Awesome Song Time.

I had the privilege of hearing my dear friend share a smidgen of his testimony last night and then share this song afterward. He was celebrating 5 years of being free from his drug addiction. I've heard it said before that "the depths of the dealing always corresponds to the height of the calling". I love delivering that message to people because I truly do believe that it is true. I do think that there is a special depth to Alex that is only there because of the "depths" God has pulled him through, and I believe God has a calling for Him that maxes out in height in comparison the depths that God pulled him from. I am VERY, VERY excited for what God has in store for him. He is at the very early stages of his journey toward what I believe will be a VERY large and successful ministry for the Lord someday that will span across the country and eventually the world...although I cannot tell you for sure what exactly that will look like yet. I believe he is destined for GREAT things. Currently we are blessed to have him helping to lead worship at our church in good old humble Valparaiso, Indiana. Check out this message to one of his songs that he wrote:

Push on through to your destination.
Move along without hesitation.
This ain't about denomination.
It's a rising up of a generation.
Sing Amen.

I hear Angels singing in the back of my mind.
God is good all the time.
All the time God is good.

Push on through to your destination.

This is a beautiful song, Alex with a powerful message. Thank you for sharing this! Proud of you brother. Keep on pushing through to your destination Alex. You're right!!! You're absolutely right!!! That IS a message from the Lord! :0)

Restless Hearts Find Rest

"You have made us for yourself, O Lord,

and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you."

-- St. Augustine in "Confessions"

What are you going to do with your baggage?

QUICK REMINDER BEFORE WE MOVE ON: YOU ARE LOVED!!!!!!

Okay, let's move on...

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

#1. Rest. Wait, what?
Resting should be the easiest thing for us to do, as humans, right? What's easier to do than doing nothing? I think that sometimes doing nothing can be harder for us than doing everything. This is so counter-cultural. It might be because we equate doing "things" with being important, and deep down we really want to know that we are important. God says you are important just by BEING who you are, not because of what you do. You don't have to DO anything or PROVE anything to BE important to Him.

Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
~Isaiah 54:10

Isn't that refreshing to know?

#2. Surrender. HUH?
Surrendering our "baggage" can be difficult. We're so used to carrying it everywhere. We don't know what to do once we let go of it. I think God designed us with a tendency to want to have some element of control over the things around us. This is not an entirely bad thing really. God does not want us to live in a world of chaos. There is a place for planning and creating strategy in our lives. But, there is also a place in our lives for surrendering as well. The question is, when do we work through something in faith, and when do we release that thing and let it go (which is also as an act of faith)?

As far as the "baggage" in your life goes, it becomes a matter of surrendering. If you want freedom from your "past baggage" it is not something you fight for, it is something you surrender to God. We don't have to FIGHT for our freedom from those things; we get to rest in God's freedom from those things as we lay them at His feet and allow Him to sift out the stuff we can't. Isn't that ironic? There is a spiritual warfare going on over your life that you cannot see. Satan wants you to think that you have to FIGHT tooth and nail, and wear yourself out fighting, working out every little detail of every little thing in your life. God tells you to stop fighting and to rest in Him, allowing HIM to be God. Lay "it" all down at the feet of the cross and in doing so you will experience the freedom you crave. Isn't that rich? Salvation is the moment you asked God into your heart. Sanctification is the ongoing process of surrendering of your will, and in doing so you will find freedom from the baggage that would otherwise wear you down. Both are in your best interest. God loves you and is crazy about you, and ALWAYS has your best interest in mind.

3. Serve. Ah...Yes. Okay. Now I get it.
So it was never really about me? No! It was! But, God also cares about everyone else as well. Once you are free from your "baggage" what are you going to do with your new freedom? Now you are free to serve those around you. Where once you were completely absorbed in your own "self", you are now free to serve those around you, to the glory of God. This will not sound appealing at all to some people who have not accepted Jesus into their heart yet. It might sound foolish, actually. Can I just tell you, though, there is NOTHING more satisfying in all your life then when you can get to this point... when you are free from the "baggage" and are able to joyfully CHOOSE to serve others, out of the love that God has placed in your heart for them. It's liberating and rewarding, and this is where God's blessings are POURED out. You'll love it. What are you waiting for?

Sanctification was the topic of our sermon this past Sunday at my church....allowing God to be God of your life, putting HIM on the throne where He rightfully belongs-- There is freedom in that. Why? Because putting God on the throne takes all of the other "things" off the throne and releases the bondage and the "hold" that they have on you, giving you the abundant life that God promises in the Bible. Well, now, that sounds good when you put it that way, doesn't it?
Here's a link to the sermon that my Pastor preached this past week if you are interested in listening to it in its entirety:
Pastor Gene Tanner preaches on sanctification on October 30, 2011.

