All Access Pass

“I have a backstage pass to the concert!” “We were able to get all access passes for the amusement park!” “The package included a pass to meet the conference main speaker!” These are all exciting to have. They give the holder a privilege that is usually limited to only a few. Most of us will live our whole lives never meeting anyone we would consider “famous”. Some of us have or will try, but not succeed. Only a few will attain those exclusive passes. However, what many Christians don’t remember is that we have been given the best pass ever. By having our sins forgiven and Christ’s righteousness imputed upon us, we have been given an all access pass to the throne room of God. We are invited to enter, and approach the throne of grace, boldly and with confidence! There is no problem too big or too small, to conversation too deep or too trivial for God. And He wants us to come. Why would I go to a concert, sit in the back, and leave early if I had a ticket that gave me a front row seat and the chance to meet the musician? I wouldn’t, no one would! So, I shouldn’t stand in the hall outside God’s throne room either. I need to accept this amazing privilege God has offered me, rejoice, and go in! This opportunity should excite each of us more than any other pass we may get in life. If you are a Christian, you have an all access pass into the throne room of God! Does that excite you?

Choosing

“The truth about the choices we make is plain. We don’t
consistently choose the Lord because we don’t really desire Him … and we don’t
really desire Him because we’re not convinced that choosing Him will result in
our happiness.” ~ Elyse Fitzpatrick

God's Faithfulness

Recently, I was reminded of God’s faithfulness. The fact
that He never leaves me, or forsakes me. He’s always there, even when other
people aren’t. He loves me unconditionally, regardless of how much or how
little I’m loving Him at any given time. God continues to love and hold me even
when my heart gets distracted by other things. His faithfulness is like no
other. Great is His faithfulness!

Kindness and Truth

Do not let kindness and truth leave you;

Bind them around your neck,

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Proverbs 3:3

When I read this verse the other day, I stopped to ponder its meaning. We need to let kindness and truth invade our lives. They should be in everything we say and do. They should be what characterize us. And we are to do everything possible to not let them leave us. “Bind them around your neck”. This made me think of putting a necklace on. Kindness and truth should adorn and grace our lives like a beautiful necklace. This verse also says to “write kindness and truth on the tablet of your heart”. A couple of images came to mind when I read this. When I went to Israel, I had the opportunity to see the Dead Sea Scrolls and a tablet of stone with writing on it that proves Pontius Pilot lived. That stone and the scrolls have survived for centuries. They were meant to be permanent when they were written. Kindness and truth should be ingrained in us permanently as well. If a stone and scrolls with important writing can last centuries, kindness and truth should be able to last our lifetime. So write kindness and truth permanently on your heart and adorn your life with their beauty, and they will never leave you.

Trusting God

Carolyn Mahaney was asked: “If you could parent your daughters all over again what would you do differently?” Her answer was:

“I wish I had trusted God more. For every fearful peek into the future, I wish I had looked to Christ instead. For each imaginary trouble conjured up, I wish I had recalled the specific, unfailing faithfulness of God. In place of dismay and dread, I wish I had exhibited hope and joy.”

While I am not faced with raising children at present, I was encouraged by this quote. Each of us, no matter what our season of life, has times when we look at the future and wonder what it holds. We often have fears and what if’s. It’s good to be reminded to trust God. And,

For every fearful peek into the future, look to Christ instead.
For each imaginary trouble, recall the specific, unfailing faithfulness of God.
And replace dismay and dread with hope and joy.
Trust God.

No Vacancies!

“A heart that is truly guarded must have no vacancies -- no empty spaces that need to be filled, no voids that leave open places and room for the enemy to get in. When God asks for our heart, He asks for all of it. He wants to fill every part with Himself. He completes us. Only when we are satisfied in Him will we be able to selflessly give our lives for others. We need to put up a sign that says ‘No Vacancies’. Except we don’t need a sign - others will notice simply by our lives. They can see if our heart has voids and is unfulfilled, seeking attention from others, or if we are filled with Jesus, overflowing with love and joy, and seeking to spread His light everywhere we go.” ~ Sarah Mally

Recommended Reading Review ~ A Woman after God's Own Heart

A Woman after God’s Own Heart
By Elizabeth George

God called David a man after His own heart. What an amazing description! Wouldn’t you love to be described as such? In her book, A Woman after God’s Own Heart, Elizabeth George encourages women to become just what the title says. The chapters of this book are filled with Biblical, practical advice and instruction on living with God first and at the center of our lives. Mrs. George helps the reader see that there are priorities in life and that they need to be in order. When all these priorities are in their proper order, with God always the number one priority, life runs smoothly and God is glorified in our daily lives. A Woman after God’s Own Heart is a book that every Christian woman should read. Whether single or married, we can apply the principles in Mrs. George’s book, and become women after God’s own heart.

