Merry Christmas!!

Christ Bell

THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3 :20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 )
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13 )
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).. I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil. 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven ( Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
Who you are?

Merry Christmas!!

Amy

He Went Before Me and Made a Way

We have spent almost one entire year meditating on the Names of God as well as who God says we are. When we began this journey, I was so excited to learn something new about our God. He has knocked my socks off. He is so Faithful, and Gentle and at the same time He is our Protector and Shelter and fiercely protective of His children.

It's that last little bit that has become so precious to me over the last few weeks. Without going into a lot of detail, I was deeply hurt by someone close to me. This wasn't the first time these choices were made and that is what hurt the most. It brought up all sorts of old feelings, fear and insecurities I thought were long gone. I found myself headed down a road that I haven't been down in several years.

Here is what I love about my God. He made a way for me to have some completely alone time with Him before Thanksgiving. It was incredible. To spend time in worship, prayer and most importantly: SILENCE.

I had poured out everything in me and then sat and listened. Do you know what I heard?

Verses. Specifically Psalm 139, where He tells us He knew us before anyone else even knew we existed. That we are fearfully and wonderfully made!

I heard Deut. 33:12 where He tells us the one the Lord love rests between His shoulders.

I heard Him saying that He was with me and FOR me and that He does not forsake those that love Him.

He reminded me to forgive that person again. THAT part was not optional. So I forgave.

He reminded me that I was treasured and protected regardless of what others said or how they acted.

Then I wound up in Psalm 138. I decided that for the next two weeks I would begin to memorize and pray verses 7 and 8.

Here they are from The Message.

When I walk into the thick of trouble, keep me alive in the angry turmoil. With one hand strike my foes, with your other hand save me. Finish what you started in me, God. Your love is eternal - don't quit on me now.

I share this with you because for almost one year we have concentrated on WHO God says He is and who He says we (Christians) are. If I had not been making a diligent effort to do that, I'm not sure what kind of mess I would be in right now.

But I'm not.

I have peace that I can not describe.

I have the desire to love this person and see complete restoration. Sure, that scares me a little and believe me I've had the "what if" conversation with God. BUT, my friend, He has assured me that He can handle whatever comes up. I am to just choose love today.

As I was reminded in my Bible study this week, weeping is okay. Just make sure you are weeping forward. That is where we are headed. No looking back. FORWARD. Right on the heels of our God. Is there any safer place?

He went before me and made a way for me.

There is no one like my God.

How I love Him.

Blessings,
Stephanie

My Everything

To fret or not to fret? That is the question.
Your hands are sweaty, your heart is racing, and your
mind is reeling out of control. What brought it on and why can’t you control this feeling? You can’t even remember what initially caused this mode of fretting. You just know your head feels like a volcano about to erupt and your entire body is facing major exhaustion.

Sound familiar? It’s called fretting. Most of us have fallen into that black hole at one time or another. Some go there daily and others find themselves completely debilitated because they choose to stay there day after day with no peace in sight.

We need to find what brought us to that place and deal with the root of the problem. If we take the time to trace the thought process back to the root, we will always find that Satan is standing there feeding us some lie. If we don’t “nip it in the bud”, Satan will enhance that lie and add others to it. He will convince us that we are worth very little. He will have you believe that others are laughing behind your back. The lies will continue to spin a vicious cocoon around your heart and in a short period of time you will become lifeless. He’ll even try and convince you that you are the only one that can control those feelings. That lie could not be further from the truth. Trust me; we must place this sin at the feet of Jesus. He is the One that can destroy it.

Last Monday I found myself ready to drop into that black hole. I had already lost hours of productive time to fretting during the day. I had even permitted him to steal hours of peaceful rest during the night. Satan loves to attack us when we should be resting. The Lord’s position regarding this sin was simple. “Debbie, give no time to fretting, wipe it off your agenda. You need to focus on Me and accomplish all that I have equipped you to produce today.”

Once I got to school the next day I went all around my room saying the name of Jesus constantly; walking up and down each row of chairs. As I touched each chair in my room, I prayed for each child that would enter my classroom that day. I called His name on my breath constantly throughout the day. He rescued me. He gave me my lesson plans for the day... and the fretting stopped. At the name of Jesus, the demons trembled.

We have so much power through Him, if we will only breathe His name and believe in His promises. That day, the names of Jesus washed over me. It was as if the Lord gave me a front row seat in a fancy movie theater. Name after name of my Savior flashed across the screen reminding me that He is and was and will always be My Everything.

You know the signs of fretting. When they begin their deceptive dance, decide what lie Satan wants you to believe. Command Satan to flee and then set about your daily routine empowered with His word, the Names of Jesus and the desire to serve Him even more boldly.

Revelation Song
Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus Your Name is Power
Breath of living water
Such a Marvelous Mystery.

Debbie Fritz

"Not I, But Christ"

Galatians 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”

What does that verse mean to you? To me, it means that we have someone on whom we can depend, no matter what may come in life. We have someone who will restore us. We have someone who will love and strengthen us. When we don’t feel like we have the power or courage to go on, Christ becomes our strength and deliverer. The Christ of the Bible, the Creator of the universe, wants to be uniquely active in our lives. In Him we find everything we could ever need to make it through life.

We don’t stand alone when we walk the steps of life. We don’t stand alone when we talk about Jesus to someone we meet. We don’t stand alone, even when we feel completely abandoned. We don’t stand alone when our families are in trouble or our marriages are falling apart. God wants to help us through every challenge in life. He wants us to lay our burdens at His feet.

