How wholeheartedly am I following Christ?

I enjoyed and soaked in the Word of God yesterday (Sunday).   How blessed I feel to be a part of a church and to live in a country where the Word of God can be preached in complete freedom.  I was challenged once again in my own life. 

The message title was

"Raise the Standard". 

 I admit to being quite partial and biased with the pastor who delivered the message

(who also happens to be my beloved husband).

Standard:  represents something or a direction, it can also mean proclaiming truth.

Numerous Scripture passages were shared about God saying to "Lift up a standard"
Isaiah 49:22  "God will set up His standard"
Is. 62:10  "Lift up a standard for the people"
Jeremiah 4:6  "Set up a standard"
Jeremiah 50:2  "Set up a standard, publish it, proclaim it"
Jeremiah 51:12  "Set up the standard"
Jeremiah 51:27  "Set ye up a standard"

The "Standard" is the Word of God.

Jesus Christ is the Standard.

If there was ever a time that we need to raise up the standard....it is today!  Instead, the world and many, many churches are lowering the standard.  Recently I was listening to a Mennonite Conference being asked to completely embrace and accept homosexuality as Godly/Christian.  Does it not matter what Scripture says and what it calls sin?  If homosexuality and adultery aren't sin, then why is murder, sexual abuse, stealing, etc?  If we don't call sin what God calls sin, then who decides which one we call sin and which one we don't call sin?

Today so many people separate Jesus from His Word.  We have the idea that someone can commit their life to Christ, yet have very little to do with His Word.

Jesus and His Word are inseparable....they are one and the same.   John 1:1-4
The Bible is the Word of God.  It was God-breathed.  II Tim. 3:16
The prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit as they wrote.  II Peter 1:21

Recently our country decided to legalize homosexual marriages; it lowered the standard.  Today churches and conferences are looking for ways to make homosexual and adulterous marriages (and many other things the Bible calls sin) acceptable.  Again, lowering God's standard.  We shouldn't be shocked when unbelievers lower the standard but our hearts should be deeply grieved when those who profess Christ follow suit. 

I drank as these words were read across the pulpit: 

"If you follow Christ and His teachings; you are raising up the standard."
"When you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; you are raising up the standard for the world to see."
"When you love your neighbor better than yourself; you are lifting up Jesus Christ."
"Men, when you love your wife as Christ loved the Church and gave His life for it; you are raising up the standard."
"Ladies, when you respect your husband; you are raising up the standard."
"Children, when you obey your parents; you are raising up the standard."
"When you respect those in authority; you are raising up Jesus Christ."
"When you love your enemies; you are raising up the standard."
"When you deny yourself and take up your cross; you are raising up the standard."
"When you assemble yourselves together with other believers; you are raising up the standard."
"When you love the brotherhood; you are raising up the standard."
"When you are a living sacrifice; you are raising up the standard."
"When you are not loving the world; you are raising up Jesus Christ."
"When you live a modest lifestyle; you are raising up the standard."
"Women, when you veil your heads; you are raising up the standard."
"Men, when you embrace leadership; you are raising up the standard."

In other words,

 I am lifting up the standard, Jesus Christ, when I follow His teachings.  

 I am only following Jesus Christ as wholeheartedly as I am following His Word.  I cannot pick and choose which part of His Word I follow.  If I am not following His Word wholeheartedly, then I can quit professing to be His follower because I am not following Him!

We are also enjoying Vacation Bible School this week and in the adult class I was inspired as Rod shared on what the early church believed and practiced and challenged by how the West's view of God and Scripture has been influenced and watered down compared to the early church age.  Here are some of his quotes:

"We are saved by faith but if I don't have obedience, then I'm not saved."
"Grace is God helping me to do what is right and good."
"Temptation can be a joy and strength if I use it to overcome."
"Freewill is a factor in eternal security."
"God does not retaliate against evil men."
"The New Birth gives us a new desire to pursue the goodness of God."
"Evil is in the world because of freewill."

"So many today, too, believe they have their ticket into heaven and at judgment will somehow flash their "pass/ticket" and slide on by, that only the wicked will be judged.  According to Scripture, everyone will be judged.  We will be judged for our deeds/actions and words."  Something to think seriously about!

Listen to the Psalmist David's words in Psalm 119
that speak of his LOVE for God's Word, 

Law, testimonies, statutes, precepts/judgments/commands, etc. 

