What Will I build?

What will you BUILD?

What will be your LEGACY?

How will you MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE?

These are the questions asked in one of the most recent TV ads for Habitat for Humanity.

As I listened to their commercial, it got me to thinking...How can I do those things?

What will I build? 

What will be MY legacy? 

How will I make the world a BETTER PLACE?

As I thought about each question, here are some answers I came up with-

What can I build?

There are lots of things we can build throughout our lives, but I want to focus on one- lasting relationships- “A friend loveth at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17)

In today’s fast-paced society, it is very hard to slow down and focus on the things that really matter. I know it’s very hard for me at times to remember that my sisters and my parents are more important than the book I’m reading, or the song I have to work on for church. I have to continually remind myself that these relationships are what will last, these are the things that will make up my life as I look back through the years, not the books I read, or the songs I play, or the emails I send out.

What will be my legacy?

This is a hard one to answer right off the bat. More than likely, when you think of a ‘Legacy’, you probably think of someone who has passed away. That’s what makes this so hard to answer right off, but think about it.

Everyone that has passed away has left a legacy, for some it’s a good legacy, for others, the families of the deceased would probably rather not talk about it. Some families have a very Godly legacy handed down from generation to generation, others wish they had that.

So, the question arises- how do you leave a legacy?

Well, right here, right now, you and I are building and creating our legacies! If the Lord tarries, one day, your great-great-grandchildren will be talking about what you did (or didn’t do), whether it be good or bad, and how it has affected their life. That’s a scary thought!

But think about it, through the ages many people have left a legacy. The ones we always recall are those that left a good legacy, but I’m sure within every family there is someone who left a not-so-appealing legacy. I know I have a couple in my own family. We don’t talk about the bad side of things most of the time, but the effects are still there.

So what legacy will I leave? What kind of legacy do I WANT to leave? What am I 

doing today, good or bad, that will effect future generations? We have to think about this now, because a legacy is not made in the last year or two or your life, a legacy is made over the course of a lifetime, and it’s largely effected by what you do while you’re young. 

So, start thinking generationally, not just for today. I’ll be right there with you!

How Will I Make the World a Better Place?

Have you ever heard someone say- “You make my life better just by being here”? Were they talking to you? Or were you eavesdropping on a conversation?  (caught you didn’t I?)

No matter where you heard it, did you know it’s true? 

So many people think that you have to go to the jungles of Africa or to the outback of Australia or to the mountains of China to make a difference. I know I thought that for a while.

But do you realize that you can make the world a better place just by smiling at someone? As I mentioned before, we live in a very fast-paced society, and so often, people are overlooked- The greeter at Walmart, the bagboy at BiLo, the little lady sitting by herself drinking coffee at the local restaurant- All of these people are special to God! But so often, they get left in the dust. Just by smiling and saying ‘Hi’, or “Thank you, and God bless you!” can change that person’s whole day, maybe even their life!

Another thing to do is follow God’s calling on your life. It’s different for every person. I have several friends who are answering the Call of Christ on their lives and it ranges from traveling all over the world to share the gospel, to being a missionary to one specific country, to ministering to the local children through Good News Clubs and Bible Study Fellowships.

If you do what the Lord has called YOU to do, no matter if you think it’s a big or small task, it is important (If it weren’t, God wouldn’t ask you to do it!) and it can make a difference!

I’m learning that it’s not always about the masses, it’s about the one soul. The Bible says the angels rejoice over one sinner who comes to repentance, so why should I think that just because I’m not witnessing to hundreds or thousands of people that what I’m doing is any less important?

I challenge you, do what God has called you to do! And if He hasn’t called you to something specific yet, find something to do (like truly greeting the greeter at Walmart), and do it with all your might! You won’t regret it, I promise!

So, What will You Build?

To Have This Kind of Faith!

"Give us Lord, a special faith, unlimited and free,
A faith that isn't bound by what we know or what we see...
A faith that trusts the sunshine even when there is no light,
A faith that hears the morning song's soft echo in the night...
A faith that somehow rises past unhappiness or pain,
Knowing that in every loss, Your goodness will remain...
A faith that finds Your steadfast love sufficient for all things,
A faith that lifts the heart above and gives the spirit wings."

B. J. Hoff

Boldly Stepping Out In Faith

When the Lord wants to get your attention, He will get your attention, infact, He will sometimes go overboard! :)

Lately, I have been struggling with something that I felt the Lord has called me to do, but I wasn't sure, because if I do it, I take the chance of damaging my testimony. So I have been really torn about this particular ministry opportunity.