As I look at the challenges in my life, I can only pray to God, “Lord, I can’t do it, but You can. So please, do it.”

Debbie lives in Dacula, GA with her most wonderful husband and their 4-legged wonder Bandit.

I AM FROG!!

It seems like every time we turn around there is another crisis. Whether it be within our family, a personal friend, or the world. We all know of someone going through a crisis right now. All you have to do is watch the news or pick up a paper. What is happening? is there any peace? Well if all you do is rely on the media, you would not think so.Even as we exam our own lives, our own crisis it is so easy to be sucked into this world of despair. We do not need to do this. it will only pull us down and then we can't be who God wants us to be.

I have been learning to Fully Rely On God(FROG). This summer when I was at McDonalds I got a Happy Meal. The toy I got was a miniature beanie baby- it was a frog. His name was Jumps. I thought how appropriate..We own an moonwalk business. later I was reminded by a special friend that frog stands for fully rely on God.I had heard that before, but at that time in my life it held a whole new meaning. I know keep him in my car as a daily reminder to FROG.

God is our refuge and strength a very present help in time of trouble.Psalm 46:1 and then 9 verses later it says in Psalm 46:10, Be still and know I am God. He is there for us all we have to do is be still and rely on His strength and power. We can't deal with any our our crisis on our own - we were not made to. God wants us to rely on Him that is how He made us.

Some people believe that God only is concerned with our big crisis', but I believe He is concerned with our smallest crisis.If He knows the number of hairs on our head, then He knows ALL of our crisis and He wants us to bring them to Him and let Him handle them. He will do a much better job than we will anyway!

That is where you will find real peace. When we can truly turn everything over to Him and let Him have control. Easier said than done? I think we will find if we will surrender to Him our life will be a lot easier.

So next time you see a frog.. Remember it is just a reminder to FULLY RELY ON GOD!



Amy lives in Lawrenceville with her husband Jerry and their 3 boys and 2 dogs

I am Blessed!!!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus......................................... to the end that we Who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:3-12)As I sat down to write I was struck with the awe of our God. I am His child and I know Who I am has nothing to do with this world but totally to do with Christ in me, the Hope of Glory. As I walk through this season of my life I am awed by the work He has done in my life. The things of the world are growing strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. I am confronted daily with the awe of knowing I am accepted ( Romans 15:7) not on the basis of my own works but on the finished work of Christ. Therefore there is never a time when I am not accepted. Not only am I accepted but I am adequate for the role He has me in. 2 Cor 3:5 says Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves but my adequacy is from God. Therefore I can lay aside every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles me and run with endurance the race that is set before me, looking unto Jesus the author, finisher and perfector of my faith. (Hebrews 12) In the race as I encounter various trials I can be confident that after I have suffered for a little while, the God of all Grace Who called me to His eternal Glory in Christ will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish me. ( 1 Pt. 5:10) And in the process of that I am more than a conqueror, that nothing can separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus my Lord. ( Romans 8:39)

Based on Who I am in Christ I see life through His eyes. This past month our family was faced with something you think only happens to other people or that you see in movies but as we have walked through it and seen the Lord do miracles again in each of is and those around us I am now convinced that whatever trial may come my way, instead of wanting it gone, I know that the one who redeemed me and transferred me from the Kingdom of Darkenss to the Kingdom of Light is up to something good. That no weapon formed again me will prosper and that He is working all things together for Good and He will receive Glory.

My prayer for you is that the eyes of your heart will be enlightened so that you may know what is the Hope of your calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power towards us who believe. (Eph 1:18)

Nothing you accomplish on this earth can compare with the surpassing greatness of knowing Him - of knowing Who you are in Him. The greatest accomplishments in my life are pale in comparison to Him.

I pray you will take time to reflect on a few of His promises to you and ask Him to show you the reality of that truth in your life today. Don't waste your time - He has everything you need and more.

Here is a start to think about:

You are chosen - Col 3:12
You are His Handiwork - Eph 2:10
You are inscribed in His Palm - Isaiah 49:16
Your are His - Isaiah 43:1

Now these are the things to shout about and nothing and noone can take it from you. My dear sisters, rest in the unchanging character of God and the precious position, of knowing Him, has placed you. If you would like a "Who I am in Christ" booklet, email me at jmilligan3@carolina.rr.com and I will mail you one as long as the supply lasts.

O Magnify the Lord with Me and Let us exalt His name together.

Jill

How Do You Smell?

A pleasant aroma. It is what continued to come to my mind as I prepared to post here tonight. I sat and tried my hardest to come up with a post centered around that theme, but God reminded me that I had already written it. This is a post that was on my personal blog last October. It is exactly what I feel God wants me to share here tonight...I pray that it ministers to you!

Earlier this summer we made a weekend trip to Chattanooga. It was hot, boy was it hot. As we pulled into town, we decided to go see Chad's mom and her husband first. After two hours in the car, we were all ready to stretch our legs. Our toy poodle Paddington needed to run and since they live on several acres, it was the perfect way to start our family visit.

We pulled up and got out of the car. Almost immediately one of the girls said "Gag a maggot mom, what is that smell?" I gave her the "mom look" that pretty much said, hush your mouth and don't say anything else.

As Chad's mom came out she told us that earlier in the morning, a skunk had wandered down very close to the house. The dogs spooked it and he "hid" up against the house. I guess the dogs wouldn't leave the poor little skunk alone, so he decided to leave them a gift. (Oh yes he did, and from the way it smelled...he didn't have any stink left in him.)

