Perk Up

Desperate Girls

2012-02-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

“Someday my prince will come….,” are the words to a song sung by Snow White in the Disney animation of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. Many a young girl has watched that movie and tucked away in her heart….the dream of her prince coming to get her.

Is this wrong?

God created us to love. Our heart’s desire to love and be loved, and they want to fasten themselves to someone else. Woman was taken from the side of man and we have a God given desire to be restored to the side of a man. The only problem with this desire is that we must be willing to keep it under control and to wait on the Lord to provide that someone to love.

Too many girls have been in love with the idea of being in love. This is an open door to trouble and a broken heart. I would like to encourage every single girl reading this brief article to examine your affections. Are they directed to the Lord and your family, or are they out of place.

Every girl needs to make a close, personal examination of her own self in order to determine if she is even ready spiritually and emotionally for marriage. Don’t be so desperate for love and attention that you will jump at the first guy who even shares a conversation with you. Don’t become a desperate girl. It’s actually quite unbecoming…even cheap.

Always remember….

God has a plan and knows who should be married to whom and when. Your job in God’s plan is to wait patiently and love the Lord God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. If a young man becomes more important to you than God’s will for your life, then he has become your idol.

Resist crushes. Let the Lord bring someone to you. Don’t go looking, flirting or practicing possessiveness on some guy you’ve set your sights on. Don’t be desperate!

Always know your place….as unpopular as it may be in this day and age. It’s a man’s job to choose and the woman’s job to be chosen. Can’t God direct a good man and the right man to you in HIS time? Do not allow yourself to get so desperate that you set out in presumption to “pick” your own guy. You’re asking for disappointment and heartbreak. You don’t know if that guy you have set your sights on is even God’s choice for you. James 4:13-14 “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that.”

Avoid infatuations. Infatuations are blinding and confusing. No matter how strong these feelings may be, don’t expect God to lead you through your infatuation. “Feelings” are not necessarily a sign from the Lord that someone is right for you. God always leads through the truths in Scripture and there will be peace and joy in the heart of everyone connected to your situation. If you don’t have the blessing of family and your pastor….run from the relationship!

Reject the tendency to get desperate. You would be better off getting desperate for a better relationship with the Lord. That will put you in a better position to pray and see those prayers answered. Remember girls, God knows the plans He has for you. Trust Him enough to let Him lead and love Him enough to follow.

Everything……in His time.

Dwelling in Beds of Ease…

2012-01-04T07:47:00.000-08:00

Written By Cherith Sickmeyer

After a recent trip to Prague, Czech Republic to visit our missionaries the Rettigs and the church there, this phrase from the song “Am I a Soldier of the Cross,” has been going through my mind. The entire song is WELL worth meditating on, but for time and space here, I will just include verse two.

Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to
win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?

After once again visiting with the handful of precious people in the church in Prague, I was reminded anew, what spoiled Christians we all are here in the United States. In the same way that it is easy to take for granted all we have physically and monetarily in this country, we can also do the same in our spiritual lives.
Not every church receives the spiritual meals that we here at New Testament Baptist receive each and every week, but as a whole in our country, if you want to find a church that preaches the true Gospel, if you look, you can find it! In the spiritually bankrupt country of Czech Republic, there are maybe a handful of preachers there, preaching the Truth. The country is steeped in atheism, and consequently, the oppression that goes along with it when a person and nation is without God.

The dear people who have been reached with the Gospel of Christ there in Prague, have such an appreciation for their salvation, and where and what they’ve been brought out from! They truly knew NOTHING about Who Jesus is, and what He did so that they could be saved from their sins, until the Lord led them to the Rettigs. The Rettigs then spent countless hours with each one, showing them first, WHO Jesus is, and then secondly, who they were, and what Jesus did that they might be saved from their sins. Because of this, when you talk to them, you are struck with first, their humility and thankfulness for their salvation, and then the huge burden they have for their lost friends and loved ones. They know and understand personally, the great spiritual darkness and deception that the people in their country live in. They understand HOW MUCH they need God’s power to work and move in their lives and the lives of those they witness to. Three of the men in particular, will come every Friday evening to the Rettigs, kneel down on the carpet with their faces to the floor, and pray for several hours for the many needs there in Czech Republic and for those here at New Testament Baptist in Larimore , N.D. When I heard this, I was immediately humbled and ashamed. How much more these people understand the spiritual warfare in their new Christian lives, than so many of us who are living here in our “flowerly beds of ease.” We take it for granted that each time we come to church we will hear a good message and see the many familiar faces of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We even take them for granted at times, and look with judgment on one another, because we’ve lost our love and appreciation not only for them, but for the gift from God that they are!

The small assembly in Prague prays and begs God for visitors who will come and not just visit, but continue to seek for the Truth that is in God’s word. One of the young women in the church stated that every time she goes out, her heart just breaks for people and she has to give them a tract or something! She remembers where she used to be - so lost, and living under the burden of her sin.

Do WE remember where we used to be and feel that same burden when we see the lost, or have we become encumbered with the business and materialism of this life? I know I stand guilty. With all that is in me though, I do not want to lose what I have seen and learned from these dear brothers and sisters in Christ. They might be new to the truths of God’s word and the Christian life, but they understand already, the spiritual battle we are in. I believe we have much to learn from them. The next time I feel afraid to say something to someone when God is prompting me, may God remind me of those people in Prague. While brothers and sisters around the world are fighting for the cause of Christ and enduring persecution, I do NOT want to be content living on “flowerly beds of ease.” My Lord suffered unto death for ME. How much more does He deserve in return?

Ephesians 5:15-16 "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

A Lesson Learned

2011-11-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Written By Judy Diaz

A couple of weeks ago while reading in Titus 2:4-5, the Lord rested my thoughts upon the word, “discreet”. That is an interesting and thought provoking word. I sought counsel on its true meaning in that verse, as I knew that I needed to be discreet because God’s Word was telling me to be. In the secret places of my heart I know I have not always practiced discretion as I should. Situations at my work and with people in general revealed that I needed to know and practice better discretion.

One question that needed to be answered in my mind was, “What is being discreet and how can I obtain this character trait? These are some of the verses God used to help me realize the importance of practicing the character trait of being discreet.

Proverbs 11:22 “As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.”

Proverbs 19:11 “The discretion of a man deferreth his anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.”

I don’t want to be a young lady that is like a pig with a jewel in the snout. I texted Mrs. Shaffer asking her this question, “What is a practical working definition of discreet?” Her reply?
Discernment! The practice of knowing what is right and what is the wrong thing to say or do.
My first thought was how I usually say or do something and then later realize that I could have said it differently, or what I did or said was just plain wrong. Can I know before I say or do something that it’s right to say or do?

I am learning that when I pray for God to teach me or show me something that I need and want to know, that He is quick to show me His answer!

On Monday morning of Revival week; I had the opportunity to take off a few hours from work to go to the morning services. I know this was of the Lord, especially when Bro.Curtman came to Romans 12:1- 2. He spoke about presenting your body as a daily, living sacrifice and not being conformed to this world so “that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” Without a daily dying to self and a willing presenting of my body as a living sacrifice, I cannot know or discern the perfect will of God for every situation or circumstance of the day. By Tuesday evening of Revival, I realized my lack of surrender to the Lord and I was tired of Judy’s responses! I needed Christ to have control of my thoughts and Christ to be seen in every word and action. Will this internal change be a battle? Yes, it will! But this one thing I know -Christ is with me all the way! I just need to surrender! God reminded me of the truth in this song:

“Not I, But Christ”

by Mac Lynch

Not I, but Christ be honored, loved exalted.

Not I, but Christ be seen, be known, be heard.

Not I, but Christ in ev’ry look and action.

Not I, but Christ in ev’ry tho’t and word…

A Servant's Heart

2011-10-02T19:06:00.000-07:00

Written By Cherith Sickmeyer

As single girls, there is so much more that we are able to do in serving the Lord, as compared to our married sisters.

I’d like to focus on the last part of Galatians 5:13 this month. “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

This is an area the Lord has been speaking to me more about of late. Although I am active in our local church, and find great joy and blessing in doing so, the Lord has shown me a need for more of a servant’s heart. I personally want to increase my service to the Lord, and know the joy that it brings!

Initially, I thought of my service to the Lord in areas that pertain directly to the ministries of the church. Things like working in the nursery, Sunday school, music, or the many opportunities available to us in our church’s ladies groups. Though these are very important and areas that must not be neglected, these are certainly not the only areas where we can serve and bring glory to our Lord. We can also reach out to one another on a daily basis with our friendship, time or money, and show the love of Christ in the process.

One specific area that I think we could all increase our service in, especially in this career minded age, is our own homes. This is the primary area that we as women were created by God to serve in, and as unmarried daughters, it's the best place to prepare for our own future families and homes. There are many opportunities to serve in the home where we live with our parents, and it’s an excellent indicator of whether or not we truly have a servant’s heart. The “daily grind” can reveal a lot about us. Do we offer to help beyond our normal duties? Do we look for areas that need attention? Do we think about how busy our parents are and offer our assistance? Or, is the tendency to think about what we want to do and what we want or need to accomplish? Everyone has things they need to accomplish with their time. How often do we sacrifice our time and notice the need of another, in spite of the fact that we ourselves, have needs?

These are just some thoughts I have asked myself. It is good to stop and take inventory from time to time. We need to search our hearts and ask ourselves if our lives have become self-consumed. It is easy to do when we have many personal goals and needs to accomplish. We can find ourselves thinking less and less about others. But as Christians, we are to be Christlike. When I think of Christ, I think of Someone who had every right to lift Himself up and be served and worshipped by all mankind, and yet, He took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man. Think about it, THE Holy Lamb of God took upon Himself the form of lowly, sinful man, and spent His life’s blood on us! How much more ought we to spend our lives for HIM!? In that light, no sacrifice is too great! And yet, how often do we get put out when a little extra is asked of us? May it not be so as saved daughters of Christ. May we use these unmarried years, learning to be servants. God used a willing little boy’s five loaves and two fishes. How much more may He choose to use us as well, if we in turn offer Him everything we have?

II Corinthians 12:15a “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you;”

Philippians 4:2 “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

My Lighthouse

2011-09-01T12:20:00.000-07:00

Written By Diana Gove

Lately I have been reflecting on a song we used to sing in our high school choir in our Christian School. It’s called, “A Beacon of You.”

“A beacon of you, Light of the world, Lord Jesus, let this my prayer be- That in this dark world, others may see, a Beacon of You in me.”

These lyrics keep running through my mind as I pray, driving to work and to the new college semester each morning. My mind imagines a lighthouse and the big panes of glass surrounding the intense light within. A long time ago I saw a video commentary about how important it is to keep these panes clean and unbroken so the light could be seen as far as possible. I can’t help but compare it to my own life…
I’m saved, and I know that I am… as the song goes. God’s Spirit moved in the day I surrendered everything to Him and He has been changing me ever since.

The Light of the world is in me… like the lighthouse. But how clean are the “panes” of my life? Am I letting the Light shine, so others can see? Is my testimony for Christ ever cloudy or hard to detect? Sin can smear and blotch up my testimony, so the Light cannot be seen as well. Thoughts, desires, motives, personal standards, character… they all make up who I am and they either hinder or allow others to see Christ in me.

These verses often come to mind as the Lord works on my heart:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts:” Psalms 139:23
“Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalms 51:2
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10

As I pray for the lost and for people close to my heart to be tender to the Lord working in them, I become more desirous to be a pure reflection of my Lord. How will they ever see Jesus if they can’t see Him in me? How many people never go to a church that teaches them about who God really is? How many never know a truly saved person who makes a difference in their life? Have they ever seen Jesus in anyone on a consistent basis? Has anyone ever shown them unconditional concern and love? Why would someone ever think about salvation if they haven’t first seen His reflection in someone else’s life? These questions burden my heart!

I talk about wanting people to get saved, praying with tears and great sorrow at times, but do I give them a reason to want to know God? When people say what a “good girl” I am, do I testify of what God has done in me… pointing them to His grace instead of “my” goodness? Is there any Holy Spirit power upon my testimony and daily walk with Christ…. Or am I just living a good life out of habit or a desire to please people?

And what about my mouth? It is easy for me to chat with people about everything under the sun, but do I hesitate at bringing up spiritual things? Do people hear about who God is and what He means to me, or is that window pane covered up?

“Oh Lord, please cleanse me so that You can shine on those still in darkness. Change me,
That in this dark world, others may see, a Beacon of You in me.”