Some of these words are so taboo in today's church,

 yet here is David publicly proclaiming how he loved them! 

Where and how have we lost our love for God's laws?

Ps. 119:

14:  rejoice in God's ways as much as in riches.

16:  delight myself in thy statutes

24:  delight in God's testimonies

34:  observing God's law with my whole heart.

40:  longing after God's precepts

47:  delight in God's commands, which I love

54:  God's statutes are his song

72:  God's law is better than thousands of gold and silver

93:  never will forget God's precepts for they bring life

97:  o how I love God's law, it is my meditation all the day

103:  God's Word is sweeter than honey

111:  God's testimonies are my heritage and rejoicing of my heart

112:  will perform God's statutes always, even unto the end

127:  love God's commands above gold.

The question ringing in my mind is:

  How wholeheartedly am I following Christ? 

 I'm only following Him as wholeheartedly as I'm following His commands and teachings. 

Nothing more and nothing less; because I cannot separate Christ from His Word.

Dreams do come true!

Dreams truly do come true!

 

Even as I write, my daughter, and friends

are leaving the USA and headed for Europe.

This has been a long time dream of hers

and today it becomes a reality!

 

You can follow their travels at

postcardsfromparis7.blogspot.com.

 

 

As much as we shall all miss her here,

we are so excited for her!

It is a reminder to me that God really does

care about the desires of our hearts.

 

He gives us dreams and desires,

He wants to hear about our dreams and desires...

and He delights in giving us the desires of our heart.

(True, as long as our desires line up with His desires.)

 

Psalm 37:4

"Delight thyself in the LORD;

and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

 

KaShondra has found her delight in the Lord.

Through very difficult times in her life,

she has chosen to keep her eyes focused on Him,

to delight herself in Him;

and today...

one of the desires of her heart

is becoming a reality!

 

What are your dreams and desires?

 

Delight yourself in the Lord

and let Him be the fulfiller of your dreams!

 

 



Pure Religion

We had such an incredible Discipleship Class lesson this past Sunday.  James 1:  what a packed out chapter of Scripture!  The last two verses have been rolling around in my mind all week.

 

"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."

 

If a person thinks of himself as acceptable to God, yet does not bridle or control his tongue...he deceives himself and his religion is vain or empty...unacceptable to God. 

 

Some ways that we can be loose with our tongues are:

....interrupting and dominating conversations.

....being easily provoked and lashing out at others.

....gossiping and telling tales.

....criticizing and murmuring.

....judging and condemning others.

....using slang and cursing.

....engaging in suggestive and off-colored talk.

....talking about and running down others.

This is by no means an exhaustive list but certainly enough to get me to listen to my own chatter.  What kind of talk comes out of my mouth.  So often we immediately think of so-and-so who should read this...but God is bringing this home to each one of us personally.  If this kind of talk is a part of our lives, then our religion is in vain/empty/unacceptable to God.

Whoa! pretty serious!  Gotta admit that it bothers me a bit that we excuse each other to have uncontrolled and angry tongues because "things are going on in their lives, they have issues with their past, are having a bad day..." etc.  Don't get me wrong I believe strongly that we should see each other with eyes of compassion but I think we've erred on excusing uncontrolled and angry tongues.   James 1:20 says that "The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."

 

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

 

Pure religion is to visit the fatherless and widows and keep ourselves unspotted from the world.

I'm sure along with the fatherless and widows, the orphaned, shut-in's, newcomers, lost, unsaved, motherless, bedridden, lonely, and grieving would also be included.

In other words, the needy. And God expects us to visit them.  He doesn't assign this to just one person, or just the pastors, or just the deacons...but to each one of us.  If we each reach one, how simply we could accomplish the goal.

 

How do I keep myself unspotted from the world when I live in the world?  Pure religion does not get corrupted with false beliefs and false religion.  It holds to the purity of the gospel, to the Word of God.  True believers of true religion keep themselves unspotted from the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. 

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." Mt. 5:8

 

It starts with me.  I am to have my tongue under the control of the Holy Spirit, I am to visit the needy, I am to keep myself unspotted from the world....