As I was talking a friend of mine yesterday, I asked his opinion. He had some great words of wisdom-

"If the Lord is leading and you have given your reputation to the Lord then what is there to fear?"

Well, that was received with a swift kick in the spirit by the Lord. :) And I have to say a special thank you to this friend because the Lord used those words as the springboard to what He really wanted to show me yesterday and today.

Last night at church, the sermon was on expecting miracles, and you guessed it, it had a lot to do with FEAR VS. FAITH.

The teacher shared the verse- "Be not afraid, only believe." (Mark 5:36)
He also shared Hebrews 4:16-

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

At this point, I'm saying- "Okay, Lord, I hear you. I will step out in faith."

This morning the Lord decided to drive the point home just a little bit more.

I suscribe to a website called DailyChristianQuote.com.  Todays quote was-

"The reason angels can fly is because they take themselves so lightly."

At first I read it flippantly, and then I really looked at it. In a way, it's very true. When I focus on others and on doing what the Lord has called me to do, I feel like I'm floating on air, or flying. My spirit is filled with the Holy Spirit, and I'm letting Him have control, so I don't worry about anything, I just do. But on the other hand, when I focus on myself, and let pride get in the way, I feel weighted down, I don't have the Joy of the Lord as my strength.

In my devotions this morning I read the chapter of the day in Proverbs and this verse stood out-
Proverbs 15:3-

"The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good."

The Lord spoke a sweet peace to my soul through this whole thing, but this verse was what 'sealed the deal' if you will. I felt the Lord's arms come around me and He whispered in my ear,

"What does it matter what others think? I see ALL, I know ALL. Don't worry about the outcome, just do what I've asked you to do. I'll take care of the rest."

Unless you have experienced something like this for yourself, you have no idea how much good this did me!

So, I have determined to Boldly Step out in Faith and let God handle everything. It's not easy, especially since I have a tendency to over-think, over-analyze, and over-control issues. But I know that with the Lord's help I can do it! Philippians 4:13-

"I can do ALL things through Christ which strengtheneth me!"

I will close with one more quote that really says it all-

"If you have the smile of God, what does it matter

if you have the frown of man?"

-Leonard Ravenhill

Desiring the Word of Truth

“The Bible is not an end in itself,

but a means to bring men to an

intimate and satisfying knowledge of God,

that they may enter into Him,

that they may delight in His presence,

may taste and know the inner

sweetness of the very God Himself

in the core and center of their hearts.”

A.W. Tozer

This quote really got me to thinking- how often do I read my Bible just to check it off the list and say ‘done for today, on to the rest of my life’?

My desire is to know Christ on an intimate level, to feel His presence in my life when I’m not reading the Bible and when I’m not in church, to commune with Him all day long.  But I must confess, more often than not, I pick up my Bible to read, and I read it like a fiction novel.  I treat it as if there is nothing there for me, it’s just recreational reading.

Oh Lord, please forgive me! 

His Word is anything but recreational reading!  I must learn to prepare my heart through prayer and then read the scriptures so that I may- enter in and delight in His presence, and ‘taste and know the inner sweetness’ of Christ in the very core of my heart and soul!

No matter what your goal in life-be it a missionary, a wife/husband, a mother/father, a business owner, etc., Christ and His Word must be the center of your life.  How can it be the center of your life if you don’t read it and apply what it says? 

My pastor has an acronym that he uses –

Basic

Instructions

Before

Leaving

Earth

I know that too often I forget that the Bible is not just a history book, and it’s not just a glimpse into the future, it IS Life’s instruction manual.  God did not give us 66 different books compiled into one Good Book for it to lie on our shelves collecting dust. He meant it for us to use as a daily tool. 

In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul tells us that as Christians we are fighting not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and against the rulers of darkness. One of the things he lists in our ‘armor’ is the Sword of Faith.

Think back to the middle ages, the days of knights and their ladies fair. A soldier did not go out into battle without a weapon, generally that weapon was always a sword, and a double-edged sword at that. Why? Because it would do double damage, it would cut coming and going. 

That is what the Word of God is. It is our double-edged sword. We face a battle everyday of our lives as Christians.  We cannot go into battle with our armor on, but no weapon. No soldier in his right mind would do that. We must arm ourselves daily with the Word of God, otherwise we will lose the battle.