My first thought was, thank goodness it was outside and the little stink bomb didn't get into the house!! I'm so glad I didn't say that out loud! My mother in law then told us that their entire house smelled like skunk all morning, but that the smell was better now.

We headed into the house for the comfort of air conditioning and to escape the skunk smell only to find, it was worse in the house. That one daughter of mine, the one that had already been pretty vocal, looked at me with huge eyes. She started to say something, but I quickly gave her the look again. She hushed and put her hand over her nose and mouth. And yes, I talked to her about that once we got back into the car.

I felt so bad for them! It had been almost 8 hours since the "spraying incident" and the odor was still very strong. Bless her heart she had tried everything...opening windows, candles, air freshener you name it, she tried it. As hard as she worked, you can't just air that smell out over a couple of hours. It takes time as much as anything. After the initial aggravation of the entire incident wore off...she was having a good laugh. I still felt bad for her!

We had a nice visit and got in the car to head to my parents. Once we got there, my mom hugged us and said...did you hit a skunk on the way here? We cracked up and told them the story. Here's the thing...

We had spent about an hour or so with Chad's mom. And yes, the aroma was startling to begin with, but the longer we were there the less shocking it became. We didn't realize that just being in that environment would change OUR aroma.

We immediately changed clothes and tossed our skunk scented clothing into the washing machine. We washed our hands and realized that we would have to wash our hair too.

Until Saturday, the Skunk Incident of 08 had slipped my mind. This Chinese Proverb was on my calendar Saturday:

"Flowers leave their fragrance on the hand that bestows them."

I thought about my recent actions, my words, my attitude. I had been pretty "skunky" last week. As a result there were several days that I know my children's behavior was a direct reflection of MY actions. They were irritable because I was irritable.

I did not bestow sweet smelling flowers very often last week.

My "stink" rubbed off on them.

God's word tells us in 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

"Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."

Whew...that hit home big time. We, believers in Jesus Christ ARE the aroma of God in this world.

And you know what God REALLY impressed on my heart?

The world....

starts at home.

"How am I smelling God?" It's a question I'm starting to ask more often.


Have a blessed week!
Stephanie

A Spiritual Journey - An Iron Man Event

An Iron Man Event

Our younger son Michael just completed his first 70.3 Iron Man, an athletic event which includes a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike ride and a 13.1 mile run. This particular Iron Man event was the second largest one in the world, with over 3,500 athletes participating. After making the decision to enter, he told many of his friends. Many competitive athletes know if they verbalize their goals they will be more accountable. They are definitely locked in. With his commitment in place, he began training. Serious physical training was essential, but with this being his first Iron Man, he knew he would need to glean knowledge from seasoned veterans. A dear friend of the family gave Michael informative books and magazines to read. But more importantly, he gave him words of wisdom and a promise that he would be praying over the entire Iron Man journey.

Michael didn’t jump right in and tackle the full 70.3 miles. He gradually started to take on more distance while decreasing his time. He was careful to feed his body proper nutrition and to rest in order to recuperate physically and mentally. He set goals for himself. He achieved those and moved forward after hitting each benchmark. He realized the importance of pacing himself. He knew daily and weekly schedules would be vital. His sweet wife, Renee, was there to offer encouragement and research proper nutrition for this type of event. As husband and wife, they discussed the importance of sacrifices that each of them would have to make over the next few months. Competition would be within himself, not so much against others. He decided not to compare himself to others and become frenzied, but to focus on his goals.

It has been great to talk with Michael over the past four months of preparation. He knew he had strong support system from family and friends. On the day of the event we got up very early and traveled to Augusta, GA. to see him compete. Although we couldn’t see every mile of the race, we were there at benchmark spots to yell words of encouragement, display signs, hand him bottles of water and take lots of pictures to capture those memories. Folks that could not attend pledged that they would be praying for him throughout the day. Countless spectators offered words of encouragement and shouts of praise to thousands of participants they had never seen before.

Michael’s main goal was to finish the race.
He would indeed give it his personal best.

How did he do?

He finished the 1.2 mile swim in record time. He decreased his time from 45 minutes to 31 minutes. He came out of the water with a smile on his face ready for the 56 mile bike trek. All was going well, until the last 12 miles of the bike run. His rear tire went flat. Unfortunately, no one was there to help him repair it, so he biked the last 12 miles with a flat tire, which meant he had to put all of his weight on the front tire. Needless to say, his legs took a beating on those 12 miles. Once he completed the bike trek, he had to face 13.1 miles of running. Obviously cramping set in, but he persevered. While he had set a personal best of finishing in 6 hours, he knew he would have to settle for a much longer time. He refocused and ran across the finish line in 7 hours and 20 minutes. We were so proud of him. He had finished the race, differently than he had planned, but with a sense of accomplishment. He didn’t quit, he didn’t look back, but pressed ahead toward the prize… the finish line.

A Spiritual Journey

As I looked back over the Iron Man event I realized how many things parallel our spiritual lives.

We must make our decision to follow Christ. No one else can make that decision for us. Many of you can remember that decisive moment. You ran to tell others and they rejoiced with you and surrounded you with lots of prayer support and words of encouragement. If you were wise you found an accountability partner. I still call on accountability partners for many areas of my life. They help keep me in line. While Michael trained four months for this event, our training will take a lifetime. We must spend time in His word and seek His wisdom. We need to feed our bodies daily, always being sure to rest in order to more fully develop our relationship with Him.