 

And God has already given me the opportunities to put my faith into action.  I've been reaching out to one of our widow ladies and seeing with new eyes how it must be to be elderly, alone, to have worries, fears, financial pressures, etc.  How much I take for granted when I am surrounded by a husband and children who look out for me on every hand.  And being involved in our neighbor lady's life and seeing her take courageous steps of faith to follow Christ fully.  To see into her heart and the loneliness, fears, worries, cares she has.  My day began early this morning by driving her to a doctor's appointment at 5:45.  Picking her back up at 8:00, taking her to physical therapy at 11:00, picking her back up at 12:00. 

 

Faith in Action....How pure is my religion? 



Quietness of Soul

Last evening some of us were able to spend some time

 enjoying the beauty of a quiet evening with nature.

 

These stork looking birds aren't the prettiest birds in God's creation

but they were interesting to watch.

 

 

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow..."

 

"they toil not, neither do they spin."

 

"And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory

was not arrayed like one of these."

 

 

"The Lord preserveth all them that love him:"

 

"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof;

the world, and they that dwell therein."

"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers....

what is man, that thou art mindful of him?

and the son of man, that thou visitest him?"

 

"O Lord our Lord;

how excellent is thy name in all the earth."

 

"Oh magnify the Lord with me,

and let us exalt His Name together."

 

"Oh taste and see that the Lord is good;

 blessed is the man that trusteth in Him."

The Beauty of God's Order of Headship

The Beauty of God’s Order of Headship

Headship is such a beautiful part of God’s order.

It is an order of authority.

I Corinthians 11:3

“But I would have you know, that the head (authority) of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is man

and the head of Christ is God.”

God--Christ--Man--Woman

An order of headship does not mean that one has more value, intelligence, beauty, ability, worth than the other.

It simply means that God designed us with different roles, functions, authority, and order.

From the beginning of creation, God created

man and woman with different functions,

roles, and responsibilities.

Even creation itself has order.

I Cor. 11:2 Paul praises the Corinthian believers for remembering him and for keeping the ordinances that had been given to them.

I Cor. 11:4, 7 “But every man praying or prophesying with his head covered, dishonored his head.

For a man indeed ought not to cover his head,

forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God.”

When do men pray and prophesy , is this only for in public worship, and what does covered mean?

I Thess. 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

I Tim. 2:8 “But I would therefore that men pray everywhere…”

Eph. 6:18 “Praying always…”

What is prophesying and does it only include

foretelling the future?

It includes foretelling the future but it also declaring God’s Truth and speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Rom. 12:6 “Prophesy according to the portion of faith.”

I Cor. 14:39 “Covet to prophesy…”

I Peter 3:15 “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you…”

If a man prays or prophesies with his head covered, he dishonors his head, who is Christ.

The Jews worshipped with their heads covered, copying Moses.

Now God is instructing them through Paul to pray and prophesy with their heads uncovered. The uncovered head was a distinguishing mark of a follower of Christ. For them to continue to cover their heads would have been an act of rebellion.

Covered is veiled, something hanging down over.

Man was created in the image of God.

He was created to be a leader, a provider, and protector

for those under his authority.

Whenever a man fails to do these,

he violates God’s order of headship.

Man should think of nature and creation. God created him to hold authority. He is not to be in rebellion or a non-conformist to Scipture, not even over a simple matter as the length of his hair.

I Cor. 11:14 “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?”

Woman is the glory of man.

She has a place of her own in God’s creation, but her place is not man’s. Her place is by the side of man, highly exalted as his queen. She reigns in majesty by the side of man as his glory.

She is not to rebel against authority

or bring embarrassment and dishonor to him.

She is to cover her head by wearing the veil that symbolizes her honor of God’s order of authority.

I Cor. 11:5,6, 15 “But every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered dishonored her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. Judge in yourselves: is it comely (proper) that a woman pray unto God uncovered?”

It is just as shameful for a woman to shave her head as it is for her to refuse to cover her head. It’s also interesting that

Scripture uses both shorn and shaven.

Shorn is as with a shearing instrument

and shaven is as with a razor.

Is her hair her covering?

The Greek words are distinctly different.

I Cor. 11:15 “But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.”

In I Cor. 11:4-7, 13 it is katakalupto,

which is covered down over; veiled.

In I Cor. 11:15 it is peribolaion, which is covered (thrown, wrapped) around; meaning the hair.

