate presence, for eyes to see and ears to hear, for healing and breakthrough and LIFE in Jesus’ name. O, how beautiful this will be. Thank you for helping us bring this deep restoration to the precious lives of these women, and through them, to change the world.
John
“Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground; they will lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed." Can plunder be taken from warriors, or captives rescued from the fierce ? But this is what the LORD says: "Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save. I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. Then all mankind will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob." Isaiah 49:23-26
John
-----Original Message-----
From: Jan Broucinek jan@broucinek.us
Subject: Re: Prayer
You forgot Shepherd's Village on Friday. They are having their Silent Auction / Dinner.
This weekend there is alot of ministry taking place.
So as things are moving forward the battle is on and people will need our prayer support.
Please remember to pray this weekend through Tuesday for:
The Ransomed Heart Ministries Team and their families
The women attending the Captivating retreat in CO this weekend.
Attending Captivating are:
Lisa Woods
Anita Lenas
Shellie Hobbs
Mary Miranda
Jill Miller
Liz Cherry
John Elredge speaking at the Extraordinary Women Conference in VA.
The Calling Retreat in GA with 40 men attending
Leaders are Gary Barkalow and Mike McDade with Jim Kline prayer leader on site
Wildmen Attending:
Richard Peterson
Rob Irwin
Jerome Gandee
and Charlie
Wildmen Ministry and all of the Wildmen Leaders and their families
Craig, Polly and Amanda at Ransomed Heart have already sent their heart felt appreciation for each of the Wildmen and our prayers.
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