There will be moments of great sacrifice. You will have “flat tire” situations in your life with no one around to rescue you. Will you press on? Will you persevere? We must be like the dying seed, that sheds the outer skin and blossoms a new from within. Count on others to offer words of encouragement. Seek out faithful prayer warriors and offer to stand in the gap for others in need. And remember, sometimes we finish parts of our lives differently than we had planned. Sometimes we will feel beaten down.
How will you refocus? How will you finish your race?

If you want to finish the race…give Him your personal best.

Phil 3:14
I press toward the mark for the prize
of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Michael and Renee

I AM always on His mind!

Do you believe this statement? Have you had personal experiences that bear witness to His attention to every detail of your life? God is 100% faithful. He will never leave us or forsake us. He CHOOSES to be in relationship with us. That truth is ever so humbling. I am living it in a new way, and I want to share my most recent encounter with the One and Only.

In mid-August I developed vertigo. If you have ever been seasick or dizzy-sick after a ride at Six Flags, you KNOW what I mean! Vertigo is like being seasick 24/7. There is not one second of fun associated with it. This illness turned my life upside down for FIVE weeks. Medication did not help and physical therapy brought only temporary relief.

During this time I was humbled on several levels, but one of the toughest aspects of having vertigo was being incredibly dependent on others. I could not drive, I could not read (and I was in the middle of final exams for summer classes during this time), I couldn’t stand or walk without holding on to someone, could not exercise (that was NOT a bonus!), and I wasn’t able to lead in worship at my church … that was heartbreaking. We don’t stop and think about how many daily functions depend on our ability to stand up! And what I mentioned only represents a few of the daily living activities that were impacted by having vertigo.

As miserable as I felt during those five weeks, I was encouraged daily by God’s presence. He gave me the courage to ask for help when I needed it. I was reminded of what an awesome husband He has given me. God has also given me the best friends anyone could ask for. They did for me what I could not do. My ever-present Father brought encouragement through His Word and gave me prayer warriors in great numbers.

One of those prayer warriors represents the most incredible blessing I’ve ever received. Because I am always on His mind, He put me on the heart of someone I did not know. She heard about my illness through a friend. God continued to put me on her heart for a couple of weeks, and then He gave her a plan. What seemed like “out of the blue” to me came the offer to give me a therapeutic massage to see if it would help. I was hesitant because of not being able to lie down, roll over, drive, etc., etc.!! But I sensed the offer was God-ordained, and whether or not it brought healing, I was to allow my new friend to be obedient to what God had instructed her to do.

PRAISE GOD! He instantly brought healing to my broken body and my troubled heart during that massage session. I am still in awe of what God did that day. I’m stunned over His ways. Only a God like Him could orchestrate such a miracle. And because my new friend LISTENED to Him and took a bold step to offer help using her giftedness I can give GLORY TO MY FATHER. I love to give and do for others, but I am not very good at receiving. God used this trial in my life to open my heart to receive and allow me to have a tangible experience to receive His love. When I could not stand I could lean on Him. He stood up for me!

I am ALWAYS on His mind, and I’ll never forget what He did for me through His Son Jesus Christ and what He did to bring healing to me through this trial. PRAY, BELIEVE, REST, and RECEIVE!!!

Debbie lives in Dacula with her awesome husband of 17 years (it's our anniversary!) and their 4-legged wonder, Bandit.

Ongoing Call August 2009

What a weekend we had! From the moment we checked into the Bed and Breakfast, we felt right at home. Thank you leadership team for going above and beyond last weekend.

The group of ladies that we had the honor of serving were there to meet with Jesus. They were ready and eager to worship and hear the Word He had for them. And boy oh boy what a word it was!

Jill amazes me. She so beautifully shares what God puts on her heart. It isn't always an easy thing, but you can be sure if she is teaching it she has lived it! Thank you Jill for sharing truth. I'm sure I speak for many others when I say God taught me something new this weekend. Thank you for being obedient to teach His word.

I so want to just type up my notes and share them with you, BUT....that would be A LOT of information. (Maybe we could come to your church and you could just experience it live and in person!!) I do want to share one thought that I have been chewing on since last weekend. Are you ready?

We need TRANSFORMATION by the Word of God NOT just INFORMATION from the Word of God. Oh ladies. I know what the power of God's word can do in your life! He has changed my life. If He can do it for me, He can do it for you! May we never get over that each and every time we open our Bible we are reading the WORD OF GOD. There is power in it! Heb.4:12 says it is alive and active and sharper than a two edged sword! I want to, as James 1 says receive the implanted word of God deep in my heart! Oh boy I could go on and on and on about this. :)

One of my favorite memories is the very end of the day Saturday. To watch each precious lady make the choice to get up, come to the altar and exchange her chain for the yolk of Christ was very emotional. As we shared communion I was once again overcome by the love our Heavenly Father.

Thank you Norma and your sweet team for hosting us. You all hold a very special place in our hearts.

May He who began a good work in you last weekend, be faithful to complete it! We look forward to hearing what God is doing in your community!!

Anticipating Him!
Stephanie

I am able to do ALL things

Have you ever wondered how you were going to get through another day, hour, or minute? Are you so stressed out you feel you are on a merry go round spinning out of control? You want to cry out, but will anyone hear you? Does anyone care?

Well ladies that is my life right now. This summer has been one of the most stressful times in my life. Nothing bad has happened; there have just been huge changes for all 5 of us. As you know any kind of change always brings stress. It seems like everyday there is always something else to take care of or to do. This is my reality right now, but I have great news!

God hears all of our cries! Our cries of desperation, anger, fear, doubt, and sadness. He loves us so much and he doesn’t want us to be stressed out. He wants us to rest in Him. He is our Father and He wants us to give Him complete and total control of our lives. He wants us to surrender to Him.