William Ramsey: “In Oriental lands the veil is the power and dignity of the woman. With the veil on her head she can go anywhere in security and profound respect. Without the veil the woman is a thing of nought, whom anyone may insult.”

I Cor. 11:10 “For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.”

Power is authority, right, strength.

It makes a difference to the angels if a woman’s head is covered.

The angels recognize authority

because there is an order of authority in heaven.

　

A man who keeps his head uncovered yet fails to step up and take the lead in his home is acting inconsistently

If a woman covers her head but does not respect and submit to the authority of man, she is living inconsistently.

Submission is to willingly place oneself under

the direction of another.

When is submission not submission?

When it is forced. When it is unwilling.

What does the Bible call a lack of submission?

Rebellion--something that is as bad as witchcraft (I Samuel 15:23), because by its very nature it is taking

the enemy’s side against God.

How does a lack of submission manifest itself in one’s life?

The more obvious ways are open disobedience to authority, defiance, and “having an attitude”. But it doesn’t stop there; any disobedience is rebellion. And often disobedience is camouflaged. Some say “Yes, Lord” but still go their own way; others say “I am obeying” even when they aren’t; and some say “It’s not for me”.

There are some things about the uncovered head of man and the covered head of woman that we don’t clearly understand. We can only conclude that God knew it would be that way-- indeed, planned it that way. And, we also conclude that God expects us to lovingly and joyfully obey anyway--

for that is what submission really is.

Man and woman depend on each other for existence, by God’s design. Whether man comes from woman or woman comes from man; both are of God and both have their place and function, calling and purpose. They need each other in many ways, complimenting each other. They coexist in harmony and peace when they joyfully submit to God’s established order in love.

　

I Cor. 11:16 “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no other practice, neither the churches of God.” NIV

God’s instructions do not need to make sense to us in order for us to be obligated to obey them.

　

I am challenged once again to live my life consistently

in God’ s order of headship/ authority.

When Christian men in the home and the church take their place as leaders in submission to God, and when women take their place in submission to men, God’s kingdom will prosper.

If either one rebels, God’s kingdom will suffer.

Someday we're going to vacation in Florida!

Life in the fast lane...

Two and a half months have flown past since I last posted and in my mind I've written at least six updates.  Funny how writing and posting in your mind doesn't get it done online! :)

 

So very much water has gone 'under the bridge' in the past several months:

This time of the year in Florida has been compared to a freight train;

"You either get on or get off."

I say "You either get on or get mowed over!"

 

It begs the questions:

How do you maintain a sense of privacy

in a public world? 

How do you withdraw into a quiet place

 when you have to search hard

to even find a quiet place?

I'm still searching for the answers...

 

Last Sunday we celebrated Dustin's 23rd birthday in an unusual way.

 

We have all been feeling the need of finding some way

to find some place of privacy.  A place of just 'us' in a city of people.

We discussed it, prayed about it, and tried to work with the children who were putting in

six-day work weeks, leaving only Sunday as a day when we would all be home.

I would not recommend using Sundays habitually as a day for family privacy because

the Scripture definitely directs us to meet together as a church body

on the first day of the week.

But as an exception, we chose Sunday. 

Actually our day of R and R began Saturday

evening after the boys got home from work.

We went to the mall and enjoyed some delicious Thai food (one of our favorites).

Then, being at the mall, we "had" to shop for just a bit!

No earth-shaking purchases but still being together.

 

Sunday morning we all slept until around 10:00,

had a time of sharing God's Word together,

went to Firehouse (another family favorite) and got sub sandwiches

and then headed for Siesta Key where we rented two scooters and

a scooter car "for the more aged in our family"!

What fun!

For four hours we rode around Siesta Key,

finding streets we didn't know were there,

putting the "older folks" on the scooters, too,

while the younger drove the scooter car,

and laughed together alot!

Laughter does a body good!

 

Dustin wanted to finish his birthday off with some

special "Meany's Mini-Donuts" on Siesta Key,

so we topped it off with donuts.

Delicious delicacies but Oh, so sweet!

 

We came home wind-blown but happy!

Nothing like a day outside to clear your brain!

 

For dinner we made soup and salad

and spent the rest of the evening relaxing.

We were all tired but felt refreshed!

 

It was interesting....

Dustin is an 'out-door' type of guy and loves

doing things outside.