Confession and repentance cleans out the life. God’s forgiveness and power overcomes the hardest of stains. And by His strength, we can keep our lives clean. Sometimes it means staying accountable to another spiritually minded person. Accountability is always worth it.

Why does it matter if we strive to stay clear of sin, or if we choose to just not care if anyone knows God better by knowing us? It matters because of somebody else’s soul… I must recognize that I, Diana Gove, a single girl, can be the light that makes the difference in some struggling person’s life. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Who, in this world, will know Christ because they knew me…

A Relationship With Christ

2011-08-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Written by Judy Diaz

At our Family Camp this year, the Lord used one of the ladies sessions to speak to my heart and to stir me to change. There have been many times in the past when I have allowed myself to believe Satan’s lies about my own inadequacy, comparing myself to others, and thinking more highly then I ought to think of myself. This past week, I began to question my relationship with God. Did I have a relationship with Him that I needed to have or was there something wrong with me?

It was real a soul-searching time for me.

At a recent bridal shower, one of our ladies gave a testimony that really started me thinking about my time spent with the Lord. I need more than ever, to hear from God when I am reading my Bible in the morning. I had become lazy in that area and I was not asking God to speak my heart. The next morning, God showed me this blessing, and I wrote it down in my journal last night.

I Corinthians 12 and 13

In chapter twelve Paul is writing about the spiritual gifts and how each member is an important part of the body of the church. Each person has a specific role or function, but we are all essential parts of the body.

I Corinthians 12:31 “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”

I could have several spiritual gifts, but if I do not exercise those gifts with a heart of love, my gifts benefit no one and God is not glorified. Over looking another’s faults and failures and loving a person where there at is a more excellent way.

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” I Corinthians 13:13

There is only one person who can help me to love others, and that is Jesus Christ my Lord. He loves like no other person could because He is God.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” II Corinthians 10:5

“I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” I Timothy 1:7

God reminded me that one of the reasons He saved me was for me to have a relationship with Him, and I am learning that His Word is very precious because it gives me strength, wisdom, and truth to replace and cleanse my mind. I want to have God’s victory in my life, and for this verse to be true in my life.

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Psalm 119:133

For many single girls, our self-focus can become a huge stumbling block to real contentment in Christ. It will lead us into having a critical spirit and our fellowship with the Lord will not be what it should be.

Oh that God would have complete dominion over me…..

Conquer my Heart

2011-06-01T21:03:00.000-07:00

Written by Heather Poling

When I was little, I used to read about a princess that was captured by an evil man, and her only hope of rescue was the handsome prince who would come to save her. But as I look back, I realize that sometimes I am that princess. I can get captured by my sin, and my only hope of rescue is that the King of Kings comes and conquers my heart.

The Bible tells us in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

My heart can be wicked and full of wicked thoughts. I can easily become captured before I even realize that it has happened. It starts out so little with only a wrong thought. The wrong thought quickly multiplies into more wrong thoughts, and these thoughts turn into words, and these words into actions. At that point, I have been captured.

Matthew 12:34b, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

God commands us to capture every thought and see if it lines up to His Word. When it doesn’t, we must get rid of it by using His Word to flush it out. It is the only way to keep from becoming enslaved to sin.

II Corinthians 10:5,”Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” It is during the times when we disobey God’s Word and give freedom to our thoughts and just let them come and go into our hearts and minds, that we will find ourselves captured by Satan. But God in His love and mercy will forgive us and save us from these high towers that we have created if we only ask Him.

I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.”

God can not use a damsel who is always in distress because of her sin. We must allow God to conquer our hearts by using His Word as a filter for our minds.
Psalms 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the mediation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

I Give Up!

2011-05-02T12:19:00.000-07:00

Written by Diana Gove

Last night I woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep. For a few hours, I spoke to the Lord and listened to Him as He spoke to me in the still quietness of the night hours. There was no sense of urgency to make it to my next class or to contact anyone. It was just me and the Lord. He convicted me of distractions that I’ve allowed in my life that keep me from being focused on Him. I was convicted as He reminded me that He wants a relationship with me!

As I poured out my heart to Him, relinquishing what I was holding on to, God reminded me of His love- true love- for me. The more I contemplated the love of Christ, the more I yearned to reciprocate it! I didn’t care that it was 4 a.m., I had to get up and write down what my Lord was teaching me- again.

What does love compel it’s possessor to do?

Surrender. Love compels surrender! When I saw the things standing between me and the Saviour, I was compelled to surrender those things to Him. At first I thought I was making a sacrifice, until the truth hit home! To give up what holds me back from Christ is not a sacrifice! It's a privilege! You see, I could refuse to let go, hold on, and let those things corrupt me from the inside out as I lived in the flesh, instead of the Spirit. But by surrendering those things, confessing my sin to God, I was renewed, made clean again, restored to fellowship with the Lord! That’s not a sacrifice…it’s a gift only to be had once my hands were emptied. Anything that separates me from my Lord and Saviour must be surrendered! How can I hold His hands if mine are full of other things?

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us," Hebrews 12:2

Jesus Christ surrendered the comforts of Paradise so that He could be closer to us. He surrendered to His Father's will out of love for us.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Another thing that love compels it’s possessor to do is- sacrifice.

Love also compels sacrifice… But what can I sacrifice that is even worthy of Him? What is it that is not already due Him? Nothing! Of myself- nothing is worthy of Him and everything is due Him!

"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." I Corinthians 6:20

But what does He want? What does God ask of me? He wants a living sacrifice! A sacrifice that is alive, active, and willingly given...

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1

He wants my living-- how I live, what I think about and even daydream about, my desires, motivation, plans, goals, and yes…even my burdens, cares, inadequacies, faults, and weaknesses. The Lord Jesus Christ wants it all!

If I fail to let go of the things separating me from a pure relationship with the Lord, I won't be willing or able to sacrifice my living. Surrender and sacrifice go hand in hand.

Jesus was my Sacrifice. Oh, what a sacrifice! He paid my sin debt. His sacrifice is still working on my behalf. His death redeemed me, but "it's because He lives... I can face tomorrow." This Sacrifice wills us to God:

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

My Jesus, I love Thee. I know Thou art mine. For thee all the follies of sin I resign. I thank thee for wearing the thorns upon thy brow...If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus ‘tis now.

"We love him, because he first loved us." I John 4:19

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

A Visit With Our Single Missionary Daughter: Rachel Hammett

2011-04-01T08:40:00.000-07:00

Written by Rachel Hammett Missionary daughter in Botswana, Africa

Do the next thing.

This is my number one advice to single girls. I've heard all the advice from, “Don't waste your single years” to “Be the person you want to marry.” It's all good advice, but how can you practically, as a single girl in this century, put it to use? Do the next thing.

It's good to have a plan and a vision, but let's face it, as a girl you probably aren't choosing a life-long career or building a house. What becomes most important for you is to stay flexible, expand your experience, and do the next thing that God has for you. Does God want you to go to school? Start your classes and pour yourself into them! Has God given you the opportunity to be a teacher to young children? Devote yourself to creating interesting class times that will take those kids to the next level. Are you still at home? Do everything you can to help your mother, entertain your younger siblings, and be an encouragement to your father. Have you secured a job outside the home? Do that job to the best of your ability, be respectful to your employers and a good testimony. Do you have friends that are discouraged? Find a way to be an encouragement to them! Do you have friends that are lost? Pray for them and look for ways to talk to them about the Gospel.

God does not want us to sit around, twiddling our thumbs, just waiting for Prince Charming to come along. There is much more going on in the world than just your love life! Wake up and look around you - what does God want you to do next? It may be an internal work on your heart, and perhaps you should set aside some alone time to pray and meditate on the issues God has shown you. It may be taking a missions trip, writing a book, learning how to cook, or taking your education to the next level. You can be assured of this - it is never God's will for you to stagnate. Oh, He may want you physically to stay put right where you are and learn to be content with it, but He is still looking for growth and improvement. Find that area and get to work!

As I look back over my single years thus far, I am so happy that I did not waste my time. Of course, there are some small decisions that I regret. There are some days I wish I could erase, some pity parties I wish I could remove from the records, a lot of wasted time spent on frivolous things that I don't even remember now. But the big decisions of my life - the decision to continue my education, the decision to work for my church, the decisions to travel and help missionaries, the decision to stay single thus far, the decisions to save money and invest in worthy goals rather than an apartment and car, the decision to move halfway around the world with my family without a 'man in sight' - none of these big decisions do I regret. Remember these were MY decisions; yours may be completely different! But that's the beauty of God's planning - no two people are exactly alike!

Before God can write your love story, you have to let him write YOUR story. What does He want to do with you today? Do the next thing.

If you would like to follow Rachel’s life on the mission field with her family in Botswana, feel free to visit: http://www.racheletcetera.com/

But What About Me?

2011-03-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

Written by Mrs. Shaffer

As most of the single young adults in our church know, we have been in wedding and betrothal season! The excitement fills the air and there are three new couples in our church with stars in their eyes! They are all ….quite twitter pated! (in love!) Happiness abounds and with their parent’s blessing they are headed toward the marriage altar.

With every betrothal and wedding…there are others who struggle with mixed emotions. Some girls realize that their bosom childhood friend will no longer be available to pal around with like she once was. Her sense of loss is real, while at the same time she may be truly happy for her friend. She will find herself in a circling pattern of emotions not knowing exactly where to land. Where does she fit in the grand scheme of things? If left unchecked, she will find herself in the pity pit real quick.

Other girls may sense the emotions of jealousy or bitter envy creep into their heart and they may find themselves slipping into depressed thinking. This girl may wonder within her heart why there doesn’t seem to be anyone for her? She may feel rejected or unwanted. None of these attitudes bring glory to God for sure, and all of them reveal a lack of faith in the Lord. These times can be very spiritually revealing in a young person’s life.

What is a single girl supposed to do at a time like this?

Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, ……..”

1. Think Biblically! If you have real Christian character, you will desire to rejoice over the blessing of another. Let yourself be genuinely happy for the couples that have been betrothed or married. Show it. Speak it. Being willing to share in the joy and blessing of the moment, is a beautiful gift to give another. There is nothing more
stressful or dividing for two friends, than to have one who is over the moon with joy and anticipation and to have the other depressed, withdrawn and defeated. Be in unity with your friend. Share their happiness and you will find that friendship bond strengthening even more. You are not losing your friend (unless you go into moping); you are just changing tracks in that friendship! True friendship endures.

I Corinthians 13:4-8 “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things endureth all things. Charity never faileth….”

Give the blessing of true love and friendship to those that rejoice!

2. Don’t go to a corner and pout. That three year old reaction is the behavior of a carnal, self-serving person. I have seen young men literally leave a church because someone else got the girl he wanted. His leaving only solidified that the girl and her family made the right choice for her. Spirituality never wallows. Spirituality is never conniving or desperate.

3. Grow your own faith in the power of God. Do you really believe God can move mountains? Do you believe He can move mountains for you? Do you trust that He sees your own longing for a husband? Do you have faith that He can bring one to you just as He did for your friends? How you practice that faith reveals whether you have it. Faith waits on God. Faith doesn’t search and prowl. Faith doesn’t go out on its own quest. Faith focuses on the Supplier and leaves the big decisions to the LORD. Do you have the trusting, depending kind of faith?

4. Live like you believe God can do anything for you too! Submerge yourself in the things of God. Be a blessing in every way you can. Refuse to join the ranks of the depressed and mournful. Let the joy of the LORD be your strength! It will be contagious and invigorating to yourself, your family and all of your friends. Find people and ministries that you can give yourself to ……as you wait on God for His will for the rest of your life.

Genuine joy is hard to suppress. God takes note of your merry heart and sweet disposition. His plan is always in motion whether you see it or not. Eyes of faith will wait on God’s plan ….no matter how long that takes. In the meantime…go on and “rejoice with them that do rejoice”! Make a testimony for yourself that speaks of great faith in the Lord and sincere pleasure for the blessings of others.

You never know when “someone” may be watching…

Singlehood

2011-02-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

by Anna Hansen

My best friend is getting married! She and I have been friends since she was twelve and I was eleven. and in my heart of hearts I am very happy for what the Lord has done in her life. The Lord has used this event however, to reveal to me a personal struggle that I have not dealt with correctly. That of my seemingly eternal singleness.

Recently, my beloved Pastor preached a message about the crosses in our lives, and strangely enough, the Lord used this to point out my weakness in the area of accepting God’s plan for me. Currently that means I am to be single. This is not easy to say because – gasp – I am in my thirties! I was convicted from the first point of Pastor’s message and couldn’t wait for the invitation so I could do what I knew I needed to do and that was to finally let God have complete control over the area of my heart labeled “husband” and “babies.” I will no longer drag that cross behind me with a grouchy complaining spirit. Instead, I will take up the cross of singlehood gladly. As Pastor reminded us this morning… isn’t the LORD worth it?