I know God will give me the strength to surrender to Him. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” It is only through Christ that we can face another minute, hour or day. It is only though Christ that you will get off your merry go round. He is right there waiting on you, will you surrender to Him?

I am surrendering to Him to take over because I can’t handle it. I was never suppose too. He already has a plan for my life and He knows exactly what to do. It is only when we totally surrender to Christ that we will have true freedom. I am a work in progress and I claim Phil. 4:13 daily. My prayer is that you will make Phil. 4 :13 a daily part of your life.

Love ya,
Amy



Amy lives in Lawrenceville with her husband Jerry and her 3 boys.

I am a Daughter of the King

As we continue on this journey reflecting on Who We Are in Christ I hope you will find those quiet moments to do some reflecting yourself. I so often am totally transformed by that simple song, Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of the world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. As I begin to utter those words, truly the things of the world WILL grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. We are bombarded daily with messages that say, You need this, You should look like this, act like this, hold positions like this, make money like this etc. And yet if you look around you we have a very dysfunctional society all looking to get their needs met anyway they can and still feel empty. As I have been seeking the Lord the message is so clear for me. It does not matter what day I read, or what I read, the message is consistent. My Daddy is saying, Come unto Me, Open your heart so that I can bring healing and restoration to your soul and spirit, Set your mind on things above, See from my heavenly perspective, Rejoice in knowing that I am with you in all things, Look and see beyond the flesh and worldly concerns. I will lead you and guide you and bring the wisdom of this age to you rmind. Purify your conscience. Set all things in order according to My Word.

As I began to think what to share with you concerning Who I am in Christ, the thing that would not leave my mind is I am a Daughter of the King. You may be saying, I know that. But do you? Do I? Do we really embrace that our Daddy owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the earth is His and all it contains, That nothing was made that was made apart from Him, that He puts rulers in positions and removes them and on and on. One of my favorite passages is when He was talking to Job. I remember the moment this was first put in perspective for me. I was sitting on the beach in Panama City very troubled with some things that had just happened to me. After I had shared my frustration with the Lord, I opened my Bible to the daily reading and actually began to laugh out loud. Verse 12, says, "Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, And caused the dawn to know its place....... Wow and Wow! The one WHO commands the morning is MY Daddy! It is going to be Okay!

But do we live like that? I was thinking of the movie Princess Diaries. This is a quick synopsis but hopefully will make the point. She was the daughter of a prince who had died and her grandmother was Queen of Genovia. She was living in America almost in poverty with her Mom. It becomes time for a new Queen - she is the likely candidate - Grandmother finds her - takes here there and she learns the ways of a Queen - Of course there is more to the story but for today's post think of the correlation. Alot of us are living in spiritual poverty and yet are daughters of the king. We know that is a reality but because of circumstances of life we live as if we are not. He sent His Son to show us the way and when He left He sent the H.S. to indwell us so we could live the life He meant for us. How are you living?

Are you living under the expectations of this world, people around you, the position you hold or are you experiencing the freedom of knowing you are a princess and your Daddy owns it all, and is able to provide what you need, when you need it, and how much you need at the time you need it? Are you living knowing that nothing escapes your Daddy's notice and He is able to accomplish what concerns you from the past, present and future? Are you living knowing that you are not a victim? That no one can thwart what your Daddy has put in motion for you?

Now lets go back to Princes Diaries one more time. When it came time for her to be queen there was one stipulation and that was she had to be married. The time was fleeting and if she was not married she could not be queen. She came to a point that she realized she could not get married just to be queen and came before the people and shared her dream to be their queen but also her view of marriage was much more and to get married for this reason would violate who she really was. She appealed to them to think of their own daugthers...........

Wow, to be a daughter of the King we must not allow ourselves to be victims, we must not allow the enemy to tell us He won't provide, we must not compromise our values to receive anything. For He truly owns it all.

I don't know where you are in your life today but I do know Your Daddy knows. Sit back in his lap. Accept His love, His counsel, His grace, His mercy, and on and on. You don't have to beg. You are His and He is Yours. His Banner over you is Love.

In closing, I must share what my Daddy did for me this week. Joel has been out of work for over 6 months. Our Daddy has been faithful. We have been blessed and stretched. Mid way into this we had the privilege of hosting a young missionary couple in our home for a month. We could not have asked for better house guests and we were blessed by them. As summer approached we knew we would not be vacationing and out of the blue they offered us their beach house in Fort Walton Beach for 10 days. My Daddy knew we did not have the resources but needed the rest so He provided a place through them. And our Daddy did not just provide a place but He provided a beautiful place. I am sitting here looking out at the bay and stand in awe of my Daddy. He is faithful. He is your Daddy. Go to Him! He is waiting! You are His daughter.

Blessings from another daughter of the King,

Jill Milligan

A New Series

We have spent several months sharing different names and attributes of our Savior. It has been exciting to log on each week and read what God has been showing one of my sisters. He has used each one of these posts to remind me that He is very serious about being involved in every aspect of our life.

As personal and vulnerable as we have been sharing what God has been teaching us about Himself, we are embarking on a journey that will require us to be even more open with you.

As I sit to type this first post in the new series, I have a strong impression that yes it will be sweet, but there may be weeks when it is hard. God's word says in Deut. But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

We are going to seek Him and ask Him to show us something new. Would you pause now and ask Him to speak to you?

If I were to ask you face to face “Who does God say you are?” What would your answer be?