Okay, awesome song time.

Guest Post: Cardboard Testimonies

Just what is a cardboard testimony? It’s a visual representation of how God has turned your life around. On one side, a person would write a word, phrase, or sentence about a struggle they had in their lives without God. On the flip side, they would change the words to show how God has blessed them. For example, a cardboard testimony might read, “Always Felt Empty” then on the other side, “Full of Joy.” For a better idea, you can watch this video:

Cardboard testimonies are a powerful way to show the power of God’s amazing love in your life. For those who may be uncomfortable sharing their full testimony in front of a church body, cardboard testimonies are another way to explain how God has changed your life.

Believe it or not, I'm not certain where Cardboard Testimonies actually started. While Hillside Christian Church in Amarillo, Texas, was the first to post a video online in 2006, the church’s pastor mentioned that he “borrowed” the idea from a church in Las Vegas. The idea has since spread to many churches across the U.S. and around the world.

Watching a presentation of Cardboard Testimonies is truly inspiring. People who suffered from all kinds of problems – depression, infertility, drug addiction, anger, and abuse – have found comfort and healing through God’s love. Perhaps you might even think about organizing a presentation at your church, bible study, or conference.

What would your Cardboard Testimony be?

About the Author: Marcia Colgar owns the site, Online Christian Colleges. She writes various articles about faith-based education.

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Alisha Here:
Thank You Marcia, for sharing this idea!!! Our church has done this before, as well, and I agree with you that and it is a VERY powerful demonstration that brings God glory in a special way!!!

I would LOVE to hear from the rest of you!!!! Take a moment now to post your "cardboard testimony" as a "comment" under this post. There is something WONDERFULLY rewarding, and liberating, in sharing our testimonies. And there is something POWERFULLY uplifting and bonding as we boldly, and compassionately, connect through our stories. Are you at a place in your life where you have a "cardboard testimony" to share? Might you consider letting God use you today. Share your cardboard testimony with us. If need be, you can post your comment anonymously, but for those of you who identify your names, you will be entered into a drawing and I will be randomly choosing one person to bless with a "PRIZE" later this week. :) (and no, it won't be made of duct tape and cardboard)

MAY YOU BLESS AND BE BLESSED!!!

aweSOMe SONg time.

How God can take our Trial and make it His Triumph when we cling to our faith in Him.

One of my friends had this saying on her facebook page today and I just loved it. Isn't that just like God? The way he redeems even the worst of circumstances in our lives. And isn't that a huge part of what we love so much about God? The way He gives us a reason to hope in something even when things look absolutely hopeless.

God is our Redeemer, Restorer, Rebuilder, and Rewarder.
I love it.


IN THE FIRE YOU WILL NOT BE SET ABLAZE.
Isaiah 43:2 tells us,

"When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze."

I don't know about anybody else, but there are some days that I just need to be reminded that I am NOT going to be "set ablaze" when I am "walking through the fire" or the "trials" in my life.

AN EXAMPLE FROM THREE MEN WHO'VE BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.
God has been bringing the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to my mind lately. Three guys stepped out in obedience, doing what they felt God was asking them to do, knowing FULL well that the consequence for their obedience to God was probably going to be DEATH. They felt like God was telling them not to bow down to the golden idol that King Nebudchenezar made, because it was not honoring to their God. They stood firm in what they felt God was telling them to do, believing that it mattered that they live out their integrity and honor God with every part of their lives whether it resulted in death or not, and whether anyone noticed or not. Sure enough, someone noticed, and we get a front row seat to see where they are called out in verse 12,

"But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”

And sure enough, King Nebuchadnezzar is NOT happy about it. The Bible says he was "furious with rage". (something tells me he had anger problems) The intensity picks up here. Now, if you are like me you have heard this story growing up as a kid and you imagine it from a kid's perspective. (three happy little guys going into a furnace) Go with me, now, as an adult. Three MEN who are working for the King, are willing to risking their jobs and their lives over this issue. This moment is INTENSE. Imagine your boss staring you down in rage, after having built some trust and a working relationship over some time. The heat in this moment was rising before the furnace ever got turned up, if you know what I am saying.