Pastor used Hebrews 12: 2 in his message. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” When he talked about how “who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross”, the Lord spoke to me and said that the joy was because of the cross, not in spite of it. There was greater joy after the cross was endured, though maybe He could not see it at the time. Jesus had to do what we all must do, and that is to trust the Father and His plan to allow the cross in the first place.

I also thought about how Jesus knew what it was like to be single. I have to imagine that, because He was in the form of a human, He grew up, and knew what it was like to approach His thirties being single. Because of this, I can pour out my lonely heart to the One who has experienced the same feelings of being alone. He really does understand what I am going through. I can come home to my apartment that I share with my sister, and no longer have grouchy, mad feelings because I am not sharing my apartment with a husband. I can happily listen to my best friend plan her upcoming wedding; I can even listen to her pine away because, “oh no, he (her fiancée) hasn’t called yet”! I can even listen to those who are not even close to being thirty, talk about wanting another child after being married for a couple of years.

God’s plan is different for me; I know this and I am more than okay with it. Looking for the joy to come after and because of the cross, brings me joy now because I trust the Heavenly Father that has allowed my cross of "singlehood" for a purpose. I also know that when times of sadness come, I can go to the One who has “been there, done that” successfully. Do I want a husband? Yes. Do I want to bear children? Yes. That will not change. More than that though, I want to please my Heavenly Father with a sweet spirit of the acceptance of His will for my life.

Thank you Lord, for this cross. Help me to bear it, as You did. Thank you for allowing me to come to You with feelings that no one else may understand. Help me follow your example of fruitful service in and because of my "singlehood".

I Just Need a Father

2011-01-07T20:00:00.000-08:00

Written by Judy Diaz

It has been one year since the home going of my earthly father last November. The Lord has taught and shown me many things about Himself and me since that time. Our earthly fathers play an important role in each of our lives, and I am especially thankful to God for the time I was able to enjoy my dad while he was here with us.

I see God’s mercy in the timing of his homegoing, for he was saved just six months before the Lord called him home.

We who are saved have a great privilege to have a Heavenly Father who loves us so much. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father will never end and should be growing in closeness through daily devotion to Him.

Being single and missing my earthly father, can be a struggle emotionally and physically at times, but learning to lean upon my Heavenly Father has been an amazing blessing! One thing I have learned this last year without my earthly father, is that as a single girl I struggle with emotions and thoughts that even my earthly father could not help me or encourage me with. But the blessing is that I have an “Abba Father” who can heal, comfort, encourage and calm the thoughts of my heart and soul, no matter where I may be.

I have also learned that my Heavenly Father will always be there to teach and instruct me. This past week I was so encouraged by one phrase that stayed on my mind from the Sunday services. “The power of God’s Word.” What a simple, yet powerful thought for a single girl to think on! After I spent some time meditating on this phrase, I determined to set a goal for the week, to read the Word of God more. Then I came across this verse in the booklet Mrs. Shaffer gave us.

Psalms 32:8 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with
mine eye.”

What comfort! I am never alone nor do I have to attempt to manage my life…alone! He wants to show me the way I should go and He promises to go with me!

I have also learned that my Heavenly Father’s love is like no other and will never waver or change.

Romans 5:8 “ But God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died
for us.”

My Abba Father loved me before I ever returned that love! Now I have the honour of being a daughter of God. Not because I deserve that honour, but because of His grace and mercy shed on me because of repentance and faith in Him. The love of God the Father, should cause me to desire to please Him, according to the Word of God. The fear of God should keep me from straying or desiring to displease, disrespect or dishonor my Heavenly Father. When I, as a daughter of God the Father, remember His Greatness and Goodness towards my soul, glory is given to God.

Proverbs 31:30 “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be
praised.”

Psalm 23:17 “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. ”

Not moments or times, but days and years I should seek to please my Father, not because I am afraid of the consequences of not doing so, but because of my love for Him.

II Corinthians 5:14a “For the love of Christ constraineth us…”

I must always remember…I am not “Father-less”.

Single Womanhood: "The In-Between Years"

2010-12-03T20:02:00.000-08:00

Written By Cherith Sickmeyer

Just recently, I heard it said that one of the results of the feminist movement has been prolonged singleness. I had never thought of this before, but saw the truth in it the longer I thought about the fall-out of the women’s liberation movement. As we are all aware, women pursuing a career and striving to show themselves equal to men in the work force, is now not only commonplace, but expected. Our culture has embraced the philosophy of the autonomous woman. As women have rebelled against their God-given roles as helpmeets, there has been a corresponding effect in our men. Many no longer sense a great need to provide, protect, or just plain respect women, as men even fifty years ago did. After all, many women spurn the idea of needing a man to protect or provide for them, as they have become quite sufficient in themselves. Those that still hold to the Biblical perspective of womanhood and the family are seen as archaic and laughable by men and women alike. Even many Christian women, married and single, struggle with their role as a wife or daughter within the family structure.

As single daughters still at home, we must be on guard against this prevailing spirit of our age, which tells us to get out from under our parents’ authority and seek out our own way in life. No matter how mainstream and “normal” this thought line has become in our culture, nowhere in the Scriptures is an independent, individualistic lifestyle prescribed for women to seek after. At the same time, as daughters seeking to please the Lord first and foremost, our single years should not be spent idly waiting and dreaming of a future husband. On the contrary, this should be a time filled with tremendous growth and purpose! Most importantly, there is more time to develop a personal walk with the Lord and be a help and encouragement to others in need, as the duties of a wife and mother are not yet present. 1Cor. 7:34 states, “There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.”

Every single girl’s life and family situation will be uniquely different, thus providing unique opportunities in which she may serve others around her. I believe it is vitally important that as saved, single young ladies, we stay focused on our ultimate, created purpose - to be helpmeets. Until the Lord sends a husband in which to be a helpmeet, who then are we to be of help to? How about first and foremost, our own fathers and families? What better way to learn and prepare to be a helpmeet in a future home and to a future husband, than by continuing to serve and submit to our own fathers in our homes now, as maturing, young women? 1Peter 5:5a says, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: It will take a surrendered heart to the Lord that desires to please Christ above self and others, in order to walk this road in this day and age. Because this is God’s plan and design, there is no doubt that this is where we will experience the most purpose and fulfillment, and, as saved, single daughters, bring the most glory to our Saviour and Lord.

The Merry Heart: A Mark of Beauty

2010-11-01T18:32:00.000-07:00

Written by Diana Gove

“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” Proverbs 15:13

Have you ever thought about the really beautiful ladies you know? Have you ever tried to pick apart what makes them so attractive? (Sometimes it is good to actually consider who you think is beautiful and why you think that.) I catch myself admiring nice hair and pretty eyes or tasteful clothing, but the truly beautiful women I know are defined by their spirit, not their face! It’s their character shining through the appearance that affects how I see the really “beautiful” ladies.

One of the attributes I have noticed in these beautiful ladies and young women is a merry heart. The merry heart isn’t a personality type, but a way of thinking and living! Those with merry hearts have learned to see the glass half full, when everyone else sees it as half empty.

Others enjoy being around this kind of woman because she brings out the positive in them. So how do we learn to have a merry heart? Where does it come from?

A merry heart stems from a thankful spirit! We are what we think, after all. If we want to have the beauty mark of a merry heart, we have to practice being thankful—in all things (I Thessalonians 5:18). Thankfulness creates humility and soberness of mind, while creating joy at the same time. It acts as a catalyst to compassion and selflessness. As a thankful person’s perspective changes, their emotions, reactions and normal way of thinking begins to change as well. It takes effort to “accentuate the positive”, but who better than God’s children to find reasons to praise instead of pout?

The merry heart stems from thankfulness and is watered by obedience to God’s Word. Obedience is a nasty word to some people, but there is no possibility of lasting joy outside of God’s will! In Nehemiah 8:9-10, where we read “for the joy of the Lord is your strength”, God is telling His people to weep no more over past sins because they were now forgiven and living obedient to God’s law. Therefore, the joy of the Lord could be their strength! When we disobey God, we are separated from His joy and have no strength. But when we are obeying Him, we can stand firm in knowing we are right before the Lord God—and His joy becomes our strength! Wow. What a thought!

This joy, found in the merry heart, heals hurts in ourselves and others around us…

Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.”

“Like practice enables a pianist to find the right keys without effort and thought… so it is with a woman who practices having a merry, thankful heart. She will hit the right notes of contentment, and joy will be the atmosphere of her life and home.” –Mrs. Shaffer

This heart attitude brings glory to the Lord!

“He that hath a merry heart hath a continual feast.” Proverbs 15:15

The merry of heart keep on keeping on because the joy of the Lord is their strength. They have something continually fueling their desire to be faithful as they keep their perspective on God’s goodness and praise Him in all things.

We single girls must examine our hearts… Are we characterized by a thankful spirit, a merry heart? We cannot blame sarcasm, skepticism, and stinkin’ thinking on personality…

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

Let’s dig into God’s Word and meditate on His goodness, His mercy to us! We must make sure that we are in God’s will, and that we are thankful for it! Jot down praises and tell them to others. Find verses that help to keep your focus on the promises of God. This way of thinking will become a way of living, and pretty soon, you will be marked as having a beautiful disposition that positively touches those around you. Soon you will discover- it is not our own beauty that improves our disposition, but the beauty of Christ in us!

“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us…” Proverbs 90:17

“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30

A Blessing in Loneliness

2010-10-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Written By Diana Gove

Do you ever get lonely? I do. Sometimes it's so distracting I drive myself a little crazy trying not to dwell on that feeling of loneliness!

I've noticed that certain things seem to trigger these feelings. For some reason, trials usually provoke them the most for me. It's as if I'm a little girl again, wanting to climb up into my parent's lap and let the troubles fall away. But then I realize, I'm an adult, young woman now… and much too big for my parent's laps!

Loneliness can be a stumbling block or a stepping stone in our lives. It's really our choice which it will be. The devil wants to use it as a snare, trapping us into a selfish pity-party. It seems this is a common temptation for us women….

But it doesn't have to be a trap for you! In the same way our parents invited us to cast our cares on them for comfort… so does our heavenly Father! He invites us to tell Him all about our troubles. He cares about what we are feeling.

"Casting all your cares upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7

I have found that when I really do take the time to tell the Lord all about what's going on and how I feel—even though He already knows—He comforts my heart! His comfort is satisfying too!

When I admit my weaknesses and utter inadequacies, He reminds me:

"My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." II Corinthians 12:9

I really must get my mind off of myself and my felt needs, and dwell instead on my Rock, my Shelter, my King.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." Isaiah 26:3-4

When Satan overwhelms me with feelings and the discouragements of life… I cling to what God tells me instead:

"Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary {that's us!}, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-30

As I turn my focus from myself, on to the Lord, I begin to see the Son above the clouds J Yep, I feel lonely and overwhelmed, but my trust is in the Lord God. He will not leave me or forsake me. I talk to myself and tell my weary spirit what is truth:

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him." Psalm 62:5

Do you know what happens every time I do this? God sends strength and grace to live another day… not to just endure another day… but to live it! Live the day with peace and contentment and purpose. You see, when our expectation and trust is in God, we have something to rejoice about every day! We can rest our present state in His quite capable hands and be at peace.

"Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice." Psalm 63:7

Not every day will we be perky and bubbly, but our lives should be characterized as Christians by a steadfast joy and contentment that sticks- even through the roughest times. Why? Because we should be abiding under the shadow of the Almighty!

God's faithfulness, sovereignty and goodness doesn't depend on how we are feeling each day. Praise the Lord! Our God never changes. He is the same every day!

This is what He says to you and me:

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10

A dear friend once told me, "Loneliness becomes my dearest friend when it drives me closer to Jesus." Let's make our loneliness a dear friend instead of an enemy! Let's use it as an "excuse" to seek Him more each day, digging in His Word for these promises. Let's let God use it for our good and His glory!

"For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee." Isaiah 42:13

Allow loneliness to be a blessing in your life.

Diana

So Many Voices…

2010-09-01T18:00:00.000-07:00

written by Diana Gove

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Isaiah 6:8

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” 1 Samuel 15:23a

Everything in life is either of God or of the devil. We have two masters calling us. The devil leads most of us subtly, letting us believe we’re mastering our own lives. The Lord calls each of us openly, commanding us to repent, take up our cross and follow Him. My friend, which sounds more appealing to you? To whom have you said, “here am I”?