My guess is some of you would say things like forgiven, loved, or redeemed. A few may say daughter of the King, or Princess. All beautiful, and correct answers for a woman who has received Jesus Christ as her Savior! Girlfriend the Holy Spirit of God lives in you and you are Royalty an Heiress for goodness sake!

Since we aren’t face to face I want you to ask yourself “Who am I in Christ?"

I’ve been asking myself this question daily for a week and one word continues to come to the front of my mind.

SECURE.

God says I am secure. Regardless of everything going on around me, I am secure. My life verse is Deuteronomy 33:12 it says:

“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in HIM, for HE shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders.”

God gave me a visual of this verse when my youngest daughter was around 2. She had the flu and was very clingy. It was nap time, but I knew she was not going to nap in her bed for very long. I was at that point where I needed a nap too so we just cuddled up on the couch.

Earlier in the day, I had read this verse in my Bible study homework. It had consumed my mind and my heart. I grabbed my Bible and my journal in hopes that Emma would sleep and I could write down my thoughts before I grabbed a quick power nap.

Emma was very congested so I had her sort of sitting up facing me with her head against my chest. She could breath easier this way and I could prop up and read. As I read that verse again, I felt the Lord speaking to my heart.

You see Emma had quickly gone to sleep and she was FINALLY resting. Her labored breathing had slowed down and had fallen into a pattern similar to mine.

She was resting between my shoulders. Close enough for her breathing to fall into sync with mine. Her head was close enough to feel my heartbeat. She felt safe, secure and free to rest.

God reminded me that He offers me the same thing each and every day. I have the freedom to crawl into His lap, put my head on His chest and let my breathing,my heart beat fall into sync with His.

It is a safe place. A secure place. A stable place.

Isaiah 33:6 tells us that God will be the stability or the sure foundation of our times.

Regardless of what is going on in my life I know that my God knows. He is my sure and stable foundation. Nothing can shake Him. If I am living as one who believes she is secure, I will not be shaken. Life may throw some hard things my way. It may feel overwhelming and like the fight of all fights! BUT, my Savior says in Deut. 33:12 He shields me all day long and I can rest secure.

I am a SECURE heiress of God! Is there a more secure place to be than between the shoulders of the One who gave His only Son's life for you and for me?

What kind of impact would we have if we really believed we are secure? I wonder what would happen in our communities, our churches and most importantly in our homes if we started living as a secure woman. I want to leave you with a quote from a favorite Bible teacher...

"My theology has not become my reality when I refuse to walk in the security of Christ and who I am in Him!"

Oh my sweet friends, lets press in a little closer and make the choice to believe we are who God says we are! Let's walk a little more secure knowing that we are HIS.

Anticipating Him!
stephanie

He is … Faithful and True

The scriptures are packed with verses reminding us of the faithfulness of God. Countless musicians have composed hymns and songs about His faithfulness.



Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

How can we become more faithful? With the celebration of each birthday or anniversary can we journal how God has been faithful to us? Yes! But how many paragraphs in our journals do we compose about the ways we have been faithful to God?

Summer vacation always provides a lot of time for reflection for me. Summer seems to be the time I can recharge my battery in preparation for the fall when I go back for another year of teaching Middle School musicians. If you know anything about middle school students, you definitely need to recharge in the summer.

When the Lord is working on a particular character trait in me, He brings me to His word so that I can search His character first. Secondly, He shows me men and women in the Bible that have grown in that area. Finally, He lets me encounter personal stories through living testimonies in my own world.

At the beginning of the summer my husband and I took a trip to Arizona. God’s handiwork was evident at every turn. One trip to the Grand Canyon will remind you that He is God and you are not. In the midst of all of that beauty, “Revelation Song” …With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings” still rings in my ears every time I look at the summer photos. Our faithfulness can be found in our voice of praise.

My sister, Rita and I took a short trip to Charleston S.C. If you have a sister make plans next summer to spend some time alone with her. We have been doing this for five years now. God always shows up and shows out when we’re together. Sometimes you’ll be laughing so hard that you’re crying and other times you are just crying together. “Sometimes we find our hearts in a thousand pieces, maybe more.”

from Mandisa’s “Broken Hallelujah” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH16B5449Iw

ministered to my sister and I, as we continue to be faithful to all that God has called us to and continues to bring us through. Our faithfulness can be found in our willingness to stay true even in the very difficult times.

Then it was off to Pennsylvania for a few days with each of our parents. What a sweet sound of faithfulness to hear my mother-in-law reading scripture aloud to my father-in-law at the breakfast table before they began their day of taking Meals On Wheels to those in need. At my home I would rise to see my dad sitting in the living room pouring over God’s word as he does every day. In the evenings we listened to CDs speaking of Bible Prophecy, one of my mom’s favorite topics. I wonder how many times those four saints have prayed over my family. Our faithfulness can be found in our prayer life.

Our next stop was to visit a dear High School friend that is on her 63rd chemo treatment over the last six years. Her lips could not praise God enough for who He is. She has found her HOPE in the Lord and shares that with everyone she meets. Our faithfulness can be found in our testimony.

Before we returned home, we visited Pawleys Island S.C. with friends. The sights and sounds of the beach showed forth the handiwork of the Master once again. But this time, I was more taken by the faithfulness of God to provide such special friends. He wants us to fellowship with Him, but he provides such sweet fellowship with other believers. I was touched by the love these couples had for one another. As we talked about His faithfulness, I was once again reminded of the importance of praying for your children and their future spouses. Now that both of our sons have found the sweet bride that continues to complete them, I know that over 20 years of prayers on their behalf was not too much to ask of me. Our faithfulness can be found in our sacrifice.