May we be as Timothy when Paul was instructing him- May we “study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15; editing and emphasis mine).

Flame of God

This year for our Children's Program the theme is "Let Your Light Shine".

Along with that theme, we will be studying a different missionary every night.

One of those missionaries is Amy Carmichael.  

  

Miss Carmichael was a very Bright Light for the Lord in India.  With the Lord's direction,

She was able to rescue many children from the temple's of the false gods of India.

Along with caring for these children, she wrote many books and poems.

One of my favorite of her poems is Flame of God-

"Give me the Love that leads the way 

The Faith that nothing can dismay 

The Hope no disappointments tire 

The Passion that’ll burn like fire 

Let me not sink to be a clod 

Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God” 

— Amy Carmichael

  

It is my prayer that the Lord would make me to be His Fuel!

The Fear of God

The last couple of weeks in Sunday School, we have been studying the Command of Christ- Honor your Parents.

This is a command that all of us should be following on a daily basis, but I know I, for one, fail miserably more often than not.

This Sunday, the lesson was specifically about Respecting Authority, and the different fears we have that evoke respect for our many different authorities.  And I must say, it was quite an eye-opener for me.

The teacher shared three fears that govern our motives for respect-

1. The Fear of Punishment

2. The Fear of Causing Shame

3. The Fear of Losing Intimacy

Fear #1, the Fear of Punishment, is what everyone should have. It is how the chain of command works in our everyday lives.  For instance- a child will do what their mother says because they’re afraid of the punishment that their dad will give them.  An employee will do what the manager says to do because they are afraid of the punishment of losing their job. So in a sense, the Fear of Punishment makes the world go around, you might say.

Fear #2, the Fear of Causing Shame motivates Godly actions.  People will change their whole demeanor to keep from bringing shame to their parents, their friends, their boss, or themselves. This is a Fear that we all will have at some point in our lives.

Fear #3, the Fear of Losing Intimacy. You might be saying, ‘Hey, I don’t have a significant other, so I don’t need to worry about that!’, but this Fear goes beyond human relationships.

May I ask you a question?

Do you profess to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

If you do, then guess what?

*DRUM ROLL PLEASE*

You have a Significant Other! His name is Jesus Christ! And He loved you so much, He died on the cross and arose from the grave just to prove how much He loved you! If that doesn’t call for an intimate relationship, I don’t know what will.

*Now back to the Fear*

All three fears are ways that we relate to authority and can be applied in our everyday lives.

For example- We don’t speed because we’re afraid of the punishment of a speeding ticket; we don’t drink, smoke, cuss, etc. because we are afraid of the shame that it would bring our parents or grandparents if we did; we save ourselves for our husband or wife so that we may have an intimate relationship with them.

But how do we relate to Jesus, the Lover of our Souls?

King David said in Psalm 86:11- “Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.”

This should be the cry of our hearts as well.  If for no other reason than because “The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.” (Proverbs 19:23)

But is it enough to Fear God with just a Fear of Punishment? Certainly, we should do or not do certain things, such as the Ten Commandments state. But do we obey simply because we fear the consequences?

Or should we fear Him solely based on the fact that we might cause Him shame? I mean, come on, there are just some things you shouldn’t do when you are a Christian.  Christian by definition means ‘Little Jesus’.  You bear HIS name.  Shouldn’t you at least act like it?

May I submit to you that both of these are good fears to have. They are motivating, driving forces that cause us to do what is right, but I believe that we need to have the Fear of losing an intimate relationship with Christ as our driving force behind why we do what we do!

Hebrews 12:28-29 says “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.”

(Side note- The term ‘Godly Fear’ used in this passage is the Greek word- Eulábeia – which means “fear of reverence”.)

I would submit to you, that if God is not a ‘consuming fire’ in your life, you are probably not living in a close and intimate relationship with Him.  The only thing really to compare this too is an engaged or newlywed couple-

A man and woman in love can hardly bare to be separated for more than a few moments usually, ask them to go apart for a few days, and you would think you had asked them to take a walk to the guillotine! Their love for each other consumes them! They think about each other constantly.  They are continually considering the others feelings, and trying not to do anything to hurt the other. And this only scrapes the surface of their love and devotion for each other! 

If a man and a woman, both mere mortals, can have that kind of love and reverence for each other- how much more should we have this same love, reverence, and devotion towards a Holy, righteous God?