I have often struggled with relating rebellion and witchcraft to each other. You see, sin is sin to God. But there is something more that equalizes rebellion and witchcraft.

With witchcraft, the person involved usually acknowledges who they are serving- worshipping. For varying reasons, they submit themselves to Satan. They become the devil’s slave, willing captives- at least to begin with. Snared and chained by the evil one, they are no longer free. They have said “here am I” to the wrong voice.

Does this make you cringe a little, thinking about being a slave to Satan and his demons?

The Lord tells us rebellion is just like witchcraft! In rebellion, the devil disguises his voice to make you think it is your own. You don’t like obeying your authorities, you feel judged by the church, you want to explore your options, You, You, You! But it’s not just your deceitful heart lusting after these things. It’s Satan, calling you to serve him! Too many of my single friends are listening to Satan’s call to them.
In both rebellion and witchcraft, the person turns their back on the truth, directly and indirectly telling the devil, “Here am I.”

Slowly at first, then, oh so quickly the rebellious heart becomes bound by the cords of sin. This master is cruel. Have you ever found a happy rebellious person? I have yet to. Have you ever found a satisfied rebellious person? They are never satisfied because their master cannot satisfy!

“…[God] bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.” Psalm 68:6

The dry land starts out looking like an oasis to the rebellious, but too late do they discover it a mirage!

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16

This day we choose who we will serve. The only two options are the devil or the Lord. And here we find Hope! You see, there is another Master, the Good Shepherd, calling us as well. Yes, He calls us to repent. To repent and turn from the sin that is binding us to death so that He can give us a life free of rebellion and anger!

There are no regrets in serving this Master- only blessing after blessing. He saves us from the penalty and power of sin and one day, we will be free of the very presence of sin!

There is freedom in surrendering to God! The chains of guilt, shame and bondage are broken. If you don’t believe me, I challenge you to dig in to God’s Word and prove me right or wrong.

Are you weary of struggling under the chains of your sin? “God bringeth out those which are bound with chains…”

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28

What wonderful release there is when we let go of rebellious thinking and just say…. Here am I, Lord, use me….

Dear girlfriend…have you submitted yourself to God’s authority over your life…or are you still looking for ways to control your own life?

Are You Impatient?

2010-08-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

Written By Mrs. Shaffer

The Lord impressed me to share my heart with the readers of this column this month. Although it is normally written by single girls-for single girls, and in light of the events taking place in our church family this month…let me encourage every single girl reading this….

It pays to wait on God. Choose to trust Him and be willing to wait…no matter how long it takes! If you are a true Christian in walk as well as talk, you already have experienced saving faith. You know what it’s like to place your depending faith and resting faith in the Saviour of your soul! It is no different when you are waiting on God for a husband! You trust God the very same way. Completely, unreservedly and in dependence on what His Word has already told you.

Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Just believe Him!

He has already said He can supply for you. Love Him, serve Him and trust Him enough to do it! Don’t go on a man hunt! When a girl starts to focus her thoughts on her own personal loneliness and her own neediness, she reveals her lack of faith in God. This focus on self goes completely contrary to Biblical thinking which tells us to cast all our care upon Him, for He cares for us! Great heartache comes when you take upon yourself-- God’s responsibility to provide and give you a life’s mate.

“But, waiting is so hard!” you might say. Where is your faith? It takes faith to wait. Just remind yourself that you are not waiting on any ole person! You are waiting on Creator God, the One that knows the beginning from the end. The Alpha and Omega and the GREAT I AM! And you have no faith? Oh, dear one…what does that say about your Christianity?

No trusting faith?.... perhaps there has been no saving faith either.

Here is truth: II Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness….”

Do not be a fool to question whether God’s grace is sufficient to bring the right man into your life without your help! You don’t have to ask God to make His grace sufficient for your wait…He has already done it! Only by lack of faith will we ask God to make …what already is! Just trust Him in total dependence and get your hands out of His plans for your life, and you will find that His grace is indeed…totally sufficient for your wait!

The girl getting married this month and the young lady who was just betrothed to be married, are both older girls (late twenties and early thirties). But there is one commonality we all see in with both of them.

They faithfully served the Lord (without whining) and stayed close to their parents’ protection. Both have testimonies of faithfulness in the Lord’s church and lives that reflect Christ-likeness.

Our trust in God’s sufficiency will be seen! It will be noticeable. It will be a blessing to others.

So….how patient are you? Whose arm are you depending on?

Desperate for the Lord’s Touch?

2010-07-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

Written By Cherith Shaffer

Matthew 20:30-34 “And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.”

Several things spoke to me as I recently read this familiar passage. First was the persistency and determination of these two blind men, who typify our own spiritual blindness before salvation. They had never before SEEN Jesus heal and do miracles, but they had HEARD of the many mighty, wonderful things that He had done for others. Based on this, and despite the rebukes and attempts of the multitude to quiet them, they persistently cried out until they had the ear and attention of the Lord.

I couldn’t help but see that it took some effort on their part to gain our Lord’s attention. Of course being God in the flesh, He already knew their needs and desires, but it wasn’t until they cried out the more, (implying desperation) and unconcerned with the thoughts and feelings of the crowd around them, that He stopped and called them, asking, “What will ye that I shall do unto you?”

I can’t help but recall how I felt right before the LORD saved me from my sins at salvation. I felt desperate for the LORD to hear the cries from my diseased, sin-sick soul. I really didn’t care who knew my condition or what they thought of my condition. I only wanted one thing; that the LORD would extend his mercy once again to my cries, and do a miracle in MY life. I wanted the touch that had changed so many others’ lives!

I love verse 34! “So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.”

I am so grateful for the undeserving compassion of our great God and Saviour! He extended that same compassion to me and opened my spiritually blinded eyes! He loosed the bonds of blindness that sin had brought on me, and gave me a reason to live – following HIM and the path He’s left in His word, for the rest of my life.

In application, too many people who are yet lost in their sin, SAY they want to be saved, but are really just not desperate enough yet. Their sinful condition has not yet become such a burden, that their only care is to know the life-changing touch of the LORD Jesus Christ. They know that He (the Lord) knows their condition, and it’s almost as if they are just waiting for some magical moment when He will overtake their hearts and they will be saved! The truth is… we must first desire and seek that life-changing touch! There are many promises in the Bible that say that God will be found of those who truly, fervently seek the Lord with their whole heart. Deuteronomy 4:29, Isaiah 55:6 and Jeremiah 29:13 are just a few.

To the saved reading this, what will ye that Christ should do for you?

I know I have been guilty of thinking, “Well, the Lord knows my needs, and if it’s His will, He’ll supply them. Why waste time worrying about it?” Yes, the Lord knows our needs before we even ask, but He WANTS and TELLS us… to ask!

He wants our faith to grow through the process of asking and waiting. He has PROMISED that whatever we ask of Him, believing in faith, He will give us! “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:22

If we are praying this way, we certainly won’t be guilty of worrying about our problems either!

What are your needs and desires? Do you really believe God cares about them and will answer them? Are you praying in faith? We live in a hard, cruel world and sometimes lose track of the good, GOOD God we serve. The same compassionate God who miraculously saved your soul and changed your life, is still able to do far and above all that we can ask or think! O for a life of more FAITH and less doubting! We serve the King of Kings and LORD of LORDS!

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: Matthew 7:7

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John 14:14

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:7

What miracle do you need in your life? A job? A husband? Better health? Salvation?

Put your faith to the test and see what your merciful, prayer answering God can do for you! He has proven Himself to be all that I need and capable of providing JUST what I need. He wants to do the same for you.

What Will You Do… To Be Beautiful?

2010-06-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

Written by Nicole Poling

Are you pretty? Do you think you are pretty? Do you wish you were prettier? Have you ever thought that your body type is wrong or that your hair is not the right thickness? How many times have we girls burned ourselves with a curling iron or poked our eyes with the mascara brush or stood in front of the mirror for hours working in frustration to make ourselves look just “so”?   Why do girls waste so much time on themselves?

One might says, ‘it’s just the price you pay to look beautiful’!

The world in which we live is screaming at us to wear our hair in a certain style and our clothes in a certain kind of fashion statement in order for us to be considered pretty. Real “beauty” goes far beyond what we wear on the outside of our bodies! Have you ever heard the saying, ‘Beauty is only skin deep’? My Pastor’s wife once told me, “Pretty is…as pretty does”.

I Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”

It does not matter what your outside looks like in comparison to what you are in character, on the inside.
When I was a young teenager, I remember how I put so much focus on myself. I would take forever getting ready to do this or fixingthat, and all in an attempt to be accepted by my family, school friends or people at church. I would find myself criticizing others, trying to find their faults so I could hide my own. That is really what happens in the heart and mind of fault finding people. They are usually not content in their own life and feel the need to criticize others in an attempt to make themselves feel better …about themselves.

When living and acting this way, I really wasn’t beautiful but actually rather ugly.  The devil was using my desire to be pretty, to cause me to be self-consumed and in the end, blinded toward the truth! It was not until I came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ that I realized that God made me in His image and I did not need to be like any one else!

What is the price of beauty?  Godliness…

When you think you are not pretty; work on godliness and you will truly become beautiful in the sight of God and others.   “Just let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you.”

Proverbs 31:30 “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”

What price are you willing to pay for beauty?

Candy Bars

2010-05-01T18:28:00.000-07:00

How many times have I been standing in the checkout line, resisting the temptation to grab my favorite candy bar and trying to find something else to think about besides the rumbling in my stomach?

We have all been there, I dare say. We all know how deliciously irresistible those pretty packaged temptations are, versus how good they are for us!

Have you noticed that recently companies have thrown new choices our way? Now we can eat the same candy bars, but they’re better because they’re “light” and “low fat”! I can’t help it. That just makes me smile. Real candy bars have little to no nutritional value, and these new “dieting” candy bars have about the same.
Candy bars are tempting because they satisfy our cravings for sweets. They make us feel good, for awhile but if we eat them too often, it becomes much easier to grab a Snickers than an apple or carrot sticks. How they affect us becomes a small thing compared to how they make us “feel”!

Music can be the same way. Like our favorite candy bars, the world markets its music by the feelings that music produces in us. The tunes and lyrics are addictive. They are played, referenced, advertised, and promoted everywhere we go. And let’s be honest, of all the genres, there’s always at least one type that appeals to our personal weaknesses. The tastes are appealing because they make us feel good, just like our favorite candy bars. The words might be questionable, but the songs leave you feeling….. And we fill in our excuse.

So what about the more contemporary Christian songs? They are like the “low fat” and “light” candy bars. They’ve been changed just a little bit too look better, “safer” if you will, to the consumer. Except for the lyrics and minor changes in the style, they sound and feel just like the world’s music. And what is even more attractive is that they appeal to our flesh in the same way the original tunes did.

In the end, both forms are like the candy bars. They taste good at first, but carry little to no spiritually nutritional value. Like candy, this “Christian” music is addictive, but what is worse is that it ruins the individuals’ appetite for the “real food.” Traditional Christian music is labeled “old fashioned” and “boring.” It seems flavorless to the person satiated with the sweetness of contemporary styles. I’m not saying that all contemporary songs are meaningless and don’t have good things to say. But the good things in these songs are wrapped in worldly beats, tunes, and vocal styles that emphasize how we FEEL rather than biblically sound Truth. If they’re all the same, why does it become harder and harder to listen to original Christian music?

The doctrinally sound hymns that challenge us to think and call us to the altar, are no longer satisfying. You see, the tunes don’t make you FEEL so emotional, so you are left to read the WORDS. Songs exclaiming the power of the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and the command to repent are quietly excluded from services, for songs religiously neutral. The old rugged cross becomes an offense to those claiming the name of Christ, for it suggests reciprocal sacrifice!

Praise songs take preeminence, drowning out the call to be crucified with Christ. They most often are “feel good” in nature and become more about the performer and performance than about soul searching.
This sounds harsh even to me, especially when trying to explain this to someone only accustomed to contemporary Christian music. But the question I have to ask myself is, do I want to fill up on candy bars, feeding my flesh, or do I want to strive to feed the Spirit by listening to music spiritually enriched? Jesus said, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.”

The Lord has shown me that even nice songs that have questionable lyrics are not beneficial in the long run because they can be shallow in meaning. I’m still learning to discern the “candy bars” of this world from the good stuff that will bring honor and glory to God. I’m thankful that the Lord continues to teach me. It helps me to picture the Lord listening to my music with me.
Can I really please Him with what I’m listening to?

So the next time the “candy bars” tempt us, let’s turn to the real food and feed the new man!

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

Single and Faithless?