No, we did not vacation the entire summer. We were only gone about 20 days. God is just faithful to pack a lot into a short period of time. Today, I am blessed to celebrate one of the sweetest testimonies of faithfulness, our 35th Wedding Anniversary. Our faithfulness can be found in our love for one another.

In the next few days of your journey with Christ, ask Him how you can be more faithful. And remember: He will always be faithful to your faithfulness.

I remain ever thankful to a Faithful and True God.
Debbie Fritz

HE IS……the "ARM OF THE LORD"

I’m posting another eye-opening examination of a common phrase that transformed my thinking of how powerful my Abba Daddy is in my life right now, and also a revelation of just how powerful He has been my ENTIRE LIFE. So many experiences come to mind of just how He reached down from heaven to rescue me, guide me, and teach me LONG BEFORE I accepted Him into my life as Ruler of my life. How awesome to dialogue with Him now about all that He has done for me! Let’s study His word together.

Definition of “Arm of the Lord” from Webster's Dictionary - Figurative of power or might

Nelson's Bible Dictionary - A symbol of God's power, strength or might (see Ps. 89:13, Is. 53:1)

A common scripture reference talks about God’s deliverance during the Exodus, when He redeemed Israel from bondage in Egypt (see Ps. 77:15, Is. 63:12). But there are many other examples that relate to our everyday experiences. Each one elaborates on God's character in a different way.

Numbers 11:23, "…is the Lord's arm too short? …"

In this passage the Israelites are complaining about the manna and demanding meat. Moses questions how God can provide enough meat for 600,000. God’s reply to Moses is in the form of a question, “Is the Lord’s arm too short?”

It is easy to trust God when we "see" His mighty works but after a while, in the routine of daily life, His strength may appear to diminish. God doesn't change, but our view of Him often does! The monotony of day-to-day living lulls us into forgetting how powerful God can be. God's strength is always available!

Hebrews 12:12, "Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees."

I had to include this reference even though it refers to human arms. God is a disciplining parent and a demanding coach who pushes us to our limits and requires our lives to be disciplined. OH, HOW I FALL SHORT! Although we may not feel strong enough to push on to victory, we will be able to accomplish it as we follow Christ and draw on His strength. I don't draw on His strength, as I should, particularly in times of temptation.

Exodus 6:6, "…I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment."

Small problems need only small answers! But big problems give God an opportunity to exercise His great power and give big answers!!

Exodus 15:16, "…By the power of Your arm they will be as still as a stone --"

Here Moses is giving praise to God after crossing the Red Sea and seeing the Egyptian solders drowned as the waters returned. God's power is amazing! We had an experience while driving to the beach yesterday that revealed God’s amazing power. Unbelievable and so undeserved!

Deut. 5:15, "Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm."

I must remember that God has rescued me from the slavery of sin and eternity in hell with His mighty arm. My response to His gift should be complete obedience. Why is that so hard?!

Deut. 9:29, "But they are your people, your inheritance, that You brought out by Your great power and Your outstretched arm."

I AM HIS INHERITANCE! What a privilege. What a waste if I don't claim it and live it to the fullest!

Deut. 26:8, "So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with miraculous signs and wonders."

God's ways and methods are higher than ours. Notice the words, "great terror." Some of our most terrible experiences are turned into good because of the Lord's rescue missions in our lives. Also notice the words, "miraculous signs and wonders." Do we really accept the things He has done as miracles???? If we did, we would not be able to get out of bed in the morning without crawling!

Deut. 33:20 reminds us that the “Arm of the Lord” is just and merciful.

Punishment is necessary for growth and character development.

2 Kings 17:36, "But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the One you must worship. To Him you shall bow down and to Him offer sacrifices."

The "One I must worship" … I've been convicted lately there are times when I worship other things and put more energy into things of this world rather than on my loving Father. That makes me very sad.

2 Chron. 32:8, "With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles."

Victory is not by our might or power but by the Lord's Spirit. The battles we face everyday can be won with God's strength. Again I say “why don't I call on Him when I'm tempted???” After all, my life's verse is Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Why don't I live my life's verse? URRRRGH!

Job 35:9, "Men cry out under a load of oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful."

Again, why am I not living in the strength that runs through my veins?

Job 40:9, "Do you have an arm like God's…"

Ps. 44:3, "It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You loved them."

In this passage, surrounded by enemies, the psalmist remembered what God had done for His people and took heart. We can have this same confidence in God when we feel attacked.

Ps. 89:10, "…with Your strong arm You scattered Your enemies."

I love this because I am reminded that no matter how hard satan tries to keep Freedom's Call from being what God wants it to be, GOD IS IN CONTROL!! He will scatter our enemies and remove the roadblocks!

Is. 30:30, "The Lord…will make them see His arm coming down with raging anger and consuming fire…"

God disciplines. He justifies wrongs done to His people. Ponder that!

Is. 40:10, "See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and His arm rules for Him."

Is. 40:11, "He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart…"

How my heart is warmed when I think of God gathering me into His arms and carrying me close to His heart! He is powerful, yet careful and gentle. We are powerful when we rely on God's caring strength.

Is. 51:5, "my arm will bring justice to the nations."

This is a sobering scripture in lieu of the moral decline of our nation…..

Jeremiah 17:5, "…the Lord says: 'Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength (arm) and whose heart turns away from the Lord.’”