When we were planning our day, the weather forecast

was for an 80 percent chance of rain

which was dashing all of our ideas for a day outside.

We talked of taking our camper and going away for the weekend

and trying to find  a woods without people to park it in;

but soon discovered woods without people also means no

electricity or water!  Wouldn't work!

And if it was going to rain all weekend it would not be relaxing

to have six adult people in a small camper.

So we decided to do a stay-at-home-vacation

and use the money that we would have spent on a motel or campsite

to do some things locally that we have never done.

 

We were so thrilled that God blessed us with a day of

blue skies and sunshine!

Couldn't have been more perfect!

 

We are unanimously agreed that some winter

we would love to vacation in Florida,

live like tourists, and do things we never have time to do

because we live here!

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Festival

Palm Grove Youth and Sponsors hosted the

Palm Grove Fall Festival...

 

Everyone was welcome to bring their own lawn chair and enjoy some food and festivities.

 

Normally this is done as a fund raiser for the youth but this area can become

"Fund Raiser Heaven" during the winter months so the youth and sponsors

decided to do it as an act of service to the church,

especially keeping in mind those with families

or  those feeling a financial crunch right now.

 

The youth worked in teams and came up with their own 'booth'.

They were quite creative and came up with some very interesting things!

 

At the front gate we had paper bags for the little kids to put all their prizes in.

Most of the youth kids had prizes at their booths.

 

"Let the evening begin..."

 

 

This was a balance beam and the goal was to knock your opponent off.

These were sticks wrapped in foam cushion so it didn't get too violent.

 

Here was a cornhole tournament... but it got dark before the tournament was over.

 

Here you could get a homemade smoothie..."Detwiler Style"!

Peach-Strawberry-Banana

 

 

An old-fashioned apple bobbing...

 

What?!  An "ANGRY BIRDS" game at a festival?! 

Sure, I'll try that!

 

And a "Toilet Paper Toss"...

Yep, real toilet paper, real toilet seat!!

 

 

Hamburgers, Hotdogs, French Fries, and lots of beverages...

 

 



 

Good fellowship!

 

Here you could win a prize if you could throw

a ping pong ball into a fish bowl!

 

 

 

Archery skills tested here...

 

Fancy face painting done here...

 

 

 

Here you could buy a raffle ticket for $1.00 and have a chance to

win a prize every 30 minutes...

 

A good festival MUST have FOOD!!!

 

 

At the Photo Booth some crazy things happened...

 

                                     

(our deacon and wife?!)

...a couple probably off the street that we probably don't know!

 

Aww...love! 

 

 Mobster Mother and Daughter!!

 

The photographers tried to find time for a break...

but we always hunted them down and made them

come back because of the lines of people

waiting to have their pictures done!

 (Do tell!! The pastors and their wives?!)

 

 

 

Isn't this just too adorable?!

 

 

Deacon? Sponsors?  Surely not!

 

A combination family of mobsters and street gear! 

 

Here you could ring a pumpkin and win a prize...

Wait! You could even win a prize for trying!!

 

 

The "Office"...

 

A softball toss....although this looks like a frisbee to me!

 

 

 

 

 

Guess who won a cupcake at the "Cupcake Walk"?!

 

...and the "Guard Dog on Patrol" a.k.a. "Riley"...

making sure order was kept! 

 

 

One thing we regretted was that we wanted to go around

 and try all the different things ourselves but by the time we were all set up...

it was time to open!!

We'll know better for next time! :)

 

Donations were accepted but not necessarily expected.

We wanted to make it a fun night where people could come

and enjoy a relaxing evening with family and friends

but not have to spend a lot of money.

 

We were blessed beyond measure and

were amazed at how the blessing came back to us!

 

Detwiler's Market astounded us by their generosity!

They allowed us to use anything we wanted from their market for decor

and they also donated all the fruit for our smoothies!

John Yoder, once again, did all our grilling!

Another couple surprized us by donating all the meat for the sandwiches

 so the youth ended up having some money left over for the Youth Fund!!

 

Thank  You!!

We were definitely challenged to have a more giving spirit about us!

 

We opened the gates at 4:00 p.m. and the sun went down soon after 7:00.

The youth kids started cleaning up around 7:30 and most of us

were on our way home by 8:30.

We saw again how many willing hearts working together

make a big job seem small!

 

 

Plan on joining us next fall...