2010-04-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

Written by Cherith Shaffer

With two weddings on the horizon this year in our church, and one of them my own, my mind has gone back to thoughts and emotions I had in earlier years while attending weddings as a single young lady.

I was one of those single girls who really did not have a desire to be married during my early twenties. In fact, upon graduation from high school, that was the LAST thing I was interested in! I was quite content living at home with my parents, going to school, and developing myself as a music teacher and teaching right out of our home.

When there was a wedding, and there have been many, I enjoyed them and made mental notes on things I would do similar or differently, but there was never a real desire to be in that stage of life myself.

I am actually very thankful that that is how I felt and would encourage other young single girls to not focus on having a relationship when they are fresh out of high school. If it is the Lord's will for you to marry younger, He will have no problem bringing it about!

So many girls get into trouble, and throw away their purity, all for the sake of having a guy in their life. As truly saved young ladies, is that what you REALLY want? Can you see yourself at the marriage altar one day, pure, and ready to give yourself wholly to an equally pure, spiritually minded man who wants to serve the LORD with all of his heart and soul? While this vision may seem far-fetched in the age we live in, with God, it is most certainly possible!

For me, a desire to be married really began around four years ago, after the wedding of my dearest and closest friend. Several other close friends I grew up with had also recently been married, and I began to feel the affects it had on my own personal life. Their first priority was now their husband, (as it should be) and time with them was much less. My familiar, social structure that I was accustomed to, began to change.

I began to feel more "alone" and the comfortable predictability of my life began to chaff on me. Though the last thing I wanted to do was seek for a relationship with someone on my own, the desire to be married became increasingly stronger. Though this time was difficult and a real test of my faith in God, it became a needful growing experience for me!

If we respond correctly at these times when loneliness sets in, they will bring about necessary growth for Christian young ladies desiring to please the LORD in their life.

The Lord opened my eyes to a lot of personal selfishness that I had not seen previously. The LORD showed me that when I allowed myself to wallow in feelings of self-pity, thinking only about how much I wanted that close relationship with someone, I was thinking only of myself! I was certainly not looking "every man also on the things of others" (Philippians 2:4) and was blind to any needs, other than my own.

A propensity towards a self-centered attitude like this is certainly NOT something one wants to carry into a marriage, and I am grateful for the LORD using this time to reveal this to me.

Once I saw my attitude for the sin it was and turned from it, it was then that I really began to seek to cultivate a closer walk and relationship with the LORD. And just like He promises, when we draw nigh to Him, He in turn draws nigh to us! The feelings of loneliness began to fade as I delighted in His Word and sought to think on those around me instead.
Each time my feelings would threaten to overwhelm me, I was faced with the choice of wallowing in my pit of self-pity, or thinking on the goodness and innumerable blessings of my merciful and loving Saviour.

If you are reading this and share similar feelings, it's so important that you have godly parents or authorities with whom you can seek help and counsel from during this time. Do not be afraid to share the thoughts and feelings you are having. While it may, or may not yet be time for you to be married, your godly counselors can give you leadership on what you should do with your thoughts and feelings. They will also know better how to pray for you. I know my own parents recognized my changing needs and increased their fervency in praying for God's will and timing for me.

You will have to consciously decide NOW, who will be most important in your life. It really comes down to whether you want to please God, or self. Self will always seek for gratification. If we are not cultivating a relationship with the Lord, and deciding now to wait on God's timing, we WILL give in to the flesh in one way or another. It's not a matter of if, but when.

This is the time when you will come face to face with whether you really believe Philippians 4:19. "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Do you REALLY believe that? Do you really trust that He wants what is best for you? The answer WILL be lived out in your actions. If deep down you really have doubts, you might find yourself entering into relationships that you know a saved person really ought not to be involved in. Or, you might manifest your doubts by being depressed and withdrawn. Either way, you proclaim loud and clear that you really don't believe your God is all that capable of working on your behalf!

Having seen the LORD work mightily in my own life, I can only say that the test of my faith in this area was worth it and I know my God IS ABLE! I encourage you to prove Him as well!

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…" Ephesians 3:20

Good things come to those that wait!

2010-03-02T12:01:00.001-08:00

When I was in the seventh grade I remember Pastor teaching a chapel series on betrothal. It intrigued me because he once stated that the person you are going to marry is probably alive. When he said that little phrase I was shocked. I never thought of it that way. I never thought I would ever get married. But deep down in my heart, I knew that I wanted to. So, I began to pray, not for my future husband, but for my parents. I knew that if I ever was to get married, I wanted my parents to be involved in helping me choose that perfect one meant for me. I honestly left my desire with God and my parents.

Psalms 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

I gave them my heart and I left it to them to protect. I was confident that if the time ever came, the Lord would not only speak to my heart, but he would also speak to my parent's heart. And that is just what God did!

My dad would occasionally ask me what I thought about Erich, and every time he did ask, I would just ask him why he wanted to know. I honestly never thought much about Erich. I told my dad that he was average. My dad just left it at that. People all around me would tease me about Erich and I presumed that they thought the two of us might work out together. I always told them that if he was truly the one for me, God would let me and my parents know.

Two years went by and my dad brought up his name again and asked me what I thought. At that time Erich was just an irritant to me and I honestly did not like anything about him. Then he went away to Basic Training and it was during this time that the Lord began to work on my heart. He never once came to my mind until he came home for Christmas on leave. I remember it like it was yesterday, when my sister told me Erich was coming over to watch a movie with our family and I was horrified! Here we go again I thought; I did not want him near my house. He came over and that night was the first time I actually sat in the same room with him and found that I was not irritated. When he left I saw something different. I could not put my finger on it, but his whole demeanor was different. For the rest of the week his name would pop into my mind. I hated that because I did not ever want to mentally dwell on any young man. So I began to pray. I would ask the Lord why I was thinking about him this way. I talked to my sister and I shared with her what I was feeling. By this time I told her that maybe I was just not being content in the Lord's will for my life. I told my sister that if mom and dad come and talk to me again, I will know Erich is the one for me. If not, then I will know he is not the one for me.

I continued to pray. The next week his name never came to my mind. Then, almost a week after I had talked to my sister, my parents took me out to dinner and they asked me if I thought Erich could be the one for me. Part of me wanted to jump up and down and say yes and the other part wanted to hold back. Again, I went home and prayed all night. It was like the Lord was saying, 'I answered your prayer'. The next morning I went up stairs and told my dad that my answer was yes. The minute I said "yes", was the minute I had complete peace and I knew that God had just revealed His will for my life.

I have to say that there is great freedom in letting your parents have your heart. It's a safe place to live. I wanted to be busy serving my Lord and forgetting about me and my feelings. I honestly never had desires or feelings for any young man. I was truly content in being single and waiting patiently on my Lord. I want to encourage every single girl to not be afraid to lean on the wisdom of your Godly parents and to trust them enough to provide leadership for you in the biggest decisions of your life. I'm so glad I did that! I have seen too many girls who are hungry for a man, set out to find "the one" they want, by themselves. What a mistake! You will miss the blessing and the peace of God that goes with that blessing.

Psalm 40:1 "I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."

Good things do come…to those who will wait on the Lord.

What Can A Single Girl Do In The Lord’s Church?

2010-02-01T18:10:00.000-08:00

I'm so thankful to be a part of our church! This makes us a part of the Lord's church! He gave His life for it! Can you imagine living in a place with no church to go to at all? No place to worship with fellow Christians? No one to fellowship with? No place to get away from the world and learn about God? We get to be a part of the few who are blessed with a local New Testament Baptist church, and what a privilege it is!

As much as we get to enjoy the benefits of this church, we also have responsibilities to it before the Lord. I have been pondering on God's commands to us, to love one another-unrestrained and unconditionally and to let that brotherly love be seen and known by others.

I have been wondering, "What is my responsibility as a single young lady in contributing to the love and unity of our church?" I don't want to be a sponge… just sitting in the pew soaking everything in, and then giving nothing back!

I've personally never been to any other place where the people are as warm and welcoming and as loving as our church. But the devil wants to destroy that and rob us of that brotherly love! He has been trying to do that very thing for as long as we've been here!

God shows us in His Word, that brotherly love is crucial for His church. In Revelation 2 we learn that, even though a church endures faithfully through trials, but loses its first love, it is in jeopardy of dying. I want to be a positive factor in our church's longevity! The first 30 years of our church's history was built and strengthened by the love and efforts of others. I need to do my part now.

First love may sometimes be perceived as "innocent love" in a way. This love is pure and sweet and what everyone seeks. It's fresh…and new! It feels so good to love and be loved by fellow believers! That is one of the blessings of being in the family of God! We really do have new relationships!

But in time, as we learn about one another's virtues and faults, it gets easier and easier to take those same people for granted and then we begin to casually and with little care, hurt one another's feelings or make wrong choices when we are dealing with one another. That can easily happen when we take for granted that "innocent love" and slowly and surely it begins to fade away.

If we're not careful, we can place stigmas on fellow believers. We can judge silently in our hearts, and before you know it, we're not praying for one another and definitely not loving like God wants us to.

Now we are faced with a choice. More than ever, love becomes just that- a choice. Will we retreat into our own individual lives, only allowing ourselves to love other to an extent? Or will we choose to cover other's mistakes with an unconditional, unrestrained love?

"Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins." Proverbs 10:12

This is where real Christianity is made known. False professors cannot make this work very well.
It is a daily decision to show unconditional, unrestrained love! It takes effort and commitment!
So what will it be girls? Let's take a break and refocus…

Re-examining ourselves helps a lot. We were wicked sinners, adulterers, idolaters—but Jesus Christ chose to love us anyway. He put His white robes of righteousness over our filthiness at salvation. He washed us and cleansed us with His own blood. But it didn't end there! He has gone so much further than that "first love." Now, even after all that, He continues to forgive us when we sin. When we mess up He still welcomes us to the throne of grace when we seek for mercy. Over and over again He washes us and restores us to fellowship. This "second love" is unconditional and unrestrained too. There are no reservations to His love for us!

As His children, we have access to the power of God to give this love to others. We don't really have the capacity to love others because our love is often shallow and self-centered. That's why we can so easily loose patience with others and it is sometimes difficult to let go of wrong doings done to us. But here's the beautiful thing!

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

Who better than God's children to reflect His love? We can't do this in our own strength, but with His.. we can! Admit your inability and then step out by faith and choose to love again.  This "second love" is what testifies of the power of the gospel.  We are to be recognized by Christ-like charity for one another!

My sister, I know this is no easy thing. Satan has been dividing and conquering believers through the centuries by convincing Christians that brotherly love is too hard or too costly.  But let us remember and be motivated by the cost Christ Jesus paid to love us.

"….Even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it." Ephesians 5:25

"But God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Once we've made the choice to love- then we can pray and ask God for grace to help us love unselfishly, unconditionally, and unrestrained.  Remember—we show God's love by loving others, and we love God by loving others!  Let's make the personal choice to love our brothers and sisters in Christ just as God loves the church.

As young members of NTBC, maybe this is something we can help with. God can use our youth and energy to ignite a flame in other members. We can become stepping stones for other people, saved and lost. We can encourage others to do the same. Let's put God's Word to the test and see how much we grow as a church and how many more souls are saved when we choose to love again!

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." I Timothy 4:12

Love you all! Diana

Don’t Forget to Remember

2010-01-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

"To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever." Psalm 30:12

As we enter a new year, I cannot help but look back over 2009 and see how God has led and directed in my life. And not only in my life, but in the lives of all those around me. I was recently reminded of how easily I take for granted the gracious workings of the LORD in my life.
It is certainly not a small thing when you realize that THE GOD of the universe cares, and is interested in EVERY part of our lives.

As single girls, now is the perfect time to cultivate a THANKFUL heart. I've heard it time and again, and even sung the song, "Count Your Many Blessings" and yet I still do not truly thank the Lord as I should.

Why DO we get discouraged or depressed? Yes, we live in an imperfect, sinful world, and the Christian life is a spiritual battle, not a bed of roses. But what could we ACTIVELY do to keep that from happening? Number one of course, is making our relationship with our Heavenly Father our top priority each day.

As I grow closer to my fiancé on a daily basis, my desire to know him more, and spend increased time with him grows. It should be no different with my LORD who loved me and gave Himself for me! Making time to take a daily account of the blessings of God will also serve to bring our focus back where it should be. I realize I am saying nothing new here. I have heard this countless times, and have always mentally agreed that this is a good thing to do. But honestly, and to my shame, I have not made it a priority in my life. It's no wonder then, when I find myself plodding through a day, more in tune to my ever-changing feelings than to the goodness of God all around me!

