My husband is God’s greatest gift to me after the gift of His Son’s death for my sin. When we were dating the Lord spoke to my heart and encouraged me that Jeremy is a gift from Him to me, but that I would only be able to open this gift through Bible study and Prayer…over the past 9 yrs the Lord has repeatedly reminded me of this promise. And, I’m finding that He really meant it. When I am not spending time with the Lord consistently my tendency is to whine and complain in my heart, but as I draw near to God He gives me clear vision concerning marriage and his purposes for my relationship with Jeremy. It is through Bible study and Prayer that my whining and complaining is turned to joy and amazement at God’s design. God’s command to love your neighbor as yourself truly starts in my marriage relationship and my sinful heart is revealed, for it is in this relationship that my selfishness is exposed the most. God is so kind to expose my sin and I’m so thankful for the teaching of our pastors that reminds us to run to the cross and look to Christ remembering that He took the wrath that we so justly deserved. What a Savior…what patience He has toward me!!

Heaven….no more sin and no more shame!
Min

As I’ve been reading “Love to Eat, Hate to Eat” by Elyse Fitzpatrick the Lord has reminded me that appetites of the body are doorways to disqualification. Elyse writes that Paul would never say that he can eat whatever he wants because he’s free in Christ. Instead he said that he beats his body and makes it his slave that after running he might not be disqualified. I’ve come to see that this is how I must view food. Yes, I am free in Christ and can eat whatever I want, but I can choose to say no because of the goal and prize that I’m living for. In order that I might not be disqualified from the race I MUST choose to say “No” to those things that trip me up and ensnare me. I must put off every sin that so easily ensnares me like it says in Hebrews. For some people they can eat “whatever” they want, but as for me, I cannot…because I see that if I do I will soon be worshipping food instead of the One True God. And, in this battle against sin I must look to my Savior who is my only help in my weakness. As I’m doing that I am seeing that He truly is strong when I am weak. Praise Him!

Living for the Prize,
Mindy

We do not choose the race, HE DOES! May we look to Him, the author and perfecter or our course as we take each step along the way.

For His Glory NOT OUR OWN!
Min

Many of you know that I am struggling with my faithless eating habits and the Lord has led me to study a book called “Love to Eat, Hate to Eat” by Elyse Fitzpatrick. As I was reading today I was reminded of the hard work involved in being godly. I think we are all tempted to look at other people and assume that being godly just comes naturally to some, while it requires diligence and hard work for others. BUT, the Bible is clear that this is not the case. Recently I’ve become convicted of my tendency to KNOW the right thing to do, but not to actually live it out. God’s Word speaks to this is James 1:22-25:
“Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man
who looks at his natural face in the mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But
one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be
blessed in what he does.”
Being a hearer only produces guilt and condemnation which only serves to stop our spiritual growth…I have been amazed by the grace God is pouring out on me as I seek to study His truth and obey it. May I encourage you to just cry out to God for grace to believe that He will meet you even in your smallest effort. He is for you, not against you. He has already proven this by pouring out His wrath on His Son for our sin!

Growing by Grace,
Mindy

Today I have been meditating on parenting and the discipleship of my children. What an amazing task…and one I am completely unable to do in my own strength. When I think that it’s up to me to save them I get overwhelmed and fearful. Graciously the Lord is reminding me today that their salvation is a work of the Lord. I have recently started a prayer journal for each individual child. Knowing that I am praying consistently for their souls and individual weaknesses brings comfort to my heart. I know that the Lord is helping me and I am thankful that He is using my children to show me how much I need Him. When people ask if we are done having children my response is that it depends on how many the Lord knows I need for my sanctfication. So, for the purpose of my sanctification and the furtherance of the Kingdom, I say, “bring them on!” My purpose on this earth is not to have a nice easy life full of leisure and entertainment, but instead it is to bring glory to God.

He is using the foolish things of the world to shame the wise! Praise Him!!

For the Glory of Christ Alone,
Mindy

This morning I have been meditating on the fact that life is a battle. All of ous are idol factories working away at worshipping something besides the One True God. As I reflected on a recent Ladies’ meeting I was struck with this fact…though the idols are different we all have them. This fact should drive us to the cross once again where our sins are paid for by His precious Son.

In fighting this battle we must first ask the Lord to convict us of the seriousness of our sin. Our hearts are deceitful and oftentimes we don’t consider our sin to be serious, but God’s word says that He poured out His wrath on His Son because of our sin. Nothing could be more serious than that!

Once we are convicted that our sin is serious then we must ask the Lord to help us to fight. His Word is a lamp and a light, therefore we must start by renewing our minds in His word. His Word also says that if we hide his Word in our hearts it will enable us to not sin against Him. I spent some time this morning praying and thinking through this idea of life as a battle and wanted to share it with you.

1 Corinthians 10 gives us the example of the Israelites and how God was leading them and providing for them…He was their provision! Yet, they grumbled against Him. I believe that when we complain about anything we are being just like the Israelites. If God is sovereignly orchestrating our years, days and moments then if we complain we are in sin calling God a liar and a bad shepherd and Father. I Cor. 10:6,7,11-14 “Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were….’ Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond what your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

Run to Christ…He is our escape and His Word will light the path as His Spirit fills us with power to obey!