Once again, not a scripture pointing to the "Arm of the Lord" but a powerful revelation of how we error when we rely on ourselves instead of God. People who trust in human beings and/or false gods will be barren and unfruitful. Those who trust in God flourish like trees planted by water. Those trusting in humans will be impoverished and spiritually weak and have no strength to draw upon. Those trusting in the Lord will have abundant strength for themselves and others.

I don't know about you, but I WANT TO BE A HUGE WILLOW TREE PLANTED BY THE WATER!!!!

Debbie lives in Dacula, GA with her amazing husband Sonny and super-dog Bandit.

He is our Way Maker

God is Our Way Maker

Have you ever been really excited about something? I am sure we all have been about one thing or another. In this world of instant gratification we want it now or even yesterday. But what happens when we have to wait? And then wait some more.

We just knew this was what God wanted for us and that it was perfect timing. At least in our minds. So why are we having to wait? This is God’s plan for me, right? Why isn’t he giving me the results I want? After all I did pray about this and it has all just fallen into place…..

Questioning God is a natural thing. We have to remember that we are on God’s time table not ours. It is very hard sometimes to trust that God has our back and He does know what He is doing. It is not our plan, but that His perfect plan for our lives will be revealed only in His timing.

Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait on the Lord.

Isaiah 40:31But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, and they will walk and not be faint.

My husband and I are going through a time right now where we are having to wait. We thought everything was going to be great because we could see God’s hand all over it, but there have been a lot of roadblocks along the way. We are trusting God to complete the great work He has started, but like I said it is in His timing not ours. Frustration and anger are real, but it is when we rest in Him that He makes a way for us.

There is a song out now called While I Am Waiting by John Waller. This is a powerful song from the movie Fireproof. I have included the lyrics. If you haven’t heard it I encourage you to look it up and listen.

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

Rest in Him and he will make a way for you no matter what you are going through!

Have a great week!!!

Love ya,

Amy

HE IS GOD

July 6, 2009

We have been sharing with you for the past 4 months Who God is in the midst of our lives. That He is totally trustworthy in all situations of life no matter what those situations are. And in those life circumstances as He is Who He is to us, He is perfecting us and conforming us to His image. What a mighty God we serve. Everything He is and Does is for His Glory and our Good.
In the past 7 months of our life we have experienced 5 ( that I can remember) of the main stresses in a person’s life one right after another; some amazingly wonderful and others challenging. In all textbook conclusions we should be whatever they say we should be. But God!
It started with a wonderful call on Kimberly’s life to Mission Work. This call was confirmed on November 11, 2008 and her first assignment was in January 2009 to YWAM in Kona, Hawaii. Yes, you got it, 50 days to prepare, fill out all paperwork, raise support and go. At the same time we were rejoicing in this I was going back and forth to Atlanta to see my Mother who was in her last days in a nursing home . She had been failing since May of 2008 and my heart was filled with gratitude to the Lord that I was free to spend a good bit of time with her in her last days. Several days before Thanksgiving she passed. The memorial service was amazing and at each corner we saw the Hand of the Lord and rejoiced in His goodness to us through my Mom’s life and the memories that would be there forever.
In all of this He was faithful and we put Kimberly on a plane January 1st heading to Kona. Faithful is He Who calls us and He will bring it to pass.
20 days later Joel was laid off. And as of today, we are still seeking His face for a job. But God. He has provided all our needs and we stand amazed!
In April and May I began to suffer a lot of pain with my R.A. again and many days wanted to give in to it but He reminded me that his strength is perfected in my weakness, so I began to thank Him for the things I could do instead of focusing on the things I could not do. It made me thankful when I could get out of a chair or turn a knob. It made me realize truly that apart from Him I could not nothing. Wow and Wow. He truly was my strength when I was weak, He truly was the treasure that I see, He truly was my all and all.
On May 14th I woke up in the middle of the night in so much pain I thought I was having a heartatache. In the morning I went to urgent care and found out I had pneumonia and they put me in the hospital. While I was in the hospital Joel began to have some of the same symptoms and as I was being released on the 18th Joel was being admitted with a blood clot in his lung and pneumonia. It was the strangest thing to leave the hospital and go to the emergency room to see Joel being admitted. He then was in for a week and was released on May 25th. On May 26th we got a call from Atlanta that his Mom was not doing well and that they were taking her to the hospital. Joel immediately left for Atlanta. She was admitted on the 26th, put in hospice on the 28th and passed on the 30th.


Why do I tell you all this?? Because in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us and gave Himself up for us. Our lives are a mixture of wonderful blessings and amazing challenges, BUT GOD. As I reflected on His goodness to us every step of the way, I was humbled again at His all knowing character and how even my being released in the morning and Joel going in that afternoon was a blessing as one of us was there for Lauren our 15 year old daughter. I thought of Joel getting out on the 25th just in time to be there for his Mom in her last moments. I thought of the blessing of Kimberly being called in the same time of my Mom’s passing and how even though I was having to say goodbye to a very special person in my life, I was also celebrating a new season and call in a very special person’s place in my life, my daughter Kimberly. His closeness overwhelms me with gratitude. He was available all the time through each thing, He showed me how He has already walked before me so I could trust the path, He comforted me when I need comforting and He caused me to rejoice even in the midst, knowing it was okay. His mercies were new each morning and His peace was amazing. At times when I was frustrated he would search my mind and heart and bring me back to what was true. He was my wonderful counselor, He was my shelter, He was HIM every moment of every day and every situation. My heart exults in Him!!!!
I hope wherever you are today, you will stop and ask Him to show you HIMSELF! There is nothing too difficult for HIM, He is not too busy and His eye is on you even as you ask and His answer is but a breath away. Because HE is your ANSWER.