Truly, when we count our MANY blessings, our eyes will be opened to what God HAS done and continues to do for us!

As the song says, "Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly." I don't know about you, but Satan works hard to plant doubts in my mind. He knows that everything starts with a thought, so if I provide fertile ground in my mind for doubts to grow, it won't be long before the fruits of the Spirit in my life will be crowded and choked by the weeds and thorns of doubt.

THANKFULNESS provides the answer AND is commanded in God's word!

Philippians 4:6 says, " Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

We are not to be anxious and faithless about the future, but we are to bring those cares to God in prayer, at the same time THANKING Him for what He has already done! As we do this, our faith will increase as we watch how the LORD works every situation out for HIS glory and purpose!

Psalm 28:6-7 "Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him."

Little Is Much

2009-12-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever struggled with how you could possibly accomplish one more task- while already busy serving the Lord in different areas? I do! There are so many areas for single girls to serve in, and it's a privilege to labor in each area (i.e. children's church, cleaning, singing, playing music, nursery, writing missionaries, etc). But oftentimes, when God gives me a new opportunity to labor in, I'm overwhelmed by the weight of it. This is not something I should do half-heartedly. It requires a right heart attitude and a surrendered will to God.

As I understand the seriousness of the task, I am reminded of my own inadequacies. Ouch! I want to do it. I'm willing to do my best. But is my best, enough?

Then I remember the young boy who gave his few loaves and fishes to Jesus. These were common food items. Common "instruments" used by the mass population. Nothing special, nothing spectacular, just enough to feed a small boy. Yet, in the Master's Hands—just enough, became MORE than enough!

Jesus took these meager items, broke them, and multiplied them to satisfy thousands! The Lord could have used a little bit of the best bread in the land and the rarest fish, but He took what some would look down upon, and used it to accomplish His will.

May we single girls be like those loaves and fishes! Of ourselves—we are nothing special, nothing truly wonderful. We're just enough. But God doesn't look at our outward appearance, He looks at the heart. He sees the willingness, the humble reliance on Him. He picks the little that we have to lay at His feet, and uses us to accomplish His will. Little is much when God is in it!

God promises us, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." The best part is that our Maker receives all the credit, for it is Him working through us!

I do need to clarify one point. God gives us specific tasks He WANTS us to do. If we take on more jobs than He has for us, we cannot expect Him to help us accomplish all of them. We must be doing only what He shows us is His will for us. I have a terrible habit of saying "yes" to everyone who asks me to do something. When I do, I become overly focused with "doing" everything, that I am unable to make sure my heart is in it. I'm then, racing from task to task, never being able to quite devote myself entirely to the present activity, because my mind is dwelling on the next thing I have to get done.

Even single girls, who have much more available time to spend helping in the work of the Lord, can over extend themselves. The two extremes are both -not good. Doing nothing and saving our time and lives for ourselves is wrong, and trying to do too much, is also wrong.

Unfortunately, I've had to learn the hard way that being unable to do more "things" …is o.k. Here are some questions that help me to choose if I should do something:

-Have I prayed about this?

-What do my parents think I hope this doesn't sound childish to you. That's what our parents are for. It is also another blessing that comes from submitting to their authority. One day, your husband will want to be consulted before you make big decisions that will take up your time and your energy, so it's great to get used to consulting Mom and Dad before committing yourself. (Proverbs 11:14)

-Do I have the extra time or can I get rid of something of lesser importance in order to fulfill this new task?

-Will it prevent me from keeping previous commitments?

-Will I be able to do this to the best of my ability, with my full focus, energy, and heart? (Luke 9:62)

-Am I willing to completely commit myself to the work? (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

Honestly considering these aspects either gives me assurance (peace), or apprehension about taking on a responsibility. God will not honor decisions outside of his will.
Some verses that encourage me are:

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all they ways acknowledge him; and he shall direct they paths." Proverbs 3:5-6;

"Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." Psalms 37:4-5

God is so good to us! He will place in your heart the desire and ability to accomplish what He has for you ,if you surrender yourself to Him. He helps us to do what we never thought we could do, and certainly never could deserve to do.

When we are willing to serve wherever God puts us, and only say yes to the tasks He opens the door to—then little will be much, for God will be in it!

There is great joy in serving Jesus!

O Ye of Little Faith

2009-11-01T17:54:00.001-08:00

Something that has been on my heart these past few weeks is faith. It seems like such a little word, but what a big impact it can have in a person's life. When I think of faith, I think of when the disciples were on the boat and a great storm began to arise. Their eyes were captivated by the great wind and waves, and they forgot that the Lord was with them.

Matthew 8:25-26 says, "And the disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose , and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."

It is so easy to criticize the disciples and to say that they should have known better, because they had the Lord with them. But how many of us fall shamefully into that same situation? As single girls, it is easy to picture ourselves accomplishing certain goals we may have for ourselves, and when those goals are not met in our time frame, we began to question God. Why don't we say to ourselves, "O ye of little faith"! I have often wondered what the Lord has for me and sometimes I feel like I am just spinning my wheels and I am not going anywhere.

When I get to that point, discouragement begins to set in. You see, the Devil wants me to focus on the wind and the waves that are crashing down on my life. He wants me to feel like I am alone. That is the very moment that I will find myself in the same boat as the disciples. But then I am reminded of Psalms 18:32. "It is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect." I then have to ask myself, do I have faith to follow in that perfect way? It does not say an easy way, it says a "perfect way".

How often do our eyes get captivated by the wind and waves of the world or stressful situations around us? Every time I get my eyes off of the Lord, a feeling of restlessness begins to take root in my life. Then I begin to feel worthless, lonely and directionless.

A.W. Tozer said, "Let God be true and every man a liar", is the language of faith." When you have the Lord, you need nothing else; He is all you will ever need. All we have to do is call upon our Saviour and he will calm the wind and the sea and He will provide a great calm.

For my single girl friends….is the Lord all you really want and need?

Are you satisfied to wait on Him in "the perfect way"?

Our Betrothal

2009-10-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

“I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it:" Psalm 52:9a

This verse so accurately describes the recent changes that have transpired in my life this past summer. Most of you reading this have heard of my recent betrothal to the love of my life, Joshua Sickmeyer. To those of you unfamiliar with our process of betrothal, it is NOT an arranged marriage. Rather, it is a process of following the leadership and guidance of my parents, believing that God, through the authority and guidance of my parents could choose my life’s mate much better than I ever could on my own. After meeting and getting to know Josh, it was completely my choice of whether or not I wished to enter into a relationship and lifetime commitment. The whole process involved MUCH prayer and waiting on God. That is betrothal in a nutshell. One must be willing to wait on God, by faith, PRAYING and TRUSTING that He knows who you need, and when. It is not always easy, let me tell you, but I can say with full joy and confidence, it is SO worth it!

The beginning of the whole process began about a year ago, when my parents and I saw Josh at a wedding. We had known his family for many years, and his parents were very close with my grandparents, but we did not know Josh personally. Following the time of our meeting at the wedding, my parents, who were both praying fervently for God’s will, noticed that his name kept coming to both of their minds. Also, as we would later learn, Josh’s parents were also praying about me, as the LORD had laid my name on their hearts. This went on for about a year with neither side really knowing how to present to the other, what the LORD had put on their hearts.

Finally, in preparation for a trip my parents and I were planning to take this last June, my dad decided to call Bro. Sickmeyer to see if we might be able to stop by on our way through. My parents were thinking that it might be a good opportunity to “check out Josh”, to find out what kind of young man he really was. At the close of their phone conversation, my Dad then shared what the Lord had laid upon his heart concerning a possible future between Josh and I. Bro. Sickmeyer then shared that the Lord had laid the very same thoughts on their hearts and that they had been praying about it for quite some time and waiting for God to show them how to proceed in this direction. This, to me, is the beautiful part of betrothal. When you trust God and your God-given authorities to work on your behalf, and all the while believing that God knows EXACTLY who you need, there is no doubt that it is truly the work of God when things start happening!

Once we were able to spend some time with Josh and his family, it quickly became very obvious how easily we were all able to connect and relate.

Despite the obvious similarities of both families being in the ministry, there was immediately a warm, comfortable friendship that was felt. This was very important to me as well. Though you ultimately marry the man, I knew that who and what his family was about, would affect so much in a future marriage. (This was also very important to Josh as well.) I decided a long time ago, that I did not want to marry any man that had parents who could not be good friends with my parents or did not respect my parents.

At this point, I cannot fully express what it means to me to be marrying into the Sickmeyer family. I truly could not have asked for better in-laws! They are already like second parents to me and I know I don’t deserve them!

As far as Josh and I coming to the point where we knew we were meant to be together, things progressed pretty quickly. From the first visit to subsequent conversations, it became increasingly easy to see that we had the same convictions concerning spiritual, life issues. I also quickly saw that he had a vision of where he was going in life, and he wasn’t afraid to take the lead as the man. His sense of humor and love for his family, especially his open affection for his mom, confirmed even further that this was a man I could definitely love and respect for the rest of my life!

The fact that he is so musically talented really didn’t even factor in, but has certainly been the icing on the cake so to speak. When GOD does something, He does it perfectly, and you’re left with the knowledge that you are receiving far more than you could ever deserve!

Proverbs 10:22 has taken on incredible meaning to me now. “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” I have seen sorrow in so many couples’ relationships because they got ahead of the Lord, and I knew that was NOT what I wanted. I also knew that if I did not wait, that is exactly what I would receive! Of course every marriage and life will go through trials and battles, but armed with the peace and knowledge that I will be going through it with the man that GOD intended and gave to me, will provide a defense and strength during those times. I feel very rich indeed with what the LORD has done for me and Josh.

After much communication and getting to know one another, it was clear that our affection for one another was growing by the day. When the question came up of whether we could see ourselves together for the rest of our lives, the answer was easy. There was no doubt in both of our minds that a love, respect and commitment to the other had already been formed, and we were more than ready to take the next step. All of this transpired over the course of the summer. For those who have never seen or even been aware of this type of process, it may seem like things happened very quickly, and in all honesty, they did. There were absolutely NO doubts or fears in our decision to commit ourselves (betroth) to being married next year. Again, betrothal is all about praying according to God’s will and waiting for HIM to do the work. When it happens, it’s like salvation. You KNOW it’s what you’ve been waiting for, and that the LORD is in it all, from the beginning to the end.

Because of this, the time factor that is usually involved in the dating process, where the commitment side is withheld longer, does not come into play. Outside of salvation, I have never been more sure of something than I am about my future marriage to Joshua Sickmeyer.

To those of you single girls still waiting, I would encourage to continue to wait and pray in GOD’S will for your life. Follow and seek the guidance of the spiritual authorities in your life. I know firsthand that it is not always easy, but I can also now say that it is oh-so worth it!

If you say you trust the Lord…then live and wait on Him, like you DO trust the Lord.

I pray that through our testimony, others will also see that God’s word IS true and that they can rely on Him to do for them what He’s done for countless others!

Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Isaiah 30:18 “And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.”

Daddy’s Place In My Life

2009-09-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

It never ceases to amaze me, how the Lord brings us into the darkest moments of our lives, before He leads us out, into joy in the morning. Maybe it is only after we've learned to completely depend on God in the darkness, that He blesses us with the light! This is how I felt on the day my dad got saved.

The last couple of weeks before his conversion, had been like coming out of a dark tunnel into the daylight. I have been reminded of God's goodness over and over again, as I watch Dad become a new creature in Christ. As he becomes the spiritual leader of our home, I have discovered some very important things about myself.

The Lord has been showing me my need for leadership for every day things and in spiritual matters. I will be held accountable for the choices I make, and I can't shift the blame to anyone else for my bad decisions. As much as it hurts to admit it, I have realized that I am influenced very much, by my feelings. It is so easy for me to base my thinking and actions on how I "perceive" things, instead of how things actually are. We females are the weaker vessels! That is why God made us, as women, to be under the leadership of a man; whether he be our husband, our father or our pastor. They can protect us in this area of our “perceptions”.

At the moment, I can cross “husband” off the list for leadership in my life, but that future role is what my dad is here for now! I am blessed to have my pastor as an authority also. Our first authority is the Lord, and if any earhly authority advises contrary to the Bible, we must be sure to choose the Bible! But the Lord places these men in our lives, to represent Himself to us. We are blessed to have a pastor who gives a Bible answer to life’s hard questions.