"There you are!"

People have always been self-focused, but it seems as if people have become more so as time goes on. Sin-nature tells us to “look out for number one” and to think about “what will make ME happy”. However, as Christians, God calls us to think differently, to put others before ourselves. When we walk into a room full of people, we have a choice to make: are we going to make the focus be on us, or are we going to focus on others? We have to consciously make the decision to focus on others. And we have to be honest with ourselves about it as well. We are so good at saying we are serving others, but our real motive is to be noticed. It’s not just our own hearts that know what our attitude is, everyone else can tell as well right when we walk in the door. When we enter a room, our expression and presence says either, “Here I am” or “There you are”. The first is self-focused while the latter is others-focused. May we be women of God who are truly others-focused.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

God brought me this beautiful passage shortly after a dear saint passed away. While we do mourn our loss of those dear to us, if they are fellow believers, we are to rejoice with them. They are in Heaven with the Savior! They have no more pain, struggles, or sin! And one day we will be reunited with them and spend eternity praising the Lord together!

The Christian Home

As Christians, our relationship with Christ and His work in our hearts should overflow into every aspect of our lives. As women, one of these aspects is the home. A Christian home should have a different atmosphere from non-Christian homes. Our homes should proclaim Christ to both those who live there and those who visit. But how do we encourage a Christ-centered atmosphere in our homes? Well, there is an opportunity next month that will help us in this area!

On Saturday, May 8, 2010, 8:30am - 4:30pm, Biblical Womanhood Seminars will host their spring seminar at Cedar Springs Christian Conference Center in Sumas Washington. The title of the seminar is Christ in Me … The Heart of the Home. Nine women will be sharing how we, as Christian women, can create a Christ-centered atmosphere in our homes using the fruits of the Spirit. The seminar costs $15 per person, and includes breakfast and lunch.

I have attended three seminars hosted by Biblical Womanhood Seminars and have been greatly encouraged by the teaching and the fellowship. It is a group of godly women striving to live Christ-centered, God-glorifying lives, and encourage other women to do the same.

If you would like information on how to register,
please e-mail me at: brighthope4him@gmail.com!

A Post to Read

I found an excellent post on not judging others based on their appearance. I encourage you to hop over to Joyfully At Home to read it. Click HERE to read the post.

Christ Is Risen, Christ Is Living

Christ Is Risen, Christ Is Living
Christ is risen, Christ is living.
Dry your tears; be unafraid.
Death and darkness could not hold Him,
Nor the tomb in which He lay.
Do not look among the dead
For One who lives forevermore.
Tell the world that Christ is risen;
Make it known He goes before.

If the Lord had never risen,
We’d have nothing to believe.
But His promise can be trusted:
“You will live because I live.”
As we share the death of Adam,
So in Christ we live again.
Death has lost its sting and terror;
Christ the Lord has come to reign.

Death has lost its old dominion;
Let the world rejoice and shout!
Christ, the firstborn of the living,
Gives us life and leads us out.
Let us thank our God who causes
Hope to spring up from the ground.
Christ is risen, Christ is giving
Life eternal, life profound.

The Cost of Salvation

Salvation is not easy. It cost God everything, even His own Son, and it costs you the same, even yourself. - John MacArthur

Good Friday 2010

“Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders.
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life.
I know that it is finished.”

“My sin, o the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin not in part but the whole
is nailed to the cross and I bare it no more. Praise the Lord!”

Be A Wog!