Living in a close and intimate relationship with Christ will cause you to do things differently.  If you do not have this close relationship with Christ, I would challenge you to pick up your love letter (yes, I’m talking about the Bible ), and see what He has to say to you.

I have another question for you-How would you rate your Fear of God?

Ask yourself these questions-

Do I have a continual awareness that God is watching 

EVERYTHING I say, do, and think?

Do I bow before the LORD in honor of HIS Holiness?

Do I stand up to honor HIS Holiness when I sing hymns of praise?

Have I bowed the knee to Jesus to proclaim that HE IS LORD (this goes beyond the basic “Jesus, come into my heart and save me from my sins”. This is recognizing Christ as the sole Ruler of your life, and living your life in accordance with His Will on a daily basis)?

Do I take care of my body as a temple of the LORD?

Do my parents feel as if I honor them?

Do I respect government authority in their position as ministers appointed by God for my good?

Do I spend the LORD’S Day honoring HIM?

Do I deflect praise to the LORD?

                                                                          

This is by no means a list of guidelines or rules, or an exhaustive list of what you should be doing.   But it is a great spiritual check-up.   

I know many times I fall short in the everyday things, such as eating too much junk food from time to time, or getting a sarcastic tone in my voice when talking to my parents.  This really helped open my eyes to help me see that it’s the little things that matter (“…thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things…” Matt. 25:21b).

  

In closing, I think King Solomon said it the best-

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13

So, with this stitch in time God has so graciously given you, with what fear will you live?

Your Fellow Laborer and Sister in the Faith,

-Kristin

Greater Yes

Whisnant’s- Greater Yes

It starts with a desire, planted deep within your heart
You pray in faith, and wait for God to move
Time passes and you wonder
Did He hear me when I called?
Should I even have prayed that prayer at all

Chorus:
You never pray a prayer, your Father will not answer
He can´t ignore His child´s earnest request
While you´re waiting and believing
for what you thought was best
Trust God if He says no.... You´re still Blessed
There must be a greater yes

Verse 2:
There comes a time when child-like faith
Must graduate to trust
Trials come and you´re convinced you´re on your own
But the teacher´s often silent
While you’re in the hardest test
But He´ll answer when It´s time with what is best

Bridge:
Sometimes God will answer - just like we prayed
Then other times what´s on HIs mind
Is a better plan, another way, a greater yes.

God's Timing

When the time was right-

The sea parted, 

The walls fell down, 

The lions went hungry, 

The sun stood still, 

The star appeared, 

The waves were calmed, 

The stone was rolled away, 

The Lord ascended...

And when the time is right, The King of Kings will return.

God is never early

and He's never late- 

He's always right on time and 

His plans for you are good.

This was printed on our church bulletin this morning.

It was as if God was once again saying-  

"I am in control. 

"I know what's going on. 

"You don't have to worry. 

"Everything will work out in the right time."

As if that wasn't enough, the sermon today was a wonderful one on receiving the blessings of God.  According to Deuteronomy 28:1, there are two things that you must do to receive the blessings of God- TRUST and OBEY. 

Christ has really been driving this home to me lately.  Trust His Word, and Obey what He says. It is such a simple concept, so why is it so hard to do it? 

I remember the words of Jeremiah 29:11- For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 

As a Follower of Christ, I know that I am not supposed to worry about the future.  But as a human being, that's all I seem to do.  Christ wants me to live in peace.  I can't do that if I'm living in the human realm of worry and fear.  I MUST rise above that, and seek to live FOR Him.  I can't keep putting my human reasoning ahead of what I know Christ wants for me.


I shall leave you with the words of an old hymn-

When we walk with the Lord, in the light of His Word, 

what a glory He sheds on our way, 

while we do His good will, He abides with us still,

and with all who will TRUST and OBEY.

TRUST and OBEY, for there's NO other way, 

to be happy in Jesus, but to TRUST and OBEY!

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, 

But His smile quickly drives it away; 

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,

can abide while we TRUST and OBEY.

Not a burden we bear, Not a sorrow we share. 

but our toil He doth richly repay; 

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, 

but is blessed if we TRUST and OBEY.

But we never can prove the delights of His love 

until all on the altar we lay; 

For the favor He shows, and the love He bestows, 

Are for them who will TRUST and OBEY.

Then in fellowship sweet, we will sit at His feet, 

or we'll walk by His side in the way. 

What He says we will do, Where He sends we will go; 

NEVER FEAR, ONLY TRUST and OBEY.