The Lord is showing me lately, that I need to tell my Dad what is going on in my life and ask for his help and input! At this stage in this single girl’s life, I am required to make my own decisions and I am encouraged to develop personal convictions and standards. ( This is the time when we all find out how much we truly desire to walk, following after the Lord.) However, I have realized how easy it is for me to become self-centered and self-sufficient when trying to make my own decisions. It is when I don't seek counsel from my parents or other God given authorities, that I live to regret my "self-sufficiency."

Eve made this mistake too. God placed her under Adam's authority for her protection. It was when she was away from him and she decided to make her own decision, that she sinned. Just like Eve needed Adam's authority and leadership in paradise, we need leadership and authority in our own lives.

But there is a catch! We choose who we will accept as our authority. Now, please don't take this the wrong way. God has told us who we should honor as our authorities, and has even outlined the blessings of making the right choice and shown us the consequences of making the wrong choice, but that choice is still up to us!

God tells us:
"He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son [daughter] that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach." Proverbs 19:26

That doesn't just mean our parents will be ashamed, but that we will be ashamed and earn reproach.

We are told to "Honour thy father and thy mother,as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Deuteronomy 5:16

When we choose to ignore our parent's advice or fail to even seek it, we are falling for Satan's snare. How can our protectors protect, if we chase them away? We also need to be warned about outside people, other than our parents or pastor, who may come in to our life, who would draw us away from listening to God given counselors.

Any thing or person who comes between you and the protection given to you by God, in your parents and your pastor, and gives counsel contrary to your Biblical counselors, is ungodly counsel.

We need to always remember that. If they agree with God given counsel, what a blessing! Be wise enough to discern the difference.

It's easy to vent on our Mom and Dad, but when they try to give advice, do we value it or throw it away? When they gently suggest we change something, like our clothing or friends, do we waste their gentle reproof? A wise daughter will listen to her father and value her mother (Proverbs 23:22).

We hear it often, but I must remind myself, that I will treat my husband like I treat my father. Do I support my dad as he strives for higher standards? Do I welcome his protective side? (My dad has always been protective, and honestly, it makes me me feel safe! I like it that he wants to drive me to college in bad weather and meet me on campus for lunch. It gives me a sense of security when he reminds me how to drive on ice or in the rain. I used to hate it when he made me wear shoes to mow the lawn, but I still have ten toes today!) Do I balk inside when he or Mom ask me to do things around the house, thinking I've got my own list of things to get done? Or am I happy to obey?

The biggest thing that I have noticed lately is how much I can learn when I submit myself to my Dad. When I humbly listen to what he tells me or talks to me about, I learn things about myself and life, that help me become wiser. Just by listening to my Dad talk about spiritual things, the Lord has shown me areas that I need to work on. Dad can also encourage me like no one else can. Our dads can say things that open the understanding of their children and help them to see things in a better light. They represent the Lord in the family. My dad is able to say things in a family devotion that helps us to grow as a family, but if he were to say the same thing to another family, it might not come across as anything special. Fathers know what you've been through and know what to say that will help you the most.

You see, we have watchmen (or watchwomen for mothers) in our very homes, set there by God, to warn us of dangers ahead. We can listen to them, or disregard them, but we will pay the price of our decision. I don't want regrets, and I don't want to lay a foundation for a difficult marriage one day. More importantly, I can't respect God's authority or Lordship in my life, if I won't respect my parents’. Not all of us have parents that we can go to for spiritual leadership, but we can respect them and love them anyway. Don't be afraid to go to Pastor or Mrs. Shaffer for help. They will encourage you to listen to, and appreciate your parents input and will give you godly counsel when your parents are unable to.

We must remember and determine in our hearts to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil." Proverbs 3:5-7

Then we will have no regrets!

The Comparison Game

2009-08-01T01:02:00.000-07:00

Living in the “ME” generation, where the focus is always being brought back to self, we have seen a corresponding rise in self-esteem issues and the so-called “lack” thereof.

Even living in a godly, Christian home where the philosophies and lifestyles of the world were rejected, the subtle affects of this world’s system made their way into my own thinking as I progressed into my teen years. Because I was also lost during this time, it was especially easy for them to take root. Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:”

Thoughts of whether I was pretty, smart or talented enough permeated my thoughts. Naturally, the comparison game also became a part of my life. “How did I measure up against so-and-so in my musical ability?” “Did I dress at least as well or better than my peers?” Did others think I was pretty? Of course, sometimes I’d feel quite good about myself as I silently made comparisons, but I would also find myself feeling QUITE inadequate at other times.

Years later, as a saved young adult, I found that these self-focused thoughts that had been cultivated years ago, still sought preeminence in my mind. I began to notice how it really affected and complicated my perceptions of others and also my service to Christ. Rather than my sole aim and desire being to serve Christ and others, I was more concerned about how I came across to others, whether in a casual conversation or while using my musical abilities in church. It was in essence, all about me. Thankfully, the Lord revealed to me the condition of my heart and showed me through His word how to have victory in this area.

First and foremost, I must recognize and REPENT of my pride which is the root of these kinds of thoughts. It’s because of pride ruling in my heart that I want to be esteemed in the eyes of men, and think highly of myself. Rather, I should be humbling myself before God, realizing that it is ONLY through Him that I can do anything, and unless He is the One I’m doing it for, it is only wood, hay and stubble. When I have done that, it then becomes quite easy to turn my focus towards others, APPRECIATING the gifts and talents that the Lord has also blessed them with. The example given in II Corinthians 10:12 of those comparing themselves among themselves will not apply.

I believe that as maturing, young ladies, the comparison game is something that Satan often uses to inhibit real love and unity with one another. And it’s so easy because it most often occurs quietly in the privacy of our own minds, where it’s easy to gloss over and forget about. That is why it is so important that each one of us have a real walk and relationship with the Lord. When we let HIS mind be in us, (Philippians 2:5) and walk daily in the security of His love, knowing He is working His perfect plan in us each day, there will be no more room in our hearts for these kind of carnal thoughts.

Micah 6:8b “…and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

My Hero

2009-07-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

The month of July is the month that holds Independence Day. To some people it is just a day off of work and an excuse to have a barbeque, but to me it means so much more. My dad made sure it was important to us. Growing up in a military home was often quite challenging, but I learned life lessons that will never be forgotten.

We were expected to show respect to the flag and were always taught to say ‘Yes Sir’ and ‘No Sir’ and to show respect to our authorities.

A few years ago my family had the chance to visit Washington D.C.. While we were there, we saw the White House, the Pentagon, the National Archives and many other historical places, but the one place that stuck out to me the most was Arlington Cemetery. As we walked through the cemetery, we saw many tomb stones and flags and I thought it was quite boring to visit a cemetery on my vacation.

Then one of my sisters asked my Dad if he could be buried there? It was then, that I realized I was standing on sacred ground. These men and women gave their own lives so I could have the freedoms that I enjoy and my very own dad had a part in protecting my freedom. With that in mind, I want to dedicate this little article to my Dad, “My Hero."

Someone once told me that a hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. Every time I read this definition the first person that comes to my mind is my dad. He has found the strength and endurance to do what the Lord has called him to do, whether it was in the military or now in the ministry.

I remember the day when my Dad stepped out in faith and got out of the military so he could accomplish what the Lord called him to do. II Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:..” This verse reflects my dad’s life since the Lord saved his soul. He stepped out, in faith, left the U.S. military and joined the Lord’s army. Now he gives his life, so that one soul might be saved.

II Timothy 2:3-4 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

He has not only given his life willingly to his family, but he did the same for his country. Now he gives his life to many young children, teens, and adults in our church and town, as the principal of our Christian School.

Dad, you may think that you are just an ordinary person who sometimes feels forgotten; but I want you to know that you are never forgotten. You have a special place in my heart and you will always be my hero.

Our dads are not perfect… but nobody is perfect. So girls, I want to encourage you to find the hero in your dad. You will be so glad you did! I can promise you that they love you and want to keep and protect you from being tarnished by the world. Let them do this for you and make them your “hero” for this short time in your life and theirs.

What is My Purpose in Life?

2009-06-02T11:51:00.000-07:00

We all know there have been countless books written about finding your purpose and fulfilling it in life. As Christians, and specifically, Christian singles, our purpose should be VERY different from the purpose of the world’s singles. Our purpose should revolve around the verse in I Corinthians 10:31, that says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Just striving to live this verse out, will give every area of our life, purpose! It will cut out wasteful and questionable activities from our lives. It will give us God-fearing companions, a heart that desires to know God more, and a heart for the lost around us. Our entire future will be affected by whether or not we live according to this verse.

As my dad says, “What you are today, and what you think today is what you will be tomorrow.” We are creating habits and patterns we will follow as mature adults. How much easier it will be, and how much more glory we will bring to the Lord, if we establish Biblical thinking patterns now.

As singles who desire to live GOD’s will for their lives, there are many areas that require patience and prayerful waiting on God. An obvious area that usually comes to mind right away is marriage. While the world does not hesitate to “try” someone out, a Bible believing Christian will want to wait on God’s leading, seeking spiritual counsel and understanding that, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” Proverbs 10:22

As singles who desire a future spouse, it is so important that we not wallow in those desires. As friends get married one by one, the temptation to turn your focus inward will present itself, and Satan will be right there encouraging you along! If you choose this path, it will not be long and you will find yourself feeling purposeless and aimless in life.

If you are discontent in the work that you’ve been given to do and compare yourself to others who seem to have the perfect job with plenty of money and benefits, you may also begin to feel like you are spinning your wheels, going nowhere and with no real purpose.

Both of these responses prove that the person’s faith and trust is not in God, but in their physical circumstances. Your purpose at those times is not to serve and please God above all else, but to please self. We are also proving the real lack of faith we have in God’s promises. These can be hard things to admit, but they are needful, in order to mold and make us into suitable servants whose sole purpose and desire is to serve and glorify Christ!
At the start of each day, it would be good to ask ourselves the question, “What is my purpose today?” Whatever it is, it will be seen and lived out in our spirit, words, and actions.

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” I Corinthians 6:20

A Virtuous Woman

2009-05-01T09:46:00.001-07:00

Proverbs 31:10 “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.”

This is the month for Mother’s Day, and I would like to use this month’s “Perk Up” to honor my mom. As daughters, single and married, we owe a debt to our mothers that we can never repay. I have watched my mom willingly and happily serve her own mother, especially the last few years following a bad fall my grandmother had.

She has been such an example to me of one who is “redeeming the time.” She knows that if the Lord tarries, she may not have many more opportunities to bless and praise her own mother for all she’s done for her throughout the years. Mom, I want you to know that your example in this area spurs me on to want to be that kind of daughter for you now, as well as in the future, if the Lord tarries.

Both my mom and grandma have set Proverbs 31 examples for me, and though I see myself sorely lacking in comparison, it is my desire to strive towards the examples they have set, and also give them the praise that they deserve.

Proverbs 31:28-29 “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.”

The life of any mother is filled with many trials and hard work, and a diligent mother can easily be taken for granted, as they competently and faithfully, fulfill their roles as wife and mother in the home.

My mom is the best multi-tasker I know, and for many years, I really had no concept of all she did- not only for our own family, but for so many others as well. If there’s a verse that comes to my mind concerning my mom, it would probably be II Corinthians 12:15. “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.”

My mom has not only spent herself for her children and family through the years, but also for countless ladies and children who have passed through this church’s ministry in the past twenty-nine years. I know it has been good for me, being at home as a single these past years, because the Lord has really opened my eyes to the value and worth of my own mother. She is worth FAR more than all the rubies in the world!! She has endured many trials through the years including those of personal health, lost wayward children, (a thing of the past, praise God!) and false accusations from people she tried to love. And yet through it all, I have seen her strengthened as she counts it all joy, as James 1:2 says.

When I think of someone who, with every fiber of their being wants to be like Christ, serve Christ, and prove Christ in their life, I think of my mom. Proverbs 31:25 says, “Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.”

Mom, I see how strength and honour are YOUR clothing, because you have put Christ first in every area and proved Him time and again. You have already rejoiced in many answered prayers, and I know there is more rejoicing in time to come, just as this verse says.

I love you mom, and am so grateful that I can call YOU, my mother!

My search for contentment.…

2009-04-01T12:07:00.000-07:00

Questions such as, ‘Am I pretty?’ ‘Are my clothes in style?’ Am I liked by other people?’ Where will I be in the future?’, ‘Will I be married and have a family?’, have probably crossed the mind of many single girls. We can be so wrapped up in having so many questions and fears, that we fling ourselves into a state of being discontent with not knowing the unknown. Satan likes to get people in the state of discontentment because then our eyes are not on the Lord but on ourselves. And we begin to doubt God.