A friend recently told this story:

Two young women were attending a conference. As they were chatting together, two young men were having a conversation behind them. On of the men said something that caught the ladies’ attention, “I wonder if she’s a wog.” The young women looked at each other a little confused. A few minutes later, they introduced themselves to the two gentlemen. After the typical conversation that follows an introduction, one of the young women said, “We couldn’t help overhearing your conversation a few minutes ago, and we were wondering what a ‘wog’ is.” The young men smiled, and the one who had spoken the unusual word explained, “A ‘wog’ is a ‘woman of God’.”

Being a woman of God needs to be our most significant characteristic. Determine today, along with me, to become a woman of God. Be a wog!

The Heart of the Home

The fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23

The fruit of the Spirit is something that is to be present and evident in every Christian’s life. However, did you ever think that these are characteristics that can and should be found in the Christian home? An up-coming Biblical Womanhood Seminar will teach on this very topic.

Christ in Me …
The Heart of the Home
Saturday, May 8, 2010
8:30 am -- 4:30 pm
Cost: $15 per person
Breakfast and lunch provided

This one-day seminar, open to all ladies age 15 and older, will be held at the beautiful Cedar Springs Christian Conference Center in Sumas, Washington. It will be a wonderful day filled with Biblical encouragement on filling our homes with the fruit of the Spirit.

If you would like more information on registering for this seminar, please leave a comment!

The Word of God

There is nothing like the Word of God. There will never be anything like it. We live and die spiritually in proportion to how seriously we take this book. Those who take it as the Word of God will forever stand in awe of every jot and tittle and be transformed by its incredible power. It is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness. In other words, it will teach you, touch you, turn you, and transform you. It will put back the missing pieces in your soul and make you new. - Russell Kelfer

God's Love for Me

February 14th means different things to different people. Generally, it is recognized as a day to express your love for a certain person. But, I have found that many singles, especially ladies, find it one of the worst days of the year. I have heard of it being renamed “Singles Awareness Day”, a day when singles remind themselves and everyone around them that they are single. However, I find that viewing the day in this way causes a slight, or severe, case of self-pity and discouragement. So, I decided to see the holiday in a different light this year. Instead of looking at the love two humans have for each other, I looked at the love God has for me. I searched for verses in the Bible, songs, and quotes that tell me of God’s love for me. As I studied and read, I again realized that I am loved by the God of the universe with the greatest love of all time, and found myself falling deeper in love with Him. I would like to share with you some of the things I found, and invite you, whether single or married, to join with me in celebrating God’s love for us this Valentine’s Day.

The Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me
and have believed that I came forth from the Father.
John 16:27

God’s steadfast, sure love for us is:
Unbelievable - so worship!
Unwarranted - so rejoice!
Unshakable - so love!

God’s steadfast, sure love is unshaken by:
Death - when you die God’s love keeps going.
Time - God’s love never wears out.
Sin - sin does not break God’s eternal love for you.

Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
Romans 8:35a

The Love of God
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell,
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest Hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin.

When years of time shall pass away
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s love so sure shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race
The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade.
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky.

O love of God, how rich and pure,
How measureless and strong.
It shall forever more endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39

How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss.
The Father turns His face away.
As wounds which mare the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders.
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held Him there.
Until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life.
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom.
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart,
His wounds have paid my ransom.

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us,
that we would be called children of God; and such we are.
1 John 3:1a

Another Year Is Dawning

I found this hymn by Frances R. Havergal and was so encouraged by it. May this be our prayer as we begin another year.

Another year is dawning: Dear Father, let it be,
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee;
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy Presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace;
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love;
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning: Dear Father, let it be,
On earth or else in heaven, another year for Thee.

Happy New Year!

A Citizen of Zion

PSALM 15
Description of a Citizen of Zion.
A Psalm of David.
O Lord, who may abide in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy hill?
He who walks with integrity,
and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.
He does not slander with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
But who honors those who fear the Lord;
He swears to his own hurt and does not change;
He does not put out his money at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken.

David begins this psalm with questions. He is asking the Lord what the characteristics of a citizen of Zion are. He then answers those questions. This psalm describes to us how a citizen of Zion should behave. From our side of the cross, we can say that this psalm is a description of a Christian. They are good guidelines to be reminded of. Also, if we do these things we will “never be shaken”. What a wonderful promise!