GOING THROUGH THE FIRE, BUT NOT IN THE FIRE YET.
He questions them to make sure that they're were "ridiculous" as he has heard they were and then gives them a second chance, reminding them that if they make the same "stupid" (implied) move again, their fate is the FURNACE, and then in complete bully fashion, he offers a threat in verse 15, "Then what god will be able to rescue you from my (as the KING..HELLO!?) hand?” So, he's not really all that nice to them, but he is offering some amount of grace to them at this point by at least giving them a chance to redeem themselves.

UHHHMMM....GUYS?
I would imagine that this would be a time of the guys looking at each other like, "Oh dear, so he's kinda mad, huh guys?" (gulp) Like, ummm...this isn't looking good for us guys...SO... Now might be a great time to retreat...develop an escape route or something! I heard there is a place called Eden somewhere. Let's run away and keep running until we find that place! :) Of course, that would not be consistent with who these three guys are. These are three men who act on their faith in everything they do. A weaker man would buckle under the kind of pressure this "boss" was dishing out. These are not weak men though. They knew what they were getting into. They counted the cost before they got started and they weren't about to buckle now. Here's what they did, and here's what WE are to do when the intensity picks up in our lives and we are waiting on God in our lives...

THEY ACTED ON THEIR FAITH, NOT ON THEIR SIGHT.
They stood FIRM!! In their faith, they stood firm, knowing that God called them to act in obedience, so He was going to pull through for them in one way or another. Verses 16-18 tell us this:

"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

That's "faith talk" right there. Unmovable. "Your threats mean nothing to us. You are the KING, with all the power of the land, and you're our boss and yet your threats mean nothing." WOW! Right? Okay, keep going.

Verse 19 tells us that then King Nebuchadnezzar was furious (which is actually the same word from before) but it goes on to say that his "attitude towards them changed". What I imagine here, is the difference between the King going from mad, to PSYCOPATH. You know what I am saying? Because what we find out next is that the King's command was so "urgent" to have the guards turn up the furnace SO ridiculously hot (7 times hotter than usual) that his strongest guards who tried to throw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace actually died from the flames of the fire by coming close to it because it was TOO intense to even come close to. The three men "fell" into the blazing furnace by the guards who died pushing them in. (I'm sure this was a lovely sight for the townspeople that day.)

HERE'S WHERE THE FAITH JUST BARELY STARTS TO PAY OFF... (This part taken straight from the Bible and my tidbits added in parenthesis to drive home this point of how our faith/obedience when played out pays off over and over again, and how we see that in the case of these three men)

Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”
They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”
²⁵ He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”(You faith starts to pay off when others see that you are not alone in the "fire" or in your trial, but that God is there with you and they see how God is pulling you through, and start giving Him glory...Amen!?)
²⁶ Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, ²⁷ and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. (ONLY with GOD can we be healed, restored, and come out unharmed, and even stronger than before the "event" took place like this. He carries us through an emotionally, spiritually, physically, traumatizing event in our lives, and brings healing. THIS is THE TESTIMONY RIGHT HERE!!! Again, God receives glory, and this is when faith pays off again.)
²⁸ Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. ²⁹ Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”(King Nebuchadnezzar is probably just slightly over dramatic here, but still you get the point...EVERYONE began worshiping God after seeing what He did to save Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. God honored and blessed the obedience of these three men. Their faith pays off again each and every time everyone worships God. HUGE. Amen.)
³⁰ Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

FINAL WRAP UP
When you are being pushed through a hard season in your life, feeling the intensity of your "reality" remind yourself that you are in GOOD HANDS. You do not walk through the fire alone. God is with every step of the way and
When you pass through the waters,
He will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

YOU are going to come out STRONG when you cling to HIM. Trust in Him. Put your faith in Him. Take the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Act out of your faith, not out of your sight. Live out of your obedience, act and speak out of your faith, trust in God. Let your life be a testimony! I want that so bad! Don't you? God is FAITHFUL!! And don't think for a SECOND, that those three men would have had that moment taken away from them. That was their GLORY moment! Their moment with and Angel of God...in that furnace when they should have been TOAST, they were unscathed, with and Angel of God protecting them. Well, now if that doesn't change your faith forever I don't know what will. That was an IRREPLACEABLE MOMENT that they could NEVER have had any other way. Trust me...Those men were blessed, in their own special, personal, unique, "nobody can take this from me" kind of way for their obedience.

LOVE IT!



PRAYER
Lord, Make our lives a testimony for you. Lead us. Guide us. One step at a time. Take us on a journey where you receive glory in our lives and others will be brought to you because of our testimony, Lord. May you always receive the glory for EVERY act of obedience in our lives, Lord. In your name we pray, Amen.

A wife of Noble Character

Proverbs 31:10-31

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 [b]A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.