God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways are higher than our ways. A remedy for this is to trust the Lord with your whole heart. Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.” He is all you will ever need. Giving Him the chance, you will find that God is enough. We live in a culture where it is easy to fall into the pit of discontentment and not even realize it. In our day and age when we want something, we just go out and get it whether we have the money or not. This attitude has gotten many families into debt and despair, all because they were not content. We no longer pray and wait on God. What a shame! To my shame, I have found myself in this state of discontentment on more than one occasion.

On November 30, 1987, my twin sister and I came into the world.

What a joy it was for my mom and dad, but I never saw it that way. I hated being a twin. I always despised matching and looking alike and doing what twins do. Through all of these terrible, strong emotions I began to hate my sister. When I was in the eighth grade the Lord began to soften my heart and I then realized that I was not content with what the Lord had given me and made me to be. He gave me a beautiful sister who has loved me even when I despised her. Looking back, I realized that I was not content with the family that the Lord had given me. This spirit ruined my relationship with not only my sister, but with my whole family. The Lord had placed me in a godly home and here I was trying to throw it away. But God is so good to me.

Someone once told me that “Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have.” What a profound truth!

The Apostle Paul said ‘In whatsoever state I am; therewith to be content.’ In whatever state I am in, whether I am healthy, wealthy, sick, or poor; I am to be content. I remember when I was eighteen years old and stuck in bed, because I was too weak to get out of bed by myself. I have learned to be content with the health that the Lord has given me. It may be trying at times, but I always have to remind myself that it is God who girdeth me with strength. His strength is made perfect in my weakness. Learning to depend on JUST HIM while still in my youth, has been a very good thing! Jesus knows what you and I are going through, and He will not give us anymore than we can handle. Psalms 18:30 says “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord I tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.” We sure do have an incredible God! Trusting in the Lord fully and completely will leave you happy and content.

We just need to BE content and let the Lord take care of everything else. I Timothy 6:6-8 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” As single girls, we need not spend our time fretting about the unknown, but work on just being Godly. That will keep us busy for a long time.

Rachel (left) and Nicole (right)

Contentment….what a wonderful spot to place yourself!

Staying Faithful

2009-03-02T08:53:00.000-08:00

It seems that faithfulness is a forgotten virtue in our culture today. We are taught to do what “feels good” and sometimes, faithfully doing what is right doesn’t “feel good.”

Staying faithful in the workplace, in marriage, in parenting, and in going to church, simply isn’t practiced very often. I have had a tendency to think of faithfulness as being an attribute just of older people. A mind picture of older Christians who have served the Lord for many years, pops into my head. But what I try to remember is that, faithfulness starts now, while I’m young! Faithfulness is a virtue built, one day at a time. We build this virtue in our character, by faithfully going to work one day at a time, cleaning the church, one week at a time, attending church… faithfully, one week at a time, taking and passing, one college course at a time. And the list goes on and on!

I remember the shock I had after graduating from high school. I was so excited about getting to help in our Christian School Kindergarten! It became a “baptism by fire” though, when the teacher was unable to be in the class for a period of time. Boy was I shocked when I realized the importance, even the necessity, of being faithful. When I woke up and didn’t feel good, had a ton of college work, etc., I still needed to go to school because some cute little kindergarteners were expecting a teacher to help them in learning their vowels! I also learned that being faithful is more than just “showing up” where I am supposed to be. It is also being prepared to serve with the right heart attitude and mindset.

Once I saw how faithfulness was important in just helping in the Christian school, the Lord began to show me the need for faithfulness in other areas of my life. I have to decide to be faithful in going to church—no matter if anyone else goes with me. And it’s more than just going to church. I want to be faithful in being prepared spiritually and mentally for the services. Doing right, going to college, serving in whatever areas God places me in (no matter how small they may seem), praying, reading the Bible, even paying my tithe and faith promise—in every area, I must CHOOSE to be faithful.

As was recently preached by our pastor, we will be judged by our faithfulness one day, regardless of whether we see the significance of the tasks. A friend also reminded me that sometimes we might have to say no to doing extra things, or even let go of some of our present tasks, so that we can be faithful in the areas in which God is leading us to serve in.

Being faithful is not always easy. It requires dying to myself and focusing on the job at hand. But if we hope in the Lord, and truly desire His will, faithfulness is a joy, a pleasure. Life becomes more simple as we pour ourselves into the Lord’s work. I am learning this as a single young woman.

How can vacuuming carpets and working for an income be eternally significant? I don’t always know the answer, but God has a plan and it’s my job to just be faithful. He will take care of the rest!

“Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.” Psalm 101:6

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:21

Edify One Another

2009-02-02T09:54:00.000-08:00

Romans 14:19 “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.”

For quite some time, the thought-line of edification has really been on my heart and mind. As young ladies who claim to have a personal relationship with Christ, it is most critical that our conversation (speech and actions) be that which is pleasing to Christ.

For most of us females, the art of communicating is not one that requires too much effort. We enjoy sharing our thoughts, feelings and opinions with those who are willing to listen. It is part of our nature to maintain closeness with others through communication. We also often put a great deal of weight and credence to our own individual perceptions and opinions. (Also often times called P-R-I-D-E) Our conversation can quickly turn into a non-peaceable direction if just one of us does not have control over first, their thoughts, and second, their tongue. James 3:5 says it all. “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!”

There is SO much to say that IS edifying, or building up of others! Even with “prickly” people, if we but choose to think on their positive attributes and personal, God-given gifts, we will find that their idiosyncrasies and perceived shortcomings will become so inconsequential! We will also find that we pray for them more as well. Often, I find myself appreciating these people so much more as I see where they are strong in the areas I am weak! I think Romans 14:19 would be an excellent verse to have hanging up, so that before we left the house each day, we would be reminded of its truth!

Romans 15:3 “For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:”

Christ Himself came to earth, not to please Himself, but to please and glorify His Father! He did not come to be proclaimed King and to garner the respect and appreciation of a lost world, but to give Himself away to the very ones who would despise and reject Him. While He lived, he was about His Father’s business, seeking those poor in spirit and lost in their sins. He came for the sole purpose of reconciliation. He was the ONLY way for sinners to be reconciled back to God. In order to fulfill that, He had to endure the reproach of a wicked world and submit to His Father’s will, even when it meant taking on not just my sin, but the sin of every human who would be born. There is no way I can fathom the darkness and extreme depths of pain He went through, just to save me. If GOD INCARNATE pleased not Himself, we, as the sinners saved by His sacrifice, should all the more, seek to please and do our Lord and Saviour’s will. As a natural consequence, we will then seek to edify and please our neighbor, rather than ourselves.

The more I dwell on how Christ lived on this earth, and how He PERFECTLY followed His Father’s will – to the death – I see how much I utterly fail in comparison. But, I also know that we would not be exhorted to live and follow in His footsteps if it were not possible!

Romans 15:6 “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Isn’t that the goal, and the most worthwhile goal in this life?! The things of this life will pass away, but God and His word will never pass away! May the year 2009 be one where our love and edification towards one another, abounds more and more, because we are not seeking to please ourselves, but the One who deserves every part of us!

James 3:17-18 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

Another Christmas Season

2008-12-01T06:09:00.000-08:00

As we enter another Christmas season, it came to my attention that I have gotten mechanical and have grown accustomed to the many traditions and activities this time of year brings. Not just the temporal and material side of things, but more importantly, the true, spiritual meaning behind all that is done.

I realize this is not something new. I know many Christians find themselves battling against the commercialism and secularism all around us, in an attempt to keep Christ the main focus. HE is the reason for the season, no matter what the secularized, God-hating world says. To really appreciate this time though, a mere remembrance of this fact is not enough.

Going back through the Christmas story, I found myself seeing it and those involved, in a different light. Having known the “Christmas story” from as far back as I can remember, I have become so used to the characters of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the angels, etc.

In a world that has long elevated Mary far beyond her own frail humanity, perhaps in a kind of counter balance, I personally have not given much thought to her outside the realm that she was used by God to bring His Son into the world. I believe I lost sight of many wonderful truths and lessons to be learned from Mary.

As I read and thought about her role and circumstances, I began to appreciate her more.
Mary had the heart of a servant. It is obvious she was humble, as God highly exalted her above all women. Matthew 23:12 “…he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” She alone was chosen to bear the human form of God incarnate.

She did not live for herself or her self image either. Her simple reply when the angel Gabriel explained how she, a virgin, would bear a son was, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” She surely realized what it would look like to all those around her when her pregnancy became obvious, and she and Joseph had not yet been married. But she believed and feared God above man. Her cousin Elisabeth, being filled with the Holy Spirit blessed her in Luke 1:45 saying, “And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” I am reminded of Hebrews 11:6 which states, “But without faith it is impossible to please him:” Think about it, this was nothing like the times in which we live where women have children out of wedlock all the time. She could have been stoned to death. Of course we know God would not have allowed that, but at that time, she could have doubted and feared and responded in a self-preserving fashion. But she didn’t.

I guess I say all this to ask myself, and all of us, how we would respond? If we were still expecting the birth of Christ, and as single, unmarried girls were possible candidates, what would we be like?

First off, I can’t help but wonder how many of us would in our pride, think, “Why not me? I’ve never done such and such. I strive to do what’s right and stay pure. I’m not like so and so. Just imagining that I could say such a thing makes me want to recoil from myself. And yet, how often in our daily interactions with people, does the spirit that is behind that thought-line, rear its ugly head? A good test would be to ask ourselves how much contention and tension (inward and outward) is present in our interaction with others. Proverbs 13:10 says, “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.”

Also, assuming we were in Mary’s position, how many of us would have the humility and simple faith to basically say, “Here I am, use me as you will.” Would we instead worry, fret and question? I don’t think the answer is all that difficult to see if we take an honest look at our hearts and lives now. How do we respond when something is asked of us? Do we need to know all the why’s, how’s and if’s? Or do we respond with humility and meekness of spirit because we desire to please Someone above ourselves? It will make all the difference in how God will be able to use us in the upcoming stages of our lives.

As we think on the great sacrifice and humility that was required not only for Christ’s death for us, but also His birth, may we have a greater appreciation for this time that we celebrate. May we be prepared to sacrifice whatever God asks of us, and humble ourselves in order that His will be accomplished.

Sincerely Yours,
Cherith

A Servant's Heart

2008-10-15T07:08:00.000-07:00

As single girls, there is so much more that we are able to do in serving the Lord, as compared to our married sisters.

I’d like to focus on the last part of Galatians 5:13 this month. “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

This is an area the Lord has been speaking to me more about of late. Although I am active in our local church, and find great joy and blessing in doing so, the Lord has shown me a need for more of a servant’s heart. I personally want to increase my service to the Lord, and know the joy that it brings!

Initially, I thought of my service to the Lord in areas that pertain directly to the ministries of the church. Things like working in the nursery, Sunday school, music, or the many opportunities available to us in our church’s ladies groups. Though these are very important and areas that must not be neglected, these are certainly not the only areas where we can serve and bring glory to our Lord. We can also reach out to one another on a daily basis with our friendship, time or money, and show the love of Christ in the process.

One specific area that I think we could all increase our service in, especially in this career minded age, is our own homes. This is the primary area that we as women were created by God to serve in, and as unmarried daughters, it's the best place to prepare for our own future families and homes. There are many opportunities to serve in the home where we live with our parents, and it’s an excellent indicator of whether or not we truly have a servant’s heart. The “daily grind” can reveal a lot about us. Do we offer to help beyond our normal duties? Do we look for areas that need attention? Do we think about how busy our parents are and offer our assistance? Or, is the tendency to think about what we want to do and what we want or need to accomplish? Everyone has things they need to accomplish with their time. How often do we sacrifice our time and notice the need of another, in spite of the fact that we ourselves, have needs?

These are just some thoughts I have asked myself. It is good to stop and take inventory from time to time. We need to search our hearts and ask ourselves if our lives have become self-consumed. It is easy to do when we have many personal goals and needs to accomplish. We can find ourselves thinking less and less about others. But as Christians, we are to be Christlike. When I think of Christ, I think of Someone who had every right to lift Himself up and be served and worshipped by all mankind, and yet, He took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man. Think about it, THE Holy Lamb of God took upon Himself the form of lowly, sinful man, and spent His life’s blood on us! How much more ought we to spend our lives for HIM!? In that light, no sacrifice is too great! And yet, how often do we get put out when a little extra is asked of us? May it not be so as saved daughters of Christ. May we use these unmarried years, learning to be servants. God used a willing little boy’s five loaves and two fishes. How much more may He choose to use us as well, if we in turn offer Him everything we have?

II Corinthians 12:15a “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you;”

Philippians 4:2 “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”